CHAPTER 287: CHAPTER 282: CALLING OUT

West Emperor Palace, a palace made of white jade, figures emerged one after another.

On layers of steps, there were all cultivators.

West Emperor Palace has a long history, derived from splitting off from the Sun and Moon Palace. After the Sun Palace and Moon Palace became secluded, West Emperor Palace expanded and grew stronger, its influence spreading across the vast and endless seas of the West Sea.

In the vast seas, countless islands beckon numerous cultivators. Those with talent aspire to enter West Emperor Palace to cultivate.

Cultivators of West Emperor Island were rushing wildly to this area, gathering around the regions surrounding West Emperor Palace. At the pinnacle of West Emperor Palace’s White Feather Steps, several figures appeared, all was elderly and carried an extraordinary presence.

One among them, with mana swirling around him, enveloped the vast area and spoke aloud, "Today, demons invade our West Emperor Island. West Emperor Palace will lead practitioners to resist these demons. Do not panic, prepare to slay demons along with West Emperor Palace."

This voice spread across the boundless area, somewhat soothing the cultivators around. With West Emperor Palace still standing, why should they panic? If the sky were to fall, West Emperor Palace would hold it up.

Li Fan and others also arrived in this area, mingling among the vast crowd. They looked towards a distant direction, seeing an immense demonic army advancing from the sky, demon energy covering the sun.

Finally, the demonic army halted at a distance from West Emperor Palace, a chaotic aura ran rampant. At the forefront of the demonic army, a humanoid figure stood atop the head of a Jiao Dragon, gazing towards the direction of West Emperor Palace.

The humanoid figure turned out to be a woman, with long hair flowing over her shoulders, her clothes shimmering with the glow of rainbow-like scales, her eyes extremely enchanting, seemingly able to captivate one’s soul.

"Mermaid."

Luo Qingyan fixed her gaze on that beautiful figure and said softly, "It’s my first time seeing the legendary Mermaid Demon, rainbow scales, this mermaid has already reached the stage of a Seven Realm Great Demon."

"Mermaid?" Li Fan knew little about sea demons.

"A mermaid with rainbow scales means it’s a Seven Realm. This Mermaid Demon is extremely rare, with extraordinary talent. Her voice is an illusion, capable of capturing one’s mind, her speed like lightning, her scales like divine weapons, extremely sharp," Meng Hong explained. "Even the mount she’s standing on now, an Old Jiao Dragon, its divine glow like electricity, its scales pitch black, possibly, the one from Jiao Demon Island..."

Island Master of Jiao Demon Island?

Li Fan showed a change in expression, it was said that the Island Master of Jiao Demon Island is a Six Realm Great Demon, extremely fierce and brutal, ruling over a sea region, commanding numerous sea demons.

Yet now, willing to be a mount.

There were several Great Demons beside the Mermaid, with terrifying auras.

Such a lineup indeed aimed to obliterate West Emperor Island.

The cultivators realized what was about to happen upon seeing this lineup, the vast space fell silent. The cultivators on West Emperor Island questioned whether they could repel the demonic army.

With her wicked eyes, the Mermaid glanced towards West Emperor Palace and said, "Liu Zonglin, why aren’t you coming out?"

In the West Emperor Palace, a figure rose upwards, landing at the pinnacle of the White Jade Palace. This figure was a middle-aged man looking about forty years old, wearing a white robe spotless, seemingly devoid of any aura.

Yet when he appeared, cultivators throughout the West Emperor Palace bowed in respect, saying, "Greetings, Palace Master."

Liu Zonglin, was indeed the name of West Emperor Palace’s Palace Master.

"The sea regions of the West Sea are endless. Humans on the land, demons in the sea, have lived peacefully for years. Now that you provoke a war between humans and demons, aren’t you afraid to repeat the past disaster?" Liu Zonglin spoke loudly, his voice spreading over all directions.

"This West Sea region originally belongs to the Demon World. You human cultivators interfered, seizing our Demon World’s territory, and now, it’s time to return it," the Mermaid said disdainfully.

Many years ago, the vast West Sea belonged to demons. Human cultivators came to the Land of the West Sea, continuously expanding land and islands, gradually taking root, even reversing the roles.

"Since you bring up past matters, then you should understand the defeat of the Demon World back then. Now, having a piece of survival land in this West Sea, yet being insatiable, provoking a war with humanity, aren’t you afraid to be exterminated again?" Liu Zonglin spoke calmly, showing the demeanor of a sect master.

Upon hearing his voice, the cultivators also seemed to ingested a calming pill. Since Master Liu was so calm, West Emperor Palace must have a strategy in mind. In that case, what was there to fear?

"The battle back then?" The Mermaid sneered and mockingly said, "Back then, human cultivators of West Sea were already in defeat. Had it not been for you humans relying on your numerical advantage to join forces against Lord Nine Infant, the West Sea region would have long been devoid of human traces. Humans, aside from being cunning and deceitful, what do you have to compare with my Demon Race?"

"Boastful," Liu Zonglin scolded coldly, "Human cultivators are favored by heaven and earth, they are the leaders of all living things; practicing Qi Cultivation, martial arts, swordsmanship, seizing the creation of heaven and earth. You demons, with your intelligence unawakened, aside from brute force, what else do you possess? This world has been governed by humans since ancient times, and you demons are merely the beasts living in the shadows."

"Such boastful words." The Jiao Dragon under the Mermaid Demon’s command spat out thunderous sounds, its massive eyes fixed on Liu Zonglin, voice like thunder: "Sir Mermaid, this human boasts shamelessly. Before the battle begins, let me meet them first and see which of these humble humans can fight back."

After the Jiao Dragon spoke, it spat out thunder, and around Liu Zonglin, figures with mana surging on their bodies glowed brightly, staring at the Jiao Dragon, seemingly ready for battle.

"You have a point. Since humans are so arrogant, let them see the sons of the Demon World before we obliterate this West Emperor Island." The Mermaid Demon glanced towards the West Emperor Palace: "However, you don’t need to fight yet."

"Who will go and quell the arrogance of these lowly humans?" The Mermaid Demon turned her head with a sweeping glance.

"I am willing to go." A figure stepped forward, her figure swaying, enchanting, dressed like a human but extremely scantily clad, revealing skin that was smooth as if freshly bathed.

The surrounding demons shouted loudly, their eyes burning at the sight of the female demon.

"Such a female demon, I wonder what her true form is." Luo Qingyan lifted her eyes to look at her; the female demon was extraordinarily beautiful, with irresistible allure.

"Snake." Li Fan’s pupils flashed with a golden light—the female demon was a Snake Demon.

"Such sharp eyes?" Luo Qingyan looked at Li Fan with a smile.

The female demon walked forward, gazing towards the West Emperor Palace, while the Mermaid Demon behind her said: "Since you humans are so arrogant, let me see how capable you are."

"Is this a challenge?" Li Fan whispered.

"This female demon is at the mid-stage of Fifth Realms, equivalent to a human cultivator in the mid-stage of Condensed Core. If the West Emperor Palace intends to respond, they need someone of the same level." Meng Hong said beside him: "Since this is a challenge, the first demon to enter the fray will certainly not be simple, and even the West Emperor Palace must take it seriously."

On the eve of a great battle, if the demons call for a challenge and are defeated, it would harm morale.

"I’ll tear apart this female demon." From the direction of the West Emperor Palace, an imposing voice sounded as a figure emerged from the White Jade Palace, flying forward.

This figure was clad in a purple robe, appearing to be in his thirties, tall and powerful, with short black hair draping over his shoulders. He held no ice blade; his arm hung down, his hand open, with Thunder Light coursing along both arms.

One person and one demon came to the battlefield amidst the armies, separated by some distance, their bodies simultaneously floating forward, neither slow nor fast, but the thunder growing increasingly intense, and a storm of thunder appeared in the sky.

The man’s speed suddenly accelerated, rushing forward, his robe billowing, his left hand stretched out, grabbing through the air as a massive Thunder Palm Seal materialized, aiming to strike the female demon.

"Buzz..." The female demon moved swiftly, dashing forward. As the Thunder Palm Seal descended, it seemed about to seize her, yet she slipped through as if immune to thunder, dodging between the seal’s fingers.

The man snorted coldly, both hands extended simultaneously, and a vast thunder surged along his arms, shooting like ropes toward the female demon.

The skin of the female demon seemed to turn into scales, her speed increased suddenly, transforming into a blur, darting through the endless thunder.

"Innate ability plus movement technique?" Li Fan revealed a peculiar look; this female demon possessed a special talent, her body extremely nimble, able to evade the capture of thunder, and practiced movement techniques.

Seeing the female demon rushing swiftly toward him, the man erupted with destructive Thunder Light, dazzling the eyes, his palm clenched into a fist, eyes hiding lightning.

But at this moment, the female demon glanced at him, their eyes meeting, and in an instant, the man’s body was covered in rocks, as if petrified.

"Be careful." Someone from the West Emperor Palace cried out in alarm as the violent thunder instantly shattered the rocks, but only in that moment did a snake tail pierce through the man’s throat like a blade.

In that instant, the human cultivators fell silent.

The Mermaid Demon looked down with a cold smile in her eyes—the female demon was her disciple.

"Such formidable talent." Li Fan thought to himself. The West Emperor Palace cultivator was actually not weak, but his strength was not fully utilized before the opponent seized the opportunity to kill him with one blow.

"This Sea Demon has such an overbearing talent." Luo Qingyan and Meng Hong also felt the surge of waves; the battle was so fast that the man hadn’t even reacted before he was slain.

"That man should be of the same faction as Nan Zhengchuan, not weak, but the West Emperor Palace underestimated the opponent. The demon world appears to send out a random demon, but in fact, it seems they were well-prepared." Meng Hong said quietly.

Even demons have schemes.