Compared to the Human Race, beyond the city walls, the dense army of the Demon Race stretched endlessly. Yet, after Chi Venerable raised his hand to signal, all the Demonic Cultivators remained solemn, not a single one uttered a sound, maintaining utmost silence.

The hierarchy within the Demon Race was strict, and their military discipline was evident.

The situation was deteriorating further.

Lin Yao was exceedingly anxious, but had no solutions, only blamed her Phantom Body Divine Vein for being able to produce mere illusions, unable to replicate even a fraction of Qingyun Sword Immortal's power.

"Agree to his terms." It was at this moment that a voice transmission suddenly reached Lin Yao's mind.

It was a cool female voice, condensed into a thread, possessing an indescribable decisiveness that inspired trust and could not be refused.

Lin Yao's gaze flickered briefly across the stunning face of the woman beside her, whose eyebrows resembled distant mountains.

This was a voice transmission from Xia Daoyun.

The next instant, Lin Yao spoke lightly, adopting Xie Qingyun's tone and manner: "I alone suppress your three Venerables for ten thousand years, and you still refuse to submit."

"Refusal is fine; I will fight until you submit."

Xie Qingyun laughed, a cold smile that also held a hint of excitement.

Lin Yao was unaware of what breakthrough Xia Daoyun might have envisioned, but there was always an aura of trustworthiness surrounding Xia Daoyun.

Thus, Lin Yao immediately accepted Chi Venerable's terms as per Xia Daoyun's instructions.

Roar!

The instant "Xie Qingyun" finished speaking, countless people on Yumen Pass's walls roared.

This was an outburst of suppressed emotions accumulated over days.

"Qingyun Sword Immortal, sweep them away, kill them, make them never dare to offend Yumen Pass again!" Many cultivators shouted loudly with confidence in Xie Qingyun, cheering for him.

"Accepted the challenge?" Chi Venerable's gaze flickered.

"Dare to accept the challenge, it must truly be Xie Qingyun.

It seems that the claim from the Heart Demon Clan about Qingyun Sword Immortal leaving Yumen Pass to ascend to the Central Spirit was entirely their fabricated lie to entice us into action."

"Fortunately, we probed first; otherwise, others might have taken advantage for themselves."

He thought as such in his mind.

Since Xie Qingyun dared to accept the challenge, it was impossible that he was a false body, for among Yumen Pass, aside from him, who else could battle top Demon Venerables?

Although it was mostly certain that the Heart Demon Clan's assertions were lies, Chi Venerable had no intention of calling off the fight.

Because they also had the desire to assess Xie Qingyun's strength and prepare for the eventual ultimate battle.

"I'll take the first battle. Xie Qingyun, today you must fall beneath my War Spear!" War Venerable took up the reply, stepping forward and gripping the hovering Golden Spear, emitting a powerful pressure.

"Let me first experience your sword."

"Xie Qingyun" moved too, stepping forward.

"Sect Master!" It was then that Yu Canghai suddenly spoke, stopping "Xie Qingyun".

"What's the matter?" Xie Qingyun halted his steps in response, turning his head to look at Yu Canghai, waiting for an explanation.

The War Venerable, Chi Venerable, and Ming Venerable also furrowed their brows, not expecting another variable, with their eyes flickering and thoughts changing, breeding suspicion.

"Sect Master, the Demon Race has three Venerables, yet you are alone.

They intend for you to face them one by one, clearly a war of attrition, which is unfair, isn't it?" Yu Canghai stated emphatically.

A commotion broke out on the walls.

This was plain truth.

"What do you mean? Qingyun Sword Immortal just accepted the battle, only to retreat like a turtle back into its shell?" War Venerable's voice thundered, mocking.

The turtle shell referred to the Long Wind Formation.

"Venerable War, desist with these petty attempts of provocation."

"We Sword Cultivators of the Human Race, why hesitate to fight?"

"However, to deal with a mere War Venerable, it doesn't require our Sect Master personally."

"To defeat you, I am enough!" Yu Canghai declared emphatically.

"You?" War Venerable was initially taken aback, then burst into laughter, showing disdain, "You? An Eighth Realm Sword Cultivator?"

As he laughed, he gradually calmed, speaking coldly: "You're unworthy."

"Worthy or not is for the sword in my hand to say, not your mouth." Yu Canghai lifted his eyes, gazing at the arrogant War Venerable, replying.

Then, Yu Canghai turned, clasped his fists, and addressed "Xie Qingyun": "Sect Master, Yu Canghai requests to battle!"

In his eyes was an astonishing battle intent.

At this moment, Lin Yao's thoughts spun quickly; her astuteness allowed her to immediately discern the strategy that Yu Canghai, Xia Daoyun, and Xue Wujian had planned.

They intended to personally fight and defeat the War Venerable, Chi Venerable, and Ming Venerable, rendering Xie Qingyun's intervention unnecessary.

This was indeed a feasible plan, sensible and logical.

The problem was, they had to win!

If they didn't win, Xie Qingyun would have no reason not to intervene.

However, War Venerable, Ming Venerable, and Chi Venerable were all top Demon Venerables, capable of being challenged only by a Sword Immortal.

Yu Canghai, Xue Wujian, and Xia Daoyun were merely Eighth Realm Sword Cultivators—how could they hope to win?

The gap between the Eighth Realm and Sword Immortal Realm was as vast as earth and sky, incomparable.

This was common knowledge and an eternal truth.

The three Peak Masters actually intended to undertake this defiant endeavor?

Where did they find such confidence?

Did they have certainty?

As thoughts whirled endlessly within, Lin Yao outwardly adopted Xie Qingyun's posture, calmly replying: "Since you want to fight, then go ahead and try."

"Good," Yu Canghai advanced with vigor, smiling at Xie Qingyun: "Canghai will not discredit the name of Sword Sect."

As his words fell, Yu Canghai leaped forward, clearing the Long Wind Formation, staring across at War Venerable.

When Yu Canghai's figure left the city and exited the array, Yumen Pass fell momentarily silent, then erupted with a tide of commotion.

Every person was exceedingly tense at this moment.

The cultivators of Yumen Pass knew Yu Canghai was strong, but doubting he was strong enough to face War Venerable stirred disbelief from within.

Yet, even amidst disbelief, they were filled with hope, yearning for victory.

Such feelings were incredibly complex, fostering extreme tension.

War Venerable, resembling a human, stood in the Void, eyes icy cold.

"Ignorant brat." To Yu Canghai, War Venerable regarded coldly, even calling him a brat.

Only such beings would have such a tone.

"Very well, I'll toy with you; slay the small fry before the Sword Immortal." War Venerable's eyes emitted beams of light, akin to a hungry wolf, with an aggressive excitement.

He had also figured it out—if he could seize the opportunity to kill Yu Canghai, it would deliver a fatal blow to the Human Race, an unexpected joy, so he did not resist Yu Canghai's proactive challenge.

"If I don't behead you today and hang your corpse on my War Spear, I would dishonor the title of War Venerable!" He was confident and steady, his words stirring hearts.

"A mere Eighth Realm Sword Cultivator is nothing at all in my eyes!"

From afar, Chi Venerable and Ming Venerable shared equally indifferent gazes upon Yu Canghai, as if he were already a dead man.

"A mere War Venerable is likewise nothing at all in my eyes." Yu Canghai quietly retorted.

At that moment, everyone held their breath.

"Peak Master Yu, victory!" someone shouted loudly.

"Victory!" many shouted, bolstering Yu Canghai's morale.

"You're unworthy; rather, have your Sect Master come to perish!" War Venerable roared in anger, bellowing.

"Enough nonsense." Yu Canghai thought to himself, unifying his Vital Essence, and an impressive force surged from his body.

He flicked his finger, and a delicate, small exquisite sword hovered before him.

"Are you intending to rely on this embroidery needle to battle me?" War Venerable seized every opportunity for mockery, immediately speaking.

Before taking action, Yu Canghai disregarded War Venerable's taunts, merely smiling and saying: "My sword, besting your sword, is named Little Boat."

He was named after Canghai, yet his Life-bound Sword was named Little Boat.

The next instant, this Sword Sect's recognized first under Qingyun Sword Immortal smiled slightly, waved his long sleeve....

An expanse of exquisite petite swords abruptly appeared, filling the sky, their number unknown.

Yu Canghai extended a finger, lightly flicking it, calmly stating: "Split Light Sword Formation."

The small swords in the sky instantly leaped into the air, hovering briefly, then shot rapidly toward War Venerable.