"Unified command... it seems that a high-level ancient demon has descended."

"No wonder even a person like Senior Yun Weifeng has been alarmed and has come personally." Xu Ping was secretly astonished, his expression becoming more solemn.

At that moment, a voice transmission accurately reached his ear. It was Yun Weifeng’s voice, inviting him to the meeting hall aboard the large spirit ship floating behind the Human Race defense line.

Xu Ping didn’t dare delay. In a flash, he turned into a stream of light and instantly vanished from where he stood.

...

Inside the spirit ship’s meeting hall, the atmosphere was solemn and heavy.

When Xu Ping stepped in, he saw that the previous ten late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivators were all present.

Not only that, but there was an additional person, none other than Sikong Ziyan.

After many years apart, Sikong Ziyan’s demeanor had grown even more composed, his mana surging and perfectly harmonious, having also successfully broken through to late-stage Nascent Soul.

He sensed Xu Ping’s gaze and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Xu Ping was not too surprised by this.

With Sikong Ziyan’s talent and Yunxiao Sect as his backing, his breakthrough to late-stage Nascent Soul was far more likely than that of an average mid-stage cultivator.

"Young Friend Xu has arrived, please have a seat."

Yun Weifeng, seated at the head, remained peaceful in demeanor.

"Apologies to the seniors for the wait."

Xu Ping cupped his hands in salute, his expression calm, and naturally took a seat beside the familiar True Monarch Shan Tianyou.

When Xu Ping sat down, Yun Weifeng glanced around the room, and seeing that everyone was present, he skipped the pleasantries and spoke in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoists, let’s dispense with idle talk."

"This demonic calamity is extraordinary; surely, what you’ve seen upon your arrival has already made this clear."

His tone was heavy: "According to various investigations and reports, this time, behind the Ancient Demon Army, there is assuredly a presence at the Nascent Soul Perfection Level orchestrating unified command, enabling strict discipline and imposing demonic might like a prison.

"It’s even possible... that an ancient demon of the Divinity Transformation Stage could forcibly descend into this realm using techniques like Divided Spirit and Nascent Soul!"

"Divinity Transformation descending?"

At these words, all the cultivators present, including Xu Ping, turned incredibly grave.

The terrifying power of the Hehuan Old Demon was still vividly remembered by Xu Ping.

Even with Xu Ping’s current strength, it couldn’t be said that he could contend against him.

The atmosphere in the hall became unbearably oppressive, almost suffocating.

Yun Weifeng took in everyone’s reactions and shifted his tone, revealing a sense of confidence:

"However, there’s no need for excessive fear, even if a Divinity Transformation demonic presence truly descends, I will go to confront it!"

His gaze was like lightning, sweeping over everyone: "What you need to do is follow the plan and do your utmost to slaughter the demon army under its command, especially those high-level ancient demons!"

All the cultivators present were outstanding figures and understood the stakes. Upon hearing his words, they all solemnly nodded.

At this point, any withholding would be tantamount to self-destruction.

The meeting lasted several hours, detailing everyone’s duties, responses to various emergencies, and joint assault tactics.

For the most part, Xu Ping listened quietly without interjecting too much.

In the planning of a battle of this scale, these late-stage Great Cultivators, who had lived for hundreds or thousands of years, had far more experience than he did.

His task was simply to act as a sharp sword, waiting for the opportunity to tear through the demon army formation, slay high-level ancient demons, and support all sides as needed.

....

Half a month later, the Ancient Demon Army finally moved.

At that moment, the entire world seemed to tremble.

Endless demonic qi surged like a black tidal wave, accompanied by earth-shattering roars, intimidating all directions.

The Ancient Demon Army advanced in a neat formation like a torrent of steel, a momentum that struck fear into anyone’s heart.

What was more terrifying was that in front of the Ancient Demon Army, nine formidable ancient demons floated with vast auras.

What made hearts quiver was that at the very front of the demon army formation, nine figures floated in the air like nine insurmountable demon mountains.

Their forms varied: some were hideously terrifying, while others were humanoid yet more sinister, exuding an aura as vast as an abyss—they were unmistakably terrifying existences at the late-stage Nascent Soul level.

And at the center of these nine demons, stood an ancient demon whose appearance was indistinguishable from a Human Race youth, clad in pitch-black armor, his expression stern yet handsome.

His gaze was indifferent, overlooking the entire Human Race defense line, as if he were watching a group of ants.

The aura around him was restrained yet caused the surrounding space to subtly twist and collapse, his formidable presence evidently reaching Nascent Soul Perfection.

The terrifying pressure, like tangible waves, crashed against the Human Race defense line wave after wave, leaving countless cultivators icy with despair.

"Hmph!"

At this moment, an icy snort resounded like thunder from the nine heavens, suddenly dispersing much of the suffocating demonic pressure.

On the spirit ship, brilliance shot to the sky.

Led by Yun Weifeng, a total of twelve figures soared into the air, fearlessly confronting the nine ancient demons.

Eleven late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivators and Xu Ping simultaneously unleashed their spiritual pressure without reservation.

Their vast mana aroused the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, causing the void within hundreds of miles to emit unbearable buzzing, spiritual qi erupting into numerous small whirlwinds and chaotic energy currents.

Twenty-one auras belonging to the highest-level powerhouses of this realm collided fiercely above the sky, invisible force fields clashing, crackling with sparking spiritual qi flashes, as if space itself would be torn apart.

The young ancient demon’s gaze fell on Yun Weifeng, speaking with indifference, his voice not loud yet clearly reaching everyone’s ears, tinged with an unpleasant superiority:

"You lower-realm cultivators, possessing nothing but innate talent, yet trapped in this broken world, with no path to Divinity Transformation, no way to ascend, pitiable, lamentable.