"You have all promised the human race." Yuan Kun said slowly, "To protect their country and the rise and fall of the human race. One is Bai Qi, the other is Li Longji …"
The Battle Corpse Ghost King just stood there majestically. His tall figure was like a mountain, and his sleeves fluttered in the wind.
Yuan Kun reached out and took off the blindfold. He said seriously, "But how many humans still remember your kindness?"
In an instant, time flowed. The entire Ming Hall and even Luoyang changed rapidly in the long river of time! Hongjun left the Ten Mile River and stood on the bridge. The sun rose and set. The hand of the Creator seemed to have slapped heavily on the hourglass that ruled time in the Land of Huaxia! Spring, summer, autumn, and winter changed rapidly.
Hongjun turned around and looked around. Then, all the demons outside the Ming Hall seemed to be in a grand dream. At that moment, Hongjun pushed his power to the limit. Time passed in the blink of an eye. The exorcists woke up from their dreams and looked at the scene in front of them in disbelief.
Countless scenes changed. The battlefield that was filled with slaughter turned everything in sight blood-red. The exorcists of the past dynasties were killing demons everywhere. High-rise buildings rose from the ground. Huge iron birds flew past. Iron carriages that were not pulled by horses whistled as they traveled. Bridges were built, and the roads extended in all directions. The trees in the forest collapsed one after another …
The demons fled in all directions. The strange cranes rose into the air, the cement trucks hummed, and the flat buildings were destroyed one by one. The demons turned into humans, but they were subdued by the exorcists with magic, dragged away, and burned to death in the fire.
"A thousand years later," Yuan Kun's emotionless voice echoed in the minds of the demons and humans in Luoyang City, "The Exorcism Division will flourish. The demons will no longer have a place to stay in the Land of Huaxia."
"This will happen in a thousand years."
Yuan Kun said in a dignified voice, "No one will be able to escape from the hands of the humans who have invaded the human world …"
Hongjun could no longer understand what he was seeing. There were too many strange things that were like armored mechanisms that rampaged and wreaked havoc in the Land of Huaxia. The demons retreated again and again, and the land they lived in kept shrinking. Until those strange tall buildings were built in front of the Holy Land.
"The demons have lost their homes and have been forced to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests. What follows them is only despair …"
The exorcists besieged the sacred ground of Tianluo Mountain. Yu Zaoyun transformed into the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox and fled with the Black Fox and White Fox, who were still in swaddling clothes. The blood that burst out of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox's heart dyed its white fur red. The demons fled to the Ruoge Highlands in the west. In the wind and snow, they walked into the ruins of the Pantheon of Demons and guarded the lost temple, shivering in the cold wind.
Hongjun closed his eyes and heard Yuan Kun's voice.
"This is the future and destiny of our entire race."
Kun Shen's magic disappeared without a trace, and the ruins of Luoyang City returned to its original state.
In the ruined hall of the Ming Hall.
Yuan Kun put on a blindfold. Yu Zaoyun and the Battle Corpse Ghost King remained silent.
Qing Xiong said slowly, "Today, you have pity in your hearts because the demons are more than a thousand times stronger than the human race. In the future, we will all be dead. When the human race changes dynasties, gratitude and hatred will all be gone. When has the human race ever had the slightest bit of compassion for the demons? "
"It doesn't matter if it's against the heavens," Yuan Kun continued and said slowly, "It doesn't matter if we overestimate ourselves. This is our only chance. The two of you, if you still think that our paths are different and we can't work together, then let's fight for our respective masters."
Yu Zaoyun looked at the Battle Corpse Ghost King. The Battle Corpse Ghost King did not express his opinion. Qing Xiong said again, "The demons only know that Yuan Kun and I want to abolish Hongjun's position for our own selfish desires. I was too lazy to explain. However, Kun Shen insisted on telling you. After all, as the Demon King, I think … Yu Zaoyun is destined to die. However, the Ghost King is still very likely to witness that scene in the future with his own eyes. Everyone, let's leave it at that for now. "
After saying this, Qing Xiong stood up and walked down from the throne. He brushed past the Battle Corpse Ghost King and left the ruined hall with Yuan Kun.
"Is that true?" Chao Yun and Hongjun stood on the bridge together and whispered.
Hongjun suddenly said, "Actually, I saw you even earlier, Chao Yun."
"Me?" Chao Yun said, "What about me?"
Hongjun said seriously, "You completed your mission."
Chao Yun had a puzzled expression.
Li Jinglong walked on the empty street. His martial robe was covered in mud.
"We meet again," a voice said in the darkness.
Li Jinglong carried the Sword of Wisdom on his back and stood solemnly like a mountain.
"Thank you for taking care of me along the way," Li Jinglong said, "Even today, I still remember your kindness in sending Hongjun to the Dazzling Gold Palace."
Qing Xiong revealed half of his body from the darkness and said in a deep voice, "You're just going with the flow. Since you know that you have to fight a battle that you have no chance of winning, why did you come?"
"This is my mission," Li Jinglong said slowly.
Qing Xiong narrowed his eyes. He only wanted to pry into Li Jinglong's heart. His thoughts were complicated, but he couldn't grasp the real clue. The only thing he could feel was Li Jinglong's longing for Hongjun.
"Perhaps," Li Jinglong's blood-covered right hand twirled a golden arrow between his fingers and said, "You want to fight in advance?"
Qing Xiong sneered and soared into the sky from the street. He transformed into a golden-winged roc and turned to fly away. The exorcists hiding in the dark houses and ruins appeared one after another. Li Jinglong couldn't hold back. His hand trembled slightly. He thought that it was a close call. If they had fought in this alley, without the help of his companions, he might have been killed by Qing Xiong first.
"Where did you go?" Mo Rigen's chest was bare. Under the influence of Kun Shen's dream, the exorcists were all awake. Lu Xu suggested coming out to find Li Jinglong, afraid that something had happened.
Li Jinglong said blankly, "I …"
Li Jinglong pressed his temples and tried hard to recall. Atay said, "Was that Kun Shen's power just now?"
"Too powerful …" Lu Xu murmured, "Is it true?"
Qiu Yongsi said to everyone, "Maybe it's the truth, but maybe it's only a partial truth."
Li Jinglong grunted. Lu Xu noticed that his hand was covered in blood and asked, "What happened to your hand?"
Li Jinglong frowned and found that he was holding a piece of cloth in his hand. After unfolding it, there were four words written in blood on it.
"Improvise."
Everyone: "???"
That was Li Jinglong's handwriting. What did it mean for him to write a note and hold it in his hand?
The sun rose and set. Hongjun was still leaning in front of the mansion, looking at the pale sky outside. Chao Yun was guarding him loyally and didn't ask anything. Hongjun fell asleep at some point. He suddenly woke up in the middle of the night and sat up. A soft sound came from the beam. The white fox's tail hung on the beam and gently brushed it.
"Was I wrong?" Yu Zaoyun said softly.
"People will die." Hongjun leaned in front of the bed and said, "It depends on what you die for. Birth, old age, illness, and death are the laws of heaven."
"Like your mother?" Yu Zaoyun said again, "She's the woman I admire the most."
Hongjun asked, "Do you regret it?"
"I'm just a little uneasy." Yu Zaoyun answered.
Hongjun said again, "I did have a moment of confusion. I'm both a demon and a human. It wasn't my intention for the human race to drive out the demon race. I also didn't want to see the demon race slaughter the human race. "
Yu Zaoyun said, "But the facts are set. We can't change all of this."
Hongjun replied softly, "Do my father and mother count?"
Yu Zaoyun said, "But they're both dead."
Hongjun said, "Fox King, are you willing to be a ray of light that burns your life to illuminate the darkness and the long night? Or are you willing to be an endless rain that falls on this earth for thousands of years?"
Yu Zaoyun: "…"
Yu Zaoyun jumped down from the beam and landed on the bed. Hongjun said in a daze, "When it comes to knowing that you're going to die, no one understands it better than me. I used to treat every day with Jinglong and the Exorcism Division as the last day of my life."
"Now that I think about it, the days in Chang 'an are really beautiful." Hongjun said, "Just like the flowers blooming in spring and the red leaves covering the mountains and plains in autumn. Although it's very short, I've seen it all. The mushroom doesn't know the day and night, the cricket doesn't know the spring and autumn. After a hundred years, Li Jinglong and I will leave. We won't be like you, able to witness the future and witness the destined death … "
"… But what does that matter?" Hongjun looked sideways at Yu Zaoyun and said, "I still believe that —"
The sun rose, and a bird's cry came from afar, interrupting Hongjun's words. He turned over and got down from the bed with the Thousand Possibilities Chain. He asked, "Where's the Ghost King?"
"Waiting for you." The Ghost King said from outside the door. "I'm a stubborn person."
Hongjun put away the Immortal Slaying Flying Knife and the Five-colored Divine Light. Even if he couldn't control them yet, he couldn't fight with Qing Xiong now. He pushed the door open. It was a sunny day, and the sunlight immediately poured in and fell on his body.
"Let's go." Hongjun said.
Li Jinglong and the other exorcists left the ruins of the Exorcism Division. Everyone packed up and the sun rose high. Li Jinglong spread out his hands and looked down at the cloth in his hands.
"Everyone." Li Jinglong turned around and faced the exorcists, saying, "Although the Art of War says that we shouldn't fight an unprepared war …"
Everyone looked at Li Jinglong quietly.
"… But the arrow is on the bow, and it has to be shot." Li Jinglong said again, "Even if it's a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, I have to go. I implore everyone to follow me."
Everyone cheered in unison. Li Jinglong turned around and got on his horse. The exorcists got on their horses one after another and rode towards the Ming Hall in the morning sun.
Behind the Ming Hall, nearly a hundred thousand demonic beasts were waiting. The Golden-Winged Roc spread its wings and circled down. The altar was surrounded by demonic beasts. Yuan Kun stood quietly on the altar.
Qing Xiong transformed into a human body. The sun shone on the snow-white rebuilt altar.
"Did you get anything?" Yuan Kun asked.
"Nothing." Qing Xiong replied. The two exchanged simple information. Qing Xiong chose to ambush Li Jinglong on the last night, but he didn't get any useful information.
Yuan Kun replied coldly, "Let's begin."
Qing Xiong said, "They didn't come."
Around the altar, the makeshift brick walls were densely packed with birds. The Water Clan, Ten Thousand Beasts, and Birds Clan gathered. Then, the sound of armor rang out. Fifty thousand ghouls rode in under the leadership of the Ghost King and surrounded the altar, forming a circle.
"People of the Demon Clan, birds, beasts, aquatic creatures, and … ghouls, all members here, I believe that last night, you all saw Kun Shen's prophecy." Qing Xiong went straight to the point, "From today onwards, there will no longer be a place for our clan …"
Hongjun mixed in with the ghouls and ghouls. He pushed his helmet up slightly and stared at Du Hanqing, who was walking up the stairs in front of the altar. He dragged the chain, his clothes were ragged, and he was so weak that a gust of wind could blow him down at any time. After climbing up the altar, he helplessly turned his head and looked into the distance.
"Thank you." Hongjun whispered, "Let me take care of the rest …"
On the altar, Qing Xiong said in a clear voice, "The reason is that the Demon King of our clan colluded with the exorcists in the human world …"
"I don't agree!" Immediately, a voice shouted.
Hongjun, "!!!"
Hongjun turned his head to look for the voice. On the high wall, there were two golden pheasants, one red and one green!
Hongjun didn't expect that in the end, it would be the green pheasant and the red pheasant who spoke up for him. He almost cried.
"His Majesty has gone through countless tribulations," the green pheasant said. "If he didn't work with the exorcists to eradicate Tianma, we would've become An Lushan's vassals. Have you forgotten how our brothers were controlled by Tianma? Now, you want to burn the bridge after crossing it? "
The red pheasant whispered, "Do you want to die?"
"Since the Golden-Winged Roc has become the king, the first people it wants to kill are us and that carp," the green pheasant whispered, "We can't live!"
The demon race instantly became restless. Qing Xiong's face turned livid, and he shouted angrily, "How dare you! When is it your turn to speak?! "
"Master Qing Xiong said it before," a woman standing below the altar said softly. A woman standing under the altar said gently, "From now on, there will no longer be the danger of being invaded by the Devil Qi and the suffering of being homeless. We will always remember this. His Majesty and the exorcists in the human world have been running around for this for their entire lives. In the end, they actually ended up like this.
Hongjun turned his head again, as if he had seen the woman before, but he couldn't remember who she was.
"Who are you?" Even with Qing Xiong's sharp eyes, he couldn't recognize the woman's origin.
"I'm just a peony on Longmen Mountain." The woman was the flower demon who was controlled by the "lust" of wine, sex, avarice, and anger. She continued, "The Chief Exorcist, Li Jinglong, saved my life. Kun Shen was also imprisoned back then. How can you repay kindness with enmity?"
Instantly, the demon crowd was in an uproar. Many demons didn't care about Qing Xiong and Yuan Kun. This was a situation that Qing Xiong never expected.
Fortunately, another side shouted, "Li Jinglong's sins are monstrous! We can't let him off easily! Back then, my brothers, sisters, parents, and relatives all died at the hands of Li Jinglong! "
The voice came from the Beast Clan. Yu Zaoyun suddenly turned his head and saw that it was from the Fox Clan under his command. Back then, his family was burned to death by Li Jinglong during the imperial examination.
Where was Li Jinglong? Hongjun's heart beat faster and faster. He kept looking for the exorcists out of the corner of his eyes, but none of them appeared.
Yu Zaoyun didn't scold the demons under his command. For a moment, the square under the altar gradually became noisy. The voices of discussion were like a flood. There was no lack of bloodthirsty, cruel, and murderous demons here. There were also those who were gentle and close to the human race. But whether it was the ferocious beasts, birds, or fishes, their thoughts were mostly similar. They were unwilling to be led by Tianma. This was because the demons controlled by the Devil Qi had already lost their sense of self. They only killed for the sake of killing. This went against the nature of the birds and beasts, who didn't want to fight after filling their stomachs. Moreover, An Lushan didn't even let the Blood Demons go. He actually swallowed his own generals to replenish his Devil Qi. This was really terrifying.
"The human race can't be left alive!" Another tiger demon roared.
The demons were in a heated discussion. Demons born from ferocious beasts and birds of prey attached great importance to the division of "territory".
"But there's only one Demon King!" Another wolf demon shouted, "I only listen to Mahamayuri!"
The hundred thousand Monster Race members discussed incessantly, their emotions surging. Seeing that a civil war was about to break out, only the Battle Ghoul Clan was extremely disciplined and remained unmoved. Suddenly, the hubbub gradually stopped and was replaced by another commotion.