C73 Five Hundred Topclass Demons

The Third Fleet, a formidable presence, had completely enveloped the skies above the forest that Chu Yi and his companions had made their base. The forest was vast, a necessity for the training they had undertaken there. Yet, beneath the overwhelming shadow of the Third Fleet, it was reduced to seeming inconsequential.

Demonic Beasts of all kinds, including those that reigned over the skies, were now cowering within the dense woods, trembling. Had the allure of the secret realm not been so compelling, they would have likely fled at the first sight of the Third Fleet.

From within the ranks of the Third Fleet, a figure emerged slowly. He was a middle-aged man exuding authority. His features were unremarkable, yet he left a lasting impression.

Chu Yi looked up, his gaze settling on the man in the simple military uniform, his eyes reflecting a spark of recognition.

"Who is he?" Lee Zi asked, her brow furrowed in curiosity.

She didn't possess Chu Yi's keen sight to discern the man's features from such a distance. Chu Yi relayed the man's appearance to Lee Zi, who gasped in excitement, her eyes gleaming, "That must be General Zhou Guorong."

General—a title that signified one of the highest ranks within the military hierarchy in both the world they left behind and the one they now inhabited.

"What's his strength?" Chu Yi asked, a flicker of eagerness in his eyes.

He had never witnessed it firsthand, but General Zhou Guorong seemed to exude a power that surpassed even that of War God Luo.

"The exact strength of General Zhou Guorong is shrouded in secrecy. However, rumors suggest he has attained the Second Realm of the War God, reaching the esteemed Sky Level," Lee Zi shared.

Sky Level War God? Chu Yi wasn't entirely familiar with the rankings, but he knew it was only a matter of time before he would understand them fully. He nodded thoughtfully.

"Chu Yi, what's our next move?" Lee Zi inquired.

Under normal circumstances, Lee Zi might have opted to remain hidden, following Chu Yi's strategy until an opportunity to slip away presented itself amidst the chaos. But this was Zhou Guorong—a man who was not only one of the Adirang Region's Ten Great Generals but also known for his protective nature and his deep appreciation for talent. Anyone who caught the eye of Zhou Guorong often rose to prominence with his support.

Alternatively, if another War God from the Third Fleet were to make an appearance, they might disregard the well-being of Chu Yi and Lee Zi in favor of the bigger picture.

However, General Zhou Guorong was an exception.

He wasn't the type to disregard the bigger picture; rather, it was his formidable strength that set him apart!

With his capabilities, he should have been able to save them.

Chu Yi offered a wry smile as he caught Lee Zi's eyes brimming with hope.

"Do you really think we can wait for a rescue in these conditions?"

Lee Zi was momentarily taken aback, then fell silent.

They weren't in a neutral zone or anywhere near the Third Fleet.

This place had essentially become the stronghold of the Demon Race.

The Demon Race might not dare to confront the Third Fleet head-on, but that didn't mean they would hesitate to kill two humans.

So, if they were to reveal themselves, they'd likely be killed on the spot!

"Moreover, do you honestly believe there are no Demon King Level beings among the Demon Race?"

No sooner had Chu Yi spoken than three figures emerged from the void.

They were distinct in appearance: a man as handsome as a human with wings sprouting from his back, a woman of unparalleled allure, and a monstrous bull-headed, human-bodied creature towering over five meters tall.

These were three Demon Kings!

Having ascended to Demon King status, these Demonic Beasts could now take on human forms.

Yet, most of the Demon Race scorned the idea of fully adopting a human guise, preferring to retain certain Demon Race traits as a mark of their supposed nobility.

"Aiyo, aiyo, who do we have here?"

"It's none other than our very own General Zhou Guorong!"

The enchanting woman stepped forward, exuding an otherworldly charm, yet Chu Yi could clearly detect the wariness lurking in the depths of her eyes.

Zhou Guorong faced the three Demon Kings, his expression stoic.

"You can stay here and await death, or..."

Zhou Guorong gestured towards the horizon: "Scram!"

At his words, the bull-headed Giant Demon seemed barely able to contain himself, as if he might charge at any moment.

But upon noticing that the other two Demon Kings made no move, he ultimately just stood there, breathing heavily.

Chu Yi's lips quirked slightly.

That subtle gesture was all he needed to understand that the intelligence of these Demon King Level beings was not so different from that of humans.

Even the bull-headed Giant Demon, who came across as a brute, managed to keep his emotions in check, a rarity indeed.

"General Zhou Guorong, don't go overboard."

"This territory was first discovered by our Demon Clan, so logically speaking..."

—

"I don't care about logic. In short, you either die or get lost!"

Such audacity!

Chu Yi felt a surge of excitement.

He suddenly saw Zhou Guorong's plain face in a new light; it seemed to glow, and he looked incredibly handsome!

The enchanting woman paused, clearly realizing that negotiations were off the table.

Her previously seductive demeanor had vanished, replaced by an icy coldness.

"It appears there's no further point in discussing this..."

Zhou Guorong gave her a glance, his expression laced with contempt.

"Since when did the Demon Clan earn the right to set terms with humans!"

The corners of the mouths of the three Demon Kings twitched. They were seething with anger but recognized the truth in Zhou Guorong's words.

Humans ruled this planet!

Were it not for the looming threat of higher extraterrestrial civilizations, humans, with their aggressive nature, might have already annihilated the Demon Clan without a second thought.

"Fifty years have passed..."

"Since the battle in the Northern Chuan Forbidden Zone, there has been peace between the Demon Clan and the Human Clan for half a century."

"It looks like today, you, General Zhou Guorong, will be the one to shatter that peace!"

Zhou Guorong's disdain remained unchanged.

"And what if I do break it?"

"Besides, you speak of peace?"

His scornful smile widened.

"Do you really think we humans are fools?"

Zhou Guorong pointed to the dense forest below, his eyes blazing with fury.

"I'm guessing that the students and teachers who came here for training have all been slaughtered by you..."

The winged man stepped forward, a curve of disdain on his lips.

"You kill me, I kill you. Isn't that the expected outcome when the Demon Clan and Human Clan meet?"

"It's all too normal!"

To this, Zhou Guorong didn't object but instead nodded in agreement.

"Yes, such occurrences are far too common."

"And so..."

In that instant, Zhou Guorong raised his arm, and the thousands of ships from the Third Fleet behind him began to tremble.

In a flash, countless beams of light converged, signaling that an attack was imminent.

Witnessing this, the complexions of the three great Demon Kings turned ashen.

"Prepare yourselves..."

—

"Wait a moment!"

The enchanting woman interjected urgently.

At that instant, every demon in the dense forest felt their hearts leap into their throats.

Indeed, it wasn't just the demons; Chu Yi felt the same way!

He gazed at Zhou Guorong, swallowing nervously.

Chu Yi had not anticipated that General Zhou Guorong would be so unyielding, ready to engage in battle at the slightest provocation!

And yet—

There had been no provocation at all!

Should the Third Fleet's artillery barrage commence, it would spell certain doom for the demons.

And for Chu Yi and Lee Zi...

Their chances of survival were slim.

Thankfully, in the nick of time, the seductive woman called a halt to Zhou Guorong's actions.

Chu Yi exchanged a glance with the equally pallid Lee Zi, and after a moment's consideration, he suggested, "Let's stay alert and make our way toward the area where the secret realm is opening."

It was the only strategy Chu Yi could devise.

The emergence of the secret realm would generate intense spatial turbulence. Should a battle ensue, amidst the artillery's reach, that area would be the safest refuge.

Lee Zi was visibly overwhelmed.

She was, after all, an eighteen-year-old in the bloom of youth, and Chu Yi's presence meant she was no longer accustomed to making decisions.

With that, guided by Chu Yi's senses, they began to stealthily move toward a specific spot.

...

Zhou Guorong gave the opposition a measured look. His arms remained raised, yet he showed no sign of backing down.

Conversely, the three Demon Kings breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"Zhou Guorong, are you truly intent on unleashing slaughter?!"

"Do you honestly believe that your people, or to be precise, the Adirang Region, has the capacity to withstand the simultaneous upheaval of the three forbidden zones?!"

These three Demon Kings hailed from three of the four most formidable forbidden zones within the Adirang Region.

Excluding the enigmatic Silverdeer, representatives in the form of Demon Kings emerged from the remaining three zones.

Zhou Guorong regarded the trio of Demon Kings with an icy stare. Then, his arms began to lower.

As Zhou Guorong's arm descended past the halfway mark, the three Demon Kings could no longer contain themselves. They emitted three distinct sounds, and in a flash, the heavens and the earth began to quake. The next moment, over five hundred figures materialized!

Five hundred...

Each one a peak Demonic Beast of terrifying prowess. The prior assembly of fifty peak Demonic Beasts was already daunting, but now there were tenfold that number! Zhou Guorong's pupils narrowed at the sight.

Not even the three most formidable forbidden lands could muster five hundred top-tier Demonic Beasts in one go. It wasn't that they lacked the capability. Even the Black Forbidden Ground, the least powerful among the Four Forbidden Grounds, could unleash nearly a thousand top-tier Demonic Beasts in a frenzy.

But these were the reserves, the very essence of the forbidden lands. To deploy them signified a battle of life and death. Moreover, not even Silverdeer, the premier forbidden ground of the world, could produce five hundred top-tier Demonic Beasts at once!

These five hundred Demonic Beasts had seemingly drawn upon every ounce of available strength, save for that of the Silverdeer. Witnessing this, a peculiar glint flashed in Zhou Guorong's eyes.

"This secret realm," he mused, "is truly extraordinary."