The Gale Sea Area was the most crucial part of Hong Yuan’s territory.

Should it fall, the Zero Desolate Army would be completely exposed to the enemy, allowing their free movement, which bore significant strategic importance.

Therefore, Hong Yuan stationed the Demon Soldiers of the Nine Oceanic Battalion there and even appointed Li Jianqiu, a Tao Species-level figure, to oversee the overall situation.

"Zhang Fan has suffered a crushing defeat, and Shuang Yuesheng has already withdrawn from the Ten Thousand Domains struggle..."

Ji Qingxue’s face was as pale as paper. She couldn’t stop trembling as she relayed the frontline battle report in a quivering voice.

This battle report was too frightening. They had only engaged the enemy for a day, yet their allies were slaughtered so swiftly that there was hardly any room to react. It truly was far-fetched to oppose the One Hundred and Eight Oceanic Battalion with just the Eighteen Oceanic Battalion.

"Heh, there’s no need to be so panicked. After all, it’s normal for the defense to collapse when the three major Tao Species exert their strength simultaneously," Li Jianqiu said in a soothing voice.

She extended her delicate, jade-like hand and took Ji Qingxue’s slender, pale hand, comforting her. "I heard you have affection for Xuan Guangqiao, but this kind of behavior is hardly fitting for him. Be strong, defend your position well, and create an opportunity for Xuan Guangqiao."

Ji Qingxue’s cheeks flushed at Li Jianqiu’s words, her snow-white rabbit ears giving off a faint heat.

She did indeed have a certain fondness for Xuan Guangqiao. After all, he was around her age, handsome in appearance, and a top Heavenly Talent who overawed his peers.

But she had never spoken of these feelings to anyone else.

Li Jianqiu’s carp-like eyes seemed to see through everything as she continued in a gentle tone, "Your affection is apparent to everyone. Strive harder, and don’t fail your status as a Slave Tao Master."

Ji Qingxue silently nodded. Yes, she couldn’t let her abilities go to waste.

A Slave Tao Master held a position of considerable importance on the battlefield.

「An hour later.」

Zhu Jiushi, leading the Overbearing Pig Army that had breached Zhang Fan’s defenses, was the first to arrive at the border defenses of the Gale Sea Area.

The gales were fierce, whipping up the waves.

The harsh environment of this place caused the Demon Soldiers of the Overbearing Pig Army to stand unsteadily, forcing them to use Demon Skills to stabilize themselves.

"Gale Sea Area, I’ve arrived first—seems like Destiny favors me, hahaha."

Zhu Jiushi stood on the deck of the warship, his battle flag fluttering beside him. He surveyed the surroundings. Upon learning that neither Lang Fanyun nor Liu Hongde, the other two Tao Species, had yet arrived, his lips curled into an arrogant grin, and he burst into triumphant laughter.

Defending the Gale Sea Area is the newly-risen Tao Species, Li Jianqiu, merely a junior.

"Hear my command, full assault!!!"

Zhu Jiushi decisively issued the order, intending to capture the Gale Sea Area and achieve the title of Alliance Hierarch.

As the command was passed down, the Overbearing Pig Army recommenced its advance. Nearly a million Demon Soldiers followed behind the Thunder Rocs and the Sea Shark Beast Group, bearing down with full force.

The Thunder Rocs cried out, and the Sea Sharks roared.

The Overbearing Pig Demon Soldiers, relying on the Ferocious Beast Group, pressed forward relentlessly, utterly indifferent to casualties.

Their offensive, like a black cloud pressing down on a city, brought immense pressure to the Zero Desolate Defense Army.

"Sheer arrogance!" Li Jianqiu scoffed, a mix of anger and amusement in her voice.

With a wave of her hand, the defensive line fully activated. The heavens and earth suddenly bloomed with multicolored lights.

All kinds of triangular, quadrangular, and pentagrammatic Energy Arrays emerged.

These terrifying Energy Arrays acted like shredders, madly reaping the lives of the enemy soldiers!

Not only that, but the soldiers of the Zero Desolate Defense Army exerted their strength together, using the geographical advantages of the Gale Sea Area to unleash a variety of Demon Skills.

"Ah! Save me!"

"Don’t retreat! To retreat is certain death!"

"No, please, I don’t—"

Countless screams rose from the Overbearing Pig Army. The expressions of several Slave Tao Masters were extremely grim.

The strength of the Gale Sea Area’s defenders surpassed their expectations; their full-on assault was an absolute mistake!

In just that brief period, the Overbearing Pig Army had lost more than a hundred thousand Demon Soldiers, a significant blow to their Essence Qi.

"HMPH!" Zhu Jiushi snorted angrily.

Stamping his foot, a huge wave surged where he stood, and he immediately soared into the air.

A large, earthen-yellow cauldron carved with nine mountain peaks suddenly appeared in his hand. He audaciously lifted it. Beneath the cauldron, nine gigantic mountains seemed to undulate, an immensely terrifying sight.

A sound that pierced the sky caught Li Jianqiu’s attention. She decisively ascended, twirling the oil-paper umbrella in her hand.

Beneath the dim clouds, her figure was ethereal, like a dream, an illusion.

Under the oil-paper umbrella, Tribulation Evil billowed. The black clouds roiled as if about to overturn, and a suffocating aura spread.

The roaring Black Cloud Tribulation Evil surged through the void, crashing violently against the nine great mountains manifested by the cauldron.

BANG.

BANG. BANG.

The black mist and the yellow light clashed, neutralizing each other.

"Li Jianqiu, this newly-promoted Tao Species, is actually on par with Zhu Jiushi?!"

Several great Demon Cultivators watched this scene with disbelief, almost suspecting they had fallen under an Illusion Tao Demon Skill. A slight difference in Dao Methods should mean a boundless disparity in strength!

Compared to Zhu Jiushi, Li Jianqiu was merely a young junior. The gap in their years of cultivation was at least over a hundred years.

Yet now, what unfolded before their eyes was two Tao Species fighting on equal terms.

"Junior, you’re quite something!"

Two streams of white smoke snorted from Zhu Jiushi’s nostrils. He furiously lifted the cauldron once more and immediately smashed it down.

Boundless thunder erupted from the cauldron, like wild thunder serpents.

But Li Jianqiu still met the attack!

Far from enough, far from enough, not even close to a tenth of Xuan Guangqiao’s. Li Jianqiu thought, her expression impassive as she calmly received the blow.

Ever since being soundly defeated by Hong Yuan, she had reflected deeply, repeatedly analyzing that battle whenever she found the time.

As a result, she had gained much, understanding even more the terror of Hong Yuan.

He had reached the verge of becoming a Demon Saint! 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

On the battlefield below.

"Slave Tao Demon Skill—Light Healing!" Ji Qingxue deployed her Demon Skill.

A warm, yellow light shone down, bathing the Zero Desolate Demon Soldiers and the Zero Desolate Beast Swarm.

They all felt a surge of energy; their wounds spontaneously healed, and they regained some of their strength.

With her Slave Tao methods, Ji Qingxue barely managed to protect the Zero Desolate Defense Army, keeping the battlefield situation stable.

For a time, the battlefield reached a stalemate, descending into a brutal war of attrition.

Whichever side broke the deadlock would achieve victory!

The sheer scale of the battle’s commotion thoroughly shook several sea areas.

Lang Fanyun, already en route, hastily urged his subordinates to quicken their pace.

Who exactly has arrived at the Gale Sea Area so quickly? Lang Fanyun’s eyes were deep, his mood quite unsettled.

Tao Species Liu Hongde also received the intelligence. "Mad Cow Army Corps, advance with me!"

Liu Hongde immediately left the main troops behind, leading his elite forces ahead.

The first to breach the Gale Sea Area would become the Alliance Hierarch! This condition was too crucial. It almost decided who would emerge as the final winner and who would take over the Green Dragon Heavenly Scenic Tower Demon Realm.

[Life Span +1,000]

[Life Span +1,000]

[...]

The data on the proficiency panel’s record scrolled rapidly, but Hong Yuan merely accepted it with an expressionless face.

Just a moment ago, he had received a secret report that the three great Tao Species were about to launch an attack on the Gale Sea Area.

Currently, he was leading the Black Dragon Army, racing towards the Gale Sea Area without pause.

「Gale Sea Area.」

Li Jianqiu had a difficult time repelling the Overbearing Pig Army led by Zhu Jiushi.

But one wave had barely settled before another arose. In just over an hour, Lang Fanyun, with his Swallowing Wolf Army, had already reached the defensive line of the Gale Sea Area!