From the fake emperor to the concubine

"Our Heavenly Serpent Sect was already weak; how could we possibly be a match for him! We're on the verge of total annihilation!"

"Then why have you come looking for us?" Zheng Tianhao asked coldly. "When you betrayed us before, didn't you think about the consequences?"

"Chief Zheng, we know we were wrong! We really know we were wrong!" Serpent King kowtowed repeatedly. "Please, for the sake of us being human, save us!"

"Fellow human beings?" Zheng Tianhao sneered. "When Qi Yang threatened you back then, why didn't you think of yourselves as fellow human beings?"

"I..." Serpent King was speechless for a moment.

"Chieftain, what should we do?" an elder asked in a low voice.

This is indeed a difficult problem. Logically speaking, the Heavenly Serpent Sect betrayed the Zheng family in the past, and their current predicament is entirely their own fault.

But emotionally speaking, it's always hard to bear seeing one's own kind being slaughtered by the demon race.

"To save or not to save?" Everyone was torn.

Just then, Zheng Yi's avatar suddenly spoke:

"save."

A single, simple word stunned everyone present.

"Ancestor" Zheng Tianhao was somewhat puzzled, "Before the Heavenly Serpent Sect..."

“I know what they did before,” Zheng Yi interrupted Zheng Tianhao, “but the situation is different now.”

"Ancestor, what do you mean?"

"If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold," Zheng Yi's avatar slowly said. "If the Heavenly Serpent Sect is completely wiped out by Blood Slaughter, its strength will inevitably increase again. At that time, we will be facing an even more powerful enemy."

Upon hearing this explanation, everyone suddenly understood.

Indeed, the reason Blood Butcher is so powerful is largely because he has absorbed the essence and blood of countless cultivators. If he were to slaughter another sect, his strength would undoubtedly reach an even higher level.

By then, even if Zheng Yi were to incarnate, he might not be able to secure a victory.

"Furthermore," Zheng Yi continued, "the fact that Blood Butcher attacked the Heavenly Serpent Sect instead of us first indicates a change in his strategy."

"What strategy?" Zhang Yunfan asked curiously.

"Divide and conquer," Zheng Yi said in a deep voice. "He wants to eliminate other forces first, accumulate strength, and then deal with us."

"In that case, when he arrives at the Zheng family's residence, we will truly be isolated and helpless."

“I see.” Zheng Tianhao understood. “So we must stop his plan.”

“That’s right.” Zheng Yi’s avatar nodded. “Saving the Heavenly Serpent Sect now isn’t for their sake, but for our own.”

"But Ancestor, what if this is Blood Butcher's trap?" an elder asked worriedly. "If we go to rescue the Heavenly Serpent Sect, we'll just fall into his trap."

"So what?" Zheng Yi smiled calmly. "Since we have to face it sooner or later, let's take the initiative. It's better than being passively attacked."

"Furthermore, fighting on the territory of the Heavenly Serpent Sect means that even if we are defeated, we can retreat in time. But if we fight on our Zheng family's territory, a defeat would mean total annihilation."

Hearing this analysis, everyone had to admire Zheng Yi's wisdom.

"Our ancestor is wise!" Zheng Tianhao said, bowing respectfully. "Then let's set off immediately to provide assistance!"

“No,” Zheng Yi shook his head. “We don’t need to send everyone. Too many people will only make us easier targets.”

"Then who should we send?"

Zheng Yi looked at everyone present, his gaze finally settling on Zhang Yunfan:
"Yunfan, would you like to come with me?"

"Master, do you mean it's just the two of us going?" Zhang Yunfan asked, somewhat surprised.

“That’s right.” Zheng Yi nodded. “Too many people would actually hinder our operations, and Blood Slaughter’s primary target is you. Bringing others along would only increase casualties.”

"What if you and Yunfan both..." Zheng Tianhao said worriedly.

"Don't worry," Zheng Yi said confidently. "A mere Blood Butcher poses no threat to us."

"Moreover, this is also an opportunity for Yunfan to gain experience. A peak Golden Core opponent is not someone you can encounter casually."

Hearing his master say this, Zhang Yunfan felt both excited and nervous.

Being able to fight against a peak Golden Core expert is indeed a rare opportunity. However, at the same time, this level of battle is also extremely dangerous.

“Master, I’m ready,” Zhang Yunfan said firmly.

“Very good.” Zheng Yi, in his avatar, nodded in satisfaction, then said to the kneeling Serpent King, “Get up, lead the way.”

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you so much, Ancestor! Thank you so much, Ancestor!" The Venomous Serpent Lord was so excited that tears streamed down his face. "The entire Heavenly Serpent Sect will never forget the Zheng family's great kindness!"

"Enough with the nonsense, what's the situation now?" Zheng Yi asked in his avatar.

"Reporting to Ancestor, when I left, General Blood Butcher was still slaughtering our disciples," Serpent Lord said urgently. "But thanks to the mountain-protecting formation and some secret passages, quite a few should still be able to hold out."

"How long can the mountain-protecting formation hold out?"

"At most half an hour," Serpent King said bitterly. "General Blood Butcher is too strong; our mountain-protecting formation won't hold him off for long."

"Half an hour," Zheng Yi calculated the time, "that's enough."

"Yunfan, let's go."

"Yes, Master."

The two took to the air and flew towards the Heavenly Serpent Sect. The Poisonous Serpent Lord and several Heavenly Serpent Sect disciples quickly followed.

Inside the Zheng family mansion, everyone watched the two figures disappear into the distance, feeling somewhat worried.

"Clan leader, are the ancestors and the others in danger?" an elder asked.

"Probably not." Although Zheng Tianhao said this, he was also somewhat uneasy. "The ancestor's strength is unfathomable, and Yun Fan is no ordinary person either."

"But Blood Butcher is, after all, a general of the demon race."

"Trust the Ancestor," Zheng Tianhao said firmly. "Since he's decided to take action, he must be confident."

Meanwhile, on the way to the Heavenly Serpent Sect, Zhang Yunfan couldn't help but ask:
"Master, are you really confident you can defeat Blood Butcher?"

"Confidence?" Zheng Yi smirked. "Yunfan, remember, there is no absolute certainty on the path of cultivation, only relative strength."

"What do you mean?"

"My strength is indeed above Blood Butcher's, but he's no pushover either," Zheng Yi's avatar said seriously. "So in this battle, you must go all out and not be careless in the slightest."

"This disciple understands." Zhang Yunfan nodded.

"There's one more thing," Zheng Yi's avatar continued, "Blood Butcher's operation this time is likely not a solo effort; the demon race may have other plans."

"Other arrangements?"

"Hmm," Zheng Yi's avatar said in a deep voice, "Since the demon race has decided to launch a large-scale invasion, they won't just send one Blood Butcher. There are likely other powerful figures secretly supporting them."

"Therefore, this time we not only need to defeat Blood Butcher, but also figure out the true purpose of the demon race."

Hearing his master's words, Zhang Yunfan became even more vigilant.

It seems this battle is far more complex than it appears on the surface. Soon, the mountain range where the Heavenly Serpent Sect is located came into view.

From afar, they could see a thick blood mist shrouding the Heavenly Serpent Gate, with wisps of demonic energy rising into the sky.

"Ancestor, it's just ahead," said the Serpent Lord, pointing ahead. "General Blood Slaughter is right there."

“I sensed it.” Zheng Yi’s avatar nodded. “A very strong demonic aura, definitely at the peak of the Golden Core stage.”

"Master, should we just charge straight in?" Zhang Yunfan asked.

"No rush," Zheng Yi, in his disguise, stopped him. "Observe the situation first. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

The three stopped on a mountain peak several miles away from the Heavenly Serpent Gate and began to observe the situation on the battlefield.

The Heavenly Serpent Sect's protective array was riddled with holes and on the verge of collapse. Above the array, Blood Butcher rode his Shadow Dragon, relentlessly attacking, each strike causing the array to tremble violently.

Inside the great formation, the remaining disciples of the Heavenly Serpent Sect hid in fear, awaiting the final moment.

"It seems Blood Butcher hasn't discovered us yet," Zheng Yi's avatar analyzed. "His entire focus is currently on breaking through the formation."

"Master, shall we make our move now?" Zhang Yunfan asked eagerly.

"Wait a little longer," Zheng Yi shook his head. "I have a feeling something's not right."

Something's not right?

"Blood Butcher's attack looks fierce, but he's not actually using his full strength," Zheng Yi's avatar observed carefully. "With his strength, it shouldn't take him this long to break through the Heavenly Serpent Sect's protective formation."

"You mean he's deliberately stalling for time?"

“Very likely.” Zheng Yi nodded. “What is he waiting for, or rather, whom is he waiting for?”

Just then, a piercing whistling sound suddenly came from the sky.

Immediately afterwards, two more powerful demonic auras rapidly approached from a distance.

"They're here." A hint of seriousness flashed in Zheng Yi's avatar's eyes. "As expected, it's not just Blood Butcher alone."

Soon, two figures appeared above the Heavenly Serpent Gate.

One was a tall, minotaur-like monster with a human body, wielding a massive warhammer, and exuding an earthy, demonic aura.

The other is a female demon with a snake tail, wielding two swords, and moving as swiftly as the wind.

"General Bull Demon, Lady Snake Princess." Blood Butcher bowed respectfully upon seeing the two arrive.

"Blood Slaughter, why hasn't it been resolved yet?" the minotaur asked in a gruff voice.

"Reporting to General Bull Demon, I am awaiting the arrival of both of you so that we may discuss our next course of action," Blood Butcher replied respectfully.

"Next move?" the Snake Queen's effeminate voice rang out. "Wasn't it agreed that we'd start with these minor sects before dealing with the Zheng family?"

“That’s right,” Blood Butcher nodded, “but I think we need to be even more cautious.”

"Caution?" General Bull Demon said disdainfully. "What's there to be cautious about when dealing with a bunch of human ants?"

“General, you are unaware of this,” Blood Butcher explained, “that Zhang Yunfan is no ordinary person, and the Zheng family also has a mysterious ancestor.”

"Ancestor?" The Snake Queen's interest was piqued. "What is his cultivation level?"

"It's said to be the Nascent Soul stage," Blood Butcher answered truthfully.

"Nascent Soul stage?" Both General Bull Demon and Snake Queen were taken aback.

If it really is a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, then we do need to be cautious.

"However," Blood Butcher continued, "according to our intelligence, that ancestor has been in seclusion for over a decade and shouldn't emerge easily."

"In that case, there's nothing to worry about." General Bull Demon waved his hand. "With the three of us joining forces, so what if they really are at the Nascent Soul stage?"

"The general is right," Snake Queen nodded in agreement. "Humans at the Nascent Soul stage are different from our demon race; their strength is somewhat weaker."

Hearing the conversation between the three powerful demons, Zhang Yunfan, who was hiding in the distance, became serious.

"Master, three demon generals have arrived!"

"It seems the demon race came prepared this time," Zheng Yi's avatar said in a deep voice. "Three peak Golden Core cultivators are indeed not easy to deal with."

"Should we still save them?" Zhang Yunfan asked.

"Of course I'll save them." A glint of fighting spirit flashed in Zheng Yi's eyes. "Since they're here, let's take them all out."

"But Master, three peak Golden Core cultivators..."

"Don't worry." Zheng Yi patted Zhang Yunfan on the shoulder. "Trust your master's abilities."

"Besides, this is also a good opportunity for you to improve your combat experience. You'll take care of one of them, and I'll handle the rest."

"Me, dealing with a peak Golden Core cultivator?" Zhang Yunfan doubted his own hearing.

"What? No confidence?" Zheng Yihua said with a smile.

"It's not that I lack confidence," Zhang Yunfan said with a wry smile, "it's just that I think it's too crazy."

"The path of cultivation is inherently defying the heavens," Zheng Yi's avatar said earnestly. "If you can't even overcome this little difficulty, how can you go any further?"

“Master is right.” Zhang Yunfan took a deep breath, a determined glint in his eyes. “I’m willing to give it a try.”

"Very good." Zheng Yi nodded in satisfaction. "Then let's..."

Before he could finish speaking, the protective array of the Heavenly Serpent Sect finally gave way and collapsed completely.

"Hahaha! It's finally broken!" General Bull Demon laughed wildly as he charged into the formation.

"Let the slaughter begin!" Snake Princess licked her lips excitedly.

"Wait!" Just as the three powerful demons were about to unleash their fury, a majestic voice came from afar.

"Since you're here, why rush to leave?"

As the majestic voice rang out, a beam of white light rose slowly from the distant mountain peak, like the rising sun at dawn, instantly dispelling the blood mist and demonic aura that shrouded the Heavenly Serpent Sect.

Zheng Yi appeared as if stepping through the air, his white robes fluttering, his expression calm, as if he were not there for a life-or-death battle, but for an ordinary gathering.

Behind him, Zhang Yunfan followed closely, holding the Void-Breaking Sword. Although he was nervous, his eyes were firm.

"Who goes there?" Blood Butcher immediately became alert upon seeing the person approaching.

But when he sensed the aura emanating from Zheng Yi's avatar, he was instantly struck by lightning.

"The Nascent Soul stage?" Blood Butcher's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! Wasn't the Zheng family's ancestor in seclusion?"

"Seclusion?" Zheng Yi smiled faintly. "Who says someone in seclusion can't come out for a walk?"

General Bull Demon and Snake Princess also sensed the terrifying aura emanating from Zheng Yi's incarnation, and their expressions instantly turned solemn.

A Nascent Soul cultivator is on a completely different level. Even if the three of them joined forces, their chances of winning were extremely slim.

"Gentlemen, what brings you here from afar?" Zheng Yi, in his avatar, stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm, yet the oppressive aura emanating from him made all the demons present feel suffocated. (End of Chapter)