Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The wind in Yunmengze stopped completely.

It didn't stop naturally; rather, it was forced to stop flowing by two completely different yet equally terrifying pressures.

On one side is the majestic imperial dragon aura, golden light filling the sky, representing the order and authority that governs all demons; on the other side is the Geng metal evil aura piled up like mountains of corpses and seas of blood, scarlet and dazzling, representing the slaughter and madness that disregards the rules.

The two forces collided silently in mid-air, instantly turning the reeds below into dust. Even the murky mud was flattened like a mirror, not daring to ripple even slightly.

Indra stood atop the dragon's head of the warship, his bright yellow dragon robe fluttering in the surging spiritual energy.

He did not rush to order an attack, but instead waved his hand to stop the restless guards and retainers behind him.

He looked at the white-haired youth floating in mid-air.

That was the person destined for tribulation mentioned by his master, the most prized disciple of that mad old Taoist, and the biggest variable in this game of chess in the Nine Provinces.

He didn't want to completely break ties with this mad tiger unless absolutely necessary.

"Bai Yin".

When Di Shitian spoke, his voice was not loud, but it was clearly transmitted to the ears of every living being present by the imperial dragon aura, carrying an undeniable majesty and weight.

"I know you are aloof and dislike worldly affairs. But Yunmeng Marsh is ultimately the territory of my Heavenly Demon Dynasty, and you are also a member of my demon race."

Bai Yin hovered in mid-air, with the hundred-foot-tall white tiger statue behind him baring its teeth at the warship.

He tilted his head, reached out and scratched his ear, looking impatient. His scarlet eyes were full of rage, like a wild beast awakened by flies.

"Enough with the nonsense." Bai Yin spat out four words, his voice hoarse, "Get lost, or die."

The worshippers on the warship turned pale with anger, and several commanders of the imperial guards even gripped the hilts of their swords.

In the Heavenly Demon Dynasty, no one has ever dared to be so disrespectful to His Majesty.

Indra, however, did not get angry.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and looked past Bai Yin down at the dark cave entrance.

Although the phantom of the nine-tailed celestial fox had dissipated, the primal aura that stirred his bloodline grew even stronger.

That was Master's only chance of survival.

"Bai Yin, do you know who is in that cave?" Di Shitian pointed downwards, his tone becoming urgent. "That is the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, an ancient auspicious creature, and the key to completing the Heavenly Dao! My master, who is now the pillar of the demon race, suffered a backlash from the Heavenly Dao in the past while protecting the demon race's fortune. Now, his Dao injury has erupted, and his life hangs by a thread."

"Only the lifeblood of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox can save my master's life and save countless lives of my demon race from this calamity!"

Di Shitian stepped forward, gripping the railing tightly with both hands, his voice tinged with pleading: "The human holy land is eyeing us covetously, and the demon race is stirring on the border. If my master perishes, the Heavenly Demon Dynasty will surely crumble, plunging the Nine Provinces into chaos and causing immense suffering. How can Yunmeng Marsh possibly remain unscathed then?"

"I do not intend to take what you love, but merely borrow her for a while. For the sake of the greater good, for the sake of the demon race, I implore you, make way!"

Indra spoke these words with genuine sincerity.

He is the Demon Emperor, bearing the weight of the rise and fall of his entire race.

In his view, sacrificing one person to save the world is a matter of course, and a decision that any rational demon would make.

However, standing opposite him was Bai Yin.

A madman who has no reason and doesn't care about the world.

Bai Yin listened to the whole thing.

His facial expression remained unchanged; he didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Are you done talking?" Bai Yin asked casually.

Emperor Shitian was taken aback, then nodded: "As long as you hand over the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, I swear I will never harm her. After taking her blood, I will use the entire nation's resources to help her recover. I can also bestow upon you the title of King of the Same Rank, to rule the world with me! You can use any of the rare treasures in the imperial treasury, and even... I can ask my master to personally guide your cultivation, helping you attain the Great Sage realm as soon as possible!"

These conditions are extremely generous.

A king who stands shoulder to shoulder with the emperor is truly second only to the emperor and above all others.

Rare and precious materials, guidance from a great sage—these are opportunities that countless cultivators dream of.

The worshippers on the warship listened with heavy breathing, wishing they could immediately agree on Bai Yin's behalf.

Bai Yin laughed.

The smile was extremely strange, stretching from the corners of his mouth to his ears, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth, exuding a chilling mockery.

"The bigger picture? The common people? The demon race?"

Bai Yin muttered these words as if he had heard some huge joke.

He suddenly raised his head, his scarlet eyes fixed on Di Shitian, the killing intent in his eyes erupting completely at this moment, transforming into a tangible blood-red storm that swept across the sky.

"None of my business."

Those four words, like a heavy hammer blow, shattered all of Indra's bargaining chips and reasoning.

"Whether your master lives or dies, whether the demon race is destroyed or not, whether the world is in chaos or not, what does it have to do with me?" Bai Yin took a step forward, the void beneath his feet shattering inch by inch. "All I know is that she is mine. Anyone who dares to touch a hair on her head, I will kill them."

"Don't even mention taking her blood; even if she sheds a single tear, I'll drag your entire dynasty down with me."

Di Shitian's face turned ashen, his chest heaving violently. He hadn't expected Bai Yin to be so unyielding.

"Bai Yin! You're so selfish!" Di Shitian roared. "For a woman, you're willing to abandon millions of your own kind? What kind of path do you cultivate? Do you have even a shred of the humanity of a demon?"

"Selfish?"

Bai Yin reached out and pulled a broken sword from the void.

That was the weapon he used when he killed those people from the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect. The blade was broken and covered with indelible black blood.

He gently stroked the blade, his eyes as tender as if he were looking at a lover, yet the words he uttered were utterly cold.

"I've always been selfish. I'm not some demon saint, nor am I some savior. I'm just a man-eating tiger."

"When this world wanted to kill me, no one came to my rescue. When this world wanted to force her to her death, no one spoke up for the greater good."

Bai Yin raised his broken sword, the tip pointing directly at Di Shitian's brow.

"Now that you're in trouble, you come to me to reason with me and talk about sacrifice? Dream on."

"My path is simple. It doesn't matter if everyone in this world dies, as long as she lives. If she dies, I will make this world pay for her death."

"This is my way."

The moment the words fell, the white tiger dharma image behind Bai Yin roared to the sky, its huge tiger claws tearing through the clouds, and with a world-destroying power, it slammed down on the warship.

If we can't reach an agreement, then let's kill.

As Indra looked at the terrifying attack coming towards him, the last glimmer of hope in his eyes was completely extinguished, replaced by the coldness and decisiveness of an emperor.

"Stubborn and obstinate."

Di Shitian coldly uttered four words. He drew his Emperor's Sword, and the golden sword light transformed into a five-clawed golden dragon, soaring into the sky to meet the tiger's claws.

"Since you lack any sense of propriety, then I will cleanse your sect on behalf of your master and raze your Yunmeng Marsh to the ground!"

boom!

When the dragon and tiger collide, the world changes color.

A terrifying shockwave spread outwards from the two people, instantly creating towering waves hundreds of feet high on the surface of Yunmeng Marsh, and countless reeds were reduced to ashes by this attack.

The array of light screens on the warship trembled violently, groaning under the strain.

Those Imperial Guards with weaker cultivation levels were blasted away, coughing up blood.

Bai Yin retreated a hundred feet, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but the red light in his eyes grew even more intense, the excitement of encountering prey.

Indra was also not in good shape; a corner of his dragon robe was torn by the evil energy, and his hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

He hadn't expected that this mad tiger's strength would be so formidable. Despite being only at the Transformation Realm, it was able to withstand his powerful cultivation, a Cave Profound Realm expert blessed with the imperial dynasty's fortune.

"All generals, heed my command!"

Indra raised his sword high, his voice icy and chilling.

"Form ranks! Slay this fiend! Capture the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox alive!"

"promise!"

The three thousand imperial guards roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

The three warships simultaneously turned their cannons, and destructive beams of spiritual energy condensed within the dark barrels.

The eight peak-level Venerables of the Casting Cauldron Realm each unleashed their magical treasures, which transformed into streams of light, blocking all of Bai Yin's escape routes.

This is an unequal war.

One person against one nation.

Bai Yin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and glanced at the quiet cave entrance behind him.

The cave entrance is protected by a barrier, preventing any outside noise from getting in.

She was still waiting for him to come back and make grilled fish.

"Don't be afraid."

Bai Yin murmured something softly, as if speaking to himself, or perhaps to the people inside the cave.

Then, he turned around to face the overwhelming enemy, to face the imperial army that was capable of crushing everything.

He didn't back down; instead, he laughed even more wildly.

His blood was boiling, his bones were cracking. The killing instinct that had been suppressed for years was released completely at this moment.

Come on!

Bai Yin roared, his white hair dancing wildly in the wind, like a demon crawling out of hell.

"If you want to get into this cave, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"

The malevolent energy of Geng metal surged into the sky, staining half the sky blood-red.

On this day, by the Yunmeng Marsh, Mad Tiger brandished his sword, facing a thousand troops alone.

Not for the sake of the common people, not for the greater good.

Just to protect that one and only light behind me.

[Conclusion of this chapter]

All imperial ambitions and grand achievements have turned to dust; only longing for you remains deep in my bones.

The emperor's son hangs a sword to save the world, while the madman merely serves as a gatekeeper.