Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

Three days later

Cangzhou, Pingyang City.

This normally peaceful border town has now become a sea of ​​cultivators.

Tens of thousands of cultivators of varying levels of skill gathered here, the air thick with a mixture of tension and excitement.

The Imperial Guards of the Great Qian Dynasty, clad in bright armor and wielding long halberds, lined both sides of the street to maintain order.

A figure quietly appeared on the makeshift platform; it was none other than Qian Tian, ​​the ruler of the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, you have arrived." The Grand Master hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

Qian Tian's gaze swept over the surging crowd below, and he said calmly, "Hmm! Have all the top forces arrived?"

The chief priest quickly took out a register, carefully checked it, and replied:

"Your Majesty, the Wanfo Temple, Xuanming Sect, Qingyun Sect, Xuanqing Taoism, and Xingchen Pavilion have all arrived as agreed. However... Yongyetian has not yet shown up."

Qian Tian's lips curled slightly, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes: "Oh? Yongye Tianyao..."

"Given their style, they must have arrived long ago, but they simply don't want to show themselves. There's no need to wait any longer."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the vicinity.

"Look! It's Emperor Qian! Our leader has arrived!"

"Greetings to Emperor Qian!"

The cultivators who recognized Qian Tian bowed respectfully, their shouts echoing throughout the city.

As Qian Tian stood on the high platform, receiving the greetings from numerous cultivators, an indescribable sense of pride welled up within him.

This is the majesty of an emperor.

Regardless of which side ultimately triumphs in this war against demons, his achievement as the leader of the alliance, leading everyone to save the world, will be etched in history for future generations to admire.

"All heroes, please rise."

Qian Tian raised his hand in a gesture, his voice carrying spiritual energy and spreading throughout the entire city.

"Thank you all for responding to the call and gathering here."

"The Blood Demon Ancestor and Bloodless Heaven of the Nine Nether Demon Sect have wreaked havoc in the Eastern Region and harmed countless lives for thousands of years. Today is their end!"

"Slay the Blood Demon Ancestor!"

"Slay Xue Wutian!"

"Crush the Nine Nether Demon Sect!"

A deafening roar erupted from below the stage; the cultivators were filled with fervor and their fighting spirit soared to the heavens.

Qian Tian nodded in satisfaction and continued, "A group of dragons cannot be without a leader. In addition to me serving as the leader, the alliance also needs to appoint two deputy leaders to assist in overall coordination."

His gaze swept across the entire hall, and he announced loudly, "Let Master Mingkong of Wanfo Temple serve as the first Vice Alliance Leader!"

Master Mingkong rose, clasped his hands together, and displayed just the right amount of solemnity on his face:

"Thank you for your trust, Emperor Qian and all of you. I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations."

After saying that, he intentionally or unintentionally released a trace of the aura of a peak Celestial Realm expert, which drew gasps of amazement from below.

"The second vice leader will be Leng Wuyai, the vice leader of the Xuanming Sect!"

A smug glint flashed in Leng Wuyai's eyes as he strode forward and cackled:

"Hehehe, since Emperor Qian thinks so highly of me, then I shall accept with the utmost courtesy!"

He was overjoyed. Although he hadn't won the position of leader, this position was enough to demonstrate the status of the Xuanming Sect.

"This Daqian is quite sensible."

Qian Tian originally intended to give the position of vice leader to the Star Pavilion, since the Star Pavilion's strength far surpassed that of the Xuanming Sect.

However, since Xing Xuanfeng had already stated that he would not participate in alliance affairs, he could only settle for second best.

Seeing this, the Qingyun Sect, Xuanqing Taoism, and other forces had no objections.

As for the first- and second-rate forces and rogue cultivators, they dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction and bowed again:

"Greetings, Alliance Leader! Greetings, both Vice Alliance Leaders!"

Qian Tian nodded in satisfaction and said in a deep voice, "Since we are an alliance, there must be rules."

"First, within the alliance, everyone must absolutely obey the commands of the alliance leader, deputy alliance leader, and elders of each sect! Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!"

"Secondly, anyone who retreats or flees during wartime will be executed without mercy!"

The two "No Mercy" pronouncements rang out like thunderclaps, calming the fanatical crowd and making them understand the alliance's discipline.

"To avoid conflict arising from the mixing of various forces, I divided the coalition into three routes."

Qian Tian continued, "Our Great Qian, together with the Xuanqing Daoist sect, will take the central route and strike straight at the heart of the enemy!"

"Vice Alliance Leader Mingkong, Vice Alliance Leader Leng Wuyai, and the other top forces, you may choose your own partners."

Upon hearing this, Master Mingkong turned his gaze to the direction of Qingyun Sect and said with a smile, "My Wanfo Temple has a connection with Qingyun Sect and is willing to travel the left path together with Vice Sect Master Yunhe."

Yunhe stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "I am willing to travel with Master Mingkong!"

Leng Wuyai looked towards the location of the Star Pavilion, where Xing Xuanfeng was holding a teacup, his expression indifferent.

Leng Wuyai's heart stirred. The Star Pavilion was mysterious and unpredictable, and its strength was not weak. Joining forces with them would at least ensure they wouldn't suffer losses. He then spoke to Xing Xuanfeng:

"Our Xuanming Sect is willing to walk the right path together with the Star Pavilion."

Xing Xuanfeng raised his eyes and responded with a faint "Mm".

"What about the Eternal Night Heaven?" Master Mingkong suddenly asked. "Since they have agreed to participate, why haven't they shown up yet?"

Qian Tian waved his hand: "Don't worry about them! They may not have arrived yet, or they may not want to show themselves. Let them be!"

"Right now, the priority is to wipe out the Nine Nether Demon Sect."

Although the other forces were somewhat dissatisfied with Yongyetian's arrogance, they knew that this was not the time to dwell on the matter, and they all nodded in agreement.

Qian Tian continued in a loud voice:

"The left route is under the command of Wanfo Temple and Qingyun Sect."

"The right route is under the command of the Xuanming Sect and the Star Pavilion."

"The central route is under the control of our Great Qian and the Xuanqing Taoism."

"Other first- and second-rate forces and independent cultivators may choose to follow a particular path."

"Half an hour later, the three armies set off simultaneously, their destination—the Nine Nether Abyss!"

"Yes, sir!"

All forces responded enthusiastically and began to assemble their troops in an orderly manner, plunging the entire city of Pingyang into a busy yet organized atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in an inconspicuous restaurant in Pingyang City, three figures were hidden in the shadows, taking in everything below.

Yan Guiren, carrying a long halberd, fixed his gaze on Qian Tian on the high platform, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes:

"I never expected the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty to come in person. Rumor has it that he has already reached the realm of a terrestrial immortal. It seems that this trip to the Nine Nether Abyss will be even more exciting than I imagined."

Yan Shisan gripped the sword hilt, his eyes sharp:

"Da Qian was the initiator of the Demon Extermination Alliance and also obtained the position of alliance leader. It would be unreasonable for him, as the alliance leader, not to show up."

"However... these three groups, though seemingly organized, are actually each with their own agendas, and I'm afraid they won't go far."

Li Xunhuan toyed with the throwing knife in his hand and chuckled softly:

"Hehe, the more lively it is, the better. The more people there are, the bigger the chaos, and the easier it will be for us to find out the truth."

"Let's see what trump cards Blood Demon Ancestor and Blood Wutian are hiding."

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

"Set off!"

With Qian Tian's command, the three armies, like three giant dragons, marched majestically towards the Nine Nether Abyss.

The footsteps of tens of thousands of cultivators converged, causing the earth to tremble slightly, and a murderous aura soared to the sky.

Yan Guiren and his two companions exchanged a glance, their figures blurring as they moved.

Like a ghost, it blended into the shadows, silently following behind the allied forces, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far.