Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

Yuan Tiangang got up, walked to the window, and pushed open the carved wooden window.

"Instruct all strongholds in Qingzhou to record the names of all forces that come to investigate."

"Just keep an eye on the spies' movements; don't get involved in anything else!"

Yuan Tiangang's voice drifted away on the wind, carrying a hint of unfathomable meaning.

"Yes, sir!"

The dark figure bowed and accepted the order, then transformed into a streak of light and disappeared from the hall.

In the side hall, only Yuan Tiangang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze distant, and a very faint smile on his lips.

....

Within three days, the Nine Netherworld Demon Shadow swept across the outskirts of Qingzhou.

Elder Blood Fiend, Protector Corruption, and Protector Mad Monarch, riding the rolling demonic wind, swept low through the sky. Wherever they passed, dark clouds pressed down on the city, and resentment soared to the sky.

This group of fiends, already seething with rage over the deaths of the two demons, sped along...

Whenever he encounters an unruly force or a spy peeking around, he unleashes his full-blown violence.

"So noisy!"

When they passed by Qing Shi Village, only a few patrolling disciples glanced at them from afar before Elder Xue Sha unleashed a blood-red demonic aura.

With a deafening roar, the century-old village wall collapsed, sending rubble and screams soaring into the sky.

The cultivators within the stronghold hastily unleashed their magical treasures to resist, but were enveloped by a cloud of dark green miasma casually scattered by the Corruption Protector.

In the blink of an eye, it turned into puddles of foul-smelling pus, and before it could even let out a few screams.

The Mad Lord Protector was even more bloodthirsty; his bony claws tore open the chests of the fleeing disciples.

He crushed those still-beating hearts, and his maniacal laughter shook the mountains and forests.

"Run? Where do you think you're going! Daring to spy on the Demonic Sect's actions, you're courting death!"

The entire population of Qingshi Village, numbering over three hundred, was wiped out, not even chickens or dogs remained.

Wherever the demonic flames reached, small forces were annihilated.

Some powerful local lords attempted to unite with surrounding forces to resist.

However, the Mad Monarch Protector slapped the main hall of the mountain gate to pieces and, in front of all the disciples, snapped the sect leader's neck.

Even more so, there are the vassal families who depend on the powerful clans, relying on their backing to dare to speak out and rebuke them.

But the Corruption Protector merely sneered, grabbed the elder who had shouted out from afar, and crushed his head.

"Your master?"

The corrupted being casually flicked away the brain matter from his fingertips, his crimson gaze sweeping over the trembling crowd.

"Let him come, I'll kill him all!"

The major sect behind that sect leader didn't dare utter a single word from beginning to end.

The Blood Fiend group simply bypassed the territory of a top-tier power.

As they passed through Liuyun City, which was under the jurisdiction of the Qingyun Sect, the protective array on the city wall shone brightly, and the guarding disciples drew their swords.

Elder Blood Fiend merely glanced at it, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.

Elder Chiyuan's parting words still echoed in his ears—this time, the intention was to seek revenge on the swordsman and the mysterious celestial being; there was no need to break ties with the top powers too early.

As for those small and medium-sized forces without background or backing, they have long been terrified.

Long before the demonic figure arrived, they had already packed their belongings and fled in panic, hoping to escape the sight of this malevolent god.

In an instant, the outskirts of Qingzhou were filled with panic and the ground was littered with corpses.

The setting sun, like blood, stained the broken walls and ruins red.

In the taverns of various places, the monks whispered among themselves, filled with fear and resentment, yet also with a hint of apprehension that they dared not utter aloud.

"They've gone mad! These monsters are absolutely insane!"

A rogue monk dressed in a blue robe trembled uncontrollably as he held a wine cup, his eyes filled with terror.

"Greenstone Village, Black Wind Valley, Sunset Glow Valley... Three days! A full three days, seven forces wiped out! Rivers of blood flowed!"

A man at the next table slammed his hand on the table, splashing wine all over himself, but he didn't seem to notice. His eyes red, he growled:

"Rivers of blood? That would be a real tragedy in Lingnan City!"

"They were only stopped by the city gate guards for a moment, and yet nearly half the city was slaughtered! Even the elderly, women, and children were not spared!"

"So what?" someone sneered, their voice barely audible. "Who dares to interfere? You try?"

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

After a long while, a scholar-like cultivator clenched his fists and said angrily:

"Are we just going to let them run rampant like this?"

"What about the imperial court? What about Wanfo Temple? What about Qingyun Sect? And those reclusive Taoist sects and holy sites? Are they just going to stand by and watch?"

"The imperial court?"

Someone chuckled.

"The imperial court is no longer what it used to be; it's too busy taking care of its own problems to deal with these messes."

"Wanfo Temple? Qingyun Sect?"

Another person chimed in, their tone full of sarcasm.

"Didn't you see? When the great formation of Flowing Cloud City lit up, those demons took a detour and left. The Azure Cloud Sect didn't even come out to intercept them, did they?"

"Who would want to do something thankless and unprofitable? Getting involved with those lunatics from the Nine Nether Demon Sect? Are they tired of living?"

"A sacred site of Taoism?"

An old man stroked his gray beard and sighed deeply.

"Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst!"

"By the time those reclusive forces receive the news, even if they're willing to stop it, it'll be too late by the time they arrive in Qingzhou!"

Ultimately, there's no benefit to it.

Someone succinctly revealed the secret of heaven.

"Without personal gain, who would risk offending the infamous Nine Nether Demon Sect for the sake of someone unrelated?"

In the corner, a burly man with a face full of scars rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with excitement:

"What's there to be afraid of? In my opinion, the real excitement is just beginning!"

His words immediately drew several horrified glances.

The burly man didn't care at all, downed a large gulp of strong liquor, wiped his mouth, and shouted:

"A few days ago, Dongfang Wen of the Dongfang family was killed by a mysterious celestial being with a single palm strike. I missed it!"

"Now that the Nine Nether Demon Sect has mobilized its entire force, they are clearly going to cause trouble for the two Nirvana Swordsmen and the mysterious Celestial Being who killed the Nine Nether Demon Sect's protector!"

"How could we miss this crucial battle?"

"You're insane!"

Someone nearby hurriedly pulled him away.

"What kind of people are the Nine Nether Demon Sect? If they win, they'll probably kill even the spectators to vent their anger!"

The burly man abruptly shook off the other man's hand, his eyes flashing with ferocity:

"I'm not afraid! As long as I can witness a battle between celestial beings, even if I die, it will be worth it!"

Silence fell again in the tavern, with only the wind outside the window carrying the faint screams from afar as it howled past.

The setting sun dipped below the western mountains, and night fell.

The three leading demonic figures continued to speed towards the heart of Qingzhou, their demonic flames soaring into the sky and staining half the night sky red.

Eternal Night Space

Monarch's Pavilion.

Yuan Tiangang, dressed in a blue robe, stepped silently into the hall.

He stood bowing, his voice steady and calm, yet each word clear:

"monarch"

"News has come that the Blood Fiend Clan of the Nine Nether Demon Sect has slaughtered seven forces, leaving mountains of corpses and a sky full of resentment on the outskirts of Qingzhou."

Yuan Tiangang lowered his eyes and continued, his tone now tinged with disdain.

"Judging from their direction of travel, they are heading towards Qingzhou City, and their target... is probably us."

On the Jade Throne, Ye Junlin slowly raised his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Ye Junlin's lips curled into a very faint smile, carrying a hint of nonchalant arrogance:

"Oh? They're coming straight for us? That's faster than we expected."