Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

"To talk in person?"

Zhu Yan sneered, "Fine, if we can't reach an agreement, can we do it my way?"

"If we really can't talk this out, then so be it, I don't care anymore."

"The Ice Demon Emperor said coldly."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yanxin sneered. The human race was riding high, how could they possibly be willing to negotiate? It seems that the Xuanbing Demon Emperor was too naive to be so ignorant of worldly affairs.

"Alright, in that case, I hope you keep your word."

He quickly made the decision, fearing that the Xuanbing Demon Emperor might change his mind.

"My word is my bond; I will never go back on my word!"

Having said that, he turned and left with a cold expression. The Azure Lotus Demon Saint bowed slightly to the crowd and followed suit.

Unable to find reinforcements and facing an emergency at the front, Zhu Yan had no choice but to rush to the border to personally oversee the situation.

However, the overall situation was already decided. Although Zhu Yan was unwilling, he could only mobilize his elite troops to continuously reduce the battle lines.

On this day, Feng Wuhen received an invitation from the Xuanbing Demon Emperor to personally discuss the matter of a ceasefire.

The location was set at Yumen Pass.

The Xuanbing Demon Emperor attended the meeting alone. In the wind and snow, only Feng Wuhen stood on the city tower with his hands behind his back, gazing at the boundless plain outside the window.

A man in flowing white robes landed silently on the city wall. His white hair almost blended into the snow, and he exuded a cool and noble air.

"Is it the Xuanbing Demon Emperor? Li Yuan sent me a message earlier, thank you for your help in the mountains."

Feng Wuhen smiled and gestured for him to come, then personally served him a cup of tea.

"Yes, but I'm not helping him, I'm helping the Demon Court. Some people want the world to be in chaos so they can fish in troubled waters."

He raised his eyes, his gaze clear and serene. "And I only wish for a peaceful world."

"That's exactly what I was thinking too." Feng Wuhen smiled. "Lord Xuanbing, since you've asked to talk to me, you must have already thought about what to do. Why don't you tell me?"

"Our demon race is withdrawing its troops and leaving the borders of the Tang Dynasty. I don't want to sign any contracts, since His Majesty has not yet emerged from seclusion, and no one is qualified to sign on his behalf."

Even if it's signed, I'm afraid you won't believe it.

The Xuanbing Demon Emperor got straight to the point, stating his purpose directly.

"As for other things, I cannot guarantee you anything, but I can do my best to prevent another large-scale war between the two countries."

"Very good. Our Great Tang has never liked to provoke trouble. As long as you can keep your promise and withdraw from the borders of the Great Tang, we will live in peace and each govern our own affairs."

The Xuanbing Demon Emperor originally thought that the two sides would haggle and drag things out, but he didn't expect Feng Wuhen to agree so readily, which made him pause and not know what to say next.

"I trust Lord Xuanbing's character, so it's settled."

Feng Wuhen waved his hand.

Xuanbing was taken aback, then smiled: "Alright, since Lord Feng trusts me so much, I will immediately go back and withdraw my troops."

Three days later, under the combined pressure of the Xuanbing Demon Emperor and the Qinglian Demon Saint, Zhu Yan finally agreed to withdraw his troops and retreat all his demon soldiers to the border of the Tang Dynasty.

What made it even more embarrassing for him was that after the defeat in this battle, the demon emperors who had originally relied on him all left without saying goodbye and went their own way. In the demon court, Zhu Yan's power also shrank rapidly.

Unfortunately, the war did not end there. Although Zhu Yan no longer called for a large-scale offensive, he continued to send small groups of demon soldiers across the border to plunder and harass the Tang army, which would retreat whenever the Tang army pursued them. This was very annoying.

The Tang Dynasty did not pursue them further. Feng Wuhen knew that the western border was vast and the Demon Court's strength remained. Rushing in would only lead to repeating the same mistakes.

But he was still not satisfied, and whenever he had the chance, he would plunder the demon soldiers who had crossed the border.

From then on, the Tang army adopted a defensive posture, fortifying new city defenses, adding beacon towers, and making the important border towns as impregnable as an iron barrel.

When the news reached Chang'an, the emperor was overjoyed.

During the court assembly, His Majesty the Emperor issued an imperial edict, bestowing upon Feng Wuhen the title of General Who Guards the West, and appointing him to oversee all military affairs in the western border region.

The rewards were then distributed based on merit. Shen Lian and Chu Yunhe were promoted, while Li Yuan was promoted to Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division, and was ordered to carry out important tasks, so he could not return to the capital for the time being.

This imperial edict helped Li Yuan cover up his whereabouts, and from then on, no one investigated his whereabouts.

At this moment, time seems to be frozen on the distant snowfield. Every day, dark clouds gather and the wind howls. No matter how far you go, the scenery in front of you will never change. Everywhere is a world of ice and snow.

Li Yuan and Lang Huan's group maintained a distance of several dozen miles, heading west one after the other.

The demons went into hiding after that battle and never showed themselves again, but they were never seen again, as if they had vanished from the icy plains.

The three groups were like hunters moving in the dark, knowing each other's location, yet all tacitly remaining still.

Traveling by day and camping by night, Li Yuan seized every opportunity to cultivate, meticulously refining the laws within the star field layer by layer.

He had a premonition that the trials of the Holy Land would be more difficult than dealing with the demons.

Leng Ningshuang also diligently practiced every day. After discovering that the snowfield environment was very favorable to her, she began to figure out how to repair the incomplete manual.

The demonic energy within their bodies gradually stabilized even in the extreme cold. What surprised them most was Ji Fanghua, whose power had increased by leaps and bounds.

In Chang'an, on the outskirts of the city, at Huangjue Temple, the lights were dim and dim.

Contrary to his usual ethereal and otherworldly attire, the Imperial Preceptor donned a dark Taoist robe and walked alone through the long blue stone path, stopping before the quiet chamber in the forest.

He knocked gently on the door, and an aged voice came from inside: "Come in."

The room was furnished very simply, with just a couch, a small table, and a lamp.

"Your Majesty, this old minister has received news that Li Yuan has already headed to the Demon Clan's sacred land. Is this related to that matter?"

The retired emperor sat on the couch, twirling a string of old Buddhist beads in his hand, but his face showed no signs of aging or fatigue, and his eyes were deep and calm.

After listening to the Grand Preceptor's report, he slowly said after a long while, "Those old fellows in the Holy Land have also been paying attention to this matter. Hmph! I will never let them gain the upper hand."

"So what should we do now?"

The Imperial Advisor asked with utmost respect.

The retired emperor slowly manipulated the prayer beads, pondered for a long time, and then said in a low voice, "I have waited for so many years, and I am already exhausted. Now that the opportunity has come, I cannot let it slip by."

The Imperial Advisor was slightly startled, looked up at him, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will make the arrangements immediately."

Having said that, he respectfully withdrew.

In the palace garden, Emperor Li Yan stood with his hands behind his back by the window. After listening to the guard's whispered report, he simply nodded.

He gazed at the moonlight outside the window, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "Since our Emperor Emeritus is going to make a move, I will pretend I don't know. As for what exactly is in that demon clan's holy land..."

He gave a knowing smile, his eyes cold, "I'd like to know too."

The moonlight was as white as frost, and Chang'an was silent, while on the snowy plains in the far west, the next conflict was silently brewing.

After many days of arduous travel, at the edge of the far western wilderness, there was a stark skyline.

The wasteland vanished beneath my feet, replaced by a vast, gray sea, its surface dotted with layers of broken ice.

Under the dim light of day, the sea shimmered with a cold, eerie light. The wind swept across the surface, whipping up waves laden with icy foam, like a giant, breathing beast.

"Glacier Sea"

Li Yuan stopped and looked at the sea. "It is said that as long as you cross it, you will reach the sacred land of the demon race."

Leng Ning Shuang stood beside him, her gaze sweeping across the sea: "Without a boat, how will we get across?"

"There are too many glaciers on the sea surface here, making it difficult to pass even with a boat; the only way is to fly over."

"Fly over?"

Ji Fanghua gasped in shock.