After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

Knowing the urgency of the situation, Lu Zhanshuang sped away.

He strode into the main hall of the city lord's mansion, covered in dust from his journey.

Jiang Yan was drinking tea when she looked up, saw his expression, and put down her teacup.

"General Lu, you're back so soon? Judging from your complexion, something must have happened?"

Lu Zhanshuang did not sit down, but recounted everything she had seen and heard in the capital.

Shan Kui personally went to the Tu Shan royal palace, and Xuan Kong Shan prepared to destroy Chang'an City. Tu Shan was forced to agree to send troops to cooperate.

Jiang Yan's brows furrowed more and more tightly.

After Lu Zhanshuang finished speaking, the hall remained quiet for a while.

Jiang Yan leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples.

I feel like I'm cursed by some unlucky star. I've only had a few days of peace, and now it's happening again.

"How's Ruoshui doing?"

"Your Majesty... has managed to appease the mountain bandits, but military action is inevitable."

Jiang Yan stood up, walked to the window, and looked at Chang'an City in the night.

On the city wall, patrolling soldiers walked in formation carrying lanterns, and in the distance, the market town was still lit up.

He had been in the Demon Realm for so long, so the Domain Lord naturally knew about it.

The name of the Suspended Mountain was never a secret among the high-ranking officials of various dynasties, but no one would mention it, as it was too far removed from their lives.

Although the four-nation alliance was a threat, the demon race had its own constraints, and with the Dragon Court backing them up, they escaped unscathed.

But this time is different.

If the domain lord were to take action personally, he wouldn't give himself any breathing room like the four-nation alliance did.

Jiang Yan was silent for a moment, then turned around and patted Lu Zhanshuang on the shoulder.

"You've worked hard. Go and rest first. I'll think about it carefully."

Lu Zhanshuang nodded, turned around and walked out of the palace gate.

Jiang Yan walked out of the city lord's mansion alone and climbed the steps of the newly built Chang'an city wall.

The night wind made his robes flutter loudly.

Looking down at the city he had built with his own hands, he saw patrolling soldiers, late-returning caravans, and wonton stalls still open on street corners.

The Preaching Monument in the center of the city gleamed faintly in the night.

In fact, he had already planned ahead; he knew he would eventually leave.

There are many things he cannot change in the Realm of Ten Thousand Demons.

But in this city, those who trusted him, and those who came from all directions to seek refuge, all hoped that he could lead them to survive in the Demon Realm.

No matter what happens in the future, I have to finish everything I can before I leave.

All threats must be eliminated.

The appearance of the domain lord was unexpected, but since he has come, we will accept him.

This is no longer related to the mission.

Even without a reward, he would do his best.

Jiang Yan stood on the city wall for a long time, then turned his gaze away from the city and revealed a determined look.

……

The council hall of the city lord's mansion was brightly lit.

A dozen or so figures took their seats one after another.

Jiang Yan stood at the front and recounted the Domain Lord's orders and the matter of the Mountain Demon.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

The significance of the name "Suspended Mountain" in the Myriad Demon Realm needs no explanation.

Pei Xiao clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.

Cangwu remained silent, his arms crossed over his chest, a deep sense of apprehension flashing in his eyes.

He was also a member of the Feather Clan, and he understood the terror of the Domain Lord better than anyone else present.

Liu Qingyi slammed her sword hilt on the ground: "Chang'an was defended by us, sword by sword. If they want to come, then we'll fight them."

In the past, he might not have acted so impulsively, but after resolving his inner conflict, he seemed to have returned to his former spirited self.

Pei Xiao slammed his fist on the table, causing a teacup to overturn: "Well said!"

Jiang Yan glanced at the determined looks in everyone's eyes: "Effective immediately, Chang'an will enter a state of wartime alert."

The generals responded in unison.

After the meeting, Cang Yao stepped forward and gently rested her face on his shoulder.

"I'll stay here with you this time." Her voice was soft, but her tone was serious. She looked up at him and said, "Don't say anything like 'I want you to leave,' or I'll really get angry."

Jiang Yan chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair: "Silly girl, you're so strong now, how could I let someone with such fighting power go?"

Cang Yao smiled and rubbed her palm against his.

Zhou Caiwei, who hadn't left yet, frowned slightly as she watched this scene, and couldn't help but say, "I'm not leaving either."

Jiang Yan turned to look at her and nodded with a smile: "Okay."

A moment later, Cang Yao suddenly seemed to remember something, lifted her face from his shoulder, and opened her eyes slightly.

"My husband, is there still the essence of the blood I gave you inside you?"

Jiang Yan was taken aback.

"...Yes, this drop of blood essence saved me several times, but I couldn't control it on my own; it seemed to be triggered passively."

Cang Yao's eyes lit up: "I'll help you fully activate it."

Jiang Yan was also surprised: "It can be activated?"

Cang Yao was about to explain when she suddenly blushed.

She glanced at Jian Li and Zhou Caiwei, who were watching them from the side, then got up and pulled Jiang Yan's sleeve to the side.

"It might take some time... I need to go into seclusion in the forbidden room."

Zhou Caiwei frowned slightly as she looked at Cang Yao's bright red ears.

For some reason, she felt that something was not quite right.

It's just the activation of essence and blood, why are you blushing?

But this is indeed a good thing for Jiang Yan. He has the true dragon essence blood of Cang Yao in his body. If he can fully activate it, his combat power can at least reach another level.

Jiang Yan naturally agreed.

He is currently in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, which is considered a strongman in the entire Demon Realm. However, his opponents are always at the Great Ascension stage of the Integration realm, so his cultivation level is not enough.

To be able to advance further before the war would be something we would naturally desire, but we don't know how much stronger we would become.

After entrusting the city defense affairs to Tu Shan Jing and Pei Xiao, Jiang Yan and Cang Yao headed towards the forbidden room deep inside the city lord's mansion.

The stone door slowly closed, and the array patterns on the wall glowed with a pale golden light, shutting out all external sounds.

……

Zhou Caiwei watched the stone door of the forbidden room close, then turned around, mounted her sword, and flew out of the city lord's mansion as a streak of blue light.

She also needed to prepare for the upcoming battle.

Jianli stood to the side, holding her wooden sword. She looked at the tightly closed stone door, then at the direction where Sister Zhou had left, and pouted.

Fine, I'll go practice my sword too.

Meanwhile, deep within the imperial mausoleum of the Tushan royal capital.

The heavy tomb passage slowly closed behind them, and Ruoshui followed Tu Shanlie into the ancestral land.

The tombs of the ancestors of the Celestial Fox are arranged in a fan shape, with a cluster of ghostly blue foxfire floating in front of each tomb, illuminating the tomb chamber as if it were daytime.

In the center of the tomb chamber is a huge stone sculpture of a nine-tailed celestial fox, with its nine tails spread out in different directions, its posture majestic and elegant.

A fist-sized jade bead floats in front of the statue. It is entirely blue-green, with a faint shimmering light inside.

Tu Shanlie looked at the jade bead and said, "Among the ancestors of the Tu Shan clan, there was one who fully awakened the bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox. Her legacy is left here, but only our current ruler can receive her legacy."

"Go." Tu Shanlie withdrew his hand. "How much fortune you gain depends on yourself."

Ruoshui stood in front of the stone sculpture, took a deep breath, and glanced back at her father.

Tu Shanlie nodded to her and left.