Chapter 282: "Today, We Will Annihilate the Demon Clan!"

Chapter 282: "Today, We Will Annihilate the Demon Clan!"

"Wei Manor?"

As the woman's voice trailed off, a gasp of surprise rippled through the crowd. It wasn't that this power held much influence; in the Fifth Rank Immortal World, it was merely a small, insignificant force.

During the previous lord's lifetime, it was considered somewhat noteworthy.

But now that the former lord had passed away, leaving behind a younger generation, the Wei Manor had significantly declined in power. Especially with the recent conflict between the Wei Manor and another force, they were in a state of irreconcilable hostility.

At this critical moment, the Wei Manor dared to take a stand.

This...

was purely an emotional decision. If anything went wrong, even without a counterattack from the Demon Clan, the force they were fighting against could take advantage of the situation and swallow up the Wei Manor.

But... it wasn't over yet!

Soon, another hoarse voice rang out from the crowd.

"I'm just a wandering cultivator, and I may not be of much help, but I'm willing to lend a hand to Badan."

An old man stepped forward from the crowd, gazing at Badan, who was sitting on the ground, and said with a smile, "Do you remember me, old friend Badan?"

"Of course, of course."

Badan, sitting on the ground, had slightly red eyes and a smirk as he replied, "You once said you wanted to be a wandering cultivator for life. After all these years, I never thought you'd actually stick to it."

"And me too!"

In the distance, hundreds of flying cranes were approaching, and standing on the lead crane was a middle-aged man with a bamboo flute at his waist. He exuded a graceful and charming demeanor, possessing a maturity and allure that a youth lacked.

"How could I miss out on such a grand occasion? I'm from the 'Crane Valley'!"

"The Demon Clan has been tyrannical for thousands of years. It's about time the tides turned, don't you think?"

More and more people stepped forward.

Countless flying boats and various mounts approached from the sky, most of them old friends of Badan. The scales of victory began to tip overwhelmingly in Badan's favor.

Some of these people had started rallying their friends and allies the moment Badan's battle began, ready to lend him support.

Others had witnessed Badan's display of strength, his stalemate with the Demon Clan leader, and the slight advantage he held. Seeing others stand up, they too joined the cause.

There were also those who had always wanted to help their old friend but feared retribution from the Demon Clan. Seeing the growing number of supporters and the shifting tide of victory, they decided to take a stand.

The common thread among them was their emotional connection to Badan.

The difference lay in the extent to which they were willing to sacrifice for this friendship.

But...

this was enough.

What more could one ask of friends? Everyone had their own lives, their own families. It was unrealistic to expect everyone to abandon everything for a friend.

They had the courage to step forward when they saw a chance for victory, and they never turned their backs on Badan during his downfall.

If such loyalty didn't define friendship, then what did?

As more and more people took a stand, the patriarch of the Kang Family, standing on the deck of a flying boat, his eyes red with emotion, shouted hoarsely towards Badan below.

"Badan, everyone's here!"

"Now, let's counterattack!"

He was the first to take a stand. After Badan received that strand of the Shadow Emperor's Fortune from an unknown powerful cultivator, he rushed back to gather all the members of the Kang Family to lend their support. To boost their morale, he even brought some cargo-carrying flying boats.

The first person to take a stand had to bear the greatest courage and sacrifice. If they couldn't decisively defeat the Demon Clan leader today, they would face endless retaliation from the Demon Clan in the future.

But...

someone had to be the first. His thoughts were simple; he had tried his best to remain rational, but he couldn't bear to watch his old friend die a miserable death before his eyes.

When he was weak, Badan had always stood in front of him, protecting him.

Now that he had become the clan leader and established his own small power, although it couldn't compare to the Demon Clan or the Barbarian Clan, it was still a force to be reckoned with. At this moment, if he stood by and watched coldly, it would haunt him forever.

Badan had once told him, "Cultivation is about freedom. If you can't cultivate as you wish, what's the point?"

The words were blunt, but he found them reasonable, especially at this moment.

So he came, bringing along all the members of the Kang Family.

"Are you planning a rebellion?!"

The Barbarian Clan leader, suspended high in the sky, glared at the tens of thousands of Barbarian Giants below. Each giant stood at least a hundred feet tall, creating an intimidating presence. With a grim expression, he declared, "All Barbarian Clan members, withdraw immediately, and I will let this matter go."

"Otherwise, all those involved and their descendants will be demoted to slaves."

"Hey!"

The leading Barbarian Giant, unafraid, met the leader's gaze and boldly unfastened his armor, revealing an engraved mark on his stone-like body. With a sinister smile, he said, "It seems the leader has forgotten his roots. I was born a slave."

"Mianxi!"

"So what if I'm a slave? King Badan was also born a slave and rose to the position of Immortal King. He once said that no Barbarian should be born into slavery, determined solely by their surname. Why should a Barbarian's fate be decided by their surname at birth?"

"You, as the leader, have been talking about reform, about changing the world's perception of the Barbarians. Why not start with abolishing slavery?"

"Do the Barbarians need slaves?"

"Or do you need slaves?"

"Let me tell you, almost everyone standing here is a slave. They are the least favored by the Barbarian Clan, receiving the fewest cultivation resources. Only when King Badan was around did someone care about us. Our strength is not considered strong within the Barbarian Clan."

"But we are not afraid to die. We are willing to die for King Badan. Do you think you can scare us?"

As the two conversed, at the edge of the horizon, an endless stream of Barbarian Clan members arrived, carrying their Immortal Weapons and converging towards the Demon Clan's forest. Some of them were slaves, while others were not.

However, everyone had the same goal—to make King Badan the ruler.

The Clan Leader.

It was never self-proclaimed but always chosen by the people. All members of the Barbarian Clan wanted King Badan to rule, and this was the will of the people. Only a few close confidants of the Clan Leader stood by with cautious expressions.

"Qicheng!"

The Barbarian Clan Leader's face darkened as he looked towards a small group of Barbarian Giants who had just arrived, numbering around a few hundred. But these few hundred were the elite of the Barbarians, and their threat was not any less than that of the tens of thousands of Barbarian slaves.

"Are you, the Second Elder of the Barbarian Clan, going to rebel against me?"

"Yes."

The leading Barbarian Giant spoke softly, "Your ideas are problematic. How can the Barbarian Clan and the Demon Clan ever be at peace? I've told you this many times, and countless clan members have opposed this. But as the Clan Leader, you insist on going it alone. This has caused much dissatisfaction among the clan members. Everyone wants you to step down."

"Dissatisfaction? Dissatisfaction?"

The Barbarian Clan Leader, now gradually losing his composure, shouted in a frenzy, "Do you even understand strategy? Do you have any brains at all?!"

"Do you know how other races view the Barbarian Clan? They call us stupid and brainless. It was only after I took over that the outside world's perception of the Barbarian Clan improved. We are about to face the Heavenly Tribulation, and if we don't seek peace now, do you want us to perish together?"

"A temporary peace is for a better future. Do you understand that?"

"No."

The leading Barbarian Giant shook his head, "But I think King Badan made a very valid point. The Barbarian Clan and the Demon Clan can never be at peace, unless the beasts take over."

"I never said that."

Badan, who had fallen to the ground, shook his head and looked at the almost crazed Barbarian Clan Leader with a smile, "But none of that matters now. Do you see? Don't think that just because you have a few people with you, you can bully those with fewer numbers."

"I have quite a few people on my side too."

"Then, next..."

Badan staggered to his feet, summoning the Crimson Hammer and gripping it tightly. He aimed at the Demon Clan Leader who was lying on the ground not far away, at the brink of death. After taking a deep breath, he burst into a sinister smile.

"Everyone, follow my command and launch a counterattack!"

"Today, we will slaughter the Demon Clan alongside King Badan!"

"Those who stand in our way will die!"

As his words fell,

"Kill!!!"

Kang Jia, who had been holding back, led his thousands of clan members and leaped from the flying boat, charging towards the Demon Clan's forest below.

The Barbarian slaves also joined the battle, roaring and swinging their weapons.

Countless white cranes fluttered in the sky, scattering pink light that made everyone feel their spiritual energy becoming more concentrated, their spells more powerful, and their injuries healing faster.

The serene flute music resonating through the heavens and earth also filled everyone with battle intent.

In an instant, the great battle began! This time, it was no longer a one-on-one fight between Badan and the Demon Clan Leader but a war that would go down in history, involving the connections Badan had built over the years. The scale of this war would be immense.

Even now, more and more forces were arriving from afar to join the battle. Some had been oppressed by the Demon Clan and took advantage of the chaos to vent their anger. Even if they lost, the chaos would make it difficult for the Demon Clan to identify them later.

Some forces came with the intention of looting. The Demon Clan's forest was filled with aged medicinal herbs, and the central region was a treasure trove. Every demon beast slain would yield valuable treasures.

With such chaos, the usually heavily guarded Demon Clan's forest was now easily accessible. Even taking a single medicinal herb would be a great gain.

Some came out of curiosity, wanting to join the fray.

In any case,

The situation became increasingly chaotic, but almost everyone implicitly joined Badan's side, tilting the balance of victory further in his favor.

"Kill!!!"

Badan staggered in place, looking at the group of powerful demons charging towards them. He wobbled towards the giant lion lying on the ground, near death.

"Hey."

Countless people rushed past, engaging the demons and preventing them from rescuing their leader.

Badan took out a bag of fine wine from his chest and took a hearty swig before tossing the empty bag aside. He looked at the Demon Clan Leader lying on the ground, filled with fear, and slowly raised the Crimson Hammer with a sinister smile.

"After fighting for so many years, it's time for a conclusion. Do you have any last words?"

"It's best to express your dissatisfaction, like kneeling before me and begging for your life. That would make me feel much better."

"Don't try to upset me by pretending to be fearless. I know your personality too well after fighting you for so many years. You're not that kind of person."

"Quickly, kneel before me like you did before, and maybe I'll spare your life.

"Haha."

The Demon Clan Leader, who no longer had the strength to stand, lay on the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood before turning to Badan with a dazed expression. "At our level, death is no longer something to fear. After all, no one can live forever, and everyone must die eventually."

"But there's something I need to tell you."

"When you knelt before me, I was truly going to bestow upon you the Shadow Emperor Fortune. Compared to seeing you die, I'd rather see you, my long-time enemy, live on in humiliation due to my mercy."

"But..."

"The Barbarian Clan Leader found me and offered a condition that the Demon Clan couldn't refuse, asking me not to give you the Shadow Emperor Fortune."

"Otherwise, I had already sworn upon the Demon Clan's sacred Immortal Spring, and how could I easily break that promise?"

"As for you..."

The Demon Clan Leader suddenly laughed, a glint of disdain flashing in his eyes as he looked at Badan. "I used to be afraid of you. You were an almost invincible existence in my heart. As the Demon Clan Leader, I had to use every means possible to match you in battle. Yet, in the Barbarian Clan, you were merely a lowly soldier."

"But since the last time you knelt before me and begged, I suddenly stopped being afraid."

"So, you're not completely invincible after all."

"As for me..."

"No one in this world can judge me, not even you. It's impossible!"

The Demon Clan Leader's eyes flashed with ferocity as he mustered his last bit of strength, raising his lion claws and smashing them into his own head. This was the last shred of dignity he left for himself.

However, the next moment—

Badan lifted his foot and firmly stepped on the lion claws, slowly straightening up. He raised the crimson hammer in his hand and said, "You're wrong. I was born to judge you, and you don't need to provoke understanding. Today, I also don't plan to let the old clan leader leave here alive."

"Boom!!!"

With a loud impact, the once-glorious Demon Clan Leader's body turned into a cloud of blood mist, exploding in the center of the battlefield.

Following this was a Heavenly Dao Edict.

[Heavenly Dao Edict]: The Heavenly Dao senses that the Demon Clan Leader, a villain of the Heavenly Dao, an Immortal King, and a peerless talent, should be remembered for eternity. Alas, the heavens are jealous of such talent, and at the hour of the dog, his body and soul perished, returning to the heavens.

With the passing of such a peerless talent, all beings mourn, and the heavens and earth hold a grand funeral.

A Heavenly Dao Edict dedicated to the Demon Clan Leader appeared, and soon, at the edge of the heavens, sad and mournful immortal music played, and white snowflakes fell across the entire realm.

The heavens and earth mourned together.

This scene told everyone that the Demon Clan Leader was dead, completely dead, beyond any doubt.

The battlefield momentarily fell into a brief pause.

The demons who had just been fighting with all their might to reach the Demon Clan Leader and save him suddenly lost all their fighting spirit. With a long howl, they led their demon soldiers and quickly retreated towards the central region of the Demon Forest.

With the clan leader dead, there was no point in continuing the fight.

The Demon Clan had lost, and now they needed to preserve as much of their strength as possible, wait out the crisis, and then choose a new clan leader.

Badan stood in the center of the blood mist, gazing into the distance with a dazed expression, while the crimson hammer in his hand greedily absorbed the blood mist in the air.

The outcome was somewhat different from what he had imagined.

The plot seemed to have veered off course.

Recalling the events, his original intention in bringing Zhao Yishi here was to use death to wash away his humiliation. He had thought that after experiencing that incident, his friends would consider him a disgrace and feel ashamed upon hearing his name.

But...

His friends didn't seem to feel ashamed or look down on him because of what had happened.

He had only come here to die, hoping to wash away his humiliation and, in the process, ignite Zhao Yishi's fighting spirit. However, things had developed into him personally killing his long-time enemy and, by the looks of it, preparing to take up the position of the Barbarian Clan Leader.

He looked towards the crowd surrounding the Barbarian Clan Leader in the distance, feeling a moment of dizziness.

And at that moment—

The Barbarian slave who had been leading the charge suddenly appeared beside Badan, taking out a large cloak from his embrace and respectfully draping it over Badan's shoulders. "King Badan, the weather is getting cooler. Please keep warm."

"This..."

Badan looked down at the cloak on his body, a symbol of the Barbarian Clan Leader since ancient times. How did it end up on him so soon? This wasn't right.

"Good, good!"

The Barbarian Clan Leader, struggling against the two-fisted Badan, glared at him with uncontrollable anger. "Badan, I knew you would rebel! Do you admit it now?!"

"I didn't want this either."

Badan helplessly spread his hands. "The people below did this on their own, putting the cloak on me."

"Look, just look!"

The frustrated Barbarian Clan Leader, taking a moment's break from the battle, glared at Badan. "I told you before that you enjoy it when everyone pushes you to the throne, and then you act all reluctant and put on a show of being forced into the position, secretly enjoying it all along!"

"You still won't admit it. Do you admit it now?"

"Badan, you've been putting on that face for thousands of years. You're ruthless, deceiving everyone but me. I saw through your true face long ago!"

"Sigh."

Badan let out a soft sigh, hefting the giant hammer in his hand. "Although I don't agree with what you said, you're right about one thing. It does feel good like this."

"Then..."

Badan took a deep breath and pointed the hammer at the Barbarian Clan Leader, roaring, "All Barbarian Clan members, hear my command! After killing the old clan leader, all Barbarian slaves will be freed!"

"The Barbarian Clan and the Demon Clan will never reconcile!"

"Today is the day we exterminate the Demon Clan!"

"Roar!!!"

As his words fell, countless Barbarian slaves, their eyes red with fury, charged forward.

"King Ba Dan."

At this moment, the Barbarian Second Elder, who had led hundreds of Barbarian Giants to support Ba Dan earlier, somehow appeared beside him. His expression was calm as he said softly, "First of all, I highly respect your becoming the Barbarian Clan Leader. You have the strength and reputation to do so. However, regarding this Barbarian slave, I need to clarify something."

"The Barbarian Clan Leader possesses immense strength, but it also consumes a lot of resources."

"Since ancient times, the resources of the Barbarian Clan have never been sufficient to support the cultivation of all its members. Therefore, most of the Barbarians were turned into slaves, and the cultivation resources were provided to a select few. If the resources were evenly distributed, the result would be that the Barbarians would no longer have powerful individuals, and they would all be mediocre."

"The old Clan Leader may have made many wrong decisions, but he still continued the practice of keeping Barbarian slaves, which is an unavoidable situation."

"I know."

Ba Dan turned to the Barbarian Second Elder beside him and said indifferently, "I lived among the Barbarians for many years, and I am well aware of this issue. But have you ever considered that these Barbarian slaves don't really care about how many resources they can obtain from us?"

"They just want to get rid of their slave status."

"When they go out, they can proudly declare that they are Barbarians, instead of trying to hide their Barbarian brand."

"So what if the resources are insufficient? Did I rise to power relying on the resources provided by my race? No, I fought my way to the top with my own strength!"

"Distribute the cultivation resources equally!"

"If you want more resources, go out and fight for them like I did."

". . ."

The Barbarian Second Elder fell silent for a long time before speaking softly, "The death rate will be very high if we do that."

"The Barbarians have always grown up in the midst of war. The secluded cultivation methods of humans are not suitable for us. The Barbarians need constant battles to thrive, and we can also make many friends in the process."

Ba Dan looked towards the crowd fighting in front of him and smiled, "Don't lock up the Barbarians, set them all free."

"Let them fight in the Heavenly Dao Mystic Realm."

"Let them make friends on their own."

"If every Barbarian can make as many friends as I have, who would dare to provoke the Barbarians in the future?"

"This..."

The Barbarian Second Elder sighed, "King Ba Dan, not everyone has as good of a relationship with others as you do, and..."

"No."

Ba Dan shook his head and said seriously, "I don't have anything special about me; it's just sincerity. Sincerity is the ultimate weapon. The outside world has always viewed the Barbarians as dull-witted, and the old Clan Leader wanted to change this perception."

"I think there's no need to change it. It's not dullness, but sincerity."

"The Barbarians are naturally simple-minded, and there's no need to go to great lengths to change that. We just need to maintain this aspect."

"My idea is simple."

"We cannot use the excuse of insufficient resources to justify actions that harm our people. I want every Barbarian to be proud of being a Barbarian, instead of being labeled as Barbarian slaves. Do you know how many Barbarian slaves hide their brands and still feel proud of being Barbarians?"

"You treat them as slaves."

"But they are proud to be Barbarians."

"Is this fair to them?"

"It's not fair."

"The heavens may collapse, and the earth may sink, but only fairness will last forever. Now that I, Ba Dan, have arrived, I will ensure that every Barbarian finds fairness!"

"Let every Barbarian be proud of their heritage!"

". . ."

The Barbarian Second Elder remained silent for a long time before speaking in a low voice, "King Ba Dan, I admit that this is very tempting, but it's a bit too idealistic."

"Slogans are powerful. Once they are shouted out, there will always be a day when they come true."

"But if we don't dare to shout them out, that day of realization will never come."

Ba Dan's expression became distant as he turned to look towards the east, "Just like how I only met Master Chen once, yet he was willing to lend me the Shadow Emperor Fortune. I believe that sometimes, only by believing in miracles can we truly welcome them."

"Right—"

Ba Dan suddenly realized something, and his expression became anxious. He stumbled forward, swinging his hammer as he rushed towards the center of the Demon Forest, "Hurry, hurry, don't let those powerful demons escape with their treasures!"

He had consumed a significant amount of healing medicine, and although he was still severely injured, he could manage to walk.

He hadn't returned the Shadow Emperor Fortune to Master Chen yet.

He wanted to see if he could find the Shadow Emperor Fortune among the demons and return it to Master Chen. He had already taken the Demon Clan Leader's storage ring, but he hadn't unlocked it yet, so he didn't know if the Shadow Emperor Fortune was inside the ring or in the Demon Clan's treasury.

This was a significant matter!

If he could return this strand of Shadow Emperor Fortune, he would feel much less burdened when he met Master Chen again. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to repay such a great favor.

". . ."

The Barbarian Second Elder watched Ba Dan's departing figure, his expression complex as he remained silent. It was undeniable that Ba Dan's words had moved him. Who wouldn't want their race to have stronger unity?

But who exactly was Master Chen, that he would lend such a precious treasure to Ba Dan after only meeting once?

Could he be someone from the Sixth Rank Immortal World? Unlikely.

But in the Fifth Rank Immortal World, no one would lend such a valuable treasure as the Shadow Emperor Fortune to someone they had only met once. It was practically the same as giving it away.

This person must be a significant figure. If the Barbarians could rely on Ba Dan's connection with this person, the upcoming tribulations would be much easier to overcome.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end