“Demons! So many demons!”

As the Nanhong Seven's "outpost," the Baohua Sect had weathered storms of every size over the years.

But right now, questioned by his own Sect Master and three other Dao-merging seniors, this Great Elder of the Baohua Sect was still trembling, his eyes glazed. He looked like a man scared out of his wits.

And the Baohua Sect was completely unharmed, its formation intact. That meant it had never actually faced those great demons head-on.

Just watching, and peeking out from inside the treasured site at that—what kind of horror could leave a White Jade Capital cultivator in such a state?

The Sect Masters exchanged a look, and their faces couldn't help darkening. Things looked much worse than they'd imagined.

“Seniors, forgive me, I truly can't tell how many there were… Demon clouds that blotted out the sky. Just the demon force they stirred up passing by shook our sect's grand formation violently. This isn't a power any single faction could command—not even the West Dragon Palace!”

The Baohua Sect elder barely managed to steady himself, his face full of terror. “With this many demons out in force, something terrible is coming to Nanhong.”

He had never seen so many great demons in his life, or ones this frighteningly strong.

And for some reason, these demons had gathered together.

“……” Deng Xiangjun drew back his gaze and said nothing, though something complicated came into his eyes.

When they'd escorted the Baohua Sect Master home, the whole way had been calm. They hadn't seen any of the demons the Baohua Sect elder described.

Of course, he wasn't doubting that the man was telling the truth.

Deng Xiangjun was just thinking a little deeper.

The demons of Xihong suddenly migrating south—something this big was surely the West Dragon Palace's doing. But he didn't believe demons used to roaming free would willingly obey a Dragon Palace's orders, die for these dragons, and serve as vanguard officers in a war on the Nanhong Seven.

They had most likely been forced.

But right now, someone was clearly passing them word. Otherwise…