The Misfortune Cave!
This term was undeniably ominous, but within the martial arts realm, and across the barbaric world, nobody cared about such things.
Moreover, there was another layer of meaning here, to make an enemy of the Misfortune Cave was an absolute misfortune.
This cave abode was situated within an ancient ruin, one thousand three hundred li away from the Black Demon City.
This was a colossal mountain of stone, where the demon civilization of ancient times had once carved out a city inside the mountain itself.
This was not merely digging a cave into the mountain, but sculpting an entire massive mountain into a living city, with vast martial practice grounds, tall sky-reaching towers, and suspended pavilions.
In short, if placed on Earth, this would unquestionably be a world-shaking architectural miracle.
Although countless years had passed, and many parts of this ancient city ruin had collapsed, several thousand chambers still remained.
Approximately nine hundred years ago, the first Master of the Misfortune Cave advanced to become a top-tier powerhouse, and with the permission of the Rakshasa Royal Clan, occupied this ancient city ruin, naming it the Misfortune Cave.
The present Master of the Misfortune Cave was eighty-nine years old this year, belonging to a generation senior to the Black Demon Banner Lord by age, yet they could only address each other as brothers.
The Lord of the Demon Banner and the Master of the Cave Abode were two parallel leaders across this territory, one representing authority and power, the other representing the martial path, and the two were forever meant to be equals.
Having agreed to the Black Demon Banner Lord’s request, the Master of the Misfortune Cave walked slowly to the mountain peak, ascended to the highest point of the sky-reaching tower, and let out a long, piercing cry!
This long cry was neither particularly high-pitched nor booming.
However, it could easily travel hundreds of li away.
In this way, all practitioners of the Misfortune Cave within a radius of hundreds of li could hear it, and then return to the Misfortune Cave.
“There are still a dozen or so junior brothers leading several hundred disciples training thousands of li away, shall we summon them back as well?” the Master of the Misfortune Cave asked the Black Demon Banner Lord.
“There is no need, elder brother,” the Black Demon Banner Lord bowed and said, “The Black Demon family is boundlessly grateful.”
The Master of the Misfortune Cave waved his hand and said, “This is the mission and duty of my Misfortune Cave!”
This truly was their duty.
Even though there was no written covenant, there was absolute tacit understanding.
As the martial arts leader and the political leader of the same territory, they usually kept strictly out of each other’s affairs, but at critical junctures, they were bound to live and prosper together, acting as absolute allies and even sharing an interdependent relationship.
For instance, the Black Demon family and the Misfortune Cave generally had almost no interactions, and the two leaders rarely met, over the past decade or so, their only meeting had taken place during the Little Rakshasa King’s wedding with Meng Tuoluo.
However, the bond between them was filled with exceptional understanding.
For example, the several thousand demon disciples of the Misfortune Cave had no need to hunt, gather, or cultivate farmland. Everything required for their daily lives was provided by the Black Demon family, unconditionally supplied day after day and year after year.
And once the territory of the Black Demon Banner faced a fatal crisis, the Misfortune Cave was required to provide unconditional support.
After letting out the long cry, the Master of the Misfortune Cave and the Black Demon Banner Lord sat cross-legged beneath the sky-reaching tower to wait, without exchanging any words between them.
Several hours later!
One martial artist of the Misfortune Cave after another returned atop flying mounts.
As dusk approached.
Beneath the entire sky-reaching tower, a full thousand martial artists of the Misfortune Cave were already seated.
“All those at the rank of Grand Demon Warrior and above, follow me to reinforce Lord Black Demon and meet his foes!” said the Master of the Misfortune Cave.
“Yes, Master!” everyone shouted in unison.
Then, one thousand martial artists of the Misfortune Cave, riding an array of diverse mounts, flew towards the Black Demon City under the lead of the Master of the Misfortune Cave and the Black Demon Banner Lord.
Indeed, among these one thousand martial artists, nearly every single one possessed a flying mount.
Because within the Misfortune Cave, one of the most crucial trials was capturing and taming one’s own flying mount.
The warriors of the various tribes in the barbaric world not only had to cultivate, but also had to battle, hunt, rear children, inherit family lineages, and so forth.
Yet within the domain of the martial path, the sole mission and duty was to cultivate and grow stronger, disregarding all other worldly matters entirely.
Even if they were to marry, it was an internal marriage between male and female disciples to propagate offspring.
Naturally, there were also some disciples who, after completing their cultivation, left the martial domain immediately to serve their own families and tribes.
However, such individuals were merely equivalent to externally sponsored trainees, not true disciples of the martial realm.
Therefore, within every martial domain, there were countless top experts.
At this moment in the Misfortune Cave, while more than half of their high-level experts were travelling far away, there were still over a thousand martial artists above the level of Grand Demon Warrior, which was enough to demonstrate their overall strength.
…
Two days ago!
Lan Ling had captured all the lords and demon master-level powerhouses across the entire territory of the Black Demon Banner.
He then seized the weapons of an army hundreds of thousands strong, and finally disbanded them, sending them back to the homes of their respective tribes.
After completing all of this, the three-headed chimera beast flew to the nearest volcanic magma to feast, devouring energy for an entire night.
The next morning!
Lan Ling and all the centaurs formed a wide circle, waiting quietly for the mammoth warriors to wake up.
According to Yin Ji’s memories, mammoths struck by the venom of the Nightmare Flower would sleep soundly for about a day and a night.
Thirty thousand centaurs formed a circle around the two thousand unconscious mammoth warriors, every one of them with bows drawn and arrows nocked.
The moment these mammoth warriors woke up, should they make any adverse move, arrows dipped in the venom of the Nightmare Flower would immediately shoot forth, plunging them into unconsciousness once again.
The sun climbed high into the sky!
Chief Blood Fang of the Mammoth race was the first to open his eyes, then rolled over and stood up, gazing at everything around him.
Following him, one mammoth giant after another stood up.
In just a dozen minutes, all two thousand mammoth giants had awakened.
There was no frenzy, no restlessness, and no anger.
Lan Ling rode the three-headed chimera beast, circling in the air above Chief Blood Fang.
“Is the battle over?” Chief Blood Fang of the Mammoth race asked.
“Yes!” Lan Ling said.
Chief Blood Fang of the Mammoth race said, “Ah, that is good!”
The meaning of his words was crystal clear, since the battle had concluded, they had no need to fight against the centaurs.
Within the territory of the Rakshasa race, the Mammoth race and the centaur race had long shared mutual admiration from afar, respecting one another, and were it not for the constraints of the covenant, they truly were unwilling to go to war against the centaurs.
Following that, the Mammoth Patriarch bowed slightly towards Lan Ling and said, “Many thanks to your Excellency for sparing our lives, our Mammoth race owes you a tremendous debt of gratitude, may I ask your Excellency’s esteemed name?”
“Chieftain of the Flame Demon Tribe, Lan Ling!”
“Honourable Chieftain Lan Ling, our Mammoth race owes you a favour, and should there ever be a need, please send word, and even across thousands or tens of thousands of li, we shall fight for you, once,” Chief Blood Fang of the Mammoth race said, “Of course, going to war against the Black Demon family is an exception, for although we have repaid our debt to them, unless our very survival is threatened, we cannot go to war against the Black Demon family, just as we can no longer go to war against your tribe.”
The Mammoth race was noble in just such a way.
Debts of gratitude had to be repaid, and once you showed them benevolence, they would never become your enemies unless their very survival was threatened.
Furthermore, they gave Lan Ling a promise here, which served as a covenant valid for generations to come.
Whether it was Lan Ling or his successors, with a single command, all mammoth warriors would rush forth across thousands or tens of thousands of li to fight for the Flame Demon Tribe.
This promise was worth ten thousand pieces of gold!
The combat prowess of the Mammoth race was also something Lan Ling had witnessed with his own eyes, well, half of it.
This race was noble to an extent entirely opposite to the centaurs.
The Mammoth race repaid all kindness, whereas the centaurs slew all benefactors, once they killed you, they owed you nothing more.
Yet, these two races held mutual respect for each other.
Gou Li gave a cold sneer and said, “You would help our master fight, only to collapse halfway and go straight to sleep?”
This was already pure sarcasm on her part.
However, Chief Blood Fang of the Mammoth race showed no anger at all, instead replying earnestly, “We will fight to the best of our ability, but our energy is limited, so we might disappoint you.”
What a truly peaceful race.
So overwhelmingly powerful, yet they calmly endured mockery from others.
It could be said that it was truly fortunate Lan Ling had prepared the venom of the Nightmare Flower, otherwise the consequences would have been unthinkable.
Against the charge of two thousand mammoth warriors, who knew how many casualties his thirty thousand centaur army would have suffered. Without the Nightmare Flower to halt them, it would certainly have been total destruction.
And as it appeared now, the only fatal weakness of this mammoth army was the venom of the Nightmare Flower.
“Honourable Chieftain Lan Ling, should you ever have need, please come to the Plantain Territory to find me, farewell,” Chief Blood Fang of the Mammoth race said.
Lan Ling waved his hand, and an opening appeared in the encirclement formed by the thirty thousand centaurs.
Patriarch Blood Fang led his two thousand kin, departing with absolute calm and composure.
To describe this realm of character as simply laughing away grievances would not even do it justice.
After the mammoth army had departed, Lan Ling issued an order, “Army, advance, encircle the Black Demon City!”
Instantly, the thirty thousand centaur army surged wildly towards the massive Black Demon City like a dark tidal wave.
…
In merely an hour!
Lan Ling led the thirty thousand centaur army right to the city walls, laying siege to the Black Demon City!
At this time, there were only slightly over a hundred thousand troops within the Black Demon City, and the hundreds of thousands of citizens inside were plunged into utter panic and dread, as though doomsday had arrived.
They had already received the news.
Nai Shu had led a million-strong army to attack the Flame Demon Tribe, yet before even marching two hundred li, they suffered a massive defeat, ending in complete annihilation.
An army of one million two hundred thousand, an aerial legion of three thousand five hundred, and two thousand mammoth giants.
Even such a terrifying military force had suffered a crushing defeat.
Thus, relying on the mere hundred thousand-odd defenders inside the Black Demon City, holding out was fundamentally impossible.
Although the walls of the Black Demon City were tall and its moat sufficiently wide, they could not halt the hooves of the centaurs.
“Black Demon Banner Lord, come out and speak!” Lan Ling called out loudly.
A moment later, a strikingly gorgeous woman stepped onto the city battlements.
“You are Lan Ling? My husband is not here, if you wish to talk, wait until he arrives, if you wish to fight, I shall keep you company,” the mistress of the Black Demon City said coldly, she was Huo Feng.
Upon seeing her, Lan Ling could not help but be slightly startled.
This… this was Nai Shu’s mother?
She was far too young and beautiful, her sheer beauty was on par with Gou Li beside him, and her figure was equally exaggerated and fiery.
Dressed in crimson garments, standing there she resembled a blazing flame.
“Master, this is a woman of the Phoenix race, look at her ears, shoulders, and behind her hips, there are distinct characteristics,” Gou Li said.
Lan Ling asked, “If we assault the city, how will it go?”
Khan Chi Yan said, “It will certainly fall, but this woman like fire atop the walls possesses astonishing martial arts, and the two sons and five old men beside her are all Demon Master level powerhouses.”
Lan Ling said, “Which means the Black Demon City can definitely be taken, but there will be casualties.”
“Correct!” Khan Chi Yan said.
Beside Lan Ling were thirteen Death Warriors at the peak of the Demon Martial Master rank, as well as three immortal centaur powerhouses.
Lan Ling said, “Chi Yan, how does your martial skill compare to that of the Black Demon Banner Lord’s wife?”
Khan Chi Yan said, “We centaurs have our limitations, we are power-type warriors. Therefore, below the Demon Master rank, we rampage invincible, slaying gods and Buddhas alike. But Demon Master powerhouses employ energy attacks from long range. In this way, we cannot reach them while they can strike us, which puts us at a great disadvantage.”
Lan Ling nodded to show his understanding.
Khan Chi Yan said, “However, after becoming the master’s Death Knight, I broke through these limitations and can now unleash energy attacks, so my martial skill is above this woman’s.”
Lan Ling said, “Very well, the upcoming siege battle will be commanded by Khan Chi Huo. Xie Li, Xie Li II, Chi Yan, and the thirteen Death Knights will be responsible for protecting me and drawing the attacks of their Demon Master experts, can the sixteen of you hold off seven Demon Master powerhouses?”
Khan Chi Yan nodded and said, “We can, because the master is immortal, and because the three-headed chimera beast is immune to most damage.”
Lan Ling nodded and said, “Good, then we shall proceed like that!”
Then he waved his hand forcefully and said, “Assault the city!”
Instantly, the thirty thousand centaur army charged frenziedly, attacking the Black Demon City like a bloodthirsty black tide!
…
Rakshasa City, the estate of Princess Sha Yan!
Hearing the words of her fiancé Nai Shu, Princess Sha Yan’s delicate frame shuddered, turning icy cold all over as her complexion grew deathly pale.
She was a beautiful and healthy woman whose skin was usually full of colour.
Upon hearing this bad news, all colour drained away.
Then, there was a deathly silence!
Lost…
How could they possibly have lost?
An army of one million two hundred thousand, three thousand gryphon knights, five hundred dragonhawk warriors, and two thousand mammoth giants.
What an overwhelmingly powerful force this was? It was more than enough to destroy an entire demon banner territory.
How many people did Lan Ling’s Flame Demon Tribe have, fewer than a hundred thousand in total.
To actually lose such a battle!
Princess Sha Yan truly could not believe her own ears.
Seeing the expression of his fiancée Princess Sha Yan, Nai Shu felt uneasy, quickly moving forward to embrace her athletic legs, saying, “The traitor Lan Ling used some unknown deceit to actually gain the allegiance of thirty thousand centaurs. Furthermore, he used some unknown sorcery so that the arrows fired actually killed all two thousand mammoth troops. That is why… that is why I was defeated!”
Princess Sha Yan fell quiet.
In fact, she did not care how he had lost, she only cared about the result.
And that was that Nai Shu had lost!
Seeing that her expression held no anger, Nai Shu grew even more terrified.
“Sha Yan, I… I love you, I love you!” Nai Shu clung to Princess Sha Yan’s legs, wailing loudly, “My father wants to kill me, and I do not want to go to my grandfather’s place, you are my only reliance now, I beg you, you must help me.”
Princess Sha Yan gazed at Nai Shu’s charming face.
She truly had liked this man, the aura of energy upon him, along with his wild and unbridled temperament, had once captivated her.
After choosing him as her fiancé, Princess Sha Yan had indulged him, even spoiling him.
After getting to know him, she clearly understood that behind this man’s wild, unbridled, and wicked facade, he was fundamentally a child.
During his childhood, he underwent hellish trials under the Fire Demon Venerable on Fire Demon Mountain. To describe it in Earth terms, it was like attending the same school from nursery through secondary school, without a single girl or classmate, only a nightmare of an old mentor, forbidden from taking half a step outside the school every single day.
After turning eighteen, he left Fire Demon Mountain, feeling just like someone released from prison.
Therefore, his life path had not been normal, lacking a normal childhood and a normal youth, going from absolute confinement straight to total release.
Thus, no matter how confident and strong or wicked and dissolute he appeared, he remained a child, a child who could not control himself.
Princess Sha Yan had not minded this, finding such a Nai Shu rather endearing.
“Your army was defeated, so why are you still alive?” Sha Yan said gently.
“I, I ran back,” Nai Shu said.
At this moment, the affection in Sha Yan’s heart truly receded cleanly like a draining tide.
All the enchantment, sweetness, and intoxication faded away completely.
When drinking wine, reaching a state of being half-drunk is the most delightful, that floating, ethereal feeling resembling romance itself.
Yet the most unpleasant thing was not becoming completely drunk, but suddenly sobering up.
That blandness, that chill, that sense of disgust.
And right now, that was precisely how Princess Sha Yan felt.
“Darling Sha Yan, I am sorry, I am sorry, forgive me, forgive me!” Nai Shu held tightly to his fiancée’s legs, desperately inhaling the fragrance from her body.
Princess Sha Yan gently caressed Nai Shu’s handsome face, saying softly, “Do not worry, I do not blame you, I do not blame you…”
At this very moment, he felt an immense reliance upon this woman, loving her deeply.
“Sha Yan, I love you, forgive me, I swear I will never flirt with others again, I promise to treat only you well, and love only you,” Nai Shu swore from the bottom of his heart.
“Yes,” Princess Sha Yan cupped Nai Shu’s face, saying softly, “I will remember you, I will remember the sweet times we shared.”
Then, her dark gold dagger aimed at Nai Shu’s chest, thrusting fiercely inside!
“Squelch!” Blood splattered everywhere!