Ten years later...
Gu Yuan sat in the main hall, his eyes closed, feeling the lava-like flow of his vital energy.
In thirteen years, he had risen from a mere trainee Demon Suppressor to his current position as a Heaven-tier Demon Suppressor. He single-handedly held a region against the demon army during the ancient battle of the Heavenly Human realm, and was now just one step away from reaching the pinnacle of this world!
His martial arts realm had already broken through to the Spirit Refining stage.
He was only one major realm away from the strongest force in this world, the Heavenly Human realm.
In the Spirit Refining stage, vital energy surged to temper the purple mansion in the brain. Warriors who broke through to the Spirit Refining realm invariably mastered martial intent.
Gu Yuan's intent was not that of a blade or a sword.
It was a martial intent of supreme self-pride and dominion over all.
Gu Yuan speculated this might be because the main body had pleaded with the gods for him specifically.
Disregarding heaven, earth, and deities, only revering his own manifestation, he cultivated a martial intent of supreme self-pride.
There was nothing wrong with this. As he defeated more opponents, his strength grew exponentially.
Gu Yuan heard faint footsteps outside the hall and opened his eyes, a scarlet-gold glint flashing within.
"Lord Gu, your subordinate Yang Wei requests an audience!" a respectful voice called from outside the door.
"Enter!"
A robust figure pushed open the hall doors and walked before Gu Yuan, cupping his fists in a salute.
Gu Yuan looked at Yang Wei below and asked softly, "What brings you to me?"
Ever since breaking through to the perfect Spirit Refining stage, Gu Yuan had been in seclusion, seeking an opportunity to break through to the Unity realm.
The Unity realm, as its name suggested, was about consolidating all one's power into a single point, possessing greater explosive force, and further increasing vital energy. The vital energy burst in this realm almost became tangible in the outside world!
It was because of this that the breakthrough was so important, and he had ordered not to be disturbed unless there was a major event.
"Reporting, my lord, there has been a recent demonic riot in the Yun Yao mountain range on our prefecture's border. A large number of demons have escaped into the surrounding towns, causing heavy casualties."
"Currently, all idle Demon Suppressors in the prefecture have been dispatched to the Yun Yao mountain range to quell the demonic uprising. However, the number is too small to control the situation. We hope that you can emerge from seclusion to slay the demons and protect the people of our Great Qian!"
Gu Yuan frowned slightly. Others might not know, but as the highest combat power in the prefecture, he knew the Yun Yao mountain range was a gathering place for ancient demons. After relentless extermination by humans, there were few demons left within human territory in the Yun Yao mountain range; they lived beyond the great formations.
The fact that a large number of demons were escaping from the Yun Yao mountain range indicated that the power of the great formations was continuously weakening. Gu Yuan knew his departure from this world was not far off.
He immediately decided to emerge from seclusion and slay the demons!
"Go and send a message to the Demon Suppression Division headquarters. I will arrive to support the Yun Yao mountain range shortly. Do not panic, the sky will not fall with me here!"
Gu Yuan looked at Yang Wei below, his calm voice resonating through the hall.
Yang Wei's face lit up with joy. He knew his superior had joined the Demon Suppression Division nearly twenty years ago, and his position as a Heaven-tier Demon Suppressor was earned through sheer combat. He had started as a patrol Demon Suppressor in his early years, and his combat skills were second to none among Heaven-tier Demon Suppressors!
"Yes!"
Watching Yang Wei's receding back, Gu Yuan's gaze gradually sharpened. Demons were beings to be hunted and killed in any world. Such creatures posed an extreme danger to humans, viewing them as food, a fact Gu Yuan could not tolerate.
Gu Yuan slowly stood up, the sound of his bones cracking like popping beans.
He gently stretched his muscles and bones, and the scarlet-gold vital energy within him began to circulate, its searing aura spreading throughout the hall. Gu Yuan waved his hand lightly, and a hole appeared in the roof of the hall.
Seriously, all of them were Spirit Refining realm martial artists, capable of soaring through the sky. Why would they still use the main door?
Gu Yuan exerted force with his legs, and with a thunderous roar, he shot towards the sky hundreds of feet high. He paused in mid-air for a moment, identified the direction, and then flew towards the Yun Yao mountain range.
His extreme speed tore through the air, creating a sonic boom that caused people in the Demon Suppression Division below to look up.
At this moment, at the outermost edge of the Yun Yao mountain range, where the mountains met the plains.
The originally lush and green plains had now become a scene of carnage.
Large numbers of grotesquely shaped demons surged from the Yun Yao mountain range. Warriors clad in the uniform of the Demon Suppression Division dodged amidst the chaos, unleashing various attacks. Vital energy shields created small pockets of sanctuary, resisting the onslaught of demons from all directions.
"Captain, we can't hold on! The brothers' vital energy is almost depleted, and the defense of the Vajra Formation is rapidly weakening. It will be breached soon!" a young man in the Demon Suppression Division uniform shouted, his long saber constantly slashing at the demons outside, his face filled with anxiety.
After several hours of fierce fighting, most members of their demon-slaying squad had exhausted their vital energy, leaving only a few in the Vital Energy realm still fighting. But if this continued, they would eventually be overwhelmed by the demons.
The middle-aged man, whom the young man called Captain, also had a grim expression. As a warrior at the peak of the Vital Energy realm, he had only ten percent of his vital energy left, let alone the other members.
Their survival amidst the demon horde relied on the Vajra Formation developed by the Demon Suppression Division. It allowed ten people to form a formation, creating a vital energy array akin to a vajra, indestructible. The energy to maintain the Vajra Formation was the vital energy of the ten people.
As vital energy was continuously consumed, the strength of the Vajra Formation was steadily decreasing. The golden, tangible formation shield now bore numerous cracks, and it was only a matter of time before it was broken.
The middle-aged man gritted his teeth. For the sake of his nine teammates' lives, he had no choice but to order a retreat. However, this retreat created a gap in the defense line set up by the Demon Suppression Division.
This would allow more demons to enter the Great Qian territory. It was important to remember that vast plains were home to many civilians. Due to the ferocity of the demonic onslaught, the Demon Suppression Division had been unable to evacuate the civilians in time.
This was also why martial arts cultivation was becoming increasingly difficult, the number of demons was growing, and the number of Demon Suppressors was dwindling, with a lack of new blood.
"Fall back while fighting! Strive to hold until the imperial martial army arrives!"
The middle-aged man roared, leading his nine teammates in a retreat. This retreat caused the entire defense line to continuously shrink backward, and the other demon-slaying squads did not want to be encircled and annihilated by the demons!
Various demon-slaying squads retreated while fighting. Due to the emergency withdrawal, more cracks appeared on the Vajra Formation's shield.
This caused many Demon Suppressors to change their expressions.
Rumble!
A colossal sound came from the sky. Everyone looked up, only to see a scarlet-gold fireball in mid-air, piercing the air and hurtling towards the ground!
"Demons, how dare you!"
Gu Yuan's voice echoed across the battlefield. The faces of all the Demon Suppressors immediately lit up with joy. They knew they were saved!