After receiving Long Haochen’s letter, the headquarters of the Temple Union began to move in full swing. Orders were sent off to the six temples to tell them to prepare for battle. At the same time, every temple recommended three members to go to the Knight Hall at Dragon Resisting Mountain Pass to take part in the meetings. All the vice-chairmen of the union went as well. They also brought the first and second armies that had already been integrated together and trained to a certain degree to the Dragon Resisting Mountain Pass.
On the side of the demons, all the demon hunt squads received missions for the war. They did all that they could to investigate the plans of the demons. According to their reports, the demons did indeed stir. The strongest dozen or so demon clans had all mobilised their troops. The news that shocked the Temple Union the most was that the Demon God Emperor had gathered over fifty demon gods with their Demon God Pillars to hold a meeting in Modu.
After hearing that, the Temple Union was immediately thrown into an uproar. Even in the previous holy war, the demons had not mobilised so many demon gods.
Out of the seventy-two demon gods, two Demon God Pillars had been destroyed and there were a total of nine demon gods that had been killed so far. In other words, there were actually only sixty-three demon gods. Apart from leaving behind a few demon gods to guard important territory, the Demon God Emperor had basically mobilised all of the forces that the demon gods had to offer. From the looks of things, it seemed a little like they wanted to wage a final war against the humans. Why wouldn’t the Temple Union be shocked by this?
No one had thought that after the new union had been founded, the demons would respond so quickly and with such determination. Only the upper echelon of the union understood that the main reason why the Demon God Emperor had begun the holy war was because of their new chairman, Long Haochen.
What could they do? Hand over Long Haochen? They definitely could not do that. When Long Haochen wasn’t powerful, the temple alliance had resisted this temptation and engaged in an all-out war against the demons, so let alone now. Not only was he powerful, he had become the person who held the greatest authority in the Temple Union, as well as the first Divine Knight of Glory of Leadership in the Knight Temple, gaining the recognition of the Divine Throne of Eternity and Creation. Coupled with his Bright Glimmer of Hope, it was possible to say that just their demon hunt squad could rival the upper echelon of any single one of the six temples.
Half a month later, the upper echelon of the Temple Union gathered at the Dragon Resisting Mountain Pass. The two integrated armies were stationed there as well.
Just when they began the first important meeting of the union’s history, grievous news suddenly arrived.
“What?” Including Long Haochen, all the people in the discussion hall stood up in shock. A solemn atmosphere immediately filled the entire room.
“The Demon God Slayers and the Nine Heaven Transcenders had both been annihilated…”
This news came just too suddenly, and it was just too shocking. For that moment, the entire discussion hall had fallen utterly silent. Everyone felt like their hearts had been struck by something heavy, while Long Haochen paled as the chairman of the union.
The news had come just when the war was about to erupt, making it just too shocking. At the same time, it was a great hit to the Temple Union as well.
Aside from The Bright Glimmer of Hope, the Demon God Slayers and the Nine Heaven Transcenders were the other two titled demon hunt squads that had great achievements. Long Haochen was not exactly familiar with the Nine Heaven Transcenders, but he could not be more familiar with the Demon God Slayers. The legendary powerhouse, Chen Zidian, had assisted him time and time again, which was the reason why he could successfully become the chairman. However, he had never thought that just after parting a few months ago, they would be completely annihilated by the deons.
After a moment of shock, Long Haochen forcefully suppressed his grief. He asked the emperor grade demon hunt squad captain, “Is the news reliable?”
The captain was an old man in his eighties. He said painfully, “The news is reliable. Senior Chen Zidian has always maintained a special communication method with our demon hunt squad. When that had happened, he quickly sent a message to tell us to retreat back to the union. The Demon God Emperor had personally lead the Moon Demon God, Star Demon God, Demon God of Death, Hell Demon God and another dozen or so demon gods to encircle them without any prior warning. When senior Chen Zidian sent the message, they were already about to be defeated. However, the Demon God Slayers and Nine Heaven Transcenders fought to their deaths and managed to kill three demon gods. Senior Chen Zidian also sent an accurate figure over. Aside from the three demon gods that were slain, another fifty-four demon gods had gathered in Modu. The last thing that senior Chen Zidian told me was rather confusing. He said the Demon God Emperor was hiding…”
“There was nothing else after saying ‘hiding’. He must have died to the Demon God Emperor.”
After hearing that, the people in the room could not help but gasp. In that moment ,everyone just looked at each other. Aside from Long Haochen who managed to remain composed, the others were all in shock. The atmosphere in the meeting room had grown solemn.
Long Haochen’s heart also weighed heavily with sorrow filling his eyes. He did not know how strong the Nine Heaven Transcenders were, but he did know about the Demon God Slayers lead by Chen Zidian. Every single member of the Demon God Slayers had surpassed three hundred thousand spiritual energy, which as the third rank of the ninth step or higher. They were all powerhouses with domains. Chen Zidian’s cultivation had even reached the fourth rank of the ninth step.
Under his lead, even if they were encircled by many powerhouses, they still should have had the chance to escape. At least one or two of them should have survived. However, the end result was that they were annihilated. If he had not know that it was impossible, why would Chen Zidian spend the time sending messages instead of assisting at least one of their members in breaking out?
The two titled demon hunt squads had been killed just like this. It was an extremely heavy blow to the Temple Union. In particular, this was the heaviest blow to morale since the union was founded.
Yang Haohan said sternly, “Contain the news. Don’t let it spread. Chairman, I’d advise you to recall all demon hunt squads in the territory of the demons immediately.”
Long Haochen nodded, “I agree. Is there anyone who objects?”
The decision was passed under unanimous agreement. Even two titled demon hunt squads had died to the demons, demonstrating just how determined the Demon God Emperor was this time. If the other demon hunt squads remained there, they would probably just be wasted as cannon fodder.
After making the decision, the meeting room immediately fell silent. Everyone was in deep thought. They all experienced pressure greater than anything they had felt in the past.
The deaths of the two titled demon hunt squads made them completely understand that the holy war the demons would be launching this time would be completely different from the past. Not only would the devil dragons, Moon Demon clan and Star Demon clan be taking part, the Demon God Emperor had basically gathered ninety percent of the demons’ forces as well. They were clearly ready for a battle to the death! Did the demons plan on destroying the humans for good?
Yang Haochen sighed, “Looks like we’re forced to use certain forces.” When he reached there, he looked at Long Haochen and said sternly, “Chairman, I’d advise us to mobilise the power of the Knights’ Sacred Mountain.”
Long Haochen was surprised. For a moment, he did not understand what Yang Haohan was saying. Yang Haohan was currently a divine knight, one of the heads of the Knight Temple, but he was not even a vice-chairman of the new union. However, at such a crucial time, he seemed surprisingly calm as the previous chairman.
After hearing the Knights’ Sacred Mountain, the six temple heads raised their heads. Their eyes twinkled.
Long Haochen asked, “Temple head Yang, what are you referring to by the Knights’ Sacred Mountain’s forces? In his impression, many light element magical beasts lived on the Knights’ Sacred Mountain. It was a place to provide outstanding young knights with their mounts. At the same time, it supported a few seniors of the Knight Temple that had been heavily injured in battle against the demons. However, how could this power be enough to fend off the demons? Yang Haohan must have been referring to something.
Yang Haohan stood up slowly and after glancing past the other temple heads, he said, “At such a critical time of life or death, there are a few things I must tell you all, which the union can then discuss and decide on.”
The Mage Temple head Li Zhengzhi nodded. He said, “That’s the only way now.”
The original Warrier Temple head Qiu Yonghao, the original Spiritual Temple head Chen Hongyu, the original Assassin Temple head Sheng Yue and the Priest Temple head Ling Xiao all nodded.
Having gained the permission of the other temple heads, Yang Haohan turned towards Long Haochen, “Chairman, vice-chairmen and various members, today I will tell you the secret of the Knights’ Sacred Mountain. Regardless of the outcome we reach, I hope everyone can keep this a secret, because this matter has to do with the union army’s morale. Once it’s leaked outside, it have an immeasurable effect.”
Long Haochen could already guess in that short amount of time that the secret of the Knights’ Sacred Mountain was probably a trump card that the humans had against the demons. However, there should have been something disgraceful about this trump card, or it wouldn’t be so mysterious. It would have also been used in the previous holy war.
Yang Haohan said, “Over six thousand years ago when the demons descended and attacked us, the Shengmo Dalu was plunged into misery and suffering. The humans who had originally ruled over the place experienced a sudden drop in population. For a time, corpses were strewn everywhere as the demons burned, killed and pillaged. They committed all kinds of sins.”
“For the sake of survival, the capable people could only choose to flee. Under the constant pressuring of the demons, they gathered in the territory of our union currently controls and formed the six temples, fighting back against the demons with full force.”
“After several decades of war, we finally stabilised our footing. Using the predecessors of the six forts currently occupied by the six temples, we finally stopped the demons’ attacks. However, the demons were still powerful back then and they engaged in a decisive battle against the temple alliance of the time.”
