He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 788 The power of the Demon Race is unimaginable

The air inside the stone hall seemed frozen by an invisible frost. The elders' faces darkened instantly, as if covered by a thick layer of frost, the fear in their eyes almost impossible to conceal. Yes, the terror of the demon race was a fear etched into their very blood. In that great war that swept across the three realms, the demon race lost seventy percent of its elite forces, countless elderly, women, and children perished, and they nearly met their annihilation. They had only managed to recuperate for a thousand years deep within this barrier, barely recovering some of their strength, and none of them wanted to be drawn back into that blood-and-fire inferno.

“Ancestor,” the fox elder, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke. In her human form, she was a beautiful woman with a fiery red fox fur coat that accentuated her snow-white skin. Her voice, though high-pitched, carried a rare calmness. “The most urgent task is not to panic, but to find out the details of that demon race—how many people have come? Are they scouts, or have they already set up a den in the shadows? What is their purpose in lying in wait for so long? We can’t just sit here and wait for them to come to us before we hastily respond.”

The patriarch's cloudy eyes flickered, and he nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone with unwavering authority: "That's right. From today onward, the patrols along the barrier will be doubled, day and night; each faction will select ten elite members to form a spy team to investigate the movements at the edge of the Demon Realm. Remember, do not act rashly. Also, keep a close eye on He Yuzhu. As the sole survivor of the last encounter with the demons, he might be hiding some secrets. Ensure his safety and prevent anything from happening to him."

The elders responded in unison, their voices echoing in the empty stone hall, yet carrying a heavy, oppressive weight, like a thousand-pound boulder pressing down on them. A storm concerning the survival of the demon race, and possibly even sweeping across the three realms, seemed to be quietly brewing. Even the howling mountain wind outside the hall carried a chilling murderous aura, causing the hall doors to creak.

Meanwhile, inside the council tent of the demon clan branch, the atmosphere was equally tense. The clan chief sat on the main seat covered with animal hide, his brows furrowed. Looking at the indignant clansmen below, he said in a deep voice, "Remember this, all of you. Although our relationship with the human race is currently tense and we are in a critical situation, without my order, no one is allowed to provoke the human race. Do you understand?"

A commotion immediately arose below. A young bear warrior couldn't help but step forward, slamming his paw heavily on the ground, sending dust flying inside the tent: "Chief! Why? After the last border conflict, we don't even know if the demons were really behind it. All we know is that the humans, relying on their superior numbers, forced us into this barren valley, where we're almost out of food for the winter! Why should we live in peace with the humans? What about the people of our tribe who died under their blades? What about their grievances?"

His words were like a spark falling into a pile of dry tinder, immediately drawing a chorus of agreement: "That's right! Why should we put up with this?" "Chieftain, if we back down any further, we'll be wiped out!"

The clan leader was no less heartbroken. His chest felt like it was burning with anger. Among the fallen clansmen were his own brother and childhood friends. Thinking of them at night felt like his heart was being torn apart by claws. But he slammed his hand on the table, silencing the commotion. His voice was hoarse but firm: "Enough! You think you're the only ones who feel pain? Don't we old folks bleed inside?" He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the young, angry faces. "But things are different now. The human race is at its peak of power. Several new cultivators have emerged with extraordinary talent, and even the divine artifacts that once suppressed the demons have reappeared. If we confront them head-on now, it's like throwing an egg against a rock—we're no match for the human race!"

He paused, his voice heavy with weariness and sorrow: "Endure, not out of fear of them, but to survive. Once we've figured out the demons' strength and recuperated, we'll talk about other things. Acting rashly now will only lead to the demise of our entire clan!"

The tent fell silent instantly, with only the candlelight flickering in the wind, reflecting the complex expressions on everyone's faces—resentment, anger, yet the forced acceptance of this cruel reality. Hatred was like a seed buried deep in their hearts, waiting only for the right moment to sprout.

The atmosphere in the council hall suddenly froze. The elders and members of the various tribes sitting below all wore obvious displeasure, and whispers surged up like a tide.

"The chieftain is right! In the last battle with the human race, our bear clan lost more than a dozen brothers. How can we just let this blood feud go?"

"Humans are becoming increasingly arrogant. Do they really think we demons are easy to bully?"

"If we keep putting up with this, they'll eventually force us to have nowhere to go!"

The current chieftain of the Bear Clan slammed his hand on the stone table, stood up, his mane bristling, and his voice boomed like thunder: "How can we not take revenge?! Last time, the human race set a trap, causing us heavy losses. This is not only revenge, but also a great humiliation to our demon race! Now, relying on their numbers, they have forced us to live a life of hardship in these barren valleys. Do they expect us to wag our tails and beg for mercy?"

He took a breath, his eyes burning with rage: "Let me tell you, if you don't resist, there will only be one outcome—being wiped out by the human race, leaving not even a trace of your bones!"

The fox demon patriarch sat in the main seat, his silvery-white beard trembling slightly. He was well aware of his people's anger. But having lived for a thousand years, he had witnessed too many rises and falls. The human race was currently at the height of its power; a direct confrontation would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock. He was about to speak to appease them when a sudden voice interrupted him:

"Humans are indeed lucky, but if our dragon race were to emerge from the mountains, this fortune might very well change."

The voice was clear and sharp, yet it carried an undeniable pressure, causing the air in the entire council hall to seem to freeze. The demons looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man in a dark robe slowly walk in. He had a handsome face, and his brows carried an innate arrogance. A faint mist surrounded him. Although he looked young, the aura he exuded was even more powerful and domineering than that of the fox demon ancestor.

The fox demon patriarch's pupils contracted, instantly recognizing it—it was the unique dragon might of the Jiaolong clan! This clan usually resided in the deep sea's secret realm, rarely setting foot on land; he never expected them to appear today. He quickly composed himself, a solemn smile appearing on his face: "So you are an honored guest of the Jiaolong clan, my apologies for my rudeness. May I ask who you are…?"

The young man smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over the demons in the hall with a hint of disdain: "I am Long Si, the current patriarch of the Jiaolong clan." He paused, his tone suddenly turning serious, "I have come here to ask about something—have any of you seen my Jiaolong clan's young patriarch, my son? He has not returned for a long time, and I have searched everywhere for him."