"Alright, stop scaring them. Just getting dragged across the battlefield by me was punishment enough. I'm sure they've learned their lesson."
As Jian Dan spoke, her divine sense swept over the Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators. The meaning was obvious, and no one dared pretend otherwise. They all lowered their heads like quails.
"Hahaha! Only you, Mó Yuè, would have the guts to pull something like that."
Jian Dan rolled her eyes. "You think I wanted to? This is a battlefield. One misstep and you're gone, body and soul. Better they hate me and stay alive than die not knowing what killed them."
The nearby cultivators fidgeted, glancing at the sky, the ground, or fiddling nervously with their life-bound treasures.
"Don't worry, Junior Sister. They'll remember this."
"Let's hope so."
With the matter settled, the group began to discuss the next stage of their plans.
"Everyone's here. Let's move in formation. Get them used to the battlefield, make sure they learn to work with the Ming beasts, and push their cultivation forward on all fronts."
"Agreed," Mo Su responded immediately.
"No objections from me," said Mo Yi. "They've gotten too comfortable. Time they learned what real combat is like. Our Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators are no weaker than those sword-wielding Daoists."
"Mo Yi, that's a bit harsh. Some of them aren't bad," Mo Qi added mildly.
Thus, the vanguard squad merged with the main force, initiating full battlefield integration. The fourteen squads spent the next twenty years enduring the crucible of blood and flame.
The results spoke for themselves. Aside from those wounded or fallen, nearly all reached the Divine Transformation stage. Their squad leaders advanced into the Divine Soul realm.
Jian Dan and her companions repeatedly suppressed their breakthroughs, but all eventually entered late-stage Divine Soul, with Mo Su being the last to break through.
"Senior Sister, I think it's time. These cultivators need to return to the sect."
"Tired of leading them already?" Mo Qi rubbed her brow.
"They've hit their limits, physically and mentally. Their combat instincts are dulled. If we push them further, we risk unnecessary casualties. They need to face their tribulations and go into seclusion to adjust."
Jian Dan wasn't speaking lightly. The recent rise in injuries confirmed it. For those living on the knife's edge, hesitation could be fatal.
"We've been fighting nonstop for twenty years too. A break will do us good," Jian Dan added.
Mo Qi nodded. "Agreed. We've done our part as the vanguard. Reinforcements from other sects have arrived. I'll handle the handover."
She turned to Mo Su. "How many of our Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators are left?"
"Excluding us and the Black-Robed Guards, and after accounting for Tang Jian's sacrifice, we have one hundred and fourteen remaining. We lost twenty-six over the years."
"That's not bad," Mo Yi commented. "And credit goes to Mó Yuè for forcing them onto the battlefield. Look at the other sects—half their forces from Nine Fiends Hall and Yin-Yang Gate died just trying to adapt."
No one could argue. When their group reached the central gourd-shaped region of Nether Valley, their forces were already strained. Even with beast cooperation, they failed to break into the deeper zones.
They had no choice but to wait for reinforcements. Fortunately, the second Heavenly Demon Palace team arrived just in time. Later, support came from Demonic Sound Sect, Life and Death Pavilion, Nine Fiends Hall, and Crimson Blood Manor. Working together with the Ming beasts, they managed to push the frontline deeper.
Two-thirds of the Nether Valley had now been secured. The remaining third, however, was the toughest. It was crawling with insectoid beasts and Ming beasts infested by black armored larvae.
Both sides were at a stalemate.
"Mó Yuè, let's do as you suggested. We need to regroup too. The next wave will be led by Shēngsǐ Kuángjūn from the Life-Death Pavilion."
Jian Dan raised an eyebrow. "Another familiar name."
"Understood. I'll inform the others."
She turned and headed toward where the Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators were resting. Before she even arrived, everyone woke from meditation and rose to greet her.
"As you were. Seems your alertness is pretty solid. Not bad."
"Thank you for your praise, Zūnzhě!"
"Alright, enough of the solemn faces. I've got good news. You can start preparing to leave the Ming Valley."
The cultivators blinked in surprise, glanced at one another, whispered through divine sense, then settled back into quiet calm.
"One more reminder. You're not out until you cross the valley's edge. Stay alert."
"Also, once you're out, you'll face your Divine Transformation Tribulation. Bring out everything you've hidden away these twenty years. Prepare well."
"Yes, Zūnzhě!"
The chorus of voices rang loud and clear. Jian Dan nodded, satisfied, then gave them a quarter hour to prepare.
"Senior Sister, you've been holding back your cultivation for too long. Why not take them back yourself and face your Divine Soul tribulation too?"
As they gathered to decide who would escort the team back, Jian Dan suggested Mo Qi.
"I'd love to. But are you sure you three can manage on your own?"
"Of course. We'll raise the defensive wards and rest for a while. Move to the rear lines. No one will complain."
Jian Dan didn't mind. After all, their first-wave vanguard hadn't lost a single battle and had even halted the insectoid invasion's advance.
"Let's go with Mó Yuè's plan," Mo Su said.
"No worries. We still have the Black-Robed Guards. We'll manage."
The decision was settled. They completed the handover, and Jian Dan's group shifted to the rear alongside the second support wave.
Mo Qi said her farewells and led her team of fully Divine Transformation cultivators back toward the valley's entrance.
"See that? Those are the Heavenly Demon Palace cultivators who broke in first. They were Nascent Soul stage when they entered. Now they're heading back to face tribulation," said a female Nascent Soul cultivator from Demonic Sound Sect, gossiping with her fellow disciple.
"Impressive. No wonder they're the leading sect in our demon path. They really lived up to their name."
"It all comes down to strength. Without it, you can't accomplish anything."
At that moment, the Life and Death Mad Lord arrived at the defensive ward where Jian Dan's group rested.
"Shēngsǐ Kuángjūn from the Life and Death Pavilion greets Mó Yuè Zūnzhě."
The group, who had been enjoying a rare moment of tea and quiet, fell silent at the sound.
"Didn't Mo Qi already finish the handover? What does he want with me?"
"Word is he's arrogant. That's why he got the nickname. I doubt this will be anything pleasant," Mo Yi muttered.
"Then don't let him in."
===
生死阁的生死狂君, Shēngsǐ Gé de Shēngsǐ Kuángjūn or in English: The Mad Monarch of Life and Death from the Life and Death Pavilion.
Shēngsǐ in here = Life and Death, and Kuángjūn is The Mad Monarch.
So I rather write it in pinyin than in 'English'