Chapter 496

Chapter 496: The Power of Thousand Birds

Upon hearing this, Immortal Qingning’s heart sank. He knew this matter couldn’t be resolved peacefully.

A Great Pill Master represented rare expertise in the human world. Handing such talent to demons would boost their strength through alchemy mastery, consequences too dire to bear.

Moreover, Great Pill Masters weren’t pushovers – especially Master Yuan who casually produced spirit pills. Such capability implied backing from major powers. Surrendering him would provoke deadly retaliation. To protect its reputation, West Kunlun would surely punish Immortal Qingning harshly.

Yet refusing meant certain death. Even if he escaped using secret techniques, his entire clan and subordinates would perish.

As Immortal Qingning hesitated, Immortal Wulian declared: "We must never surrender Master Yuan! We’d become traitors to humanity!"

"One life for a whole city sounds fair," Flower Sword shrugged. "We’ll rescue him quickly if he resists leaking alchemy secrets."

"Self-deception!" Immortal Wulian snapped. "Blue Butterfly Demon King’s enchantments are legendary. You think Master Yuan could resist?"

"His failure would be his own fault," Flower Sword retorted coldly.

"Fool!" Immortal Wulian scoffed. "Holding Master Yuan keeps demons cautious. Without him, they’ll slaughter us all for spoils!"

Flower Sword paled, falling silent. Demons rarely kept promises – especially the notoriously treacherous Blue Butterfly Demon King. Her greed guaranteed she’d never abandon this conquered city’s riches.

Immortal Qingning observed coldly. Immortal Wulian, being a scattered cultivator with few local ties, prioritized escaping unharmed. Flower Sword, gravely injured and burdened with family, desperately avoided conflict. Yet Immortal Wulian’s logic prevailed.

Immortal Qingning agreed – demons wanted Master Yuan safely extracted before slaughter. His face hardened. "Enough talk. We fight!"

Sweeping his sleeve, he activated the City Lord’s mansion’s core Formation, teleporting them inside.

The Three Great Demon Kings erupted in rage: "Kill them all! Slaughter the city!"

Millions of demons surged through broken walls like tidal waves. Loyal soldiers’ resistance proved futile against the endless horde. Streets became battlegrounds as cultivators made final stands amidst flying swords and demonic roars.

The three leaders reappeared in the mansion’s back garden. "Master Yuan! We must flee now!" Immortal Qingning shouted.

Mi Qing materialized, gasping at their wounds. "City Lords! What happened?"

"Demons breached defenses with tricks," Immortal Qingning grimaced. "They demanded Master Yuan for peace…"

"But we refused!" Flower Sword proclaimed righteously. "We’ll protect Master Yuan with our lives!"

Immortal Wulian and Immortal Qingning’s faces twitched, silently cursing the hypocrite who’d advocated surrender moments ago.

Although he despised the situation deeply, Immortal Wulian couldn’t expose the truth now. He forced a bitter smile. "The situation’s urgent. Please come out, Master! That Flying Boat isn’t suitable for breaking through the siege."

"Oh?" Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Mi Qing didn’t seem panicked at all. Instead, she appeared rather annoyed. "How did this happen? Damn demons ruining master’s plans and causing trouble!"

"Huh?" Immortal Qingning and the others stared blankly. Qingning blurted, "Miss Mi Qing, what’s happening?"

"Wait here," Mi Qing sighed deeply before turning to leave.

Just then, a voice rang out: "No need to report. I already know! Seems our Demon Domain trip must end here!"

A golden-winged youth with golden and silver eyes emerged from the Flying Boat, landing before the trio.

"Master Yuan?" Qingning blinked in confusion. "Why does this look seem familiar?"

"Familiar yet unfamiliar," Immortal Wulian agreed.

"Wait!" Flower Sword suddenly exclaimed. "Golden wings, dual-colored eyes? With such terrifying Alchemy Skill – you’re Mo Sect’s Fang Lie!"

"Fang Lie?!" Qingning shouted. "The one who extorted East Kunlun’s treasured Star Gold Element Core?"

"The thief who stole Ghost Realm Sect’s Eighth-rank Treasures?" Immortal Wulian cried. "Who drove Demonic Path cultivators fleeing from Wanxing Sea Arena? Why are you here?"

"Here for Gold-Eating Rat Demons," Fang Lie chuckled awkwardly. "My apologies for the deception."

"You’ve doomed me!" Qingning wailed. "West Kunlun’s centuries of high-rank materials gone to Mo Sect! The sect Higher-ups will execute me!"

"Had I known you were Master Yuan," Flower Sword growled, "I’d have fed you to demons myself!"

Immortal Wulian paled. "You caused this disaster hunting rats? You’re a walking calamity!"

"West Kunlun never wronged you!" Qingning accused. "Why harm us?"

"Accident!" Fang Lie raised defensive hands.

"Accident?!" Qingning roared. "Tens of thousands becoming demon food isn’t just an accident!"

"Hardly serious," Fang Lie scoffed, soaring skyward. Black light flashed beneath him, revealing an ancient altar adorned with divine patterns and bird engravings.

"Fire Birds, awaken!" His hands formed secret techniques. Nascent Soul energy surged into the altar, transforming into Spiritual Energy that flowed into the engravings.

Sparrow-sized Fire Birds materialized, dancing above him. "Grow!" At his command, they expanded into giant winged terrors matching Fang Lie’s own cultivation level – his supreme divine skill, Fire Bird Technique.

Each Fire Bird contained his full Magic reserves, stored in this life-bound treasure altar. A thousand Fang Lies now hovered in the air.

The flaming swarm descended on densest demon formations. Each breath unleashed hundred-foot seas of flames. Sixth-rank demons disintegrated instantly. Thousands perished in moments, cleansing the city.

When no targets remained, the fiery legion simply surged beyond the walls, painting the wilderness with deadly flames.