"Even I just felt my body slipping out of my control… The seductive power of a Succubus is terrifying. If it had lasted any longer, even I would have struggled to break free," said Wu Wudi, his expression grave. "For ordinary cultivators, the effects are simply fatal. This Succubus cannot be allowed to live."
"Right, she must die. If she lives, she poses too great a threat. She's a demon of Eternal Night—killing her would be a great service."
"Kill her! She must die!"
Countless cultivators within the city roared in anger. Yet, even as they shouted for blood, their eyes didn't dare to meet the Succubus's gaze. They feared that a single glance would leave them unable to raise a hand against her. Their previous humiliating loss of control only intensified their fury. The Succubus's very presence was an insult—a disgrace they could not bear to leave alive.
"She must die. Her mere existence is a lingering humiliation."
"Emperor, a creature like this Succubus must be eliminated," said Liu Bowen, stepping forward. "On the battlefield, the damage she could do is unimaginable. She could enthrall the masses."
There was precedent. Legend had it that in the world of Investiture of the Gods, when Daji was captured and about to be executed, even the executioner couldn't lift his blade. Her unseen charm could sway nine out of ten living beings under heaven. Now, aside from a few with unshakable willpower, most cultivators from various races wouldn't be able to strike her down. Some didn't even dare look at her, fearing they'd fall under her spell again.
Even Liu Bowen feared her. The Succubus's power was simply too dangerous.
Throughout history, how many kings had lost their nations to beauty and temptation?
If Yi Tianxing were to take a liking to her and welcome her into the palace, who knew what unrest it might cause—perhaps even destabilizing the entire Great Yi Dynasty. No matter how slim the possibility, it could not be ignored. That was why Liu Bowen wished for her immediate death.
"Yi Emperor, am I not beautiful?" the Succubus asked softly, her expression filled with sorrow. Tears seemed ready to fall from her eyes at any moment.
Her expression stirred pity in those who saw her.
"You may be beautiful," Yi Tianxing replied, eyes clear and unaffected. "But you are of Eternal Night, and I belong to Eternity. That alone is reason enough to kill you."
With a cold snort, he tapped the belt at his waist. A crisp echo rang out.
With it came a solemn voice:"Decree: Imprison!"
An invisible force surged forth, instantly immobilizing all nine assassins. Moments later, a spatial gate opened, sucking them inside and sealing them within the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower. Inside the tower, no matter how powerful or seductive they were, they had no escape. Only suppression awaited them.
In just a few breaths, every threat in Blazing Flame City had been erased. The once-tense atmosphere began to ease.
The cultivators in the city all looked toward Yi Tianxing with newfound awe.
This awe came from deep within their hearts.
Everyone knew how dire things had been before Yi Tianxing arrived. With assassins lurking around every corner, no one had felt safe. Now that those threats were removed, a sense of safety—unprecedented in recent days—finally returned. And all of it was thanks to Yi Tianxing.
It was only through comparison that his importance became truly clear.
"Thank you, Yi Emperor, for your assistance," said Wu Wudi with sincere gratitude. "If not for you, our losses today would have been catastrophic."
"Yes," added Crown Prince Lionheart, nodding. "That Succubus was far too dangerous. We may not fear her ourselves, but our soldiers would have been overwhelmed. It would've been all too easy for her to cause chaos. Killing her is like destroying one of Eternal Night's trump cards."
ROAR!!!
Suddenly, a thunderous roar tore through the sky, shaking the heavens and earth. The entire Blazing Flame City trembled under the weight of it. A storm of rage and murderous intent surged like a tidal wave.
It was the grief and fury of a creature that had lost a loved one.
The sheer force of that anger weighed down like a mountain. Countless cultivators felt as if they had been cast into a storm of wrath, in danger of being torn apart at any moment.
"Get to the walls—something's coming!"
"That roar… it's terrifying. I'd say it's above the Yang God realm—this is no ordinary beast. Must be one of Eternal Night's top monsters!"
Warriors rushed to the city walls.
Even Wu Wudi and the others who had intended to speak further with Yi Tianxing had no time to waste. They leapt to the walls. Nothing was more important than the city's safety now. On the battlefield, every moment mattered.
"Snakes—so many snakes!"
"Look! They're everywhere—giant serpents. That one... It's got seven heads!"
The sight before them made countless cultivators gasp in shock.
From all directions, an ocean of monstrous snakes surged toward them. Each one was massive, the size of small mountains. Some had two heads, others three or four. Some had wings and flew through the sky like lightning.
Their scales shimmered with dazzling colors, and their bodies radiated violent energy. The sheer number was beyond imagining—more than billions.
And at the center of it all was a seven-headed serpent, towering thousands of meters high, like a titan among snakes. It moved with alarming speed, surrounded by the tide of monstrous serpents as if it were their king.
"Destroy! Destroy everything! All life must perish!"
"Kill, kill, kill!!"
"My master is dead! Whoever killed my master must die! Her aura vanished within this city—this city must be destroyed!"
"Death to all! Death! Death!"
From each of its seven heads came a flood of maniacal thoughts, filled with chaos and uncontainable rage. The killing intent radiating from the beast grew more intense with every breath.
"It's the Yamata no Orochi—the Destruction Beast (Hydra). Why is it here?" Yi Tianxing's eyes narrowed sharply.
The Yamata no Orochi, also known as the Nine-Headed Serpent, was a legendary beast of destruction and chaos. Wherever it went, annihilation followed. Its multiple heads fragmented its consciousness, amplifying its chaotic nature and desire to destroy. Each head wielded a different innate ability—each a terrifying power.
It was born to destroy. It was death incarnate.
"I once read in an ancient text," said Feng Baiyu, "that the Succubus race is terrifying not for their combat ability, but for their innate charm. Upon birth, they have the power to form a lifelong bond with a powerful beast or cultivator—not a contract, but a permanent enchantment."
"This Enchanted Bond cannot be broken. It's a bond of life and death, the deepest form of companionship. Once formed, they walk together for life. It's called the Succubus Pact."
"After forming the pact, the beast's potential increases significantly—possibly even leaping an entire tier. Succubi are extremely cautious when choosing a partner. If none suit them, they'd rather go without."
"This Yamata no Orochi must be the lifebound beast of that Succubus. With her gone… it's gone insane."
The implications were terrifying.
With seven heads, it was a seventh-tier beast. And in its madness, no one could predict the depths of its power.
"We can't let these snake hordes reach the city. Kill them all!"
"All warriors, kill any serpent you see!"
Wu Wudi gave the order without hesitation.
The warriors on the walls knew it too. If these serpents breached the city, Blazing Flame City would be annihilated.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Without hesitation, the city's defenses sprang to life.
Catapults hurled not rocks, but special weapons from the Divine-Demon Treasury—the Skyfire Magma Orbs. When launched, they burst into flames upon impact, turning entire sections of the battlefield into blazing lakes of molten fire.
Like meteors, the orbs fell from the sky, exploding into waves of fire, engulfing everything in sight.