“You have finally reached Mount Gobi, Li Jie. Climb to the top and find Lake Ranukumbolo. I will meet you there,” said Xiao Chen suddenly within Li Jie’s mind.The young man held his breath for a few moments, his gaze fixed on the towering mountain before him.“We must climb, Jian Ying. This place was clearly chosen for a reason. I don’t know what obstacles lie ahead, but we must stay vigilant—don’t let your guard down for even a moment.”Jian Ying nodded. “What about Hei Feng? Should we leave him here?”“Yes, he should stay. The path ahead is too steep—I doubt he can make it up there,” Li Jie replied.Hei Feng neighed loudly, clearly refusing to be left behind. The great black horse snorted and pawed at the ground, as if saying he could handle the climb even with both of them on his back.“Are you sure?” Li Jie frowned, understanding his companion’s stubborn defiance.Hei Feng neighed again, bobbing his head repeatedly,

Xiao Chen gave a faint, wry smile. Though he understood how difficult it would be to face all of them, he showed no trace of confusion on his face. As the War God, this was not the first time—nor the second—that he had stood against impossible odds. His years of battle had taught him far more than the dozens of demons arrayed before him. Xiao Chen intended to use his superior experience to cover whatever weaknesses he still had.“If any of you truly think you can kill me, then come forward—one by one or all at once,” he said. “If you step up piecemeal, you’ll only waste my time.”Sin Wei snorted, part anger and part disbelief. The War God’s words sounded like a direct challenge. He scanned the area to see if reinforcements for Xiao Chen might be hidden nearby. After several long moments, however, the only energies he could sense were those radiating from the two figures before him and a faint, godly power whose source he could not yet pinpoint.“You’re arr

Xiao Chen could barely lift his arm as he watched Sin Wei unleash his next attack. His body felt unbearably heavy, every muscle screaming in defiance of his will. Even breathing became difficult, as though the very air around him had thickened into molten stone. He knew he could not last much longer. His thoughts, however, were not on his survival—but on Li Jie. If I fall here, he thought weakly, then may Li Jie carry on my purpose.A heartbeat later, Sin Wei’s massive mace came crashing down with earth-shattering force. The impact exploded with a roar that echoed through the mountain range like thunder from the heavens. The ground trembled violently; entire slabs of rock splintered and fell from the cliffsides, crashing down in deafening avalanches.Dust and smoke billowed upward, so thick that sight itself seemed swallowed by the storm. Even the demons standing nearby did not flinch or flee—they simply stood their ground, unbothered by the falling stones, as if eager to see how this

“Turns out you’ve finished it, Li Jie,” Xiao Chen murmured. He smiled as he regarded the young man’s face — now carrying a grave dignity that did not belong to a careless youth. A quiet aura of wisdom radiated from the features that curved into that mild smile as he addressed the two of them.Li Jie stared at Xiao Chen’s body for a long moment. He frowned when he realized the God of War still bore deep wounds.“Please, let go of my grandfather’s hands for a moment!” the young man said to Mao Tung. Then he reached out and placed his hand gently on Xiao Chen’s shoulder.Slowly, Li Jie let his energy flow into the battle god’s body. He persisted for a long time, channeling warmth and light into the bruised flesh and torn channels of power, until finally he withdrew his hand.Xiao Chen felt a tremendous current move through his blood, and little by little his body steadied and grew fresh as it had been before. He stood in astonishment at what the young man had accomplished. Quietly, he ad

“You will never be a traitor to your kind, Wu Long,” said Xiao Chen calmly, his tone filled with conviction.“How can I not be called a traitor,” Wu Long frowned, “if I’m helping the Gods reclaim the power the demons have fought so long to possess?”Xiao Chen’s eyes softened. “Think deeply, Wu Long. What is Gao Yin’s true purpose in seizing power? Is it to bring harmony to the universe? To ensure peace and prosperity for his people?” He shook his head slowly. A weary sigh escaped his lips. “During my time hiding on Earth, I’ve seen chaos spreading everywhere—wars for power, pillage, and destruction. It never ends.”“But weren’t such things also happening when you, the Gods, ruled the universe?” Wu Long interrupted.“You’re right, Wu Long,” Xiao Chen admitted, “but at least balance was maintained. Things were never this dire. Since Gao Yin seized the throne, harmony has been shattered. If you don’t believe me, ask Mao Tung. He’s seen it with his ow