This negotiation of Hua Wuyan's would, to anyone listening, sound like humanity was simply afraid of death, not wanting to perish too soon, hoping to cling to survival.

Even if that meant living without dignity.

As for the Dragon-Man side, rather than killing the human Guardians, they preferred to suppress them like the Qilin Soul.

This was to prevent a super-strong expert from suddenly emerging among humans, who might one day seek revenge for their home world.

Don't forget, in the ancient era, the human world had very frequent exchanges with other Void Realm planes.

So it was safe to assume that humanity didn't only exist in the human world — there were certainly humans in other worlds too.

The Dragon-Men had seen them themselves.

Of course they wanted to guard against this scenario.

When Hua Wuyan proactively proposed such terms, how could the Dragon-Men not be tempted?

Thus, the agreement was set.

To prevent Hua Wuyan from pulling any tricks, the Cunning Heaven Venerable planted a Demon Seed inside her.

Normally, a Martial God wouldn't fall for such a trick.

But to make the Dragon-Men take the bait, Hua Wuyan willingly accepted the Demon Seed.

Once this thing was planted, just like Feng Yucheng, she would become a vessel for the Demon Seed, a tool for the Dragon-Men's invasion of other worlds.

It was nearly impossible to shake it off with one's own strength — unless one died.

"Human Guardian!

We have abided by the agreement and fully withdrawn our forces from the Starry Domains!

All the power of my Sixth Expeditionary Army — except for the 'Graceful Heaven Venerable's' force guarding the gap and the 'Frigid Heaven Venerable' who cannot show himself — is all here!

Now, it's time for you to fulfill your promise!"

The Cunning Heaven Venerable's voice echoed across Cangqiong Ridge.

The Dragon-Man army and the human world coalition forces — everyone's eyes were fixed on Hua Wuyan, this Guardian of extraordinary significance.

Hua Wuyan, staff in hand, step by step walked to the edge of the Air-Banning Grand Array.

Behind her stood Shen Qingshan, Dongfang Shuo, Xiao Yunlei, Shangguan Yingtai, the Sword Lord, Li Chengqian, Chen Jing, Wu Yue, Long Yang, the Demon Tribe's Four Ancestors, the Ancestor Second Generation, the Hng and Ha Demons...

Thousands of humans and demons had come to see her off.

"Senior Hua!"

Someone called out.

Hua Wuyan didn't turn around, only smiled and said.

"Children, survive. Living — that's where hope lies..."

At this moment, Hua Wuyan's body seemed increasingly stooped and aged, as if the weight of years had suddenly crushed her vitality.

After stepping out of the no-fly zone, Hua Wuyan slowly rose into the air.

The human world coalition watched as she stood alone in the sky, facing the menacing Dragon-Man Expeditionary Army by herself.

She was a Martial God whom everyone looked up to, but she was also an elderly woman in the twilight of her years, shouldering everything for the beings of the human world at this moment.

The Cunning Heaven Venerable curled his lips, his two pairs of wings fluttering slightly as he slowly flew toward Hua Wuyan.

In the Cunning Heaven Venerable's hand was a pitch-black chain.

You weren't unfamiliar with this thing.

The Soul-Binding Lock.

"Human Guardian, will you take your own life, or shall I help you?"

Hua Wuyan met his gaze coldly.

"A Witch has a Witch's way of dying. Don't touch me with your filthy hands!"

The Cunning Heaven Venerable shrugged. He wasn't in a hurry, gesturing as if to say, "Be my guest."

Then, Hua Wuyan took out a small earthen pot containing some bubbling purple liquid.

"This is a poison I developed myself. In theory, it can kill a Martial God, but unfortunately, no Martial God was willing to let me test it. Today, I'll use my own life to try it out, haha..."

Hua Wuyan scooped up a spoonful and downed it in one gulp.

On the ground, within the Air-Banning Grand Array, countless people's eyes reddened.

"Guardian!"

"Senior Hua!"

"Are we just going to watch this?!"

"I can't take it! Let me die in her place!"

"We can't go out! That's Lord Yi's order!"

"Where is Lord Yi?! Why isn't he here today?!"

At this moment, you too were witnessing all of this.

Only you were standing farther away, to avoid alerting the Dragon-Men to any anomalies.

"Senior Hua..."

This was the plan Hua Wuyan had devised.

You had disagreed.

Whether out of personal sentiment or considering that the Seven Luminaries Immortal Array required her.

But Hua Wuyan had told you that her lifespan had less than a year left.

In such a short time, Li Lingyue couldn't possibly break through to Martial God.

Even if she lived until next year, the Seven Luminaries Immortal Array still couldn't be deployed.

Instead, it was better to use her life to lure all the Dragon-Man troops from the Starry Domains down here.

Now, your goal had been achieved. Hua Wuyan didn't necessarily have to die, but with the Demon Seed already planted and her remaining lifespan so short, she was willing to choose a death she found fitting.

This would also make the Dragon-Man army completely let their guard down, without any suspicion.

Hua Wuyan ingested her own poison. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

But after all, she was a Martial God — poison was hard pressed to kill her.

So Hua Wuyan had to circulate her energy, amplifying the poison's potency and actively directing it to attack her vital points.

Only then did she manage to accomplish her suicide with great difficulty.

Hua Wuyan's aged body fell from the sky.

The Sword Lord and others moved simultaneously, wanting to charge out of the array to catch Hua Wuyan's corpse.

But the Sword Lord and the rest were pinned in place by Shen Qingshan using the Stellar River Divine Art. Only Shen Qingshan himself rushed out.

After catching Hua Wuyan's body, Shen Qingshan brought her back within the Air-Banning Grand Array.

Just then, the sound of chains rattling came from the sky.

Hua Wuyan's soul was trapped by the Soul-Binding Lock.

After confirming success, the Cunning Heaven Venerable dropped the act on the spot.

"Hahaha!!! Human Guardians! You really are so naive! For this war against the human world, our realm has been preparing for years — we're not here just for a supply point!

Now, your Martial God-level forces have lost another member, the Guardian is suppressed, your fortune has plummeted — if not now, when will you perish?

All troops, hear my command!

Deploy all war weapons! At maximum speed, crush the entire human world!

First, raze Cangqiong Ridge to the ground!!"

Demon Spirit armies, otherworldly war beasts, large-scale destruction weapons, Magic Bullet Cannons...

Countless war weapons, dropping like dumplings into a pot, descended from the sky, preparing to launch a fierce assault on the remaining forces of the human world within the Air-Banning Grand Array.

Shen Qingshan pointed at the sky and roared in fury.

"Dragon-Men! You have broken your word! Despicable!!"

The Cunning Heaven Venerable retreated to the high sky, overlooking the entire scene, sneering without pause.

"Founding Ancestor Shen, this is war!

Do I really need to teach you that all's fair in war?

I just didn't expect you all to be so naive, so easy to fool!

I thought there might be some trick up your sleeve, but this went so smoothly — what a waste of a precious high-grade Demon Seed, hahaha!!"

Facing the overwhelming, menacing Dragon-Man army, everyone in the human world coalition knew.

This was the final battle.

And the result of this battle would most likely be the complete annihilation of the human world coalition.

Just as everyone was ready to go all out with the mindset of certain death...

A somewhat sly voice, one that sounded like a petty man finally getting his way, echoed from every direction, from every corner between heaven and earth...

Rang out!

"Yoohoo, Artifact Spirit, are you there, Artifact Spirit? This is the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner! The greatest, strongest, most badass super Immortal Artifact in the history of the human world!"

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