Eighth-Rank Demon—Mountain Walker!

An Eighth-Rank demon awakens a unique trait: the power to command lower-ranked demons surrounding it!

Thus, humans hail Eighth-Rank demons as—the King of Demons!

Demon King!

Pull the view back from Southgate Garrison into the distance, and you’d see this mountain-like colossal demon—towering even over the garrison’s tens-of-meters-high walls!

Before it, humans seemed as insignificant as ants.

Countless demons surged over the Mountain Walker’s body and around its feet, charging relentlessly toward Southgate Garrison!

This demon assault was unusually fierce—even the Eighth-Rank Mountain Walker had appeared directly on the battlefield.

Though the cunning beast never charged forward to take blows itself, it continuously directed its underlings to batter Southgate Garrison!

Yet the Mountain Walker was not Xia Qing’s concern. Her duty was simply to lead Southgate Garrison’s Demonhunter army in repelling the demon horde.

Qu Xuelin would handle the Mountain Walker.

At that moment, Qu Xuelin sat atop Southgate Garrison’s fortress wall, gazing steadily at the Mountain Walker.

Should the creature dare approach within a hundred meters of the wall, Qu Xuelin would strike it down with thunderous force!

As long as he drew breath, not a single demon would pass through Southgate Garrison.

Thanks to Qu Xuelin’s presence, even as the Mountain Walker radiated a terrifying aura, the garrison’s defenders remained high in morale.

Xia Qing gripped her Red Tassel Spear and leaped into the air!

In the next instant, several Fifth-Rank flying demons plummeted from the sky, crashing onto Southgate Garrison.

When she landed, bloodstains dotted her armor.

Yet Xia Qing merely murmured softly, a trace of worry in her voice:

“Stay alive, Yi Yi…”

Meanwhile…

While Qu Xuelin, Xia Qing, and others battled the demon horde at Southgate Garrison, Qu Yi faced her own trial.

Ye Thirteen watched the forming Micro Sky Rift and called out:

“It’s coming!”

Hearing his warning, the three girls tightened their grips on their weapons, standing ready.

Ye Thirteen stood aside, making no move to intervene.

He’d mentioned before: Sky Rift appearances could be blessings. After a Demonhunter slayed a demon of equal rank, their cultivation advanced significantly.

Qu Yi and her companions were at a critical growth phase—unless absolutely necessary, Ye Thirteen would not step in.

Though the sudden energy tide sent many into panic, Ye Thirteen remained utterly calm.

Everything was still under his control.

He’d long anticipated anomalies—that was why he’d sent Lai Yingxin to urge her father to finalize arrangements, and why he’d instructed Qu Yi’s team to report the abnormal frequency of Sky Rift appearances.

Thus, though the energy surge struck suddenly, Southgate Garrison was not unprepared.

Meanwhile, events at Southgate Garrison sent shockwaves across the Dragon Realm.

Yet this time, the leadership remained unusually calm—the garrison’s response seemed… surprisingly effective.

Patrol Squads had been assigned Ace Demon Hunters, even Entry-Rank powerhouses.

Contingency plans were activated early due to prior data anomalies.

Though urgent reports arrived, the situation was far better than anticipated.

The leaders even had leisure to discuss:

“Has Qu Xuelin become a spirit?”

“Those Patrol Squad instructors—perfect timing! Worth every coin!”

“The response was so sharp. Were Qu Xuelin’s team always this perceptive?”

“This doesn’t feel like Qu Xuelin’s style… Someone else is pulling the strings.”

“Is this the time for debate? Send reinforcements to Southgate Garrison now!”

“We can’t spare large forces, but a few elite squads? Absolutely.”

“Dispatch three Soldier-Rank squads. Once city districts are cleared, they’ll reinforce the garrison.”

“With Qu Xuelin holding the fort, three squads suffice. Other fronts are stretched thin.”

“Mobilize them.”

“Sigh… If only the Alliance Team could deploy. We wouldn’t be so stingy.”

“Non-essential deployment is forbidden—that rule stands. Temporary reassignment is manageable.”

“We’ll revisit the Alliance Team later.”

“I suppose that’s all we can do…”

The Dragon Realm leadership stayed relatively at ease.

Southgate Garrison’s response had been nearly flawless.

The city districts—once the most vulnerable—were secured by a recent policy initially deemed “wasteful.”

Having seemingly anticipated the crisis, the entire garrison reacted with astonishing speed.

By the time reports reached headquarters, Southgate Garrison had already stabilized the situation.

All that remained was dispatching elite squads to wrap things up swiftly.

After all, no one knew what might shift next—the faster, the better.

Ye Thirteen had foreseen this decision.

He doubted he’d need to intervene. Once Entry-Rank squads arrived, they’d swiftly clear the city districts.

He knew the Dragon Realm leadership well—this wasn’t their first collaboration.

That was why he remained so calm.

While others fixated on neighborhoods or cities, Ye Thirteen saw the grand strategy.

He’d even laid groundwork regarding Southgate Garrison itself.

As many suspected: deploying Ace-tier or Entry-Rank Demonhunters against city-district Micro Sky Rifts was like using a cannon to swat a mosquito—total overkill.

Ye Thirteen’s true intent? If Southgate Garrison faltered, wouldn’t the hundreds of High-tier Demonhunters across its six city districts finally prove their worth?

After all, only five hundred Entry-Rank Demonhunters guarded the entire garrison.

Even mobilizing half the city elites would be more than enough to reinforce the walls.

The leadership stayed calm precisely because they’d considered this.

In true crisis, those Demonhunters hired as Patrol Squad instructors could be conscripted.

Of course, that was the worst-case scenario.

No one wished to resort to forced conscription—it would mean Southgate Garrison stood on the brink.

A fate no citizen of the Dragon Realm would ever wish to see.