Chapter 429: Chapter 287: Victory and Defeat

The helmet was exquisitely crafted; what was critical was that its material was comparable to that of the Heavenly Court.

It should be noted that the equipment of the Heavenly Court had developed over many years to reach its current scale. Meanwhile, the Demon Clan had been destitute, so how could they possibly produce such equipment in such a short time?

"I must return and report to His Majesty, asking him to thoroughly investigate the Heavenly Forge Bureau. How could such technology fall into the hands of the Demon Clan?" a few Star Lords declared indignantly.

Li Jing, however, maintained a composed expression. "The material didn’t come from the Heavenly Forge Bureau. This is something we in the Heavenly Court do not possess."

Unlike the other Star Lords, Li Jing often led troops into battle and was thus very familiar with the equipment of the Heavenly Court. He knew from a single touch that this material was not the same as theirs. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"How is this possible..."

Who could believe that the Demon Clan could develop such materials in such a short time, making the Heavenly Forge Bureau a laughingstock?

"Nothing is impossible. The Demon Clan standing before us has been completely transformed. Do not view them with old perspectives. At this moment, they are truly troublesome opponents," Li Jing said somberly, gazing into the distance.

This war had completely changed his view of the Demon Clan. They were a difficult adversary, fierce and fearless yet full of vitality.

In their presence, Li Jing always felt a deep sense of his advancing age.

The Heavenly Court had been commanding the Three Realms for too long, having lost its initial vitality and becoming like stagnant water. In contrast, the Demon Clan resembled a rising sun, about to burst forth with blinding brilliance.

Such opponents were truly terrifying. They absolutely must not be allowed to grow stronger, Li Jing secretly thought to himself.

He had already decided to petition the Jade Emperor, to express his concerns. Since the war had begun, either the Heavenly Court or the Demon Clan must fall; otherwise, as time went on, the growing Demon Clan would become even more difficult to handle.

The crowd walked through the battlefield, where cries of agony still occasionally rose around them.

A brutal battle had come to an end, but its impact on both sides was just beginning.

With this depth of territory, Li Jing could finally lead his vast army out of the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons. Without the special terrain of the valley to hold them back, the Treasure Ship could unleash its full potential, and the strategic initiative was once again in the hands of the Heavenly Court.

"Order the soldiers to move the camp forward and bring out our remaining Treasure Ships. It’s time for them to show their power," Li Jing said confidently.

The process was challenging, but the situation was finally opening up. Now was the time to properly strategize for Luzhou in the North.

"Spread the news of our great victory!"

At that command, countless messages spread from that place. In just a short while, all living beings in the Three Realms were aware of the grand victory of the Heavenly Court.

This victory had come so timely that it instantly settled the restless hearts of the masses.

The fearsome nature of the Demon Clan was already well known; many were waiting for both sides to weaken each other, then to reap the benefits as bystanders. Little did they know, in just a few days, the Heavenly Court had broken through the Demon Clan’s defenses and regained control of the battlefield.

"The Heavenly Court is too strong!" someone muttered to themselves.

"Million Heavenly Soldiers, along with Heavenly King Li and his son presiding, and the Nine Luminaries Star Lord aiding, to achieve such a state now, the Demon Clan of Luzhou in the North truly commands respect,"

"But what use is that? The Heavenly Court is too strong. Do we really have to spend our entire lives without ever being able to overthrow it?"

"Wait, we have already waited so many years, a little longer won’t make a difference. Although the Heavenly Court has the upper hand, the Demon Clan has not yet lost. We just need to wait for the moment when the Heavenly Court is vulnerable; our opportunity will then arrive,"

A group of Mysterious Persons whispered among themselves, they were sinners of the Heavenly Court, immortals once exiled, cultivators who defied the Jade Emperor; they hid in the shadows, gazing greedily at the exalted Heavenly Court, waiting for the moment it would weaken.

However, the might of the Heavenly Court far exceeded their expectations, demonstrating through one battle after another that it remained the most powerful force among the Three Realms.

News of victory reached the Heavenly Court, and the long-suppressed people of the court could not help but emit excited roars of joy.

Previously, news of losses at the front line kept coming, leaving the entire Heavenly Court panic-stricken, uncertain of the future path. But now, as the clouds cleared, everyone felt as if all the prior negative emotions had dispersed.

"I told you, with Heavenly King Li and his son personally leading the troops, how could they possibly lose to those barbarians of the Demon Clan?"

"Haha, as I see it, that’s all the skill the Demon Clan has. Once we clear the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, our Heavenly Army can march straight through. The Demon Clan is but a mantis trying to stop a chariot, utterly powerless against us,"

"Come on, let’s go have a good drink to celebrate!"

Similar voices continually rang out in every corner of the Heavenly Court, filling the entire court with joy.

The Heavenly Forge Bureau, too, swept away the previously oppressive atmosphere. The faces of the craftsmen genuinely showed smiles.

Lu Shu put down the work in his hands and said to Liu Ming with a smile, "In the end, our Heavenly Court is formidable. The Demon Clan has been driven back, and it probably won’t be long before we can return to the comfortable life we had before."

But Liu Ming was far less optimistic than his friend, continuing with his work without lifting his head, and said, "After all, the Demon Clan is large and numerous; the likelihood of conquering them quickly is slim, and I reckon our workload is only going to increase."

You know, in the end, war is a contest of logistics. As the war progresses, the demand for equipment will only increase.

Lu Shu was taken aback upon hearing this, and his smile gradually faded. He looked around and then sighed, "When will these days ever end?"

During this period, under the constant urging of the Heavenly Court, these individuals had no time to rest, always working intensively, which made Lu Shu, who had become accustomed to a more leisurely pace of life before, feel very uncomfortable.

He could not remember the last time he had gone to the tavern to have a good drink, and even the gossip news he enjoyed in the past had no time to be explored.

Despite hearing the news of victory at the front, Liu Ming’s reminder made him realize that his heavy workload was unlikely to end anytime soon, and a chill of desolation suddenly surged in his heart.

While the Heavenly Court was jubilant, in contrast, the morale of the Demon Clan was low.

They all retreated to the second line of defense; each face carried fatigue and annoyance at having lost their positions.

They could still faintly hear the cheers of the Heavenly Court, which only made their expressions gloomier.

Many of them bore scars, testimonies of their previous fierce fighting. Even though they had fought valiantly, risking life and limb, they were still unable to withstand the mighty Heavenly Army.