With a single command from Ye Jingyu, Wu, Yue, Yan, and the other Cosmic-level masters led their soldiers forward. The enraged demons charged like madmen toward the personal guards of the Lord of Extinguishing Flame City. Upon arriving at the scene, they saw their legion commander gravely wounded, and their brothers slaughtered—only a little over a hundred remained out of several thousand, and every single one was severely injured. How could this not incite fury?

As for Kuang, his face was alight with excitement. He genuinely never expected Ye Jingyu to move directly against Mu, the Lord of Extinguishing Flame City, with an explicit kill order.

Initially, he thought Ye Jingyu showing up at all would be a massive question mark. Even if he did arrive, at most, he would just engage in superficial pleasantries and show some pretense of support, as Kuang was, after all, his subordinate. It was a matter of saving face. Yet, here he was, not only having arrived but ordering Mu’s immediate execution for his sake. How could this not move him?

Demons are inherently selfish. Not only was Kuang not entirely loyal to Ye Jingyu, but even the most loyal subordinates would be unhesitatingly sacrificed by their superiors in times of crisis. How many leaders are there who would risk offending the powerful for the sake of a subordinate?

In that moment, Kuang was willing to be shattered into dust for Ye Jingyu.

Ignoring his own crippling injuries, he seized his battle-axe, which was already broken halfway, and charged toward the Lord of Extinguishing Flame City.

Mu, the Lord of Extinguishing Flame City, was utterly stunned. What was this nonsense about harboring malicious intentions and plotting against a general of the Earth Alliance? He had clearly killed Mu’s son, and he was merely seeking vengeance for him. How did it become a plot against an Earth Alliance general? Even more absurd was the claim that Lord Yuan had issued the order! Even if Lord Yuan knew, how could he possibly order the execution of his own official? If you’re going to fabricate a reason, couldn’t you at least pick a better one?

Of course, what he most refused to believe was that Ye Jingyu actually dared to attack him, and with a kill-on-sight order at that! Was Ye Jingyu not afraid of completely offending Lord Yuan? He was merely an outsider! To provoke him over a mere subordinate? This… this… this couldn't be possible!

Before Mu could recover, the entire demonic host of the Blood Demon Legion rushed in. He failed to grasp that Ye Jingyu had inherited the consistent style of Dugu Bachan: fiercely protective of his own.

Never mind that Kuang was one of his legion commanders and a Cosmic-level expert; even if it were a low-ranking soldier, as long as they belonged to him, Ye Jingyu would shield them if anything happened. This was ingrained in his very core.

Naturally, Ye Jingyu’s decision to kill the Lord of Extinguishing Flame City wasn't solely driven by his protective instincts. Even if driven by protection, there was no need to pursue Mu with such deadly intent at such immense risk.

However, in Ye Jingyu’s view, since Kuang had killed Mu’s son, the relationship between them had become irreconcilable—a true blood feud with no room for turning back. Even if he managed to save Kuang in the end, Mu would harbor deep resentment. Given Mu’s influence and his relationship with Lord Yuan, even if Mu didn't cause trouble openly, he could certainly stir up endless problems behind the scenes. In that case, eliminating the root of the problem was a better course of action.

Furthermore, Ye Jingyu believed Mu and Yuan had always been close. If Mu lived, Yuan would naturally side with him, considering the power Mu wielded, which Ye Jingyu couldn't match. Regardless of the depth of Mu and Yuan’s personal bond, the value Mu provided to Yuan certainly outweighed Ye Jingyu’s contributions. Yuan would somewhat favor Mu. But if Mu died? Once dead, no matter how vast his prior influence or how great his utility, it would vanish without a trace. Yuan might reprimand Ye Jingyu, but he certainly wouldn't move against Ye Jingyu over a dead man.

The dead hold no value. But Ye Jingyu… he did.

Therefore, what appeared to be Ye Jingyu recklessly pursuing Mu solely out of affection for his subordinate was, in fact, the result of deep calculation.

“Xiao Tao Tao, you must be hungry for some live sustenance after such a long time. I won't interfere today; you can feast to your heart’s content!” Ye Jingyu said with a faint smile to Xiao Tao Tao, who was still perched on Ni Bo’s head.

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Tao Tao’s previously dim eyes immediately lit up, two balls of emerald flame igniting. Who was he? He was the Taotie, one of the Four Great Ferocious Beasts of the Primordial Era! While in the Savage Forest with Ni Bo, he often hunted wild beasts for food. But after following Ye Jingyu to the Earth Alliance, Ye Jingyu insisted that since he had taken human form, he needed to maintain a semblance of humanity and couldn't just devour living things arbitrarily. He had been subsisting on bland food and medicinal herbs brought from the Savage Forest, having gone an exceptionally long time without fresh, living prey. His mouth was practically parched. Hearing Ye Jingyu’s words, he cared nothing else. In a flash, he darted out, his target being Mu at the very front.

Almost instantaneously, Xiao Tao Tao materialized before Mu and transformed into his true form: a colossal fierce beast resembling a goat, standing seven or eight zhang tall, with eyes situated under its armpits and a pair of tiger claws. Its mouth was immense; opening it wide enough could almost swallow an elephant whole. Opening that massive maw, it lunged toward Mu.

Even before reaching Mu, a tremendous suction force pulled outward, causing Mu’s body to reel violently. If the eighteen Extinguishing Flame Warriors behind him hadn't snapped back to reality and simultaneously projected an incredibly powerful force to envelop him, he might have been swallowed whole by the Taotie in one gulp.

At this moment, Ni Bo’s form also moved. He did not shift into his human shape but charged forward in his true form. His front hooves pressed against the void, releasing waves of golden light that directly blasted toward Mu and his entourage—the Dragon Clan divine ability, Dragon Rune War Wave.

Sensing the might of this wave, the eighteen Extinguishing Flame Generals simultaneously manifested threads of purplish-gold light. These lights instantly connected, forming a purplish-gold light shield that enveloped and protected Mu.

The golden ripples slammed violently against the purplish-gold shield. They had expected to shatter the barrier easily, but to their surprise, it only caused ripples to spread across its surface…

Seeing this, Ye Jingyu and the others’ eyes brightened. The cultivation levels of these eighteen demons were all at the peak of the Hong level. Could they truly withstand the attack of a Cosmic-level master? Ni Bo, refusing to accept this, roared, his massive body leaping into the air. He executed that elegant yet terrifying sequence of steps—Ni Bo’s Seven Steps!