The two Spirit Sea Realm cultivators sent by Riverside Sect to reinforce them were Elder Shentu Gui of the Enforcement Hall and Elder Tian Qisheng of Bright Moon Peak.

Shen Mo could understand why Tian Qisheng came to help. After all, the ancestral lands of the Tian Clan were in Hongye City. Tian Zhaoquan, Tian Qisheng, Tian Zhiyu, and other Spirit Sea Realm cultivators of the Tian Family would never sit idly by while their ancestral lands were in danger. But it was strange that Shentu Gui, the Enforcement Hall Elder, came to quell the disaster!

Seemingly noticing Shen Mo's confusion, Shentu Gui said coldly, "Demonic afflictions are rampant throughout the Red Flame Country. The Peak Masters of the Three Peaks and the various Hall Masters have all been dispatched to different regions.

"The sect received your message, and after an evaluation, I was given full authority over the source of the Demon Tide at Wolf Howling Ridge!

"From the looks of it, you've done an excellent job so far!

"You haven't allowed the demonic disaster to spread and become uncontrollable."

Shentu Gui had already extended his sense much earlier, gaining a clear overview of the situation, so his words now carried a hint of praise.

"It's all thanks to Fellow Daoist Wei of Gold Toad Tower, Fellow Daoist Jiang of Thriving Gold Sect, as well as the cultivators from the Defense Division, various immortal sects, Cultivating Families, rogue cultivators, and many other fellow daoists who disregarded their own safety to fiercely slay the demons!"

Shen Mo didn't take all the credit for himself. With an impassive expression, he praised all the parties who had contributed.

As for Tian Qisheng, who had come with Shentu Gui, he maintained a sullen expression and hadn't said much, still smarting from his previous humiliation by Shen Mo.

At this point, the cultivators' side boasted five Spirit Sea Realm powerhouses.

In less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, they had completely wiped out the low-class Heavenly Demons remaining on the surface.

As for the Heavenly Demons that had scattered and fled, Demon-corrupting demonic beasts and mortals, cultivators from all factions were hunting them down using the Bone Viewing Mirror.

To resist this first wave of the Demon Tide, twenty-seven Qi Gathering Realm cultivators who had come to slay the demons had fallen. Some were Demon-corrupted during the battles, while others were overwhelmed and devoured by swarms of Heavenly Demons.

Among those registered with the Defense Division, thirteen had perished.

Even the Tian Family, who was at odds with Shen Mo, lost three Qi Gathering Realm cultivators!

Ironically, the Body Tempering Realm cultivators, who hadn't managed to arrive in time, all survived; not a single one of them fell.

This outcome was achieved only because Shen Mo had reorganized the Defense Division, ensuring an extremely swift response. Furthermore, during the battles, the cultivators' side held the advantage in strength, and Shen Mo had repeatedly intervened. If this had occurred a few months prior, it's likely that all creatures outside of Hongye City, Gold Toad Tower, and Thriving Gold Sect would have become blood food for the Heavenly Demons.

Whether it was mortals in large towns or in the wilderness, or small immortal sects or Cultivating Families, the losses could have been a hundred times greater. Back then, who knows how many low-class Heavenly Demons would have been promoted as a result!

Had that previous scenario come to pass, then by the time Riverside Sect sent reinforcements, they likely would not have been able to contain the disaster without dispatching Peak Master-level powerhouses and more than ten Spirit Sea Realm cultivators. The Peak Masters of the Three Peaks and the various Hall Masters were unable to lend their strength because several other sources of the Demon Tide across the Red Flame Country were rapidly deteriorating and becoming difficult to contain, requiring them all to rush for support.

「A few hours later」

The first batch of Riverside Sect disciples to arrive were already bustling around Wolf Howling Ridge with Formation materials.

Subsequently, a large number of outer disciples would also arrive to help construct the Formation and build multiple layers of defensive walls centered on the Abyss, effectively sealing it off.

The Defense Division and local forces naturally contributed manpower and resources as well, becoming incredibly busy.

On another mountain peak ten li from the Abyss, the summit had been lopped off, creating a flat, open plateau. Shen Mo, Shentu Gui, Wei Ye, and others had fashioned chairs from wood and were seated at the head. In the lower seats were Chen Mengze, Xu Tong, Tian Hong, and other Qi Gathering Realm cultivators from various factions.

The Sect Master of Gold Toad Tower, Wei Ye, stated solemnly, "As long as the Heavenly Demon passage exists, this place will never know peace.

"In my opinion, we must follow the example of the Tianshan Battlefield: charge into the demonic cave and deploy a restrictive Formation at the site of the spatial rift to block this source of demonic calamity!"

Humans are incapable of repairing spatial rifts; perhaps only a being at the Heavenly Monarch level could achieve such a feat.

However, among the current Five Great Sects, the strongest cultivators are merely at the late-stage Golden Core Realm, making it impossible for them to forcibly close the rifts between the two realms.

The only recourse is to wait for time to pass, allowing the rifts to mend on their own.

However, this process could take anywhere from several years at the shortest to one or two hundred years at the longest.

The previous demonic disaster spanned nearly a hundred years, its end coinciding with the gradual closure of numerous spatial rifts...

In its later stages, only one or two rifts remained for Heavenly Demons to pass through, which finally gave the cultivation world the opportunity to suppress the demonic flames.

Fortunately, although spatial rifts cannot be closed by human means, they can be barricaded using Formations and Prohibitions, thereby blocking the Heavenly Demon passages built upon these rifts.

The passage beneath Tianshan Mountain, for instance, had layers of powerful Prohibitions jointly established by the Five Great Sects, preventing demon heads of Class III and above from crossing over.

If not for the need to leave low-class Heavenly Demons for cultivators to train against and gain experience in fighting them, that passage would have been sealed long ago!

Jiang Sheng and Tian Qisheng also spoke up one after another, expressing similar views to Wei Ye.

Upon hearing this, Shentu Gui's expression remained as cold as ice. He then turned his gaze to Shen Mo.

"Shen Mo, what are your thoughts?"

Gold Toad Tower, Thriving Gold Sect, and the Tian Family's ancestral land were all relatively close to Wolf Howling Ridge, so it was understandable that Wei Ye and the others wished to eradicate this threat completely.

Only Shen Mo, not hailing from a local power, might view the problem more comprehensively and objectively.

After careful deliberation, Shen Mo spoke, "I agree with the proposal from Fellow Daoist Wei and the others!

"These demon heads have already constructed a massive Formation within the Abyss, clearly intending to use it as a stronghold to once again unleash a Demon Tide.

"Rather than wait for them to amass their strength...

"It would be better to strike while they are still establishing their foothold and the demonic cave is not yet fully consolidated, and attempt to seal the inter-realm passage.

"Otherwise, an endless stream of Heavenly Demons will continue to invade our realm. Once they breach the surface fortifications—the walls and Formations—the consequences will be catastrophic!"

Besides eliminating future threats, there are only three Class III Heavenly Demons remaining within the demonic cave. Among them, the Pei Yu Heavenly Demon's foundational essence is damaged, and its strength is far from its peak!

Even if Class III demon heads arrive as reinforcements from the Lower Heavenly Demon Realm, the Heavenly Demon faction here is currently at its weakest.

Given some time, as the Demon Tides in other parts of the Red Flame Country grow stronger, the large number of creatures Demon-corrupted and devoured will lead to the emergence of even more Class III Heavenly Demons. These could then reinforce Wolf Howling Ridge via the Heavenly Demon Realm and the inter-realm passages... By then, even if we intend to seal this passage, it will be exceedingly difficult and perilous!

"Excellent! All of you, go and prepare. We will depart in an hour." A fierce glint flashed in Shentu Gui's eyes as he made the decision.

Shen Mo's Mana had already fully recovered.

His Elixirs and talismans were all prepared; only his Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand had suffered considerable wear.

He had been quite busy earlier and hadn't found the time to repair it. So, he requested a newly constructed stone house and began to meticulously refine spirit gold materials to mend the magic artifact.

Moments before departure, the Nine-Extreme Crystal Sand had recovered ninety percent of its power.

He was running a bit short on high-class Forging materials.

Fortunately, it wasn't a major issue. He could continue to repair it to perfection after returning from the demonic cave in the Abyss.

The overwhelming and turbulent Demonic Qi was still continuously seeping from the Abyss. However, under the suppression of the steadily constructed Formation, it was all confined within a three-li radius, unable to disperse further.

After exchanging a few words with Chen Mengze, Shen Mo followed Shentu Gui and the other four Spirit Sea Realm cultivators, leaping down into the Abyss.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.