Chapter 676 - 319: Not a Misunderstanding, but Prejudice (Part 2)

"Get out of my way! I have to save my brother!" Ao Yu roared at the young Saint Heir, his voice even more powerful in his lion form.

"It’s all a misunderstanding, don’t be impulsive."

The young Saint Heir tried to keep his voice as calm as possible. No one could truly tell if this impulsive Lion Demon intended to kill Qu Zhaixing or save his brother.

"Misunderstanding, my foot!"

Ao Yu felt these humans were too hypocritical, completely like birds of a feather. Unable to bear it any longer, he was the first to launch an attack on the young Saint Heir.

Of course, the young Saint Heir couldn’t just stand there and take the hit, so he had to start defending himself. His followers and Qu Zhaixing’s joined forces to battle against the Demon Race.

The disciples of the Profound Sky Sect looked at this group of humans and demons entangled in battle and couldn’t help but curse. This was clearly a battle against a common enemy, yet before the Fire Armadillo was even dead, they were already infighting.

They had no time to care about these people, instead summoning the courage to help You Su, who was dancing in the tiger’s den.

It was at this moment that Ao Yunlie awoke, spitting out a mouthful of blue smoke.

He struggled to sit up, his flamboyant golden hair scorched black. He had never felt so angry before.

Among the Demons, he was perhaps the one who trusted the Human Race the most. It was even he who tirelessly promoted the human-demon alliance plan to defeat the Fire Armadillo, enduring countless doubts and pressures from his fellow demons all the while, but he still insisted.

He didn’t believe there was an irreconcilable conflict between humans and demons, and any remaining conflict would temporarily pause in the face of mutual interests.

But Qu Zhaixing’s actions utterly broke his heart. Seeing his fellow demons locked in a grueling battle to save him from the humans, he regretted it deeply. He raised his Wolf-toothed Club and walked toward Qu Zhaixing.

Qu Zhaixing’s physical body was far less robust than Ao Yunlie’s; he slumped to the ground, practically on the brink of death. Ironically, the habit of carrying his invitation letter for quick tearing had become a curse, as even Ao Yunlie’s was scorched beyond recognition, how could he still have that thin paper talisman on him?

His lips moved, as if trying to say something, but no sound came out. Ao Yunlie had already raised his Wolf-toothed Club over his head, a look of determination flashed in his eyes.

Qu Zhaixing closed his eyes as if resigning to fate, his eyelids shut with a look of deep unwillingness.

"Mr. Ao! Stop!"

An ice spike shot over, forcibly knocking Ao Yunlie’s Wolf-toothed Club aside.

It was Zang Zhong, draped in a beast robe, who intervened, saving Qu Zhaixing from the brink of death.

"Zang Zhong?"

Zang Zhong was a cultivator from Beiao Continent who believed in the supremacy of strength, and he was one of the few who got along well with the straightforward Ao Yunlie.

Ao Yunlie seemed surprised that Zang Zhong was the one who finally stopped him, his expression momentarily stunned before quickly reverting to extreme indifference.

"Are you protecting him too?"

"Mr. Ao, it might be a misunderstanding, don’t be impulsive." Zang Zhong showed reluctance, seemingly unwilling to become enemies with Ao Yunlie.

"Misunderstanding?"

Ao Yunlie’s cracked lips curled up bitterly, "What kind of misunderstanding could there be?"

"Qu Zhaixing shouldn’t be stupid enough to attack you at such a moment,"

Zang Zhong took a step forward, placing his hands behind his back to show he meant no harm.

At that moment, a mournful roar rang out again. A large male lion was struck down by a giant stone, causing the ground to tremble violently.

"Foolish brute!"

The young Saint Heir stood atop the boulder, sneering coldly.

Seeing his brother being overwhelmed by the young Saint Heir, Ao Yunlie instantly tightened his grip on the Wolf-toothed Club, the charred dead skin on his face peeling away to reveal fresh, tender flesh.

He looked like a newborn demon, shaking his head at Zang Zhong with unprecedented sadness in his voice:

"This is no misunderstanding..."

With those words, he suddenly launched himself forward, charging toward the young Saint Heir with blinding speed.

The young Saint Heir clearly hadn’t anticipated Ao Yunlie’s attack to be so ferocious, and was instantly forced back over ten meters.

The remaining combatants, seeing their leaders engaging in battle, also began fighting more fiercely.

The troops that originally fought side by side instantly collapsed, fighting, fleeing, watching from the side, the scene plunging into massive chaos, filled with screams and wails.

"Brother!"

Ao Yunlie couldn’t hold on any longer and reverted to human form, his handsome face covered in blood and dirt.

Eager to save his brother, he naturally held nothing back, and the young Saint Heir, angered by him, also struck without restraint.

Ao Yunlie wiped the blood and dirt from his brother’s face, his voice full of guilt:

"I harmed you... From the beginning, I shouldn’t have naively believed that humans and demons could truly coexist..."

Then he turned around, and his burned hair instantly turned snow-white.

The young Saint Heir on the other side stood up again, casting a vicious glance over.

"Rip the letter and leave the island."

After leaving this final command, Ao Yunlie suddenly disappeared, leaving Ao Yu standing dazedly.

He knew why his brother’s hair had turned white. The Golden Lion Race was formidable on the battlefield, relying on this Blood Burning Forbidden Skill. But this skill wasn’t meant for turning the tide of battle; it was meant for mutual destruction, as the user, too, would pay with their life.

Ao Yu couldn’t hold back his tears, stubbornly wiping them away, shouting:

"Kill!"

Although at first, only some cultivators from the West Wilderness Continent and Nanyang Continent joined the fray, the number of those of who harbored antipathy against Demons far exceeded them, and they took the opportunity to rise.

In terms of numbers, the Human Race had an overwhelming advantage over the Demon Race, especially with cultivators like Ji Xueruo entering the cave to seek treasures, so even though the Demons fought fearlessly, they gradually fell into decline.

Even Lu Jie, who was helping You Su atop the Fire Armadillo, seeing the situation, lost the heart to continue and retreated, intending to join the now out-of-control battle to save his kin.

You Su cursed in his heart, unable to free himself, and could only shout to Lu Jie:

"Mr. Lu! Tell everyone to calm down! Whatever happens, kill the Fire Armadillo first!"

Lu Jie gave him a deep look and shook his head. He and You Su were merely acquaintances, but he had a good impression of this human who didn’t discriminate against Demons:

"In this world, there are no misunderstandings, only deeply entrenched biases and barriers as immovable as icebergs. Whether or not they kill the Fire Armadillo, they want our Demon Race dead. Mr. You, you’ve done all you can, now you should run."

With those words, he leapt into action, transforming into a giant unicorn beast the size of a wild ox, charging into the mass of people.

"We can’t handle it anymore! Retreat!"

The senior disciple of Book Immortal Peak also shouted anxiously at You Su. In its current berserk state, that Fire Armadillo couldn’t be controlled by You Su or any of them.

"These people are insane!"

Another senior disciple agreed, only to be swept away tens of meters by the Fire Armadillo’s tail.

You Su, riding on the Fire Armadillo’s back, unwilling to see more innocent people get hurt, had no choice but to issue the order:

"Retreat!"

He was the first to move, flying far away, grabbing the faintly moving Qu Zhaixing from the ground, the Mo Song Sword against his vulnerable throat.

Thunder rolled through the sky, lightning snakes flickered, and torrential rain poured down. This was supposed to be the perfect opportunity to eliminate the Fire Armadillo, yet right at the brink of success, it all went up in smoke due to one traitor’s treachery.

However, You Su didn’t immediately execute this culprit; he intended to take him to the center of the battlefield for execution, hoping to quench the flames of war this way.

"I didn’t... mean to harm him... I wanted... to help him..."

Qu Zhaixing’s voice was like a mosquito’s, finally squeezing out a few words.

He seemed to have regained some strength, and in his long sleeves, starlight began to gather again, similar to the attack he had prepared for Ao Yunlie, though much weaker.

"You’re courting death?!"

You Su’s first reaction was that this person still harbored ill-intentions, but then realized something was off; who would openly gather strength in such a state?

A flash of lightning passed, and as if realizing something, he unexpectedly reached into Qu Zhaixing’s sleeves.

The starlight adhered to his hand, seeping into his skin, nourishing his veins.

You Su was shocked; Qu Zhaixing hadn’t lied!

He suddenly looked up, realizing that Hua Ranhua, who had previously warned him to watch out for Qu Zhaixing, had disappeared!