The Celestial Demon giant flying vessel had come to a stop above the barren island, and one after another, additional flying vessels arrived, docking in succession around the massive Celestial Demon ship.
Without a doubt, these vessels belonged to the main fleets of the various Demon Race lineages — the true fighting force of the demon race.
Under the gaze of thousands, the hatch of the Celestial Demon giant vessel swung open. Surrounded by a cadre of elite Celestial Demon cultivators, a figure descended from the ship — a Celestial Demon cultivator whose eyes radiated authority, wearing a tall crown and draped in golden robes, exuding an overwhelming kingly aura.
His eyes were majestic, and when they gleamed, they shone like a brilliant river of stars across the heavens, brimming with mystery. Within them, there seemed to be lightning coursing and the combined radiance of sun and moon intertwined.
"The Celestial Demon Ancestor! The Celestial Demon Ancestor!"
Every demon cultivator fell to their knees.
This figure was none other than the supreme commander of the demon race's invasion of the Divine Abyss Continent, and the bearer of the most noble bloodline among the ten Demon Race lineages — the supreme ancestor of the Celestial Demon lineage.
The other vessels also opened their hatches, and one after another, demon ancestors emerged, each surrounded by countless demon cultivators.
The ten lineages of the demon race now formed clear, distinct camps.
Standing beside the Celestial Demon Ancestor were six other Divine Path Ancestors, all of the Celestial Demon lineage. Like the Celestial Demon Ancestor himself, each bore a faintly visible mark between their brows. This was the unique sigil of the Celestial Demon lineage — the Celestial Demon Mark.
Only those of Celestial Demon blood possessed the Celestial Demon Mark. The reason cultivators bearing the Celestial Demon Mark were far more powerful than those of the other demon lineages was largely due to this mark's existence. Much like the bloodlines of the Four Divine Beasts, the Celestial Demon Mark carried inherited memories within it.
Each awakening of the Celestial Demon Mark would bring forth the most ancient inheritances of the Celestial Demon lineage, and could even further purify the Celestial Demon bloodline.
With this, the Celestial Demon lineage boasted a total of seven Divine Path Ancestors — collectively known as the Seven Celestial Demon Ancestors.
It was precisely because of the Seven Celestial Demon Ancestors that the Celestial Demon lineage held such an overwhelming advantage among the demon race. The other lineages, in terms of sheer numbers of Divine Path Ancestors during the ancient era, had actually boasted seven or eight in some cases. However, in terms of actual strength and quality, there was still a significant gap.
The crucial difference was this: during the ancient Demon War, not a single one of the Seven Celestial Demon Ancestors had fallen. Though all had been sealed away, their lives had never been harmed. Now that the seals had been lifted, the seven remained seven.
The other lineages, however, had suffered varying degrees of losses among their Divine Path Ancestors during the ancient Demon War. As a result, most now possessed only three or four demon ancestors each.
The Celestial Demon Ancestor stood at the center, his gaze sweeping across all ten demon lineage camps. His brow furrowed immediately.
"Where are the others?" The Celestial Demon Ancestor spoke, his voice carrying a distinctive metallic quality — resonant and powerful, yet possessing a unique allure.
Ancestor Jinxiao of the Gold Demon lineage shrugged. "Those who could come have already arrived. Those who didn't make it... probably couldn't."
The words sounded somewhat cryptic, but upon a moment's reflection, the expressions of everyone present shifted dramatically.
The Celestial Demon Ancestor spoke in a deep voice. "What happened?"
Ancestor Jinxiao let out a long sigh. "This time, our demon race was careless. Even in the ancient war, our losses weren't as devastating as this."
The battle at the Rejuvenation Island Domain, the battle at the Imperishable Sacred Land, and the battle at the Hundred Sacred Lands — the Celestial Demon Ancestor had already been informed of all of them.
However, the subsequent battles at the Rising Sun Sacred Land, the Radiance Sacred Land, and the Eternal Sacred Land had occurred over a relatively short period. Moreover, by then the main demon force had already departed from the areas covered by the grand telepathic communication formations and entered the region around the teleportation arrays, so the news had not been received in time.