Indeed, the human race's counterattack was growing fiercer by the moment. Those closest to the fighting—the Yin Demon lineage—were the ones most qualified to speak on that matter.
Yet the Heavenly Demon Ancestor remained skeptical. "This is their death throes, the thrashing of cornered beasts. They won't last long. Hold your ground a little longer, and Dongyan Island will fall!"
Several Yin Demon ancestors listened and cried out in anguish one after another. With the momentum the humans were showing, how could this possibly look like a death throes? If anything, it looked far more like a full-scale counteroffensive.
"Ancestor, it's not that we're questioning you. But your Heavenly Demon Sound Domain and Blood Fiend Fog Sea—have they actually done anything to Dongyan Island? Our Yin Demon lineage has suffered devastating losses. One Divine Path comrade has already fallen. If you don't take Dongyan Island soon, don't blame us for pulling back first."
The Yin Demon lineage were no fools. They could afford to sacrifice Yin Spirits, but Divine Path ancestors were few in number for the Yin Demon lineage—one lost was one fewer. Of the Yin Demon lineage's remaining four ancestors, one had already fallen, leaving three. If one or two more died, wouldn't the Yin Demon lineage be struck from the Ten Demon Lineages entirely?
Leading the vanguard might be glorious and might earn great merit, but staking the lives of Yin Demon Divine Path ancestors on it was clearly not worth the cost.
The Heavenly Demon Ancestor himself had no confidence either. With the power of his divine sense, he could clearly hear the noble, resonant notes emanating from the Cloud Surge Zither below. That music was plainly countering their Heavenly Demon Sound Domain.
So, how effective the Sound Domain truly was—he had no idea either. But this was not something the Heavenly Demon Ancestor would ever admit. If word got out that their lineages' prized Heavenly Demon Sound Domain was completely useless, where would the Heavenly Demon lineage's face be?
But the battlefield was unpredictable. The moment you showed hesitation, that became your opponent's opportunity. And once the opponent seized that opportunity, the trouble that followed was inevitable.
Sure enough, what the Yin Demon lineage had feared came to pass once more.
Among the Four Great True Spirits, Long Xiaoxuan's sense of smell was formidable. Once again, he locked onto one of the Yin Demon ancestors using the aura of the True Dragon. The four True Spirits moved in concert, unleashing their combined Divine Abilities. A fatal blow descended upon yet another Yin Demon ancestor.
The combined strike of the Four Divine Beast True Spirits now carried enough power to rival a seventh-stage Divine Path attack. That Yin Demon ancestor was only at the mid-stage of Divine Path—how could he withstand such a lethal blow?
With a thunderous boom, light exploded outward. That Yin Demon ancestor was struck by the Four Divine Beast True Spirits, his soul shattered and his body obliterated into ash and dust.
The two remaining Yin Demon ancestors went completely berserk.
The leading ancestor, Luo Jiang, roared in fury. "Heavenly Demon Ancestor, your Heavenly Demon lineage has doomed us! You had our Yin Demon lineage charge the front lines, and now two of our ancestors have fallen. You will answer for this!"
"We're pulling out!"
The Yin Demon lineage finally broke. They refused to be slaughtered like prey, picked off one by one. The Yin Demon forces began their retreat, but the Four True Spirits did not pursue. Behind them, the main demonic army still churned with restless energy, poised to strike.
The Heavenly Demon Ancestor swept his divine gaze across the battlefield and saw the Yin Demon lineage in full retreat. Panic surged in his heart. He bellowed, "All demonic lineages—advance! Throw everything at Dongyan Island! No one is to fall back!"
The Heavenly Demon Ancestor was the supreme ancestor of the demon race. When his command went out, the other lineages obeyed despite their misgivings. Each lineage's forces began to mobilize.
At that very moment, chaos erupted in the rear ranks of the Monster Demon lineage. From within their formation, countless golden creatures burst forth as if erupting from the sea, instantly amassing a tidal wave of momentum that crashed forward, engulfing the Monster Demon army and annihilating it entirely.