Time passed swiftly. Three years later, Shen Mo strode through Xuanwu Fortress.

Every Demon Suppression Guard he passed saluted respectfully. “Greetings, General Shen!”

Shen Mo smiled and nodded.

Months ago, his merits were sufficient to advance from Heaven-tier Guard to Earth-tier Demon Suppression General. He now stood among famed generals like Zhang Longxiang and Tang Jinglong.

All ten fortresses sent congratulatory gifts. Xuanwu Fortress even held a grand banquet. At that feast, General Zhang Longxiang announced Shen Mo as the next fortress lord. Whenever Zhang was absent, Shen Mo could exercise full authority.

No one objected—every commander in Xuanwu Fortress voted unanimously. From that moment on, Shen Mo became the highest authority. To give him prominence, Zhang Longxiang stepped into the shadows.

Today Shen Mo reached the tower’s entrance. Two guards recognized him and saluted.

Ascending to the tower’s summit, he saw Zhang Longxiang seated behind a long table, with Commander Zhong Baisheng standing at attention.

Zhong Baisheng bowed deeply. “Greetings, General Shen.”

Shen Mo waved him off. “Call me Shen Mo. We’re friends.”

Zhong Baisheng smiled, his eyes misty. In just a few years, this young man had leapt from Yellow-tier Guard to Earth-tier General—a speed unseen in the fortress’s long history.

Shen Mo asked, “How are things lately?”

Zhang Longxiang returned his smile. “The demons have fully abandoned the Fourth and Fifth Layers. Over these three years, we’ve harvested countless treasures.

Many of our guards have improved their cultivation. A few who’d been stuck for years suddenly broke through and gained centuries of lifespan.”

Zhong Baisheng laughed. “I’ve reached the Peak True Fate Dharma Manifestation again—another few years for me!”

Shen Mo nodded and asked, “What about the demons?”

Zhang’s expression darkened. “Their movements are strange. They avoid battle entirely. I suspect they’re plotting some grand scheme—perhaps reviving another limb of the Undying Demon Emperor, like they did with his left hand.”

Shen Mo considered the unchanged reading on his destiny panel. The demons’ current activity remained too small to disrupt his path. Given all he’d done—refining demon hearts and the severed hand fragments with the Nine Nether Ice Flame—his cultivation had reached minor success in the Dharma Manifestation Realm a year ago.

Unlike others, Shen Mo possessed four Dharma Manifestations: the Primordial Image Manifestation, the Undying River Manifestation, the Fiery Heaven Eye Manifestation, and the Fleeting White Steed Manifestation. Though only minor success, he could confidently confront even perfected Dharma Manifestation cultivators.

Only if the Undying Demon Emperor resurrected enough of his limbs would his destiny truly shift.

As the three prepared to continue, a sudden, majestic will descended upon them. Every Demon Suppression Guard inside and out felt its presence.

This will be familiar to all of you.

It is the Will of Heaven Dao.

A vast, ancient voice echoed over every fortress:

“Within fifteen years, each of the ten Demon Suppression Fortresses must establish at least five outposts on both the Fifth and Sixth Layers of the Demon-Suppressing Sea.

“During this period, all redemption prices in the Heaven Dao Treasury are reduced by thirty percent.

“All Guards who redeem items from the Treasury during this period must serve in the Demon-Suppressing Sea for at least five years.

“Those who refuse shall be erased.”

The declaration rang three times without fade.

Every Guard stood in stunned silence. Fifteen years? Ten outposts?

Impossible!

Had the Will of Heaven gone mad?

Zhong Baisheng frowned. “We struggled for twenty years just to build five outposts on the Fourth Layer. Now they demand ten more, in only fifteen years?”

Shen Mo considered carefully. “Establishing posts on the Fifth Layer isn’t too difficult—they’ve already ceded it to us. It’s the Sixth Layer that’s the real challenge.

“That’s still the demons’ stronghold. Building there will provoke fierce counterattacks, and we’ll suffer heavy casualties.”

Zhang Longxiang sighed. “Heaven Dao tasks are always arduous. But we have no choice—let’s give it our all.”

Shen Mo frowned. The tasks truly grew more daunting. What if a future decree proves utterly impossible? Would they send every Guard to his death?

Zhang Longxiang mulled it over. “Shen Mo, you stay and defend the fortress. I’ll oversee and protect the outposts.”

Shen Mo shook his head. “I understand your intent. You should rest. I’ll handle the Fifth Layer.”

Each fortress must build outposts on the Fifth and Sixth Layers—you can be sure Ye Yan will go too. Such prime opportunities cannot be ignored.

Zhang Longxiang laughed softly. “Very well. The Fifth Layer is relatively safe now; you take it. When we’re ready for the Sixth, I’ll supervise.”

Shen Mo gave no reply. With his current strength, only An’cang could truly challenge him. In fifteen years even An’cang will have waned further. Only a resurrected Undying Demon Emperor could alter the balance.

Half a month later, Shen Mo, Zhong Baisheng, Wang Xing’an, and others headed to the Fifth Layer of the Demon-Suppressing Sea.

The demons had long since retreated. Their only obstacles now were the rampaging Demon Beasts, wild and bloodthirsty, uncontrolled even by the demonic legions—let alone tamed.

Moreover, the Fifth Layer remained unfamiliar territory to most Guards, so clashes were inevitable.

Though the demons themselves were gone, building the outposts still cost lives and injuries.

Thanks to Shen Mo’s presence, Xuanwu Fortress’s Guards suffered no fatalities—only Wang Xing’an, drunk one night, fell into an unfinished foundation trench and scraped some skin.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel