"Congratulations," Jian Wuli materialized before the Netherworld King as if from thin air.
"I did not expect you to have broken through too," the Netherworld King said, a hint of caution surfacing in his eyes.
"Just by luck, just by luck."
"Shouldn’t you now tell me what exactly you want to do?"
With a slight smile, Jian Wuli waved his hand, concealing the space around them. Pointing at the Green Jade Table, he said, "Let’s talk over a drink."
As a fellow Dao Yi, the Netherworld King naturally wouldn’t appear less imposing and took the lead in sitting down.
"You should know that I am from the Ancient Era," Jian Wuli stated flatly.
"Of course. I remember it was Infinite and I who unlocked your coffin while exploring a Secret Realm back then. We originally thought we might find some Treasure or inheritance, but we ended up attracting a great trouble like you," the Netherworld King recalled.
"The Star Sea Realm, Heavenly Realm, Demon Abyss, and countless small worlds—they have all been hunting grounds for the True Demon Clan, as you should know by now."
"Even if we didn’t know, the appearance of the True Demon Clan now certainly proves what I said."
"That’s not necessarily true," the Netherworld King said with a cold laugh.
Jian Wuli, undaunted, continued with a smile, "In the Ancient Era, becoming a Dao Yi was still feasible, and there was even a designated ascension path for Dao Yi that led directly to the True Realm."
"But at some unknown point, the True Demon Clan began to notice our world. Perhaps an Ascender betrayed us, or maybe we were simply unlucky. In any case, our world eventually caught their attention."
"Thus, the infamous ’Fall of Myriad Immortals’ of the Ancient Era occurred. During that battle, the Great Powers of ancient times clashed with the True Demon Clan in a fight for survival. Undoubtedly, we lost."
"As a result, the Heavenly Realm was shattered into pieces. The Northern Domain, now a world of death, was once part of the Heavenly Realm. The current Heavenly Realm is merely the central part that survived. The Demon Abyss is the former Southern Domain. The Infinite Star Sea and the countless small worlds are all formed from the fragmented pieces of the original Heavenly Realm."
"Fortunately, the Heavenly Dao of the Heavenly Realm is powerful. A True Demon Clan Great Power, unwilling to bear the consequences of being forsaken by the heavens, refrained from further action that would have completely eradicated our Dao Yi."
"In a desperate bid for survival, the Dao Yi gathered many Fellow Daoists and attacked the True Demon Clan’s Dao Yi stationed here. However, due to a traitor, the plan was exposed. This provoked a True Demon Clan Great Power into action, and this time, the Heavenly Dao was almost destroyed."
"Without the Heavenly Dao’s protection, we would completely lose the chance to break through to Dao Yi, and the Heavenly Realm itself would gradually perish. Consequently, many Fellow Daoists sacrificed themselves by merging with the Dao, managing to partially mend it. This is partly why the Heavenly Dao now appears to be conscious. As for the True Demon Clan’s Dao Yi who was attacked, he held a high position within their ranks. Yet, for some unknown reason, they didn’t pursue the investigation. Some Fellow Daoists and I have always suspected this was a conspiracy."
Seemingly thirsty, Jian Wuli picked up a teacup and took a few sips. The Netherworld King used this opportunity to digest this secret information.
"So, what does this have to do with us?" the Netherworld King scoffed. The strongest invader from the True Demon Clan, Bodhi, is only at the Dao Yi cultivation level. It was normal for a pseudo-Dao Yi like Fire Daoist to be killed. But I am a true Dao Yi now. Even if I can’t defeat them, I can surely hide, right?
"Don’t you want to visit the True Realm? After countless years of cultivation, to not even see the true facet of this world... Netherworld King, don’t you think it’s a pity?" Jian Wuli countered.
The scorn on the Netherworld King’s face slowly receded, and he fell into silence.
To see the true nature of the world... to say I don’t want to would be a lie. But I, the Netherworld King, can restrain my desires. I am not alone; I have my race.
"Oh right, there’s a piece of secret information I’m not sure if I should share," Jian Wuli hinted, looking slightly conflicted.
Having known him for many years, the Netherworld King was well aware of Jian Wuli’s character. Such an expression usually didn’t bode well. "Speak."
"I heard that most of the races in the Star Sea Realm are actually experimental subjects released by the True Demon Clan themselves, for the purpose of selecting more perfect prey."
"What did you say?" the Netherworld King demanded angrily.
"I also heard that the three races of Hell were created by a Great Power of the True Demon Clan, based on the templates of a few Dao Yi who had initially escaped," Jian Wuli said casually.
"I hope what you say is true," the Netherworld King glared fiercely at Jian Wuli, then stormed off.
Unhurriedly finishing his coarse tea, Jian Wuli’s face revealed a hint of a smile. The True Demon Clan, the three races of Hell, and the legendary Supreme Treasure said to be capable of creating everything...
With his hands behind his back, Jian Wuli’s eyes emitted a divine light that pierced through layers of barriers, reflecting the figure of Chen Jiuge. Could it truly be you, Child of Destiny?
A cold, detached figure arrested Jian Wuli’s gaze and said frigidly.
"Peerless elegance, Unrivaled in the world... Hua Tianlun, you have finally perished under the weight of your own fame." Jian Wuli looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure before him, a barely perceptible smile flickering in his eyes.
He shifted his gaze to the Fellow Daoists breaking through in the void. Though his face was expressionless, his heart was filled with immense excitement. True Demon Clan, it’s about time you made your move. A single Bodhi won’t be enough to stop what’s coming.
Though hiding in the Infinite Star Sea, Dao Yi was, after all, the limit of the Heavenly Realm. For so many to appear at once was naturally extraordinary.
Bodhi, utterly bored, swirled the goblet of Blood Wine in his hand. The words Jian Wuli had spoken earlier flitted through his mind occasionally.
Mysterious fluctuations appeared. Bodhi downed the Blood Wine in one gulp, exclaiming in shock, "These are Dao Yi fluctuations! Why are there so many?"
In Bodhi’s senses, there were at least ten such Dao Yi fluctuations. Although none were particularly strong, they were undeniably genuine Dao Yi. Even as strong as I am, I can’t fight ten of them, he thought.
Bodhi turned towards the sound. He saw a gigantic human face emerge on the dark pillar of light. Its eight differently colored, large eyes spun chaotically, with sinister patterns at their corners. A single glance made Bodhi dizzy.
"Greetings, My Lord," Bodhi knelt on one knee.
"Bodhi, there appears to be an anomaly in this hunting ground. I will arrange for others to assist you," the calm voice carried supreme authority.
Having achieved remarkable battle merits and finally earned the reward for this hunt, Bodhi pleaded, "My Lord, I..."
"Do not be reluctant. Once you return, I will compensate you accordingly. Coincidentally, one of my legitimate daughters holds a good impression of you."
The face disappeared after speaking, leaving Bodhi gazing at the dark pillar of light, his own face showing no sign of joy.
This lord was formidable, one of the strongest among the True Demon Clan, and known for his gentle temperament. His children, however, were different. Bodhi was well aware of the particular daughter who held a favorable impression of him. If I were to marry her, he thought, my fate would likely be far from good.
Taking a sealed eyeball from his bosom, struggle filled Bodhi’s eyes. The Lord has indeed treated me well, Bodhi acknowledged. For a commoner like me to climb this far, it was due to my own efforts and talent, but the Lord’s indispensable help was also crucial. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
"Sigh, my apologies, Lord. I still wish to climb higher," Bodhi whispered softly.
As divine power flowed in, the eyeball slowly opened. What kind of eye was this? Bodhi couldn’t describe it; it seemed to contain countless Daos.
"Hahaha, Bodhi, you have made the right choice!" a bold and arrogant voice erupted from the eyeball.
"My Lord, I wonder if what you said before was truly genuine!" Bodhi asked, bowing.
Hovering in mid-air, the eye emitted a faint purple light. "Of course! I *never* lie. The prerequisite, naturally, is that you retrieve the Supreme Treasure and hand it to me."
After a lengthy discussion, Chen Jiuge decided to return to the valley. Although this might pose certain risks, it seemed there was no safer place left. The valley was familiar, and he even had a True Demon Clan ’partner’ there.
There were many cultivators who perished this time, yet the substantial gains helped to dilute everyone’s sorrow.
"After this, we should be able to produce a few hundred more Heavenly Immortals," Chen Jiuge spoke softly.
Yaksha Jing, who was nearby, heard him and couldn’t help but laugh. "Brother Chen, it might be even more! The Law Crystals obtained this time contain an exceptionally rich concentration of the Power of Laws."
"Is that so?" Chen Jiuge still hadn’t used the Law Crystals he had obtained, so he wasn’t very clear on this.
Yue Jun nodded. "Indeed, they are exceptionally rich. If you give us some time to assimilate them, the True Demon Clan army outside the valley won’t be a problem at all."
Once back in the valley, Chen Jiuge released his Little Black to check on the True Demon Clan’s current status and was quite surprised by what he found.
"They haven’t returned yet?" Chen Jiuge exclaimed in surprise. The Zhen Clan camp provided by Senior Brother Yue isn’t weak, but it shouldn’t take them this long, especially since it’s not far!
"Could there have been an accident?" Chen Jiuge pondered aloud.