Chapter 2015: First Demon Lord

**A Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Volume 10, War of the Demon Realm**

When the high-level cultivators nearby heard this sound, their hearts stiffened. After exchanging glances, most of them rapidly retreated.

However, a few beings from both races showed a hint of hesitation on their faces, but under the stern, compelling gaze of the silver-haired elder and others, they awkwardly left one after another.

"Hmph, these fellows actually intended to snatch the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi from Fellow Daoist Han at this moment. They are truly blinded by greed," the silver-haired elder snorted coldly, seeing the situation.

"It's no wonder," Master Jinyue chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Han has successfully advanced to the late Integration stage. The Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi drawn by the reconstruction of his Nascent Soul must contain the purest spiritual energy of this realm. If they secretly absorbed some, it would naturally be of great benefit to them."

"However, doing so might affect the effectiveness of Fellow Daoist Han's Nascent Soul reconstruction. Although the impact would be minimal, I don't want Fellow Daoist Han to have any dissatisfaction because of it," the silver-haired elder slowly said, gazing at the massive phantom in the distance, his eyes still filled with an extremely complex expression.

"That's true. These fellow Daoists don't consider that if Fellow Daoist Han were to make any mistake in the Nascent Soul reconstruction step because of them, how could he possibly let those who tried to fish in troubled waters off the hook? Nevertheless, Fellow Daoist Han's successful advancement to the late Integration stage is tremendous news for our city. Even now, I still feel as if I'm dreaming. While I had some confidence in him, I never imagined he could overcome such a formidable heavenly tribulation so smoothly," Master Jinyue also replied with a light sigh.

"Fellow Daoist Han only took a mere few hundred years to advance from the early Integration stage to the late stage. Compared to him, I feel like I've lived all these years in vain. He might truly have a chance to become another Mahayana stage cultivator of our race in the future!" The silver-haired elder stroked his beard with one hand, his expression becoming exceptionally solemn.

"Indeed, with such astonishing talent, it's not impossible," Master Jinyue pondered for a moment before speaking seriously. "However, while advancing to the late Integration stage is already incredibly difficult, it cannot be compared to entering the Mahayana stage. Fellow Daoist Han can only be said to have a slight possibility."

"That's certainly true. But with even a glimmer of possibility, there's a chance for true eternal life and ascension to an immortal. Who would have thought that our path has long been cut off, and we can only quietly await the arrival of our demise," the silver-haired elder's expression dimmed slightly.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, why dwell on this so much? Since ancient times, very few humans have been able to advance to the Mahayana stage. It's already a blessing that our generation has Senior Mo Jianli," Master Jinyue replied, softly chanting a Buddhist prayer.

"Hehe, I didn't expect the Master to truly have the air of great enlightenment. But there's a point to what you say. Even after reaching the Mahayana stage, there's still the great hurdle of ascension. I've heard that some powerful individuals from other races occasionally succeed in ascension by chance, but there's never been a recorded instance of any senior from our two races successfully ascending. True immortal ascension is hardly an easy feat!" The silver-haired elder glanced sideways at the monk and chuckled.

"Those few seniors from our two races who reached the tribulation-transcending ascension stage and are recorded almost all disappeared on their own, unwilling to let outsiders witness their tribulation. Perhaps one or two of them truly didn't perish under the heavenly tribulation but successfully ascended," Master Jinyue, however, said with a touch of hope.

"Perhaps. But whether it's true or not, it's of no use to our city's current situation. For now, you and I should also leave quickly. Otherwise, if Fellow Daoist Han misunderstands us, it would be troublesome," the silver-haired elder nodded dismissively, then glanced at the phantom in the distance, which had already grown to three thousand zhang, and couldn't help but express a hint of surprise.

Master Jinyue naturally had no objection. The two immediately soared into the sky, transforming into two startling rainbows that shot backward.

The massive phantom in the distance continued to frantically gather the surrounding Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi. The affected area expanded wider and wider, almost completely draining the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi of most of Tianyuan City as if through a funnel.

The phantom eventually grew to a colossal five thousand zhang. Every resident of both races in Tianyuan City could see the immense phantom from afar. Their reactions, naturally, varied in alarm and commotion.

Not only could the human and demon races in the city clearly see the phantom formed by Han Li's Nascent Soul, but some demon strongholds and towering pagodas closer to the city could also vaguely see some distant sights and profoundly sense the surging Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi within Tianyuan City.

In one of the tallest demon pagodas, a handsome youth in blood-red robes stood by the window, gazing in the direction of Tianyuan City. Blood-red light flickered continuously in his eyes.

"This aura... yes, it must be someone who has advanced to the late Integration stage," the youth watched for a while, then narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself. "Hmph, this is a bit troublesome. This aura is so immense, it doesn't seem like an ordinary late Integration stage cultivator. It looks like a special person will need to be dispatched to deal with this individual during the upcoming general offensive."

He was none other than the final Bloodlight Saint Ancestor avatar, who commanded the demon army in the Spirit Realm.

"Bloodlight, what's a mere late Integration stage cultivator? If you're at ease, just leave him to me. Hehe, didn't you go to all the trouble to invite me here so I could solve some troubles for you?" On a stone chair not far from the window, a brawny man with half an arm exposed, wearing a silver beast hide around his waist, gnawed heartily on a bloody beast leg he held in one hand, speaking somewhat indistinctly.

The brawny man's appearance was rather upright, but his entire body was bulging with muscles, his skin a gleaming bronze, as if forged from refined steel. A chilling, ferocious beast-like aura emanated from him.

"Hmm, Brother Xiong doesn't need to handle this matter," the blood-robed youth retracted his gaze and spoke indifferently as he turned his head. "I invited you here to deal with another, even more troublesome individual. However, I can't be certain if this person has returned to Tianyuan City. If he isn't there, it won't be too late to let Brother Xiong deal with this late Integration stage cultivator."

This brawny man clearly only had a late Integration stage cultivation, yet Bloodlight seemed exceptionally wary of him, treating him as an equal.

"Oh, so you don't even plan for me to handle this extraordinary late Integration stage cultivator?" A sharp glint flashed in the brawny man's eyes, and he said with some surprise. "Is the person you want me to deal with even more difficult than him?"

"He should be more troublesome than this recently advanced cultivator," Bloodlight said with a frown. "I'm not entirely clear on the details, but I only know that my three avatars pursued him twice. The first time, they returned without success, but the second time, they never came back, inexplicably perishing simultaneously."

"What? Such a thing!" The brawny man lost all interest in eating, abruptly threw the half-eaten beast leg to the ground, and asked with a solemn, sinking expression. "Now that you mention it, I recall hearing from other fellow Daoists some time ago that you seemed to have manifested three avatars at once. But how could they, working together, be killed in this realm? Are you asking me to deal with a Mahayana stage cultivator from the human or demon race?"

"Hehe, rest assured, Brother Xiong," Bloodlight Saint Ancestor slowly said. "Even if I wanted you to deal with a Mahayana stage cultivator, it would only be after you yourself had advanced to the Mahayana stage. The one I want you to deal with is a mid-Integration stage human cultivator. This person's divine abilities are truly formidable; ordinary late Integration stage cultivators are no match for him. My three avatars most likely perished at his hands. Brother Xiong is known as the First Demonic Venerable among our Saint Race, second only to the Saint Ancestors, making him the ideal candidate to deal with this person."

"Don't flatter me. If he can truly kill all three of your avatars simultaneously, his strength, even if not equal to mine, wouldn't be far off," the brawny man rubbed his chin with a large, rough hand, pondered for a moment, and then said without hesitation. "The reward for my assistance must be doubled again. Otherwise, I won't act."

"Alright. But everything on his person must be handed over to me," Bloodlight Saint Ancestor agreed without blinking an eye.

"It seems this human cultivator either possesses a great treasure or something you desperately need. Otherwise, you wouldn't agree so readily. Well, the original reward wasn't low, and now with it doubled, I, Xiong, won't covet any treasure, no matter how valuable. So it's settled. I'll see what kind of divine abilities this human cultivator, capable of killing your three avatars, truly possesses. I imagine this battle will be quite satisfying. I truly hope this day comes soon." The brawny man clenched his fists, causing a series of cracking sounds, and grinned widely as he spoke.

His bared teeth were dazzling white and gleaming. His whole person seemed to transform into a ferocious beast ready to devour someone.

Faced with the brawny man's reaction, Bloodlight Saint Ancestor seemed very pleased and immediately nodded with a smile:

"It is precisely because I trust Brother Xiong's reputation that I spared no expense to summon you from the Saint Realm. The day of the army's general assault on Tianyuan City is not far off. You should rest for a while to recover the vital energy you expended traversing the void, so you can deal with this troublesome opponent."

"What's a little vital energy loss? I, Xiong, don't need any rest. Since there's nothing for me to do here for now, I'll go explore and see if there's anything to alleviate my boredom! This is the Spirit Realm; you Saint Ancestors wouldn't possibly restrict my actions now, would you?" The brawny man suddenly said, a fierce aura appearing on his face.

"Naturally," Bloodlight Saint Ancestor's expression shifted slightly at first, but he immediately chuckled and said. "Since this is foreign territory, there will naturally be no more restrictions. Brother Xiong, feel free to enjoy yourself as you please."

Hearing this, the brawny man burst into wild laughter. He immediately stood up and strode towards the door, leaving the place without even a word of farewell.

Bloodlight watched the brawny man disappear into the doorway. He shook his head, a hint of helplessness appearing on his face.