Chapter 277: Verification

"The Demon Race, on the other hand, has had several Imperial Lords in every era. The accumulated foundations of both sides are vastly different," Venerable Lotang explained. "Our advantage lies in our geographical position. The Demon Race's top powerhouses cannot enter our human world. Moreover, many of their powerful treasures, lacking a world to draw upon, have their effectiveness severely diminished, or become completely useless, once they enter the human world."

"For example, the protective stone amulet your master gave you is effective only within the human world," Venerable Lotang stated. "Outside of it, it becomes useless."

Meng Chuan understood.

Since these single-use treasures are not powered by the user's own strength, they naturally require an external power source. Upon leaving their original world, many of them lose this crucial source.

"The Demon Race has, after all, produced more Imperial Lords throughout history, and it's likely they've bestowed numerous treasures upon their Fourth-Heaven Demon Kings for this war," Venerable Lotang said, gently shaking his head. "I truly wonder when we will finally produce an Imperial Lord ourselves."

"An Imperial Lord?" Meng Chuan mused to himself with a touch of melancholy.

Although Senior Guo Ke, whose 'Heart Intention Blade' Meng Chuan had studied, was a King Godfiend, the most formidable strike he developed in his old age had reached the Imperial Lord level, making him invincible in his era. However, Senior Guo Ke was significantly less accomplished than Old Man Yin Yang. While Senior Guo Ke achieved Imperial Lord-level power with just that one technique, Old Man Yin Yang had created a complete Godfiend body cultivation method along with several profound techniques, forming a comprehensive system. Two World Island, despite constant suppression from Black Sand Grotto-Heaven in the past, managed to endure largely thanks to Old Man Yin Yang's lasting legacy.

"If we can produce an Imperial Lord, or someone who reaches the eighth level of the soul, or perhaps something else entirely..." Venerable Qin Wu stated, "as long as one of these comes to pass, we will win this war."

"However, each of these is incredibly difficult to achieve," the illusory figure of Venerable Lotang replied.

Venerable Qin Wu put away the bear demon statue and began, "Meng Chuan, the final decisive battle could commence at any moment. Lotang and I are currently discussing how best to utilize your abilities."

Venerable Lotang explained, "Based on current estimations, seven hundred Fourth-Heaven Demon Kings will launch a coordinated assault. Given the limited number of major cities, they are unlikely to act foolishly by attacking individually. The most probable scenario is that they will cooperate, forming various teams. Among these Fourth-Heaven Demon Kings, many are at the peak of their power, and they will select the most suitable partners to form their groups, further bolstered by the treasures bestowed by their Demon Imperial Lords."

"Each team of Fourth-Heaven Demon Kings, I'm afraid, could possess the strength of an ordinary Fifth-Heaven expert," the illusory figure of Venerable Lotang stated. "It's even possible that newly ascended Fifth-Heaven Demon Kings might be concealed within their ranks."

Venerable Qin Wu nodded, "If one's strength is insufficient and they still attempt a rescue, they risk dying at the hands of the Demon Race. Before we deploy you, Lotang and I wish to first verify your true capabilities."

"Understood," Meng Chuan nodded.

He was also eager to ascertain his own strength level.

A clear understanding of his capabilities would allow him to determine the most effective course of action.

"You shall spar with the Yuanchu Mountain Master," the illusory figure of Venerable Lotang announced.

The white-haired Yuanchu Mountain Master smiled at Meng Chuan. "Junior Brother Meng, you should be careful."

"Spar with the Mountain Master?" Meng Chuan's eyes brightened. As the nominal leader of Yuanchu Mountain and over four hundred years old, the Yuanchu Mountain Master's strength among King Godfiends was undoubtedly exceptional.

"Neither of you needs to hold back," Venerable Qin Wu instructed. "Unleash your full strength. With me present, there will be no accidents."

"Yes," the Yuanchu Mountain Master replied thoughtfully. He had initially considered holding back, knowing that a full-strength killing move could potentially be fatal.

Within this grotto-heaven.

Meng Chuan and the Yuanchu Mountain Master faced each other, while Venerable Qin Wu and the illusory figure of Venerable Lotang observed from afar.

"Mountain Master, please test my Fiend-Slaying Aura," Meng Chuan began, as a deep teal aura diffused from his body. Since this was a test of strength, not a fight to the death, Meng Chuan first manifested his Fiend-Slaying Aura, whose power was the most challenging to control, to allow his opponent to clearly perceive its effects.

A hissing sound filled the air.

The deep teal Fiend-Slaying Aura rapidly expanded.

The surrounding environment attempted to suppress it, but to no avail; frost crystallized in the air wherever the aura passed.

"This Fiend-Slaying Aura is truly formidable," Venerable Lotang, observing from the side, exclaimed in admiration. "Even the Yuanchu Mountain Master's 'Five Directions Realm' domain cannot suppress it."

The aura continued to hiss.

Around the Yuanchu Mountain Master, black true essence, integrated with his boundless domain, attempted to resist. However, the deep teal Fiend-Slaying Aura forced his defenses to a mere three-zhang radius around him.

"Junior Brother Meng's Fiend-Slaying Aura is truly remarkable," the Yuanchu Mountain Master admitted. "Although I can defend against it, the surrounding space is frozen and suppressed, reducing my speed to only half. However, in combat, I typically do not need to move much."

As soon as he finished speaking.

A colossal black illusory giant materialized, towering a hundred zhang high with black light swirling across its form. The Yuanchu Mountain Master was suspended within the giant's body. The deep teal Fiend-Slaying Aura Meng Chuan had released assaulted the towering illusory giant, yet it could only affect its speed.

"The Yuanchu Battle Body?" Meng Chuan thought to himself.

Among the twelve supreme Godfiend bodies, the 'Thirteen Sword Fiend Demon Body' possessed the greatest destructive power, though it was known for its strong offense and weak defense.

The Reincarnation God Body was the most versatile for close-quarters combat.

The Yuanchu God Body excelled most comprehensively in long-range attacks.

The two were remarkably similar.

This was because both required cultivating the Five Elements, and both necessitated the mastery and fusion of five Intent Realms. The Reincarnation God Body was marginally more challenging as it involved using the power of the Five Elements to refine one's physical body. The Yuanchu God Body, conversely, utilized the Five Elements to cultivate an illusory battle body. This battle body, unconstrained by the limitations of flesh, could unleash immense power. However, the physical body itself remained relatively fragile; once the battle body was shattered, death was imminent.

If the battle body couldn't endure an attack, then even true essence protection would be insufficient.

"The Yuanchu Battle Body," Meng Chuan murmured with anticipation.

"Junior Brother Meng, receive this palm strike," the Yuanchu Mountain Master declared, sweeping out a hand.

Instantly, the black illusory giant delivered a palm strike. The hand was only about ten zhang in size when it began its motion, but as it surged towards Meng Chuan, its arm length extended dramatically, and the palm itself expanded rapidly.

An arm stretching two to three hundred zhang, with a palm over a hundred zhang across, descended.

Meng Chuan looked up, feeling the surrounding void rapidly compressing him. He made no attempt to dodge, simply gazing upwards as the colossal palm struck down with immense force.

*Boom!*

The ground trembled, revealing a colossal, hand-shaped crater.

"What?" The Yuanchu Mountain Master lifted his hand, seeing Meng Chuan, his entire body radiating light, fly out of the massive crater. The surrounding void was collapsing and distorting.

Meng Chuan, completely unharmed, looked up and smiled. "Mountain Master, that palm strike was quite potent; it made my ears ring. However, its power was dispersed across my entire body, so I didn't even break the skin."

From a distance, the eyes of both Venerable Qin Wu and Venerable Lotang lit up.

"What just happened? That palm strike's power was undeniably at the peak King Godfiend level," the illusory figure of Venerable Lotang repeatedly exclaimed. "Qin Wu, look closely. How is his physical body so incredibly strong? Is the Undying Realm truly this formidable?"

Venerable Qin Wu, present in his true form, saw everything with perfect clarity. "Meng Chuan's physical body is tough enough to rival a Fifth-Heaven Demon King. Furthermore, when he took that palm strike, he activated a divine ability—the radiating light you saw on his body. This ability caused his physical defense to surge, as if his entire body were covered in a layer of armor! That palm strike's power was greatly diminished by this armor. Although it caused internal vibrations and minor bleeding within Meng Chuan's body, he recovered from these injuries instantly."

"An Undying Realm body, even if completely pulverized, can instantly reassemble itself," Venerable Lotang exclaimed in astonishment. "I've read descriptions of this cultivation system and knew that the Undying Realm grants immense vitality. But I never realized its defensive capabilities were this extraordinary. This is my first time witnessing an Undying Realm physical body. It's no wonder Ancestral Master Cangyuan chose to place this cultivation system, which can only be cultivated to the 'Blood Droplet Realm,' within Cangyuan Grotto-Heaven."

"Meng Chuan, unleash your full power," Venerable Qin Wu commanded, "Don't just take hits."

"Yes, sir," Meng Chuan promptly responded.