Chapter 371: Thousand Crickets

The war situation was increasingly unfavorable for the demon race. If Sage Thousand-Crickets hadn't successfully taken over a new body, Emperor Xinghe would likely have crushed it to dust. It was only after seeing that it had become a 'Third-Heaven Centipede Demon King' through possession that Emperor Xinghe managed to suppress his fury.

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Sage Thousand-Crickets said with utmost respect, "The Karma Blood Curse requires not only profound mastery in the lineage of karma but also at least Fifth-Heaven demon power to cast. As I have just taken over this new body and become a Third-Heaven Demon King, entering the human world blindly would be pointless. Furthermore, infiltrating through a world entrance risks exposure and possible interception by the humans. Therefore, I intend to cultivate until I am on the verge of becoming a 'Fourth-Heaven Demon King' before infiltrating the human world. Once inside, I can immediately transform into a Fourth-Heaven Demon King. With a Fourth-Heaven Demon King's body and my inherent realm, I can wield the power of a Fenghou Godfiend, making the infiltration much safer."

Emperor Xinghe nodded slightly.

Although Sage Thousand-Crickets was clearly afraid of death, Emperor Xinghe found its reasoning acceptable.

"When will you be able to enter the human world?" Emperor Xinghe pressed.

"Your subordinate will be able to cultivate to a Fourth-Heaven Demon King within one year. I will enter the human world as soon as I approach that threshold. Afterward, I am confident I can recover to Fifth-Heaven within five years," Sage Thousand-Crickets replied.

"That's too slow."

Emperor Xinghe frowned.

"After all, this involves taking over a new body, and my primordial spirit needs time to adapt," Sage Thousand-Crickets explained softly. "Haste makes waste. While it would be ideal to reach Fifth-Heaven tomorrow, progress must be made step by step."

"Take this bottle of 'Primordial Spirit Blood Qi'," Emperor Xinghe said, producing a black jade bottle with a flick of his wrist. The bottle flew to Sage Thousand-Crickets.

Sage Thousand-Crickets was overjoyed.

Primordial Spirit Blood Qi?

After taking over a new body, the recovery of one's strength is essentially the process of the primordial spirit integrating with the physical body.

Continuous cultivation of the physical body allows for greater integration with the primordial spirit, leading to constant improvements in strength. To recover to the demon saint level, compatibility usually exceeds ninety-nine percent. However, achieving absolute, one hundred percent compatibility is far more challenging than becoming a Tribulation Realm grandmaster. Historically, Tribulation Realm grandmasters born in the human world have been exceedingly rare.

No one has ever achieved perfect integration between their primordial spirit and physical body after taking over a new form.

Primordial Spirit Blood Qi is a valuable artifact that assists cultivation after a body takeover. It significantly promotes the integration of the physical body and the primordial spirit, especially until compatibility reaches ninety-five percent. It helps one quickly overcome the 'weak period' immediately after possession.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your subordinate will certainly reach Fourth-Heaven within half a year and will surely reach Fifth-Heaven within two years," Sage Thousand-Crickets stated.

"Go to the human world as soon as possible and uncover the identity of that mysterious Godfiend," Emperor Xinghe stated coldly. "Once we know who he is, we will have a way to eliminate him."

They had already prepared numerous countermeasures.

They were determined to slay that Godfiend.

That mysterious Godfiend was the greatest obstacle to the million demon kings wreaking havoc across the human world.

"As long as your subordinate reaches Fifth-Heaven and casts the Karma Blood Curse on various demon kings," Sage Thousand-Crickets stated confidently, "that mysterious Godfiend, unless he ceases his attacks, as long as he continues to slay demon kings, I will be able to easily discern his identity by tracing the Karma Blood Curse."

"Good," Emperor Xinghe nodded. "In addition to the 'Demon Star Scroll' and the protective secret treasure I previously bestowed, if you successfully complete this mission, we will provide a significant reward. You may choose any Emperor-level weapon from our demon race's treasury."

"Yes," Sage Thousand-Crickets replied, greatly pleased.

Only then did Emperor Xinghe's figure dissipate and vanish.

The joy on Sage Thousand-Crickets' face faded. It calmly gazed at the jade bottle containing 'Primordial Spirit Blood Qi' in its hand and murmured, "My lifespan was originally very long, and I had cultivated the Karma lineage to the peak of the Cavern Heaven realm. I even had hopes of becoming an Emperor in this lifetime. Yet, you forced me to take over a new body, severing my path of cultivation. Hmph, I know you are after the treasures of 'Patriarch Cang Yuan', that human body-cultivating Tribulation Realm grandmaster."

No matter how many thoughts Sage Thousand-Crickets harbored, it had to suppress them.

Emperor Xinghe and the others also understood that Sage Thousand-Crickets would remain firmly under their control for a considerable period.

Nearly a year and a half after Meng Chuan was ambushed, Sage Thousand-Crickets quietly infiltrated the human world late one night.

It was an inconspicuous world entrance located deep within the vast ocean.

The entrance was too far from the human mainland. The three major human sects had only dispatched a single flying demon servant to secretly monitor it, making it difficult to arrange sufficient forces for an interception. Unless large numbers of demon kings entered, for scattered demon kings, the humans could only pretend not to notice them.

"Whoosh."

Sage Thousand-Crickets flew through the world entrance, hovering above the vast ocean and breathing the air of the human world.

"In the human world, I will deduce heavenly secrets and divine the future. The ultimate winner just might be me," Sage Thousand-Crickets thought. It instantly submerged into the vast seawater. The moment it entered, its physical body began to transform, rapidly advancing towards the Fourth-Heaven Demon King level.

For ordinary demon kings, breaking through to Fourth-Heaven requires complete dedication in seclusion, free from any disturbance.

However, for someone whose realm is incredibly high...

For instance, Meng Chuan became a Fenghou Godfiend by making an emergency breakthrough during a life-or-death battle.

As Sage Thousand-Crickets was originally a demon saint, this breakthrough was as simple as breathing for it.

A month after Sage Thousand-Crickets infiltrated the human world, it was a bright and sunny midday in March, the peak of spring.

Meng Chuan was flying high in the sky, having just concluded his underground reconnaissance for the day.

Nowadays, he only conducted reconnaissance for three hours daily, briefly surveying the underground areas of the three major dynasties and the ocean floor. The efficiency was simply too low; even with full-force attacks, the number of demon kings he killed in a year couldn't compare to those sent in by the demon race annually. Moreover, the demon kings all hid far from the land. Aside from the bi-monthly 'demon king attacks on cities,' demon kings were rarely seen in the human world on ordinary days. Naturally, Meng Chuan dedicated more of his time to cultivation.

Sharpening the blade does not delay the work of chopping wood.

Only by reaching the Blood Droplet Realm could the threat posed by the million demon kings be completely resolved.

"My father's days are quite leisurely now," Meng Chuan thought as he flew high above the patrol area where his father was stationed.

On an unnamed mountain peak, an inconspicuous wooden hut was nestled among the trees.

Meng Dajiang resided there, accompanied by a treant demon servant. Nowadays, demon kings hunting mortals were rare; only two or three demon kings were found per region each month. If the demon kings were weak, the flying demon servant handled them directly. Meng Dajiang himself only needed to act once every one or two months, truly making his life quite leisurely.

"Whoosh."

Meng Chuan didn't disturb his father and continued flying, returning to Jiangzhou City.

His wife, Liu Qiyue, was cheerfully preparing lunch. Since Meng Chuan only scouted for three hours daily and returned by noon, the couple now had much more time to spend together.

"Hmm?" Meng Chuan landed in the courtyard, watching his wife busily working in the kitchen. He blinked, a look of disbelief on his face.

Liu Qiyue emerged from the kitchen, carrying a wooden tray laden with dishes. She smiled at Meng Chuan, actively releasing her primordial spirit fluctuations.

"Primordial Spirit Third Layer?" Meng Chuan exclaimed, looking at his wife with excitement.