Chapter 431: Start Training

"After all, from our skirmishes, the demon race must have realized that our individual strengths have significantly improved," said Fiery King.

Fighting in the World Gap is the most crucial step in the war.

If the Fifth-Heaven Demon Kings cannot enter through the World Gap, humanity will enjoy long-lasting peace, possibly even permanent peace! Therefore, the three major sects naturally spared no effort in nurturing their cultivators.

From Yuanchu Mountain, Meng Chuan and True Martial King both possess Tribulation Realm secret treasures. Peng Mu and Yun Jianhai have also received assistance from Emperor-level secret treasures. In fact, for those who are merely Marquis Gods and Demons, the difference between Emperor-level and Tribulation Realm secret treasures is not significant, as they cannot fully unleash the power of these artifacts.

Peng Mu and Yun Jianhai originally possessed ordinary Creation Realm combat power. Although they had made progress after years of cultivation in the World Gap, their improvement was not substantial. This time, the sect bestowed upon them the most suitable Emperor-level secret treasures based on their strengths, immediately elevating their combat power to the 'peak Creation Realm'.

While the support from Two World Island and Black Sand Grotto-Heaven was not as extensive as Yuanchu Mountain's—due to differences in their foundational resources—they were nonetheless very dedicated.

Two World Island placed immense importance on 'King Qianmu', bestowing upon him two Emperor-level secret treasures. Combined with his sixth-level Soul technique, he was practically unstoppable.

For King Qianmu's companion, 'King Gutong', Two World Island even used exotic treasures to modify his physical body. As a Marquis God and Demon with only about forty years left in his lifespan, King Gutong was very cooperative with the physical transformation. While 'physical modification' has many flaws—one ceases to be human, the body can no longer improve, and there's a risk of the body disintegrating upon failure and death—a successful transformation invariably leads to a significant increase in strength.

The demon race's 'Poison Dragon Ancestor' gained an immortal body due to physical modification by an exotic treasure.

Black Sand Grotto-Heaven's foundation was much deeper than Two World Island's. Its Black Sand, Lunar, and Blade and Halberd lineages were all unique. With their full cultivation efforts, Fiery King, Nether King, and Northwind King each excelled in their own specializations, and together, their team was in no way inferior to Two World Island's.

"We have all been nurtured by our sects, and our strength has greatly increased," Fiery King continued. "Before, the demon race cultivated peacefully within the World Gap, but now they are being hunted by us. The demon race will definitely put great effort into cultivating their demon kings. While their average strength is inferior to that of our Gods and Demons, their sheer numbers, combined with years of cultivation in the World Gap, mean that more of them have reached Creation Realm power. Once heavily nurtured by demon emperors, each of them will see a significant boost in strength."

"Indeed," Meng Chuan nodded.

For Threaded Holy Master, even if it had an Emperor-level secret treasure suited to it—let alone a Tribulation Realm one—its strength would greatly increase.

In that scenario, if he faced Threaded Holy Master, he would only be able to rely on his ability to flash several hundred miles to quickly escape, not daring to engage in direct combat at all.

"In terms of underlying strength, the demon race is far more formidable than us," Fiery King said. "They also possess a greater variety of treasures."

Everyone present felt significant pressure.

Meng Chuan knew that Yuanchu Mountain had the deepest foundation, but the treasures left by Ancestor Cang Yuan had been used too extensively by successive generations of Gods and Demons. Currently, only 'ultimate arts' and 'secret techniques' still held an advantage against the demon race! In many other aspects, humanity was at a disadvantage. Particularly, treasures suitable for ordinary Gods and Demons or those at the Creation Realm were truly scarce for humans.

This was also why humanity had grown progressively weaker over the past several hundred thousand years.

In contrast, the demon race had been strong for a long time! There were several demon emperors in each generation, and historically, many powerful Tribulation Realm beings. Through long ages of accumulation, the demon world's territory was nearly ten times larger than the human world, making it the pinnacle of a medium-sized world.

"Therefore, we must be even more cautious from now on," said Fiery King. "The demon race knows our situation. It's highly probable that while cultivating other demon kings, they will first focus on a few key demon kings, sending them to the World Gap to ambush and assassinate us. For example, they might form a team with Monarch Peacock and several other demon kings to actively seek us out."

"Understood," everyone present nodded.

"According to the plan pre-determined by the three major sects," True Martial King said, "once the assassinations are complete, we will patiently cultivate within the World Gap. The World Gap is a sacred place for our cultivation. However, during cultivation... as per the original plan, the Gods and Demons from Two World Island and Black Sand Grotto-Heaven will temporarily merge, allowing you two sides to complement each other. Our Yuanchu Mountain team will also merge."

"Understood," Fiery King nodded.

"With Fiery King and the others cooperating, we will be able to handle all sorts of dangers," King Qianmu nodded. He and his companions excelled most in soul secret arts and Gu worm techniques, while Black Sand Grotto-Heaven was more adept at direct combat. Their combined forces would represent a qualitative leap, significantly boosting their team's strength.

The Yuanchu Mountain team, once merged, would likewise see a great increase in strength.

True Martial King, Meng Chuan, Guardian, Peng Mu, Yun Jianhai... each had their own specialties. Working together, they would have the confidence to face any strong team the demon race might send.

"We will cultivate patiently for twenty years," Fiery King continued. "After twenty years, several of us will need to enter a deep slumber."

"Yes, our lifespans are limited; we cannot linger here indefinitely," King Qianmu nodded.

"The demon race probably won't delay for more than twenty years; the longer they delay, the more they will fear unforeseen changes," True Martial King said with a faint smile, glancing at Meng Chuan.

This Junior Brother Meng was truly a prodigy.

Another twenty years?

His strength would likely increase significantly again.

"Even if the demon race truly delays for more than twenty years, you can go into slumber. It won't be too late to awaken you when the demon race launches its attack," True Martial King chuckled.

Fiery King, King Qianmu, and the others all nodded.

They were all over four hundred years old. Fiery King, the oldest among them, had only thirty-one years left in his lifespan. King Qianmu had thirty-nine years left. Time was truly pressing for them.

"Then we shall take our leave."

"Farewell."

The two parties soon separated.

The five Gods and Demons from Two World Island and Black Sand Grotto-Heaven departed together. Although the two factions once harbored enmity, in the face of this war, they united to confront the enemy.

Guardian Wang Shan re-entered his miniature grotto-heaven for quiet cultivation and meditation, slowly recovering from the 'Demon Cone' wounds. Such minor wounds would take Meng Chuan only an hour to heal, whereas Guardian Wang Shan required nearly half a month.

Meng Chuan and the other three flew to the fissure in the heavens and earth.

"Rumble!"

An incredibly massive purple lightning bolt tore through the river of time and space. The lightning was astonishingly vast, its end imperceptible to the naked eye.

It was savage and terrifying, posing a threat that even True Martial King, Meng Chuan, and the other two felt.

"The lightning here is almost the strongest within the World Gap," True Martial King said. "Let's cultivate here."

"Yes," Peng Mu, Yun Jianhai, and Meng Chuan watched in awe.

The black and white currents generated by the purple lightning strike formed a large black and white lake. Half of this lake was within the World Gap, and the other half extended into the endless darkness.

The lake spanned an area of five hundred li.

The lake was composed of 'black and white currents' that chased each other, shattering the darkness. Multicolored energies surged within, like crashing waves.

"Do not approach any closer," True Martial King warned. "If we are caught in its effects, we could perish."

"This is the true power that destroys worlds," Peng Mu marveled, "and also creates them."

Meng Chuan observed intently.

This purple lightning was different from any he had seen before.

Perhaps because of its immense scale, its end was invisible to the naked eye. This intensified all sensations, especially the overwhelming 'sense of destruction' that made Meng Chuan's heart pound. It truly could annihilate everything; if he approached it, he would surely be instantly reduced to dust.

To comprehend it, to master this terrifying power, Meng Chuan's eyes burned with desire.