Chapter 395: Breaking Through Challenges, Four Kings Discuss the Situation

“Body, spiritual sense, mind, Nascent Soul...”“Virtually no weaknesses in any of the four aspects. He seems to be a remarkable junior.”

As one of the Northern Demon Race's retirement havens, the Heart Beast Tower's daily routine involved managing the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain. They had seen countless talented juniors, but truly few well-rounded cultivators like Wang Yu, who were well-developed in all aspects.

As the old men conversed, Wang Yu swiftly ascended the entire eastern mountain path, passing all the stone steps, and reached the first resting platform at the turn. At the same time, the boon from the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain also descended.

Wang Yu stood on the dark stone platform, his eyes slightly narrowed. Around him, a bloody mist rose from the platform, spontaneously surging into his body. The moment it made contact, he felt his body refinement cultivation increase.

His vital energy surged. His Silver Blood Divine Marrow began refining the second bone, which Wang Yu chose to be his skull for his second Immortal Bone. The increase in the total amount of Silver Blood Divine Marrow caused his skull to also glimmer with speckles of silver light.

Unfortunately, this state lasted only a short time before ending. The reward for passing the first level was just this much, which made Wang Yu even more interested in the future rewards. The blood mist he just absorbed was essentially the pure vital energy left behind by the Beast God. It was quick to absorb and had no side effects, confirming that coming to the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain was the right decision.

The intensity of the first level was limited to Tier 3. From the second level onwards, the trials on the stone steps were no longer random; all 1,080 steps presented the same challenge. The higher he ascended, the greater the intensity.

The most basic trial involved physical oppression, like a gravity restriction applied to the entire body. With each step, the pressure increased slightly. Under this grueling test, Wang Yu also released the collected Moon Fiend power from his Grand Yin Fiend-Nourishing Coffin. While refining the fiend energy, he leveraged the power of the restrictions here to slowly but steadily improve his body refinement realm. The divine power domain formed by his Silver Blood Divine Power also continuously increased in proficiency through this resistance, allowing Wang Yu to control it with greater ease.

And so, when he traversed the second level and reached the platform at the turn, more blood mist surged out, rapidly helping Wang Yu increase the total amount of his Silver Blood Divine Marrow. This time, the digestion took one and a half times longer. His initial Tier 4 body refinement realm had advanced by about one-tenth, a very fast progression.

Following this pattern, he might be able to use the boons from the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain to advance his body refinement cultivation to its current peak. To break through the bottleneck of mid-Tier 4, his cultivation technique would have to make a breakthrough first.

Considering this, Wang Yu's gaze involuntarily fell upon the placement bar. The progress bar for the Corpse Demon Secret Art was steadily advancing; completing the full Tier 4 chapter was only a matter of twenty years. The Underworld Demonic Dragon Art had been refined and upgraded during his dragon vein baptism, and it already had partial integration with the Corpse Demon Secret Art. Continuing on this path, the chances of success were very high.

After the boons from the second-level platform concluded, Wang Yu turned from north to west, continuing his challenge to the next level.

Meanwhile, at the Heavenly Peng Clan's aerial battlefield, demon kings from all sides had gathered. It was the most bustling event in the Northern Demon Race in recent years, with various shapeshifting greater demons assembled—from the smallest Gold-Devouring Rat to the largest Mountain-Coiling Python. All were present at this venue. On the temporarily erected central high platform, King Heavenly Peng wore a golden crown and a royal feather cloak, his sky-blue eyes exuding immense majesty. His aura had distinctly reached the Grand Completion of Nascent Soul realm.

Among all the demons present, only three could rival him. One had multi-colored deer antlers on his head, adorned with round, emerald-green beads, like hen's eggs. The medicinal fragrance was so rich that anyone who approached felt completely refreshed. This was the king of the Medicinal-Horned Deer clan, the Five-Colored Deer—Lu Ming! Also at the Grand Completion of Nascent Soul cultivation, his presence was not as overwhelming as King Heavenly Peng's. His face often bore a smile that made others feel like they were basking in a spring breeze. He was recognized and supported by many demons, who believed he would be a benevolent king. Curiously, he was the only one from the Medicinal-Horned Deer clan who came, not even bringing attendants.

The second individual was from the Thunder-Qilin clan. This beast resembled a qilin in appearance but was only a Qilin bloodline descendant, not a true lineage of the authentic Qilin. Because they were naturally adept at wielding lightning, they named themselves the Thunder-Qilin clan! The current Thunder-Qilin King was a burly, middle-aged man with purple hair. Fine qilin patterns, like lightning bolts, covered his body. He was also at the Grand Completion of Nascent Soul realm. The Thunder-Qilin King held himself with great arrogance, remaining on his carriage and not descending. Even so, a group of scaled beasts gathered around him, appearing eager to be commanded and proud to serve as his vanguard.

The third individual was King Fire Crow! This clan possessed a legendary quality. It was said that the immortals who established the ancient immortal dynasty arrived on a large number of Fire Crows. Their ancestors played a significant role in transforming the Ice Prison Realm into a normal world, turning vast frozen tundras and ice plains into the soil of a habitable world.

Furthermore, this clan had many branches: one in the Southern Broken Boundary Mountain Range, one in the Underworld Mountain Sect, and another in the Blazing Sun Sect. Although their bloodlines were extraordinary, they did not acknowledge each other's authority. Fire Crows and Heavenly Pengs both belonged to the avian species. In the struggle for the Demon Lord position, the Fire Crows were the least favored branch, yet they could consistently secure one of the top three positions among the nine great demon kings. The remaining six positions were what the lower eight clans competed for.

The core reason why the demon race, despite their generally late-Tier 4 strength (comparable to human grand cultivators of the same realm), were confined to the Broken Boundary Mountain Range, lay with the Soul Transformation Venerables. There were hardly any corresponding Tier 5 Heavenly Demons. While there were Soul Transformation venomous beasts in the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest, they clearly did not belong to the same faction. The Sword Sect of Taihu, however, was known to have four Soul Transformation Venerables. The Heaven-Refining Demonic Sect on Chiyuan's side also had four Venerables. As neither side could overpower the other, a situation of two opposing domains was formed. Once this balance was broken, the conflict would inevitably continue until one side was utterly defeated.

Unless a third party joined to form a pincer movement. It is well known that triangles possess stability, and the same applies to factions. With only one opponent, they would fight relentlessly, never stopping until utterly vanquished. With two opponents, they would consider their actions carefully, perhaps even engaging in alliances and schemes, plotting against each other.

The demon race possessed this potential. However, their unity was poor. Though called one race, in reality, each tribe was distinct and separate. As the saying goes, 'A dragon does not dwell with snakes.'

The four upper clans were distinctly separated. King Heavenly Peng possessed the majesty of an emperor and was supported by all birds. King Five-Colored had a benevolent heart and was endorsed by the majority of common demons. King Thunder-Qilin was arrogant and tyrannical, surrounded only by elite demons. King Fire Crow was a solitary figure; aside from the Fire Crows that followed him, he had almost no usable subordinates. The four had different styles, yet their strengths were in the same realm, making the competition for the position of Northern Demon Race's Demon Lord truly difficult.

But for demons, strength reigned supreme. They would just fight it out; whoever won would be the leader, for might made right!

As time passed, the Demon King banquet officially began. Seating arrangements in the center were based on strength and clan influence. The Two-Tailed Shadow Cat sat in the middle, with the Bloodblade Tiger in front and the Gold-Devouring Rat behind. The seating was perfect!

The four seats at the head table were arranged in a single line, signifying equal standing. King Heavenly Peng, despite being the host, did not position himself higher than the others; this equal treatment was due to the special nature of this banquet.

Once the four great demon kings were seated, the atmosphere gradually became livelier. While demon banquets weren't as lively as human ones, the arts of song and dance were fully present, and instrumentalists were proficient in all forms. Everyone was networking, as such a social platform was a rare opportunity. All sorts of activities were taking place. On the high platform, the four kings looked down upon the bustle and commotion below, their expressions varied: some felt pleased, some found it noisy, some were utterly indifferent, and some… watched with benevolent gazes.

King Heavenly Peng glanced at his three old friends beside him. He lightly coughed and said, “Recently, Taihu and Chiyuan have started fighting again. What are your thoughts on this, three friends?”

King Fire Crow's eyes showed surprise. “Heavenly Peng, are you considering…”

“—Contention!” King Thunder-Qilin slammed the low table and declared domineeringly. “If I were the Demon Lord, facing such an opportune moment, I would fully bring the demon race to the forefront. Although the Broken Boundary Mountain Range is rich in resources, its area is ultimately too small. It's time to expand the demon race's territory!”

King Five-Colored, having shed his usual smile, leaned back leisurely against a support formed by his transformed demon essence, appearing utterly languid. He said, “Expanding territory requires warfare, but governing it requires proper rule. Do you intend to rely solely on your fighting prowess? Or do you believe your subordinate scaled beasts can govern vast spiritual fields and all living beings under heaven?”

King Thunder-Qilin arrogantly replied, “What of warfare? This king will carry the banner as a general, lead from the front, and be the first to charge! As for governance, simply kill those who disobey. Kill them until they are terrified, until they are filled with dread. Why worry about them not submitting obediently after city massacres and genocide?”

“Brute,” Lu Ming scoffed. It wasn't his first time encountering King Thunder-Qilin's way of thinking, but each time he still wanted to hear the fellow's foolish ideas and make him look ridiculous. As expected, King Heavenly Peng and King Fire Crow secretly snickered, only reining themselves in after King Thunder-Qilin glared fiercely at them.

King Heavenly Peng sighed and said, “King Thunder-Qilin, things are not like they were back then. The demon race's prosperity and ascent to power then were due to the Ice Phoenix Demon Lord's grand vision and strategies, and the Four Spirit Ancestors were also absolute contributors. Now, the Four Spirits are extinct... The Black Tortoise lineage fled far to the Chaotic Ancient Sea, and I hear they've become entangled with the Ancient Heavenly Sea Sect, long having forgotten about us impoverished relatives. The Vermilion Bird lineage moved to Vermilion Bird Divine Mountain south of Chiyuan, and has completely declined in recent years; the youngest inheritor of the Vermilion Bird Scion title only has Core Formation cultivation. The White Tiger lineage is in the Southern Broken Boundary Mountain Range, and we've had no contact with them for ages. As for the Azure Dragon lineage... Azure Dragon Ancestor has been in seclusion healing until now. Do you think this is normal?”

King Heavenly Peng spoke at length, only stopping when King Thunder-Qilin was rendered speechless. Azure Dragon Ancestor, also known as Azure Dragon Scion, was an Azure Flood Dragon who achieved enlightenment. He was also the Northern Demon Race's only Soul Transformation Heavenly Demon. Over four hundred years ago, upon returning from the last righteous-demonic war, he announced an indefinite, fatal seclusion, strictly forbidding any disturbance unless the very survival of the race was at stake. What Azure Dragon Scion did during his absence remained unknown to them. However, it was certain that it was related to a human Soul Transformation Venerable. Previously, with Azure Dragon Scion in charge, conflicts among the various demon clans could be suppressed, leading to a period of peace.

In recent years, friction between them had deepened, and there was no one to uphold justice. This was the true reason for convening the Demon King banquet: the lack of a leader! However, the contest for the Demon Lord position had to be contained; it also needed to display invincible might to awe the shapeshifting demon kings, making 'holy judgments' easier in the future. Explaining the demon race's situation was, in fact, a reminder to others to understand their current predicament: infighting would lead to no good.

King Thunder-Qilin frowned deeply. After holding back for a while, he finally said, “Are you implying that this time, it's not about fighting?”

“Oh!” King Five-Colored didn't wait for King Heavenly Peng to respond. He scoffed, his tone sarcastic: “I didn't expect you to possess such wisdom. You actually figured out what Heavenly Peng said, even though he was so subtle?”

“Lu Ming! Are you deliberately trying to provoke this king?” King Five-Colored also slammed the table and stood up, pointing at King Thunder-Qilin as he rebuked him: “Your management skills are the worst. If it weren't for your gluttonous subordinates constantly devouring the young of the Spirit Fat Sheep clan, would they have complained to me? Those little lambs are practically being eaten into extinction, and you still don't know when to stop! The Heavenly Peng clan also loves to feed on dragon-blooded species, but did you see them going to catch dragon pythons?!”

King Heavenly Peng, suddenly implicated, opened his mouth. Words of mediation came to his lips, but he stopped them, curious to see how long they would argue. The two demons had long-standing grievances, not just this one incident. Countless small matters had accumulated over time, gradually escalating into major issues. The regions managed by the two kings were relatively close, and King Five-Colored was known for his benevolent heart. He never refused common demons who sought refuge, even having a habit of recruiting wild demons. To the demon race, he truly deserved the title of a benevolent king.

Who could tolerate their subordinates being constantly preyed upon by their neighbors? In response, King Thunder-Qilin also had something to say: “Who told you to take in those good-for-nothings? It's bad enough they can't fight, but they're all so plump and fragrant. Forget my subordinates, even I would want to catch a few for a snack!”

“Preposterous!” Just as the two were escalating from a verbal dispute to a serious confrontation, King Fire Crow, who had been silent since his opening remark, suddenly spoke. “There is actually a way for us to get a seat at the table.” The two quarreling kings and King Heavenly Peng, who had been observing, immediately turned their gaze to him. This old friend was accustomed to acting alone, and his relationship with them was generally ordinary. However, due to his legendary origins, the Fire Crows' background was subtly superior to other demons, so his claim of a solution naturally piqued the others' interest.

King Five-Colored also became serious, sitting upright as he said, “Humans are multiplying and growing, and so are demons. The Broken Boundary Mountain Range has reached its carrying capacity. Expanding our living space outwards is imperative.”

King Heavenly Peng continued, “Now, with internal strife in Chiyuan and the Taihu forces taking advantage, perhaps we too can get involved, provided the Venerables from the Heaven-Refining Demonic Sect tacitly approve.”

His words echoed what others were thinking. Compared to Taihu's tens of billions of people, the vast and sparsely populated Chiyuan was more suitable for the demon race to 'claim as their territory.' The timing was opportune, and expansion would be straightforward; the real challenge lay in whether they could hold onto it.

This was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity; if they missed it, who knew when the next one would come. The three's expectant gazes put considerable pressure on King Fire Crow. He steeled himself and said, “It's like this…”

(End of Chapter)