Chapter 1182: Desire to Seize and Replace

Hong Yu stepped out, making his way to a Quasi-Saint encampment to find his elder brother.

The Hong brothers were formidable. Hong Sheng, a Quasi-Saint, and Hong Yu, in the Golden Body realm, were both top experts in their respective echelons, each just a step away from being unparalleled.

Within the Quasi-Saint encampment, several beings opened their eyes, but upon recognizing the two brothers, they promptly closed them again, dismissing the sight. Everyone knew the Hong family was not to be trifled with.

As Hong Sheng followed Hong Yu to their grandfather's grand tent, he felt an immediate chill, as if confronting a prehistoric beast. Their grandfather sat cross-legged, his entire being engulfed by a dense, intimidating aura of blood energy, like a blazing, terrifying eternal divine furnace. This was merely the calm state, with no blood mist escaping; if even a wisp of that blood energy were to surge forth, both brothers would be instantly pulverized.

Hong Haiyun, one of the supervisors of this Golden Body encampment, was himself a Quasi-Divine King, a rank more than capable of managing the unruly Golden Body realm youths from various clans.

"Grandfather," Hong Sheng exclaimed in surprise, "are you saying that the youngsters from the Six-Eared Macaque, Peng Clan, and Dao Clan are plotting to ambush a Quasi-Saint, all to get on that list?" Having ascended from the Golden Body realm, he knew how incredibly difficult, almost impossible, it was to confront a Quasi-Saint. Were those youths simply suicidal?

Hong Haiyun nodded, his long gray hair framing a cold, slightly sinister face. "Indeed, they are incredibly audacious," he said. "Therefore, I want you to help your brother take action against Cao De. Whether it's forcing him out or crippling him, it's all acceptable. Even killing him is fine, as long as your brother can take his place in that small group."

Hong Sheng shook his head. "But even if my brother joins them, their endeavor is doomed to fail. They'll certainly be severely injured; they can't possibly overcome a Quasi-Saint!"

"Do you think the Six-Eared Macaque, Dao Clan, and Peng Clan aren't formidable enough?" Hong Haiyun countered. "These three clans are immensely powerful and renowned in the Yang realm. If they truly combine their forces, I estimate there's a possibility of success, if only out of sheer emotion and support." Hong Haiyun surmised that the ambush planned by Mi Tian, Peng Wanli, and the others was merely a precursor. The true leverage would come from the powerful figures within their respective clans stepping forward to advocate for them.

Even if their ambush on the Quasi-Saint failed, it could be spun as an act of "blood courage," manipulated by influential elders to secure them a spot on that list. The outcome of the ambush was inconsequential; the act itself was enough. What truly mattered were the families backing them – this was Hong Haiyun's crucial insight.

"The crux isn't their individual strength," Hong Haiyun stressed, his gaze deep and knowing, "but the power of the families supporting them!" For his grandson, Hong Yu, this presented an invaluable opportunity: to supplant Cao De and claim that coveted spot. It was clear that Hong Haiyun was ruthless and cunning; he had already begun plotting to cripple or even permanently disable Cao De to secure the position for his grandson.

Hong Sheng frowned, asking again, "Even if I find a plausible reason to disable Cao De, would my brother truly be able to join them?"

Hong Haiyun replied, "Your brother is only marginally less capable than they are. With Cao De out of the picture, I'm confident Hong Yu's opportunity will arise!"

"Is Grandfather so certain that everything will proceed without a hitch?" Hong Sheng inquired.

Beside him, Hong Yu, slender with flowing black hair, watched with piercing, valiant eyes. He remained silent, intently absorbing the conversation between his brother and grandfather. The path his grandfather had paved for him was absolutely not to be missed. If he were fortunate enough to partake in the Dao-Melding Grass, his lifelong achievements would be significantly elevated. Everyone knew that the extraordinary Dao-Melding Grass, capable of seizing the very essence of heaven and earth, could elevate a mere Divine King aptitude into the potential of a Heavenly Venerate! It was a wondrous herb, capable of dictating an evolutionist's ultimate attainment and standing! Consequently, the major aristocratic families had shamelessly engaged in fierce disputes, even outright conflicts, all for the sake of their descendants.

"Big Brother," Hong Yu finally spoke, his eyes burning with fervent intensity and a hint of ruthlessness, "you absolutely must help me. Get rid of that Cao De, or cripple him. I cannot miss this chance. This is my guarantee for reaching a higher plane in the future; my ultimate achievements will be elevated by an entire level because of this!"

Hong Haiyun looked at Hong Sheng. "No one can guarantee everything will go smoothly," he said, "but it would be too regrettable not to seize this chance, especially when it's right before us. I genuinely hadn't expected Mi Tian, Peng Wanli, and those other scions to be quite so audacious!" When he had unexpectedly uncovered their plot, he had been profoundly shocked, marveling at the sheer audacity of these aristocratic scions who dared to ambush a Quasi-Saint. As one of the encampment's supervisors, and a powerful individual in his own right, he had been discreetly observing several troublesome youths. This allowed him to uncover clues and ultimately deduce their true intentions. Consequently, he decisively sought to integrate his grandson, Hong Yu, into that small collective. Unfortunately, despite several arranged encounters, Hong Yu had failed to be fully accepted by Mi Tian and the others; he had only managed to make them briefly hesitate. Now, with the emergence of a better candidate in Cao De, Hong Yu's chances of joining were even slimmer.

"Hmm," Hong Haiyun mused, "there are plenty of opportunities to eliminate him. After all, he's just a newcomer with no significant merits, so he won't have made any lasting impression on those above." Hong Haiyun, a faint smile playing on his lips, motioned for both grandsons to sit. He then instructed them to find a suitable opportunity to eliminate Cao De once they were on the battlefield. "The battlefield is constantly changing; no one knows what will happen," he explained. "For instance, a fierce beast from the enemy's Quasi-Saint realm might unexpectedly intrude into the Golden Body battlefield, go on a rampage, and slaughter Cao De. Of course, it would be preferable to arrange a more 'peaceful' accident, making it seem as if he accidentally died or was crippled." This old man, with his gray hair and sinister gaze, delivered his instructions to his grandsons with palpable malice. Should outsiders discover that this seemingly benevolent elder harbored such sinister intent, they would undoubtedly be horrified.

He informed his two grandsons that battle was imminent once more. At the opportune moment, he would ensure that Cao De's unit advanced along the flank, positioned right next to the Quasi-Saint battlefield. "I have prepared all the opportunities for you," he stated softly, concluding their conversation.

Chu Feng spent five or six days in the military camp, occasionally joining Mi Tian, Xiao Yao, and Peng Wanli for drinks, living a truly carefree existence. Many in the Golden Body encampment now knew that another troublemaker, a true devil incarnate, had arrived—one who could rival the Six-Eared Macaque and was not to be provoked!

"What? We're going to battle?" Chu Feng exclaimed in surprise that day. Upon hearing the news from Mi Tian, a peculiar expression crossed his face; he was finally going to the battlefield.

"Damn it!" the monkey fumed. He had been conserving his energy, simply waiting for his sister to bring someone back, before launching their planned ambush on the Quasi-Saint! But now, with battle imminent, they would have to delay their strike until they returned.

"Be careful," Peng Wanli cautioned. "This time, on the battlefield, you absolutely must not get injured. If you encounter a formidable opponent, retreat if possible, otherwise, it will jeopardize our grand scheme!" He knew that once the Six-Eared Macaque stepped onto the battlefield, his innate divine demon blood would flare, making him prone to berserker rages, often recklessly chasing and slaughtering enemies like a madman.

"Don't worry, I understand the gravity of the situation," Mi Tian replied, scratching his ears and head a little awkwardly.

Then, Peng Wanli, Xiao Yao, and Mi Tian began to brief Chu Feng on the most formidable adversaries on the battlefield, advising him to avoid them if encountered and not to fight to the death.

"The Exotic Wilderness Clan—these creatures are incredibly formidable, each one more difficult to kill and more ruthless than the last!" Xiao Yao explained. "For instance, this time we might encounter the Human King family of the Exotic Wilderness Clan. It's best to avoid them, as we cannot afford to be injured; there's no need for a life-or-death struggle." However, upon hearing this, Chu Feng's heart burned with excitement, his eyes gleaming. He inwardly vowed that if he encountered anyone from the Mo family, he would kill them all without mercy!

"As for the Buddha Clan, needless to say, they're one of the top five families. If you encounter a young bald disciple, be sure to avoid them. Don't be fooled by their radiant, serene smiles; those two Buddha Scions are more ruthless than anyone, always resorting to underhanded tactics!"

"And that white peacock," the monkey grumbled indignantly, "try to avoid it at all costs; it's extremely troublesome. Their clan once produced a white peacock who was the top Divine King, and after becoming a Heavenly Venerate, quickly ascended into the top dozen. Truly terrifying! Who knows if this new little peacock has mutated, getting albinism too!"

Peng Wanli chuckled, "You're being malicious. That's a unique mutation: snow-white feathers, surpassing its original bloodline, leading to a surge in power!"

"Oh, and there's a woman from the White Tiger Clan," Xiao Yao added. "If you see her, it's best to keep your distance. Though she appears astonishingly beautiful, capable of captivating entire nations, she is truly a tigress—terrifyingly formidable!"

"Moreover, that young man from the Li family is incredibly ruthless. If you can avoid him, don't engage in a deathmatch; he's truly formidable!" The Li family they referred to was, of course, one of the top five aristocratic clans, a supreme Dao lineage on par with the Ji family, the Heng clan, and others.

Chu Feng naturally couldn't help but recall Li Jiuxiao, who ranked among the top ten Divine Kings. In the desolate borderlands, he had once caused a rain that lasted a season, drenching Li Jiuxiao with child's urine. He wondered if they would cross paths on this battlefield. Simultaneously, he thought of Ji Caixuan, the young woman from the Ji family, also one of the top ten Divine Kings, whom Li Jiuxiao had pursued for many years.

"Oh, and pay extra attention to anyone from the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan," the monkey warned seriously. "One mistake and you'll fall into their trap, completely losing yourself!" The other two nodded gravely in agreement, recalling how they had both nearly suffered great losses in the past. They stressed that the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Clan had produced an exceptional master. They even suspected that peerless beauty might have mutated, developing a tenth tail!

"A woman?" Chu Feng asked, surprised that she could inspire such caution in all three of them.

"Yes," Peng Wanli confirmed, "a snow-white Heavenly Fox. It's truly possible she's grown ten tails, enchanting the world and captivating all beings. At that time, Mi Tian was so utterly bewitched that he nearly defected on the battlefield. Had he not been too severely injured and knocked unconscious, he likely would have turned on us!"

Mi Tian, mortified, retorted, "You're talking about me, but didn't you two also fall for it? The pot shouldn't call the kettle black; we were all affected the same way!"

"There's no need to worry too much," Xiao Yao added. "That Heavenly Fox is indeed formidable, but she doesn't easily reveal herself. Just be cautious, and you won't invite a deadly encounter."

Chu Feng was profoundly surprised. Could a Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox truly be that terrifying? At the same time, he fell into a reverie, thinking of an old acquaintance, the Stone Fox Heavenly Venerate. He wondered what had become of the Stone Fox, who had traveled from another realm to Earth. The lame Stone Fox had once told Chu Feng to look after his kin should they ever meet in the future. More importantly, the lame Stone Fox Heavenly Venerate had divulged several hidden treasure locations to Chu Feng—treasures that even his own master sought. The Stone Fox Heavenly Venerate had a tragic fate: his master, unable to tolerate him, had cursed him, petrifying his entire body and exiling him to another realm to slowly perish.

"Although the memories are hazy," Chu Feng mused, "I still know those treasure locations; I haven't forgotten them." He decided that when the opportunity arose, he would definitely unearth them. However, he was in no rush. Since these were treasures buried by the Stone Fox Heavenly Venerate himself, they were undoubtedly perilous. Even if he knew the way and how to access those areas, he needed to exercise extreme caution and, ideally, possess sufficient personal strength.

"Cao, what are you thinking about? Why are you spacing out?" the monkey teased, "Don't tell me you're trying to flirt with that ten-tailed Heavenly Fox girl? I advise you to give up on that idea; your cultivation isn't high enough, and you'll definitely get yourself into trouble!"

Chu Feng snapped out of his trance, noticing the monkey watching him with a sly, sidelong glance. "What nonsense are you spouting?!" Chu Feng retorted, glaring.

"We're warning you, teaching you how to survive on the battlefield," Mi Tian continued. "Don't just charge headlong into battle against every opponent you encounter; that's a quick way to meet your end."

"For instance, there are the Bodhi Buddha Clan and the Immortal Heng Clan, both from the Exotic Wilderness lineage. These are legendary beings. The original Buddha Clan and Heng Clan were already terrifyingly powerful, so just imagining creatures that transcend even them is enough to send shivers down your spine."

"Don't worry, though; the Bodhi Buddha Clan and the Immortal Heng Clan, those two Exotic Wilderness clans, should have been extinct since prehistoric times. It's impossible for their members to reappear. Otherwise, if you ever saw them, you should run for your life to avoid fighting to the death only to fail to even scratch them."

Chu Feng gained valuable insight, now understanding which clans on the battlefield were formidable adversaries and best avoided.

"By the way," Chu Feng asked finally, still feeling a little uneasy, "no one from our own side would shoot us in the back, would they?"

"Generally, no," Peng Wanli replied, glancing at the monkey. "After all, the All-Heaven Mirror monitors everything on the battlefield. Anyone who dares to do that will face severe punishment, serving as a warning to others!"

"What kind of talk is that?" the Six-Eared Macaque retorted, glaring.

Hearing this, Chu Feng immediately felt insecure and emphatically demanded various life-saving artifacts from them, leaving the others speechless. They thought, "Is he really worried about such a thing?" "You all said it generally wouldn't happen," Chu Feng argued, "but what if some short-sighted fool tries it? By the way, give me a powerful killing artifact. If anyone provokes me then, don't blame me for turning around and unleashing havoc!" The Six-Eared Macaque, Peng Clan, and Dao Clan were all powerful and renowned clans in the Yang realm. Chu Feng was certain they possessed forbidden artifacts, and seizing this opportunity to acquire one would be a definite gain!

"Whoosh..."

In the distance, a low horn blared, like the muffled roar of a celestial dragon, summoning them to the battlefield.

"Cao, what are you thinking about?" Mi Tian asked. The others noticed that even at such a critical juncture, Cao De was still lost in thought, pondering something unknown.

"I'm wondering what would happen if I accidentally killed someone from the Human King family," Chu Feng replied.

"Don't kill them; that's too much trouble," Xiao Yao advised. "Capture them instead and demand a ransom; it's guaranteed to be a profitable venture!"

"Kill the men, but capture the women," the monkey proposed, scratching his head. "Keep them as female slaves by your side. Is there a better way to demonstrate one's status?"

"What you all said makes perfect sense!" Chu Feng nodded.