Chapter 1275: That Day's Decision

Outside the First Mountain, many felt a profound sense of having narrowly escaped death, letting out a long breath, grateful that their legs hadn't been gnawed off.

Of course, Kunlong, Divine King Chifeng, and god-level evolver Yuntu were exceptions; their moods were utterly terrible. Waves of lingering fear washed over them, their only consolation being that their lives were spared.

What made Chifeng's vision go dark, however, was that his attempts to regenerate his severed legs were utterly futile. Once severed, they remained severed; they wouldn't grow back.

Kunlong's situation was understandable; even as a Saint, he couldn't leave the ground in the Yang Realm, and thus naturally lacked the ability to regenerate severed limbs unless rare grand medicines were used.

But Chifeng was a Divine King, powerful enough to do so, yet now he was utterly powerless. This terrified him, and he was subsequently overwhelmed with despair, nearly fainting.

Would he have to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair? Such a scenario was simply unimaginable and truly terrified him. He was a Divine King, yet he couldn't regrow his legs.

In fact, it wasn't just him; even the Old Ancestor of the Twelve-Winged Silver Dragon clan, a true Dragon Heavenly Venerate, had turned pale at this moment. He stood on his one remaining leg, desperately trying to reconstruct the severed one, but he too failed!

A majestic Heavenly Venerate, who once looked down on the world, was actually going to become a lame Heavenly Dragon? No, a legless Heavenly Dragon!

At this moment, the Silver Dragon clan's Old Ancestor was truly seeing stars and about to faint. Was his millennia-long reputation about to collapse?

Since becoming a Heavenly Venerate, he had intimidated various races for tens of thousands of years.

Now, in his later years, he couldn't even keep his limbs intact and was to become a disabled dragon?

When Kunlong, Yuntu, and Chifeng saw the Silver Dragon Old Ancestor in such a state, they immediately felt as if the sky was falling and the earth was collapsing. They were still young, with long lives ahead of them. Would they all have to spend the rest of their lives in wheelchairs?!

They had never seen such powerful beings. At a certain level, they could all regenerate severed limbs. Would they now be ridiculed for the rest of their lives, forced to travel in wheelchairs?

At this point, they all realized that Number Nine was too powerful. Although the wounds he inflicted no longer pained them, an inexplicable Dao resonance lingered, preventing tissue regeneration!

Even the Silver Dragon Heavenly Venerate couldn't overcome it, leaving the others in despair. They estimated there was no cure!

At this moment, Chu Feng's expression was rather solemn. He stood within Number Nine's domain, very close by, discussing matters concerning the three-way battlefield with him.

Chu Feng had mentioned the Martial Maniac, a matter he couldn't conceal from Number Nine. He also wasn't sure if Number Nine could stop that martial arts fanatic.

After all, the Martial Maniac was terrifying. He overshadowed the world and shook the past and present, having practically become an insurmountable mountain in the Yang Realm. He was a monument in the evolutionary field that couldn't be bypassed, standing there, capable of shaking ancient and modern times.

Within Number Nine's domain, all laws were nullified. Even people nearby couldn't clearly see the two of them; everything was blurry, and their conversation was inaudible.

"The Martial Maniac sounds familiar, like a tricky creature," Number Nine muttered to himself.

Without a doubt, his state fluctuated. Sometimes he remembered past events with perfect clarity, major events without ambiguity, while at other times he would frequently lose focus.

"Ah, I remember now," Number Nine said. "Last time you mentioned a type of maniacal demon that gathers in groups. The young ones are called Grand Martial, the mature ones are called Demonic Martial, and the old ones are called Martial Maniacs. You said they were quite delicious."

Number Nine recalled Chu Feng and Old Gu's misleading words from last time.

Chu Feng's face immediately turned green. When he had uttered those words, he had paid a bloody price. Number Nine had directly placed a blood curse on him, demanding that he, at the very least, capture a young maniacal demon—a Grand Martial—in the future and deliver it as "blood food" to the First Mountain, or the blood curse would remain.

That time, Chu Feng had literally shot himself in the foot. He didn't know if Number Nine had done it on purpose or by accident.

"No matter, let's go take a look at that battlefield," Number Nine said.

Finally, he showed a strange expression, his eyes glowing with a faint green light. He scrutinized Chu Feng, then looked at the First Mountain behind him.

"If I leave, it wouldn't be good for this place to be unguarded," Number Nine said. "How about... you enter the First Mountain and guard the rift deep within that crimson plateau for me?"

Chu Feng was stunned upon hearing this. What was happening? Was he going to be left behind? This was not what he had expected!

"Although your body has flaws at this level and isn't robust enough, it's passable and can be reshaped. Lend it to me," Number Nine said.

Chu Feng was truly shocked to hear this.

He was a Great Saint, hailed as a mythical creature, yet in Number Nine's eyes, he was found wanting, still possessing some flaws!?

What was more, Number Nine wasn't looking down from a higher perspective, but merely discussing Chu Feng's current realm. In the Saint realm, he couldn't even be considered perfected?

Chu Feng was a bit unconvinced. He believed he had taken the strongest path and was already quite transcendent. At the very least, he had slaughtered other Great Saints, achieving brilliant feats.

"I will occupy your body and, in this lifetime, walk among mortals for you," Number Nine asked. "I will cultivate this flawed body to perfection. What do you think?"

He spoke very calmly, as if stating something insignificant.

Moreover, he added, "Your soul light can enter my body and guard the crimson plateau."

Upon hearing these words, Chu Feng's heart truly turned cold, and a chill ran from head to toe. After all that talk, Number Nine intended to... seize his body? To replace him!

It sounded good, walking among mortals for him in this lifetime, but wouldn't that just be a different person entirely? This was truly terrifying; he would be imprisoned within the First Mountain.

Chu Feng's hair stood on end, and he recoiled backward. But within the other party's domain, where could he retreat? He was restrained!

It was hard to imagine Number Nine replacing him and appearing in the mortal world, interacting with his relatives, old friends, and close confidantes. That was truly chilling.

Even if Number Nine took over his body and one day became invincible in the world, what then? That wouldn't be him anymore.

Why? How did the situation suddenly change to this extent? Chu Feng's mind could not calm down!

"Senior, don't you just want to return to the Yang Realm?" Chu Feng pleaded. "Why use someone else's body? It's not worth it. True life experiences and insights must be gained through one's own practice."

Chu Feng vehemently tried to dissuade him. If that truly happened, he would rather die.

"I want to try starting anew," Number Nine said calmly. "You don't need to worry. If this body has descendants, they would still be considered your offspring; the genetic attributes won't change."

Chu Feng's face turned green instantly upon hearing this. Number Nine's way of thinking was so different from ordinary people, making it both horrifying and terrifying.

"Some so-called Sons of Fortune, after dying unexpectedly and reappearing in another realm through body possession, are actually quite pathetic," Number Nine continued. "Can the bloodline born thereafter still be considered their own offspring?"

Number Nine said, completely serious.

Chu Feng felt that no one could be more pathetic than him in this situation. He would rather die than be replaced, leaving only his physical body to walk among mortals and sire so-called descendants.

"Senior, stop talking," Chu Feng said. "I'd rather commit suicide and die cleanly!" He secretly prepared to summon the Reincarnation Earth and the small wooden spear for a sudden attack.

However, he had no confidence, because Number Nine was unfathomable.

If all nine (Number One through Number Nine) were the same person, constantly transforming and perfecting themselves through the ages, then it was estimated that few in the world could kill him.

After all, with continuous evolution and self-optimization, Heaven knew what level of strength the nine-generational body had reached.

At this moment, Chu Feng was filled with bitter resentment, wanting to fight to the death!

However, at the last moment, he changed his mind, suddenly showing a strange expression and proactively saying, "Alright, I've thought it through. We can switch bodies!"

"Why did you change your mind?" Number Nine asked.

"Life is just an experience; living wonderfully is enough," Chu Feng replied. "What I pursue is evolution and the exploration of the unknown. I want to take over your body, Senior, holding the great banner on the crimson plateau. I want to enter that smooth, huge rift to see what's inside, to see if I can swim to the other side and struggle for a bit."

Number Nine's face twitched. He was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Your heart and Li's are equally dark."

"What's happening?" Chu Feng was startled.

Number Nine said, "Back when Li tricked Number Four out of the mountain, he also encountered this situation. Number Four wanted to replace him and walk among mortals for him. Li, however, was overjoyed, clamoring and urging them to switch bodies quickly so he could go explore the true meaning of life on the other side of the great rift."

Chu Feng was speechless.

He had been cornered and had intentionally resorted to threats and intimidation, preparing to go all out.

He never imagined that Li would instinctively react this way. Truly worthy of being a prehistoric mastermind.

Then, Chu Feng came to his senses. Number Nine was merely recounting an old event, not truly attempting to seize his body; it was a kind of test.

He really wanted to swear.

Is this how things are done? It's too terrifying!

A creature like Number Nine usually seemed lifeless, with green, glowing eyes, salivating at living creatures, and was extremely solemn and terrifying.

Who would believe he would suddenly lose his mind and torment someone like this?

"You should ponder this question more," Number Nine said. "Many years from now, if you encounter a similar choice, you must weigh your options carefully."

"What do you mean?" Chu Feng immediately became serious. What did Number Nine mean by this? Was he warning or hinting at something?

Number Nine said, "Many years after leaving this place, Li stood at a certain crossroads and made a choice. Because of that, he disappeared."

Chu Feng's hair stood on end. Number Nine wasn't just speaking casually; it seemed to involve an astonishing secret about the prehistoric mastermind's death or disappearance.

Where did Li go?!

Unfortunately, Number Nine didn't say more and stopped talking. He merely sighed.

For some reason, Chu Feng was covered in chilling goosebumps. After reaching Li's level of power, could one still encounter strange crossroads of fate?

He had heard Old Gu say that back then, Li was about to conquer the Great Underworld but suddenly died and was never seen again in the Yang Realm.

Was there another hidden truth to this? Even Old Gu didn't know!

"Is the physical body important?" Number Nine asked Chu Feng one last question.

"Important, it exists with the soul!" Chu Feng answered very solemnly and seriously.

Number Nine nodded, retracted his domain, and looked toward the three-way battlefield.

"Let's go!" he said.

Boom!

A dazzling silver light burst forth from beneath his feet, then shot straight to the edge of the sky. Everyone was astonished to find that they, including the Heavenly Venerates, were now elevated and began to traverse the sky, approaching the three-way battlefield.

At this moment, someone from the Martial Maniac's lineage had already descended upon the Yong Province camp, standing high above.

"Where is Cao De?!"

His voice was cold, shaking the entire camp.

He was questioning the people of the Yong Province camp with a haughty demeanor, as if detached from the mortal world, looking down upon humanity.