Chapter 589: Pull Aggro

At the exit of the Ancient Fortune Realm, a standoff formed between two sides.

"Clan Leader Jiang," the leader of the Nine-Infant Clan said coldly, his gaze like a venomous snake, "I advise you, surrendering now is the wisest course of action. Your Phoenix Clan has gone too far. Not only did your Phoenix Clan send three people into the realm this time, but two of them received rewards on the third level, and one person hasn't even reappeared!"

All the demon elders present had previously entered the Ancient Fortune Realm and knew it was divided into three levels. Only by passing the first level could one obtain the most basic rewards. The prodigious talents of the Demon Clan Alliance failed to even clear the first level and were eliminated. Ao Yue and others were defeated on the second level, receiving only the most basic rewards. Meng Jingzhou, Jiang Shishi, and Su Lian'er obtained rewards from the third level.

If it were just that, it would have been acceptable, as there had always been demon prodigies who received third-level rewards throughout history. The real issue was that someone hadn't left the mystic realm, which was unprecedented! The Ancient Fortune Realm was shrouded in mystery, and the third-level rewards were bountiful enough to make even those at the Integration Stage envious. So, what kind of reward would someone receive for remaining in the mystic realm?

The Nine-Infant Clan was suspected of being the patron of the Demonic Sound Heavenly Maiden, and their young master had also tricked a group of demon prodigies from the Demon Clan Alliance in the ancient realm. The Nine-Infant Clan was resented by many demon clans and desperately needed to divert their attention. The Phoenix Clan was the perfect target! To that end, the Nine-Infant Clan had even invited their clan leader to exert pressure.

"If your Phoenix Clan is willing to pledge allegiance to the Demon Kingdom," the Nine-Infant Clan leader's eyes darkened, revealing his true motive for this trip, "this matter can be overlooked!" The Phoenix Clan was already within the Demon Clan Alliance's scope of suppression and assimilation, but unfortunately, the Phoenix Clan's foundation was too deep, and Ancient Emperor Jiang dared not act rashly. This was a perfect opportunity to use the Demon Clan Alliance's pressure to absorb the Phoenix Clan! This would be a great achievement!

"'Overlooked'? What audacity!" The Phoenix Clan leader sneered repeatedly; the Nine-Infant Clan leader's intentions were clear at a glance. The Phoenix Clan leader, Jiang Xi, was a graceful and charming beauty. Dressed in a phoenix robe, she exuded nobility and bore a slight resemblance to Jiang Shishi. The Phoenix Clan was a matriarchal society, predominantly composed of powerful females. By tradition, the clan leader was always a woman.

"Your clan's talents were simply inferior; why blame my Phoenix Clan for that?" Without the help of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou in the first stage, and the inspiration their actions provided, how could Jiang Shishi have cleared the second level or obtained the Phoenix Visualization Diagram? This was a visualization treasure left by an ancient ancestor. Jiang Shishi was already exceptionally talented, and with the aid of this visualization treasure, she was guaranteed to reach the Tribulation Transcendence Stage. Based solely on this, their Phoenix Clan was determined to protect those two!

Originally, the conflict stemmed from the Nine-Infant Clan elders, in conjunction with the Demon Clan Alliance, pressuring the Phoenix Clan. The Phoenix Clan, with their Dragon Clan allies and various other clans who had received Lu Yang's help in the mystic realm, did not fear the Demon Clan Alliance. Seeing this, the Nine-Infant Clan called their clan leader, and the Phoenix Clan, not to be outdone, also summoned theirs. As events escalated, clan leaders from all major clans had arrived, lending their support to their respective peoples.

"What's wrong with Junior Brother Lu? He hasn't come out in three days?" Third Senior Sister quietly asked Meng Jingzhou. If anything had happened to Junior Brother Lu in the mystic realm, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life.

Meng Jingzhou gave a helpless smile. "Senior Sister, putting aside the mystic realm's rule against revealing its secrets, which means I can't speak, even if I could, I genuinely have no idea what that rascal Lu Yang is up to in there. You don't need to worry about him, Senior Sister. From what I know of him, he should be safe in the mystic realm, perhaps even more comfortable than we are out here." Meng Jingzhou knew best what trump cards that rascal Lu Yang possessed: internal protection from an ancient immortal, external summoning of Senior Sister using Elephant Form Fist. Cultivating both internally and externally, what could possibly go wrong?

"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!" The Nine-Infant Clan leader's face turned fierce. Most of the demon clans had already joined the Demon Kingdom, and Ancient Emperor Jiang's unification of the Demon Domain was a foregone conclusion. The Dragon and Phoenix Clans couldn't see the bigger picture and still dared to resist fiercely. He had kindly advised them to join the Demon Kingdom early, only to be treated like this. They truly didn't know how to spell "death"!

"Haha, what a lively scene here?" Hearty laughter echoed from the sky as forces from outside the Demon Domain arrived! "Isn't that the Nine-Headed Serpent? I had you locked up in a mystic realm for five years, remember? We haven't seen each other in over a thousand years, have we? And you, from the Taotie Clan, what was your name again? Remember me? I even beat you up!"

Meng Jingzhou found the voice familiar. He looked up: Master. Third Elder sat atop a cloud, gleefully recounting embarrassing stories about the Nine-Infant Clan leader and other demons. Besides Third Elder, First Elder, Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder, and Seventh Elder were also present. More than half of the Elders from the Dao Seeking Sect had arrived at the Ancient Fortune Realm.

"They're finally here," Third Senior Sister sighed in relief. Seeing the situation escalating, she had contacted First Senior Sister to ask for advice. First Senior Sister's reply was simple: "I'll send people to draw attention." As the establishment of the Demon Kingdom was imminent, major cultivation world powers were sending representatives, and the Dao Seeking Sect was no exception. First Senior Sister had instructed the Elders who were going to observe the Demon Kingdom's founding ceremony to help Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

"It's the Dao Seeking Sect!" Upon seeing these familiar faces, the Nine-Infant Clan leader's rage soared, his face contorted, and with a bang, he transformed into his true Nine-Infant form: a body comprised of nine sky-devouring pythons. The events of a thousand years ago were still fresh in his memory. If not for these fellows, he wouldn't have been imprisoned in a mystic realm for five long years! He had nearly delayed his cultivation!

The Taotie Clan leader was equally furious. A thousand years ago, he was full of youthful vigor, a talent pursued by everyone in the Taotie Clan. At the peak of his fame, those fellows from the Dao Seeking Sect had privately challenged him to a duel. If those Dao Seeking Sect fellows had won using schemes, it would have been one thing. But that time was a fair contest, and he was simply inferior, losing to Dao Seeking Sect's Third Elder in a physical and strength competition! He considered this incident a profound humiliation and had told no one. He had wallowed in despair over it for a long time. Now, Dao Seeking Sect's Third Elder had brought it up and revealed it publicly. How could he possibly endure it!

It wasn't just these two clans; even the usually good-natured Jade Rabbit Clan showed hostility upon seeing the Dao Seeking Sect Elders.

"It's the Dao Seeking Sect! Everyone, attack!" The demons, temporarily enraged by the Dao Seeking Sect revealing their embarrassing stories one after another, cast aside all pretense of decorum and disregard for the Demon Clan Alliance. They simply wanted to swarm them and capture them! The great demons revealed their true forms one after another. For a moment, a chaotic dance of monsters ensued, demon qi soaring to the sky.

Seeing their objective achieved, First Elder quickly pulled everyone and ran. "If you have the guts, stand still!" The Nine-Infant Clan leader frantically chased behind them. But why would First Elder listen to the Nine-Infant Clan leader's nonsense? He soared through the clouds, fleeing at top speed!

The lively Ancient Fortune Realm instantly became deserted, leaving only Third Senior Sister and Meng Jingzhou staring at each other. Even the Phoenix Clan had joined the chase. Although the Phoenix Clan held no deep grudge against the Dao Seeking Sect, not joining the pursuit at that moment would have seemed out of place.

Meng Jingzhou's mouth twitched. Luckily, he had maintained a low profile in the Demon Domain and hadn't revealed his identity as a Dao Seeking Sect disciple. What a mess it would be if he had!

"Haha, I'm out!" The exit of the Ancient Fortune Realm opened, and Lu Yang hopped out, expecting a welcoming crowd. "Where is everyone?"