Chapter 291: Chapter 237: The Dagger Appears at the End of the Road! [4th Update!]
The Three-layered Heaven Demon King leads the charge, with fourteen other Demon Kings under his command. Dealing with one Golden Lotus Demon King should be no issue.
"Understood."
The Tornado Demon King saw no way to escape and had to agree.
After giving instructions to the Tornado Demon King, Chen Jichuan turned to Shuiqing Demon King and said, "Brother Shuiqing, please lead twelve water element Demon Kings to attack the East River Water Mansion."
"I shall follow the order,"
Shuiqing Demon King nodded in acceptance.
"Good!"
"There’s no time to waste; speed is crucial in warfare. Everyone, return at once to prepare. Set out in three days and aim to clear the area within a month!"
Chen Jichuan commanded all the Demon Kings to retreat.
After everyone had left, he kept the Wind-Riding Demon King behind.
...
"Wind-Riding, what do you think of our alliance’s chances of victory in this campaign?"
Chen Jichuan beckoned Wind-Riding Demon King closer, smiling as he asked, his tone devoid of the previous sternness.
"Thank you, Alliance Hierarch."
Wind-Riding Demon King’s mind churned.
He knew he wasn’t very familiar with this Alliance Hierarch, far less so than Zi Han Demon King, the first to pledge loyalty. Now that Chen Jichuan had kept him behind alone, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Hearing Chen Jichuan’s question, Wind-Riding Demon King suppressed his doubts and responded with a smile, "Alliance Hierarch’s meticulous planning ensures the odds are in our favor. The two targeted locations rely on either advantageous terrain or a solid water force. An individual Demon King, even the likes of Tornado Demon King or Shuiqing Demon King, may struggle against them. However, with our alliance mobilizing its full strength, these battles should be swift and decisive."
Wind-Riding Demon King exuded confidence regarding the alliance’s dual-front warfare.
"I like hearing such words, Wind-Riding."
Chen Jichuan seemed to be influenced by his optimism, his mood visibly lifted.
He chatted further with Wind-Riding Demon King about alliance governance and operational details.
When Wind-Riding Demon King began showing signs of impatience, Chen Jichuan casually shifted the subject and asked, seemingly offhandedly, "I heard that Fuling Demon King used to maintain close ties with several others, particularly with Gu’en of the Starfire Plain. Do you happen to know more about Gu’en’s background and what he thinks of our alliance these days?"
"So, that’s the real reason!"
Wind-Riding Demon King’s spirit was invigorated, and he mentally echoed that the real topic had finally emerged, spurring his thoughts further.
Over the past month,
The alliance had consolidated and expanded, its influence spreading far and wide. However, its members, predominantly Demon Kings, had made no moves to recruit from the pantheon of Barbarian God worshipers.
The lack of initiative in this regard was intriguing.
Wind-Riding Demon King had his suspicions. Gu’en had even sent emissaries inquiring about this matter, seemingly frightened, yet excluded from the alliance’s inner workings—a situation unsettling to all parties involved.
After weighing his thoughts, Wind-Riding Demon King finally replied, "Alliance Hierarch, I do have minor relations with Gu’en but not much interaction. Gu’en has a peculiar path, occupying the plains and gathering a crowd to sing constant praises to him. Frankly, watching him from the sidelines is enough to make me feel embarrassed. That said, his methods are undeniably enigmatic, especially his Fire Control talents, unmatched within the alliance’s territory."
"What about his origins?"
"Does he have any stronger gods backing him?"
Chen Jichuan continued probing.
"I’ve never heard of such connections."
"We reside in the inland, the most desolate region. Top-notch Demon Kings and gods tend to converge on the edges of the continent, making interactions with us unlikely."
"Moreover, if Gu’en had such backing, there would be no reason for him to deliberately ally with us."
Wind-Riding Demon King shook his head but felt a chill within.
Chen Jichuan had pressed to such an extent that it was impossible for Wind-Riding Demon King to remain unaware of the Alliance Hierarch’s stance toward figures like Gu’en.
"Alliance Hierarch, are you planning to deal with Gu’en?"
Wind-Riding Demon King asked directly.
"Correct."
"I observe that these Barbarian Gods harbor ambitious intentions, commanding numerous Barbarians, including skilled individuals. Should they consolidate power and enforce their worship upon us, I could never yield."
Chen Jichuan’s face revealed a look of disdain.
"This—"
Wind-Riding Demon King discerned the underlying excuse but remained baffled by Chen Jichuan’s intense aversion toward these Barbarian Gods.
As thoughts swirled through his mind,
Chen Jichuan lowered his voice again and said, "You may not know, Wind-Riding, but these Evil Gods possess treasures of extraordinary value. Divine Bodies, Divine Power, Divinity, and Divine Fire are unparalleled resources for cultivation. Take, for instance, the Wind Element Evil Gods—they carry Wind Element Divinity. Properly studied, this could significantly enhance your cultivation. Divine Fire, too, is a supreme resource for refining the body and Qi-Blood."
Chen Jichuan carefully explained the benefits of Divinity, Divine Fire, and similar treasures to Wind-Riding Demon King.
"Is that so?!"
Wind-Riding Demon King was genuinely stunned.
He had no idea that figures like Gu’en harbored such treasures. If what the Alliance Hierarch said was true, then the Divinity and Divine Fire were immensely beneficial for continued cultivation, promising rapid breakthroughs!
"No wonder!"
It hit him at last—Wind-Riding Demon King finally understood why the Alliance Hierarch was so fixated on the Evil Gods.
It all boiled down to profit.
Wind-Riding Demon King and the Demon Kings squabbled for wealth, which ultimately served their paths to cultivation.
"Alliance Hierarch—"
Ambition gleamed in Wind-Riding Demon King’s eyes.
The truth of the claims needed no affirmation; the moment an Evil God was slain, the validity of the treasures would become evident.
Yet, while the opportunity was enticing, it was fraught with peril: "I heard the Evil Gods are formidable. Though they’ve only emerged in the Barbaric Wilderness for nearly a millennium, they’ve already taken over the majority of the region. Even here, in our inland depths, traces of them appear—clear evidence of their strength. Killing one or two Evil Gods may be manageable, but if it escalates, their collective retaliation could spell catastrophic disaster. The vast Barbaric Wilderness wouldn’t hold a place to hide."
Wind-Riding Demon King’s voice carried obvious trepidation.
He then contemplated further.
The countless Demon Kings in the Barbaric Wilderness had seemingly failed to disseminate information on Divinity or Divine Fire. Partly because the Evil Gods were relatively new in emergence, and partly because any informed individual was swiftly eradicated.
These thoughts made Wind-Riding Demon King hesitate.
"What’s there to fear?"
"The Demon Kings in the Barbaric Wilderness are numerous. Although not as unified as the Evil Gods, we are evenly matched in this inland region. If we act under legitimate pretext, we won’t garner much attention initially. After a century or two, when both your and my power have grown immensely, what need would there be for fear of the Evil Gods?"
Chen Jichuan’s voice carried an irresistible allure.
Wind-Riding Demon King couldn’t deny his growing intrigue—he was tempted.
"Alliance Hierarch, give me your command. What is it you need me to do?"
Wind-Riding Demon King gritted his teeth, inwardly shouting ’Let’s do it!’ as he looked up at Chen Jichuan with resolute eyes.
"Excellent!"
Chen Jichuan had been waiting for this moment.
These Immortal Cultivators had entered the caves from the Slaughter Ring Sea, venturing into what the Demon Kings referred to as the ’Barbaric Wilderness.’ Their aim wasn’t simply Spirit Mountain treasure lands like Wuling Mountain.
The true target lay in the Evil Gods.
On one hand, greed motivated their actions. Treasures like Divine Bodies, Divinity, Divine Fire, and Divine Status were extraordinarily enticing to Immortal Cultivators, inciting fervor.
On the other hand, an irreconcilable conflict brewed between the two sides.
The Evil Gods depended on faith, adept at manipulating hearts, completely at odds with the Immortal Dao system. Currently, interactions remained confined to the caves. Should the two fully engage, inevitable clashes would ensue, resulting in mortal combat for control.
Immortal Cultivators were greedy.
The Evil Gods likewise coveted Immortal Cultivators—for their purified mana and robust Divine Souls. Should they manage to convert them into followers, the enhancement to their own power would drive them to madness.
Thus,
Steadying footholds in the caves was the first step, hunting Evil Gods the second.
As for figures like Wind-Riding and Zi Han Demon Kings, while not sharing the same creed, they were indispensable for now. Even if paths diverged someday, that would come only after the Evil Gods were dealt with.
Chen Jichuan had long planned for this.
Now that Wind-Riding Demon King had finally joined his cause, Chen Jichuan further lowered his voice and said, "I hope you can privately connect with Gu’en and other Evil Gods, inciting them to attack our Wuling Mountain Alliance..."
...
In the third month of the Wuling Mountain Alliance’s establishment, the fourth month of Chen Jichuan’s leadership over Wuling Mountain, and the seventh month since entering the caves and the Barbaric Wilderness,
The long-awaited True Person Jiulong finally arrived.
"Dai Zong greets Senior Jiulong."
Chen Jichuan’s face lit up with joy as he warmly welcomed True Person Jiulong into Fuling Cave.
"I heard of your ’Wuling Mountain Alliance’ during my journey."
"Impressive."
"You’ve made such remarkable progress in less than a year of entry. When I return to the sect, I’ll surely recommend commendation for you!"
Within Fuling Cave, host and guest sat and conversed as True Person Jiulong regarded Chen Jichuan with repeated praise.
In recent days, Jiulong and other Formation Masters of the Six Sects had jointly fortified the entrances to the caves, tirelessly working to set up arrays for the bases occupied by Dharma Protecting Elders like Chen Jichuan.
Chen Jichuan received the second round of attention.
Before him, Jiulong had gone to work for another Elder, Sima Han. Jiulong’s long-standing camaraderie with Sima Han’s father, Sima Kang, inclined him to favor Sima Han more.
After aiding Sima Han, Jiulong headed straight for Wuling Mountain.
Although unrelated personally, Jiulong aimed to promote Chen Jichuan—an up-and-coming talent within the Heaven Mending Sect—and forge ties beneficial for future reciprocity, akin to his relationship with Sima Han’s family.
"I dare not accept such high praise from Senior."
Chen Jichuan humbly declined.
Nonetheless, he knew Jiulong didn’t arrive alone; accompanying him were representatives from the Examination Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, and Danyi Hall.
The Examination Hall oversaw evaluations and rewards.
Given Chen Jichuan’s monumental achievements in Wuling Mountain, recognition from the sect was inevitable.
Chen Jichuan cared little for those accolades but valued Jiulong’s insight due to his prominent position and wealth of intelligence. "Senior, may I ask, how much does the sect know about the Barbaric Wilderness’s current dynamics? How are the other sects and various forces progressing?"
"The Barbaric Wilderness situation—"
True Person Jiulong sighed and answered, "The Evil Gods entered this realm nearly a millennium ahead of us. In that time, they’ve systematically decimated the Barbaric Wilderness Demon Kings, solidifying their dominance and claiming a majority of the region. The Demon Kings remain fractured and disorganized, unable to mount effective resistance. The Seven Sects are deliberating whether to allocate more personnel to confront these Evil Gods or prioritize securing the two caves where their presence is yet minimal."
Over the last thirty years,
The Seven Immortal Sects have uncovered seven second-order caves, with Chen Jichuan’s occupying one among them.
The caves mirror the Barbaric Wilderness, vast in scale. Even the combined efforts of the Seven Sects cannot swiftly conquer all seven caves, necessitating a focused strategy.
Of the seven discovered caves, three—including Chen Jichuan’s—are heavily dominated by the Evil Gods.
Two remain newly explored, with initial control established.
The remaining two enjoy early advantages by Immortal Dao forces, devoid of signs of Evil Gods thus far.
Currently, mainstream opinion within the Seven Sects advocates focusing on developing the two uncontested caves, securing footholds while avoiding direct confrontation with the Evil Gods.
If such decisions are finalized,
Support for Chen Jichuan and those in similar circumstances will inevitably dwindle.
...