Chapter 267: A Fifteen-Year-Old Bride? Adding Insult to Injury!
With his thoughts recollected, Meng Changqing began merging with his second technique:
Supreme Commanding Demon Technique (Middle Volume)!
He consumed another acquisition card, and the integration began!
“Dominion!”
“Dominion!!”
“Dominion!!!”
An imposing voice echoed in his mind, like that of a supreme demon emperor seated above the heavens.
The voice resonated like thunder, reverberating across the world. Below, countless demons prostrated in submission, trembling in fear!
After an hour, the merging process was complete.
From now on, Meng Changqing could refine Tier-7 demons to enhance various aspects of his strength.
Whether it was Heavenly Demon Qi or Blood Demon Crystals, they would now provide immense benefits to him.
Additionally, he gained several secret arts for controlling demons, turning captives into loyal demon slaves!
“I need to find a Heavenly Demon Abyss or Earthly Demon Abyss,” Meng Changqing thought to himself.
As cultivation progressed, it became clear that solely raising one’s realm wouldn’t suffice.
Other aspects, like mental fortitude, couldn’t be neglected either.
For instance, without a strong enough mental will, even at the ninth level of the Marquis Realm, it would be impossible to control too many heavenly laws.
Even the Body of Truth would become mired in difficulty.
For warriors, mental willpower was akin to a helmsman, guiding and controlling the entirety of their power.
“Enhancement complete.”
Meng Changqing was quite satisfied. This wave of merging had brought yet another significant boost to his strength.
“Next step: challenging Heavenly Ranking warriors,” he murmured softly.
The Heavenly Rankings were divided into two sections:
The Marquis Rank, comprising the bottom 70 spots.
The Royal Path Rank, comprising the top 30 spots.
There were only 100 positions in total.
Once ranked, warriors gained substantial benefits, receiving vast resources every year, resources crucial to advancing in the Marquis Realm.
In a world where resources were scarce, even the most powerful factions had to prioritize whom to nurture.
This made a position on the Heavenly Rankings a much-coveted prize.
“I remember the Grand Elder mentioned that not far from Wild Sky City, there’s an ancient clan, the Feng Clan.
“They have a titled Marquis, but he’s ranked at the very bottom, 97th.
“I could test my skills against him and get a sense of a titled Marquis’ strength.”
Meng Changqing’s lips curled into a slight smile as a plan began to form.
Stepping into the Heavenly Rankings was only the beginning.
Next, he intended to visit several factions the Grand Elder had mentioned.
These factions each had access to Demon Abysses, and he needed to refine his abilities there.
Smack!
Suddenly, Meng Changqing slapped his forehead.
Finally, he remembered what he had forgotten!
Back in theWild Barbarian Sea, he had encountered a demon cultivator named Xu Fengquan.
He had intended to extract Xu Fengquan’s unique talent but left him unconscious in a jade box as a temporary storage solution.
“The jade box isn’t meant to store half-dead beings for long. Could he be dead by now?” Meng Changqing pulled out the jade box and opened it.
Inside, Xu Fengquan’s head had already disappeared, leaving only a single drop of blood, barely alive.
A faint trace of vitality lingered.
“Still alive?” Meng Changqing asked, his Marquis-level aura bearing down.
This terrifying pressure instantly woke Xu Fengquan, who, upon seeing Meng Changqing, nearly burst into tears.
“This man is a lunatic!”
The jade box was meant for storing spiritual herbs, not people!
Its sealed space cut off all external energy, leaving him unable to absorb even a trace of vital essence to recover.
Too weak to open his spatial ring, Xu Fengquan had watched helplessly as his vitality drained away, surviving only by sheer grit.
“Apologies. I truly forgot.” Meng Changqing chuckled, sensing Xu Fengquan’s turbulent emotions without needing words.
He handed over a pill, which Xu Fengquan — now reduced to blood — swallowed instantly.
Vitality surged, and his body rapidly regenerated.
Soon, Xu Fengquan stood before Meng Changqing in his original form, albeit pale and weak.
Seeing Meng Changqing, Xu Fengquan instinctively took a step back.
This person had already stepped into the Marquis Realm and exuded a terrifying presence far beyond ordinary Marquises.
Even a sliver of his aura felt like it could obliterate Xu Fengquan’s very soul.
“After pondering so long in the jade box, you should be ready to be my friend now, right?”
Meng Changqing smiled.
He still desired Xu Fengquan’s unique talent: Multitasking — a remarkable gift for cultivation.
“Friend?”
The word made Xu Fengquan tremble.
He had never imagined being forced into friendship. If he declined, the sword would fall!
“If I agree, will you spare my life?” Xu Fengquan asked cautiously.
“Depends on my mood.” Meng Changqing smiled faintly.
“Then I agree!” Xu Fengquan knew he had no choice and relented.
【Friendship with Xu Fengquan established!】
【Current favorability: One Star!】
【Attributes ready for selection!】
The system notification sounded in Meng Changqing’s mind.
“Trash. Not even a bonus reward.” Meng Changqing’s mood soured instantly, and the smile on his face turned icy.
This sudden change sent shivers down Xu Fengquan’s spine.
“Too much! How can someone change moods so fast?”
Thud!
Without hesitation, Xu Fengquan fell to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly.
“Spare me, big brother! I have an 80-year-old mother and a 15-year-old wife! If I die, what will become of them?” Xu Fengquan wailed.
“A 15-year-old wife? That’s adding insult to injury!”
“I’ve had such a tragic life,” Xu Fengquan continued. “I was orphaned as a child, then captured by the Blood God Demon Sect. Only my talents kept me alive long enough to cultivate. But I never wanted to be a demon cultivator! They forced me!
“My heart is actually filled with justice!”
Faced with Xu Fengquan’s rapid-fire, impassioned pleas, Meng Changqing couldn’t help but laugh.
Truth be told, he’d never met a demon cultivator like this before.
Most were unyielding and outright evil.
Xu Fengquan, on the other hand, was clearly spineless.
“The righteous and the demonic have always stood opposed. How could I align with you?” Meng Changqing coughed, feigning righteousness.
“Huh?” Xu Fengquan froze.
Weren’t we just talking about friendship?
“Big brother, I know many secrets about the Demon Sects. Ask me anything, and I’ll tell you everything.
“If you ever want to find their headquarters, I can even guide you. I know secret paths no one else does.”
Xu Fengquan thumped his chest confidently.
Hearing this, Meng Changqing paused.
“I thought demon cultivators were bound by restrictions that triggered annihilation if they tried to reveal secrets?” Meng Changqing asked.
“Well, it’s a long story, but let’s just say my restrictions have been lifted.” Xu Fengquan forced a smile.