Chapter 296 - 295: I Will Kill My Way to the 9 Venerables Great Realm

North Border City, former Xia Country Management District, conference hall.

"The Western Church has risen to power by secretly researching the [Pseudo-God Bloodline] and now rules the entire Western Realm. Their next step will be to sow the seeds of their faith here. Should we contact them in advance and actively cooperate?"

"That makes sense. After all, we’ve all fused with Demon Race bloodlines, which is similar in principle to their [Pseudo-God Bloodline]. Besides, our North Border City has deep ties with the Western Church. They should be willing to accept us and help us drive out those Great Demons."

"Tsk. Then what about Xia Country? We thought that Venerable had reaped all of Blue Star’s prodigies and powerhouses, but it turns out none of the Kunlun Demon Clan’s experts were taken! Now they’re at the height of their power and could crush us with ease. Why not just surrender to them?"

"You think he’ll accept our bloodlines?"

In the conference hall, dozens of mixed-blood humans with various demonic features argued incessantly, spittle flying, but no one could offer a perfect solution.

"What are your thoughts, Demon Monarch?"

Suddenly, a bull-headed human’s eyes widened as he looked toward the main seat. All discussion died down, and the others also turned their gazes to the middle-aged man presiding over the hall.

The only one in the Dharma Realm present, and also the one with the most human features.

He had no horns or wolf ears, no tail, and no particularly thick, long fur on his face. His physique, however, was just as imposing as any of the demon-formed people present. His forearms were powerful, and his chest and shoulders strained against his clothes.

Only his eyes were unnerving. His left eye was a hollow void, like a demon’s open mouth. It had no pupil, yet it seemed to snatch one’s very soul. His right eye was an eerie green, radiating a cold light.

His single green eye scanned the crowd before he spoke, his voice unhurried. "Grand General Zhu and the others left temporarily because of the disaster. I am guarding the city in their stead."

"Demon Monarch... sir, Xia Country won’t acknowledge us now. Why are you still guarding the city for them? We should just throw in our lot with the Western Church."

A goat-headed man raised his voice to make the suggestion, but his words caught in his throat as he met the Demon Monarch’s gaze. He had started to rise but immediately sank back into his seat, a sudden, immense weight pressing down on his shoulders and a chill running down his spine.

He shivered and lowered his head, cursing himself for speaking out of turn. The conference hall fell silent.

Ever since Zhu Weiyi and the other Xia Country Martial Artists who managed North Border City disappeared, the already chaotic city descended into utter turmoil. The Three Great Demon Clans of the North Wilderness seized the opportunity to attack, driving out the last remnants of the Xia Country Martial Artists.

Fortunately, the Demon Monarch stepped forward, rallying a group of mixed-blood Martial Artists and a small number of pure-blooded humans. He fought off the three Ancestral Great Demons from the demon clans, securing a foothold in North Border City.

Without the Demon Monarch, the mixed-bloods would be nothing more than slaves to the Demon Race. Even if they wanted to escape, there was nowhere for them to go.

North Border City was the most tolerant place in the world for demon-blood hybrids!

They were unfamiliar with the Western Church, where they would be bound by dogma. In Sang Island, there was a strict hierarchy based on bloodline purity, making it difficult to improve their status.

Most of the mixed-blood humans chose to remain in North Border City and follow the Demon Monarch to establish their own territory.

"If Xia Country won’t accept us, then so be it. But at the very least, we cannot turn to the Western Church or Sang Island. They will not care about our lives."

The Demon Monarch had spoken, and no one else said a word.

The meeting was hastily dismissed, and everyone went their separate ways.

"This world is changing so fast. I understand it less and less," the Demon Monarch sighed, his expression stiff as he walked down the corridor. "To think the day would come when I’m the one everyone relies on. Hah. It’s only because all the true geniuses have been culled that I finally get my chance to shine."

THUD.

Suddenly, the sound of a footstep came from ahead. A figure abruptly entered his line of sight, and he stopped short, his eerie green right eye narrowing. "Jiang... Jiang Qiu?"

"Teacher Wu Shan?"

One large, one small, the two of them stared at each other from a distance, separated by the daylight filtering through the windows into the corridor. Both were stunned.

Although Wu Shan’s current aura was somewhat demonic, his fundamental presence had not changed. Now, seeing him in person, Jiang Qiu was certain this was the same Wu Shan who had once taught him the Ancient Martial Spear Technique.

Wu Shan’s body now held a mix of Human and Demon Race auras, along with another strange, unfamiliar energy. His Realm was Dharma Realm—a significant transformation.

Anyone who could cultivate to the Dharma Realm could be considered talented.

But in reality, Wu Shan hadn’t been young before. He had reached a bottleneck in his cultivation and should have been stuck at the Bright Soul Realm forever.

It seemed he, too, had encountered a fortuitous opportunity.

"You... you’re back?"

Wu Shan paused. His icy expression and tone softened considerably, and a look of melancholy crossed his face.

They hadn’t seen each other for six months, not since the end of the battle for North Border City. Since then, he had often followed Jiang Qiu’s name in the news. After all, he was a living legend, one whom Wu Shan had been fortunate enough to teach Martial Arts in this lifetime.

The ’Ten Unparalleled Prodigies’ fighting for the Enlightenment Fruit, the return of the Grandmaster, rushing to the aid of Gao Yuan City, breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm mid-battle to repel Demon Emperor [Chen], saving Gao Yuan City, the adoration of the entire nation...

Hearing of these various achievements brought him comfort, but also a deeper sense of guilt.

It was a contradiction. He hoped Jiang Qiu would go further and further—he was his former student, after all. Yet, at the very beginning, he himself had been an obstacle in Jiang Qiu’s path. The further his student went, the more guilt he felt for having once tried to trip him up.

"Yes, I just got back from the Northern Boundary. Teacher, what’s the situation in North Border City now? Where is Grandmaster Zhu?"

Suppressing the countless questions in his mind, Jiang Qiu asked the most important one.

Wu Shan didn’t hide anything, explaining in great detail everything that had happened since Gao Yuan City was destroyed.

When he heard that the Venerable [Zuo Xuan] had descended upon Blue Star and abducted all the prodigies and powerhouses from across the globe, Jiang Qiu’s eyes widened, and his fists clenched with a CRACK. "All the prodigies in the world were taken? There was no way to hide?!"

"There was no hiding," Wu Shan said, shaking his head and sighing deeply. "As far as I know, even geniuses from the Soldier Cultivation Academy like Lin Wei and Liang Taiyue, who once competed against you, have vanished. Many low-realm Martial Artists with special potential also disappeared. Even hiding in a Secret Realm was useless."

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

It had been a long time since Jiang Qiu’s heart had beaten so violently. Blood surged through his veins like a roaring river as his mind raced, instantly thinking of those close to him.

His senior brother Zhai Song, the demon-blood hybrid Ice Lotus, Liu Zili who had escaped the Shantytown of Gao Yuan City’s Outer City with him...

Their talent was clearly not lacking. They had very likely been abducted as well!

"Oh, right, Jiang Qiu. I have a recording from back then. Take a look..."

Wu Shan casually took out his phone and played several recordings of [Zuo Xuan]’s arrival, including some clips showing the geniuses disappearing.

"Natives of Blue Star, my name is [Zuo Xuan]. You may address me as the Venerable [Zuo Xuan]. I am one of the three Venerables of the Emperor Purple Lizard Clan from the Nine Venerable Great Realm, and I command the [Eight-direction Teleportation Ship].

I recently detected the fluctuations of the Fusion Realm on Blue Star and crossed the void to come here. My purpose is singular—to take away every unique and talented life form that exists here!"

CRACK.

Jiang Qiu clenched his fist, a murderous light flashing in his eyes. "[Zuo Xuan], just you wait. I will slaughter my way to the Nine Venerable Great Realm!"