Chapter 700: Great Demon 63

"Besides, the higher one’s cultivation, the more difficult it is to have children. Rather than watching them struggle endlessly, unable to achieve atavism, it’s better not to bring them into this world at all. Perhaps that’s a meritorious deed in itself."

Tan You thought about it and agreed. "That’s true. If being born just means you’re going to suffer, then it’s better not to come into this world at all."

Her thoughts began to stray uncontrollably. ’So, the original owner of this body... whose bloodline did she actually have?’ Tan You couldn’t figure it out. But at the very least, Jin Yu had definitely inherited a trace of Jin Yuan’s bloodline.

After all, Jin Yuan was the first Golden Ring Snake to achieve atavism. As for Jin Zhen, Jin Jue, Jin Yao, and the body’s original owner, Tan You shook her head. ’It’s really impossible to sort out.’

The Purple Ring Snake population in the lower realms was quite large, and serpentine demon beasts were generally quite prolific. That was why the truly powerful ones often had few descendants.

Meanwhile, the weaker ones were more prolific in their reproduction, making it a matter of sifting through the masses to find one in a hundred. ’Is this the Heavenly Dao’s way of balancing the clans? The art of checks and balances... it really is everywhere.’

Just imagine, if a clan was both powerful and numerous... The thought made Tan You sigh. ’So there’s really no such thing as a perfect situation in this world.’

"If I win the grand tournament, how much destiny can our clan secure?" Tan You stopped dwelling on the issue of children. Since she had no plans to marry or have kids anyway, there was no point in asking about it.

Jin Yao thought for a moment. "The grand tournament is held once every one hundred thousand years. The top three finishers each earn a share of destiny, but the champion gets an extra share. When I participated back in the day, I took first place."

Jin Zhen added to Jin Yao’s explanation, "Our Golden Ring Snake clan’s combat prowess is exceptional. In every tournament our clan has entered, the championship has never gone to anyone else."

Tan You understood. ’So when Jin Yao brought me to the Ninth Heaven, his expectations for me were actually too low. He only asked me to survive the grand tournament, not to take first place.’

"You were only a tenth-rank Golden Ring Snake back then," Jin Yao said. "We couldn’t set the bar too high for you."

"Our Ahzhao is ambitious; she’d never be content playing second fiddle," Jin Jue said. "Just look at that murderous aura. But you must be careful."

"Even if you’re on good terms with your friends, when the destiny of our clans is on the line, you have to be careful about everything."

Tan You acknowledged, "I know. That’s why in this grand tournament, there will be far too many people who want me dead."

That group included people with grudges against her, as well as those with lingering resentments from the days of Jin Yu, Jin Zhen, Jin Jue, and Jin Yao.

"Our Golden Ring Snakes are a special case in the Ninth Heaven," Jin Yao explained. "Before you arrived, we had already missed three grand tournaments. Those who have participated once can’t enter again, naturally."

"During those three tournaments, it was the sects who came out on top every time. Our Golden Ring Snake clan has been out of the public eye for too long. It’s time to show everyone the strength of our clan’s chosen one."

Tan You got it. "So, we’ve been out of the game for so long that people have stopped taking us seriously."

"That’s the gist of it. The game, indeed." Jin Jue nodded. "In any case, be careful of everything. Watch out for the Buddhist Sect and the Taiyi Sect teaming up. The incident with the Tianyuan Sect in the lower realm was the Taiyi Sect’s doing."

Tan You understood. "I get it. I’ll be careful."

’What is this? I haven’t even entered the fray, and there are already countless daggers, both seen and unseen, waiting for me.’ Tan You took a deep breath. ’So it’s a fight to the death in a narrow alley, huh? We’ll just have to see who comes out on top.’

With that thought, Tan You composed herself. "I’m going to prepare some more."

Watching Tan You enter her quiet room to cultivate, Jin Yuan let out a long sigh. "I have a feeling that if Ahzhao takes first place this time, the shackles that have bound our clan for a million years will finally loosen."

"It’s just so much to put on her," Jin Zhen said. "She’s still just a child herself."

"Some things, only she can do," Jin Yuan replied. "As someone from beyond the heavens, she’s bound by far fewer restrictions than we are. It has been hard on all of you these years, too... watching your own children perish one after another. That feeling... it’s too painful."

Jin Yu forced a smile. "It was all so long ago. I can barely remember what they looked like now."

Jin Yuan didn’t speak, only sighed. ’How could they possibly forget?’ They had all once poured their hearts and souls into planning for their children, but after all these years... He let out another heavy sigh.

The longer one lives, the more sorrows one accumulates.

While everyone was immersed in their cultivation, the grand tournament, held once every one hundred thousand years, finally began. As the clan’s treasured prodigy, Tan You’s arrival at the tournament was a spectacle of the highest order.

From Jin Yuan to Jin Yao, all five Golden Ring Snake Emperors were present—not one was missing. They had truly mustered the full strength of their clan to serve as her escort.

In contrast, Bai Ze, the Cold Dragon, Cang Long, and the Nine-tailed Fox looked rather shabby. They were simply traveling with their respective clan contingents.

The Peacock was a little jealous. "We’re all Great Demons who’ve achieved atavism. Why is there such a huge difference?"

"Shut your beak," the Peacock Clan Leader snapped, swatting the Peacock with a fan. "Our clan has eight hundred, if not a thousand, like you. The Golden Ring Snake clan only has her. It’s only natural they’d treasure her."

The Cold Dragon remarked with emotion, "She really is... the only seedling."

The Peacock Clan Leader’s gaze held a hint of pity. "But a seedling has to grow up. Jin Yao faced more than enough danger back in his day. And for her, it will only be harder."

The Peacock, however, was exceptionally confident in Tan You. "Someone like her? She’s the one who’ll be killing others. She’ll be just fine in the end."

The Peacock and the others were well aware of the God Trapping Array’s power, but unfortunately, these Great Demons of the Ninth Heaven were not. As for the Immortal Monarchs, the Taiyi Sect probably knew of the God Trapping Array, but since Tan You had never used it in the Ninth Heaven, their knowledge was likely only superficial.

Which meant this grand tournament was going to be one hell of a show.

Looking at the mystic realm before her, Tan You was a little surprised. "The grand tournament takes place inside a mystic realm?"

Jin Yao nodded. "Yes. This was once an ancient battlefield. For the sake of the tournament, the clans agreed to use it as the venue. Your rank will be determined by the grade and quantity of the Sha Crystals you hunt."

"Hunting?" Tan You raised a slight eyebrow. "Does that mean I can also... rob other contestants?"

Jin Yao chuckled. "That’s the first thing you think of?"

Tan You grinned. "Of course. Crime pays, after all. I know that much."

Jin Yao laughed and patted Tan You on the head like she was a puppy. "Not bad, not bad. You’ve got my spirit from back in the day."

Tan You understood. ’So this guy used to be a highway robber back in his day.’ But she still had her principles. She would only retaliate if someone came looking for trouble first. Otherwise, she was a great lover of peace.

Jin Yao began to impart his wisdom. "The ancient battlefield is filled with endless Evil Qi, which in turn spawns countless Wasteland Beasts. These beasts have no consciousness and evolve by devouring their own kind."