……
Changning Garrison, Xin'an Town, Airport.
A cloud ray flying boat glided across the blue sky, gracefully landing on the air platform.
Soon, the rear hatch of the cloud ray flying boat opened, and Wang Ningxi gently supported the middle-aged beautiful woman, Jade Talisman Immortal, as they walked out slowly.
At this time, both sides of the flying boat were already lined with people ready to welcome them.
They were all elites from various departments of the Wang's Clan, including both Wang's descendants and other outstanding talents from the Wang's Clan School. The common trait among them was their youth and vibrant energy.
Standing at the forefront of the lineup was none other than the head of the Changning Wang's Clan, Wang Shouzhe.
By his side, his two daughters, Wang Liyue and Wang Lijue, stood on either side, followed by the direct descendants, Wang Ningyi and Wang Ningyao.
Ever since the Wang's Clan grew stronger, fewer and fewer people warranted a personal welcome from Wang Shouzhe.
Such a grand welcoming lineup was extremely rare for the Wang's Clan.The only other time such an arrangement was made was when the Immortal Emperor himself visited.
"Welcome, Senior Jade Talisman, to the Wang's Clan for inspection and guidance. I apologize for not welcoming you from afar," Wang Shouzhe performed a junior's courtesy, extending his hand in a gesture of support.
Seeing this, Liyue and Lijue immediately stepped forward to assist Jade Talisman Immortal on either side.
"So, you are Master Wang Shouzhe?" Jade Talisman Immortal curiously looked Wang Shouzhe up and down, returning the courtesy, "I am truly honored that the head of the clan himself has come to greet me."
The name Wang Shouzhe was well-known to her, especially since the Immortal Emperor frequently mentioned him, often with high praise, even describing him as a saint descending to the mortal realm.
Such a figure personally coming to greet her was a great honor, and Jade Talisman Immortal did not dare to put on airs.
"Not at all, Senior Jade Talisman is the foremost in the art of talismans among the human race, and I have long admired you," Wang Shouzhe smiled sincerely, "It is a great fortune for me to have the opportunity to learn from you."
"How could I dare claim to be the foremost in talismans?" Jade Talisman Immortal shook her head with a smile, "Elder Tianji, though an immortal craftsman, also has profound achievements in talismans, surpassing me. And the Heavenly Talisman Demon Lord of the Demon Dynasty, though I dislike his character, I must admit his expertise in talismans."
Despite her words, there was a hint of pride in Jade Talisman Immortal's tone.
It was no wonder, as among all known figures, she felt only two could match or slightly surpass her, which was a source of immense pride.
Such expertise in talismans was worthy of the title "Jade Talisman Immortal."
Having such a person come to guide the Wang's Clan, Wang Shouzhe was very pleased.
He couldn't help but cast an appreciative glance at Wang Ningxi.
He had sent Wang Ningxi with the hope of trying, not expecting the child to actually succeed in bringing her here.
How did he manage it?
Regardless, as long as she was willing to come to the Wang's Clan, they would do their utmost to host her and find ways to keep her longer. This would greatly benefit the Wang's Clan's relatively weak talisman arts.
Moreover, the domain-crossing flying boats needed at the front line were extremely important. If they broke, no one could repair them, so learning as much as possible was crucial.
However, facing Wang Shouzhe's approving gaze, Wang Ningxi felt no joy, only pressure, becoming somewhat evasive and uncomfortable.
Ancestor Grandfather, please don't assign me such odd tasks anymore. If this continues, he feared he might accidentally run into the Immortal Emperor and get beaten up.
"Ningxi, I heard Elder Tianji recently awoke and plans to visit the Immortal Dynasty to meet the Immortal Emperor and resolve the Treasure Pavilion incident at Immortal No. 3 Base," Wang Shouzhe transmitted to Wang Ningxi, "When you have time, go to the Immortal Dynasty and see if you can consult Elder Tianji to learn more about crafting techniques."
Wang Ningxi's heart skipped a beat, his face stiffening.
What you fear always comes true~
However, he dared not disobey Ancestor Grandfather's words.
Even if unwilling, he forced a smile and replied, "Yes, Ancestor Grandfather."
As they spoke, the grand welcome ceremony began.
This time, it wasn't just Jade Talisman Immortal who came; many young disciples from the Talisman Hall, both male and female, arrived, and the Wang's Clan's elite disciples were responsible for hosting them.
During the welcome banquet, Jade Talisman Immortal seemed very happy. After all, the Wang's Clan was indeed hospitable and showed her many new things.
But as the banquet progressed, Jade Talisman Immortal's mood inexplicably became somewhat downcast, as if she had been struck by something.
Noticing this, Wang Ningxi quietly approached and asked, "Senior Jade, have we not hosted you well?"
Jade Talisman Immortal shook her head, then lowered her voice to ask Wang Ningxi, "Ningxi, where is His Majesty Long Chang?"
Realizing her mistake, she quickly added, "Don't misunderstand, it's not for anything else. His Majesty Long Chang saved me back then, and I never had the chance to thank him in person."
"Of course, I won't misunderstand," Wang Ningxi replied with a righteous expression, as if he truly believed her words, then explained, "I forgot to tell you. Recently, the outer war zone we, Great Gan, are responsible for defending is at war, and His Majesty Long Chang has personally gone to the front line to oversee the battle."
"Outer war?" Jade Talisman Immortal frowned slightly, "Do you need my help?"
"Thank you, Senior Jade, but the main enemies in our Great Gan defense zone are three Demon King Fortresses, under the Nether Fiend Demon God's command. Now that the Nether Fiend Demon God has suffered a great loss, the Demon King Fortresses under its Demon God Hall are in disarray and not very united, so this battle isn't too difficult."
"In that case, I wish Great Gan a swift victory." Jade Talisman Immortal sighed in relief, her tone regaining a hint of pride, "I'll stay in Eastern Gan for a while. If His Majesty Long Chang returns in time, I'll meet him to express my gratitude. If not, then so be it."
"Yes, yes, I'll urge His Majesty."
"Don't rush him; war is no child's play and requires full attention."
"Your advice is noted, and I'll remember it. However, mentioning Senior in a letter is necessary."
"You are such a well-behaved and sensible child."
Their whispered conversation was drowned out by the clinking of glasses and lively chatter at the banquet, unnoticed by most. Only Wang Shouzhe seemed to sense something, glancing over thoughtfully.
……
Outer regions of the Demon Domain.
The war with the Immortal and Demon Dynasties had ended, but the outer regions of the Demon Domain had not completely calmed down. Due to the return of Yuntai An, the "Dragonblood Demon God," the number of major demon gods increased from eight to nine, subtly altering the power dynamics.
At this moment.
A blood moon hung in the sky, casting a hazy glow.
In the original Blood Demon King Fortress, an unusual banquet was being held.
In the center of the Demon King Fortress's martial training ground, a dozen demons of various appearances sat around a large round table, eagerly feasting.
Dishes of all kinds, showcasing demonic culinary specialties, filled the table, their aroma wafting through the air, tempting the nearby demon generals on guard to sniff the air.
Upon closer inspection, these demons, despite their varied appearances, all exuded a powerful aura, each one a Demon King-level demon!
At the head of the table, a demon with dragon wings and horns sat grandly, exuding an aura far more formidable and terrifying than the other demons at the table.
This demon was, of course, Yuntai An, who had transformed into the "Dragonblood Demon God."
After defeating the Demon Lord, the Nether Fiend Demon God kept its promise and allocated several relatively remote Demon King Fortresses to him.
The Blood Demon King Fortress was among them.
Combined with the fortresses "borrowed" from the Yincha Demon God, Yuntai An now controlled a total of eleven Demon King Fortresses!
Previously, Yuntai An had taken advantage of the war's end to gather scattered troops, significantly expanding his forces.
Currently, his demon army had grown to fifty thousand, a far cry from his earlier solitary state, a transformation akin to upgrading from a single gun to an arsenal.
Now, with land and soldiers, he could finally be considered a legitimate demon god with his own territory.
The scattered troops he gathered were temporarily stationed in the Blood Demon King Fortress.
Previously, the Blood Demon King had suffered heavy losses on the battlefield, leaving many lord manors vacant, now conveniently used for temporary troop housing.
As for whether the Yincha Demon God and Nether Fiend Demon God would have objections to Yuntai An's actions?
Naturally, they did.
Unfortunately, while the Yincha Demon God was furious, it could do nothing against Yuntai An.
As for the Nether Fiend Demon God…
Given Yuntai An's efforts against the Demon Lord, the Nether Fiend Demon God, though critical of his troop-gathering, said little.
Moreover, after this wave of battles, it too had suffered significant losses, its strength greatly diminished, and was temporarily laying low, unlikely to launch another campaign soon.
However, given its nature, it would not easily give up on the Nether Fiend True Demon Seed and would likely continue targeting the Demon Lord, with Yuntai An still having a role to play.
The situation was complex, but overall, with the end of the war, the outer regions of the Demon Domain gradually calmed down, allowing Yuntai An to settle in and organize his newly acquired forces and resources.
Today's round table banquet was, in a sense, a "division of spoils" meeting.
"Your Majesty, here's a roasted demon lamb leg I prepared for you."
At this moment, the Blood Demon King, holding a demon lamb leg, was exceptionally obsequious.
The Blood Demon King had been quite unlucky, implicated by the death of the Nether Fiend Young Master, and now directly transferred to the Dragonblood Demon God, its fate tumultuous.
Yuntai An took a bite, barely chewing before spitting it out in disgust.
He disdainfully tossed the demon lamb leg back, incredulous, "Is this what you usually eat?"
If asked what he found most unbearable in the outer regions, it would undoubtedly be the food.
Previously, he had been constantly on the move, with no chance for a proper meal, resorting to roasting whatever demon beast he could catch when hunger became unbearable. At the Yincha Demon God's place, he was busy cultivating, with no time for enjoyment. Though difficult, he endured it for his grand plan.
Now, finally settled with his own base, he was unwilling to continue suffering.
But he never expected the so-called "delicacies" these demons usually ate to be of such low quality.
The meat was tender, but the gamey taste remained, and biting into it released blood—was this fit for consumption?
It was worse than the makeshift roasted meat he had been eating~
"Your Majesty, if you don't like roasted demon lamb leg, there's freshly caught Bido Beast, tender and juicy," the Blood Demon King, startled by Yuntai An's reaction, paled as he held the returned demon beast leg, speaking nervously, "I'll find the best cook in the fortress…"
"Forget it, forget it~ I'd rather do it myself than rely on you~" Yuntai An impatiently waved his hand, pulling out a large barrel of "Wang Shouzhe's Eighteen Spices" he had acquired from Wang Fugui, instructing the Blood Demon King to fetch a batch of red demonic shrimp.
However, his order left the Demon Kings bewildered.
Could this stuff be eaten? It was considered garbage food, even the lowest demon laborers wouldn't eat it.
The Demon Kings exchanged glances, suspecting the Dragonblood Demon God intended to punish them by making them eat such garbage.
However, their doubts vanished the moment the aroma wafted through the air.
Setting up a pot on the martial training ground, the red demonic shrimp were seasoned with "Wang Shouzhe's Eighteen Spices" as instructed by Yuntai An, and after a simple preparation, they emitted an intensely spicy and fragrant aroma.
The aroma was so overpowering that it made all the Demon Kings salivate uncontrollably.
The last time Yuntai An had this dish was at Wang Fugui's place, and now, after so long, the aroma made his mouth water, prompting him to grab a red demonic shrimp the length of an arm from the pot, skillfully peeling it to taste.
"Mm~~ delicious, just the right flavor!"
Yuntai An's eyes lit up, and he immediately dragged a chair over, sitting by the pot and feasting heartily, inviting the other Demon Kings to try it.
Wasn't this far superior to their so-called "delicacies"?
The Demon Kings, already drooling, gathered around, mimicking Yuntai An's method of peeling the shrimp.
Born and raised in the Demon Domain, these Demon Kings had never tasted such stimulating food. They ate with their heads down, unwilling to stop, licking their fingers clean.
A few less particular Demon Kings found peeling shrimp tedious and simply tossed whole red demonic shrimp into their mouths, crunching them with relish.
For a moment, it was as if these Demon Kings had discovered a new world, eating with great satisfaction and joy.
Yuntai An also brought out some fine wine to share with the Demon Kings.
After this feast of demonic shrimp, the Demon Kings were thoroughly satisfied, feeling their lives as demons were not in vain, their loyalty soaring.
Subsequently, Yuntai An distributed a large batch of spoils and territories, allocating them to the Demon Kings based on merit. As for the lords, that was not his concern; the Demon Kings would distribute them to their meritorious subordinates.
In past campaigns, other demon gods also rewarded merit, but rarely did they distribute so many spoils at once, let alone do so decisively and fairly, without favoritism.
This further boosted the Demon Kings' loyalty, each expressing their allegiance to Yuntai An with fervor.
"Hahaha~ Rest assured, following this demon god will bring you great benefits in the future," Yuntai An promised boldly, then continued, "However, now is the time to test you."
"Your Majesty, we are willing to go through fire and water," the Demon Kings responded passionately.
"This demon god needs to collect human captives, as many as possible," Yuntai An instructed.
"Your Majesty, what do you want human captives for? To eat?" a fierce-looking Demon King asked in confusion.
"Get lost!" Yuntai An kicked it away, angry, "You fools! Our Dragonblood Demon King Hall is newly established and lacks manpower. The humans likely have many of our demon captives. We can exchange human captives for demon clansmen."
"Anyone who doesn't want more subordinates, speak up!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Now go and get to work! And no eating humans; they are our resources! Anyone who violates the ban will be eaten by this demon god!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
With Yuntai An's order, the eleven Demon Kings immediately set out to collect human captives.
Soon, a steady stream of human captives was sent to the Dragonblood Demon God's division, then personally escorted by the Dragonblood Demon God to the vicinity of Immortal No. 3 Base, exchanged for demon soldiers and generals from the humans.
As time passed, Yuntai An's overall strength grew daily.
His ambitions swelled, unable to contain his desire to achieve great deeds.
Miaomiao~ wait for me! Once I achieve unparalleled feats, I'll return on a rainbow cloud to marry you.
……
Meanwhile.
Red Moon Demon Dynasty, Demon Court.
Currently, the most prominent figure in the entire Demon Dynasty was undoubtedly the Third Prince, Shentu Jingming.
The Demon Emperor's prestige also soared, suppressing the Demon Lord's influence, reaching a peak of authority in the Demon Dynasty, almost becoming a one-man rule.
This greatly pleased the Demon Emperor with Shentu Jingming.
With the Demon Emperor's strong support, the royal clan council of the Demon Dynasty passed a resolution, deciding that the Third Prince, Shentu Jingming, would enjoy the "Scarlet Lotus of Immortality" left by the ancestors.
There were two reasons: first, the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality was in its mature period, producing an immortal lotus seed. Second, Shentu Jingming had performed the best among the three princes, and the Demon Emperor was also at the inheritance stage.
Regardless, someone had to inherit.
Considering all factors, Shentu Jingming was the most suitable.
After the resolution was "unanimously passed," the Third Prince was sent into the family's secret realm, the "Scarlet Immortal Pool."
This immortal pool was located a thousand feet underground, surrounded by surging magma veins, yet the small area remained calm, with magma flowing quietly, emitting extreme heat.
The location of the immortal pool was also a top-grade fire spiritual vein, formed by the convergence of several top-grade fire spiritual veins, extremely rare.
The Scarlet Lotus of Immortality was nurtured in this immortal pool.
The lotus stem was emerald green, the lotus leaves a deep verdant, swaying slightly, exuding spiritual charm, like a celestial flower, with an aura of purity and elegance.
However, the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality was of such high grade that even with top-grade fire spiritual veins, its growth was slow. From the time the Shentu Clan obtained it until now, the lotus pod had finally matured.
Though due to insufficient energy, only one lotus seed successfully matured, with the rest being empty shells, it was still worth the Shentu Clan's years of effort.
This was the so-called "planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade," with generations of the Shentu Clan nurturing the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality, now allowing the Third Prince, Shentu Jingming, to enjoy the fruits.
Even the Demon Emperor couldn't help but secretly envy Shentu Jingming's luck.
Back when the Demon Emperor was young, he had also coveted the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality, but it was far from mature, and using it prematurely would be wasteful. After research, the Demon Emperor had no choice but to give up.
Now, it was Shentu Jingming's good fortune.
This time, the Third Prince, Shentu Jingming, was sent into the Scarlet Immortal Pool to enjoy the mature Scarlet Lotus of Immortality and to inherit the family's "Red Lotus Codex."
This intermediate codex, derived from the "Red Lotus True Demon Codex," could enhance the Third Prince's bloodline aptitude and lay a solid foundation for his future inheritance of the True Demon Codex.
Some time later.
Deep underground, near the "Scarlet Immortal Pool," Shentu Jingming's joyful laughter echoed: "I, the Third Prince, have finally mastered the divine art, refined a Scarlet Lotus Seed, and successfully inherited the 'Red Lotus Codex'! Hahaha, my bloodline, hahaha, I am now a Heavenly Son of the fourth rank!"
Before inheriting the True Demon Codex or True Immortal Codex, elevating his bloodline to the fourth rank was significant for both him and the Demon Dynasty.
Because this meant that once he inherited the True Demon Codex, Shentu Jingming's bloodline would likely reach the third rank. With such aptitude, as long as he trained diligently, reaching the mid-stage of the True Demon Realm was almost certain.
Why were the Immortal Emperor and Demon Lord stuck at the early stage for so long? Wasn't it because their bloodline aptitude fell short, lacking that crucial insight and transformation?
Even though the Immortal Emperor, with his own opportunities and Wang Shouzhe's help, barely reached the mid-stage, it was after many hardships and at an advanced age.
Barring unforeseen circumstances and with ample resources, Shentu Jingming could likely advance to the mid-stage of the True Demon Realm by the age of four to five thousand.
Before that, his cultivation would always lead other True Immortal and True Demon heirs.
"Congratulations, Third Prince."
The Shentu Clan members, who had guarded the "Scarlet Immortal Pool" for generations, were extremely excited, tearfully congratulating Shentu Jingming.
Their branch of the Shentu Clan had guarded for tens of thousands of years, finally witnessing the fruition.
"Haha, thank you, thank you." Shentu Jingming was very happy, suddenly thinking of something, "By the way, I saw the second section of the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality had matured. Can it be eaten?"
The Shentu Clan elder's face lit up with joy, "That's wonderful, today is truly a double blessing for our Shentu Clan~ Third Prince, the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality's rhizome can be eaten, but its effect is far inferior to the lotus seed. The lotus seed's energy is the essence of heaven and earth gathered during its nurturing, close to the source, very rare. The rhizome, however, is mainly for propagation, allowing us to have two Scarlet Lotuses of Immortality in the future, hahaha~"
"Crack!"
Amidst the elder's laughter, Shentu Jingming returned to the Scarlet Immortal Pool, casually breaking off the second section of the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality.
The boiling magma had no effect on him, not hindering his actions at all.
"Uh… is the Third Prince eager to propagate a Scarlet Lotus of Immortality?" The elder was puzzled.
The Third Prince ignored him, carefully storing the rhizome before leaving gracefully.
A little later.
In the Demon Emperor's Palace, the Demon Emperor's laughter echoed: "Good, good, the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality has grown another rhizome. Indeed, a double blessing, a good thing, a good thing~"
"This signifies the rise of our Shentu Clan, a great rise. Although cultivating another Scarlet Lotus of Immortality requires many resources, providing more heritage for future generations is beneficial. As they say, planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade."
"Your Majesty." Elder Shi approached solemnly, reminding him, "The Shentu elder guarding the Scarlet Immortal Pool reported that the Third Prince took the rhizome."
"What does that brat want to do?" The Demon Emperor stood up nervously, "He wouldn't want to taste it, would he?"
This was indeed something Shentu Jingming might do. That reckless kid, nothing he did was surprising.
"Probably not." Elder Shi advised, "The Third Prince's bloodline just advanced, eating the Scarlet Lotus of Immortality's rhizome wouldn't be very effective. Though reckless, he's not foolish."
"Then, where did that brat take the rhizome? Could it be…" The Demon Emperor's body trembled, realizing the most likely possibility.
Elder Shi smiled wryly, "Your Majesty guessed correctly. The guards reported that the Third Prince went to see Miss Ruobing. Following his usual pattern, by now, the item is likely in Miss Ruobing's hands."
"Thud!"
The Demon Emperor collapsed back into his throne, looking drained of energy.
After a long pause, he spoke weakly, filled with resentment, "Shi Ping'an, perhaps we should forgo the crown prince?"
Elder Shi hurriedly massaged his shoulders, soothing him, "Your Majesty, it's probably too late not to have a crown prince. Who else can you appoint but a Heavenly Son of the third rank?"
"Please calm down, Your Majesty. Aside from fawning over Miss Ruobing, the Third Prince isn't too problematic. Your Majesty, please make do, make do."
……