Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Xu Yang pondered repeatedly; the Blood Sun Incident probably pertained to an issue in the Divine Land or the Upper Realm.

Although he remained clueless about the specifics, it mattered not, just as he previously stated: meet force with force, stave off water with soil, counter each move as it comes; no need to throw oneself into disarray.

Thus, as such, the Ten Thousand Dao Conference was commenced on schedule!

Affected by the Blood Sun, panic had set in. Even with Scholar's Palace's control, calming the situation proved difficult. In Wandao City and the domain, prices skyrocketed. Not only the small households and lone individuals, but even the major forces and Holy Land Immortal Sects joined the buying frenzy.

Under such circumstances, the grandeur of the Ten Thousand Dao Conference can be imagined: a true clash of dragons and tigers, with all sides sparing no effort in aggressive bidding for auction items, not flinching at paying several times the price.

In this time of great turbulence in the Divine Land...

In the Northern Domain, Eastern Abyss, the barren lands at the foot of Five Elements Mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, a monkey's head lay exposed, surrounded by rampant weeds, with moss markings covering the rock walls, and even the monkey's head was not spared.

Three thousand years had passed. According to the agreement of old days, only five hundred years were to be served; freedom after half a millennium.

But now, three thousand years later, he was still under Five Elements Mountain.

The reason...

"My descendants of the Tongbei Ape Clan have fallen to such depths!"

A cold voice echoed, snapping Demon Saint back to reality.

Tongtian Saint's pupils opened, emitting two beams of Golden Light, and as he raised his head, he saw a figure in a gray robe, no, a white-furred elderly monkey wearing a gray robe standing in front of him.

"Who are you...?"

Gazing at the elderly monkey, Tongtian Saint wore a look of astonishment, with a hint of incredulity lingering in his eyes, which shone like Golden Eyes.

"What's the matter?"

The elder monkey stood with hands clasped behind his back, his body beneath the gray robe appearing somewhat frail. Yet, in the eyes of Tongtian Saint, he seemed towering even more immensely than the Five Elements Linked Mountains, harboring astonishing might and Mana.

"Great Ancestor!!!"

Tongtian Saint's expression changed suddenly, looking at this elderly monkey uncertainly: "You, you've returned?"

"Hmph!"

The elderly monkey snorted coldly, looking down at Tongtian Saint still beneath the mountain: "Of such a grand Demon Race, you're the only one with some backbone, albeit foolishly so. What use is cowering under this mountain? You've not a morsel of adaptability."

"Great Ancestor..."

Upon hearing this, Tongtian Saint also bowed his head in dejection, unsure how to retort.

Wandao School did not break their promise, for they had lifted the Mana of the Five Elements Stone two thousand five hundred years ago, restoring his freedom.

He remained because he chose not to leave, preferring to be a monkey head pinned under the mountain rather than returning to Eastern Abyss' Monster Nation which fell under Scholar Palace's rule, resuming his title as Tongtian Saint—even against the persuasion of his monkey descendants.

Indeed, after incorporating the outskirts into their governance, Wandao School treated the Demon and Devil Races with equality, completely extinguished the three clans' warfare, and vigorously developed the Four Wilds Frontier, significantly elevating life for the Demon and Devil Races.

To this day, the Demon Race "no longer longs for Shu," and no longer identities as demons or devils but as a collective "people" under Scholar Palace's governance.

But as a result, he felt even more incapable of leaving the Five Elements Stone, for it was he who had resisted Wandao School's offer, suspecting them of harboring ulterior motives, a threat looming large that, once surrendered to their rule, they'd be fish on the chopping block.

Now their progressive implementation wholly negated his stance; the hero who once withstood foreign adversaries had become an unappreciative rascal—a gap too wide for acceptance.

Furthermore, his pride prevented him admitting defeat by Wandao School, preferring to remain under the mountain rather than emerging and reclaiming the mantle of the elder ancestor of the Tongbei Ape Clan, the Tongtian Saint.

But now...

Faced with the gray-robed elder monkey, Tongtian Saint had no response, but quickly regained his senses, urgently lifting his head to the old monkey: "Great Ancestor, the Human God possesses vast Divine Power, extraordinary in nature; should he become aware of your return to the Lower Realm..."

"Hmph!!!"

The old monkey snorted: "That person indeed has some skills, but still falls short of calculating the Great Ancestor."

Having said that, looking at Tongtian Saint still shrinking in the mountain, the elder monkey snorted again with a hint of scorn: "Aren't you going to come out?"

"Oho oho!"

Now, the Tongtian Saint who had lived for tens of thousands of years seemed like a three-year-old child, somewhat embarrassed yet adorable. He agreed to climb out from the mountain, but remembering something, dared not make a stir. Finally, he employed the Great Minor Compliance Mana Point and passed through the mountain, leaving behind a deep, secluded cave.

"Hmph!!!"

The elderly monkey snorted again, appraising his naked appearance: "You have lost all face for our Tongbei Ape Clan."

Embarrassed, Tongtian Saint's face flushed red. Though Wandao School had restored his freedom, they hadn't returned his weapons and armor. The Iron Rod Divine Weapon and golden armor left by Fighting Saint Ape were still with Wandao School, and he was too embarrassed to ask for them, leaving him speechless before the old ancestor.

Fortunately, he knew how to divert the conversation, directly addressing the gray-robed elder: "Great Ancestor, how did you return? Wasn't it said to be difficult to return after Ascension? Has there been a change in heaven and earth, or have the Heavenly Demon gods from the Upper Realm employed some techniques?"

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"Hmph!"

The old ape snorted coldly: "There's no need for you to pry into this matter. Just know that I have returned and will definitely restore the might of our Tongbei Ape Clan and the Demon Race. All that we've lost over the years, we will reclaim with compounded interest!"

"This..."

Upon hearing this, the Tongtian Saint revealed a hesitant expression. Looking at the grey-clothed old ape, he struggled to speak: "There are some things I'm unsure if I should say."

"Hm!?"

The grey-clothed old ape's eyes turned cold: "What is it that you want to say?"

"This..."

These words made the Tongtian Saint hesitant, but eventually, he gritted his teeth and said: "Ancestor, that Human God is immensely powerful and astonishing in strength, I fear that not one or two Demon Gods can subdue him. As for reclaiming the Holy Weapons and armor, it would be better to plan for the long term..."

"You think your ancestor is no match for that person?!"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted. The grey-clothed old ape looked at him with a cold eye, already bristling with irritation.

"This..."

The Tongtian Saint tilted his monkey head to the side, avoiding eye contact and not daring to answer.

But sometimes, not answering is an answer in itself.

The defeat from that battle three thousand years ago was etched in his heart.

Carrying high hopes, armed for battle, his moves were as mighty as the Law of Heaven and Earth, and he pushed the Fighting Saint Method to its limits. Yet, he couldn't even see his opponent's face. Just two children and a Sword Map pinned him under the mountain.

Such a huge disparity, such an outcome, cast a dark shadow in his heart, one that three thousand years couldn't erase.

The Tongtian Saint believed that with his Eight Calamity Cultivation and as a Tongbei Divine Ape, if he were to exert his full strength and use the Divine Weapon and armor left by the Fighting Saint Ape, he could even contend with a True Immortal.

But he was defeated, so miserably defeated!

Was it his overestimation?

No!

The opponent was too strong, unimaginably so!

So strong three thousand years ago, and now, even more inconceivable after another three thousand years.

Although the grey-clothed old ape, a Demon God from the Upper Realm, has now returned, a Demon God is merely equivalent to a True Immortal. Faced with that man, I fear...

The Tongtian Saint did not dare to continue thinking and expressed his concerns with silence.

"Hmph!"

The grey-clothed old ape understood his intentions, snorted coldly, and confidently said: "Rest assured, your ancestor has a better mind than you do. I know full well that person is no ordinary individual, and I will not rashly confront him. This time, there's not just me descending to the Lower Realm among the Demon Gods, there's even a Demon Saint..."

"Demon Saint?"

The Tongtian Saint's pupils shrank, filled with shock and uncertainty.

A Saint is the highest title within the Demon Race, corresponding to an Immortal in the Human Clan.

Although he is known as the Tongtian Saint, that's just the Lower Realm's Demon Race making an overstatement. In reality, a true Great Saint is at least a Heavenly Demon, equivalent to a Heavenly Immortal Taoist Master in the Human Clan, commanding billions of their kin.

The Demon Saint mentioned by the grey-clothed old ape couldn't possibly be the Great Saint of Heavenly Demons, but even a slightly inferior Demon Saint is of the Tenth Order, comparable to an Earth Immortal of the Human Clan.

A Demon Saint descending to the Lower Realm this time?

The Tongtian Saint found this unbelievable because he was well aware of the value of the Lower Realm's Tao Lineage. Although it was of some importance, it was hardly enough to alarm a true Demon Saint, let alone descend personally. Such an event had never occurred since Ancient Times.

So, what had happened to cause such an upheaval that the Great Saint of Heavenly Demons from the Upper Realm would take such drastic action?

The Tongtian Saint was puzzled and confused. He looked up, intending to ask more, but his body suddenly stiffened, his Golden Eyes widened in utter disbelief as he stared behind the grey-clothed old ape.

"Hm!?"

The grey-clothed old ape, seeing his reaction, also responded instantly, his gaze sharpening as he turned around in shock.

As soon as he turned, he saw a person standing there with a faint smile.

"..."

"..."

"..."

For a moment, silence engulfed the area beneath the Five Elements Mountain.

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