Following a hard-won victory, the Dragon King Ao Guang hosts the mysterious Nine Nether Elder and the powerful Xu Ping. As they discuss their backgrounds, the dragon king offers rewards for their assistance in battle. The Nine Nether Elder requests rare materials for ghostly cultivation, while Xu Ping seeks items to enhance his techniques and comprehension.
"A treasure that can bestow the Dragon Might of the Human Race?"
Ao Guang Dragon King cast a somewhat surprised glance toward Xu Ping.
He could distinctly feel the pure, though not exceedingly potent, Dragon Might emanating from Xu Ping.
A human's strong desire to augment his Dragon Might was certainly an intriguing pursuit.
However, he did not probe further; every individual harbored their own private matters.
"Regarding Spiritual Objects that boost comprehension..."
Ao Guang Dragon King mused for a moment, "Our Demon Race primarily cultivates through innate bloodline talents and the passage of extensive time; we rely far less on comprehension."
"Nevertheless, within the Dragon Palace archives, there exists an artifact known as the 'Enlightening Spirit Pearl.'"
"This pearl is formed from an ancient spirit clam that has absorbed the essence of both sun and moon, along with the aura of literary fortune. When worn, it can subtly, almost imperceptibly, enhance a cultivator's comprehension to a small extent."
"This item holds little practical value for our Demon Race and has remained unused. Therefore, I shall present it as a gift to Fellow Daoist Xu."
Xu Ping's eyes immediately brightened upon hearing this.
To him, this was truly a magnificent find.
An item that permanently amplified comprehension, even if only 'by a small degree,' was undoubtedly a treasure of immense rarity, seldom encountered.
This True Dragon Hall indeed possessed deep and profound reserves.
"As for augmenting Dragon Might..."
Ao Guang Dragon King contemplated, "Our Dragon Race possesses a secret technique involving the Dragon Essence Blood Tempering Pill. It was initially developed to purify the bloodline of younger Dragon Race members and awaken their Dragon Might."
"Should a member of the Human Race consume it, they must endure extreme agony and also collaborate with a specialized technique to manage its effects. The inherent risks are not insignificant, but if successful, the impact on increasing Dragon Might will be remarkably substantial."
"Both this method and the pill's formula can be shared with you, Fellow Daoist."
"My sincere thanks, Dragon King," Xu Ping expressed, cupping his hands with genuine gratitude.
These two items were precisely what he required at this moment.
Suddenly, Xu Ping remembered another inquiry and asked, "Please forgive my boldness in asking one more question, Dragon King—within the Dragon Palace, or anywhere in the Outer Sea, are there any leads or stockpiles of 'Nine Heavens Gang Wind Essence'?"
Ao Guang Dragon King's brows knitted slightly. He pondered carefully for a moment before shaking his head. "Nine Heavens Gang Wind Essence is exceedingly rare. It requires tens of thousands of years to condense a single wisp within the deepest layers of the Nine Heavens Gang Wind zone."
"Not only is it precious, but its formation environment is also extraordinarily specific. Typically, only in certain absolute forbidden zones found inland is there a possibility of discovering traces of it."
"The conditions in the Outer Sea are seldom conducive to the birth of such an object."
Although Xu Ping felt a tinge of disappointment, it was within his expectations.
The Nine Nether Elder had previously only mentioned potential clues inland, without concrete confirmation.
However, Ao Guang Dragon King then added, "Since Fellow Daoist has a need for it, I shall immediately issue directives for the younger members under my command to maintain heightened vigilance."
"Should any sign of this item appear in the Outer Sea, or through exchanges with other factions, we shall notify Fellow Daoist at the earliest possible moment."
"I appreciate your troublesome efforts, Dragon King," Xu Ping conveyed his gratitude once more.
With this established connection to the True Dragon Hall, a sliver of hope certainly increased.
....
Following the exchange and acceptance of gifts, the atmosphere within the hall eased considerably.
Ao Guang Dragon King gracefully guided the conversation back to the pressing dangers.
"The Star Palace and the Ancient Demons have perpetually posed a significant hidden threat."
His tone grew somber. "While we have managed to repel them for the present, we are acutely aware that without the stabilizing influence of the Outer Sea's heavenly laws, the combined might of the Dual Saints is overwhelmingly formidable."
"Even I, were I to venture beyond the Outer Sea to confront them, would face only one outcome: defeat and withdrawal.
"Initiating an assault is simply not a viable option."
The Nine Nether Elder chimed in, "What the Dragon King states is entirely accurate."
"In the current predicament, the critical factor rests with the Ancient Demons. If we can neutralize the Ancient Demons, thereby severing one of the Star Palace's main arms, then with merely the Dual Saints remaining, their power—though considerable—will make orchestrating another invasion of this magnitude and achieving substantial gains exceedingly difficult."
Ao Guang Dragon King acknowledged with a nod of agreement. "Fellow Daoist perceives the situation with clarity."
It appears, however, that the Ancient Demons are deeply entrenched within their Ancient Demon Hall, their movements shrouded in mystery and hidden within the void. It's incredibly challenging to even pinpoint their locations, let alone confront or seal them.
Back in antiquity, subduing the Ancient Demon Hall necessitated the unified might of numerous powerful experts from this very realm. As for the current situation… it is indeed a dire and formidable challenge!
After a period of contemplation, Xu Ping voiced his thoughts. "Dragon King, honored Senior, from my perspective, our forces and the Star Palace have reached an impasse."
"The Saints of the Star Palace invested considerable effort and resources into their scheme for the Outer Sea. They are unlikely to abandon their objectives simply due to a single setback; they must have contingency plans in motion."
"Perhaps we could adopt a strategy of watchful waiting, observing their subsequent actions with vigilance—particularly the movements of the Ancient Demon faction."
"Subsequently, we can analyze their maneuvers to identify vulnerabilities and formulate a counter-strategy."
"A hasty offensive, conversely, would be imprudent."
Xu Ping's rationale was logical and composed, exhibiting neither arrogance nor impatience. His approach centered on defense and retaliatory action, awaiting the optimal moment.
The primary consideration, naturally, was Xu Ping's acute shortage of time.
Especially now, with the ability to augment his comprehension, advancements in the Sword Dao were within his foreseeable grasp.
Consequently, he had no desire to instigate conflict at this juncture; peaceful cultivation was the most advantageous path.
Upon hearing this, both Ao Guang, the Dragon King, and the Nine Nether Elder adopted contemplative expressions. After a brief pause, they inclined their heads in agreement.
At present, this was indeed the most prudent course of action.
...
Concurrently.
Within the Inner Sea, amidst a magnificent palace suspended amongst a sea of clouds and meticulously constructed from Star Power.
The prevailing atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed on the verge of materializing into liquid.
The starlight emanating from the Star King's form appeared subtly erratic, and a delicate layer of frost adorned the austere visage of the Moon God.
Seated opposite them, the Hehuan Old Demon, despite the initial stabilization of the wounds upon his demonic physique, still exhibited a somewhat unsettled aura, his expression a terrifying shade of darkness.
In this conflict within the Outer Sea, it could be declared they had suffered a devastating loss on all fronts.
Not only had their grand design to subjugate the Outer Sea been thwarted, but they had also incurred the loss of a substantial number of their disciples, both junior and intermediate.
More critically, their clandestine alliance with the Ancient Demons had been exposed, and two formidable unforeseen elements, Xu Ping and the Nine Nether Elder, had emerged.
"Those two… especially this Xu Ping!"
The Hehuan Old Demon's teeth clenched, a malevolent flame igniting within his crimson, vertical pupils. "If this brat is not dealt with, he is guaranteed to become a catastrophic threat!"
The Star King's voice, chillingly clear, carried a subtle undercurrent of vexation. "Indeed, this child surpassed all predictions. Possessing merely a Nascent Soul physique, wielding two potent artifacts, and with his Sword Dao already brushing against the precipice of 'momentum'… his caliber is truly exceptional across the ages."
"And that Ghost Cultivator—his cultivation at the Divinity Transformation level, remaining concealed until this point—his aspirations are undeniably far-reaching."
