I was just making up techniques… how did all of you become Emperors? Chapter 675 675: The Hongyuan Continent Stands Tall

"Your divine might is unparalleled, Uncle Master. I am in awe."

With a tone full of respect, Dean Meng swiftly complimented Chu Feng.

Smiling lightly, Chu Feng inquired, "Your surname is Meng. Could you be my master's grandson?"

"Indeed, Uncle Master. My great-grandfather is your master."

Dean Meng grinned while attempting to forge a bond with Chu Feng. This role of Dean should never have gone to a freshly promoted Saint like him, yet the instant his great-grandfather uttered a word, the elders yielded immediately.

The primary cause lay in the fact that his particular Uncle Master already held twelve Divine Cores as a Divine King—even the Suppressing Divine King himself kept a respectful distance from this Uncle Master.

"I see," Chu Feng responded. "Arrange some food and wine. The two of us can share a drink and talk."

"Right away!"

Dean Meng promptly directed his underlings to set up the banquet, fetching his prized top-tier Saint wine. He meticulously served it to his honored Uncle Master.

Noticing the young man's sharp mind, Chu Feng tossed a Dao Fruit Pill over to him without much thought.

This Dao Fruit Pill wasn't even top-grade. It was a prize he'd earned from alchemy back in his Saint Academy days—not due to any shortfall in his abilities, but because the ingredients supplied by those elders weren't suitable for making superior Dao Fruit Pills.

"Thank you, Uncle Master."

Dean Meng detected the abundant Dao essence inside the pill. Consuming it would probably boost his cultivation equivalent to a century of effort.

Following three rounds of drinks, Chu Feng started asking about the circumstances of the others.

"Little Changyu, tell me where Xiuyuan and the rest have headed."

Dean Meng sipped some wine and answered, "Uncle Master, all the senior brothers have traveled to the Hongyuan Continent. It seems that around sixty years back, a demon tribe abruptly emerged and started vying with our Wendao Sect for control of the Central Continent. Senior brothers Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian had already reached Divine King status and planned to depart, but they found out the demons were backed by a Divine King. Thus, they stayed with Wendao Sect."

"Now, no one is certain about the war's status in Hongyuan Continent. The last update I got a year ago indicated that Wendao Sect and the Myriad Demons were locked in a deadlock, without any large-scale clashes breaking out."

"The rise of the demon tribe."

Chu Feng's lips slightly upturned as he whispered, "This feels familiar. I just can't tell if it's the native demons ascending or if outside powers are propping them up."

When the Ten Sacred Territories split the war gains, they merely stated that our Wendao Sect would hold sole authority over the Hongyuan Continent, but they offered no assurance against intrusions from powers of other continents.

Since Divine Kings from the Ten Sacred Territories could uncover a new continent, Divine Kings from elsewhere could naturally do the same.

I'm curious about how Xiao Chen and the others are holding up in the Hongyuan Continent at present. It looks like I must head to the Hongyuan Continent tomorrow.

He held no fears that Xiao Chen and the others might fall to the demons. After all, Xiao Chen was shaping up to be a future Sword Emperor, and he carried treasures gifted by me. Unless a Divine Emperor showed up, nothing could overcome him.

In the Hongyuan Continent, inside Wendao Sect, the shadows of conflict had hung over the sect for sixty years.

Sixty years of warfare had transformed the balance of power across the Central Continent. Wendao Sect dominated lands mainly inhabited by humans, whereas the demons claimed the remaining portion.

The Ancient Three Races, on the other hand, observed the battle from afar across their three overseas continents.

To this day, the Ancient Three Races hadn't let go of their prior loss. They remained convinced that absent Wendao Sect, they could seize the whole Hongyuan Continent.

Wendao Sect paid no heed to such notions. So long as the Ancient Three Races refrained from joining forces with the Myriad Demons, they were content to allow them a foothold for survival.

Should the Ancient Three Races unite with the Myriad Demons, then judgment would surely follow.

Within the Divine Hall, Ji Jiuwu occupied the central seat, flanked by Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian, as the others assembled on both sides.

"Fellow disciples, we can now confirm that forces from other continents have infiltrated the Myriad Demons' ranks, and they possess several Divine Kings. Two options lie ahead: fight until both sides are exhausted, or parley with them, steady the front, and await a superior moment to attack. What are your thoughts?"

Ji Jiuwu had seen the Three Races War firsthand, so he understood that if his two senior brothers fully unleashed against the Myriad Demons' Divine Kings, it would fracture the Central Continent. The fortune Wendao Sect had laboriously accumulated would dissipate, a fate he refused to accept.

Cao Youqian grinned and replied, "Ninth Brother Ji, I grasp your worries, but Senior Brother and I aren't Divine Kings bound only to the Hongyuan Continent. If needed, we can lure the Myriad Demons' Divine Kings into a void clash. I'm sure they wouldn't desire a ruined Central Continent any more than we do."

At these words, Ji Jiuwu's eyes brightened. He was merely a single step from reaching 999 Dao essences. Had the endless wars not robbed him of cultivation time, he would have already ascended to Divine King.

If his two senior brothers could overpower the Myriad Demons' Divine Kings in the void and halt their advance for a time, then once he became a Divine King, their prospects for striking back would improve vastly.

He rose promptly and declared, "I request Senior Brother Xiao and Senior Brother Cao to act and curb the Myriad Demons' Divine Kings."

Cao Youqian and Xiao Chen shared a look and nodded with smiles. "No problem."

By now, both were Divine Kings bearing two Divine Cores, utterly unafraid of any foe. Even against a Divine King with greater Divine Cores, they could deploy the sword jade from their master to overpower them.

"Excellent. Then tomorrow, I will dispatch someone to issue a challenge."

Ji Jiuwu announced, his expression brimming with eagerness.

Cao Youqian dismissed it with a wave. "No need for that. I'll handle the challenge myself tomorrow. The Myriad Demons' Divine Kings have been eager to measure themselves against me for ages."

Ji Jiuwu inclined his head. "Then we'll follow Senior Brother Cao's plan."

The next day.

Cao Youqian materialized high above the Myriad Demons' domain. By merely unleashing a sliver of a Divine King's aura, innumerable demons beneath quaked in terror.

Shortly, a booming voice echoed from the Myriad Demons' depths: "Daoist friend, what is the intent behind this provocation?"

"No misunderstanding."

Cao Youqian replied with a smile, "I've come today to issue a challenge."

"Oh?"

With a questioning tone, a lion-headed demon Divine King with wings emerged before Cao Youqian. Gazing at him, he demanded, "What, has Wendao Sect lost the will to wage war and now seeks a duel with me?"

"Not at all. I merely think that dragging this on is pointless. Why not fight in the void? The winner claims rule over this continent, the loser departs. The question is, do you have the courage?"

"Hmph!" the demon Divine King huffed. "Why would I risk battling you to settle this continent's fate?"

Cao Youqian shrugged. "Surely you prefer a mostly whole Hongyuan Continent over a broken one. If we mutually destroy each other, neither gains this continent's luck."

Upon hearing this, the demon Divine King's face twisted in hesitation, but soon he clenched his teeth and consented. "Very well. As you propose, in seven days, we fight in the void to decide the winner!"

"It's a deal!"

"It's a deal!"

After their exchange, Cao Youqian spun around and departed.

The lion-headed Divine King observed Cao Youqian's retreating form with a trace of scorn, then wheeled back to his base.

The moment he touched down, three demon Divine Kings encircled him. A two-headed tiger Divine King questioned, "Mad Lion, why accept his challenge?"

The Mad Lion Divine King chuckled. "Twin-headed King, if I refused, would you have him skulk away indefinitely? I agreed to a battle for victory, not a solo fight."

At this revelation, the other two Divine Kings raised thumbs to the Mad Lion Divine King.

"Mad Lion, I didn't expect that bedding a fox demon would sharpen your wits."

"Nine-headed Bird, if you can't talk straight, scram. What's this about bedding a fox demon? My mind's always been keen." The Mad Lion Divine King retorted irritably.

The remaining Golden Ape Divine King added, "Since we're setting an ambush for the human Divine King, let's first plan our combat approach and how to share the rewards."