Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil in the Cultivation World Chapter 1157 - 560: Obtaining the Ancient Demon Emperor Order and Shocking the Southern Continent (Part 2)

In a bygone era, a Divinity Transformation Demon Beast might have successfully established a kingdom and commanded immense power. However, the times have drastically shifted.

A mere Divinity Transformation Demon Beast stands no chance of founding a nation; they would need to reach the Refining Void stage.

No, even a Void Refining Demon Beast is no longer capable of such a feat.

Considering that no fewer than twenty-eight Void Refining Demon Beasts have met their end at the hands of humans, one can only imagine the ruthlessness of humanity.

"Humans are truly formidable; how did they attain such might?"

"Indeed! Twenty-eight Tier Six Great Demons, extinguished without the slightest warning."

"How foolish I was to believe that humans remained within their city walls due to a lack of strength. Little did I know, they simply lacked sufficient population and were indifferent to other territories."

"It is precisely so. Humans did not attack us merely because we posed no threat. Once a threat emerges, then our end is nigh."

"Alas, this continent has always belonged to human cultivators; we Demon Beasts are simply too weak."

"If this continues, we are inevitably heading towards an impasse. What course of action should we take now?"

A multitude of Demon Beasts engaged in a fervent discussion, each expressing profound worry and a sense of impending doom.

After all, the constant threat posed by humans loomed large over their existence.

Previously, their continued existence was permitted solely because humans did not perceive them as a significant threat.

But if humans were to decide to act, would their demise not be inevitable?!

The unsettling feeling of having their very lives and destinies dictated by an adversary left them deeply uncomfortable.

"Now, the only viable path is to surrender,"

A Tier Five Demon Beast vocalized, proposing a potential solution.

"Surrender? What exactly does that entail?"

Many of the Demon Beasts looked on with confusion.

"It means precisely what it says."

"Perhaps you are unaware, but humans do not outright reject other species."

"Within the Primordial Talisman Sect, numerous Spirit Beasts reside."

"In essence, beings acknowledged by them are designated as Spirit Beasts; those not recognized are classified as Demon Beasts."

"Should one manage to become a Spirit Beast, they would gain the freedom to traverse human society unimpeded."

"Furthermore, there would be no necessity to fear being hunted by human cultivators."

"Therefore, our sole remaining option is to transition into Spirit Beasts under the banner of the Primordial Talisman Sect."

This Tier Five Demon Beast elaborated on its proposal.

It was prepared to capitulate, to abandon the shadows for the light, and to become a Spirit Beast affiliated with the Primordial Talisman Sect.

By doing so, it could completely negate the threat posed by human cultivators.

"Are you jesting? Surrendering to humans? That is utterly disgraceful."

"We are magnificent Demon Beasts, possessing long lifespans. How can we possibly stoop to submitting to these ephemeral beings?"

As these sentiments were voiced, a considerable number of Demon Beasts began to vehemently refuse, shaking their heads in opposition.

They adamantly refused to bow to humans; such an act was virtually synonymous with becoming their thralls.

To them, it represented an unforgivable disgrace, an outcome they deemed utterly unacceptable.

"Refusing to surrender means meeting your death."

"Recall that all twenty-eight Void Refining Demon Beasts perished not long ago."

"I suspect a human Void Refining cultivator would not hesitate to easily vanquish us as well."

"To that mighty individual, eliminating us would likely be as effortless as exhaling a breath."

The Tier Five Demon Beast scoffed, casting a critical gaze upon its companions.

Given the current predicament, why cling to such unnecessary pride?

Pride is indeed a valuable trait, but it must be commensurate with one's strength.

To yield to the weak is undeniably shameful.

However, when faced with an overwhelmingly powerful adversary, submission carries no stigma.

In the world of Demon Beasts, the strongest reigns supreme.

Naturally, an entity capable of effortlessly annihilating so many Tier Six Great Demons must be an exceptionally potent being.

Surrendering to such a power is not a mark of shame; rather, it is an honor.

"This..."

Upon hearing these compelling arguments, many Demon Beasts fell into a contemplative silence, utterly speechless.

They had, in fact, greatly underestimated human cultivators previously, assuming their weakness stemmed from their inability to occupy such vast territories.

But now, they had been starkly awakened; the terrifying might of humanity was simply beyond their wildest comprehension.

It was no wonder they had become the undisputed rulers of this continent.

Those Tier Six Great Demons were indeed terrifying; no one understood this truth better than they.

And yet, they had been casually obliterated by human cultivators.

A direct comparison between the two sides was sufficient to demonstrate the appalling and overwhelming power wielded by human factions.

"Regardless, I intend to forsake the darkness for the light and seek affiliation with the Primordial Talisman Sect."

"Aligning oneself with a dominant power in this era is not a source of shame; it is merely a change of allegiance."

"After all, I harbor no desire to be caught off guard by a contingent of human cultivators and subsequently hunted."

"As for your individual choices, they are of no concern to me. I simply hope you will not come to regret your decisions later on."

Observed the Tier Five Demon Beast state with a detached tone.

It must be acknowledged that its discourse was indeed exceptionally convincing, swaying a significant number of its fellow Tier Five Demon Beasts.

On this vast continent, the path to survival necessitates transformation into a Spirit Beast; remaining a mere Demon Beast offers no viable future.

...

Several days subsequently, in a different locale of the Southern Continent, cultivators from various ancient sects also received the startling news of the Ten Thousand Demon Hall's complete annihilation.

This revelation left them utterly astounded, finding it exceedingly difficult to accept.

"Impossible, could this news be false? Was the Ten Thousand Demon Hall truly eradicated?"

"There were no less than twenty-eight Void Refining Demon Cultivators – not a flock of common birds, simply annihilated so easily?"

"How could such a feat have been accomplished?"

One Void Refining Cultivator expressed profound disbelief, deeming the report utterly preposterous and wildly improbable.

While he had entertained the possibility of the Ten Thousand Demon Hall's defeat, he had never envisioned such a catastrophic and ignominious downfall.

Not a single Great Demon at the Refining Void stage managed to escape – all were ruthlessly slain by the Sect Leader of the Primordial Talisman Sect.

His mind was reeling from the implications.

"This intelligence is undeniably accurate; it has already permeated the entirety of the Southern Continent."

"The very corpse of the Refining Void Perfection Six-Winged Flaming Tiger is now on public display."

"This event is guaranteed to incite the wrath of the Ten Thousand Demon Hall."

One individual stated with palpable emotion.

He felt a profound sense of personal relief, thankful that he had refrained from rashly confronting the Primordial Talisman Sect previously.

Had he acted impulsively, he would undoubtedly have met the same grim fate as those Refining Void Demon Cultivators from the Ten Thousand Demon Hall.

In uncharted territories, exercising caution is almost always the wiser course.

This is especially true given the unfathomable depths of the Void Realm.

The true extent of hidden power within this world remains unknown to most.

A single misstep could precipitate a swift and tragic demise in this perilous realm.

"Incensed, so what? The laws governing the Void Realm are exceptionally stringent; cultivators beyond the Refining Void stage are barred from entry."

"Should they dispatch individuals at the Refining Void level, it would essentially be a suicide mission."

"Despite the Ten Thousand Demon Hall's considerable might, their ability to act with impunity within the Void Realm is non-existent."

"My prediction is that they will be forced to acquiesce to the situation, unable to retaliate against the Primordial Talisman Sect."

Someone remarked with a sardonic smirk, having clearly discerned the inherent vulnerabilities of the Ten Thousand Demon Hall.

While the Ten Thousand Demon Hall commands significant respect and exerts considerable influence in the outside world, their power is severely constrained within the confines of the Void Realm.

The loss of twenty-eight Great Demons at the Refining Void stage alone is a blow substantial enough to cause them prolonged agony.

"I have long asserted that the powers operating within this world are beyond comprehension. Previously, you dismissed my claims. Had we been as foolhardy as those Great Demons, we would likely be dead by now; it is fortunate we did not act."

"Indeed, that is true. However, how did the Primordial Talisman Sect achieve such a victory? These were twenty-eight Great Demons of the Refining Void stage; their elimination is no trivial undertaking."

"Frankly, I harbor a startling hypothesis: it is possible that the Primordial Talisman Sect possesses an Immortal Artifact; only the sheer power emanating from such an artifact could instantly obliterate so many Refining Void Great Demons, leaving them utterly defenseless."

Numerous cultivators from ancient sects engaged in fervent discussion, exchanging their varied conjectures.

They widely suspected that the Primordial Talisman Sect was in possession of a potent Immortal Artifact, granting them formidable combat capabilities that rendered even Void Refining Cultivators incapable of escaping their swift demise.

In truth, the Ten Great Immortal Sects each lay claim to their own Immortal Artifacts, a primary reason for their overwhelming dominance and ascendancy across all regions.

An Immortal Artifact can be considered the ultimate treasure of any paramount power.

Even a mere fraction of an Immortal Artifact's might, once unleashed, is sufficient to reshape landscapes and overturn the very heavens and earth.

"If the Primordial Talisman Sect indeed holds an Immortal Artifact, then it is absolutely imperative that they not be provoked."

"The sheer destructive potential of an Immortal Artifact is truly awe-inspiring."

A Void Refining Cultivator commented, his voice tinged with reverence.

He recalled a past instance where he had merely glimpsed the Immortal Artifact of another sect from a distance; even that fleeting exposure to its aura had nearly cost him his life.

Such a weapon transcends the mortal plane, possessing the formidable capacity to secure a sect's destiny for untold eons.