That night.

Fog enshrouded everything, and the starlight was dim. The overcast sky looked as if covered with a piece of black cloth, dark and deep.

Seeing this, Demonic Body Hong Yuan’s eyelids drooped. Demons all fear authority. And just as people rely on clothing and horses on saddles, the Green Dragon Overlord should have the grandeur befitting a Green Dragon Overlord!

"Flood Gathering War Banner—transform by water!"

He took out the Holy Artifact, the Flood Gathering War Banner, and activated his Demon Essence. In an instant, the sky, like a piece of black cloth, seemed to be lifted by a giant hand. Rosy clouds began to rise, Immortal Qi wafted about, spreading majestically far and wide.

The Demons in the sea realm mostly stopped their work, staring in shock at Hong Yuan suspended mid-air.

"The Demon Emperor reincarnated?!"

Trembling voices of shock rose from below.

Hong Yuan remained silent and continued to activate the Flood Gathering War Banner. In front of him, an Ancient War Chariot gradually took shape. This Ancient War Chariot was purple-golden, engraved with suns, moons, and Stars on top, and Ancient Runes on the bottom, as if all spirits of the world resided within it.

Hong Yuan floated in and seated himself at the center of the chariot. The Flood Gathering War Banner was placed at the front left side of the chariot, continuing to operate. In a flash, boundless luminescence inundated heaven and earth.

Hong Yuan stood majestically as manifestations of True Dragons and Divine Phoenixes danced around the Purple Gold Ancient War Chariot. They both cried out in unison, and sounds of celestial music filled the air.

What kind of spectacle was this? All the Demons below in the sea realm widened their eyes, staring dumbfounded at Hong Yuan.

"The Demon Emperor?!"

Gasps of amazement were heard one after another. They couldn’t help but be astonished, for at that moment, Hong Yuan truly resembled a Demon Emperor reborn. The magnitude of the spectacle, combined with his aura of supreme dominion, was truly terrifying!

"Xuan Guangqiao—"

Li Jianqiu bit her lip. Her hard-won Taoist heart once again began to falter. In her wavering gaze, the imposing Hong Yuan, driving the Ancient War Chariot and with an aura of suppressing all realms, galloped away.

His destination: the Yong City Ocean Area.

「」

The Desolate Flourishing Sea Region was nearly a hundred sea realms away from the Yong City Ocean Area, a considerable distance indeed.

Maintaining such a grand spectacle, Hong Yuan’s inner Demon Essence was consumed rapidly. But he didn’t feel the slightest pressure and remained as nonchalant as ever.

"Heavenly Demon Dismantling."

"Heavenly Demon Dismantling."

Whenever his Demon Essence dropped to half, Hong Yuan would decisively activate the Heavenly Demon Dismantling Divine Power. The Sub-banner of the Flood Gathering War Banner could absorb Demon Beast Essence to provide Hong Yuan with Life Span. Since it was wartime, Demon Beast Essence was plentiful. Therefore, Hong Yuan’s over two million Life Span did not diminish but only grew at a slower pace.

And so, that night, Demons across the Vermilion Bird War Zone all believed that the ancient Demon Emperor had returned to the world. Not only that, but the Demon Saints residing in the Green Heaven, upon seeing Hong Yuan’s grand entrance, all remained silent. Even several Demon Saints’ mouths twitched slightly. How could they not want to make such a grand entrance themselves? But if they dared to do so, they would be blocked by other Demon Saints the very next day!

"This young man truly has the bearing of the Great Moon Saint."

"Hehe..."

「Elsewhere.」

Yong City Ocean Area, Ten Thousand Bamboo Forest Sea.

While discussing the path of Sound Tao, Lin Wenti and Ye Qing looked up in confusion. The sky had turned from pitch black to purple-gold!

"Wenti, Qing, aren’t you going to appear yet?"

A voice as loud as a bell came from the distant horizon, resonating powerfully.

"Which insolent brat dares be so impudent?" Lin Wenti and Ye Qing both raised their eyebrows. They stared furiously at the distant horizon, intending to teach the presumptuous visitor a harsh lesson. But the next moment, their mouths gaped open, their bodies frozen in place.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—

Hong Yuan was driving the Purple Gold Ancient War Chariot, tearing through the void as he sped forward. Azure Lotus cleared the path, and golden light served as the tracks. The True Dragon manifestation roared, and the Divine Phoenix manifestation cried out sonorously. Upon the Ancient War Chariot, Hong Yuan was illuminated as if a Great Emperor was traveling, dazzling to the extreme!

GULP. Lin and Ye swallowed hard, exchanging looks. Such a grand display could only be performed by a Demon Saint. With this in mind, they shivered and hurriedly followed Hong Yuan’s command, sprinting forward. Thus, under the watchful eyes of the Demon Soldiers and Demon Generals of the Vermilion Bird Coalition Army, their two kings seemed to become somewhat... obsequious?

"Big Bro Guangqiao!"

"Big Bro Guangqiao!"

In the world of Demon Beasts, strength reigned supreme, and the most capable led the way. Although Lin and Ye knew they were Hong Yuan’s seniors, they did not dare to be presumptuous in front of him.

"Come in and we’ll talk," Hong Yuan said softly, nodding.

「An hour later.」

Lin and Ye feigned anger, yet they left quite contented at heart.

"Tian, why did Big Bro want us to pretend that we’re still in conflict, even making us flee to the White Tiger Battle Zone where Ye Jianfei is?"

"Don’t worry about it too much; let Big Bro brood over these things himself. With this Demon Agreement Book, if we work well, who knows, we might even connect to the three Demon Realms. By that time, our path to becoming Saints will be greatly shortened!"

Lin Wenti happily held the Demon Agreement Book in his hand. The Demon Agreement Book was an extremely precious contract. Violating it would have severe consequences. It was precisely because of the Demon Agreement Book that Lin Wenti had been willing to consider allegiance. This time, he had really negotiated a good deal for himself.

"Hehe, let’s quickly gather our forces and head for the White Tiger Battle Zone." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Thinking of this, Lin Wenti laughed.

「」

In the Treasured Yellow Heaven, at the Five Human Clan’s Intelligence Bureau.

"It shouldn’t be, it really shouldn’t be," murmured the Lightning Martial Saint.

With the information passed by the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint, the multitude of Martial Saints present understood: the forces in the three Heavenly Scenic Tower battle zones had not immediately chosen to unite against Demonic Body Hong Yuan. Instead, they were each looking out for themselves, appearing terrified by him. This was nothing like what they had previously speculated! The Martial Saints in the room were abuzz, sharing and discussing their own views.

Meanwhile, Hong Yuan’s primary consciousness descended into his Sword Tao Incarnation, fixating on the silent Master Eastward Flowing.

Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed through the room, and the Sword Tao Incarnation nearly lost his composure.

"WAHAHA, HAHAHAHA..."

Master Eastward Flowing, who had been silent, threw his head back and laughed loudly, drawing everyone’s attention.

"I laugh at that little loach for its lack of cunning! If it had stationed a contingent in the White Tiger Heavenly Scenic Tower battle zone and another in the Xuanwu Heavenly Scenic Tower battle zone, using guerrilla tactics to relieve any siege, even if the White Tiger and Xuanwu battle zones were to compromise internally, it would still greatly prolong the time for unification! WAHAHAHA..."

Upon hearing this, the Lightning Martial Saint looked at Master Eastward Flowing with some hesitation. Last time, this fellow had said the same thing, but the outcome had been the opposite of his prediction.

"Is that so?" the Lightning Martial Saint said dubiously, feeling that something was amiss.

"Of course!" Master Eastward Flowing was utterly certain. "That little loach likely won’t be able to become a complete overlord of the four directions!"

In the corner, Hong Yuan had to suppress his laughter, especially when he saw that Master Eastward Flowing had convinced the Lightning Martial Saint and that Master Eastward Flowing’s view had once again become the mainstream, misleading the other Martial Saints...

This Master Eastward Flowing is truly talented!

"Dragon Sword, what’s the matter?" Butterfly Sword Martial Saint asked with concern, her beautiful eyes sparkling, captivating all who saw them.

"Nothing much, just thought of something funny," Hong Yuan said with a smile, his demeanor warm and inviting.

"Then tell me about it," the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint giggled, her eyes crinkling.

The Butterfly Sword Martial Saint was a tall, gorgeous woman with an air of cool elegance. Within the Five Great Human Tribe Academies, she was poetically known as the "Flower of the High Ridge." At this moment, with her charming smile and expectant eyes, she indeed attracted the gazes of many Martial Saints in the room!

Seeing the Butterfly Sword Martial Saint actively seeking conversation with Hong Yuan, and her pleasant, bell-like laughter continuing unabated, several Martial Saints’ expressions turned somewhat sullen.

Sigh, if only I had pursued the Sword Tao or the Transformation Tao as well...