「Two days later.」

Lin Wenti and Ye Qing led their forces to the White Tiger Battle Zone, determined to prevent its early unification.

Subsequently, Hong Yuan ordered Li Jianqiu, Zhang Fan, and other generals to lead the majority of the Zero Desolate Demon Soldiers to the Xuanwu Battle Zone to delay its unification.

Wei Qin of the Xuanwu Battle Zone was not as strong in terms of power or influence as Ye Jianfei of the White Tiger Battle Zone. As long as Li Jianqiu and the others did not act rashly, the Zero Desolate Army would definitely not be devoured in one fell swoop!

Meanwhile, Hong Yuan himself remained stationed here with his Black Dragon Army, awaiting the arrival of reinforcements.

After a long time, Hong Yuan was finally able to resume refining Water Orders, augmenting his own destiny and shaping the Fortune True Dragon!

...

The changing situation of the Ten Thousand Domains battle also came to the attention of the Martial Saints of the Five Great Academies.

At this moment, silence reigned within the Five Human Clan’s Intelligence Bureau in Treasured Yellow Heaven.

Everyone’s gazes occasionally shifted to the silent Master Eastward Flowing.

Some were questioning, some were subtly sarcastic, and some were mocking...

Which of the Martial Saints present was not a dragon among men, a distinguished individual leading in their own right?

Master Eastward Flowing had always presented himself here as a wise man, embodying a "smarter-than-you-all" persona, which had long incited dissatisfaction among some Martial Saints.

Moreover, although the Human Race was powerful, the Martial Saints of the Five Great Academies were also entangled in factional disputes and issues such as the division of interests!

"Heh, what happened to the prediction that the ’little loach’ was just showing temporary ferocity and would be utterly defeated due to troop shortages? But in the end, it’s the little loach chasing others down."

"Tsk tsk, don’t be so harsh. The little loach is slippery, after all; a momentary miscalculation is normal. However, the promised alliance of the three factions in the Heavenly Scenic Tower War Zone seems impossible now."

"No way, no way! Surely no one actually believes they’re extraordinarily wise just because they received a small part of the Wisdom Tao inheritance, right? Hehe..."

These remarks, though delivered casually, were incredibly malicious.

Although no names were mentioned, it was clear they were indirectly criticizing Master Eastward Flowing.

Hong Yuan’s Sword Tao incarnation observed the unfolding situation silently from a corner.

When Hong Yuan saw the gloomy expression on Master Eastward Flowing’s face, an undeniable sense of pleasure welled up within him.

Damn old fool! That’s what you get for looking down on me. You’ve finally suffered a setback, heh heh...

Go on, laugh! Laugh louder! MWAHAHA, MWAHAHAHA...

This time, it was Hong Yuan’s turn to laugh wildly in his heart.

While some mocked Master Eastward Flowing, others naturally defended him.

Green Lamp Buddha and Lightning Martial Saint righteously condemned these remarks, and Hong Yuan also chimed in with a few supportive words for Master Eastward Flowing.

Gradually, the arguing among the Martial Saints intensified, derailing the original topic.

These supposedly transcendent Martial Saints bickered noisily, utterly devoid of any saintly demeanor.

"You Southern Border monkey, you have the gall to criticize me? Don’t think I’m unaware that your people caused the Worm poison tide in the Eastern Wilderness Divine Continent!"

"Pah! Utter bullshit! Stop blaming every Worm incident on the Southern Border. You Eastern Wilderness lout, you dare criticize the Southern Border? Go sort out the conflicts between your dynasties and Sects first!"

"..."

The Martial Saints gradually split into factions based on their geographical origins, indiscriminately attacking their opponents. It was clear they were using the situation to vent their emotions and dredge up old grievances. Witnessing this, Hong Yuan was left speechless.

So now it’s come to regional bashing...

Greatly disappointed, Hong Yuan glanced at Butterfly Sword Martial Saint, who held the Heavenly Palace Order.

He saw Butterfly Sword Martial Saint standing to one side, her slender, jade-like fingers moving as if to record the farce.

Butterfly Sword Martial Saint sensed Hong Yuan’s gaze and sent him a secret voice transmission, "Dragon Sword, come quickly! Hurry over! A scene like this is a once-in-a-century sight, come on..."

Her tone was incredibly excited, like that of a little girl who had stumbled upon something amusing.

She appears to be a cool and composed ’older sister’ type on the surface, but secretly, she’s this lively... Is this a contrast?

Hong Yuan was somewhat surprised.

Vaguely, he even found this contrast... strangely stimulating?

Suppressing the odd emotions in his heart, Hong Yuan moved closer to Butterfly Sword Martial Saint.

The entire dispute had started because of Master Eastward Flowing, yet now he seemed like a mere bystander.

...

「Master Eastward Flowing’s true body’s hiding place.」

It was a humble, crude farmhouse.

"ARGH—"

"I’m furious! Absolutely furious!"

"You little loach, I’ll kill you!"

Master Eastward Flowing was seething, his face contorted with rage.

Utterly exasperated and humiliated into a fury, he wanted to leave the farmhouse and rush to the Vermilion Bird War Zone to kill Hong Yuan’s Demonic Body.

This outwardly simple farmhouse was, in fact, a Holy Artifact skilled in concealment. If Master Eastward Flowing were to leave it, his aura would likely be instantly detected by the Demon Saints in the surrounding sea regions...

"Eastward, don’t be rash! Calm down, calm down!"

Master Eastward Flowing’s three companions quickly held him back, preventing him from acting foolishly.

"Just wait a little longer, a little longer."

"Yes, just wait a bit more. That little loach won’t be smug for much longer—at most another three to five years!"

His three companions painstakingly tried to persuade him, appealing to both his emotions and his reason.

"Three to five years... Three to five years—"

Master Eastward Flowing’s face was contorted and savage as he gnashed his teeth, repeating the words.

If Hong Yuan’s Demonic Body were present, he would undoubtedly eat him alive!

...

...

「In a secret chamber, numerous divine and handsome birds hovered in mid-air.」

Swifts, Golden Rocs, Qing Ques...

These were the manifested destinies of the myriad beings from the various sea regions of half the Vermilion Bird War Zone, Water Orders of his own destiny that Hong Yuan had forcibly refined through the methods of Refining Tao.

If an ordinary Demon were to obtain even one of these divine handsome birds, they could undergo a profound transformation, becoming a temporary demonic paragon and changing their fate.

The preciousness of these birds was beyond imagination!

With events developing favorably, Hong Yuan’s mind found a moment of peace.

Observing the graceful float of the divine handsome birds, a poetic mood suddenly overcame Hong Yuan.

He lowered his head in thought for a moment, then recited aloud:

"One region, two regions, then three and four, every sea region falls into my hand."

"Five tokens, six tokens, then seven and eight, every Water Order is by me refined."

Having recited this, Hong Yuan was thoroughly content.

He softly uttered a single word, "Go."

AWOOO—

The Dragon-transforming White Python let out a draconic roar, pouncing towards these divine handsome birds with bared fangs and brandished claws.

They instinctively struggled, trying to flee outwards.

However, in a single pass, they were devoured by the Dragon-transforming White Python.

After absorbing this flock of destiny birds, a distinct change occurred in the Dragon-transforming White Python’s eyes.

Its pair of crimson, vertical pupils began to stretch and shift.

They became nobler, more enigmatic.

They resembled rabbit eyes, but Hong Yuan knew with certainty: these were not rabbit eyes, they were dragon pupils!

Absorbing the collective destiny from the sea regions of half the Vermilion Bird War Zone has only barely advanced the Dragon-transforming White Python to three-ninths of a complete Fortune True Dragon.

Indeed, only by completely dominating all four Heavenly Scenic Tower war zones can my Demonic Body become the true Son of Fortune of the Demon Clan.

Hong Yuan’s crimson pupils shone with divine light as he observed the state of his destiny.

Suddenly, a joyous smile lit up his face.

He saw the enhanced Dragon-transforming White Python sway its body and charge at the Black Coffin Fate hovering above.

BANG! BANG—

A small piece was instantly knocked off the seemingly indestructible Black Coffin.

Clearly, this symbolized that Hong Yuan had managed to carve out a slim chance of survival from a situation of near-certain death.

That sliver of hope had appeared.

"MWAHAHA, MWAHAHAHA!"

Hong Yuan threw his head back and roared with laughter, his jubilant cries faintly echoing those of Master Eastward Flowing.