Jiang Yuechu held the scorching Ore in her palm and scrutinized it for a moment.
Although she didn't know what this item was called or its effects... what difference did knowing make?
In any case, it was a top-grade heart material.
As long as it could be refined.
She opened her mouth and took it inside.
As the tip of her tongue touched the scorching stone shell, a burnt smell instantly permeated her mouth.
Her expression remained unchanged, her Adam's apple moving slightly.
Gulp.
The entire piece of Golden Crow Blood Essence was swallowed by her just like that, cleanly and efficiently.
Now possessing the talent [Devil-Self Freedom], her Physical Body was the Primordial Spirit and the Primordial Spirit was her Physical Body; there was no need for those tedious rituals.
Even crushing it with her bare hands was too much trouble.
Eating it directly—wouldn't that be faster?
Boom!!!
The moment it entered her stomach, an unimaginable heat exploded violently from her Dantian.
That sensation was unlike ordinary flames.
It was more like a sun had been forcibly stuffed into her belly.
The violent Pure Yang power transformed into a golden torrent, rampaging through her Meridians.
It was also at this time.
The other four types of top-grade heart materials she had previously swallowed seemed to receive some kind of summons, vibrating in unison.
Five distinct and even mutually antagonistic forces collided violently within Jiang Yuechu's body at this moment.
The terrifying devil body forged by the "Great Black Heaven Body Forging Scripture" displayed its true dominance at this instant.
Three hundred and sixty-five acupoints opened simultaneously, like three hundred and sixty-five bottomless abysses.
No matter how those five forces collided or tore at her.
Ultimately, they could only be suppressed by that matchless physical strength and forcibly blended together.
Jiang Yuechu slowly closed her eyes.
The Denglou Realm was originally preparation for stepping into the Chess Player stage.
And heart materials were the foundation of this chessboard.
The more stable the foundation and the higher the quality of the material, the more indestructible and full of potential the central palace chessboard condensed in the future would be.
For an ordinary Cultivator, obtaining a single top-grade heart material was already a massive Opportunity.
But she.
Had four types!
If such a foundation were to be spread, it would be enough to make all the Cultivators in the world green with envy.
She didn't know how much time had passed.
The violent aura within her body finally settled down slowly.
The five forces completely fused into one, indistinguishable from each other, turning into a strand of Chaos Qi that lay dormant deep within her Dantian.
Jiang Yuechu could feel that the Bottleneck that had given her some trouble was now as thin as a cicada's wing before her.
With just a single thought.
She could pierce through it.
...
Outside the Immortal Cave.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor led Azure Abyss's remaining Primordial Spirit and several other trusted great Demons, guarding the entrance of the Immortal Cave as motionlessly as door gods.
Ever since that new emperor entered for seclusion.
These great Demons, who usually threw their weight around, had spontaneously taken up the duty of guards.
Never mind people.
Even if a fly flew past, it would be glared to death by that deer-faced Demon Emperor with a half-collapsed face.
That mass of dark green Primordial Spirit floated in mid-air, watching Jue Chen Demon Emperor's loyal appearance with mixed emotions.
"I say... is this really necessary?"
Azure Abyss's voice was somewhat weak.
Its Physical Body was destroyed and its Primordial Spirit was also severely wounded; if the new emperor hadn't been too lazy to deal with it, it would have long since suffered a Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.
Hearing this, Jue Chen Demon Emperor turned his head and said, "It is."
Azure Abyss's Primordial Spirit shook. "Elder Heavenly Bamboo treated you well, didn't he? You changed sides a bit too quickly."
"Quickly?"
Jue Chen Demon Emperor sneered.
He turned around, his back to the Immortal Cave, and lowered his voice.
"You know jack shit."
"..."
Azure Abyss's Primordial Spirit fell silent.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor didn't explain further.
He certainly knew that by following this new emperor, the road ahead would only be more perilous.
But wealth and honor are sought amidst danger.
He had personally witnessed that shocking battle.
Wang Canglan, the number one Prodigy of the Eastern Region, what a peerless and elegant figure he was.
And the result?
He was pinned to the ground by this new emperor and beaten no differently than a dead dog.
What did this show?
It showed that this new emperor's potential far exceeded everyone's imagination.
Following such a person meant either ascending to the peak together or being ground to dust together.
There was no third path.
And he, Jade Dust, was gambling on the former.
Even if he died in the end.
It was still better than huddling in this Yu Mountain Great Range for a lifetime, living while watching others' faces.
While he was pondering.
The heavy stone door behind him, which had been tightly closed for several days, made a dull, loud bang.
Rumble—
Jue Chen Demon Emperor's whole body shook, and he suddenly turned around.
The other great Demons also looked over in unison.
Dust filled the air.
A slender figure in black robes stepped slowly out from the darkness of the Immortal Cave.
She was still in those black robes, still with that cold and detached appearance.
But the moment she lifted her eyelids and her gaze swept across the Demons.
The Demons' hearts all trembled.
She had clearly only been in seclusion for a few days, yet how did it feel... like she had become stronger again.
While the Demons were having various thoughts and didn't dare to move recklessly.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor had already reacted: "Welcome back, my Emperor!"
"My Emperor has been in seclusion for several days, her cultivation has reached the pinnacle of creation, and her prestige is even greater than before. This is truly the fortune of Wangchuan, the fortune of Yu Mountain, and even the fortune of the thousands of Yao Race in this Eastern Region!"
The several trusted great Demons behind him were stunned by this sudden flattery, but then they reacted and quickly followed suit, kneeling down in unison.
"Welcome back, my Emperor!"
Jiang Yuechu looked over indifferently and stared at the Deer Demon: "Enough, stop wailing."
The sound waves came to an abrupt halt.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor sheepishly closed his mouth, returned to that submissive and humble appearance, and stood to the side with his head bowed.
"Tell me about the situation nearby."
Jue Chen Demon Emperor's heart tightened, and he very tactfully understood her meaning.
She was going to expand her territory.
He didn't dare to be slow and quickly bowed in response: "Reporting to the Demon Emperor, our Xirang Lineage is divided into five divisions in the Yu Mountain Great Range. Aside from Heavenly Bamboo's branch, there are also four Elders: Green Phoenix Tree, Black Rock, Yin Locust, and Turbid River. Each governs a territory and has thousands of Demons under their command."
"These four Elders usually had grievances with Elder Heavenly... with that old thief Heavenly Bamboo, and there was constant open and secret strife. It was only because they all belonged to the Xirang Lineage that they didn't completely fall out."
At this point, Jue Chen Demon Emperor's tone held a bit more hesitation.
"However..." He peeked up, observing Jiang Yuechu's expression, and added cautiously, "The commotion from the Demon Emperor slaying Heavenly Bamboo this time was truly too great... I'm afraid it won't be hidden from the eyes and ears of The Main Seat of Xirang Mountain."
"The four Elders are likely all watching and waiting for The Main Seat's attitude... If The Main Seat investigates, they will surely kick us while we're down and attack in a group."
His words were not alarmist.
No matter what, Heavenly Bamboo was an Elder appointed by the Xirang Lineage.
For an unknown wild Demon like her to kill him just like that was equivalent to slapping the face of the Xirang Lineage.
In Jue Chen Demon Emperor's view, the best choice right now was to temporarily avoid the brunt of it, see what The Main Seat meant first, and then plan for the future.
However.
After hearing these words.
Jiang Yuechu paid them no heed.
What Main Seat, what four Elders.
In her eyes, they were just strings of walking Dao Cultivation.
The only thing she cared about now was one thing.
Whether swallowing all these Demons would be enough for her to deduce the Chess Condensation Method.
With this in mind, Jiang Yuechu's eyelids lowered slightly, and her mind sank into her consciousness.
Within her mind.
An ancient and vast plaza quietly emerged.
[Celestial Demon Martial Practice]
Countless Demon phantoms traversed within it.
There were blue-faced, fanged flood dragons, and mountain-sized White Horses... these were all Demons that Jiang Yuechu had killed and made a Shadow Copy of along the way.
In the center of the plaza, the "Great Derivation Pure Yang Supreme Chess Condensation Record" obtained from the old man of Yujing Tower was suspended in mid-air.
Countless Demon phantoms were surrounding this Cultivation Technique, expressing their own opinions.
"The key to Chess Condensation lies in a stable central palace! The Pure Yang method is too fierce; it should be harmonized with Yin Evil!"
Before the words finished, the nearby White Eye Demon Emperor sneered, his gaze indifferent: "A mere fool of the Lamp Lighting Realm... also dares to talk about the Chess Condensation Method? The central palace chessboard is the manifestation of the Primordial Spirit; the Physical Body's blood and Qi are but a boat. How can you put the cart before the horse! It should be forged with soul fire to reach the end!"
"..."
The Six-Tailed Jade Fox, who was the master of the Demon Court, was rendered speechless by the retort, but still muttered sheepishly: "Tsk... you're so amazing, why didn't I see you cultivate to the Chess Player stage..."
This kind of conversation.
Was happening from time to time within this small world.
This was the [Celestial Demon Martial Practice], using the wisdom and experience of thousands of Demons to forcibly dismantle and reconstruct the Chess Condensation Method that originally belonged only to the Chunyang Lineage, deducing a technique that completely belonged to her, Jiang Yuechu.
But the cost was also terrifying.
The Dao Cultivation numbers on the panel were draining away at a speed that was almost collapsing.
[Current Dao Cultivation: 17,314,211 years]
[Current Dao Cultivation: 17,314,210 years]
...
Almost every breath, several years of Dao Cultivation were burned away.
At this rate.
In one day, nearly a million years of Dao Cultivation would be consumed.
Jiang Yuechu looked at the rapidly shrinking numbers, a flash of pain for her resources in her eyes.
She withdrew her mind and simply stopped looking.
She slowly opened her eyes.
In her pitch-black pupils, Jue Chen Demon Emperor's anxious deer face was reflected.
"The matter of The Main Seat will be set aside for now. I ask you, which Elder is closest to Wangchuan?"
Hearing this, Jue Chen Demon Emperor's body stiffened visibly for a moment.
He lowered his head, his heart struggling for a moment.
Such urgency... Heavenly Bamboo's bones are not yet cold, and the attitude of The Main Seat of Xirang Mountain is unclear.
Was it too aggressive to strike rashly at this time?
However, that indifferent gaze made his heart tremble, instantly dispelling all doubts.
"Reporting to the Demon Emperor."
Jue Chen Demon Emperor bowed respectfully, a trace of undetectable bitterness in his voice.
"Bordering Wangchuan Valley is the Mangshan Demon Emperor of the Green Phoenix Tree branch. This Demon Emperor's true form is a Mang Mountain Ape; his temperament is rough, and his strength is slightly inferior to Heavenly Bamboo, roughly around the Late Stage of the Denglou Realm."
He paused, remembering Mangshan Demon Emperor's trump card, and added.
"But under him, there are two Demon generals, both with the strength of Denglou Realm Perfection, and they are siblings of the same womb. Their true forms are of the Flood Dragon Clan. The two dragons cooperate with tacit understanding, their minds are connected, and they are a single entity for offense and defense. Their strength is extraordinary. Even that old dog Heavenly Bamboo said in life that if it were a one-on-one fight, Mang Mountain was not a concern, but if these Chilian Twin Dragons joined forces, even if all the Demon Emperors of our Xirang Lineage went together, they might not be able to get the upper hand."
Jue Chen Demon Emperor peeked up cautiously, sizing up Jiang Yuechu's expression.
His words were both a factual report and a subtle admonition.
He hoped the new emperor would think more and not act blindly.
Jiang Yuechu finished listening, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor felt his hair stand on end under her gaze.
He certainly knew that the new emperor's current strength was enough to crush any existence in the Denglou Realm.
But those two dragons, after all, shared the same Bloodline; joining forces, their strength wasn't as simple as doubling.
AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite
Plus, with the Mangshan Demon Emperor presiding and thousands of Demon followers, a head-on collision like this, even if we won, would surely be a pyrrhic victory.
He did not want the new Demon Emperor to suffer any mishap.
And he certainly did not want any mishap to befall himself.
"Green Phoenix Tree."
Jiang Yuechu softly murmured this name.
She waved her sleeve indifferently.
"Tomorrow, the entire army will set out. The target is Green Phoenix Tree."
"..."
Demon Emperor Jade Dust's figure trembled.
The helplessness and bitterness in his heart surged up like a tide.
His painstaking advice had not been listened to in the slightest.
But upon second thought... from kicking him away in Region City, to slaying Elder Heavenly Bamboo in Wangchuan Valley, and then to killing Wang Canglan, the head Disciple of Yujing Tower and the reputed number one Prodigy of the Eastern Region, she killed without hesitation.
A being like this, how could she possibly fear a mere Mangshan Demon Emperor, or the two Red-Refined Flood Dragons?
But what if The Main Seat intervened?
Yet, what choice did he have?
"Yes... This Junior will go down and pass the order, commanding all Demon followers of Wangchuan to assemble at the valley entrance tomorrow morning and await the Demon Emperor's command."
Jiang Yuechu did not look at the Demons below again.
The Demons sensibly bowed and left.
Soon, a chaotic commotion broke out within the valley.
Clearly, they were already preparing.
In this regard, the way the Demons acted was quite to her liking.
They did things as soon as they said they would, never like certain members of the Human Race who dragged their feet, and some even insisted on remonstrating at every turn.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yuechu shook her head slightly.
Now, five types of top-grade heart material had already entered her body.
She was only one crucial step away from the Chess Master Realm. That was Chess Condensation.
The old man from Yujing Tower was actually not wrong. She was moving too fast, and too impatiently.
But this world would not allow her to be slow.
She was unwilling to be a chess piece, and unwilling to be a Puppet.
Since that was the case, she could only use her own fists to forcefully carve out a path.
...
The night passed without incident. The next morning, the horizon had just begun to turn a pale white.
At the entrance of Wangchuan Valley, a dense crowd had already gathered. Thousands of Demons were lined up in neat formation.
Each of them was clad in scale armor, holding various weapons, with Demonic Qi soaring to the heavens and Evil Qi permeating the air.
At the very front, Demon Emperor Jade Dust was dressed in shiny black armor, his expression solemn as his gaze swept over the dense crowd of Demon followers behind him.
Several trusted high-level Demons stood respectfully on both sides.
All the Demons held their breath, waiting quietly.
Wang Ziyu's expression was grim. His gaze swept across this group of fierce and malevolent Demons, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
When he heard the news that Jiang Yuechu was going out to war, he had intended to find a place to hide and no longer get involved in such troublesome matters.
But he hadn't expected... this group of Demons would just grab him and bring him along.
While he was lost in thought, Demon Emperor Jade Dust's deer-like eyes glanced over.
"The two of you, you've come just in time."
Demon Emperor Jade Dust strode over directly to Wang Ziyu and Tiger Cuihua.
Noticing the Daoist boy's expression was off, he frowned slightly and said earnestly, "Since you are servants by the Demon Emperor's side, you should understand some rules."
"What kind of status does the Demon Emperor hold? That she could casually pick you up is a sign that your ancestral graves are smoking with good fortune... Ordinary Cultivators and Demons would have to sharpen their heads to try and get close just to seek protection, yet you have obtained this immense Opportunity."
He paused, and seeing that Wang Ziyu and Tiger Cuihua were both silent, he assumed they had taken his advice to heart, and a hint of complacency appeared on his face.
"You have both witnessed the Demon Emperor's temperament. Her Elder-ness acts with lightning speed and does not like procrastination. Since you have obtained this fortune, you should cherish it well."
After speaking, Demon Emperor Jade Dust patted Wang Ziyu's shoulder, his tone turning slightly encouraging, "Work hard, please the Demon Emperor, and in the future, you will naturally have a place in this Wangchuan. Do not let down the Demon Emperor's regard for you."
Wang Ziyu's mouth twitched, and he felt bitter words he could not express.
With his dignified status as a direct Disciple of Taie, did he really take him for a servant Jiang Yuechu had casually picked up?
Besides, even if he were a servant, why would he need a Demon like you to lecture him?
It was as if you were very favored by Jiang Yuechu...
But he knew now was not the time to explain. He had to cast his gaze toward Tiger Cuihua beside him, hoping this Tiger Demon would share his helplessness.
Who would have thought, on Tiger Cuihua's tiger face, there was unprecedented excitement.
"You..." Wang Ziyu lowered his voice, with a hint of annoyance, "Why are you so excited?"
Tiger Cuihua heard this and quickly restrained some of her joy, saying sheepishly, "If I don't experience a scene like this personally, how can I write a work that will be passed down through the ages?"
Hearing this, Wang Ziyu felt a wave of powerlessness.
Humans and Demons are on different paths; this way of thinking is truly worlds apart...
Just at this moment, a faint sound came from the depths of the Immortal Cave.
Demon Emperor Jade Dust turned around abruptly, his deer antlers trembling slightly.
A slender figure in black robes walked slowly out of the darkness.
The morning light was faint, yet it could not penetrate the pale ink-colored Qi surrounding her.
Her gait was calm, her robes fluttering, as if she were stepping out from an eternal loneliness.
Jiang Yuechu's gaze swept indifferently over the valley entrance.
Thousands of Demons bowed their heads in unison, their bodies trembling; not a single one dared to look up.
"Let's set off."
...
The mountains were like dark eyebrows, range upon range.
A waterfall poured down from a thousand-foot cliff, stirring up ten thousand feet of water mist, creating a dense, ethereal atmosphere like a fairyland.
This was the hinterland of the Green Phoenix Tree Lineage.
Inside a massive hall formed by the intertwined roots of ancient trees.
The light inside the hall was mottled, falling through the gaps in the branches and leaves onto a huge stone seat in the center of the hall.
On the stone seat, a gaunt old ape was coiled.
Its eyes were closed, its fur gray and white, resembling a stone statue.
The Qi around its body was restrained, not showing any signs of its power.
But inside the hall, no one dared to underestimate this old ape.
It was the ruler of the Green Phoenix Tree Lineage, the Mangshan Demon Emperor.
Beneath the stone seat, several sturdy Demons clad in armor were kneeling respectfully on the ground.
"Reporting to the Demon Emperor, there is new news from Wangchuan."
The Mangshan Demon Emperor slowly opened his eyes. "Speak."
"Reporting to the Demon Emperor, the Master of Wangchuan Valley, Heavenly Bamboo, has been slain, and now the authority of Wangchuan has fallen into the hands of an outsider Demon."
"Oh? Who did it?"
"According to the few small Demons who escaped from Wangchuan, it was a Demon in the form of a young girl. This girl's methods were bizarre and unfathomable; that day in Wangchuan Valley, with a wave of her hand, she crushed Heavenly Bamboo's Physical Body and Primordial Spirit completely."
"That day, the sky was filled with blazing fire, and the momentum was immense; it must have been related to this girl."
The Mangshan Demon Emperor heard this, and a sharp glint in his eyes grew even stronger.
"A young girl..." He murmured softly.
"This girl's background is unknown, and her actions are fierce. To dare to brazenly slay a titled Elder within the territory of the Xirang Lineage is truly... ignorant of the heights of the heavens and the depth of the earth."
A Demon below quickly chimed in, "Moreover, Heavenly Bamboo relied on his status as an Elder, usually acting in a domineering manner. Now that he has met such an end, it is his own fault."
The Mangshan Demon Emperor did not pay attention to the flattery of his subordinates.
He slowly stood up and walked to the edge of the hall.
Through the gaps in the dense branches and leaves, he looked toward the direction of Wangchuan Valley.
"That old curmudgeon Heavenly Bamboo managed Wangchuan for tens of thousands of years. Although he had long-standing grudges with us, he was, after all, an Elder appointed by The Main Seat. Now, to be killed just like that by an outsider wild Demon..."
The Mangshan Demon Emperor snorted coldly.
"That outsider wild Demon thinks that with a bit of cultivation, she can run rampant in this Yu Mountain Great Range. Little does she know, the rules of this Yu Mountain Great Range are not decided by who can fight."
He stood with his hands behind his back and turned to look at the Demons in the hall.
"Within a few days, there will surely be changes."
"After The Main Seat makes a move, our Green Phoenix Tree Lineage can divide up the territory of Wangchuan and gather its Demon followers under our command."
"At that time, the power of our Green Phoenix Tree Lineage will surely rise to a new level."
The Demons in the hall heard this, and all their faces showed joy.
"Pass down the order."
The Mangshan Demon Emperor said in a deep voice, "Strengthen vigilance in the coming days, closely monitor the movements of Wangchuan, and if there is any anomaly, report it immediately."
"Yes!"
...
Spirit Mountain. Inside the Lightless Cave. Chains clattered.
A giant elephant with a completely snow-white body was locked tightly to the stone wall by dozens of chains as thick as bowls.
It lowered its eyes indifferently, its massive body motionless.
Only the turbid air exhaled from its trunk stirred up ripples in the damp and dark cave.
In the depths of the cave, a faint light suddenly lit up.
A figure in moon-white robes stepped into the cave.
The White Elephant slowly opened its eyes and said calmly, "That old dog Xuan Yang, has he not given up yet... Could it be that he sent you here again, wanting to pry the whereabouts of the Star Palace True Map from my mouth?"
The Man in White did not get angry; he simply sat cross-legged by the rock on his own and said indifferently, "Wang Canglan is dead."
"..."
The White Elephant was stunned for a moment. Then, a deafening laughter exploded in the cave.
"Hahahaha hahahaha!"
The laughter was full of mockery and satisfaction.
"Died quite cleverly... How about that?"
The White Elephant turned its head and mocked, "Isn't Xuan Yang's momentum already established? How can he not even protect a mere Disciple? Back then, he usurped the position of True Lord Mo Yang, and now retribution has fallen upon his Disciple."
"He's probably jumping with rage in Yujing Tower right now!"
The Man in White shook his head. He looked at the White Elephant and said calmly, "Actually, you are overthinking it. The True Lord does not really take Wang Canglan's death to heart."
"And I guess." He paused. "The True Lord wants that Star Palace True Map, not to use it to break through to the Painting Realm."
The White Elephant slowly stopped laughing. "Why are you telling me this?"
The Man in White did not answer directly. He only raised his head slightly. "I heard that True Lord Mo Yang once had half a foot into the Painting Realm back then."
"Although he was usurped by True Lord Xuan Yang later... there must have been some changes, otherwise, even if Xuan Yang had the intention, he wouldn't have succeeded so easily."
"So... the Painting Realm, what kind of scenery is it exactly?" He asked softly.
The White Elephant remained silent. After a moment, it curled its mouth and sneered, "What kind of bullshit is that... what does it have to do with you?"
The Man in White smiled indifferently. "It didn't have anything to do with me before."
"Even if you didn't hand over this map, the one who would be enraged would only be the True Lord, and the one who would suffer would only be you."
The Man in White tilted his head slightly. His gaze pierced through the stone layer at the top of the cave, looking into the distance.
"But now."
"I have suddenly become interested in the Painting Realm as well."