On the side of the Lingxu Immortal Domain.
Ancestor Shenhui, Jiang Xuangang, and other Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm Experts were incredibly surprised to hear that Lu Fan had actually agreed.
No matter how one looked at it, the Demon Race had the upper hand in this bet. Even if a Great Dao Oath was sworn, could it really bind these bottomless Devil Heads?
Jiang Xuangang sighed.
"Sigh, it truly is our incompetence."
Although puzzled, they did not blame Lu Fan and the others for their decision.
"Let me go first for this match."
Ancestor Shenhui volunteered.
He was quite open-minded about it; the young Prodigies of the Lingxu Heavenly Palace had already been provided with a way out. By going first, he could also test the waters for everyone.
"Old Ancestor..."
The various Peak Masters of the Lingxu Heavenly Palace also felt powerless at this moment.
In a battle of this level, no one below the rank of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal could even participate.
"If only Old Ancestor Linyuan were here..."
Jiang Xuangang thought to himself, while also finding it strange why he couldn't contact Jiang Linyuan.
Just as everyone was discussing, an aged voice rang out.
"Everyone, I have arrived late."
The person who arrived was none other than Jiang Linyuan, who had been in seclusion for many years and had now broken through to the Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Realm.
When Jiang Hao sent him the azure back then, it not only saved his life but also gave him another chance to charge toward the Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Realm. Fortunately, he succeeded this time.
"Old Ancestor Linyuan..."
Seeing Jiang Linyuan appear, Jiang Xuangang couldn't help but feel excited.
"With Old Ancestor here as a Hunyuan combatant, we can feel much more at ease."
Seeing Jiang Linyuan appear, many Cultivators also showed expressions of joy.
One more Powerful Expert meant one more glimmer of hope. Jiang Linyuan nodded. His gaze swept across the grief, indignation, and exhaustion on everyone's faces, finally landing on Lu Fan, Jiang Hao, and the others in front.
The guilt in his eyes deepened.
Seeing his ancestor in such a state, Jiang Hao couldn't help but ask:
"Old Ancestor, what were you doing before this?"
Jiang Linyuan spoke slowly, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness:
"During this seclusion, I was fortunate enough to break through. After stabilizing my cultivation, I didn't return immediately to preside over things because... I had other thoughts. I wanted to find a way out for our The name associated with the treasure, and for Hao'er and the others."
He paused, and meeting everyone's questioning gazes, he said bitterly:
"I went to Great Luo Heaven to seek an audience with several Human Race mighty figures, pleading with several Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Realm Experts to lend a hand, and even trying to invite those ancient, reclusive beings to come and assist. At the very least... to pin down some of the Demon Race's combat strength and ease the pressure on us."
"And what was the result?"
Jiang Hao asked urgently, already having a bad premonition in his heart.
Jiang Linyuan shook his head, a deep sense of powerlessness appearing on his face:
"A Sovereign said that the Demon Tribulation has broken out on all fronts, and it's not just The name associated with the treasure that is in a state of emergency. Many Powerful Experts are pinned down in various critical battlefields and cannot extricate themselves. A few others are in secluded cultivation in the depths of the River of Destiny and no longer concern themselves with the affairs of the Mortal World."
"As for those Ancient Heavenly Court experts, they also had no intention of lending aid, only claiming that if we were to seek refuge with them later, we could resist the Demon Race invasion together."
"This..."
Hearing this, everyone looked at each other, finally understanding their current situation. They had truly become abandoned pieces.
"Maybe we should just go and join the Heavenly Court."
Someone said self-destructively.
"Heh."
Someone soon sneered.
"Even if the Heavenly Court wants to recruit, they will recruit Human Emperor Lu, or supreme Prodigies like Jiang Hao and Su Ming. Some Heavenly Court experts came to Shenji City before, and in the end... never mind."
Everyone knew some of the inside story regarding the time Yue Tian and the others arrived. It was all empty, grandiose talk without a shred of sincerity.
The Heavenly Court currently needs to act as a savior to regather Luck, so they won't act easily. To them, the most valuable things in the entire Lingxu Immortal Domain are likely those few peerless Prodigies who could become the pillars of the Heavenly Court in the future.
"This Demon Tribulation involves a deeper level of maneuvering... Perhaps, this is just a tribulation we are fated to face."
Saying this, Jiang Linyuan sighed. He already knew that this Demon Tribulation was different from previous ones. A Cultivator like him, who had just entered the Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Realm, could not influence the situation at all; only even more powerful beings could participate in that game.
Seeing the once high-spirited Old Ancestor of the Jiang Family now seemingly resigned to fate, the moods of many Cultivators were incredibly low.
"Old Ancestor!"
Jiang Xuangang's expression changed, and he said in disbelief:
"Even you..."
He never expected that Old Ancestor Linyuan, in whom they had placed high hopes, would also seem to have lost his will. One could only imagine the blow he had suffered.
Was The name associated with the treasure's fate truly sealed? Was even their final struggle in vain?
A deeper sense of despair began to quietly grow in everyone's hearts.
"Old Ancestor... we still have a chance."
Jiang Hao took a step forward, his posture upright, Battle Intent burning in his eyes, and immortal light swirling around him. Instead of being crushed by the atmosphere of despair, he appeared even more dazzling.
He looked at Jiang Linyuan with bright eyes, without a hint of decadence:
"Old Ancestor, you once taught me that the Great Dao is only for those who strive!"
"So what if we are surrounded by powerful enemies now?"
"Despair and resignation change nothing; they only make the enemy more rampant. We certainly know this battle is dangerous, but..."
His gaze swept over the crowd as he said loudly:
"But for us who cultivate and seek the Dao, if we shrink back because the path ahead is treacherous, or bow to fate because the enemy is terrifying, then this Dao is not worth cultivating!"
At this time, Lu Fan's calm voice also rang out:
"Everyone, there is no need to worry too much. Although the Demon Race is strong, our generation is not without a chance of victory."
His last sentence was meaningful. Although he didn't state it explicitly, it gave everyone a vague glimmer of hope.
"The sword is in my hand, why fear a battle? I will just kill."
Cold Sword Qi soared into the sky from all around Nangong Wenjian as he spoke coldly.
"Finding life in a desperate situation; this battle is precisely the time to verify the results of our many years of bitter cultivation."
Li Taiqing nodded.
Lu Fan turned around, took a deep breath, and said:
"Even if the path ahead is dangerous, we shall go forth!"
"Furthermore, who wins and who loses is still unknown!"
Seeing the eyes of these young people, devoid of any gloom and filled only with pure Battle Intent, and hearing their resolute words, Jiang Linyuan was stunned.
"Yes!"
"They, the old fogies, had experienced so much and thought too much, only to be crushed by the cruelty of reality and the indifference of all parties, nearly resigning themselves to fate."
"But these young people, with their sharp spirit, truly touched his heart."
"Hahaha! Well said!"
Jiang Linyuan suddenly burst into loud laughter, his laughter no longer containing the previous decadence.
"I was too caught up in appearances! After living all these countless years, I don't see things as clearly as you youngsters! It's better to rely on oneself than on others. Hao'er, little friend Lu, and all you young friends, I am ashamed!"
"For this arena match, I will lead the charge for you all! Even if my body perishes and my Dao vanishes, I will tear a few pieces of flesh off the Demon Race!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly and said in a deep voice:
"In that case, let's discuss the candidates for the battle, playing to our strengths and avoiding weaknesses to strive for every bit of hope for victory."
"...On the other side, within the Demon Race."
The atmosphere was clearly much more relaxed.
"Haha, a brilliant plan by the Military Counselor! That brat Lu Fan really couldn't keep his cool and accepted the bet."
A burly Demon Race expert grinned widely, his laughter like the beating of drums.
"Treating this as a life-saving straw? Ridiculous!"
Another Demon Race expert, shrouded in gray mist with a cold voice, laughed sinisterly:
"Ants struggling to survive is merely instinct. The more they pin their hopes on that fragile oath, the more wonderful it will be when despair descends.
I can't wait to see the expressions of collapse on their faces."
In their view, as long as the other side dared to agree, it was a dead end.