Yang Zhou and his five companions braced themselves, reined in their auras, and flew before Yu Yuanchen and his group with a mix of trepidation and anticipation.
Facing this "Foreign God" whose aura was as deep as the sea and who could fight the Demon God Emperor to a standstill, even they, as the top experts of the Temple Alliance, could not help but feel awe and nervousness.
"Temple Alliance, Knight Temple Hall Master Yang Zhou, along with my colleagues, greets... the esteemed seniors." Yang Zhou was the first to bow, keeping his posture extremely low.
Behind him, the other five vice hall masters also hurriedly bowed respectfully, not daring to show the slightest negligence. In the world of cultivation, the capable come first; it was only appropriate for them to address themselves as juniors before a god-level existence, even if they appeared quite young.
Yu Yuanchen swept his gaze calmly over the six of them and nodded slightly: "No need for such formalities." His voice was gentle, yet carried an unquestionable majesty that made Yang Zhou and the others feel a chill in their hearts.
Yang Zhou took a deep breath, forced himself to remain calm, and carefully chose his words: "Just now... witnessing the senior's divine might, being able to contend with that Demon God Emperor, is truly... truly something that makes our generation feel ashamed, yet also deeply inspired. It seems the senior is not from this world. May I ask... what brings you to the Saint Demon Continent? If there is anything our Alliance can do for you, we will certainly do our utmost."
His words carried a hint of probing, as well as a hidden glimmer of hope. A god-level expert who held hostility (or at least was not a friend) toward the Demon God Emperor was undoubtedly a godsend for the Temple Alliance, which was currently at a life-or-death juncture.
What kind of person was Yu Yuanchen? How could he not hear the hidden agenda in Yang Zhou's words? He smiled indifferently and got straight to the point: "My name is Yu Yuanchen, and my companions and I are indeed not creatures of this world. We travel through various realms, seeking to comprehend different laws of heaven and earth and cultivation systems to advance our own cultivation; that is our true intention. Upon arriving in your lands, we had no initial desire to interfere in the disputes of this world."
His tone shifted, and his gaze turned slightly cold: "However, the arrogant tone of that Demon God Emperor earlier was already quite displeasing, and he attempted to strike me down while I had just arrived and my aura had not yet stabilized. This matter, however, cannot simply be let go."
Upon hearing this, Yang Zhou and the others were first shocked (The Demon God Emperor really did strike first!), and then immediately overjoyed (It seems there is a chance!).
Yang Zhou hurriedly said: "The Demon God Emperor Feng Huan is tyrannical and lawless, leading the Demon Race to invade our human territory and slaughter our people; he is truly a great scourge to this world! That the senior has a grievance with him is also the good fortune of our human race! May I ask... what are the senior's plans for the future?" He asked cautiously, his heart pounding.
Yu Yuanchen glanced at him, then at Gu Yuena and the other three beside him, and said slowly: "We need to linger in this world for a period of time to observe your cultivation systems, especially the secrets of what you call 'spiritual power' and the 'God Seal Throne of Eternity and Creation'. During this time, if that Demon God Emperor dares to invade again..."
He paused, and amidst the eyes of Yang Zhou and the others that instantly lit up, he continued: "I can step in to stop him. But, that is limited to him alone. The Demon army and the other Demon Gods must be dealt with by you yourselves. This is my bottom line."
Yang Zhou and the others were first overcome with wild joy! A god-level expert promising to hold back the most terrifying Demon God Emperor was simply the best news imaginable! This meant that humanity finally had the confidence to contend with the Demon Race's supreme combat power! But upon hearing the second half, it was as if a basin of cold water had been poured over them. Only stopping the Demon God Emperor and ignoring the rest? This...
Yu Yuanchen acted as if he didn't see it and added: "Of course, I will also observe your cultivation systems and consult relevant ancient texts; consider that the payment you provide.
However, if you have other matters you need help with during this time, it is not impossible for me to assist at my discretion, provided there is sufficient payment."
Yang Zhou quickly reacted. Although it was a pity not to be able to pull the other party directly onto their war chariot, being able to obtain the protection promise and limited help of a god-level expert was already a stroke of immense luck!
"The senior is righteous! On behalf of the hundreds of millions of compatriots in the Temple Alliance, I thank you, senior!" Yang Zhou bowed deeply in excitement, and the other five hurriedly followed suit. This result, while not as good as their most optimistic expectations, could still be considered a relatively good situation.
"In that case, please, senior, move to the Imperial Dragon Pass! The Alliance will treat you with the highest honors of a guest!" Yang Zhou struck while the iron was hot and extended an invitation.
Yu Yuanchen nodded and looked at Gu Yuena and the other three. Gu Yuena nodded slightly, and Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, and Di Tian naturally had no objections. They did indeed need a human stronghold as a foothold to gain a deeper understanding of this world.
"Very well." Yu Yuanchen agreed.
Yang Zhou was overjoyed and hurriedly led the way. The group turned into streams of light and sped toward the Imperial Dragon Pass.
At the Imperial Dragon Pass, the headquarters of the Knight Temple, inside the most luxurious and heavily guarded guest hall.
Yang Zhou personally settled Yu Yuanchen and his four companions, presented them with the Alliance's highest-spec treatment tokens and a jade slip containing basic information about the Temple Alliance, and then very tactfully took his leave, stating that he would absolutely not disturb the seniors' cultivation and that they could summon him at any time with the tokens if they needed anything.
After Yang Zhou and the others left and the isolation barrier set up in the guest hall took effect, Tang Chen, who had been holding it in the whole way, finally couldn't help himself.
"Old Yu! Tell us quickly, what does it actually feel like to reach level 100 and become a god?!" Tang Chen rubbed his hands, full of excitement and curiosity, like a child seeing a new toy. Although he was bold and unconstrained, his yearning for a higher realm was genuine.
Qian Daoliu, Di Tian, and even Gu Yuena turned their gazes toward Yu Yuanchen. Although their paths were different, the realm of "god-level" held an unparalleled attraction for any cultivator, and for Gu Yuena, who was born with at least the strength of a first-level god, this level was also somewhat novel.
Yu Yuanchen looked at everyone's curious gazes, smiled, and sat down in the main seat, beginning to describe: "It feels... very wonderful. It is as if one has broken free from an invisible shackle, and the level of life has undergone an essential leap."
He organized his thoughts, trying to describe it as intuitively as possible: "If the peak of level 99 is compared to a water vat filled with water, then becoming a god is like shattering that vat and reshaping it into a lake, or even... an ocean. It is not just a massive increase in quantity, but a transformation in quality."
"First, there is the divine body." Yu Yuanchen's thoughts stirred, and a wisp of purple gold lightning danced on his fingertips, with treasure light flowing faintly beneath his skin. "Flesh, bones, and internal organs are all energized and transformed into laws; their strength, toughness, and recovery power far exceed what they were before, making them an immortal embryo. Ordinary physical attacks and energy erosion can hardly damage the foundation."
"Second, there is divine power." The lightning on his fingertips suddenly condensed into a purple gold crystal core the size of a grain of rice, yet it emitted a heart-palpitating fluctuation. "Soul power completely transforms into a higher level of divine power; its purity, energy density, and affinity with the laws of heaven and earth are incomparable. A single strike contains the true meaning of law, and its power is multiplied."
"Most importantly, there is the divine sense." Yu Yuanchen's gaze was deep, as if he could pierce through the void. "Spiritual power sublimates into divine sense; the range of perception, the level of detail, and the ability to deduce undergo a qualitative change."
He paused, his tone carrying a lingering fear: "As for the gap... it is more than tenfold. Especially in the application of laws. At level 99, we mostly borrow and trigger the power of laws. After becoming a god, it is a matter of initial control and mastery.
This is also why I could so easily fight that Demon God Emperor who holds a super divine artifact and gain the upper hand. His power usage leans more toward brute force and the augmentation of artifacts; his understanding of the essence of laws is far inferior to mine."
"Of course, the most dangerous part is the Godhood Tribulation." Yu Yuanchen's tone became solemn. "The Seven-Colored Heavenly Tribulation, each layer more terrifying than the last, is not only a thunder tribulation that destroys the physical body, but also a heart-demon tribulation that strikes directly at the heart and evolves an image self. If my foundation hadn't been solid and my belief in my own path firm, I fear I would have already been reduced to ashes."
He briefly mentioned the life-and-death battle with the "image self," which left Tang Chen tongue-tied, while Qian Daoliu and Di Tian also wore solemn expressions. Gu Yuena was lost in thought, the light in her purple eyes flickering as if she had associated it with something.
After some chatting satisfied everyone's curiosity, the atmosphere in the hall became much more relaxed.
Yu Yuanchen straightened his expression and waved his hand to set up a more precise thunder barrier to ensure that the content of their conversation would never leak out. He swept his gaze over the four of them and said in a deep voice: "The chatting ends here. What I am about to say concerns our strategy for action in this world, and it is of vital importance."
Seeing Yu Yuanchen so solemn, Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, and Di Tian also restrained their expressions and listened intently. Gu Yuena also sat up slightly.
"First, it is about this plane—the Saint Demon Continent." Yu Yuanchen tapped his fingertip lightly on the stone table, and a wisp of divine sense fluctuation spread out, outlining a simple energy vein map of this continent before everyone. The Demon territory was filled with dense demonic energy, while the human territory shone with brilliant spiritual light, forming a sharp contrast.
"After I became a god, my perception of the laws of heaven and earth in this world became deeper, and I discovered some... things that are not quite right." Yu Yuanchen said slowly, "The plane law of this world is actually quite strong, with a deep foundation, even more so than the Douluo Plane law (only the law, not the plane itself; in terms of the plane itself, the Douluo Plane's foundation is deeper)."
"Oh?" Qian Daoliu frowned. "If so, why is the human race in such a difficult situation? If the plane law truly favored the local creatures, the human race should not have been suppressed by the Demon Race to this extent."
"That is exactly the problem." A sharp light flashed in Yu Yuanchen's eyes. "The plane law is not without 'consciousness'. Or rather, after assimilating who knows how many god-level experts born locally, the Planar Spirit of this world has likely already 'spirited' and possesses extremely high intelligence."
He pointed to the core area of the Demon Race on the energy map where the demonic energy was thickest, and without changing his expression, he spoke of some information from his memories of his previous life.
"The Demon Race seems to be invaders, but according to my perception and the information I obtained from the soul of that Demon earlier, they are actually a mutated ethnic group formed three thousand years ago when they fell from the sky along with the Seventy-Two Demon God Pillars. The tyrannical dark power of a certain terrifying existence (Austin Griffin) contained within them mixed with the blood energy sacrificed by the experts of the original plane on the Demon God Pillars to kill that existence, infecting the local creatures of this world."
"In other words, the Demon Race is essentially a 'homeless' wanderer, bringing with them an astonishing 'inheritance'—seventy-two Demon God Pillars that are at least divine artifact level, including three super divine artifacts—and forcibly settled here."
Yu Yuanchen sneered: "To the Planar Spirit of the Saint Demon Continent, is the Demon Race an unwelcome guest? No, this is a windfall! Seventy-two divine artifacts, three super divine artifacts! Even for a large plane, it takes countless years to nurture a single super divine artifact. No matter how deep the foundation of the Saint Demon Continent is, the number of super divine artifacts is definitely limited. With such a massive injection of foreign resources, how could the Planar Spirit refuse? It is probably overjoyed!"
A flash of realization crossed Di Tian's huge dragon eyes: "So, the Planar Spirit not only did not exclude the Demon Race, but in a way... indulged and even supported them? Because the 'dowry' brought by the Demon Race was too generous?"
"Exactly." Yu Yuanchen nodded. "As for human casualties? In the eyes of the Planar Spirit, as long as human civilization does not go extinct, a little sacrifice is probably worth it. Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs. In its view, perhaps this is just natural law: competition between civilizations, survival of the fittest. The pressure brought by the Demon Race can even stimulate human potential and promote the improvement of the overall strength of the plane."
Gu Yuena's cold voice rang out: "In that case, that God Seal Throne of Eternity and Creation..."
"That might be another variable," Yu Yuanchen interjected. "Its arrival may have disrupted the Planar Spirit's original 'balance' plan, preserving a glimmer of hope for the Human Race. But clearly, the Planar Spirit's focus remains on the immense benefits brought by the Demon Race.
This is also why the suppression of my strength in this world is stronger than that of the Demon God Emperor. I can barely exert nearly eighty percent of my power, while he can exert over ninety percent."
Yu Yuanchen continued: "The Demon God Emperor and his Demon Race are 'rooted' here, having integrated almost all their assets (the Seventy-Two Demon God Pillars) into this world. As for us, in the eyes of the Planar Spirit, we are 'outsiders,' passersby looking to make a quick profit and leave. Naturally, it will 'favor' the Demon Race, which brings long-term benefits."
Hearing this, everyone felt a chill in their hearts. It turned out that behind the seemingly simple confrontation between good and evil, there lay the cold calculations of the Plane Will!
"This is one of the real reasons why I do not want to fight the Demon God Emperor to the death," Yu Yuanchen said in a deep voice. "Beyond the fact that it is truly difficult to kill someone protected by a Super Divine Artifact in a short time, it is even more because I am being subtly repelled by the Planar Spirit."
He extended his hands, faint Palm Lightning flickering in his palms: "It is not that I cannot break this suppression. If I were to erupt with full force and trigger the origin of my Thunder God Position, I could resist or even tear through the laws of this world for a short time, exerting the strength of a Second-level Deity. But the consequence of doing so would be to be regarded as a 'virus' by the Planar Spirit and forcibly expelled from this world. At that point, trying to get back in would be as difficult as ascending to heaven."
"In fact, even if I only fight him with eighty percent strength, if I were to use some underhanded tactics, it might not be impossible to take him down, but the key is..."
Yu Yuanchen revealed a look of trepidation: "The Demon God Emperor is not without his trump cards. Those Seventy-Two Demon God Pillars are not just his personal weapons. According to my perception and speculation (memories from my past life), they can form an incredibly terrifying array."
"If this array is jointly activated by the Seventy-Two Pillar Demon Gods, at its peak, I fear... it possesses the power to Slay Supreme Divine Existence (such as Austin Griffin).
The power of this array is immense, and it is certainly not something we can resist head-on. If the Demon God Emperor is pushed to a desperate situation and activates this array, we might pay a heavy price."
The courtyard fell into silence. Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, and Di Tian all wore incredibly grave expressions. They had not expected the waters of the Saint Demon Continent to be so deep, involving the maneuvering of the Plane Will and such a terrifying ancient killing array!
Gu Yuena's purple eyes flickered with light as she suddenly spoke: "So, you agreed to stay with the Temple Alliance temporarily, not entirely because of Yang Zhou's invitation or sympathy for the Human Race.
Rather, you want to use this opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the laws of this world, the Demon Race system, and... the mystery of that God Seal Throne of Eternity and Creation? At the same time, using the Temple Alliance as a fulcrum to maneuver against the Demon Race, avoiding a head-on conflict with the entire Demon Race and the Plane Will too early?"
Yu Yuanchen looked at Gu Yuena with appreciation and nodded: "Correct. I need time to gradually adapt to the laws of this world and reduce the suppression.
You also need time to improve your strength, at least to the point of the Demon God Emperor—breaking through Level 100 but not yet triggering the Godhood Tribulation—so that we can have enough confidence in this world to explore the secrets of the Demon Race and that God Seal Throne, and to search for any opportunities that might exist to aid our journey."
He looked at everyone, his gaze deep: "This journey holds both crisis and opportunity. The law system of the Saint Demon Continent, the source of the Demon Race's power, that mysterious throne, and even the execution mechanism of the Planar Spirit all contain immense value. If we can penetrate these mysteries, it will be of great benefit to your and my cultivation. But remember, proceed with caution and do not be overly hasty. Our primary goal is always to improve ourselves and explore the path of transcendence, rather than getting bogged down in the disputes of this world."
Qian Daoliu and the others nodded solemnly, understanding the deep meaning behind Yu Yuanchen's words.
The storm had arrived. And their chess game had only just begun.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan