CHAPTER 240: CHAPTER 230: SURVIVING TO THE END IS THE TRUE STRENGTH

Inside the mountain cliff, the area was vast.

Myriad-colored starlit radiances swirled about, creating a dreamlike, illusory scene.

Several Demons each occupied a spot, channeling the divine rainbows of starlight to temper their own Life Tao Seed.

All of them were outstanding figures of the Huangqu River Water Tribe, their Original Bodies being either great rivers or vast streams, having deeply comprehended the true essence of the Water Tao.

"Lang, Han Jiuming has also arrived," Shui Yizhang whispered through a voice transmission.

Shui Lang glanced up and snorted coldly. "If he comes, he comes."

Shui Lang had no patience for Hong Yuan and Kun Rong’s presence.

If it weren’t for these two, then the Demon to receive Master Heavenly River’s favor and dedicated cultivation should have been me, Shui Lang! Master Heavenly River’s legacy should also rightfully belong to our Water Tribe lineage. And as an outstanding figure of the Huangqu River Water Tribe, a large part of this legacy is due to me!

"Hmph, what are you snorting at!" Kun Rong glared fiercely at Shui Lang.

Shui Lang was instantly so enraged that he felt an urge to grind his teeth. Just as he was about to retort furiously, Hong Yuan shot him a cold glance that instantly made him lose his nerve.

Shui Lang cursed furiously in his heart, Damn that Han Jiuming, acting so arrogant just because he has some meager strength! I’d like to see how you escape Tianli’s pursuit!

"Tsk tsk, truly..." Kun Rong, however, shook her head and let out a sarcastic laugh.

Under the angry gazes of Demons like Shui Lang, she led Hong Yuan to the eastern side of the mountain cliff.

On the eastern side of the cliff, crimson starlight flowed endlessly, layers of white mist billowed up, and auspicious radiances blazed dazzlingly.

Just standing there, Hong Yuan could feel the intense heat waves.

"Senior Brother, this is the best place. Once you’re ready, you can start the tempering process," Kun Rong said.

As soon as she finished speaking, Kun Rong took out her Surprised Swan Gun and began tempering it.

The Surprised Swan Gun hung suspended in mid-air, bathed in the crimson starlight.

Meanwhile, Kun Rong, using her Demon Essence, earnestly carved Energy Array patterns onto the Surprised Swan Gun.

Hong Yuan observed for a moment, then withdrew his gaze. The Dao of combining water and fire... it seems my junior sister is quite remarkable as well.

Hong Yuan lightly patted his storage bag, and a piece of Green Jade Copper Essence materialized in the air.

He channeled his Demon Essence, refining the Green Jade Copper and carving an Energy Array onto it.

Refining the Green Jade Copper wasn’t too difficult, but carving the Energy Array was much more challenging.

Merely carving a simple second-rank Energy Array, the ’Gathering Yuan Array,’ took Hong Yuan nearly two hours; the process was extremely slow.

Hong Yuan’s third-level casting Skills and Arts were of little use here. Compared to other Demons, he fell far behind, especially when compared to Kun Rong and Shui Lang.

Fortunately, each time he carved an Energy Array, Hong Yuan gained proficiency points.

[Casting +125]

[Casting +125]

[...]

Hong Yuan was aware of his own shortcomings, but others were not.

BANG! With a loud report, the Green Jade Copper Hong Yuan was refining exploded!

All the Demons stared at Hong Yuan in stunned disbelief, seemingly unable to accept that his technique was so abysmal.

Yet Hong Yuan, expressionless, retrieved the fragments of Green Jade Copper into his storage bag. I didn’t expect carving even a fourth-rank Energy Array to be this difficult, he thought. Especially when inscribing the Ninety-Nine Huangqu Array on the Flood Gathering War Banner Tao Species was so straightforward.

"Ah, Senior Brother, if you encounter a problem, just ask me for help. Don’t keep it all to yourself," Kun Rong sighed softly, helplessly putting away her Surprised Swan Gun.

She added, "Forging a Life Tao Seed isn’t that simple. Don’t think you’re just inscribing on the Flood Gathering War Banner Tao Species."

With graceful steps, she moved close to Hong Yuan, observing his refining techniques.

"Mhm, I understand. Thank you," Hong Yuan said with a slight squint and a faint smile.

Kun Rong rolled her eyes at him good-naturedly, her expression conveying that focusing on his work was the best way to repay her kindness.

Hong Yuan said no more, taking out another piece of good-quality Green Jade Copper to start refining again.

As the crimson starlight washed over it, a second-rank Energy Array was once again inscribed on the Green Jade Copper...

[Casting +125]

[Casting +125]

[...]

Hong Yuan’s casting experience points kept increasing, especially after Kun Rong’s assistance, which made them rise even faster.

But to outsiders, he still appeared somewhat clumsy and lacking in his Skills and Arts.

Shui Yizhang sneered inwardly, his expression disdainful. Trying to act like a Master? I really thought that little loach was something special.

"Indeed. It’s laughable that he has to resort to a female Demon’s help. Tsk tsk," Shui Ersheng chuckled maliciously, clearly making an indirect jibe.

"Some Demons are always under an illusion, mistaking the strength of their tribe for their own hard-earned power. You all mustn’t be like that!" Shui Lang lectured his subordinates righteously, though in reality, he was indirectly cursing Hong Yuan.

Shui Lang was never a magnanimous water spirit to begin with.

His Original Body was that of a muddy stream.

When his Spiritual Wisdom was still nascent, the Ze River had spread towards him, intending to devour his muddy stream form.

Fortunately, at that critical moment, the Water Spirit of the Green River, from another great river, intervened and halted the Ze River’s advance, allowing Shui Lang to survive.

But later, once his Spiritual Wisdom had cleared, Shui Lang not only laid a vicious plot to devour the Ze River but also consumed his own benefactor, the Green River Water Spirit.

Although there was no solid evidence that Shui Lang was responsible, all Demons of the Huangqu River Water Tribe had grown wary of him.

Now, Shui Lang had set his sights on Master Heavenly River. Of course, his target was the Master whose Life Span was nearing its end.

This was because Master Heavenly River’s Original Body was a Star River!

"What did you say!?" Kun Rong’s willow-like brows shot up as she glared angrily at Shui Lang and the other Demons.

She was truly fed up.

She could tolerate their indirect insults when her senior brother was absent, but they dared to do so even in his presence?

"Hmph!" Hong Yuan snorted, his voice turning cold and grim. "Spouting nonsense requires backing it up with strength. And you, unfortunately, possess none!"

Five Water Beast Mysterious Water Snakes materialized before Hong Yuan, writhing and baring their fangs as they surged towards Shui Lang and his cohorts with overwhelming fury.

A deafening roar shook the air. The expressions of Shui Lang and the other Demons changed drastically.

They scrambled to deploy their trump cards, unleashing a variety of Demon Skills.

Lightning, torrential waves, sword light—all were effortlessly crushed and scattered by the Water Beast Mysterious Water Snakes.

Among the younger generation of the Demon Clan, Hong Yuan’s current strength was second only to Tianli, that prodigy akin to a Young Emperor.

Dealing with these small fry was child’s play for him.

PFFT!

Shui Lang, bearing the brunt of the assault, was slammed to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Clutching his chest, his face contorted in pain.

Seeing the five Water Beast Mysterious Water Snakes still hovering menacingly, Shui Lang gritted his teeth.

"Bullying the weak with brute force, what kind of skill is that? If you’re so capable, go challenge Tianli!" Shui Lang exclaimed indignantly.

"Indeed. In this world, strength is what truly speaks," Hong Yuan murmured, his gaze lowered.

The next moment, the five Water Beast Mysterious Water Snakes lunged. They swiftly knocked Shui Lang and the other Demons unconscious and flung them out of the cliff interior.

A tremor ran through the area outside, but ultimately, no member of the Huangqu River Water Tribe dared to come forward and challenge Hong Yuan.

"S-Senior Brother..." Kun Rong stammered, utterly stunned by the scene.

In her memory, her senior brother always endured until the last possible moment before retaliating and rarely took the initiative to strike.

This was precisely why Shui Lang had dared to provoke her senior brother.

But now, her senior brother had actually initiated an attack!?

Powerful? No. The Great Demons who survive until the very end are the ones who are truly powerful. One must understand: the ancient ones are not powerful because they are ancient; they are ancient because they were powerful enough to endure. Tianli? A Young Emperor? They are merely fleeting clouds, destined to dissipate!

Hong Yuan’s gaze was profound as he looked towards the phantasmal firmament.

A stellar wind rustled his robes, making him appear like a Star God descended from the heavens.

Hong Yuan, in this moment, possessed a unique allure that caused a subtle ripple of emotion in Kun Rong’s eyes.