Chapter 482 The Top Ten Demon Kings
he chase, Dragon King Zhao. You know very well that West Sea plans to propose marriage during Zhao Yanzi's zodiac year, yet you still stirred things up. What are your intentions" Old Uncle Zeng didn't...Chapter 482: The Ten Demon Kings
Under the gazes of several hundred soldiers from the East Sea, Hao Ren and Zhao Hongyu returned to their original position on the江山圖 (Map of Mountains and Rivers).
In reality, if one were to traverse the entire territory controlled by the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, even with the speed afforded by the Map of Mountains and Rivers, it would take more than a day. However, Zhao Hongyu had brought Hao Ren to the easternmost boundary of the East Sea's domain, known as Immortal Spirit Island. The depth of this reach roughly indicated the extent of the East Sea's territorial control.
Since human cultivators entered the Fifth Layer of Heaven, and land was governed by dragon cultivators, if one were to include the area of land under their jurisdiction, the territory controlled by the Dragon Palace of the East Sea would truly be a behemoth!
The ancient emperors could not have been much different!
"Can't you set up barriers around Immortal Spirit Island" Hao Ren asked Zhao Hongyu while standing on the Map of Mountains and Rivers.
"It’s useless..." Zhao Hongyu shook her head, "The boundary line where the East Sea Dragon Palace's territory meets Demon Ocean is very long. It would be impossible to completely encircle it with barriers. Moreover, even if we were able to set up such a barrier, it wouldn’t withstand the attacks of demon beasts."
After some thought, she continued, "Actually, your idea isn't something that hasn't been discussed among our Four Seas Dragon Palaces. However, fully sealing off Demon Ocean would be akin to turning it into an enormous prison. It’s uncertain how the Ten Demon Kings controlling Demon Ocean would react."
Hao Ren was stunned for a moment before realizing he had indeed thought too shallowly.
Among the demon kings in Demon Ocean, they were constantly fighting amongst themselves and didn’t have time to care about the conditions around their vast territory. But if the Four Seas Dragon Palaces set up barriers along the boundary of Demon Ocean, turning it into a closed prison...
"In fact, apart from this reason, Demon Ocean is also a battlefield for training our soldiers in our Four Seas Dragon Palaces. Under the control of the Dragon Deity Hall, dragon cultivators cannot easily fight each other; typically, they engage in sparring matches, maintaining peace in the First Layer of Heaven for hundreds of years, which weakens the combat strength of the palaces. However, as a strategic major power like us Four Seas Dragon Palaces, we must maintain formidable combat prowess. Demon Ocean is a place where soldiers can hone their skills through life-and-death struggles."
Hearing Zhao Hongyu’s words, Hao Ren was taken aback before he understood the mindset of those at the top echelons of power in the dragon palaces.
The idea to set up barriers for a permanent solution and reduce casualties is indeed good. However, without the trials by demon beasts, soldiers from the East Sea would gradually become complacent. If an invading enemy were to appear one day, how could they wield their weapons bravely in battle
Thinking back to Zhao Ku's tribulation ordeal where tens of thousands of soldiers fearlessly bore down upon heavenly thunderbolts, such a valiant display can only come from soldiers and commanders who frequently fight on the battlefield!
"In fact, when Zhao Ku was serving as the great general, he spent more than half the year battling demon beasts or quelling uprisings. The scattered demon beasts are naturally not a concern, but every year there would still be some small demon kings leading hundreds to thousands of demon beasts attempting to seize territory under the East Sea Dragon Palace's control. Zhao Ku’s duty was to mercilessly drive them back into Demon Ocean."
As she spoke, Zhao Hongyu turned her head and looked at Hao Ren, "There will come a day when you too must take up arms against the enemy."
Zhao Ku was once an expert at Peak Heaven level and naturally could handle those demon kings on the fringes of Demon Ocean or those who had surrendered to the East Sea Dragon Palace. However, Hao Ren’s current strength...
"This period is a stable time for Demon Ocean, with no disturbances around it for nearly five years now. I estimate that in these recent years, there must have been fierce battles within Demon Ocean. This situation also explains why the West Sea Dragon Palace has the capacity to focus on us, the East Sea Dragon Palace."
Zhao Hongyu's expression showed a slight hint of displeasure. Among the Four Seas Dragon Palaces, it was the West Sea Dragon Palace controlled by Old Zeng that was most restless; once the Wanniao Sea became relatively calm in recent years, he would start targeting the East Sea Dragon Palace.
However, Hao Ren had other things on his mind. Whether it be the Wanniao Sea or the West Sea Dragon Palace, this seemingly tranquil layer of heaven was still a place where strength spoke volumes.
No matter if it was the demon kings near the borders of the East Sea Dragon Palace's domain or the West Sea Dragon Palace itself, they all needed to be kept in check with overwhelming power.
"Auntie, is Kunlun Mountain like a piece of territory belonging to Jiulong Palace in this layer of heaven" Hao Ren asked.
"Kunlun Mountain…" Zhao Hongyu didn't expect Hao Ren to ask about this. After pondering for a moment, she replied, "Kunlun Mountain is the birthplace and holy land of cultivation sects. Back then when these cultivation sects migrated en masse to the fifth layer of heaven, only Kunlun Mountain remained in this layer as part of their negotiation leverage."
Seeing Hao Ren's puzzled look, she continued, "Strictly speaking, the dragon clan cultivators occupy most of the land and sea areas in this layer. However, there are still other factions present. They are Kunlun Mountain, Wanniao Sea, and overseas immortal mountains respectively."
"Kunlun Mountain is the origin place for cultivation sects and remains a forbidden area for dragon clan cultivators to this day. Of course, ordinary human cultivators aren't allowed in either, apparently only spirit transformation-stage cultivators who walk among mortals have the qualifications to enter Kunlun."
"The Wanniao Sea is the territory of demon beasts; there's a large number of high-level demon beasts living within it. Those that successfully transform into human form can also be called demon cultivators, and among them, the most powerful ones each control their own territories in the deep sea, becoming demon kings."
"Overseas immortal mountains are those floating islands within the Wanniao Sea. These islands are far from land, with their origins also being Kunlun Mountain. However, they have little interaction with the cultivation sects on land, so when there's war between the Five-Palace Dragon Palaces and the cultivation sects, it doesn't affect these overseas immortal mountains' cultivators. They govern themselves independently, hence referred to as scattered cultivators."
Spirit transformation-stage grand cultivator, demon cultivator, scattered cultivator… After Zhao Hongyu's explanation, Hao Ren immediately understood their relationships.
According to this logic, Zhen Cunming could be considered a demon cultivator. However, he had just successfully transformed and maintained his child form, with cultivation levels between Kan and Li stages, making him a very weak newly-minted demon cultivator.
If those demon beasts that have reached the tenth stage managed to break through thunder tribulation and transform into human form, then cultivate to equivalent of dragon clan cultivators' Gān level or human cultivators’ late core formation realm and undergo another round of thunder tribulation…
Dragon clan cultivators were favored by heaven; they had the assistance of dragon spheres since birth. But demon beasts could only rely on their instincts to cultivate, awaken intelligence, break through the tribulation, and start from scratch again. This difficulty was even greater than reaching the peak of Gān level for dragon clan cultivators!
Those ten great demon kings ruling over the Wanniao Sea must be incredibly powerful.
"Haha, don't think too much about it. The demon beasts and demon kings in the Wanniao Sea have no interest in land. The spiritual qi concentration in the Wanniao Sea far exceeds that of the land; they only have hope for advancement by staying within the Wanniao Sea."
Zhao Hongyu smiled at Hao Ren's surprised look.
Hao Ren chuckled and thought about Little White who always followed a girl around. If he were dropped into the Wanniao Sea, he would likely be killed with one slap from those demon beasts inside.
Zhao Hongyu slightly rotated her fingers, causing the江山圖 (Jiangshan Tu) to descend smoothly, and a red barrier automatically rose, breaking through the sea surface and entering underwater.
"Welcome, Mother Dragon!"
A整齊的聲音隨即傳來。
Zhao Hongyu removed the River and Mountain Diagram and stood on a reef under the sea.
Hao Ren looked around and found that in front of him was a large camp. Over 80 military tents were neatly set up underwater.
"This is the newly appointed Grand General of the East Sea, Hao Ren," Zhao Hongyu introduced the person beside her.
"Welcome, Grand General!"
Nearly ten thousand soldiers and dozens of officers saluted him with clasped fists while kneeling halfway.
"Soldiers and officers, you've all worked hard!" Hao Ren thought for a moment before speaking loudly.
Swish swish swish...
The soldiers and officers stood up in unison.
In comparison to the banquet held during the Dragon Boat Festival at the East Sea Dragon Palace, these troops stationed in the sea and ready for battle were even more disciplined.
Each soldier wore their armor neatly, and their weapons were polished to a sharp edge. The archers had their bows never far from them, which made Hao Ren secretly admire them.
The officers either wore white or golden armor, all looking solemn with the various straps on their armor indicating they weren't put on hastily.
This camp was just one of thousands in the East Sea Dragon Palace's sea domain. The moment Zhao Hongyu entered the surface, this camp had already lined up and stood by, proving that they were always monitoring the situation above water.
It could be said that this single camp reflected all others. In reality, every camp was strictly governed with soldiers and officers performing their duties diligently.
At this point, Hao Ren couldn't help but admire Zhao Kuo's strict military discipline.
"Let's go," Zhao Hongyu said.
The River and Mountain Diagram unfurled once more, sweeping Hao Ren and Zhao Hongyu up from the sea bottom to fly towards the surface.
"See you later, Mother Dragon! See you later, General!"
Over ten thousand soldiers shouted in unison.
Zhao Hongyu instructed the River and Mountain Map to fly at its maximum speed. It only took half an hour before she returned to Coral Island.
An hour later, the sun had already set in the west, and Coral Island was bathed in a朦朧的夜色美景。五星級酒店燈火輝煌，彷彿黑夜中的明亮海螺。
Zhao Hongyu didn't say anything more to Hao Ren; she believed he understood her meaning.
The two took the elevator up to the hotel's top floor.
Yue Yang was drinking with some girls in a presidential suite. She seemed very happy today, being surrounded by these delicate young women who called her auntie.
Xiao Bai circled around her feet, wanting to taste the wine too. However, after just a few sips, Xiao Bai started to wobble.
"Hongyu, you're back" Yue Yang smiled and asked when she saw Zhao Hongyu return.
“Mm-hmm…” Zhao Hongyu gave a slight smile. "Why didn't you invite me to drink with you"
"Auntie, I'll toast to you!" Lu L琳琳立刻拿起杯子，放到趙紅玉麵前。
The women were all slightly tipsy but the atmosphere was warm and lively.
“Ren, you should rest early,” Zhao Hongyu turned around and said to Hao Ren who was by the door.
“Oh... Alright.” Hao Ren scratched his head as he watched these girls with flushed cheeks and delicate appearances like peach blossoms, then walked alone towards his own suite.
The presidential suite's door closed with a snap, followed by a burst of giggling like silver bells.
Women’s world indeed… Hao Ren sighed helplessly as he took out the key.r And judging from her mere first-layer Breath Condensation realm, it was clear that this Spirit Embryos cultivator only took her on as his disciple at the spur of the moment!The hustle and bustle her...