As the number of Spirit Transformation stage cultivators entering the Blood-Devouring Jungle grew, defeated cultivators began to emerge one by one.

In the span of just half a day, three or four dozen early and mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivators had rushed in full of excitement, only to emerge just as dusty and dejected as the number who entered.

Without exception, they were defeated swiftly, and for some reason, they remained stubbornly silent after their loss, contentedly watching other Spirit Transformation cultivators enter the jungle only to meet the same unfortunate fate.

"Go in and fight; the mysteries will instantly become clear, and you will naturally understand what’s happening. If you don't go in, you'll never grasp that marvelous process! This is the most painful yet most exhilarating thing that has happened to my faction in hundreds of years."

"Those who don't understand, I've said my piece. Even if I explained it, you still wouldn't grasp it. But for any Daoist brother who has fought in there, a single word from me is enough to enlighten them to the profound secret, something worth savoring for decades or even a century!"

True Man Bitian even spat as he enthusiastically shared his firsthand account, urging other Spirit Transformation cultivators to venture inside.

Naturally, everything True Man Chaoshi spoke of avoided any specifics regarding combat details.

This inevitably sparked greater curiosity among more Spirit Transformation cultivators, who now wished to duel Ye Qin inside to ascertain the truth.

Every time a Spirit Transformation cultivator retreated defeated from the Blood-Devouring Jungle, it ignited a fresh wave of intense curiosity.

The vast majority of the gathered Spirit Transformation cultivators had not yet entered the jungle, and watching one after another defeated cultivator emerge filled them with growing shock and an almost unbelievable thought forming in their minds.

"Brother Xu, something seems amiss! That Ye Qin's strength is likely immense! Extremely immense!"

"That Ye Qin is merely a recently ascended Spirit Transformation cultivator, virtually unknown before now; none of us had heard his name. Yet, in the space of half a day, he has defeated one early and mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator after another. Such a record is likely beyond even you or me!"

"Our Southern Demon Continent may have gained yet another immensely powerful Spirit Transformation cultivator!"

Dozens of Spirit Transformation cultivators standing near Cultivator Xu were discussing this.

"Before, my primary concern was the power of Divine Monarch Eryu, not Ye Qin. After all, Divine Monarch Eryu has cultivated in the Savage Lands for a thousand years, placing him among the transcendent and exceedingly difficult-to-handle Spirit Transformation cultivators.

But Ye Qin only just passed his Tribulation to reach the Spirit Transformation stage; no matter how strong he is, he can’t be that formidable. I hadn't paid him much mind.

However, looking at it now, this Ye Qin is no simple figure. The fact that he insists on one-on-one duels suggests he is quite confident in making such an offer. Had I known this..." he shouldn't have agreed to the terms."

Cultivator Xu said with regret.

"Husband, it's too late for regret. What should we do now? Should we all charge in together? That would certainly secure victory over Ye Qin and allow us to seize that Spirit Treasure, but other cultivators might object!"

A beautiful woman in yellow robes remarked.

"Indeed. If we move to seize it, the others certainly won't stand idly by.

I will enter and challenge him. I am late-stage Spirit Transformation peak, my combat strength is high, let’s see if I can wrest that mysterious Spirit Treasure from his grasp!"

Cultivator Xu nodded, his gaze concentrated, seemingly having made up his mind.

"We cannot take such a risk! If Husband is defeated, all hope of obtaining the Spirit Treasure is utterly lost."

The woman in yellow robes quickly said, "It would be better to invite Divine Monarch Eryu to fight first! If Divine Monarch Eryu wins, we can then wear him down in successive battles. If Divine Monarch Eryu is defeated, it proves that few are Ye Qin's match in a single duel—then we can all charge in and surround him."

The small group of allies around them all agreed. A siege, while somewhat dishonorable and likely to damage their reputation if spread, was inconsequential before a mysterious Spirit Treasure of the sixteenth rank or higher. Who among these Spirit Transformation cultivators would dare question them?

"Very well!"

Cultivator Xu's eyes lit up. He turned his gaze toward the distance, where Divine Monarch Eryu sat alone on a small mound, eyes closed in meditation.

Divine Monarch Eryu had no companions and never sought camaraderie; he walked alone. Among the hundreds of Spirit Transformation cultivators present, not a single one dared to approach him for conversation or association. This was because cultivators of the Ancient Alliance were notoriously aloof and maintained distant relationships; one should never expect him to consider you an ally.

A flash of insight struck Cultivator Xu, and he flew over, smiling warmly, "Brother Eryu, still meditating?"

"What is it?"

Divine Monarch Eryu opened his ethereal eyes and casually rested a hand on the hilt of his grey sword, his tone indifferent.

"Daoist Friend Ye has defeated dozens of early and mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivators within half a day. This strength is likely beyond even late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivators. I have considered the situation and wanted to ask if you would be willing to step forward and defeat him?" Cultivator Xu stated.

"Only a few dozen? No rush. Wait until he can defeat late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivators one by one, then it won't be too late for me to act."

Divine Monarch Eryu remained expressionless. Defeating dozens of early and mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivators consecutively would take him far less than half a day. Ye Qin's strength must be considerable, but perhaps not ridiculously so. At least for him, Divine Monarch Eryu, he was sufficiently confident to defeat any late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator present.

"Since Brother Eryu is so confident, so be it. We shall wait a little longer then."

Cultivator Xu frowned.

It seemed he had no choice but to wait patiently.

Ten days passed in a blink.

Outside the Blood-Devouring Jungle, an air of quietude and silence had settled, completely lacking the previous murmurs and chaotic discussions.

All the Spirit Transformation cultivators remained; not one had departed.

However, two-thirds of them had already entered the Blood-Devouring Jungle to issue their treasure-snatching challenge to Ye Qin. Regrettably, the longest any defeated cultivator stayed inside was just an hour before emerging.

Most of these cultivators, having suffered the humiliation of having their storage bags cleaned out after defeat, remained for a single reason: to see if anyone could finally defeat Ye Qin.

The remaining cultivators who hadn't entered were largely mid to late-stage cultivators—those of considerable strength. But they lacked overwhelming confidence; given their pride, they doubted they could defeat such a multitude of challengers alone.

The most likely candidates to defeat Ye Qin were a mere handful of late-stage peak cultivators, including Cultivator Xu, who was subtly seen as the leader among them, and the Southern Demon Continent's only Ancient Alliance cultivator, Divine Monarch Eryu.

With these two holding back, the more than one hundred other Spirit Transformation cultivators saw little hope and were unwilling to step forward.

Gradually, fewer and fewer Spirit Transformation cultivators were willing to enter the jungle for another challenge.

Seeing that no one else was entering the Blood-Devouring Jungle, Divine Monarch Eryu suddenly stood up. Gripping his long grey sword, he strode toward the jungle's depths.

The gathered Spirit Transformation cultivators instantly felt a surge of energy, inwardly noting:

"Now everything rests on Divine Monarch Eryu."

"If even he fails, perhaps no one can single-handedly defeat Ye Qin, who possesses that mysterious Spirit Treasure!"

"Then only one option remains: a siege!"

Divine Monarch Eryu's pace was not fast, but his strides were immense, covering thirty to forty li with each step. In a few dozen paces, he reached a small clearing in the center of the Blood-Devouring Jungle. He held his grey sword horizontally, fixing his gaze upon Ye Qin, who stood silently in the center of the clearing.

"You... Peak of the ninth layer of the Spirit Transformation stage?"

Even the usually calm face of Divine Monarch Eryu showed a flicker of astonishment. His own cultivation speed was rapid; it had taken him only a hundred years to advance from the Qi Refining stage to the Spirit Transformation stage, and then several hundred more to reach the peak of the ninth layer, making him nearly unrivaled across the Southern Demon Continent and the Savage Wildlands.

Yet, this was the first time he had ever encountered a cultivator who, after breaking through to the Spirit Transformation stage, reached the peak of the ninth layer in a mere ten days. There could only be one explanation: the supreme-tier Spirit Treasure in Ye Qin's possession was too powerful.

"Indeed!"

Ye Qin spoke lightly, his gaze falling upon Divine Monarch Eryu's grey sword.

The shock in his heart at this moment was no less than Divine Monarch Eryu's. He had not only seen the material of this grey sword before, but he was intimately familiar with it. It was the grey rock from the island within his Purple Mansion—rock that even the Purple Lightning could not destroy, undoubtedly raw material of the sixteenth rank or higher.

Divine Monarch Eryu possessing a grey sword—did this mean someone had previously managed to extract the raw grey rock material from the Purple Mansion floating island? Had the Demon Realm Saint Lord studied the Purple Mansion and managed to extract the grey rock, allowing it to spread? The ability to forge grey stone into a sword was terrifying beyond imagination! Ye Qin was naturally shaken.

"Might this Divine Monarch have a look at your Spirit Treasure?"

Divine Monarch Eryu vaguely sensed a familiar aura emanating from Ye Qin, though he couldn't place what it was.

"Where did your grey sword originate? Given your Spirit Transformation stage strength, you likely couldn't forge this sword yourself, could you?" Ye Qin countered.

"Your sight is sharp. This sword is named Eryu Sword; it is an ancient inheritance of the Ancient Alliance. Legend says an elder cultivator of the Ancient Alliance forged it using 'Chaos Immortal Stone.' This senior, perhaps due to certain reasons, failed to break through to higher realms and, facing the end of his lifespan, journeyed to the West Nether River for reincarnation, leaving this Eryu Immortal Artifact behind. At the peak of the ninth layer of the Spirit Transformation stage, I can only unleash a small fraction of this sword's power. At least on the Southern Demon Continent, I possess no other magical implement that can contend with this sword. I wonder what Spirit Treasure you hold, Daoist Friend, and if it can stand against my Eryu Sword?!"

Divine Monarch Eryu examined the ancient sword in his hand, his gaze as placid as water as he looked at Ye Qin, speaking each word deliberately.

"A grey egg. The rank and use of the Demon Realm Saint Lord's item are unknown. It appears to be a spatial Spirit Treasure."

Ye Qin produced an unassuming grey egg. Since Divine Monarch Eryu had revealed the sword’s origin, he decided not to be overly secretive. Moreover, he obtained this grey egg from Qing Qiuli, not from his own Purple Mansion, meaning it wouldn't expose his true capabilities.

"So it is a Demon Realm sacred object. The Abyss Strange Beast must have sensed this item to have emerged from the Demonic Abyss! I have long heard that the Demon Realm possesses many sacred objects surpassing the sixteenth rank; yours should be the finest among them. Although the use of this object is unknown, I must have this grey egg!"

A rare flash of brightness crossed Divine Monarch Eryu's eyes; he clearly sensed an aura in the grey egg that bore some resemblance to the grey sword in his hand.