It's been more than a year, and now that the opportunity is here for this battle, I still haven't properly thanked you for the hospitality you, the seven cycles of Canglang’s disciples, showed me back then.”

Feng Zikang smiled coldly, bringing up old times.

They were now deep within Qingfeng Mountain, standing opposite each other, each claiming their ground.

Just over a year ago, when Feng Zikang journeyed to Eagle Wing Island in the Sea of No Return, Mou Canglang, due to his connection with Qin Li’er, had launched a surprise attack as Feng Zikang departed alone. Fortunately, he had been prepared and fled a thousand li, sustaining no real injury.

This time, upon arriving in Lizhou, they met again. Before he could even settle the score, Luo Kedi had already secured a satisfying victory for him. Thinking about taking this arrogant Mou Canglang as a disciple, Feng Zikang found the situation amusing.

Mou Canglang also sneered endlessly. When Feng Zikang had gone to Eagle Wing Island under the alias Zhou Ping’an to gather intelligence, not a single person, from the White Eagle King downward, had seen through the deception.

If such a thing got out, Eagle Wing Island would lose face beyond measure. For this alone, Mou Canglang had to settle accounts with him. Now, to inexplicably carry the title of ‘master’—how could he tolerate it?

This battle today would inevitably decide life or death!

He gritted his teeth, snorted coldly, and beckoned with both hands, causing a sphere of five-colored light to gather in his palm.

Feng Zikang knew this sphere of five-colored light held immense power and dared not be careless. He remained fully alert, staring intently at Mou Canglang’s hand, and chuckled lightly, “Speaking of which, I’ve never known the divine ability behind your sphere of five-colored light, disciple Canglang. It doesn't seem to be taught by the White Eagle King. Would you mind enlightening me?”

Mou Canglang coldly scoffed, “This is my innate divine ability, the Five-Colored Bewitching Art. It was not taught by my Master. You do have some perception!”

His 'Master' here naturally referred to the White Eagle King, one of the Five Great Demon Kings of the Sea of No Return, not Feng Zikang, the junior standing opposite him.

“Oh?”

Feng Zikang mused thoughtfully. An innate divine ability of the Five-Colored Bewitching Art… just what was Mou Canglang’s true form?

“Enough talk, take this!” Mou Canglang had no desire to waste words. He waved his hand lightly, and the five-colored light surged violently, rushing toward Feng Zikang like a tide!

Feng Zikang praised him with a word, "Good!" Although he had crossed swords with Mou Canglang once before and knew the might of this light, he had only grazed it in passing and remained ignorant of its true properties. Facing it head-on this time, he dared not be careless. With a soft shout, his sword light danced, intercepting the five-colored light.

Where the sword light met the five-colored light, a thunderous sound erupted, intense as heavenly fire, shaking the very air. Both men grunted involuntarily and were knocked backward!

Feng Zikang’s sword light was formidable, but his progress over the last year had been even faster, much to Mou Canglang’s surprise. He hadn't expected Feng Zikang’s offensive methods to be so sharp, and his heart tightened.

Feng Zikang, however, was inwardly delighted. Simply using his sword light could withstand Mou Canglang’s five-colored attack. His divine abilities, having entered the Condensing Pill stage, had indeed advanced by leaps and bounds. This exchange bolstered his confidence even further.

“Disciple Canglang, what do you think of my strength?” He smiled slightly and spoke mockingly.

“Impressive enough, perhaps, but still far from being the master of me, Mou Canglang!” Mou Canglang snorted coldly, brought his hands together, and the five-colored light transformed into the shape of a sword, flashing with icy light as it slashed toward Feng Zikang’s head.

“Oh, another application?”

Feng Zikang also condensed his myriad sword lights into a colossal blade, meeting Mou Canglang’s strike head-on in a flurry of blows numbering over a dozen. The recoil force was immense, causing both men to retreat further and further apart.

Rocks rumbled, fragments rained down from the mountain, and trees crashed to the ground, startling countless birds into flight.

Mou Canglang’s expression grew increasingly grim. Feng Zikang’s power was a level higher than he had anticipated! This person was clearly only in the early stage of Condensing Pill, yet why could he unleash such terrifying strength? Even with the 108 Maddening Staff Arts of the Enlightened Fruit Chan Master, a cultivator at the early Condensing Pill stage shouldn't be able to withstand it. What recourse did Feng Zikang possess to survive this trial? Although he too had not yet revealed all his trump cards, a seed of fear had been sown in his heart.

It seemed he had no choice but to use that thing!

Mou Canglang bit down hard, blocking Feng Zikang’s sword light with the five-colored energy, while his hand subtly slid toward the Qiankun Pouch hanging at his waist.

The words of his true master, the White Eagle King, echoed in his ears. This was before he left Eagle Wing Island to proceed to Lizhou as the vanguard for the Sea of No Return.

“Senior Brother Canglang, Master summons you!”

That day, he was cultivating quietly when he heard the summons from the White Eagle King’s attendant boy. Daring not to delay, he straightened his robes and followed the boy to the Grand Hall where his Master resided.

It was common knowledge that as the vanguard for the Sea of No Return demons, he was being sent to Lizhou. The Sea of No Return factions had already decided to support Lizhou in overthrowing the Great Tang and claiming a share of the impending Heaven and Earth Tribulation. As the closest major island of the Sea of No Return to the Central Plains, sending a favored disciple to scout the way was only fitting.

Yet, a vague sense of unease clung to him. This was, after all, the first major action by the masses of the Sea of No Return to return to the Central Plains since they left the mainland in the ancient era. The skirmishes and probing attacks before were merely feints; this time, it was a true attempt to decide the future and destiny of the demons of the Sea of No Return. His mood was naturally anxious.

The departure date hadn't been set yet, but at that moment, his Master sent for him…

“Disciple Mou Canglang pays his respects to Master.”

The moment he entered the hall, he knelt down, exceedingly deferential. The White Eagle King was extremely strict with his disciples, so Mou Canglang and the others both revered and feared him, never daring to neglect any formality.

The White Eagle King sat enthroned in the Grand Hall, his eyes half-open, half-closed. Hearing his entrance, he nodded slightly.

“Canglang, you’ve arrived. Rise.”

“Yes, Master!” Mou Canglang stood up and replied respectfully.

“Are you prepared for this journey to the Central Plains?” The White Eagle King abruptly opened his eyes, a faint light glimmering within them.

Mou Canglang paused for a moment, then replied solemnly, “This disciple will certainly exert himself to the utmost for the thousand-year grand plan of the Sea of No Return and dare not be remiss!”

This was the standard response. But the White Eagle King was not satisfied. He smiled faintly, stood up, and slowly walked to Mou Canglang’s side.

“Canglang, that is not what I seek…” He sighed softly, gazing up at the ceiling, as if he could see the boundless sky through the tiles.

“This venture into the Central Plains is of monumental importance. Our thousand-year strategy for the Sea of No Return culminates today. If we fail to return to the Central Plains this time, I fear there will never be another chance. Our Demon Race will be forced to struggle for survival in these ten thousand li of azure seas.”

Ever since the Demon Race was driven out of the Central Plains cultivation world in the ancient times, they had been confined to the frontiers and overseas, struggling to survive. Countless demons perished in the harsh environment. Today’s Demon Race was far from the glory of its peak. What they yearned for was to return to the Central Plains and become a part of its cultivation society once more.

“In the ancient times, humans and demons coexisted without barriers,” the White Eagle King’s sigh grew heavier as he slowly recounted the tales of the past.

Mou Canglang lowered his head. As a new generation of demon born in these ten thousand li of azure seas, although he couldn't fully grasp the nostalgia for the homeland felt by these great demons, he understood that the Central Plains of the Nine Provinces was the land abundant in resources. The overseas regions were barren and utterly insufficient to support demon cultivation. Most demons had now degenerated into common demonic beasts, even losing their sentience, becoming no different from wild fowls and beasts.

If they could return to the Nine Provinces… Mou Canglang shuddered.

He knew well that resources in this world were never enough. The Disciple of the Venerable One, the White Bone Divine Monarch, practiced demonic arts on the border of the Central Plains. To achieve advancement, he needed to kill thousands of people to cultivate the Nine Nether Ten Underworlds Soul-Plucking Great Law, which had already provoked a war between the Central Plains cultivation world and the Sea of No Return. If the demons of the Sea of No Return returned, perhaps half the resources would be devoured by them, leaving mortals in bitter misery. This would inevitably be a struggle to the death.

The White Eagle King’s gaze grew solemn. “Canglang, have you thought this through?”

The White Eagle King himself had always advocated for peaceful coexistence with mortals; merely returning to the Central Plains was enough for him. But Mou Canglang clearly understood: returning to the situation of human-demon coexistence of ancient times was now impossible. Back then, the Primordial World was vast, resources were plentiful, and the populations of both humans and demons were small. But after generations upon generations of breeding, both humans and demons now numbered astonishingly high. Moreover, since the Primordial World had shattered, relying solely on the small realm of the Main Profound World, how could it sustain billions of humans and demons? Add to that the needs of cultivators, whose required resources were immense—how could such conflict cease?

His Master’s thinking was perhaps too naive. Even if the Demon Race did not intend to harm mortals, once they entered the Central Plains, various contradictions would become unavoidable, leading inevitably to a bloody war. In that case, wouldn't it be better to settle everything in this Battle of Phoenix Return? That was also the Venerable One’s intention.

Mou Canglang reached toward his waist and gripped the Qiankun Pouch.

The White Eagle King shook his head and sighed. He looked at Mou Canglang with a stern gaze, remaining silent for a long time.

Mou Canglang kept his head down, not daring to speak, concentrating his spirit and holding his breath completely silently.

After a long while, the White Eagle King sighed again. “Although you are my disciple, I know the Venerable One is also quite satisfied with your cultivation. This time, when you go to the Central Plains, the Venerable One specifically summoned you and bestowed that treasure upon you. I understand what that means…”

A jolt went through Mou Canglang’s heart, and cold sweat broke out on his back. Master actually knew about the Venerable One bestowing the treasure! The Venerable One had explicitly warned him not to tell his Master—why…?

“We Five Great Demon Kings have been with the Venerable One for a thousand years; how could we not understand his intentions?” The White Eagle King shook his head, sighing wryly.

“I cannot stop this matter, but what I must say is this: whenever you intend to use that treasure, think of your Master first before making a decision…”

The hand Mou Canglang had extended toward the Qiankun Pouch suddenly froze. Was now the right time to use that treasure?

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