In the deepest reaches of the Blood Demon Sword Sect.

A pitch-black grand hall floated amidst an endless demonic fog.

Dugu Hong, clad in a black robe, sat cross-legged within the hall. His eyes were shut tight as Thunder Arcs flickered across his body.

Beneath the violet-black lightning, bloody gashes split open, and his massive demonic form shattered and broke apart.

This man, the highest-ranking figure in the Blood Demon Sword Sect below the Divinity Transformation realm, now seemed to be submerged in a deathly stillness.

Yet, the aura emanating from him was as deep as an abyss, as vast as a prison.

It was as if he had transcended the Nascent Soul realm!

But he still couldn’t break through into the ranks of Divinity Transformation...

"Dugu the Old Dog, whether you can attain the status of a Venerable this time all depends on if you can survive this ordeal."

Outside the hall’s entrance, an elder with white hair and a white beard, dressed in a blood-colored Python Robe, stood with his hands clasped behind his back and sighed.

"His Lordship has prepared for a thousand years for this day. He will surely succeed."

From a corner of the great hall, a stooped, elderly woman in a Gray Robe, leaning on a Snake Head Walking Stick, slowly emerged from the shadows. Her voice was hoarse.

The Elder Blood Flood Dragon shook his head, disagreeing with the old woman. He didn’t deny it, however.

He changed the subject, asking, "Granny Hui, did Dugu the Old Dog tell you who he favors in this session of the Demon Child trials?"

The withered, sallow hand of the gray-robed old woman, which was gripping the Snake Head Walking Stick, trembled slightly. Her voice was raspy, like the sound of wind rustling dry leaves.

"His Lordship is at a critical juncture and cannot be disturbed to reply. As for the matter of the Demon Child trials, he gave instructions before entering seclusion. I can relay them on his behalf."

The Elder Blood Flood Dragon’s thick white eyebrows rose. "Oh? And what are his thoughts?"

"Those little brats down there are all performing quite well. They’re about to start fighting each other in the Illusion Heart Prison just to secure a spot. It’s a shame that shameless old fool Sunx Youhai is cheating for his grandson."

"If I weren’t standing guard for Dugu the Old Dog, I’d definitely go take a look."

Granny Grey said slowly, "His Lordship has stated that if the Demon Child trials begin, his vote goes to the reincarnated Venerable, Liu Mobai."

A reincarnated Demon Venerable with profound Innate Wisdom may be beneficial to the Sect in the long run."

"Bullshit!" the Blood Robe Elder spat without a hint of courtesy upon hearing her words.

"This damn place of yours has too many rules! All these restrictions are annoying enough to kill a man, and they’ve screwed people over too. Wasn’t Dugu the Old Dog’s ancestor, Dugu Hao, just some mud-legged commoner back in the day?"

"And what about that Chuu Hongling he can’t seem to forget? Didn’t she also fight her way up from nothing? And now look, he’s pulling this bullshit about prioritizing a reincarnated Venerable. It’s ridiculous!"

A phantom Blood Flood Dragon roared around the Blood Robe Elder’s body.

"To hell with death! If you don’t die, you’ll live for ten thousand years! Cultivators defy the heavens and fight for their destiny—it’s all about that sharp, aggressive edge. We don’t vie for some hollow, eternal reputation; we fight for the ultimate prize in this life and this life alone."

"Who cares about reincarnation? Whoever fights their way to the top is the one who’s right. Rules are just shackles for the mediocre. That’s the kind of spirit we Cultivators should have! Otherwise, what’s the point of cultivating the Dao or ascending to immortality?"

Faced with the Blood Robe Elder’s tirade, Granny Grey’s expression was as placid as an old well. Leaning on her wooden staff, she responded calmly.

"His Lordship’s intentions are too profound for the likes of us to fathom. I am merely relaying his will. If Fellow Daoist Ao has any objections, you might as well wait for His Lordship to emerge from seclusion and discuss it with him personally."

"As for their lives, they are of no concern to me."

The Blood Robe Elder snorted coldly and muttered in a low, rumbling voice, "That’s just like Dugu the Old Dog. He was a Mud Seed himself, and now he looks down on others."

"If Sunx Youhai dares to make a move in the end, I wouldn’t mind killing his grandson!"

"I, for one, have taken a liking to that kid Qin Xuan. Pill and Artifact Dual Cultivation, created his own Sword Talisman, taking it one step at a time—that’s real, hard-won ability. It’s a hell of a lot more reliable than some nonsense about reincarnation..."

Hearing the Elder Blood Flood Dragon call him "old dog" again and again, the old woman known as Granny Grey finally snapped.

She suddenly looked up, her eyes fierce and menacing.

"Ao Lie, are you done yet?! If you dare to disrespect His Lordship again, don’t blame me for getting rough!"

BOOM!

Granny Grey’s vital energy surged like the sea. That roiling Qi Mechanism was actually strong enough to faintly suppress the Elder Blood Flood Dragon!

The body of a mere Human Race member, yet her vital energy was so immense it could rival a Flood Dragon’s!

Ao Lie’s tone faltered, and he let out a light cough.

"COUGH, COUGH. I am, at the very least, three thousand years older than you. Back in the day, Dugu Hong’s ancestor, Dugu Hao, was a dear friend of mine..."

"Stop, stop! I give in! Put away that Heaven and Earth’s Longevity technique of yours!"

Ao Lie let out a wail of despair. His ruddy complexion instantly turned ashen, and the phantom of the blood-colored Flood Dragon circling him dimmed.

Facing this old woman who looked to be on death’s door, her ancient face covered in wrinkles, with white hair and skin like a plucked chicken, Ao Lie could no longer muster even a shred of the dignity befitting a Nascent Soul Peak Demon Monarch.

’This crazy old hag.’

’She uses that life-draining Yin Wood Divine Techniques at the drop of a hat. No wonder she’s aged so much in just a thousand years!’

"Fellow Daoist Ao, since His Lordship has spoken, there must be a profound meaning behind his words."

Granny Grey’s face was withered, but her eyes were exceptionally clear and calm as she repeated, "You can cast your vote for the Demon Child candidate you prefer, but my vote will definitely go to Liu Mobai."

As the personal handmaiden who had served Dugu Hong for many years, she would always stand by her master’s side, no matter what.

’Dugu the Old Dog, you’ve got a good subordinate!’

Ao Lie let out a long sigh.

...

Inside the Illusion Heart Prison, the Golden Armor Silver Corpse in front of Sunx Miao was already beginning to take shape.

The silver light on its Dark Gold Skeleton grew brighter and brighter, emitting a pressure that far surpassed the Late-stage Purple Mansion realm.

His face was as white as paper and his body trembled, clearly at his limit, yet the corner of his mouth curled into a twisted, smug smile.

With his Cultivation at the Purple Mansion Sixth Level, he was now refining a Purple Mansion Peak Corpse Puppet, a feat that crossed realms. Who would dare say he wasn’t worthy of becoming the Demon Child now!

"Does this kid really think the Demon Monarchs can’t see what he’s doing?" Blood Demon Ming Zhan rolled his eyes, speechless.