As Xu Xian’s voice fell, the Eight Islands erupted in a cacophony of noise.
Leaving the North Sea? Settling in the Central Plains?
In the past, most of the demons had never even considered such a thing. Ninety-nine percent of them likely lacked the ability to reach the shores of the North Sea in their entire lives.
Moreover, there were ancestral teachings within the islands: the boundary must not be crossed.
It had been this way for millions of years. Only a handful of great demon experts, driven by curiosity, had ever stepped onto that land.
To the demons of the North Sea, the land was the unknown; the land was a forbidden zone.
The descendants of the demon immortals on the islands also knew that the North Sea demon race had been imprisoned here by ancient immortals. Their ancestors were forbidden from leaving the North Sea for all their lives.
Because of the North Sea shackles, the path to immortality was forever severed for the demon race. They could not become immortals.
There were tens of thousands of history books, yet not a single line in any of them recorded the gate opening in the North Sea or the demon race ascending to the Heavens.
But today, Xu Xian had come.
He didn't just want to take the ancestors to the Heavens; he also promised the North Sea demons that they could leave this cage that had imprisoned them for endless ages.
This news was explosive to them.
No matter how they thought about it or looked at it, it seemed like a magnificent thing.
Yet, having such a stroke of luck fall squarely on their heads left them completely bewildered.
What did Xu Xian want? What was his true intent? It was simply unfathomable.
The demon immortals were tempted, and the ordinary demons were moved as well. The only ones who might be resistant were probably the ninth-grade great demons.
To them, the North Sea boundary was an ethereal, distant thing. If they wanted to go to the Central Plains, they could just go. If the Sky Gate opened and they wanted to become immortals, they could just do it.
If they truly followed Xu Xian now, they feared they might lose their lives in just a few days. Naturally, they felt resistant.
But right now, they had no say in the matter, nor could they even cut in.
If the demon immortals nodded and agreed, they would have no choice. If they didn't agree, Xu Xian might use force, but at least they could try to hide...
They were nervous—even more so than the demon immortals. Their gazes darted back and forth between the phantom in the sky and their own Sovereigns, their thoughts a chaotic mess.
Some demon immortals remained silent, feigning composure.
Others spoke with a playful tone, teasing, “This deal sounds quite good. It’s very tempting...”
“Indeed!”
“This is quite a grand gift, haha!”
Their words laid their true feelings bare.
Setting everything else aside, at the very least, the demon immortals were full of anticipation regarding ascending to the Heavens. Because through this, they could leave the North Sea.
Risk? Where could one find a path of cultivation without risk?
If they only wanted to live peaceful and stable lives, they wouldn't have bothered besieging the Wendao Sword Sect four hundred years ago.
The demon immortal of Myriad Beast Island, the golden-haired giant with a bare chest, asked teasingly, “I’m curious. If we don't agree, will you throw the North Sea into chaos, just as your master did back then?”
Xu Xian’s gaze was cold and clear, his tone calm. “I told you, I am not my master...”
“So, what is your answer?” Ao Tian pressed.
Xu Xian paused for a moment. “I won’t.”
The expressions of several demon immortals became quite intriguing.
“Oh?”
Xu Xian continued, speaking slowly and clearly, “I came here today in person to discuss this deal with you in this manner because, fundamentally, I do not wish to cause any more slaughter.”
“It might sound hypocritical.”
“But that is the truth...”
“Right now, I am peerless in the mortal world. A tiny place like the North Sea—I could destroy it or sweep through it whenever I wish.”
“I don’t have much patience.”
“But I’m also never afraid of trouble.”
“Courtesy before force. If you are willing to come with me, that is naturally for the best.”
“If you are not,”
“I won’t kill you, nor will I strike the North Sea with my sword. There is no need for that.”
“I will simply knock you out one by one and bring you back to the Ascension Platform. On the day of the Awakening of Insects, I will take you all to the Sky Gate.”
“It will take some time, but it will still be in time...”
He paused his explanation, took a breath, and continued with clear, steady eyes:
“So, I hope you can agree and complete this deal with me.”
“This way, it is good for you and for me.”
“Stay dignified, lest future generations record how pathetic you were today for all to see...”
“To lose your life and your reputation—it’s not worth it!”
Sighs and murmurs continued as the demon cultivators whispered among themselves. Some of their words reached Xu Xian’s ears through the Bixu Mirror.
“He’s so arrogant. Has he always been this arrogant?”
“What do I do? I actually think what he says makes a lot of sense...”
“If we really can’t win, there’s truly no point in fighting...”
...
Xu Xian waited patiently for a while longer, but finally couldn't help but press them. “Now, can you give me your answer?”
Across the Eight Islands, the demon immortals stated their positions one by one.
The Golden Soft-shell Turtle Immortal: “I said it was a tempting deal. As long as you can erase that boundary wall, all the ninth-grade great demons of Golden Soft-shell Turtle Immortal Island are willing to go with you.”
The Qingluan Immortal: “I’ve wanted to leave this godforsaken place for a long time.”
Phoenix Mother: “Agreed.”
The Ink Qilin Immortal: “I cannot make decisions for the juniors of my island. If they are willing to go, so be it; if they are not, I will not force them. However, on my own behalf, I am very willing to go and have a look...”
Tu Sisi said nothing.
The masters of Yuanzhou and Myriad Beast Island didn't speak either. Xu Xian took their silence as tacit agreement.
Ao Tian, the second strongest of the North Sea from Canghai Immortal Island, said, “Remember your promise. If you fail to keep it, do not blame us...”
Xu Xian understood and finalized the matter. “Then it is settled. In three days, I will strike the North Sea boundary with my sword to break the wall. You will follow me back to the Northern Borders and ascend the Ascension Platform.”
He then added one last thing.
“Also, I must trouble you all to spread the word throughout the North Sea. If a single person above the ninth grade is missing, I will pay a personal visit. By then, do not blame me for getting rough.”
As he finished speaking, Xu Xian put away the Bixu Mirror without waiting for a response.
Above the Eight Islands, the eight phantoms instantly vanished into the void.
The sun remained bright, and the blue waves rippled as before.
Yet, the Eight Immortal Islands were suddenly thrown into an uproar.
That was it? They just agreed?
Are the ancestors really going?
The demons discussed, debated, and speculated...
The demon immortals also vanished from public view.
While the ordinary disciples were busy talking, the ninth-grade great demons couldn't sit still. They immediately rushed toward the locations of their demon immortal sovereigns.
They wanted an explanation; even if they were to die, they wanted to know why.
Some opposed, some pleaded, some tried to persuade, but the answers they received were all in perfect agreement.
The demon immortals had made up their minds; there was no room for negotiation.
Of course, they didn't force the others. They simply told them, “You certainly don't have to go, but you must bear the consequences yourselves.”
The implication was clear—they were shifting the blame to Xu Xian.
If you don't want to go, fine. Negotiate with Xu Xian yourself.
Or, if you think you can escape his clutches, you are free to travel far away...
But they also pointed out a hard truth.
If Xu Xian could truly split that boundary wall with a single sword strike, did they really think they could escape his grasp?
The answer was obvious.
Even if they were unwilling, they would eventually just follow in the footsteps of those from the Central Plains and East Desolation—being tied up and dragged back to the Ascension Platform.
Rather than that, it was better to accept it gracefully.
At least they could ensure they were in peak condition. Once they ascended to the Heavens, even if there was danger, they would be better prepared to face it.
No one who had reached the level of a demon god and lived to such an age was a fool.
How could they not see it clearly?
Rate on N.U.
