The chasm between the Inner Mansion and the Outer Pavilion, often blurred by the presence of divine powers, has always existed. Throughout history, cases of those from the Inner Mansion subjugating the Outer Pavilion are not uncommon.

However, the leap from the Outer Pavilion to a Divine Arrival is separated by a natural chasm. To say that the three realms are a step, a heaven, and an earth apart is no exaggeration. A Heavenly Demon’s methods are far beyond the comprehension of a mere Divine Arrival, or even a Cave True cultivator. No matter how much effort one expends, it cannot be crossed!

Even if Xiong San Si had examined his body, inside and out, ten thousand times, even if he could penetrate the true reality and scrutinize himself down to the minutest detail, he could not uncover the means by which Hu Tai Sui operated—unless Hu Tai Sui willed it.

A True Demon’s body, a Spider String’s primordial spirit still ceaselessly resisting within the frame, cannot fully unleash Hu Tai Sui’s power. Yet, to deal with Xiong San Si, he had no need for such strength. This body of Xiong San Si’s… was ‘nurtured’ by his own hands, and researched for thirteen long years!

Everything Xiong San Si could perceive, he could perceive as well. And what Xiong San Si could not see, he could also see.

The black and crimson hues that danced across the sky were all scattered by the wind. Spider String’s eyes reflected Hu Tai Sui’s mood. He simply used this body to casually step onto the Conferred God Platform, looking down upon Xiong San Si, whose entire being, including his five senses, was in fierce internal conflict. Even in such a state, Xiong San Si still struggled. Though his battlefield was confined to his own body, though his struggle could not even affect a single hair of his enemy.

“You actually dare to resist me?”

Hu Tai Sui’s tone held a hint of surprise, perhaps admiration, or some other indefinable emotion. After a long period of scrutiny, he suddenly smiled faintly—

“This is precisely why I chose you.”

He allowed Xiong San Si to fall into the golden sea of clouds, allowed Xiong San Si to futilely struggle against himself. He did nothing more.

“I will not kill you,” he said softly.

It was a sentence steeped in cruelty.

Xiong San Si’s right eye, still capable of self-control, instantly widened, the eyeball nearly bursting from its socket!

But Hu Tai Sui had already manipulated Spider String’s body, shifting his gaze away. This was his most perfect creation, his most excellent child. Of course, he would not destroy it. Even those who dared to harm Xiong San Si would face his punishment. Just like the Spider String’s primordial spirit, being tormented at this very moment. And that ignorant True Demon dog, Ying Yang, from Illuminated Cloud Peak…

Of course, conveniently reclaiming the Spring of Immortality and the Knowing Bell were also reasonable matters. The former could be used to explore the possibility of resurrection, laying the foundation for ten thousand generations; the latter, though a hot potato, could be taken to Ancient Difficulty Mountain and Black Lotus Temple to be sold to the highest bidder.

But at this moment, he had more important tasks at hand.

His gaze swept across the mountains, seeing to the farthest reaches, yet not neglecting the immediate vicinity. His gaze suddenly fell upon the small demon standing alone on the mountain path, tightly clutching a rusted iron sword, and he asked, his voice unclear: “Where is your ancient god?”

Chai A Si felt as though he had experienced a very long dream. Though he had awakened, he was unsure if he still resided within it. He knew who Hu Tai Sui was now, of course, but felt no fear, nor did he immediately prostrate himself. Instead, he murmured, “My ancient god sleeps. He will not awaken again.” That wisp of light had once shone upon him. Even if the whole world proclaimed it fake, even if that wisp of light itself admitted it was fake, it was because of it that he had been illuminated.

Hu Tai Sui looked deeply at the small demon for a moment. “Interesting.” Yet, he did nothing further.

How Jiang Wang had infiltrated the demon city, how he had remained hidden for so long, how he knew of the Divine Firmament world, what plot lay behind it all… these were matters to be handled later. As for now… What here was more important than the Spring of Immortality and the Knowing Bell?

To him, Hu Tai Sui, of course, only the Conferred God Platform beneath his feet mattered! To merely see the path atop the absolute peak and to step upon the path atop the absolute peak, and to truly walk to the very summit—these were three distinct things.

A person at the tender age of three or four, or even younger, might know that they will grow up and need to grow up. But they still must wait until their twenties for their coming-of-age, their thirties to establish themselves, their forties to be free from confusion… A path already seen still requires a long time to walk, requiring ample experience and accumulation.

For the current Hu Tai Sui, to reach the absolute peak, he only needed to truly facilitate the birth of the Spirit Race. To allow the Spirit Race to become a truly active race in all the heavens and myriad worlds, not just with Xiong San Si as a single, lone seedling. With Xiong San Si as a ready example, he had already discerned the method for achieving the Spirit Race. On beings like Ling Xi Hua, he could immediately attempt it. In subsequent nurturing, he could continuously improve the method, lower the cost, until finally, the Spirit Race could propagate naturally.

But… it was too slow. How long had it taken to nurture one Xiong San Si? The next Xiong San Si, the next Ling Xi Hua, how long would one have to wait? And now, there was an excellent opportunity—

Within the Divine Firmament world existed infinite possibilities, and at this moment, with no external evils present, the Spider String body he controlled should be invincible. And the Ancient Imperial City’s Conferred God Platform had, over a long history, conferred countless gods! The divine path was merely one form of cultivation, and those strong individuals who received god positions were still of the demon race.

But with Xiong San Si as a ready example, he had already conceived of a method to refine ‘gods’ into ‘spirits’! It is said that ‘gods’ and ‘spirits’ are intertwined; for gods to transform into the Spirit Race, is it not a natural law? Even if this method proved unsuccessful, controlling the Conferred God Platform meant mastering infinite power. There would be no further worry about the research into the Spirit Race, lacking the ‘god’ component.

This scheme was difficult to accommodate within the world. But he had come this far, having created the Spirit Race alone. When had he ever been ‘accommodated’? Once he reached the absolute peak, becoming a great existence who permeated the history of the demon race, what would a few criticisms matter?

Just as he insisted on pursuing the so-called Faceless God, the so-called Late Cloud Mountain God, it was to eliminate all hidden dangers, allowing his path to transcendence to remain uninfluenced. The Conferred God Platform’s purpose of ensuring Jiang Wang’s ‘absolute safety’ naturally also had longer-term goals. He could certainly see this point. But could Lu Xi Ming not see it? Could Ancient Difficulty Mountain not see it?

Take this Ten Thousand Gods Sea, for instance. The power here all originates from the Ancient Imperial City’s Conferred God Platform. The Conferred God Platform’s unspoken secret arrangements within this Divine Firmament world had been ongoing for many years! Who couldn’t see it? Who was blind? But who had truly looked?

Hadn’t Lu Xi Ming also borrowed this arrangement? Hadn’t Ancient Difficulty Mountain also borrowed this arrangement? These were all the orthodox methods of the world. Just as he, Hu Tai Sui, was also an absolute high-level figure within the Ancient Imperial City system. The Conferred God Platform was the Conferred God Platform, and the Ancient Imperial City was the Ancient Imperial City. Since your Conferred God Platform’s arrangements were secret, so much so that even we high-level figures were unaware, then for me to ‘not see it’ is it not natural?

The Conferred God Platform changing hands would not harm the demon race. Changing it to a Hu Tai Sui who had reached the absolute peak, changing it to a powerful Spirit Race with infinite potential, would be of even greater benefit to the demon race! As for whether the replacement procedure was legal, whether it would shake the interests of certain factions, whether it would provoke the authority of the Ancient Imperial City… that could be discussed after the Divine Firmament situation concluded.

To better construct the divine path system, the Conferred God Platform’s branch platforms were spread throughout the domains of the demon world. Each branch platform had independent ‘conferring god’ authority, and this authority was shared by the local lords. This was closely related to the power structure of the demon race.

As the absolute controller of Purple Wu Hills, Hu Tai Sui was already intimately familiar with the Conferred God Platform. He had researched the Conferred God Platforms within his territory countless times. He knew deeply that although the Conferred God Platform located within the Ancient Imperial City was the main platform, the position of the main platform was not immutable. Although it was said that a hundred rivers eventually flowed to the sea, what was the sea? If a certain river was deep and boundless, while the sea gradually grew shallow and shrank day by day, then who should flow into whom would require further discussion!

Heavenly Demon Xuan Nan Gong, who wielded the Conferred God Platform, relied on the authority granted by the Ancient Imperial City to regularly collect the divine power from each branch platform. While gathering the hundred rivers, he also prevented the side branches from becoming too prosperous and overwhelming the main trunk. Even if a certain branch platform became overly strong and was stingy with divine power resources, one order from the Ancient Imperial City would compel it to obediently release them. Besides the main platform located in the Ancient Imperial City, there were various means of checks and balances that could be employed. Over long years, this system had never encountered any accidents.

But now was different. The Conferred God Platform within the Divine Firmament world held an abyss-like sea of divine power. And the Divine Firmament world itself was currently free from external interference. This was truly a rare opportunity in ten thousand years!

Once this Conferred God Platform was completely under control, then mobilizing the divine power of the entire Ten Thousand Gods Sea, reclaiming all the Ancient Imperial City Conferred God Platform’s arrangements within this world for his own use, and then cooperating with the Conferred God Platform located in Purple Wu Hills, it was not impossible to shift the main position. He, Hu Tai Sui, would become the new wielder of the Conferred God Platform!

The moment he controlled Spider String’s body and set foot upon the Conferred God Gold Platform, his invasion of this Conferred God Platform had already begun. At this moment, the entire Gold Platform was covered with spirit patterns, and spirit flames burned beneath. But this was still not enough.

In Mo Cloud City. Dog Ying Yang and Spider String had already been sent away, transcending time and space through the connection between Conferred God Platforms and entering the Divine Firmament world. The Conferred God Platform branch platform belonging to Mo Cloud City had already converged all its brilliance, appearing to become an ordinary stone platform. It had consumed enormous power to penetrate the world rules of the Divine Firmament world. The Conferred God Platform on the Ancient Imperial City side was also temporarily unable to contact it again. And Spider Yi, the supreme ruler of the place it governed, was at this moment on the verge of death, not knowing where to hide and recuperate, nor even knowing how many days he had left to live!

Just at this moment, Hu Tai Sui, who had acquiesced to all of this, stood up from the breach in the wall. Under Lu Xi Ming’s shocked gaze, he stepped out, landing above the sky of this Conferred God Platform in Mo Cloud City. With a large hand, he grabbed, and terrifying power poured down directly. His dao principles began to overtly invade the Conferred God Platform!

Heaven Breath Wasteland, after all, was a large domain. The Conferred God Platform located in Mo Cloud City also held a pivotal position within the Conferred God Platform system. Taking down this platform would add significant weight to his contention for authority over the Conferred God Platform! As for what Ji Xing Kong, Chan Fa Yuan, and Lu Xi Ming thought… His invasion of the Divine Firmament Conferred God Platform was about to be completed, and the changes within the Divine Firmament world would soon be detected. Why would he still care about their thoughts? If they couldn’t recognize the situation and act wisely, at most, there would be a fight.

Having seen through the path to transcendence, his extremely evil demon heart had already nurtured a god fetus. Using some Heavenly Demon in this realm to verify his strength and re-establish his status was not impossible. But just at this moment, a thunderous voice tore through the sky, the sound of exploding lightning nearly reaching the edge of vision: “Hu Tai Sui, you are too arrogant!” Heavenly Demon Xuan Nan Gong in the Ancient Imperial City detected the anomaly and transmitted his voice ten thousand miles to here. And that lightning had already transformed into a spear.

Facing such lightning, such a rebuke, Hu Tai Sui did not even bat an eyelid. His palm was like a covering sky, separating the lightning ten thousand miles away above, and covering the Heaven Breath Conferred God Platform below. The spirit flames burned even more fiercely. The ancient stone body of the platform was already covered in spirit patterns.

A rumbling giant sound shattered the long night, but the sound suddenly became distant. Hu Tai Sui’s large hand was like a mountain range, and the lightning was all outside the mountain. He was preventing Xuan Nan Gong from approaching! Dao principles collided across the void, and the sky of Heaven Breath Wasteland flickered between light and darkness.

“Hu Tai Sui is mad!” Xuan Nan Gong’s voice fell into Mo Cloud City: “Several Bodhisattvas! Heavenly Venerables! Quick! The Ancient Imperial City’s ten-thousand-year great plan must not be destroyed by him in a single day!”

Lu Xi Ming, Ji Xing Kong, and Chan Fa Yuan had not yet spoken, but Hu Tai Sui was already the first to roar in anger: “What ten-thousand-year great plan?!” “Whose ten-thousand-year great plan?!” “Today, the Spirit Race is born, and my demon world’s potential is greatly abundant, then we can speak of ten thousand years!” “Today I step upon the absolute peak, then it is the demon race’s ten thousand ten thousand years!”

In the Divine Firmament world, the Conferred God Platform blazing with spirit flames was already visibly turning Hu Tai Sui’s color. In the Ten Thousand Gods Sea, tens of thousands of prostrate god statues suddenly all stood up! The so-called mud sculptures and wooden statues were all illuminated by divine light!

One, covered in cracks, held a comet sword: “Hu Tai Sui! Still not pulling back from the brink!” Another, with three heads and six arms, each holding a treasure: “Return from the mistaken path!” One, treading upon a fire snake, lifted its palm, attempting to extinguish the spirit flames: “To what extent will you pursue your private interests!” One, driving a sky wolf, stretched its arms and drew its bow against the heavy pupils: “Heavenly Venerable, how can you be so mistaken!”

Ten thousand gods revived, each displaying their might, all charging towards Hu Tai Sui! For a time, golden waves rose in the sea, and gods stood side by side. The entire divine mountain was filled with various divine radiances. Chai A Si was completely unaware of what had happened, simply witnessing this battle of a Heavenly Demon slaughtering gods.

He only saw Hu Tai Sui, controlling the Spider String body, standing atop the Divine Firmament Conferred God Platform, laughing wildly and incessantly: “I am also a Heavenly Venerable, Xuan Nan Gong is also a Heavenly Venerable, yet you attack me for him? The accumulated divine path of ten thousand ten thousand years, is it actually for whose private matters?!”

Gods charged over one by one, yet before they could even approach the Conferred God Platform, they exploded one by one! Hu Tai Sui merely shifted his gaze continuously. Wherever he looked, it was fixed; whichever god he looked at, that god simply perished! The fierceness of the world’s gods falling from their positions and being eliminated was unprecedented! The scene of tens of thousands of god statues, under the attack of the various demon world gods, attacking Hu Tai Sui was grand enough.

The grandeur of the waves in the Ten Thousand Gods Sea itself seemed ordinary to the extreme, difficult to even notice. Just at this moment, among the densely packed god statues rising into the air, a faceless wooden statue god leaped out. This god statue was entirely pale white, its appearance evil and strange, even its divine light was pale white. Leaping out of the Ten Thousand Gods Sea, it quietly fell behind within the ranks of the attacking gods, falling down the mountain platform… Into that destroyed Heavenly Demon altar, into the silent bronze giant cauldron, it sprinkled a handful of bone ash, burying that single spark! It had no consciousness, no spiritual awareness, only obeying a single command, the command etched upon it by the great ancient King Yan Luo, the Faceless God—

While the Ten Thousand Gods Sea was calm and the True Demon had no time for other matters, it went directly to the Heavenly Demon altar. To build a grand city upon it. To build the city of Wu An!

In the chase and kill with Lu Qi Lang, Jiang Wang had repeatedly entered the Ten Thousand Gods Sea, even swimming in the sea of clouds, and had already laid this step. This was the second way home he had envisioned for himself. With Divine Firmament Wu An City, echoing the Wu An City within the Civilization Basin. To borrow the power of wishes to return! Of course, he could not have calculated Xiong San Si, much less that Hu Tai Sui would act. He had also left no intention at all within this god statue—it was simply impossible to hide. Even this faceless god statue was swept out amidst the turmoil of the various gods in the Ten Thousand Gods Sea under the summons of the Ancient Imperial City Conferred God Platform; it had not waited for any time of calm waves.

It simply followed the rules clumsily, still according to the arrangements of its god master, quietly sprinkling the bone ash of the Heavenly Demon seeds Yang Yu, Shu Jia Lan, and Zhu Lan Ruo into the bronze giant cauldron. Marquis Wu An asked: “The stories of the former sages are grand and majestic. Later generations recall them with admiration. Though that history is distant, listening to it now, our blood still boils. In this era of ours, what can we cultivators do?”

Discussing Official Song Yao replied: “Nine words. Seek the altar, pave the demon bones, build a great city!”

Precisely at this moment!