Outside Lingxiao City, in the martial arts arena of Gu Jinlai’s residence, the air was torn apart, and the resulting roar echoed throughout the venue.
A figure stood six meters tall, radiating golden light, brandishing a giant sword and executing sword techniques.
The swordplay was expansive, yet it filled the air with a suffocating sense of oppression.
It seemed as though the one facing the crowd was not human, but some primordial fierce beast, a Chaos Demon God.
This was surely beyond the scope of normal human description.
Even gigantism couldn’t account for such a stature.
To call it a Demon God was hardly an exaggeration.
And this Demon God...
Was none other than Gu Jinlai who, since returning to Lingxiao City, had settled down for a month.
After relentless training in Starlight City and Lingxiao City without a hint of relaxation, he had finally achieved a breakthrough in physical strength, officially stepping into the realm of Upper-level Demon, that is, the domain of a High-level General.
"The strengthening of power and speed is significant. If Primordial Spirit True Monarchs don’t rely on flying swords for ranged attacks and face me directly in hand-to-hand combat, they would be killed by me within the span of a single encounter," he sensed the growth of his own strength.
Primordial Spirit True Monarchs do not rely merely on ranged attacks, but also on distant attacks from a vantage point high in the sky dome, an unbeatable position.
Even Divinity Transformation Cultivators would not engage in direct combat with Great Demons or Demon God Warriors.
The two groups were like fully armored heavy infantry versus cavalry archers on tall horses, two entirely different systems.
Indeed, if Gu Chifeng, Gu Luochen, and others did not use Short Range Defense Cannons to fight Divinity Transformation Cultivators, they would only be targets, doomed to be killed by the flying swords given enough time.
Even if they achieved the status of High-level Generals, it wouldn’t make much of a difference.
After all, the Great Sun Demon God Body Refining Method they cultivated, which derived the Great Sun True Demon Body, enhanced strength but not defense, unable to withstand direct assaults from flying swords.
Moreover, they were different from Gu Jinlai.
Gu Jinlai, aided by Qingguang, perfected various movement techniques and sword techniques, and had profound insights into the Transformation Realm and Mental Realm. Thus, the fastest flying swords of Divinity Transformation Cultivators, not even reaching three times the speed of sound, posed no threat to him.
However, Gu Chifeng, Gu Luochen, Gu Qingmei, and the rest focused all their efforts on the Great Sun Demon God Body Refining Technique. Lacking sword techniques and having not also perfected movement techniques, even with their physique enhanced to the level of High-level Generals, they probably couldn’t catch up to Divinity Transformation Cultivators who specialized in movement techniques. Their opponents could easily wear them down with hit-and-run tactics.
This was the difference brought about by the system and heritage.
"There are three types of Demon Kings. The first type are the ordinary Demon Kings who have achieved Mahayana with the Immortal Demon Body, but can’t perfectly integrate vital energy and demonic nature, their combat power not even matching that of Devas. This level is the pinnacle of what the Great Sun Demon God Body Refining Method can achieve—I’m referring to the version I improved with the Great Sun Divine Light. If we talk about the Tianyuan Dao version, it’s even inferior," Gu Jinlai moved his body as he spoke.
The other two types of Demon Kings are those who have perfected their Immortal Demon Body, integrating vital energy and demonic nature, and those with divine, extraordinary talents.
As long as a Demon King integrates vital energy and demonic nature, they are essentially on par with the most superior Devas.
If they also possess divine traits, they’re virtually invincible among Devas.
Only those Devas with exceptional configurations, like Wu Tiandi, who obtained the Sky Extreme Sword, or Jiang Tianji when wielding a Divine Weapon’s brilliance, could face them head-on.
"Once my Cheng Ying Mecha is constructed, I should be able to reach this level as well," Gu Jinlai murmured to himself.
This level where Devas are unrivaled, second only to Saints.
In today’s Qiantian, there are only five.
Wu Zhong and Wu Nian from Sanqing Hall.
Imperial Advisor Tai Yuan.
Di Luo from Earth Immortal Palace.
And Li Mufeng, the controller and successor of the Divine Weapon Xu Wu, the direct disciple of Wuying.
However, this Saint resides beyond Central State, passing even Winter State, to the border of the Qiantian realm, beneath Endless Mountain, in Zhenbei City.
Born in Northern Winter State, deeply concerned about the constant demon incursions, he vowed to forever guard the north after achieving Deva status, preventing the demons of Endless Mountain from descending south.
For decades he has held true to this conviction, never letting a demon from Endless Mountain past Zhenbei City.
Upon becoming a Saint, Emperor Qian Jiang Tianji honored him as Prince Zhenbei, the only person of non-imperial lineage to hold such a title in Daqian.
Of course, this was merely Emperor Qian’s one-sided wish.
As a modern-day Saint, Li Mufeng stood above Daqian, holding his position in Zhenbei City solely to protect the people of Winter State from demon harm.
The title of Prince Zhenbei meant little to him.
To this, the imperiled Daqian Imperial Family was all too content.
At least they no longer needed to worry about the threat from the demons of Endless Mountain in the north and could focus more on stabilizing the situation.
"All Saints are nearly all related to the Divine Weapons that appeared from the Holy Land. The same is true for Devas. Counting out the powers related to Divine Weapons, in today’s world, there are only four Devas—Yiyuanzi from Taiyi Sect, Tuoba Liuyun from Tianhai Sword Sect, Gaia from Earth Mother Divine Sect, and Emperor Huang Sang from Island State," Gu Jinlai said, seemingly reminded of something else: "Oh, and there’s a being from the Demon God Sect’s Warrior lineage, whose physique is comparable to a Demon King Level, barely qualifying as half a Deva. In other words, discounting Divine Weapon powers, there are only four and a half Devas in the current world."
Fewer than the number of fingers on one hand.
And that was what one would call normal.
Two hundred years ago, that was roughly the situation.
Unfortunately, the appearance of Divine Weapons practically elevated the Qiantian world by an entire major realm.
"Demons, despite amassing immense power, dare not act rashly, precisely because of the presence of Saints. Compared to Monarchs, Devas can take on ten apiece; in indirect combat, given time, tens of Monarchs would still fall to a Deva’s sword," Gu Jinlai pondered.
Gu Jinlai glanced northward, "The gap between Saints and Devas is just as immense, if not even more so."
They are the true magic stabilizers that deter Demons in the Qiantian World.
"I just don’t know if the Giant Sword created from fully channeling the Eternal Furnace and infused with energy through the transmission characteristic would be able to breach the Immortal Golden Body of a Saint."
After all, according to Zi Yang’s statements, the essence of such an explosive energy surge had reached the level of an Earthly True Immortal.
Unfortunately, it didn’t mean much.
The sense of crisis in Saints was far sharper than that of Demons.
I reckon before I could even get close, the Saints would have already sent me to my death with a slap of a whirlwind.
Therefore, it would be best to find a way to produce the Cheng Ying Mecha first.
At that moment, a series of footsteps were heard from outside.
Suddenly, Gu Chifeng entered, "Patriarch, the Cold Moon Sect has sent another envoy, hoping that our Sword Formation can provide support in Blue State."
"Oh, did you explain that each shell fired from the Sword Heavy Cannon requires joint artifact refining by the Heavenly Masters?"
Gu Chifeng smiled and said, "So, this time the envoy from the Cold Moon Sect, Fang Yumian, has brought with her a special gift - twenty-two portions of Immortal Essence Gold!"
"Twenty-two portions?"
At that number, Gu Jinlai frowned slightly.
"That must be all the Immortal Essence Gold the Cold Moon Sect possesses."
Gu Chifeng said, "Tang Qing sent over some information. After careful investigation, it was estimated that the Cold Moon Sect had about thirty-five to forty portions of Immortal Essence Gold in storage. They sold us ten portions, gave us another ten as a congratulatory gift after our victory in the battle of Yuntian City, and now they are unexpectedly offering twenty-two portions."
Gu Jinlai shook his head, "Don’t forget, the Cold Moon Sect took in those cultivators who retreated from Mu State, including the Divinity Transformation Cultivators who were originally stationed at the mines in Mu State. I don’t believe these Cultivators didn’t carry any Immortal Essence Gold when they evacuated; it’s just a question of how much they had."
Gu Chifeng was taken aback upon hearing this.
"However... it has been long enough, it’s about time to make a move."
Gu Jinlai said, "Get ready. We will depart in three days. Since we’re merely reinforcing the Cold Moon Sect this time, there’s no need for a grand mobilization. Just lead six thousand official Demon God Guards and ten thousand reserve guards."
"Yes," Gu Chifeng responded solemnly.
Now effectively serving as Gu Jinlai’s commander of the guards, Gu Chifeng was in charge of the personnel arrangements, which did not require Gu Jinlai’s concern.
After Gu Chifeng left, Gu Jinlai changed his clothes, left the estate, and made his way to the Military Workshop.
Inside the workshop, Zhang Lihuo, the newly ascended Heavenly Monarch, was busily engaged with something.
Upon seeing Gu Jinlai, he hurried forward to greet him, "Supreme Elder."
"Are you... studying the engine of the Mystic Bird Fighting Machine?" Gu Jinlai asked after a glance.
"Yes," Zhang Lihuo replied, with a semblance of emotion, "This engine is too intricate and complex beyond imagination. I can’t even visualize it; it has too many components."
After implementing one Qingguang, the structure of the engine became as simple as breathing in his mind.
Yet to others, or other forms of life, the human respiratory system could seem overwhelmingly complex.
It was within reason that Zhang Lihuo and others could not achieve visualization of the engine, even when they had an actual model, and likewise could not summon it into a Co-spirit.
"Don’t worry; take your time. If not in a year, then in two, or three, four, five if need be. Eventually, you will master the production of these engines," said Gu Jinlai.
The Mystic Bird Fighting Machine would need mass production eventually, and not only rely solely on him.
Thus, the more people capable of conjuring a nuclear fusion engine, the better.
"I understand," said Zhang Lihuo. He then looked at Gu Jinlai with a hint of confusion, "But Supreme Elder, why didn’t we seize Tianhe or the Demon Realm Rift in Tianhe after our resounding victory over the Tianhe Demons in the battle of Yuntian City? If we could use the Demon Spirits from the Demon Realm Rift in Tianhe for artifact refining... the number of Mystic Bird Fighting Machines, inherently more formidable than the Primordial Spirit Monarchs, would surely surge dramatically."
"Tianhe Demons..." Gu Jinlai looked toward the north.
The once-dissipated demonic fortune was accumulating rapidly.
Although it had not returned to its zenith, in just over two months, it had already recovered to about sixty to seventy percent.
"The power hidden by Demons is not as simple as we imagined," said Gu Jinlai while pondering, "But you do have a point. I will send someone to infiltrate Tianhe to understand the opening cycles of the Demon Realm Rift. When that rift is about to open, we will strike."
Smiling slightly, he said, "Now, we can expand our Sword Formation, can’t we?"
"Of course, the new batch of one hundred and eighty-eight Sword Heavy Cannons is ready for deployment at any moment," Zhang Lihuo laughed.
"No rush; let’s wait a bit longer. We need just a bit more firepower. Arrange for a group to accompany me to Blue State; consider it a training exercise."
"Yes," Zhang Lihuo acknowledged.