"Reporting to you, Guardian, our two clans have lived in Blackwater City for many years, so we do indeed know something about the situation in Southern Jambudvipa."
The first to speak was Xi San, the Tribe Leader of the Rhinoceros Clan.
He continued, "Surely you have also heard that Blackwater City was the foremost battlefield where the Kirin Race and Phoenix Race clashed during the great war between the three clans. Since there is Blackwater City here on the Central Continent, there is naturally a corresponding Phoenix Race city in Southern Jambudvipa. Thus, the city closest to Blackwater City in Southern Jambudvipa is Huoyun City, which was built by the Phoenix Race back then."
At this point, Xi San did not continue. Shui Sheng, standing beside him, took over.
"Actually, Huoyun City was not called Huoyun City when it still belonged to the Phoenix Race. However, surely you know about the Demon Country in Southern Jambudvipa? As a major city located at the border between the Central Continent and Southern Jambudvipa, Huoyun City was naturally occupied by them. But the leader of the Demon Country was not as kindhearted as Empress Nuwa and Great Sage Fuxi. I heard that whenever they occupy a city, they station a large army there. As for the original inhabitants, those willing to submit are spared, while those unwilling to submit are exterminated. Huoyun City was exactly like that. The Qingniao Clan, which had once submitted to the Phoenix Race, originally lived there, but because they refused to surrender control of Huoyun City, they were nearly wiped out. Huoyun City is now occupied by a Grand Unity-realm great demon sent by the Demon Country. Since that Demon General's true form is a Huoyun Toad, he renamed the city Huoyun City."
Shen Gui was not surprised to hear Xi San and Shui Sheng say this.
Such domineering methods suited Di Jun and Tai Yi's temperaments and ambitions.
After all, barring any surprises, one of those two would become the Demon Emperor, and the other the Eastern Emperor.
If Empress Nuwa and Fuxi had founded Heavenly Demon City with the intention of sheltering the lower ranks of the Demon Race, then Di Jun and Tai Yi had founded the Demon Country from the very beginning to unify the Demon Race, perhaps even the entire Primordial Wilderness.
Different starting points naturally led to different methods.
Of course, neither approach could really be called better or worse. Those who followed different paths could not work together.
However, for Shen Gui, the only good news was that he now had a clear target to vent Nuwa's anger upon. Otherwise, if the Demon Country's sphere of influence had been far from here, then even if he wanted to complete Nuwa's task, he would have lacked the means to do so.
After some thought, Shen Gui asked, "Aside from Huoyun City, which belongs to the Demon Country, are there any other forces nearby?" Although the Demon General stationed at Huoyun City was also a Grand Unity-realm great demon, and his cultivation might even surpass Shen Gui's by several minor realms, Shen Gui did not care.
Though both were at the Grand Unity realm, there were still differences between Grand Unity cultivators.
To say nothing else, even if Shen Gui stood still and did not move, an ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal would probably be unable to break through his defenses.
Still, one could never be too cautious while traveling through the Primordial Wilderness.
Therefore, if he wanted to make a move against Huoyun City, it would be best to first investigate the surrounding situation thoroughly, lest any unexpected complications arise.
Hearing Shen Gui's question, Xi San immediately replied, "In answer to you, aside from our Blackwater City and Huoyun City across from us, the most notable force nearby would be Qingmang Mountain."
Shen Gui was taken aback.
He had only asked casually, yet there really was another force.
But Qingmang Mountain? Why did that name sound so familiar?
"What sort of force is this Qingmang Mountain?"
"In answer to you, Qingmang Mountain is the territory of a Demon King in Southern Jambudvipa—Shang Yang. Shang Yang is an exotic beast of the Primordial Wilderness, and this Demon King Shang Yang possesses profound divine abilities. Though he is only at the peak Golden Immortal realm, he once faced the Grand Unity-realm Huoyun Toad of Huoyun City head-on and remained undefeated. In the end, he even gained the upper hand by half a move and forced the Huoyun Toad to retreat in alarm. It is precisely because of Demon King Shang Yang that the area around Huoyun City has not entirely fallen under the Demon Country's control. The Qingniao Clan was not completely exterminated because it received Demon King Shang Yang's protection. That was when the Grand Unity-realm Huoyun Toad went to Qingmang Mountain to demand people, only to be driven back by Demon King Shang Yang."
After Xi San finished, Shui Sheng added, "Moreover, rumors have recently spread that Demon King Shang Yang has already broken through to the Grand Unity realm. He could force back the Grand Unity-realm Huoyun Toad even at the peak Golden Immortal realm. Now that he has advanced to Grand Unity, I fear ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortals are no match for Demon King Shang Yang at all."
Shang Yang?
Wasn't he one of the Ten Great Demon Sages of the Demon Race under Eastern Emperor Tai Yi in the legends?
Hearing Xi San and Shui Sheng's words, Shen Gui's expression shifted slightly.
It seemed that Shang Yang had not yet joined Eastern Emperor Tai Yi's side.
As for the strength they described, Shen Gui was not surprised.
After all, how could someone destined to become one of the Ten Great Demon Sages possibly be compared to a mere Demon General like the Huoyun Toad?
By now, Shen Gui finally remembered where he had heard of Qingmang Mountain before.
That parrot demon he had casually killed in Qingluan City after it tried to rob him seemed to have claimed to be from Qingmang Mountain?
Before you continue