Foundation

"Boom!"

Lingxiao City, in the martial arts arena of the Gu Jinlai manor, the roar of the air being torn apart resounded throughout the entire arena.

A figure, six meters tall and radiating golden light, wielded a giant sword and displayed swordsmanship.

The swordsmanship was expansive and powerful, yet it was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.

It seemed that what stood before them was not a human being, but some ancient ferocious beast, a chaotic demon god.

In fact...

He is six meters tall.

This truly cannot be described as something a normal human being could do.

Even if someone has gigantism, they wouldn't grow to this size.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a demon god.

And this demon god...

It was Gu Jinlai, who had been back in Lingxiao City for a month, who had been reflecting on his Gu Jinlai.

After relentless training in Starlight City and Lingxiao City, his physical strength finally broke through, officially entering the realm of a high-ranking Demonic Beasts, also known as a high-level warrior.

"His strength and speed have been greatly enhanced. If the Primordial Spirit True Lord does not rely on flying swords for ranged attacks and engages in one-on-one hand-to-hand combat with me, he will be killed by me in a single exchange."

Gu Jinlai, people have sensed the growth of their own strength.

It's just a pity...

The Primordial Spirit True Lord not only uses ranged attacks, but also ranged attacks that float in the sky and are invincible.

Even Spirit Transformation cultivators would not engage in direct combat with great Demonic Beasts or demon god warriors.

The two sides were like heavily armored infantrymen and horse archers on tall horses—they were not even in the same system.

Even now, if Gu Chifeng, Gu Luochen, and the others were to fight against a Spirit Transformation cultivator without using close-range defense cannons, they would only be able to passively take hits, and it would only be a matter of time before they were shot down by the opponent's flying swords.

Even if they break through to the level of high-level warriors, it won't make much difference.

After all, the Great Sun Demon God Body Refining Technique they cultivated, which resulted in the Great Sun True Demon Body, enhanced strength rather than defense, and could not withstand the flying swords head-on.

In addition, they are different from those of Gu Jinlai.

Gu Jinlai, relying on Qingguang, he has perfected all the Movement Method and sword skills, and comprehended the transformation realm and the realm of intent. Naturally, the flying swords of the Spirit Transformation Grand Cultivator, which are less than three times the speed of sound, pose no threat to him.

However, Gu Chifeng, Gu Luochen, Gu Qingmei, and the others were all focused on the Great Sun Demon God Body Refining Method. They had neither sword skills nor body Movement Method. Even if their physique reached the level of a high-level general, they probably couldn't catch up with Spirit Transformation cultivator who had mastered Movement Method. The opponent could easily wear them down with kiting tactics.

This is the difference brought about by system and foundation.

"Demonic Beasts kings can be divided into three types. The first type is an ordinary Demonic Beasts king who has achieved the Great Perfection of the Undying Demon Body. This type of Demonic Beasts king cannot perfectly combine Qi and Blood and demonic nature, and its combat power is not as good as that of Celestial Person. This level is the ultimate that the Great Sun Demon God Body Refining Method can achieve. I am talking about the Great Sun Demon God Body Refining Method that I improved and has the Great Sun Divine Light. If it is replaced by the Tianyuan Dao version, it is even inferior."

Gu Jinlai moving their bodies.

The other two types of Demonic Beasts kings refer to those who have perfected their immortal demonic body cultivation, achieving a unity of Qi and Blood, and demonic nature, as well as Demonic Beasts kings with divine talents.

If the Demonic Beasts King can achieve the unity of his Qi and Blood, and demonic nature, he is essentially equivalent to the most outstanding Celestial Person.

If they also possess supernatural abilities, they can be considered invincible among Celestial Person.

Only those peak-level Celestial Person with exceptional abilities, such as Wu Tiandi who obtained the Heavenly Sword, or Jiang Tianji wielding the divine weapon's radiance, can confront them head-on.

"Once my Cheng Ying mecha is completed, it will be roughly at this level as well."

From Gu Jinlai, they have murmured to themselves.

This level is unparalleled among Celestial Person, second only to the saints.

And the saint...

In the present day, there are only five deities in the Qian Heaven.

The Sanqing Hall is associated with the concepts of "endless" and "without thought".

Imperial Preceptor Taiyuan.

Emperor Luo of the Earthly Immortal Palace.

And Li Mufeng, the former controller and inheritor of the divine weapon Void, and the personal disciple of Wuying.

However, this sage is located north of Zhongzhou, and even has to cross Hanzhou to reach Zhenbei City at the foot of the Endless Mountains on the border of Qiantian Heaven and Earth.

Born in Beihanzhou, he felt deeply for the fact that Beihanzhou had been plagued by Demonic Beasts for many years. After becoming Celestial Person, he made a great vow to forever guard the north and prevent the Demonic Beasts of the endless mountains from going south.

For decades, he has adhered to this principle, never allowing the Demonic Beasts of the Endless Mountain to cross even half a step into Zhenbei City.

When he attained sainthood, Emperor Qian, Jiang Tianji, bestowed upon him the title of King of Zhenbei, making him the only non-royal king in the Great Qian at that time.

Of course, this was just wishful thinking on Emperor Qian's part.

As a sage of this era, Li Mufeng's status has long surpassed that of the Great Qian. He is stationed in Zhenbei City solely to protect the people of Hanzhou from demons and Demonic Beasts.

He didn't care about the so-called Prince of Zhenbei.

The beleaguered imperial family of the Great Qian Dynasty was pleased with this outcome.

At least this way they no longer have to worry about the Demonic Beasts threat from the Endless Mountains in the north, and can devote more resources to stabilizing the situation.

"Almost all the saints are related to the divine weapons that emerged from the Holy Domain back then. Even the Celestial Person are the same. If we don't count the forces related to the divine weapons, there are only four Celestial Person in the world today: Yi Yuanzi of the Taiyi Sect, Tuoba Liuyun of the Tianhai Sword Sect, Gaia of the Earth Mother Goddess Cult, and Huang Sang, the emperor of the Island State."

Gu Jinlai, he seemed to have thought of something again, "Oh, in the Demon God Cult, the lineage of Demon God warriors, there is a being whose physical strength is comparable to that of Demonic Beasts King. He can barely be considered half a Celestial Person. In other words, not counting the forces of divine weapons, there are only four and a half Celestials in the Celestial Person today."

Less than a handful.

Such numbers are considered normal.

This was roughly the situation at least two hundred years ago.

Unfortunately, the appearance of the divine weapon raised the Qian Heaven and Earth Realm by almost a whole new level.

"Demonic Beasts and monsters have accumulated enormous power but dare not make a move because of the existence of saints. Celestial Person are completely capable of fighting ten True Lords. If they do not confront each other directly, and it takes some time, even dozens of True Lords will be nothing more than dead souls under the sword of Celestial Person."

Looking northwards from Gu Jinlai, he said, "The difference between a sage and Celestial Person is just as great, or even greater."

They are the true pillars that stabilize the heavens and deter Demonic Beasts.

"I wonder if my sword strike, which I unleash with full power through the Eternal Furnace and infused with energy using its transformative properties, can break through the immortal golden body of a saint."

Gu Jinlai have pondered this.

Very likely.

After all, according to Ziyang, the essence of that energy burst had reached the level of a true immortal on land.

Unfortunately, it's not very meaningful.

Saints have a much sharper sense of crisis than Demonic Beasts.

It's estimated that before he could even get close, the saints had already stirred up a storm and slapped him to death.

Therefore, let's try to build the Cheng Ying mech first.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Chifeng walked in. "Ancestor, the Cold Moon Sect has sent another envoy, hoping that our Sharp Sword Force can go to Blue State to provide support."

"Oh, could you explain why the shells fired by the Sharp Sword Heavy Cannon each need to be crafted by the Celestial Masters through spiritual refinement?"

"I said so."

Gu Chifeng smiled and said, "Therefore, Fang Yumin, the envoy of the Cold Moon Sect, has brought a special gift this time: twenty-two portions of Immortal Refined Gold!"

"Twenty-two portions?"

This number has made people frown Gu Jinlai.

"This should be all the Immortal Refined Gold that the Cold Moon Sect possesses."

Gu Chifeng said, "Tang Qing sent us some information. According to their careful screening, the Cold Moon Sect has about thirty-five to forty portions of Immortal Refined Gold. They sold ten portions to us, and after our great victory in the Battle of Cloud Sky City, they sent another ten portions as a congratulatory gift. It's quite surprising that they can still produce twenty-two portions now."

"Not necessarily."

Gu Jinlai shook his head. "Don't forget, the Cold Moon Sect received those cultivators who retreated from Muzhou. These cultivators included the Spirit Transformation Grandmasters who were originally stationed in the Muzhou mines. I don't believe that those Spirit Transformation Grandmasters didn't carry Immortal Refined Gold with them when they left. The only difference is the quantity."

Gu Chifeng was taken aback upon hearing this.

"However... it's been so long, it's time to make a move."

Gu Jinlai said, "Make preparations. We will depart in three days. This time we are reinforcing the Cold Moon Sect, so there is no need to make a big fuss. We will lead six thousand official Demon God guards and ten thousand reserve Demon God guards."

"Yes."

Gu Chifeng solemnly agreed.

He is now equivalent to the commander of the personal guards of Gu Jinlai, so personnel arrangements are naturally his responsibility and do not require Gu Jinlai's concern.

After Gu Chifeng left, Gu Jinlai changed his clothes, left the manor, and went to the military workshop.

At this moment, Zhang Lihuo, the newly promoted Heavenly Lord, was busy with something in the workshop.

Upon seeing Gu Jinlai, he quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Elder Grand Elder."

"Are you... researching the engine of the Xuan Bird fighter jet?"

Gu Jinlai at it and asked.

"Yes."

As Zhang Lihuo spoke, he remarked with some emotion, "This engine is too ingenious and too complex. I can't even visualize it. It has too many components."

Gu Jinlai smiled.

After he used a beam of light, the structure of the engine became as simple as breathing in his mind.

The human respiratory system is so complex that it makes other people, or rather, other living beings, feel their scalp tingle.

Even with a finished product, Zhang Lihuo and the others were unable to visualize the engine, so it's understandable that they would try to summon it from their spiritual realm.

"No rush, take your time. If one year isn't enough, try two. If two years isn't enough, try three, four, or five years. You'll eventually master the manufacturing method for this engine."

This Gu Jinlai.

The Xuanbird fighter jet cannot be mass-produced by itself alone.

Therefore, the more people who can develop nuclear fusion engines, the better.

"I see."

As Zhang Lihuo spoke, he glanced at Gu Jinlai with some doubt. "However... Elder, we clearly crippled the Heavenly River Demonic Beasts in the battle of Yuntian City, so why didn't we take the opportunity to occupy the Heavenly River? Or rather, occupy the Demon Realm Rift in the Heavenly River? If we could use the Demonic Spirits from the Heavenly River Demon Realm Rift to forge weapons... I'm afraid the number of these Xuan Bird fighters, whose power is even more terrifying than that of a Nascent Primordial Spirit True Lord, will experience a surge."

"The Heavenly River Demonic Beasts..."

Gu Jinlai, people have glanced at the north.

There...

The Demonic Beasts energy that had already dissipated was now rapidly gathering back together.

Although it has not yet reached its peak, it has already recovered to 60-70% in just over two months.

"The hidden power of Demonic Beasts is not as simple as we imagine."

Gu Jinlai, after a moment's thought, he said, "However, what you said makes sense. I will send people to infiltrate the Milky Way to find out the opening cycle of the Demon Realm Rift. When that Demon Realm Rift is about to open, we will go and attack."

With that, he smiled slightly, "Now, can our Sharp Sword Force expand?"

"Of course, the newly produced 188 Sharp Sword heavy cannons are ready for deployment at any time."

Zhang Lihuo laughed in response.

"No rush, let's wait a bit longer. Our current firepower is still a bit lacking. We need more firepower. Arrange for a group of men to come with me to Lanzhou. Consider it training."

"Yes."