The Earth Cave Survival King: You Want Me to Fight a Ninth-Rank? You Might as Well Send Me to My Death!

"The Demon Emperor actually wants to become the Human King, and he's even pinned the Demon Emperor's name on me!"

Fang Ping was shocked, and more than a little speechless.

He really couldn't understand what Demon Emperor Mo Wenjian was thinking. He had Break-Seven strength and hadn't treasured it, yet instead reincarnated as a young human.

The Demon Emperor's reincarnation was probably about the same age as him now!

"No, seriously, what was this guy thinking?"

Fang Ping was utterly baffled!

If powerful figures from a thousand years ago wanted to reincarnate, they should have done it ages ago!

It would've been great to become the Human King before Zhang Tao, with hardly any competition.

Could it be that Demon Emperor Mo Wenjian wanted to hide behind a powerful figure and quietly grow stronger?

Zhang Tao would serve as a shield while he developed...

Fang Ping laughed in frustration. He'd also thought about waiting until he'd grown stronger before taking on some of the pressure, but he'd never scheme against someone else.

When it was time for him to step up, he would.

"The Demon Emperor... that's all the magnanimity he has?"

Fang Ping scoffed. No wonder his future self looked down on Mo Wenjian.

Now he looked down on him too!

Wang Jinyang, standing nearby, was also speechless.

The Human King had to fight his way to the position!

Zhang Tao had fought countless battles, constantly clashing with the Earth Cave!

If Mo Wenjian had reincarnated a hundred years earlier and dared to fight for humanity across the land, then even if he hadn't become the Human King by now, his reputation would still be considerable.

But it seemed he had only reincarnated recently. Was he possibly around the same age as him and Fang Ping?

What kind of thought process was that?

Had he really been scared out of his wits, and wanted someone taller to stand in front of him while he hid and grew stronger?

Wang Jinyang shook his head. Mo Wenjian had lost his fighting spirit!

If he were Mo Wenjian, he'd grow stronger like mad, go to war, and kill until the world was turned upside down!

Even if he died, he'd make sure his blood splattered all over his enemy.

In Star Suppressing City,

Zhang Tao had dealt with the people from Heaven Beyond Heaven and then went to see Heaven Suppressing King.

"Senior Heaven Suppressing King, could you tell me about the Demon Emperor?" Zhang Tao asked very politely.

God Forger looked at Zhang Tao's calm expression and Heaven Suppressing King's dark face, then shook his head.

What a mess.

Heaven Suppressing King sighed softly. "Mo Wenjian may have had his schemes, but he also helped humanity."

Otherwise, the Human Realm wouldn't have been so peaceful over the past hundred years.

Back then, he'd been the only "Peak" in the Human Realm. Didn't he need to find a few people to help share the burden?

War King, Sword King, and the others had been brought to the Human Realm partly because of Mo Wenjian.

His cooperation with Mo Wenjian hadn't involved scheming against humanity. On the contrary, it had helped the Human Realm.

Zhang Tao understood.

He hadn't meant to question Heaven Suppressing King. He just felt that the Demon Emperor had gone a little "too far"!

When he couldn't beat Fang Ping to the position of Human King, he'd resorted to underhanded tactics—slandering Fang Ping, spreading rumors... making Fang Ping his stand-in while he enjoyed the chance to grow stronger.

If someone like that became the Human King, Zhang Tao couldn't even imagine the oppression and injustice humanity would face under his leadership.

Demon Emperor Mo Wenjian had been on his knees for too long. He was almost unable to stand back up!

New Martial humanity had already been on its knees for too long.

So long that the Peaks didn't dare act; so long that even with his unparalleled strength, Zhang Tao could only endure, watching countless martial artists die on the battlefield!

Humanity fought in the Earth Cave, yet held back its strength, afraid to unleash it!

But when you've been on your knees too long, it becomes difficult to stand again!

Zhang Tao had never intended to keep humanity kneeling forever.

"In the end, we simply have different ideals."

The Dao was something you walked yourself, not something bestowed by someone else!

The Human King was likewise a position won through battle, not something you could scheme your way into.

Zhang Tao said no more.

"Senior Heaven Suppressing King, could you give me two Mental Energy split-offs?"

Heaven Suppressing King's expression changed. "Zhang Tao, you..."

You've found the Future Human King!

Heaven Suppressing King had almost asked aloud, but swallowed the words.

"All right."

Heaven Suppressing King didn't say anything more.

Zhang Tao had asked him, which meant he trusted him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to ask for Mental Energy split-offs.

After taking the Mental Energy split-offs and thanking him, Zhang Tao didn't dwell on Demon Emperor Mo Wenjian any longer. He returned to his headquarters.

Back at headquarters, Zhang Tao gave Heaven Suppressing King's two Mental Energy split-offs to Fang Ping and Wang Jinyang, then gave each of them one of his own.

Fang Ping was the Future Human King, but Wang Jinyang was no ordinary person either.

Perhaps Wang Jinyang was the bearer of one of the Three Emperors Great Dao.

Otherwise, why would he and Fang Ping both have been born in Yang City, with such similar experiences and astonishing talent?

"Fang Ping, if you need anything, you can tell me now. But I can't use resources on a large scale to support you."

The Human King had to fight and kill his way to the position. He couldn't be raised into it!

Sheltering him and raising him in a hothouse would only produce a good-for-nothing.

Fang Ping naturally understood the principle that "a towering tree can't grow in a greenhouse."

If he were supported unconditionally, he'd probably end up as a Vitality martial artist like Tan Zhenping or Jin Keming.

That wasn't what Fang Ping wanted.

Still, when it was time to ask, he had to ask!

Fang Ping would never miss a chance to quickly build up his Wealth Points.

Who knew? Maybe he'd catch up with Old Wang in a year or two.

In Star Suppressing City,

The "abnormal" Jiang Hao stared deeply at the Sky Screen, a cold smile on his lips.

"Heavenly Emperor, the Seed schemes against the Emperors, the Emperors scheme against all living beings, and the Sky Screen treats everything as a plaything!"

His plans had now been almost completely disrupted.

But he wasn't reconciled. He still refused to admit defeat!

"The Human King? Why can't I become the Human King?"

Why should a pawn in War Heavenly Emperor's scheme inevitably become the Human King?

Why!

Jiang Hao was deeply unwilling to accept it.

Strength—he still wasn't strong enough!

[Demon Emperor Mo Wenjian: His talent, willpower, fortune, insight, and everything else were top-tier!

Yet he lacked boldness, and the grand, surging aura possessed by a true powerhouse!

Those who contain the Great Dao gaze upon Heaven and Earth; those who contain the Lesser Dao focus on others and themselves.]

[Reward: The Origin Source Dao is made real from the false and is no longer controlled by the Immortal Source.]

"No longer controlled by the Immortal Source... but still shackled by the Origin Source?" Jiang Hao's eyes flickered.

Though it didn't let him transcend directly, the fact that the Origin Source Dao was no longer controlled by the Immortal Source still delighted him.

As for the Sky Screen's assessment of him, he didn't really agree with it.

Lacking a grand, surging aura... Once he became an Emperor and led humanity to pacify everything, how could he lack such an aura?

"Is the Demon Emperor about to transcend?"

"No longer controlled by the Immortal Source... the Demon Emperor is about to rise completely!"

"The Demon Emperor feared the Emperors' schemes. Now that he's broken through half of them, I wonder if he'll return in full!"

Mo Wenjian's reward stirred up a wave of discussion.

The powerhouses of the Three Realms were all speculating over whether Mo Wenjian would choose to gather his spiritual consciousness and live another life in his true body!

Now that the Origin Source Dao was real, Mo Wenjian no longer needed to reincarnate.

"If the Demon Emperor's true body returns, humanity will gain another powerhouse," King Feng said solemnly.

King Ming murmured, "With the Future Human King around, Martial King won't fully accept the Demon Emperor, much less give him a chance to lead humanity."

If so, the two sides would inevitably fall out!

"The Demon Emperor is strong, but he's nowhere near Heaven Suppressing King, much less the terrifying Future Human King!"

The Earth Cave kings nodded.

On Heaven Sealing Island,

Feng's eyes flickered. Perhaps it was time for him to leave seclusion.

Though he had schemed against Mo Wenjian, Mo Wenjian wouldn't have become a Break-Seven Heavenly King without him!

Mo Wenjian was, after all, his disciple.

King Gen, King Xun, and King Gan looked at the Sky Screen and exchanged glances, all feeling rather helpless.

"It seems it's almost impossible to learn the Future Human King's identity from the Sky Screen."

"We'll have to find another way!"

King Gan smiled. "Humanity lacks resources, so let's give them resources!

Invite all sides to hold the Three Realms Martial Arts Tournament. Lure them with benefits and surround and kill humanity's young talents!"

They weren't fools. They could naturally infer the Future Human King's age and cultivation from what the Sky Screen had revealed.

His cultivation had to be below Rank Seven; otherwise, he couldn't have entered the Land of King Battles with Ji Yao.

He also couldn't be too old—under thirty. Anyone older wouldn't have much potential to develop.

"But what if Heaven Suppressing King and Martial King Zhang Tao choose not to participate?"

"Then we'll force the Four Great Royal Courts of the Earth Cave to send their talented young disciples to the Earth Cave's Outer Regions to attack the human martial artists!"

"Good."

Elsewhere,

God Emperor murmured, "I wonder when the Future Human King will be fully exposed to everyone in the Three Realms."

"By now, plenty of people are probably planning to kill the young talents in the Human Realm," Eastern Emperor said with a smile.

Since they didn't know which one was the Future Human King, they could just kill all the human talents!

Heaven Fighting Emperor stared at the Sky Screen and said gravely, "Until the Future Human King appears, the Human Realm will never know peace."

There were too many people who wanted to kill the Future Human King.

The Human Emperor, the Earth Cave, the powerhouses of the Three Realms, and even the creator, the Seed!

Heaven Suppressing King and God Forger were powerful, but they couldn't take on every faction and the Human Emperor by themselves.

They could avoid one or two assassination attempts, but human talents would eventually have to go to war in the Earth Cave.

Then they couldn't avoid clashing with the various factions!

The Earth Cave was stirring, and so were all the other factions.

King Pingshan, the Earth Cave's Survival King, was utterly speechless.

He'd been keeping his head down just fine when King Ming suddenly came looking for him and said there would be a Hundred Kings Conference. He had no choice but to attend.

King Pingshan sighed. He really wanted to run away for good, but he didn't dare.

He was too weak and was afraid they'd kill him and feed him to the dogs.

Golden light blazed across the Sky Screen!

[Rank Six: King Pingshan, the Earth Cave's Survival King!]

"What! I made the list?"

King Pingshan was dumbfounded. He'd actually given the Future Human King opportunities and resources too!

The Earth Cave kings were likewise stunned to see the newest name on the list.

First Ji Yao, then King Pingshan, and there was also King Huai, the Seven-Surname Slave...

The Earth Cave was full of talent, all dedicated to sending resources to the Future Human King!

King Huai looked at King Pingshan's name on the Sky Screen and laughed.

He'd thought he was the only Earth Cave True King who was a Dao Protector of the Future Human King. He hadn't expected that coward King Pingshan to be one too!

"Survival King... It does suit him!"

King Huai's eyes held a smile. In the vast Earth Cave, only he and King Pingshan were truly clever.

He was a "Seven-Surname Slave" only because he wanted to stay alive.

King Pingshan had been a True King for three hundred years, yet he'd stayed holed up in his own royal domain and refused to go anywhere. He seemed to have no ambition, but in truth, he was staying out of trouble!

In the Human Realm,

Zhang Tao smiled when he saw King Pingshan's name.

That guy was a real oddball too.

He was so timid that Zhang Tao wondered how he'd ever reached the True King Realm.

"Another Earth Cave True King?"

Fang Ping was a little surprised. He remembered that the Sky Screen had called King Huai, the Seven-Surname Slave, a Dao Protector of the Future Human King.

He hadn't expected there to be another True King in the Earth Cave who was his "Dao Protector"!

Two Crouching Dragons and Fledgling Phoenixes!

[Pingshan Domain's King Pingshan was a cowardly king of the Earth Caves who was terrified of dying!

He had been a True King for three hundred years, all the while staying tucked away in Pingshan Domain and contentedly playing "mountain king."

When the Earth Cave kings surrounded and attacked Martial King Zhang Tao, he used his bad blood with King Huai, Huai Ying, as an excuse to "storm off in a fit of anger," avoiding the disaster.

When the powerhouses of the Three Realms surrounded and attacked the human powerhouses, he was so afraid of dying that he chose to fake a dead-even fight with the Future Human King, who was only at Rank Nine Realm at the time. He forced the fight to a fifty-fifty draw, and even appeared to have a slight disadvantage!

To avoid losing such a suitable opponent, he was even forced to cover for the Future Human King, making sure he didn't die on the spot!]

The Sky Screen suddenly showed a scene.

The Future Human King's features and figure were impossible to make out as he swung his sword at King Pingshan. Before the blade's light had even fully reached King Pingshan, the flesh on his arm disintegrated in an instant!

Then King Pingshan clashed with the Future Human King again. The Future Human King didn't take a single step back, while King Pingshan was sent flying over a hundred meters!

Everyone in the Three Realms was dumbfounded!

A True King collided with a Rank Nine martial artist, and the True King was the one who flew back over a hundred meters!

He wasn't even pretending anymore, was he?!

"Is King Pingshan really that afraid of dying? How did he even break through to True King?"

"'Stormed off in a fit of anger,' my ass! King Pingshan must've been over the moon, hiding at home and covering his mouth so no one would hear him chuckle!"

"A forced fifty-fifty draw, with a slight disadvantage!"

"What an actor! The Earth Caves' finest!"

"Brilliant, simply brilliant!"

"If all the Earth Cave True Kings were like King Pingshan, how could they fail to claim supremacy over the Three Realms?"

The Earth Cave True Kings were laughing in disbelief.

King Pingshan had no shame at all!

A True King fighting a Rank Nine and somehow ending up at a slight disadvantage.

He ought to be stripped of his True King status.

The Earth Cave True Kings were speechless, but everyone else couldn't help laughing.

Zhang Tao smiled, too.

That guy really was a talent!

And it was only because it was King Pingshan. If some other Earth Cave True King had fought Fang Ping, Fang Ping would definitely have died. The others wouldn't have acted like King Pingshan.

Fang Ping couldn't help laughing, either.

What a talent. If all the Earth Cave True Kings were like King Pingshan, then the Three Realms really would be at peace!

Of course, amusing as it was, Fang Ping wasn't naive enough to think King Pingshan was a good person.

He might be a coward, but he certainly wouldn't be friendly toward humans, let alone cooperate closely with them.

The Earth Caves,

King Pingshan's face turned green!

He had some dignity, all right!

Forget it. Losing face was better than losing his life.

He could understand why his future self would do such a thing. In fact, he even felt a little pleased with himself!

Most importantly... he'd made the list, too. That meant he could receive a reward!

King Pingshan was delighted at first, but then he grew a little worried.

Would the Sky Screen's reward attract other people's greed?

If it rewarded him with resources or a divine artifact, he definitely wouldn't be able to keep it.

But after watching the Sky Screen for so long, King Pingshan had noticed a few things.

Its rewards tended to suit the people who made the list.

"It'd be great if it gave me a safe house. I could stay inside until I died of old age!"

King Pingshan earnestly made his wish to the Sky Screen.

[King Pingshan, the cowardly king of the Earth Caves, always stays one step ahead of disaster!]

[Reward: Danger Intuition (an effective sense for detecting dangerous places and people).]

"This reward suits the Survival King way too well!"

"King Pingshan is unstoppable now!"

"Grey Cat can avoid disasters, while King Pingshan stays one step ahead of them... What a talent."

"With so many talents in the Earth Caves, how could they fail to prosper?"

"..."

Some people watched for entertainment, while others wanted to "invite" King Pingshan back.

King Gan's eyes flickered. "If King Pingshan were with us, couldn't we reduce the danger of entering the Heavenly Grave?"

King Gen, King Xun, and the others all brightened.

King Pingshan was practically a priceless treasure for avoiding danger!

"Such a treasure should belong to all of us!"

Meanwhile, in Pingshan Domain!

King Pingshan's alarm bells rang loud and clear. Terrified, he grabbed the belongings he'd already packed and fled at once.

"Pingshan Domain isn't safe anymore!"

The Earth Caves and the Forbidden Sea were unimaginably vast. Even if someone really wanted to harm him, they wouldn't be able to find him easily!

(In the original story, Mo Wenjian planned to lie low, then lie even lower, enduring everything just to survive. Even if he truly went down on his knees, he would stand back up again. He didn't mind if the human race suffered grievances, as long as he could wait until he rose to power... From his perspective, he wasn't actually wrong. They just had different ideals.

Fang Ping's actions really did get many people killed. From Mo Wenjian's point of view, Fang Ping was indeed always causing trouble. On that point, Mo Wenjian wasn't wrong, either.

Mo Wenjian's characterization was a little petty. Jiang Hao was the same.)

Finally, please keep reading, vote, and support the story in any way you can. Thank you, everyone.