At that moment, Ye Xingchen gazed at the millions of supreme-grade immortal stones in his system space, along with the Great Emperor Guard Card radiating dazzling divine light.
A bold idea sprouted in Ye Xingchen's mind. Having experienced a previous life, he knew all too well the importance of strength.
That strength included not only his own abilities but other factors as well. If personal strength alone were the measure, Ye Xingchen could thrash the entire Divine Desolation Continent.
Looking at the beautiful scenery of the Demon Race outside the window, Ye Xingchen felt an unprecedented impulse rise within him.
In his previous life, he had worked conscientiously and diligently, yet in the end, hadn't he still been murdered by those closest to him because he lacked overwhelming strength?
Now that he had been reborn and had everything he wished to protect, he would surely climb to the pinnacle and lead those he loved to gaze down upon all the lesser mountains.
At that moment, Ye Xingchen unconsciously radiated a majestic, domineering presence, like an ancient deity sweeping through Divine Desolation and suppressing the ages!
Then I'll start with this Mysterious Heaven Sect!
As he gazed at the scenery outside the window, determination shone in Ye Xingchen's eyes, and he spoke inwardly.
The scene shifted to the Cloud Refining Hall.
An old man with an arrogant expression sat there at ease, as though he were sitting in his own sect.
Dozens of Mysterious Heaven Sect disciples stood beside him, each wearing an arrogant expression, looking as though they were the greatest under heaven.
Sensing that the Demon Race's Immortal Spirit Qi had suddenly grown several times denser, the white-haired old man thought to himself:
It seems the sect master was right. Over the past few days, heavenly and earthly phenomena have repeatedly appeared among the Demon Race, and the Great Dao has manifested. Something must have happened, or the Immortal Spirit Qi couldn't possibly have increased so much! This density already rivals the small world where the Mysterious Heaven Sect's ancestor resides!
And the pills the Demon Race has been selling lately, though only first-grade pills, have extremely powerful effects, comparable to the Supreme Purity Palace's third-grade pills. Yet they're very cheap, and they've never appeared anywhere on the Divine Desolation Continent before!
On this trip to the Demon Race, besides making a hefty profit, I must investigate where these pills came from. If I can get my hands on their formulas, nothing could be better!
Heh, the Demon Race are beasts by birth, yet they dream of imitating the Human Race. They don't know their own limits.
Though they can take human form after undergoing the transformation lightning tribulation and look no different from the Human Race, they're still beasts at their core. With just a little scheming, I can make them obediently hand over great quantities of spirit stones for the sake of their so-called face.
This time, I'll not only return fully laden but also make them obediently hand over the pill formulas. With those formulas, we'll have endless spirit stones, and the Mysterious Heaven Sect's disciples will become even stronger.
Especially His Excellency the Holy Son. Born with heaven-defying fortune, he actually stumbled upon the inheritance of an ancient titan. He even possesses the Heavenly Emperor Holy Body, boundless in its dominance!
At such a young age, he's already been accepted as the ancestor's disciple and entered the small world to cultivate. According to the sect master, the Holy Son has now broken through the Mystic Immortal Realm and reached the Golden Immortal Realm. With his incomparably domineering Heavenly Emperor Holy Body, he stands at the very top even among disciples of the greatest powers.
When the time comes, with the Holy Son leading us, the Mysterious Heaven Sect will surely reclaim its supreme glory from ancient times.
At that thought, the white-haired old man couldn't help chuckling aloud.
Understanding appeared on the faces of the dozens of Mysterious Heaven Sect disciples behind him. The grand elder must have thought of another way to extract more spirit stones from the Demon Race!
The white-haired old man was none other than the Heavenly Mystery Sect's grand elder, Nie Zhenbei, whose cultivation was in the Immortal Emperor Realm.
Suddenly, a black-clad figure appeared inside the Cloud Refining Hall. It was Wei Donglai, the commander of Empress Luo Qingshan's guards. He glanced at Nie Zhenbei sitting there and said:
"Elder Nie, Her Majesty invites you all to follow me to the Cloud Summit Arena. Her Majesty and the Demon Race elders are already waiting there!"
Nie Zhenbei recognized Wei Donglai when he saw the black-clad figure. After all, he had visited the Demon Race several times, so naturally he knew the commander of the empress's guards!
Hearing Wei Donglai's words, Nie Zhenbei smiled faintly and said:
"Commander Wei, it's been a long time. Your strength has grown even greater. I didn't even notice your arrival. Impressive, truly impressive!"
An unusual light flickered in Wei Donglai's eyes at Nie Zhenbei's words, but he merely said softly:
"This way, Elder Nie!"
Seeing that unusual light in Wei Donglai's eyes and hearing his response, Nie Zhenbei actually frowned slightly.
In the past, Wei Donglai would certainly have exchanged a few pleasantries, then, buoyed up by his lavish praise, said a little more. That would very likely have allowed him to coax plenty of information out of Wei Donglai.
Now, Wei Donglai had merely offered an invitation to proceed. Together with the unusual light in his eyes, this gave Nie Zhenbei pause.
In the end, he still smiled and nodded, then rose and led the Mysterious Heaven Sect disciples toward the Cloud Summit Arena.
At that moment, countless Demon Race disciples were already seated in the golden stands surrounding an enormous arena.
Directly in front of the arena, Empress Luo Qingshan likewise sat calmly in the seat of honor, awaiting the Mysterious Heaven Sect's arrival.
Before long, Luo Qingshan saw the Mysterious Heaven Sect members arrive below her position, led by Wei Donglai.
Seeing the exquisitely beautiful Demon Race empress sitting there calmly, radiating terrifying Immortal Emperor pressure, Nie Zhenbei and the Mysterious Heaven Sect disciples dared not look directly at her any longer and immediately bowed to Luo Qingshan.
This bow was a sign of respect for an Immortal Emperor expert.
Looking at Nie Zhenbei below, Luo Qingshan spoke in a majestic voice:
"No need for such courtesy, Elder Nie. Please sit!"
Only after hearing Luo Qingshan's words did Nie Zhenbei lead the Mysterious Heaven Sect disciples to their seats in the stands below.
Immortal tea and spirit fruit had already been prepared in the stands. After sitting down, Nie Zhenbei spoke with some impatience:
"Your Majesty, I've brought the Mysterious Heaven Sect disciples here for sparring and exchanges with the Demon Race. Shall we follow the previously established rules and begin directly?"
Looking at Nie Zhenbei, who seemed impatient despite having only just sat down, Luo Qingshan's lips curved slightly, as though she had thought of something pleasant, and she said:
"The Mysterious Heaven Sect has come from afar as our guests. Elder Nie, you should set the rules first!"
At Luo Qingshan's words, a gleam of a successful scheme flashed through Nie Zhenbei's eyes. He chuckled and said:
"In that case, let's simply follow the usual rules. However, this time, I've been entrusted by the sect master to seek cooperation with the Demon Race."
Hearing Nie Zhenbei's words, Luo Qingyun immediately had an idea. She smiled faintly and asked:
"Cooperation?! How does the Mysterious Heaven Sect's master wish to cooperate with the Demon Race?!"
Hearing Luo Qingshan's words, Nie Zhenbei likewise smiled faintly and said:
"We hope the Mysterious Heaven Sect can become the exclusive distributor of the pills sold by the Demon Race's recently established Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion. As one of the Human Race's top powers, the Mysterious Heaven Sect can certainly help the Demon Race's three kinds of pills swiftly capture the Human Race's market!"
"Of course, if Your Majesty is willing, the Mysterious Heaven Sect can also sell the pill formulas to the Mysterious Heaven Sect in a single transaction. The Mysterious Heaven Sect can then purchase all the medicinal ingredients needed to refine the pills from the Demon Race! What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Hearing Nie Zhenbei's words, all the surrounding Demon Race disciples looked furious. The Mysterious Heaven Sect was utterly shameless. The Demon Race's pills came from the Imperial Venerable and had nothing whatsoever to do with the Mysterious Heaven Sect. Yet they had immediately demanded to become the distributor and even wanted to buy the formulas. That was nothing but a fool's dream.
Hearing Nie Zhenbei's words, Luo Qingshan understood.
"As for the pills, let's discuss that separately after the sparring between the disciples has concluded!"
Hearing the empress's words, Nie Zhenbei also knew he couldn't rush this matter. It seemed he could only try the sect master's method.
He then smiled faintly and said:
"In that case, I have one request. This time, let's hold only one match between the disciples. However, I hope we can add a little more to the stakes."
"Oh? Whatever the stakes, however high they are, the Demon Race will accept! But if the Demon Race names the stakes, I'm afraid the Mysterious Heaven Sect won't dare accept!"
At that moment, a white-clad figure strolled leisurely toward the Cloud Summit Arena.
At the sight of this white-clad figure, worship filled the eyes of every Demon Race disciple in the stands.
Hearing the voice, Nie Zhenbei turned to look. It was a young man with handsome features and an otherworldly bearing, like a banished immortal descending from the nine heavens into the mortal world.
Seeing this man, Nie Zhenbei frowned slightly and thought to himself:
What a fine young gentleman, as flawless as jade.