Chapter 1672: Half Step Into The Heavenly Dao
In Fang Chen's view, the moment Xie Aman said those words, it proved she had long known of the demon race's existence.
Perhaps even when Shao Guangyin ambushed her back then, and later when Shao Guangyin fell to demonic corruption at Great Thunder Sound, and even during the ambush in the Lesser Immortal Realm, she had already known about the demon race.
"Eldest Senior Sister, why do you say that? Why do you think Ninth Brother understands the demon race so well?" Chen Enxue looked puzzled as she caught the odd implication in Xie Aman's words. "When Ninth Brother reported to me before, he couldn't explain much either. He only had some suspicions."
Xie Aman rolled her eyes. "I'm not telling you."
Fang Chen had expected Chen Enxue to react as she once would, jumping up in anger and firing off sarcastic remarks. Instead, she merely nodded. "Fine. Don't tell me then."
"That reminds me of when you first came to the Enlightenment God Palace." Xie Aman looked at her. "Back then, you used to look at me with so much admiration. You'd be happy for days if I spoke even a casual word to you."
Chen Enxue smiled. "It's still the same now. I admire you very much, Senior Sister."
Xie Aman snorted and dropped the topic, turning her gaze back to Fang Chen. "Tell us what you know about the demon race."
Chen Enxue also looked at Fang Chen, curiosity flickering in her eyes. After what happened in Dizang City, she was certain that Fang Chen's methods were far beyond what everyone currently saw. Just the fact that he was able to use the Sin Mace to smash Immortal Dizang to death placed him at the helm of the younger generation.
"The demon race is outsiders. They have their own True Demon Path. Their goal is to plunder the Nine Mortal Realms."
Chen Enxue couldn't help but laugh. "That's rather superficial. Don't you have anything more detailed?"
More detailed?
Fang Chen pondered for a moment, then added, "The demon race was likely behind the demonic calamity that befell the Lower Six Realms."
Xie Aman and Chen Enxue both nodded.
But Xie Aman smiled faintly. "Or perhaps they were caused by the Nine Realms Immortal Alliance."
"The Nine Realms Immortal Alliance should be busy forming an alliance with the Fallen Immortals right now."
Fang Chen glanced at her.
Xie Aman fell silent, signaling him to continue.
Continue?
Fang Chen's expression turned strange. "What intelligence have you two gathered about the demon race? That's all I know."
If he continued any further, certain things would become difficult to explain. Saying too much might even cause his cognition to get suppressed again.
"It seems you don't know much either. You only suspect the demon race exists, but you don't know what the demons of today are actually like." Chen Enxue smiled. "All we can say is this—the demons of today look no different from you or me on the outside, but in essence, they are a different race entirely."
"You mean that after humans fall to demonic corruption, they become part of the demon race?" said Fang Chen.
Xie Aman and Chen Enxue were silent for a moment.
"It's not wrong to say that," Xie Aman said calmly.
Fang Chen's thoughts stirred. Xie Aman and Chen Enxue might have already broken their cognition seals.
"Ninth Brother, how do you view the current grand era?" Xie Aman asked.
"The grand era?"
"Yes. Not limited to just the Nine Mortal Realms."
"Do Fallen Immortals count?"
Xie Aman nodded with a smile. "Of course they do."
"Then there are five factions contending for the grand era," Fang Chen said. "The Human Race, the Demon Race, the Demonic Beast Race, the Fallen Immortals, and the Motian Division."
Xie Aman gasped. "You think the Motian Division counts? Can it compare to the Human Race? To the Fallen Immortals?"
Chen Enxue gazed at Fang Chen curiously. "Ninth Brother, you really do know quite a lot."
Now that the conversation had reached this point, Fang Chen felt a subtle loosening of the invisible restraints around him. Some matters could finally be discussed openly.
"Back then, Senior Ghost Mother of Self Transformation once told me some secrets about the Underworld. She said that during the ancient Underworld, when the authority of Monarch Yan was at its peak, a rebel force emerged. That rebellion was led by Motian Dizang. This unparalleled Heavenly Demon even created a Ghost God path similar to that of the Underworld's righteous gods.
"The Motian Division is clearly backed by this unparalleled Heavenly Demon. His current strength is undoubtedly far beyond that of ordinary ninth-transformation immortals. Judging from this, the Motian Division absolutely has the capability to contend for the grand era."
Fang Chen looked at the two women. Seeing their thoughtful expressions, he understood that their knowledge of the Motian Division might not be inferior to his, which made sense. Once someone broke through the seal of cognition, it was like breaking through an eggshell. They would begin to understand the true nature of the world. Even if they did not know everything immediately, they would actively search for clues to lift the veil.
Xie Aman nodded. "Your judgment is indeed correct. The Motian Division has the ability to contend for the grand era. Motian Dizang cannot be simply described as a ninth-transformation expert. The Palace Master once said he may be half a step into the Heavenly Dao. So even if the Motian Division consisted of him alone, it would still have the strength to compete."
Half-step into the Heavenly Dao?
This was the first time Fang Chen had heard that term. He could infer from the name that it referred to an existence that was infinitely close to the Heavenly Dao. They should be stronger than ordinary ninth-transformation, yet weaker than the Heavenly Dao itself.
"But there is one thing you got wrong," Xie Aman continued.
Fang Chen's eyes flickered with curiosity. "I'm listening."
"Based on the intelligence we currently possess, the true objective of the Motian Division is the Lesser Underworld. That unparalleled Heavenly Demon only seeks to rule the Underworld. He has little interest in the Mortal Realm."
Fang Chen frowned. "Then why are they involved in the war in the Taicang Realm?"
"You even know that?" Xie Aman couldn't help but chuckle. "It is no simple matter for Motian Dizang to rule the Underworld. Even if he fully becomes the Heavenly Dao, it would still not be enough to merge the Underworlds into one. Something crucial is missing. So they need to cooperate with others."
Fang Chen's expression shifted slightly. "Something crucial is missing? Are you referring to the divine relics that were taken from the Underworld by the demon race?"
If those items could truly merge the Floating Pagoda Realm and the Lesser Underworld into one, with his current strength, how could he possibly contend with Motian Dizang? So the barrier between the two realms wasn't what was troubling Motian Dizang?
"Yes. There is one item that can break the barrier between the two realms and completely fuse them into one. When that happens, the Underworld will become complete once more. And Motian Dizang will naturally ascend as the new Monarch Yan."
Xie Aman smiled faintly. "Throughout history, no Monarch Yan has ever been half a step into the Heavenly Dao. If he takes that seat, then all matters of the Underworld will be his to decide. No one in the world will dare object."
Fang Chen's expression grew solemn. "That item is in the hands of the demons. That's why the Motian Division cooperates with them, helping them expand their territory in the Taicang Realm and lay foundations?"
