117: Chapter 117 Heading North, Refining the Succubus

[The army continued to head north. Three days later, they formally stepped into the Combat Readiness Zone.]

[An indescribable scent permeated the air.]

[Chu Sheng stood on a high slope, gazing toward the north.]

[There, black clouds rolled and Devilish Qi soared to the heavens.]

["Old Grandfather," he swallowed hard, "is it too late for me to run now?"]

[Old Grandfather said leisurely.]

["Run? Where would you run to? The Demon Race has already crossed the ice fields. The entire Northern Region is now a chaotic mess; everyone is at war."]

[Chu Sheng sighed.]

["Fine then, I'll just treat this as a sightseeing trip."]

[No sooner had he spoken than a sudden, urgent blast of horns sounded from ahead!]

[Enemy attack!]

[Triggered a critical choice: The Demon Race is launching a surprise attack. How will you respond?]

[1. Frontal engagement. Follow Xia Nihuang and charge at the very front. Risk is extreme, but the chance to earn merit is great.]

[2. Flanking maneuver. Lead the Yao Beast army to outflank from the side. Relatively safe, but you might be called a coward.]

[3. Defend the camp. Stay behind to protect the grain and supplies. Safe, but no military merit.]

[4. Act alone. Take advantage of the chaos to sneak into the Demon Race camp and cause sabotage. Risk is highest, but potential rewards are the greatest.]

Chu Sheng looked at these four options and fell into deep thought.

"Should I ask Old Grandfather?"

["Old Grandfather, what do you think I should do next?"]

[Old Grandfather was silent for a moment.]

["Act alone."]

[Chu Sheng was startled.]

["On a battlefield, isn't that just seeking death?"]

[Old Grandfather said leisurely.]

["What is your identity right now? Nie Zhang. What do you have on you? Two heaven rank magic treasures."]

[He paused.]

["When that Peak of the Sea Opening Realm fellow from Beiming Prefecture, Jiang Zhenshan, arrives later, where will you hide? Those eyes of his can see through all the secrets on your body."]

[Chu Sheng felt a chill in his heart.]

["You mean..."]

[Old Grandfather nodded.]

["Slip away during the chaos and go cause trouble on the Demon Race's side. Firstly, you'll avoid Jiang Zhenshan, and secondly, you can fish in troubled waters. If you happen to grab some benefits, it'll be a massive profit."]

[Chu Sheng gritted his teeth.]

["Fine, I'll listen to you."]

[He quietly found Zhou Wantang and lowered his voice.]

["When the fighting starts later, follow the main army. Don't worry about me."]

[Zhou Wantang was stunned.]

["Master, where are you going?"]

[Chu Sheng gave a mischievous grin.]

["To go cause some trouble."]

[He patted her.]

["Don't worry, I won't die."]

[Zhou Wantang blushed and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by a sky-shaking roar of battle cries.]

[The Demon Race army surged forward like a tide!]

[Taking advantage of the confusion, Chu Sheng quietly slipped out of the camp.]

[The Black Tortoise followed behind him, moving slowly and without any hint of urgency.]

["Old partner," Chu Sheng patted its shell, "if things don't look right later, remember to tuck your head in."]

[The Black Tortoise rolled its eyes.]

[Chu Sheng concealed his aura and crept toward the flank of the Demon Race army.]

[Along the way, he witnessed the cruelty of the battlefield firsthand.]

[Countless Cultivators fell under the Devilish Qi, unable to even let out a scream.]

[Countless demons were also hacked into pieces, their black blood flowing like a river.]

[The battlefield was a giant meat grinder of flesh and blood.]

["Old Grandfather," he murmured, "is this what war is like?"]

[Old Grandfather was silent for a moment.]

["This isn't even the main battlefield yet."]

[Chu Sheng reached a high vantage point and looked out into the distance.]

[Behind the Demon Race army, a terrifying figure stood suspended in the air.]

[Sea Opening Realm!]

[The Prefect of Beiming, Jiang Zhenshan!]

[He was an old man of profound majesty, clad in a deep black battle robe and holding a longsword. His gaze was like lightning as he looked down upon the entire battlefield.]

[Every time he swung his sword, hundreds or thousands of demons were turned to fly ash.]

["Holy crap..." Chu Sheng's eyes widened, "That's the Sea Opening Realm?"]

[Old Grandfather said leisurely.]

["Early stage of Sea Opening. He's more than enough for you to handle."]

[Chu Sheng swallowed hard.]

["Good thing I slipped away. If he saw the Magic Treasures on me..."]

[Before he could finish, he suddenly felt a gaze land on him.]

[Jiang Zhenshan glanced toward his direction.]

[It was just a glance.]

[Yet Chu Sheng felt as if his Soul had been seen through.]

[He quickly lowered his head and suppressed all of his aura.]

[Jiang Zhenshan shifted his gaze and continued slaughtering the Demon Race.]

["Phew..." Chu Sheng let out a long breath, "That scared the life out of me."]

[Standing beside Jiang Zhenshan was a cold and elegant woman.]

[Jiang Yuenü, Early Stage of Spirit Spring, daughter of Jiang Zhenshan.]

[She looked in the direction her father had glanced but saw nothing.]

["Father, what is it?"]

[Jiang Zhenshan shook his head.]

["It's nothing. Just... a little bug."]

[Jiang Yuenü's brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't press further.]

[Chu Sheng continued to head deeper.]

[Suddenly, he noticed a special unit.]

[A hundred heavy-armored generals, riding giant Yao Beasts, passed by him in perfect formation.]

[Every single one was in the True Firmament realm.]

[The armor on their bodies was as black as ink, radiating terrifying Devilish Qi.]

["Iron Pagoda!" Old Grandfather's voice rang out, "The elite of the Demon Race!"]

[Chu Sheng was stunned.]

["A hundred True Firmaments?"]

[Old Grandfather nodded.]

["Yes. Together, they can rival the Spirit Sea realm."]

[Chu Sheng sucked in a breath of cold air.]

["This lineup... can Xia Nihuang win against them?"]

[Old Grandfather was silent for a moment.]

["But that is not for you to worry about."]

[As night fell, Chu Sheng found a hidden cave and prepared to rest for the night.]

[The Black Tortoise lay at the cave entrance, dutifully keeping watch.]

[Suddenly, he smelled a fragrance.]

[It was sickly sweet, carrying a certain allure.]

[Chu Sheng opened his eyes.]

[At the cave entrance, a woman had appeared at some unknown time.]

[She was scantily clad with a provocative figure, her peach-blossom eyes looking at him with watery intensity.]

[A low-level Succubus.]

["General, are you all alone?" Her voice was charming and flirtatious, "I'm so scared..."]

[Chu Sheng looked at her, sneering in his heart.]

[Not long ago, he had heard that several True Firmament Cultivators had died in the embrace of such a Succubus.]

["Old Grandfather," he sent a voice transmission, "how should I handle this thing?"]

[Old Grandfather said leisurely.]

["Beat her at her own game. See what she wants to do."]

[Chu Sheng nodded.]

["Beautiful, come, sit here."]

[A flash of triumph crossed the Succubus's eyes as she walked over, swaying her hips.]

[Believing he had taken the bait, the Succubus gradually let down her guard. "Relax, I don't want much, just your life. You're only my fourth prey today."]

[Once they reached a secluded corner, Chu Sheng's expression suddenly changed.]

[The aura of the Heavenly Demon Body instantly erupted!]

[The Succubus was stunned.]

[Her peach-blossom eyes went wide, and her mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.]

["The... the Heavenly Demon Body?!"]

[Chu Sheng grabbed her by the throat and pinned her against the stone wall.]

["Speak, who sent you?"]

[The Succubus struggled, but she couldn't break free at all.]

[The power of the Heavenly Demon Body crushed a low-level Succubus like her as easily as playing a game.]

["Mmm-mmm..." She shook her head desperately.]

[Chu Sheng increased the pressure in his hand.]

["Not talking?"]

[The Succubus was terrified, her Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. She tried desperately to say something, but nothing could come out.]

[Chu Sheng looked at her pathetic state and sighed.]

["Fine, let's put this waste to use."]

[He exerted force with his hand, and the power of the Heavenly Demon Body instantly devoured the Succubus.]

[The Succubus turned into a wisp of black smoke and merged into his body.]

["Mmm..." Chu Sheng let out a burp, "The taste is average, like eating a rotten peach."]

[Old Grandfather: "..."]

["You kid, you're becoming less and less human."]

Chu Sheng watched this scene, laughing so hard he slapped his thigh.

"Low-level Succubus? This narration is really wicked!"

"But the Heavenly Demon Body is indeed amazing, even being able to absorb a Succubus. If I absorb enough of them, won't my cultivation take flight?"

He looked at the screen.

"That glance from Jiang Zhenshan made my back go cold. The Sea Opening Realm is truly terrifying; I almost thought it was the series finale."

He rubbed his chin.

[Chu Sheng returned to the cave and sat cross-legged.]

[The Succubus he had just absorbed turned into a thread of pure Devilish Qi, circulating within his body.]

[Though it wasn't much, it was better than nothing.]

["Old Grandfather," he suddenly asked, "do you think the Demon Race has any decent experts over there?"]

[Old Grandfather thought for a moment.]

["Yes. Many."]

[Chu Sheng's eyes lit up.]

["Then can I..."]

[Old Grandfather interrupted him.]

["No. If you go now, you're just sending yourself to your death."]

[Chu Sheng gave an embarrassed smile.]

["I was just asking."]

[He lay down, staring at the roof of the cave.]

[Outside, the sound of war drums still shook the heavens.]

[The slaughter continued.]