195: For the common people, I am willing to go

The power holders of the nine major regions frowned after listening.

The Twelve had been guarding the Demon Sealing Abyss for so long, they could understand their urgent desire to enter the Immortal Palace.

After all, as long as one cleared the trial, they would receive an Immortal Tool.

If they collected all the tokens, they would even have the chance to enter the core of the Immortal Palace to seek true immortaledge.

Who wouldn't be tempted by that?

They couldn't do it anyway.

In fact, they were even inferior to the Twelve.

"Since this matter was proposed by you seniors, do you have any specific plans?" the Heavenly Demon King of the Heavenly Demon Divine Dynasty asked in a deep voice.

He had no objections to this matter, and even supported it.

It was just that the Demon Sealing Abyss would be left unguarded.

In the near future, the situation between the human and demon races might change.

Everyone stared at the Buddha, awaiting the next words.

The Buddha clasped his hands together and slowly revealed the key: "To achieve this plan, two prerequisites must be met."

"First: We need to accurately ascertain the number of devils within the Demon Sealing Abyss, so that we can mobilize a joint army of appropriate scale."

"Second: We must investigate the source of their devil tools that rival Immortal Tools."

"When they were sealed back then, these devils did not possess such formidable weapons."

"This Old Monk suspects that there might be secrets hidden beneath the Demon Sealing Abyss that we are unaware of."

When the words fell, the atmosphere in the hall became heavy for a long time.

The Heavenly Demon King's eyes flickered with brilliance, and he said in a deep voice: "So, it means we need to send elites deep into the Demon Sealing Abyss to investigate? Not only to ascertain the devil tribe's military strength, but also to find out the source of those bizarre devil tools?"

The Buddha nodded solemnly, his prayer beads subtly turning in his hand: "Precisely. This journey is extremely perilous, requiring cultivation of at least Seven-Tribulation Half-Immortal and proficiency in stealth techniques. Otherwise..."

He paused, then said: "Let alone investigating any core secrets, I'm afraid it would be impossible to even return safely."

The power holders of the major regions looked at each other.

A Seven-Tribulation Half-Immortal was already a top-tier combatant, not to mention needing to be proficient in stealth techniques.

Such conditions were rare throughout the entire Three Thousand Dao Domains.

The Buddha's words plunged the hall into a deathly silence.

He scanned the crowd and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, is there anyone willing to go?"

Silence!

Still silence!

The Twelve exchanged glances, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.

Going there was almost certain death.

But even with a sliver of hope, they were unwilling to give up.

It was just a pity that no one agreed.

In fact, they harbored a secret that could not be spoken.

After so many years of cultivation, they had already touched the threshold of becoming an Immortal.

If they could resolve the Demon Sealing Abyss, they would have the opportunity to become Immortals.

If not, then when the Demon Sealing Abyss broke, they could only choose to temporarily avoid the confrontation, and then come out to eliminate these devils after breaking through to the Red Dust Immortal realm.

But by then, they could not guarantee how many living beings would remain in the Three Thousand Dao Domains.

Now, the fate of the living beings in the Three Thousand Dao Domains was in the hands of these ten people before them.

At the entrance.

Hearing these words, Cao Nie's mind became active.

He needed to enter the Demon Sealing Abyss to set up the Spirit Devouring Blood Soul Grand Array.

Setting it up outside was too easy to expose; within the devilish energy-filled Demon Sealing Abyss, the homologous devil attribute could provide natural cover for the grand array.

As for investigating the number of devils, that was simple.

He could inherently transform into a God or a Devil, and could even combine them, meaning he alone could possess three types of auras.

Equivalent to a combination of God, Devil, and Human.

No one would discover him.

After ascertaining the exact number of devils, he would multiply it by ten and report it.

Wahahahahahahaha...

Then, by attracting all living beings above the Penetrating Void Realm in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, he would become an Immortal if no one else did.

Ohohohohohoho...

As for where the devil tools came from, that wasn't important.

He would just make up an excuse to fool them when the time came.

Setting up the array was the top priority.

Just as the hall fell into a deathly silence, Cao Nie suddenly slammed the table and stood up, his crimson battle robe fluttering without wind.

"Ridiculous! Pitiful! Lamentable!"

He coldly swept his gaze over the power holders of the nine major regions present: "Grand Eight-Tribulation Half-Immortals, yet you don't even have the courage to venture deep into enemy territory?"

Lanling King and the others' faces immediately flushed crimson.

Cao Nie continued: "Grand Marshal only now realizes that your so-called protection of the common people is nothing more than cowering and clinging to life under the wings of the Twelve seniors!"

One-Worded Shoulder-to-Shoulder King's face flushed crimson: "You..."

"What 'you'?" Cao Nie interrupted sharply: "Is the life and death of the billions of living beings in the Three Thousand Dao Domains less important than your own lives in your eyes?"

He turned to face the Buddha, cupped his fists in a salute: "Grand Marshal is willing to go!"

The Twelve were all moved at the same time.

The Buddha's prayer beads trembled in his hand: "Grand Marshal, do you know that this journey..."

"Is a certain death?"

Cao Nie smiled freely, his brows filled with righteous spirit: "For the common people of the world, even if it means mountains of daggers and seas of fire, Cao is willing to go! While some people are greedy for life and afraid of death, I, Cao Nie, am willing to brave any danger!"

"Good!"

Sword Without End excitedly slammed the table and stood up, his voice choked: "What a Tiance Grand Marshal! This Old Man thanks you on behalf of the billions of living beings in the Three Thousand Dao Domains!"

The Buddha clasped his hands together, tears glistening in his eyes: "Amitabha, Grand Marshal's righteousness is great. This Old Monk hereby vows: After this battle, regardless of whether Grand Marshal survives, as long as this Old Monk is still in this world, I shall erect a temple and sculpt a statue for Grand Marshal, to be worshipped by future generations forever!"

Sword Emperor suddenly stood up and declared boldly: "Good! Such a hero must be celebrated with a drink! This Emperor shall host a banquet now to send off the Tiance Grand Marshal!"

Before Sword Emperor's words had even finished, Cao Nie had already turned and walked out of the hall, his crimson battle robe rustling in the wind.

He waved his hand to the others, his voice unrestrained: "Keep the wine for now. If Grand Marshal returns victorious, I will drink three hundred cups with you all then."

He paused his steps, turned his head to reveal half of his handsome profile: "If Grand Marshal doesn't return... then pour the wine on the stone tablet in front of my temple."

With that, he had already transformed into a golden-red long rainbow and soared into the sky.

One-Worded Shoulder-to-Shoulder King and the others were filled with shame, lowering their heads and remaining silent.

The Twelve guardians all rose and solemnly saluted Cao Nie's departing figure.

The Buddha's prayer beads turned in his hand, and he murmured: "If this child lives, he will surely become the backbone of our human race; if he dies... he shall also be a model for ten thousand generations."

When the words fell, the Buddha compassionately swept his gaze over Lanling King and the others: "Amitabha, this Old Monk only realized today what a true hero is, and what... hehe."

Sword Without End snorted coldly, flicking his sleeve: "This Old Man has lived for hundreds of thousands of years, and this is the first time I've seen such 'experts' who are so greedy for life and afraid of death."

The Blade Emperor crossed his arms and sneered: "Your cultivations, everyone, have probably all gone to the dogs."

The Qin Clan Ancestor said in a sarcastic tone: "No wonder some people have been stuck at Eight-Tribulation for so many years, it turns out they lack courage."

The Dragon Clan Ancestor grinned: "Our demon race has always respected warriors, and today truly opened my eyes."

The Su Clan Ancestor shook his head and sighed: "The future of the Three Thousand Dao Domains will ultimately still depend on true heroes."

"You all take care of yourselves," the Phoenix Clan Ancestor finally said coldly, and the Twelve transformed into streaks of light, vanishing into the sky.

Inside the hall, Lanling King and the others' faces were ashen, their fists clenched, making cracking sounds, yet they couldn't even utter a single word of rebuttal.