Huaikong was about to charge back into the battlefield in the sky to assist the Sword Demon swallowed by the fire serpent.

But just as the thought arose, the belly of the fire serpent was sliced open by the Holy Light Blade Intent.

The battle changed again!

The Sword Demon emerged unscathed, unleashing a flurry of Sword Qi, blocking the falling Fire Rain completely.

Watching from a distance, Huaikong couldn't help but exclaim, "The Sword Demon created the Holy Light Blade Intent; in the Earth Unrestricted Upper Realm he can battle a Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted. That strike could have skinned me alive, yet the Sword Demon Elder broke through without a scratch!"

After expressing his admiration, Huaikong looked at the three Earth Unrestricted Upper Realm powerhouses of the Heaven-Gazing Tower.

They were flying toward him!

Huaikong immediately had a thought—to consume them, and then his cultivation would advance a bit more.

The enemies he faced were becoming stronger, but his growth rate was still not fast enough.

He must continue to consume!

Huaikong roared and rushed toward the three like a starving man running into a restaurant.

At this moment, Celestial Traveler saw his attack ineffective, feeling both angry and somewhat puzzled.

Logically, his attack shouldn't be so weak.

Even if not a fatal strike, it should at least be able to subdue an Upper Realm opponent, right?

If his attack wasn't weak, then there's only one possibility left.

The Sword Demon is very strong!

And his power is almost at the Half-Step Celestial Unrestricted level!

This realization surprised Celestial Traveler because such beings as the Sword Demon are extremely rare.

In the whole Heaven-Gazing Gorge, there might not be many who can achieve this.

"Interesting." Celestial Traveler now saw the Sword Demon as an enemy, a truly worthy opponent.

...

Demon Emperor Lake.

After leaving Fa Yuan Valley, Wen Ping immediately took the Demon Pill to the Teleportation Array at Demon Emperor Lake.

The Wood Dragon was recently guarding the Nuwa Statue nearby, cultivating alongside the Golden Dragon.

Though the Golden Dragon's power wasn't as great as the Wood Dragon's, its bloodline was far superior.

Accordingly, the Golden Dragon's mastery of Dragon Race Divine Techniques was also stronger than the Wood Dragon's.

To grow stronger.

The Wood Dragon was willing to put aside its pride to ask!

Of course, Wen Ping's visit to Demon Emperor Lake wasn't to deliver Demon Pills to Wood Dragon and Huaikong; such tasks didn't require a trip to Demon Emperor Lake.

Wen Ping's primary goal was to select candidates to send to the Final Forbidden Area, for which he had already prepared positions.

100 spots were temporarily set.

It consumed 10,000 prestige all at once.

But this was just an appetizer.

What Wen Ping truly intended to cultivate were the demons able to survive the Final Forbidden Area; they were his main focus.

As for whether any of the 100 could survive.

Wen Ping couldn't speculate.

However, as long as they survived and went through Wen Ping's cultivation plan, they would undoubtedly become incredibly powerful Demon Gods.

When Wen Ping landed in front of the Nuwa Statue, both Wood Dragon and Golden Dragon abruptly awakened from their cultivation state.

As the two demons saluted, Wen Ping scrutinized the Wood Dragon.

Not bad.

Having absorbed so many Demon Pills, its cultivation years had surpassed 500; advancing further would make it a quasi-Demon Ancestor.

"Sect Leader."

The Wood Dragon bowed respectfully.

Wen Ping asked, "I offer you a chance; do you dare to try?"

"Do you dare?"

The Wood Dragon's green brows furrowed.

"If successful, it can help you return to the Demon Ancestor Realm, perhaps even reach the Demon Immortal level. But there's a risk of falling."

Wen Ping respected the Wood Dragon's decision.

If the Wood Dragon dared to take the risk, he would give him the Demon Immortal's Demon Pill.

If the Wood Dragon didn't dare.

Then he would keep it.

Wen Ping was pleased to see the Wood Dragon seemingly ignored the latter part after "but."

The Wood Dragon delightedly muttered to himself before expressing gratitude, "Can return to the Demon Ancestor Realm, even reach the Demon Immortal level… Thank you, Sect Leader!"

Wen Ping nodded, then took out the enormous crimson-golden Demon Pill from the Storage Ring, placing it before the Nuwa Statue.

The colossal and pure Demon Power instantly spread.

Golden Dragon Ao Li's expression stiffened.

The Wood Dragon's expression stiffened as well.

"Such a large Demon Pill, and crimson-golden in color, I can sense its cultivation is at least five or six hundred years. If I fully refine it, I can definitely step into the Demon Immortal level."

The Wood Dragon's face beamed with joy.

Wen Ping nodded and continued, "This Demon Pill is from a Demon Immortal, containing the cultivation of a Demon Immortal, meaning it carries the will and aura of a Demon Immortal. Swallowing it means your body will imbibe the will and aura of a Demon Immortal. When the 600-year Thunder Tribulation arrives, because of the Demon Immortal will and aura within you, you will face not merely Thunder Tribulation, but the Demon Immortal Thunder Tribulation of the 900-year mark!"

The Wood Dragon froze.

At once, he understood.

Why the Sect Leader asked if he dared.

Seeing the Wood Dragon silent, Wen Ping continued, "Even if you safely pass the first one, at 900 years you'll face an even more terrifying Thunder Tribulation. Think it over carefully."

Wen Ping finished talking and stored the Demon Pill, then observed the Wood Dragon suddenly pay respect with firm determination.

"Sect Leader, I'll take it!"

Demon Immortal opportunity.

An opportunity not to be missed.

Though dangerous, the allure was deadly.

"If you've decided, then consume it." Wen Ping took out the Demon Pill again.

The Wood Dragon immediately transformed into a dragon, gulped it down in one bite before reverting to human form in front of Wen Ping.

"Continue cultivating."

Since the Wood Dragon made his choice, Wen Ping had nothing more to say.

Now it depended on Wood Dragon's luck.

The system indicated a certain probability the Wood Dragon would withstand the Thunder Tribulation, so he wasn't worried.

If the day came when the Wood Dragon couldn't hold on, he could still use the Sect's grand array to help him withstand.

"Thank you, Sect Leader." The Wood Dragon saluted again.

Wen Ping turned to Ao Li and said, "Ao Li, inform all the Demon Race demon kings not participating in the Heaven and Earth Lake battle, whose power equals the Upper Realm of Mountain Suppression, to gather here."

According to the data Wen Ping saw when coming, the Demon Race now possessed over 30,000 demon kings.

Compared to the previous Demon Race, it's more than tenfold.

Demon kings in the Upper Realm of Mountain Suppression—excluding those in the Heaven and Earth Lake battlefield—there were at least five or six hundred left.

Half a day later, these five or six hundred demon kings were rushing to gather at the Nuwa Statue.

To Wen Ping's summons, they treated it as a divine decree.

Dare not show a trace of negligence.

For them, the immortal Sect Leader was the god of the Demon Race, highly esteemed.

At this moment, Wen Ping looked at these five or six hundred demon kings and said, "Those I've addressed, step forth."

This time, Wen Ping didn't inquire about their opinion to decide whether they would go to the Final Forbidden Area.

In Wen Ping's view, this was the price the Demon Race had to pay.

If the Demon Race wished to become stronger, they must pay such a price.

Comfortable cultivation would only make them lament their insignificance when facing future powerful enemies.