Chapter 1127: The Black Robe's Killing Game
The Dao Canon had always contained records of the Eight Mountain Sages. Why had Chen Changsheng only confirmed their existence today? Why did they seem like near-mythical legends to the human populace and cultivators? Because this term had indeed not appeared for many years.
Back during the Northern Expedition, the Eight Mountain Sages were still the main combat force of the demon race, playing a very important role in the battle beneath Snow Old City. Qilian Mountain Sage and Helan Mountain Sage had both fallen in battle, but after that, they vanished. No one knew where they had gone. As time passed, even their very existence began to be doubted.
Tonight, he had finally witnessed these legendary beings with his own eyes. The records he had read in the Dao Canon were naturally true.
The appearance of the Eight Mountain Sages was closely related to the great scholar of Tongus, and it was highly possible that it was also connected to the Human Race Pope of that time. That was why the title contained the character for "human." Of course, as ancient powerhouses of the demon race, almost totemic existences, it was impossible to expect them to abandon their loyalty to the demon race and side with humanity.
But why had they suddenly disappeared back then? Why had they suddenly appeared tonight?
Chen Changsheng's divine sense fell upon the enormous black shadow to the north.
He perceived an invisible barrier, like solidified night—truly worthy of being an ancient powerhouse of the demon race. Its aura was even more powerful and terrifying than the Second Demon General Haidi he had encountered back in Snow Ridge. No wonder Xiao Zhang, despite successfully breaking through to the Divine Domain tonight, had suffered such severe injuries and fallen into a coma.
The white paper on Xiao Zhang's face had stopped trembling so frequently, and his breathing had steadied. But he had lost too much blood; it was unknown when he would wake.
Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze, looked at the enormous black shadow, and asked, "Senior, how should I address you?"
He wanted to buy some time through conversation, not expecting the other party to reply. Unexpectedly, the next moment, the other's voice actually rang out.
That voice was like wind passing through a cave deep within a mountain, rumbling and echoing, with extremely complex variations hidden within.
Yanzhi Mountain Sage? The Dao Canon did not record the names of the Eight Mountain Sages in detail. Chen Changsheng could only guess the characters based on pronunciation, not knowing that the other was actually called Yanzhi Mountain Sage. Then, two more voices sounded from the southern grasslands, and he learned that the other two demon race powerhouses were called Yichun Mountain Sage and Jingpo Mountain Sage.
"Is the demon race preparing to declare war tonight?"
Chen Changsheng looked at Yanzhi Mountain Sage and said, his expression earnest, even grave.
Their current location was the grasslands of the Xiuling Tribe.
For thousands of years, the demon race, human race, and demon race had fought countless wars over this grassland and the Xiuling people who once lived here. The black soil beneath the green grass was completely irrigated by the blood of different races, its fertility born from death. It held great significance for all three races.
Great significance often meant sensitivity, which in turn meant it could easily trigger war. That was why all three races were now very cautious about this grassland. Even though it had finally been ceded to the human race, it was more of a nominal ownership. The Great Zhou court had never stationed troops here. Tonight, the Eight Mountain Sages, who had been hidden for many years, suddenly appeared, chasing Xiao Zhang to this grassland and surrounding Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong. Their intentions were clearly vast—what difference was this from declaring war?
"The war between our two races has never stopped, so why does it need to be declared anew?"
Yanzhi Mountain Sage's words were quite long, his voice somewhat muddy, but his pronunciation was very standard, even carrying a hint of the old Luling accent.
Chen Changsheng thought of the records in the Dao Canon, growing more curious about that lost history, and also somewhat puzzled by this answer itself.
Even the most ignorant child, as long as they had listened to storytellers in tea houses or taverns, would know how the continent's situation had changed in recent years.
The human race had ushered in an era of blooming wildflowers, while the demon race was declining at an unimaginable rate. Whether it was the harsh climate, sudden famines, or the sharp decrease in combatants due to internal strife among tribes, all of this was slowly dragging this once-dominant race toward the abyss.
At such a time, the demon race should be considering how to protect itself, not launching an offensive against the human race. This had been the young Demon Lord's governing style in recent years. Even if he was criticized by the nobles in Snow Old City for being too conservative, even accused of being disgraceful, he had not changed. Why was Yanzhi Mountain Sage so tough tonight?
Chen Changsheng said, "You have no chance of victory."
Yanzhi Mountain Sage replied, "But tonight might be the last chance for the Divine Race."
Chen Changsheng asked, "What chance?"
Yanzhi Mountain Sage said, "Your Holiness the Pope, you are the fourth person to successfully defy fate and change your destiny. We also want to give it a try."
Chen Changsheng asked, "What do you want to change?"
"The fate of a race is its momentum. The Divine Race is gradually weakening. If we do not revive, I fear we will be exterminated."
Yanzhi Mountain Sage said, "What we want to try is to defy fate and change the momentum."
Chen Changsheng said, "Back in White Emperor City, I once discussed this with your lord. Extermination will not happen."
Yanzhi Mountain Sage shook his head, and gravel fell with a rustle, gradually piling up on the grassland's surface.
"No matter how warm the sunlight, it will not shine on every corner of the world. No matter how benevolent Your Holiness the Pope is, you will not grant blessings to the subjects of the Divine Race. You and the Great Zhou Emperor are both students of Ji Daoren, and the Holy Maiden is a student of Tianhai Shenghou. Snow Old City will not believe any of your promises."
At this point in the conversation, the situation was very clear—tonight, the demon race wanted to kill not only Xiao Zhang but also Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong.
In recent years, Xiao Zhang had been in the Snow Plains, not truly disappearing, because every so often, he would fight a battle with the demon race's military powerhouses. Bloody battles raged continuously. Several demon generals and other demon race powerhouses had fallen to his hand, even been killed by him. But he had also failed and been hunted many times. However, Snow Old City had never sent the strongest powerhouses capable of contending with human Divine Domain experts to hunt Xiao Zhang. The main reason was fear that the Great Zhou court would use Xiao Zhang's whereabouts to set a trap.
Just like back then, when Shang Xingzhou used Chen Changsheng to lure the old Demon Lord into taking a risk at Cold Mountain, then set up an ambush.
Until more than ten days ago, the Black Robe observed the Southern Cross constellation at night and suddenly had a surge of inspiration, generating a response. After deduction and calculation, he arrived at a shocking conclusion.
The human race was about to gain another Divine Domain powerhouse.
Back in the battle at White Emperor City, Bie Yanghong and Wuqiong Bi had died in battle, and the demon race had also paid the painful price of two Holy Light Angels. But in the following years, Prince Xiang, the head of Lishan Sword Sect, and Mao Qiuyu had successively broken through to the Divine Domain. Last autumn, the Daoist nun Huairen of Nanxi Zhai had broken through while traveling the Eastern Sea during a storm. Adding Cao Yunping, who had regained his sanity, the number of Saint Domain powerhouses in the human race had already recovered to the peak of those days. If another Divine Domain powerhouse emerged, how could the demon race withstand it?
According to the Black Robe's deduction and calculation, that new human powerhouse was in the demon race's snow domain, and his identity was almost certain.
Thus, the young Demon Lord personally went to the extreme cold land opposite the abyss, earnestly requesting the three ancient powerhouses who had been hidden for many years to set up this scheme.
Kill Xiao Zhang before he broke through, then kill the human powerhouses who came to rescue him.
In the Black Robe's plan, the latter's name was written clearly.
It was Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong.