Chapter 482: Please recruit

At the edge of Hell, in a place scorched by karmic fire.

After the unknown Demonic Dao powerhouse asked about Zhu Fengdan's intentions, the True Dragon known as the Dragon King's Third Prince smiled and said, "What else could be the proper business? The rice is already cooked. Ultimately, everyone is here to guard against you. Otherwise, with your personality, you would have already bullied the weak and gone down to kill those few fourth-rank youngsters, wouldn't you?"

Zhu Fengdan couldn't help but let out a cackling laugh when he heard this.

Then, he put down his crossed legs, sat up straight, and looked at the four people in front of him: "I can only say that Heavenly Dao is hard to defy. I really came to rescue my little Disciple, but it seems the people behind you arranged for you to come here just to stop me, right? Are they afraid that this arrangement, which everyone agreed upon, will be ruined by me?"

"Great Shaman," the Demonic Dao Cultivator nodded, "You should know that there is a Demonic Prince inside, and… his status is much more noble than Li Qi's."

"A Demonic Prince… a second-rank Demonic King?" Zhu Fengdan raised an eyebrow.

The Demonic Dao Cultivator shook his head and said, "He is the Heavenly Demon's direct offspring, formed purely from Demonic Qi. Even I can at most interact with him as an equal. He is destined for a high position in the future. Even if you kill him today, the Heavenly Demon will personally retrieve him from the River of Time. It's just that doing so wouldn't be very cost-effective, so please, Great Shaman, restrain yourself a bit. That way, it's easier for everyone."

This answer made Zhu Fengdan's flippant expression turn somber.

Heavenly Demon's direct offspring…

This title was not to be uttered lightly.

Direct offspring, meaning… he was a child directly derived from the Heavenly Demon, and one upon whom great hopes were placed.

The other party even explicitly stated that even if Zhu Fengdan felt the Demonic Prince was very important and insisted on acting, forcibly killing the Demonic Prince while facing three peers, it would be impossible to kill him.

After killing this Demonic Prince, the Heavenly Demon would personally act, rewind time, and retrieve him from the River of Time.

Once retrieved, Zhu Fengdan himself would have to face the Heavenly Demon directly.

This was a very blunt threat, but also very effective.

Even a rogue like Zhu Fengdan felt a bit apprehensive.

So, he turned his head, looked into the distance, and said with displeasure, "Tsk, then I really can only watch that Demonic Prince fight my Disciple to the death. It seems they won't decide a winner anytime soon. You guys really thought this up. Two equally matched fourth-rankers, an absolutely balanced scale, letting two seventh-rankers dance on it. Truly creative."

The Demonic Dao Cultivator smiled and said, "Being able to intervene in a fourth-rank battle and become the straw that influences the balance is a great Opportunity for both of them. Ultimately, Young Master Li Qi is benefiting from the Demonic Prince."

Zhu Fengdan crossed his arms, squinting sideways at the distant battlefield.

Even from the edge of Hell, separated by an unknown number of light-years, he could clearly see Li Qi's battlefield.

There, Li Qi was locked in a battle of wits and strength with the Demonic Prince.

Both sides unleashed all their methods, an unknown number of strange and miraculous moves. All their foundations, under such pressure, rapidly transformed into actual power, and their potential was being released as true strength.

Their past thoughts, the books they had read, the cultivation methods and Divine Abilities they had learned, at this moment truly transformed into their own power, no longer mere foundations, but actual strength.

However, strength was somewhat useless. A fourth-rank battle didn't require their strength; what they needed to do was to become that final straw as much as possible.

Zhu Fengdan watched and said, "He really is benefiting. It's just that your Demonic Prince doesn't seem to be that great. I haven't really taught this Disciple of mine; he's been left to grow on his own. Yet, your carefully cultivated Demonic Prince seems only able to draw with him. They've been fighting for a quarter of an hour, and both their brains must be burning out, right?"

The Demonic Dao Cultivator nodded and said gently, "Indeed, it's astonishing. However, it's not that the Demonic Prince is lacking, but rather that Young Master Li Qi is truly astonishing. Perhaps not receiving Your Excellency's guidance was a good thing for his growth. To be able to take on such a Disciple is truly fortunate and will be of great help in the future. Perhaps in the future, the Great Shaman's Dao will even need his assistance."

"Everyone walks their own path. Disciples are for Legacy, not for me to rely on in my old age. Am I so useless that I need a child to support me in my old age? Nonsense, be careful or I'll beat you up," Zhu Fengdan pouted and said casually.

The Demonic Dao Cultivator naturally said nothing more, bowed slightly, and continued to sit in place.

The scene fell silent again.

Although Zhu Fengdan seemed quite relaxed when he said that, anyone who knew his reputation knew that he would genuinely and suddenly attack you with all his might.

And… you would most likely not be able to defeat him.

Even though he had once shattered his Inner World, directly destroying his 'Heavenly Dao-destined' life and choosing to start anew, he was still the youngest and most favored third-ranker of Shaman God Mountain, with incredibly strong combat power and foundation.

It was common for him to fight three or four peers alone. He frequently ventured into dangerous places, often going into others' lairs. Even the grand array outside Penglai couldn't stop him; he dug a hole to get in and dug up immortal tea trees, and it's said he also took many Spiritual Plants.

Just considering his recent achievements, he had killed several Utmost Persons of the Human Dao within the world, without even triggering the Heavenly Dao's suppression of high-rank battles.

When such a person tells you, "Be careful or I'll beat you up," you'd best truly be careful.

As someone who once had the Opportunity to advance to the second-rank, designated as 'half a second-ranker' by the Shaman God, even though he was now half-crippled, his strength was absolutely beyond doubt.

However, this Demonic Dao Cultivator could not understand why he would do such a thing.

Merely because he perceived the existence of 'Heavenly Dao,' he directly cut off his own Dao path, transforming from a gentle, kind, and virtuous Young Master into the decadent, notorious scoundrel he was now.

It was utterly inexplicable.

Was there such resistance?

It was like a wealthy family where the children, when young, would attend private schools, and when older, would study at academies. Their future professions would certainly be arranged by the elders of the family; it was impossible to truly let them do as they pleased.

If they were truly left to their own devices, then there would be no need to arrange Guardians, because having Guardians was, in fact, a form of alternative surveillance and scrutiny.

Could anyone truly not arrange Guardians?

Don't be ridiculous; he absolutely didn't believe it.

When a five-year-old child goes to school, even if parents pick them up and drop them off throughout, they're still anxious, let alone if there's no one to watch them. What if they get lost?

Allowing them to run wild and explore could very well lead to them dying outside.

This world is very dangerous.

The scene was silent for a while.

After all, Zhu Fengdan's threat to beat someone carried considerable deterrent power.

In this short time, Li Qi's battle in the distance had already reached a fever pitch.

Both sides had gone completely mad, racking their brains and employing various incredible methods.

That Demonic Prince had even begun to use Shaman Dao methods, utilizing sacrifices and curses to interfere with Li Qi's actions, and summoning numerous Heavenly Gods to fight. However, these Heavenly Gods were mostly Demonic Gods, each occupying a part of the sky, continuously launching fierce attacks.

It was unknown how this Demonic Prince was so familiar with so many Shaman Dao methods.

As for Li Qi, he utilized all his cultivation methods and all his Dao Orthodoxy.

His Dharmakaya had fully expanded, reaching dozens of miles in height.

Although it looked like a pea in front of a fourth-rank Dharmakaya, if viewed alone, it was still quite majestic.

Upon it, all the Dao paths Li Qi cultivated had been unleashed.

The Buddha Qi of Medicine King Buddha continuously exerted its power in his hands, drawing forth the light from the Buddha's crown, continuously countering the power of the Heavenly Demon.

That Daoist Talisman had been activated. Li Qi directly used the Celestial Pole Golden Elixir Method as the core, and with the power of a fourth-ranker, he unleashed the power of this Talisman.

The origin of this Divine Talisman gradually became clear: it was a Divine Talisman of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master Dao, Shenxiao Sect, inscribed with the orthodox Five Lightning Method, and it was also a fourth-rank treasure.

The power of lightning surged forth, the power of the chief of all thunder and the sovereign of all gods descended, orchestrating the pivot of heaven and earth, manipulating the changes of Yin and Yang, making the thunder and lightning dim, the air hazy with strong winds, constantly producing rustling sounds, warding off the Demon of Death's wind and fire wheels.

As for the Heavenly Gods, Li Qi used the method of '敕神遣将' (Commanding Gods and Sending Generals) to Seal them, using the power of a fourth-ranker to throw them out.

The two fourth-rankers, Cang Hou and Moro Yan, had clearly become their energy sources, only responsible for executing the Dao Orthodoxy and cultivation methods they put forth, and then understanding and completing the commands they issued.

The outcome of the battle had fallen upon the two young people.

Of course, this didn't mean the two fourth-rankers were no longer important; in fact, they were the main force of the battle. Every moment, they were maintaining a barrage of attacks against each other, performing battles beyond Mortal comprehension with exquisite cultivation methods and mysterious operations that Li Qi and the others couldn't even understand.

But the problem was that Moro Yan and Cang Hou were truly evenly matched. Neither side could gain an advantage, not even a slight one; it was a complete stalemate.

Therefore, the inspiration Li Qi and the Demonic Prince provided them could play such a significant role.

On an absolutely stable scale, even a speck of dust could break such a balance.

Now, these two specks of dust were desperately increasing their weight, trying to tip the scale.

Unfortunately, these two specks of dust were also evenly matched. It was truly hard to imagine why there would be four people so perfectly 'evenly matched.'

Leaving aside the two fourth-rankers, just between the Young Master of Shaman God Mountain and the Demonic Prince, there had been no fewer than thousands of exchanges, as if they had undergone thousands of tests.

After thousands of tests, in each test, both people's scores were exactly the same.

It was almost as if they were done by the same person.

Regarding this, the Dragon King's Third Prince, the Legalist Cultivator, and the Demonic Dao Cultivator, who were observing from not far away, easily came to a conclusion.

That is, both of them had reached the Peak of the seventh-rank, and it was the theoretical absolute Peak, like hexagonal warriors with no weaknesses.

It was like a container that held 100 milliliters could only hold 100 milliliters of water.

Within the seventh-rank range, the theoretical limit was 100 milliliters, and both had reached the Peak, so naturally, no matter how they competed, they could only reach the weight of 100 milliliters.

As they watched, they suddenly heard the Legalist Cultivator of the Human Dao say, "If they continue like this, it will probably take until both sides are exhausted and out of tricks, panting, before a winner can be determined. However… it is truly interesting. There are such similar opponents in the world. This arena is arranged perfectly."

"You find it interesting, but the people fighting below don't find it interesting. If they lose, they will die. This is Hell; it's not easy to save them. Their Spirit Souls will be directly crushed by Reincarnation. If they lose, they can only try to reincarnate," Zhu Fengdan said at this moment, words that didn't quite fit his persona.

"The Great Shaman is truly worried about his Disciple, isn't he? As far as I know, you've hardly ever cared for this Disciple. The number of times you've met him is few and far between, let alone guiding him in the Dao or answering his questions. You two have nothing but the title of master and Disciple, right? Why pretend to care now?" The Legalist Cultivator said with a smile, but his gaze seemed genuinely puzzled.

"Mediocre people naturally don't understand the bond between us master and Disciple. If you understood the tacit understanding between us, you wouldn't be as useless as you are now." Zhu Fengdan was impolite, even directly insulting him.

Since the other person was being sarcastic, Zhu Fengdan, with his personality, wouldn't tolerate it. His wild demeanor had long been known throughout the heavens.

"Those words are not very pleasant to hear. However, I am somewhat curious. Everyone says you were once 'half a second-ranker,' which is why they revere you. This gave you the confidence to bounce around everywhere. Regarding this… I have some doubts. Your curse technique just now seemed nothing special." The Legalist Cultivator laughed.

"Oh? You were unhappy after I hit you just now, so you went to investigate my background? After this quarter of an hour, you've finally figured out my true strength? You think I'm nothing special?" Zhu Fengdan's lips curved into a smile.

He wasn't good at beating around the bush, so he directly revealed the other party's intention.

"Yes, shattering your Inner World, severing your Dao path, you are already a cripple. You might even fall below the ninth-rank. That you could recover from such injuries must have been with the help of the emperor fluid paste used by the demon race Great Sages to enlighten stars, right? I never would have thought, a Great Shaman actually has connections with a Great Sage of the demon race. Which Great Sage? I can't tell." The Legalist Cultivator's forehead opened a crescent moon, no longer hiding, but openly looking at Zhu Fengdan.

"Legalist methods, discerning autumn hairs, truly impressive. That you could see this means you're really confident, right?" Zhu Fengdan glanced at the other party.

The Legalist Cultivator extended his hand, palm flat: "Indeed, if the Great Shaman were still the 'half a second-ranker' of before, I would never dare to speak. However, now that you've re-cultivated, if this is your only level, then… Du Zhou, I request a move from Your Excellency."

It was clear that he was very bothered by Zhu Fengdan's earlier actions.

And Zhu Fengdan was even more direct. Before the words 'request a move' were even fully out, he had already acted.

Ambush!