Chapter 396: Stepping Onto the Wave-Splitting Battle Platform to Face Lesser Demons for the First Time

The other squad leaders either sneered or shook their heads before dispersing.

Clearly, they thought Shi Dingyue and Shen Mo had fallen into Sha Rilang’s trap.

A C-grade merit wasn’t a small sum by any means.

“Sigh, Boss, Brother Shen…” Li Heitan and the other three let out soft sighs.

They too felt that Shen Mo and Shi Dingyue had been a bit too hasty.

Shen Mo’s mind recalled information about the demon race.

These were details Shi Dingyue, Li Heitan, and the others had shared with him during last night’s chat.

The demon race was divided by bloodline into ranks of nobility and inferiority.

The lowest were the lesser demons.

Lesser demons were roughly the size of ordinary humans. Limited by their inferior bloodlines, they could only grow to the level of a demon commander at most.

However, lesser demons reproduced at an astonishing rate, making them the cannon fodder of the demon race.

As long as their numbers were sufficient, a massive swarm of lesser demons could play a decisive role.

Above lesser demons were true demons.

The term meant “true members of the demon race.”

True demons typically served as mid-to-high-ranking officers within the demon race.

Their intelligence far surpassed the savage, bloodthirsty lesser demons.

They could cultivate up to the demon lord level, equivalent to the Venerable Realm.

If a true demon achieved significant feats in battle, they might earn a reward of demon blood from a more powerful demon, further purifying their bloodline.

If they succeeded, a true demon could evolve into a greater heavenly demon.

At the greater heavenly demon level, they were considered the elite core of the demon race.

Each greater heavenly demon was akin to a true disciple of a sect.

They rarely entered the battlefield to fight humans directly.

Most often, they led their subordinate true demons to guard key secret realms, preventing human cultivators from entering.

Greater heavenly demons had no bloodline restrictions, so there was no upper limit to their cultivation realm.

As long as they absorbed enough demonic qi, they could recklessly advance their realm.

Beyond greater heavenly demons were the legendary undying demons.

A persistent legend in the Demon-Suppressing Sea claimed that the deepest depths housed the corpse of an undying demon emperor.

The vast demonic qi permeating the Demon-Suppressing Sea was said to originate from that undying demon.

However, the demonic qi in the sea’s extreme depths was too dense, and Demon-Suppressing Guards dared not venture there lightly.

Whether undying demons truly existed remained unconfirmed.

Five days from now, the attackers would be lesser demons led by true demons.

The demon race’s goal was clear: through harassment and attrition tactics, they aimed to wear down the Demon-Suppressing Fortress’s living forces as much as possible.

Injuring one was breaking even; killing one was a profit.

It was that simple.

Sun Kong said quietly, “Brother Shen, you’ve never faced the demon race before. You don’t know how hard they are to kill.”

“The essence of demonic qi is far stronger than the spiritual power or blood qi we use.”

“Even lesser demons have incredibly tenacious vitality, making them hard to kill outright.”

“As for true demons, they possess strange bloodline techniques.”

“If you encounter a true demon favored by a greater heavenly demon, their bloodline techniques are even more terrifying.”

“Taking on three or four opponents at once is child’s play for them.”

After Sun Kong finished, Li He, Li Heitan, and Zhao Xin nodded in firm agreement.

Shi Dingyue said seriously, “Train hard these next few days. The demon race’s bloodline techniques almost always follow traceable patterns tied to their species.”

“As long as you remember how to counter them, you’ll have at least a ninety percent chance of success.”

Shen Mo blinked.

He wasn’t exactly inexperienced with demons.

Plus, he had a trump card like the Nine Nether Ice Flame.

Even if he faced a tough demon, pulling out the Nine Nether Ice Flame would make any demon submit obediently.

Still, Shen Mo had no intention of revealing the Nine Nether Ice Flame lightly.

To the demon race, it was practically a natural enemy.

If he exposed it, he’d likely invite endless pursuit from the demons.

Shen Mo wasn’t foolish enough for that.

…

In the blink of an eye, five days passed.

Shen Mo found that the food for the Demon-Suppressing Guards was indeed excellent.

It contained abundant life essence, perfectly suited for cultivating blood qi techniques.

Of course, with the powerful Heaven-tier spirit-gathering array beneath the Demon-Suppressing Fortress, cultivating spiritual power techniques was also far faster than before.

During these five days, he felt his progress was equivalent to at least a month of cultivation from before.

The speed of building the foundation for his divine palace had also increased significantly.

Moreover, Shen Mo hadn’t been idle these past few days.

After training, he would wander around the barracks.

Through this, he learned of the existence of the other two conscripted Demon-Suppressing Guards.

One was Zhou Mingyi, and the other, surprisingly, was Lin Dongtian!

Lin Dongtian and Zhou Mingyi were highly valued.

Likely because neither had yet advanced to the Divine Palace Realm, many centurions saw them as moldable talents.

As for someone like Shen Mo, who had already reached the Venerable Realm, if the method of advancement was flawed, it naturally came with many drawbacks.

Shen Mo had met Zhou Mingyi a few times.

Zhou Mingyi was an honest man, and Shen Mo could tell his attitude hadn’t changed.

Zhou Mingyi even comforted Shen Mo, telling him not to mind the rumors and gossip in the barracks—just focus on being himself.

As for Lin Dongtian.

He clearly knew Shen Mo was in the Xuanwu Fortress barracks, but he hadn’t sought him out.

Shen Mo didn’t mind this.

A strained relationship was normal.

It made it easier to keep seizing opportunities.

…

Rumble.

The gates thundered open.

Revealing a vast, flat expanse of black ocean.

That was the Demon-Suppressing Sea.

Along the shore, numerous battle platforms hovered above the water’s surface.

Those were the Wave-Splitting Battle Platforms.

“Let’s go. It’s time to board the Wave-Splitting Battle Platforms.”

Shi Dingyue patted Shen Mo’s shoulder, his voice deep.

“Alright.”

Shen Mo nodded.

“You four, come along too.” Shi Dingyue turned to Li Heitan and the others.

“Yes!”

The group of six, like the other squads, quickly boarded a Wave-Splitting Battle Platform.

Not every Demon-Suppressing Guard could move freely across the sea’s surface.

Thus, the Wave-Splitting Battle Platforms were especially crucial.

However, with just a few glances, Shen Mo could tell that these platforms were almost all in tatters.

Many had been patched up multiple times, barely holding together.

They were nothing like the freshly forged Wave-Splitting Battle Platforms used when the East Sea water demons invaded Jade Sea City.

Clearly, the combat supplies in the Demon-Suppressing Sea were worn out to the point of being pitiful.

New for three years, old for three years, patched up for another three.

The group boarded the Wave-Splitting Battle Platform, gazing into the distance, standing ready.

“Don’t get too close to the front, and don’t stray too far from the shore.”

Shi Dingyue said gravely.

“The Demon-Suppressing Sea is entirely a demonic land. If we get too far from the fortress, our bodies won’t withstand the erosion of the demonic qi.”

“Plus, within the demonic land, there’s almost no natural spiritual qi. Replenishing spiritual power becomes even harder.”

“That’s why cultivators of blood qi techniques have an advantage here.”

Shen Mo nodded thoughtfully.

That made sense.

Cultivators of spiritual power relied on natural spiritual qi to recover, or they had to use pills.

But cultivators of blood qi techniques only needed pills that restored life essence.

Though both were pills, those for life essence were simpler to refine.

“They’re coming!”

At that moment, Shi Dingyue’s expression turned solemn as he pointed ahead.

Shen Mo looked into the distance and immediately saw ripples disturbing the still, lifeless sea.

Then, wave after wave of tides appeared, surging rapidly toward the shore.

{2 more chapters coming in some hours. I will post 4 chaps per day till next tuesday. If more people join, I will increase duration]

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