Chapter 1179 The Next Journey

1179 The Next Journey

"Chief."

"Welcome back, Chief."

"It's an honor to meet you, Chief."

Ao Shen would nod to anyone who spoke to him, not showing any att.i.tude or caring about hierarchy. He soon reached his main cultivation cave and dismissed everybody before brewing him some top-grade tea to relax. As he sipped, a soothing power rushed into his body and mind, soothing his nerves and worry.

'The expansion is basically finished, and I've gotten all the benefits possible, including forming strong allies for the demon race in case of an emergency.' Ao Shen thought. 'So, what's next?'

He has created a golden era for the demon race. Although people could say he took the opportunity of a brilliant time for his rise, that does not diminish his accomplishments. If not careful, anyone else in his shoes would not be as successful as him and might even destroy the demon races.

Now that the demon race was thriving, and Ao Shen no longer needed to constantly worry about their extinction since he'd prepared countless backhands and plans for this worst-case scenario, he needed to think about his future.

'I'm quickly approaching the limit of my foundation, so the next step is to re-establish my foundation. However, the issue is whether to do it here or after I ascend.'

The best choice for this process is the upper dimension due to the much better information about the danger and better resources to ensure no issues. 'However, this is only for those with a lineage backing them. What about me?'

w.a.n.g Wei has the Dao Opening Sect, Feng Heng has Buddhism, Huo Fenghuang has the Ancient Clan, and even Xu s.h.i.+ should be able to rely on Emperor Kong.

'The demon's race had few talented individuals who survived and ascended, so the chances of them building a top lineage are not high. My best choice should be the Innate Demon G.o.ds, but without any deep connection, will they support me? Better yet, can I trust them?'

Ao Shen grunted as he remembered the information about the current chaotic situation of the upper dimension. 'If the Innate Demon G.o.ds chose to support these seven, should I still join them?' w.a.n.g Wei had already made it clear that these people were his enemy, and Ao Shen's body trembled at the thought of being on the opposite camp of that monster.

He also has his pride and arrogance, and he would not bow down to these people without having any rights or power - especially since, as far as he's concerned, they are more powerful than him only because they are older.

'In fact, the best option would be to leave the Eternal Ascension World entirely,' Ao Shen thought. 'I could already predict that w.a.n.g Wei will also dominate the upper dimension, creating his own era. So, I can either use his pressure to force myself to grow or head to another world to find some kind of variable that will allow me to compete with him.'

Ao Shen sighed, 'Forget about leaving for now and focus on the current situation. I need more information about the upper dimension's situation.' Although w.a.n.g Wei did not hide basic information, he also did not share more detailed news. Ao Shen decided to ask him and even offered to pay.

'Hmm? A world-wide announcement?' He checked the Dream World and saw w.a.n.g Wei's bold words written above the Dream World's sky.

'I was wondering why he never called for another Dao Discussion. Is this what he's been planning?' Ao Shen was slightly excited since he was embarra.s.sed the last time they had a discussion, and this one should be an opportunity to redeem himself. Not to mention the benefit to his future cultivation.

'I have enough merit, luck, and world source for my cultivation to reach 45% as swiftly as possible. But with the boost from that banquet, I could probably reach 50% with the merit at hand.'

He excitedly disconnected from the Dream World to prepare his sermon. He could guess the Dao Rhymes that would condense in such an event, which should form a field that benefits someone based on how deep and ingenious their sermons are. With the "Supreme Emperor" warning, people will do their best to prepare not only for the benefit but also for their pride.

As Ao Shen was about to finish his tea and start the preparation, he sensed something and frowned. "Why are you here?" Huo Fenghuang's projection materialized in his cultivation cave.

"I came to run an idea by you."

"Oh?" Ao Shen sipped his tea. "I'm listening, but I won't offer you tea since I don't want to."

Huo Fenghuang ignored the second part of that statement. "Is it possible to convince him to ascend before us?"

"Ascend before us?" Ao Shen repeated before understanding dawned on him. "You're worried about your secret vault?"

"It's unsettling knowing he will easily know where I put it."

"I understand how you feel," Ao Shen said. "But it's pointless. Just accept this fact and move on."

"You're not even giving my idea a second thought?"

"The crux of the issue is we are already behind," Ao Shen replied. "The upper dimension is in turmoil, so the best move for us is to increase our strength now as much as possible before ascending. However, the higher our cultivation, the harder it is to re-establish our foundation.

"But he doesn't have this problem. He could probably cultivate until the next realm without any problem." Ao Shen suddenly paused, realizing he might have stumbled into the truth. He glanced at Huo Fenghuang, and she had the same realization.

"So, that was his plan all along," Huo Fenghuang muttered. "His expansion and need for power was not simply for gathering resources or spreading his legend and history to make it harder to erase him - he was also preparing for the war upstairs."

Her original plan was to gather all the other True Eternals and ask them to pool their merit together and pay w.a.n.g Wei to ascend before them. Now, she only has a few choices if she wishes to wait until he ascends to make her secret vault.

Firstly, she only needs to wait and waste all this time. Secondly, she can cultivate while waiting for him to leave, which would greatly endanger her Dao Foundation Re-establishment. Finally, she can achieve re-establishment while in the lower dimension, bearing all the risks that come with it.

Ao Shen sighed before waving his hand to dismiss the tea sets and replace them with a gourd of alcohol. He opened the top, releasing a blood smell that was quite alluring. As the demon-blood-brewed wine coursed through his blood and veins, he felt full of life.

"Whenever we think we've figured him out, he reveals that he's more complex - just a profound abyss with no end. While we can barely think five steps ahead, he's thinking dozens, if not hundreds of steps. It's truly horrible to be born in the same era as that man."

"Is this a sign that you're giving up?"

"h.e.l.l no," Ao Shen denied. "Didn't the sages say that trying to conquer an impossible mountain was a worthy pursuit as long as you don't give up? Plus, I haven't fully admitted that he was an insurmountable obstacle yet."

"It's good that you still have some spirit," she nodded since she also agreed with that sentiment. "What are young to do after ascending?"

"Why are you asking?" he asked warily.

"You can come to our ancient clan if you have nowhere to go?"

"You're after my bloodline!"

"Of course," Huo Fenghuang nodded. "As long as you agree to start a family with a human, you can keep your name and will have a high status."

"No way."

"Won't you just think about it?"

"Do you have the status to make such a promise?"

"Do you think an Eternal Emperor of my caliber won't have a high status?"

Ao Shen was rendered speechless since she made such a logical argument. "Whatever. Go away," he said in annoyance before continuing to drink.

He knew he would never mate with humans. Although he technically no longer hated them, he was not fond of them either. As such, his partner - if he ever chooses a mate - will never be a human.

"You should think about it," Huo Fenghuang said before dissipating. Now, she had to plan whether to use plan B, which involved leaving her vault to Sacred Beast One to hide after w.a.n.g Wei left. Then, the power she'll leave will wipe Beast One's memory of this information.

The issue with this plan is that too many things could go wrong with Sacred Beast One that could ruin her opportunity to have a vault in the first place, including methods of retrieving her lost memories, in-fighting in the Ancient Clan that reveals the news, or Beast One's sudden death before hiding the vault. Huo Fenghuang did not know what to do, and this decision kept her at night, even making her slightly paranoid.