"Why do you not wish to submit?" Just then, a cool voice sounded.


    At some unknown time, a Red-crowned Crane Demon had appeared not far in front of Tang San without making a sound.


    Tang San''s heart tensed because he had no idea how the other party had appeared, which was a testament to their formidable strength. Although definitely not the Sword Saint Great Demon Emperor, this was not an ordinary Demon King Level being either.


    Tang San bowed slightly in greeting, saying, "Our attributes are notpatible, hence..."


    "If the attributes are notpatible, whye here?" the Red-crowned Crane Demon King asked coldly.


    Tang San bowed, "I havee to temper my Spiritual Power."


    The eyes of the Red-crowned Crane Demon King softened slightly, sizing him up a few times before speaking indifferently, "Spiritual Power is stable, reaching the peak level. Rounded and guarded within, free from w or blemish. Quite remarkable. If you are willing to join the Sword Saint Pce, even as a member of the Human n, you will be highly valued. You could even be allowed to be a Demon King. Why are you unwilling?"


    Tang San bowed again, "Because I have not yet found my own true path, I am still in the process of seeking it. If I find it in the future, I shall certainly seek a worthy master to serve."


    The Red-crowned Crane Demon King''s gaze became intense as it fixed on him, "Interesting. You are indeed one of the most fascinating humans I have encountered. For a being as lowly as a human, you have significant ambition, which is rare. If you wish to join the Sword Saint Pce in the future, you maye at any time. You must understand, among the eight Demon Emperor Pces, my Sword Saint Pce is the most free from racial discrimination."


    As he spoke, he flicked his wrist, and a small token flew towards Tang San.


    Tang San quickly raised his hand to catch it. It was a token shaped like a small sword, petite yet sharp. Clearly forged from very fine metal, it could also be used as a small dagger.


    "This is the Sword Order from my Sword Saint Pce. Holding this Sword Order, if you encounter trouble, you may dere yourself as one of the Sword Saint Pce. Naturally, it will protect you thoroughly. I''ll give you a year to seek your path. After a year, if you have not found your own way, or if you do not wish to join the Sword Saint Pce, return the Sword Order."


    "Thank you, senior," Tang San said, somewhat surprised as he looked at the Red-crowned Crane Demon King before him. Was this an offer of benefits as a recruitment incentive? Were the Demon Emperor Pces really so desperate for talent?


    "Go," said the Red-crowned Crane Demon King with a wave of his hand, a force sweeping over, sending Tang San flying out of the gates of the Sword Saint Pce.


    The sharp sword beam approached once more, and Tang San looked at the Sword Order in his hand, tucked it away, and then descended the mountain to look for hispanions.


    Having truly visited this Demon Emperor Pce, Tang San understood that it was impossible for them to visit all the neighboring Demon Emperor Pces and the Essence Emperor Pce before the start of the Grand Animal Fighting Arena. Even this one pce would probably take an entire day for the group to explore.


    Wu Bingji and Cheng Zicheng were only halfway up, sitting still and resting in meditation. Du Bai and Gu Li hadn''t moved, both of them honing their Spiritual Power.


    Although Gu Li had climbed high, his body was shaking and seemed on the verge of copse, apparently due to excessive consumption of Spiritual Power, hardly able to hold on. Du Bai, by contrast, was still able to endure for a while longer.


    Tang San arrived next to Gu Li, positioned himself in front of him, and shielded him from most of the sharp aura.


    Gu Li let out a breath and opened his eyes, "So powerful, so impressive."


    Tang San said, "Senior brother, you have expended a lot of energy; it is best you descend to the carriage to rest and recover."


    "Alright," Gu Li stood up and went down the mountain ahead.


    Tang San did not leave; he continued to temper his Spiritual Power while guarding hispanions.


    Du Bai endured for an hour longer than Gu Li, concluding his meditation and descending the mountain as well.


    Cheng Zicheng climbed to where Du Bai had been and persisted for half an hour longer than him. But it was clear that herprehension was not merely about honing her Spiritual Power; by the time she came down the mountain, she was utterly exhausted.


    Wu Bingji made it to about three-quarters of the way up, holding on for an hour longer than Cheng Zicheng before she could no longer bear it. Protected by Tang San, they descended the mountain together.


    When everyone gathered in the carriage, night had alreadypletely fallen.


    The weary group, of course, could not proceed to the next imperial pce; instead, they headed straight back to the hotel, had a simple meal, and then each returned to their rooms to cultivate and reflect on the day''s gains.


    Despite their physical exhaustion, their achievements were clearly substantial, especially for Cheng Zicheng and Wu Bingji. They had both gained a whole new understanding of sharpness.


    Tang San''s own gains were not insignificant, with thepression of his Spiritual Power and the refinement of his divine consciousness. Of course, there was also that Sword Order.


    After exchanging words with Zhang Haoxuan and through their conversation, Tang San learned that for these imperial pces, anyone who could enter was capable of attaining godhood. And any strong being at the Demon King Level was worth winning over. One could choose to join the pce or not. However, if one suddenly could not suppress a breakthrough to the God Rank before or upon entering, one would definitely be protected by the pce to help them be a God.


    This assistance was certainly not free; once one seeded in breaking through to God Rank, it meant that you had received a great favor from them. Then, there was no choice; one must submit to the pce and be a part of it. Otherwise, one would be allowed to leave only after having their divine consciousness disabled.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Before, Zhang Haoxuan hadn''t expected anyone in their group to enter an imperial pce, which is why he hadn''t exined these things. Unexpectedly, Tang San had entered the very first pce.


    Different pces exerted pressure in different ways. Being able to enter one did not guarantee ess to another. Even God level strong individuals found it so. One needed both attributepatibility and a certain fate. Thus, being able to enter an imperial pce was tantamount to passing its test.


    Tang San, unaware of these facts, walked right in and immediately felt the will of the Sword Saint Big Demon Emperor descend upon him.


    To this, Tang San was quite interested. If he entered the gates of other pces, could he also obtain some protective tokens? The more of these things he got, the better, right?


    He posed this question to Zhang Haoxuan, and surprisingly, Zhang Haoxuan affirmed it.


    Before breaking through to God Rank, if one could obtain the recognition of imperial pces, the more pces that recognized you, the more resources you''d get if you chose to join one in the future, and the more you would be valued.


    It was said that a Dragon n strong being once won the favor of eight pces and thus became a key training target. He joined the Crystal Pce and, though he could not be the heir to the Crystal Great Demon Emperor, had be the Crystal Pce''s Big Steward at the peak rank of Great Demon King. It was rumored that if he could break through to the Demon Emperor Level, should the Crystal Great Demon Emperor fall, he might have the chance to inherit the Crystal Pce.


    After that event, those able to gain recognition from more pces were highly prized by all the great pces. There might even be early investments.


    Like Tang San obtaining the Sword Order from the Sword Saint Pce, this was itself a form of investment.


    With enough information at hand, Tang San carefully pondered his next steps and suddenly had some ideas.


    As a human, if he wanted to aplish more and considering the current situation, he indeed needed to have stronger power. To be a God, he would have to face the entire ne. Rank 12 strong beings were also formidable within the ne. If his own breakthrough could gain the support of enough strong beings of this level, even the ne master would have to weigh his options. The path of the imperial pce seemed quite feasible!


    The only concern was his identity as a member of the Human n. If he could gain the recognition of many pces, would they support his future breakthrough without regarding his human identity?


    That was uncertain, but it was not entirely impossible. It depended on how he managed the situation.


    He definitely nned to continue exploring the pces, and so did hispanions; however, the way they proceeded would have to diverge from now on.