Chapter 359: Chapter 262: An Old Acquaintance Reappears, Devouring Flesh and Blood to Gain Demon Nature (Part 1)

Inside a building in Gibraltar.

The council of five quickly reconvened.

"It seems we truly underestimated the strength of the people of this era. Some of the Saint Realm Martial Artists we considered second-rate have seen their power increase dramatically in just a few short months. This is particularly true for the Saints who fought in the battle of Donghua Demon City; their improvement is the most obvious. The Secret Organization’s operations against them have largely failed, and their substitutes have suffered disastrous losses."

The elegant woman remarked with some astonishment.

Not long ago, they had received intelligence from both Eastern and Western sources in the Mediterranean Region. Saint Realm Martial Artists from the Starry Sky Country and Donghua had entered the fray and were ambushed by the Ancient Ones’ substitutes. However, most of these attacks were neutralized. In fact, it was the Ancient Ones’ substitutes that suffered immense losses.

The people of the Mortal World, relying on individual combat strength alone, had at this point essentially weathered the Secret Organization’s plan to clear the board.

"It is indeed unexpected. On the Starry Sky Country’s side, Devi has used the Power of a Spiritual Treasure to elevate his combat strength to a first-rate level. Paired with their other Saint Realm Martial Artists, and the Starry Sky Country’s current influence and combat power in the Mortal World of the Mediterranean Region, they are now a force qualified to compete for the final ruins,"

the sharply dressed, elderly gentleman nodded and said.

The Starry Sky Country’s expedition consists of more than just Devi and his fellow Saint Realm Martial Artists; their main naval fleet from the Atlantic Ocean has also gathered in the waters near Gibraltar.

Coupled with the Starry Sky Country’s own influence in the Western World, it can mobilize mortal forces near the Mediterranean Region on the largest possible scale.

Modern high-powered weaponry poses an enormous threat.

After all, no one can guarantee that the target ruins are in an urban area. They are more likely to be in the wilderness, or even on certain islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

Such locations are the best places to unleash high-powered weaponry. A heavy barrage, without regard for cost, could instantly level a mountaintop. Even an Ancient One would be reduced to ash within it.

Perhaps only the Sleepers would have a chance of surviving.

Therefore, they had no choice but to take this power seriously.

"The Donghua Martial Artists have also performed well, but in terms of worldly power, there’s still a significant gap between them and the Starry Sky Country. Furthermore, a Saint Realm expert who can truly carry the banner has yet to emerge. Yi Beidou has not yet shown his face."

"Under these circumstances, the Starry Sky Country’s forces are more important than Donghua’s. The previously drafted plan to dispatch a Celestial General to make contact with them seems to require some changes. A single Celestial General will likely not be enough to reliably suppress the Starry Sky Country’s several Saint Realm experts."

The blindfolded, hunched old man stated calmly.

"Then, let’s raise the stakes. We can’t underestimate the Donghua side, either. Prepare our personnel in advance."

"Although Donghua’s worldly power is indeed inferior to the Starry Sky Country’s, Yi Beidou’s strength is not to be underestimated. He is, after all, the one who single-handedly killed the ’Alchemist’ who used an Immortal Forbidden Technique on Penglai Immortal Mountain,"

the young Asian man said in a low voice.

"There are still many suspicious points regarding the death of the ’Alchemist.’ According to our records, that man has lived for at least two thousand years; he shouldn’t be so easy to kill. I suspect Yi Beidou only killed the Alchemist’s ’Substitute.’ His true self is very likely still alive, and might have even reached the threshold of the Sleepers."

"As for Yi Beidou, let’s wait until he makes an appearance before we make our assessment,"

the elegant woman said.

「In the Lotus True Realm.」

Lotus had also received battle reports from all over the Mediterranean.

’So the strength of the people of this era has increased dramatically in a short time? Any one of them, placed in a past age, would have had the makings of an Ancient One. But now, so many are gathered in a single era.’

’Is it that as human technology changes, the Cultivation of life also continuously advances? Time and tide truly wait for no one. This is likely the last era that beings such as us can hope to dominate. If we cannot fight for a path forward in this age, future opportunities will be even more remote.’

’Yi Beidou... he is the key to this change. Ever since he emerged, the world has been in turmoil. Is this all part of your plan? To use the collective wisdom of all living beings to shatter the shackles? But you should know that we who are reincarnated... our lives are already incomplete. How impossibly difficult is it to rely on ourselves to advance another step?’

’Only by deciphering the Secret of the Earth Immortal, reopening the Severed Communication, and consuming the Undying Power is there any possibility of shattering the shackles and advancing further.’

Lotus muttered to themself.

Just then, Lotus’s gaze flickered and turned toward a certain spot within the Lotus True Realm.

A lotus bud sprouted forth. This bud was not sacred at all; on the contrary, it was covered in nauseating folds, forming shapes that resembled Evil Ghosts.

The lotus opened, revealing the figure of an old monk.

This old monk had white eyebrows and looked to be of a considerable age, but the skin on his face was still taut, fair, and smooth. His eyes were downcast, and his features were androgynous, neither male nor female. He seemed to exude a sense of compassion, but a closer look would make one’s skin crawl, as if the most ferocious Evil Ghost or demon lurked beneath the body of a buddha.

"Master, I have sensed the Celestial Demon’s location. It is time for you to fulfill your promise and help me subjugate it."

The old monk spoke, his voice calm and solemn, yet it carried a powerful, sinister quality.

"I will naturally lend you my aid,"

Lotus replied calmly.

HUMMM!!

Suddenly, the entire Lotus True Realm began to tremble violently. The endless skeletons underground seemed about to rise again. A terrifying Power of Divine Sense condensed, and from below, a massive Golden Lotus began to form and rise.