Royal Faction, White-eye

Royal Faction, White-eye . . . 

The white tiger expert, grievously injured by Qin Wentian's relentless assault, struggled to rise. Blood stained his maw as he let out a fierce roar. His current condition was beyond wretched; the mere touch of Qin Wentian's attack had left him severely maimed.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but let out a mocking grin as he watched the other white tigers boldly stepping forward. "So, is your grand plan to gang up on me because you couldn't defeat me one-on-one? Quite the display from the supposed kings of the greater demons," he jeered, his expression dripping with sarcasm.

The surrounding greater demons couldn't help but be taken aback by the sheer power of Qin Wentian's punch. The force wielded by the legendary saint-grade immortal foundation was undeniably tyrannical, and its might had proven sufficient to directly overpower an expert of the White Tiger Race.

"Can you believe it? The White Tiger Race was actually humiliated by a mere human," came another taunting voice, this time from a member of the Sky Roc Race.

A low growl silenced the taunts. Stepping forward was a formidable figure, an exceptionally demonic young man who occupied a central position amongst the gathering of white tigers. His presence exuded authority, as if he were a king among kings.

His gaze shifted, locking onto the Sky Roc Race member as he spoke with a cold, unyielding tone. "If the Sky Roc Race seeks a battle, I'm more than willing to oblige. However, it's humans who have humiliated my race, not the Sky Roc Race."

The expert from the Sky Roc Race raised an eyebrow, clearly aware of the extraordinary status of this young man from the White Tiger Race. Both the Sky Roc Race and the White Tiger Race were immensely potent demonic races hailing from the Western Regions. The White Tiger Race was often hailed as kings among the greater demons of their generation. Yet, even within their ranks, there existed a royal faction, individuals considered kings among kings—much like the concept of the Southern Phoenix Clan with its numerous holy maidens and the singular Holy Successor.

Members of the royal faction boasted a pure king-graded bloodline, a distinction that held immense significance among the demon races. In their society, bloodline purity was tantamount to potential and prowess. Demonic races classified bloodlines in a manner similar to mortal foundations, dividing them into three levels: mortal-grade, king/emperor grade, and saint-grade. While experts from the White Tiger Race commonly possessed pure bloodlines, the degree of purity varied among them. Those of the Royal Faction boasted the purest bloodlines.

These king among kings, exemplified by White-eye, possessed extraordinary purity and held prominence at the sixth-level of cultivation. The immortal foundation they crafted was typically a fifth-tier emperor-graded foundation, a level approaching perfection.

As the standoff continued, the onlookers could sense the mounting tension in the air, and the clash between these formidable forces seemed inevitable.

"In that case, how about you pipe down?" White-eye shot a withering glance at the Sky Roc Race member, his voice brimming with malevolence. Stepping forward, he radiated an aura of dominance, causing the other white tigers to clear a path and gather around him.

White-eye didn't even spare a glance for Qin Wentian, shifting his attention instead to the ongoing battles involving Nanfeng Yunxi and Nanfeng Shengge.

Nanfeng Yunxi, fittingly the Holy Successor of the Southern Phoenix Clan, displayed her immense might as she dominated her opponent. Her fiery aura was nothing short of terrifying. Having her bloodline purified by the ancient phoenix, Nanfeng Yunxi's wings resembled those of a true phoenix, allowing her to unleash phoenix-related techniques of boundless power. She had held the upper hand from the very start, easily inflicting heavy injuries on her adversary.

Even Nanfeng Shengge, whose beauty rivaled that of a painting, showcased formidable combat prowess. As a holy maiden of the Southern Phoenix Clan, her comprehension abilities, demonstrated during her journey to the ancestral lands, were on par with Nanfeng Yunxi's. Despite facing a formidable white tiger, she held her ground without faltering.

"Fall back," White-eye commanded. The two white tigers let out deafening roars as they reluctantly retreated, their malevolent expressions sending shivers down the spines of the onlookers.

Out of the three battles, the White Tiger Race had already lost two, leaving only one outcome undecided.

Prior to this, the White Tiger Race had been insufferably arrogant, showing disdain for human cultivators. They had even proposed enslaving Qin Wentian and taking Nanfeng Yunxi and Nanfeng Shengge as bedwarmers to sire cubs. However, it appeared that the White Tiger Race had bitten off more than they could chew. They couldn't even defeat the very individuals they had belittled in combat, yet they continued to use the term 'lowly' to describe these human cultivators.

Little Rascal couldn't help but voice its opinion, leaping onto Purgatory's shoulder and speaking in its child-like tone. Purgatory glanced at it but remained silent.

"No need to feel ashamed," a calm voice chimed in, "These three humans were already extraordinary to begin with. This man's astral souls and immortal foundation are unrivaled, making him unmatched among humans throughout the entire immortal realms. It's no disgrace for ordinary members of our race to lose to him. Nanfeng Yunxi is also a Holy Successor of the Southern Phoenix Clan, renowned for her incredible power in the immortal realms. Her status can be likened to that of a queen among humans. If the opponents she faced were from the Sky Roc Race or other demonic races, the outcome would likely have been the same."

White-eye's voice dripped with cold arrogance, sending a shiver down the spines of the other white tigers gathered behind him. While his words were not unfounded, they couldn't deny that they had severely underestimated their opponents earlier.

Surveying the area, White-eye's chilling gaze left the other white tigers reluctant to meet his eyes. His eyes, filled with a menacing malevolence, seemed capable of influencing the minds and spirits of those who met his gaze.

Eventually, White-eye's gaze settled on Qin Wentian, his tone suggesting a sinister proposition. "You've shown disrespect to my White Tiger Race. In truth, I should slay you on the spot. But your current cultivation is too weak, and killing you directly would be seen as bullying the weak, by the standards of humanity. So, here's an offer. Why don't you attempt to withstand one of my attacks? If you survive, I'll forget all that's happened."

"Despicable," Nanfeng Yunxi spat, her voice dripping with contempt. "As a pure-blooded king of the White Tiger Race and a sixth-level cultivator, you stand three levels above Qin Wentian. Even with a talent and potential as great as his, a mere three-level difference in cultivation is insurmountable. The chasm is as vast as the heavens themselves."

Indeed, in the realm of immortal foundations, if two individuals possessed equivalent talent and potential, a mere one-level difference was challenging to bridge, let alone three levels. And White-eye, as a demon king, was on another level entirely. As the Holy Successor, Nanfeng Yunxi understood the might of demon kings among the greater demon races.

Without exaggeration, had White-eye been at the same cultivation level as her, he would have surpassed her in might, despite her status as the Holy Successor of the Southern Phoenix Clan.

A thunderous roar erupted from White-eye in response to Nanfeng Yunxi's words. A king-grade white tiger phantom materialized, its malevolent aura sweeping across the heavens and earth. The fierce demonic baleful energy radiated in all directions, and Nanfeng Yunxi was forced to shield herself with her phoenix wings. The reverberations sent her retreating, and everyone in the vicinity near White-eye was likewise pushed back by the overwhelming force of his aura.

Purgatory and Little Rascal also stepped back, sensing the intensity of the baleful aura. Yet, their focus remained on Qin Wentian, who bore the brunt of the pressure.

Amidst the chaos, White-eye's target was clear: Qin Wentian. The sheer pressure he imposed on Qin Wentian was overwhelming, making it evident just how great the burden on Qin Wentian's shoulders had become.

With an earth-shaking boom, White-eye advanced, his formidable body seemingly impervious to harm. A white tiger phantom materialized behind him, its '王' symbol blazing brightly, its aura shrouding the area. Qin Wentian felt the crushing power of White-eye's baleful energy piercing through him, threatening to obliterate his very being.

Yet, Qin Wentian remained composed, and his body began to emanate a radiant runic light, a divine presence enveloping him. Behind him, a dharma image resembling himself appeared, born from the art of truth. The glow of this truth body enshrouded his original form, intertwining with runic glows to produce an exceptionally resplendent aura.

The tempest of baleful energy surged forth, and Qin Wentian watched as White-eye's white tiger phantom lunged at him, radiating a lethal aura capable of annihilating all existence.

Demon kings of the White Tiger Race were unparalleled kings among kings.

Another thunderous crash reverberated through the air as White-eye lifted his massive fist, a sweeping motion leaving Qin Wentian with no escape. Forced into a head-on confrontation, Qin Wentian unleashed the power of his perfect saint-grade immortal foundation. The immortal foundation transformed into intricate diagrams, materializing an illusory figure of a Zhenkong. These greater demons were bolstered by the power of God's Hand, casting a radiant glow around them.

However, Qin Wentian didn't take a defensive stance or draw an immortal weapon. Instead, he chose to counter White-eye's attack with one of his own. In the blink of an eye, God's Hand collided with White-eye's assault, resulting in a cataclysmic clash. The collision sent shockwaves through the ground, cracking the earth and raising clouds of dust. Eventually, the ground shattered, creating a gaping hole in the mountain's center.

The battle had reached a critical juncture, and the outcome hung in the balance.

Qin Wentian's formidable attack met an imposing force as White-eye's white tiger phantom unleashed a devastating assault, brimming with demonic power capable of annihilating all in its path. Qin Wentian emitted a pained groan as the force sent him tumbling backward, his body colliding with a massive boulder, causing it to erupt into a cloud of debris. As he finally came to a stop, he felt the turmoil of his qi and blood, stirred into chaos by the malevolent baleful energy that had engulfed him.

Nanfeng Yunxi, who had momentarily been caught off guard by the terrifying surge of baleful energy, snapped back to reality, her expression etched with concern. "Qin Wentian."

Recovering quickly, Qin Wentian reassured her in a subdued tone, "Don't worry, I'm fine." He cast a steady gaze upon the formidable White-eye in the distance and couldn't resist remarking, "Is this the extent of a demon king's strength from the White Tiger Race?"

White-eye's intense stare was chilling, locked onto Qin Wentian like a predator sizing up its prey. The surrounding white tigers, their faces twisted with malice, eagerly advanced as if eager to tear Qin Wentian limb from limb.

But White-eye's cold command halted them in their tracks. He continued to focus his gaze on Qin Wentian, delivering a stern warning, "You possess both remarkable courage and extraordinary strength. It's a rare encounter with a human cultivator of such power. Today, I shall spare your life. But should you dare to challenge the prestige of my White Tiger Race in the future, rest assured, you will pay a grievous price."

Qin Wentian, however, wasn't about to let this slide. He retorted with icy disdain, "Spare me your baseless boasting. Despite being a demon king within the White Tiger Race and reaching the sixth level of the immortal foundation, your strength is pitifully lacking. If I were at your level, I could effortlessly obliterate every member of your race in the sacred academy."

White-eye's eyes narrowed at the audacious and disrespectful tone in Qin Wentian's words. The baleful light in his eyes flared once more as his murderous intent surged, reaching terrifying levels.