The head of the Earth Serpent Tribe was just about to walk away when he heard the man shout and stopped in his tracks, turning his head toward the source of the cry.

　　It was one of the tribesmen donning a black outfit, his green pupils shining out from his eyes. Noticing that the crowd had turned to look at him, he straightened his chest and stood out from the crowd as he announced loudly, “My chief, this lowly one is Kang Tai. Three years ago, I had already achieved the post of mid-rank Demon Commander, yet this Qing Cang had only reached the early stage of Demon Commander rank. Now, I am not questioning the eligibility of the first nine of my brothers, but this lowly one refuses to accept Qing Cang’s claimed legitimacy.”

　　The chief spied Master An at the side upon hearing this, but said nothing.

　　“The number of individuals allowed to be admitted to the Form Assuming Ceremony is very limited, hence every single candidate selected has to be agreed upon by the chief and a few of us High Elders. Qing Cang has been contributing tremendously to our tribe ever since undertaking the mission to purchase resources outside. This much was witnessed by all of us. His work propelled him to be in the top three of our list. In other words, he deserves his candidacy and the public surely agrees,” Master An explained as he looked at Kang Tai.

　　“Elder An’s missing out on some other crucial information. From what I’ve known, Kang Tai here frequently infiltrated the barbarians’ territories alone in order to capture sixteen humans and barbarians as our slaves. His capture even included a Xian Tian level barbarian,” the white-haired elderly man with a youthful face suddenly chimed in. “His merits may not be enough for the top three, but it would be implausible if he is not within the top five.”

　　As soon as the words were spoken, a hubbub immediately grew among the crowd.

　　The difference in merit between the two of them was not too large, yet the gap of power was too significant to wave away. In terms of eligibility, both seemed to be equally qualified.

　　After all, the more powerful one was, the higher the chance to be bestowed the Transformation Orb—an important aid for producing an Earth-rank demon in the tribe, thereby increasing the tribe’s overall combative strength.

　　“What do you want, Kang Tai?” the chief finally spoke.

　　“This lowly one would like to challenge Qing Cang to a duel, and my only request is the chief’s consent,” Kang Tai replied slowly, his gaze on Shi Mu increasingly filled with provocation.

　　“Qing Cang, do you accept Kang Tai’s challenge?” the chief turned to Shi Mu and asked.

　　At that moment, everyone had their eyes strained at Shi Mu. A few of those who had not made it to the cut were even smiling in schadenfreude.

　　“Kang Tai’s close to attaining the high rank already. Ooh, Qing Cang can expect a good beating!”

　　“Hee hee, I can’t wait to watch the show!”

　　“Er, is it just me or has no one ever known who this Qing Cang fellow is until now?”

　　…

　　“I decline.”

　　Just as everyone was murmuring to themselves about what was going to happen next, Shi Mu said something no one expected.

　　In a flash, the crowd was silenced.

　　Every pair of eyes fell on Shi Mu, filled with confusion and incredulity. As the demon race revered the strong, there was never a challenge issued by one fighter to another that would not have ended with a duel—their honor would be at stake.

　　“Lord chief, as the candidates selected to participate in the Form Assuming Ceremony have been carefully considered by you and the other Elders, I trust the assessment must be very rigorous. For one who has passed such a prestigious assessment, has obtained my candidacy fair and square, what would be the point of accepting a duel? Even if I’d won the duel, what sort of tangible benefit would I gain? Unless, of course, Kang Tai would be able to provide something as valuable as the candidacy to the Form Assuming Ceremony once he has lost the duel. This applies to everyone else in the crowd. If anyone finds this lowly one’s candidacy illegitimate, then by all means, please issue a challenge for a duel… under the condition that the reward of winning this duel would be something of equal value,” Shi Mu continued after bowing to the chief.

　　Kang Tai wanted to rebuke him, but upon hearing his explanation, the man could only stand there stupefied. There was no way he could have produced anything equal in value to the candidacy!

　　A few others among the Xian Tian fighters were equally stunned at Shi Mu’s words. A demon refusing a duel was unprecedented in their history, yet they had to admit his explanation was sensible.

　　Of course, there were just as many tribesmen who now looked at Qing Cang with a newfound contempt and disdain—to refuse a challenge in public like that was no less of a humiliation.

　　“Since Qing Cang has declined Kang Tai’s challenge, there is no change to the candidacy,” the chief declared before exiting the tent, paying the crowd no heed.

　　Seeing that the chief had left, the four Elders shot a meaningful glance at each other and made their way out as well. One of them—Master An—gave a long, pensive look at Shi Mu before turning and walking out of the tent.

　　Shi Mu himself did not remain very long. Under the stares of the tribesmen, he left the tent without a care and returned to his own residence.

　　He knew very well that he could not let the moment get to his head and accept his challenger’s duel. First of all, Shi Mu was never one of them—Qing Cang was just a temporary, fake identity that he took up for his personal goal, so of course Shi Mu would have zero interest in preserving his honor and status in a small, insignificant demon tribe like this one. Secondly, if he accepted the duel and accidentally exposed his true identity, his plan would fail. That would be a loss too great to risk.

　　…

　　The very next day, word of Qing Cang’s cowardice had spread all over the tribe. His refusal to accept the duel had become a sensational story among the tribesmen.

　　As the majority reacted with mockery and laughter at Qing Cang, a few who had been previously acquainted with Qing Cang publicly announced that they were severing their ties with the coward. Not only that, Master An—who had been a close friend of Qing Cang prior to the incident—no longer came to talk to him.

　　Shi Mu couldn’t care less about any of this. He had already been known as a standoffish individual who rarely mingled with any of his people. Being ostracized and isolated from the rest of the tribe actually made things easier for him. At the very least, he no longer needed to socialize.

　　Two days later, in the early morning, the Earth Serpent Tribe dispatched one of the Earth-rank Elders as the leader of the envoy consisting of a dozen Xian Tian tribesmen, including Shi Mu. Bringing plenty of tributes with them, the envoy started in the direction of Heaven Ascension Peak.

　　…

　　Half a month passed. After a difficult journey, Shi Mu and the Earth Serpent Tribe’s envoy finally arrived somewhere close to Heaven Ascension Peak, in a place called Underspring Valley.

　　It was a valley filled with fresh, concentrated spiritual energy. Shi Mu had barely stepped into the valley but he already felt a complete rejuvenation of his mind and body.

　　The valley was filled with not only the members of the Heavenly Fox Tribe but other groups of demons, each one setting a territory as their encampment site.

　　Prior to this, Shi Mu managed to obtain quite a significant amount of information regarding the Heaven Ascension Peak and the Form Assuming Ceremony since joining the Earth Serpent Tribe. According to the info he had gathered, Underspring Valley is under the governance of the Heavenly Fox Tribe, and the tributes the Earth Serpent Tribe had brought were actually meant for the Heavenly Fox Tribe so that they could obtain ten seats for the ceremony.

　　As one of the three largest demon races, the Heavenly Fox Tribe had much greater authority and power than a small group like the Earth Serpent Tribe could possibly hope for. The extent of their influence was evident in how they managed a territory as wide as the Underspring Valley as a lodging place for all kinds of demons.

　　The Earth-rank Elder sent by the Earth Serpent Tribe this time was a man called Qing Hong. After offering the tributes to the Heavenly Fox Tribe personnel, they were then directed to a corner of the area where they could set up camp.

　　Due to Shi Mu’s public refusal for a duel, many of the demons—including Qing Hong—were not keen to associate with him, so they arranged Shi Mu’s tent such that it was the farthest away from the main camp.

　　Of course, this was most beneficial to Shi Mu’s goal.

　　As dusk fell, Shi Mu quietly left Underspring Valley under the cover of night as he quietly advanced in the direction of Heaven Ascension Peak not far from where he was.

　　Halfway along his journey, a fine figure darted from the sky and landed on his shoulder. It was Cai.

　　“So, did you manage to get any important news? Like who would be the easiest to attack?” Shi Mu asked softly.

　　“Please, who am I, Shi Tou? If it’s me who’s doing the work, you bet it’s gonna be done beautifully. Also, can we talk about how tall this Heaven Ascension Peak is? Seriously, I’m pretty sure it’s one of those pillars supporting the sky!” Cai rambled.

　　“Cut out that nonsense. Get straight to the point!”

　　“Gee, Shi Tou, what’s the hurry…” Cai grumbled unhappily.

　　…

　　Morning a few days later…

　　Clouds and fog circled around Heaven Ascension Peak as emerald-green sylvan surroundings appeared and disappeared among the clouds.

　　On the eastern side of the mountain, situated between Heaven Ascension Peak and Underspring Valley, was a gigantic square about a dozen acres wide. In the middle of the square were five stages, built by lining five jet-black rocky monoliths in a straight row. Every stage was about a few yards tall and a few hundred yards wide, making them look like five mammoths sprawled before the peak.

　　A massive crowd of demons had gathered around all the stages, each with a different appearance and attributes. One could describe the square as packed like demonic sardines.

　　Among these demons, those who stood at the outermost layer of the mass were demon beasts about Hou Tian level or below, where they had yet to acquire the ability to assume a human form. This layer of attendees included all kinds of beasts—tigers, leopards, wolves, and even birds.

　　Meanwhile, in the middle of the assembly were those who had undergone partial transformation upon attaining Xian Tian level or beyond. They may still sport the head of a beast, but their body was already human.

　　Many demons were still gushing into the square from everywhere by this point of the assembly, turning the morning into a bustling, eventful one.

　　Shrouded under the shadow of Heaven Ascension Peak, nested in the empty space between the five stages, seven to eight hundred Transformed demons stood as three distinct groups.

　　The area was spacious—more than enough to fit in seven to eight hundred individuals—but for some reason, none of the crowd gathering in the square dared to breach this particular area.

　　The reason was these three groups of demons were none other than the three strongest tribes among all seventy-two demon tribes in the Western He continent: the Moon Bear, the Heavenly Fox, and the Azure Ape. Rumors had it that the chief of all three tribes had already achieved the legendary paragon called Heaven-rank—making them, quite fittingly, kings among the demons.

　　As time passed, the number of demons flooding into the square multiplied. Barring the spacious area where the three tribes stood, other parts of the square were jam-packed with attendees. As the hubbub grew louder and louder, the attendees’ eyes were twinkling with excitement.

　　Standing close to the rightmost stage were a dozen snake-headed demons flanking a towering, burly man. These were none other than the envoy sent by the Earth Serpent Tribe.

　　One of them suddenly cried, “Hold on. Where is Qing Cang?”

　　“I saw him with us just now! Is he lost?”

　　“Elder Qing, shouldn’t we go looking for him?” the first person asked.

　　“We simply have no time for that. The ceremony is about to start! Besides, perhaps it’s better that he’s not with us… I don’t want him to embarrass the Earth Serpent Tribe!” Qing Hong answered snippily, puckering his lips.

　　…

　　The sun had risen to the highest point in the sky. Searing sunlight poured down from the stratosphere and onto the ever-lofty Heaven Ascension Peak, which reflected the lights off its surface in a dazzling aura.

　　It was then, from a spot in the mountain, a glint of light flashed before a silhouette darted out.

　　He sprang into a somersault in the air before landing. The crowd’s eyes were transfixed on this new figure, completely silent.

　　The figure was very deft in his movement. It took only a blink of an eye before he landed on one of the large rocky monoliths lying before Heaven Ascension Peak.

　　It was a tall elderly man dressed in a green robe. On his face, one could spot his very prominent cheekbones as well as he drooping chin, making him look slightly more bizarre than a common elderly man.

　　It was then when the three largest demons let out a collective cry, “Long live the Azure Ape King!”

　　“Long live the Azure Ape King!” Around the square, every demon who managed to transform enough to possess a human’s mouth or speak in human language echoed the cry in tides.

　　Their sounds perforated the valleys and mountains without any signs of stopping.

　　As for those Demon Beasts that had yet able to speak or transform, they had already prostrated on the ground.

　　The Azure Ape King scanned the entire square slowly before announcing, “Gentlemen, it seems that the time has come for the Form Assuming Ceremony held every ten years…”