Chapter 119: The Four Great Malevolent Spirits

That was true enough, but Tianming felt that there was something slightly off about Kuang Zhen sitting beside him. He could not quite put his finger on it, mostly because Kuang Zhen’s entire body was shrouded in a black robe, making it impossible to discern any changes in his expression.

After patiently waiting for a moment to savor the fine wine, the dishes were brought out one after another. They were all exquisite, visually stunning, and incredibly fresh.

...

During this time, however, those figures in strange attire had all departed. As they left, they had cast meaningful glances at him. Although Tianming acted indifferent on the surface, waiting in the now-empty hall left him with an inexplicable feeling.

This feeling made Tianming quite uncomfortable!

"The... dishes are here. Please enjoy, young masters!" Fortunately, the waiter arrived with the food at that moment. Tianming’s impatience turned into anticipation, as this was his first time tasting the local delicacies of the Planet of Heavenly Gods.

In short, these were items Tianming had never seen back on Earth. Most were delicacies made from Yuan beasts, along with various rare spiritual herbs and unknown vegetable species. They were crisp, tender, refreshing, and utterly delightful.

Even more superb, however, was the wine!

It was like sweet nectar; a single sip felt as if it were surging with energy. The thick aroma of the wine drifted through the air like thin layers of mist. Tianming glanced over to see that even Kuang Zhen looked dumbfounded, presumably having never enjoyed such a lavish feast before.

"Is this... isn't this too extravagant?" Holding his wine cup, Kuang Zhen stared blankly at the colorful, steaming dishes before him. He forced himself to resist the temptation and did not drink the fine wine in his hand, his chopsticks on the right side remaining perfectly still.

"Hahaha, Brother Kuang, don't be so formal! Don't worry, drink up—I'll foot the bill. Besides, it’s not like we're spending our own money; there’s no need to feel stingy here. Come on, cheers!" Tianming laughed heartily as he raised his glass with great enthusiasm.

In truth, Tianming understood exactly how Kuang Zhen felt. After all, who would spend a year's worth of expenses—or even more—just for a moment of indulgence? Based on his observations, this meal would conservatively cost around ten thousand gold coins, if not more.

"Very well, then I thank you, Brother Chu! Although I do not know your true identity, it is fate that we have met. Why don't we become friends? It is difficult to fight alone, and having another person by one's side is a good choice, is it not?" Understanding the implication, Kuang Zhen immediately grasped Tianming’s intent.

"That is exactly what I was thinking. I have been waiting for you to say that. Tonight, I will take you to witness a truly extraordinary event."

Tianming burst into laughter upon hearing this. He had been wondering how to convince Kuang Zhen to accompany him to the Central Divine Continent tomorrow, but to his surprise, Kuang Zhen had brought it up himself, saving Tianming the trouble.

"An... extraordinary event?"

After a moment of contemplation and a sip of wine, Kuang Zhen looked at Tianming with a hint of surprise and asked curiously.

"Yes, an extraordinary event! I won't hide it from you: that Dharma Protector invited me, and many important figures of the Black Demon Clan will be in attendance tonight. As for the specifics... I cannot say for now, but you will understand once you are there." Tianming nodded, his face flushed, and he let out a small hiccup from the wine.

"Oh, right... haha, I almost forgot that you are not..."

Tianming patted his forehead and gave an embarrassed smile after speaking. This wine was truly potent; after only a few cups, it had already begun to cloud his mind. He quickly channeled his Yuan energy to neutralize the alcohol he had swallowed.

"That... is of no consequence. If you need any help, just ask. Although I previously used ice elemental powers, after the fusion performed by several seniors of the Four Sects, I am now able to wield Dark Ice elemental power. Otherwise, I would not have risked coming up here."

"The guys from the Dark Demon Clan don't show themselves often, but most possess power at the Spirit Void Realm or higher. If we run into them, we will surely be exposed. That is why you only saw me coming up alone back then," Kuang Zhen said in a low voice, shaking his head.

"If that is the case, then this Black Demon Clan is truly terrifying. But when you entered the inn just now, why did you seem so flustered? I thought you were just worried about exposure, so I didn't ask."

Nodding to himself, Tianming suddenly remembered something. After finishing the wine in his glass, he turned his gaze toward Kuang Zhen and asked.

"You... did not know?" Kuang Zhen asked in return, looking slightly stunned.

"Of course I didn't. If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you. Were those people earlier of great significance?" Seeing Kuang Zhen’s reaction, Tianming was completely bewildered. Could this small inn be hiding such formidable figures?

"Brother Chu, ignorance truly is bliss!"

Kuang Zhen shook his head with a faint smile, then nodded and continued: "The four hulking figures who stood up first are all Void Spirit Realm dark cultivators, known in the underworld as the 'Four Ferocious Fiends.' They possess immense strength, using their physical bodies to unleash blood-soul power, capable of tearing through mountains and breaking rivers. They kill without blinking, as if crushing an ant. They specialize in taking money to eliminate trouble for others. It is rumored that they once slaughtered an entire city..."

*Hiss!*

Hearing this, Tianming felt his hair stand on end. For him, killing even a few people was already nauseating. Although this was a world of cultivation, he was, after all, a person from Earth. Having been raised in an era of peace, the instinct for slaughter had long been erased from his bones.

"That is too hateful! Could it be that because those people act so recklessly, they don't fear an encirclement by the other three continents?" Tianming gritted his teeth, his voice cold with disbelief.

One must realize how vast a city is, with a population far exceeding ten thousand. Among them were countless innocent lives. The scene must have been truly bloody, with endless wrongful souls left with nowhere to go. Listening to Kuang Zhen’s account, he felt as if he could hear the innocent cries of those lost souls.

"It is not that the people from the other continents do not want to help, but every continent is currently in dire straits. Furthermore, our strength is too scattered and unorganized. If we were to divert our forces to rescue them, I fear... I fear we would be taken advantage of, and by then, it would not just be one continent under occupation."

"Moreover, the Black Demon Clan’s strength is unfathomable. They are numerous and can control the human heart. It is said they have over a dozen Golden Immortal Realm experts, and even beings that transcend the Golden Immortal Realm. They are only holding back now out of caution for the Supreme Elders of the great sects and to consolidate their strength; otherwise, they would have already moved to conquer the second continent. However, I believe that there is a divine decree in the shadows, and victory will surely belong to us."

Seeing Tianming's reaction, Kuang Zhen’s expression grew complex as he spoke. He gripped his wine cup tightly until, with a *bang*, it shattered into fragments and dissipated into a mist. Although he had wanted to strike back then, he was truly powerless to do so.

"Immortal? Does that mean there is a level higher than the Golden Immortal Realm?" Tianming asked in surprise.

He had heard this term more than once. Did immortals truly exist in this world, or was it as Qing Po had said—that there were no immortals in this world at all, only those who had reached a certain level of power and bestowed the title of 'Immortal' upon themselves?

Although Tianming had seen the Guardians from the Century, they were merely arrogant, soulless robots. He could never find the answer from them!