Chapter 505 - Third Layer of the Demon World

Zhao Wuji’s death and his inability to do anything about it must’ve impacted him a lot. He’s going crazy, and it’ll be dangerous if I continue standing in front of him like this since I’m his enemy. He might kill me if I’m not careful.

Long Chen said nothing and left.

One thing he did take note of was what Demon General Strongman had said about the Clear Shallows King. Long Chen treated it as mere gossip though as he knew that the Clear Shallows King was not the kind of woman who would sleep with just anyone. Judging by how headstrong she seemed, she would only sleep with someone if they killed her first.

Back in his room, Long Chen informed Xiaolang about his plan. “I have a method to go to the third layer of the Demon World, but let me consolidate my Qi first. It’s still a bit unstable since I’ve just reached the Seventh Passage Stage.

Xiaolang nodded. Ever since they came to the Divine Martial Empire, he hadn’t had a chance to help Long Chen in anything, so he was feeling uncomfortable even though there was no choice. His strength would only increase if he ate flames; he could not grow strong through cultivating.

“I will start cultivating the Demonic Illusion with Liu Yiyi in a few days. Since we learned Divine Fire Clone together, you should cultivate it too.”

Xiaolang had also cultivated Long Chen’s two divine techniques, Divine Fire Clone and the Demon Seed Planting Technique. As long as Long Chen guided him, Xiaolang wouldn’t have too much trouble mastering the Demonic Illusion.

Two days later, Long Chen finished consolidating his Qi. Only then did he depart for Demon World Mountain.

He was now stronger than the first time he went there.

The Clear Shallows King never announced that Long Chen had killed Zhao Wuji, and the Red Ghost King would die rather than humiliate himself by announcing that his disciple had lost. But there was one news that the Clear Shallows King had spread to the world, and that was Long Chen becoming her direct disciple.

This told the public that Huangfu Qi was indeed from the Huangfu family. The Red Ghost King had given up on Long Chen, causing the latter to lose his chance to become a direct disciple, but Long Chen had lucked out and ended up becoming a direct disciple of the Clear Shallows King. Many people had seen Long Chen in the past, so he was recognized when he went out.

After all, there were six thousand regular disciples, but only seventy or so were direct disciples. No matter where they went, they would be the focal point. Long Chen’s popularity was technically at the bottom of the barrel, while Liu Yiyi and Ying Shaotian were known by everyone.

Everyone steered clear of Long Chen when they saw his fierce face.

Once back at the mountain, Long Chen heard someone gossiping about him. “That’s Jiang Cheng. He just got lucky and became a direct disciple. Do you see how haughty he looked?”

“There’s no point in being haughty. He might be strong, but his potential is finished. I’m sure he will become a regular disciple again in two years, and no one will pay him any mind. I heard that he was only at the First Passage Stage. It seems he might not even become an elder before the age of thirty.

One needed to be at the Sixth Passage Stage to be an elder.

There were many people above the age of thirty from the Ancient Demon Domain that had been sent out to work. Some of them worked in the businesses of the Ancient Demon Domain, some opened branch sects, and there were even a few who went to smaller kingdoms like the Cangyang Kingdom to build their own country.

Long Chen ignored their gossip.

Once back at the mountaintop, he jumped down and arrived at the first layer. With his previous experience, he soon found the second layer. He remembered the path leading to the third layer, but it was still a large place to explore. It took a whole hour for Long Chen to find Demon General Typhoon again.

It was clear that the Seven Layer Demon World was massive. The first layer was around the size of the Ancient Demon Domain, and the second layer was bigger than that. It was clear that the deeper levels would be even larger.

It was a strange Miniverse.

The Ancient Demon Domain had been in operation for tens of thousands of years, and they never would’ve chosen to build their base here if it wasn’t for the Seven Layer Demon World. Many of the larger sects were reliant on the Miniverse they found.

Long Chen’s appearance came as a shock to the guards who looked after the entrance to the third layer. Demon General Typhoon approached him. “Jiang Cheng, this is the third layer of the demon world. There are demonic beasts at the Category Seven Heaven-tier. You should stand back a little.”

He assumed Long Chen was lost.

Still, he was surprised that Long Chen had found this place so easily in the second layer.

“Demon General, have you heard of the news of me becoming the direct disciple of the Clear Shallows King?” Long Chen handed him his identity token.

The Demon General examined it and returned it to Long Chen. “I’ve heard. Congratulations! Your future prospects are good if the Clear Shallows King is teaching you personally.”

“Thank you. This is a letter from my master.”

He looked at the letter and was shocked. “You want to enter the third layer?”

As far as he was aware, Long Chen was only at the First Passage Stage, and he assumed that Long Chen had only managed to explore the second layer because of his unrivaled talent in battle. But that should’ve been his limit. It was too much of a joke for him to enter the third layer.

Long Chen nodded. “Yes. Please let me in.”

Demon General Typhoon confirmed again and was certain that the Clear Shallows King had allowed him to enter the third layer. He had no right to stop him, but he still didn’t understand why. At this moment, he suddenly hurled a punch and shouted, “Take this!”

He had controlled his strength to be around the level of a Fourth Passage Stage cultivator. Surely Long Chen wouldn’t be able to defend himself.

This test was his way of being kind.

Long Chen smiled and extended his arm to block the attack easily before punching back. The Demon General's eyes went wide with shock. “Jiang Cheng, you crazy bastard! To think that you hid your strength so well! You are already close to the Seventh Passage Stage!”

He didn’t know that Long Chen’s cultivation level increased explosively in the past few days. Progressing that quickly was impossible as far as he knew, so he assumed Long Chen had used a secret technique to hide his real cultivation level. If not, how could his new strength be explained?

“Can I enter the third layer now?” Long Chen whispered.

Only the two of them knew about this.

“Of course. I had no idea you were hiding your strength; even I was fooled! The Red Ghost King will die from regret if he learns about your real strength.”

Long Chen chuckled. “Please keep this a secret for now.”

The Demon General Typhoon nodded. “Of course. You may enter, but don’t go too deep. There are Category Eight Heaven-tier demonic beasts in the deeper regions, and there’s even a Category Nine Heaven-tier demonic beast in the deepest region!”

Long Chen nodded. “Thank you. I will remember your warning.”

Having said that, Demon General Typhoon led him to the entrance. Inside the entrance was a fork.

“The left leads to the third layer, while the right leads to the fourth. There was once a King-tier demonic beast in the fourth layer, but it was slain a long time ago. Now that it’s empty, they built a large warfield there, and it’s where the assessment will be held. I hope you do well when that time comes!”

The fourth layer?

Long Chen only knew that the assessment was going to be held at the fourth layer of the Demon World.

That meant the entrance to the fifth, sixth, and seventh layers was hidden in either the third or the fourth, though it was most likely in the fourth.

Long Chen thanked Demon General Typhoon and entered the third layer.

As he had expected, it was just a beefed-up version of the second layer. It was much larger, and the dark gas in the sky was even more dense than in the second layer. He even faintly sensed the presence of several demonic beasts in the area that posed a threat to him.

Fat Cat suddenly spoke up at this point.

“I feel it. The thing that’s consuming Life Qi is below us.”

Long Chen was stunned. He kept hearing the cat talking about it, but what was its true nature?

Below? Maybe it’s in the bottom layers? Around the seventh layer, maybe?

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The rumored palace was built in one of the bottom layers.