Chapter 959: Behemoth Sword Saint?

Watching this unfold, Tang San felt a strange sense of déjà vu. After all, he himself possessed the Golden Mammoth bloodline and the Behemoth bloodline, and he knew for a fact that they were compatible because he had fused them himself and the process had gone swimmingly. So now, seeing that the Behemoth clan and Golden Mammoth clan had formed a union and produced offspring... It really

was

possible that their descendants might awaken a transcendent bloodline.

Of course, the chances were slim, but it was clear as daylight they were actively exploring how to fuse the two bloodlines. One had to admit, the demon race truly was blessed by nature. If they succeeded in cultivating a true transcendent bloodline powerhouse, that individual would instantly become the strongest Emperor of the next generation.

"I'm always on my best behavior," Ning Chen'en replied with a hearty smile.

What Tang San had realized, Radiant Dragon King Xu An'yu clearly noticed too. His expression shifted slightly before quickly returning to normal.

"Brother Ning, this is your wife, I presume? A pleasure to meet you! I am Xu An'yu of the Radiant Dragon clan." His greeting was fairly casual, but his demeanor was as courteous as could be.

Tang San also nodded politely toward the Behemoth woman. "Jin Miaolin of the Blue Gold Tree clan."

"Lan Moqian of the Behemoth clan. Greetings, Clan Leaders." The towering female Behemoth bowed gracefully to Tang San and Xu An'yu. Then, before their eyes, her burly figure shrank within just a moment until she stood at around two meters tall, about the same height as Ning Chen'en. Even more remarkable than her own transformation was the transformation of her clothing; it fit her perfectly when she was six meters tall, and it fit her perfectly now.

Her face hadn't changed much at all, but her new form was overall far more aesthetically pleasing compared to before.

Tang San's gaze swept past her to another figure, the one with the most restrained yet powerful aura among the Behemoths present. This individual now turned his gaze in their direction and nodded slightly to Tang San.

It was none other than the leader of the Behemoth clan, the Lord of Sky-Splitting City, and the youngest son of the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor—Jin Anguo. He had previously visited Kali City in person to propose to Mei Gongzi, and it was her blunt denial that had resulted in this matchmaking tournament being held now.

Naturally, Tang San didn't consider anyone a rival in love, but at the same time, he couldn't tolerate the idea of someone having proposed to Mei Gongzi before him.

It's all good. Debts will be paid in due time.

Still, he remained composed on the surface, offering a calm smile and a polite greeting gesture.

There was no doubt that those entrusted with VIP rooms were all among the most elite powerhouses of their era. Jin Anguo exuded immense might, but Lan Moqian was clearly no ordinary individual either. Her style was different from Jin Anguo's, however; she was definitely a very unique presence among Behemoths.

Suddenly, Crystalline's voice echoed in his mind.

"Be careful with Lan Moqian, Dad."

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Her words caught Tang San off guard. After all, who was Crystalline? The former Crystal Demon Emperor, the strongest being of her time. Even when asked about Xu An'yu, she had merely told Tang San to look out for him a little, never once warning him to "be careful."

"Lan Moqian was raised and mentored by the Sword Saint Demon Emperor. Although she is a member of the Behemoth clan, she has been personally taught by Sword Saint from a young age. In her clan, she's known as the Behemoth Sword Saint, and she is the only member of her kind who doesn't fight using claws. She's incredibly strong. The Sword Saint Demon Emperor has even considered passing on his title to her. Among the Red-Crowned Crane demons, none can rival her."

Tang San's eyes narrowed slightly as he replied mentally,

"So the Behemoth clan is not only marrying into the Golden Mammoth clan but also sending disciples to the Sword Saint Demon Emperor? They've got ambitions, I have to say."

Crystalline replied,

"That's to be expected. Compared to our dragon race and the phoenix race, the Behemoth clan has been our equal in name only. Each one of them might be strong, but they're far too few, and they've long since been suppressed. Do you think the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor could possibly be content with that? If real conflict breaks out, don't underestimate them. The Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor is usually very reserved, but both Undying and I know him all too well; he's far from the passive kind. In this Battle for the Throne, the Behemoth clan is clearly going all-in. Ask Lan Moqian if she's competing; you'll see for yourself.

"

Tang San naturally didn't ask. Anything Crystalline told him was beyond doubt. These were all formidable opponents.

And these were just the ones who'd already revealed themselves. There were undoubtedly many others who had remained hidden for who-knew-how-many years. This matchmaking tournament had truly shaken the very foundations of the Daemon Continent, and an Emperor's position was the perfect bait to drag out whatever major clans had been hiding.

At this moment, food had been delivered to each of the VIP rooms. Tang San and the others returned to dine.

It had been nothing but a brief encounter, yet it had provided Tang San with a wealth of information. To the other clans, this might not be classified intel; after all, most people here knew each other. But to the Blue Gold Tree clan of Skytree City, it was vital new knowledge. If not for the awakening of the Ancestral Tree, Tang San wouldn't even have had the qualifications to possess a VIP room, despite being the clan leader. Not even being a main city lord would have helped. This was a world where strength reigned supreme.

By the time they were done with dinner, the skies outside were fully dark. Beams of brilliant light lit up the Grand Auction Hall, illuminating every detail. The next round of the auction was about to begin.

As a towering figure stepped onto the stage, the chatter across the hall gradually quieted down.

The auction was no longer being hosted by the Tenebrous Demon Emperor as before. Another figure had taken over—still a Demon Emperor. It was none other than the Golden Mammoth Demon Emperor himself, the strongest of the Golden Mammoth lineage.

The Golden Mammoth Demon Emperor looked as solemn as ever. His face radiated a sense of righteous severity.

As he watched through the screen, Tang San began to ponder. If the Golden Mammoth Demon Emperor, Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor, and Sword Saint Demon Emperor joined forces, they would form a truly formidable bloc. It was even possible that the Adamant Nymph Emperor had once been part of this alliance. After all, the Lord of Golden City bore its bloodline.

This political landscape, as it turned out, was truly interesting. All the Emperors, it seemed, were shrewd strategists. On the surface, it looked like there were only two major factions that represented the two great countries. But an in-depth look revealed that the real power dynamics had little to do with national boundaries.

At present, it was clear that the Sunborne and Earthshade Nymph Emperors were aligned—a very powerful combination. Then there were Undying, Parasol Tree, and Crystal Phoenix. Finally, Sky-Splitter, Golden Mammoth, and Sword Saint formed the third faction. That accounted for nine Emperors.

The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor stood apart; as the Master of Destiny, no one dared to offend him.

As for the remaining four Emperors? Their allegiances remained unclear. On the Solstice Empire's side, Soul Capturer and Endless likely sided with Sunborne and Earthshade. But what about the Rainbowglaze Nymph Emperor? Given its mastery of defense and spatial power, perhaps it might align with the Sky-Splitting Demon Emperor?

A three-way balance?

Tang San fell into thoughtful silence.

Understanding this dynamic was crucial. Only by grasping the full scope of this political terrain could he and Mei Gongzi hope to claim their thrones in the future. For each of the three factions, the goal was likely to disrupt the status quo without tipping the balance too much. In a three-way power split, if one faction grew too strong, the other two would surely unite against it.

"The auction continues. Present the next item!" The Golden Mammoth Demon Emperor's deep voice resonated, casting a stabilizing calm across the hall.

All the spotlights converged on the auction platform as a large platform slowly rose from below.

As the platform ascended, the originally brilliant lights above dimmed slightly, as though the item was absorbing them. It was a sword—a pitch-black sword. The light shining down upon it seemed to bend toward it and vanish into it.