Chapter 37

Regarding the position of the demon king of Gantian Mountain, Zongshou had no real intention of vying for it. Ruling over a million demons was indeed a powerful position. However, to secure this position, one had to exert great effort and mental strain, and a single misstep could lead to attacks from the major human nations and the various sects of the Cloud Realm, making it extremely dangerous.

However, given his nature, he was absolutely unwilling to be driven out of this Eastern Cloud Continent in a dispirited manner.

In any case, he had no intention of leaving this region before the Spirit Tide arrived.

With a faint smile, Zongshou did not want to waste words explaining. He looked directly at the eastern part of the map in front of him, where the words "Gantian Mountain" were marked, and asked in a respectful tone, "Uncle Yin, Zongshou hasn't been back for three years. As a child, I was naive and didn't understand much about the people around me. I wonder what the current situation in Gantian Mountain is like? Apart from Zongshi and Zongyu, who else might act against me?"

Yin Yang looked at Zongshou with surprise, hesitated for a moment, and then answered thoughtfully, "Prince, your cousin Zongshi is the true mainline of the Heavenly Fox Zong Clan, a disciple of Xuan Mountain. His master, Xuan Mountain Lanye, is known as the most promising candidate to break through to the Heavenly Rank Martial Ancestor in the Eastern Cloud Continent in nearly a hundred years. Prince Zongshi is also the most outstanding young talent in the Eastern Cloud Continent in the past decade. It is rumored that he has already reached the Innate Realm, and when the Lord was still around, he was already seen by many of the major clans of Gantian Mountain as the successor to the demon king—"

Zongshou's eyes narrowed slightly. He had heard of the name Xuan Mountain Lanye. In this era, anyone who left an impression on him was either extremely powerful and outstanding or had a special influence on this era and the future.

This Lanye was clearly of the former type. Zongshou mentally labeled Zongshi as a strong enemy. His attention was then drawn back by Yin Yang's words.

"This person has a high reputation and the strongest influence. However, in the Zong Clan, there are two others who can rival him. One is Prince Zongyang, who is said to be only slightly less talented than Zongshi. When Yin Yang left Gantian Mountain on the Lord's orders, this person had already reached the peak of the Body Wheel. His father, Zonghao, is the clan elder and clan commander of the Zong Clan, so his power is also very strong. Following him is the Lord's younger brother, Zong Shiyuan, who, like Zonghao, is a peak Martial Ancestor who has entered the Earth Wheel. The Lord has long relied on him as his right-hand man, controlling at least two-tenths of Gantian Mountain's military forces. If these two were to join forces, they could even surpass Prince Zongshi—"

Hearing this, Zongshou frowned inwardly.

Two peak Martial Ancestors who had opened the Earth Wheel's six pulses? The strength of Gantian Mountain was indeed much stronger than his original estimate.

He clearly remembered that Gantian Mountain and the Heavenly Fox Zong Clan should have been obscure and long extinct—

Seeing the change in his expression, Yin Yang did not want to completely destroy Zongshou's confidence. After explaining these three people, his tone changed again, "Prince, although these three have strong influence, Gantian Mountain is ultimately the Lord's foundation. The Lord came from humble beginnings and was once just a collateral branch of the Heavenly Fox Zong Clan. In just fifteen years, he made Gantian Mountain the dominant force in the eastern part of the Eastern Cloud Continent. Before his disappearance, he had already dominated seven provinces. Although much of it has been occupied by other forces, his strength remains, and his foundation is intact."

Zongshou drew a sharp breath. Dominating seven provinces? The Eastern Cloud Continent has only fifty provinces in total. A country that can control three provinces is considered a major power.

Naturally, the situation of the demons is somewhat different from that of the human nations, with the actual territory they control being very small. However, controlling seven provinces of demons is absolutely the top-tier strength in the Eastern Cloud Continent.

As for the Lingyun Sect and the like, they are no longer ordinary forces.

"Therefore, although the Lord is from the Heavenly Fox Zong Clan, in the eyes of many people in Gantian Mountain, whether it's Zongshi or Zonghao, they are all outsiders who are taking advantage and encroaching on the Lord's foundation! Although they are concerned about the Prince's strength and ability to command the masses, they are also doubtful about these few. It's not that easy to succeed the Lord's position."

With a cold laugh, Yin Yang's eyes flashed with a cold light, and his tone was calm, "The number of demons serving under the Lord has now reached four million, comprising 147 tribes. However, the four people who can truly decide the归属 of the demon king are: the chief of the Iron Tiger Clan, Hu Qianqiu; the chief of the Wind Bear Clan, Chai Yuan; the chief of the Eye Wolf Clan, Ling Fakong; and Qiu Wei, who is one of the two major generals of Gantian Mountain, alongside Zong Shiyuan. The first three are the chiefs of major tribes, whose clan strength is only slightly inferior to the Zong Clan. The last one also controls two-tenths of Gantian Mountain's military forces. He is one of the earliest followers of the Lord, and all four are peak Earth Wheel eight-pulse Martial Ancestors, Xuanwu Ancestors! The Lord also has several close friends who are at the peak of Xuanwu. These few will definitely not stand by and watch the Prince be bullied. Moreover, no one can truly confirm whether the Lord is dead or alive—"

Zongshou was already numb with shock. With four million demons under his command, comprising 147 tribes, and a clan elder of the Zong Clan at the peak of the Martial Ancestor realm, the strength of Gantian Mountain was evident.

He compared the information provided by Yin Yang with his thirteen years of memory, and indeed, several faces gradually surfaced in his mind. At that time, these people were all very kind to Zongshou. Only Hu Qianqiu was always extremely indifferent and cold towards him.

At that time, Zongshou was just a child and naturally couldn't see through much. But with his experience from two lifetimes, he knew that these people were all extremely deep and unpredictable.

"Ling Fakong leans towards Zongshi, Chai Yuan leans towards Zongyang, and Qiu Wei is impartial. Only Hu Qianqiu is the most loyal to the Lord and his position is still undecided. However, these four are all the Lord's confidants. As long as the Prince has enough ability, a call to action will likely be followed by these four—"

Seeming to know that this situation was highly unlikely and unrealistic, Yin Yang sighed slightly, maintaining his composure, "In addition, the chiefs of the other tribes, though not as powerful as these four, if they join forces, their strength is also considerable. Many of them hold important positions in Gantian Mountain and have significant influence. In short, Zongshi and the others must consider the thoughts of the Lord's old subordinates and will not go too far. The Prince now is not without a chance of victory!"

Zongshou inwardly sneered. He asked these questions not to return to Gantian Mountain to vie for the position of demon king. He just wanted to understand the strength of those who might pursue him in the future.

However, the situation was not optimistic. If he were Zongshi, or Zongyang and Zong Shiyuan, the first person they would want to kill after becoming demon king would undoubtedly be himself, to eliminate the influence of his 'father' in Gantian Mountain.

The fact that these three would not openly act against him did not mean he was safe.

Among his cousins, there might be someone as foolish as Zongyu. And the opposing forces in Gantian Mountain could use his identity to cause trouble.

Just by killing him, Gantian Mountain might fall into chaos, causing the dominant force in the Eastern Cloud Continent to disintegrate.

How could he not be worried? For the first time, Zongshou had the idea of going to sea.

Should he escape from the Eastern Cloud Continent now?

His face was dark and uncertain when the carriage suddenly made a loud 'boom.' Red flames shot up from both sides of the windows, and a powerful force lifted the carriage, causing it to flip 360 degrees in the air.

Zongshou immediately grabbed the armrest of the couch to steady himself, while Yin Yang's eyes blazed with anger.