June 28th.
The entire True Demon Sect was abuzz with excitement.
The Nine Demon Sects were united, and unlike the Heavenly Charm Saintess, whose position was unique, a Saint Son was usually chosen through fierce competition from birth.
For the True Demon Sect's Saint Son selection tournament, elites from the other eight sects were invited to observe and exchange.
On this day, the weather was clear.
Tens of thousands of disciples from the True Demon Sect gathered before a vast plaza, with an ancient battle stage, marked with crimson battle scars, at its center.
Disciples from the other eight sects were seated in the spectator stands.
"Swish!"
In the void, a wisp of black mist suddenly appeared, followed by the True Demon Sect Master, clad in a three-dragon embroidered robe, standing in mid-air. His aura was immense, his eyes piercing, and his voice deep as he declared:
"Dreaming for thousands of years, what year is it tonight?"
"Our Holy Sect awakens, and there is no Saint Son to inherit the legacy of our Ancestor."
"Today, we shall open this arena and select a heavenly prodigy disciple to ascend to the position of Saint Son of our Holy Sect."
"We thank our esteemed Saintly friends for traveling from afar to bear witness."
"Please, Grand Elder, ascend the Myriad Races Blood Seat."
A venerable elder in purple robes respectfully chanted an incantation.
"Boom!"
In the next instant, the winds and clouds changed. The sea of clouds in the sky instantly froze, then surged downwards, enveloping the battle stage.
Following this, the sea of clouds churned as if boiling, and the battle stage at the center abruptly rose.
An indescribable, bone-chilling terror descended upon the scene.
After a moment, the sea of clouds dispersed and returned to the sky.
A mountain peak suddenly emerged from the ground, with the battle stage situated at its very summit, radiating a captivating glow.
To ascend this battle stage, one had to climb ninety-nine hundred and ninety-nine steps!
The True Demon Sect Master's resonant voice spread: "Ten thousand years ago, our Holy Sect's Ancestor slew countless races to forge this Myriad Races Blood Seat."
"To be the Saint Son of our Holy Sect, one must tread upon this Myriad Races Blood Seat to inherit the will of our Holy Sect's Ancestor!!!"
"If you wish to be the Saint Son of our Holy Sect, all disciples may step forward and tread upon this Myriad Races Blood Seat."
Indeed, this was the way of the demonic path. Though brutal, it was fair.
True gold must be tempered by fire.
In the next moment, thousands of individuals stepped forward.
Even disciples whose cultivation had not yet reached the Nascent Soul or Heavenly Realm wished to ascend the Myriad Races Blood Seat, hoping to hone their skills even if they did not become Saint Son.
"Boom!!!"
Thunder rumbled.
Chen Jiuyang stepped out, instantly appearing before the Myriad Races Blood Seat, and then took a step, ascending the first tier.
"Roar!"
The moment Chen Jiuyang steadied himself on the first tier, the carvings of exotic beasts on the step suddenly materialized into phantom images and lunged at him.
This was the difficulty and pressure of the Myriad Races Blood Seat. In that instant, an unfathomable terror pressed down on Chen Jiuyang, preventing him from taking the second step.
However, before these phantom beasts could even approach within a meter of Chen Jiuyang, they were shattered.
Then, Chen Jiuyang regained his mobility and ascended the second step.
Like Chen Jiuyang, the hundred core disciples vying for the Saint Son position all stepped onto the Myriad Races Blood Seat.
The first thousand steps could not even get close to Chen Jiuyang. With his hands behind his back and a saber at his waist, Chen Jiuyang easily ascended the Myriad Races Blood Seat.
Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of thousands from the Nine Demon Sects, Chen Jiuyang ascended the steps at the fastest pace, sparking much discussion.
"So strong!!"
"Who is this person, to be able to ascend the Myriad Races Blood Seat so quickly?"
Other core disciples might have had to expend effort to overcome the challenges of each step, their ascent far slower than Chen Jiuyang's.
Beneath the blood-red, resplendent crystal Saintess throne, Qiu Yihan watched that figure with infatuation, a smile gracing her lips. "This is how my man should be."
He alone suppressed all others, leaving them far behind.
The elders, Grand Elders, and Sect Master of the True Demon Sect could not help but nod slowly at this sight.
Chen Jiuyang was indeed an outstanding prodigy of this era.
Others, at this time, were obtaining information about Chen Jiuyang.
"The Dao companion of the Heavenly Charm Saintess who faced her love tribulation. He not only survived but has grown so strong; he cannot be underestimated."
"This era truly has a prodigy with heaven-defying luck."
"At this speed, it will be difficult for the other core disciples of the True Saint Sect to snatch the Saint Son position from this individual."
"For our Holy Path to have such a prodigy, in the future Holy-Unrighteous war, our Holy Path shall have an advantage."
"Our Holy Path shall prosper!"
"It is said he has an irreconcilable blood feud with the Unrighteous Path."
"Excellent, such a prodigy is destined to join our Holy Path."
Numerous demonic figures discussed with keen interest, their eyes shining as they watched Chen Jiuyang.
One thousand steps, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, five thousand, six thousand, thousands of steps ascended, barely able to impede Chen Jiuyang's progress.
At this moment, the second-ranked core prodigy was still at the three thousandth step, a full double the gap.
Such a scene truly impacted many hearts.
This was the mark of a true peerless prodigy.
With each step Chen Jiuyang took, a thread of pure, dark yet sacred aura coiled around him. After traversing six thousand steps, these six thousand threads of aura entwined his body, as if condensing a sacred dark embroidered robe!
Chen Jiuyang's body burned with golden vital energy, appearing both sacred and demonic from afar.
As he passed the six thousandth step, the power of the Myriad Races Blood Seat grew increasingly potent, forcing Chen Jiuyang to act.
First with a finger, then a palm, a fist, then a saber, and finally, techniques.
His aura surged like a blade, as if polished to perfection. Even from a distance, one could feel his intimidating and heart-pounding terrifying presence.
"Combat power beyond the extreme realm!!!"
"This is the level of 'Forbidden'!"
Many old demonic figures marveled, "It seems the Saint Son position of the True Saint Sect is almost certain, and this individual will likely claim it."
"With his terrifying strength, one wonders what level of Ancestor will be stirred when the Saint Son ascends and the sacred artifact appears for inheritance."
"Boom!"
Saber strike after saber strike, until there was nothing left to cleave before Chen Jiuyang, he had reached the highest level of the Myriad Races Blood Seat.
The dense, pure dark aura had already condensed into a dark, sacred embroidered robe.
This was the symbol of the Saint Son's identity in the demonic True Demon Sect.
Witnessed by hundreds of thousands from the Nine Demon Sects, Chen Jiuyang, with his unparalleled bravery and unstoppable momentum, carved a path through all obstacles and ascended the Blood Seat without suspense, securing the Saint Son position.
Meanwhile, the second-ranked core disciple was still battling at the eight thousandth step.
Chen Jiuyang stood atop the high platform of the Blood Seat, his eyes reflecting the countless disciples ascending the steps, his gaze indifferent.
It was not that these core disciples were too weak, but that he was too strong, having surpassed these prodigies by more than one tier.
Chen Jiuyang ascended the high platform, and then.
"Dong!!!"
A melodious, ancient bell chimed, awakening the disciples engrossed in their battles on the Myriad Races Blood Seat.
Many first looked around in confusion, then saw someone already on the high platform, their faces pale or filled with unwillingness.
Then, excluding the Sect Master, Grand Elders, Saintess, and Elders.
All the remaining disciples of the True Demon Sect knelt on one knee simultaneously, shouting in unison:
"Congratulations to our Holy Sect's Saint Son's appearance!"
"Congratulations to our Holy Sect's prodigy's blood!"
"Greetings, Holy Sect's Saint Son!"