Species: Venomous Viper (Blessed species)
Unique ability: The ability to corrode anything and inflict its foes with venomous poison that isn't easy to dissolve
Note: Blessed species refers to demon beasts with the potential to exceed the Demon Saint realm within a thousand years even if their cultivation talent is the lowest in that particular species.
The scales of the Venomous Viper were golden in colour, quite unlike the venomous toxin which was expected to be a shady green in colour. This was because it had replaced the red blood in its body, with golden blood when it shed its skin for the first time.
"Venom, you should know the reason the three of us are gathered here today." The Silver Talon Demon Lord said towards the venomous viper as it dodged to the right, barely avoiding the ball of toxin that almost came into contact with its wings.
"I do not wish to repeat myself, but leave this place now before I turn nasty." The Venomous Viper hissed with hostile intent towards its past allies, leaving everyone in a tough position to do anything.
As previous comrades of the Venomous Viper, the three Demon Lords understood that the Venomous Viper was most likely in some trouble right now.
The Silver Talon Demon Lord once again created the invisible barrier, which was even able to avoid the detection of the Venomous Viper, just so that they could hold their discussion in secrecy.
"Turtle, Golden, we should leave right now before Venom turns nasty just like he said. If I'm not strong, Venom is most likely a crucial part of breaking the seal that has been planted on our body."
Unknown to them, Ace possessed the capability to overhear their conversation through the barrier due to the system's mysterious assistance he couldn't comprehend.
Venom, however, had no clue about this and was glaring its fangs at Ace, repeating in a hoarse voice, "Leave this place right now!"
"I can attempt to break the seal on your bodies, but only after I gather all seven of you." Ace said towards the Venomous Viper while raising his voice so that the Turtle Demon Lord and the Talon Demon Lords could catch this piece of information.
Boom!
At this moment, the Demon Lords could swear that they believed it was possible for a moment.
"Turtle, Golden, did you guys see that bolt of lightning as well?" The Silver Talon Demon Lord asked its allies immediately after recovering from the sudden state of shock.
"Guess I wasn't the only one, thought that I was seeing things for a moment." The Turtle Demon Lord took a brief moment to recollect its thoughts replying to Silver.
The Golden Talon Demon Lord nodded its head, which was more than enough of an answer from it.
"How did he know that our powers were sealed? Did he overheard our conversation through your barrier somehow?" The Turtle Demon Lord turned towards the Silver Talon Demon Lord and asked with a deep gaze.
"How can that be possible? Even though my barrier is weakened, there shouldn't be anyone below the Demon Emperor realm who can listen to our conversation through the barrier!" The Silver Talon Demon Lord was unaccepting of this fact, but that was the only hypothesis they had which made sense.
"Maybe that's why he's the chosen one. Let's end this conversation here." The Turtle Demon Lord suggested in a deep tone, before turning towards the Venomous Viper.
"Young boy, on what condition am I supposed to trust your words? First, you barged into my territory, then into my home, and now you're expecting me to have faith in you?" The Venomous Viper saw the same bolt of lightning and heard the deafening thunder, but it wasn't willing to just let go of its pride just yet.
In actual truth, the Venomous Viper was still unable to accept the reality that its past allies actually decided to follow a youth willingly.
They were once Demon Emperors that have defeated even Martial Ancestors as a team, yet they're actually forced to lower their heads and follow a Martial Lord youth weaker than them, despite their powers being sealed? How could the Venomous Viper accept that?
Ace knew that the answer he gave right now, would probably decide how things would turn out, which is why he took the time to ponder on the course of action to take.
The Demon Lords were able to understand the reason for this awkward silence, but none of them had the intention to help Ace persuade their friend, Venom. If Ace lacked the capability to even convince the other Demon Lords, then on what basis should they follow a leader unable to gather his followers?
"Because I'm only around fifteen years old." Ace laughed as he unsheathed his Phoenix sword, gathering his slaughter law into his sword for the first time ever since he left that forest. Combined with the Astral energy, this was going to be the strongest attack he would unleash from the past till now.
"Shattered Despair!"
Ace had no idea when he comprehended this ability, it just came with the flow and the urge to release the pent up strength he has been suppressing until now. This was the only place and the only opponent in a long time, that could possibly withstand a full blow from him.
This amount of strength...this is bad! The Venomous Viper immediately made its move and created a few barriers of toxin that would slow down the attack, then creating another smoke cloud that would corrode the attack while slowing it down.
Still feeling that it was far from enough, the Venomous Viper then prepared three locations of toxin smoke to hide in, which it could dashed towards swiftly if the need arose.
"Boom!"
"Rumble!"
By the time the thick cloud of smoke dispersed, all the other Demon Lords saw was Ace panting heavily with a flushed face, but he was still standing upright.
As for the Venomous Viper, it remained unscathed due to the trustworthy scales on its body, but its eyes revealed shock and fear. Without a doubt, the only reason it survived that attack, that penetrated through all his barriers of defense as though tearing through paper easily, would have taken its life if the durability of its scales were sealed as well.
"Venom, you alright?" The Silver Talon Demon Lord, that couldn't even remain silent for a moment asked in concern as it approached the Venomous Viper.
"Hiss!"
The Venomous Viper ignored its past comrades and stared into Ace's eyes.
Ace returned the gaze, the determination and mixed emotions he has contained until now convincing the Venomous Viper to join him.
"Young boy, you won this battle. Lead the way, you still have to convince the other three comrades of mine to join you, but even if you fail to do so, I still expect you to break the seal on all of us." The Venomous Viper demanded as it hissed towards Ace.
"I'm not someone to take back my own words. Since I have claimed that I'll only break the seals after all of you decide to follow me, I'll make sure that my endeavours are fruitful." Ace replied with a smile, ignoring the hostile gaze, which was helpless against his confidence.
"Turtle Demon Lord, Talons Demon Lord, Viper Demon Lord, please lead the way." Ace called out to them as he sheathed his sword.
"Young boy, the fifth guy isn't someone you can convince that easily. If you want him to join you, then you'll need to prove worthy in terms of your mental strength. If your mental strength isn't even in the late stage, Seed Realm, it's better for you to back out now."
The Turtle Demon Lord cautioned out of goodwill, thinking to itself that such a talented genius such as Ace, that doesn't just demon beasts like them must stay alive for both humanity and demon beasts to hopefully…one day.
One had to know that only cultivators in the Martial King realm is capable of cultivating mental energy with the intention to, instead of waiting for it to increase slightly day by day with their cultivation.
Even so, only when a cultivator steps into the Martial King realm, will their mental strength be in the late stage, Seed Realm.
Even so, the Martial King would still have to cultivate their mental energy to the peak stage, Seed Realm, before making a breakthrough to the early stage, Origin Realm.
To make matters more challenging, the growth of a Martial King is tied to their mental energy cultivation and unless they manage to cultivate to the peak stage, Origin realm of mental energy, it would be impossible to step into the realms of a Martial Emperor.
"It's fine, my mental strength is already in the middle stage, Origin realm." Ace replied without much concern as he followed up swiftly.
"What did you just say? Your mental strength is already in the middle stage, Origin Realm?"