Wu Yu realized that after devouring a divine sarira and then the corpses of Encompassing Sky Demon Emperor and Kun Queen, his Devouring Apotheosis Realm was now unstable from his gorging spree.

The black qi in his Devouring Apotheosis Realm hung in the air. The mortals that he had created before had multiplied plentifully across all parts of the land.

However, the black qi had killed them all.

Wu Yu was saddened by this. It seemed like devouring too much would stress out his Apotheosis Realm.

He could only wait until he had finished digesting all of the black qi before he continued devouring.

"Poor mortals......."

Wu Yu's heart went out to them. It was an indescribable agony to watch helplessly as they perished.

He found it hard to imagine that the Heavenly Buddha's Domain could be willing to devour their mortals actively just for power. It was too cruel.

There was no point crying over the mortals now. He had no other choice but to wait for the black qi to dissipate before he could make more mortals.

Next, Wu Yu began to Impart the knowledge of Encompassing Sky Demon Emperor and Kun Queen to Luo Pin, Full Moon of Nanshan, and Ye Xixi.

After a pperiod of cultivation, they were all able to become 9-heavens immortal kings, largely thanks to Wu Yu's Imparting!

This was the peak of the Great Void Immortal Realm.

The Immortal Emperor Trials at Mettle Sky, for example, was only open to 9-heavens immortal kings.

Next was the crucial step for any immortal. Succeed, and eternal life awaited them. They would join the permanent ranks of the sky palaces.

There was one way to become an eternal immortal emperor, which was to join the Immortal Emperor Trials.

Unfortunately, it was only held once every 50,000 years, and there was only one winner each time.

Even if Luo Pin, Full Moon of Nanshan, and Ye Xixi could all guarantee wins, they would take 150,000 years.

They felt the pressure to grow, especially since Wu Yu was faced with too many troubles.

Nangong Wei was one of the issues, and Ming Long another. But largest of the issues was the situation at Heavenly Buddha's Domain.

They felt themselves slipping further behind again.

If they wanted to be of help to Wu Yu and fulfill the mission together, then they had to reach the eternal immortal emperor realm as quickly as possible.

The three discussed it and finally came to a decision.

"Old Wu, we've decided to go to Heavenly Devil Battlefield!"

Full Moon of Nanshan sought out Wu Yu and made this declaration.

"Heavenly Devil Battlefield!"

Wu Yu was stunned, amazed at the lengths they would go to, to become immortal emperors.

He saw Full Moon of Nanshan as a brother, and hoped that he would not be too impatient. Haste made waste - if he came to any harm in Heavenly Devil Battlefield, it would be counterproductive.

They were already improving very quickly compared to others. There was no need for them to risk the Heavenly Devil Battlefield.

Indeed, the heavenly devils' bite could help a 9-heavens immortal king build a tentative apotheosis realm.

But the dangers were too great.

Even Wu Yu had almost not made it back then.

Besides, Luo Pin had made the same decision. He was loath to subject her to that sort of agony, just for the sake of a faster breakthrough.

"Old Wu, you spoil us too much."

Full Moon of Nanshan said extravagantly. "Heavenly Devil Battlefield doesn't open only every 50,000 years. Besides, we can go in together. And it's also the only way that we can all become immortal emperors quickly."

"He's right. Wu Yu, let us go. Go and ask the Patriarch Bodhi if we can."

Luo Pin said: "If we can become immortal emperors, we will be able to help you a lot more. After all, if we want to find out the truth, we need to be stronger."

Ye Xixi said nothing, but he could feel her silent resolve as well.

"Alright, let's go ask the Patriarch Bodhi secretly."

Wu Yu could only give in before their determination.

Although the Heavenly Devil Battlefield was quite effective in paving the way for 9-heavens immortal kings to breakthrough, but most immortal kings could not stand the pain, dying inside.

One needed courage and guts in order to challenge the Heavenly Devil Battlefield for eternal life.

Without question, all three had prepared themselves to be bitten by the heavenly devils, just so that they could become immortal emperors quicker and be of use to Wu Yu.

This time, Wu Yu had thought to just quietly come back. After all, Taiyi Zhenren was still hunting him for the Ruyi Jingu Bang.

But Luo Pin and the others wanted to go to Heavenly Devil Battlefield, and he had to seek out the Patriarch Bodhi quietly.

Returning discreetly to Mettle Sky, he reached Cave of the Slanting Moon and Three Stars without others noticing him. He snuck into Bodhi's Palace.

As expected, Patriarch Bodhi was alone in Bodhi's Palace, meditating cross-legged with his eyes shut.

He did not seem surprised that Wu Yu had shown up. In fact, he seemed to know that he would come.

"Wu Yu, what's the matter?"

Patriarch Bodhi's eyes were full of warmth.

"It's like this."

Wu Yu felt sheepish when he explained, but got straight to the point. "My three friends want to enter the Heavenly Devil Battlefield to challenge themselves. Will you allow it?"

Wu Yu was a little apprehensive as he asked.

After all, the Heavenly Devil Battlefield was the Patriarch Bodhi's possession. It was hard to say how he would react to this.

However, Patriarch Bodhi nodded without any hesitation.

"Of course there is no problem with entering the Heavenly Devil Battlefield."

"But be aware that it is a double-edged sword. Wu Yu, you entered it yourself. You almost didn't make it out, correct?"

"10,000 years of being bitten by the heavenly devils is not something that anyone can endure. You have to be prepared."

Although Patriarch Bodhi had agreed, but he made sure that they were aware of the risks.

He addressed Wu Yu especially, as he had been through the Heavenly Devil Battlefield himself. He had struggled through it himself. If not for the Ruyi Jingu Bang, he would have fallen within Heavenly Devil Battlefield already.

However, Luo Pin, Full Moon of Nanshan, and Ye Xixi had already made their decision. This was no time for cold feet.

Their only worry had been that Patriarch Bodhi would refuse.

Since he had agreed, then there was nothing else which could hold them back.

Therefore, they emerged from the Floating Dreams Pagoda, and vowed their resolution to Patriarch Bodhi. He finally agreed to send them in.

Unlike the Everlasting Battlefield, they could all enter the Heavenly Devil Battlefield together. After all, there were more than enough heavenly devils to go around.

Besides, entering together would not affect the outcome either.

If they could endure for 10,000 years, the result would be the same.

When they were done preparing, the Patriarch Bodhi pulled out the Wheel of Taichi, and opened the Heavenly Devil Battlefield.

After one last longing farewell, the three entered Heavenly Devil Battlefield to go through what Wu Yu had once struggle with himself.

All so that they could be of use to Wu Yu sooner!

It would take 10,000 years, the same length as Wu Yu had been through.

As they entered Heavenly Devil Battlefield, Wu Yu left Bodhi's Palace.

He intended to go back to Heavenly Buddha's Domain to look around, through the Ruyi Jingu Bang. After all, there was nothing to do in the sky palaces, and he might be found by Taiyi Zhenren. That was a difficult explanation to get through.

Therefore, he bid farewell to the Patriarch Bodhi and found a quiet spot in Mettle Sky, twirling the Ruyi Jingu Bang and activating the Immortal Domain Bridge.

The golden vortex swirled, and Wu Yu hopped in. He was back in Heavenly Buddha's Domain.

.......

Not long after Wu Yu left, there was a visitor at Mettle Sky.

Taiyi Zhenren had come to Bodhi's Palace to look for the Patriarch Bodhi. He was in a sour mood. "Bodhi, any news of Wu Yu recently?"

Patriarch Bodhi was seated cross-legged on his futon. He shook his head. "I've been looking for him as well. No news, I'm afraid."

"This Wu Yu is detestable!"

Taiyi Zhenren snapped in an unfriendly manner. "We had an agreement! Friend's life for the Ruyi Jingu Bang! Now the treasure's gone, and the lad's gone! Preposterous!"

Patriarch Bodhi listened to him, and shook his head. "Perhaps the Ruyi Jingu Bang is not with him. Given his ability, how could he snatch something from the great Zhenren?"

Taiyi Zhenren norted. "If he didn't take the Ruyi Jingu Bang, why is he gone then? None of this makes sense! Even his friends have disappeared as well."

Taiyi Zhenren left Bodhi's Palace, glowering and muttering.

It was an unfriendly parting from Patriarch Bodhi this time.

The way he saw it, the matter was clear cut. How could Patriarch Bodhi still be protecting Wu Yu?

It was so obvious that Wu Yu had taken the Ruyi Jingu Bang and hidden away!

Taiyi Zhenren was unhappy with Patriarch Bodhi as well. The Ruyi Jingu Bang had been promised to him. And now he had barely touched it and it was already gone!

Patriarch Bodhi watched Taiyi Zhenren with a steady gaze.

He smiled peacefully to himself, a wise look in his eyes. He closed his eyes and continued meditating.

[TN: My reaction RN: https://imgur.com/a/gTEANzB ]