The Purple-Gold Orb
What should we talk about?
"You've been operating in the Demon Sea for three thousand years. Surely you haven't kept all that stuff you've accumulated— Cultivation Method Secret Manual, secret manuals, heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and Artifact Refining materials—in the Main Altar?"
The Sect Master's expression shifted slightly.
What do you want?
"Give me half."
The Sect Master's face twitched.
"Are you robbing me?"
"You said you wouldn't live more than a few years. Instead of taking it to your grave, you might as well give me half; I'll help you."
"How can you help me?"
Another wave of venom seeped from the soles of Su Zhan's feet.
The second branch pipe.
"I'll help you continue the Inheritance of the Black Demon Sect." Su Zhan's ability to spout nonsense is no less than his fighting ability. "Look, your three Elders are dead, and your Clones are gone too. After you die, the Black Demon Sect will fall apart."
"Why don't you let me manage it? You can be the honorary Sect Master. What do you say?"
The Sect Master wore a very complicated expression.
Absurd. Angry. Sarcastic.
And then there's -- hesitation.
Because what Su Zhan said, "He won't live for more than a few years," is true. The crack in his soul continues to worsen, and the foundation of his Black Demon Great Art is collapsing. Even if he doesn't die here today, he'll only have one or two years left to live after he goes back.
A dying person's obsession with passing on Inheritance can sometimes be stronger than that of a living person.
Su Zhan was using this to his advantage—to buy time.
During the half-quarter of an hour that the Sect Master hesitated, two more Dark River branches corroded under Su Zhan's feet.
The eight links were reduced to five.
When the Martial Emperor aura emanating from the Sect Master weakened for the third time, the sect leader finally sensed something was amiss.
He glanced down at his feet.
I saw green smoke coming from the soles of Su Zhan's shoes.
The Sect Master's gray pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints.
"You--"
Su Zhan let go.
Because there's no need to delay any longer.
The supply from the five supply chains is no longer sufficient to support the Martial Emperor Realm.
In that instant, the Sect Master's aura fell below the threshold of Martial Emperor.
He returned to the Martial King Peak.
Su Zhan's fist slammed out again.
This time--
No one can shield him from it anymore.
Boom!
The Sect Master's body flew backward through the air.
The Demon Whale let out three deep roars from afar.
No one is controlling it anymore.
Its eight dark red vertical pupils began to flicker erratically, and its massive body churned on the sea surface.
Then it slowly sank.
It sank back to the seabed.
The core system entered hibernation mode due to the loss of control commands.
It did not detonate.
Su Zhan stood in the middle of the ruins, watching the Sect Master, whom he had punched, crash into a pile of rubble thirty feet away.
The Sect Master did not stand up.
He lay there, his gray eyes gazing at the leaden sky.
The black armor shattered into pieces on his body.
"How could this be...?" His voice was extremely low. "My Formation... the Dark River... when...?"
Su Zhan walked over.
He held the last sphere of purple-gold light in his hand.
The Thunder Emperor Divine Seat —the kind that finishes off the wounds of the soul.
"It all started when you started negotiating with me." Su Zhan squatted down next to the Sect Master.
"You look to the left, I'll attack to the right. I've used this trick many times. It always works."
He raised his palm above the Sect Master's forehead.
The purple-gold light illuminated the Sect Master's aged face.
"Do you have any last words?"
The Sect Master's lips moved slightly.
The last trace of black disappeared from the gray pupils.
His voice became very soft, so soft that Su Zhan had to lean close to hear it.
"Mustard Seed Grotto-Heaven... Sealing Formation what lies beneath..."
Su Zhan stopped.
"Do you know?"
The Sect Master's lips twitched slightly.
"That thing... I wouldn't even dare touch it..."
"If you open it..."
"Everyone... will die..."
His voice trailed off.
Su Zhan pressed his palm down.
A purple-gold light surged in.
The Sect Master's soul shattered, dissolved, and dissipated into scattered particles in the light.
The last vestige of life in that body drained away from its eyes.
Su Zhan up straight.
He lowered his hand.
The sea breeze blew by, making his tattered clothes rustle.
Sea of Consciousness.
After a long time, the Ancient Life Tree whispered something.
"Boss... that Sealing Formation..."
Su Zhan gazed at the giant shadow of the Demon Whale sinking back into the sea in the distance.