Outside the emperor's burial chamber, the Demon Emperor Ruler was shattered, yet still exuded a supreme aura. Forged from feathered azure gold, it bore great swathes of featherlike markings, like an immortal ascending. It could neither be desecrated nor assaulted by force.
The five parties-the Divine Organization, the Underworld, the Buddhist Sect, Duan De, and the Black Emperor-each employed their wondrous arts to draw the immortal ruler toward them and soothe its Divine Spirit's lingering thoughts.
"Lunar yin revolves, the wondrous Dao of Dragon Transformation..." The Underworld's demonic god recited a true scripture. In life, it had been a mighty expert of the Demon Race and had mastered part of the Demon Emperor Scripture, allowing it to win the Heaven-Measuring Ruler's favor.
"Namo Amitabha Buddha!" The Buddhist Sect's Yellow-Browed Old Monk drew upon faith power, extending the Purple-Gold Buddha Bridge beneath his feet. This bridge had been fashioned by the Amitabha Buddha Emperor himself, steeped in the mental power of all living beings. Cast from leftover material from the Emperor Weapon, the Demon-Subduing Pestle, it could dissolve the world's slaughter and deliver all beings.
The Divine Organization used a unique secret art to nourish the Demon Emperor Ruler, seeking to restore it. This came from their experience repairing the Green Cauldron in the past, which the Eternal Ascension Dynasty had later learned from them, only to twist the scripture awry.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
The Big Black Dog wore a solemn, sacred expression, as though a Mythical Heavenly Venerable had descended to the mortal world. He formed the Weapon Secret with his paws. As the Heavenly Court's chief steward, he knew a little of all the Nine Secrets.
Duan De was even more extraordinary, activating a secret art to seize fragments of the immortal ruler. The Netherworld Emperor's methods defied heaven;