The great hand turned straight toward the fleeing demonic aura. Azure light surged in its palm, trapping the aura in a single grasp. As the demonic aura churned, a hideous demonic face emerged within it, roaring shrilly with fury and resentment.
Escape had been within sight, yet another formidable enemy had appeared.
Then his gaze fell on Futu Yijing, his eyes filled with hatred.
Had that wretched brat not slowed him down, he would already have escaped.
"Brat, you deserve to die!" the Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor roared.
His voice echoed through the space of the Heavenly Emperor Mausoleum.
Futu Yijing did not avert his gaze in the slightest. His cold, fierce eyes met the Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor's, a chilling smile curling his lips.
"If I let you escape, I'd have taken that beating for nothing."
Just then, the great hand descended. The azure light formed a seal that enveloped the Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor layer upon layer, trapping him utterly and leaving him no hope of escape.
Under the many shocked gazes, a figure strode through the air from the shattered space. He stood as still as a deep pool and as imposing as a towering mountain, his presence magnificent. Vast spiritual energy rolled around him, and that energy actually possessed different attributes, turning now to ice, now to a sea of fire, then to lightning and darkness. It was wondrous beyond compare.
In the entire Great Thousand World, only one person could wield such wondrous spiritual energy, switching flawlessly between ice, fire, lightning, and darkness.
That was the Martial Realm Lord, another illustrious figure whose name resounded throughout the Great Thousand World-the Martial Ancestor, Lin Dong!
No one had imagined they would encounter two of the Great Thousand World's most renowned supreme figures this time.
"Dad! Dad!"
Amid the many reverent gazes, Lin Jing happily waved her little hand and called out with a beaming smile.
Lin Dong turned his gaze toward her. When he saw Lin Jing, his resolute face swiftly softened. Then he took a step, passing straight through space to appear before her.
"You've gone running off on your own again. It looks like I'll have to ground you this time!" Lin Dong said sternly, his expression serious.
Yet Lin Jing merely kept grinning in the face of his stern look. She even stepped forward and hugged his arm, utterly unconcerned. The Martial Ancestor's stern expression lasted only a few breaths before giving way to helplessness. Clearly, he knew that playing the strict father had no effect whatsoever on his daughter.
After appearing, Lin Dong exchanged a few words with Mu Chen, just as Xiao Yan had, before turning to Futu Yijing with unmistakable admiration in his eyes.
"Your valor does justice to the title of Great Thousand World Demon-Slayer King."
This was the third time everyone had heard the title Demon-Slayer King. The first had been Futu Yijing calling himself that, the second had been from the Flame Emperor, Xiao Yan, and the third was now from the Martial Ancestor, Lin Dong.
Apart from Xiao Xiao and Lin Jing, none of them knew what the title meant.
"Lin Jing, what does Great Thousand World Demon-Slayer King mean?" Mu Chen asked.
A title mentioned by both the Flame Emperor and the Martial Ancestor had to represent an extraordinary achievement, and it immediately stirred everyone's curiosity.
Lin Jing shook her head as well. Her father had sheltered her well, so she did not know either.
Xiao Xiao, who had likewise been well sheltered by the Flame Emperor, Xiao Yan, had learned what Great Thousand World Demon-Slayer King meant from Medicine Elder, so she spoke up to resolve everyone's confusion.
"It's an achievement rank the Great Thousand World established for experts who travel to the Saint Abyss Continent to hunt the Outer Realm Evil Clan. He's the Great Thousand World's second Demon-Slayer King."
The second.
The Great Thousand World had countless experts, yet Futu Yijing was only the second.
That alone showed how difficult this achievement was to attain.
"According to the ranking criteria, becoming a Demon-Slayer King requires killing fifty Outer Realm Evil Clan experts at the complete Earthly Sovereign level."
Everyone trembled at those words. A record of killing fifty experts at the complete Earthly Sovereign level!
Only then did the surviving Earthly Sovereigns understand why they had been utterly powerless before Futu Yijing, as easy to kill as tiny chicks.
The Xia Emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty felt a chill run down his back.
More complete Earthly Sovereigns had died at Futu Yijing's hands than he could count on both hands. An Upper Earth Sovereign like himself was nothing more than a capering clown before him.
Thank goodness I didn't offend him beyond repair!
Otherwise, it would have spelled utter catastrophe for his Great Xia Dynasty.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan looked at the sealed Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor, his eyes narrowing slightly as he said:
"There's something rather strange about this fellow."
"Heh, this Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor is indeed no ordinary figure." Lin Dong smiled faintly. "In ancient times, he probably ranked among the top ten of the Outer Realm Evil Clan."
Lin Dong paused before continuing, "In ancient times, this Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor also had another name: the Nine Corpse Heavenly Demon Emperor."
"The Devouring Heaven Demon Emperor came from the Devouring Demon Clan of the Outer Realm Evil Clan. Back then, the Devouring Demon Clan had nine Demon Emperors. In pursuit of the ultimate power, those nine demons merged into one, becoming a single being of terrifying, unparalleled strength."
In that case, when the Ancient Heavenly Palace had been attacked, the Heavenly Emperor had faced not one Demon Emperor, but a full nine!
That alone revealed how formidable the Heavenly Emperor had been.
"We certainly can't let a tiger like this return to the mountains," Xiao Yan said.
Lin Dong nodded, then smiled. "Still, this fiend's days are numbered. With both of us taking action today, there's no chance we'll let him roam free again."
"But the greatest credit for slaying this demon belongs to the Heavenly Emperor. As we eradicate him completely today, the Heavenly Emperor ought to be present as well," Xiao Yan said with a faint smile.
Lin Dong nodded gently at his words.
"The Heavenly Emperor... hasn't the Heavenly Emperor already fallen?" Unable to contain her emotions, Mandala asked, somewhat agitated.
"The Heavenly Emperor has indeed fallen, but an imprint of him remains, watching over the seal," Xiao Yan said.
As his words fell, he waved his sleeve. Dazzling flames swept forth, flying toward a black skull in the square over there. The flames blazed fiercely, and the pitch-black skull swiftly melted, wisps of demonic aura evaporating from it.
The skull melted, finally becoming crystalline light. The light gradually gathered, and a luminous figure emerged.
The luminous figure wore white robes, his bearing graceful and composed. Faintly, an indescribable pressure radiated from him, like the majesty of an emperor, inspiring reverence and awe.
"To think that even after sacrificing myself to seal the demon all those years ago, I still failed to destroy him, and instead needed the aid of those who came countless millennia after me. I am truly somewhat ashamed." The white-robed figure took solid form.
"Senior, your noble sacrifice bestowed its blessings upon us younger generations. It is only right that we offer our aid." Facing this former supreme expert of the Great Thousand World, even figures such as Xiao Yan and Lin Dong grew far more solemn. They cupped their fists and spoke earnestly, a note of respect in their words.
Standing in the distance, Futu Yijing bowed toward the Heavenly Emperor's figure. The Heavenly Emperor before him had used his own body to seal the demon for the sake of the Great Thousand World. Such selfless righteousness was worthy of anyone's admiration.
Before you continue