Standing on the seashore, the Snow Empress gazed at the tragically murdered sea creatures, her mind filled with countless thoughts. The righteous path had just triumphed, and she thought peace would finally reign, but now this had happened. Was this world truly destined to never see peace again?
Just then, the golden token in her hand suddenly trembled slightly, emitting a faint golden light. A stream of information entered her mind from the token—a memory from ancient times, about the true secret of the three supreme treasures.
It turns out that the Ziwei Emperor Bell, the White Tiger Token, and the Azure Dragon Jade Pendant are not merely ancient treasures; they also bear a more important mission—sealing the Gate of the Demon Realm. In ancient times, the passage between the Demon Realm and the human world was opened, allowing countless demons to flood into the human world, causing widespread suffering. Later, the Human Emperor led the powerful humans, uniting with the demon and sea races, and after countless hardships, finally drove the demons back to the Demon Realm and sealed the Gate of the Demon Realm with the three treasures.
But as time passed, the three treasures were scattered throughout the mortal realm, and the power of the seal gradually weakened. The reason why the Underworld wanted to seize the three treasures was not to use their power to rule the mortal realm, but to break the seal, open the Gate of the Demon Realm, and release the sealed demons!
The Great Emperor Fengdu was merely a pawn used by the demons. The one truly hiding behind the scenes, manipulating everything, was the Demon Venerable of the Demon Realm!
The Snow Empress shuddered, her eyes filled with shock. She finally understood why there was that trace of something otherworldly within the Great Emperor Fengdu's body, and why the life force of the sea race was being drained—it was all in preparation for opening the Gate of the Demon Realm!
"What a Demon Venerable! What a treacherous and vicious plan!" Snow Empress gritted her teeth, her anger erupting like a volcano.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Now was not the time for anger; the most urgent task was to find a way to strengthen the seal and prevent the Gate of the Demon Realm from being opened. Otherwise, if the demons were to invade the human world again, it would be a catastrophe far more terrifying than the chaos in the Underworld.
" Qingyunzi!" Snow Empress shouted.
Qingyunzi had just finished assigning tasks when he heard Snow Empress's call and rushed over, "Holy Maiden, what's wrong?"
The Snow Empress relayed the information from the golden token to Qingyunzi. Upon hearing Qingyunzi turned pale and his body trembled uncontrollably.
"The Demon Realm... the Demon Realm? Isn't that a place that only exists in legends? Could it... could it really exist?"
"Not only do they exist, but the demons of the Demon Realm are trying every means to break the seal and re-invade the human world," the Snow Empress said in a deep voice. "We must strengthen the seal as soon as possible, otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable."
"But where is the seal? And how can we reinforce it?" Qingyunzi asked anxiously.
Snow Empress closed her eyes, sensing the information emanating from the golden token. After a moment, she opened her eyes, a resolute glint in them. "Sealed beneath Heavenly Pillar Peak deep within Kunlun Mountain. To reinforce the seal, the power of three supreme treasures is needed, as well as... a person possessing the Power of the Heavenly Dao, who can use themselves as a catalyst to reactivate the sealing formation."
"Using yourself as a catalyst?" Qingyunzi's expression changed drastically. "Holy Maiden, doesn't that mean you intend to..."
"Indeed." The Snow Empress nodded, her tone calm yet firm. "I need to enter the core of the sealing formation and use my own life force and the Power of the Heavenly Dao to reactivate the seal. Only in this way can the Gate of the Demon Realm be completely sealed off, preventing the demons from invading."
"No!" Qingyunzi refused resolutely. "Holy Maiden, if you enter the sealing formation, you will exhaust all your life force and cultivation. At that time, you will... you will die! We finally achieved victory, how can you..."
" Qingyunzi," the Snow Empress interrupted him, her gaze fixed on him, "As the Holy Maiden of the Ziwei Sect, I bear the heavy responsibility of protecting all living beings. If sacrificing myself can bring peace to the world and save countless lives from the slaughter of the demon race, then my sacrifice will be worthwhile."
"But..." Qingyunzi wanted to say something more, but found that he couldn't refute it at all.
"No need to say any more." The Snow Empress waved her hand, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Immediately summon the leaders of all righteous sects. Ten days from now, gather at Heavenly Pillar Peak in Kunlun Mountain. We will discuss how to reinforce the seal."
"Yes..." Qingyunzi lowered his head, his eyes filled with grief and reluctance.
Snow Empress looked up at the sky, golden sunlight shining on her face, bathing her in a holy glow. A smile appeared on her lips, a smile of relief and determination.
"This day has finally come," she murmured to herself. "From the moment I became the Holy Maiden of the Ziwei Sect, I knew that my fate was inextricably linked with that of all living beings."
The ten-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.
Kunlun Mountain, Heavenly Pillar Peak.
This mountain is the highest peak in the Kunlun Mountain Range, covered in snow all year round, shrouded in clouds and mist, and rarely visited by people. But today, Heavenly Pillar Peak has become unusually lively. The leaders and elders of various righteous sects, as well as some reclusive senior masters, have all come and gathered here.
Daoist Kunlun, the leader of the Wudang Sect, the leader of the Emei Sect, the leader of the Qingcheng Sect, the leader of the Mount Hua Sect... all these renowned figures in the martial arts world stood solemnly atop Heavenly Pillar Peak, awaiting the arrival of the Snow Empress.
" Daoist Kunlun, do you really think the Saintess Snow Empress intends to enter the sealing formation and use herself as a catalyst to reinforce the seal?" the Wudang Sect Leader asked, frowning.
Daoist Kunlun, "The information from Qingyunzi is indeed true. I only just learned it myself. It turns out that what we thought was chaos in the Underworld was just part of a conspiracy by the Demon Realm. The Great Emperor Fengdu was merely a pawn of the Demon Venerable; the true mastermind is the Demon Venerable of the Demon Realm."
" The Demon Realm... Isn't that something from legends? How could it really exist?" The head of the Emei Sect was an elderly nun with white hair, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
"Things from ancient times, though tens of thousands of years have passed, are not just legends." An aged voice came from the crowd. Everyone turned to look and saw an old man in a white Daoist robe, with white hair and beard, slowly walking towards them, leaning on a cane.
"Senior Tianjizi!" the crowd exclaimed, quickly making way and bowing respectfully.
This Tianjizi is the most senior and most accomplished elder in the righteous path. It is said that he has lived for thousands of years, witnessed the rise and fall of countless dynasties, and knows many ancient secrets. He has always lived in seclusion deep in the Heavenly Mountain, detached from worldly affairs. I never expected that he would come today.
"Senior, what brings you here?" Daoist Kunlun quickly stepped forward to help him up.
Tianjizi waved his hand, his gaze falling on the depths of Heavenly Pillar Peak, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. "If the Gate of the Demon Realm opens, the mortal world will be doomed. Although I am old, I cannot stand idly by. That girl, Snow Empress, wants to use herself as a catalyst to strengthen the seal. This is not only commendable in its courage but also in its righteousness. However, this matter is extremely dangerous. If she is not careful, not only will the seal fail to be strengthened, but she herself will also be destroyed."
The group exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with even greater worry.