Yan Ruyu acted decisively, and on the same day ordered the demon forces within the Profound Origin Sect to break up into smaller groups and withdraw in batches.
They intended to cross mountains and rivers to seek refuge with that senior demon who had a deep connection with them and could provide them with protection.
However, the Ji Family's actions were far more swift and precise than they had anticipated, as if an invisible net, already woven in advance, was quietly tightening.
Just as the demon race had left the Profound Origin Sect and concealed their whereabouts using secret techniques, they originally planned to take the route through the desolate ancient battlefield in western Wei Kingdom, a place rarely visited by people and said to be filled with countless bones, in order to shake off any possible pursuers.
An unexpected emergency message disrupted all plans.
"Your Highness, the westward journey is blocked!"
A fortified array set up by an unidentified powerful figure has been discovered outside the ancient battlefield. Its aura is obscure, likely the work of the Ji Family; forcibly breaking through it would be extremely risky!
A demon elite in charge of reconnaissance reported back with a grave expression.
Yan Ruyu's eyes narrowed, and she made a decisive decision:
"Change course, turn northeast, and take the route through the desolate volcanic cluster on the edge of the Yan Kingdom's Burning Heaven Valley!"
The environment there is harsh, and the energy of heaven and earth is violent; perhaps it can interfere with tracking, and the terrain can be used to cover our movements.
Upon receiving the order, the troops immediately turned around.
When they actually stepped into the edge of the Burning Heaven Valley, all the people and demons, including Yan Ruyu, Black Emperor, and Ye Fan, were immediately enveloped by an unimaginable, suffocating atmosphere of oppression.
The scene before us can no longer be described simply as "horrible".
The scorched earth looked as if it had been cleaved by a giant axe from the Heavenly God, covered with deep, grotesque, and twisted cracks, like ugly, unhealable scars on the earth.
The dark red magma, like the earth's restless, scalding blood, slowly writhed and flowed beneath these scars, occasionally emitting a dull "gurgling" sound.
Thick smoke billowed up, not pure black, but mixed with a pungent sulfur smell and a strange, burnt smell, like molten metal.
It made the already gloomy sky even darker and more indistinct.
The air was violently distorted by the extreme heat, and everything in sight appeared as if viewed through shimmering water, distorted and blurry. The scorching earth fire essence almost solidified.
Like an invisible flame licking at everyone's protective divine light, those with weaker cultivation had their magical shields flickering, as if they could be ignited at any moment, emitting a faint "sizzling" sound.
What truly terrified all the demon race, especially the more perceptive and powerful ones, was not the physical environment that could incinerate metal.
Instead, it was a terrifying aura that permeated every inch of air and every piece of charred rock, a lingering aura that seemed to be branded into the depths of the Void, causing one's soul to tremble instinctively!
"What the hell is this place?"
A young demon disciple stared at the hellish scene before him, his voice trembling and his face pale. His legs quivered involuntarily.
He had never seen such a devastating scene; the central area of what should have been a continuous, undulating volcanic field had mysteriously collapsed.
It was as if an invisible giant hand had forcibly erased and flattened it, forming several enormous, crimson lava lakes that resembled the pupils of demons.
The lake was not calm; viscous magma churned and surged like blood, radiating a chillingly high temperature.
What's chilling is that there are faint purple arcs of lightning on the surface of the lake, leaping and flashing like living spirits.
It emits a subtle yet highly penetrating crackling sound.
Occasionally, Mars would fly up and land on the charred rocks nearby. The hard rocks would instantly vaporize like ice and snow when exposed to fire, leaving only a wisp of smoke and deeper burn marks!
"Be careful! Contain your divine sense! There are extremely powerful remnants of a heavenly tribulation here! Do not touch it lightly!"
A very senior demon elder with a face full of wrinkles shouted sternly, his white beard moving without wind due to his excitement.
His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the seemingly empty area above the lava lake, where traces of Dao principles, though incomplete, emanated a chilling aura.
Like a candle flickering in the wind, it appears and disappears intermittently.
"It's not just a heavenly tribulation; this aura is domineering and unparalleled, carrying within its destructive power a trace of supreme pioneering will."
The terrifying imprint of imperial laws, conquering the heavens and defying the Heavens, still lingers faintly!
His voice carried an unprecedented solemnity and a hint of barely perceptible fear.
Who exactly was this person who survived such an incredible calamity in this place?
It could actually trigger the manifestation of the invincible Dao traces of an ancient Great Emperor in his youth?
This is terrible!
Another elder, with keen senses, cautiously attempted to touch a wisp of wandering destructive aura with his divine sense. His face immediately paled, he let out a muffled groan, quickly withdrew his divine sense, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth, and exclaimed in horror:
"What terrifying pressure!"
The mere remnants of broken Dao principles, which had remained for an unknown period of time, were so profound that even we could hardly withstand them, and our divine senses were struck as if by lightning!
Who exactly is this person who can trigger the imprint of the Great Emperor's youth and survive such a cataclysmic calamity?
Is it a monster that survived from ancient times, or a prodigy born in this era?
He turned to look at Yan Ruyu, whose beauty was unparalleled yet whose face was now covered in frost, his eyes filled with horror and lingering fear.
"Your Highness, this place is extremely ominous! It is definitely not a good place!"
The lingering Daoist aura here subtly suppresses our demonic energy; lingering here might lead to unforeseen dangers!
Yan Ruyu, dressed in white, stood quietly on a patch of scorched earth, like a snow lotus standing alone in a turbid world, completely out of place with the surrounding devastation and scorching heat.
Her clear, autumn-water-like eyes slowly swept over this devastated land, as if abandoned by the gods.
Sensing the omnipresent aura of destruction that seemed capable of extinguishing all life, and the supreme Daoist aura that transcended all living beings, Xiu's brows furrowed slightly.
Even though she was a descendant of the Demon Emperor, with noble blood and extensive knowledge, she could clearly feel the terrifying and transcendent power of that remaining will at this moment. It was a kind of oppression that was almost the origin of the "Dao".
She felt a chill run down her spine. The vast and boundless Eastern Wasteland was indeed a place where hidden talents lurked, far exceeding what she had ever seen before.
Black Emperor twitched its nose, its eyes darting around, less of its usual playful and mischievous demeanor, and more of a look of surprise and scrutiny:
"Woof woof! This place feels so eerie!"
It looked as if it had been plowed over and over again by something incredible.
I've traveled all over the country, and I've never seen such a thorough "cleaning" scene.
It carefully sniffed the complex scents lingering in the air: the raging aura of lightning tribulation, the extremely pure aura of the Sun True Fire, and the wisps of chaotic Daoist energy that seemed capable of Heaven-Opening.
"Hiss, this smell... it's familiar. I feel like I've smelled something similar somewhere before. How strange! Who could it be?"
Although it couldn't recall the specific connection at the moment, it instinctively felt that this place was extremely dangerous, and at the same time, it vaguely felt that the source of the residual aura might be related to someone it knew.
This made it secretly worried and raised its alertness to the highest level.
Ye Fan was also greatly shaken. Under the terrifying pressure from the outside world, the golden Bitter Sea within his body began to ripple uncontrollably, with undercurrents surging.
The Demon Emperor's Sacred Heart, which was floating in the Life Spring, seemed to have been stimulated in some way, and the boundless vitality it emitted froze for a moment.
He sensed a residual power far beyond his current understanding; it was not simply destruction.
Rather, it is a supreme realm that is both contradictory and unified, where new life is forcibly born from extreme destruction and supreme Fortune is quietly contained within boundless tyranny!
This profound and unpredictable artistic conception made him feel both insignificant and subtly touched a certain resonance deep within his Sacred Body bloodline, as if reminding him that there was an even wider and more terrifying world ahead.
Just as the demon race was terrified by the terrifying scene of the tribulation ruins, which resembled an ancient battlefield, and their minds were unsettled, their morale was inevitably affected...
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"
On the edges of the crater from all directions, or on those towering, massive rock pillars that stand like charred tombstones, powerful auras can be faintly seen.
A figure dressed in uniform appeared like a ghost, silently blocking all their escape routes.
The experts of the Ji Family had already taken advantage of this location to lay a true trap!
Directly ahead, atop the tallest and still "intact" active volcano, a man in purple robes stood with his hands behind his back, as if he had existed there since time immemorial.
He was no more than twenty years old, with light black hair, an exceptionally handsome face, and eyes that seemed to contain a vast starry sky, with a divine light flowing between them.
His entire being exuded a natural Daoist aura, forming an inexplicable and strange harmony with the scorching, deathly silent, and eerie environment filled with the lingering scent of destruction.
He seemed not to be an outsider, but a spirit born of nature from this world, unfathomable.
He stood alone atop the mountain, with a column of black smoke still rising slowly behind him, seemingly connecting to the deepest Hell. His figure seemed to have become the absolute center of the entire world.
Its mere existence blocks all paths, bringing a sense of oppressive despair.
Why are you blocking my way?
A fiercely independent middle-aged demon, despite the intense discomfort and mental oppression from his surroundings, stepped forward and demanded an explanation in a deep voice.
The scorching ground caused the demonic clouds gathering beneath her feet to ripple slightly, revealing the turmoil in her heart.
The man in purple robes remained calm and composed, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the slightly restless demon race.
Finally, as if locking onto its prey, the arrow precisely landed on Yan Ruyu, who was surrounded by numerous powerful demons in the center, her white robes still as pure as snow, her temperament ethereal and otherworldly.
His voice was calm and even, yet strangely it pierced through the gurgling of the magma and the faint crackling of thunder in the air, reaching clearly into the ears of every living being:
" Ji Family, Ji Haoyue."
Having just completed his Divine Body, he heard that a descendant of the Demon Emperor was here and came to challenge him to a duel.
"Your Highness is unwell and unable to perform the procedure. Please reschedule."
The middle-aged man responded coldly, his demonic power surging around him as he resisted the omnipresent onslaught of earth fire.
Upon hearing this, Ji Haoyue was not angry, but simply said:
"If that's the case, I won't force you to do anything against your will."
Then, please leave the Demon Emperor's Saint Weapon behind.
With my Divine Body newly formed, there are few divine weapons in the world that can catch my eye; I am truly lacking a suitable weapon.
His voice echoed through the empty volcanic landscape, carrying a strange penetrating power.
A pretty maidservant stepped forward from behind him, her voice clear and melodious, unaffected by her surroundings.
"Three years ago, the Demon Emperor's Tomb appeared in the world. The many spiritual weapons that flew out of the Yang Tomb were nothing special. Only the Demon Emperor Weapon was cleverly obtained by you princes using secret methods."
"Everyone in the Eastern Wasteland knows about this, so why bother to cover it up?"
The middle-aged man sneered, his voice slightly hoarse from the heat.
"Even if the Emperor Weapon is in the hands of my prince, it will eventually return to its rightful owner. What right does your Ji Family have to demand it?"
Ji Haoyue's gaze remained calm, yet carried an absolute confidence. He glanced around at the scorching surroundings, as if admiring a unique landscape:
" The Demon Emperor's Saint Weapon, I am determined to obtain it."
Another maid spoke up, her tone haughty and out of place in this devastating environment:
"My young master's Divine Body is just beginning to take shape; only an unparalleled Emperor Weapon is worthy of his status and immense power."
"What arrogance! Let this old woman experience firsthand what this so-called Divine Body truly is capable of!"
The middle-aged woman angrily rebuked him. The raging fire energy in the area seemed to have ignited her anger as well. Without saying another word, she opened her mouth and spat out a silvery ray of light that contained all the demonic power she had accumulated in her life.
Shaped like a willow leaf, yet incomparably sharp, it tore through the scorching air, carrying a chilling killing intent, and aimed directly at Ji Haoyue!
Ji Haoyue remained standing atop the volcano with his hands behind his back, his Divine Capital unchanged, as if the attack was not a fatal blow, but a mere, insignificant breeze.
However, just as the willow-leaf divine weapon was about to reach his body, a strange phenomenon suddenly occurred!
Centered on him, a completely different power of law spread out!
Night fell without warning!
It wasn't that dark clouds were obscuring the sun, but rather a pure "darkness" that instantly swallowed up the original crimson and black of the volcanic cluster, casting a dim shadow over the surrounding area.
Immediately afterward, behind him, a vast, boundless, azure sea appeared, a stark contrast to the surrounding lava and fire, with surging waves and billowing water vapor.
A bright, clear moon slowly rose from the horizon, casting its cool, holy silver light upon the scorching, desolate volcanic landscape, creating a dreamlike, surreal scene filled with an unreal quality.
"This is the Bright Moon Rises over the Sea!"
"The extraordinary phenomenon of the Sea of Bitterness of an ancient Mighty Figure! He actually succeeded in cultivating it!"
Exclamations arose from within the demon race's ranks, and everyone felt a chill run down their spines. The clash between this water-moon phenomenon and the real volcanic environment brought an extremely strong visual and spiritual impact.
The bright moonlight shone down, seemingly gentle, yet it contained the immense power to stabilize the world and calm restlessness.
The willow-leaf divine weapon, brimming with demonic power, flew towards them, but was instantly frozen in mid-air by the cold moonlight. The demonic power attached to it melted away like ice and snow, and then the divine weapon itself "poof"ed into countless points of light and vanished without a trace.
The moonlight shone continuously, like mercury spilling onto the ground, ignoring spatial distance, brushing past the middle-aged man who had made the move.
The ferocious expression on her face froze instantly, her eyes filled with unbelievable fear. Before she could even utter a sound, her entire body was wiped away from the world as if by moonlight, instantly dissolving into specks of light, her form and soul annihilated!
In an instant, the world fell silent! Even the sound of churning lava seemed to be suppressed by the cold moonlight.
Ji Haoyue remained atop the volcano, her robes fluttering in the breeze where heat and moonlight intertwined. Without moving an inch, she easily annihilated a powerful demon with the mere manifestation of an unusual phenomenon.
The power of the Divine Body is truly astounding! The manifestation of extreme cold in this extremely hot place only adds to its unfathomable depths.
Behind Yan Ruyu, the demons were both shocked and furious, the atmosphere tense and a great battle was about to break out.
This harsh environment, coupled with an unfathomable and powerful enemy, caused the hearts of all the demons to sink.
Black Emperor stood in the demon army, his dog eyes fixed on Ji Haoyue, secretly transmitting his voice to Ye Fan beside him:
"Damn it, this kid's got some skills!"
How can someone manage to pull off the " Bright Moon Rises over the Sea " pose so skillfully in this godforsaken place!
It seems the Ji Family has spared no expense in nurturing him.
Hey kid, did you see that?
These are the prodigies cultivated by the top forces in the Eastern Wasteland; they need to be impressive, regardless of whether it's appropriate or not!
"You'll have to have this kind of... hmm, this kind of imposing manner in the future. You can't tarnish the reputation of Li Qingshan and this Emperor."
Halfway through its sentence, it seemed to realize that the example it was giving was not quite right, and quickly changed its tune.
He stared at Ji Haoyue's demeanor, so ethereal and out of place with her surroundings, his brows furrowed.
" The Divine Body truly lives up to its reputation; this extraordinary phenomenon possesses astonishing power, completely disregarding the influence of the local environment."
"Black Emperor, what's next? Yan Ruyu and the others are already affected by the environment; I'm afraid they'll have even less chance of resisting."
"What's the panic?" Black Emperor said calmly, a shrewd glint in his dog eyes.
"As a descendant of the Azure Emperor, how could Yan Yatou not have any trump cards up her sleeve?"
Let them stall for time. This will be a good opportunity to dampen the arrogance of those old demons and stop them from keeping an eye on us.
Our target is the Demon Emperor's Sacred Heart. When the time is right and the situation is chaotic enough, I, the Emperor, will have my own methods to extract it without anyone noticing.
Its dog eyes gleamed with calculation, and even its telepathic communication seemed to be hushed, as if afraid of being overheard.
Kid, seize the opportunity. If a fight breaks out later, stick close to me. We'll act according to the situation. Our primary target is still that precious Holy Heart in your belly."
It added slyly,
"If that brat Li Qingshan were here, he would definitely accuse me of only thinking about taking advantage of others."
But these days, how can you cultivate yourself without reaping benefits?
Once we get the Sacred Heart, we'll see if we can extract some of the remaining pure Yang thunderfire essence from this place—it's a great thing for tempering the body!
Upon hearing this, Ye Fan nodded slightly, his gaze turning solemnly to the purple-robed divine son beneath the bright moon atop the mountain.