The Deadwood Throne

The atmosphere in the main hall was eerie.

To ensure it wouldn't be attacked by the dead souls and to find a way to control the void furnace, a Demon Thought duck with a bird's beak that dared not utter a sound, a dead soul bowing behind Zhang Xuezhou, ninety-nine dead souls with blank faces and wide sleeves, and a dense swarm of war dead souls that poured into the main hall, almost blocking it like a tin can.

If it weren't for the constant influx of dead souls, it would be an almost still scene.

"This staff is too heavy!"

After slowly rising from the ground, Xu Lu took a long time to utter a complete sentence.

The other person's speech fluctuated extremely slowly, and a short two-second sentence was extended to nearly fifteen minutes, forcing Zhang Xuezhou to ask again.

Zhang Xuezhou's gaze shifted from the illusory furnace resting on Ren Anran, and he nodded quickly, then glanced at the Demon Thought duck.

Clearly, not just anyone can touch the things of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon.

Like the Tiger's Staff, this staff also possesses extraordinary power, enough to make any rash robber pay with their life.

While Xu Lu was picking up the staff, 5,326 dead souls poured into the main hall, and Ren Anran also Zhongzheng her unconscious state.

Zhang Xuezhou inquired about the Void Furnace and learned that it had no other feelings, but truly believed that it was just a matter of squatting down to pick up the staff. This way of thinking and the sense of the speed of time's passage shocked Zhang Xuezhou. In particular, the Void Furnace's power seemed to be distributed in each time period through the changes in time, which caused the Void Furnace to not even be able to pick up the staff.

He always believed that controlling speed could only help him evade his opponent's attacks or to torment them with a relatively faster speed, but he never considered the possibility of a "void furnace" situation.

"He has been deprived of his perception of time; he is unaware of its passage!"

Ren Anran's lips moved slightly, and she glanced at Zhang Xuezhou again.

Through the virtual furnace, Ren Anran clearly understood that her previous performance was not much different; she was still immersed in her own world of perception and unaware that more than twenty days had passed.

Whether one is lost in a daze under the control of these dead spirits, or influenced by the magical Law Artifact belonging to the master of this place, it all means disaster.

This is the person Xu Lu would kneel before upon meeting, but he is also Zhang Xuezhou's adversary.

Ren Anran's highest understanding of cultivators came from the Emperor, but at present, she felt that the Emperor's Tongtian strength was somewhat unreliable, and in comparison, he might be inferior.

Although she didn't know if the Emperor had any hidden methods, this was based on her most direct feeling.

"Is Hongku the master of this place?"

Seeing Zhang Xuezhou nod slightly to indicate that Ren Anran's judgment was correct, Ren Anran couldn't help but ask a follow-up question.

"Actually, I still don't know his name; I mostly call him the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon," Zhang Xuezhou replied, his lips barely moving.

"Then is the Realm Technique we've learned derived from him?"

"No!"

Ren Anran asked the question she was most concerned about, and only when Zhang Xuezhou shook his head in denial did she feel a little relieved.

If everything originates from Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, then defeating them is nothing short of a pipe dream.

It is extremely difficult for an apprentice to surpass his master. Following the established path will not allow one to escape the rhythm of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon. Only by being different can opportunities arise.

"He used a special treasure to transfer my three souls and seven spirits into another body, and much of what I learned was gained through the travels of that body," Zhang Xuezhou said.

Did the emperor appear during your travels?

"That includes him; the Evasion Technique originated from what he taught us!"

It wouldn't be surprising if Zhang Xuezhou's words were considered rambling nonsense if he hadn't broadened his horizons and increased his capabilities to a certain extent.

Even if the secret techniques for cultivation are on the desk, no one will believe it, and no one can cultivate them to a certain level.

Only through sufficient exposure can one become certain of what is happening in the world.

"You want to control that treasure?" Ren Anran's lips moved as she spoke.

"Think!"

Zhang Xuezhou made no attempt to hide his thoughts.

Judging from the fact that the Demon Thought Duck has not dared to betray him to this day, there is a very obvious gap between Zhang Xuezhou and the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon.

A direct confrontation was not advisable, so Zhang Xuezhou could only devise a roundabout strategy.

He didn't know if he had touched upon the taboos of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, or if everything was under their control. Zhang Xuezhou could only do his best.

If handled improperly, he might very well fight the other party to the death.

Given this possibility, Zhang Xuezhou had no hesitation in using the Void Furnace to explore the area, especially since the Void Furnace also wanted to utilize this region.

"Take a look at this throne of command. I'll have An Ran examine this heavy staff!"

Zhang Xuezhou gestured, and Ren Anran nodded before gracefully leaning towards the long staff.

"Let me tell you, this staff is incredibly heavy. I've never seen such a heavy staff before. Its owner must have been a strongman in life, and liked to use this staff to whack his opponents. I think you probably couldn't lift it either!"

Xu Lu's mouth was full of unreliable speculations, and Ren Anran could only return the greeting with a faint smile.

Ren Anran's grasping of the long staff was not the purpose; Zhang Xuezhou's summons for her to inspect the staff was merely a gesture, allowing the Void Furnace to naturally examine everything about the throne and filter out any potential risks for Zhang Xuezhou.

"I can already picture him sitting on his throne, striking down any who dared to rebel with his staff," Ren Anran said after examining the staff.

"It should be as you think!"

Xu Lu nodded, completely unaware of the passage of time, believing that he had merely squatted down and then stood up.

Aside from its immovable weight, the Void Furnace felt no danger. He had no suspicion of probing the withered wooden throne. After examining the edge of the throne, he carefully sat down on it, attempting to gain the normal view of the place's master from the throne and survey his surroundings.

What happened?

Zhang Xuezhou could see that the withered wooden throne seemed to have come back to life, with thorns bearing flowers sprouting from the throne and piercing into Xu Lu's body. However, Xu Lu sat on the withered wooden throne without any expression of pain, still looking down on all directions with the demeanor of an emperor.

Zhang Xuezhou glanced around and asked the silent Demon Thought Duck.

"So you intend to use the staff and the throne to deal with me?"

Zhang Xuezhou's voice was slightly deep as he questioned her, which made Demon Thought raise her neck straight.

If this question isn't answered well, then it's time to clean it up.

For Zhang Xuezhou, who was on the verge of a precipice, the other party would not tolerate the slightest disadvantage in any potential conflict.

Some insignificant little secrets can't buy your life, but revealing a big secret will force you to face the true master of this place.

Not compromising with Zhang Xuezhou will lead to death, but compromising with Zhang Xuezhou will also likely result in death.

This was a question that would inevitably lead to certain death. The Demon Thought duck straightened its neck and looked at the many irrational souls whose thoughts and consciousness were being destroyed time and time again.

The mere thought of this fate made it feel as if its heart had sunk into an abyss.

"If you talk to me nicely, you might at least have a chance to survive; otherwise, you should know the consequences!"

Zhang Xuezhou gestured, not finishing his sentence.

Zhang Xuezhou knew himself well and was also clear about what choices the Demon Thought duck, with his way of thinking, would make.

As long as this silly bird, who has the closest contact with the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, is pushed to a certain point and forced into a single choice, it will follow his lead and take things one step at a time, regardless of what it says or does, at least to survive in the present moment.