Chapter 124

Chapter 124: Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s Tomb

The Deep Abyss of the Return to the Ruins was not just a simple abyss; it resembled layers of space folded upon themselves, requiring precise spatial nodes to pinpoint specific locations.

Atop Lin Qianmo’s shoulder floated the green lamp, its hazy green light illuminating an area of several miles.

That green aura seemed to hold a wondrous power; it could light up the darkness of the Return to the Ruins, rendering hidden creatures wary and unwilling to strike at them.

Lian Jiuyou remembered it vividly: Lin Qianmo had dared to charge into the boundless divine light with the aid of this lamp, snatching a beast-skin drum from beneath the eyes of the emperors.

"This lamp must be extraordinary," Lian Jiuyou thought to himself. "This person’s background merits deep thought."

After two incense sticks.

Lin Qianmo and Lian Jiuyou halted simultaneously.

"This is the place."

The two declared in unison.

"Over a hundred years ago, I stumbled into this spot by chance and became aware of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb." Lin Qianmo said lightly.

This was what perplexed Lian Jiuyou.

"Since you’d been here, why didn’t you remove the treasure from the Emperor’s Tomb?" Lian Jiuyou inquired.

Lin Qianmo gazed at him with a faint, enigmatic smile. "Back then, I’d killed two quasi-emperors from the Shadow Realm and was being hunted by its Great Emperor, so I used this place as a refuge."

"The Emperor’s Tomb contains a killing array; I found it hard to break, so I only scoured various peripheral zones."

Lian Jiuyou’s expression shifted subtly.

That the killing array remained intact proved the treasures left by the Green Lotus Demon Emperor were still present; his body and imperial weapon surely lay concealed within it.

Boom!

Lian Jiuyou summoned his magic power, and the whole group surged into a void passage.

Before them rose a colossal Green Lotus, its expanse immense as it stretched skyward. It bloomed fully, its lotus petals layered endlessly, seeming to hold boundless realms and uphold this Secret Realm.

Its roots appeared anchored in infinite darkness, radiating a vast, imposing aura.

The scene contradicted everything Lian Jiuyou had imagined an Emperor’s Tomb would embody.

No divine palaces or heavenly halls stood there—only that single Green Lotus.

"Given father’s temperament, he truly would have done this." Lian Jiuyou murmured. The Green Lotus Demon Emperor was a common Green Lotus that had cultivated to become an emperor, enduring countless hardships with an unyieldingly tough Dao-heart.

In his own heart, he was that very Green Lotus standing tall and unshakeable.

Through all ages, only he remained unvanquished.

Recalling this, Lian Jiuyou felt tears prickling in his eyes; the father he recalled as supreme had ultimately fallen, leaving behind a desolate, silent great tomb.

"Father, your son will bring you home."

Lian Jiuyou soared toward the lotus petals.

"Sister, that killing array should be located on the lotus petals, right?" Lan Youruo gazed at the Green Lotus petals, her delicate brows lightly furrowing.

This Secret Realm lay barren and empty; only within those petals might rest the coffin of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor. Naturally, the killing array surely resided there.

The Green Lotus Demon Emperor was the most exceptionally talented Great Emperor in the Yuan Realm in recent years. To cultivate to a Great Emperor from a Green Lotus plant was truly remarkable.

Lin Qianmo said solemnly, "I’m not confident I could break that killing formation he laid down."

"Follow Lian Jiuyou. He is of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s bloodline, so he must have a way to crack the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s killing formation."

The group followed Lian Jiuyou.

Upon stepping onto the lotus petals, a blue-green light slowly appeared. One by one, divine patterns, like stars, rose in sequence. In the blink of an eye, the lotus petals began to close.

On the petals, peculiar patterns were imprinted. Each petal seemed like one of the Heavens, radiating different powers of rules.

"Endless Catastrophe Formation?"

Lian Jiuyou’s gaze sharpened. This formation was a killing formation created by the Green Lotus Demon Emperor himself, containing the power of time that could reverse space-time.

Once trapped in the killing formation, one would be worn down to death slowly.

Moreover, this formation could also reverse time.

It was nearly impossible to crack the formation unless someone possessed the power to shatter the Endless Catastrophe Formation in one blow.

This was why Lin Qianmo held back.

"Your father was truly remarkable," said Lin Qianmo, a glimmer of admiration in her eyes. Very few people could earn her admiration, and the Green Lotus Demon Emperor was surely one of them.

Lian Jiuyou’s eyes were filled with pride. His imperial father had always been his source of pride.

"How can we crack this formation?" Lan Youruo asked.

"The master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion already told me."

Lian Jiuyou used his finger like a sword and cut the pad of his left middle finger. Immediately, a drop of greenish blood oozed out.

Hum!

The green divine blood fell into the Endless Catastrophe Formation. Those divine patterns seemed to sense a certain power and began to slowly retract into the lotus petals.

The lotus petals stopped closing.

Just as Lian Jiuyou had guessed, the Green Lotus Demon Emperor left a backdoor for him. As long as he poured the divine blood into the Endless Catastrophe Formation, the formation would sense it and not activate.

Lian Jiuyou ascended to the lotus platform.

On the lotus platform, it was empty, with only a thatched cottage.

In front of the thatched cottage, there was a stone platform.

"My child…"

Suddenly, an affectionate call came. A figure in green robes materialized on the stone platform, his features vague and difficult to discern.

The voice came from his mouth.

"Father!"

Lian Jiuyou could hold back no longer, and with a thud, he knelt on the ground.

A demon emperor, helpless like a child.

After the Green Lotus Demon Emperor departed, he had worked hard at cultivation, supporting the entire Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom alone. Many dangers had almost cost him his life several times.

Filled with grievances, in the vastness of the world, there was no one he could confide in.

"He’s not dead yet?" Nangong Zhandao frowned.

"He should be dead."

Lan Youruo said, "This is merely a Divine Sense avatar, presumably left by the Green Lotus Demon Emperor to await Lian Jiuyou’s arrival and settle his final affairs."

"For over a million years, I sought a particular power to refine my techniques. I found it."

"However, this came at a price."

The Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s voice was deep and resonant.

Lian Jiuyou froze, unable to comprehend his father’s meaning.

"All these years, I focused solely on cultivation and neglected you. I failed as a father."

The Green Lotus Demon Emperor continued, "We shall meet again in another life, my son."

"Father… truly has fallen…"

Lian Jiuyou collapsed limply to the ground.

In his heart, he had clung to hope. The towering image of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor remained vividly etched in his mind.

Even after learning of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb from Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he refused to believe the news of his father’s death.

But now, Lian Jiuyou had no choice but to accept it.

"Another life…"

His smile twisted with grief as bitter laughter escaped him.

He stared dazedly at the figure gradually dissipating upon the stone platform, seeming utterly stunned.

"Another life may yet come."

Suddenly, Lin Qianmo’s words snapped Lian Jiuyou from his stupor.

Lian Jiuyou turned to her. In an instant, his demeanor shifted, the formidable demon emperor reasserting control. "What do you mean by that, Daoist friend?"

"No need for haste now."

Lin Qianmo said lightly. "This lotus platform holds nothing beyond this cottage. The Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb must lie within these walls."

"Let us look first."

"Agreed."

Lin Qianmo’s words rekindled a sliver of hope in Lian Jiuyou.

They entered the cottage.

Its interior was sparse: a wooden table, a stool, and a coffin.

The coffin was blood-red, crafted of a material neither gold nor wood, neither stone nor jade. Both sides were carved with strange patterns resembling sacrificial rites.

The coffin lid bore crooked inscriptions of equally bizarre characters.

"Ancient characters?"

Lian Jiuyou recognized their origin.

The script upon the coffin shared its source with the markings on Lin Qianmo’s green lamp and beast-skin drum – all relics from the distant ancient era.

"Why is Father Emperor’s coffin so bizarre?" Doubt arose in Lian Jiuyou’s heart.

As soon as the thought arose, Ning Wudao emerged from his Purple Palace.

"I am Ning Wudao, paying my respects to all of you."

Ning Wudao bowed as he spoke.

His gaze fell upon Nangong Zhandao. As the number one on the Hidden Dragon List, he was the goal Ning Wudao tirelessly pursued, so he was certainly no stranger to him.

"Who is he?"

Lan Youruo exclaimed in surprise, "Demon Emperor, why have you brought an early-stage God King realm boy with you to Return to the Ruins?"

"Is he perhaps your descendant?"

"He is a protege cultivated by the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Lian Jiuyou explained. "The master asked me to bring him to the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb. What he needs is here."

"You all shouldn’t underestimate Brother Ning. He is the hall master of the Celestial Demon Hall."

Lan Youruo gave a faint, unconcerned smile.

"Big brother, have we reached the Emperor’s Tomb already?"

"Yes."

Lian Jiuyou nodded.

"Then this coffin must be for the senior Demon Emperor…" Ning Wudao said slowly.

"Correct."

A trace of gravity flashed in Lian Jiuyou’s eyes.

Ning Wudao asked no more.

What they sought likely lay within the coffin itself.

Lin Qianmo walked up to the coffin and placed her palm upon it.

Kacha!

With a slight exertion from Lin Qianmo, the coffin lid slid forward.

"Wait!"

Lian Jiuyou frowned, "Daoist friend, do you intend to disturb my father’s eternal rest?"

"I merely wish to verify something,"

Lin Qianmo stated. "Moreover, nothing rests upon this lotus platform. What you desire can only be entrusted within this very coffin."

"How can anything be obtained without opening it?"

Lian Jiuyou hesitated.

"Demon Emperor Daoist friend,"

Lin Qianmo spoke again, her gaze upon Lian Jiuyou’s eyes deep as an abyss. "The matter concerning reincarnation lies within this coffin."

"Do you truly not wish to know the answer?"