Chapter 117

Chapter 117: The Location of the Demon Emperor’s Tomb

"Fellow Daoist, we part here."

Lian Jiuyou looked at Yuan Daokong, cupping his hands in farewell.

Yuan Daokong gave a faint smile, watching as the demons of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom moved into the distance.

"Perhaps it’s time for me to meet the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," Yuan Daokong murmured.

"Black Tortoise King, White Tiger King, the two of you lead our forces back to the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom and secure the Western Region," Lian Jiuyou commanded with grave seriousness. "With Bai Yuehong’s strength, as long as he has yet to become an emperor, your presence should prevent any chaos."

"We obey, Your Majesty."

The two kings exchanged a glance, their faces tinged with worry. "Your Majesty, please take the utmost care on your solitary journey to the Emperor’s Tomb."

"My imperial father, having left a mausoleum behind, would surely have prepared safeguards."

Lian Jiuyou spoke with full confidence. "I am his heir—could his own tomb possibly pose a threat to me?"

"We respectfully bid farewell, Your Majesty."

The two kings then led their troops back toward the Western Region.

One day later, Lian Jiuyou returned to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Your Excellency, this junior has followed your instructions and destroyed the True Martial God Sect,"

Lian Jiuyou bowed deeply, hesitating for a moment before adding, "However, Bai Yuehong was not within the sect, and this junior remains unaware of his whereabouts."

He instinctively wanted to conceal this detail, but after reconsideration—aware that Ye Xu knew all things—he feared incurring dissatisfaction by withholding the truth.

Beside him, Ning Wudao and Yang Xuanzhan trembled inwardly.

The True Martial God Sect, a paramount power of the Yuan Realm, had been annihilated!

Yang Xuanzhan’s mind experienced a sensation of turning the world upside down.

At Mount Taicang, the image of Saint Ziyang’s lofty, untouchable demeanor still lingered vividly in his memory.

Yet, in the space of mere moments, the True Martial God Sect—which had dominated Central Yuan Realm for over a million years—had become nothing but history.

"You should consider yourself fortunate you chose not to hide this from me," Ye Xu stated coldly.

"This junior dares not."

Fear flickered within Lian Jiuyou. He had briefly entertained deception, but the sheer terror of Ye Xu’s insight quashed the impulse.

The longer he interacted with Ye Xu, the deeper his reverence grew.

"Your Excellency," Lian Jiuyou inquired, "does this count as fulfilling your requirement?"

"Naturally, it does not."

A trace of bitterness surfaced on Lian Jiuyou’s face. Had all his efforts been futile?

If that were the case, the cost was too great: not only had he expended forces needlessly, but he’d also provoked a peak quasi-emperor with nothing left to lose, one who might strike the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom at any moment.

Lian Jiuyou let out a bitter smile.

"Fellow Daoist overthink this," Ye Xu remarked. "I am not one to dismantle the bridge after crossing the river."

Ye Xu said, "Though Bai Yuehong escaped, you destroyed the True Martial God Sect. That insignificant detail doesn’t matter—I’ll still grant what you seek."

"However, you’ll take him along on this journey."

Ye Xu looked toward Ning Wudao.

"Him?" Lian Jiuyou’s eyes narrowed slightly. A early-stage God King realm demonic cultivator?

"This is Ning Wudao, hall master of the Southern Wilderness’s Celestial Demon Hall, and my junior." Ye Xu smiled faintly. "Within the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb lies something he seeks."

"Since you’re bound for the Tomb of the Azure Lotus Demon Emperor, take him with you."

Truthfully, had Lian Jiuyou eliminated Bai Yuehong and the True Martial God Sect, Ye Xu might’ve needed some persuasion to secure Ning Wudao’s place.

But since Lian Jiuyou hadn’t fully succeeded, this request became entirely reasonable.

Didn’t you handle it impeccably?

"This junior pays his respects to Your Majesty the Demon Emperor." Ning Wudao said respectfully.

"Too formal, young friend." Lian Jiuyou offered a smile. "Senior’s abilities are peerless. Being nurtured by him is a fortune you must cherish."

He was the one at fault for not fulfilling Ye Xu’s requirement—he naturally couldn’t refuse.

Lian Jiuyou regarded Ning Wudao. "Having company for conversation is welcome on the journey. If you see fit, call me Brother Lian."

"Brother Lian." Ning Wudao promptly amended his address.

Ye Xu’s eyes held approval.

Truly, one who understands circumstances excels. Lian Jiuyou clearly grasped the situation.

With intelligent people, many words were unnecessary.

"System, inquire the location of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb."

Ding!

[Congratulations, Host. Expenditure of 180,000 heavenly secrets points successful. Inquiry complete.]

[Tomb of the Azure Lotus Demon Emperor: Burial place of the first Demon Emperor of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, the Green Lotus Demon Emperor. Currently located within the Return to the Ruins continent in the Sea of All Realms.]

[Figure: Green Lotus Demon Emperor—cultivated from a Green Lotus plant. Fathered one son…]

Streams of information flooded Ye Xu’s mind.

The Green Lotus Demon Emperor, cultivated from a Green Lotus plant, had progressed step by step through cultivating qi, attaining the Dao, and finally becoming an emperor—a truly inspiring journey. Lian Jiuyou was his sole descendant.

"The Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb is in the Return to the Ruins continent." Ye Xu stated.

"The Return to the Ruins continent?"

Lian Jiuyou’s pupils contracted.

"Brother Lian, where is this Return to the Ruins continent?" Ning Wudao inquired.

Lian Jiuyou explained, "The Return to the Ruins lies within the Sea of All Realms, said to be the world’s end. There, a qi cultivator’s strength is suppressed by the Return to the Ruins force."

"Legends say the Return to the Ruins buries numerous imperial mausoleums, even secrets of attaining immortality."

"Yet, across endless ages, few have truly uncovered its profound mysteries."

"Correct."

Ye Xu said lightly, "But you missed one point. The Deep Abyss of the Return to the Ruins is connected to the Burial Soil and serves as one of its entrances."

Hearing this, Lian Jiuyou’s pupils contracted sharply.

It actually involved the Burial Soil?

This was one of the greatest taboos in all realms.

The reason those supreme experts of the Yuan Realm’s Godfall Ridge placed their mausoleums there was precisely because of the Burial Soil’s existence. They hoped to utilize its mysterious force to live a second life.

Yet that was merely one corner of the Burial Soil.

The true Burial Soil had existed from an incredibly distant era to the present day, and almost no one knew its origins.

Lian Jiuyou felt his heart grow heavy.

The journey to the Return to the Ruins would surely not be an easy task.

"This is the map of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb. Take it and study it carefully."

Ye Xu handed a jade slip to Lian Jiuyou.

Infusing it with his Divine Sense, Lian Jiuyou was shocked once more.

The map was exhaustively detailed, almost letting him experience the tomb firsthand.

Looking at this map, even if Ye Xu told Lian Jiuyou he had visited the Demon Emperor’s tomb himself, Lian Jiuyou wouldn’t have doubted it for a moment.

"This map is only an abridged version. More information, such as the killing arrays, must be discovered by you yourself once you enter the Emperor’s Tomb," Ye Xu said.

He had only conducted a cursory inspection of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb.

Otherwise, how could a Great Emperor’s mausoleum be priced at only one hundred eighty thousand heavenly secrets points?

When considered carefully, just this simple map secured Lian Jiuyou leading the demon clan to deal with the True Martial God Sect. This deal was extremely profitable.

"It is more than sufficient."

Lian Jiuyou said solemnly.

What he wanted to know was merely the tomb’s location.

After all, as the son of the Demon Emperor, he believed the Green Lotus Demon Emperor would have left contingencies specifically for him, allowing him to safely navigate the tomb’s traps and claim the inheritance and the imperial weapon.

"Esteemed Senior, I take my leave now," Lian Jiuyou said. "Brother Ning, we depart immediately."

"Yes."

Ning Wudao nodded.

The two walked out of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion one after the other, vanishing from Ye Xu’s sight.

"Young Master, will Ning Wudao face danger?" Yang Xuanzhan frowned deeply, visibly concerned.

"Danger is certain."

Ye Xu nodded.

The perils of the Return to the Ruins could not be reliably navigated even by emperor realm experts; otherwise, the Green Lotus Demon Emperor would not have died on the Return to the Ruins continent.

"Rest assured. As long as Lian Jiuyou isn’t foolish, he will ensure Ning Wudao is well protected," Ye Xu said lightly. "As long as Lian Jiuyou returns, Ning Wudao will be safe."

After all, he had already informed Lian Jiuyou that Ning Wudao was a junior he intended to foster.

Having dominated the Western Regions for hundreds of millennia, Lian Jiuyou was an exceptionally intelligent man. He would absolutely not offend the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion over something like the second volume of the Celestial Demon treasure roll.

"Many visitors will likely come knocking during this period."

Ye Xu murmured to himself.

The annihilation of the True Martial God Sect was an earth-shattering event, nothing short of a cataclysm for the Yuan Realm. The news would surely soon spread throughout the entire realm.

The Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was bound to gain even more notoriety.