Chapter 128

Chapter 128: The Enigma of Burial Soil

The Green Lotus took root underground, its petals shut close together as if nurturing a life yet to emerge within its bud.

The power of reincarnation flowed through its roots into the Green Lotus, nourishing the flower bud.

This Green Lotus possessed an extraordinary grace, bathed in the power of reincarnation. It had transcended the mundane realm entirely; no one could say how long it had nurtured this nascent being.

Mysterious light streaked through Lin Qianmo’s eyes. Yet even she couldn’t pierce the petals to glimpse the hidden scene within the bud.

Still, she sensed a presence of life.

That vital force, exceptionally potent, surpassed that of an ordinary Great Emperor. Once it broke through the soil, it would surely give rise to an astounding existence.

"Imperial Father!"

Lian Jiuyou trembled with excitement. The aura of the Green Lotus before him was identical to that of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor.

Tears of joy streamed down his face. He yearned to tear the petals apart, wishing the Green Lotus Demon Emperor would instantly return to life.

Nangong Zhandao stood utterly shocked.

He had always held skepticism toward the legend of attaining a second life. Witnessing this scene before him now profoundly shattered his conviction.

Within the Burial Soil, one truly could attain a second life.

"Nangong, what’s wrong?" Lan Youruo detected his state, her voice laced with gentle concern.

"It’s nothing," Nangong Zhandao replied, his expression bitter. "I was mistaken."

Lan Youruo understood intuitively.

Nangong Zhandao had always been stubborn. Encountering the Green Lotus like this had violently shaken his worldview. His Dao heart wavered, his thoughts tumultuous, if only momentarily.

"The path of cultivation unveils many wonders," Lan Youruo said, grasping Nangong Zhandao’s broad hand firmly. She smiled warmly. "In truth, you weren’t alone in believing cultivators couldn’t achieve a second life. I shared that doubt."

"It doesn’t matter now," Nangong Zhandao declared, his voice turning resolute. "A second life is a path for those who have failed. I have no need of it."

"I seek only this one life."

Lan Youruo tightened her fingers around his.

"Senior Sister Lin," Lian Jiuyou pressed, his impatience barely contained. "You know more of the Burial Soil than us. Do you know when Imperial Father will emerge?"

Lin Qianmo cast him a glance. "Are you so certain the being within the Green Lotus is the Green Lotus Demon Emperor?"

Lian Jiuyou froze for a moment. "It must be Imperial Father."

He trusted his deepest intuition.

Though his time with the Green Lotus Demon Emperor had been brief, Lian Jiuyou, as his only descendant, could never mistake his father’s unique essence.

"If you doubt me," Lian Jiuyou insisted, "I can prove it."

He pricked his fingertip, squeezing out a single drop of blood.

"I share his bloodline, his only heir. He will not reject this."

"Don’t be rash!" Lin Qianmo snapped, her voice sharp as she intervened. "This Daoist friend is in a critical stage of transformation. Should your blood interfere with his metamorphosis, would you consign all his efforts over a lifetime to ruin?"

What’s more, even if he was the Green Lotus Demon Emperor, so what?

Now is not the right time for him to emerge. Even if you prove his identity, what good would that do?

It was my recklessness.

Lian Jiuyou was overwhelmed with shame. As a demon emperor of a kingdom, he found it impossible to refute Lin Qianmo’s words.

Buzzing!

At that moment, as if sensing intruders, the petals of the Green Lotus suddenly opened, countless divine patterns rose up, and instantly formed into a killing formation.

The Endless Catastrophe Formation.

Everyone looked troubled.

They had already learned about the power of this formation at the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb. To their surprise, there was also an Endless Catastrophe Formation in the Heavenly Battle Burial Site.

I was indeed careless.

Lin Qianmo frowned and said, "To live a second life, one must prepare countermeasures in the burial ground."

Let’s get out of here quickly.

Lin Qianmo immediately led everyone backward.

Once the Endless Catastrophe Formation was fully completed, the entire Heavenly Battle Burial Site would be sealed, and they would have nowhere to escape.

Lian Jiuyou’s face was filled with unwillingness.

He had just seen a glimmer of hope, yet now he had to leave again, which he simply could not accept.

Buzzing!

Suddenly.

The evolution of the Endless Catastrophe Formation stopped. The petals opened layer by layer, and everyone saw the heart of the Green Lotus. Although it was still closed, a strand of green qi drifted out from it.

The green qi slowly rose and condensed into an extremely vague human shape.

The Demon Emperor?

Father?

Everyone was stunned and looked at the scene before them in disbelief.

Lian Jiuyou…

That figure was dressed in green clothes. Its gaze was unfocused, and it was calling out Lian Jiuyou’s name.

Lian Jiuyou…

His outline was so blurry that no one could see his appearance clearly.

Father, it is your son. Your son is here.

Lian Jiuyou’s face lit up with joy. The life form nurtured within the Green Lotus was indeed the Green Lotus Demon Emperor.

His condition didn’t seem right…

Lin Qianmo noticed something strange.

This Divine Sense avatar of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor was very dull. It seemed to be acting on instinct alone, looking foolish and vacant, very eerie.

"Hurry and go."

"Don’t stay here."

The Green Lotus Demon Emperor suddenly widened his eyes, as if seeing something terrifying, acting like he was under a spell, constantly urging Lian Jiuyou to leave quickly.

"Hurry and go! Hurry and go!"

He repeatedly muttered these two words over and over.

"Father, what exactly happened to you?" Lian Jiuyou’s joy completely faded, replaced by confusion and worry.

"Senior sister Lin, what is going on?"

Lian Jiuyou looked towards Lin Qianmo, hoping she could solve his doubts.

Lin Qianmo shook her head.

She didn’t know much about the Burial Soil, and this trip was taken to see if the Green Lotus Demon Emperor was still alive, then to communicate with him and deepen her understanding of the Burial Soil.

However, the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s state seemed off, dazed and confused, as if he had encountered some great terror.

"It must be that an error occurred in some link, disrupting his consciousness and producing illusions," Lin Qianmo stated with a grave expression.

"There’s another possibility."

She said word by word, "The Burial Soil itself has a problem."

"The Burial Soil has a problem?"

Lan Youruo was startled.

The situation was becoming increasingly bizarre.

"The Burial Soil has always had problems, but outsiders know very little about it," Lin Qianmo said, "The Green Lotus Demon Emperor likely discovered some secrets of the Burial Soil while absorbing its power, which caused him to become the way we see him."

"Of course, this is just my guess."

Lian Jiuyou felt heavy-hearted.

For him, this journey to the Tomb of the Azure Lotus Demon Emperor had truly been fraught with twists and turns.

First, they found an empty coffin, then crossed the Underworld River, entered the Heavenly Battle Burial Site to see the Green Lotus, only to ultimately encounter a muddle-headed, insane Divine Sense avatar of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor.

And he knew nothing about the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s experiences.

"Everything here is…"

The Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s voice suddenly stopped, as the power of that Divine Sense avatar seemed exhausted, disappearing with a bang, ceasing to exist.

"Father…"

Lian Jiuyou’s eyes were full of unwillingness.

"Father, your son will take you out," Lian Jiuyou clenched his fist, preparing to move the Green Lotus out of the Heavenly Battle Burial Site and bring him back to the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom.

"Are you crazy?"

Lin Qianmo shouted sternly, "You don’t understand any of the reasons behind this, yet you’re acting rashly—if it’s wrong, he will sink into eternal despair."

"How do you know if this muddle-headed Divine Sense avatar is speaking the truth or lies?"

There was another point Lin Qianmo dared not say aloud.

If what the Green Lotus Demon Emperor said was true, could they really leave the Burial Soil while carrying him?

Lin Qianmo’s mind was also filled with countless questions.

But she understood she could not act recklessly.

Buzz!

In Nangong Zhandao’s Purple Palace, the Ziwei Spirit Root trembled.

Nangong Zhandao’s expression changed slightly.

In normal situations, the Ziwei Spirit Root remained still; only when encountering "her" on the Underworld River did it actively exert power to protect his soul.

Was he about to face danger again?

If that were true, wouldn’t it prove Lin Qianmo’s guess was correct?

The Green Lotus Demon Emperor had truly encountered an unknowable great terror.

Nangong Zhandao grew more fearful the more he thought about it.

If their guess was correct, what exactly was this so-called "second life" all about?

"Truly interesting."

Nangong Zhandao wasn’t scared; instead, he became enthusiastic.

It was just a pity he was too weak; otherwise, he could use his own methods to uncover the truth.

"Do not disturb him anymore."

Lin Qianmo wore a gloomy expression, flying up to the surface with Lan Youruo and Nangong Zhandao.

Lian Jiuyou was silent for a long moment, then resolutely turned away.

After calming down, he understood many things clearly.

That Green Lotus must not be moved.

Lian Jiuyou’s nails pierced into his flesh, causing blood to flow freely, and he could determine that inside the Green Lotus was the Green Lotus Demon Emperor.

As his son, his father was right before him, yet they could not reunite.

Lian Jiuyou’s heart ached as if cut by a knife.