Chapter 841: Transaction

Xiao Yan stared at the figure hovering in the void ahead, a demonic shadow wreathed in Demon Holy Flame—sometimes pitch-black as ink, sometimes radiating pure white light, shifting endlessly between the two, utterly bizarre.

Beneath the Demon Holy Flame, a pair of emotionless eyes gazed out; where their gaze swept, space itself trembled slightly, as if in fear.

Faced with that gaze, Xiao Yan could not help but narrow his eyes slightly—this being was the most powerful he had ever encountered; even his Ancestor Xiao Potian in his prime might not have matched him.

Especially that rising Holy Demon Holy Flame—this fire was even more terrifying than Xiao Yan's fused Emperor Flame of the Twenty-Four Strange Flames.

Even though Xiao Yan had not joined the Great Thousand Palace and knew little of the Domain Beyond's demonic clans, he understood clearly: this demonic figure wreathed in flame ranked among the very top of the Domain Beyond's Thirty-Two Great Tribes' Heavenly Demon Emperors—perhaps even the strongest.

Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor, current leader of the Holy Demon Clan of the Domain Beyond, second only to the Heavenly Demon God—a peerless powerhouse! Even now, the Great Thousand World's strongest—Green Robed Sword Saint, Lord of Immortality, True Dragon Emperor—could not stand against him.

Xiao Yan himself likely never imagined he would draw this one out.

The Heavenly Demon Flame slowly receded, revealing a human form—surrounded by boundless malevolent energy, like the sovereign of demons, yet his face bore a compassionate, sorrowful gentleness; especially his eyes—merely meeting his gaze made one unable to harbor hostility, even stirring an urge to worship.

Like a bodhisattva of slaughter, using killing to guide mortals to the Western Pure Land—in his eyes, rebirth was liberation.

"I never expected the one who fused the Evil God Holy Pupil would be a cultivator from the Great Thousand World," Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor looked down at Xiao Yan, frowning slightly.

He had never imagined it would be someone from the Great Thousand World who found the Heavenly Demon God's Holy Pupil!

Logically, this was impossible—the Holy Pupil was no inanimate object; it had self-awareness and chose its host. After all, the Heavenly Demon God's Holy Pupil was equivalent to the Domain Beyond's supreme treasure, the pinnacle among Absolute Saint Treasures of the Great Thousand World, containing a portion of the Heavenly Demon God's power—how could it possibly choose a Great Thousand World cultivator?

Moreover, the Holy Pupil was the key to restoring the Heavenly Demon God's full power and breaking the Daqian World's Will Suppression—if the Great Thousand World discovered it first, their plan would fail!

The Domain Beyond's demonic clans had plotted for fifty thousand years, waiting for the Heavenly Demon God to adapt to the Great Thousand World and avoid being suppressed—only then could he possibly seize the Azure Throne.

How could this have happened!

Xiao Yan shrugged, speaking slowly: "Everything is possible. Perhaps the Holy Pupil saw my extraordinary bones and recognized me as a martial genius, choosing me as its host."

Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor slowly lowered his gaze to the vast, lake-like Blood Pool below, his expression turning grave. "Death Extinction Eye—that is our God's technique. Why do you possess it?"

Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor had naturally sensed that although the transformed Xuan Shi Emperor was not a true Demon Emperor, his power still reached You Grade Demon Emperor level—his swift annihilation was not merely due to Xiao Yan's strength, but because Death Extinction Eye was the Heavenly Demon God's technique, making the kill so effortless.

Yet within the entire Domain Beyond, aside from the Holy Demon Clan, no one should be able to cultivate Death Extinction Eye—after all, cultivating Death Extinction Eye requires first cultivating the Saint Pupil; even he found cultivating the Saint Pupil extraordinarily difficult.

Now a Great Thousand World cultivator had not only obtained the Heavenly Demon God's Holy Pupil but also cultivated Death Extinction Eye—Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor was utterly baffled as to what had transpired.

"Learned it. The Holy Pupil contains the Heavenly Demon God's legacy—I practiced briefly and mastered it," Xiao Yan made no concealment, laying it all out—he had indeed learned it.

Any other Domain Beyond demon would surely call this nonsense—if the Heavenly Demon God's techniques could be learned so easily, everyone could cultivate the Saint Pupil.

Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor fell silent, choosing not to press further—he could not attack Xiao Yan, for the Holy Pupil's chosen host, within the Holy Demon Clan, was the Holy Son, the designated heir of the Heavenly Demon God.

Though he was now Clan Leader of the Holy Demon Clan, everyone knew the true leader was the Heavenly Demon God—he merely temporarily governed the clan on the Heavenly Demon God's behalf; the entire Domain Beyond obeyed the Heavenly Demon God.

The Holy Pupil contained a thread of the Heavenly Demon God's will—that meant the Heavenly Demon God had chosen Xiao Yan.

Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor slowly descended, then smiled. "I am Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor, Clan Leader of the Holy Demon Clan. You entered our territory alone, wielding the Evil God's power—not merely to eliminate enemies."

Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor had naturally sensed that Xiao Yan's elaborate actions were meant to draw him out.

"Since you obtained our God's Holy Pupil, you are, in essence, one of our people. I can take you to the Holy Land for purification, to become one of our clan."

Though the Holy Pupil had chosen Xiao Yan, he was still a cultivator from the Great Thousand World—how could Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor fully trust him?

As expected, Xiao Yan directly shook his head and refused: "Sorry, I decline. I have no intention of joining your Holy Demon Clan."

BOOM!! Suddenly, a force countless times stronger than Xuan Shi Emperor's crushed down—demon qi surged wildly; Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor's power was beyond imagination.

Facing Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor's suppression, Xiao Yan smiled—his third eye emitted a deep glow, instantly dissolving all of Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor's pressure.

"I am now the Heavenly Demon God's heir. Do you dare interfere with his choice? Moreover, I have obtained a second Holy Pupil—if I die, you will never recover that one," Xiao Yan had prepared in advance, storing the second Holy Pupil in the Void Space long ago.

Hearing Xiao Yan had already obtained two Holy Pupils, even Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor was unsettled, his brow furrowing—how could he have gathered two in such a short time? It was as if the Holy Pupils were chasing him.

"I see," Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor's gaze sharpened, seeing through Xiao Yan's scheme. "You wish to make a Transaction with us?"

"I now possess two Holy Pupils—these are hard-won treasures. To hand them over to you for free seems hardly fair," Xiao Yan smiled, continuing. "Besides, your demonic clans and the Great Thousand World have not yet decided victory—I have no desire to join you. What if you lose? Then I'll be the one who suffers."

Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor now understood perfectly—Xiao Yan was demanding payment!

"What do you want?"

"Source Qi."

!?

Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor's eyes darkened slightly—"Source Qi" was both alien and painfully familiar. It was their original source!

Yet now, even the Domain Beyond's demonic clans no longer cultivated Source Qi—they cultivated Demon Qi. Only the Holy Demon Clan differed, for though they cultivated Demon Qi, as a sacred race, born divine spirits of the Domain Beyond, they still retained traces of Source Qi within them.

Just as himself—Holy Demon Unity—possessed both Source Qi and Demon Qi traits.

"I don't want ordinary Source Qi," Xiao Yan spoke. "I need your Saint God's Source Qi."

Xiao Yan's cultivation of the Evil God Asura Soul Body required not only Demon Qi, but later, vast quantities of Source Qi—and since the Evil God Asura Soul Body was of extremely high Rank, ordinary Source Qi was useless; only Source Qi at the level of the Ancestral Dragon would suffice.

Such a level of Source Qi was utterly beyond Xiao Yan's reach—if he ventured into the Domain Beyond, it would be suicide.

So Xiao Yan had thought of the Domain Beyond's demonic clans—they originated from the Domain Beyond and must have ways to obtain vast, pure Source Qi.

"You want our Holy Demon Clan's Ancestral Qi?" Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor frowned—such Source Qi they indeed possessed: millennia ago, before their sacred race left the Heavenly Origin Great World, they carried away the sacred race's immense legacy, including the power left behind by the Saint God—Ancestral Qi.

The Heavenly Demon God's rapid growth was fueled by absorbing Ancestral Qi, inheriting the Saint God's power, then forging his own path, creating Demon Qi, even surpassing the Saint God.

Yet Ancestral Qi had been nearly exhausted; what remained in the clan were the supreme-grade Source Qi condensed by the Heavenly Demon God—the most precious treasures of the Holy Demon Clan.

Xiao Yan nodded. "Help me cultivate, and I will help your demonic clans collect Holy Pupils."

Xiao Yan was not speaking without reason—he had his own plan. He needed immense power to protect the Dou Qi Continent. Supreme Heavenly Sovereigns were far from enough—even Saint-grade Heavenly Sovereigns were insufficient. He needed power beyond Heavenly Sovereigns.

As a Lower Plane native, Xiao Yan could never fully gain the Azure Throne's recognition, become the first to inscribe his name, and become a Sovereign. Even the Heavenly Demon God's promises were unreliable—who knew what tricks the Heavenly Demon God, a deity beyond Heavenly Sovereigns, might employ?

So Xiao Yan's only path to resistance was to break his Spiritual Soul's limits again. This time, he had felt the terrifying nature of this Evil God Asura Soul Body—yet now, the soul body had only cultivated the Demon Face and formed the Seventh Pupil.

If he could complete all Three Faces, awaken the Nine Pupils, and achieve the ultimate form—Three Heads Six Arms Nine Eyes—the Evil God Asura Soul Body, Xiao Yan's Spiritual Soul Rank might surpass the Divine Realm, reaching a level no one had ever attained.

At that point, whether the Great Thousand World or the Domain Beyond won, neither would dare provoke Xiao Yan—he would have the power to protect both the Great Thousand World and his loved ones.

That was why Xiao Yan had traveled thousands of miles into the Domain Beyond—to seek resources for cultivating the Evil God Asura Soul Body, to elevate the soul body beyond Heavenly Sovereigns. Alone, he could never do it—he needed to leverage the Domain Beyond's demonic clans, just as he had once bargained with Hun Tian Di.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor fell silent.

Xiao Yan could already slay Heavenly Sovereign Xuan Shi Emperor—if he continued growing, Saint-grade Heavenly Sovereign would be basic, perhaps even becoming the second Lord of Immortality—this would be terrible news for the Domain Beyond's demonic clans.

For Xiao Yan's current stance was not aligned with the Domain Beyond's demonic clans—he remained neutral.

Even though Xiao Yan's strength was far inferior to his own, the Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor still sensed a faint threat emanating from Xiao Yan. The Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor naturally felt the Strange Fire within Xiao Yan's body—that Strange Fire, though weak, posed a slight threat to him, like a young dragon that, once grown, would make even him no match.

Just as the Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor's gaze slowly turned cold and fierce, and his Demon Qi surged, a sudden hum erupted as a surge of Soul Force burst forth from Xiao Yan's body. To a being like the Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor, this Soul Force was not powerful—but it carried an ancient, primordial aura, towering over the Nine Heavens like a deity, the sovereign of all living beings.

With a hum, a hazy figure emerged behind Xiao Yan.

"Shadow of My God!" The Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor's face showed surprise; a wave of dread and fear surged into his heart.

Facing the Heavenly Demon God—even just a shadow—the Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor, such a being, displayed humility, not a trace of arrogance, but genuine fear and reverence.

At this moment, when the Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor looked at Xiao Yan again, his gaze had changed. Xiao Yan had not only cultivated the Saint Pupil, but more importantly, he possessed the protection of the Heavenly Demon God—this meaning was entirely different!

Even he did not have the protection of the Heavenly Demon God!

To receive the protection of the Heavenly Demon God meant far more than mere words—it implied Xiao Yan's status now stood equal to that of the Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor, ruler of the Domain Beyond. He himself was merely carrying out the Heavenly Demon God's orders.

At this moment, Xiao Yan looked up at the hazy figure above him—it was in fact the Demon God's Asura Soul Body, though now the Asura Soul Body had become somewhat blurred.

"This Soul Body's origins are indeed not ordinary—it is not merely a common transmission of the Heavenly Demon God," Xiao Yan murmured to himself.

Originally, the evil tribe member who collected the most Saint Pupils would become the Holy Son—but now, Xiao Yan had been personally chosen!

Xiao Yan, with his hands clasped behind his back, said calmly: "Do I now have the right to negotiate a Transaction with you?"

After a long while, at the border between the Domain Beyond and the Great Thousand World, a sudden *puff*—a black-robed figure wrapped in Black Flame tore through Chaos, heading toward the Ning Tian Continent. This was naturally Xiao Yan returning from the Domain Beyond.

Watching the direction Xiao Yan had left, the Holy Heavenly Demon Emperor's eyes flickered with a strange light as he murmured: "Soul Palace Xiao Yan… Soul Palace—it comes from the same Lower Plane as Hun Tian Di."

Xiao Yan did not know that the Domain Beyond's evil tribes were no longer the Thirty-Two Great Tribes—they were now the Thirty-Three Great Tribes!

Not long ago, a cultivator from the same Lower Plane, within the corrupted Shen Shou Continent, obtained a Saint Pupil and chose to join the Domain Beyond, passing the trial of the Holy Demon Clan, rising instantly to become a You-level Demon Emperor.

The thirty-third great tribe was the Soul Sovereign, led by Clan Leader Hun Tian Di!

Stuck on writing—posting this chapter for now, let me think about how to arrange Hun Tian Di next.