Chapter 98: Demon Emperor's Lone Horn

Exhausted in body and mind, Li Mu lightly lifted his hand and caught the incoming arrow.

Li Mu opened his eyes and looked toward the sound!

Sure enough, just as he had expected.

This time the ones who came to the door were not the senior brothers and sisters he needed to purify.

But rather an orc archer wandering the fortress, who was now drawing his bow and preparing the next attack.

Sigh…

I can no longer waste time purifying those fallen fellow disciples.

I must quickly locate the Demon Emperor's remains and find a way out of the Demon Domain!

Otherwise, staying in this dark, cramped environment would drive me into depression!

Clang!

Li Mu casually drew the Vengeance Blade at his waist and stood up.

Three Absolutes!

Slash!

Three layers of red‑black Seven Absolute Blade Qi surged from the blade, and Li Mu cleanly slashed off the orc archer's head in a single strike.

【Ding!】

【System identified that the host successfully killed a second‑tier Demon General, the orc archer, triggering Tenfold Heavenly Dao Blessing!】

【Congratulations host, obtained Tenfold Harvest!】

…

Although he neither found the Demon Emperor's remains nor a way out of the Demon Domain.

Yet after each battle he always reaped a fairly abundant harvest!

At least.

If he hadn't been captured into this Northern Dark Demon King's Demon Domain, Li Mu would probably still be worrying about quickly stabilizing the foundation of a First‑grade Foundation Establishment Realm.

But now Li Mu's cultivation has broken through to a Third‑grade Concentration Realm, so he can probably linger here for a while longer.

Reaching the Fourth‑grade Concentration Realm is only a matter of time.

Besides the growth in his cultivation, Li Mu also earned a substantial return matching his effort while purifying the sins of his fellow brothers and sisters.

For example, the Heavenly Treasures, Demon Crystals, and various grades of spirit vessels that the senior brothers and sisters discarded.

Although many of these are of no use to Li Mu.

But once he escapes this Demon Domain and returns to the Ziyang Sect, exchanging them for sect contribution points would be a very good choice.

Very good!

A bountiful harvest; let's set off again!

Li Mu tossed the bulging pack onto his back and kept walking forward.

After passing a corner ahead, Li Mu's view finally ceased to be the dark, cramped passage.

The space before him opened up, and the first thing he saw was a massive cast‑iron gate.

Even with the cast‑iron gate between them, Li Mu's six senses and five perceptions were still keen enough.

He could still clearly sense a strong fluctuation of true Qi and demonic Qi within.

Finally, no more tunneling!

Li Mu placed his hand directly on the gate's handle.

Buzz!

At the moment Li Mu's right hand was about to touch the handle,

the entire cast‑iron gate suddenly emitted an extremely terrifying demonic Qi that spread outward like a blood‑colored storm!

Li Mu was all too familiar with this blood‑colored demonic Qi!

It was the demonic Qi of the Northern Dark Demon King!

Just as Li Mu was still fretting over how to respond,

but the next second!

Li Mu's Sea of Knowledge's Heavenly Dao Treasure Scroll began to tremble violently, and the second page of the heavenly book, already partially uncovered, showed signs of being turned further.

At the same time, a blood‑colored vortex began to form before Li Mu, continuously drawing in the blood‑colored demonic Qi and converting it into pure spiritual Qi that fed back into him.

【Ding!】

【System identified that the host used the Heavenly Dao Treasure Scroll to absorb Demon‑King‑level demonic Qi, triggering Tenfold Heavenly Dao Blessing!】

【Congratulations host, obtained Tenfold Harvest!】

…

Soon.

The red demonic Qi that had shrouded the cast‑iron gate in ghostly aura began to fade, and the red glow on it grew ever dimmer until it vanished completely.

Being infused by the Northern Dark Demon King's personally arranged terrifying primordial demonic Qi, this gate must conceal something important!

For example…

Demon Emperor's remains!

Thinking of this,

Li Mu's delighted gaze fixed on the iron gate's handle, and his palm finally clenched it.

Rumble…

Deprived of the Northern Dark Demon King's demonic Qi protection, the gate before him was just an ordinary iron door.

With Li Mu's current mortal strength, pushing open this iron door was no trouble at all!

"Clang…"

The heavy cast‑iron gate finally swung open, revealing utter darkness inside.

Even with Li Mu's eyesight, he couldn't discern what lay hidden within the room.

All he could see was just the lower area.

The stone slabs on the floor were neatly arranged in succession, the overlapping gray slabs stretching into the deeper darkness of the room, giving an eerie, oppressive feeling.

"Rattle…"

Li Mu had just stepped into the room.

"Buzz!"

A strange buzzing echoed throughout the cavernous chamber!

Immediately afterward, beam after beam of silvery light ignited simultaneously, illuminating the dim room as bright as day.

The intense light struck his eyes, causing him to squint.

It was then that he realized.

In this vast chamber, the walls and ceiling were entirely covered with high‑grade spiritual stones!

"Sss…"

"This damn…"

"That's just inhuman, isn't it?"

"Using spiritual stones for the ceiling and walls!"

Li Mu stared dumbfounded at the walls and ceiling paved with pristine spiritual stones.

A moment later, he couldn't help but gasp sharply.

The spiritual stones in this room couldn't be described as mere "blocks"—they were a single, massive stone slab covering the whole surface!

Their value was so high that, with Li Mu's limited perspective, he couldn't even imagine how much they were worth.

All he knew was that it must be an astronomically terrifying price!

He recalled back in Gu Yun City when Li Mu saw the Northern Dark Demon King pull out three massive wooden crates of spiritual stones and place them before Wu Haolin, the visual impact was staggering.

Li Mu, envious, felt his saliva almost spill from his eyes!

If it was like that then one can imagine how shocked Li Mu would be when faced with such quantity and quality of spiritual stones!

It's like a country bumpkin!

Suddenly stepping into a place where the walls, floor, and ceiling were all fashioned from gold, like a golden mansion!

But this shock and stupefaction didn't last long.

It only lasted a few seconds before Li Mu abruptly came to his senses.

He didn't rashly strike the spiritual stone slab on the wall!

Just now, on that cast‑iron gate, the Northern Dark Demon King had arranged his own innate demonic aura as a defense.

He happened to possess a divine artifact: the Heavenly Dao Scroll, which can absorb and transmute Demon‑King‑level demonic aura!

If it were another cultivator, even one at a Foundation Establishment Realm perfect completion comparable to the Northern Dark Demon King.

Without any preparation, being suddenly assaulted by such terrifying Demon‑King‑level aura would surely drive them mad and cause a panicked retreat, right?

Thoughts churned in his mind; Li Mu wore a wary expression, scanning his surroundings and stepping forward step by step.

Massive pillars stood on both sides, and at the deepest point a huge throne was placed!

Above the throne, what caught Li Mu's eye most was a towering single horn reaching toward the heavens!

Engraved on the horn were countless Demon Race characters and runes, yet at this moment they appeared dim and lifeless, as if they no longer held any power.

But even that lingering fragment of intent could devastate heaven and earth, devour eternity, and overturn the nine continents!

At the same time, an extremely terrifying demonic aura radiated from the horn, causing even the space surrounding the throne's horn to gradually warp and deform!

A demonic aura that can affect reality and space!

Even before!

The terrifying aura Li Mu felt from the Northern Dark Demon King on the cast‑iron gate paled in comparison to the potential of the horn's demonic aura before him!

"Demon Emperor Remains!"

The moment he saw that terrifying horn, those four words instantly sprang to mind for Li Mu.

What made Li Mu even more alarmed was!

The fluctuations of the Heavenly Dao Scroll became increasingly evident and intense!

Earlier.

Li Mu had tried countless times to awaken the Heavenly Dao Scroll!

But no matter how he tried, the Heavenly Dao Scroll gave Li Mu a feeling of a mayfly shaking a great tree, unable to stir it at all!

But at this moment!

The situation seemed to have changed completely!

Originally a lifeless Heavenly Dao Scroll in his sea of knowledge, merely recording names on its first page, now seemed fully revived.

Moreover, this was Li Mu's first crystal‑clear feeling of the Heavenly Dao Scroll's yearning!

It desperately yearned to incorporate that Demon Emperor's horn into itself as a treasured possession!

Precisely because of this yearning, Li Mu inexplicably drifted slowly toward that Demon Emperor's horn!

However, from behind a stone pillar some twenty steps away, a tall shadow slowly emerged toward Li Mu.

"Thud, thud, thud…"

With each step the shadowy presence took forward,

the echoing footsteps resonated through the vast hall as if striking Li Mu's very heart, filling him with unprecedented pressure, while the vague premonition inside him grew ever stronger.

It seemed as if the massive figure in the shadows had read Li Mu's thoughts.

Just then, it suddenly spoke in a soft, lingering tone.

"I have a poor bloodline among the Demon Race, and thus I am unqualified to be counted among the royal lineage."

"However, the Demon Emperor's Horn that I have set into this throne is destined to defy heaven and alter fate, granting the Northern Xuan lineage a rebirth and a rise against the heavens!"

"Hahaha…"

The massive figure in the shadows suddenly let out a shrill burst of laughter!

The laugh echoed far, its booming sound making the entire hall tremble as if it might collapse at any moment.

But moments later, the massive figure abruptly stifled its laughter, its tone filled with resentment and anger.

"What a pity!"

"Although I have great opportunities, my luck still falls short by a little."

"I don't know how that detestable group of demon heroes learned of the Demon Emperor's Horn."

"Since then, those mortal flies have begun an endless pursuit to kill me!"

"To ensure that this Demon Emperor's Horn does not fall into the hands of demon heroes."

"Out of sheer helplessness, I could only perform a golden cicada shedding its shell, leaving a Clone behind in Gu Yun City."

"I will wait until I escape the demon heroes' pursuit, then return to Gu Yun City to take the Demon Emperor's Horn."

"Perhaps…"

"From my perspective at that time!"

"My luck was indeed a bit lacking then, but now, it appears otherwise!"

"Because this is precisely the greatest destiny the heavens bestowed upon my demon life!"

The Demon Race in the shadows, calling itself "I", seemed to be recounting its recent experiences to Li Mu, speaking methodically and displaying great intelligence.

But the more Li Mu listened to the creature, the colder his heart felt, as if it were sinking completely into a valley.

"Damn!"

"I didn't go out today just to look at the almanac, did I?"

"Why do all the bloody misfortunes keep happening to me?"

"Back in Gu Yun City, I once swore I would never encounter a Demon King!"

"But the next second, a Demon King burst out from the body of the county magistrate in Gu Yun City!"

"After being taken to the Demon Domain, I thought the Northern Xuan Demon King wasn't here, and that this Demon Domain was a perfect feng shui training ground for me!"

"I could calmly level up here while searching for a way to escape the Demon Domain."

"Result…"

"Damn it, I didn't expect there to be a Clone of the Northern Xuan Demon King in this Demon Domain!"

"Damned heavens!"

"Are you messing with me again?"

As if answering Li Mu's utterly shattered speculation, the massive figure in the shadows finally emerged completely!

A distinctive single horn sprouted on its forehead; its body was covered in blue‑black scales, its back bristled with Bone Spikes, each wrapped in black lightning, and a thick, powerful tail that could blast the air with a flick.

What impressed Li Mu most were the repeatedly protruding ferocious human faces on the Demon King's abdomen, whose mouths opened and closed, emitting a chorus of ghostly wails.

If this great demon is not the Northern Xuan Demon King, then who could it be!

The Northern Xuan Demon King's orange‑yellow vertical pupils fixed on Li Mu, a mischievous, almost human smile curling his lips as he said softly.

"Little brat!"

"We meet again!"