Chapter 401

"Huh."

Shen Yi left in such haste because there was a reason.

This alchemical process took nearly two months, yet he received an ominous message.

First, the Abyss Spider Empress, based on her understanding of the Bai Ma, located its hiding place.

Lady Qinghua volunteered to go and slay it.

The Spider Empress barely managed to talk her out of it.

"My Lord, you must understand what place the Bai Ma guards."

It is the Dan Workshop of the Nan Yang Sect, where the most precious elixirs of this world are stored.

"Trust me once—it didn't return directly to the Thousand Demons' Den; it's definitely plotting something!"

Now everyone believes it is gravely wounded, barely escaping in disgrace, but if it isn't as badly hurt as they think, under these circumstances, it could do far more than they realize.

"I understand."

Shen Yi stopped Lady Qinghua and landed in a secluded spot.

He opened his panel.

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: 22,000 years】

What had once been ample lifespan now felt strained after his realm breakthrough.

First, the Dao Palace required vast amounts of lifespan; second, the Dragon Leap Heavenly Mare was only barely perfected.

Not to mention the Spirit Body technique leading directly to the Void Return realm, starving for energy.

Shen Yi sometimes wondered if he was too strange.

Leaving aside talent for now.

Which cultivator would master so many methods and strive for perfection in all of them?

Even the envied Nie Jun relied only on the Purple Thunder Divine Sword Art and its accompanying Void Return Dao Palace.

But whenever some technique allowed him to survive.

He instinctively wanted to learn more.

Killing more demons was troublesome, but better than dying himself.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi channeled lifespan into the Infinite Demon Emperor Palace.

【Year One, you stirred the Dao Infant's five viscera, desperately calling forth heavenly qi; compared to the former hundred-li shallow pond, now in your perception, a vast three-thousand-three-hundred-li ocean surged freely, and this immense heavenly energy rapidly completed your Dao Palace】

Demon lifespan drained rapidly.

Shen Yi, as if wielding a brush dipped in ink, painted a uniquely ferocious scroll across the heavens.

Until the lifespan was exhausted.

Only then did he withdraw from that profound sensation, exhaling longingly.

【Year 22,000, you gazed upon your Dao Palace, over three hundred zhang tall, awed by its boundlessness】

【Void Return. Infinite Demon Emperor Palace: Perfected】

Seeing his realm leap from Entry to Perfected, Shen Yi began to understand.

The progress of this Dao Palace technique might be tied to his spiritual root.

For cultivators with low-grade spiritual roots, even a Dao Palace of thirty or fifty zhang would likely be their limit, let alone three hundred.

But for himself, judging from his prior sensation, if lifespan were sufficient, five hundred zhang might be the limit.

"Still a long way to go."

Shen Yi slowly stood and gazed toward the direction of the many demon souls.

"My Lord, outsiders are approaching—should we stop them?"

A voice came to him from Lady Qinghua.

Shen Yi was slightly surprised; besides himself, someone else was also searching for the Bai Ma?

He gave an affirmative reply, then used Dragon Leap Heavenly Mare and vanished from sight.

……

In a quiet, deep mountain.

Three people halted their incantations and swiftly landed within the forest.

"Are you certain it's here?"

Tong Xinchuan had exchanged her former bright red robe for an unassuming black robe.

She no longer used the Forge-Soul Heavenly Silk to form an array, but held a gilded long arrow in her hands.

Yu Chaoan followed closely, gripping the array plate to conceal their aura.

"Correct."

Miao Qinghui formed her incantation, her Mystic Tower floating before her, releasing an invisible light barrier that spread outward.

The three had been sent by their master, bearing the Commanded Demon Golden Arrow, to relieve their senior brother's troubles.

This task had always been handled by Qingfeng.

But this time it was far too complicated, far beyond the capabilities of ordinary cultivators like them.

Their master still doted on Zhu Shixiong Nie to an extreme, just as before, willing to sacrifice the lives of other disciples to ensure Nie Jun's safety.

Yet Miao Qinghui and the others came without complaint.

Even Yu Chaoan, the simplest-minded among them, understood why Zhu Shixiong Nie had rashly descended the mountain.

One after another, their fellow disciples had returned severely wounded under the enemy's gaze.

Finally, this bloodthirsty senior brother had been enraged.

"Can this single golden arrow really slay it?"

Yu Chaoan took a deep breath; he had never fought the Ten Great Demon Emperors before: "Moreover, the Great-Horned Demon Emperor and the Lion have still not been found. Can the news about Zhu Shixiong Nie's cultivation level really be kept under wraps?"

"First, slay the Bai Hong Demon Emperor. We'll take it one step at a time."

Tong Xinchuan exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

Although he suspected that the Golden-Eyed Lion Emperor and Shen Yi were actually the same person, he had no proof, and his heart remained filled with immense worry.

If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have listened to Master.

What's the use of not revealing outside matters to Zhu Shixiong Nie? When the time comes to leave the mountain, no one can stop him anyway.

Now look what we've done.

Whether Zhu Shixiong or the Lion suffered injury, it was something Tong Xinchuan could not accept.

Thinking of this, he suddenly froze.

Immediately, a strange expression leaked from the corners of his lips.

In his instinctive judgment, he actually felt that Zhu Shixiong might suffer a loss at the Lion's hands...

It was just this moment of dazedness.

He suddenly heard Jiang Shijie Miao's warning: "Be careful!"

Before the words had fully faded, a mighty aura instantly raged outward, and the dazzling Jin Guang nearly filled all three of their fields of vision.

The expressions of the three immediately became solemn.

But after seeing the figure that had suddenly appeared before them, they all remained stunned for a moment.

They saw that the dense forest, which had been silent just moments ago,

now clearly held a towering figure ten zhang tall.

The dark-gold Dharma-Image stood as high as a small hill; a feathered cloak as thin as a cicada's wing swayed gently, and a pair of eyes swirling with Jin Guang gazed down indifferently.

Dragons and serpents coiled around both arms, all baring their fangs as they looked on.

Though no words were spoken, it displayed an unmistakable intent to expel them that could not be refused.

"You scared me."

Miao Qinghui patted her chest, saying with lingering fear: "What are you doing here? Don't cause trouble; we're here to handle serious business."

Yu Chaoan looked warily toward the depths.

The aura they had struggled to conceal was exposed just like that; if this disturbed the Bai Hong Demon Emperor, it would likely create many more complications.

Only Tong Xinchuan remained silent, staring at the Golden Body.

After a moment, he raised the Demon-Commanding Golden Arrow in his hand as a signal.

The Golden Body Dharma-Image slowly shook its head.

Seeing this, Tong Xinchuan nodded slightly to indicate understanding, then said softly: "Retreat."

What Shen Yi intends to do does not require our help.

Although we do not know the specifics, there must be his deep reasoning; perhaps he intends to win the Demon Emperor's trust through this? This truly is a good opportunity.

"Leaving already?"

Yu Chaoan was stunned: "The chance for the Third Cave Demon Emperor to be severely injured doesn't come around just anytime."

Before he finished speaking, Miao Qinghui had already dragged him up.

"Wait, is Shen Yi our father?"

Yu Chaoan helplessly muttered a complaint; the last time he saw the other party, that young man was still fighting the Red-Hearted Snake Emperor at the mid-stage of Soul Transformation. Even with further growth, it shouldn't be enough for Zhu Shixiong and Jiang Shijie to disregard even Master's orders.

"Shut up, Bai Chi."

Tong Xinchuan glanced at him, then swiftly withdrew and soared into the air.

Just then, the three saw a white figure dart up from the depths of the mountain range; sweeping along with that figure was also a suffocating, towering wave of demonic qi.

"Ah, this..."

Miao Qinghui quickly retracted her Profound Tower; indeed, the unhidden aura of the Golden Body just now had still alerted that great demon.

However, judging solely from this pervasive demonic qi, the opponent did not appear to be severely injured.

She instinctively looked toward the Golden Body Dharma-Image.

She saw the other party standing with arms crossed, making no move at all, nor showing the slightest sign of panic.

(End of this chapter)