Chapter 342 - 332: The Driven Mad Soul Killing Demon Emperor

「In the 2,500th year of reaching Black Heaven, a shocking war suddenly erupted.」

「In this battle, the heavens crumbled, and the earth cracked. After paying the heavy price of downgrading three Emperor Artifacts among other significant sacrifices, the Human Race carved a bloody path in a suicidal manner for Soul Killing, sending him to reach White Heaven to experience the Heaven Heart Imprint.」

The shattered firmament of Black Heaven churned with a sea of blood.

Soul Killing, about to step into the White Heaven region, gazed sorrowfully at where the corpses of his predecessors had vanished. His eyes were blood-red, like a demon risen from the Nine Nether, before he turned his wrathful gaze towards Hong Yuan.

At this moment, Hong Yuan suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion. He had done everything he could, yet Soul Killing still reached the ultimate destination—White Heaven. This was too outrageous. Not only had he pushed his potential to the limit, but he had also followed the trends of the times, even going as far as to sacrifice a portion of his Life Span. Yet, despite all that, Soul Killing still managed to head for White Heaven.

"The foundation of the Human Race is indeed profound, truly worthy of being the Main Characters of Heaven and Earth. I’ve done everything possible, yet I still couldn’t withstand this overwhelming tide."

"Compared to them, the Demon Clan, with an even more ancient history, seems utterly wretched. If only the Demon Clan hadn’t used all their Emperor Artifacts to contend against the Great Emperors of the Human Race..."

A hint of helplessness flashed in Hong Yuan’s dragon eyes as he couldn’t help but sigh. A torrent of dragon fire erupted from his mouth, instantly incinerating the corpses of the Human Race’s various Saints and Quasi-Emperors. This only fueled Soul Killing’s fury, his teeth nearly grinding to dust.

If I had a flawless Emperor Artifact, I could have defended Black Heaven impeccably. Never mind six Emperor Artifacts attacking simultaneously; even if there were nine, I’m confident I could have held my ground. Unfortunately, I don’t!

Now that Soul Killing’s ascension to emperorship is almost certain, it’s time for me to initiate my second plan. I am a cultivator of Longevity Martial Arts, after all. Life Span has always been my greatest trump card!

"Since the great momentum of the Human Race has made you, Soul Killing, it can also destroy you."

A cold sneer touched Hong Yuan’s lips, a chilling smile that could make one’s blood run cold, as if plunging them into an eternal, icy abyss. He hadn’t idled away these millennia in the Black Heaven firmament for nothing. Once he reached the Unconventional Tao Realms and observed the myriad things of the world, the rules governing almost everything became apparent to him.

The stronger the Human Race becomes, the more complete Soul Killing’s Heaven Heart Imprint will be when he condenses it, and the shorter the time required. Conversely, the Heaven Heart Imprint will be flawed, and the time needed will be longer.

ROAR!!!

Hong Yuan let out a resounding dragon roar. With a flick of his tail, he shot straight towards the Five Great God Continents of the Human Race.

Fairy Mingjiao, who had barely survived, was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when she sensed Hong Yuan’s trajectory and cried out in panic, "No—"

The Emperor Artifacts reacted, but they couldn’t imprison Hong Yuan. Their era of glory had, after all, passed.

...

「While the Soul Killing Demon Emperor of the Human Race was entering White Heaven, the True Dragon of Great Moon, seeing the unfavorable turn of events, charged towards the Five Great God Continents of the Human Race, destroying many of their legacies...」

In the past, the Human Race’s Destiny would typically slay the Demon Clan’s Destiny before ascending to emperorship. Since Soul Killing failed to achieve this, he now had to face the consequences of his failure! For instance, the Five Great God Continents of the Human Race suffered a severe counterattack from Hong Yuan.

Unchecked by Soul Killing, Hong Yuan instantly transformed into an Ancient Great Evil, wreaking havoc across the Five Great God Continents of the Human Race, especially the already blighted lands of the Western Desert Divine Continent.

As a result, the Human Race’s fortune declined, and Soul Killing suffered a backlash. He had failed to fully comprehend the Heaven Heart Imprint; his was merely an incomplete version!

Having achieved his goal, Hong Yuan fled towards the distant horizon under the gazes of countless despairing eyes. He sped towards the Chaos Area, vanishing without a trace.

This world contains regions beyond the reach of Heaven and Earth’s will, a fact I discovered upon reaching the Unconventional Tao Realms. The Chaos Area is fraught with danger, but I am confident that the Great Moon Virtual Mirror, my intrinsic life-bound artifact, will help me evade the Soul Killing Demon Emperor’s pursuit once more. For in the Chaos Area, without the amplification from the Heaven Heart Imprint, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor is not a complete Great Emperor!

"Soul Killing, if you truly possess heaven-defying talent, then let us meet again in a hundred thousand years, HAHAHA!"Hong Yuan laughed heartily, then decisively went into seclusion, hiding himself just as he had evaded Tianli’s pursuit in the past.

As for the Demon Clan forces still struggling for survival in the Endless Sea Area, I can do nothing to help them.

...

「In the eighty-first year of hiding in the Chaos Area, heaven and earth underwent extraordinary changes, and auspicious signs abounded.」

「The Eighth Emperor of the Human Race—the Soul Killing Demon Emperor—has emerged!」

Hong Yuan, situated within the Chaos Area, sensed something. However, he made no rash moves, keeping his dragon eyes closed and slowly drifting into slumber.

「Elsewhere.」

The Soul Killing Demon Emperor, stepping out from White Heaven, arrived in Black Heaven. With a brief perception, he learned the aftermath of that day’s battle.

"Emperor... Lord Emperor," Fairy Mingjiao said, her voice filled with sorrow as she bowed her head, tears streaming down her face.

In the past, the Human Clan Sky Palace teemed with Masters; cultivators came and went, none of them mundane, and Quasi-Emperors conversed and laughed. Now, however, the Human Clan Sky Palace was left with only her and the Seventh Kill Quasi-emperor—just two Quasi-Emperors.

For only two Quasi-Emperors to support and control the vast Human Race across the Five Great God Continents was an immense strain.

When had their Human Race ever suffered such a plight? Even when the Dragon Sun Emperor was establishing his great enterprise, things had not been this tragic. The calamity Hong Yuan had inflicted upon them was simply incalculable!

"Come, I will take you to slaughter demons and shatter their Tao Heritage," the Soul Killing Demon Emperor said softly. A moment later, however, his brow furrowed slightly, and the Soul Killing Banner beside him trembled with a confused hum.

Inexplicably, he couldn’t sense the slightest trace of Hong Yuan’s aura—it was as if Hong Yuan had vanished from this world! He chuckled, unconcerned.

"Escape? Such a pleasant thought is but a dream. Rebel Dragon, I will have you kneel and atone for your sins against the Saints of my Human Race until the very moment of your destruction!"Soul Killing’s eyes glinted with a severe light.

He methodically proceeded with his tasks, annihilating one Demon Clan after another. This caused many of the Demon Clan’s Demon Skills and Divine Powers to vanish from the world, severely damaging their civilization.

"AH!"

"I curse you! May you die a horrible death!"

"Great Saint! Great Moon Saint, save me—"

...

Endless demonic souls wailed with resentment, cursing the Soul Killing Demon Emperor, and even cursing Hong Yuan. The Soul Killing Demon Emperor’s expression remained unchanged as he continued to refine his Soul Killing Banner.

Myriad demonic souls perished within it, layers of baleful tribulation energy manifested, and this new power became yet another resource, pushing the Soul Killing Banner further towards becoming an Emperor Artifact! The Endless Sea Area transformed into a realm of darkness.

Under the Soul Killing Demon Emperor’s manipulation, all beings of the Demon Clan cried out the name of Great Moon in unison, attempting to force Hong Yuan to appear. Yet, Hong Yuan remained utterly still, continuing his dormancy. No matter how desperately the Demon Clan beings called for him, he refused to emerge.

"Rebel Dragon, still not showing yourself? I am no Heavenly Horned Ant."The Soul Killing Demon Emperor sneered, unable to resist tightening his grip on the Soul Killing Banner.

As mortal enemies, he had naturally studied Hong Yuan’s path to power. He had also learned from Tianli’s case; otherwise, he wouldn’t have pursued Hong Yuan with the seniors from the Heavenly Palace. Soul Killing had long heard of Hong Yuan’s tactic of outlasting his mortal enemies with his superior Life Span and had prepared accordingly.

Thus, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor began his search for Hong Yuan. A sweep of his Heaven Heart Imprint revealed all things between heaven and earth to his mind. Yet, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor still found no trace of Hong Yuan!

Left with no alternative, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor initiated the Spirit Era. He intended to use the Tao Marks of Soul Tao to thoroughly perceive Hong Yuan’s location. As long as Soul Tao Marks existed where Hong Yuan was, he could pinpoint him!

This was an era dominated by Martial Souls. Martial Arts, Divine Powers, the Hundred Arts, and more all had to be executed via Martial Souls. Only thus could one achieve their goals more easily. Martial Souls could be animals, plants, or even artifacts. They could assist in people’s daily lives, and those with special talents could use them for cultivation and combat.

One hundred years...

Two hundred years...

A thousand years...

Two thousand years...

Soul Tao had permeated nearly every corner of the world; heaven and earth were suffused with the Tao Marks of Soul Tao.

Yet, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor still found no trace of Hong Yuan! By now, due to Hong Yuan obstructing him in his youth which caused a great loss to his life origin, he had already entered the twilight of his life.

...

「In the third millennium of hiding in the Chaos Area, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor reached the twilight of his life. He had destroyed the Tao Heritages of countless Demon Clans and was only short of exterminating the True Dragon of Great Moon. Once that was done, the Demon Clan’s civilization would be utterly eradicated.」

「However, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor had yet to find any trace of the True Dragon of Great Moon, and he began to face dire issues due to his dwindling Life Span.」

「The Soul Killing Demon Emperor grew frenzied. He attempted to create something from nothing, to forge the Killing Tao, seeking to attain eternal life through slaughter and thereby outlast and kill the True Dragon of Great Moon.」

「Ultimately, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor was forced to use the Human Race to refine his Killing Tao, thereby committing boundless sins. On that day, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor’s hair turned white in an instant.」

Outside the Heavenly Palace, three magnificent temples constructed from Divine Origin Marrow radiated light that illuminated the Ninth Heaven. The power of faith converged from all directions, offered in worship to three downgraded Emperor Artifacts.

The Soul Killing Demon Emperor, his hair entirely white, his form decrepit, closed his eyes in anguish. Beside him, various phenomena manifested: True Dragons, immortal phoenixes, Azure Lotuses...

Time flowed like water. Millennia passed; the Seventh Kill Quasi-emperor and Fairy Mingjiao had long since faded away with the wind, and a new generation of Human Race Heavenly Talents had risen.

Yet, even by the time the Seventh Kill Quasi-emperor and Fairy Mingjiao had completely perished, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor had still failed to find any trace of Hong Yuan!

Sometimes, Soul Killing truly wished he could fall asleep and never awaken. But he knew with utmost clarity that he could not fall until the Great Moon Rebel Dragon was found. The Human Race could not withstand the devastation the Great Moon Rebel Dragon would unleash.

"Emperor!" The Soul Killing Demon Emperor manifested his Great Taoism, as if bidding farewell to the world. A sense of desolation instantly gripped the hearts of many, compelling them to weep uncontrollably.

The legendary Great Moon Rebel Dragon was still alive. If Emperor Soul Killing were to pass away, the Human Race would undoubtedly face a Dark Era!

PFFT—

Three hundred and sixty years later, the Soul Killing Demon Emperor coughed up a mouthful of heart’s blood and collapsed wretchedly before the temple. He had lost.

He had failed to establish the Killing Tao, failed to achieve eternal life through slaughter.

"I—cannot accept this!!!"The Soul Killing Demon Emperor could not die with his eyes closed.

As the Destiny of the Human Race, I actually lost in terms of Dao attainment to the Destiny of the Demon Clan! How can I face our many predecessors? How can I face the Human Race?

But no matter how unreconciled he felt, his flame of life was gradually dimming.

「Chaos Area.」

Hong Yuan’s heart stirred, and he slowly opened his dragon eyes.

"There were so many times I was on the verge of being discovered by you, yet I chose to remain hidden and unmoving. My gamble paid off."

"Soul Killing, it seems your Dao attainment is truly shallow, hardly worth a glance."

"The final victor... is me!"

A brilliant smile spread across Hong Yuan’s lips. But in the very next moment, his consciousness abruptly plunged into darkness, and he returned to the real world.