Chapter 179 - 164 Great Saint

"Let’s go meet the others," Demon Master said with a light sigh, speaking slowly.

He turned and left the sorrowful place, his eyes losing their desolate look to regain firm determination.

The great task was not yet accomplished; it was not time for him to fall into decay. With the deep vengeance of his comrades still weighing on him, he would not topple so easily.

Black Robe quietly sized up this great leader from behind, feeling as though the stooped figure harbored a flame-like power within, yet he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

This leader had truly exhausted his mind and spirit for the sake of the Demon Court; had it not been so, with his mighty strength, he wouldn’t appear so aged.

The two continued on their way, passing through ruins to reach a cave that seemed endlessly dark, as if its depths were forever invisible.

With Black Robe in tow, Demon Master entered the cave, only to see strange plants growing on either side. From afar, it appeared pitch dark, but up close, they realized these plants emitted a faint glow, enough to light the path ahead.

Moreover, Black Robe keenly noticed that these plants carried a strange fluctuation; his own divine consciousness was devoured as soon as it neared them.

After walking for a while, the two arrived at a large hall surrounded by stone walls, with an extremely intricate array in the center emitting a heart-pounding aura.

"Is this the array that seals the Emperor?" Black Robe asked curiously.

"Yes, it seals His Majesty’s head," Demon Master said with a sigh.

After the Demon Emperor was defeated, the Jade Emperor, to prevent his return, divided his body into nine parts and suppressed them in different locations across the Three Realms.

This particular seal was found by Demon Master after immense hardships, and only after sacrificing countless monsters’ lives was it wrested from the guards of the Heavenly Court.

Regrettably, this sealing array is extremely formidable; even after such a long time, Demon Master still hadn’t been able to fully unlock it.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Black Robe knelt on the ground, speaking with great reverence, his eyes flashing with excitement.

After all, the Demon Emperor was like a savior of the world in their eyes, their faith and hope. Having grown up hearing of the Demon Emperor’s deeds, how could he not worship him?

"Ah!" A lazy voice suddenly emerged from the array, indistinguishably male or female.

Black Robe had long heard that the Demon Emperor never showed his true face to anyone, hence even his gender was unclear to the outside world.

"You are Black Robe," the seemingly just-awakened Demon Emperor said, sounding somewhat familiar with Black Robe.

"Your Majesty, I am Black Robe," he replied.

"Hmm, you have worked hard during this time," the Demon Emperor said, his voice carrying a faint trace of gratitude, making Black Robe feel unexpectedly flattered.

"My body is not whole now, and I cannot awake for long, but I can already sense that one of my arms must be sealed in Luzhou in the North," the Demon Emperor said softly.

At this, Demon Master’s eyes suddenly brightened, and he said excitedly, "Your Majesty, is it really so?"

"It cannot be wrong, I can sense its presence, I just can’t pinpoint its exact location due to the seal," the Demon Emperor said somberly.

The two exchanged glances, both spotting the look of joy in the other’s eyes.

"I heard that a formidable person has emerged in the Xiniu Continent?" the Demon Emperor turned and asked.

Black Robe pondered for a long time before finally recounting Lin Fang’s deeds. He was unsure whether Lin Fang was the remarkable person mentioned by the Demon Emperor.

"So his name is Lin Fang, I understand now," the voice murmured, almost as if falling back asleep.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" The Demon Master called out several times but received no response.

"Alas, His Majesty now only has a head left and is still within the Seal, so it’s quite difficult for him to utter a few words," the Demon Master said with a sigh.

Black Robe then gestured with his hand, "During the moment of peril, His Majesty actually took time to meet with me, it truly honors me greatly, but please let’s not disturb His Majesty’s rest because of this."

The Demon Master helped Black Robe up and led him into one of the rooms. Inside was another world, complete with stone tables, stone chairs, and stone stools, where dozens of powerful monsters were seated and drinking.

Black Robe carefully surveyed the attendees. It was his first time seeing so many Demon Kings; previously, he had only met the Demon Master.

Little did he know that while he was sizing up others, they were also taking measure of him.

"Is this Black Robe?" one fiercely looking Demon King asked, laughing.

The Demon Master nodded and pointed to this monster, "This is the Flood Dragon Demon King, also known as the Great Sage who Overturns the Seas."

"The Great Sage who Overturns the Seas!" Black Robe exclaimed, having witnessed the capabilities of the Supreme Sage Bull Demon King and the Great Sage Equalling Heaven, Sun Wukong. This Great Sage who Overturns the Seas was said to be a sworn brother to them, his divine skills being no less impressive than theirs, and here he was, under the Demon Emperor’s command.

"It seems you have also heard of my name. I hear Old Bull has fallen?" the Great Sage who Overturns the Seas asked with a smile.

Black Robe nodded and said, "The Buddhist Sect is aggressively pursuing him. He had no escape."

"My big brother, always so proud and lofty, never wanted to join us and strove to conquer a territory with his own hands—only to end up in such a disheveled state now," said the Great Sage who Overturns the Seas, appearing quite saddened.

He reminisced about the past when he and his six brothers were full of spirit, joyously discussing Heaven and Earth over wine. Now, they were scattered far and wide, each walking a path uniquely their own.

"Second brother, why bother with this, he chose his own path," said a robust, hairy-faced monster.

The Demon Master laughed and pointed at him, saying, "The Great Saint who moves mountains, Shituo King."

In just a few words, another Great Sage of the Demon Race made his presence known, astonishing Black Robe, who suddenly realized that perhaps, aside from Bull Demon King and Sun Wukong, the other Great Sages were all here.

Perhaps their lack of fame later on was due to their involvement in the action to resurrect the Demon Emperor. Naturally, all their movements had to be clandestine to prevent the Heavenly Court from finding out and thwarting their efforts.

As he thought this, a Demon King not far away stood up and said, "Everyone has their own aspirations, but it’s Seventh who is truly contemptible, actually joining the Buddhist Sect as a lackey."

This Demon King resembled a Husun, but was bigger and more menacing, with protruding fangs that only added to his ferocity.

Black Robe guessed that this must be the legendary Divine Exorcist Great Sage, rumored to command divine spirits, master of the unchallenged Art of Spirit Sealing.

"Seventh originally belonged to the Orthodox Profound School; unlike us, such a choice is reasonable for him, besides, you know well enough the tricks of the Buddhist Sect, who knows what schemes lie behind all this."