“Thank you, Lord! I’ll go capture Ji Fuyao at once!”
With that declaration, the Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor’s heart pounded with excitement. He swiftly gathered his subordinate Great Emperors, tore open the void, and shot towards the Ancient Great Medicine's location.
The Lord Zhu Liefang he had just contacted was a capable general under Demon General Zhu Xiong. This time, they could not only kill Ye Chen and capture Ji Fuyao but also seize an Ancient Great Medicine. What an immense achievement! It was truly a case of killing three birds with one stone!
Demon General Zhu Xiong, the Pig-head Lord, had already reserved this Ancient Great Medicine. He was currently in the Above Emperor Realm Area. The Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor couldn't even imagine the magnitude of the reward that awaited him!
Moreover, it was rumored that Lord Pig-head was quite taken with Ji Fuyao. Though young and perhaps a bit naive, her peerless grace rivaled that of the Ancient Era's Number One Beauty, Xuanji Holy Lord! Xuanji Holy Lord was afflicted by Eerie Power and Ominous Power, forces that even Half-step Supremes and Quasi-Dao Supremes shied away from. How could mere Great Emperors dare to covet her?
But Ji Fuyao was equally stunning, and her tender beauty was irresistible. Lord Pig-head had already prepared an Emperor-tier Dragon Guiding Pill, intending to use it once Ji Fuyao was captured.
A sinister grin spread across the Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor's face. “I wonder if I'll get a taste of Ji Fuyao's exquisite beauty then. Such a peerless human beauty… if I could toy with her for a while, my Dao Heart for breaking through to Half-step Supreme would surely become even more resolute!”
Hearing this, a few Great Emperors under the Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor timidly asked, “Old Ancestor, if possible, we'd also like to…”
The Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor was in high spirits. “Don't worry, if Lord Zhu Liefang is pleased, I can put in a good word for you. But don't get your hopes up too much. The Demon Court has a whole host of peak Great Emperors waiting for Ji Fuyao right now.”
His subordinates lamented, “What a pity. Who knows what the Silent Destruction Old Man is thinking, wanting to sever the head of such a peerless beauty. Are they… incapable?”
The Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor let out a savage laugh. “Are there any sane people left in the entire Silent Destruction Sect? Ever since the Silent Destruction Old Man moved the whole sect into the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, their elders have been dying or getting injured. Now, all the Silent Destruction Sect thinks about is how to acquire more Life Force. Unlike our Demon Court, we have three Supreme beings who left us an ultimate foundation, so we don't have to worry about the Power of Time at all.”
His subordinates sighed with emotion. “Indeed! The Demon Lord is truly terrifying, and what's more, our Demon Court has had three generations of Demon Lords! Three Supremes laid the foundation for our Demon Court. As the humans say, ‘One generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade!’ We are now basking in the glory of the Demon Lords!”
A look of reverence appeared on the Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor's face. “Precisely. In this world, you need powerful backing, strong connections. Three generations of Supremes carved out the Demon Court Small World, which can even be called the Little Southern Wilds. We're not like those living dead in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, who spend their days in Great Tombs, tainted by dense Eerie Power and Ominous Power.”
His subordinates whispered, “I heard that after the Demon Lord broke through to Supreme, his power rivaled the Heavenly Dao of the Five Regions.”
“Watch your tongue!” The Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor's expression immediately changed. He spoke in a cold voice, “The Heavenly Dao stands above all living beings. We are but mere Great Emperors; we must never speak so carelessly. The Heavenly Dao's killing intent is formless and traceless; it can kill in a single thought!”
His subordinates instantly fell silent.
As the numerous Great Demons traversed the void, an endless river of stars shimmered across the firmament. Just then, the Transmission Jade Slip in the Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor's embrace vibrated faintly. He extended his Divine Sense into it, and soon the voice of Dark Shadow Island's Nine-star Great Emperor, Night Sky Great Emperor, echoed out. He was inquiring about Ji Fuyao's whereabouts.
It was well known that during this period, the Demon Court had allied with Dark Shadow Island and several Alien Races. They were all secretly targeting the Grand Dao Sect!
The Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor burst into laughter. “Night Sky Great Emperor, you're too late. Our Demon Court has already located Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen.”
Night Sky Great Emperor's voice carried a hint of regret. “I didn't expect you to get there first!”
A moment of silence. Then, Night Sky Great Emperor asked, “How do you plan to deal with Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen?”
The Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor revealed a sinister grin. “Ye Chen will naturally be killed outright. As for Ji Fuyao… Hehehe… many Great Emperors in our Demon Court are eager to meet her. Such a peerless beauty, how could we simply kill her? With Ji Fuyao in our hands, we can claim the Silent Destruction Sect's bounty whenever we please.”
Hearing this, Night Sky Great Emperor sighed. “In that case, don't kill Ye Chen yet. Dark Shadow Island is willing to pay a high price for him. The White Robe Great Emperor killed a Saint Lord's bloodline from our Dark Shadow Island; we must make Ye Chen suffer endless torment! We'll use Ye Chen to threaten the White Robe Great Emperor!”
The Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor hesitated for a moment. “For this matter, I need to consult with Lord Zhu Liefang!”
Night Sky Great Emperor said, “Give me a reply as soon as possible!”
The Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor nodded. “That is natural.”
A moment later, the Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor activated a Supreme Secret Art to contact Lord Zhu Liefang. Brilliant divine light surged as the Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor relayed the information.
Zhu Liefang smiled. “Excellent. I've already contacted the Silent Destruction Sect and the Blood Spirit Race; they are both very interested in Ye Chen and Ji Fuyao. As long as we capture Ji Fuyao, we can make a big spectacle of it. And since the White Robe Great Emperor keeps hiding, we can force him to step into the Above Emperor Realm Area.”
The Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor nodded. “Understood, Lord! I will capture Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen as quickly as possible!”
With that declaration, the Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor, leading his numerous Great Demons, accelerated once more, a sinister grin twisting his lips. “Ji Fuyao, Ye Chen, I'm coming for you!”
***
Meanwhile, at the Ancient Great Medicine's location.
Ye Chen was refining the Life Energy within his body. Terrifying power surged ceaselessly. The Ancient Great Medicine had provided him with an overwhelming amount of Life Energy; the excess, unable to be refined, continuously diffused into the surroundings. Yao Yan immediately drew closer, inhaling deeply to absorb it.
Within Ye Chen's Internal World, his Dao Foundation shone brilliantly. Dense ‘Dao’ and ‘Rhyme’ transformed into strands of golden light, circulating through his limbs and bones, tempering his body. His aura surged explosively! In a sudden leap, he broke through to Quasi-Emperor! And it still hadn't stopped!
“Quasi-Emperor!” Ye Chen murmured to himself, a faint smile touching his lips. His cultivation foundation continued to skyrocket!
Beside him, Ji Fuyao sat cross-legged, also refining the Life Force within her body! Boom! Ji Fuyao's fiery red dress billowed. Around her, a monstrous aura surged and receded, and a Sea of Spirit Fire suddenly manifested, pouring outwards. Her cultivation foundation was also soaring! She showed a clear trend towards breaking through to Great Emperor!
But even so, a vast amount of Life Energy continued to dissipate. Yao Yan cautiously devoured the escaping Life Energy!
At the same time, in the distance, a profound change was occurring within Xuanji Holy Lord. An indescribable charm emanated from her, and a terrifying, boundless surge of power, like an ocean, rose around her. Xuanji Holy Lord activated Xuanji's Art, her form like an eternal mountain, shouldering the heavens, unmoving, having achieved a perfect balance of ‘Dao’ and ‘Stance.’ Her figure was exquisitely beautiful, yet she seemed to have merged entirely with this corner of the world.
Ye Chen was somewhat stunned. This entire area had been transformed by this senior's Dao Rhyme, as if it had become a tranquil painting. All four of them were now figures within that painting! Xuanji Holy Lord's aura had reached a state of ‘nature’; if one didn't look closely, it would be impossible to detect her presence. Seeing this, Ye Chen grew excited. “This senior must have suppressed the Eerie Power and Ominous Power!”
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from above the void. Boom! Crack! The void tore open! Space twisted! Terrifying demonic power poured forth between heaven and earth, like an ocean reversing its tide. In the next instant, the Giant Crocodile Old Ancestor, leading his subordinates, slowly emerged from the spatial rift.
He stared at Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen, his voice cold and menacing. “Ji Fuyao, Ye Chen, your day of reckoning has arrived!”