Chapter 59: The Demon Emperor's Heart
An extremely grand display and imposing momentum—thirty-six divine rainbows in the lead, twenty-seven savage beasts carrying twenty-seven powerful cultivators behind. Though only a few dozen people, it was like a thousand troops and ten thousand horses charging forth. The very sky trembled, as if endless heavenly soldiers and generals were descending.
The sky echoed with human shouts and beastly roars, rolling clouds surging violently, killing intent soaring to the heavens like a vast ocean crashing forward. Ye Fan was greatly startled—so many experts, twice as many as the people from Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven.
"Yaoguang Holy Land... is that the holy land Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven is attached to?" Ye Fan muttered to himself. Whether in ancient China or on this side of the stellar shore, the name "Yaoguang" carried deep significance.
"Yaoguang Holy Land sure puts on airs!" Just then, a cold voice rang out from another direction. The sky there rumbled as eighteen ancient war chariots rolled forward, killing intent surging, pressing down on the heavens with a booming tremor.
"The ancient aristocratic clan passed down from the Primordial Era—the Ji Family!" The people of Yaoguang Holy Land narrowed their eyes upon seeing the eighteen ancient chariots. Everyone went on alert, killing aura rising sharply as the atmosphere grew tense.
Both sides halted, each occupying a stretch of sky, facing off from a distance.
"Let strength decide the contest!"
This was the resounding voice of both groups. After a brief standoff without battle, they simultaneously charged toward the majestic ancient hall atop the volcano.
Ye Fan's heart tightened. The legendary holy land and the Primordial aristocratic clan had arrived one after another. It seemed the emergence of the Demon Emperor's tomb was shocking enough that both colossal powers, upon receiving word, had immediately descended upon Yan Region to join the fray.
"The Ji Family, passed down from the Primordial Era..." Ye Fan's expression turned thoughtful. The surname Ji was one of the most ancient in China, carrying immense prestige and leaving behind endless legends in ancient China. He hadn't expected it to be the same on this side of the stellar shore—a force comparable to a holy land.
"Rumble, rumble..."
The sky roared as if a flood was surging through. Yaoguang Holy Land and the Ji Family, these two transcendent powers, swept past in an instant and arrived before the majestic ancient hall.
Around them, the ferocious birds and savage beasts scattered in all directions. Though they couldn't yet take human form, they had long awakened their intelligence and sensed the danger, retreating decisively.
On the other side, the elders of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven all changed color. Though they were attached to Yaoguang Holy Land, they hadn't reported the sudden appearance of the Demon Emperor's tomb. Now that the holy land had come on its own, it naturally made them uneasy. Moreover, the Ji Family, the Primordial aristocratic clan closest to Yan Region, had also received word and arrived. Both superpowers were now present, leaving the people of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven feeling bitter—they knew they would likely gain nothing.
At this moment, the majestic ancient hall trembled continuously. Several great demons and the sect master and supreme elders of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven were locked in fierce combat. The dull sounds from within grew stronger, causing heart pain even from a great distance.
The people of Yaoguang Holy Land quickly surrounded the ancient hall. Dozens of savage beasts shook their heads and tails, spewing clouds and mist, stamping in the sky and causing continuous tremors and chaos. The Ji Family didn't back down—their eighteen ancient war chariots formed a battle formation, sealing off the sky, confronting Yaoguang Holy Land while also preventing the Demon Emperor's tomb from suddenly soaring away.
Just then, eight or nine elders stepped out from both Yaoguang Holy Land and the Ji Family. They strode through the void, and with a flash of light, vanished at the entrance of the ancient hall, charging inside.
"Boom!"
The Demon Emperor's tomb shook even more violently. The battle inside had reached a fever pitch, with weapons constantly spitting divine light from the hall's entrance.
The addition of the Primordial aristocratic clan and the holy land quickly broke the deadlock, seemingly shattering many of the restrictions within. Soon, rays of multicolored light burst forth.
The people waiting outside all sprang into action, riding divine rainbows to seize the escaping lights. Upon closer inspection, they were weapons flowing with radiance—clearly no ordinary items.
"Thud!"
Suddenly, a violent tremor struck. Everyone surrounding the ancient hall turned pale and retreated rapidly. A vast, unfathomable force surged from within the hall, like a raging sea howling wildly, sending the Ji Family's eighteen ancient chariots flying. The savage beasts and cultivators of Yaoguang Holy Land were also thrown into disarray, scrambling backward.
Blazing light erupted from the Demon Emperor's tomb, blinding all who looked. The vast, unfathomable force surged like a tidal wave. A small crystal coffin, barely a foot long, shot out—its intense power and dazzling light emanating from within.
"Thud," "thud," "thud"...
It trembled gently, like a heartbeat, rhythmic and full of surging life force, its vast power sweeping in all directions.
"Stop it!"
Urgent shouts came from within the Demon Emperor's tomb. A dozen figures charged out, with Pang Bo at the forefront. He was now wreathed in green aura, the dragon patterns and phoenix symbols on his face even denser. Even his arms were gradually covered in black tortoise and qilin-shaped characters. His eyes shot green light several meters long—his demonic aura soaring to the heavens, surpassing even the great demons behind him. At this moment, his gaze was fixed solely on the foot-long crystal coffin, chasing it relentlessly.
The experts of Yaoguang Holy Land and the Ji Family emerged from the ancient hall with grim expressions, loudly ordering their people to intercept the crystal coffin. The sect master and supreme elders of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven also rushed out with ugly looks. They refused to give up, despite the crowd, hoping to fight for it—otherwise, all their efforts would flow away like water.
As for the great demons, they were the most furious, their faces filled with unwillingness. But facing so many human experts, they were powerless. They broke through the encirclement, ready to act as the situation allowed.
The Ji Family's eighteen ancient chariots formed a battle formation, blocking the sky and sealing off the area to intercept the crystal coffin. The cultivators of Yaoguang Holy Land also moved, some riding savage beasts, others riding divine rainbows, charging straight up.
The foot-long crystal coffin was immediately trapped. At this moment, the experts who had rushed out of the Demon Emperor's tomb all arrived, reaching out almost simultaneously to grab it.
"Bang!"
Over a dozen large hands reached out and seized the crystal coffin. Of course, these hands were formed from condensed light, not their actual palms. As they fought for the coffin, they also clashed with each other.
The Ji Family's eighteen chariots all closed in, while Yaoguang Holy Land's people charged back and forth. The sect master of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven and the two surviving supreme elders wore grim expressions. Their absolute strength was considerable, but before so many, they seemed isolated and outnumbered.
Of course, Pang Bo was even more alone, but he didn't give up. His demonic aura soared, the green light from his eyes extending over ten meters, his momentum even stronger than before.
"Crack, crack!"
At that moment, the crystal coffin couldn't withstand the impact of so many experts. It slowly cracked, then shattered with a bang.
"Boom!"
A monstrous demonic force erupted in an instant, blasting everyone away. No one could withstand that berserk power.
The Ji Family's chariots—the four at the very front—were crushed instantly. The twelve cultivators on them dissolved like sand, turning to dust in a flash.
Yaoguang Holy Land also suffered heavy losses. Over a dozen people were shredded by the overwhelming demonic force, turning into bloody mist along with their savage beasts, dying on the spot.
The sect master and two supreme elders of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven turned pale, flying back hundreds of meters before stabilizing. Even as strong as they were, they nearly suffered injury.
In the distance, Ye Fan's heart tightened, fearing for Pang Bo. Though an unknown presence had taken over his body, it was still Pang Bo's flesh.
Demonic aura surged. Pang Bo was unharmed, retreating farther than anyone else, as if he had anticipated this outcome.
Now, the life force erupting from the shattered crystal coffin was comparable to an ocean. The combined life force of everyone present couldn't match it.
At the source of the endless demonic power was a bright red heart, only the size of a fist, glittering like red agate. Blazing blood-colored divine radiance swirled around it—the boundless demonic power and powerful life force emanating from it.
"Thud," "thud," "thud"...
The sound of a heartbeat echoed. It was pulsing, trembling with life—a heart full of vigorous vitality!
In that moment, no one could approach. Every beat of that crystalline, vivid red heart made those nearby feel their blood surge, their veins on the verge of bursting. Everyone's heart ached violently. Many had blood at the corners of their mouths, unable to endure, quickly flying backward.
A terrifying heart—just its normal beating was unbearable!
"The Great Emperor's heart... the sacred heart of our demon race's Great Emperor!" The great demons in the sky were all shocked, unable to help crying out in surprise.
The crystalline Demon Emperor's heart beat powerfully, then suddenly shot into the sky, turning into a streak of blood-colored divine light, flying toward the distant horizon.
"Stop it! Don't let it escape!" An old man from Yaoguang Holy Land shouted, his face full of urgency.
"Intercept it! At all costs, seal it!" The Ji Family's experts also yelled: "That's the heart of the Demon Emperor, the source of his power! If another great demon gets it, it could create another Demon Emperor!"
As they gave orders, the great demons had already charged out. But one figure was faster than all—Pang Bo. He merged with heaven and earth, turning into a green light, vanishing in an instant, following the Demon Emperor's heart into the distance.
The Ji Family dispatched eight ancient chariots in pursuit, while Yaoguang Holy Land sent half their forces, rushing off at full speed. Each left half their people behind to surround the Demon Emperor's tomb.
"If I had known it was the Demon Emperor's tomb, I would have reported it no matter what. Coming in haste, our strength is insufficient!" An old man from Yaoguang Holy Land sighed repeatedly.
"We thought it was just an ordinary cave dwelling. Never expected it to be the Demon Emperor's tomb—completely unexpected. This will shake the entire Eastern Wasteland!" The Ji Family's experts also regretted not reporting it, charging in with their people.
In the distance, Ye Fan was deeply shocked. Among these people, at least ten were no weaker than the sect master of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven. Yet from their words, it was clear they weren't the true experts of Yaoguang Holy Land or the Ji Family. This was truly alarming.
The holy lands and Primordial aristocratic clans were indeed unimaginable behemoths!
"Sect Master Li, have you obtained the legendary Dao Scripture?" An elder from Yaoguang Holy Land asked the sect master of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven. Since learning this was the Demon Emperor's tomb, he immediately understood what sacred relics were buried here.
Besides the Demon Emperor's personal treasures, there were three other divine treasures: the Dao Scripture, the Eastern Wasteland human race's supreme treasure, and the Demon Emperor's remains.
Among them, the Demon Emperor's power source—his heart—had already broken through the sky. Whether it could be intercepted was uncertain. Setting aside the Demon Emperor's treasures, the other two sacred relics of the Eastern Wasteland human race were what Yaoguang Holy Land and the Ji Family were determined to obtain.
The sect master of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven felt bitter. Not reporting to Yaoguang Holy Land in advance had still yielded nothing. If he had known, he might as well have given them a great favor. He quickly explained in detail: "The first divine treasure, the Dao Scripture, vanished without a trace, leaving only an empty box. No one saw the true scripture. We accidentally opened the third divine treasure first, and the Demon Emperor's heart also broke through the sky. Now only the second divine treasure remains, with half its restrictions just broken. I expect the Eastern Wasteland human race's supreme treasure is still inside. Additionally, some of the Demon Emperor's personal treasures should be there."
"The Dao Scripture vanished? How can this be?!" The experts of Yaoguang Holy Land and the Ji Family stared intently at the sect master of Spirit Ruins Cave Heaven, as if they didn't believe him.
The sect master's heart was bitter. In the Eastern Wasteland, a few ancient scriptures rivaled the Dao Scripture, said to be held by the holy lands and Primordial aristocratic clans. They already had such immortal texts, yet still wanted to seize this one. He could only sigh inwardly and shake his head helplessly: "We truly did not see it..."
Just then, from the distant horizon came the melodious sound of celestial music. A dozen women drifted over, flying right above Ye Fan's head, startling him.
These dozen women were all dressed in white, pure as snow. Though not stunningly beautiful, each was clear and ethereal, untouched by worldly dust. They were light and graceful, flying in like rippling fairies or dancing spirits, not eating mortal food, transcendent and refined.
Some softly played bamboo flutes, the sound melodious and pleasant. Others smiled gently, like a spring breeze. These women, with brows like paintings, were like banished immortals, carrying an otherworldly aura.
Ye Fan was amazed. He felt these were the cultivators he had imagined—ethereal and graceful, riding rainbows, transcending the mundane, roaming freely between heaven and earth.
"Unexpected—even the long-secluded Yao Chi Holy Land has been stirred. I imagine soon, all the sects of the Eastern Wasteland will swarm here."
"Yao Chi Holy Land has always been aloof from worldly affairs. Are they here to compete for the Demon Emperor's legacy?"
The people of Yaoguang Holy Land and the Ji Family spoke simultaneously, both greeting the dozen pure maidens and probing their intentions.
"We were merely passing by. Sensing the demonic power here vast as an ocean, we came to investigate. We didn't expect to meet you all," a white-robed woman said with a light smile, then grew serious. "I never thought it was the Demon Emperor's tomb emerging. In the coming days, this will surely shake the entire Eastern Wasteland, drawing countless sects to send people here."
In the distance, Ye Fan was very surprised. Names like Yaoguang, Ji, and Yao Chi were no ordinary words. Especially Yao Chi, which left a deep mark in ancient Chinese mythology. He hadn't expected it to carry such weight on this side of the stellar shore.