The terrifying battle aura erupted within Yao Li Realm, but the demonic energy acted as a barrier, preventing this aura from spilling out of the realm.
Only Ye Tian, far away at Yunhe Sect, looked up with a smug expression. Everything was within his calculations; Elder Yun had indeed encountered the great demon remnant of Yao Li Realm!
"Master, we can act now."
He murmured, and a yellow light shot out from behind his ear.
The soul of the ancient spirit cat... had always relied on Ye Tian's vitality and fortune to sustain itself; it could not be away from him for too long.
However, now in Yao Li Realm, it was more than enough to sit back and reap the benefits. The great demon remnant and the flesh and soul of a Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivator like Elder Yun would be a tremendous boon for it.
With more power restored, it could provide Ye Tian with even greater assistance!
"Yu Mu, you and Elder Yun have such a deep master-disciple bond. I remember clearly how you threatened me and insulted me that day."
Ye Tian caressed his chest, where a broken bone from Yu Mu's attack still resided. He would not allow this bone to heal, as he wanted that pain to constantly remind him.
"Now, Elder Yun's life... will serve as interest. I look forward to seeing your expression when you hear the news of Elder Yun's fall."
Ye Tian murmured, his tone exceedingly casual.
He was born under the auspices of heaven's luck, protected by an ancient great demon, and had received the legacy of the ancients! He was destined to ascend to greatness, and every obstacle on this path... he would crush beneath his feet!
As for Yu Mu being an obstacle, Ye Tian did not intend to simply crush him; he wanted to trample him underfoot slowly, making him despair until he shattered in that despair...
Yet Ye Tian was unaware that at this moment... the luck he took pride in—no, it should be said the source of his luck—had already transformed much of his will into a small seed deep within Yu Mu's consciousness.
That Dao seed was swaying anxiously and quite unusually! It had actually pulled Yu Mu's soul consciousness into the depths of his own mind into a newly formed space.
"Emperor! Something has happened!"
The spirit of the Heavenly Dao manifested above the seed, looking at Yu Mu with an anxious expression.
"Mm?"
Yu Mu did not give the spirit a good response.
After all, he had completely immersed himself in deep cultivation; the techniques and divine abilities imprinted in his soul needed to be integrated with his own changes.
He still wanted to break through to the early or even mid-Nascent Soul stage before Elder Yun reached transformation!
But just then, being interrupted by the spirit made him curious about what it wanted.
He had felt uneasy these past few days; was this creature now here to disrupt him?
"Emperor, Elder Yun is in danger in Yao Li Realm; his life is at stake! I currently do not have enough power to protect him. Emperor, you must decide!"
As it spoke, the spirit waved its hand, causing an unclear light screen to appear. Within it... was a scene of Elder Yun fighting desperately against the monkey demon.
At that moment, Elder Yun was drenched in blood; his white robe stained crimson, his complexion pale as gold paper, and his aura was extremely weak!
Especially the deep claw marks on his chest that were bleeding profusely; the flesh around them was darkened—clearly indicating that demonic energy had invaded his body.
"A great demon! How could there be a great demon soul in an ordinary gathering place for demon beasts!" In a state of spiritual awareness, Yu Mu's previously clear eyes were suddenly filled with bloodlust.
Even his physical body in the training room stood up unconsciously!
In almost an instant, consciousness returned to his body. The sealed training room erupted with a wind that seemed infused with blood! The immense spiritual pressure surged forth explosively; under this pressure, the sound of breaking spirit stones echoed continuously.
"Master!"
That roar sounded like thunder from the heavens! His previously tied-back long hair was blown loose by the wave of spiritual pressure and fell behind him. An invisible yet heavy oppressive aura suddenly surged from Xinyun Hall!
"Emperor, no! You cannot bear this now!"
The spirit of the Heavenly Dao's voice carried urgency as if it had gone too far.
It only wanted Yu Mu to seek its help, even at great cost or facing retribution from the Great Dao; it would dare to bestow its power to assist Yu Mu.
He wants Yu Mu to rely on the power of the Heavenly Dao to recreate his own glorious era as the Demon Emperor; that is his true intention!
But now, in Yu Mu's current state... he is utterly powerless to stop it! Beneath his billowing dark robe, fresh red blood seeps out as he mobilizes the immense power hidden within his soul!
That power belongs to a transcendent being at the tribulation stage, the pinnacle of this world! At his current level, how could his physical body possibly endure it?
"The vast sea and mulberry fields, a glance... ten thousand years..."
Yu Mu's hoarse voice is muffled by the blood surging in his throat, and the space suddenly tears apart, a blinding silver-white light flashing and vanishing.
Yet his form... directly dissipates within the training room.
This is not merely shrinking space; this is a direct and domineering tearing of space with soul power!
The will of the spirit of the Heavenly Dao also dissipates, and before vanishing... a mysterious light flickers in its eyes.
Guarding the Dao.
Yes, perhaps... this is the Yu Mu who remains unchanged from before.
Perhaps... this is what he truly yearned to see, that undefeated Demon Emperor!
At this moment, chaos reigns in the entire Demon Departure Realm. Elder Yun braces himself against his sword, forcing himself not to fall, while across from him stands a somewhat ethereal demon spirit.
The monkey demon's methods and power far exceed his expectations; after a fierce battle, he has exhausted all his means! Yet the damage inflicted on that monkey demon... merely weakens some of its demonic energy.
"Am I really… going to perish here?"
Elder Yun is unwilling; he trembles as he raises his sword again, both the hilt and blade soaked in his own blood.
"You... should not appear in the northwest."
Elder Yun stumbles but his eyes are filled with determination! Flames of gold and red ignite atop his head and shoulders.
"If you go out, it will surely bring disaster to the beings of the northwest, even implicating Yunhe Sect and my disciples."
In the glow of these flames, Elder Yun resembles an old general clad in tattered armor, facing an utterly invincible enemy yet still raising his sword to charge!
His blood-stained white hair dances wildly behind him; this terrifying aura actually stuns the monkey demon for a moment. Just for a moment, Elder Yun has stepped forward three paces.
His steps are no longer unsteady; his gaze becomes even more resolute!
"Thus! I, Elder Yun, am willing to sacrifice myself to eliminate demons! To protect my northwest from harm!"
Sword energy surges forth, stirring up endless winds that seem to carry a hint of crimson.
The small eyes of the monkey demon reveal a trace of human-like fear; its few remaining memories seem to remind it.
A cultivator in such a state is fighting desperately and is at their most terrifying moment! Yet... it craves this cultivator's flesh and soul too much! By devouring this cultivator, it could remember more—more... things it has forgotten...
"Squeak!!!"
The monkey demon lets out a sharp shriek; what it has forgotten is very important! It raises its claws to counter Elder Yun's strongest strike thus far in life!
"Boom!!"
The earth trembles under Elder Yun's sword strike; the monkey demon's soul body is nearly shattered completely! But on Elder Yun's chest appears an even more gruesome wound, from which one can faintly see a heart violently beating within the flesh.
"Squeak squeak squeak... ha ha ha ha!"
The monkey demon flails its claws wildly, seemingly laughing madly! It has won! This cultivator has no strength left to fight!