Chapter 484: A Dead Man's Glare and the Entrance of Lin Dong, Xiao Yan, and Others into the Outland Demon Territory
"Tsk tsk, back then, when I killed the sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, his Spirit Array Body Refinement Art and Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulation Body were far inferior to Xiao Tiance's."
Within the Lingzhen (Spirit Array) covering the Saint City of the Liyuan Continent, the Dark Demon Emperor's words echoed, catching the attention of the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor, who now had a clearer understanding of the Spirit Array Body Refinement Art and the Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulation Body.
"No wonder," the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor mused. "It's one of the ten original Supreme Physiques, the Heavenly Dao Myriad Tribulation Body. I remember hearing about it back then. However, the person who created it never reached its peak. They were too weak to fully cultivate what they had made."
Unbeknownst to the two Demon Emperors, their conversation was overheard entirely by Xiao Tiance, who was still trading blows with the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, Xiao Tiance's movements sped up. With a decisive punch, he struck the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor in the chest, sending him flying. Then, Xiao Tiance turned his gaze to the Dark Demon Emperor, his tone ice cold:
"So, you're the culprit who destroyed the Heavenly Dao Sect over 30,000 years ago?"
Startled by the sudden question and the unmasked killing intent in Xiao Tiance's eyes, the Dark Demon Emperor involuntarily took a step back.
But as a top tier Demon Emperor, he quickly steadied himself, his retreat lasting no more than a single step. "Hmph, so what if I am?" he retorted, masking his unease with bravado.
Xiao Tiance's gaze toward the Dark Demon Emperor shifted, his eyes now reflecting a calm disdain, as if he were already staring at a corpse.
Ignoring the Dark Demon Emperor momentarily, Xiao Tiance looked back at the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor, who was spitting blood from his injuries. His voice was cold as he taunted:
"Shall we continue? Purely in terms of physical strength, you are no match for me."
The Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor gritted his teeth and sneered:
"So what if I'm no match? All I have to do is exhaust you. Once your secret technique's time runs out, you won't be able to escape."
Xiao Tiance chuckled softly and said:
"Oh? So you think I've only surpassed you because of a secret technique? Very well. I'll give you the opportunity to prove yourself."
As he spoke, the bloodline power within Xiao Tiance's body, which had been gradually depleting, reached exhaustion. However, unknown to the Demon Emperors, the instant his bloodline energy was drained, it surged back, stronger than ever before.
Seeing the golden patterns on Xiao Tiance's face and neck fade, the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor and the others were elated.
The Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor sneered:
"An opportunity? Hah! I don't need your charity. Now that your secret technique has ended, you're nothing. Without its augmentation, you're no match for me. Besides, your spiritual energy is nearly drained. Do you think you can still escape?"
Xiao Tiance laughed heartily, his voice reverberating across the battlefield:
"Escape? Who said I plan to escape? Earlier, I might have considered withdrawing to save myself from the annoyance of being surrounded by you top tier Demon Emperors. But now? Today, if I don't take the Dark Demon Emperor's life, there's no point in my return to the Great Thousand World."
As he spoke, the vast reservoir of energy within the Tai Ling Ancient Diagram surged, instantly replenishing his drained spiritual energy and restoring it to its peak.
The Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor and his companions watched in stunned silence, their expressions frozen in disbelief.
"Impossible! How can your spiritual energy recover so quickly? There's no absorbable spiritual energy in this land!" the Dark Demon Emperor shouted, his voice tinged with panic.
Xiao Tiance smirked but gave no answer, unwilling to reveal the secrets of the Tai Ling Ancient Diagram. Instead, he replied mockingly:
"Come on, I'm no longer using my secret technique. This is your chance don't waste it."
The Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor exchanged a glance with the other two and was about to suggest a coordinated attack when the Dark Demon Emperor stepped forward, brimming with indignation.
"Hmph! Xiao Tiance, earlier, I wasn't your match while you were under your secret technique's effects. But now, you dare claim you can take my life? You must have gone mad."
Xiao Tiance laughed coldly, his voice sharp:
"Mad? Perhaps. But you'll soon find out whether I can take your life. Earlier, the presence of the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor and the Nine Heavens Corpse Demon Emperor kept me from finishing you off. Without them, you wouldn't even have the chance to speak to me."
Enraged by Xiao Tiance's derision, the Dark Demon Emperor bellowed:
"Damn you! Let me see just how strong you are without your secret technique!"
With that, the Dark Demon Emperor charged at Xiao Tiance.
Meanwhile, on the Sacred Abyss Continent
In the courtyard where Xiao Tiance had once resided, a radiant golden light suddenly descended from the sky, shaking the entire Sacred Abyss Continent.
"What's going on? Is the Outland Demon Tribe attacking us?" exclaimed Wan Feng and Lu Tong, startled by the phenomenon.
Acting swiftly, the two mobilized fifty Heavenly Puppet Beasts to surround the courtyard.
As they approached, Lu Tong's expression darkened. Though he detected no demonic energy, the golden light seemed strangely familiar.
Moments later, the light coalesced, and a figure appeared within it. To the astonishment of everyone present, the figure staggered forward it was Qin Tian.
As the golden light dissipated, Qin Tian muttered to himself in disbelief:
"I'm really back? Xiao Tiance's long range teleportation array actually sent me back so quickly?"
Wan Feng and Lu Tong, recognizing Qin Tian's aura, rushed forward with excitement.
"Grand Elder! What happened? How did you suddenly appear here?" Wan Feng asked anxiously.
Qin Tian, still catching his breath, waved off the others and motioned for them to leave. He sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard, letting out a deep sigh.
"It's a long story," he said, gesturing for Wan Feng and Lu Tong to sit.
"Alright, let's hear it," Lu Tong replied, his curiosity piqued.
Thus began Qin Tian's account of the events in the Outland Demon Territory.
Wan Feng and Lu Tong nodded in unison and quickly took their seats beside Qin Tian. After a long pause, Qin Tian turned to Wan Feng and instructed, "Xiao Wan, go notify the major powers of the Great Thousand World immediately. Tell them that the Outland Demon Tribe is likely planning a full scale attack. Everyone must prepare for battle."
"What? A possible full scale attack by the Outland Demon Tribe?" Wan Feng and Lu Tong both froze in shock before their faces turned pale with alarm. Without wasting another moment, Wan Feng bowed and swiftly departed to relay the message.
Once Wan Feng was gone, Lu Tong asked urgently, "Grand Elder, what happened? How did you suddenly appear here?"
Qin Tian let out a weary sigh and explained, "It's all because of Tiance. Before leaving, he set up a long distance teleportation array interface here. He also crafted a jade talisman that could activate the teleportation array at any time. When it was crushed, it sent me back here."
Qin Tian then recounted the details of the long distance teleportation setup and the events that had transpired in the Outland Demon Territory.
When he finished, Lu Tong couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "Grand Elder, no wonder you said the Outland Demon Tribe might launch an all out attack. However, I've been personally monitoring their movements, and there have been no signs of such a large scale invasion."
"If nothing else," Lu Tong continued, "this may just be the Outland Demon Tribe's ploy to force you and Tiance to reveal yourselves. Now that you've returned through the teleportation array Tiance prepared in advance, it's likely that he has already been surrounded by their elites. What should we do next?"
Lu Tong's anxious tone mirrored his concern. While he and Xiao Tiance belonged to different factions, he recognized Xiao Tiance as one of the most effective leaders in the fight against the Outland Demon Tribe. Under Xiao Tiance's leadership, White Jade Pavilion had amassed countless powerful warriors, consistently standing at the forefront of battles against the invaders.
Hearing this, Qin Tian furrowed his brows. He understood Lu Tong's concerns, but the current situation seemed insurmountable. Xiao Tiance was likely facing dozens of late stage Heavenly Demon Emperors and even more mid and early stage ones. Even if they wanted to rush to his aid, they wouldn't stand a chance.
Moreover, aside from the Great Thousand Palace, White Jade Pavilion, the Endless Flame Domain, and the Supreme Martial Realm, it was unlikely that any other major faction would agree to assist. After all, many had already opposed the earlier plan to rescue the elder from the Outland Demon Territory. Now, with Xiao Tiance himself in danger, their reluctance to act would only deepen.
From the broader perspective of the Great Thousand World, launching a rescue mission into enemy territory was seen as reckless and detrimental to the greater good. This was precisely why the Five Ancient Clans and many top tier Heavenly Sovereigns had refused to participate in the first place.
After pondering for a long while, Qin Tian finally let out a heavy sigh and said, "Old Lu, there's nothing we can do now."
Lu Tong's face fell. "Are you saying that Tiance's fate now rests solely in his own hands?" he asked grimly.
Qin Tian nodded reluctantly. "Yes. As much as I hate this, and as much as I wish I had stayed behind to let Tiance return instead, the Outland Demon Tribe's overwhelming strength cannot be ignored. If they truly launch an all out invasion, the consequences will be catastrophic."
He smiled bitterly, his face a mask of pain. "Had we known that their show of force was merely a bluff to lure us out, we never would have fallen for it. But at the time, neither of us dared to gamble on that possibility. Especially me. I've spent my entire life fighting the Outland Demon Tribe, dedicating everything to protecting the Great Thousand World from their conquest. How could I take that risk?"
Qin Tian's voice grew hoarse with regret. "In the end, we walked right into their trap. Tiance sent me away and stayed behind alone. If that doesn't make my heart ache, I don't know what does."
Lu Tong sighed in sympathy. "It's not your fault, Grand Elder. This was Tiance's choice. Still, with him now surrounded by their elites, his chances of survival are slim. Should we inform White Jade Pavilion about this?"
Qin Tian hesitated briefly before nodding. "Yes. I will personally go to White Jade Pavilion. Before leaving, Tiance entrusted me with some items that I must deliver to Lady Medusa, his wife."
At that moment, Lu Tong remembered something and added, "Grand Elder, there's something else. Seven days ago, Martial Ancestor Lin Dong of the Supreme Martial Realm, Flame Emperor Xiao Yan of the Endless Flame Domain, and four of Tiance's disciples entered the Outland Demon Territory through the Sacred Abyss Continent. They haven't sent back any word since."
"What?" Qin Tian shot to his feet, his expression a mix of shock and fury. "That's reckless! While they may be Heavenly Sovereigns, if they encounter top tier Demon Emperors, they'll be in grave danger. Lu Tong, how could you allow them to venture into the Outland Demon Territory?"
Lu Tong forced a wry smile. "Grand Elder, as a Saint stage Heavenly Sovereign, do you think I can stop three mid stage Saint Sovereigns and one early stage Saint Sovereign from leaving?"
Qin Tian fell silent, his anger giving way to despair. "What a mess. If something happens to them, how will I face Tiance? How can I bear the guilt?"
Lu Tong tried to offer some consolation. "Grand Elder, consider this: if the Outland Demon Tribe has focused all their elites on surrounding Tiance, then Lin Dong, Xiao Yan, and the others might be able to move freely within their territory. Additionally, I suspect that the recent halt in the Outland Demon Tribe's usual attacks may be related to their actions."
Qin Tian's expression softened slightly, though his concern lingered. "I hope you're right, Old Lu. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable."
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