Master of the Demon Emperor

"Be careful."

Su Yie cautioned softly as his divine sense began to scan the surroundings. Three Immortal Swords flew out from his sleeve and floated around the two of them.

Nan Xiaopao remained vigilant as she had already buried the Sacred Lotus of Qiling underground, ready for battle at any moment.

The night air was slightly chilly, with the cold wind carrying sand that could easily scrape the skin. Fortunately, Su Yie and Nan Xiaopao were not ordinary people. They could mitigate it with mana or spiritual power.

Time ticked by slowly.

It had been a full hour, but Li Huahun and Qing Jushi had not returned yet.

During this time, Su Yie called Li Huahun through Emperor Su's Sect. At first, Li Huahun responded, but then there was no further communication.

The news of Su Yie and the others entering the Immortal Forbidden Zone stirred discussions among the members of Emperor Su's Sect.

Emperor Jiang Mo: Do you think they might have been possessed?

Flame Prison Demoness: I heard the Immortal Forbidden Zone has been unstable lately. Is Nie Sanqiu about to reappear?

Nan Xiaopao: Who is Nie Sanqiu?

Supreme Dragon Shaking: Nie Sanqiu was a powerful figure from a million years ago. His cultivation reached the heavens. He entered the Immortal Forbidden Zone but never came out.

Sea Emperor: Nie Sanqiu? Could he be Emperor Nie? The one rumored to tear Immortal Gods apart?

Ren Wokuang: My big brother won't have any problems. Don't worry, let him do whatever he wants!

...

Su Yie and Nan Xiaopao exchanged glances, both intrigued by Nie Sanqiu.

As for Li Huahun, since Ren Wokuang reassured them, they weren't worried either. Especially Su Yie, who knew the strength of Li Huahun's father.

"Do you think we might meet this Nie Sanqiu they mentioned?"

Nan Xiaopao asked, her face showing curiosity.

What would such a powerful ancient figure be like?

At the same time, she looked at Su Yie's face and smiled foolishly.

"Maybe. Why are you smiling?"

Su Yie replied, keeping his mind alert. An uneasy feeling had been hovering over him for a day, making him very uneasy.

Nan Xiaopao giggled, "I was wondering how people would admire you after countless years."

Her eyes were full of adoration. She believed Su Yie would become a legend, a powerful figure praised by all.

Su Yie shook his head and chuckled. He didn't think that far ahead, only focused on the present.

At that moment, several baby Bloodthirsty Golden Flame Ants crawled out from the sand. The emotions they conveyed to Su Yie were fear, as if something terrifying was hidden underground.

Su Yie immediately picked up Nan Xiaopao and leaped into the air. The Zhou Wu Sword landed beneath his feet, giving them a place to stand.

At the same time, the Sacred Lotus of Qiling also sent a message to Nan Xiaopao; something was rushing toward the surface from below.

With a loud boom—

A colossal black figure broke through the sand, startling Su Yie and Nan Xiaopao, making them soar higher into the sky to keep their distance.

By the moonlight, it was a massive black scorpion, a hundred meters long. Its black armor was covered in many sharp spikes, making it look extremely menacing. The pincers seemed capable of crushing mountains, and the poison stinger hanging above its head was chilling.

The giant scorpion raised its head, its six eyes locking onto Su Yie and Nan Xiaopao, as if looking at prey.

The Ant Queen circled in the air with the Bloodthirsty Golden Flame Ants. Though they feared the giant scorpion, they also held an inexplicable longing.

Nan Xiaopao immediately waved her hand, causing giant vines to rise from the ground and quickly entangle the scorpion, dragging it underground.

Her control over the Sacred Lotus of Qiling had become increasingly proficient, even Su Yie couldn't help but admire her.

Qing Jushi and Li Huahun had yet to return. They couldn't leave for now, or the two would not be able to find them upon returning.

Rumble—

The desert began to churn violently. The rolling sea of sand startled Su Yie and Nan Xiaopao, making them fly higher again.

"Run! There's a serious threat below!"

Feng Long exclaimed in Su Yie's mind, startling him into pulling Nan Xiaopao along as he flew away on the sword.

Sword Soul knew his strength; for it to demand he flee under such circumstances meant the threat below was far more than just the giant scorpion.

The Bloodthirsty Golden Flame Ants followed them as they flew away. When they disappeared into the night, a giant, charred hand broke through the ground, emerging. Even its forearm was a thousand meters tall, as if it could grasp the stars and the moon.

This hand held the giant scorpion entangled in dozens of vines. At this moment, the scorpion seemed small and powerless. It struggled desperately, even using its poison stinger to stab the black hand, but it was futile.

Splat!

The black hand suddenly squeezed, crushing the giant scorpion. Green juice splattered, utterly disgusting.

Then, the black hand slowly retracted into the desert, like a giant peak being pulled down.

Meanwhile, Su Yie and Nan Xiaopao had flown a hundred miles away.

During their flight, they looked back and saw the black hand.

"What is that?"

Nan Xiaopao asked in horror, the black hand in the night instilling her with near-infinite fear.

Even Su Yie was frightened. Fortunately, he had experienced much, so he was not afraid.

He said calmly, "It could be the corpse of a powerful figure that's undergone a transformation."

Rumors said that in ancient times, there were giants, thousands of meters tall when they reached adulthood, who roamed the world with physical strength surpassing even the Wux Clan. Later, for unknown reasons, their entire race vanished, leaving endless legends behind.

Could it be that a giant's body was buried beneath the Immortal Forbidden Zone?

Since the entity didn't chase them, it either had no consciousness or was merely disturbed.

In either case, Su Yie and Nan Xiaopao couldn't afford to return. Otherwise, they would be the next victims.

"Just entering the Immortal Forbidden Zone and provoking such an existence, Su boy, you truly are a Demon Star!"

Feng Long sighed. Among its past Sword Masters, some had also ventured into the Immortal Forbidden Zone, only to perish, leaving it to be picked up by other beings and eventually brought out. After a long time of drifting, it finally ended up in the Eastern Lands, controlled by King Zhou Wu, and became famous.

"What kind of thing was that?"

Su Yie asked in his mind, while he pulled Nan Xiaopao down toward the ground.

"The Immortal Forbidden Zone was once a battlefield where the clans fought, with countless deaths and injuries, including peerless Great Emperors. After their deaths, their wronged spirits lingered, and some even began to remake their bodies."

Feng Long explained, shocking Su Yie.

Could that black hand belong to a Great Emperor?

He remembered Qing Jushi and Emperor Su mentioning that ancient Great Emperors were all beings who could attain the Path of Testimony.

Thinking of this, Su Yie felt even more threatened.

Damn it!

Could it be the Karmic Tribulation Technique at work?

Just entering and encountering such an incident, it couldn't get worse!

Harboring a sense of frustration, Su Yie landed. As he was about to sit down, he suddenly noticed a figure.

It was Qing Jushi!

Qing Jushi came running towards them, not fast, almost like an ordinary person jogging.

"Finally back."

Su Yie murmured. He wanted to see where Qing Jushi had been.

But why hadn't Li Huahun returned yet?

With a boom! A vine burst out of the ground and wrapped around Qing Jushi, lifting him into the air. It was a vine from the Sacred Lotus of Qiling.

"Something's wrong with him!"

Nan Xiaopao said in a deep voice, her beautiful eyes fixed on Qing Jushi. He was being bound by the vine in the air but wasn't struggling. His hands hung naturally, as if he were being strangled.