"I, the Emperor, shall devour them whole—crisp and crunchy!"
"Hah! I'd like to see you try without shattering all your teeth first!"
Zhou Yi shook his head. If he were merely an ordinary Immortal-Grade Heavenly Supreme, he might truly struggle against the Demon Emperor.
But he was no ordinary Immortal-Grade Heavenly Supreme.
"Let me see whether the Heavenly Supremes of this Great Thousand World have advanced… or regressed!"
With a single, thunderous step forward, the Demon Emperor unleashed an immense ripple of darkness. Like a tidal wave, it surged outward, engulfing the land beneath his feet.
"Demonized Heavens and Earth!"
As his roar echoed, the ground rapidly turned pitch black.
From the earth, thick demonic miasma rose in torrents, transforming an area spanning hundreds of thousands of miles into cursed lands within mere moments.
Mandala's expression shifted to one of horror. She could sense that within this vast domain, even the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth had been tainted.
If she were to absorb any of it, her own spiritual energy would be corrupted, her body transformed into a demonic husk—an absolute tyranny of evil!
"So this is the Demon Emperor… truly terrifying!"
Though shaken, Mandala remained fearless, for Zhou Yi stood behind her.
"A flashy gimmick."
Zhou Yi chuckled and lifted a single finger.
At its tip, a flicker of flame emerged.
It burned in shades of crimson and violet, flickering unpredictably.
Yet, despite its small size, it exuded an unfathomable depth, a mesmerizing brilliance.
And in the instant it appeared—
The fire essence scattered throughout the world suddenly resonated as if recognizing their source and origin.
In a heartbeat, countless streams of fire energy surged toward Zhou Yi's palm.
"What… what kind of flame is this?!"
Mandala trembled, her hair standing on end. From that tiny ember, she sensed an ineffable dread, an all-consuming terror.
She fixed her gaze upon the fire in Zhou Yi's palm.
As the world's fire essence was devoured, frost began to spread through the air.
A bone-chilling cold erupted forth.
It was as though the entire world had been frozen in time.
The Demon Emperor trembled uncontrollably. His body stiffened, overwhelmed by a fear even greater than when he had once faced the Heavenly Emperor himself.
"Grand Demon Art—Devouring Heaven, Annihilating World Hand!"
Panic flashed in the Demon Emperor's eyes as he struck once more.
The earth split apart.
Boundless torrents of demonic energy erupted skyward.
From the abyss of darkness, an enormous hand emerged.
It was impossible to describe—
Jet-black, exuding an aura of ultimate malevolence, vast enough to blot out the sun and moon.
It was an apocalyptic force, spanning tens of thousands of miles.
With a single palm, it could reduce entire empires to ruin.
Wherever it passed, the void itself crumbled, space disintegrating into a field of utter darkness.
Only then did Mandala realize—
At the center of the monstrous hand lay an enormous mouth of pure darkness.
Like a black hole, it pulsed hungrily, devouring everything in its path.
Anything swallowed by it—no matter how mighty, even a Perfected Earthly Supreme—would be reduced to nothingness in an instant.
It felt as though, given enough time, this infernal hand could consume the entire Skylaw Continent.
"Terrifying!"
Mandala's heart pounded. Were it not for Zhou Yi, she feared she would have already been devoured, leaving not even bones behind.
Yet—
Zhou Yi merely flicked his finger.
The tiny flame drifted forth.
Everywhere it passed, all demonic energy was effortlessly incinerated, vanishing into nothingness.
That dreadful demonic hand—
It didn't even last a single breath before being utterly annihilated.
Moreover, the ember followed the remnants of the hand, surging toward the Demon Emperor.
He tried to flee.
He could not.
In an instant, the flame engulfed him.
His body trembled. Terror and unwillingness shone in his eyes.
A hoarse voice escaped his lips—
"What… what kind of fire is this?!"
"This is the Fire of the Candle Dragon."
Zhou Yi's voice was cold.
"The heavens lack the northwest, where yin and yang are absent. A dragon carries the essence of flame, illuminating the celestial gate."
The Candle Dragon bore fire that illuminated the heavens and divided yin from yang.
The Fire of the Candle Dragon—
It was the primal fire of creation. The origin of all flames.
What fire could rival it?
With Zhou Yi's cultivation and his continued assimilation of various divine flames, his Candle Dragon Fire had become ever more fearsome.
Not to mention—
The current Demon Emperor, weakened as he was, wasn't even at one percent of his prime strength. Even at his peak, he might not have been able to withstand this fire.
"Since you insist on pushing me, then perish alongside me!"
The Demon Emperor's eyes turned bloodshot.
With a frenzied roar, he transformed into a streak of light and shot toward Zhou Yi.
One had to admit—
His vitality was truly formidable. Even the Fire of the Candle Dragon had not incinerated him instantly.
"My cultivation is still somewhat lacking."
Zhou Yi mused inwardly.
The Demon Emperor moved at breakneck speed.
In the blink of an eye, he was upon Zhou Yi.
From within his body, an overwhelming surge of demonic light erupted.
A force of unimaginable destruction began to coalesce.
"He's going to self-destruct!"
Mandala's face paled. It seemed the Demon Emperor, knowing escape was impossible, had resolved to go down fighting.
Boom!
The very moment Mandala spoke—
The Demon Emperor's body detonated.
Like a tangible, pitch-black storm of demonic energy, the explosion carried an overwhelming malevolence, raging forth like a tempest.
The first to be consumed were Zhou Yi and Mandala.
Yet—
Zhou Yi showed no fear.
He merely shook his head and said calmly, "If that were enough to kill me, I wouldn't have made it this far."
From within him, the Primordial Golden Cauldron emerged.
Like an all-encompassing shield, it effortlessly sealed away all demonic energy and annihilated the blast.
"Whew! That was close!"
Mandala patted her chest, her heart still racing. She had nearly thought she was done for.
"Don't worry. How could I bear to let you die?"
Zhou Yi chuckled.
His demeanor remained composed, his confidence unwavering—a presence impossible to resist.
Though Mandala had found the battle thrilling and perilous—
Zhou Yi had controlled every step from the beginning.
Boom!
From the collapsing void, a wisp of dark energy seeped through.
The sinister aura it carried tore through space at an alarming speed, attempting to flee beyond the Heavenly Emperor's Mausoleum.
"The Demon Emperor is still alive?!"
Mandala's face changed. She was astounded by his resilience—how could he still cling to life after self-destruction?
"Relax. He won't escape."
Zhou Yi smirked.
With a flick of his fingers, a crimson ribbon shot out.
Mandala watched as it disappeared into the void.
Then—
"No!"
A despairing cry echoed.
Mandala turned to see Zhou Yi gripping one end of the red silk.
At the other end—
The Demon Emperor, bound tightly like a silken cocoon, was dragged forth.
"Well? Still 'crisp and crunchy'?"
Zhou Yi gazed at the captive Demon Emperor, smiling warmly.
"I could've killed you in a single move. But instead, I let you exhaust all your tricks, see hope, only to have it torn away—until all that remains is despair."
"Don't be so smug. You're only relying on the power of your treasured artifacts! Without those two supreme treasures, do you really think you could capture me?"
The Demon Emperor was filled with rage and indignation, feeling that this defeat was utterly unjust.
"Even without these treasures, do you really think you could escape?"
Zhou Yi sneered, his tone filled with disdain.
"Do you think I don't know your true identity?"
"You are known as the Heaven-Devouring Demon Emperor now, but in ancient times, you went by another name."
Zhou Yi paused briefly before continuing, "That name was the Nine-Corpse Heaven Demon Emperor."
"Nine-Corpse Heaven Demon Emperor?" Mandala murmured in confusion, completely baffled.
"The Heaven-Devouring Demon Emperor is not a single person, but rather nine individuals—nine Demon Emperors!"
Zhou Yi fixed his gaze on the Demon Emperor and spoke slowly, "The Heaven-Devouring Demon Emperor originates from the extraterritorial clan known as the Devouring Demon Clan. In ancient times, there were nine Demon Emperors among them. In their pursuit of ultimate power, the nine merged into one, creating a being of unparalleled might."
Mandala was utterly shocked upon hearing this. If that were true, then when the Heavenly Emperor fought against the invasion of the Ancient Haven Palace, he wasn't facing a single Demon Emperor, but rather nine of them?!
"If that weren't the case, do you think a single Heaven-Devouring Demon Emperor alone could have fought against the Heavenly Emperor, who had mastered the supreme art of 'One Qi Transforming into Three Purities'?"
Zhou Yi smiled and continued, "Back then, the Heavenly Emperor used his 'One Qi Transforming into Three Purities' technique to forcibly annihilate seven of the nine demons. However, he too was pushed to his limits and had no choice but to seal the last two. The self-destruction you just witnessed was merely the eighth demon sacrificing itself. But there is still the ninth… meaning you still have a way to escape."
"Who… are you?!"
The Demon Emperor's expression changed drastically. He had never expected Zhou Yi to know his secrets so thoroughly.
It turned out that from the very beginning, Zhou Yi had been toying with him.
His fate had been sealed from the start.
Escape was impossible.
Zhou Yi had deliberately let him out.
Giving him hope—only to crush him with despair.
"The dead have no need for answers."
Zhou Yi shook his head, unwilling to explain further.
"Don't be so sure of yourself!" the Demon Emperor roared viciously. "Last time, my Fiend Clan didn't even go all out. When we return, it will be the end of your Great Thousand World!"
"You will all perish!"
Zhou Yi remained unfazed. "You're wrong. I won't die, and neither will the Great Thousand World. Let me tell you the truth—even if your so-called supreme deity, the Heavenly Evil God, were to return, I would still be able to obliterate him completely."
"I know that the Heavenly Evil God willingly allowed himself to be sealed by the Immortal Emperor back then. His true purpose was to gradually acclimate to the Great Thousand World's aura and avoid being suppressed."
The Demon Emperor's face twisted in sheer horror, and he shook his head frantically. The previous revelations were already shocking, but this…
The Heavenly Evil God's secret was an absolute classified matter.
Even he didn't know that the Heavenly Evil God had voluntarily chosen to be sealed.
Yet Zhou Yi's words suddenly made everything click.
So that's why…
No wonder the great Heavenly Evil God had allowed himself to be sealed by the Immortal Emperor—it was all part of a grand scheme.
The Demon Emperor had always known that the Great Thousand World suppressed the Heavenly Evil God's power.
So now…
He had no reason to doubt Zhou Yi's claim.
But if Zhou Yi knew this much, then wouldn't that mean the Heavenly Evil God's plans were in danger?
And Zhou Yi… so mysterious, possessing so many supreme treasures… could he truly have a way to counter the Heavenly Evil God?
At this moment—
The Demon Emperor desperately wished he could escape and relay this information.
But he knew Zhou Yi wouldn't give him the chance.
"The Heavenly Evil God willingly allowed himself to be sealed?"
Mandala's small head buzzed in disbelief. "That's too much… There have been too many shocking secrets today. My brain can't handle this!"
Back then, the Immortal Emperor sacrificed his life to seal the Heavenly Evil God—yet it turned out the other party had deliberately gotten sealed as part of a greater scheme?
Zhou Yi said no more.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward the vast underground plaza within the mountain.
There, a massive black head lay still.
The Heaven-Devouring Demon Emperor was extremely cunning—not only had he transformed his own form to resemble the Heavenly Emperor, but he had also reshaped the remains of the actual Heaven Emperor into this grotesque appearance, attempting to trick others into destroying it.
Zhou Yi waved his sleeve, and a tiny flame shot forth, instantly engulfing the black head. The fire burned intensely, rapidly melting the head as tendrils of demonic aura evaporated into nothingness.
As the head dissolved, it transformed into shimmering light—light that gradually converged into a shadowy figure.
That figure, clad in white robes, exuded an air of elegance and composure. Yet beneath that calm presence was an indescribable pressure—a sovereign majesty that commanded awe and reverence.
Mandala's eyes turned red with emotion as she stared at the figure.
"To think… that even after sacrificing myself to seal the demon, I still failed to destroy it completely… and now, after tens of thousands of years, I must rely on my successors to finish what I could not. How shameful…"
The white-robed figure solidified, his gaze falling upon the captured Demon Emperor before him. He sighed softly.
"The Heavenly Emperor's sacrifice in sealing the demon was an act of supreme righteousness, worthy of boundless respect. Though he did not achieve total victory, his deeds remain immeasurable in merit."
Zhou Yi smiled and casually tossed the Demon Emperor before the white-robed figure.
"Well, now we can finish the job."
The white-robed figure nodded. He reached out and grasped the Heavenly Emperor's Sword, forming a hand seal as his gaze turned cold and merciless toward the sealed Demon Emperor.
Sensing impending doom, the Demon Emperor let out a frenzied roar.
But the white-robed figure was unmoved. With a sudden motion, he unleashed the Heavenly Emperor's Sword—sending it streaking through the void, shattering into countless fragments of radiant starlight.
Each fragment carried an unfathomable, devastating power.
Although the white-robed figure was merely a lingering spiritual imprint, unable to destroy the Demon Emperor outright, the Heavenly Emperor's Sword still carried the strength to do so.
Chi! Chi!
The countless stars of divine light pierced through the Demon Emperor's form, tearing his essence asunder.
A final, agonized shriek reverberated across the heavens.
"Do not rejoice yet! When my god descends… it will be the end of you all!"
His hateful roar echoed through the sky.
But in the next instant—
His very existence was obliterated.
Vanished.
Neither Zhou Yi nor the white-robed figure paid attention to the Demon Emperor's final curse.
Instead, the white-robed figure turned to Zhou Yi and passed down a legendary technique—One Qi Transforming into Three Purities.
One of the Thirty-Six Supreme Divine Arts of the Great Thousand World, this technique allowed the wielder to create incarnations identical in strength to their original self—each possessing infinite potential to grow stronger.
A technique far beyond mere clones.
After bestowing this art upon Zhou Yi, the white-robed figure exchanged a few words with Mandala… before finally dissipating, his lingering will fading into eternity.
Zhou Yi did not leave immediately.
Instead, he stayed to help Mandala ascend to the rank of Heavenly Supreme, while also mastering the profound technique of One Qi Transforming into Three Purities.
And so…
Time flowed on.
In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.
With Zhou Yi's assistance and the Heavenly Emperor's blessings, Mandala ascended to the rank of Heavenly Supreme. As for Zhou Yi, his cultivation surged dramatically.
The reason? He suddenly discovered that his number of offspring had grown by over a hundred, reaching a total of four hundred, earning him an immense wave of rewards.
This surge of rewards directly propelled him from Immortal-Grade Heavenly Supreme to Saint-Grade Heavenly Supreme.
Though the difference between Immortal-Grade and Saint-Grade may seem like just one rank, the disparity in strength was as vast as heaven and earth.
The gap between Immortal-Grade and Saint-Grade was akin to the difference between a Peak Dou Saint and a Dou Emperor.
It was an insurmountable chasm.
Only upon reaching Saint-Grade Heavenly Supreme could one truly stand at the pinnacle of the Great Thousand World.
"What immense power!"
Zhou Yi felt himself at least a hundred times stronger than before.
It seemed that all his relentless efforts before leaving had borne considerable fruit.
After all, combining the Douluo World, the Battle Through the Heavens World, and the Martial Universe World—along with the beauties he had gathered from other worlds—the total count had surpassed two hundred.
Even if only half had conceived, his number of offspring would still exceed a hundred.
This was the advantage of sheer numbers.
Terrifying beyond belief.
"You've ascended to Saint-Grade Heavenly Supreme?"
Mandala, who had just advanced to Spirit-Grade Heavenly Supreme, was stunned. After all, even in the Great Thousand World, Saint-Grade Heavenly Supremes were as rare as phoenix feathers.
"Congratulations! You are now a true Heavenly Supreme."
Zhou Yi smiled and then slowly raised his hand, forming an ancient and mysterious seal.
Buzz!
As the seal took shape, the heavens and earth trembled, and a strange resonance echoed across the void.
"One Qi Transforming into Three Purities, Sever the Illusory Self!"
"Severance Blade!"
A divine radiance erupted from Zhou Yi's celestial aperture. That radiance twisted and coalesced before him, gradually forming an illusory blade.
The blade exuded an eerie mystique—it undeniably existed, yet seemed ethereal and untouchable, as though conjured from mere imagination.
Mandala's eyes widened in shock, her delicate hand covering her lips. She knew that Zhou Yi had successfully cultivated One Qi Transforming into Three Purities.
"Sever!"
Zhou Yi suddenly stood tall, his gaze fixed upon the phantom-like blade. With a single-hand seal, he roared thunderously.
Buzz!
The illusory blade trembled slightly before tilting downward, slicing through space without hesitation—straight toward Zhou Yi's celestial aperture.
Zhou Yi remained motionless.
Swish!
The blade cleaved into his celestial aperture and, in the next instant, passed directly through his body like a mirage.
As it exited, a crimson radiance was drawn out, hovering beside him. The blood-red glow twisted and writhed, emanating a peculiar energy.
At the moment of impact, Zhou Yi faintly sensed something being severed from within—something akin to both flesh and soul.
Yet, despite this separation, he felt no harm. The essence had merely shifted from within him to outside.
"Sever again!"
He roared once more!
Swish!
The illusory blade descended again, slicing through him a second time. Another wave of blood-red radiance was extracted from his body.
With two strikes complete, the illusory blade silently shattered into fragments of spiritual light, cascading down. Zhou Yi, meanwhile, turned his gaze toward the two hovering blood-red figures beside him.
The crimson glows writhed incessantly before gradually forming into two tall figures.
One was clad in black robes, the other in white.
Both possessed deep, abyssal eyes and strikingly handsome features. Most astonishingly, the auras they exuded were identical to Zhou Yi's, brimming with immense spiritual energy.
Both figures were genuine Saint-Grade Heavenly Supremes!
"Not bad."
Zhou Yi observed his two doppelgängers with satisfaction, a smile playing across his lips.
He lifted his head toward Skylaw Continent, his eyes burning with anticipation:
"It's time to make my move."
These three months had not been spent solely on cultivating One Qi Transforming into Three Purities.
After all, this technique had been granted to him directly by the Heavenly Emperor.
With his current talent and the Heavenly Emperor's impartation, he had fully mastered it in just a single day.
Thus—
The majority of these three months had been devoted to reforging the Ancient Haven Palace.
Now, the Ancient Haven Palace had become a supreme treasure completely under his control.
With a mere thought, the palace tore through space and fully manifested above the Great Havenlaw Domain.
At that moment—
The many powerful forces gathered within the Great Havenlaw Domain, who had long been sharpening their blades, instantly stirred with excitement, preparing to enter the palace and seize its fortunes!
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