NOVEL NEXT Chapter 757: Kuangni, Do Not Come Any Closer
The Ancestral Demon Soil was the birthplace of the demon race.
But ever since the earliest group of ancient demons departed from it, the Ancestral Demon Soil vanished without a trace.
Even the oldest ancient demon saints at the Heaven-Piercing Realm did not know where it was located.
The demons faced the myriad races of the heavens with an overwhelming force.
Especially those demons outside of the Shengxuan Heaven and Earth, who were like towering mountains pressing down upon all other races.
They left every living being struggling to breathe.
Only the humans, beasts, and dragons of Shengxuan Heaven and Earth forcibly suppressed the Five Sacred Demon Kingdoms, sealing them in the northern region of Shengxuan Heaven and Earth.
All other great and minor worlds met tragic fates.
Especially the great world occupied by the Corpse Demon Kingdom.
Every living being there was refined into corpse slaves.
Among them were even Thorough Saint Realm experts.
The carnage was beyond description.
Yet although the demons largely held the upper hand, hundreds of thousands of years passed, and they still failed to annihilate the myriad races.
Especially the humans, beasts, and dragons.
They remained thorns in the demons' eyes and nails in their flesh.
For this reason, the demons turned their thoughts to the Ancestral Demon Soil.
If they could return there and obtain the primordial chaotic demonic qi,
they would surely dominate the heavens and realms,
perhaps even glimpse the ranks of the Great Dao Saint Realm!
Since ancient times,
no Great Dao Saint had ever appeared.
The strongest figure acknowledged today was the Wilderness Venerable.
Yet even he had only reached the pinnacle of the Heaven-Piercing Saint Realm.
To seek opportunities for the Great Dao, and to find the Ancestral Demon Soil and disrupt the demons' schemes, the Wilderness Venerable embarked on a journey across the heavens and realms.
Shen Mo did not know where the Ancestral Demon Soil lay.
But he knew who did.
It was the Ancestor of Talismans and the Nine Yin Saint.
Each possessed part of the information.
Only by rescuing them and following their lead could one reach the Ancestral Demon Soil.
The demons sought it to gain the primordial chaotic demonic qi.
The myriad races sought it to destroy it and eradicate the demons at their root!
"The head of the Nether Division of the Five Sacred Demon Kingdoms, Youhuang, is deceitful and sinister, skilled in underhanded means.
I have already crossed hands with his avatar in the Foul Swamp," Shen Mo said gravely.
The Ancestor of Talismans froze. "What?"
The Celestial Fox exclaimed, "You fought him and still left alive?"
The Divine Phoenix and the Dragon Turtle looked at Shen Mo with deep respect.
Youhuang's strength had already reached the pinnacle of the Thorough Saint Realm, only one step away from the Heaven-Piercing Saint Realm.
Even his avatar could not be opposed by a newly advanced saint like Shen Mo.
If it were anyone else, they would think it bragging.
But from Shen Mo, combined with his earlier deeds, it seemed perfectly natural.
This was exactly what a newly ascended saint with limitless potential could achieve!
"The new master of the Nether Division is indeed formidable. Since you fought him and escaped, he will stop at nothing to kill you,"
said the long-silent Nine Yin Saint at last.
"I agree with Shen Mo. We should head south, not return directly to Shengxuan Heaven and Earth."
With an elder saint speaking, the others quickly agreed.
Without hesitation, they all turned south.
Long after they had departed,
more than ten demon saints of the Five Sacred Demon Kingdoms finally arrived.
At their head were two demons: Kuangni of the Kuang Division and Shizhu of the Corpse Division.
Shizhu was stunned. "Where are they? Where are the Ancestor of Talismans and the Nine Yin Saint? Where are the three beast saints of the Divine Phoenix? Why is no one here?"
Kuangni, his battle spirit already blazing, cursed aloud, "Youhuang said that Shen Mo was here, so I came looking for a fight.
But there isn't a damn thing here!"
"No, I must fight! I have to fight! My Kuang Division must fight as well!"
"Shizhu, let us spar!"
Shizhu's eyes bulged. "Kuangni, do not come any closer!"
In the turbulent void currents, a colossal figure sped forward.
Upon this figure stood Shen Mo, the Ancestor of Talismans, the Nine Yin Saint, and other Saint Realm powerhouses.
Even after spending many days on the back of the Shijie, the three beast saints such as the Divine Phoenix still marveled endlessly.
Such a formidable void beast had actually become Shen Mo's mount!
This was something even they could not accomplish.
The Ancestor of Talismans sighed. "Young friend Shen Mo, would you be interested in transferring this void beast to me?"
Before Shen Mo could answer, the Nine Yin Saint said indifferently, "Do not bother. The soul of this Shijie has long perished. What resides within is an artifact spirit."
The Ancestor of Talismans froze. "Old ghost Nine Yin, do not spout nonsense. The Shijie is a living being—how could it harbor an artifact spirit?"
The Divine Phoenix, Celestial Fox, and Dragon Turtle also looked doubtful.
The Nine Yin Saint said calmly, "I once possessed a formation called the Lunar Puppet Array.
It could transform dead beings into puppets, and naturally one could embed an artifact spirit within."
After a moment's thought, the Ancestor of Talismans reacted. "So this Shijie has already become a puppet?"
"Exactly," the Nine Yin Saint nodded, looking at Shen Mo.
Shen Mo smiled and nodded as well. "Back then, I inadvertently acquired the Lunar Puppet Array and used it here. I must thank the Nine Yin Saint, for it is only thus that I have the aid of the Shijie."
The Nine Yin Saint's always stern face eased slightly. "Our fate was long predestined. You are more suited to take me as your—"
The word "disciple" was not yet spoken when the Ancestor of Talismans suddenly flashed in front of the Nine Yin Saint.
He coughed heavily a few times. "This is a time for joy. Do not speak such idle matters."
The three beast saints nearly burst into laughter.
Though their seniority was not equal to the Ancestor of Talismans or the Nine Yin Saint, they could not restrain their amusement.
To see two legendary figures competing over Shen Mo as a disciple, quarreling like children, was a sight to behold.
Were these old monsters of hundreds of thousands of years reverting to childlike hearts?
At this moment, two figures appeared ahead.
They were Xiang Yuan and Ao Shan.
After being separated from Chu Xuan in the Foul Swamp, they had endured countless hardships before barely escaping.
Later, they regrouped, only to be swept inexplicably into the currents and lost within them.
When they emerged again, they had arrived here.
Xiang Yuan beat his chest in regret, blaming himself for failing to rescue the Nine Yin Saint and the Ancestor of Talismans.
Little did he know that this had spared them from encountering Kuangni and Shizhu's demon army.
Now, the sudden appearance of the giant beast immediately put Xiang Yuan and Ao Shan on guard.
Such an enormous creature was clearly a mighty void beast.
Even if not yet a saint, killing it would be exceedingly difficult.
Just as they prepared to retreat, a familiar voice came from atop the beast.
"So, the two of you are here!"
In the next moment, they saw Shen Mo descend gracefully before them.
Alongside him appeared the Ancestor of Talismans, the Nine Yin Saint, and the five saints of the Divine Phoenix, Dragon Turtle, and Celestial Fox.
Xiang Yuan and Ao Shan's eyes went wide.
Xiang Yuan even rubbed his eyes, his face full of disbelief.
Only after a long moment did the two bow respectfully. "We greet the Ancestor of Talismans! We greet the Nine Yin Saint! We greet the seniors Divine Phoenix, Dragon Turtle, and Celestial Fox!"
To them, these five were all senior figures.
Though also saints themselves, seniority demanded courtesy.
Ao Shan hurriedly asked, "Which senior rescued you all? Could it be the Flame Emperor or the Martial Ancestor who appeared?"
In his view, only if those two had intervened could the Ancestor of Talismans and the Nine Yin Saint, along with the five saints, have been rescued.