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Chapter 1286: Riddle of the Demon
“If the Azure Emperor were truly something like that, he would absolutely not be able to gain so much respect from the entirety of the Dragon’s Gate. How could a person who fell into the Demonic Dao gain so much respect?”
Xiao Chen knew about the Azure Emperor’s tyranny. However, tyranny was just tyranny. Killing his relatives, friends, lover—that was already completely falling into the Demonic Dao. Xiao Chen could accept being tyrannical, but he absolutely could not accept conduct like that.
Xiao Xiong sighed softly, “That is why this is a secret. Naturally, ordinary people would not know about it. In fact, not many in the Dragon’s Gate knew of it. In the eyes of the Azure Emperor Xiao Teng, the Dragon’s Gate was just a chess piece on his path of Martial Cultivation. How could he let such a secret leak out?
“He only fell into the Demonic Dao and did not lose his rationality. After escaping from the shackles in his heart, his thoughts became even more cautious than regular people’s.”
Xiao Chen understood this. Back then, after he entered a state of Berserking Qi Deviation and recovered from it, he heard the Five Poison Sect old man say that some people would not lose their rationality when they fell into the Demonic Dao. In fact, they even understood how to hide themselves and became even more difficult to deal with.
However, was the Azure Emperor such a person?
Xiao Chen really found this rather hard to accept, killing one’s lover, friends, relatives, and master for the sake of breaking off one’s shackles. If not for the Dragon’s Gate being still useful to the Azure Emperor, the Azure Emperor might have even mercilessly made a move on the entire Dragon’s Gate.
For some reason, Xiao Chen did not believe any of this. Even if it was real, there had to be some explanation.
However, these words from Xiao Chen’s father had been passed down from the ancestors through the generations. This information should not be wrong.
Furthermore, the obstructions that Xiao Chen faced when he reestablished the Dragon’s Gate, a move that even panicked various Holy Masters, seemed to verify his father’s words, telling him his ancestors’ warning was right.
Xiao Xiong said, “Don’t overthink this. No matter what the world thinks or what the ancestors of the Xiao Clan who wandered the Kunlun Realm thought, it does not matter. You just need to be sure of your own heart. I can see the Azure Emperor’s shadow on you. However, your childlike innocence never changed. Father believes in you.”
Xiao Chen nodded and said, “This child understands. This child never once thought of becoming the second Azure Emperor. Father, rest assured. I reestablished the Dragon’s Gate merely to fulfill the responsibility of being a Xiao Clan descendant. I do not have any ambition. I just want to let the inheritance of the Dragon’s Gate continue on.”
Xiao Xiong revealed a gratified smile. Which father would not be happy at seeing how capable their son was?
“Stay here for some time. If there are any suitable youths, pick some of them to bring with you. There is no need to complete everything in one step. Take things slowly for now. After a few hundred years, my Xiao Clan will be able to prosper in the Kunlun Realm again.”
After Xiao Chen came out of his father’s study, his heart felt very heavy.
He could not help the sinking of his heart. In the Kunlun Realm, he had regarded himself as the Azure Emperor’s descendant. As he sat on the roof and looked at the star-filled skies, he thought about how that unparalleled ancestor had swept through the entire Kunlun Realm. It turned out that this ancestor was a demon.
A book appeared in Xiao Chen’s hand—the Good and Evil Beneficence Art. He looked at the black and white cover but did not open it. Instead, he considered the various clues that he knew.
That was not right. There were too many doubts and suspicions with this, too many to speak of. It was hard to arrive at a conclusion.
That Item Spirit in the Azure Dragon Palace should know. That old man was extremely mysterious. He also seemed like someone very close to the Azure Emperor.
The Thunder Sovereign was not easy to meet, and he did not have much of his lifespan left.
After thinking about it, Xiao Chen felt that he had to personally dig for clues. After becoming a Martial Emperor, he definitely had to make a trip to the Azure Dragon Palace.
“Xiao Chen, why are you thinking so much? You did not come to the lower realm to seek trouble. Come with me. I want to go to Seven Horn Mountain,” Ao Jiao said as she walked out of the Immortal Spirit Ring.
Xiao Chen revealed a smile on his face. Since Little Yellow Feather returned to being a Golden Crow Egg, he had not spoken to Ao Jiao for a long time.
Since Ao Jiao asked, naturally, Xiao Chen agreed. The Seven Horn Mountain was where the Thunder Emperor died. He wanted to go there and take a look as well.
In a few steps, the two arrived where the Thunder Emperor died.
The Sky Dome Realm was off limits to Martial Emperors. However, since it was a dying man, neither the upper echelon of the Kunlun Realm nor the Deep Abyss Demonic World’s Demon Monarchs had cared too much.
There was already no secret left in the cave. Hence, this place held no attraction to others, simply left empty all the while. Now, weeds grew everywhere. Brambles completely sealed the entrance.
Xiao Chen flicked his finger, and a saber light flashed. All the weeds and brambles turned into ashes.
As he looked at the entrance, he felt very thankful. This area was where the first fortuitous encounter that changed his fate took place.
If Xiao Chen had not met Ao Jiao, he might have already lost his life in Qizi County. Without the inheritance that the Thunder Emperor initially passed to him, he could not have started on the path of a bladesman; he would not have all the accomplishments he possessed now.
This was the place where his dreams took shape and where his story began. Now that he was back here again, the wonderful feeling in his heart was inevitable.
“Ao Jiao, I’ve always wondered, why was the restriction on the place where the Thunder Emperor died so simple?”
Based on what he had seen then, that restriction could not block those under Martial Saint. Now, it was nearly negligible to the current Xiao Chen.
Smiling, Ao Jiao said, “You are really stupid. You can’t even figure that out. If Sang Mu made the restriction too difficult, then wouldn’t that mean that I would be sealed here forever? No one would be able to free me.”
Xiao Chen revealed an expression of understanding. It turned out that the reason was so simple, yet he still had not thought of this.
“Why did the Thunder Emperor choose to die here?”
“Sang Mu came from the Great Qin Nation. He had humble roots. His parents were ordinary hunters who lived at the foot of Seven Horn Mountain. His choice to die here was just due to the longing in his heart.
As the two spoke, they recalled events from when they first met. Occasionally, they would laugh.
“Do you remember that you were very proud and arrogant back then, always calling me Trashy Master.”
“Naturally, I remember. Back then, you were just trash. Despite that, you were very egotistical and unwilling to submit.”
“Who had never been egotistical when they were young? Thinking back to that time, I did indeed let myself shine too brightly, not understanding that I should be more withdrawn. I very quickly offended all the Noble Clans of the Great Qin Nation. In hindsight, that period was truly worry-free without any fear at all.”
The two chatted for a long time at the entrance. Finally, Xiao Chen said, “Come on. Let’s go in and take a look.”
However, Ao Jiao shook her head and said, “There is no need. The memories that this place brought me have already reached their conclusion. I came here so that I could walk away from the matters of the past.”
Walk away from the matters of the past?
Xiao Chen thought for a while and soon understood. Ao Jiao had resolved her preoccupation with the Thunder Emperor’s death.
“Let’s stay here tonight, then.”
The moon looked very pretty. Xiao Chen spontaneously came up with a plan to spend the night here, reminiscing about the first time he came to Seven Horn Mountain.
Under the boundless night sky, Xiao Chen took off the Azure Dragon Ring from his finger. Then, he frowned as he started to examine it.
With his current eyesight, he could tell that there was a seal in the ring. As for what the ring was, he had to spend some time pondering over it.
“If only Mo Chen were here. Given her talents at formations and restrictions, it should not be too difficult for her. I really want to know what this ring is hiding,” he muttered to himself.
---
Xiao Chen stayed in Xiao Clan City for one month. During this time, he laid nine Iron Defense Magic Formations.
Then, he made some changes to the formation plate, making it such that only those who possessed the Xiao Clan’s bloodline and the formation plate could activate the Iron Defense Magic Formation.
Originally, the Iron Defense Magic Formation required Primordial Energy to activate it. After Xiao Chen’s alteration, its might naturally decreased.
However, the nine Iron Defense Magic Formations had the advantage of numbers and were layered over each other. It could block an attack from Martial Emperors. In the Sky Dome Realm, it would be considered invincible; no one would be able to break it.
Even if Xiao Chen himself wanted to break it, he would have to spend a lot of time and Primordial Energy.
Aside from this, Xiao Chen found three youths in their early teens among the Xiao Clan’s younger generation with pretty good talents. They were worth sending to the Kunlun Realm to nurture.
It looked like his Luck influenced his clan’s, allowing three geniuses to appear in the Xiao Clan.
As for those from the same generation as Xiao Jian, they no longer had much more scope for improvement. To them, the Kunlun Realm was not a land of blessings. Staying in the Sky Dome Realm would be more preferable.
With three more people to bring back to the Kunlun Realm, the amount of Superior Grade Astral Cores needed would increase by another thirty thousand. Even if Xiao Chen was very rich and careless with his wealth, he would find this hard to swallow. No wonder the people of the Kunlun Realm would not go down to the lower realm without much thought.
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After one month passed, Xiao Chen completed everything that he needed to do, so he rushed towards the Heavenly Saber Pavilion with some impatience.
He sensed the location of the Heavenly Saber Pavilion with his Spiritual Sense and immediately tore space open. Then, he entered the spatial tear and rushed towards the sect.
There were no obstructions at all in the void. A person could infinitely increase their speed, moving faster than lightning.
In a few breaths, Xiao Chen appeared in the sky above the Heavenly Saber Pavilion’s Qingyun Peak. Using his Spiritual Sense, he scanned the place but did not find Liu Ruyue’s presence at all.
“She is not at Qingyun Peak. She probably went out.”
Xiao Chen did not worry. Given Liu Ruyue’s current strength, she would be able to protect herself in the Sky Dome Realm.
While Xiao Chen did not find Liu Ruyue, he saw Liu Suifeng. This fellow had not changed at all. Smiling, Xiao Chen silently appeared behind him.
Liu Suifeng sat in the courtyard, drinking wine and happily humming a tune, clearly in a good mood.
“Hehe! Xinyun won’t be around these few days. I will be a lot more relaxed during this time. Tomorrow, I’ll go to another Peak. Juren Peak seems to have accepted a new female disciple recently who looks very pretty. Hahaha! I’ll go to Juren Peak tomorrow!”
Xiao Chen smiled faintly. Evidently, this brother-in-law of his was managed strictly by his wife.
“Suifeng, it turns out that you have such thoughts. When Junior Sister Xinyun returns, I’ll be telling her.”
Xiao Chen suddenly spoke up, deciding to tease him.
“Who is it?!”
Xiao Chen’s voice startled Liu Suifeng into spitting out the wine in his mouth. When he turned around and recognized Xiao Chen, he showed extreme joy on his face. “Big Brother Xiao Chen, it is you. You returned again. Hahaha! You scared me to death!”
Big Brother? Doesn’t Suifeng always address me as brother-in-law?
Xiao Chen smiled and asked, “Where’s your elder sister?”
“My elder sister?” Liu Suifeng repeated in something of a daze. “Big Brother Xiao Chen, did you remember wrong? Since when did I have an elder sister?”
“Boom!”
The smile on Xiao Chen’s face froze as if lightning struck him. He could not believe what Liu Suifeng said.