Chapter 802: Lu Heng
The far western region of Tianluo Continent was a desolate expanse of chaos and calamity.
This land was plagued by countless natural disasters and rampant beast hordes, making it nearly uninhabitable.
Violent winds tore through the mountains, shattering peaks tens of thousands of meters high. Ice and snow descended from the skies, freezing vast stretches of land, while underwater volcanoes erupted with fury, covering an area of tens of thousands of miles in choking smoke and ash.
The harsh environment bred ferocious beasts, each more dangerous and peculiar than the last, forming an endless cycle of beast outbreaks.
In this inhospitable domain, only treasure hunters and beast slayers dared to tread.
Today, however, the wasteland welcomed a figure who reigned supreme over Tianluo Continent Xiao Ze.
Floating in the air, Xiao Ze gazed toward the fragmented void where countless ancient palaces seemed suspended in layers of space.
Beside him, Mandala stepped forward, her golden eyes gleaming with excitement.
"The Ancient Heavenly Palace!"
Xiao Ze waved his hand, recalling a strand of his Source Tree Root Clone, which had been investigating the area.
Mandala stared at the chaotic void, a mixture of excitement and caution on her face. She could feel the dangers hidden within the fragmented space.
The floating shards of space around the palace were impossibly sharp. For anyone below the level of a Supreme, even grazing one could mean instant death.
Deeper within the shattered void, the density of these fragments increased, forming a deadly maze that surrounded the palace. The chaotic scene resembled an enraged ancient beast, ready to shred intruders to pieces.
"This isn't right," Mandala murmured, her brows furrowed. "The fragments are wild and unstable, but they're fragile. If someone at the level of a Supreme Sovereign enters, they might shatter the shards entirely."
"And if that happens," she continued grimly, "the void might collapse completely, trapping anyone inside. If they lose their way in the endless void, their only fate will be death or, at best, stumbling upon a lower plane to survive."
Mandala's expression turned anxious as she desperately searched for a safe way into the Ancient Heavenly Palace.
Seeing her worry, Xiao Ze reached out and gently patted her shoulder.
"No need to rush," he said with a calm smile. "Is there a part of the palace strong enough to withstand a Supreme Sovereign's presence?"
Mandala blinked, momentarily startled. After a brief pause, her eyes lit up.
"Yes! The Heavenly Emperor's Mausoleum! It's a subspace personally created by the Heavenly Emperor himself. Its spatial integrity is incredibly high it can withstand the presence of even Supreme Sovereigns!"
"If the Heavenly Emperor truly perished, his remains would be there. If we can find a way to activate the mausoleum's teleportation gateway, we should be able to enter."
Her tone grew increasingly confident as she spoke, her earlier hesitation melting away.
Xiao Ze nodded. "Then let's send in some Source Realm fighters below the Supreme level to search for the mausoleum."
But before she could act, Xiao Ze reached out and ruffled her hair with a chuckle.
"Don't be hasty. The palace is dangerous beyond measure. Sending in Source Realm fighters would lead to unnecessary casualties."
Mandala frowned. "Then what do we do?"
"Have you forgotten about the Saint Flame Legion?" Xiao Ze replied with a grin. "They're extensions of my power, and I'm connected to them. Even if they get lost in the void, I can track them down and retrieve them."
Mandala's eyes brightened, and she raised her hand to reveal a jade bracelet.
"Here, take them," she said, handing the artifact containing the Saint Flame Legion to Xiao Ze.
Xiao Ze accepted it but didn't act immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted toward the distance.
"Before we proceed, there's a pest to deal with first."
Mandala tilted her head in confusion as Xiao Ze reached out and grasped the air. Space twisted violently, and a figure was forcibly pulled into their presence.
The man's face was pale, his eyes filled with confusion.
The moment Mandala saw him, her expression darkened with fury.
"Lu Heng!"
As the ruler of the Source Realm, Mandala had long harbored a grudge against Lu Heng, one of her most hated enemies. After all, it was his schemes that had placed her under a terrible curse for years.
When the Source Realm rose to dominance, Mandala had sent forces to destroy Sacred Demon Palace, where Lu Heng held power, but the cunning man had already fled.
She hadn't expected to encounter him here, in the farthest reaches of Tianluo Continent.
Seeing her, Lu Heng's face twisted into a vicious sneer.
"Mandala! You must be so proud to have found such a strong backer. Without him, you wouldn't have stood a chance against me!"
"Shameless scum!" Mandala retorted angrily. "You cursed me and tried to steal the Heavenly Emperor's inheritance for yourself. This fate suits you!"
Lu Heng's eyes flickered with uncertainty, his mind racing for a way to escape.
Before he could act, Xiao Ze's calm voice cut through the tension.
"Stop scheming. You're nothing more than a pathetic puppet, dancing to the tune of the Demon Emperor."
Lu Heng froze, his expression twisting with shock and fury.
"What are you talking about?" Mandala demanded, her confusion mirroring Lu Heng's.
Xiao Ze glanced at her. "Can't you sense the demonic energy hidden within him? It's been controlling his every move, likely since he first entered the Ancient Heavenly Palace."
Mandala turned to Lu Heng, her eyes wide with realization.
"You mean... all his actions were influenced by the Demon Emperor?"
Lu Heng's expression wavered between defiance and despair before he finally snarled, his tone filled with venom.
"You talk big for a Heavenly Sovereign. But once my master escapes his seal, he'll reward me, and I'll rise to the Heavenly Sovereign Realm in a single day!"
Xiao Ze shook his head, his expression one of pity. "A puppet to the end. Do you truly believe the Demon Emperor cares about you?"
Lu Heng's face contorted further, but he couldn't refute Xiao Ze's words.
Turning to Mandala, Xiao Ze asked, "Do you want to deal with him?"
Mandala hesitated before shaking her head. "Knowing he's just a pawn of the Demon Emperor... there's no point. End it quickly."
With a wave of Xiao Ze's hand, an enormous spiritual grinding disk formed from heaven and earth energy.
Lu Heng didn't even have time to scream as his body was ground into nothingness, the lingering demonic energy within him dispersing into the void.
Mandala watched the spectacle, her emotions complex. Finally, she sighed.
"A pitiful fool."
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