Chapter 701: The Descent of the Demonic Emperor
High above the Chaotic Demon Sea.
All gazes were nervously fixed on the place where Lin Langtian had disappeared.
Ever since, two months ago, Lin Langtian gathered the power of all living beings' prayers, found the Plane Seed ranked first on the Ancient Divine Object Roll, and swore to become a Ancestor, he had already become the final hope of countless lives in this world.
Thus, even though Lin Langtian had disappeared for a full two months, all living beings still stood for a long time above the Chaotic Demon Sea, their eyes full of longing, unwilling to leave.
On the other side, Lin Dong, who had already come out of seclusion, was also looking toward the direction where Lin Langtian had vanished, a touch of emotion appearing on his face as he said:
"Never thought that while I was in seclusion, Brother Langtian had already broken through to half-Ancestor and even found a way to become an Ancestor."
After spending so much time together, Lin Langtian's excellence had gained Lin Dong's complete acknowledgment, and faintly even made him feel ashamed of his own inferiority.
But no matter what, in Lin Dong's heart before this, whether in terms of strength or of inheritance, it was Ying Huanhuan of the Ancestral Symbol lineage who was the one most likely in this world to become an Ancestor.
Who could have imagined that the Ying Huanhuan upon whom all beings had placed such high hopes ended up failing halfway in her breakthrough, while Lin Langtian instead rose like a dark horse, not only repelling the Demonic Emperor's attack with his half-Ancestor cultivation, but even finding the method to become an Ancestor.
In this way, Lin Langtian could truly be called the savior of the entire continent.
By Lin Dong's side, Ying Huanhuan lightly bit her red lips, a trace of amazement appearing in her ice-blue beautiful eyes as she said:
"Indeed, to use the power of all beings' prayers to seek out the Plane Seed—this method is something not even Master knew of. It seems that brother-in-law really does hide a great secret on his body."
"Brother-in-law?" Hearing this surprising form of address, Lin Dong was stunned for a moment, then as if thinking of something, a hint of delight flashed in the depths of his dark eyes. He stared fixedly at Ying Huanhuan and asked somewhat nervously:
"Tell me honestly, right now, are you Ying Huanhuan, or the Ice Master?"
At these words, Ying Huanhuan cast him a glance with those ice-blue eyes. Under Lin Dong's extremely nervous gaze, only after a brief pause did her voice soften as she said, "Fool, I have always… been Ying Huanhuan."
"Huanhuan, not the Ice Master?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Dong's face immediately lit up with childlike joy. Without another word, he stepped forward and directly grasped Ying Huanhuan's tender hand, then smoothly pulled her into his arms.
To Lin Dong, he had always thought that the current Ying Huanhuan had already fully recovered her identity as the Ice Master, and it was precisely for this reason that he had resolutely severed his connection with the Three Great Ancestral Symbols, throwing them together with the Stone Talisman and other ancient divine objects into Ying Huanhuan's hands.
This had naturally been an action taken in anger and resentment toward Ying Huanhuan for neglecting their old feelings.
But seeing Ying Huanhuan's so gentle side now instantly made him recall the little princess of Dao Sect back in the day, with her ponytail and her mischievous, impish face.
Therefore, upon learning that Ying Huanhuan was still Ying Huanhuan, how could Lin Dong not feel both ecstatic and overjoyed!
At this moment, Ying Huanhuan curled up in Lin Dong's arms like a kitten, her cool, pretty face pressed against his warm chest. The corners of her lips curved, and a charming smile quietly surfaced there.
Then, under the astonished gazes of those around them, Ying Huanhuan's slender jade arms suddenly wrapped lightly around Lin Dong's neck. She gracefully raised her snow-white throat, and her soft lips pressed onto Lin Dong's.
"Sorry, I've been lying to you this whole time. I made you enter the Ancestral Palace to condense the Divine Palace, and even forced you to cross three cycles of the Samsara Tribulation in succession. I really am someone you must have hated a lot. Let this kiss be my compensation to you…"
That soft kiss, tinged with a trace of coldness, flashed by in an instant, yet when Lin Dong looked at Ying Huanhuan's beautiful cheeks, his own face was filled with incomparable satisfaction and excitement.
His little princess Huanhuan had truly come back!
"Huanhuan, it really is you." Lin Dong tightly held Ying Huanhuan, greedily breathing in the faintly chilly fragrance of her body, as if afraid that she would leave him again at any moment.
"Don't worry, I am who I am, and from now on, no matter what happens, I will never leave you again." Feeling Lin Dong's nervousness, Ying Huanhuan's heart ached for him greatly. Her slender jade hands wrapped around Lin Dong's waist in return as she spoke gently.
While the two were immersed in their tender affection, not far away, the Life and Death Master, the Flame Master, and the others saw this scene, and their expressions could not help but turn very complicated.
In their hearts, apart from the affection she had shown their Master when she was still young, Little Junior Sister had never displayed such gentleness and dependence toward anyone else.
Such a contrast left them extremely unaccustomed.
"Heh heh, looks like that Lin Dong really has captured Little Junior Sister's heart." The Thunder Master smiled slightly. As he said this, he could not help glancing at the Flame Master, his tone holding a hint of teasing.
The Flame Master, however, seemed to have already seen through all this long ago. His gaze remained calm as he looked at the embracing Lin Dong and Ying Huanhuan, and he said faintly, "Love between men and women is only natural. It seems that even Little Junior Sister cannot transcend the mundane. As for what we can do, it is simply to bless them.
"Besides, that Lin Dong is not unworthy of Little Junior Sister. Whether in talent or in strength, he is extraordinary. It is said that Lin Dong and Lin Langtian are known as the Twin Stars of the Lin Clan.
"In the end, if you think about it, my grand Ancestral Symbol lineage is actually not as outstanding as a Lin Clan from a small dynasty."
Hearing this final self-mocking comment, the Life and Death Master, Thunder Master, and the others were stunned for a moment, and then wry smiles appeared at the corners of their mouths.
They had originally wanted to tease the Flame Master, who had long harbored a secret love for the Ice Master, but unexpectedly, he had shifted the topic and dragged them down with him.
However, the truth did seem to be exactly that. The Lin Clan had produced Lin Langtian and Lin Dong, and even Lin Qingtan—each of them possessed extraordinary talent and formidable combat strength.
Especially Lin Langtian, who was now assaulting the Ancestor Realm and stepping toward the level of their Master.
Moreover, Little Junior Sister had vaguely revealed her previous thoughts to them, namely that she intended to sacrifice herself to fully assist Lin Dong in becoming an Ancestor.
In that case, did it not mean that Lin Dong also possessed the potential to become an Ancestor?
Two Ancestors from a single clan—this was simply shocking beyond belief!
"Huanhuan, can you tell me why you deliberately hid the truth from me before?" Elsewhere, after enjoying a long moment of tenderness, Lin Dong suddenly remembered something. He looked at Ying Huanhuan in puzzlement.
Ying Huanhuan hesitated for a moment, then let out a soft breath and said, "Now that things have come to this point, I won't hide it from you any longer.
"In truth, when Master spoke of my strength, he did not mean that I could reach the Ancestor Realm myself, and my previous goal was not actually to break through to the Ancestor Realm."
"What do you mean?"
Ying Huanhuan stepped back from Lin Dong's embrace and gently stroked his face with her jade hand as she murmured, "I don't have complete confidence in breaking through to the Ancestor Realm on my own. However, I do possess the power to help another reach the Ancestor Realm. Of course, the prerequisite is that I must first reach the half-Ancestor stage."
"Helping someone else break through to the Ancestor Realm…" Lin Dong was stunned by this, then as if realizing something, he said, "Could it be that the purpose of your previous seclusion was to help me become an Ancestor?
"But there is no perfection in this world. If you are to help me become an Ancestor, the price must be extremely…"
Lin Dong was no fool. If Ying Huanhuan could help someone become an Ancestor so easily, she would not have deceived him deliberately. That meant the price was unimaginably great, perhaps even… Ying Huanhuan's life.
Seeing the change in Lin Dong's expression, Ying Huanhuan understood that he had likely guessed the truth. She let out a gentle smile and said, "You need not blame yourself. This… is my responsibility."
Here, Ying Huanhuan's tone shifted as she continued, "However, I had originally thought that all of this was already predestined, but who would have thought that brother-in-law would appear from nowhere and find a way to become an Ancestor himself…"
By the end, a trace of confusion appeared on Ying Huanhuan's face. All along, her goal had been to find someone and help that person become an Ancestor.
And that person she had chosen was Lin Dong. Firstly, because Lin Dong was the one she loved. Secondly, because Lin Dong possessed the potential to become an Ancestor.
Yet now this responsibility had suddenly been taken over by Lin Langtian, which made her feel both relieved and, at the same time, a little lost and at a loss for what to do.
She feared betraying Master's expectations and heavy trust.
Lin Dong seemed to see that confusion and helplessness. He quickly grabbed her hand and comforted her, "Fool, there was never any destiny in this world. All things are just following the flow, that is all.
"I should be thankful to Brother Langtian, thank him for taking your burden upon himself. Otherwise, I would never have been able to endure a life in which you were gone. Don't worry, Brother Langtian will definitely succeed."
At the end, Lin Dong could not help but let out a deep breath of relief. He truly had not expected Ying Huanhuan's plan to have been to sacrifice herself to help him become an Ancestor.
If that were the case, he would rather never become an Ancestor!
Ying Huanhuan had likely guessed this, which was why she had intentionally lied to him from the beginning.
"Oh? You wouldn't become an Ancestor—don't you find that a pity?" At this moment, a playful curve appeared at the corner of Ying Huanhuan's mouth as she teased him.
Seeing that familiar, mischievous gleam return to Ying Huanhuan's eyes, Lin Dong could not help but smile as well. Just as he was about to say something, his expression suddenly changed dramatically.
At the same time, countless people between heaven and earth also raised their heads, staring up into the distant sky, as if feeling an overwhelming darkness pressing down from above.
There, a colossal fissure, stretching for a hundred thousand feet, was tearing itself open from the void.
An evil aura so dense as to be almost solid poured ceaselessly from within it.
In front of that fissure, there was an ancient formation, but now, that formation had become extremely dim.
Such a sign clearly showed that it was on the brink of shattering, and some peak experts could already faintly sense that the figure of utter annihilation was about to descend.
Countless people quietly exchanged looks, terror in their eyes impossible to conceal.
"The Demonic Emperor is about to descend."
The Life and Death Master also raised her head, her little face grave as she gazed at the distant, mutating void and spoke slowly.
"But Langtian is still not out yet…"
The Flame Master and the others frowned. At this moment, Lin Dong and Ying Huanhuan flashed forward and arrived.
Lin Dong looked toward the pitch-black fissure, a sharp light flashing through his eyes as he said decisively, "Believe that Brother Langtian will definitely succeed. Once the Demonic Emperor descends, we will fight with everything we have. If we can delay him even for a moment, that's one moment more!"
Ying Huanhuan and the others also nodded gravely. No matter what, they had to fight with everything they had to win that precious sliver of time for Lin Langtian…
Boom!
From the distant void came a faint, low, demonic rumble.
As that thunder-like sound echoed out, a wave of evil fluctuations truly began to invade this piece of heaven and earth.
In an instant, countless eyes stared tightly at the sky, and then their bodies began to tremble uncontrollably.
Because they saw that the bottomless fissure in the fabric of the world had actually begun to burn fiercely at this moment.
Black demonic flames burned along the world-sealing barrier, and from that barrier came an ear-piercing crackling sound of burning.
The final gate safeguarding this plane had, at last, fulfilled its mission to the very end.
Crack!
The seal shattered apart and finally, completely disintegrated.
In that instant, the rolling demonic qi, thick to the point of being almost tangible, surged forth from beyond the fissure between worlds.
Boom!
Demonic qi billowed across heaven and earth. Within it, there seemed to be a pair of eyes so evil that they chilled the soul, sweeping indifferently over this world.
He appeared to be searching for that green-robed figure who had driven him back two months earlier.
But the result of his search left him somewhat surprised.
For he discovered that the half-Ancestor aura from before seemed to have vanished from this world completely.
Even he could not sense it.
"Hmph!"
Within the surging demonic qi, a cold snort seemed to echo. Since that person would not appear, then he would be forced out and then strangled.
In the next moment, the countless experts above the Chaotic Demon Sea watched in horror as a pillar of demonic light, viscous to the extreme, suddenly shot down from beyond the void, tearing open space as it hurtled fiercely toward them.
If such an attack fell, likely nine out of ten people in the entire Chaotic Demon Sea would perish.
"Take action!"
Seeing this, Ying Huanhuan and the other six Masters, including the Life and Death Master, had their expressions change drastically. With a sharp shout, the seven of them shot up together and hovered above the Chaotic Demon Sea.
Pff!
They each struck their own chests with force, spitting out a mouthful of essence blood. As their faces turned pale, the seven globules of blood suddenly fused together, and dazzling radiance, accompanied by a terrifying fluctuation, swept outward.
The light spread out and turned into an ancient, enormous bell. As it descended, it enveloped them and everyone across the Chaotic Demon Sea.
Dong!
In the blink of an eye, the demonic light pierced through space and slammed heavily into the grand bell.
A clear bell chime resounded through heaven and earth in that instant.
Ripples of sound visible to the naked eye surged outward, and all the experts on the surface of the Chaotic Demon Sea were shaken so badly that they fell in disarray.
Crack!
Yet the defensive bell, formed from the full strength of the seven Masters, failed to achieve any truly noticeable effect. Cracks rapidly spread across its surface.
Finally, with a resounding boom, the bell exploded completely.
Pff!
As the bell shattered, seven figures were blown backwards, spewing mouthfuls of fresh blood. Their auras withered greatly in that instant.
Though they were already the strongest beings under heaven in this world, the gap between them and the Demonic Emperor was still far too vast.
Even so, though they suffered heavy injuries, they at least managed to block that one attack from the Demonic Emperor.
Far away in the void, a pair of incomparably evil eyes flashed with icy light, and the demonic qi surged once more.
Boundless demonic qi rolled toward them, and at this moment, everyone could clearly feel that the terrifying figure who had stepped across the fissure between planes was rapidly approaching the continent…
(END CHAPTER)
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