Tang Xiaoqi pushed open the heavy wooden door of the command chamber. The stagnant, oppressive atmosphere inside nearly overwhelmed him. Eldest Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng, Third Senior Sister Liu Yun, Temple Master True Lord Xuanxuan, and several demon beast and aquatic faction leaders were gathered around a massive sand table. Everyone's brow was tightly furrowed. The black flags representing demonic forces on the sand table had nearly pushed past the simulated defensive line representing the Thorn Wall.
At the sound of the door opening, everyone looked up. Their gazes all fell on Xiao Qi. His expression was completely different from a few hours ago. The bone-deep grief and confusion had been replaced by a composure to the extreme, while deep within his eyes burned the fire of resolve after seeing through everything.
"Xiao Qi, your injuries..." Mu Qingfeng spoke first, his tone carrying concern.
Xiao Qi shook his head, walking steadily to the sand table. His gaze swept across those black flags, finally fixing on that special marker representing the Demon Marshal Xu Zhan. He was silent for a moment, seemingly organizing language—how to speak of that soul-stirring truth.
"Everyone," his voice wasn't loud, yet clearly reached each person's ear, carrying undeniable power, "regarding the events at Xuolan Manor a hundred years ago, the demonic lord's true goal, and my father Xu Zhan... I now know the complete truth."
One sentence, like a boulder thrown into still water, instantly. Everyone looked at him in shock. Even True Lord Xuanxuan, who had been closing his eyes to rest his mind, sharply opened his eyes.
"Xiao Qi, what did you say?" Liu Yun couldn't help stepping forward. "You know about that year..."
Xiao Qi didn't answer directly. Instead, he slowly raised his hand, palm upward. That cyan-colored jade pendant lay quietly in his palm, emanating a warm, moist, mysterious luster.
"This object is not a simple inheritance jade pendant." Xiao Qi's voice carried a trace of recollection and deeper pain. "The 'purification source' it carries, its essence is actually a lotus seed from the ancient cosmic treasure—'World-Purifying Green Lotus.'"
"World-Purifying Green Lotus?" An experienced demon beast elder exclaimed involuntarily, his face full of terror. "The legendary chaotic Green Lotus branch that at the dawn of creation held the authority of purification and creation? This... how could this exist in our such a small realm?"
"It does exist, and has been guarded by my family, Xuolan Manor, for generations." Xiao Qi confirmed the other's speculation, his tone heavy. "And that demonic lord, its origin is the 'Ultimate Dark Demon Source' that condensed from the universe's dark side. It crossed realms to come here. Its sole purpose is to seize this lotus seed, devour its purification-creation source, make up for its deficiency, forge an unprecedented 'perfect demonic body.'"
The command chamber fell into dead silence. Only the's heavy breathing remained. This level of truth already far exceeded their previous understanding of "righteous-versus-evil battle," rising to the terrifying height of a contest at the cosmic source level.
"So, a hundred years ago..." Mu Qingfeng's voice was somewhat hoarse.
"So, a hundred years ago's manor's destruction was not ordinary demonic path invasion." Xiao Qi took over, his voice beginning to tremble slightly, as if experiencing that blood-and-fire memory once more. "It was a premeditated plunder specifically targeting the lotus seed!"
His eyes seemed to see Father Xu Zhan's final figure again—that man standing atop the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, drenched in blood yet with resolute eyes.
"The demonic lord was powerful. Father... he knew he absolutely couldn't win in direct confrontation. The manor's destruction was imminent. He understood even more clearly that once the lotus seed fell into the demonic lord's hands, the consequences would be unimaginable." Xiao Qi's voice carried an almost choking repression. "At the final moment, he... he made a choice."
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm, using the steadiest tone possible to speak that earth-shattering truth:
"He wasn't forcibly controlled by the demonic lord. He... chose it voluntarily!"
"What?!" Liu Yun gasped, almost unable to believe her ears.