The planar passage, flowing with seven-colored light, resembled a strange gemstone embedded in the void, radiating stable and deep spatial fluctuations. Outside the passage lay the Soul Tool arrays and numerous powerhouses standing in battle formation on the wilderness of the Sun Moon Continent; inside the passage lay the unknown Saint Demon Continent and the distinct, overwhelming aura of a different plane.
Yu Yuanchen took a deep breath, suppressing the surging qi and blood caused by forcibly maintaining the passage, his gaze sharp as he looked toward the other end of the passage at the sky, which was faintly visible and seemed shrouded in a light gray haze. Success or failure rested on this one move!
"The passage is stable, but I don't know how long it can be maintained. I will go first." As the leader of the plan and the strongest in terms of strength, Yu Yuanchen did not shirk his responsibility and took the first step. The Thunder Divine Essence formed a solidified purple-gold halo on his body, and he stepped into the iridescent entrance of the passage.
Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, Di Tian, and Gu Yuena followed closely behind. The Evil Emperor hesitated for a moment, excitement and anxiety intertwined in his huge vertical pupils, but ultimately the longing for his homeland overcame everything, and his spiritual body also turned into a stream of light and merged into the passage.
The feeling of passing through the passage was quite strange, as if stepping across an infinitely distant distance. The surrounding area was a bizarre and fantastic scene of spatial distortion, but the force field formed by the stable anchors on the inner walls of the passage was very solid, and he did not feel much spatial tearing force. Clearly, this Soul Tool array, which had poured countless efforts and resources from the Federation, had remarkable effects.
After only a few breaths, the scene before his eyes suddenly became clear!
Feet on solid ground!
A surge of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, more than ten times denser than before, rushed toward them, mixed with uncomfortable dark elements, chaotic demonic energy, and a vast, ancient, and unique law implication that seemed to have settled for endless years.
This place was the Saint Demon Continent!
Yu Yuanchen immediately expanded his Spirit Origin Realm spiritual power, spreading rapidly in all directions like an invisible radar, while carefully sensing the laws of heaven and earth of this brand-new plane.
A moment later, an irrepressible light of surprise erupted in his eyes!
"It is as expected! The suppression on the life level in this plane... has disappeared!" He clearly felt that the layer of invisible barrier that separated the mundane from the god-level in the Douluo Plane was non-existent here! This meant that as long as the foundation was sufficient and the accumulation was complete, one could naturally step into level 100 and achieve a god-level life!
However, while pleasantly surprised, he also keenly sensed a hidden danger.
"The Plane Law... indeed has a very strong 'assimilation' characteristic." Yu Yuanchen said in a deep voice, "If local creatures achieve god-level here, their divine soul and will may be gradually eroded and assimilated by the Plane Law, eventually losing themselves and becoming part of the Plane Law, or rather... puppets."
Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, and Di Tian were all startled upon hearing this and quickly sensed it carefully. Sure enough, they also discovered a similar feeling.
This world seemed to "crave" powerful individuals, but once an individual became strong to a certain extent, it would attract the "attention" and "erosion" of the laws.
"No wonder this world has a deep foundation, yet it seems to lack an 'order master' who truly stands above all living beings." Qian Daoliu said thoughtfully, "I am afraid that the local god-level beings born throughout history have all been assimilated."
Tang Chen clenched his fists, feeling the active soul power in his body, and gave a cold laugh: "Who cares! For us 'outsiders', this is actually a good thing!
Without that damn ceiling, I might be able to touch the threshold of the god-level! As for assimilation? Hmph, I am not a child of this world, want to assimilate me? It has to see if it has teeth strong enough!"
A scorching heat also flashed in Di Tian's huge dragon eyes. Become a god! Get rid of the soul beast tribulation and obtain eternal life! This was the goal he had pursued for hundreds of thousands of years! Although he also sensed the risk of assimilation, he was confident that with the powerful physique and soul of the dragon race, he could resist it. What's more, there was the Lord Gu Yuena by his side.
And at this moment, the most excited one was none other than the Evil Eye Tyrant Lord, the Evil Emperor!
"I'm back! This emperor has finally returned!!" The Evil Emperor's huge spiritual body fluctuated violently in the air, emitting strong emotional ripples—joy, reminiscence, and an almost greedy breathing of the familiar yet strange scent of his homeland in the air.
Although hundreds of thousands of years had passed and the landscape and energy environment of the continent had long since changed, that sense of belonging derived from the life origin could not be faked!
What made him even more excited was that his vast spiritual power swept across a distant direction, and he clearly sensed the aura of his own kind! Although those auras were far less powerful than his, and their bloodline levels were much lower (the strongest was only at the level of an Evil Eye Tyrant), they were indeed the Evil Eye clan!
"Hahaha! This emperor, the Evil Eye Tyrant Lord, has returned today!" The Evil Emperor roared in his heart, a strong impulse of "returning home in glory" surging in his mind.
In the Douluo Continent, although he was a king of fierce beasts, he was ultimately a "guest". With the God Realm pressing down on his head, old rivals like Di Tian by his side, and existences like the Silver Dragon King, his life was not particularly comfortable.
But here, he was a returning king! With nearly 800,000 years of cultivation and a bloodline that surpassed the limit, he would be an undisputed top existence in this homeland! What's more, there was an opportunity to become a god here!
His huge vertical pupils turned toward Yu Yuanchen and the others, his spiritual fluctuations carrying a trace of urgency and excitement: "Yu Yuanchen, Di Tian, since we have arrived safely, this emperor will take his leave first! Don't worry, I will never forget what I promised you! Once I am settled, I will naturally contact you!"
He was impatient to gather his clansmen (if anyone still recognized him), announce his return, and start planning his great cause of becoming a god.
Yu Yuanchen expressed his understanding and nodded: "Please feel free, Your Excellency Evil Emperor. Remember to act with caution; the situation in this world is unclear, so prioritize safety above all else. This is a communication Soul Tool; just inject spiritual power to communicate with us." He tossed a small silver badge.
The Evil Emperor took the badge, his spiritual fluctuations revealing a trace of arrogance: "Don't worry! This emperor can at least count as half a local, surely I won't get into trouble on my own turf. I'm off."
Before the words fell, the huge phantom of the vertical pupils twisted and turned into an invisible spiritual wave, instantly disappearing into the distant horizon, with a speed that was astonishing.
After the Evil Emperor left, only Yu Yuanchen, Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, Di Tian, and Gu Yuena remained.
Since stepping into the Saint Demon Continent, Gu Yuena had been silent. In the depths of those purple crystal-like eyes, there seemed to be countless stars being born and dying. She was sensing the most original laws of this plane in a way far beyond others. Her aura became increasingly ethereal, making it impossible for others to see through her depth.
Yu Yuanchen looked at her and asked politely: "Miss Gu Yue, what are your thoughts on this plane?"
Gu Yuena withdrew her gaze from the distance, and her cold voice sounded: "The laws are ancient, the foundation is deep, and the aura of darkness and destruction dominates, but... the vitality of this world has not been cut off, and the seeds of light are buried deep. At most a few thousand years ago, this plane must have experienced a tragic war." Her judgment directly touched the historical level of the plane.
Yu Yuanchen's heart moved slightly; the Silver Dragon King was indeed the Silver Dragon King, her perception was truly sharp. He nodded: "Indeed. The top priority is to understand the current distribution of forces and the power system of this world as soon as possible. We are newcomers, so we should not expose ourselves too early and need to investigate in secret."
Although Yu Yuanchen knew some things due to his memories of his past life, because he was unsure of the timeline, he could only determine that the Demon God Pillars should have already descended by looking at the origin power between heaven and earth. However, on the surface, this was also his first time coming to the Saint Demon Continent, so it was not easy for him to frankly state the information he knew.
Di Tian said in a deep voice: "Although the dark elements are dense in the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi here, there is a trace of demonic energy faintly present, which makes this seat quite displeased. It seems that the dark forces of this world have gone down an evil path."
Qian Daoliu's holy light flowed slightly around his body, purifying the surrounding demonic energy, and he frowned: "The light element is a bit thin here. This place might be the territory of the dark forces, which may not be a good place for humans."
Tang Chen carried the Clear Sky Hammer and said carelessly: "Whether they are demons or ghosts, we'll deal with them as they come! Let's find a human gathering place to inquire about information first!"
Yu Yuanchen pondered for a moment and said: "The five of us are too conspicuous, and our auras are very different from the creatures of this world, so acting together is easy to attract attention. I propose that we split up to investigate and meet regularly to exchange intelligence."
He looked at Gu Yuena and Di Tian: "Miss Gu Yue, Your Excellency Di Tian, what do you two think?"
Gu Yuena nodded faintly: "Fine." She seemed quite interested in the active original laws of this world.
Di Tian naturally followed Gu Yuena's lead: "Fine."
"Good." Yu Yuanchen said, "Then let's set a period of one day. After one day, regardless of whether we have gained anything, we will return here to meet. I will be in a group with Brother Qian and Brother Tang, and Miss Gu Yue will be in a group with Your Excellency Di Tian. Let's split up to investigate. Remember, hide your tracks and do not cause conflict unless necessary."
With the plan decided, both sides left contact information for each other (a small long-distance communication Soul Tool) and prepared to split up.
However, just at this moment, a sudden change occurred!
In the distant sky, an aura full of violence, chaos, and a thick, bloody smell was approaching the direction they were in at a very fast speed.
The aura had clearly reached the level of a Soul Douluo in the Douluo Plane. Moreover, this aura was full of pure malice and desire for destruction; it was definitely not a friendly one!
"Hmm?" Yu Yuanchen frowned slightly, his Divine Sense instantly locking onto the intruder. A massive figure shrouded in dark red Demonic Energy was seen tearing through the clouds, hurtling toward them.
The figure was vaguely humanoid, but it possessed wings on its back, curved horns on its head, and its entire body was covered in bone-like armor, emitting a nauseatingly Evil aura.
Is this... a demon? This thought flashed through Yu Yuanchen's mind instantly. That was right; in his eyes, this creature was very similar to the demons from the Demon Plane. After a moment of recollection, he remembered that the Demon Race indeed had a branch known as the Demon Race.
"It seems we don't need to go looking for trouble; it has come to us," Tang Chen grinned, the Clear Sky Hammer already appearing in his hand as his fighting spirit began to Ascendancy.
Qian Daoliu's Angel Sacred Sword flickered into view, Holy Light swirling around it. Di Tian's Dragon Eyes were cold, his Dragon Might hidden but ready. Gu Yuena remained calm, though a hint of contemplation flashed deep within her eyes.
The powerful member of the Demon Race had clearly noticed the spatial fluctuations here and, upon seeing five life forms with obscure auras that appeared to be human, had come to investigate the situation.
Yu Yuanchen stepped forward and said indifferently, "We just arrived, and we happen to be in need of a 'guide'." He had an innate dislike for creatures like demons.
Before his voice had even faded, he pressed his fingers together like a sword and pointed forward gently.
There was no earth-shattering momentum, nor any flashy Soul Skill radiance. It was merely a streak of Purple-Gold lightning, condensed to the extreme and as thin as a hair, that Shoot Out from his Fingertip.
"Stay," Yu Yuanchen said in a flat tone, his Thought shifting slightly.
That streak of Purple-Gold lightning seemed to possess a life of its own, carving a strange arc through the air. It appeared before the demon in an instant, then suddenly split into countless fine Thunder Runes, forming an invisible net that instantly enveloped the creature.
The suppression and binding power contained within the Thunder Runes erupted. The Demonic Energy around the powerful demon seemed to freeze, and its massive body stiffened in mid-air, leaving only its eyeballs capable of moving in terror.
Yu Yuanchen flashed forward, appearing before the bound demon. He splayed the fingers of his right hand, which were covered in a hazy Purple-Gold divine energy, and pressed them gently onto the demon's horned head, beginning a soul search.
His Spirit Origin Realm Spiritual Power acted like the most precise probe, invading the depths of the demon's soul with a domineering yet skillful touch! The powerful demon's body trembled violently, emitting a silent wail, its eyes filled with pain and fear.
Yu Yuanchen closed his eyes to focus, quickly browsing through and stripping away the memory fragments from the demon's soul.
This process was extremely painful for the one being searched and would cause irreversible damage to the soul, but what Yu Yuanchen needed at this moment was information, not its life.
A moment later, Yu Yuanchen withdrew his palm, a flash of realization and gravity in his eyes. The powerful demon collapsed to the ground like a pile of mush, its eyes dull and its aura Withered; though it was not dead, its soul had suffered heavy damage.
Gradually, Yu Yuanchen's brow began to furrow, for he discovered that the current Saint Demon Continent was three thousand years after the descent of the Seventy-Two Demon God Pillars, and still three thousand years away from the birth of the original protagonist group. In this way, his foresight regarding the plot would likely be discounted.
"How is it?" Qian Daoliu stepped forward to ask.
Yu Yuanchen said in a deep voice, "This guy belongs to a branch of the Demon Race in this world called the 'Demon Race'. Its form and energy characteristics are extremely similar to the creatures from the 'Demon Plane' that invaded the Douluo Plane many years ago."
He paused, then continued, "High-level demons possess high intelligence and are not just beasts that only know how to kill. From its memory fragments, I learned that the origin of the Demon Race is the descendants of creatures infected by the blood energy of the Seventy-Two Demon God Pillars that arrived from beyond the heavens three thousand years ago. Currently, the continent is in the midst of a long-term war between the Demon Race led by the 'Seventy-Two Pillar Demon Gods' and a human faction called the 'Temple Alliance'."
"The Demon Race is powerful, and human territory is being constantly compressed; the situation is precarious. The area we are currently in is the edge of the Demon Race's territory. Furthermore, according to his knowledge, their Demon God Emperor seems to be an existence that has reached a Million Spirit Power, which should be equivalent to what we understand as a Level 100 existence."
Gu Yuena's cold, clear voice rang out, "Since it is a state of war, the human situation must be difficult. But we must act with greater caution. I hope the three of you will restrain yourselves for the time being to avoid being drawn into large-scale conflicts too early."
Yu Yuanchen agreed, "Miss Gu Yue is absolutely right. Since we have just arrived in this world, it is best not to clash with the strongest forces of this world before we have gathered proper information."
Despite saying this, he did not hesitate in his actions; he casually unleashed a bolt of Yin Yang Divine Thunder, blasting the demon into ashes.
"My thought is that we don't need to contact them for now. I am about to have a Breakthrough; let's find a safe place to handle that first," Yu Yuanchen said.
The four of them, including Gu Yuena, looked at Yu Yuanchen with surprise, but they all readily agreed.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan