Chapter 499 - 14: Ancient Demon Egg

In the Illusory Sun Sea, a Treasure Pagoda stood on a solitary island surrounded by sheer cliffs. It was entirely black, resembling a colossal peak piercing the heavens.

Inside the pagoda, a burly Daoist sat cross-legged on a stone platform. His skin was like cast bronze and his features were ugly. He wore a half-face Profound Gold Mask, and his gaze was cold and profound.

Suddenly, he seemed to sense something and muttered to himself in surprise, "’The Feathered Immortal Tree has appeared so soon?’"

As soon as the words left his lips, his figure flickered, and he was already outside the Treasure Pagoda. Gazing into the distance, he sensed the surging, immense aura of a treasure’s light to the west, where the sea met the sky. He couldn’t help but frown slightly.

"’It’s not the Feathered Immortal Tree... But it’s no ordinary treasure, either. I fear this will incite a bloodbath.’"

...

「Meanwhile.」

On the northern shore of the Illusory Sun Sea, within a deep and dark great rift valley.

The Nine Nether Cold Wind—capable of instantly freezing a Life Talisman Cultivator to death—blew through from time to time, howling without end.

Ripples gently spread through the void, and an incredibly majestic Emperor suddenly stepped out.

He wore a deep black Imperial Robe embroidered with scenes of the cycle of life and death. On his head was a high crown, from which black tassels hung down, completely obscuring his face.

When the exceedingly dangerous Nine Nether Cold Wind blew near him, it seemed to become unusually timid and docile, swirling around to avoid him like a school of small fish.

He stood motionless, quietly staring ahead as a water mirror slowly spread open amidst the Nine Nether Cold Wind.

"Master, it seems the legendary Qianhuan Immortal Mansion has appeared west of the Illusory Sun Sea..."

A Cultivator appeared in the water mirror and said respectfully.

"’Qianhuan Immortal Mansion? Ascendant Qianhuan perished in the Illusory Sun Sea back then. To think his mansion would emerge ahead of schedule, before the appearance of the Feathered Immortal Tree... How interesting!’"

He chuckled lightly, then stepped into the void and walked away.

...

On the sea, several hundred miles from the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion, the sound of wind and thunder suddenly rang out.

Clouds and mist roiled, and muffled thunder rumbled.

A giant dragon covered in purple scales came weaving its way out from the clouds and mist above.

This dragon was hundreds of feet long, with a head as large as a mountain, upon which grew three horns. Its whiskers, like steel spikes, were over ten feet in length. Its bulging eyes were as large as baskets, glittering with a golden light that shot out for over a hundred feet.

The Thunder Dragon carried a quaint palace on its back, and from within, a man slowly walked out.

He was tall and imposing, with a long beard and unbound hair. His robes were loose, and on his bared left arm, a strange, single-horned snake was coiled. A vertical mark on his brow shone with a dazzling light.

As the mark opened and closed, it seemed as if day were turning to night.

The man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his presence cold and majestic. Behind him hung a mass of thunderous energy, its aura so vast and imposing it seemed capable of filling the heavens and the earth.

He looked expressionlessly in the direction of the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion and let out a low shout. The Thunder Dragon immediately flew toward it.

...

「Outside the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion.」

Not long after Fang Cheng and Li Huan had entered, a few more Life Soul Cultivators discovered the place. They gathered at the periphery of the treasure’s light, trying to figure out how to get inside.

Just then, one of them let out a soft sound of surprise and turned to look into the distance.

At the horizon where sea met sky, amidst the gloom, an object that seemed to be a single, contracted point suddenly bloomed with a dazzling light. A Cyan Lotus emerged from it, and in an instant, it had arrived before them.

A Daoist was seated upon the Cyan Lotus, holding a Duster. He wore wide-sleeved robes that gathered like clouds, and his aura was ethereal and transcendent. Above his head, black and white energies swirled, manifesting the mysteries of growth and decay.

The Daoist paid the others no mind, instead studying the Qianhuan Immortal Mansion carefully. After a moment, a smile appeared on his face, and he said "Good" three times in a row.

Then, with a wave of his Duster, the Cyan Lotus beneath him spun and leisurely passed through the Treasure Light Prohibition surrounding the Immortal Mansion, carrying him inside.

The Daoist looked around, his gaze sweeping over the thousands of smaller mansions that were constantly changing position.

His left hand formed a seal as he secretly performed a divination for a moment. His expression grew slightly solemn, and for a moment, he seemed uncertain.

Just then, the main hall of a distant mansion suddenly erupted with astonishing Demonic Light that shot into the sky, transforming into visions of various ferocious beasts.

The Daoist’s gaze sharpened, and he muttered to himself, "’Legend says Ascendant Qianhuan found an Ancient Demon Egg back then. Could the rumors be true?’"

As he spoke, the Cyan Lotus flickered, and the Daoist appeared outside the hall. He flicked the Duster in his hand, and it instantly lengthened, its countless silver threads spreading out wildly as they surged into the great hall.

Suddenly, with a tremendous BOOM, a huge, dark-gold bone fist smashed out of the great hall. The golden light of the fist flared, and the Duster’s silver threads shattered inch by inch, recoiling back.

Then, a Strong Bone Demon, its body entirely golden, walked out of the great hall.

In the Bone Demon’s other hand, it held an "egg" about ten feet in diameter. The egg was a dark yellow color with a slight translucence, and it shone with dazzling Demonic Light. Phantoms of ferocious beasts transformed into runes that swirled around this "giant egg."

The Ancient Demon Egg!

The Daoist was knowledgeable and experienced, and he recognized the origin of the giant egg at a glance.

Legend had it that this Demon Egg came from beyond the domain. It was a rare treasure comparable to a Tier Five Spiritual Object, capable of birthing a Tier Five Magical Beast that would be completely loyal to the person who refined it.

Unfortunately, after Ascendant Qianhuan obtained this treasure, he perished under a heavenly tribulation before he had a chance to hatch it.

The Daoist’s expression was solemn and grave. His gaze shifted from the Demon Egg to the man and woman standing behind the Bone Demon.

Both the man and the woman were unfamiliar faces, and they had clearly concealed their identities. The woman was suffused with a demonic aura; she was undoubtedly a Demon Emperor.

As for the male cultivator, his aura was as deep and vast as an abyss, making him impossible to fathom.

The two of them had clearly been inside the Immortal Mansion for some time.

The Daoist bowed and said, "Greetings, fellow Daoists. I am Cangjiezi of the Xuanqing Sect. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The man and woman behind the Strong Bone Demon were, of course, Fang Cheng and Li Huan.

Fang Cheng looked at the Dharma Cultivator who had broken into the Immortal Mansion and said coolly, "Greetings, Daoist. This place already has a master. Please leave at once."

Cangjiezi chuckled. "This Qianhuan Immortal Mansion was left by a great power of a past age as a gift for the fated among future generations. How can you claim it all for yourself, Fellow Daoist?"

Although he was facing two Dharma Masters, his expression was calm and composed. He was unhurried and utterly unafraid, appearing to have a great deal of confidence.

Fang Cheng had already stormed through dozens of the smaller mansions. Aside from a pile of Demon-Subduing Pillars and the Ancient Demon Egg, he had yet to find the main body of the Immortal Mansion itself. He was inevitably feeling frustrated, and now, running into this old Daoist, it was as if all his pent-up irritation had found an outlet.

He gave a cold smile and sneered, "Everything is first come, first served. The two of us have been occupying this place for some time. Are you trying to snatch food from a tiger’s mouth, Fellow Daoist?"

The smile vanished from Cangjiezi’s face. "You may have arrived first, Fellow Daoist," he said in a low voice, "but whether you can hold on to this treasure depends on your ability."

He hailed from the Xuanqing Sect, one of the ten great Mystic Sects. In the entire Mingxiao Domain, aside from the Tribulation Realm Great Powers and a handful of other Dharma Cultivators, there was truly no one who could make him back down upon their first meeting.

Now that a treasure was right before him, how could he possibly hand it over without a fight?

Demonic intent swirled around Fang Cheng, and a savage glint flashed in his eyes. He let out a sharp cry, "Then I would be honored to test your skills!"

With that, a pitch-black Demonic Light rose behind him like flames. Nine Resentment Celestial Demons emerged one after another and charged ferociously toward Cangjiezi.

...