Chapter 1099: The Number One Devil Emperor (2)

The years passed.

The Flower of Sin bloomed silently, unnoticed by the world outside.

Both True Saint Ji Guang and True Saint Yue Luo believed that Devil Emperor Xia was still hiding in the array, cultivating the Flower of Sin.

"I have arrived."

"Saint, I have reached too." One by one, Devil Emperors from Sector 13, such as Devil Emperor Ku Mu, traversed vast stretches of spacetime to reach the Sector River at Sector 11.

They had all come at True Saint Ji Guang's command.

Soon, these Devil Emperors met Saint Hong Yun and saw the vast, towering array that Wu Yuan had set up.

"All of you, go to your designated spacetime coordinates and maintain strict surveillance," Saint Hong Yun issued her orders. "Through karmic perception, I can confirm that Devil Emperor Xia remains within the array.

"However, we must guard against other Devil Emperors approaching in secret or using some special secret arts. Therefore, you will surround the array to prevent Devil Emperor Xia from escaping. If you encounter him, notify me immediately.

"Furthermore, if you detect any other Abyssal powerhouses approaching, stop them all. Anyone who dares to come near is to be killed without mercy." Saint Hong Yun's words dripped with murderous intent.

"Understood," Devil Emperor Ku Mu and the other twenty-odd Devil Emperors responded in unison, all brimming with confidence.

A Dao Pioneer Eternal! Once they descended into the Abyss, they were invincible in an era. What foolish Devil Emperor would dare to offend such existences?

"Saint, why don't you destroy the array? Are you just letting that Devil Emperor Xia stay inside?" one Devil Emperor suddenly inquired.

Even Devil Emperor Ku Mu couldn't help but look towards Saint Hong Yun.

This was also a question they had in their minds.

Saint Hong Yun remained silent for a long while.

"When I first arrived here, Devil Emperor Xia emerged from the array to battle me," Saint Hong Yun finally spoke. "We fought for a long time. I can only say I held a slight advantage, but I couldn't overcome him."

Saint Hong Yun had her own pride and was unwilling to lie.

The twenty-odd Devil Emperors were deeply shocked. Devil Emperor Xia could actually fight Saint Hong Yun to a standstill? If this news were to spread, it would be absolutely earth-shattering.

"Is Devil Emperor Xia really that strong?"

"This...!"

"A peak fourth-stage Overlord? Could he be even stronger than Devil Emperor Chi Yan and Devil Emperor Bai?"

These Devil Emperors were astounded beyond words.

Devil Emperor Chi Yan and Devil Emperor Bai were the two strongest Devil Emperors of the Abyss, peak fourth-stage Overlords! But even those two probably wouldn't dare claim they could fight a descended Dao Pioneer Eternal to a standstill.

"Go now, and guard your posts well," Saint Hong Yun said flatly. She naturally understood the thoughts of the many Devil Emperors but couldn't be bothered to address them.

"Yes," the Devil Emperors departed.

...

Sector 11 had not produced any True Saint Eternals in the past nine samsara cycles of heaven and earth, so the entire sector world was quite chaotic, with many True Saint factions encroaching upon it.

"Hmm? I've spotted Devil Emperor Ku Mu."

"Isn't he a powerhouse from Sector 13? What's he doing in Sector 11?"

"It's not just him, there's also Dao Lan!"

"You've encountered them too? I came across them in the Sector River." The Devil Emperors of Sector 11 finally began to communicate secretly, realizing something was amiss.

If a single Devil Emperor had come over to this sector alone, the chances of concealing their identity and aura were quite high. But this time, dozens of Devil Emperors had come from various directions via different routes, causing quite a stir. It wasn’t surprising that many of them crossed paths with Sector 11's Devil Emperors.

"Heavens! An Eternal! There's an eternal lifeform right here in our Sector River." Finally, a Devil Emperor transmitted this news, instantly shocking all several dozen Devil Emperors of Sector 11.

They were all dumbfounded. An eternal lifeform?

"I went over to verify it myself and sensed it too," another Devil Emperor quickly confirmed.

With no room for doubt, these Devil Emperors were thrown into an uproar.

"So many Devil Emperors under True Saint Ji Guang have rushed here, and now an eternal powerhouse has descended... Could they all be here to hunt down Devil Emperor Xia? Is Devil Emperor Xia in the Sector River at Sector 11?" One Devil Emperor finally came up with a theory close to the truth.

His guess was not far from reality.

At this point, the news True Saint Ji Guang and True Saint Yue Luo had kept hidden for thousands of years finally leaked out, spreading like wildfire.

...

"An Eternal has descended? Which one?"

"It's unclear!"

"Are they capturing Devil Emperor Xia?"

"It seems so. Even an eternal lifeform has been mobilized, yet they still haven't caught him? What exactly did Devil Emperor Xia do to True Saint Ji Guang? Is he carrying some ultimate treasure?"

The news quickly reached most of the thousand-plus Devil Emperors across the Abyss, shocking them all.

An Eternal descending—this was something that hadn't happened in the Abyss for countless years.

Whenever it did occur, it invariably signaled that something momentous was taking place.

The numerous Devil Emperors dared not conceal this information, and began reporting to the True Saints backing them.

Instantly, many True Saints who hadn't been paying much attention before started to investigate and make deductions.

Who was Devil Emperor Xia? That wasn't important.

But the fact that Devil Emperor Xia was worth a Dao Pioneer Eternal returning to the River of Universes to hunt him down—that was truly intriguing.

And as various True Saints began their investigations, more news continued to spread.

"Devil Emperor Xia defeated Devil Emperor Jin Qu and killed the mana and ether bodies of the nine Devil Emperors from Sector 10."

"He possesses peak fourth-stage Overlord strength."

"The descended Eternal is Saint Hong Yun, and she couldn't defeat Devil Emperor Xia in battle."

These successive pieces of information, like peals of thunder, spread through the Abyss at an unbelievably frenzied pace.

Clearly, this news had leaked from Sector 10. It was confirmed by several Devil Emperors whose mana bodies and ether bodies had been slain by Wu Yuan.

These revelations left the already stunned Abyssal Devil Emperors even more dumbfounded. Defeating Devil Emperor Jin Qu and battling an eternal powerhouse. This Devil Emperor Xia was truly so formidable?

"Number one in the Abyss."

"The foremost Devil Emperor of this era."

"The number one Devil Emperor."

"Most likely even stronger than Devil Emperor Chi Yan and Devil Emperor Bai."

Devil Emperor Xia's reputation swiftly spread, gaining widespread recognition among the Abyssal Devil Emperors, who all held him in the highest regard.

The Abyssal Devil race was bloodthirsty and murderous, but they also had great respect for powerhouses who rose through endless slaughter.

Without a doubt, Devil Emperor Xia, who dared to rebel against True Saints and fight Eternals, was seen by the Devil Emperors as a powerhouse among powerhouses. He was the mightiest Devil Emperor born in the Abyss during this samsara cycle of heaven and earth!

"It's a pity that Devil Emperor Xia will most likely perish."

"Since an Eternal has descended and remains stationed outside that array, they will most likely defeat him.”

"Could other Eternals be on their way? It's hard to say for certain.”

"Devil Emperor Xia is incredibly dangerous." The assembled Devil Emperors couldn't help but sigh in admiration and lament at the tragedy that could soon take place. A peerless Devil Emperor might fall here today.

"Even if he falls, this is destined to be a clash that will shake the very foundations of the Abyss. I must witness it.”

"Me too."

Immediately, numerous Devil Emperors sent their mana or ether bodies to the Sector River at Sector 11. Those Devil Emperors who were closer moved with even greater haste. How could the final battle of a peerless Devil Emperor not draw attention?

...

In Sector 10, atop the Yue Luo Divine Mountain.

"Ah! Yes, yes, Ji Guang, I apologize. It was my fault for not properly instructing my subordinates, allowing them to leak the information." True Saint Yue Luo concluded his conversation with True Saint Ji Guang.

The incarnation of Devil Emperor Jian Long watched with wide-eyed speechlessness.

It was clearly the True Saint who had ordered them to 'discuss and deliberate on the matter of Devil Emperor Xia'. But in the conversation between True Saint Yue Luo and True Saint Ji Guang, it had somehow become his subordinate Devil Emperors who had 'accidentally' leaked the information.

"True Saint," Devil Emperor Jian Long couldn't help but interject, "Doesn't this violate the promise you made?"

"Did it really?" True Saint Yue Luo grinned, baring his teeth. "I only promised not to be the first to leak the information. But the ones who first spread this news were the powerhouses under True Saint Ji Guang's command. It was they who accidentally revealed the whereabouts of their target, causing other Devil Emperors to notice.

"If we're talking about leaks, he was the first to let it slip.

"Besides, I merely told you to discuss. I never said anything about spreading the information," True Saint Yue Luo added nonchalantly.

Devil Emperor Jian Long was momentarily stunned.

As expected of a True Saint! Truly shameless.

"This is a good way to muddy the waters," True Saint Yue Luo said softly. "With other True Saints paying attention to this matter, who knows? We might even be able to gain some benefits. Keep a close eye on things."

"The True Saint is wise," Devil Emperor Jian Long quickly agreed.

...

"Those assholes," True Saint Ji Guang seethed, grinding his teeth in fury. "They took one of my slots, yet dare to leak and spread the intelligence? Utterly despicable.

"Accidentally?" he scoffed. “Then why were there no 'accidents' in the thousands of years prior?"

Though enraged, True Saint Ji Guang understood that, if pressed, True Saint Yue Luo's actions didn't technically violate their agreement.

"Hong Yun, Da Yang, Yan He, you needn't worry too much," True Saint Ji Guang addressed the incarnations of the three Saints. "The other True Saints are merely curious for now. Without knowing the specifics, few will actually dispatch Eternals. You still hold the advantage."

The three Saints nodded in acknowledgment.

"Da Yang, Yan He, how much longer do you need?" True Saint Ji Guang inquired. This was the crucial point.

"I've already entered Sector 11. I estimate it will take me just over two hundred years to arrive," Saint Da Yang reported.

"I still need five hundred years.”

...

In the Ling Jiang Universe, within the Greenridge Macrocosm.

Hmm? Overlord Bei Zhen is requesting a meeting?

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self awoke from his meditative state in the Ming Jian Realm. His qi refiner self was not fully immersed in contemplating the Flower of Sin.

Without much hesitation, Wu Yuan's consciousness entered the Spacetime Immortal Voidrealm, arriving at the hall where Overlord Bei Zhen resided.

"Junior Brother Ming Jian, it's been a while," an enthusiastic voice greeted Wu Yuan as soon as he materialized. Overlord Bei Zhen stood nearby, as if he had been waiting there for some time.

"Senior Brother," Wu Yuan replied politely.

"Please, have a seat," Overlord Bei Zhen said with a smile. He had already prepared an array of fine wines and delicacies.

Though they were in the voidrealm, where these foods could only be tasted but not truly consumed, it was the gesture that mattered.

The two sat across from each other, and after three rounds of drinks, Overlord Bei Zhen finally broached the main topic.

"Junior Brother," he began, "I have a question I'd like to ask. This Devil Emperor Xia, currently in the Abyss... is he perhaps your close friend, Overlord Wu Yuan?"

"Overlord Wu Yuan? Devil Emperor Xia?" Wu Yuan feigned confusion. "Senior Brother, what are you talking about?"

"Ha! Still playing dumb? Wasn't it you who asked me to contact Devil Emperor Ku Mu before? And then Devil Emperor Xia..." Overlord Bei Zhen stated directly.

With that, Wu Yuan finally understood. So, the battle that had erupted in the Sector River had already spread throughout the Abyss. In fact, the news had even traveled beyond the Abyss, reaching well-informed individuals like Overlord Bei Zhen.

"Senior Brother jests," Wu Yuan said with a smile. "Though I am a friend of Overlord Wu Yuan, I was merely an intermediary in that previous matter. As for the specifics of who Devil Emperor Xia is or who Overlord Wu Yuan contacted, I'm afraid I don't know."

Wu Yuan flat-out denied any knowledge.

In essence, his message was clear: I am Ming Jian. Who is Devil Emperor Xia? I don't know him!

"Oh? Is that so? Well, that's fine. But rest assured, Junior Brother, I will never reveal that you asked me to contact Devil Emperor Ku Mu," Overlord Bei Zhen said, seemingly accepting Wu Yuan's words. "Come, it's been so long since we’ve met. We must drink well today!"

The two chatted for a long while before Wu Yuan finally took his leave.

He doesn't know?

Overlord Bei Zhen mused, watching the avatar of Wu Yuan's qi refiner self depart.

There's a fifty percent chance that Devil Emperor Xia is indeed Wu Yuan. My Junior Brother Ming Jian most likely knows the truth but is unwilling to tell me.

This didn't surprise Overlord Bei Zhen. If Ming Jian had been willing to speak, that would have been strange.

By not revealing the earlier information, I've essentially helped Overlord Wu Yuan conceal crucial intelligence. Ming Jian is surely aware of this.

Overlord Bei Zhen thought calmly.

He will likely inform Overlord Wu Yuan, which means, in a sense, Overlord Wu Yuan now owes me a favor.

When the time comes to ask for his help in the future, things should go much more smoothly.

This had been Overlord Bei Zhen's true objective all along.

...

Within the Greenridge Macrocosm.

It seems Senior Brother Bei Zhen was trying to give me a hint.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self pondered as his consciousness returned.

It doesn’t matter. I no longer fear conflicts within the River of Universes.

Through the Flower of Sin, sensing the workings of the Abyss, I’ve broken through the final bottleneck of my comprehension of Spacetime, reaching the ninth-level Dao Field stage.

Wu Yuan's qi refiner self silently observed the surrounding spacetime.

Wu Yuan's heart was tranquil.

My body refiner self's eternal ultimate technique is also nearing completion.