Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

Chapter 604: Safe Return

"Have you heard? Out of the five hundred who entered the Peach Blossom Paradise, only nineteen came out alive!"

"How could anyone not have heard of such a major event? The news has spread across all the great Daozhous by now. It’s insane. No one knows what they encountered inside for the casualties to be so catastrophic."

"I heard that among the five great Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens, only the Zi Mansion Holy Son survived. The other four are dead, and there’s a rumor going around that he’s the one who killed them."

"Impossible! The Zi Mansion Holy Son is powerful, but he couldn’t have killed four Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens. They were all top-tier geniuses from the Hidden Dragon List, nearly his equals!"

"That’s where you’re mistaken. I heard there’s a peach tree demon at the Saint Realm inside the Peach Blossom Paradise, one that guards the Life Spring Water. The Zi Mansion Holy Son might have used that peach tree demon to kill the other Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens."

"HISS... Is that news reliable? It’s unbelievable!"

Once news from the Peach Blossom Paradise got out, it instantly shocked the great Daozhous. Countless martial artists were left dumbfounded, and it sparked widespread discussion. This was an unprecedentedly tragic outcome, and the deaths of four Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens was explosive news.

These Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens were the future Holy Masters of the major holy lands. Their talent and strength were beyond question. As geniuses on the Hidden Dragon List, each one was renowned throughout the Central Plains with fame spreading far and wide. For them to die so suddenly was truly staggering.

And in the midst of it all, the Zi Mansion Holy Son naturally became the target of public condemnation, drawing immense attention.

On that day, four Saints joined forces to hunt him down and successfully caught up to the Purple Jade battleship. By then, however, they had already entered the territory of Ji State. A great battle erupted among the five Saints. In the end, reinforcements from the Zi Mansion Holy Land arrived and successfully rescued the Zi Mansion Holy Son and Saint Purple Jade.

The commotion from this battle was so tremendous that it was witnessed by many martial artists. This event seemed to confirm the news that the Zi Mansion Holy Son had schemed to have the other four Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens killed.

"The Zi Mansion Holy Son has really stirred up a hornet’s nest this time, offending four holy lands at once. Now all four have issued statements demanding the Zi Mansion Holy Land hand him over, reveal the truth, and punish him according to their laws!"

"If you ask me, the Zi Mansion Holy Son definitely did this on purpose. Just look at how unyielding the Zi Mansion Holy Land is being. They have no intention of handing him over."

"That’s right. With the other four Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens dead, the Zi Mansion Holy Son is now the preeminent figure of the younger generation across the five great Daozhous. Even if the other holy lands choose new Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens, they’ll still be a step behind him. This move looked risky, but it was part of a much grander scheme!"

The situation grew increasingly grim. The four holy lands joined forces to apply pressure, but the Zi Mansion Holy Land maintained its hard-line stance, making the atmosphere incredibly tense. Countless eyes were drawn to the drama, eager to see if a major war would erupt.

「Moonwatch City.」

This city was the gateway to the Zi Mansion Holy Land and the largest city in Ji State.

On this day, a towering figure emerged from the void. An intense Holy Might enveloped the entire city, causing all the martial artists within to tremble under the immense pressure.

"It’s the Celestial Elephant Holy Master from the Dragon Elephant Holy Sect!" someone cried out, recognizing the imposing figure as the number one expert of the Dragon Elephant Holy Sect.

He was a powerful expert of the Saint Realm. His Holy Might was as oppressive as a colossal elephant spanning the heavens, capable of flattening Moonwatch City with a single stomp.

SWISH!

Soon, a second figure appeared, radiating brilliant green light and surging with overwhelming Demon Qi. A graceful silhouette could be vaguely seen, dancing like a magnificent azure phoenix.

"That’s the Azure Phoenix Holy Master from the Earth Demon Holy Sect!" the crowd gasped, their faces paling in horror. A second Holy Master had arrived! It was the Azure Phoenix Holy Master, who possessed the bloodline of the divine beast, the Azure Phoenix. She was so immensely powerful that the span of her wings could block out the sky over Moonwatch City.

HUM!

A pure white light, holy and pristine, shone forth. A hazy, fairy-like silhouette appeared before everyone, exuding such a divine aura that one couldn’t help but think of the word "goddess."

"It’s the Pure Light Holy Master, from the sect of the Jade Pure Holy Maiden!"

Another Holy Master! Her Divine Sense was like an ocean, blanketing the sky. Yet, it carried no pressure, only a soul-purifying sensation that made everyone want to fall to their knees and submit before her.

A grotesque cackle echoed as the horizon was shrouded in black qi. It teemed with ghostly shadows, as if the area had transformed into a domain of specters. Within this spectral domain, a tall figure enshrouded in pitch-black Ghost Qi with eyes of green Ghost Fire flickered in and out of view. The terrifying Demonic Might it radiated made hearts tremble and faces pale with fright.

"The Ghost Fire Holy Master of the Five Ghosts Demon Cult!" someone stammered, then quickly clamped a hand over their mouth and shrank back, filled with an intense fear of the terrifying Demon Cult’s Holy Master.

The Celestial Elephant Holy Master, the Azure Phoenix Holy Master, the Pure Light Holy Master, and the Ghost Fire Holy Master—the leaders of the four great holy lands had arrived together. They stood above Moonwatch City, their intentions clearly hostile, determined to force the Zi Mansion Holy Land to hand over its Saint Heir.

"Holy Master Ziwei, hand over the Zi Mansion Holy Son!" the Celestial Elephant Holy Master’s shout was like a thunderclap on a clear day, causing many of the weaker martial artists in Moonwatch City to bleed from all seven orifices.

"Success makes a king, failure makes a bandit. What crime has my son committed? If you want war, then war it is!" Holy Master Ziwei, the father of the Zi Mansion Holy Son, remained just as defiant.

BOOM!

The heavens ripped apart and spacetime distorted as the four Holy Masters charged directly into the Zi Mansion Holy Land. A world-shaking battle erupted.

Unfortunately, the common folk could not follow them into the Zi Mansion Holy Land to witness the great battle. Ultimately, the four Holy Masters retreated in defeat, having failed to force the Zi Mansion Holy Son out—an outcome that shocked countless people. Afterward, the Zi Mansion Holy Land sealed its gates, temporarily closing itself off from the outside world and giving rise to countless speculations.

In a courtyard in Moonwatch City, Li Mingliang and Li Qingyue were still living in seclusion. Following Su Han’s instructions, they kept a low profile and did not reveal their identities. Over the past month, both Li Mingliang’s and Li Qingyue’s swordsmanship had improved, and their auras as sword cultivators had grown even more distinct.

"Grandfather, with such a tragedy happening in the Peach Blossom Paradise, I wonder how Mr. Su is doing?" Li Qingyue’s delicate brows furrowed, her exquisite face a mask of deep worry. She admired Su Han and viewed him as her master, willing to follow him for the rest of her life. Naturally, she couldn’t bear the thought of anything bad happening to him.

"Don’t worry. Mr. Su is blessed by fortune; he’ll surely be fine," Li Mingliang smiled to reassure her.

But he wasn’t so sure himself. Even four Saint Heirs and Holy Maidens had died. No matter how strong Mr. Su was, how could he possibly have survived that? Furthermore, after an incident of this magnitude, the great holy lands would certainly capture and interrogate anyone who came out of the Peach Blossom Paradise. The chances of Mr. Su returning were slim to none.

How could Li Qingyue not know of the dangers? She clasped her hands together and prayed silently. O Heavens, please protect Mr. Su and bring him back safely!

"Are you two talking about me?"

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind them