Chapter 150: Dragon Hidden Great Secret Emerges

Rumble…

Gilda’s massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of bloody dust. His eyes were vacant, feeling the rapid drain of his last vestiges of life. In his fading vision, at the edge of the sky, the outline of a colossal blood-red skeleton appeared.

“You finally lost, poor little guy…”

The terrifying voice echoed in his mind, yet Gilda’s expression remained eerily calm: “My mission is complete; I no longer need to submit to your enslavement!”

“Heh, you’re quite mistaken. The moment you lost the ability to inherit the Demon Heart, you were destined to lose your freedom. Your only value to me is to fight endlessly, like a berserk beast! Though your physical body may die, I will imprison your soul, forcing you to continue existing in another form.”

His scattered demon souls gradually departed his body, vanishing from Xu Yang and the others’ sight. Unbeknownst to them, these demon souls were being drawn into an unknown realm in a different form…

“It’s over.”

Xu Yang’s tone held a hint of relief. He had no desire for an unending entanglement with the demon race, and Gilda’s demise signaled a significant, phased victory for their first stop in the Three Thousand Dao States.

With Gilda’s demise, the dark confining power surrounding Purgatory Peak also vanished. Sunlight streamed into the Nether Sea, and the pervasive gloom over the area gradually dissipated.

“Roar!!”

Terrifying roars from demon beasts shook the entire valley. They were the powerful demon beast prisoners Gilda had held captive, now roaring.

“Ailusha, you are the empress of the demon race. It is for you to decide whether these demon beasts deserve their freedom.”

Ailusha met Xu Yang’s gaze with a soft laugh. With a flick of her hand, purple light simultaneously shattered the restraints on all the demon beasts. More and more colossal ancient beasts appeared, gathering around Xu Yang, Ailusha, and their companions.

“Thank you, Empress, for your salvation. We pledge to join the Myriad Demon Den and follow you!”

It was worth noting that any one of these dozens of massive creatures possessed the strength of a forbidden demon king, surpassing even Gilda’s Twelve Strongest Demons. While they hadn’t reached the level of a Demon Supreme, each was a formidable warrior. With these individuals, the Myriad Demon Den’s power would undoubtedly ascend to a new tier.

“Long live! Long live…”

At the Myriad Demon Den, the Empress returned triumphantly with Xu Yang’s team. This time, Xu Yang’s goddesses were not sneaking in; instead, they openly enjoyed the worship of the demon populace.

“This time, thanks to the assistance of these human powerhouses, the Myriad Demon Den was able to overcome several disasters. From today forward, besides Saint Lord Xu Yang, these individuals will forever enjoy the status of honored guests among the demon race. Henceforth, anywhere in the Three Thousand Dao States, these powerhouses hold the authority to command and deploy members of my Myriad Demon Abyss. Disobey, and face death!”

The Empress’s bearing was truly domineering. With Ailusha’s decree, Xu Yang’s team would never again lack assistance…

After a brief two-day respite, and ensuring no other forbidden demon forces would invade, Xu Yang bid farewell to Ailusha.

“Are you really leaving…”

The two stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the summit of the back mountain, admiring the evening’s most beautiful sunset together. The scene was utterly beautiful, yet tinged with a hint of melancholy.

“Yes. Our true objective on this journey is to locate the Dragon’s Hoard. The Demon Heart within you is very likely a crucial source among them. However, due to the unique way you acquired this inheritance, we currently lack clues to the Dragon’s Hoard specifically linked to the Demon Heart. Once new developments and discoveries emerge, we will meet again soon.”

Ailusha said little. Though she often adopted the demeanor of a demure woman in Xu Yang’s presence, her inherent cool and resolute imperial aura unconsciously shone through. Even at the moment of separation, there was no trace of clingy or petty behavior.

“This power might be of some help to you.”

With that, Ailusha handed a glowing purple demonic bead to Xu Yang.

“Carry this with you. Wherever you are, my Demon Heart will be able to sense your presence. Furthermore, it contains a portion of the Demon Heart’s power, which, when combined with your Eternal Sword at the opportune moment, can unleash astonishing might. Your journey ahead is fraught with peril; it’s always better to be prepared.”

Xu Yang would not refuse such a gift. He could even feel Ailusha’s profound sincerity imbued within it.

“I will wear it. Take care!”

The two gazed at each other, seemingly with endless words to share. Yet, this unspoken understanding filled both with anticipation for their next encounter.

“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you!”

…

That night, Xu Yang and his group boarded the spirit ship. After first escorting Huixin back to Linghan Temple, they embarked on their continued search for clues to the Dragon’s Hoard.

Currently, Ling Yao’s Sword Heart had yet to fully develop, preventing her from obtaining any valuable clues to the Dragon’s Hoard. Only Bai Lianxue’s Golden Light Clay Bodhisattva, its outer shell already covered in a network of cracks, awaited her Buddhist cultivation to reach minor completion. Once she, like Huixin, could condense pure golden light power, the outer shell would shatter, revealing the true Dragon’s Hoard secret the Phoenix lineage wished to convey to her.

More than ten days passed in a flash. Xu Yang and the three beauties drifted aimlessly on the spirit ship, awaiting Bai Lianxue’s cultivation breakthrough. While the others were immersed in their own cultivation, only Xu Yang remained largely at leisure. Having cultivated for tens of thousands of years, and now having emerged from seclusion, he certainly wouldn’t choose to pass the time in such a manner.

Creak!

Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed within the quiet spirit ship.

“Something’s happening?”

Ling Qingshu was the first to open her eyes and look at Bai Lianxue. Sure enough, streams of golden light slowly began to emanate from around Bai Lianxue’s body.

The cultivation method of Huixin’s Linghan Temple lineage possessed exceptionally strong defensive and restorative effects, embodying the Buddhist philosophy of universal salvation. As this golden light filled the entire interior of the spirit ship, Xu Yang and the others all felt a profound sense of peace and tranquility wash over them.

Just then, the Golden Light Clay Bodhisattva flew out from within Bai Lianxue on its own, hovering before everyone.

Whoosh!

Bai Lianxue extended a finger, and powerful golden Buddhist light converged from its tip onto a single point on the clay bodhisattva.

Clink… Clink!

Pieces of mottled fragments flaked away, transforming into drops of pure, crimson blood, each teeming with extremely powerful life force!

“This is… the true blood of the Phoenix lineage. I never expected such a gain!”

Xu Yang acted with incredible swiftness, immediately producing a small container to collect the fallen phoenix blood. He then divided it equally into four portions, giving one each to Ling Qingshu and Ling Yao, and retaining one for himself and Bai Lianxue.

However, this was merely a byproduct of the clay bodhisattva. What truly astonished Xu Yang and the others was the line of golden characters inscribed upon it…