Chapter 1477: Plundering

With the collection of a new scroll from the Unknown Lands, the keyboard had unlocked a new feature: the Forging System. Zu An’s heart stirred. Previous scrolls had unlocked systems like the Lottery and Valkyries; he wondered what this Forging System was about. It sounded related to weaponry, fitting since it was unlocked by the *Divine Mark Weapon Atlas*. However, at that moment, he didn't have time to delve into this new Forging System. Simply reading the information from the *Divine Mark Weapon Atlas* had already consumed too much time.

“Oh, your comprehension is truly remarkable! You’ve mastered it so quickly? Generally, even exceptionally brilliant individuals require considerable time to fully grasp such things,” Yu the Great exclaimed, seemingly sensing something, his voice filled with shock. Yu Yanluo and the two other women watched Zu An proudly. They had long known about his exceptional talent, but receiving recognition from a powerful entity like Yu the Great still filled them with a sense of honor. However, Yun Jianyue immediately paused. *Why am I feeling proud? What does this have to do with me?* She subtly glanced at Yan Xuehen, noting the pure joy in her eyes. *Tch*, she thought, *her disciple found a good man; there’s no need to be so smug. He’s not your man, after all.*

*Hmph*, she continued internally, *once we return, I must have Honglei quickly cultivate a good relationship with him, ideally securing the position of main wife. Then, that Ice Stone Woman’s disciple can serve tea and water to my own disciple.* But Honglei is currently cultivating the Heavenly Demonic Enchantment Tone. If she were to emerge prematurely and fool around with him, her cultivation for this lifetime would likely reach its limit. Wouldn’t that ruin her? If Zu An were to only have Honglei as his woman, it wouldn't matter if her cultivation was a bit lower; she would still have married a good husband. However, he has so many close female companions. If Honglei’s cultivation remained low, wouldn’t she clearly be vulnerable to bullying? Thinking this, Yun Jianyue found herself in a dilemma. Neither option seemed good. *I can’t possibly intervene myself, can I?* The moment this thought surfaced, she froze, her cheeks growing warm. *Bah, bah, bah! This is insane. How could such an absurd idea possibly cross my mind?*

In contrast to the three women’s pride, the Golden Crow Crown Prince in the distance was consumed by both jealousy and hatred. *This guy got another fortunate encounter! He truly is my destined mortal enemy. Why won’t a bolt of lightning from the heavens strike him dead?* Meanwhile, the Demon Emperor pondered what Yu the Great had given Zu An. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't ordinary. Years ago, it was rumored that Human Emperor Zhao Hao had sent people into an unknown land, apparently in search of the secret to immortality. While that endeavor seemingly failed, the Unknown Lands indeed offered hope for eternal life. Had this secret now been passed on to Zu An?

Yu the Great gazed deeply at Zu An, then looked into the distance. “I had originally hoped to take a good look at this land before dissipating, but after transferring my power to you, my energy won’t last much longer.” Zu An felt a touch of apology. “Senior, I am truly sorry.” “It’s fine, it’s destiny…” Yu the Great smiled. Then, his entire body gradually blurred, eventually transforming into countless specks of starlight that vanished without a trace. He had originally been a contingency left by Yu the Great to prevent Gonggong’s resurrection. His sole purpose had been to combat Gonggong, and now that his mission was complete, it was natural for him to return to the essence of heaven and earth. No one could withstand the power of time, not even a powerful being like Yu the Great.

Zu An was deep in thought when he suddenly noticed a deep vortex appear where Yu the Great had dissipated. Familiar auras wafted from within. Yan Xuehen’s heart leaped with joy. “This seems to be the aura of our world!” Zu An was equally excited. “It seems this Unknown Land has been successfully navigated! We can finally return to our original world.” Having entered Unknown Lands several times before, he was experienced with such situations. The three women immediately cheered with joy. Zu An also wore a smile. This Unknown Land was unlike the ones he had encountered previously; the individuals here possessed such high cultivation levels that it made them feel as if they were constantly treading on thin ice. He even wondered if this world was truly real, or merely a special secret realm. As he pondered these questions, a sudden chill ran through him, and he looked up towards his side.

“Your vigilance is quite good; you noticed me the moment I appeared,” the Demon Emperor’s voice rang out. The Golden Crow Crown Prince stood beside him, glaring malevolently at everyone. Zu An secretly remained on guard, but his expression betrayed no hint of his caution. “Thanks to our cooperation just now, we’ve resolved the crisis of this Unknown Land, and now we can finally return.” “Return?” the Demon Emperor sneered. “I’ve been in this world for quite some time, engaging in life-or-death struggles with countless powerful beings. Although I’ve acquired some spoils, they were mostly expended on opening the ancient tomb. Now, I practically have nothing to show for it. Are you truly suggesting I return empty-handed?”

Zu An feigned a sudden realization. “Oh, my memory! Didn’t I promise Your Majesty information about the Elixir of Immortality earlier? And now, I’ve just received your invaluable assistance. I am a man who always repays kindness and never breaks a promise to a friend. I can immediately provide you with the information about the Elixir, but I hope Your Majesty agrees that all our past grievances will be wiped clean.” At this, Yan Xuehen and the two other women quietly moved to stand beside him, a flicker of worry in their hearts. *Zu An is trusting the other party too much, isn’t he? What if the Demon Emperor reneges on his word?* However, recalling Zu An’s usual resourcefulness, they trusted that he must have already considered this possibility.

“Oh, no problem.” The Demon Emperor’s breathing immediately grew shallow. With his lifespan nearing its end, what he most coveted was anything related to immortality. The Golden Crow Crown Prince grew agitated. “Father, don’t be deceived by this brat! If he truly knew about the Elixir of Immortality, he would have sought it out and consumed it himself long ago. How could he possibly be willing to share it with us?” The Demon Emperor’s expression darkened considerably; he clearly shared the same sentiment. Zu An smiled. “Your Majesty, it appears the Crown Prince doesn’t wish for you, his father, to live too long.” The Demon Emperor’s eyelid twitched, but he coldly stated, “There’s no need to repeatedly sow discord between my son and me. Just tell me the information about the Elixir of Immortality.” The Golden Crow Crown Prince didn't feel relieved, knowing that such a remark was truly insidious, especially in a royal family where familial bonds were often tenuous.

Zu An shrugged before speaking. “I haven’t seen the Elixir of Immortality myself, but my experiences along the way inadvertently led me to understand that Baoyuan Mountain in the Spirit Mountain Range possesses such an elixir. Long ago, someone even used it to revive a deceased individual…” He then relayed the information about the elixir, subtly embellishing it. Yun Jianyue and the two other women watched him with a hint of worry, their eyes silently asking, *Can he really fool him?* Zu An gave them a reassuring glance in return. He knew perfectly well that he likely couldn’t completely deceive the Demon Emperor. However, even the cleverest individuals, driven by their deepest obsessions, are unwilling to abandon a one-in-ten-thousand glimmer of hope. They will, in essence, deceive themselves. This was particularly true for the Demon Emperor, whose lifespan was nearing its end, making his pursuit of immortality verging on obsessive.

“Good, good, good!” Even with the Demon Emperor’s profound shrewdness, a look of wild joy involuntarily appeared on his face. With his discerning eye, he knew that if Zu An had casually fabricated a lie about the Elixir of Immortality, he would have easily seen through it. But Zu An’s description had been so detailed, even including specific nuances, that he realized none of it could have been conjured on the spot; at least most of it had to be true.

Zu An seized the opportunity. “Demon Emperor, I’ve told you everything I can. This spatial exit could close at any moment. You should hurry to Spirit Mountain to search for the Elixir of Immortality, otherwise, you might be trapped here forever.” The Demon Emperor looked toward Spirit Mountain but did not immediately move. Instead, he smiled faintly. “No hurry.” Zu An and the others felt their hearts sink. “Why?” The Demon Emperor extended his hand toward Zu An. “What did Yu the Great just give you? Bring it out.”