Chapter 685: The Azure Sky Demon Emperor Arrives

The old man slowly stood up, his hands clasped behind his back. Hunched over, he leaped from the spirit boat. He walked across the sea surface as if on solid ground, approaching at a slow pace. Wherever he went, the turbulent waves instantly stilled, becoming as calm as a mirror. The noisy whitecaps suddenly grew silent. The entire world lost its sound due to his appearance. Only the faint sounds of the three great demon clans nervously swallowing remained audible from the shore.

"I am Venerable Xuanyang from Mount Sanqing," he announced. "We, from Taicang Great State, claim this place. You have three breaths of time to disappear from my sight." His voice was calm and quiet, yet to everyone's ears, it rumbled like muffled thunder, making them stagger backward.

Jiang Fan's expression darkened. This was utterly overbearing! This was the territory of the continental demon clans, yet he was ordering them to leave! The powerful cultivators from the West Sea and East Sea Demon Clans were also filled with indignation. These major sects had never shown any regard for the three great demon clans or the Nine Sects of humanity.

The West Sea Crown Prince cupped his hands and spoke, "Senior, I am the West Sea Crown Prince. I have traveled tens of thousands of miles to reach this place; I ask for your leniency." However, Venerable Xuanyang didn't even glance at him. He spoke indifferently: "One."

The West Sea Crown Prince was completely ignored, and fury burned in his heart. Just as he was about to utter more flattering words, Jiang Fan grabbed his arm, urging, "Go!" Having dealt with Nascent Soul cultivators before, Jiang Fan knew how they viewed beings below that realm. In their eyes, anyone below Nascent Soul was no different from an ant. Since the other party had publicly stated they had three breaths of time to disappear from his sight, after those three breaths, he would undoubtedly eradicate everyone within his line of sight, as casually as stepping on a group of bothersome ants, without a shred of hesitation or pity.

Concubine Yunxia bit her red lip, her heart filled with unwillingness. She had finally obtained a silver scroll, granting entry to the inner dwelling. "Was this fate?" she wondered. Despite her thoughts, she wisely retreated with Jiang Fan. Haimai and Lingshu also dared not linger and immediately left the area.

"Two." What infuriated them was that even though they had all retreated, Venerable Xuanyang was still indifferently counting! Was he truly insisting they vanish from his sight before he would stop? But in three breaths of time, let alone them, even a Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn't dare claim they could disappear from someone's line of sight.

Jiang Fan's heart pounded. He instantly realized something was wrong and shouted, "Quick, go! He means to kill us!" This Venerable Xuanyang was utterly ruthless; he never intended to let them leave in the first place! Left with no choice, Jiang Fan decisively channeled lightning throughout his body, preparing to use the Cloud Shadow technique to escape. However, he could only take Concubine Yunxia and a few others with him. The West Sea Demon Clan would have to fend for themselves!

"Three!" A cold voice resonated, shaking the surroundings! Just as Jiang Fan's hair stood on end, he suddenly realized something was off. "Wait!" That "three" wasn't shouted by Venerable Xuanyang! He looked in the direction of the voice. A dark speck crossed the sky, hurtling towards them with a surge of cold intent.

The usually indifferent Venerable Xuanyang suddenly straightened his back, his pupils trembling slightly. His Nascent Soul power surged as he gazed at the rapidly approaching dark figure. As it drew closer, he finally saw clearly: it was a majestic middle-aged man wearing a crown. His eyes held disdain, his demeanor majestic and cold. The terrifying demon power he exuded made even him, a fellow Nascent Soul cultivator, tremble with fear.

*Boom* Without a word, the majestic middle-aged man angrily struck out with a palm. The demonic energy and mist around him condensed into a sky-obscuring beast claw, smashing down fiercely. Venerable Xuanyang's expression changed, and he immediately guessed who the newcomer was. While swinging a broken sword, he exclaimed, "Sky Demon Emperor!"

*Clang* From the broken sword erupted an unparalleled sword might. The sky-obscuring beast claw was cleaved apart by a single sword strike, but the residual demonic power still surged forward, sending Venerable Xuanyang reeling backward. He wore a look of surprise; clearly, the Sky Demon Emperor's strength surpassed his expectations.

The Sky Demon Emperor descended from the sky, his gaze disdainful. "I counted to three for you," he said. "Why aren't you acting?" Venerable Xuanyang suppressed the metallic taste in his throat, cupped his hands, and laughed, "I was just joking with these youngsters. Sky Demon Emperor, why be so serious?"

"Joking?" The three great demon clans scoffed in unison. He certainly hadn't seemed to be joking; he truly intended to kill them! The Sky Demon Emperor snorted coldly, "This is my territory. Do you think it's your place to make decisions here? Take your people and get out!"

A group of cultivators from Taicang Great State had come to the demon clans' territory to flaunt their power, clearly not putting the Sky Demon Emperor in their eyes. Venerable Xuanyang was secretly annoyed, but knowing this was the other party's territory, he could only suppress his anger and say, "Sky Demon Emperor, people from various sects and schools like us have traveled across vast oceans to be here. We ask that you grant us an opportunity to enter. This old man is willing to offer some resources as compensation." He emphasized "various sects and schools," which was undoubtedly a form of deterrence. And agreeing to provide resources was a way to give the Sky Demon Emperor a chance to save face.

Furious as he was, the Sky Demon Emperor dared not offend the extraterritorial divine sects from Taicang Great State. Since Venerable Xuanyang had given him a way to save face, he naturally took the opportunity. "You may enter the Tiger Demon Emperor's dwelling," he stated. "However, there are restrictions on the number of people who can enter the Tiger Demon Emperor's dwelling each time. No more than ten people at most. Only a portion of the people you brought can enter."

Venerable Xuanyang nodded slightly. He understood the Tiger Demon Emperor's dwelling; due to its restrictions, only a maximum of ten people could enter each time it opened. This was also why he had wanted to drive away the three great demon clans. "How about this old man gets seven of those ten slots?" Venerable Xuanyang proposed.

The Sky Demon Emperor scanned the three great demon clans behind him and declared, "I'll arrange my demon clans first!" He first looked at the West Sea Demon Clan. "West Sea Crown Prince, you may enter; the rest of you stay outside." Next, he addressed the East Sea Demon Clan, "East Sea Third Princess, you may also enter; the rest of you stay outside!" Then, he pointed to another, "You're a disciple of the Great Yin Sect, aren't you? You did well in slaying the ancient giant this time, so I'll grant you a slot!"

Then, he looked at Concubine Yunxia and her companions, stepped forward, and his voice softened: "Yunxia, why are you here?" Concubine Yunxia calmly replied, "I heard the sea demon clans were gathering here, so I came to take a look." Unbeknownst to herself, lying to the Demon Emperor had become routine for her. The Sky Demon Emperor didn't suspect anything.

When his gaze shifted to Jiang Fan, it sharpened. "Why are you here?" he demanded. "You'd better give me a convincing reason!" He wouldn't mind anyone else being here, but Jiang Fan was different! This boy was already someone he absolutely intended to kill; he would never give him a chance to continue growing.

The three women's hearts pounded simultaneously. The Demon Emperor was suspicious! No one had expected this; the Demon Emperor, who was clearly leading his army south, had suddenly appeared at the Tiger Demon Emperor's dwelling. Fortunately, Jiang Fan was cautious and had already put on his Dragon-Binding Lock. Otherwise, if the Demon Emperor had seen Jiang Fan's Dragon-Binding Lock undone, he probably wouldn't even give him a chance to explain, simply killing him on the spot! Thinking of this, beads of cold sweat trickled down Concubine Yunxia's spine. Jiang Fan had truly brushed past death!

Jiang Fan was also greatly shocked. Even he hadn't considered that the Demon Emperor would come here! However, upon closer thought, if the Canghai demon clans had received the Heavenly Secret Elder's notice, how could the Sky Demon Emperor be completely unaware? As the ruler of the continental demon clans, and having once become a Demon Emperor by utilizing the Tiger Demon Emperor's dwelling, how could he not know that the spiritual energy within the Tiger Demon Emperor's dwelling was unique compared to other places? His marching south was a feint; catching the many people who came here by surprise was his true intention! Fortunately, he still had a slim chance to concoct an excuse. But how should he explain it? He racked his brain but couldn't find a suitable reason. Under the Demon Emperor's piercing gaze, beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.