Chapter 687: The Demon Emperor's Killing Intent

"Venerable Xuan Yang!"

The Demon Emperor stared at him coldly. "The Silver Scroll of Pills belonging to my continent's demon race. Please return it. Don't make me misunderstand the situation."

Venerable Xuan Yang's mouth twitched violently. He recognized the metal fragment in the Demon Emperor's hand. It was the raw material used to forge the Silver Scroll of Pills, and it had a certain resonance with the actual scroll.

He had originally planned to secretly give it to Qing De, allowing him to quietly enter the inner mansion to search for valuable treasures. Now, it was clear. If he didn't hand over this Silver Scroll of Pills, none of them would be able to enter even the outer mansion.

Unwillingly, he took out a Silver Scroll of Pills and tossed it to the Demon Emperor, huffing, "Demon Emperor, what a deep scheme! You've been enduring for days, all for this moment, haven't you?"

The Demon Emperor caught the Silver Scroll of Pills and smiled faintly. "You flatter me." Then he looked towards the cloaked figure, his eyes narrowing. "Your background isn't insignificant either, it seems. You managed to acquire a Silver Scroll of Pills from my clan."

The cloaked figure remained silent for a moment. He also unwillingly took out a Silver Scroll of Pills and honestly handed it to the Demon Emperor.

After putting it away, the Demon Emperor's gaze shifted to Concubine Yun Xia. His eyes were deep, and he sighed softly. "Yun Xia, you've made me very sad."

He hadn't expected Concubine Yun Xia to acquire a Silver Scroll of Pills behind his back. If she found an opportunity for a breakthrough, given her talent, she might very well become the second Demon Emperor.

Concubine Yun Xia's brimming hopes were instantly dashed. She had still hoped to rely on the Silver Scroll of Pills to find an opportunity to break through to the Demon Emperor realm. How ridiculous – like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it!

She said nothing, silently took out the Silver Scroll of Pills, and expressionlessly threw it to the Demon Emperor.

After collecting the third Silver Scroll of Pills, the Demon Emperor walked up to Jiang Fan. His eyes instantly became extremely cold, glinting with murderous intent. His voice grew much icier.

"Jiang Fan, you truly surprise this Emperor!" he said. "I never imagined that you, too, would possess one!"

"What?" Concubine Yun Xia looked at Jiang Fan in astonishment. This man had one too? He certainly hid it well!

Venerable Xuan Yang and the cloaked figure also sized up Jiang Fan with surprised looks. The Silver Scroll of Pills was not easily acquired. This young man was not simple.

Jiang Fan's expression remained impassive, and he sighed helplessly. "Haven't I just prepared a wedding dress for you, Demon Emperor?"

He silently took out the Silver Scroll of Pills from his pocket. The Demon Emperor, his face cold, seized the fourth Silver Scroll of Pills. His expression shifted unpredictably.

He could understand why others might have the Silver Scrolls, but he couldn't comprehend why Jiang Fan possessed one! A strong surge of murderous intent welled up in his heart. His intuition told him that this person would undoubtedly become a threat in the future.

"Father," Liu Li whispered, sensing the Demon Emperor's killing intent. "The Silver Scrolls have all been given to you. Please don't blame him anymore."

His daughter's voice made the Demon Emperor momentarily suppress his murderous intent. He gazed deeply at Jiang Fan and said, "Protect Liu Li well. After we come out, I'll hold your wedding ahead of schedule!"

The moment the wedding was complete, he would personally kill Jiang Fan!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle— Large quantities of milky white earth energy uncontrollably surged from beneath the Five-Finger Mountain. It was like a boiling earthenware pot that couldn't contain the steaming vapor within. As the earth energy grew more immense, the space within the Five-Finger Mountain peaks began to warp. Immediately after, as if some barrier had been broken, a floating celestial palace was revealed!

"The Tiger Demon Emperor's Cave Mansion!" everyone exclaimed. Sensing the incredibly powerful earth energy, they secretly became even more excited.

Aside from an Earth Energy Dragon Pearl, there was no other explanation for such an abundance of earth energy. The magnificent scene of earth energy surging skyward continued for a full half-incense stick's time.

Once the earth energy subsided, the Demon Emperor said, "You can only stay inside for a maximum of one day. If you don't come out in time, I don't need to elaborate on the consequences." There was only one consequence: being trapped in the cave mansion, unable to leave. To get out, one would have to wait another five years. The problem was that even a Core Formation expert couldn't survive five years without food or water.

Without further hesitation, everyone rushed into the celestial palace. The moment Jiang Fan stepped through the palace gates, the scene before him abruptly changed. It wasn't the grand hall he had imagined, but rather a vast and boundless land of mountains and rivers. "This..."

Concubine Yun Xia said calmly, "It's an internal space. Equivalent to a spatial storage artifact." Jiang Fan realized.

Suddenly, he noticed milky white gases swirling at the far end of the mountainous continent. Clearly, something there was emitting earth energy. Could it be the Earth Energy Dragon Pearl?

Swish— Several figures sped past. They were the Third Princess of the East Sea, the Crown Prince of the West Sea, Wang Chongxiao, and Qing De. Ling Shu took a step, but noticed Jiang Fan remained unmoving. He showed no intention of competing.

"Brother, don't you want the Earth Energy Dragon Pearl?" Ling Shu asked, puzzled.

Jiang Fan sighed slightly. "Is there a need to compete? Outside, there's a Nascent Soul expert and a Demon Emperor. Would they let go of a divine artifact like the Earth Energy Dragon Pearl? Right now, fighting desperately would only be preparing a wedding dress for them."

Concubine Yun Xia, who had long understood this principle, found a random stone and sat down, her face desolate. "This is your first time here, so feel free to look around. I'll wait for you here." Since she couldn't enter the inner mansion, and the Earth Energy Dragon Pearl wouldn't fall into her hands, and she had already visited the outer mansion five years ago, she had absolutely no motivation.

Ling Shu, however, was full of excitement, her beautiful eyes sparkling. "Brother, shall I accompany you for a walk?"

Liu Li immediately flared up upon hearing this. Clutching her stomach, she said, "Ling Shu, haven't you had enough? You take my fiancé here one moment, and there the next. Now, you're asking him to accompany you right in front of me? Do you take me for air?"

Ling Shu twirled a strand of hair that fell across her chest and said, "Brother's Silver Scroll of Pills was taken, so I'm just accompanying him to cheer him up. Unlike you, who doesn't care about his feelings at all."

Liu Li angrily said, "You! Let me ask you, have you done anything to Jiang Fan these past few days?"

Ling Shu looked slightly smug. Smiling, her eyes curved like crescent moons. "Of course not. But Brother saved me, you know. I was severely injured, and Brother felt so bad for me. He even fed me a life-saving elixir. What, Young Master Liu Li, haven't you enjoyed such treatment?"

"What?" There was a 'hero saving the beauty' scenario too? What you feared would happen, happened!

Liu Li stomped her foot in exasperation. Ling Shu, meanwhile, was smug. "Hehe, another small victory."

Concubine Yun Xia glanced sideways at Ling Shu. Thinking that Ling Shu had also stolen her thunder in front of Qin Wangchuan, she found Ling Shu's current demeanor even more intolerable. She said nonchalantly, "That is true. Moreover, I heard from Sea Charm Demon King that Ling Shu was critically injured and dying at the time, and couldn't swallow the pill. Jiang Fan chewed the pill into pieces and fed it to her mouth-to-mouth. Indeed, Brother Jiang Fan truly cares for Sister Ling Shu very much."

As soon as these words were uttered, Ling Shu's small face stiffened. Her face rapidly flushed crimson, becoming bright red, then purplish red! She covered her face in shame, trembling in disbelief. "Brother... you... how could you do this to me? I... I can't face anyone!" She turned and ran away.

Oh heavens! How would she ever face Jiang Fan again?

Liu Li, meanwhile, was furious and chased after her, saying, "Ling Shu! You shameless woman! You're stealing my man! I'm not done with you! Stop!!"

Only then did Concubine Yun Xia cover her mouth and giggle. Her gloomy mood had slightly improved. She noticed Jiang Fan was staring at her, quickly stopped laughing, and regained her dignified composure. "I didn't intentionally provoke their squabble."

Jiang Fan, however, said gently, "I don't blame you. It's good they left; now we can take care of business."

Concubine Yun Xia looked puzzled. "What business?"

Jiang Fan smiled slightly. "To the inner mansion, of course."

Hearing this, Concubine Yun Xia sighed. "My Silver Scroll of Pills is gone, and yours has been taken too. How can we go there now?" A vast sense of loss enveloped her heart.

Until, a silvery gleam flashed before her.