Chapter 868: The Arrival of Nascent Souls

Jiang Fan watched with curiosity. The young man took out paper and a pen, then skillfully drew a simple map. Several spots on it were circled.

"The God Transformation ruins have already been explored," the young man explained. "Anything easy to find has been plundered. Fortunately, the ruins are intricate, with countless branching paths. They didn't finish exploring last time. The three circles I've drawn indicate the places they haven't been to."

Jiang Fan wondered why the young man knew so much about the Northern Sea Demon Emperor's previous expedition. Yet, judging by the young man's words and actions, the map was undoubtedly authentic.

"Brother, you're truly generous!" Jiang Fan lightly punched his chest and chuckled, "Alright, I owe you one!"

The young man quickly covered his chest. His rosy lips pursed, and a hint of annoyance flickered in his eyes.

"Did I hurt you?" Seeing him clutch his chest, Jiang Fan was speechless. "I just lightly tapped you! You really should exercise more. You're all skin and bones!" He pinched the young man's arm. It was incredibly thin, probably not even as thick as Jiang Fan's wrist.

The young man quickly shook off Jiang Fan's hand, his eyes flustered. "You should leave now."

Jiang Fan was a little speechless. Why was he acting like a woman? Such a strong reaction to a simple touch? But his chest had felt firm just now; he was clearly a man. *Sigh*, Jiang Fan truly couldn't understand the effeminate customs of Canghai.

Leaving the treasury hall, Muziyu was waiting outside, slightly anxious. "What took you so long to come out? The Demon Emperor has been waiting for you outside the palace for a while now."

Jiang Fan said, "I ran into a chatterbox."

Muziyu glanced back at the treasury, her eyes filled with confusion. Besides the Demon Emperor and Empress, only the Crown Prince and Princess could enter here at will. There would be no one else.

Jiang Fan then added, "It must have been one of your Northern Sea princes." His clothes were so luxurious, and he could enter and exit the treasury freely. Besides a prince, Jiang Fan couldn't imagine who else it could be. Having said that, he quickly walked towards the palace entrance.

Muziyu, however, was utterly baffled. "A prince? We only have one prince in the Northern Sea, the current Crown Prince, don't we? And he's currently confined to his bed. Where would a second prince suddenly appear from?"

Outside the imperial palace, the long-waiting Demon Emperor immediately transformed into a stream of water, taking Jiang Fan with him, and sped off into the distance. After a long time, they arrived at a desolate area quite far from the Northern Sea Imperial Palace. This place was overgrown with endless sea grass. Beneath the sea grass, a vast ancient city ruin was vaguely visible.

"A sunken ancient city?" Jiang Fan mused inwardly. "Or does this mean today's Northern Sea was once an ancient continent?" A wave of shock surged through his heart. "I truly wonder what terrifying events occurred here."

The Demon Emperor stopped in front of a cleared section of ruins. This was once a structure resembling a palace, now completely dilapidated. Sea grass and various shells covered its walls, giving it an ancient, mottled appearance. In the palace square, a suspended entrance to a grand hall appeared. It was entirely composed of blue flames, looking exceptionally mysterious.

"That is the entrance to the God Transformation ruins," the Demon Emperor said, pointing to the massive gate. "When it was discovered, it was merely a formation carved into the ground. After being activated, it took on its current form."

Jiang Fan gazed at the blue flames, sensing a faint aura of danger. "What if one were to force their way in?"

The Demon Emperor didn't speak. He took out a light golden stone. Jiang Fan recognized it and gasped, "Gengjin Stone?" In the Nine Dynasties Ancient Capital secret realm of the demon race, a wall painting had once been scraped away because it contained Gengjin Stone powder. Adding just a bit of this material during artifact refinement could make a weapon indestructible. Its immense hardness was thus imaginable.

The Demon Emperor flicked his finger. The Gengjin Stone flew into the blue flames and immediately began to burn like wood. In an instant, it was reduced to a pile of black ashes.

The Demon Emperor said, "I imagine even a God Transformation Realm expert might not willingly touch these flames."

Jiang Fan gasped. These flames were far more terrifying than Vice Pavilion Master Gu's purple flames! Who would dare to trespass easily?

The Demon Emperor continued, "When the formation was activated, eighteen flame imprints were ejected. Only those with this imprint protecting their bodies can enter. Currently, all eighteen flame imprints have been distributed, and there are no extra ones. Even we, the Northern Sea demon race, no longer have the ability to enter. Therefore, young friend Jiang, this is your only chance to go inside. Search for as many useful resources as you can."

Jiang Fan cupped his fists and said, "Thank you, Northern Sea Demon Emperor!" He took out a blue flame and held it in his palm. Carefully, he approached the flame gate, trying to extend his fingernail towards it. As expected, protected by the blue flame, the gate could not harm him. With no further concerns, Jiang Fan directly entered.

The Demon Emperor sat cross-legged nearby, waiting for Jiang Fan to emerge.

Not long after, he suddenly opened his eyes. He abruptly struck the air in front of him. *Swish, swish, swish*—a powerful water-element technique forced a figure hidden in space to appear. The figure had lost his right arm and right eye. Who else could it be but Evil Eye Venerable from Sanqing Mountain?

"It's you?" The Demon Emperor's expression slightly changed.

Evil Eye Venerable laughed heartily. "I thought the God Transformation ruins required a secret technique from your Northern Sea royal family to open. So it turns out a blue flame imprint is all that's needed! I wasted my trip, only to be met with a cold shoulder!" He was exceptionally excited, glad that he had secretly followed the Demon Emperor and Jiang Fan to this location. Now he knew he could enter the God Transformation ruins at any time.

The Demon Emperor's heart slightly stirred with unease. This was troublesome. If Evil Eye Venerable forced his way in, would Jiang Fan survive?

"Evil Eye Venerable, the inside is crawling with poisonous insects; think carefully before you enter," the Demon Emperor warned with a cold face.

Evil Eye Venerable became suspicious. Poisonous insects? Just as he was doubting, something seemed to change within the flame gate. Some poisonous insects were actually so frightened that they rushed out of the flame gate. They were unafraid of the flames and passed right through the flame door. These insects resembled centipedes, entirely cerulean blue, with what appeared to be flames burning within their bodies. Evil Eye Venerable immediately sensed their immense toxicity. Even he would be in danger if he encountered a swarm of them. His expression instantly became uncertain, and he didn't dare to force his way in directly.

The Demon Emperor quietly let out a sigh of relief. The presence of the poisonous insects had, in a way, shielded Jiang Fan from a calamity. As long as those from the Heaven's Edge Sea Pavilion who could counter poisonous insects didn't arrive, Jiang Fan would be safest alone inside.

*Buzz*—However, just as he feared, it happened. The sea surface suddenly became turbulent. A golden spirit boat cut through the water, rushing towards their location. Standing on it were an old man and two eighteen-year-old youths. The old man's cultivation had astonishingly reached the Nascent Soul Realm, specifically the Two-Aperture Nascent Soul stage! The young man and woman, meanwhile, had reached the complete Ninth Layer of Core Formation, surrounded by an aura of tribulation. It seemed that certain aspects of their bodies had reached the Nascent Soul level—that is, the Heretical Nascent Soul!

Upon seeing them, the Demon Emperor's heart suddenly sank! The people from Heaven's Edge Sea Pavilion had arrived! Along with Evil Eye Venerable, there was now one Two-Aperture Nascent Soul, one One-Aperture Nascent Soul, and two Heretical Nascent Souls.

Oh, no. What would Jiang Fan do?