In the depths of a vast, shadowy hall, rows of black stone seats extended on either side like specters in formation. At the heart of the hall, thirty-two grand black thrones formed a semi-circle, emanating streams of swirling black mist. That mist surged ominously, brimming with a cold and evil aura so intense that even a Heavenly Sovereign would feel their heart tremble upon stepping into this place.
Just as the Great Thousand World had the Great Thousand Palace, the Extraterritorial Evil Race also possessed an equivalent power: the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons. Within the ranks of the Extraterritorial Evil Race, any expert who broke through to the Demon Emperor level qualified to join the Hall. This made countless Evil Race cultivators strive relentlessly, all seeking to earn themselves a seat within this feared institution.
And within the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons, the most prestigious positions belonged to the thirty-two clan leaders. However, this time, several seats that were typically never vacant remained empty. Even among the thirty-two black thrones, one was notably unoccupied—that of the late Sky-Cleaving Demon Emperor.
Since his death, the new patriarch of the Blade Demon Clan, though not weak by any means, fell short in comparison to the other thirty-two clan leaders. As such, he was not granted the right to sit among them, instead being relegated to the sidelines alongside second-rate factions.
This was the brutal nature of the Extraterritorial Evil Race. No matter how many accomplishments the Sky-Cleaving Demon Emperor had earned in the past, with his fall, the Blade Demon Clan's once exalted status was swiftly revoked. Unless they could produce another late-stage Saint-grade Heavenly Demon Emperor, their glory days were forever over.
At the very center of the thirty-two thrones sat none other than the figure who had once brought endless trouble to Xiao Yan—the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor. Yet, the sinister demonic flame that typically shrouded his figure was now significantly dimmer, a result of the grave injuries he had yet to fully recover from.
Were it not for the high prestige of the Saint Demon Clan within the Evil Race, and the fact that even wounded, his strength remained formidable, his seat would likely have been challenged already. All of this unrest had been stirred by a single youth—the one who had barged into the Evil Race's domain alone, creating chaos and devastation.
"Xiao Yan…" The Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor muttered the name that had caused such deep scars in the Evil Race's memory. Unknowingly, a hint of fear stirred within his heart.
The first time he encountered Xiao Yan, the latter had merely been at the Lesser Earth Sovereign level—nothing more than an ant to the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor. Yet in just a single year, that ant had surged to the level of a Heavenly Sovereign and turned the entire Extraterritorial Evil Race upside down. Even the Sky-Cleaving Demon Emperor had fallen by his hand.
His final act of madness had nearly cost the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor his life. Even now, lingering dread and a faint sense of relief remained. Thankfully, that youth was now presumed dead with no burial, or else none among them would be able to rest easy.
"Saint Demon, why have you summoned us all here today?" The one who spoke was seated to the left of the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor. His pupils swirled like vortexes, exuding a strange power. He was the clan leader of the Sky Demon Clan—Dark Sky Demon Emperor. Though not possessing the same authority as the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor, his strength was not far behind.
"I've received credible intelligence," the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor spoke slowly, "that the Great Thousand World might be preparing for a full-scale invasion. I summoned all of you to discuss our countermeasures."
Just as the Great Thousand World had their own methods of detecting activity in the Evil Race's domain, the Extraterritorial Evil Race also possessed its own channels. Some in the Great Thousand World, in pursuit of strength, were willing to serve the Evil Race, feeding them information in exchange for dark power.
"Have those Great Thousand World fools lost their minds? They're launching an attack now of all times?" As soon as the words left his mouth, many of the Demon Emperors in the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons became agitated. Though their last large-scale war had failed tens of thousands of years ago, it did not mean they feared the Great Thousand World. In terms of overall strength, they believed they held the upper hand.
"If they want war, then let's give them one!" This came from the faction advocating war. Though their Evil God remained sealed, the Great Thousand World had no second Immortal Emperor either.
But not all Demon Emperors were so eager. Some were clearly worried. After all, their side had sustained heavy losses recently. To deal with Xiao Yan alone, they had sacrificed over a dozen Demon Emperors. Even the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor had been severely injured. Perhaps it was this very weakness that the Great Thousand World intended to exploit.
Raising a hand, the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor silenced the hall. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his gaze shifted sharply to the side.
His pupils contracted.
In the seat once belonging to the Sky-Cleaving Demon Emperor—previously empty—sat a black-haired youth. No one knew when he had appeared there. And now, meeting the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor's gaze, he grinned and looked at the hall's gathered elites with amusement.
"Well? Why not continue?" Xiao Yan said lightly.
"Who are you?" Dark Sky Demon Emperor's cheerful expression immediately froze into vigilance. The other Demon Emperors shifted their attention as well, and their demonic energy surged. Though they didn't recognize the intruder, the aura he exuded was not the slightest bit weaker than their own.
But before any of them could act, the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor's body shuddered violently. His pupils constricted to the size of pinholes.
"It's you… Xiao Yan?! You're still alive?!"
"You're still breathing, so why wouldn't I be?" Xiao Yan plucked casually at his nails and replied indifferently. "But honestly, you all are really quite dull. I've been sitting here for so long, and none of you even noticed. And you claim to have pushed the Great Thousand World to the brink? Looks like they're not the only ones who've been disappointing."
"Your… your strength?" The Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor's voice trembled. He had believed that, if not dead, Xiao Yan would at least have lost his mind from demonic energy corruption. Yet not only was Xiao Yan alive, he appeared entirely unscathed.
More terrifyingly, they had not noticed him until he revealed himself. Just how powerful had he become?
"Thanks to your 'help,' I broke through to the Saint-grade as well." Xiao Yan grinned, revealing pristine white teeth. "To thank you, I came to see you first after my breakthrough. Touched, aren't you?"
(End of Chapter)
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