Chapter 648: Ancient Demon

Dongbo Xueying could sense his master’s exceptionally good mood. With a little thought, he understood—his slaying of a Mother Cult Protector had already been relayed to the other seven Rulers, and thus his attainment of the ‘Path-Opening Realm’ had naturally been made public. To comprehend a Dao within a mere million years—even the elder from the ‘Primordial Land’ had been astonished by this feat.

The other seven Rulers would undoubtedly be shocked as well, and they must have already communicated with his master, the Bloodblade Divine Emperor. For someone of his master’s stature, the astonishment, envy, and jealousy from peers of equal standing were more than enough to bring him immense satisfaction.

“Those old fellows were all stunned by you,” the Bloodblade Divine Emperor’s voice echoed in Dongbo Xueying’s ears. “Hahaha, you’ve managed to pull off two feats in a row that left them utterly dumbfounded.”

“Just luck,” Dongbo Xueying replied modestly.

This was only the beginning.

If his plans succeeded, he might even eliminate one or two more Mother Cult Protectors! However, uncertainties remained—after all, the Protectors possessed formidable physical resilience, and they might arrive in groups this time. He had no absolute certainty of success, so there was no need to voice his ambitions prematurely.

Once the deed was done, there would be ample time to share the news!

“Master, why is the Mother Cult so distressed over the loss of a single Protector’s clone?” Dongbo Xueying asked again.

“The Mother Cult is shrouded in mystery, and our understanding of them is limited,” the Bloodblade Divine Emperor said. “But based on the few encounters and investigations we’ve conducted, as well as our knowledge of the difficulties involved in traversing between universes… On one hand, they may not be as adept at nurturing clones as we are, given the fundamental differences in our cultivation systems. On the other hand, the cost of sending beings from their universe to ours is exorbitant.”

“Initially, their leaders and Protectors likely acted in unison, arriving here together—perhaps by storing their companions within treasures to transport them en masse. That single journey must have demanded an immense price, bringing many of their elites here.”

“Now, if a Protector’s clone perishes, even if they nurture a new one, they cannot afford to pay that same astronomical cost just to send that single clone back to our universe.”

The Bloodblade Divine Emperor added, “Of course, there may be other reasons as well.”

“I see,” Dongbo Xueying realized.

If the cost of dispatching another powerful figure was too high, then for the Mother Cult, losing a single member meant a permanent reduction in their forces!

As outsiders in the cultivators’ universe, the Mother Cult was already at a disadvantage. Each loss weakened them further. Protectors held significant positions—if too many perished, their leaders would have to intervene personally, exposing them to even greater risks. After all, the Bloodblade Divine Emperor and his peers would spare no effort in eliminating them.

If given the chance to slay a ‘leader,’ they would not hesitate.

“Xueying, you’ve only just opened your path. Right now, cultivation remains your top priority. As for dealing with the Mother Cult? Leave that to me and the other Rulers. These outsiders are our responsibility,” the Bloodblade Divine Emperor transmitted.

“Understood, Master,” Dongbo Xueying acknowledged.

“The Demon Ancestor stands as one of the most formidable figures across countless epochs in our universe, rivaling even the ‘Master of the Heartsword Island.’ His creation, the Six Paths Wheel, gave birth to the Dark Abyss. His power is unfathomable… Compared to Heartsword Island, the Six Paths Wheel is far more brutal and perilous, but within its dangers lie immense opportunities. This is why so many Mother Cult Protectors gather here. Explore the lower three realms, broaden your horizons,” the Bloodblade Divine Emperor instructed before ending the transmission.

Standing atop the mountain peak, the howling winds whipped around Dongbo Xueying as he carefully observed the Bloodfiend Realm.

His master was right—his experiences were still limited. Among the places he had visited, only the Primordial Land and Heartsword Island could compare to the Six Paths Wheel. Yet, during his time at Heartsword Island, he had dared not venture into its most treacherous areas, merely stepping into the ‘Destruction Realm.’ The Primordial Land, in contrast, was serene and peaceful, where he had felt almost like a mortal, engaging in only a single battle against the ‘Strongest World God.’

Given the ‘Demon Ancestor’s’ temperament, the Six Paths Wheel would be anything but tranquil.

Whoosh.

Dongbo Xueying transformed into a streak of light, soaring swiftly through the Bloodfiend Realm.

The Mother Cult was likely already in pursuit. If he remained stationary, it would only arouse their suspicion, making them wary of an ambush.

“The Bloodfiend Realm.”

As he flew, Dongbo Xueying surveyed the crimson sky and the blood-soaked black earth beneath. “According to intelligence, the lower three realms appear deceptively calm, seemingly safe. Yet dangers strike without warning, often without any discernible pattern.”

This unpredictability made the Six Paths Wheel a terrifying place for weaker Revered Immortals.

The Divine Emperor was at ease precisely because Dongbo Xueying had mastered the ‘Annihilation Extreme Profound Body’ and had opened the ‘Void Path.’ In terms of survival skills, he ranked among the top even among Revered Immortals—hence the Divine Emperor’s confidence.

—

“He’s constantly on the move.”

A blazing streak of light tore through the skies at incredible speed.

Within it was the Protector Huo Zhu, while the other three Protectors had been temporarily stored away.

“He suspects we’re hunting him?” Huo Zhu sneered. “Too bad—knowing won’t save him.”

“The lower three realms.”

“Aside from you, Dongbo Xueying, the only other cultivator here is the Sorcerer Wuyu Emperor. But he’s stationed in the Blackrain Realm and cannot leave.” Huo Zhu almost wished the Sorcerer Wuyu would abandon his post—if he did, another team would immediately strike. Compared to the treasure hidden in the Blackrain Realm, Dongbo Xueying’s importance paled in comparison.

Whoosh.

He flew at breakneck speed, continuously receiving updates on Dongbo Xueying’s approximate location.

—

After three hours of flight, Dongbo Xueying’s pupils suddenly constricted as he fixed his gaze on the distance.

Ahead lay a sprawling mountain range, its slopes overgrown with wild grass.

“What is this?” Dongbo Xueying’s vision was unparalleled—his physical prowess far surpassed that of a True God. He could discern the number of legs on an ant from hundreds of millions of miles away, let alone the details of these mountains. With perfect clarity, he saw through the thick vegetation to the ‘true form’ of the range.

It was a slumbering behemoth.

Its colossal body lay sprawled across the land, its massive head resting on the ground. From Dongbo Xueying’s vantage point, he could make out two enormous, drooping ears. Though its face was partially obscured, manipulating light and void posed no challenge for him—he could still ‘see’ it clearly.

The face resembled that of a dog’s.

This was a humanoid figure with a canine head, its body stretching hundreds of billions of miles in length.

Only upon careful observation…

Could one sense the slow, rhythmic expansion of its abdomen as it breathed. Each breath likely spanned eons—perhaps measured in hundreds of millions of years—making the movement imperceptibly gradual. Only those with exceptional perception could barely detect it. The more intently Dongbo Xueying focused, the more he could feel the terrifying power emanating from the slumbering entity.

“An Ancient Demon?” Dongbo Xueying realized what he had encountered.

Ancient Demons.

These were creations of the Demon Ancestor, painstakingly forged—not true living beings. After all, no mere ‘training’ could elevate a cultivator to the level of a Ruler, let alone beyond.

In contrast, constructs like flesh-and-blood war machines or mechanical puppets were far easier to cultivate.

Take the black hound from the Primordial Land—it was not a true lifeform but a masterpiece crafted by the Primordial Land’s founder. Yet its combat prowess was terrifying, capable of wounding even the Master of Heartsword Island.

The Ancient Demons were no different.

The Demon Ancestor was a master of countless arts, and the Ancient Demons he forged were infamous for their savagery. Even the Master of Heartsword Island had struggled against them.

“Records state that each of the Six Paths Wheel’s realms houses a slumbering Ancient Demon. Those in the lower three realms possess strength on par with Rulers, while those in the upper three are even mightier, capable of overpowering them.” Dongbo Xueying mused silently. The presence of these six Ancient Demons was a testament to the Demon Ancestor’s supremacy over the current epoch.

“I must pass quietly. I cannot wake it.”

Dongbo Xueying held his breath.

His body began to blur, shifting between reality and illusion as he stepped into the Void World, minimizing his presence to avoid disturbing the colossal entity.

Though the Ancient Demons of the lower three realms were ‘weaker,’ they were still Ruler-tier beings!

“Whoosh.” Dongbo Xueying glided noiselessly through the Void World, carefully circumventing the Ancient Demon as he hastened to leave the area.