Layer upon layer of restrictions rose, enveloping the ship in a shroud of dark mist, nearly blending it into the surrounding void.
“There’s still quite a distance to the ancient ruins. Let’s rest in the cabin while we wait.” Jiuli’s fleeting shyness vanished as quickly as it appeared, her demeanor swiftly returning to its elegant and dignified state as she invited He Mu inside to rest, allowing them to gradually reach and maintain their peak condition.
Ao Qin and Gu Yue remained expressionless, saying nothing as they turned and headed toward the cabin, seemingly unwilling to spare He Mu another glance, reluctant to associate with this ordinary demon of humble origins.
Which of us isn’t of noble birth, a prodigy of the heavens, mingling only with the extraordinary, conversing only with our own kind?
Inviting you to join the exploration of the ruins and share in the benefits is already an immense favor—did you really expect to be treated as an equal?
Jiuli offered an apologetic smile, momentarily at a loss for how to smooth things over. To her surprise, a faint smile curled at the corners of He Mu’s lips as he appeared utterly unfazed, nodding lightly before leisurely following.
This demon from the Tian Gou clan has remarkable composure and depth… Jiuli mused to herself. But then again, it made sense. An ordinary demon without noble lineage, no matter how virtuous or fortunate, wielding divine weapons—how could they dare offend the descendants of demon gods and lesser saints? They’d be scrambling to curry favor instead!
Even if they were proud and aloof, the most they’d do is walk away in a huff, without any drastic reactions. After all, they wouldn’t have the confidence to silence all the demons present, let alone the ability to obscure the workings of fate.
As long as they harbored desires and expectations for the ruins, as long as they weren’t ruthless enough to defect to the human race and betray their own kind, this situation was only natural, an inevitability.
Amidst her swirling thoughts, Jiuli and Jinlin Xianzi, surrounded by attendants and maids, also entered the cabin. As expected, Ao Qin, Gu Yue, and He Mu were clearly divided, each occupying their own space without interaction.
This won’t do. How can we cooperate without understanding each other? Jiuli frowned slightly, her eyes flickering as an idea struck her. Pretending not to notice their posturing, she walked to the host’s table and sat down, dismissing all her attendants from the cabin. After a brief rest, she produced a silver-white metal plate engraved with mystical patterns.
“Sister Jiuli, you actually have this?” Jinlin Xianzi exclaimed beside her, a mix of shock, delight, and envy in her voice, drawing the attention of Ao Qin, Gu Yue, and He Mu.
The first two swept their gazes over it, their expressions tinged with envy. It seemed this object was exceptionally rare—even for descendants of demon gods and lesser saints, it wasn’t easily obtained. Only those held in high esteem stood a chance.
He Mu, however, was momentarily stunned. Isn’t this just the All-Knowing Token jointly issued by the Jade Void Palace and the Great Zhou imperial court?
Judging by its shape and patterns, it should be the version from three years ago. Compared to the latest model he carried, it was outdated, prone to brief delays in communication, and struggled with video livestreams and the newly emerged virtual reality adventures, often lagging.
Simply put, as his master’s cultivation advanced, the All-Knowing Token’s effects improved, capable of more and more!
Who would’ve thought demons would treasure an outdated All-Knowing Token? And not even everyone had one!
But then again, where in the All-Knowing Realm could one see demons swaggering about openly? At best, they lurked and spied!
Noticing He Mu’s dazed expression, Jiuli smiled faintly. “Lord Yueluo must not recognize this. It’s the All-Knowing Token from the Great Zhou Dynasty in the human realm. Due to its ability to corrupt demons and erode their will, it’s been banned by the great and lesser saints. Aside from demons in places like Tianhaiyuan in the human realm, within this starry domain, only those above the rank of great demon are permitted to possess it.”
“The All-Knowing Token… banned? What’s so extraordinary about it?” He Mu couldn’t help but ask.
Ao Qin snorted. “Truly ignorant.”
Jiuli, however, offered a gentle explanation. “It’s said that a complete All-Knowing Token can connect to every corner of the real world and the myriad universes, allowing seamless communication across vast distances as if face-to-face. To some extent, even an ordinary demon wielding an All-Knowing Token possesses a fraction of the traits of legendary powerhouses. It’s a genuine divine artifact.”
“However, the virtual realm built by humans atop the All-Knowing Token is filled with all sorts of corrupting temptations. With even a slightly weak will, one can easily become addicted, leading to self-destruction. More importantly, the All-Knowing Token was personally crafted by that one from the Jade Void Palace on Mount Kunlun. Relying on it would inevitably bind one to his limitations, hence its ban. Of course, it’s also an effective tool for spying on humans, so great demons and above are allowed to possess it.”
“I see…” He Mu nodded thoughtfully.
At this point, Jinlin Xianzi interjected, “But I’ve heard the great saints have noticed how this object has contributed to the flourishing of the human race and don’t want demons to fall behind. Those below the legendary rank can only rely on flying sword missives for communication. They’re beseeching His Majesty the Demon Emperor for guidance, hoping to create an All-Knowing Token and virtual realm exclusive to our demon race.”
He Mu turned his gaze to the All-Knowing Token in Jiuli’s hand. “Is this Lesser Saint Huiguang’s?”
“Not quite.” Jiuli smiled. “My mother dotes on me and specially acquired one from the human realm. She sealed its communication abilities and its link to the All-Knowing Realm. Whenever she finds something worth seeing, she transfers it here for me to study carefully.”
“Anything good? I’ve heard the All-Knowing Realm is brimming with fascinating things,” Jinlin Xianzi asked eagerly.
Jiuli gave a faint smile. “Mother didn’t give me anything that would erode my will. It’s mostly martial arts videos and adventure explorations.”
Even with innate divine abilities, below the legendary rank, human martial arts experiences hold immense value for demons.
After a pause, Jiuli continued, “We’re about to explore the ruins of the Nine-Headed Great Saint, and we don’t have much prior experience. It’s the perfect time to watch similar adventure videos and posts, learning from them to understand how to cooperate.”
Though the idea of watching so-called videos alongside an ordinary demon like He Mu irked Ao Qin and Gu Yue, their curiosity about the fabled All-Knowing Token’s wonders outweighed their displeasure. After a moment’s hesitation, they suppressed their emotions and moved closer.
Once He Mu also took his seat nearby, Jiuli activated the All-Knowing Token, projecting a video of a ruin exploration ahead.
A screen of light materialized, rippling like water before stabilizing to reveal a scene. Within it, seven or eight human experts stood before a ruin in the Godfall Desert, discussing precautions, their voices clear and audible.
“It’s truly miraculous—like peeking into their exploration…” Jinlin Xianzi gasped, covering her mouth in awe, her eyes wide with wonder.
Ao Qin and Gu Yue also nodded slightly, watching intently with barely concealed excitement.
“What do you think?” Jiuli casually asked He Mu, drawing the attention of the other demon prodigies.
He Mu’s expression turned peculiar. “I never expected… truly never expected…”
He never imagined Jiuli would pick the very livestream of his own past exploration!
The leader in the video, giving instructions, was none other than himself!
Years ago, he and friends he’d met while traveling had obtained a fragment of a ruin map, leading them to the Godfall Desert. At one companion’s request, they livestreamed the exploration, causing quite a stir—though the final rewards were less than satisfying.
Thankfully, the artifact crafted by his master not only altered his aura but also modified his appearance. Otherwise, he’d have been exposed instantly…
—As the current Jade Void Palace’s sect master and disciple of the Cause of All Effects, he was undoubtedly on the radar of various factions. While no supreme experts would pay him special attention, if he didn’t alter his appearance, their divine senses sweeping across the cosmos around their domains would recognize him at a glance.
“Hah! There are far too many things beyond your comprehension!” Ao Qin mocked before refocusing on the video.
Jiuli wasted no words, having apparently watched this video many times. She pointed out key moments and explained how their group could coordinate, praising the leader’s strategies to the skies—much to He Mu’s silent embarrassment.
Time flew by unnoticed until the ship came to a halt. Ahead lay the boundless darkness of the cosmos, silent and desolate, devoid of all else save for a solitary peak floating in the gloom.
The mountain spanned tens of thousands of miles, its surface marred by decay, countless weathered rocks having crumbled away to reveal a cavern entrance in its heart. Carved upon the door was the image of a nine-headed bird, exuding an aura of ancient wilderness.
The ruins of the Nine-Headed Great Saint, descendant of the primordial demon god Jiu Feng, had arrived!
He Mu reined in his myriad thoughts and emotions, his right hand resting lightly yet firmly on the hilt of the Li Xian Sword.
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