"This aura is identical to the black energy scattered across the battlefield outside Lingxu Grotto-Heaven!"
"So that's what they call demonic energy?"
Long Yuan finally understood the true nature of demonic energy!
However,
what shocked Chu Yan was that
under the sharp gazes of so many powerful experts,
the "Netherworld Demonflame" began trembling violently!
"How could this be?"
The Netherworld Demonflame hadn't developed sentience,
yet it was displaying fear like a living creature.At that moment,
a streak of black light shot out from the Netherworld Demonflame,
streaking directly toward Chu Yan's forehead.
The young man was horrified.
Though he didn't know what it was, he sensed imminent danger.
He immediately erupted with internal energy,
forming a crimson energy barrier before him!
But this proved utterly ineffective against the black light,
which passed through unimpeded and touched Chu Yan's forehead, attempting to merge with him!
The next instant,
the black light froze abruptly in place -
Long Yuan had intervened!
"A soul fragment?"
Long Yuan examined the black light closely.
"Argh! Release me, you insignificant dragon!"
The soul fragment struggled violently,
roaring at Long Yuan.
Now revealing its true form,
it appeared as a humanoid creature with bat-like wings and bull horns.
Long Yuan frowned slightly.
So this was what they called a demon?
The creature's aura matched perfectly with the demonic energy from Lingxu Grotto-Heaven's entrance battlefield.
He recalled the blood-stained ancient coffin beneath Qingyang Lake.
When the Third Ancestor mentioned demons earlier,
he had suspected that entity might be one.
But clearly, they were different!
That creature lacked any demonic energy,
and its appearance differed greatly from this demon.
It had given him an exceptionally sinister feeling - even more ominous than these demons!
The demon soul struggled fiercely now,
glaring at Long Yuan with saucer-sized eyes.
Had it known this would happen,
it would have possessed Chu Yan before entering Lingxu Grotto-Heaven!
The only reason it hadn't
was to quietly recuperate within the anomalous fire!
"A mere Longevity Realm ant dares shout before me? You're courting death!"
With slight pressure from Long Yuan's claw,
the demon soul felt overwhelming force crushing down,
as if it might explode at any moment!
"Argh! How dare you, little dragon! When our Demon Race's Ancestral Dragon descends, you'll be skinned alive and cast into the eighteenth hell!"
"Spare me! Take me from here! When our demon army arrives, I'll beg the Ancestral Dragon to make you his general! You might even receive a drop of his blood - surely your greatest desire!"
The demon soul hissed at Long Yuan.
Transforming one's bloodline into the Ancestral Dragon's was every dragon's dream, wasn't it?
Snap!
Long Yuan pinched the demon soul's head between two claws,
Though without the Beast God,
he might have died by the Executioner's hand earlier.
"Any remaining demonic energy?"
"If not, can I take him now?"
Long Yuan asked the Third Ancestor and others.
"Let him pass before the Heroic Spirit Steles first,"
the Third Ancestor replied.
The ancient steles could detect lingering demonic energy.
Having observed Long Yuan's attitude toward demons,
the Third Ancestor concluded he bore no relation to them.
Moreover,
he seemed opposed to the Netherworld Hell faction -
proof enough he wasn't their enemy.
Soon, Wang Zuo returned with Chu Yan.
"Reporting to the Ancestor, no demonic energy remains on him."
"Then you may take him,"
the Third Ancestor told Long Yuan.
He had no desire to oppose the dragon,
especially sensing his power continuously growing -
even the Ancestor doubted he could suppress him now!
"But Ancestor! He gained recognition from our Cangtian Virtual Flame! Should we let him take our grotto-heaven's only divine fire?"
Wang Zuo looked pained.
Their sole divine fire!
"Oh?"
Long Yuan regarded Chu Yan with surprise.
The kid had obtained a divine fire?
Impressive!
As expected of the Chu family's born saint -
his fortune was truly matchless!
The Third Ancestor frowned.
Their divine fire taken?
That was a genuine treasure!
"No matter. Since the fire chose him, it's fate's will."
"Dragon friend, please join us for discussion."
Suddenly,
a voice rang out.
"The First Ancestor guarding the demon abyss entrance!"
Long Yuan raised an eyebrow,
then smiled: "Since you invite me, I'll oblige."
He wondered what the First Ancestor wanted.
With his current power,
none here could threaten him anymore!
Deep within Lingxu Grotto-Heaven,
beside a kilometer-wide chasm sealed by golden light,
Long Yuan in human form
sat facing three elders.
The Third Ancestor,
plus the First and Second Ancestors.
All three were similarly powerful -
half-step World-Creation Realm experts!
Clad in battered armor, their faces bore the marks of endless years.
"Earlier matters were misunderstandings. We hope you'll forgive us."
The First Ancestor spoke,
his voice hoarse,
as if unused for eons.
"No matter. It's been too long since I fought so freely - today's battle delighted me."
Long Yuan said calmly.
Or rather, since obtaining his cheat abilities,
this was his first truly satisfying battle -
and first time being injured!
The three Ancestors blinked,
then laughed heartily: "Truly magnanimous!"
Long Yuan smiled.
He'd merely stated facts.
Suddenly gazing at the golden-sealed abyss:
"This is the demon entrance?"
"Correct. A passage between the Demon World and Mortal Realm."
The First Ancestor nodded: "Nine such passages exist across nine forbidden zones, each guarded by one."
"Our nine forbidden zones connect, forming a supreme formation to seal them."
Long Yuan understood now.
He'd sensed the nine zones resembled a grand array,
but hadn't been certain.
Now it was confirmed!