Ye Qiu was utterly shocked. The fact that he had forged the Longevity Body was known only to Master Changmei, who had told him so himself. Ye Qiu had always doubted the old man’s words, because that fellow was far from reliable. Yet now, hearing it from the Demon Emperor, he knew the old codger had not lied to him.
He had truly forged the Longevity Body!
“Your luck is remarkable. You actually obtained the Xuanyuan Sword.”
The Demon Emperor’s gaze fell upon the Xuanyuan Sword as he spoke in a tone tinged with regret. “If I had possessed this sword back then, how could I have died with unresolved hatred?”
“With the ancient number one divine sword in hand, I could surely have charged beyond the domain and turned his heavens upside down.”
Ye Qiu was somewhat surprised.
“Beyond the domain?”
“From the Demon Emperor’s tone, it seems he had an enemy, and that enemy was not in the cultivation world, but beyond the domain.”
“Are there cultivators beyond the domain as well?”
However, Ye Qiu did not probe further, for it was the Demon Emperor’s private affair. He feared accidentally offending him.
Though the Demon Emperor before him was merely a wisp of divine consciousness, the pressure it exuded was far too terrifying. To kill Ye Qiu, a single glance would suffice.
“It is a pity that this ancient number one divine sword lacks its sword spirit. With your current cultivation, you cannot unleash the true might of this divine sword.”
“Only when you break through to the Imperial Realm and locate the sword spirit of the Xuanyuan Sword will this sword reveal its genuine power.”
The Demon Emperor’s gaze then shifted to the Qiankun Cauldrons. His expression turned reverent as he spoke softly.
“At the beginning of the grand mist, when all things came into being, heaven and earth were unstable, disasters struck repeatedly, and living beings suffered greatly. A transcendent great power employed heaven-defying techniques to forge nine cauldrons, stabilising the heavens and earth, securing eternal peace!”
“Thus, the nine cauldrons are also known as the Qiankun Cauldrons!”
“The Qiankun Cauldrons are the strongest divine artefacts between heaven and earth!”
“I never expected that, with such weak cultivation, you would obtain four Qiankun Cauldrons. This truly surprises this emperor.”
“Since you have reached the summit of the three thousand mountains, it shows you share a destiny with this emperor. This emperor shall bestow upon you a meeting gift.”
The Demon Emperor flicked his finger, and a stream of flowing light appeared before Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu looked and discovered that the light was actually a fist-sized three-legged small cauldron, identical in appearance to his four Qiankun Cauldrons.
“A Qiankun Cauldron!”
Ye Qiu’s expression shook.
“The Qiankun Cauldrons are scattered in nine different places throughout the world. The demon race possesses only one. I now gift it to you,” the Demon Emperor said. “Accept it.”
“Many thanks, senior.” Ye Qiu did not stand on ceremony. He directly dripped blood to claim ownership.
Soon, the cauldron enlarged and flew into the sky, colliding one by one with the other four Qiankun Cauldrons as if reuniting with long-lost companions, emitting joyful sounds.
“So the Qiankun Cauldrons are the Nine Cauldrons. However, they seem somewhat different from the nine cauldrons in the history of China.”
Ye Qiu thought to himself, “I now have five Qiankun Cauldrons. I wonder where the remaining four are?”
At that moment, the Demon Emperor’s voice rang out again.
“Little one, your opportunities surpass even this emperor’s. If this emperor had collected five Qiankun Cauldrons back then, I could certainly have killed my way beyond the domain and vented the hatred in my heart.”
A chilling killing intent emanated from the Demon Emperor. Then he spoke faintly, “Yet using the divine artefacts forged by that great power to kill his descendants would seem rather dishonourable.”
Hm?
Ye Qiu’s brows arched. He thought, “From the sound of it, the Demon Emperor’s enemy seems to be a descendant of the great power who forged the nine cauldrons!”
The Demon Emperor then looked at the golden coffin and said, “This coffin bears the aura of the one who climbed the mountains before. It appears he wished to protect and guide you.”
Ye Qiu was stunned. The Eternal Blue Sky Great Emperor wanted to protect and guide me?
How could that be possible!
“You also carry half of the human race’s destiny. This emperor is truly astonished. With such low cultivation, what extraordinary encounters have you had?”
Saying this, the Demon Emperor laughed heartily.
“With five Qiankun Cauldrons, the ancient number one divine sword, the forged Longevity Body, and half the human race’s destiny, it seems this emperor’s wisp of divine consciousness has not waited here a million years in vain.”
“Little one, this emperor shall grant you another great fortune.”
“However, you must promise this emperor one thing.”
Ye Qiu said respectfully, “Please speak, senior.”
The Demon Emperor said, “This emperor requires your oath to protect the demon race for all eternity. Can you do this?”
“I can.” Ye Qiu answered without the slightest hesitation. Even if the Demon Emperor had not mentioned it, he would still protect the demon race.
After all, having spent these days together, he had built good relationships with the various demon race elders.
Several elders had even taken him as their master.
Moreover, given his relationship with Little White Fox, if the demon race faced calamity, he could not possibly stand by idly.
The Demon Emperor asked, “Little one, this emperor will ask you once more. If you were to become the lord of the demon race, how would you act?”
Lord of the demon race?
Ye Qiu had never considered this question. Now that the Demon Emperor suddenly raised it, he was momentarily stunned. He said, “I am not of the demon race. How could I become the lord of the demon race?”
The Demon Emperor said, “Do not concern yourself with that. Simply answer this emperor’s question.”
After a moment of thought.
Ye Qiu replied, “If I were the lord of the demon race, I would do my utmost to resolve the grudges between the human race and the demon race, lead the demon race out of the Southern Ridge, let them see the world beyond, ensure the demon race is neither bullied nor discriminated against, and allow every member of the demon race to live with dignity.”
“Very good.” The Demon Emperor was highly satisfied with Ye Qiu’s answer and smiled. “Little one, it is not that I distrust you, but this matter is of great importance. This emperor requires you to swear an oath.”
Ye Qiu immediately swore, “I, Ye Changsheng, speak today from the depths of my heart. In the future, I shall do everything in my power to fulfil these words. If I violate this oath, may heaven strike me with thunder.”
Having sworn the oath.
The Demon Emperor asked, “Little one, do you know of the Six Paths?”
“I have heard of them.” Ye Qiu had once heard Mo Tianji speak of them. The six realms are the human race, demon race, devil race, Buddhist sect, underworld race, and divine race.
The Demon Emperor said, “Each of these six realms possesses one strand of heavenly dao destiny.”
“Obtain one, and you may command one race.”
“Obtain all six, and you shall stand supreme through eternity!”
“As emperor of the demon race, this emperor bore the strand of destiny belonging to the demon race. This wisp of divine consciousness has waited here a million years precisely to find a suitable supreme ruler for the demon race.”
Saying this, a flame-like totem flickered between the Demon Emperor’s brows.
“This is the demon race’s destiny. This emperor now bestows it upon you.”
“Ye Changsheng, from this day forward, you are the lord of the demon race.”
“Remember to treat every member of the demon race well. If you dare slaughter the innocent, you will surely suffer backlash from the demon race’s destiny and meet a wretched end.”
As the Demon Emperor’s words fell, the flame totem between his brows instantly flew out and embedded itself in Ye Qiu’s brow.
At once, a flame totem appeared on Ye Qiu’s brow. He felt his body become much lighter, as if many profound aspects had been added. He could clearly sense them, yet could not describe them.
“You may close your eyes and feel it,” the Demon Emperor said.
Ye Qiu closed his eyes. In the next second, he discovered in shock that his consciousness could now observe the entire demon race.
