“I had originally intended to engrave a demonic pattern upon you, to enhance your power. But upon reflection, I decided against it… your face is too exquisite for me to mar.

Among this batch of spirit seeds, you possess the finest quality. My immense effort in bringing you here was not in vain. You may take pride in this.

A new, perfect race shall be born in my hands! What do you think of the name ‘Spirit Race’?

Hate me, revile me, it matters not. You wish to see my face clearly, to seek vengeance upon me? So be it. Endure the final trial.

You disappoint me deeply! Can you not even bear this minimal exertion? Is your so-called will truly this weak?

I am not tormenting you; I am assisting you! Of course, if you perceive it as torment, that is your prerogative. A new life is inherently free, is it not?

You have squandered my most precious resources, you failure!

I cannot discern where things went awry… Do you sense any disharmony?

Hahaha, your complexion is radiant today! It seems we are treading the correct path!

I can pardon your hatred, your ignorance, and your shallowness. But you may well be the first of the Spirit Race. You ought to comprehend this glory… my child.

Child.

Child…”

Countless nightmarish voices ebbed and flowed within his mind.

Xiong San Si exerted immense effort to suppress them all, and at this moment, he once again heard the sounds of the divine mountain.

That colossal green stone by the Not Old Spring was now directly before him.

In the year 3922 of the Yuan Jia era, He Hua Ting sat upon this square green stone before falling into the Not Old Spring.

At that time, Spider Lan Ruo was preoccupied with controlling the Not Old Spring, and it was upon this square green stone that he left his mark.

He took one final, small step forward, and thus saw clearly the characters engraved on the lower right corner of the green stone: Three Evil Tribulations Lord.

The script was so contorted that only upon closer inspection would one realize it was not the mark of a blade.

It was a black-lined insect.

In this scene, apart from Shu Jia Lan, likely no one else would recognize it. This was precisely the faith insect cultivated by the Great Bodhisattva Lu Xing Kong of Black Lotus Temple, symbolizing the new transmission of the Buddha Dharma in the era of decline.

Only at this moment did he realize that his own Great Bodhisattva had laid out a scheme upon Xiong San Si’s body, even to the extent of bestowing a faith insect. He himself had repeatedly requested one, only to be kicked away each time.

Xiong San Si lifted his right palm. In his palm, too, were the characters “Three Evil Tribulations Lord,” only they were white.

He placed his palm over the green stone, aligning the engraved characters on both surfaces.

Then, he closed his eyes.

At this instant, the faith insect of Yuan Jia 3922 and the faith insect of the new era overlapped. The clues concerning the Three Evil Tribulations Lord resonated across time and space!

In that era of silent decline, how was the Buddha Dharma to be newly transmitted?

With a single faith insect, the Buddhist scriptures would not perish.

The clues regarding the Three Evil Tribulations Lord in today’s demon world had been thoroughly erased.

Even if Xiong San Si had secretly contacted Black Lotus Temple and borrowed their intelligence network, he could not unearth a single trace.

But the Divine Sky realm could accommodate far too many possibilities.

Precisely because he was aware of the Divine Sky realm’s peculiarity, Lu Xing Kong had dispatched the faith insect, allowing Xiong San Si to respond to time and space and pursue the historical traces of the Three Evil Tribulations Lord.

The construction of the Thousand Tribulations Cave was not accomplished overnight. To cultivate his so-called new race, the Three Evil Tribulations Lord needed to capture a vast number of demons, devils, and humans, which would not have been a one or two-time occurrence.

Over time, traces must have been left behind.

“How is it? Did you gain any insights?” Quan Xi Hua asked.

Xiong San Si slowly opened his eyes, which held a complex emotion.

“As expected…” he said.

“As expected?” Lu Qi Lang said, “Brother San Si, if you have gained any clues, please speak frankly. We will not tolerate the evil deeds of the Three Evil Tribulations Lord. Under the rule of Taigu Imperial City, how can such a heartless and conscienceless being be allowed to roam freely?”

Yang Yu also said, “My Buddha is compassionate. Hearing of these evil deeds, even the angry eyes of a Vajra would be opened.”

Xiong San Si inhaled deeply, his voice hoarse, “I exhausted every method, sacrificed immensely, just to escape from there. But in truth, I never escaped. Zi Wu Hills is unexpectedly my new prison. The Three Evil Tribulations Lord is none other than Hu Tai Sui… Hu Tai Sui is the Three Evil Tribulations Lord!”

Upon hearing these words, Lu Qi Lang and Yang Yu were momentarily speechless.

What kind of figure was Hu Tai Sui?

The contemporary Heaven Demon, the master of Zi Wu Hills recognized by Taigu Imperial City, an existence like a heaven-supporting jade pillar in the entire demon race.

The Divine Fragrance Flower Sea dared not interfere with his actions, and the angry eyes of a Vajra dared not glare at him.

Could he be the Three Evil Tribulations Lord?

Only Zhu Da Li asked in his heart, “May I ask the Dao Master, if the moon is dark and the wind is high, can the ideals of Taiping Dao still be upheld?”

In the mirror world, the Taiping Dao Master was silent for a moment, then said, “The direction of the heart cannot be turned back.”

Thus, the Taiping Ghost Messenger angrily declared, “Damn his Tai Sui! My Taiping Dao will absolutely not tolerate this fellow! Though I am but a minor figure, above me are the Dragon Messenger, the Ground Messenger, the Heaven Messenger. And if even they are insufficient, there is still the Dao Master! Brother San Si, the universe may have its hidden injustices, and good and evil may not always find their retribution, but on this matter, Taiping Dao must seek justice for you!”

In the mirror world, the Taiping Dao Master wanted to speak but hesitated.

Not to mention that he, this Taiping Dao Master, was now racking his brains over finding his way home. Even if he truly acted as the Taiping Dao Master, before Hu Tai Sui, he would merely be dust.

He was, of course, also willing to seek justice for Xiong San Si. Just as at the moment of Yuan Xiao Qing’s death, he had greatly wished to respond to Old Man Yuan as a deity…

But with what could he respond?

Perhaps he should not continue to give Zhu Da Li a fabricated illusion, but Zhu Da Li’s unwavering resolve made him hesitant to speak.

The Taiping Ghost Messenger’s firm stance made Chai A Si glance up. His words revealed the foundation of Taiping Dao, instilling another layer of apprehension among the assembled demons.

And Spider Lan Ruo at this moment said, “May I ask a presumptuous question? Brother Xiong, by what method did you obtain this clue, and can you guarantee its authenticity and accuracy? I mean… can you produce it as evidence?”

“Naturally… I cannot! Even if this matter were brought before Taigu Imperial City, I could not obtain justice. This much I know clearly,” Xiong San Si said, his voice lacking any sense of powerlessness. He merely clasped his hands toward the Taiping Ghost Messenger, “This one deeply appreciates Taiping Dao’s righteousness. However, Xiong San Si came to the Divine Sky realm solely to seek my own answer, and I had no intention of relying on external forces. These years of conquest in Zi Wu Hills have planted suspicion in my heart. Now, with confirmation, my heart is at ease. As for seeking vengeance thereafter… I will simply end my life. I shall not involve the bystanders.”

These words were spoken with resounding clarity.

Shu Jia Lan was unaware of the exact plans of his Great Bodhisattva and Xiong San Si, so he remained silent.

Spider Lan Ruo and Lu Qi Lang, one representing Tian Xi Wasteland, the other the Divine Fragrance Flower Sea, were both hesitant to openly express their stance regarding that Heaven Demon neighbor.

Zhu Da Li had already made his decision in his heart, but did not voice it further.

Instead, Quan Xi Hua said somewhat cautiously, “Shall we… continue upwards now?”

The assembled demons seemed to suddenly realize, and one by one they returned to their senses.

“Of course!”

“We must continue upwards!”

Having endured countless hardships to reach this treasure land, and with only Spider Lan Ruo having gained anything, how could they stop here?

“You go!” Yuan Meng Ji waved his hand and said, “Throughout my life, Yuan Meng Ji has not been greedy for fame and fortune, nor do I care for any treasures. You may contend amongst yourselves! I am weary; I shall rest here for a while!”

He was truly tired!

These individuals each possessed cunning hearts and ruthless minds. Now, even Chai A Si was no longer simple. He was a Chi Yun Mountain God, and also a demon of destiny. Was there truly no one at the bottom?

Without his Heaven Demon grandfather’s means by his side, he didn’t have enough heads to be cut off. There was no way for him to return home directly now, and he couldn’t contact his Heaven Demon grandfather. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even bother with the excuse of being tired.

The assembled demons paid little heed.

But Spider Lan Ruo calmly looked over. “You wish to remain here alone, gazing upon my Not Old Spring?”

Yuan Meng Ji’s heart thumped. His bent legs immediately straightened. “Let’s go! Though I am unwilling to contend for anything, appreciating the heroic postures of these several Heaven’s Favored is something this Yuan is willing to do!”

The mountain was so high that its peak was unseen, and layers of clouds stacked up endlessly.

In the Divine Sky world after the restructuring of time and space order, even the primal force wandering between heaven and earth seemed more vibrant.

The young demon race companions each harbored their own thoughts.

In the mirror world, Jiang Wang bitterly pondered the possibility of returning home.

He was currently considering two directions.

The first direction was still the World Honored One who had entered the demon world and left behind the Buddhist inheritance.

Everyone knew that the World Honored One had once visited the demon world, but historical records lacked detailed accounts of how he had come and gone freely.

He couldn’t have simply walked out of the Ten Thousand Demons Gate with great fanfare, transmitted the Dharma, left the path, and then walked back with equal fanfare, could he?

If Zen Master Xing Nian had any arrangements on the road home, perhaps they were related to this…

A Great Bodhisattva like Zen Master Xing Nian had burned himself in this Divine Sky world. And the three volumes of scriptures he had modified, the ‘Buddha Says Fifty-Eight Chapters’, had also been burned together by karma fire within this place.

Most importantly, the Know Hear Bell currently in his hand was precisely one of the three bells used by the World Honored One in that era. It was highly likely that it contained a method to awaken the path the World Honored One had taken back then.

The second direction was precisely the legend of the demon race left in this world, the Divine Sky King Yu Zhen.

Yu Zhen had once secretly entered the present world, traveled to Cang Hai, and communicated with the dragon race. He definitely did not take the Ten Thousand Demons Gate. Which road was that road? Could it be hidden within the Divine Sky realm?

Or perhaps, the only way to connect with that road was within the Divine Sky realm?

This Divine Sky world, where ten thousand kinds of frost competed for freedom, was vast. With the breadth of mind of the Divine Sky King, he probably wouldn’t mind who discovered his old path.

The winding mountain path led straight into the sea of clouds. While lost in thought, the assembled demons had already arrived at a vast square.

This place bore obvious signs of having been carved out, a massive square chiseled into an eight trigrams shape.

Looking back now, they could no longer see the forest that had concealed numerous trials. Everything they had come from was buried beneath layers upon layers of stacked clouds.

In the center of the square, there was a colossal, half-collapsed round dharma altar.

An ancient and desolate aura assailed them.

To the right of the dharma altar was a tattered flag. The flagpole was precarious, and the flag itself was so fragmented that only a few strands remained, making the pattern completely indistinguishable. Instead, one could see the years of old black bloodstains.

In the center of the dharma altar was placed a three-legged, square-eared bronze great tripod.

The yang-engraved patterns on the tripod body were already blurred, and large patches of rust seemed to have been deliberately smeared on.

Thick black ash had accumulated inside the tripod, and within the black ash, a dimly flickering spark was hidden. It seemed as though it could ignite again at any moment, yet also as though it could never ignite.

Several demon kings present, whether from Ancient Nan Mountain, Black Lotus Temple, or the Divine Fragrance Flower Sea, all bowed down for the first time.

Chai A Si, Zhu Da Li, and others who did not recognize this place but sensed the solemn atmosphere, could likely guess what it was and naturally followed suit in bowing down.

There was actually a destroyed Heaven Demon Dharma Altar here!

The Heaven Demon Dharma Altar was not a product of ancient times; it was born in the initial stages of the upper ancient era. Every square stone used to build it carried the color of blood.

After the demon race remnants were locked into the Heavenly Prison, the last Demon Emperor of the far ancient era, using one hundred and eight demon life treasures, stabilized the earth, wind, water, and fire, opening up this chaotic world and creating the possibility of life.

But “possible” does not represent “inevitable”.

It was the burning of one Heaven Demon Dharma Altar after another that transformed this possibility into reality, truly creating a miracle of life.

How was a Heaven Demon Dharma Altar created?

After gathering all the materials for building the altar, a Heaven Demon would step forward and stand at the highest point… using their flesh as lamp oil, their bones as a lamp wick, and their soul as the lamp fire… opening a hole at the crown of their skull and igniting their own celestial spirit.

They would ignite their own heaven lamp!

This fire could burn for one thousand two hundred and ninety-six years, unextinguished by wind or rain. Even if the Heaven Demon’s body perished in this process, it would not affect the light.

One Heaven Demon’s complete self-immolation could illuminate chaos.

Therefore, the appearance of every Heaven Demon Dharma Altar from ancient times to the present is a sacrifice by one Heaven Demon!

Only after the demon world was fully formed were no new Heaven Demon Dharma Altars built. But every member of the demon race needed to know what kind of sacrifice had nurtured the vitality of this era.

In a sense, the Heaven Demon Dharma Altar could be said to be a symbol of the demon race’s spirit.

Thus, when the human race attacked the demon race, they often made “seeking the dharma altar” their most important strategic objective. As the saying goes, “Destroying one dharma altar extinguishes the heroic spirit of ten thousand men; this is the superior military strategy!”

“Whose senior’s dharma altar is this? Why would it be in this place?” After bowing, Shu Jia Lan rose and asked.

In the demon world, even a thoroughly destroyed Heaven Demon Dharma Altar would be well protected. Unless it had already been dismantled by the human race, paved with demon bones, and used to build a great city.

The assembled demons all shook their heads.

Spider Lan Ruo said, “Perhaps it was meant to utilize the infinite possibilities of the Divine Sky world, placed here awaiting recovery…”

“No, that’s not right.” Lu Qi Lang seemed to have a sudden inspiration. His sword-like eyebrows lifted, and he stepped onto the half-destroyed Heaven Demon Dharma Altar, approaching the three-legged, square-eared bronze great tripod. He reached out and carefully rubbed the tripod body, pondering. “This seems… to be the legacy shell of Great Ancestor Yu Zhen.”

“Yu Zhen?!” Yuan Meng Ji was simply startled.

Divine Sky King Yu Zhen, who had traveled through the chaotic sea, had already died?

He had died within the Divine Sky world he had left behind?

At this moment, looking around, he felt a chill throughout his body.

Yang Yu felt similarly inconceivable. “You’re saying his flesh was burned into this tripod?”

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