Chapter 127: Past Memories in the Myriad Demon Gate

Chapter 127: In the Myriad Demon Sect, Memories of Yore

Above the void, Qi Yuan wore a faint, placid smile.

But that smile, in the eyes of all present, seemed like the devil's mockery.

"Ah, the music is only at the interlude—how is it that everyone is already dead?"

Qi Yuan looked helpless.

Seventeen hundred Paragons—far too few to kill.

The music had only played halfway, and they were all dead.

The crowd's hearts turned cold.

Those were seventeen hundred Paragons, not some nameless rabble.

Dead like this... dead without a trace.

Qi Yuan clearly felt no such shock.

NPCs in the game, and NPCs hostile to him—dead was dead.

The music continued; how could the slaughter cease?

His eyes inevitably fell upon the remaining thousand Paragons.

"How about... a little more?"

At these words, the surviving Paragons glared with fury, their hearts trembling with fear.

The tall, burly man who had spoken for Qi Yuan earlier quickly said, "Blood Lord, we have always been loyal to you!"

The nearly hundred Paragons who had stepped forward before, including Li Yunzhi, also hurriedly stood: "We are willing to die for the Blood Lord!"

The thousand Paragons behind them, seeing this, were also terrified out of their wits.

At this moment, how could they not understand what to do and what not to do?

Otherwise, the fate of those thousand Paragons would be theirs.

"Willing to die for the Blood Lord!"

The roar was rolling, this time even louder and more forceful than their earlier thanks to the Blood Lord.

"In that case... leave those three Great Paragons to you. Don't kill them outright—leave them a breath of life," Qi Yuan said lazily, his expression somewhat disappointed.

His divine powers were invincible against ordinary Paragons.

But dealing with Great Paragons was a bit troublesome.

Better to let these thousand Paragons attack and assassinate those three Great Paragons.

The suona continued, and the gongs and drums grew even louder.

The thousand Paragons turned in unison to look at the three Great Paragons.

The momentum was enough to terrify.

"How dare you scheme against the Blood Lord—your crime deserves death!"

"Is the Blood Lord someone you jumped-up clowns can provoke?"

At this moment, the Paragons who had been wavering transformed into the most loyal warriors, charging at the three Great Paragons.

Painful expressions appeared on the faces of the three Great Paragons.

When the anomaly occurred, they had wanted to flee, but were locked in place by dozens of Paragons' gazes and could not leave.

Now, with a thousand Paragons descending upon them, what chance did they have to survive?

The Great Paragon Yellow Brow roared at the sky, tearing his own brows: "Mikong, I should never have come with you!"

Countless primal divine powers descended.

The three Great Paragons had no ability to fight back; they could only defend with all their might.

In a single exchange, in an instant, the three mighty Great Paragons lost their combat strength, their primal powers exhausted, their bodies shattered.

If not for the thousand ordinary Paragons holding back, the three would have died already.

And at that moment, the suona continued.

Qi Yuan, holding his broken sword, landed beside the three Great Paragons: "You're too useless—you brought too few people. I didn't even level up to 200."

As he spoke, he took out his broken sword and finished off the three Great Paragons.

The Great Paragon Mikong stared at Qi Yuan, dying with eyes wide open: "You... you're not human!"

Qi Yuan couldn't be bothered to respond; amid the desolate suona, he slew the three Great Paragons one by one.

The tune was not yet finished, but the slaughter was over.

Qi Yuan felt utterly bored.

He returned to the city wall, looked at the musicians, and said softly, "If only you could be my musicians for a lifetime."

Taking a thousand Paragons playing suona to the Bright Palace hilltop and playing every day.

Bright Palace... what a joke!

"To serve the Blood Lord is my honor!" said the Paragon Yang Hun obsequiously.

They played their music while watching the slaughter below.

Seventeen hundred Paragons, in the blink of an eye, were slaughtered clean by the Blood Lord.

What a terrifyingly great event!

The Paragon Yang Hun was excited about his earlier choice.

Fortunately, he had defected to the Blood Lord early, and thus had the chance to become a member of the Blood Lord's most valued music troupe.

"But still, your music needs practice. Ideally, when the suona sounds, people a hundred li away, a thousand li away, should hear it.

Only then does it suit my status."

Qi Yuan said, then shook his head.

"Forget it, that would be too disturbing. What about the little animals sleeping?

I am a very compassionate person; I would never do such a thing."

Qi Yuan's voice was indifferent, and to everyone present, it felt bizarre.

This is called compassionate... a thousand Paragons, killed on a whim!

They had never seen such a compassionate person.

The Paragon Yang Hun then said flatteringly, "With the Blood Lord in the Flowing Wind Realm, it is truly the Flowing Wind Realm's blessing!"

Qi Yuan glanced at the Paragon Yang Hun and said dryly, "Having you is truly my blessing."

Paragon Yang Hun: "..."

For some reason, the Blood Lord's words sounded like praise, yet he felt they might not be.

The battle over, the music troupe finished their tune and descended from the city wall.

Qi Yuan stood atop the city wall, joy and helplessness mingling in his eyes. “Level 200.”

This time, slaying over a thousand Supremes, plus three Great Supremes, and after all those years tightening screws in the demon-spawn factory,

Qi Yuan’s level had finally reached 200.

“If my guess is correct, level 209 is the true pinnacle of Great Supreme.”

Levels 180 to 209 all belong to the Great Supreme realm.

Beyond that—Yin God?

Or perhaps… something else?

“A pity, a pity. After today’s battle, I’ve revealed some of my strength.

These people of the Blood Palace—I doubt anyone will rebel against me now.”

Qi Yuan was no indiscriminate killer.

Those who sought to harm him, to slay him—he killed them without effort.

As for the rest, even if they were NPCs, Qi Yuan couldn’t be bothered to harbor murderous intent.

“Better hurry and expand the Blood Palace’s sphere of influence, recruit more Supremes, and have them find me some demon spawn.

If I can’t defeat the White Emperor and the Sovereign, can’t I just call in reinforcements?”

If he had hundreds of thousands of Supremes,

Qi Yuan didn’t believe that no matter how formidable the White Emperor and the Sovereign were, they could slaughter hundreds of thousands of Supremes.

“Truly, the masses are mighty!”

Of course, that didn’t apply to him, but to others.

“Now that I’m clearly a Great Supreme, why… can’t I yet inscribe my primal divine ability onto my flesh and soul?”

Before, Qi Yuan had only struggled with cultivating the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, unable to advance his realm.

Now, the cultivation of the Heart Demon Guide of the Void Realm Lord had also hit a snag.

It simply wouldn’t inscribe—wouldn’t inscribe!

“Is my talent really this poor?”

Qi Yuan was deeply frustrated.

At present, the Heart Demon Guide of the Void Realm Lord had reached the Subtle Insight level.

Only one step away from the Inscription level.

A single pane of paper separated them, yet he couldn’t inscribe it at all.

If he could, Qi Yuan might become the heart demon of everyone under heaven.

One glance at him, and heart demons would spring forth.

As for the Great Forgetfulness Heart Sutra, Qi Yuan remained at the Time Exhaustion level.

To reach Subtle Insight, Qi Yuan guessed he might need to recall everything that had ever happened in his life, then forget it, then recall it again.

But his memories after entering the Gate of Myriad Forms were now somewhat hazy.

Perhaps he needed a catalyst.

“Only by entering the Gate of Myriad Forms again can I remember?” Qi Yuan mused.

Thinking of the Gate of Myriad Forms, he thought of the Canary.

A pity—the person from back then, he had never found.

“Big brother.” At that moment, Chen Huan ascended the city wall, his eyes carrying a murderous glint. “What about the remaining Supremes… how should we deal with them?”

This time, when the Supreme Miluo attacked, many Supremes of the Blood Palace had rebelled, filling Chen Huan with rage.

The remaining Supremes, who had initially stood by indifferently, also incensed him.

Qi Yuan smiled faintly. “Those who were willing to step forward before—they’re quite good. Raise their status in the Blood Palace by a notch.”

The Blood Palace did have ranks.

But previously, those Supremes were so lax they didn’t take them seriously at all.

After this battle, however, having witnessed Qi Yuan’s terror and power, how could they remain as before?

These ranks naturally became authority.

“As for the rest—let them be as they are. I can’t be bothered to manage them or waste my thoughts,” Qi Yuan said calmly.

The art of governance?

The craft of emperorship?

Many held these as golden rules.

To Qi Yuan, what were they?

He was a player—once the game ended, he would leave. Why overthink it?

“As you command!” Chen Huan understood Qi Yuan’s nature and offered no advice, clasping his fists.

At the Supreme realm, bodily reconstruction was trivial.

When he had been ambushed and killed by several Supremes, one of his arms was severed; now it had long since regrown.

“I plan to go into seclusion for a time. See no one.

The expansion of the Blood Palace is yours to handle.

Once a year, I will appear and give a sermon.

If you find the Canary, send her directly to the underground palace,” Qi Yuan said.

He would go to the underground palace to deeply comprehend his primal source and elevate his primal divine ability.

This comprehension could not be gained like slaying monsters.

It required Qi Yuan’s own effort.

As for the expansion of No Return City, recruiting peak terrestrial myths, and capturing demon spawn—he would leave that to Chen Huan.

Having spoken, Qi Yuan left No Return City directly and entered the underground palace outside the city.

While comprehending his primal source, he also slew demon spawn and tightened screws, exceptionally diligent.

…

A decade passed in the blink of an eye.

Liu Gaoda, clad in a blood-red robe, stood within a demon lair, his face full of discontent.

“What kind of crappy demon lair is this? Not a single demon spawn left?”

Liu Gaoda hailed from the Blood Palace. Ten years ago, when rebellion erupted in the Blood Palace, he had stepped forward and earned the Blood Lord’s favor.

Now, he had become a giant within the Blood Palace. “Brother Liu, this one’s empty—let’s check the next,” said a mid-stage Supreme, fawning over Liu Gaoda, an early-stage Supreme.

Over the years, the Blood Palace had expanded ceaselessly.

Many sovereigns threw themselves into it, becoming members of the Blood Palace.

The old demons of the Northlands either died or joined the Blood Palace as well.

After all, the Blood Palace was truly terrifying.

It lacked top-tier combat power, but it had an overwhelming number of sovereigns.

Once, a Great Sovereign of the Northlands made arrogant remarks about the Blood Lord of the Blood Palace, and that very night, three thousand blood-robed sovereigns rushed to the Northlands.

First, they played a tune on the suona,

Then the three thousand blood robes struck together,

And beat that Great Sovereign to death alive!

From then on, those powerful Great Sovereigns kept their mouths shut.

They even strictly forbade their juniors from going out, fearing they might offend the legendary Blood Lord.

The world was shocked; who did not know the Blood Palace, who did not know the Blood Lord?

Legends of the Blood Lord spread everywhere.

The Blood Palace expanded continuously, annexing the Northlands.

Countless demon lairs fell into the hands of the Blood Palace.

Every day, an endless stream of demon spawn was sent into the underground palace.

The originally terrifying demon spawn were now like trophies to those sovereigns.

The demon spawn that could never be killed before—these sovereigns could only say they couldn't snatch them, couldn't snatch them at all!

Within the Blood Palace, many conflicts arose over competing for demon lairs and demon spawn!

At this moment, Liu Gaoda had accepted the surrender of the Northlands sovereigns and led them here, precisely to find demon lairs.

“The next demon lair won’t be empty too, will it?” Liu Gaoda said helplessly.

“There definitely is one. In the next demon lair, a Great Sovereign is cultivating.

That Great Sovereign is a trusted subordinate of the Venerable One!” said this mid-stage sovereign.

In the world now, there is no news of the Venerable One or the White Emperor; only the Great Sovereigns know where they have gone.

Without the Venerable One and the White Emperor, this world belongs to the Blood Lord.

“A trusted subordinate of the Venerable One? Demon Crocodile?” Liu Gaoda’s eyes narrowed.

“No, it’s another. He is… the Supreme Commander of the Northlands in the North-South War,” said that mid-stage sovereign.

Liu Gaoda’s eyes lit up, and he felt a wave of emotion.

Once upon a time, the North-South War was hailed as the decisive battle that would annihilate the Southlands.

Now, he had actually come deep into the Northlands, to the territory of the Northlands’ Supreme Commander.

“Let’s go!” Liu Gaoda waved his hand grandly.

…

Within the Blood Sea Demon Lair.

A terrifying figure opened his eyes, a hint of confusion in his gaze: “Strange, why have the demon spawn in this lair decreased so much?”

Demon spawn are fear.

But to a Great Sovereign, demon spawn are also resources that can be used for cultivation.

Cultivating with demon spawn can make their inscriptions more stable.

“Before I went into cultivation, I instructed them to remember to periodically release new demon spawn.

Now… they actually forgot! Outrageous!” Great Sovereign Moshí flicked his sleeve, furious.

He had been in seclusion for thirty years, and had gained much.

When he emerged, it would be the time for the Northlands’ general offensive against the Southlands.

But now, he had come out early—how could he not be angry?

With anger, he walked out of the Blood Sea Demon Lair.

“Hmm?” He squinted. “Where are the people?”

When he emerged from seclusion, there should have been dozens of sovereigns to welcome him.

But now, walking out of the Blood Sea Demon Lair, it was completely empty—not only no sovereigns to greet him, but not even any Land Myth cultivators.

Where had everyone gone?

Great Sovereign Moshí was puzzled. He roared, “Fierce Tiger, Tong Xiu… where are you?”

His voice carried for dozens of miles, but still no one answered.

“Could it be…” A strange thought arose in Great Sovereign Moshí’s mind.

And at that moment, a voice finally responded: “Great Sovereign Moshí, you are finally awake!”

Great Sovereign Moshí looked at the newcomer, a puzzled expression on his face: “Great Sovereign Penglai, what is going on?”

“Don’t ask. The big shots from the Blood Palace are about to arrive; we must hurry to welcome them!” said Great Sovereign Penglai urgently.

Great Sovereign Moshí was somewhat bewildered: “Blood Palace? What is that? A force created by the Venerable One?”

“No, the Blood Palace is a force created by the Blood Lord of Wugui City in the Southlands!”

“Southlands?” Great Sovereign Moshí’s eyes flashed with killing intent. “A force from the Southlands dares to come to my Northlands!”

“Great Sovereign Moshí, quickly restrain your killing intent! The people of the Blood Palace must not be offended!” Great Sovereign Penglai was terrified.

He feared a conflict might break out.

Who didn’t know that this world belonged to the Blood Palace!

“What exactly is going on?” Great Sovereign Moshí found it unbelievable.

“The Blood Palace was founded by the Blood Lord, and under its command are thirty thousand sovereigns!”

Great Sovereign Moshí: “…What are you saying?”

The North-South War had only a few thousand sovereigns in total.

And now suddenly he says there’s a mysterious force with thirty thousand sovereigns!

That’s too absurd!

“Absolutely true. Whatever you do, don’t offend the Blood Palace. A few years ago, Great Sovereign Crowbeak provoked the Blood Lord, and then three thousand red robes from the Blood Palace came out and beat Great Sovereign Crowbeak to death!” As Great Sovereign Penglai said this, he also looked terrified.

Great Sovereign Moshí knew Great Sovereign Crowbeak—that Great Sovereign had a particularly loose and foul mouth.

Great Sovereign Moshí felt as if he had awakened in a different world.

“Are you telling the truth?”

“Absolutely true!”

“How many years have I been in seclusion? Could it be… a thousand years?”

"You have been in seclusion... twenty-nine years."

"..."

"Hurry and prepare. Welcome the great figures from the Blood Palace."

"But I am the Supreme Commander of the North!"

"The North is gone, the Sovereign has vanished—what is a Supreme Commander worth?"

......

Within the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

A barren land, beneath which lay a fortress.

This fortress was a stronghold of the Flowing Wind Realm.

Inside this stronghold, the avatar of the White Emperor appeared utterly weary.

He gazed at the thirteen before him, his eyes tinged with a sigh of reminiscence.

"You have finally arrived here."

Over the years, he had guided the Thirteen Northern Demon Lords into the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons.

Within the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, battlefields lay everywhere, fraught with peril.

The White Emperor had expended immense effort, enduring countless hardships, to send these thirteen here.

He Wu looked at the White Emperor, his eyes filled with reverence.

Ning Tao, on the other hand, wore an expression of relief; only the White Emperor could inspire such trust in He Wu. She clutched her chains tightly, lost in thought.

The other thirteen demons gazed at the White Emperor, their eyes a mix of doubt and curiosity.

"White Emperor, why have you gathered us here?" Ling Yayi, graceful and elegant, asked slowly. "Can you truly explain the character 'demon' on our faces?"

Born as demons, they had suffered endless tribulations.

The White Emperor looked at them, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "In truth, tens of thousands of years ago, you were... my junior brothers and sisters."

At these words, the expressions of those present shifted slightly.

Some looked utterly bewildered.

For this statement was indeed strange.

Tens of thousands of years ago, they had not even been born—how could they be the White Emperor's junior brothers and sisters?

The doctrine of reincarnation was not something even a Sovereign could grasp.

The White Emperor swept his gaze over the crowd and finally produced a mirror.

"This mirror is called the Mirror of Ten Thousand Demons. Within it, you may find your answers."

The mirror shattered into thirteen pieces, falling into everyone's hands.

Ning Tao held the mirror, her expression complex. She asked the White Emperor, "Tens of thousands of years ago, did I have a Dao companion?"

The White Emperor shook his head. "I cannot even tell who among you is who."

The others exchanged glances, feeling the matter exceedingly strange.

But the White Emperor would surely not deceive them.

Even if he did, how could they resist?

Then the White Emperor added, "In the mirror, you may see the most deeply etched scenes—whether sorrowful or joyful."

Hearing this, all turned their gazes to the mirrors.

Ning Tao held the mirror in one hand, the other tightly gripping her chains. She glanced at the blood orb, then finally fixed her eyes on the mirror.

Within the mirror, the scene shifted.

A vast desert, a man in a blood-red robe, sword in hand, walking across the sands.

The man's face seemed veiled by mist, utterly indistinct.

Then a delicate young girl appeared. Seeing that blood-red robe, her face lit up with surprise.

"Blood bead!"

In the desert, the man in the blood-red robe turned, his voice ethereal and aloof: "Who are you?"

He seemed to be speaking to the air.

Before him, in his line of sight, there was clearly nothing.

Yet he sensed someone there.

"I..." the girl began anxiously, wanting to say something.

But the man suddenly drew his sword: "All things in the world are but forgetfulness.

You should not be here!"

With a single stroke, the girl fell like a broken kite, crashing to the ground.

Blood flowed, staining her clothes. She struggled to reach out, trying to call to the figure ahead.

But he walked on without looking back.

"Blood bead..."

The image froze. Ning Tao stared at that blood-red robe, her expression unreadable. "Heh..."

The Thirteen Northern Demon Lords present all turned to look at the scene in Ning Tao's mirror.

For on their own mirrors, no image had yet appeared.

He Wu wore a sardonic grin. "Who would have thought the famed Palace Lord of the Heart of Heaven Palace had such a past."

The others chuckled with a hint of mockery.

Only the White Emperor's eyes flickered with a trace of pity.

So this was... the Dream of Ten Thousand Demons?

Was the master truly... a great demon?

Was the Golden Canary... a demoness?

Ning Tao said nothing; she continued to gaze into the mirror.

Thanks to Bottle Palm Heaven for the five-thousand reward, and again special thanks to ←God Without Tears for two thousand rewards, thanks to Husky of the Flower Kingdom for a thousand reward, thanks to Time Rabbit and a reader with a Japanese name the author cannot type for their rewards!

(End of this chapter)