Chapter 2424: Killing God

"What is the General's Tomb?"

Qin Sang had learned many new and strange things from Qingyuan, feeling deeply that his knowledge was insufficient. Was the General's Tomb an acquired spiritual treasure, like the River-Mountain Map, or merely a general's mausoleum?

"The General's Tomb is also an acquired spiritual treasure. Its owner was a renowned general under the Jade Emperor, named Bai Qi, also known as the God of Slaughter! He once led a great army with the Jade Emperor to conquer the Demon Court, achieving unparalleled military feats. There's even a General's Manor in Baiyujing now. After the Demonic Tribulation, the God of Slaughter disappeared without a trace, but it turns out he was here all along..." Qingyuan's eyes flashed with surprise as he spoke, then he burst into laughter. "Those fellows from the Demon Court... haha... so that's it! They actually mistook the General's Tomb for that other treasure."

Qingyuan's expression immediately relaxed. With the General's Tomb appearing, it had attracted all the demon cultivators, who mistakenly believed it to be the River-Mountain Map. This undoubtedly greatly reduced the pressure on their side.

"The General's Tomb is also a human race treasure. Doesn't this mean it will fall into the hands of the demon race?" Qin Sang could see nothing and didn't know what was happening in the Arctic Ice Plain or how the battle was progressing.

*General's Tomb... General's Tomb...*

He repeatedly chanted these words in his mind, recalling what he had witnessed in the Arctic Ice Plain: the tomb, white bones, the Arctic Ice Plain, the bone hand... Could that bone hand be connected to the General's Tomb?

Qingyuan seemed to be listening intently. Hearing Qin Sang's question, he chuckled, "The General's Tomb is not like the River-Mountain Map. This is a formidable military artifact, not so easily subdued. Moreover... Dragon Isle and Phoenix Pavilion should be arriving soon!"

"That thing is about to emerge!"

A low cry echoed through the wind and snow, and the expressions of all the Demon Saints became incredibly solemn.

"Ying Lian!"

Hearing the call, two colorful lotuses appeared in Demon Saint Ying Lian's pupils. As the lotuses rotated, torrents of brilliant light burst forth from her body. The light shimmered, dazzling and colorful. Wherever the light shone, lotuses bloomed from the ground, accompanied by thousands of auspicious rays.

Ice mountains and snow plains were covered in blooming lotuses, appearing everywhere. Even the void and the skies above transformed into a sea of lotuses. Some lotuses rooted themselves in the icy snow vortex, and as the vortex consumed them, more lotuses immediately burst into bloom. Above and below, lotuses were omnipresent around the Demon Saints; the ice plain seemed to have become a world of lotuses. This sea of lotuses was Grand Saint Ying Lian's Lotus Shrine Dharma Domain!

Within the stamens of the lotuses sat golden statues of lotus maidens. Each lotus contained a golden statue, all resembling Grand Saint Ying Lian, but with varied expressions—joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, and more. Immediately after, waves of chanting echoed, all in Grand Saint Ying Lian's voice, yet imbued with different emotions. Millions of tones blended together, overwhelming like demonic brainwashing. The lotuses swayed amidst the chanting, and the surrounding wind and snow seemed to diminish slightly.

Just then, a dark shadow surged out of the lotus sea, and a giant azure eagle appeared above the icy snow vortex. Its eagle eyes were like lightning, piercing gaze shooting towards the center of the vortex. It let out a cold snort, "This old man wants to see what on earth you are!"

*Whoosh!*

Before its words finished, its eagle eyes transformed into golden pupils, shooting out two golden gazes that were almost tangible, like sharp arrows, towards the icy snow vortex.

In the north.

Deep within a chasm. This place was grim and terrifying, filled with dense true demonic energy, within which shadowy figures flickered.

In the depths of the chasm was a profound iron throne. A shadow sat on the throne; upon closer inspection, it was a demonic head with no body, a lone skull. The demonic face was horrifying, exactly the demon that Grand Saint Guizang had once seen. Its hollow eye sockets gazed towards the south.

A group of Yin demons knelt before the throne. The demonic face stared south for a long time, then suddenly opened its mouth and emitted a strange sound. Following this, all the Yin demons retreated into the darkness, leaving the chasm. The chasm fell silent.

"Hmph!"

The demonic snort carried anger. Just now, it had lost all connection to its Yin demons, implying they had been killed by the Demon Saints. This meant his forces here had been completely wiped out.

Since the devastating defeat of the demon realm, this world had become the demon domain. The remaining demon realm forces were in a difficult position, barely surviving in the desolate Arctic Ice Plain. He had built up his power from scratch, which was no easy feat. In truth, the deaths of more Yin demons were inconsequential. What concerned the demonic face was what exactly those Demon Saints had discovered in the Arctic Ice Plain!

The demonic face was somewhat uneasy. Could its calculations be wrong, and the treasure was not in the Lotus Crossing Great Marsh but here instead? Was it to stand by and watch that supreme treasure fall into the hands of the demon race?

The demon and devil races in this world were sworn enemies, not only a continuation of the two-realm war but also a means for both the Spirit Realm and Demon Realm to contend for control of the seal. The realm barrier would not collapse instantly. Whoever controlled this world could control this fissure in the continental membrane, thereby gaining the initiative in the coming two-realm war.

But now, it could only fret. Besides Grand Saint Guizang, all its minions had been cut off. The realm barrier had not yet collapsed, and the seal was only loosened, preventing its main body from entering. Even if it commanded a vast army, it would be powerless.

"Gui... Zang..."

The demonic face uttered Grand Saint Guizang's name in a hoarse voice. After discovering that the Demon Saints who entered the Arctic Ice Plain were all pawns of the Spirit Realm, the demonic face doubted its judgment even more. If that supreme treasure fell into the hands of the Spirit Realm, all its schemes would come to naught, and it would simply have to wait for the day the realm barrier collapsed.

However, what if the Spirit Realm was wrong? The clues left by Grand Saint Chanxin clearly pointed to the Lotus Crossing Great Marsh...

The demonic face continuously tried to contact Grand Saint Guizang using secret techniques, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea. Grand Saint Guizang was nowhere to be found; he couldn't possibly be so busy as to not even have time to respond. Could Grand Saint Guizang have already found a clue...? Thinking this, the demonic face let out a few sinister chuckles. Though it couldn't snatch the food from the tiger's mouth, it could still cause some trouble for the other side.

"Still not showing yourself!" the azure eagle roared.

Two golden lights pierced through layers of ice and snow. At this moment, Grand Saint Ying Lian also couldn't help but shift her gaze, looking towards the azure eagle.

What exactly was inside the icy snow vortex? What kind of treasure could support the realm barrier and the seal, becoming the foundation of this world? This was the question on all the Demon Saints' minds. Not even the 'Upper Immortals' knew.

"Daoist Friend Mu, it's come to this, have you thought of anything yet?"

The Demon Saint with the ancient voice was a gaunt old man. While other Demon Saints transformed into human forms indistinguishable from true humans, showing no outward signs of being demon cultivators, he was different. He had a long tail trailing behind him, a hunched back, and a head full of white hair, making him look like an old monkey at first glance. This Demon Saint's dharma name was Grand Saint Dao Dan (Pill Thief), rumored to steal the essence of the sun and moon, and the pills of heaven and earth.

Grand Saint Dao Dan's face was ancient, but his eyes were bright and spirited as he questioned the void. It was impossible for the Upper Immortals to reveal all secrets to the cultivators of this world, and the Demon Saints were well aware of this, with both sides maintaining an unspoken understanding. But at such a crucial moment, continuing to conceal information seemed a bit reckless.

Daoist Friend Mu sighed, "Indeed, some things are inconvenient to speak of, but regarding this matter, I, Mu, guarantee there is not a single false word. We call ourselves the Demon Court, but in reality, we have little connection to the ancient Demon Court. Many secrets of the ancient era have been buried in the river of history along with the ancient Demon Court. In fact, when various races declined, the Dragon and Phoenix races became dominant, and much of the Demon Court's legacy was seized by them..."

Even the 'Upper Immortals' didn't know the full details of that supreme treasure!

Grand Saint Dao Dan's eyes flickered as he listened to Daoist Friend Mu continue, "Rest assured, everyone. Our other comrades are already in position. As soon as we confirm the location of this world, we can descend upon it immediately!"

In the Spirit Realm's North Pole.

It was already nightfall. The sky gradually darkened. Tonight was mid-month, with a full moon hanging high, its bright light scattering across the sea dotted with floating icebergs. Through the moonlight, only vague pinpricks of stars could be seen.

Just then, a star suddenly brightened next to the full moon, its starlight growing increasingly intense, almost rivaling the moon's brilliance. Then, a second star lit up, followed by a third, a fourth... Some stars were bright, others dim, but each one was brighter than the last, and they seemed not far from the ground. A peculiar phenomenon appeared in the sky: it seemed as if two starry skies overlapped. The stars below were brighter but very sparse, and they were mobile. The starlight on the water surface slowly drifted north, finally arriving at the banks of the River of Evil. All the stars collectively illuminated the area, making the sea shimmer with light. The starlight paused for a moment, then slowly flowed into the River of Evil.

In the Arctic Ice Plain, Grand Saint Dao Dan was still speaking with Daoist Friend Mu when his expression suddenly changed, and he immediately heard a muffled groan.

*Crack!*

The azure eagle saw something in the depths of the icy snow vortex, and its two golden lights shattered inch by inch, like ice rods.

*Bang!*

The azure eagle's two eyeballs actually exploded in its eye sockets, sending golden fragments flying, startling all the Demon Saints.

*Whoosh!*

The golden fragments instantly returned to its eye sockets, transforming back into two eyeballs. Then, the azure eagle's body trembled, its face filled with shock, as it hurriedly flew backward.

"Brother Cang..."

Grand Saint Ying Lian was about to ask what he had seen when she suddenly felt something amiss. From within the icy snow vortex, a chilling aura subtly emanated, along with... killing intent! This killing intent was very faint, yet it caused Grand Saint Ying Lian's entire body to stiffen. The killing intent seemed to seep into her very bones, making her heart pound despite her cultivation.

"What kind of treasure is this, to possess such terrifying killing intent!"

Grand Saint Ying Lian was greatly alarmed. She then saw a wisp of black energy drifting out from the originally pale vortex, staining the ice and snow black. This black energy was exceptionally pure, without a single trace of impurity.

"Look out!"

Grand Saint Dao Dan's warning cry jolted Grand Saint Ying Lian. Suddenly, the icy snow vortex ceased abruptly. Grand Saint Ying Lian felt an invisible shockwave spread out with the black energy, impacting her Lotus Shrine Dharma Domain.

The lotuses near the icy snow vortex visibly turned black, transforming into dark lotuses. The golden statues of lotus maidens on them struggled, but were ultimately engulfed by the blackness, becoming unrecognizable. The next moment, the black lotuses withered one after another, and patches of withered lotuses appeared in the once vibrant Lotus Shrine Dharma Domain, as if death itself were spreading.

Grand Saint Ying Lian's expression drastically changed. Her Lotus Shrine Dharma Domain was unable to repel the black energy. Fortunately, Grand Saint Dao Dan acted promptly.

*Whoosh!*

A ray of green light shot into the sky, revealing a wooden staff. A vine was entwined around the staff's surface, its top protruding and carved into a furry, tightly clenched fist. The wooden staff split into eight, and as the staff shadows flickered, the void vibrated in response.

*Swish!*

The eight staff shadows shot in eight directions, like heavy punches descending from the sky, landing in the sea of lotuses. Compared to the boundless lotus sea and the icy snow vortex, the staff shadows were inconspicuous, like eight thin needles. But when the eight staff shadows landed, they seemed like pillars of heaven, supporting this corner of the world. At the same time, the other Demon Saints also made their moves, intending to help Grand Saint Ying Lian stabilize her Dharma Domain and suppress the black energy.

Unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred. A phantom figure quietly emerged at the edge of the Lotus Shrine Dharma Domain. This phantom was exceptionally tall and bizarre in appearance, seemingly possessing a human torso and legs, yet adorned with thousands of arms that resembled octopus tentacles, wildly flailing—it was truly a monster.

"Poof!"

The tentacles forcibly plunged into the Lotus Shrine Dharma Domain, tearing countless lotuses to shreds.

"You demon, seeking death!" The Demon Saints roared in anger.

The phantom let out a sinister chuckle. Facing the Demon Saints' attacks, it offered no resistance, instead channeling all its internal power into its arms, then simultaneously detonated all of them.

*Boom!*

A terrifying explosion erupted within the Lotus Shrine Dharma Domain. Demonic energy surged like a tide, and a wild wave swept through the lotus sea. The demon's self-detonation occurred almost simultaneously with the black energy's impact. Attacked from both front and back, the Lotus Shrine Dharma Domain was forcibly torn open. In that instant, the aura here was finally exposed!

This demon, not hesitating to self-detonate to disrupt their setup, clearly intended to attract other Demon Saints and watch them fight among themselves! Although furious, the Demon Saints did not lose their composure. They were well aware of the demon's calculations. Though exposed earlier than anticipated, they had already begun their preparations. The other Demon Saints had been led to the Lotus Crossing Great Marsh by the Black Tortoise Saint Palace. As long as they subdued this treasure before their opponents arrived, they would be fine!

"Form the array!"

Grand Saint Dao Dan scanned with his divine sense, confirmed there were no other demons nearby, and decisively gave the order.

Grand Saint Ying Lian changed her hand seals, and the surrounding lotuses withered and fell. Since they were already exposed, there was no longer a need to conceal their aura with the Lotus Shrine Dharma Domain. All the Demon Saints busied themselves, and as soon as the formation was complete, they witnessed an incredibly shocking sight!

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Black energy continuously billowed out from the vortex, its momentum growing ever more immense. At the same time, dense killing intent permeated the heavens and earth. Then, a black silhouette faintly emerged from the depths of the black energy. It was entirely black, ancient in design, yet grand and imposing—it appeared to be a mausoleum!

The mausoleum slowly ascended, forcing the Demon Saints to look up. They saw a black tombstone.

*Boom!*

Before they could read the characters on the tombstone, the mausoleum's phantom image suddenly shattered. Black energy surged wildly, changing the very color of the sky and earth. The black energy resembled wolf smoke, with countless figures appearing. Square military formations lined up one after another, stretching as far as the eye could see. Banners stood like a forest, and killing intent soared into the heavens.

The Demon Saints' hearts leaped in their chests, and a chill ran through their bodies. Never in their lives had they felt such terrifying killing intent! Within the mausoleum, there was actually an army of thousands!