Fate-Defying Demon Emperor-Chapter 277 - 264: Saint Heir and Holy Maiden

Eastern Province is located east of the Eastern Region, near the East Sea. It is a land of brilliant people and heavenly treasures.

To the east of Eastern Province stands Cang Mountain, a peak that rises a sheer 8,000 meters. It is as steep and straight as a divine sword aiming to pierce the firmament, as if to tear a hole in the heavens themselves. Legend has it that from the summit of Cang Mountain, one can witness the phenomenon of 'purple qi coming from the east'—the densest essence of heaven and earth, more precious than any spirit stone.

However, Cang Mountain is not only incredibly steep, but it also hosts a terrifying magnetic field. Anyone who sets foot on it feels as though they are bearing the weight of the entire mountain. The pressure intensifies the closer one gets to the peak, and for this reason, very few have ever managed to ascend to the top.

Yet, at the very summit of Cang Mountain, there sits a simple, unadorned thatched hut.

At this moment, a man and a woman were seated on stone stools before the hut. On the stone table between them lay a chessboard.

The woman was exquisitely beautiful, like a fairy descended to the mortal realm. Her fairy-like skin and jade-like body were proportioned according to the golden ratio, making her perfect from every angle. However, her face was shrouded in an iridescent mist, obscuring her true features. This only made one yearn all the more to catch a glimpse of her celestial beauty. With slender, jade-white fingers, she placed a white stone on the board. Her movements were natural and serene, possessing a dreamlike, ethereal quality.

"Holy Maiden Yu Yao, your chess skills are superior. I concede defeat."

The man opposite her glanced at the chessboard, helplessly placing a black stone down and admitting his loss. This man was also no ordinary individual. He wore a sky-blue robe, and his build was tall and slender. While not handsome in the classical sense, his features were heroic, projecting an aura of unwavering integrity. He seemed like an invincible war general, capable of dominating any battlefield and utterly unstoppable. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that his skin had a dark golden hue, as if forged from metal rather than flesh and blood.

"Playing chess is but a minor art. It can hardly compare to your Vajra Holy Body."

The Holy Maiden's voice was gentle, as melodious as the sounds of nature. It was like a warm breeze brushing against one's heart, plucking at the heartstrings with a unique, magical charm. Her words revealed that this heroic man was none other than the renowned Tian Lou Saint!

"Holy Maiden Yu Yao, you are too modest," Tian Lou Saint said with a slight smile. His respect for her was clear. It stemmed not only from her beauty but also from the fact that her innate talent, strength, and background were in no way inferior to his own. "You are ranked fourth on the Monstrous Talent Rankings and possess the Black-and-White Sacred Body. The next time the rankings are updated, you might just surpass me."

"Tian Lou Saint, I imagine you didn't come all this way just to play chess with me," Yu Yao Holy Maiden said. The summit of Cang Mountain was her temporary residence, where she hoped to use the phenomenon of 'purple qi coming from the east' to advance her cultivation.

"The ruins of the East Sea Dragon Palace are about to open. I wonder if the Holy Maiden would be interested in exploring them with me?" Tian Lou Saint never visited without a purpose, and this visit was no exception.

"The ruins of the East Sea Dragon Palace!"

Yu Yao Holy Maiden's beautiful eyes lit up. Before the Ancient Era, the Dragon Clan had existed in the Desolate Heavenly Ancient Realm. The entire East Sea was their domain, and the East Sea Dragon Palace was their core territory, a top-tier Immortal Force. Unfortunately, the Dragon Clan later migrated, leaving the Desolate Heavenly Ancient Realm behind. Now, it was nearly impossible to find a pure-blooded True Dragon. However, the ruins of the East Sea Dragon Palace still held countless treasures and sacred grounds for cultivation.

"Holy Maiden, let me be frank," Tian Lou Saint said, getting straight to the point. "Most of the prodigies on the Monstrous Talent Rankings will be heading to the Dragon Palace ruins. If we join forces, we can seize far more opportunities." Yu Yao Holy Maiden was a choice he had considered carefully, and he was confident he could persuade her.

Indeed, upon hearing his words, Yu Yao Holy Maiden was visibly moved. She was currently stuck at the Sixth Layer of the Heavenly King Realm and had hoped to use the 'purple qi coming from the east' to break through her bottleneck. If she could find an opportunity in the Dragon Palace ruins, she might not only break through but also advance further, perhaps even making a push for the Supreme Realm. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"The Dragon Clan are the darlings of heaven and earth, possessing not only an unrivaled physical body but also vast divine skills. The Dragon Palace Ruins may hold the opportunity I need. Since you came to me with this proposal, I will cooperate with you this once."

Yu Yao Holy Maiden nodded in agreement, causing the smile on Tian Lou Saint's face to widen.

At that very moment, however, his expression suddenly stiffened, and a chilling gleam flashed in his eyes.

"What is it? What happened?" Seeing his expression, Yu Yao Holy Maiden's brow furrowed slightly. She worried something had gone wrong with the East Sea Dragon Palace Ruins.

"Zi Qiong has been killed, and my Nine Palace Golden Pagoda has been stolen." Tian Lou Saint's face darkened, and a ferocious rage burned within his clear eyes.

He had five great followers, and Zi Qiong was one he deeply favored and trusted. This time, he had sent her to Qingzhou to retrieve the Nine Palace Golden Pagoda and to check on the Su Han that Ye Chuanfeng had so highly recommended. He never expected that Zi Qiong would perish and that he would lose the Nine Palace Golden Pagoda as well.

"Xuan Song!" Tian Lou Saint called out sharply.

Instantly, a long streak of light flew toward them at high speed. As it landed, it revealed a tall and formidable youth clad in heavy armor. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square, resolute face. The moment his feet touched the ground, the earth trembled as if unable to bear his weight. The youth exuded an aura as heavy as a mountain; just standing there, he seemed like an insurmountable peak.

The Earth-Suppressing Sacred Body, Xuan Song. Ranked 61st on the Monstrous Talent Rankings! Yu Yao Holy Maiden recognized him at a glance. He hailed from the Tian Luo Net Holy Land and was one of the exceptional prodigies they had cultivated from outside the clan, utterly loyal to Tian Lou Saint. He possessed the Earth-Suppressing Sacred Body, which made his physical body extremely powerful. It was not only indestructible but also impossibly heavy; his every punch and kick held the power to shatter mountains and crack the earth. Furthermore, Xuan Song was a powerhouse at the Third Layer of the Heavenly King Realm and the strongest of Tian Lou Saint's five followers.

"Lord Saint Heir, please give your command!" Xuan Song knelt on one knee. His voice was like muffled thunder, yet his words were solid and powerful, making the hearts of listeners tremble. His loyalty to Tian Lou Saint, however, was absolute and without complaint.

"Zi Qiong fell in Qingzhou," Tian Lou Saint ordered grimly, seething with a rage that almost consumed him. "The matter is related to the Seven Stars Sect and Ye Chuanfeng. I want you to go to Qingzhou at once, investigate this, and bring her killer back to me." If the opening of the East Sea Dragon Palace Ruins wasn't so imminent, he would have gone himself.

"I will obey the Saint Heir's command!" Xuan Song accepted the order with great solemnity and turned to leave.

"Wait. Take the Heavenly Penetrating Mirror with you." Tian Lou Saint waved his hand, and a beam of holy light shot through the air, landing in Xuan Song's hands.

A man of few words, Xuan Song took the mirror, bowed to Tian Lou Saint, and departed. Soon, he had left Cang Mountain, heading straight for Qingzhou.

Watching Xuan Song's retreating figure, Tian Lou Saint's eyes brimmed with an icy chill.

It doesn't matter who you are. Dare to kill my subordinate, and I will see to it that not even your corpse remains whole!