Reunion at the Demon Cities

A figure appeared before the seven ancient demon cities, his eyes sweeping suspiciously across the void. Yet he found nothing.

"Strange. The Patriarch said a powerful one had arrived, but there is no trace of energy left behind."

He dared not approach too closely, staring at the cities wreathed in killing light and roiling demon mist. A crushing pressure weighed on his heart, and he felt deep wariness.

With a flash, he shot into the sky as a rainbow, fleeing toward the distant horizon.

Above, Xiao Chen and the others hovered, concealed by the Pangu Stone Token. Seeing the rainbow streak pass nearby, Xiao Chen suddenly opened the Eight Aspect Worlds. Eight hazy realms materialized without warning, engulfing the figure as he sped through.

"Who is there?!" The figure struggled violently within the Eight Aspect Worlds, but could not break free.

"Just a half-ancestor," Babula frowned.

Xiao Chen said, "He was nothing more than bait, sacrificed to test us. It seems a powerful one sits in this region, trying to ascertain our location."

The trapped half-ancestor heard these words and his face turned ashen.

"Crack!"

The sky split open. A withered palm suddenly pierced through space, imbued with the essence of law, woven from the primordial source order of heaven and earth. It reached toward the Eight Aspect Worlds.

"So they have come indeed…" The Little Defiant Dragon frowned. "This one is extremely powerful." He stepped forward, preparing to use the Inverse Dragon Seven Steps.

Xiao Chen was also surprised. He had not expected that among those hunting Keke there would be such a peak powerhouse—the withered arm was clearly made of stone. He stopped the Little Defiant Dragon, not wanting him to take the risk. Between Xiao Chen's fingers, the strange stone mound bloomed with radiance. The formidable Stone Man puppet emerged, its battle power surging like vast tidal waves, shaking the heavens.

With no wasted motion, a single fist hammered down to meet the withered stone palm. The collision was brutal.

The Stone Man puppet's combat body was the ultimate limit. Its power, like an unending river, could not be blocked.

"Crunch!"

The stone palm that had traversed space, even though it contained limited divine laws and the origin aura of the Dao, now crackled with fissures. It shook violently, then shattered into pieces that scattered through the air.

The fragments turned into a brilliant beam of light, tearing through space as they fled.

Tianwaitian was shocked. "Back when they hunted us over a hundred thousand years ago, there was no such powerful figure among them. Has something changed? With such strong opponents intervening, I wonder how Keke is…"

A hundred thousand years was too long. Who could predict what had happened?

"Could it be that they always planned to seize these seven dead cities? With such a powerful figure stationed here, perhaps they intend to breach these giant cities?" said Yingxiong.

At this moment, Shanwaishan, Renwairen, and Yingxiong had all anchored their souls within the Great Might Nether King's body. Their vitality was severely damaged, and this battle form was sufficient to make up for it.

Xiao Chen said nothing. He seized the half-ancestor and brought him close, not needing to ask many questions. His powerful divine consciousness directly invaded the half-ancestor's mind, searching for all the information he needed.

Images flooded into his brain. Some of the intelligence he already knew from Tianwaitian and Renwairen.

Over a hundred thousand years ago, the Otherworld gods descended upon the Death World. Only a small portion of the God Village's people escaped aboard the Ancestral Lord Warship. But that only invited relentless pursuit from the Otherworld gods.

The Ancestral Lord Warship crossed world barriers, returning to the Nine Provinces and the Four Worlds. Yet it could not shake the Otherworld gods, who possessed similar treasures and chased them through multiple dimensions like clinging parasites.

During the flight, many fell from the damaged Ancestral Lord Warship. According to Tianwaitian and Renwairen, only those few likely survived.

After re-entering the Death World, Keke fell while blocking the gods' attacks. The little one was most unfortunate—the gods focused their main force on him, determined to annihilate him completely.

Tianwaitian and Renwairen piloted the Ancestral Lord Warship, trying to reach Keke. But when they arrived here, they found the little creature had been driven into the space between the seven demon cities and sealed in this place.

Powerless, they narrowly escaped the gods' pursuit again. But the Ancestral Lord Warship, capable of crossing world barriers, unfortunately entered the grey mist and was captured by the Great Might Nether King.

"They wanted to kill Keke, and also to seize these seven dead cities…" Having finished searching the half-ancestor's divine sea, Xiao Chen's expression was grim. He pointed, and the half-ancestor turned to ash.

"How is Keke?"

Tianwaitian and Renwairen asked urgently. The Little Defiant Dragon also looked tense.

"I don't know…" Xiao Chen shook his head, his expression dark. "In over a hundred thousand years, the little one has tried to break out seven times. Each time, he was severely wounded and driven back. Not once did he succeed."

As he spoke, his face was cold. Those images wrenched his heart. The little creature had been grievously wounded many times, several times near death, escaping by the narrowest of margins. But the cost had been immense—bloody scenes too horrible to behold.

After those seven failures, Keke had not appeared again in the last several thousand years, completely silent amid the seven demon cities, as if he had vanished from the world.

"How could this be? Could Keke have…" The Little Defiant Dragon was deeply worried.

Shapolang, Tianwaitian, and the others wanted to speak but hesitated.

Xiao Chen's expression grew even darker. "If anything has happened to Keke, a hundred deaths will not atone for them!"

His concern was not unfounded. According to the intelligence from the Otherworld half-ancestor, many Otherworld gods believed Keke had already died within. They had not withdrawn because they still coveted the seven demon cities.

Even a Stone Man had come to oversee the operation. Their ambition was obvious—they wanted to seize the foundation of the seven demon cities.

"Let us go take a look," Xiao Chen said. Using the Pangu Stone Token to conceal their group, and placing Heavenly Marks at the four directions to guard, he believed few could detect their presence.

They searched for a long time near the ancient demon cities before finally discovering the dimensional space the Otherworld powers had created.

Just then, seven figures walked out from within. Among them was not only a Stone Man but also an Upper Ancestral God—a formidable combat force.

"The peerless talents of our realm are soon to arrive as reinforcements. They have finally been moved and wish to attack and seize these seven demon cities," said the Upper Ancestral God, glancing around. Then he added, "That one who attacked just now is powerful, but he absolutely cannot compare to Zhenmu Nüsheng and the Eternal King Meng Degang. There is no need to worry."

The Stone Man whose right palm had been shattered, though he had not taken the final step, bore an extraordinary bearing. He stood with his hands behind his back, ignoring the Upper Ancestral God's words, lost in his own thoughts.

"That one is very terrifying…" After a long while, the Stone Man finally spoke. His palm had still not fully healed.

"No need to worry. Our experts will arrive soon." The Upper Ancestral God took out a jade bottle. "Let me treat your hand first."

"Blood of the Heaven-Defying Clan?" The Stone Man was startled.

"Indeed. The blood of that little beast is quite extraordinary. It helped me step onto the path of the Upper Ancestral God. I believe it is no worse than your stone man blood, and will certainly be useful to you."

Seeing the jade bottle in the Upper Ancestral God's hand, Xiao Chen's fury erupted. He sensed Keke's aura. He remembered those bloody images—Keke's body shattered many times, nearly torn apart, spilling large amounts of blood. Though he had narrowly escaped death, the pain and anger were unbearable.

That Upper Ancestral God was now on Xiao Chen's kill list!

He could not suppress his rage. Silently, he approached rapidly. Keke was his reverse scale. Seeing Keke's blood, he could not endure.

"Watch out!" the Stone Man bellowed. He was an extraordinary powerhouse, his spiritual sense far sharper than that of one who had just begun the Upper Ancestral God path. Even with the Pangu Stone Token, he sensed the killing intent. He pulled the Upper Ancestral God aside and struck at the sky.

A massive collision erupted. The Stone Man puppet met him head-on. The Stone Man was sent flying a hundred zhang, his palm cracking again. The Upper Ancestral God was engulfed by Xiao Chen's divine diagram.

Blood sprayed. One of the Upper Ancestral God's arms was severed, blood flowing in streams. But even one who had just set foot on the Upper Ancestral God path was immensely powerful. He quickly broke free of the divine diagram.

"Attack!" The Otherworld gods roared in unison, charging at Xiao Chen.

"You are all dead!" With the Stone Man puppet blocking the strongest Stone Man, Xiao Chen did not fear for his life. With the divine diagram and the ancient scroll, even this newly ascended Upper Ancestral God would find it difficult to harm him.

Just then, a faint ripple came from among the seven ancient cities. A snow-white little creature cautiously peered out. Seeing Xiao Chen, he became extremely excited and cried out in a childish voice: "Xiao Chen, beware of a trap!"

Hearing that childish voice, Xiao Chen froze. Then boundless joy surged in his heart. He sensed Keke's aura. Turning back, he saw the little one, his large eyes filled with anxious urgency, waving at him, shouting in a soft voice: "Watch out for an ambush! There is a stone woman and two stone men hiding in the shadows!"

"Too late!" A cold voice rang out abruptly.

Zhenmu Nüsheng materialized, facing Xiao Chen with murderous intent. Her stone man foundation had been destroyed, and she hated Xiao Chen bitterly.

The dimensional space collapsed. A majestic giant city manifested. The Eternal King, Meng Degang, had also come, lying in wait all along.

Xiao Chen's Eight Aspect Worlds trembled in unison, instantly enveloping the one-armed Upper Ancestral God. He rushed toward Keke, ordering the Stone Man puppet to hold the rear against the gods' assault.

"Don't come! They have set up a formation that only allows entry, not exit!" Keke's long lashes fluttered. His big eyes held both joy and worry, and he wanted to stop Xiao Chen.

But Xiao Chen could not leave him behind. Zhenmu Nüsheng and the Eternal King Meng Degang had both appeared here. The little creature's situation would be grim. He could not abandon him now.

With a flash of light, Xiao Chen charged into the area before the seven ancient demon cities, converging with the little one.

Seeing this poor little creature again, Xiao Chen felt a deep guilt. The little one had suffered too much. Even the bloody images he had glimpsed from the half-ancestor's divine sea had made his heart ache. How much pain must he have endured over this hundred thousand years?

"Ya ya, wuwu… Still alive… finally seeing you…" The little creature's big eyes were red, tears streaming down. He looked pitiful and wronged.

Though he was overjoyed, he could not stop crying.

"Don't cry. Those things will never happen again." Xiao Chen comforted him softly.

Then his expression hardened. Inside the Eight Aspect Worlds, the Upper Ancestral God was desperately trying to break free, but this supreme technique had now reached full maturity. He could not succeed, especially with the eight sounds vibrating within.

This man had taken Keke's blood. Xiao Chen would not forgive him. Leading Keke into the Eight Aspect Worlds, he said, "Wait until I capture him, and I will vent your anger."

"Let me do it myself!" Though Keke's voice was childish, it was filled with confidence. He wiped his tears, waved his little paw lightly, and sent several divine rainbows straight at the one-armed Upper Ancestral God, sealing him instantly.

At that moment, Xiao Chen released the Little Defiant Dragon and the others from his acupoint spaces.

"Keke!" They all cried out in surprise.

Babula showed a shocked expression, murmuring, "Someone of the Heaven-Defying Clan has stepped onto the Upper Ancestral God path…"

The Upper Ancestral God struggled violently, but the seal grew ever tighter. Finally, he transformed into a statue, completely motionless, his divine power fully sealed.

Keke, still indignant, muttered incessantly and kept tapping the statue, enumerating the Upper Ancestral God's crimes, growing angrier as he spoke.

At last, he sighed and stopped tapping. Then he ran toward the Little Defiant Dragon and the others. Though he smiled innocently, his face was covered in teardrops, crystal clear, gleaming like pearls.

Tianwaitian, Renwairen, Yingxiong, and the others flew out from the Great Might Nether King's body, revealing their souls. Seeing so many old friends, the little one forgot his troubles at once, chattering endlessly with them. Over this hundred thousand years, he had suffered so much, all alone, scared out of his wits.

"We will never let you be hurt again." Even Tianwaitian and Renwairen comforted him like this. Though their strength was far below Keke's now, they sincerely wished for this little creature's happiness and safety.

"You have suffered so much… Are you still injured?"

They all crowded around the little one, asking with concern.

"I only felt pain for two or three years. The rest of the time, it didn't hurt at all." Keke replied happily, crystal tears still hanging on his long lashes.

"Felt pain for two or three years?" Xiao Chen was puzzled.

"Yes. Those two or three years, it hurt so much I could not sleep. After I endured it, I could force myself into a deep slumber. Otherwise, it really hurt…" The little one spoke innocently.

But these words made the others feel even more heartbroken. This little creature had endured severe wounds with such a method. His innocent demeanor made him all the more pitiable.

At the same time, they understood why, after over a hundred thousand years, the little one had not changed, still so pure—he had been asleep all along, nothing had altered.

"I will make them pay the price!" Xiao Chen said calmly.