Jin Buyi knew the situation was dire and listened intently. He had never been exposed to Qi-refining techniques before, having only learned the Great Sun True Scripture a few years prior.
When it came to cultivation, he was utterly clueless.
This was also one of the main reasons he learned techniques far slower than anyone else.
Yet the technique transmitted by that voice belonged to an ancient era and was vastly different from Qi-refining arts. Normally, it should have been even harder for him to learn. Strangely enough, however, he understood the technique the moment he heard it, and once he understood it, he could cultivate it.
The Great Sun True Scripture was still primarily a Qi-refining method bearing obvious traces of human cultivation. But the Eastern Emperor Heaven-Calming Formula transmitted by that voice seemed designed specifically for the Golden Crow, completely divorced from human Qi refinement!
Jin Buyi even felt that the Great Sun True Scripture had merely modified a human technique into a demon art, failing to escape the shackles of human methods. Such an art could never bring the demon race's full strength to bear.
The Eastern Emperor Heaven-Calming Formula had to have been created by a supreme expert of the Golden Crow clan, bearing not the slightest connection to humanity. As he circulated the art, he could feel the Golden Crow bloodline within him growing stronger and stronger!
Not only could this technique awaken bloodline power, but it could also continuously strengthen it, heading in an entirely different direction from human Qi refinement!
Humans focused on comprehending the Great Dao and condensing Dao principles and Dao chains, whereas demons focused on cultivating their bloodline!
As Jin Buyi listened, he circulated his internal bloodline power according to the technique, marveling inwardly, *So I wasn't stupid after all—I just hadn't learned the right art!*
Yuan Qi, the big bell, and the Brood Mother heard the fighting and crashes outside grow increasingly violent, and anxiety gnawed at them.
In particular, the roars of the Demon Emperor's wraith shook their Primordial Spirits unsteadily, even through the walls of the Sun Divine Palace.
Yuan Qi peered through a crack in the doors. Through the boundless flames strode an enormous demon beast, massive as a mountain and radiating terrifying demonic power far exceeding his own! Yet this demon beast had only its skeleton remaining.
Suddenly, the beast leaped and landed atop an even more terrifying behemoth.
That colossal creature was none other than the Demon Emperor. Thousands of primordial behemoths clung to its body as it collided head-on with the fleet of Sun Guardians, smashing warships to splinters! Atop its forehead stood a grey-robed Daoist with cold, piercing eyes and a tall, gaunt frame—his Primordial Spirit.
That Demon Emperor had perished inside the Sun Golden Chest long ago, his Primordial Spirit plunged into death, his souls trapped within the chest and unable to depart for the Underworld.
He had awakened with the resurgence of the ancient Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, reassembling his Primordial Spirit and charging out of the chest in an undead body to run rampant.
Warships exploded, scattering skeletons from their decks. The ones stationed here were elites of the demon race who had likewise awakened with the revival of Heaven and Earth's Great Dao. Even when facing the escaped Demon Emperor, they showed no fear, sending broken magic treasures flying like rain to smash into the demon beasts.
However, because these Sun Guardians guarding the Sun Pass had died outside, their souls had long departed to the Underworld. Unable to reconverge their Primordial Spirits, they were at a disadvantage against the beasts.
Even so, aboard the flagship were two great generals of the Demon Immortal Court. In life, they had been emperor-rank demon immortals, and their bodies had remained indestructible under the scorching sun. Though pressed into disadvantage, they were not easily crushed.
Nevertheless, they acted solely upon remnant willpower and lacked the Demon Emperor's might. If their willpower shattered, the army of Sun Guardians suppressing the Demon Emperor would collapse.
The Demon Emperor's Primordial Spirit clearly recognized this and concentrated his attacks on breaking their mental resolve.
Caught at the center of the confrontation, the Sun Divine Palace swayed like a leaf in the wind, liable to be submerged by either side at any moment.
Yuan Qi said, "If all else fails, I'll unleash the Diamond Snare and fight our way out, even if I have to lose the bracelet!"
The last time he had unleashed the Diamond Snare, the Demon Emperor's earth-shattering roar had made him spit blood, preventing the snare from exerting its full power.
Suddenly, the Demon Emperor roared. From his colossal frame, skeleton after skeleton of giant beasts galloped like the wind, surging toward the warships like a tidal wave.
Aboard the vessels, the skeletal demon soldiers raised battered magic treasures, hurling them down like rain!
Yuan Qi felt his scalp tingle. Under an onslaught like this, the ruined palace would hardly last much longer!
Just then, Jin Buyi suddenly awoke and opened his eyes. The big bell hurriedly called out, "Master Jin, hurry up and comprehend it! Who told you to wake up?"
Jin Buyi looked somewhat embarrassed and said cautiously, "I... I think I've learned it..."
Yuan Qi and the bell froze. Others might not know how slow Jin Buyi was to learn, but they knew all too well. Not long ago, when Xu Ying taught him the Six Secrets Ancestral Method, he forgot the first half as soon as he heard the second, and forgot the second as soon as he returned to the first, making Xu Ying clench his fists repeatedly in exasperation.
Now Jin Buyi was claiming he had learned it—it was utterly absurd!
Seeing their disbelief, Jin Buyi hurriedly added, "I really did learn it! If you don't believe me, I'll demonstrate!"
He immediately surged his cultivation and activated the Eastern Emperor Heaven-Calming Formula. In an instant, terrifying demonic power awakened within him, and ancient bloodline might surged to life. Yuan Qi and the big bell recoiled in shock, while the Brood Mother took flight in panic and landed atop Yuan Qi's forehead.
Rays of divine light burst from inside Jin Buyi, shining outward and illuminating his muscles, bones, and internal organs with crystal clarity!
Yuan Qi could even see his viscera shifting and transforming under the guidance of the Eastern Emperor Heaven-Calming Formula. Jin Buyi's body grew taller, changing from a three-legged golden crow into a bird-headed, human-bodied divine being! The divine light welling from him coalesced into an exquisite brocade robe that draped around his body in resplendent majesty.
*Whoosh—*
Wings unfurled behind him, and behind those wings, a radiant divine tree rose from the ground. Dao power surged in waves as golden crows circled the divine tree, looking like ten suns in flight.
Yuan Qi, the big bell, and the Brood Mother looked on, dumbfounded. Suddenly, with a colossal crash, the hall shattered under the stray attacks of the Sun Guardians and the Demon Emperor's army.
The group inside was instantly exposed before both warring sides!
Yuan Qi and the bell grew apprehensive. To the Demon Emperor, they were enemies; to the Sun Guardians, they were deserters—neither side would look kindly upon them.
Suddenly, all the magic treasures and primordial demon beasts halted. Countless eyes turned toward Jin Buyi, filled with awe and reverence.
Both sides lowered their weapons. With a clattering rattle, a primordial beast skeleton slowly knelt, followed by the other skeletal beasts, all bowing their heads toward Jin Buyi.
*Clatter!*
Aboard the warships, rows of skeletal demon warriors dropped to one knee, bowing to Jin Buyi. Even the two great generals in gold and silver armor leaned on their weapons and knelt on one knee.
Atop the colossal head of the Demon Emperor, the Demon Emperor's Primordial Spirit also dropped to one knee, his deep, resonant voice echoing: "Your Highness."
"Your Highness!" thousands of demon warriors chorused in unison.
At that moment, the skeletal beasts let out earth-shaking, deafening roars.
In an instant, all slaughter vanished; all conflict ceased.
Standing on three legs, Jin Buyi looked at this scene, somewhat at a loss. Ancient memories embedded in his bloodline surfaced one after another. After a moment, he stepped forward, glanced at the demon skeletons flanking him, and was moved.
"Countless tens of thousands of years have passed since the Demon Immortal Court. The Demon Immortal Court no longer exists. Why continue fighting to the death? I grant you freedom."
His words seemed to carry immense magical power. The moment he spoke, the obsessions that had bound them for tens of thousands of years shattered. The skeletons and corpse-immortals relaxed, and looks of relief surfaced on the faces of the two demon immortal generals in gold and silver armor.
*Crash!*
The skeletons abruptly collapsed into fine powder, which was soon dissolved by the sun. The colossal beast skeletons also fell one after another, shattering into pieces! Broken magic treasures and warships were ignited by solar divine fire and reduced to ashes, leaving behind only chains.
At the end of the chains was a gold coffin—the Sun Golden Chest, shaped like a chest, used to seal the Demon Emperor and the rebellious primordial demon beasts.
The only skeleton in the area that did not shatter was the Demon Emperor's.
Having returned from death, the Demon Emperor's Primordial Spirit had reassembled alongside the revival of Heaven and Earth's Great Dao. Living another life, he naturally would not perish just because remnant obsessions dissolved. However, he had no physical flesh, only his Primordial Spirit.
"Has the Demon Immortal Court... perished as well?"
Still kneeling on one knee with a sorrowful expression, the Demon Emperor's Primordial Spirit murmured, "Then what was the meaning of my desperate struggle back then?" His voice was filled with bewilderment.
Back then, he had fought against the unjust treatment of his race and was suppressed within the Sun Golden Chest. Now revived, he discovered that heaven and earth had drastically changed, the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth had altered, the Immortal Court of old was gone, and the grudges of the past had vanished into smoke.
His persistence, his stubborn resolve—all of it had become an illusion.
Suddenly, the Demon Emperor's Primordial Spirit tugged at the chains, hoisting the Sun Golden Chest high into the air, and landed beside Jin Buyi. Yuan Qi was startled and raised the Diamond Snare, the big bell vibrated, and the Brood Mother assumed a threatening posture.
If the Demon Emperor's Primordial Spirit dared harm Jin Buyi, they would strike immediately, determined to try even if they were no match for him!
Lifting the Sun Golden Chest high, the Demon Emperor's Primordial Spirit bowed once more, weeping, "Demon Emperor Jinghong pays homage to Your Highness the Imperial Son. From this day forth, Your Highness is Jinghong's master. Jinghong pledges his life in loyalty to assist the Imperial Son and restore the glory of the demon race!"
Jin Buyi was baffled. How had he suddenly become "Your Highness the Imperial Son"?
"Restore the glory of the demon race?"
Hearing this, Yuan Qi shuddered violently and asked in a trembling voice, "Demon Emperor Jinghong, are you saying that before the human race, there was an antecedent demon civilization that established a glorious Immortal Realm, founded an Immortal Court, and ruled the world?"
Demon Emperor Jinghong glanced at him, frowning slightly. "Indeed. Has our era come to the point where no demon knows this history?"
Yuan Qi trembled with excitement, his voice shaking. "And later we were defeated by human plots and our civilization was lost, right?"
Demon Emperor Jinghong pondered. "In my era, the human race was not yet powerful, but they developed at an astonishing speed."
Yuan Qi stood petrified. Two streams of tears suddenly rolled down his cheeks, and he choked out, "So that was the truth! Brother Qianli and I guessed right after all!"
Demon Emperor Jinghong said, "Your Highness cannot stay in an isolated corner. You must return to the Demon Ancestral Court as soon as possible to preside over the great cause of our revival!"
Jin Buyi quickly said, "Wait, I still need to find my young mas—"
"Young master?"
Astonishing demonic power surged in Demon Emperor Jinghong's eyes, tinged with suspicion.
Yuan Qi hastily cut in, "Master Jin, there's no need to worry about that little bamboo person. He's definitely doing fine. Demon Emperor Jinghong, that little bamboo person is a bamboo spirit and a member of our demon race. Master Jin, let's head to the Demon Ancestral Court!"
Demon Emperor Jinghong said, "Your Highness, the demon race possessed an incomparably glorious past. Whether we can rise again rests entirely upon Your Highness. Please reconsider, Your Highness, and journey to the Demon Ancestral Court soon."
Jin Buyi stood dazedly amidst the solar divine fire, gazing at the ancient ruins within the sun, his mind adrift in confusion.
His entire life had been lived for Xu Ying.
Xu Ying had hatched him, taught him to speak, and raised him to adulthood. Later, as his strength grew and Xu Ying vanished, he searched for him time and time again, enduring untold torment and hardships.
Later still, when Xu Ying found a lover, he had fought alongside Xu Ying to break out of Chaoge, fleeing across the land. When Xu Ying and Yan Bao'er wed, he was part of the family.
When Yan Bao'er died and was reborn, and Xu Ying walked alone into the ambush, he continued to flap his wings, crying out in grief as he searched for Xu Ying's whereabouts.
Until his memories grew dim and his body deteriorated, until death stood before him. His entire life had been lived for Xu Ying, with never a thought for anything else.
"Master Jin, agree to it," Yuan Qi whispered.
Jin Buyi looked toward the ruined Sun Divine Palace. The voice that had transmitted the Eastern Emperor Heaven-Calming Formula was likely the last descendant of the ancient Golden Crow imperial clan, having died within this palace with endless regret.
Passing down the lineage's technique had probably been that ancient emperor's final obsession.
Now that the obsession was fulfilled, the owner of that voice had completely dissipated between heaven and earth.
Jin Buyi fell silent. From now on, perhaps he would live a different life—living for the demon race...
Jin Buyi stowed away the Sun Golden Chest and said calmly, "Very well, Demon Emperor Jinghong. We shall go to the Ancestral Court!"
Dressed in splendid robes, his physique was magnificent. After cultivating the demon race's Eastern Emperor Heaven-Calming Formula, his bloodline had awakened, and primordial racial memories welled in his mind, giving him an extraordinary bearing.
Jin Buyi looked back at Yuan Qi, the big bell, and the immortal insect. The big bell laughed. "I wouldn't feel easy leaving you out on your own. I'll come with you. Seventh Master, you and Master Bug go find the bamboo spirit."
Yuan Qi hesitated, then shook his head. "That bamboo spirit is smart as can be; nothing will happen to him. But Master Jin is always forgetful, and that worries me."
Though the Brood Mother had gained sentience, she wasn't very bright. She said, "I don't know the way, so I can only follow you. As long as there's plenty of food."
Yuan Qi and the big bell were overjoyed and said repeatedly, "Plenty! Plenty!"
Demon Emperor Jinghong said, "In that case, let us head for the Demon Ancestral Court!"
With that, the wings of his true skeletal body snapped open, radiant white feathers blotting out the sky—no flesh or blood, only feathers and bone.
Jin Buyi's tiny Primordial Spirit swiftly wrote a message in his little notebook, tore out the golden page, pasted it onto a pillar, and said, "Let's go."
Demon Emperor Jinghong carried them onto his skeletal frame. With a beat of his wings, he tore through the sun and ripped open the void, vanishing without a trace.
Jin Buyi looked back toward the Yuanshou world, his eyes filled with nostalgia and reluctance.
Yet from this day forth, Imperial Son Jin Buyi would embark on a magnificent new life.
Chapter 410