“An infinite future means infinite possibilities. As long as there’s a sliver of chance, it means it will inevitably come to pass…”
In Li Fan’s mind, the words Emperor One had just spoken echoed repeatedly.
Possessing the [Truth] ability, which allowed him nearly limitless resets, he understood the meaning of these words more profoundly than anyone else.
Moreover, Li Fan’s heart surged with emotion. He had a premonition that hidden within these words was an even deeper secret.
Something related to his path of the future, or perhaps to the [Truth].
Yet, it was as if he were gazing at flowers in the mist—unable to see its entirety.
Li Fan was lost in a storm of introspection, while the child Emperor One remained silent after finishing his statement.
Xu Ke, under Emperor One’s gaze, involuntarily shuddered and closed his mouth.
The normally fearless Xu Ke now realized the precariousness of his earlier words and dared not ask any further.
“This is from Senior Brother Lu Ya, who asked me to bring it here. He didn’t specify who it’s for, but since you’re the one in charge, it’s safe to say it should go to you.”
Xu Ke looked at Emperor One, somewhat relieved.
“What is this…”
Emperor One’s gaze fell on the wooden box, and a hint of solemnity appeared on his small face.
As he took the box, a dark glow flashed across his hand, instantly dispelling the seals placed upon it.
“Roar!”
A ferocious killing aura, laced with resentment and anger, burst out of the box, soaring into the sky.
The murderous energy took shape, swirling into a violent tornado.
An overpowering scent of blood erupted from within, sweeping across the surroundings like a shockwave.
In the midst of this, the shadow of a ferocious beast seemed to emerge, roaring in fury.
Caught off guard, Xu Ke fell to the ground in fright.
And Li Fan, deep in thought, was also startled by the terrifying scene, his feathers standing on end, his body trembling instinctively as if facing a natural enemy.
Fortunately, Emperor One’s small hand formed an impenetrable cage, containing and sealing off the malicious aura.
No matter how violently it struggled or attempted to escape, it couldn’t break free.
“Even in death, that foul temper of yours hasn’t changed.” Emperor One scoffed, his hand emitting a faint black glow.
Gradually, as if sensing Emperor One’s presence, the fierce beast inside the box began to calm down.
The roaring subsided until silence returned.
It was only then that the still-shaken Xu Ke and Li Fan got a clear view of the box’s contents.
Inside was the severed head of a fierce beast, eyes wide open and filled with hatred.
Its surface was covered in cracks, like shattered porcelain, etched with battle scars.
At the wound on the head, the flesh seemed to writhe, as though the beast hadn’t yet fully died.
Seeing what Senior Brother Lu Ya had entrusted him to transport to the Nanming Beast Mountain, Xu Ke turned pale with fright.
He hastily waved his hands in defense, exclaiming, “I didn’t do it!”
The child Emperor One was stunned for a moment, then broke into a chuckle.
“Relax, even if you claimed to have killed it, no one in the world would believe you.”
“The Lord of Demon Beasts, known as the unrivaled ‘Emperor II of Wrath’…”
“There aren’t many who could kill him. You’re certainly not among them.”
Emperor One’s face showed no grief or rage, merely offering a faint explanation as he continued to scrutinize the head of [Emperor II of Wrath], as if searching for clues.
“Emperor II of Wrath?” Though relieved of suspicion, Xu Ke was even more alarmed.
Swallowing hard, he muttered, “If he’s number two, then doesn’t that make him stronger than Grandpa San-(Third)?”
“How did he end up like this…”
Xu Ke couldn’t help glancing at the head in the box, asking the question with difficulty.
Li Fan was similarly shaken.
From Emperor Yi’s words, it seemed that this ‘Emperor II of Wrath’ was likely the strongest among the demon beasts, second only to Emperor One.
In human cultivation terms, he would probably be on par with someone at the Longevity Realm.
And now, he had been decapitated…
Who could have done this?
Considering that the box came from Lu Ya of the Beast-Taming Sect, and though Lu Ya himself didn’t possess the power to accomplish such a feat, he knew someone who could.
Mr. Bai.
In an instant, an unparalleled figure flashed in Li Fan’s mind.
Could it be him?
Li Fan and Xu Ke exchanged a glance, seemingly thinking the same thing.
While the two of them pieced together the perpetrator, Emperor One, too, seemed to discover something in the wounds on the head.
“A skilled warrior dies in battle.”
“I warned you many times, yet you refused to listen. Now you suffer this fate, brought upon yourself.”
Emperor One’s expression was stern, his voice cold as ice.
From within the severed head of ‘Emperor II of Wrath’, a faint, angry roar seemed to echo in defiance.
“It’s good you returned.”
Emperor One murmured mysteriously.
Then something happened that sent chills down Xu Ke’s spine.
Emperor One placed his hand on the severed head of Emperor II of Wrath. His small, white hand began to swell and distort, expanding in strange ways.
Chunks of black, mud-like flesh oozed from his hand, covering and engulfing the beast’s head.
Instinctively, Xu Ke pulled Li Fan back several steps.
They distanced themselves from the seemingly innocent child Emperor One.
Within just a few breaths, the undulating black mass retracted.
Emperor One returned to his innocent childlike form.
The head of ‘Emperor II of Wrath’ was now gone.
“Thank you for bringing this fool back.”
“I won’t let him go again for a few tens of thousands of years.”
Emperor One said seriously.
Xu Ke scratched his head, at a loss for words.
“I also understand Emperor III’s intentions…”
Emperor One glanced at Xu Ke with a faint smile.
Instead of reproach, he simply continued.
His belly suddenly swelled, distending until it was several times larger than his childlike body, grotesquely so.
Inside, something seemed to be forming, shifting restlessly within him.
With a tearing sound, a round creature emerged from his body.
“Take this little one back and give it to Lu Ya.”
“He’ll know what to do.”
Back in his childlike form, Emperor One looked at Xu Ke, pausing a moment before speaking again.
“This is your reward for delivering Emperor II of Wrath.”
“Additionally, I have something else to give you.”