Peach Garden Grotto-heaven.
Jiang Ye arrived here directly. Since he couldn't discern the Origin of the Qian Ling Plate, he took it out for Su Qingmeng to examine.
As expected of a figure from before the Dark Ages, Su Qingmeng recognized the item's Origin almost at a glance.
She pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"This is likely a Super Immortal Artifact, or even an Innate-Grade treasure..."
"It's a sub-artifact, forged by dividing and melting a portion of its power, and its grade is only Quasi-Emperor Weapon. Such a feat could only be accomplished by a Great Emperor. Judging by its aura..."
"Isn't this the Qiankun Sky Plate that Great Emperor Tianji Acquired before the Dark Ages?"
"If I'm not mistaken, the Qiankun Sky Plate must have suffered significant damage..."
"This Qian Ling Plate must have been extracted and refined using the damaged Origin of the Qiankun Sky Plate. The fact that it appeared on Chu Nan means he intends to repair and complete the Qiankun Sky Plate through some secret method."
Jiang Ye's expression changed slightly upon hearing this; its Origin was indeed quite significant.
Su Qingmeng also showed surprise. She possessed an Innate-Grade treasure herself, but that was purely due to good Luck, related to the dimensional rift back then.
Otherwise, with her Quasi-Emperor Cultivation, she absolutely could not have obtained it.
Ordinary Cultivators were unaware of the terror of Innate-Grade treasures, but she knew it very well.
Throughout the Myriad Domains of the Heavens, and even since the birth of the endless Universe, the number of Innate-Grade treasures that had appeared did not exceed twenty.
Countless thoughts flashed through Jiang Ye's mind, and he suddenly realized:
"It seems that when Mother suppressed and killed that Old Dog Gu Xinde a few days ago, she must have also searched his Soul, thereby learning some details about this treasure?"
"But it seems that this Old Dog Tianji hasn't taken them as disciples; he's merely exploiting and oppressing them. These people all carry his Legacy, having later cultivated the Heavenly Eye..."
"Is he using the Luck of the Protagonist of Destiny to repair an Innate-Grade treasure?"
Jiang Ye's thoughts continued to expand.
"Aunt Meng... Sister, can you use this Qian Ling Plate to investigate Great Emperor Tianji?"
"No, it's clearly been tampered with."
"Ye'er, this Qian Ling Plate shouldn't be the only sub-artifact that was divided, right?"
"There's at least one more."
Su Qingmeng's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her heart already stirring.
She pondered for a moment, then looked at Jiang Ye and said seriously:
"I heard that the Qiankun Sky Plate has various mysterious functions, such as evolving the heavens and earth, returning treasures to their Origin, attacking and suppressing... and even subtly controlling the power of space and time. It will be of great help to you when you become an Emperor!"
"We must find a way to seize it!"
"We need to get that bad woman to act and kill Old Dog Tianji!"
"Also, Sister can use an Innate-Grade supreme treasure to help your mother interfere with Old Dog Tianji."
After all, Great Emperor Tianji was also an old-school Great Emperor.
Even if his combat power was less than one-tenth of its peak, and no matter how severe his Divine Soul contamination, he was absolutely not someone Su Qingmeng, with her Quasi-Emperor Cultivation, could contend with.
If the highest combat power of a Quasi-Emperor was 99, then the worst combat power of a Great Emperor was a thousand.
The chasm was immense.
Jiang Ye had long since set his mind on it and naturally wanted to seize it by all means necessary.
"Don't worry, Sister Meng, my mother has already made arrangements. She's just waiting for Old Dog Tianji's true body to appear!"
...Cloud Top Academy.
At the foot of the mountain.
Deep within a dark grotto.
A stooped, red-haired young man, limping, stumbled forward across a barren, decaying flat ground.
This person was Shen Lian.
His body was covered in wounds, skin torn and flesh exposed, blood and mud congealed together, revealing glimpses of pale white bones.
Tearing pain constantly shot through his lower body.
He had already taken several Scarlet Blood Pills.
Although the bleeding was barely stopped, and his condition had improved slightly compared to his previous miserable state, he was still in a wretched state, resembling a withered ghost.
Shen Lian's face was incredibly swollen, showing no expression, only enduring the pain and moving forward, step by step, to the center of the crimson, foul-smelling platform.
"Jiang Ye, you forced me to do this!"
"You made me realize that if someone of my status doesn't enter the Demonic Path and honestly walks the Righteous Path, I can only be trampled underfoot by high-and-mighty Immortal Clan nobles like you, oppressed at will, and never rise up!"
"Only by becoming a Devil!"
"Only by becoming a Devil! Will I have even a sliver of a chance to contend with you!"
"This time, I will definitely reclaim everything I've lost!"
"And that slut Guan Yunyao, who sold herself for a single fruit! I will make your life worse than death, and you will become my concubine! My slave!"
"And Jiang Ye, you use your power to bully others. Sooner or later, I will make sure you die a terrible death! I will destroy the Everlasting Immortal Clan Jiang Family that you rely on!"
Shen Lian was like a madman at this moment, his eyes twisted with frenzy, muttering incessantly.
Since he embarked on the path of Cultivation,
He had always been cautious, constantly restraining the devil within, repeatedly warning himself not to Cultivate this forbidden secret method.
The Blood Devil Devouring Art.
Shen Lian had accidentally obtained it in a Secret Realm in his early years.
He knew that this was the Legacy left by the Bloodthirsty Demon Emperor, who had once struck fear into the hearts of people in ancient times, and whom everyone sought to destroy.
Up to this point,
He had only used this method to temper his Physical Body.
He usually used the blood of Spirit Beasts, although he had also devoured the essence and Origin of some Cultivators.
But he had never engaged in widespread slaughter, as this was an act of hostility against the entire Myriad Domains of the Heavens.
Once one truly fell into the Demonic Path, there was no turning back.
Moreover, Shen Lian did not fully trust this Legacy.
Besides the Cultivation Technique, this Legacy also contained a drop of the Bloodthirsty Demon Emperor's true essence blood. Only by devouring and refining this drop of essence blood could the Blood Devil Devouring Art be truly activated and unleash its most terrifying power.
However,
The Bloodthirsty Demon Emperor of ancient times possessed horrifying Rebirth abilities, and his temperament was even more tyrannical and cruel.
Who could know if there were traps hidden within?
He had originally planned to proceed slowly, finding ways to eliminate the risks.
And to keep this Legacy as a fallback.
But Shen Lian had no choice at this moment.
"What a pity! If only I had more time, I would have found a way to accept this Legacy without any risks..."
"Damn you, Jiang Ye, it's all because of you!"
Shen Lian's bloodshot eyes were filled with the shadow left by that man.
Besides the intertwining of hatred and rage, there was also a deep trace of fear.
His testicles were crushed.
All his bones were broken.
His Cultivation was also on the verge of plummeting.
If he didn't absorb the essence blood and transform now, he would soon become a cripple, unable to do anything.
He had never hated anyone so much.
"If I can survive this time, I will definitely devour your Eternal Immortal Body and make it my own! I will turn you from an Immortal-level talent into a stray dog in the mud!"
"At that time, let's see how you can still act so high and mighty!"
Shen Lian's eyes revealed endless greed and cruelty. He gazed at the blood-glowing Bloodthirsty Formation before him, took a deep breath, and activated the last of the Spiritual Qi in his body.
Buzz—
The blood formation roared into operation.
Eerie, bloody runes slithered like venomous snakes, and crimson Qi constantly surged within the formation.
A drop of dark red essence blood, containing astonishing pressure, slowly emerged, suspended in mid-air, emitting terrifying fluctuations that shook the Soul.
Shen Lian grinned ferociously. He took a step without hesitation.
With a wave of his hand, he swallowed that drop of Bloodthirsty essence blood into his abdomen!