As Jiang Ye's words fell, the Spiritual Artifact was enveloped in a heavy, deathly silence.
Countless Prodigies, Dao Lineage Successors, and Sect Saintesses all paled in horror.
"The Bloodthirsty Demon Emperor's successor is on this ship?!"
"Is this that ancient Demonic Path giant? The one who committed monstrous blood crimes?"
"How is that possible?! Wasn't he already killed?"
In an instant, the once peaceful Spiritual Artifact became as if facing a formidable enemy.
The shock in everyone's hearts was undeniable; some secretly activated their Treasure Artifacts, while others quietly retreated, all vigilantly observing their surroundings.
Meanwhile, the boatman Shen Lian, standing with his head bowed at the stern, his face suddenly changed, becoming so dark it seemed to drip water, and cold sweat streamed down his face.
His heart violently shuddered, his mind struck as if by a thunderbolt.
How could this be?
How could Jiang Ye track him here?
Shen Lian had thought his infiltration was flawless.
Killing and taking clothes, changing his appearance, even deliberately avoiding the Spiritual Artifact's formation to prevent spiritual sense locking.
Even the Bloodthirsty Demon Emperor's remnant soul had checked multiple times, confirming it was foolproof.
But now...
Jiang Ye had come personally, asserting that he was on the ship?
The Bloodthirsty Demon Emperor's remnant soul within him was also terrified, its roar echoing and exploding in his Sea of Consciousness like a demonic wail from the Nine Netherworlds: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"In ancient times, this Venerable One roamed the Myriad Domains of the Heavens, constantly pursued by the Righteous Path, and cultivated extremely advanced methods of concealment and stealth, never leaving behind any Qi traces..."
"After our Fusion, this Venerable One cleansed the Physical Body with a Great Emperor's secret method, severing Karma and destroying Qi. How could a mere Divine Son of the Jiang Clan detect it?"
Shen Lian's eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth: "It must be the Heavenly Divination Great Emperor. He left behind some form of divination technique during his battle with you. Even before the Dark Ages, he was a leader among Great Emperors!"
He was certain in his heart.
It must be because Chu Nan died by his hand back then.
The Heavenly Divination Great Emperor, known as the foremost diviner in the Heavens, was now severely wounded and likely unable to act personally.
So he revealed his whereabouts to the Jiang Clan.
Just as his thoughts surged.
In mid-air above the Spiritual Artifact, a golden radiance suddenly exploded, as sacred as the midday sun.
Jiang Ye, with golden hair cascading over his shoulders, a phantom divine sun on his back, his Radiant God King Body erupted with a phenomenon, his Qi vast and mighty, surrounded by the brilliance of the heavenly sun, with Immortal Qi swirling, and divine radiance enveloping the entire ship!
The scorching pressure descended like a celestial pillar, causing countless Prodigies' faces to change drastically.
His golden eyes, like lightning, swept over all beings.
When they fell upon Shen Lian, his gaze was like a piercing blade, without the slightest hesitation.
Even though Shen Lian had completely changed his appearance and concealed his Qi, he was still detected and locked onto by Jiang Ye in an instant!
He didn't even need the System's help.
"Shen Lian, we meet again." Jiang Ye's expression was relaxed, his tone indifferent: "You Demonic Path scoundrel, this time, don't even think about escaping!"
The next instant, Jiang Ye slowly extended his palm, and the immortal light on his body suddenly exploded!
He was enveloped in circulating Immortal Qi, amidst which golden patterns appeared on his skin, like the marks of the Great Dao inscribed upon heaven and earth—that was the natural phenomenon of the Eternal Immortal Body!
At the same time.
The Creation Saint Body within him vibrated, and vast Righteous Path Qi surged like a tide, subtly forming an image of a small heaven and earth, as if the world was just beginning, nurturing creation.
Innate immortal patterns rose, shimmering with golden light, like divine patterns from the heavens scattered upon the mortal realm!
As he extended his palm, a dark red, eerie shadow actually appeared in his palm, chilling and desolate, carrying an intense aura of slaughter and death!
That was Su Hongye's famous Divine Ability from years past, the Soul Slaughter Seal, re-enacted in his hands!
Immortal and demonic, light and dark, vast creation and murderous Evil Qi intertwined and fused, unleashing a power that contained both destruction and vitality in this single palm strike!
The blood-red palm print arrived through the air, carrying boundless evil might, as if suppressing myriad ancient demonic souls, tearing through the Void Realm, and violently smashing into Shen Lian's chest!
Bang!
Shen Lian was sent flying like a broken sack, crashing through the stern cabin of the Spiritual Artifact, his Qi and blood surging, spitting out fresh blood!
"You're already out of commission with just thirty percent of my strength?"
Jiang Ye's lips curved into a smile. If he had used his full power, without the Bloodthirsty Demon Emperor's interference, he probably would have just slapped him to death.
Additionally.
The Creation Saint Body also brought him a considerable boost in power, with quite good results.
The next moment.
A strange black and red Devilish Qi surged out from Shen Lian's body, unable to be completely suppressed.
The aura was sinister and icy, mixed with endless murderous Evil Qi.
His Qi was chaotic, his chest heaving violently, his robes had long been shattered, his skin cracked inch by inch, his flesh a bloody mess, and demonic patterns, like living things, writhed and crawled beneath his skin, with an ominous evil intent vaguely surging skyward.
"He's truly a Demonic Path Cultivator!"
"Indeed, he's an Evil Path remnant! The Bloodthirsty Devilish Qi... it's exactly the same as what was left by the marauding Cultivators in the Ancient Mountain Dao Domain!"
"Oh my god, he hid so well... He's been among us all this time!"
The Spiritual Artifact trembled, and everyone's faces turned pale with horror.
Countless gazes simultaneously shot towards Shen Lian, a mix of fear, apprehension, and anger.
Some female Cultivators turned deathly pale, retreating in panic.
Some Sect Successors summoned Spiritual Artifacts, circling them for defense.
Even bolder individuals leaped into the air, shouting curses in anger.
"Demonic Path successor, how dare you infiltrate the Spiritual Artifact, harboring malicious intentions!"
"Kill him!"
At this moment, Shen Lian staggered up from the shattered cabin wall, his robes on his chest completely torn, his Qi chaotic, but his eyes grew increasingly ferocious.
He forcibly suppressed the surging blood in his chest, but could not stop the wisps of demonic patterns oozing from his back, as if an ancient evil was writhing beneath his skin, ready to break free at any moment.
"Jiang Ye!"
"Why do you repeatedly oppose me? I have no grievances with you!"
Shen Lian's heart, however, was utterly terrified.
Now he had entered the King Sealing Realm, his entire Foundation tempered countless times with myriad spiritual evil blood. Logically, he should be as solid as a fortress, believing himself capable of confronting most Prodigies in the world.
Yet, he was sent flying by a single palm strike from Jiang Ye!
What shocked Shen Lian even more was that Jiang Ye had not yet reached adulthood, nor had he undergone his coming-of-age ceremony!
Jiang Ye approached step by step, with a tide of light behind him, divine radiance shimmering, and said coldly: "Evil demons and heretics, everyone has the right to kill them."
He glanced around, a faint smile on his lips: "Everyone, may I ask, among those present, who in ancient times did not have relatives die at the hands of demonic slaughter? Who is not irreconcilably opposed to the Evil Path?"
As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately ignited public outrage!
Zhao Pan, the Spiritual Artifact's steward, a True King Realm Cultivator, stepped forward with a solemn expression, respectfully bowing to Jiang Ye, his face full of flattery:
"The Divine Son is absolutely right! This scoundrel Shen Lian is indeed the evil demonic successor causing chaos in the Heavens, and he should be executed on the spot!"
"I heard that a few days ago, marauding Cultivators in the Ancient Mountain Dao Domain massacred a small town, devouring people's vital essence and absorbing their Origin cultivation, causing widespread panic throughout the domain. So it was you, you beast, who did it!"
"Everyone has the right to kill him!"
"Kill him!"
Everyone spoke out in condemnation, their angry shouts deafening, like a tidal wave crashing down on Shen Lian.
Shen Lian trembled all over, his face ashen, his teeth grinding audibly, then he suddenly roared skyward: "You hypocritical fools, what do you understand?!"
"I, Shen Lian... was also forced into this!"
"If not for my exceptional talent with no Sect to enter, if not for you high and mighty hypocrites suppressing me at every turn, how would I have fallen into the Demonic Path?!"
"On the path of cultivation, it's like sailing against the current! You forced me! Forced me to become a demon!"