The Grey Rat's Demon Path

If he could just withstand this one strike, the other Demon Kings and Puppets would arrive to support him, and they would surely be able to entangle Ruyi True Monarch.

When that time came, the Purple Lightning Demon Emperor would make his move, and this Nascent Soul True Monarch would undoubtedly die!

Flames burned fiercely in the Golden-Feathered Black Flame Bird’s eyes.

’With my foundation, and the help of a Quasi-Fourth Tier Puppet, blocking a single strike from an Early-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator won’t be hard at all!’

’If I pull this off, I’ll have earned the greatest merit in this battle, second only to the Demon Emperor himself!’

’Then, the Demon Emperor’s reward... that Nascent Soul Formation Opportunity...’

’This is bad!’

Before the Golden-Feathered Black Flame Bird could even feel a sliver of joy, his expression changed drastically.

BOOM!

A massive shockwave of sound erupted.

The sheer force of the impact shattered the surrounding ancient trees, sending them flying.

"He’s self-detonating his Magical Treasure!"

Ruyi True Monarch had actually detonated a Top-Grade Magical Treasure, blasting a path for himself.

SWOOSH!

Empowered by a Secret Technique, Ruyi True Monarch’s speed was incredible.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Pillars of light from the Array descended upon him, but their power wasn’t enough to pose a real threat.

’I’m out!’

Ruyi True Monarch was ecstatic.

’While this Secret Technique is active, my speed is so fast that even a Mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator would struggle to catch me.’

’Now that I’ve broken free, I’m safe until the technique wears off!’

’Next, all I need to do is find a safe place, and then...’

WHOOSH!

BOOM!

Ruyi True Monarch hadn’t even had a moment to relish his escape when a Magical Treasure shot directly at him.

Then, in a mimicry of his own tactic, it detonated right in front of him.

The Magical Treasure’s Grade was far inferior to his own Top-Grade one, but the blast still managed to stall Ruyi True Monarch for a crucial moment.

In that instant, a purple light, crackling with bolts of Thunderbolt, hurtled toward him.

’This is...!’

Ruyi True Monarch’s eyes narrowed.

’The Unparalleled Demon King!’

’How is this possible!?’

Having already self-detonated both of his Top-Grade Magical Treasures, all he could do was send an Upper-Grade Magical Treasure to defend himself!

Xu Chang’an had been using a Concealing Breath technique the entire time. In his haste to escape, Ruyi True Monarch hadn’t noticed him.

The surprise attack was devastatingly effective.

VMMMM!

The Magical Treasure’s spiritual light flared.

The giant claw blasted right through the Magical Treasure and slammed into Ruyi True Monarch.

THWACK!

Although he was protected by a barrier of Magical Power, the blow still left Ruyi True Monarch gravely wounded.

’Damn it!’

Ruyi True Monarch seethed with rage.

’If I hadn’t already used all my trump cards and detonated my Magical Treasures, I would never have ended up in such a pathetic state!’

’But alas...’

’Reality is what it is. There are no ’what ifs’!’

The purple light flared again as a figure lunged forward.

BOOM!

Another strike from the claw.

In his haste, Ruyi True Monarch activated a Tier Four Talisman.

It barely managed to block the attack.

But...

...the attack didn’t just come from the claws, but also from a set of sharp fangs!

CRUNCH!

The fangs bit him clean in two.

The Nascent Soul within Ruyi True Monarch’s body shot out, attempting to flee.

But Xu Chang’an was prepared; he wouldn’t let it escape so easily.

SWOOSH!

With a flash of purple light, Ruyi True Monarch... was dead.

"I..."

Before his death, Ruyi True Monarch was filled with bitter resentment.

’I was so close to Breaking Realm, so why...?!’

He hadn’t died at the hands of the allied Nascent Soul True Monarchs, only to perish here!

Two thousand three hundred years of cultivation, all gone in an instant, his life forfeit!

’I still missed my chance...’

Watching Ruyi True Monarch perish, Xu Chang’an sighed.

He had wanted to use a Soul-Searching Secret Technique on him to find out who had the Great Sun Essence, but this Nascent Soul Cultivator was too decisive.

He actually chose to detonate his Magical Treasures!

The ensuing battle forced Xu Chang’an to go all out.

The slightest hesitation would have allowed him to escape.

Under the circumstances, it was impossible to capture him alive to use the Soul-Searching Secret Technique.

’Time to go.’

News of this incident had undoubtedly spread, and he still didn’t know who had the Great Sun Essence. Lingering here was not a wise move.

With a burst of Demon Power, Xu Chang’an collected the man’s Storage Bag and Magical Treasure.

Time was short; he had to leave quickly.

However, as he opened Ruyi True Monarch’s Storage Bag and swept his Demon Sense across its contents, he froze.

"This is..."

Inside the Storage Bag, a dancing Flame flickered with an indescribable light. Within the Flame was a pearl that shone like a miniature Great Sun.

’The Great Sun Essence!’

’How can this be!?’

Xu Chang’an was instantly overcome with ecstatic joy.

What an incredible twist of fate!

He never would have imagined such an outcome.

He had been ready to give up on his plan, but the Great Sun Essence had been delivered right into his hands in the most unexpected way.

’In that case...’

A gleam flickered in Xu Chang’an’s eyes.

"This Emperor will return shortly!"

Paying no mind to the other Demon Kings, Xu Chang’an left them with that single sentence and departed.

"The Demon Emperor!?"

The Demon Kings on the scene stared in the direction Xu Chang’an had gone.

One Demon King eyed Ruyi True Monarch’s mangled corpse, and, unable to restrain himself, lunged for it.

It was a treasure trove of nourishment!

The other Demon Kings immediately followed suit, eager to claim a piece for themselves.

The scene descended into chaos.

Xu Chang’an, of course, paid it no mind.

By now, he had already assumed his human form and was sitting cross-legged in the mountains not far from the Secret Realm.

The Great Sun Essence.

He gazed at the dancing Flame before him, his eyes fixed on the pearl of the Great Sun within.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Xu Chang’an swallowed it whole.

BOOM!

An incomparably violent Energy surged through Xu Chang’an’s entire body.

It wasn’t just violent; it was accompanied by an indescribable, searing heat.

Even with his powerful physique, Xu Chang’an found it difficult to withstand.

An ordinary Human Race Cultivator would have to process the Great Sun Essence multiple times and consume it with the aid of special elixirs.

This was because the Energy of the Great Sun Essence was so violent and scorching that even a Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Realm would struggle to endure it.

The violent, scorching Energy continued to surge.

Just as Xu Chang’an felt he was about to be overwhelmed, the violent, scorching Energy suddenly transformed into streams of warmth.