Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

After Ye Chen killed the Cyan-faced Demon Monarch, the only thing left at the scene was a large, red lantern.

The lantern lay on the ground, casting a faint red glow. It exuded a bizarre aura under the night sky.

Ye Chen sorted through his spoils. Just like the other two demonic cultivators, the Three-Corpse Reverend and the Heart-Stealing Old Fiend, the Cyan-faced Demon Monarch's Storage Ring mostly contained techniques related to demonic cultivation and held nothing of real value.

As for Spirit Stones… Ye Chen now possessed a Spiritual Spring, so low-grade Spirit Stones were nothing more than a number to him. There was no need to pay them much mind.

The only thing that caught Ye Chen's interest was the lantern before him.

Ye Chen picked the lantern up off the ground. Although a heavy rain had just passed and the mountain path was a muddy mess, the lantern was as clean as new, completely untouched by dust or dirt.

A dark red light swirled faintly across its surface. As the night wind blew, the lantern swayed, and Ye Chen could vaguely hear mournful, wailing shrieks coming from within, sending a shiver down his spine.

Ye Chen's heart tightened. He stared at the lantern in his hand, his expression growing solemn.

Clearly, this was no ordinary lantern. He feared it was a powerful and unusual treasure related to the demonic path.

Ye Chen let his Spiritual Power spread toward the lantern, intending to refine the strange treasure.

However, an incredibly strong Spiritual Brand seemed to be inscribed upon it. After trying for a moment, Ye Chen realized he wouldn't make any progress quickly, so he gave up the idea and put the lantern away.

When Ye Chen returned to the temple, he was met with gazes full of awe and reverence.

"Young friend, your strength and astonishing talent are something I have never witnessed in my entire life!"

"I misjudged you earlier and have caused you much offense. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me!"

Facing a being who could so effortlessly slay the Cyan-faced Demon Monarch, Yu Xiaoran dared not show the slightest disrespect.

Seeing Ye Chen walk in, he hurried to greet him, adopting the most humble posture and an exceedingly deferential tone.

"What are you waiting for? Get over here and apologize with me!"

Yu Xiaoran turned to the disciples behind him, his expression stern.

Upon hearing this, the disciples' expressions faltered.

The two young men, in particular, seemed unable to swallow their pride.

But seeing Yu Xiaoran's severe expression, they shuffled forward with their heads down. Blushing, they stammered at Ye Chen, "S-Sorry!"

"It's fine. You don't have to worry about it," Ye Chen said, shaking his head.

He had never taken the matter to heart in the first place.

They were all just strangers who had met by chance. After sunrise, they would go their separate ways, likely never to meet again in their entire lives.

Ye Chen wasn't a petty person. It was just a trivial misunderstanding, not worth stooping to their level over.

"Regardless, you are our savior for subjugating the demon," Yu Xiaoran insisted.

"To repay you for saving our lives, we would be honored to treat you in Kunlun City, at the foot of Kunlun Mountain. What do you think, young friend?"

Yu Xiaoran said with a smile.

"Kunlun City?"

Ye Chen paused.

He glanced at Song Yubing. A trace of fatigue showed on her fair face; clearly, her prolonged battle against Chen Lie had taken a heavy toll, and she had yet to fully recover.

"That could work," Ye Chen said, nodding in agreement.

"Excellent!" A look of delight appeared on Yu Xiaoran's face.

He had been worried that Ye Chen would refuse his kind offer.

After all, offending a figure who could slay a cultivator at the Peak of the Primordial Mansion Realm placed immense pressure on him.

Even though he had been restrained in his own words and actions, not wanting to offend Ye Chen, his young disciples were hot-headed and couldn't control their tempers.

If Ye Chen were to hold a grudge over their previous behavior, the Songyin Sword Mansion could suffer a fatal blow at any moment.

At a time like this, it was imperative to get on good terms with him.

As an Elder of the Songyin Sword Mansion, Yu Xiaoran had many things to consider.

He had no way of knowing that Ye Chen hadn't taken the matter to heart at all, and even if he did, he likely would have acted the same way.

This was the importance of strength in the Cultivation Realm.

As long as you displayed sufficient power, no matter where you were or who you faced, everyone would treat you with politeness and respect!

Seeing this, Song Yubing turned to Ye Chen with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Brother Ye. I'm delaying our journey."

Her perception was sharp.

She knew that if she hadn't exhausted so much energy in the battle, a person like Ye Chen would have headed straight for Kunlun Mountain instead of making a special trip to the city to rest.

Ye Chen shook his head. "You're overthinking it. I want to go to Kunlun City to see if I can dig up some information on the Black Tiger Gang and the Hall of Yama."

The Cyan-faced Demon Monarch was the third demonic cultivator Ye Chen had encountered on his journey.

The recent surge in activity from demonic cultivators had made him suspicious.

Based on the actions of the Heart-Stealing Old Fiend and the Three-Corpse Reverend, they had helped the Lei family in order to obtain the Kunlun Key from the Liu family and open the Kunlun Mountain secret realm.

'What exactly is inside the Kunlun Mountain secret realm?'

'Why is it so attractive to demonic cultivators?'

Ye Chen suspected that once the secret realm opened, he might encounter that powerful demonic cultivator who had reached the Divinity Transformation Realm—the Celestial Slaughter Nether Venerable, who had invested a portion of his power in the Cyan-faced Demon Monarch!

Besides the demonic cultivators, there was also the Black Tiger Gang.

Song Yubing's failure to capture Chen Lie had left a dangerous loose end.

Even Ye Chen hadn't expected that.

He had assumed that with Song Yubing's talent and foundation, defeating another Cultivator of the same realm would be no problem.

But as an Elder of the Black Tiger Gang, Chen Lie's cultivation and trump cards were not to be underestimated, and he ultimately managed to escape.

This trip into the city would also be a good opportunity to keep an eye out for news of Chen Lie.

Although the rain outside had stopped, it was the middle of the night, so no one had any intention of leaving. They all decided to wait together until dawn.

During this time, the two groups talked, and their relationship grew more familiar.

Ye Chen learned that in the group from the Songyin Sword Mansion, besides Elder Yu Xiaoran, the others were his disciples.

The young man in the blue shirt was named Lin Heng, and the one in the white shirt was Qu Yuanfei.

The only woman in their group, whom the two young men called Second Senior Sister, was named Lu Fanyan.

In addition to them, a pair of young sisters named Chuxue and Chuyu also studied under Yu Xiaoran.

Finally, there was their First Senior Brother, Ji Yuanshan, who was also Yu Xiaoran's most talented and highly cultivated disciple.

As for their current situation, Yu Xiaoran's face was etched with worry.