C83 Silverdeer Secret Realm
The great demons and human warriors felt the oppressive force on their bodies vanish, leaving their gazes brimming with bewilderment. Many among them had resigned themselves to a grim fate, believing they were destined to perish under the crushing weight of that terrifying authority, eventually succumbing to exhaustion and starvation. Yet, to everyone's surprise, that overwhelming presence dissipated in a mere two days.
Zhou Guorong rose to his feet, and not far from him, three Demon Kings did likewise. They exchanged looks, each catching a glimpse of the fleeting terror in the others' eyes. The ordeal they had endured over those two days would be etched in their memories forever. Beneath that imposing force, they felt as though they stood before the very essence of creation, an almighty sovereign, the eternal will of the universe itself. Despite their status as War God Demon King Level beings, they felt utterly insignificant in the face of such a will, reduced to nothingness.
Had that formidable dignity not lifted, death would have been their only escape. They had even steeled themselves for that inevitable end. But who could have predicted the turn of events that unfolded?
"Do we continue the fight?" The naive minotaur blurted out, prompting even Zhou Guorong to nearly roll his eyes in frustration. Fight? What was there left to fight for? They had sought the secret realm, but now they couldn't withstand even a fraction of its might. To still lust after the secret realm was ludicrous.
Both Zhou Guorong and the Demon Kings recognized that the secret realm was beyond their reach. They were certain that even the legendary figures among humans and the Heaven-defying Demon Kings from the Burial Area would meet the same fate against the secret realm. The secret realm was out of the question.
With the secret realm no longer an option, there was nothing left to fight for. "Zhou Guorong, we won't forget what happened today!" "We will have our revenge in due time!" The enchanting lady declared, her smile masking the icy chill in her eyes.
Zhou Guorong responded with a scornful chuckle, his attention still fixed on the coffin. Despite the circumstances, he was unwilling to abandon his quest. He pondered whether there might be some unconventional method to gain insight into the secret realm, since conventional approaches were futile.
Lost in thought, the sky suddenly erupted with countless dazzling colors. They swirled through the void, eventually settling on the surface of the coffin, enveloping it in a radiant, multicolored aura.
Witnessing this stunning spectacle, Zhou Guorong's mouth twitched involuntarily. He had been pondering if there was a way to peer inside, but now...
Zhou Guorong could distinctly sense a will of rejection emanating from the brilliant rays. As long as they stayed out of the light, they would remain unaffected. But to step into it...
Their past experiences would dictate their future!
Without a second thought, Zhou Guorong turned and issued a command. The operational ships of the Third Fleet swiftly ascended, leaving the area.
The three Demon Kings, witnessing the scene, chose not to linger either. They understood the futility of staying. Despite the heavy toll on the Third Fleet, their own losses were even more substantial. The Third Fleet could be rebuilt with enough funds, but for the Demon Clan, the situation was different.
With grim expressions, the three Demon Kings led the surviving Great Demons away from the sorrowful site.
"Chu Yi, that light is truly mesmerizing..."
The coffin remained suspended in the void, encircled by countless indescribable hues, resplendent and vibrant.
Chu Yi's expression was somber. Lee Zi might not fully grasp the situation, but Chu Yi was acutely aware. The light in the void was unmistakably barring his entry. It had even invoked the law to forbid any access.
How merciless!
"Alright, once these Demonic Beasts have departed, we can make our exit."
Chu Yi knew better than to reveal himself; to do so would likely mean instant death. Despite the fall of many top-tier demons, the remaining ones posed a formidable threat. Chu Yi had many tricks up his sleeve and had reaped numerous benefits in the secret realm, yet he believed there was a vast gulf between his power and that of these fearsome beings.
The demon race had suffered devastating losses this time, and their conflict with humanity had escalated to a point of no return. They would seize any opportunity to eliminate humans, sparing not even a harmless child. Chu Yi was determined not to die needlessly. His priority was safety.
Employing the Aura Concealment Technique, he and Lee Zi took refuge in the nearby woods. Ideally, they would have remained safe until the danger passed. The demons wouldn't linger outside indefinitely and were bound to depart before long. The only thing of significance here was the untouchable black coffin secret realm, which might even prompt the local demons to vacate the area. All seemed well.
Yet, in an instant, Chu Yi's composure shattered as three figures abruptly appeared. Had he not witnessed what had transpired earlier, he might not have been as concerned. But now, he recognized them: the three Demon Kings, the very ones who accompanied the enchanting woman.
Chu Yi had faith that his Breath Concealment Technique could deceive the average peak Demon King, but facing a Demon King was a different matter entirely. The difference between a Demon King and a peak Demon King might appear slight, but in essence, they represented entirely distinct life forms. Chu Yi was on edge, dreading that even the slightest noise might betray their presence. Lee Zi was equally tense, fully aware of the dire consequences should they be discovered.
"What is this, Wang?" the seductive woman inquired, gazing at the winged Demon King with a puzzled expression.
Wang remained silent, his eyes reflecting profound depths. Among them, he had lived the longest, and with age came wisdom in the demon ranks. After a long pause, Wang finally shook his head, "I'm not sure."
"However, this artifact, though unique in appearance, feels somewhat reminiscent of the secret realm in Silverdeer," he mused.
The other two Demon Kings turned to him sharply. "Silverdeer?!"
Wang nodded gravely. These two had only recently ascended to Demon King status and had not experienced the initial opening of the secret realm in Silverdeer. Wang, on the other hand, was different. He had already been a true Demon King when that secret realm was unveiled, albeit a newly advanced one, but that had granted him the privilege to be involved in many significant events.
When the secret realm in Silverdeer was unveiled, he had been among those vying for access.
Regrettably, he never managed to enter the secret realm.
"Demon King, what's so enchanting about Silverdeer's secret realm?"
"Why are the Demon Kings who are privy to it so tight-lipped, refusing to reveal even the slightest detail?"
Indeed, there is a secret realm in Silverdeer, reputed to be the most enigmatic on the planet.
Yet, the specifics of this secret realm, its contents, and its true nature remain unknown to nearly everyone.
Only those top-tier humans who had once competed for entry and a handful of unparalleled Demon Kings had any knowledge of it.
Even within the Life Restricted Area of Silverdeer, those aware of the actual circumstances of the secret realm were few and far between.
The Demon King gazed at the two Demon Kings and ultimately shook his head softly.
"What's the matter, even you, Demon King, are afraid to speak of it?"
Many speculated that the secret realm harbored an immense secret, but the exact nature of it was unknown.
The Demon King looked at the two Demon Kings with a hint of scorn in his eyes.
"Do you really think I'm afraid to speak?"
Neither of them spoke, but their eyes conveyed their thoughts clearly.
The Demon King exhaled deeply: "All I saw was the entrance to the secret realm. As for what lies within..."
He lifted his gaze to the black coffin suspended in the void: "No one knows..."
"Not even the peerless Demon Kings of Silverdeer have any clue about what truly lies within the secret realm."
"That place..."
The Demon King pointed towards the infinite expanse of the sky.
"It's just like this place..."
Just like this?
The two Demon Kings paused, perplexed. Was the secret realm in Silverdeer also a black coffin?
But they quickly grasped the meaning.
The phrase 'just like this' didn't imply that the secret realm in Silverdeer was also in the shape of a coffin.
Rather, it meant that the situation there was identical to this one—no creature could enter.
"Does that mean all the efforts in Silverdeer over the years have been in vain?"
The woman's expression turned curious.
The Demon King's smile grew more sardonic, "What else?"
Indeed...
In that moment, it seemed the two Demon Kings had come to a realization.
If that weren't the case, Silverdeer would have no reason to maintain such a low profile.
Centuries have passed, and throughout this time, Silverdeer has remained incredibly discreet since acquiring the secret realm.
Regardless of the wars with humans, not a single Demonic Beast has ever emerged from Silverdeer.
Initially, the Demon Kings believed this was because Silverdeer had gained access to the secret realm, thinking they had ascended beyond their level and disdained to associate with them, aiming to rise above all.
But the truth is, Silverdeer hasn't changed; their power may still be the strongest among Earth's many forbidden zones, yet they don't stand out as significantly more powerful than the others.
"If Silverdeer could truly unlock the secret and gain entry to the secret realm, do you think they would continue to be so unassuming?"
Indeed, they have witnessed the horrors of the secret realm. If they could freely enter such a place, then...
Hundreds of years would be sufficient for both Demon Kings and ordinary Demonic Beasts to undergo a fearsome evolution.
And a force as mighty as Silverdeer would certainly not remain tranquil.
Remember, before the human race compelled the Demon Clan to transform into a forbidden zone, Silverdeer was the leading power among the seven top-tier Demon Clan forces. Back then, Silverdeer's arrogance was unmatched, virtually disregarding all others.
If their strength were truly formidable, they would not have stayed silent for centuries.
"Alright, there's nothing more to see here."
"The humans are likely aware of the situation. At most, they'll send someone to keep watch, but they won't station anyone here."
"As for us..."
The Demon King stopped there, simply turning to say, "If you wish, then claim it."
"I'm sure the humans won't interfere."