C127 The Great Demon Remains

The Fallen Moon Forbidden Area has been shrouded in legends since time immemorial. Tales speak of otherworldly treasures that bind malevolent spirits and ancient monoliths etched with the profound truths of the cosmos. Those who fully grasp these truths can shatter the constraints of their spiritual journey.

For millennia, this enigmatic land has drawn innumerable seekers from across the realms. Not just from the Profound Sky Continent, but also the esteemed cultivators of the Heavenly Source and Quietus Continents, spanning the Soul Wandering, Yang God, and Unrestrained Stages, have ventured here. Each has unearthed varying degrees of enlightenment and power.

Some have transcended their limits, mastering arcane sword spells that crystallize the soul. Others have stumbled upon relics of venerable sages and esoteric teachings hidden in the land's depths. Yuan Lianyao is among those who have reaped the benefits of this place.

Now, as a prismatic, luminous Moon Fragment levitated from the pit's depths, a wave of excitement surged among the onlookers. Bathed in the radiant moonlight, the colossal prism stone continued its gentle rotation. The moon's effulgent rays danced through the stone like a silvery rainbow, hinting at a hollow core within.

Those fixated on the stone experienced an inexplicable serenity, a calming of the mind and soul. As the encompassing fog cleared, the crowd was drawn irresistibly toward the levitating monolith. Yu Yuan made no move to intervene this time.

The surviving challengers of the Forbidden Area Trial squinted at the boulder, fixated on the indistinct object within that radiated a dazzling spectrum of light, almost painfully bright to behold. A palpable, overwhelming force emanated from it in waves.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!" The heartbeats of all who gazed upon the object quickened, their blood roiling with anticipation.

"Aooo!" Zhan Tianxiang's sudden, bestial howl pierced the air. His muscles swelled, veins protruding, as his clothing burst into tatters. Those nearby recoiled, sensing the imminent release of an eerie and inexplicable demonic energy.

Instinctively, all eyes turned to him. Clad only in beast skin shorts, Zhan Tianxiang appeared as if drenched in molten gold, his form ablaze with resplendent light.

The tattoo of the golden giant elephant, seemingly etched with golden blood, came to life once again.

This time, however, the will of the Golden Elephant Ancient God did not make its presence known.

Yet, the rich Qi and blood that erupted from Zhan Tianxiang's body turned his eyes into orbs of gold, radiating a demonic brilliance.

"Chi!"

A dazzling column of golden Qi burst forth from Zhan Tianxiang's dantian.

"No way!"

Han Hui's face registered shock, "Zhan Tianxiang is clearly just in the late Yellow Court Stage. He hasn't broken through, his Middle Dantian..."

"He's just broken through. The Gate of Heavenly Mystery in his Middle Dantian, stimulated by that curious treasure, has unlocked the demonic power of the Golden Elephant Ancient God that was seared into his flesh and blood," Lee Yuchan's voice, cool and tinged with envy, chimed in at just the right moment. "That treasure embedded in the boulder must be fated for Zhan Tianxiang, likely the legacy of a formidable demon."

"He's just broken through? To the Profound Break Stage?" Su Yan staggered at the thought.

Zhan Tianxiang, not previously counted among the Empire's five new moons, was deemed a second echelon genius, a step behind them.

But now?

Before their very eyes, Zhan Tianxiang, their contemporary, had shattered the Yellow Court Stage's ceiling and ascended into the Profound Break Stage!

Could his effortless rise to the Profound Break Stage at such a young age signify that he had outstripped them?

The thought left a bitter taste in Su Yan's heart.

"Zhan Tianxiang! Be cautious!"

Yu Yuan's voice rang out, cautioning, "Touch that boulder only slightly with the essence of your Qi and blood. If anything feels amiss, withdraw immediately!"

Zhan Tianxiang nodded vigorously, too engrossed to reply verbally.

His face twisted fiercely, his eyes ablaze with golden light, he poured all his focus into the golden Qi pillar erupting from the Gate of Heavenly Mystery at his chest. He could feel the demonic Qi from his totemic tattoo surge out and merge into the golden pillar.

Within the golden column of Qi, one could discern the faint glimmer of golden specks.

Upon magnification, each speck revealed itself to be a Golden Elephant Ancient God, their forms varied: some squatting, some soaring into the sky, some bellowing across the wilderness, some lunging at foes, and others with the power to move mountains and part seas—diverse incarnations of the Golden Elephant Ancient Gods.

These ancient deities, each imprinted with the legacy of their kind, were encapsulated within the golden Qi column.

"Crack crack crack! Crack crack crack!"

As the golden Qi column made contact with the Moon Fragment emerging from the pit, it shattered instantly.

Chunks of rock plummeted to the pit's bottom, raining down like a meteor shower.

Once the dust had settled, the hidden treasure within was finally unveiled.

It was a gauntlet.

A golden gauntlet, intricately etched with enigmatic demonic patterns, radiating a raw, domineering, and unbridled presence.

Forged from gold metal, the gauntlet shimmered with an extraordinary demonic vitality pulsing within.

Yet, the instant the golden Qi column grazed the gauntlet, it vanished without a trace.

In the blink of an eye, the golden gauntlet adorned Zhan Tianxiang's right hand.

As he donned the gauntlet, a myriad of golden sparks erupted, flowing effortlessly into Zhan Tianxiang's core, infusing his very essence with their power.

An explosive and untamed demonic might burst forth from Zhan Tianxiang, startling even Lee Yuchan.

Meanwhile, the totem tattoo of the Golden Elephant Ancient God subtly faded away.

"I need to stabilize my realm!"

With a glance at Yu Yuan, Zhan Tianxiang vaulted forward, descending the stone steps like a golden Roc diving to the pit's depths.

"Do you recall the decayed skeleton of the colossal elephant?"

Yu Yuan addressed the crowd with a smile. "As you may have surmised, that golden gauntlet rightfully belonged to the direct descendant of the Golden Elephant Ancient God. Though the giant elephant perished, its battle gauntlet remained. It was drawn to Zhan Tianxiang, recognizing the kinship in his aura, and thus rose with the Moon Fragment from the depths below."

"The opportunity is Zhan Tianxiang's."

"Besides him, none of us could ever gain the golden gauntlet's acceptance."

It was clear to everyone, without further explanation, that the golden gauntlet would only unleash its power in the hands of Zhan Tianxiang.

"With Zhan Tianxiang, the Zhan family is bound to stand out in the future," Lee Yuchan conveyed to Lee Yu telepathically. "Like you, he reached the Profound Break Stage early and even earned the recognition of a mystical treasure at that time. The Zhan family has forged a profound link with the Golden Elephant Ancient God, who has remained in seclusion for years."

"The Golden Elephant Ancient God was once a Demon God of the Demon Palace before his fall. Despite his decline, he remains a significant figure within the Demon Palace. Being connected to the Golden Elephant Ancient God implies that the Zhan family is now intertwined with the Demon Palace of the Quietus Continent."

"And the Demon Palace ranks among the mightiest powers, alongside the Profound Sky Sect, the Primordial Yang Sect, the Sword Sect, and the Devil Palace."

Zhan Tianxiang's fortune impressed her, and given that the Zhan family hailed from the Silvermoon Empire, she, as the sister of the Empress, had every reason to keep a close watch on them.

Lee Yu gave a slight nod, indicating his understanding.

"The golden gauntlet is Zhan Tianxiang's; there are no dissenting voices," Yu Yuan spoke up again. "Should any future treasures show a natural affinity with one of us, they will be allocated in the same manner as with Zhan Tianxiang."

"How does that sound?"

"Agreed."

"Agreed!"

"We're on board with that distribution. It's settled."

There was a chorus of nods in concurrence.

"Just a moment for Zhan Tianxiang; he won't take long. Let's all take this time to recuperate," Yu Yuan suggested with a smile. "Not far from here lies another spot, shrouding something uniquely mysterious and profound."

At his words, a gleam of anticipation shone in everyone's eyes.

"..."