C934 Forbidden Area's Third!

The sapphire-skinned, razor-toothed Tian Zang, with hands covered in spikes, had transformed from a mere little devil.

This Tian Zang existed purely as a soul.

In a certain underground cavern, there was an extraordinary fluctuation of vitality and soul energy. It seemed to be Tian Zang's body, which had seized control of Dhoreus and refined it, along with the Azurefiend's most prized possession—the Blood Altar.

The little devil, recently mingled with an evil spirit, was merely a fragment of Tian Zang's soul.

He had emerged to see what Yu Yuan and Yu Yiyi were plotting.

After all, this place was off-limits to outsiders.

To their surprise, Yu Yuan and Yu Yiyi had detected even this tiny wisp of soul, prompting them to reveal themselves and seek clarity.

"Tian Zang, the Sky Fiend Youqian," Yu Yiyi called out gently.

Tian Zang, now in his primal Sky Fiend form, furrowed his brow and looked at her, puzzled.

He could sense that this exquisite girl was the cauldron spirit of the Crucible of Evil.

Given that she had been at Yu Yuan's side in the Land of Terror and had wielded the Crucible of Evil in the Moonfall Sanctuary to ensnare evil spirits and forge them into Banes, Yu Yiyi ought to realize that he was no longer a mere Sky Fiend.

He was now the Ghost King, Tian Zang. Even though he seldom returned to the Land of Terror, his soul had long since diverged from that of a Sky Fiend.

Yet Yu Yiyi insisted on addressing him as Youqian, the Sky Fiend, rather than Tian Zang, the Ghost King. What could her intention be?

"I remember, we should have known each other in bygone eras..."

The cauldron spirit Yu Yiyi showed a wistful look, "But that was in a distant past. My transformation into the cauldron spirit brought significant changes to my soul, leading to gaps and losses in my later memories."

Over the years, the memories she had been recovering were those from her time as the cauldron spirit.

It was she, in her role as the cauldron spirit, who had stood by the master of the Crucible of Evil, battling across realms and vanquishing foes from beyond, until the cauldron shattered, the leader of the Terror Claws perished, and she, too, was left on the brink of collapse, concealing herself with but a sliver of her spirit.

The memories that had not been refined by my cauldron spirit remained elusive, lost to the recesses of my mind.

It was only after returning with Yu Yuan that I was tasked with gathering suitable evil spirits on my own, drawing them into the cauldron to be transformed into Baneful entities. As I did so, the familiarity of many places began to return to me. The number of evil spirits was growing, and their power was increasing as well.

Gradually, I began to recall events from before I became the cauldron spirit.

The memories of the Sky Fiend Youqian were far more vivid than those of the Ghost King Tian Zang!

"How could you possibly know me?" Tian Zang asked in astonishment. "I have ruled as the Ghost King in the Land of Terror for five thousand years, and before that, I was imprisoned in the Moonfall Sanctuary. How do you recognize me?"

"The Sky Fiend Youqian is ranked third among the evil spirits and demons in this forbidden area," Yu Yiyi replied softly.

Tian Zang smiled and nodded, encouraging her to go on.

The occupant of the bronze coffin was perpetually ranked first.

When he broke free, he took with him the Sky Fiend Indigo Wraith, the Stormcrowned Emperor, and the Terra Fiend White Walker. He also covertly lifted the seals, allowing more evil spirits and demons from the Moonfall Sanctuary to escape.

Some of the top ten demons had escaped long ago, while others had been utterly obliterated.

Over time, knowledge of the rankings of the Moonfall Sanctuary's demons dwindled, to the point where even many of the formidable members of the upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep, were unaware.

Yu Yiyi revealed his origins and ranking in one breath, which took him by surprise.

"Youqian!"

"The Azurefiend Youqian!"

Just then, the three Demon Gods from the depths of the forbidden area seemed to sense something. They stirred the demonic clouds around them and swiftly made their way to our location.

Upon arrival, the three previously concealed Demon Gods emerged one by one from the thick demonic mist.

A nine-headed snake Demon God, each head crowned and eyes gleaming with a cold and vicious light, appeared before us.

Brilliant strands of the Star River wound around each of the serpent's necks like luminous ribbons, shimmering with an array of colors.

Another was a Demon God, towering like a mountain, pieced together from colorful armor, clutching a golden halberd. His eyes blazed with fervent zeal.

The third was a tall and beautiful Demon God, reminiscent of a fairy, standing upon a stack of ornate, hefty tomes.

These three Demon Gods had each cultivated their own distinctive demonforms, each with their own marvelous abilities.

Startled by Youqian's presence and having heard Yu Yiyi's words, they arrived in unison.

"Inner demon, Mitts, at your service, Lord Youqian."

The Demon God, shrouded in a mist of demonic energy, gazed upon the ancient, substantial books beneath his feet. The glyphs within them ignited like innumerable dark suns.

"Primal Demon, Adler, I've long admired you, Your Excellency Youqian!" boomed the mountainous Demon God.

"Sidla of the Shadowspawn, it is a great honor to meet Lord Youqian today!"

The eyes of the nine-headed snake Demon God suddenly brightened.

The Sky Fiend Clan was populous, and like the human race's clans and sects, each had its own traditions, its own champions, and chieftains.

These three Sky Fiend Clan powerhouses, all ninth-level Demon Gods, were the cream of the crop in their era.

All of them were familiar with Youqian's reputation, each showing the utmost respect.

"I am now the Ghost King, Tian Zang, not Youqian."

Upon the arrival of the three, who approached with deference, Tian Zang felt a sense of irritation. He shot Yu Yuan an annoyed look. Before inquiring about Yu Yiyi's origins, he stated, "I have no desire to return. Do not trouble me."

"Lord Youqian, many of our kin are trapped in the forbidden area. Both they and we require your guidance."

"Sir, we are well aware of your wisdom and the legendary strength of your past! We implore you, as one of our own, to provide us with direction."

"Sir, we kindly ask for your assistance."

At this moment, the three Demon Gods were earnestly appealing to Tian Zang, pinning their hopes on him.

Their sincere pleas and respectful demeanor made Yu Yuan immediately aware that Sky Fiend Youqian must have been a figure of renown within the Sky Fiend Clan, even before his confinement in the forbidden area.

Otherwise, these three Demon Gods, equivalent in strength to the Unbound Realm experts of the human race, wouldn't be showing such deference.

"Return for now, and don't mention me to the Demon Generals or Demon Kings," Tian Zang said with impatience. "I have other matters to attend to. If I come across a solution that can break the deadlock, I'll let you know."

"Then we won't bother you any further."

"Thank you, sir!"

"We take our leave."

After Tian Zang's remarks, the three Demon Gods obediently withdrew.

Yu Yuan and Yu Yiyi exchanged a glance before Yu Yuan gestured towards the pit below. "Could there be some secret hidden down there? She mentioned that her lost memories might be recovered by venturing into its depths."

Yu Yiyi nodded gently. "Please grant us permission, Lord Youqian."

Tian Zang looked down at the numerous pits below, hesitated briefly, and then said, "Yu Yuan, let her descend, but you must remain here."

Yu Yuan turned to Yu Yiyi, who nodded in agreement, and reassured her, "Master, if Lord Youqian says it's safe, then it will be."

With those words, she temporarily relinquished her hold on the Crucible of Evil and, in her soul form, gracefully descended into the pit, vanishing in the blink of an eye through a narrow crevice.

Yu Yuan's eyes narrowed, his expression shifting subtly.

As Yu Yiyi slipped through the crevice, the soul bond between them severed abruptly.

He could no longer sense Yu Yiyi's presence, nor could he determine her whereabouts.

Yu Yiyi was the artifact soul of the Crucible of Evil, and he was its master. Moreover, this was the Moonfall Sanctuary—his domain!

"Don't glare at me like that," Tian Zang said with a dark expression. "What brings you here? You've even risked exposing my whereabouts! I am now the Ghost King of the Land of Terror, not Youqian. I have no desire to wage war for the Sky Fiend Clan, nor do I wish to reveal myself and engage in a life-or-death battle with the Unbound cultivators of the Everlands."

"Could she be in danger?" Yu Yuan asked gravely.

"How should I know?" Tian Zang huffed. "If she truly originated from the Moonfall Sanctuary and was detained like me, she should be alright. But if not, the outcome is uncertain."

"What's inside?" Yu Yuan pressed further.

"She'll let you know once she's out safely. If not, ask Yan Qiling when he returns," Tian Zang, manifesting as a soul, said with a touch of irritation as he rubbed the corner of his eye. "Youling is on the verge of ascending to the God of Ghosts. I refuse to be under his command, which means I can't go back to the Land of Terror."

"I was here, peacefully refining Dhoreus and aiming to reunite with the Tears of the Azurefiend, but you had to disturb my tranquility."

"You, my boy, are nothing but trouble!"

​