Chapter 3: Demon Shadow!
Space-time was disordered, as if without origin and without end. He drifted alone within these chaotic streams of bizarre and dazzling turbulence, emitting a faint glimmer, utterly motionless.
Within the boundless, endless void, spatial storms occasionally raged. Comets streaked by from time to time, bringing thunderous roars that echoed throughout the heavens and earth.
Amidst the infinite primordial chaos, a flash of light streaked past in an instant. During this time, Jiang Yun saw points of starlight, each representing countless planes. He never paused. He did not know where he was being sent. He only knew that along the way, specks of silver light washed over his body.
So warm!
He felt as if his physical body and soul were both about to sublime. It was as if he saw countless spatial nodes, shining brilliantly. At this moment, he had an intuition, as if he could freely pass through these nodes at will.
As a transmigrator without a system or golden finger cheat, aside from the memories of his past life serving as his advantage, it now seemed that this life's physical talent was not to be underestimated either.
The Xie Ling Clan already possessed one of the top-tier bloodlines in this universe, capable of cultivating both spiritual energy and evil energy simultaneously. Moreover, he had the top-tier talent of the Nine Divine Meridians, and now an additional super-strong affinity for the spatial attribute had been added. At this point, his talent could be said to have reached the absolute ceiling.
"I never imagined you'd have such a fortunate encounter!" Just then, a voice rang out. Its tone was as soothing as a spring breeze, yet Jiang Yun felt a chill run down his spine. He remembered this voice, even though he had only heard it once.
But the voice of such a figure—once heard, it was impossible to forget. Focusing his gaze, he saw an elegantly refined, scholarly phantom appear before him. A black and white flame danced beside it. As the surrounding spatial turbulence approached, it was burned to nothingness by the flame three zhang away from the figure.
The newcomer was none other than the Saint Demon Emperor—or rather, it was the will within that wisp of flame descending.
As the foremost powerhouse of the Extraterrestrial Evil Race, even a casual sub-flame from this figure was likely already comparable to the Nihility Devouring Flame or the Purifying Demon Lotus Flame of the Douqi Continent.
"This junior pays respects to Lord Saint Demon!" His small frame could not withstand even a sneeze from the other party, so Jiang Yun behaved very sensibly. A genius who had not yet matured was worth nothing!
"This is our second meeting, isn't it?" The Saint Demon Emperor observed Jiang Yun with keen interest. He had long been paying attention to this unusual member of the Xie Ling Clan. From the moment of the other's birth, he had planned to send him to the Great Thousand World to serve as a hidden agent.
As it happened, the other party's talent was also sufficient. With the support of his own power, he believed Jiang Yun would quickly rise to the upper echelons of the Great Thousand World.
Looking at it now, his judgment had been correct. Jiang Yun's talent was worthy of the special regard he had shown him.
"Yes!"
"Your mission, I presume you already know it. Go to the Great Thousand World, lie low, and, along the way, rescue a few individuals."
Jiang Yun's eyelid twitched. Rescue people? Could it be those few Demon Emperors who were practically half-dead already?
"Hm?" Just then, the Saint Demon Emperor's gaze sharpened, fixing on Jiang Yun's chest. He said coldly, "I didn't expect you lot to be so restless. What? You can't bear it any longer and wish to return to the embrace of the Great Thousand World?"
The Saint Demon Emperor's sudden change in expression made Jiang Yun's breath catch. At that very moment, the small tower at Jiang Yun's chest suddenly floated out, now radiating a dazzling light.
A phantom figure slowly emerged from the tower. Seeing the visage, Jiang Yun's expression froze. It was precisely his grandfather, Jiang Hong.
"Grandfather!" Seeing this, Jiang Yun knew that Jiang Hong must have had his own schemes. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spoken those words back then.
Yet, he still couldn't help but worry. The one standing opposite them was the Saint Demon Emperor! Even an ordinary Saint-grade Heavenly Sovereign was nothing more than a dish before his eyes, let alone his grandfather, who was an Immortal-grade?
"Sigh— I merely wished for my descendant to live a slightly better life, to enjoy a few more days of peace." 'Jiang Hong' gazed at the Saint Demon Emperor, secretly on guard.
"Heh— ridiculous. From the moment you were created by my race, your lives no longer belonged to yourselves." The Saint Demon Emperor sneered coldly, looking icily at Jiang Hong. Flames danced in his palm.
"Traitors must be executed!"
A trace of coldness flashed through the Saint Demon Emperor's eyes. He raised his hand, and the terrifying Saint Demon Flame instantly transformed into a sky-blotting sea of fire, surging toward Jiang Yun and the other. Everywhere the flames passed, the entire stretch of space seemed to ignite; even the void itself was burned into nothingness.
Shielded by Jiang Hong, Jiang Yun felt as if he were inside a furnace, on the verge of being burned to ashes—and this was with Jiang Hong protecting him. Jiang Yun had no doubt that any powerhouse below the Heavenly Sovereign level would be incinerated to ash in an instant upon touching even a speck of the Saint Demon Flame.
"A mere sub-flame—you think it can stop this old man?" 'Jiang Hong's' beard and hair billowed, divine light flickering in his eyes. In the next instant, he transformed into a thousand-zhang giant tower—the very same small tower Jiang Yun had been wearing on his chest.
The tower's body was covered in profound and mysterious auras. The moment it appeared, a terrifying oppressive pressure was felt throughout the entire space.
"This is...?" Jiang Yun watched the colossal object before him in shock. He had thought his grandfather gave him only an ordinary item, his highest expectation being merely a Divine Artifact. He never expected it to be a peerless Sacred Object.
"Rumble—"
The ancient giant tower trembled. A terrifying suction force emanated from its body. The fearsome sea of fire slowly began surging toward the tower's base.
"It seems I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to be so willing to sacrifice. However..." Watching the flames being absorbed, the Saint Demon Emperor's expression soured somewhat. At this moment, he realized things were slipping somewhat beyond his control. Yet, he still spoke with domineering authority, "A single Immortal-grade peerless Sacred Object—you think you can stop me with this?"
"Ten Thousand Demon Hands!" Accompanied by the Saint Demon Emperor's low shout, demonic energy tides within the void surged madly, bringing with them terrifying pressure that collapsed the surrounding void. The intensity of that demonic energy had already faintly surpassed that of a Spirit-grade Heavenly Sovereign.
This level of power was something the giant tower, being only an Immortal-grade peerless Sacred Object, simply could not withstand. Moreover, it also had to prevent this wisp of sub-flame from escaping back. Should that happen, the Xie Ling Clan would absolutely face dire consequences. While it might not lead to their annihilation, it would certainly be anything but pleasant.
Jiang Hong absolutely would not survive. Upon making this choice, he had long since cast matters of life and death aside. As long as Jiang Yun could escape this cruel world, he would die without any regrets.
The giant hand stretched across the sky. Billowing demonic energy condensed madly. The entire sky seemed to collapse at this moment, with only a single giant hand, covered in demonic runes, descending. At this instant, even heaven and earth seemed overwhelmed by this man-made force.
"Xie Ling Purple Light!" Just then, a great shout rang out. A terrifying purple divine light shot forth from the tower's body, transforming into an eternal streak of purple radiance that cleaved through the pitch-black world.
"Jiang Ya—" A furious, teeth-gnashing roar sounded. The Saint Demon Emperor glared hatefully at the figure that had flickered momentarily within the tower.
In the next instant, the massive tower descended, pressing down to suppress both the 'Saint Demon Emperor' and the wisp of Saint Demon Flame!
(End of Chapter)