298 Ye Xiu led the Ant Army, along with Spider Maiden and Snake Beauty, to the entrance of the Demon Insect Gate, radiating imposing authority. Due to Jia Yunxin, he was already aware of what Jianan had done to Jiaye: "After the Great Sect Master's death, it seems you, the Second Sect Master, have been ruling Desolate Bone City."

Only a few people knew that Jianan had slain Jiaye, so he certainly wouldn't yield just because of that: "It’s you, Ye Xiu!"

"Ye Xiu, you traitor! What a waste of the Great Sect Master's admiration for you." Left Prime Marquis, unaware of the truth, harbored deep hatred for anyone who seized the Azure Gate, like Ye Xiu: "So you are one of the Demon Insect Gate people. The past grievances of my Bone Sect must be settled on you today."

Ye Xiu stood calmly and confidently, stepping forward alone: "A few days ago, I met Princess Jia Yunxin. She told me the Great Sect Master was killed by his own second brother. I wonder if Left Prime Marquis has investigated this thoroughly?"

"Nonsense!" Jianan was instantly enraged upon hearing this and immediately mobilized the entire Bone Sect formation: "Do not listen to the lies spread by the Demon Insect Gate faction! Today, we must surround and kill this person and reclaim the Azure Gate."

"Kill!" Seeing Jianan give the order, everyone from the Bone Sect swarmed forward, unleashing their techniques. Instantly, all the white bones in the Sinful Barrier Forest lunged towards Ye Xiu.

"Hall Master Ye!" Snake Beauty tried to pull Ye Xiu back to retreat, but to her surprise, Ye Xiu was now smiling brightly at his opponents: "Hall Master Ye, you aren't planning to..."

"Heavenly Scorn Divine Sense!" Ye Xiu paid no mind to the minions' attacks. With one move, he pierced through the crowd, charging directly toward Jianan: "Others might not believe it, but I never doubt Jia Yunxin's words. The real murderer is you, the Second Sect Master, isn't it?"

"Clang!" Jianan drew his Earth Fiend Sword and blocked directly in front of his chest. He grinned mockingly: "Kid, don't be too arrogant. Don't think I don't know about your history with Jialouluo."

Ye Xiu was astonished by Jianan's cultivation level. He swung the Heavenly Scorn Sword, clearing a path through the crowd, and immediately retreated under the cover of the insect portal corridor: "In that case, the Third Sect Master's days must also be difficult. Perhaps he was also killed by you, Second Sect Master?"

"Attack and break through!" Jianan was thoroughly provoked. He summoned all the white bones, creating an overwhelming tide rushing toward the cave entrance. These skeletons possessed no thought, only surging toward the entrance relentlessly. Spider Maiden and Snake Beauty each unleashed fierce attacks, shattering them into pieces.

"Earth Worms!" Ye Xiu roared. The Ant Army beneath the ground instantly poked their heads out and captured all the Bone Sect members. At this moment, flying insects also charged out from the woods. With a thrust of a blade or a stab of a sword, they struck the Bone Sect members, filling the air with screams. "Second Sect Master, this Demon Insect Gate territory is not something you can handle with just the troops you brought."

"Heavenly Bone Sword Art, Killing Intent." Jianan brandished the Earth Fiend Sword. That move from the Heavenly Bone Sword Art struck the ground directly, instantly kicking up dust throughout the scene. Countless Ant Army soldiers were blasted out of the earth, suffering heavy casualties. "I’d like to see how many men you have for me to kill."

Ye Xiu surveyed the overall situation. The Bone Sect members were not opponents that ordinary sword and blade injuries could handle, yet the Demon Insects were suffering terribly. He waved his hand to recall his troops: "Retreat! Back into the insect cave."

"Hmph, trying to flee!" Jianan, invigorated by the fight, was the first to charge down to the cave entrance. He aimed his sword to take Ye Xiu's life: "Traitor, die!"

"Traitor?" At this moment, Ye Xiu no longer needed to conceal his identity. Black flames erupted from him, forming a long dragon that soared toward Jianan. The flames directly forced the man back: "Do you think I am a traitor? A traitor to the entire Boundless Realm."

Jianan spun his body and plunged into the earth to avoid the black flame attack. He stared with wide eyes, snarling: "That flame... Could your true identity be the Death God?"

"Go!" Ye Xiu returned to the cave entrance, and all the demon insects vanished. He commanded his subordinates: "Harass them periodically. The Insect Emperor’s command is not to let them retreat so easily."

Returning to the Thousand Cave Insect Hall, the roar of the Drought Demon Insect Emperor shook nearly everyone. Black mist continuously coiled in his eyes—a torment that ordinary people could not bear.

"What's happening to the Insect Emperor?" Ye Xiu asked the Ant Demon Advisor in alarm. "How severe is the damage to the body from that Evil Eye?"

The Ant Demon Advisor shook his head: "Evil energy has entered internally. Without corresponding evil Qi to modify the body, this will likely be detrimental to the Insect Emperor."

"It’s fine!" The Drought Demon Insect Emperor suppressed the excruciating pain and slammed a palm onto his seat. "For the sake of obtaining supreme power, what is this small amount of pain? The Bone Sect members should still be above."

"I have already ordered men to hold them off. I trust that once the Myriad Poison Pearl recovers its virulence, they won't be able to leave." Ye Xiu remained curious about the Evil Eye: "I'm just worried about the eye on the Insect Emperor's body—how can we alleviate this agony?"

"No matter. I forcefully used my sight just now to track your friend's whereabouts. That fellow Jun Bugu should be heading to Myriad Dao Mountain with the Ultimate Blade." The Emperor trembled as he spoke, showing the extraordinary power of the Evil Energy. "I need you to bring him back. As for combining the Heavenly Sword and the Ultimate Blade, does the Advisor have any suggestions?"

The Ant Demon nodded and smiled: "The Heavenly Sword and the Ultimate Blade have always been born in times of war, requiring battles of unparalleled misery and endless bloodshed. These necessary conditions are currently difficult to find in the Boundless Realm."

"Battles and bloodshed..." Ye Xiu took a sharp breath, not expecting the birth of this sword required such hardship.

Hearing this, the Drought Demon Insect Emperor managed a rare smile: "I believe in the near future, these two necessary conditions will be met on Mount Sumeru."

"Is the Insect Emperor referring to the day Sha Jun Tianxia breaks the ice seal!" The Ant Demon shook his head, not optimistically. "I believe that day, every race in the Boundless Realm that receives the news will gather—not just targeting Sha Jun Tianxia alone, but also as an opportunity for clan conflict."

Ye Xiu planned meticulously, contemplating whether Sha Jun Tianxia could withstand the attacks of all races, or if there were other sects in the Boundless Realm capable of weathering such losses. First, Myriad Dao Mountain, then the Sun Blind Clan—the destructive power of Sha Jun was unimaginable.

"Enough. You all attend to your own tasks. I need rest." The Emperor, physically depleted, looked haggard. He waved his hand, dismissing Ye Xiu and the Advisor. "I expect good news from you."

After taking his leave from the Insect Emperor and the Advisor, Ye Xiu naturally set off lightly. The current situation remained overly complicated. The Drought Demon Insect Emperor seemed unable to continuously use the Evil Eye anymore, giving Ye Xiu an opportunity to visit a certain place to clarify matters—that place was the Sorrowful Water River.

Blood waves subtly shifted. A white painted barge drifted serenely. Inside, a woman clad in white sat plucking at the strings of a zither. Outside the barge, a youth clad in purple stood motionless, stunned as if carved from wood.

Ye Xiu was familiar with this path and approached with the aid of the Hundred Insects, very easily. He walked across the water, and the first person he saw was Yan Shangcheng: "Yan Shangcheng, you are indeed here."

Yan Shangcheng’s eyes were gentle, having lost their former ferocity. He turned his head and pointed his long sword at Ye Xiu: "Before I lose my temper, you had better clear off."

Ye Xiu effortlessly stepped onto the painted barge. He turned his head to look at the shrine maiden behind the white gauze: "The Boundless Realm is rife with chaotic turmoil. What benefit does this bring you, Myriad Demon Saint Empress!"

The music within the barge ceased. The shrine maiden slowly rose: "Since you call me the Myriad Demon Saint Empress, you must know her purpose. Although I am merely an echo of the Myriad Demon Saint Empress in this era, I can understand your feelings."

"I only want to know why the Death Realm Pluto retreated from the Boundless Realm!" Ye Xiu’s desired answer was simple: why did he fail? "Who wounded him? Was it the Myriad Demon Saint Empress from ancient times?"

"Tsk, tsk!" The shrine maiden pushed aside the white veil and walked before Ye Xiu. Her features were exquisitely beautiful beyond compare: "Do you truly believe me if I say I don't know what happened in ancient times?"

Ye Xiu stared intensely at the shrine maiden. Even through the veil, he recognized the face identical to Hong Ling’s. The Myriad Demon Saint Empress was beautiful beyond measure, yet her heart was inscrutable: "You saved Yan Shangcheng, and whatever else you've done—I don't know why. Ultimately, this Boundless Realm is still being manipulated by you alone."

"If you want the answers, wait until the day Sha Jun Tianxia breaks the ice seal," the shrine maiden said, glancing at Yan Shangcheng, who now seemed like her servant, aiming his sword at Ye Xiu's throat. "The Raging Meridian Tian-Shu holds a dominant position in the Boundless Realm, but there is another hidden meridian Tian-Shu in the Fire Diagram Purgatory. It might be suitable for you and your friends."

"Go!" A red mark on Yan Shangcheng’s forehead lit up, and a gust of river water blew over, carrying a scent of blood. "Though I truly want to kill you."

The shrine maiden walked back into the painted barge, her words still lingering in the air: "The Desolate Meridian Tian-Shu is hidden within the Fire Diagram Purgatory. How can that meridian compare to the power of the Raging Meridian Tian-Shu? Your friend Jun Bugu should be very suited to obtain it."

"Desolate Meridian Tian-Shu!" Ye Xiu had long suspected Jun Bugu's significance, never imagining the boy ranked highly in the shrine maiden's mind. "What does this have to do with Jun Bugu?"

"Don't you want to know about the Death Realm Pluto? I might be able to get it from him," the shrine maiden chuckled softly. "It’s a pity that boy’s strength is too weak. Perhaps he'll die in someone else's hands before he can reveal the answer to you."

Ye Xiu sighed and immediately leaped off the painted barge. The wind by the Sorrowful Water River was cold. It seemed all the answers would have to come from Jun Bugu. However, an entrance to that Fire Diagram Purgatory was still beneath the Demon Soothing Pavilion on Myriad Dao Mountain. To enter, he would still need Old Liu's help. Now, he had to go to Myriad Dao Mountain again, and he needed to devise a plan to deceive the Drought Demon Insect Emperor so that the Ultimate Blade could be preserved temporarily.