A crimson light permeated everything. Within the Spirit Martial Cave, the immense pressure instantly crushed lesser demon cultivators into pulp before they could even groan, completely swept away; their flesh and blood were absorbed into the light, leaving not a single bone behind!

Luo Lianxin and Feng Zikang exchanged a look, each registering the sheer terror in the other's eyes.

Is the might of the Heavenly Emperor truly this absolute?

"Is that really him?"

Feng Zikang quickly inquired. If this Heavenly Emperor wasn't their target, and Luo Lianxin and he had caused a massive blunder, things would become wildly complicated.

Luo Lianxin nodded. "Before he manifested, I was only seventy to eighty percent certain. But now that he is here, there is zero doubt; it is him. Slay this fiend, and our mission will be complete."

"Are you kidding me!" Huo Zhongguang, crammed in beside them, was utterly paralyzed with fright. "This Heavenly Emperor’s power is at least at the Core Condensation realm. How could we possibly be a match for him?"

He conveniently forgot his true form as a pig demon. Luo Lianxin glanced back at him, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Junior Brother, is this the monster you subdued?"

She apparently had absolutely no recollection of the pig demon. Huo Zhongguang finally remembered, then immediately felt so suffocated he nearly vomited blood. It was this very Junior Sister, hailed as the King of Ten Thousand Demons, who had castrated him, leaving him with a mutilated body. Yet, judging by her expression, she didn't recall the incident at all. Chances were, she had slaughtered too many demons casually over the last two years; a mere pig demon left no impression whatsoever.

"Ye... yes!"

Feng Zikang glanced back at Huo Zhongguang, a subtle, knowing smile playing on his lips. Since he didn't intend to let Huo Zhongguang show his face in public anyway, it didn't matter if Luo Lianxin thought as she did.

"Although this monster is at the Core Condensation cultivation, he cannot be invincible," Luo Lianxin said, unwilling to waste mental energy on a pig demon, her brow furrowed in deep thought. "His vitality wanes; he relies on bloody sustenance daily just to maintain his power. If we can just survive the initial period—"

"Boom!"

From the sea of red energy, two fierce beams of crimson light shot out. Feng Zikang and Luo Lianxin had no way to evade and raised their hands to meet the attack head-on. With muffled groans, they were both sent flying backward.

"Hmph!" Feng Zikang felt a violent shock deep within his organs, far more intense than the blow from Yan Fengqi that day. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and he hurriedly swallowed a Genesis Pill, concentrating on regulating his Qi.

However, having experienced Yan Fengqi's strike before, he had some psychological preparation for facing an attack from a Core Condensation master this time, and his injuries were not as severe as the last time.

The black cloth veiling Luo Lianxin’s face dispersed, revealing a deathly pale complexion, also with a faint trace of blood at her lips. She too seemed considerably wounded.

She tossed a pill toward him. Feng Zikang caught it; it was also a Genesis Pill. It seemed Luo Lianxin hadn't noticed him taking medicine earlier and was showing kindness.

"Oh, heavens!" Huo Zhongguang’s guts churned with fear. In all this time, when had he ever seen Feng Zikang suffer such a setback? This Heavenly Emperor was so powerful, merely sending out a casual red beam had made Feng Zikang vomit blood. What was to be done?

Remembering his life was linked to Feng Zikang’s, if the boss died, he wouldn't fare any better, Huo Zhongguang gritted his teeth, drew his stone staff, and flew forward, bringing it down in a flurry toward the Heavenly Emperor's head.

His sudden display of valor was utterly useless. The Heavenly Emperor merely gave a soft hum, stretched out a hand, waved it dismissively, grabbed Huo Zhongguang upside down, and hurled him forcefully against the stone wall, where he became lodged, struggling helplessly for a long moment.

If not for his tough, iron-like physique, that single impact would have smashed him into a meat patty.

Feng Zikang struggled to his feet, not daring to pause. He unleashed a torrent of sword light, completely encircling the mass at the center of the blood cloud. The sound of shattering echoed—bang, bang—as the Heavenly Emperor casually moved a hand or a foot, shattering Feng Zikang's sword light.

For every six beams of light that broke, Feng Zikang's face grew paler.

Luo Lianxin let out a sharp cry and flicked both sleeves. Myriads of silver lights flew out, forming the illusory image of giants that tightly bound the Heavenly Emperor.

"Junior Brother, as long as we can hold him, once his power wanes, we are sure to win!"

Though her voice lacked power, Luo Lianxin remained full of confidence.

Feng Zikang could only offer a bitter smile. He found that whenever he got entangled with Luo Lianxin, nothing good ever came of it. The last time he was this disgraced was when they hunted the Ghost God General in the Earth Element Grotto?

Back then, he was just an under-skilled junior disciple, forced into a wretched state, only succeeding in defeating the mutated Ghost God General thanks to the sudden burst of power from the Star River Shuttle. Looking back now, it was pure luck. That Ghost God General, capable of pushing Luo Lianxin to such limits, was exceptionally strong—even if not quite equal to this Heavenly Emperor today, no ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator could contend with it. Yet, somehow, the two of them managed to kill it.

Facing such a formidable foe today, Feng Zikang held no hope for the Star River Shuttle to act up again. After all, before its last outburst, it showed some residual starlight; for the past two years, it had just been a dull, black object, showing not a flicker of light—it seemed unreliable.

To win, he had to rely on himself.

If the Heavenly Emperor's strength truly could wane...

"Roar!"

Amidst the Heavenly Emperor’s enraged roar, Feng Zikang's sword light was entirely shattered, and Luo Lianxin’s giants were likewise smashed to pieces. Luo Lianxin did not cease her attack; she casually waved a sleeve again, tossing out a gourd. From the gourd’s mouth spewed dozens of granules of black sand, enveloping the red cloud layer by layer.

"What a fine treasure!"

Feng Zikang praised, yet knew this could only buy a moment. He roared and summoned his Essence Gem Orb as well. Instantly, brilliant radiance erupted. Fortunately, this Spirit Martial Cave was much wider than the White Bone Cave, allowing the fleeing lesser demons to escape the collateral damage.

"Junior Brother has also acquired quite a few good things!"

Luo Lianxin turned to him with a slight nod, waved her hand, and sent out two Mandarin Duck Flying Knives. Just then, the Heavenly Emperor tore through the black sand, dispersed the brilliance, and spewed red energy from his mouth, engaging the twin knives in battle.

"Hmph, I’d like to see how much vital energy you have left to squander!"

Luo Lianxin’s treasures seemed endless. She opened her mouth and spat out three long, green-glowing spikes that exuded a chilling Yin energy. These were clearly not typical martial artifacts; it was unknown where she had acquired them.

After the twin knives and the long spikes were broken, Luo Lianxin summoned a golden flower. In the vast sky, heavenly blossoms rained down, wrapping the Heavenly Emperor’s red light within.

Feng Zikang watched, dumbfounded. He had been prepared to reveal his trump cards, only to find himself utterly useless, watching Luo Lianxin produce such an inexhaustible supply of wondrous items.

No wonder Elder Wu had said following Luo Lianxin through this God-level Foundation Establishment mission offered a great opportunity. It seemed he had some understanding of Junior Sister Luo’s true capabilities.

"Jun—Junior Brother, our Martial Sect truly has some remarkable individuals. I think this Junior Sister’s abilities might be no less than yours!" Huo Zhongguang was deeply incredulous. He, who once sat in a well believing himself the top disciple of the third generation of the Martial Sect, now felt like a complete joke.

"I think Junior Sister Luo fancies you a bit, otherwise..." Huo Zhongguang suddenly chuckled slyly. "Junior Brother, find a way to take her in. Then the Martial Sect will be the domain of you two as a married couple!"

"Take her in?"

Feng Zikang turned his head just as Luo Lianxin released a mottled fierce tiger, seemingly formed from green jade, radiating extreme ferocity. He could only manage a wry smile.

"This little lass is unfathomably deep. We still need to be wary of her!"

Under the continuous barrage of Luo Lianxin’s endless treasures, the fierce Heavenly Emperor finally showed signs of fatigue. Although he could still quickly shatter the artifacts, it was visibly clear that his power was diminishing.

Indeed!

Just as Luo Lianxin predicted, the Heavenly Emperor’s strength began to wane. He was forced to rely on bloody meals to sustain his vital energy and magic power, and the prolonged entanglement revealed his exhaustion.

"Insolent!"

The Heavenly Emperor shrieked amidst the red clouds. Yet, he was powerless, only growing weaker.

"You juniors, why do you come to disturb my True Human Realm? I have no grudge against you; why must you press me so relentlessly!"

He had lost his initial arrogance and finally spoke to them on equal terms. Hearing him speak, the assembled demons were startled and moved; they never expected the majestic Heavenly Emperor would ever stoop to begging for mercy.

With just a few words, his majesty vanished. Those demons instantly grew restless.

Fortunately, his power remained, keeping the situation suppressed. Furthermore, all the retainers present were already dead; otherwise, his blindly loyal retainers might have already rebelled.

Luo Lianxin sneered. "What manner of evil spirit are you? Hiding in this True Human Realm, consuming humans daily! I am here under orders from my sect to exterminate you! What further excuses do you have!"

"Slander! Slander!" The Heavenly Emperor roared in anger and indignation. "This True Human Realm was originally created by me! What is so terrible about eating a few of my subjects? If I hadn't painstakingly maintained this realm, how could they live so well?"

"You created it?"

Feng Zikang’s heart jolted; he was greatly shocked.

If he created it, then what realm of power must this Heavenly Emperor have attained? Core Condensation was certainly far from enough!

"So what if you created it? When you first established the Mysterious Realm to guard all beings, you certainly accumulated merit. But now your body is withered, and you survive only by devouring this True Human Realm. These created subjects have gained sentience. To devour them is a great sin, and you must be eradicated!"

The Heavenly Emperor screeched wildly. "What is that compared to! I have lived for forty-eight thousand years, guarding this Mysterious Realm for tens of thousands of years at least. How can I not be allowed to enjoy a little bloody sustenance now?"

"Forty-eight thousand years! The path of birth and destruction is the common law of the world. If you fail to comprehend the Great Dao and insist on seeking eternal life, what use is it? We are here to execute you now; surrender quickly and die!"

"So that's how it is!" Feng Zikang suddenly understood, finally grasping why this powerful World-Creating Great Demon was so weakened.

If there is birth, there must be death?

Even a naturally born great demon is not exempt.

This monster had lived for forty-eight thousand years and was already extremely old; its body was decaying, and its divine abilities were fading. Even the divine powers of Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, or even higher realms would be useless at this stage, because at this point, he was supposed to die!

However, he himself did not wish to die!