The figure in the black robe smiled bitterly, sighing deeply.

As he spoke, his figure gradually became solid, transforming into a middle-aged man with a look of worldly weariness.

His temples were streaked with white hair, yet his face appeared young, betraying not a trace of age.

But within his eyes lay a profundity as if having experienced the descent of countless ages, incapable of seeing the bottom.

It was these eyes that made him appear like a middle-aged man despite his youthful look.

Zhou Yan knew that no matter how advanced a transformation technique was, some inherent qualities could not be changed or concealed.

For instance, the slightest changes in exchange and emotions, or perhaps a fleeting sense of intuition, all could reveal the truth.

Zhou Yan glanced around but was not overly concerned, revealing his own appearance directly, facing his former father-in-law.

"Father."

Zhou Yan called softly.

The black-robed man's body trembled slightly, then a look of suppressed emotion appeared, but he did not shed tears; instead, he nodded with excitement, saying, "My current name is Ming Cheng, it's good that you know this."

Zhou Yan nodded slightly.

"Since you appear as Ming Hao, did you kill him?"

The Netherworld City Lord, also the black-robed man Ming Cheng, asked with some concern.

"No, I only suppressed him. I will release him later, temporarily keeping him unaware of anything."

Zhou Yan thought for a moment and said.

"In that case, it's indeed the best outcome. Zhou Yan, over these years, have you heard any news of Qingyan and Yanyan?"

Ming Cheng asked with a gaze full of anticipation.

"Father, you're asking me about Qingyan and Yanyan?"

Zhou Yan was somewhat surprised.

"Why not? Qingyan is your wife, Yanyan is your daughter. If I don't ask you, whom should I ask?"

Ming Cheng found it odd.

However, when he said this, his face became somewhat unsightly.

"Yes, it's right to ask me because I am Qingyan's husband and Yanyan's father. But for so many years, I have been searching for them as well. Unfortunately, I'm not qualified, and my strength is lacking."

"However, there might be some connection, which is why I am now searching for the Sumeru Immortal Mountain. Father, do you know any related information?"

Zhou Yan felt a bit bitter; Ming Cheng's words indeed touched his heart.

As a father and husband, not knowing the whereabouts of his daughter or wife made him indeed unworthy.

"If the Sumeru Immortal Mountain still exists, there might be only one place left where it could be, akin to the current situation of our Netherworld race. Perhaps they are in the Jade Fox Ancestral Land. Our Netherworld bloodline originates from the Netherworld Emperor Soul Beast, and after the great changes in the world, naturally, we are members of the Ancient Demon Clan, needing to awaken our bloodline again to participate in the great war against the Human Clan.

And the Sumeru Immortal Mountain was an Inheritance Land of the Jade Fox Clan. With the chaos and the formation of Domain World, the Immortal Mountain fell into disrepair. It's likely they returned to the Ancestral Land of the Nine-tailed Immortal Fox. That ancestral land has spatial node connections with our Emperor Soul Beast's Inheritance Land. If you wish to see it, you can, but it is quite perilous."

"However, now that various demon beast bloodlines have awakened, the factions might differ. You need to be mentally prepared. The Jade Fox Clan carries the bloodline of the Nine-tailed Immortal Fox. After the great calamity, they went silent, and now, with the descent of Nine Origin Reincarnation, the bloodline awakens. Whether they remain close to you is hard to say. You should also understand that the hatred inherited through bloodline is innate and terrifying."

"This hatred, once awakened, is like a spiritual imprint; as for me, I still suppress it forcefully to avoid a murderous intent towards you. Other members of the Ancient Demon Clan may find it difficult to suppress this hatred."

The Netherworld City Lord Ming Cheng said.

Zhou Yan listened in silence, not giving any opinion. Though this information was impactful, Zhou Yan rarely moved by any matter nowadays.

He sighed lightly, saying, "I have prepared for the worst in everything, so any news that isn't extremely tragic and painful is, to me, comforting."

"Therefore, Father, there's no need to comfort me. Additionally, regarding Qingyan and Yanyan, it indeed reflects my incompetence as Zhou Yan, inadequate and unqualified, unworthy as a husband, unworthy as a father."

Upon hearing this, Ming Cheng said, "In this lifetime, amid disputes and calamities, who can truly transcend? What I said earlier was merely hope shaded by disappointment. I hoped to learn some news about Yanyan and Qingyan, but now, I still know nothing. The reason I worry is that three years ago, I could still sense part of Yanyan and Qingyan's situation, but now, everything is severed, not a trace can be sensed.

With the power of the Netherworld, even derivation reveals no ripples, only a stagnant pool.

It is this that causes my worry. Should they no longer be among us, I fear even finding the will to continue living. It is the last glimmer of hope; without it, I would have abandoned this path of cultivation long ago."

Ming Cheng sighed bitterly.

Zhou Yan remained silent.

The arrival of troubled times brought chaos, making cultivators experience the helpless sorrow of being beyond control.

Mo Nan believed that deceased cultivators were more fortunate and peaceful than those still alive.

The Netherworld Blood City Lord's hopes in life rest upon his daughter Mu Qingyan and granddaughter Yanyan.

One is a Cultivator, the other belongs to the Ancient Demon Clan. But in essence, is there truly any difference?

Life seems to have no inherent meaning, yet those who live often ascribe meaning to it and strive to live for that purpose.

"You want to go to the Sumeru Immortal Mountain, I will take you to the Sacrificial Blood Pool. It is a Forbidden Land of Inheritance for the Ancient Demon Clan. You can go there disguised as Miao Hao, and I will make other arrangements to give the impression that I've fallen for a plot. This way, the real Miao Hao can learn a lesson and improve himself."

"One day, if you truly meet on the battlefield, life and death must find a resolution. You will both rely on your own skills."

Once again, Ming Cheng sighed, as if he had sighed more times this day than he had in years combined.

But just like Mo Nan, unless they are close to him, whom can he share such words with?

"Let's talk about future matters in the future. If I learn any news about Qingyan or Yanyan, whether good or bad, I will come here to inform you again. By then, I might not be in the guise of Miao Hao or Zhou Yan, perhaps as a Little Demon, or maybe as a Demon Emperor hero."

Zhou Yan said.

"Yes, I hope by then, I will still be alive to hear the news."

Ming Cheng nodded and said.

He spoke as he took the lead, opening a unique Space Array Plate.

This was an ancient Array Plate; the runes on it were as ancient as the weathered text and weapon marks on an Ancient Warship.

Just by presenting it, Zhou Yan knew that Ming Cheng possessed the power to destroy him. His strength might have already reached the Half-step Immortal Realm.

If the combat power of a Nine Heavens Supreme is considered a point, then the combat power of Zhou Yan, enhanced by the Emperor Blood Seventy-three Changes and the Xingyi Battle Body, could be seen as 703. Whereas Ming Cheng, the Netherworld Blood City Lord, might have a combat power of 2000.

And a true Demi Immortal, the minimum combat power should be ten thousand.

The Immortal, then, is in the billions.

Of course, this is not a strict combat power classification, rather just a disparity Zhou Yan deduced through judgment. In reality, the gap between the Supreme Realm, the Immortal Realm, and the Immortal is a colossal chasm, almost impossible to cross.

Zhou Yan felt that even if he reached the Supreme Realm and his combat power exceeded a hundred, he might not be an opponent of the Immortal Realm, at most achieving only the combat power of a Half-step Immortal.

As Zhou Yan watched the ancient Array Plate, after Ming Cheng activated the power of the plate, Zhou Yan transformed into the guise of Miao Hao and entered the teleportation space of the plate alongside Ming Cheng.

...

The Array Plate activated, and the Void undulated with a unique power of Blood Qi. Then Zhou Yan, along with Ming Cheng, arrived at the Sacrificial Blood Pool.

In the land of the Blood Pool, blood-colored flames burned everywhere, with the space sunken and uneven.

Within these uneven areas, there were pools of blood-red flaming liquid everywhere.

The liquid flames flowed and burned, endlessly alive.

The Void was turbulent with the breath of Blood Qi, and strands of flame danced in the Void like blood-colored elves fluttering in the sky.

Observing this Heaven and Earth, Zhou Yan, amidst this land of blood-colored fury, instead felt a unique sense of tranquility.

"This is the Sacrificial Blood Pool, one of the Ancient Demon Clan's Inheritance Lands. Many Great Demons of the Demon Emperor Level were born in places like this. It's a harsh place, where the law of natural selection prevails. Those who emerge alive are true talents, while the deceased cultivators' Bloodline Power, Divine Soul, and even Venerable Soul Power will become supplements for the Blood Pool and nourishment."

"Yet undeniably, it's also a place beyond worldly struggles."

"The node of the space is on the altar; there is an ancient altar. When you were the Lei Yan King, you also created similar altars, but at that time I had no relationship with you, and even wished to kill you out of hand, so naturally, I wouldn't have known why you built such altars. Perhaps, encountering such an altar now might stir something within you."

Ming Cheng explained.

Following his guidance, Zhou Yan saw the massive altar above the distant Blood Lake.

The ancient altar was much like the one in the Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City, in many aspects quite similar.

But is this the true Ancestor Land of the altar?

Zhou Yan could not tell, nor did he know, nor did he wish to know.

After Ming Cheng finished explaining, Zhou Yan slightly bowed and paid a salute to Ming Cheng, saying, "Father, then I am off, until we meet again."

"Yes, leave Miao Hao here. Be careful of the power of Blood Sacrifice striking you on the altar. As long as you find that unique space node with traces of the elusive Jade Fox aura, you can enter. The process indeed holds great risk, but there is a significant possibility to find what you seek, the power of the Sumeru Immortal Mountain."

Ming Cheng said earnestly.

Zhou Yan nodded, then released the true Miao Hao from the Soul Sea's sealing, placing him here temporarily without undoing the seal.

Zhou Yan set down some runes, entrusting their control to Ming Cheng.

Once everything was arranged, Zhou Yan flew towards the ancient altar.

At this moment, Ming Cheng watched Zhou Yan fly away, then glanced at the suppressed Miao Hao, his eyes revealing a complex inexplicable sentiment.

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