However, even more terrifying news was yet to come. On the second day of the Evil Wind Emperor's return, he massacred all of Tongzhou!

Tongzhou, one of the Kyushu, home to countless powerful individuals, turned into nothing more than helpless figures under the Evil Wind Emperor's hands. Blood flowed like rivers, dyeing the Heaven-Reaching River outside the city red. Blood continued to gather in the sky for half a month, finally dispersing, allowing the survivors to see the sunlight once more.

The two millennia-old influential families, the Mu Family and the Xiao Family, were destroyed in an instant. It is said that the Evil Wind Emperor sealed off all of Tongzhou with his Great Magical Power and eradicated the two families down to the last servant—completely cutting the grass at its roots.

Forced into desperation, the ancestral founders Mu Lan of the Mu Family and Xiao Dongshan of the Xiao Family self-destructed, creating an explosion that nearly destroyed half of Tongzhou.

The Life and Death Palace did not intervene in these events and instead tacitly accepted the situation. The City Lord's Mansion changed hands, and Tongzhou became the domain of the Lin Family.

Half a month later, in the Restricted Area!

Ember black meteors surrounded the area, eerie and silent. Demons crawled around, resembling a giant dragon lying in repose. A Black Divine Hall hovered in midair, its demonic power intimidating and suppressing everything around it.

Whoosh!

A seductive white figure emerged from the void, flying straight toward the Black Divine Hall.

"White Stone Demoness greets the Demon Emperor!"

In front of the hall, the White Stone Demoness respectfully bowed to the cold palace floor.

"Come in!"

A soft yet eerie voice floated out, and the palace doors opened of their own accord. A gust of cold wind swept through, sending a shiver through the White Stone Demoness as her soul flickered like a candle in the wind.

"Yes!"

The White Stone Demoness stood up, her enchanting figure undulating gracefully. She was a stunning beauty if one ignored her lower half, which diminished her elegant image somewhat.

"What's the matter?"

Ai Sen, the Demon Emperor, stood with his back to the White Stone Demoness, his hands blazing with demonic flames. The scorching heat caused the air to emit crackling sounds. Before him was an Ancient Glowing Lamp with a faint blue flame flickering within. Despite the overwhelming demonic fire, the lamp's glow continued to intensify.

Gazing at the Ancient Glowing Lamp, the White Stone Demoness was momentarily entranced until the Demon Emperor's icy voice brought her back to her senses, and she promptly lowered her head.

"I have something to report!"

The White Stone Demoness respectfully lowered her head. On that ancient lamp, she sensed an aura that made her soul tremble with fear.

"Speak!"

The Demon Emperor's hands didn't stop moving as countless complex hand formulas emerged. The demonic flames transformed into a sea of fire, merging with the Ancient Glowing Lamp. It was as if a deity within the lamp was awakening, its terrifying presence growing, forcing the White Stone Demoness to lower her body even more.

"Evil Wind Emperor from the Ancient Era has returned from the Ancient Battlefield, shocking the entire Celestial Martial Continent."

The White Stone Demoness hesitated slightly before delivering the latest news she had obtained.

"Oh?"

The Demon Emperor's body paused slightly before resuming his normal motions. His hands flowed like water, causing the Ancient Glowing Lamp to shine even brighter.

"I understand. You may leave."

The Demon Emperor's tone returned to its previous coldness.

"Yes!"

The White Stone Demoness respectfully retreated. As her figure gradually vanished, the Demon Emperor's gaze fell upon the Ancient Glowing Lamp before him, a flicker of eerie heat passing through his eyes.

"In three years, the Nine Nether Lamp shall be forged. By then, even if the Ancient Sword Emperor were to reappear, he wouldn't stop my conquest of the Celestial Martial Continent!"

The Demon Emperor muttered, unconsciously intensifying the flames around his hands. The Nine Nether Lamp was an Emperor's Dao Artifact he had painstakingly forged from all his refining materials. Despite not being a masterful refiner, the preciousness of the materials themselves allowed him to create an Emperor's Dao Artifact. If the materials used for the Nine Nether Lamp were given to expert refiners in the cosmic starry sky, they could craft a dozen such artifacts.

Rumble!

...

A year quickly passed. The Ancient Battlefield gradually faded from the vision of both the human race and the Demon Beast race. All the heavenly treasures within had long been excavated by countless martial artists. Some even obtained the legacy of ancient Life and Death Realm Kings, rising to prominence.

Rumors of the Undying Tree spread like wildfire, prompting numerous Life and Death Realm Kings, even those wreathed in flames, and emperors to search for it, only to return empty-handed. Most believed the Undying Tree was in the possession of the Evil Wind Emperor. However, due to his fearsome reputation, no one dared to confront him.

Rumble!

A terrifying explosion resounded from a cave in the southwest corner of the Ancient Battlefield. Immediately, spiritual power within a thousand miles was drawn toward the cave.

Inside the cave, Chu Ming was seated cross-legged. Terrifying white and red lights intertwined within him. The white light was the spiritual power cultivated from the Pure Essence Sword Qi Technique, while the red light was the Undying Divine Power from within the Undying Tree. Chu Ming had reached a critical stage in refining the Undying Tree.

At this moment, Chu Ming's cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer Peak of the Guiyuan Realm. In a year's time, he had progressed from the Early Stage of the Eighth Layer of the Guiyuan Realm to the Ninth Layer Peak, a feat that would astound anyone. Martial artists usually progressed step by step with great caution.

In the Sea of Spiritual Power within him, a palm-sized seedling had taken root. Nourished by Chu Ming's spiritual power, the Undying Tree Seedling, no longer in its previous damaged state, now exuded vitality. An aura of Undying Divine Power spread from it, invigorating Chu Ming's flesh. At this moment, he believed that any injury he sustained, as long as it wasn't fatal, could be instantly healed.

Chu Ming's Soul Power scanned the entire Undying Tree. At its base, he detected an extraordinary aura, distant and dynamic.

"Here!"

A glint of excitement flashed in Chu Ming's eyes as his soul transformed into a vast net, binding the base of the Undying Tree. Refining the tree required not only its trunk but also integrating with its core, only then could one become one with the Undying Tree.

Rumble!

A red streak of light surged from the Undying Tree, attempting to escape Chu Ming's Sea of Spiritual Power. However, it was instantly repelled back by Chu Ming's soul net. A tiny shadow of the tree, reduced countless times, appeared in the air, swaying adorably.

Rumble!

The soul net gradually tightened, capturing the tree core within a few breaths. Chu Ming's consciousness immersed itself. Wisps of Soul Brand etched themselves onto it, the tree core's tiny visage displaying a human-like expression of pain.