325: Nirvana

“Run, run, run!”

Chen De frantically fled outwards.

Just moments ago, Chen De had not gone far after escaping the Fallen Sky Ravine when he sensed countless terrifying auras converging there.

Not a single one was below the fifth level of the Demon Emperor Realm.

In such a short time, those with lower cultivation levels simply couldn't make it.

Even two Demon Emperor Realm ninth-level powerhouses had arrived, who should be the Dragon Emperor and the Phoenix Empress.

Given that it was their clans' demons who died, their rapid arrival certainly implied some special sensory connection.

With so many powerhouses gathered, Chen De only heard a ripple from the Fallen Sky Ravine, which was about to erupt.

And then, there was no 'then'.

It was clearly suppressed by one of the demon powerhouses who had arrived.

Chen De certainly didn't want to get involved in this mess right now; don't ask, just assume he'll finish devouring and evolving first.

He truly didn't want to do anything that might lead to unforeseen complications.

At first, Chen De ran very slowly.

As he got further from the Fallen Sky Ravine, Chen De's speed increased.

But he didn't dare use spatial teleportation, fearing that the newcomers would detect the fluctuations.

Then, if they were in a fit of rage, it was not impossible for them to indiscriminately and furiously kill Chen De, an innocent passerby, by mistake.

It was better to be cautious, much better to be cautious.

The distance from here to where Chen De landed in the Southern Xuan Domain was not too far; it took a long time when he was in the Void Union Realm, but now it was no longer necessary.

At his current speed, it would only take Chen De three hours to get from here to there.

Along the way, he was as careful as possible, keeping a low profile.

Finally, Chen De arrived at the shore after three and a half hours.

He gazed at the vast, boundless ocean before him.

Chen De leaped, creating a beautiful splash, and submerged himself in the seawater.

...

Fallen Sky Ravine.

Inside the Fallen Sky Ravine at this moment, everything was calm and peaceful, showing no signs of an impending eruption.

The center of Ao Qi's self-detonation was already surrounded by countless figures.

Ordinarily, these figures were all influential existences in the Demon Domain.

But here, they were all quietly silent.

Their attention was focused on the few figures at the very front.

The ones at the forefront, however, paid no mind to the gazes behind them, only looking at the mutilated remains in the open space.

But the surrounding onlookers felt that the atmosphere within the Fallen Sky Ravine was becoming increasingly heavy.

After an unknown amount of time, the golden-robed man at the very front spoke.

“Ao Qi is dead, utterly annihilated!”

His voice was incredibly calm, yet it revealed a bone-chilling coldness, as well as an unsuppressable anger and sorrow.

The golden-robed man was none other than the Dragon Emperor, the current Dragon Emperor of the Yonggu Taixu Dragon Clan, an existence at the pinnacle of the Demon Domain and even the Four Profound Heavens.

But at this moment, he was furious beyond measure.

He had watched Ao Qi grow up, and his affection for Ao Qi was even deeper than for his own children.

That's why, when he first discovered that Ao Qi wanted to leave the Dragon Clan, he didn't stop him; instead, he left him a protective seal.

Unless attacked by someone above the fifth level of the Demon Emperor Realm, the protective seal could not be broken.

Yet now, Ao Qi was still dead.

With his eyesight, he could naturally tell that Ao Qi was not killed, but had self-detonated.

The changes in the Fallen Sky Ravine were precisely caused by Ao Qi's self-detonation.

So, who, without breaking the protective seal, could force Ao Qi to self-detonate?

“Huang Xue is dead too.”

The speaker was a woman in a white palace dress, with purple hair like Huang Xue, skin as white as snow, appearing to be in her twenties, and her voice was cold.

Beside her was a young man with purple hair and a red robe, also appearing to be in his twenties, with an exquisitely handsome face.

Being able to stand in such a prominent position, and as a man and a woman, their identities no longer needed to be guessed.

The Phoenix Empress and the Phoenix King of the Jie Jin Gui Xu Phoenix Clan!

Their faces were also filled with immense anger; their daughter had died, so tragically, here.

Did they truly not know that their daughter had run off?

They deeply understood the habits of the Phoenix Clan; once a Phoenix found her Phoenix, she would never change, and they would rather die together.

But the pride of the Phoenix Clan prevented them from bowing to anyone (or any demon), even their own daughter was no exception.

So, many things they didn't say, they simply tacitly allowed.

Tacit allowance, for a Phoenix, was a form of compromise.

Just like Qing Li's tip-off, they made no reaction at all and did not stop Huang Xue, merely pretending not to know.

However, they never expected their daughter to be so decisive, leaving nothing from within the clan.

Even the means they secretly left on Huang Xue's body were quietly broken by her at some unknown time.

Just a moment of indulgence had led to their daughter's tragic end.

All her limbs were gone, her flesh and blood a blur, skin indistinguishable from muscle, her exquisite face utterly disfigured.

Her entire torso, from the chest down, was split open vertically.

Her abdomen was empty, her internal organs and child long gone.

It was unclear if it was due to the explosion or if they were dug out and taken away.

Her tragic state was even worse than Ao Qi's.

“This matter cannot be left like this,” the Dragon Emperor slowly said. “I will never let go of the one (or demon) who did this, no matter where he is!”

“You don’t need to; we’ll handle it ourselves,” the Phoenix Empress glanced at the Dragon Emperor, her tone filled with chilling intent.

“I will not let him die peacefully; I will make him suffer every torture in the world, and it still won't alleviate a fraction of the hatred in my heart.”

“Hmph,” the Dragon Emperor sneered, disdainfully, “Then let's see who finds him first. My Dragon Clan's tortures…”

Although they disliked each other, they still did not act here.

The Dragon and Phoenix Clans were ancient enemies; they would usually fight upon meeting, but at this moment, they were remarkably restrained, having no desire to quarrel, but rather exercising considerable self-control.

The Dragon Emperor had no reason to linger here; Ao Qi had died, utterly annihilated, leaving not even a speck for him.

Unlike Huang Xue, who at least left a mutilated body for the Phoenix Clan to collect.

So the Dragon Emperor merely searched here for traces of battle and such, then left without a word.

He and the Phoenix Clan were ancient enemies; now, due to a common cause, they were restraining themselves from fighting, but that didn't mean their relationship had improved.

On the contrary, because of Ao Qi and Huang Xue, their relationship would only worsen from now on.

Soon, only the Phoenix Clan's demons remained in the area.

“You may withdraw first,” the Phoenix King saw his wife's extreme sorrow, knowing she wanted to be alone with their daughter. He felt the same, so he ordered the other demons to retreat.

“Yes!”

As the demons retreated, the Phoenix King came to the Phoenix Empress's side, gently embracing her waist, remaining silent.

The Phoenix Empress leaned her head on the Phoenix King's shoulder; with no other demons present, she could no longer suppress her emotions, and tears streamed from the corners of her eyes.

“Wait, what is that?” Suddenly, the Phoenix King seemed to notice something.

A faint purple light gradually emanated from Huang Xue's mutilated body.

Hearing the Phoenix King's voice, the Phoenix Empress looked towards her daughter.

The next moment, as if she had discovered something.

All the sadness on her face vanished, replaced by an expression of immense surprise and joy.

“This is… Nirvana!”