229: Chapter 229 Infiltrating the Demon Realm and Stealing the Demon Heart Lotus

The 47th hour of the Heavenly Court - First Generation sailing in the Void Realm.

On the holographic star map, a deep purple star was slowly rotating. That was the primary star of the Abyss Star Field—Abyssal Abyss, the headquarters of the Holy Demon Palace.

[Abyssal Abyss · Primary Star No. 1 of the Abyss Star Field]

[Diameter: 17,000 km]

[Population: Approx. 4.7 million (Holy Demon Race players + NPCs)]

[Defense Rank: ★★★★★★ (Mythic-Grade)]

[Garrison Forces:]

[1. Holy Demon Palace Headquarters: Saint-Grade Players × 7 (Level 81-85)]

[2. Abyssal Abyss Guard: Level 80 Elites × 17,000]

[3. Abyss Restriction: Covers the entire planet; any outsider entering will trigger an alarm]

[4. Demon Eye Surveillance: Saint-Grade Demon Eye × 3, capable of scanning any life fluctuations within a 1,000 km radius]

---

Lin Ye stood in the center of the command deck.

He looked at that deep purple star.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"How do we get in?" he said.

---

Qin Ruoxue pulled up a piece of intelligence.

[Abyssal Abyss · Infiltration Route · Top Secret]

[Source: A secret agent from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion who went undercover in the Holy Demon Palace for 3 years (Deceased)]

[Completeness: 73%]

[Infiltration Plan:]

[1. Disguise as a Holy Demon Race player and enter through the "Abyssal Abyss Teleportation Array"]

[2. Must possess a "Holy Demon Token" (Holy Demon Palace identity credential)]

[3. Must simulate the Holy Demon Race's aura with a synchronization rate (error ≤ 3%)]

[4. Must act during the gaps in Demon Eye surveillance (a 3-second blind spot every 17 minutes)]

[5. Target Location: Abyssal Abyss 7th Layer · Forbidden Ground · Nine Nether Demon Heart Lotus]

---

Lin Ye looked at the line "Must simulate the Holy Demon Race's aura with a synchronization rate."

3 seconds.

He turned around.

Looking at Su Qingyue.

---

Su Qingyue walked to his side.

She took his hand.

3 seconds.

She let go.

"30% synchronization rate," she said.

"Is it enough?"

---

Lin Ye shook his head.

"Not enough," he said.

"Need at least 50%."

---

He paused.

"But I have the bronze ghost mask."

---

From his Storage Ring, he took out the bronze mask he had obtained from the abyss of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land.

[bronze ghost mask · Evolved Type]

[Type: Special Mask]

[Quality: Legendary-Grade (Growth-type)]

[Description: After absorbing the five elements dragon soul and Chaos Dragon Qi, the bronze ghost mask has evolved. It can now perfectly simulate the aura of any race, with an error ≤ 1%.]

[Current Effects:]

[1. Transformation: Can perfectly transform into any race ever seen (including the Holy Demon Race)]

[2. Concealment: When worn, aura concealment effect +95%, can block all detection below Saint-Grade]

[3. Ghost Mask Might: Deals an additional 100% damage to ghosts/undead/grudge-type creatures]

[4. Holy Demon Simulation: Can simulate the Holy Demon Race's aura with an error ≤ 1%, lasting for 24 hours]

[5. Usage Requirement: Divine Sense ≥ 10,000 (Lin Ye's current Divine Sense: 12,700)]

---

Lin Ye put the mask on his face.

Bronze light surged from the edges of the mask, covering his entire body.

After 3 seconds.

He turned into a Holy Demon Race man, 2.1 meters tall, surrounded by Abyssal Devilish Qi.

[Transformation Target: Holy Demon Race · Ordinary Warrior]

[Aura Simulation Degree: 99.7%]

[Duration: 24 hours]

---

Su Qingyue looked at him.

"What about me?" she asked.

---

Lin Ye took out another mask from his robes.

[Frost Mask · Imitation Version]

[Type: Special Item]

[Quality: Epic-Grade]

[Description: A mask imitated by Qin Ruoxue based on the bronze ghost mask, capable of simulating the aura of ice-type races.]

[Effects:]

[1. Transformation: Can transform into frost-type races (such as Ice Demons, Frost Wraiths, etc.)]

[2. Concealment: Aura concealment effect +70%]

[3. Duration: 12 hours]

---

Su Qingyue took the mask.

She put it on her face.

Ice-blue light surged out.

She turned into an Ice Demon woman, 1.9 meters tall, surrounded by frost mist.

---

The two looked at each other.

3 seconds.

They laughed at the same time.

---

The 17th minute.

The Heavenly Court - First Generation entered the "blind spot" on the outskirts of Abyssal Abyss.

That was the only blind spot in the Demon Eye surveillance.

Lasting for 3 seconds.

---

Lin Ye and Su Qingyue stepped out of the cabin door.

Entering the Void Realm.

Drifting toward the Abyssal Abyss Teleportation Array.

---

The 31st second.

They landed on the teleportation array.

[Abyssal Abyss Teleportation Array · Activated]

[Visitor detected...]

[Verifying identity...]

---

Lin Ye's heart tightened slightly.

If the bronze ghost mask failed...

---

[Verification passed]

[Welcome back, Holy Demon Race Warrior · Cassius]

[Please proceed to the 7th Layer · Forbidden Ground outskirts]

---

The teleportation array glowed.

The two vanished into the light.

---

The 47th second.

They stood on the 7th layer of Abyssal Abyss.

[Abyssal Abyss 7th Layer · Forbidden Ground Outskirts]

[Environment: Eternal darkness, with only the occasional flicker of purple demonic light in the distance]

[Temperature: -170°C]

[Gravity: 3.7G]

[Devilish Qi Concentration: Abyss Star Field Standard × 1,700%]

[Forbidden Ground Entrance: 3 km ahead, guarded by 3 Saint-Grade guards]

---

Lin Ye's Divine Sense expanded.

[Divine Sense Scan · 1,000m Radius]

[Detected:]

[1. Saint-Grade Guards × 3 (Level 82-83) — Forbidden Ground Entrance]

[2. Elite Patrol Squads × 17 (Level 78-80) — Forbidden Ground Outskirts]

[3. Nine Nether Demon Heart Lotus — Deep within the Forbidden Ground, approximately 7 km away]

---

He withdrew his Divine Sense.

Looking at Su Qingyue.

"3 Saint-Grades," he said.

"17 elites."

"7 kilometers."

---

Su Qingyue did not speak.

But she tightened her grip on his hand.

---

The 73rd minute.

They bypassed the 7th patrol squad.

Standing before the entrance to the Forbidden Ground.

Three Saint-Grade guards stood at the entrance.

[Holy Demon Palace · Forbidden Ground Guard]

[No. 1: Level 82 · Abyss Demonic Body · Combat Power 430,000]

[No. 2: Level 82 · Abyss Demonic Body · Combat Power 420,000]

[No. 3: Level 83 · Abyss Demonic Body · Combat Power 450,000]

---

Lin Ye looked at them.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

The smile was faint.

Very cold.

---

He took out the bronze ghost mask.

[Ghost Mask · Holy Demon Disguise · Activated]

---

His aura instantly transformed into that of a "Holy Demon Race Advanced Warrior."

He strode toward the entrance.

---

Guard No. 1 looked at him.

"Cassius?" he said.

"Aren't you on the 3rd layer?"

---

Lin Ye spoke.

His voice was identical to the real Cassius.

"By order of Your Highness Zachariah," he said.

"I have come to retrieve the Nine Nether Demon Heart Lotus."

---

Guard No. 1 frowned.

"Retrieve the Demon Heart Lotus?" he said.

"Without His Highness's written order, no one may enter."

---

Lin Ye took a token from his robes.

[Zachariah · Private Token · Imitation Version]

[Purchased from the black market by Qin Ruoxue using 3 Ancient Mechanical Cores]

---

Guard No. 1 took the token.

He examined it closely.

3 seconds.

He nodded.

"Go in," he said.

---

Lin Ye stepped forward.

Entering the Forbidden Ground.

Su Qingyue followed behind him.

---

The 91st minute.

They stood before the Nine Nether Demon Heart Lotus.

It was a massive lotus, 1.7 meters in diameter.

The petals were deep purple.

The pistil was crimson.

Countless intricate demonic runes flickered on the petals.

With every flicker, a visible ripple of Devilish Qi spread outward.

[Nine Nether Demon Heart Lotus · Saint-Grade]

[Type: Saint-Grade Core Materials]

[Description: A Saint-Grade spiritual item unique to the Abyss Star Field, blooming once every 100,000 years. The pistil can be used to refine a substitute for the "karmic fire red lotus," and the petals can refine "Saint-Grade Demon Pills."]

[Guardian: The Demon Heart Lotus itself possesses consciousness, Level 80]

---

Lin Ye reached out.

Touching the petals.

---

[Warning: Demon Heart Lotus awakening]

[Rank: Level 80]

[Status: Hostile]

---

The petals of the Demon Heart Lotus suddenly closed.

A beam of deep purple light shot out from the pistil.

[Demon Heart Lotus · Attack]

[Damage: 47,000 points]

[Special Effect: Devilish Qi Erosion, -5,000 points per second, lasting for 30 seconds]

---

Lin Ye did not dodge.

He tanked it.

[Chaos Dragon Scale · Triggered]

[80% reduction]

[Actual Damage: 9,400 points]

[Health: 100% → 97%]

---

The 1st second.

His sword pierced the pistil.

[Nine Strikes of Chaos · First Strike · Delusion Breaking]

[Damage Dealt: 141,000 points]

[Demon Heart Lotus Health: 470,000 → 329,000]

---

The 1.3th second.

The second sword strike.

[141,000 points]

[329,000 → 188,000]

---

The 1.7th second.

The third sword strike.

[141,000 points]

[188,000 → 47,000]

---

The 2nd second.

The fourth sword strike.

[47,000 points]

[47,000 → 0]

---

[Killed · Level 80 Demon Heart Lotus]

---

The Demon Heart Lotus withered.

A fist-sized, deep purple crystal rolled out from the pistil.

[Nine Nether Demon Heart Lotus · Core]

[Type: Saint-Grade Materials]

[Effect: Can substitute for the "karmic fire red lotus"]

---

Lin Ye put it into his robes.

---

[System Notification: You have obtained "Nine Nether Demon Heart Lotus" × 1]

[Materials Progress: 3/9 → 4/9]

---

He turned around.

Looking at Su Qingyue.

"Let's go," he said.

---

But it was too late.

---

The 2.3rd second.

A roar came from the direction of the Forbidden Ground entrance.

"There's an intruder!"

"The Demon Heart Lotus has been stolen!"

---

Three Saint-Grade guards rushed in.

Followed by 17 elites.

---

They looked at Lin Ye.

Looking at the still-glowing Nine Nether Demon Heart Lotus in his hand.

---

Guard No. 1's eyes turned red.

"Cassius?!" he roared.

"You betrayed the Holy Demon Palace?!"

---

Lin Ye did not speak.

He took off the mask.

Revealing his true face.

---

"Night Emperor?!" Guard No. 1's pupils constricted.

"The Night Emperor of the Heavenly Court?!"

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

2.7 seconds. Three Saint-Grade simultaneously attacked.

--- Abyss Domain expanded. Triple stacking. [Damage per second: 51,000 points] [All attributes -30%]

--- Lin Ye stood in the center of the Domain. His HP: 97% → 92% → 87% → 82%. 5,100 points per second.

--- He turned around. He looked at Su Qingyue. "You go first," he said.

--- Su Qingyue shook her head. "We leave together," she said.

--- 3 seconds. Lin Ye expanded the Chaos Domain. Gray light collided with the abyss mist.

[Law Conflict] [Chaos Power +30%] [Abyss Domain -30%] Damage per second: 51,000 → 35,700 points.

--- 3.3 seconds. He raised his sword. [Nine Strikes of Chaos · Sixth Strike · Burning Heaven] [Range: 50 meters] [Damage: 500%]

--- Gray flames erupted from the tip of the sword. They engulfed 17 elites. [Kills × 17]

--- But the three Saint-Grade were still there.

--- 3.7 seconds. Guard No. 1's demonic claw swiped down. Lin Ye's 1st flash. Dodged. 2nd flash. He appeared behind Guard No. 2. The 5th sword strike pierced his back. [141,000 points] [No. 2 HP: 100% → 97%]

--- 4 seconds. Guard No. 3's demonic sword slashed down. Lin Ye's 3rd flash. Dodged. The 6th sword strike severed the demonic sword.

--- 4.3 seconds. Guard No. 1's Abyss demonic claw swiped down again. This time, Lin Ye did not dodge. He blocked it with his body.

--- Because behind him, was Su Qingyue.

--- [Demonic Claw Damage: 47,000 points] [Chaos Dragon Scale · Triggered] [Reduction 80%] [Actual Damage: 9,400 points] [HP: 82% → 80.5%]

--- 4.7 seconds. Su Qingyue made her move. [Guanghan Immortal Domain · Expanded] [Range: 500 meters] [Effect: All enemy units take 30,000 points of Ice-type damage per second, Movement Speed -90%]

--- Ice-blue light surged from within her. It intertwined with the gray and purple. The movements of the three Saint-Grade instantly slowed by 90%.

--- 5 seconds. Lin Ye seized the opportunity. [Nine Strikes of Chaos · Seventh Strike · Reincarnation] [Target: Guard No. 1] [Damage: 600%] [Instant Death Probability: 10%]

--- The gray sword light pierced into Guard No. 1's chest. [Damage Dealt: 282,000 points] [No. 1 HP: 100% → 40%] [Instant Death Check: Failed]

--- Guard No. 1 did not die. But he was heavily injured.

--- 5.3 seconds. Guard No. 2 and Guard No. 3 simultaneously lunged at Su Qingyue.

--- Lin Ye's 4th flash. He blocked in front of her. The 8th sword strike. The 9th sword strike.

--- 5.7 seconds. Guard No. 2 HP: 97% → 79% → 61% → 43%. Guard No. 3 HP: 100% → 82% → 64% → 46%.

--- But they were still there.

--- 6 seconds. Guard No. 1 recovered. Three Saint-Grade. They surrounded them again.

--- Lin Ye's Divine Power: 70% → 31%. Su Qingyue's Divine Power: 80% → 42%.

--- He looked at Su Qingyue. "Go," he said. "Now."

--- Su Qingyue shook her head. "I'm not leaving," she said.

--- 6.3 seconds. Three Saint-Grade attacked simultaneously.

--- Lin Ye did not hesitate. He raised his left hand. [Chaos Return to Ruin] [Consumption: 70% Divine Power] [Range: 100-meter radius] [Duration: 3 seconds]

--- The gray Domain expanded with him as the center. The three Saint-Grade were swallowed into the Domain.

--- [Chaos Return to Ruin · Devour] [Deals 50% max HP as True Damage per second] [No. 1 HP: 40% → 0%] [No. 2 HP: 43% → 0%] [No. 3 HP: 46% → 0%]

--- [Kills × 3]

--- The Domain dissipated. Lin Ye stood in place. His Divine Power: 31% → 0%. His HP: 80.5% → 80.5% (Return to Ruin does not consume HP). But he was still standing.

--- He turned around. He looked at Su Qingyue. "Go," he said.

--- Su Qingyue nodded. The two rushed toward the Forbidden Ground exit.

--- 6.7 seconds. They rushed out of the Forbidden Ground. They stood on the teleportation array.

--- But the teleportation array had already been blocked. [Abyss Teleportation Array · Emergency Blockade] [Reason: Intruder Alert] [Unlock Time: 17 minutes later]

--- Lin Ye looked at the line "17 minutes". 3 seconds. He smiled. The smile was faint. Very cold.

--- He turned around. He looked at the second batch of Saint-Grade guards chasing them. This time, there were four.

--- 7 seconds. He raised his left hand again. [Chaos Return to Ruin · Secondary Activation] [Divine Power: 0% → Unable to activate]

--- He froze. Divine Power 0%. Return to Ruin could not be used.

--- 7.3 seconds. Four Saint-Grade lunged.

--- Su Qingyue blocked in front of him. [Guanghan Incarnation · Activation] [Create a Moon Essence Clone, possessing 70% of the main body's combat power]

--- The ice-blue Clone rushed toward the four Saint-Grade. It entangled them for 3 seconds.

--- 7.7 seconds. The Clone was shattered. The four Saint-Grade lunged again.

--- Lin Ye gripped his sword tightly. Preparing for a final stand.

--- 8 seconds. A beam of ice-blue light surged from within Su Qingyue. [Moon Essence Baptism] [Restore 50% of self's max HP] [Clear all negative status effects]

--- She recovered. But this was not an attack skill.

--- 8.3 seconds. She blocked in front of Lin Ye again. [Guanghan Immortal Domain · Secondary Expansion]

--- Ice-blue light surged out again. The movements of the four Saint-Grade slowed by 90%.

--- But this time, her Divine Power was also exhausted. [Su Qingyue · Divine Power: 42% → 0%]

--- She stood in place. No defense. No attack. Only her body.

--- 8.7 seconds. Guard No. 1's demonic claw swiped at her.

--- Lin Ye rushed over. He blocked it with his body. [Demonic Claw Damage: 47,000 points] [HP: 80.5% → 73%]

--- 9 seconds. Guard No. 2's demonic sword stabbed over. He blocked it again. [73% → 65.5%]

--- 9.3 seconds. Guard No. 3's demonic fist smashed over. He blocked it again. [65.5% → 58%]

--- 9.7 seconds. Guard No. 4's demonic claw swiped over. He blocked it again. [58% → 50.5%]

--- He stood in place. Covered in blood. But he did not fall.

--- Su Qingyue stood behind him. She looked at him. In those ice-blue eyes, there were tears.

--- "Go," he said.

--- She shook her head.

--- 10 seconds. Five Saint-Grade. They lunged simultaneously.

--- Lin Ye closed his eyes. Preparing to take the final blow.

--- Then. A familiar voice rang out. "Boss." "We are here."

--- He opened his eyes. Shi Potian stood in front of him. His left fist had just smashed a Saint-Grade away.

--- Behind him. Zhou Tieshan, Chu Yunxi, Lu Xinghe. Everyone had arrived.

--- Shi Potian turned around. He looked at him. 3 seconds. He smiled. The smile was exactly the same as when he smashed the breastbone of a Level 67 Holy Demon Race. "Level 78," he said. "To fight Level 82, it's enough."

--- Lin Ye did not speak. But he clenched his left fist.

--- 10.3 seconds. 5 Saint-Grade vs 5 Humans.

--- Shi Potian vs No. 1. Zhou Tieshan vs No. 2. Chu Yunxi vs No. 3. Lu Xinghe vs No. 4. Lin Ye vs No. 5.

--- 11 seconds. No. 1 fell. 11.3 seconds. No. 2 fell. 11.7 seconds. No. 3 fell. 12 seconds. No. 4 fell. 12.3 seconds. No. 5 fell.

--- 5 Saint-Grade. All wiped out.

--- Lin Ye stood in place. He looked at those 5 people. Shi Potian. Zhou Tieshan. Chu Yunxi. Lu Xinghe. And Su Qingyue behind him.

--- 3 seconds. He smiled. The smile was light. Very faint. Carrying a trace of... gratitude. "Thank you," he said.

--- No one spoke. But 5 people, 5 pairs of eyes, were all looking at him.

--- 13 seconds. The teleportation array was unblocked. 7 people disappeared into the light.

--- 47 minutes. [Heavenly Court - First Generation] Command Cabin. Lin Ye stood in front of the holographic star map. In his arms, there was an extra deep-purple crystal. [Nine Nether Demon Heart Lotus] [Material Progress: 4/9 → 5/9]

--- But Su Qingyue was lying in the medical pod. Her HP: 50.5% → 37%. On her left shoulder, there was a claw mark deep enough to see the bone. That was the blow she blocked for him at the last moment.

--- Lin Ye stood in front of the medical pod. He looked at her inside the pod. 3 seconds. He clenched his fist.

--- [System Prompt: Remaining Materials] [6. karma thread — Darkness Church Headquarters] [7. reincarnation stone — Kingdom of the Undead · Underworld God Temple] [8. Saint-Grade Phoenix Feather — Phoenix Race Ancestral Land (Not yet obtained)] [9. Saint-Grade Tortoise Shell — Xuanwu Race Ancestral Land (Not yet obtained)]

--- He looked at those three light points. 3 seconds. He spoke. "Wait for her to recover," he said. "We go together."

--- No one spoke. But 7 people, 7 pairs of eyes, were all looking at him.

--- [Chapter 229 · End]