Chapter 39: A Supreme Master at the Pinnacle of the Dao (Part 3)

"Don't be anxious." Bai Li Song shook his head. "Since all of this is within Young Master Chen's grasp, and we are merely pieces on his chessboard, then even if Miss Huangfu hasn't yet unraveled the mysteries of heaven and earth, she must have another way to break through."

"The Lord of White Emperor City is right," Bing Muer agreed, frowning. "Could it be the painting that Young Master Chen gave me?"

"Little Princess, don't rush to use the painting just yet." Huangfu Meng shook her head. "Let me try playing the zither first."

"Alright." Bing Muer mused, "Back then, Young Master Chen said to open the painting only at the critical moment. We haven't even reached the Demon Emperor's stone coffin yet, so this likely isn't that crucial moment."

Huangfu Meng took out her ancient zither, her slender jade fingers dancing skillfully across the strings.

A stream of beautiful notes flowed from her fingertips, cleansing the heart and bringing tranquility to all who listened.

"The zither music of this so-called 'Immortal of Strings' might be able to soothe the beasts of the Endless Mountains, but what a joke!" someone nearly burst out laughing.

They mustn't forget—the Demon Emperor's stone coffin exists in another realm. What use could this music possibly serve? Could it shatter space itself?

Yet in the next instant, before everyone’s eyes, the entire Yin-Yang Dao Diagram suddenly began to shatter, piece by piece.

"Ah!" gasps of astonishment erupted all around.

"What does this mean?" Nalan Ruoshui's heart was overwhelmed by surging waves. "Could this Immortal’s zither music truly break through space, destroying the entire Yin-Yang Dao Diagram?"

Was the power of the zither truly so fearsome?

Bing Muer, Mu Wanqing, Elder Hua, Bai Li Song, and Nangong Ba were all rooted to the spot, hardly able to believe what they were witnessing.

"As expected—everything is within Young Master Chen's control!" Bai Li Song came to his senses, his elderly body trembling with excitement.

"No, that's not it!" Elder Hua cried out. "Miss Huangfu's music could never break space! There must be a powerful illusion array here. When we stepped into the Dao Diagram, our minds were ensnared. Everything we've experienced was nothing but illusion."

Everyone’s breath caught.

"Exactly!" Bing Muer agreed, nodding. "Though the Demon Emperor is from ages past, I don't believe even he could possess such heaven-defying powers as to place his own stone coffin in another realm. It was just a hallucination. Miss Huangfu's music cleared our minds, dispelling the illusion."

But those who had died before, and the disciple of the Sacred Sword Sect who had vanished earlier, did not reappear. They were forever lost in the illusion.

"So it was all an illusion. Damn that Demon Emperor—he really toyed with us this time!"

"The array is broken! Quickly, seize the Demon Emperor’s fortune!"

"Quickly!"

In an instant, all the assembled forces surged forward in a frenzy. Now that the Dao Diagram had vanished, all the deadly traps from before were gone as well. The crowd was in an uproar—mad with excitement.

This was the Demon Emperor’s tomb—who could resist the temptation?

The airships of the Sacred Sword Sect and Thousand Dragon Path wasted no time, transforming into streaks of light as they sped toward the Demon Emperor’s stone coffin. The airship from the Lord’s Mansion of Southern Domain County followed close behind.

Mu Wanqing, Bing Muer, and their companions were nearest to the stone coffin. In the blink of an eye, they stood before it.

"This is the Demon Emperor’s stone coffin! There must be some great fortune inside," Mu Wanqing was beside herself with excitement, unable to believe they stood at last before this legendary sarcophagus.

"It’s all thanks to Young Master Chen. Without him, we could never have reached such a great opportunity as the Demon Emperor’s tomb," Bai Li Song’s aged form shook with emotion. If they could seize this chance, their Skycloud Sect might soon rise from an earthly sect to a heavenly one.

The Demon Emperor’s stone coffin was massive—nearly two meters wide and three meters long. It was ancient and plain, emanating not the slightest trace of demonic energy.

"Little Princess, shall we open it now?" Elder Hua asked Bing Muer, excitement in his voice.

Though Bing Muer’s status was exalted and Elder Hua merely a servant, he would always seek her approval for any action.

Bing Muer’s gaze burned as she stared at the coffin. With a soft command, she said, "Open it!"

With Young Master Chen at her back, she had no fear—everything was under his control.

"Stop!" A clear voice rang out from behind.

A streak of light shot toward them, landing before them in a flash.

It was Zuo Xiangyu of Thousand Dragon Path.

"You people are not qualified to open the Demon Emperor’s stone coffin," Zuo Xiangyu declared coolly, a refined and gentle smile always lingering on his handsome face.

It made one itch to slap him.

"Zuo Xiangyu, what is the meaning of this?" Elder Hua’s expression turned cold. "Traditionally, those who break through the traps get first choice of the treasure. Do you intend to break this rule?"

"Hua, look at yourself—a mere outcast from the Lord’s Mansion of Southern Domain County. Are you really in a position to discuss rules with me?" Zuo Xiangyu’s voice was gentle as jade, but his manner was condescending and overbearing.

"These pitiful wretches, and you think they deserve the Demon Emperor’s fortune? What a joke!" came a sharp cry.

The speaker was none other than Bing Miaoguo.

In the next instant—

A rush of movement—

Bing Miaoguo, Elder Mu, and dozens of golden-armored guards from Southern Domain County charged forward, joining Zuo Xiangyu.

The crowd's faces changed.

"So that's it, Zuo Xiangyu—you’ve been secretly working with Southern Domain County all along?" Nalan Ruoshui’s voice was icy.

"Indeed." Zuo Xiangyu turned, smiling faintly at her. "I suggested working together before, but you ignored me. So I had to find another ally."

"All of you—leave, or die!"

At Bing Miaoguo’s side, Elder Mu suddenly shouted, unleashing an overwhelming aura that seemed to distort the very air.

Many could scarcely breathe under the pressure.

A peak Dao-transforming expert!

Faces blanched all around.

Even the formidable Nalan Ruoshui stared at Elder Mu in shock. "You’ve been hiding your strength all this time?"

"Why would I need to hide it? The foundation of Southern Domain County is not to be underestimated!" Elder Mu declared arrogantly. "Do you really think your Sacred Sword Sect, just because it’s a heavenly sect, can dominate the Southern Domain? Laughable! Nalan Ruoshui, if you’re wise, take your disciples and leave at once!"

Utter arrogance. Utter tyranny. But at this moment, Southern Domain County had the power to be so overbearing. The dozens of golden-armored guards each released terrifying auras as well.