Chapter 26:

Chong Yan touched his chest, which was still cold.

But something was different.

He let go of his hand.

After a while, he touched it again.

Being able to sense his heart was unfamiliar to the ancient gods and demons. In his empty chest, even the faintest sensation, albeit weak, made him feel a warm sense of closeness.

He liked being near her.

He liked her kisses.

For the ancient demon that had been frozen and sealed away for so long, Chong Yan raised his eyes ever so slightly and watched as Yao Yao sat by the shore, engrossed in playing with the blood spirit pearls that had fallen from her.

Yao Yao didn’t dislike this fever she had.

Although it was a bug in her role as a blood bag character that caused her to faint from the heat every now and then, now she didn’t need to extract blood, and the blood spirit pearls she manifested were quite useful. She counted on her fingers, thinking about what she could exchange for in the store.

Chong Yan silently watched her.

She probably didn’t know what she had done.

The ancient forbidden technique, powered by the supreme red fire of the Goddess Empress’s Jinzhu, had penetrated every inch of his soul from above his head, instantly freezing all vitality and sealing his heart. However, a small crack had been gently melted by the warm golden spiritual flow in the palm of the girl.

Even if it was just a crack, it surpassed the heavens and the earth, surpassing anyone’s capabilities.

Her bloodline and spiritual power were so precious that they would be coveted by various people and forces.

But she was so soft and weak.

The powerful ancient demon felt a surge of indescribable panic.

He was difficult to kill, difficult to be killed. But she wasn’t.

He had to be by her side to protect her at all times.

But her bloodline was now intertwined with the heavenly fate, and it would eventually be driven by fate.

Chong Yan thought of the exclusive fate mark left on that huge hourglass and the person who was nourished by the power of the world. His tail dangerously tightened behind him.

He wouldn’t allow them to obtain any of his powers again.

Once upon a time, the young beast was unaware, having its eyes gouged out and its heart dissected, its spine peeled away. Yet, it could still patiently remain in the abyss, waiting for his arrival.

But now, it was no longer possible.

He would reclaim his heart, his dragon bone, and become an unrivaled deity.

To protect the one thing he cared about.

Chong Yan’s figure enveloped her tiny back, tightly surrounding her as if unable to resist the urge to embrace her.

But he had just felt his heart, felt the faintest of emotions. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control himself, so he reluctantly restrained himself, lightly circling her with his tail.

Yao Yao clapped her hands, blissfully unaware.

She put away the fallen little pearls and took a glance at the high-grade spirit stones piled up in her treasure chest. She felt like a mighty little rich lady and happily clapped her hands before exiting her sea of consciousness.

Only then did she feel Chong Yan’s tail tip encircling her, carrying a sense of protection, yet also intimacy.

Yao Yao reached out and touched it.

It was smooth and cool to the touch, feeling nice in her hands, suited for her, a baby with a higher body temperature.

The silver tail tip with scars trembled, but it didn’t withdraw.

It’s progress, Yao Yao thought.

Previously, Chong Yan would never allow her to examine his true form in beast shape too closely, nor would he let her figure out the extent of his injuries. But just now, she had her palm against his heart, and Chong Yan didn’t refuse.

She must be too powerful, and her formidable strength had gained the recognition of this fierce beast.

The self-evaluation of the child took another step forward.

“So, where exactly is that heart located?”

She held onto Chong Yan’s tail, simultaneously touching and pondering.

“It’s not in the seabed, so it should be in a very secretive place.”

“Otherwise, with such a strong spiritual power field, wouldn’t it have been discovered long ago?”

Apart from the elusive secret realm and the deserted underwater world, where else can be secretive enough?

As Yao Yao pondered, she couldn’t help but touch.

She couldn’t resist the pleasant sensation, as if she held a block of moving ice in her hand.

Being touched by her for a while, Chong Yan’s pale ear gradually turned red.

Then, he became restless, unable to sit still.

In the end, he couldn’t bear it any longer and slowly spoke, “I can feel it.”

Fate had already been set in motion, and the scattered organs would appear one by one.

Once there was a trace, Chong Yan would immediately sense it, so…

Chong Yan’s amber-colored pupils turned slightly red. “Stop touching.”

His tail.

“Oh.” Yao Yao thought he didn’t want to be petted anymore, so she obediently let go.

Being able to let her casually touch him for so long was already good enough. It meant that their relationship was getting better, and Yao Yao was satisfied.

Take it slowly, maybe next time she could touch him for an hour. Hehe.

The silver-white tail wing behind Chong Yan brushed against him and uncontrollably twitched, silently lowering its gaze.

His fingers curled up.

Spikes extended from his arm to his fingertips, representing a restlessness that beasts couldn’t control.

As for why he was restless, Chong Yan wasn’t sure, so he had to bite his lip and endure.

The ancient demon were not known for displaying many emotions. The face of the godlike creature was usually devoid of expression, so Yao Yao didn’t realize that Chong Yan’s tightened lips and trembling eyelashes were signs of great difficulty.

It was different from the feeling of a kiss.

The unfamiliar emotions in the heart of this ancient demon grew even stronger.

Finally.

Before leaving this eastern sea territory, Yao Yao released the large hourglass they had brought from the underground.

Although they didn’t find the heart of the ancient demon, this trip to the sea was still fruitful. Yao Yao’s bloodline and spiritual power became even stronger. As long as the hourglass didn’t fall into the hands of the male protagonist, it would be considered a victory.

After all, according to the original plot, the male protagonist would heal after being injured repeatedly and, with the power buried deep in the sea, achieve a strength close to ascension.

From then on, he would not only defeat Ji Rong, who was influenced by Yao Yao, but also launch a relentless attack on the ancient demon, ultimately tearing them apart.

And the only thing that hadn’t changed was that he would be injured repeatedly.

Under the bombardment of Chong Yan’s ice flames in the depths of the sea, even with the strong heavenly luck and plot armor, the male protagonist would be beaten half to death.

Yao Yao felt extremely satisfied.

After careful consideration, the immense power here should be returned to its rightful owner.

Returned to this sea.

Although Little Black Snake would be sad because it grew overnight, this was probably the pain it had to go through for growth.

Yao Yao nodded solemnly.

Then she turned to Chong Yan and asked, “Can you open this?”

Chong Yan paused for a moment before looking up. “Hmm.”

The Hourglass of Azure Feathers.

The indomitable fate seal left on it was theoretically difficult to open for anyone other than the chosen one.

If it were the previous ancient demon, it would indeed be impossible.

But now, his divine power had been restored to sixty percent by her.

Moreover, the giant beast inside was restless.

The restlessness of the beast made him really want to crush something to distract from that inexplicable restlessness.

So Chong Yan’s pale fingers opened and covered it. Veins appeared on the back of his hand, and then cracks slowly spread across the Hourglass of Azure Feathers in his palm.

The power buried for thousands of years turned into flowing sand particles, appearing on the crystal surface.

The sea began to resonate with it.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the Eastern Sea, chaos reigned.

There was a sudden intense disturbance beneath the Eastern Sea, indicating that the ancient fire, dormant for thousands of years, was about to erupt again. It had been ten days since the Canglan Gathering began.

Unlike the land, where people were unaware of what was happening at the extreme of the Eastern Sea, the situation was undoubtedly extremely serious due to the reawakening of the ancient fire.

The records from the Qiongyan Island thousands of years ago documented how the fire had killed countless deep-sea creature, which would be catastrophic for the Eastern Sea realm.

Qiongyan Island had made urgent preparations, even the members of the Lan family, led by the family head and the young master, knelt in their ancestral hall, fearing that they would anger the god of the deep sea and bring calamity to the Eastern Sea. They fervently prayed for the protection of the Eastern Sea by the god of the deep sea.

However, after a period of turmoil, the underwater world returned to calm.

“What… what’s going on?”

“The fire has actually subsided.”

This was impossible. No human power could calm down such a catastrophe. Who was it that managed to quell the fire?

Could it be the chosen Sword Saint, who had obtained the power?

The Lan family had to send people to guard the shore and even dispatched a team to salvage the cultivators at sea. The result was surprising – except for a few who were unconscious and pushed out by the sea god from the deep-sea vortex, the other cultivators who made it to the shore were actually not seriously injured.

While the Lan family provided assistance, they also gathered information.

Who was the one who ultimately obtained the treasure? Was it Li Cangyan?

Coincidentally, disciples from the Wuji Sect also began to emerge. Although they looked disheveled and struggled to adapt to the spiritual energy and pressure of the sea, they were still able to move normally.

Only Su Yilin looked miserable, crying as she grabbed onto Lan Congshu’s sleeve.

“Brother Cangyan is still down there!”

At the time when they forcibly passed through the ancient stone, she was with Li Cangyan. Although they weren’t directly hit by the ice flames, they were still seriously injured. They had originally thought that they could ascend when they left the sea and undergo the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation together, allowing the world to witness that moment. However, their ascension failed, and they were both heavily injured.

This result was unexpected for everyone in the Lan family and all the onlookers waiting for the outcome of the Canglan Gathering.

“Who… who took the treasure at the extreme of the Eastern Sea?”

“It’s Ji Yao again,” a disciple from the Wuji Sect responded discontentedly.

The Lan family was immediately shocked, and their expressions gradually changed.

Ji Yao’s position in the hearts of the people in the Eastern Sea would be extraordinary from now on.

They had guarded the Black Snake totem for thousands of years, and their perception of the sea far exceeded that of others. They quickly sensed that the god of the deep sea was no longer nearby; it had left the protected Eastern Sea realm.

Their silent consent to the capital had angered the god of the deep sea. However, before the sea god left, it had protected one person.

Yes, she truly deserved the blessing of the sea god, having been seen and blessed by the sea god in person.

They were wrong from the beginning.

Lan Congshu and the family head exchanged a glance, both understanding one thing – from now on, Qiongyan Island in the Eastern Sea would regard Ji Yao as the deep-sea envoy. They would offer her the treasures of the deep sea, treating her as the sea god.

She was the only one who could represent the faith of the deep sea.

Qiongyan Island would establish a good relationship with the Chang Sword Sect, and if possible, they would even try to push for a marriage alliance.

“You go and save him!” Su Yilin shouted in pain. “If it weren’t for Ji Yao, Brother Cangyan wouldn’t have been so heavily injured.”

“It’s all because of her.”

Lan Congshu couldn’t help feeling dissatisfied. Now, in the hearts of everyone in the Lan family Ji Yao’s position was second only to the god of the deep sea.

But in front of everyone, Lan Congshu still maintained some decorum. “Miss Su, rest assured, we will do everything we can to find the Sword Saint and ensure his safety.”

“You don’t know,” Su Yilin’s face suddenly revealed a malicious expression. “That devil, the ancient demon, has also appeared. It was that monster who injured Brother Cangyan.”

Lan Congshu’s expression immediately changed. “Miss Su, is this true?”

If the ancient demon appeared in the Eastern Sea, would Ji Yao be in danger?

At present, no one knew the whereabouts of the ancient demon, and the various domains of the Four regions of Spirit Continent were afraid of this demon appearing in their territories. If he had indeed appeared in the deep sea, it would be a disaster for the Lan family. They had to prepare for a higher level of vigilance than facing the ancient fire.

“Of course, it’s true. You can ask them. Isn’t it that devil?” Su Yilin widened her eyes in disbelief.

If the fleeting glimpse of the giant claw wasn’t enough to recognize, the blue-green extreme freezing ice flame – besides that monster, who else could emit it?

Lan Congshu looked at the group of cultivators who emerged from the sea. However, their expressions seemed inexplicably complicated.

Su Yilin stared at them with disbelief. “Why are you silent? Wasn’t it that devil?”

If the ancient demon had truly appeared, heavily injuring Sword Saint Li Cangyan…

However, no matter how much Su Yilin jumped around, no one responded, their expressions varied.

The demon indeed severely injured the Sword Saint, but it also suppressed the underground fire.

If it weren’t for that, they would probably all be hiding at the bottom of the sea by now.

But how could a demon save people?

Speaking of this matter is truly shocking, no one would believe it.

So in the end, they just fell silent.

The news of the Eastern Sea spread throughout the Spirit Continent.

The Jun Capital, the Supreme Emperor.

In the Golden Luanyuan Hall where the spiritual energy was most abundant, a gilded cup was smashed to pieces with a loud crash.

“What? You didn’t get it?”

The leaping golden flame projected behind the screen, swaying and swaying, outlining the figure of a woman.

The Hourglass was stored in the remote and hidden extreme of the Eastern Sea, slumbering for countless years, prepared for only one person. How could it fail?

There was silence in the Golden Luanyuan Hall, only the silent gaze in the void responded to her.

All of this should have followed the order written by Fate’s year wheel, but who exactly is repeatedly disrupting the outcome?

The figure raised her delicately painted fingers and lightly pinched her brow.

However, the Hourglass was engraved with a unique set of destiny parameters, and only the destined person can draw power from it.

And in this world, no one can forcefully break through the barrier of the Hourglass.

The only “person” with that power should still be enduring the weakening of ancient spells.

Relentlessly weakening his power that was too strong, so strong that it was terrifying.

Yes, terrifying.

The demon fetus born from the forbidden ancient technique, he was born with a ferocious distortion, yet possessed a power that made all the gods and Buddhas fear him.

He possessed the infinite compassion of the Nine Heavens and the surging power of the boundless demon within his colossal divine body.

If he were allowed to grow up normally, there would be no one in the Nine Heavens who could suppress him.

Therefore, carving him, dissecting him, is only for the balance of the Heavenly Dao.

As long as no one can undo the influence of the ancient spells, his power will endlessly dissipate, and it would be impossible to break the barrier of the Hourglass.

The power accumulated over countless millennia can only belong to one person.

This is the glory of those foolish creatures from the deep sea.

Thinking of this, the woman’s figure finally leaned back on the table, slowly closing her eyes. Even if the Hourglass failed, it would eventually be left to the destined person.

And the true heart of the demon is…

Suddenly, her eyes opened.

She forcefully pushed aside the bead curtain in front of her and looked into the distance.

A powerful deep-sea spiritual energy, like the fluctuation of tens of thousands of spiritual ores exploding, spread across the Spirit Continent.

The Hourglass of azure feathers was crushed by human hands.

“It’s been crushed.”

Yao Yao looked at the countless specks scattered among the waves, twinkling like traces of time.

She clapped her hands excitedly.

“You have such great strength, Chong Yan.” Yao Yao praised.

Chong Yan glanced at her silently.

Actually, this is not about strength.

But…

The ferocious beast nodded, “Hmm.”

After all, beasts are meant to display their power.

Some beasts display colors, feathers, or appearances. Chong Yan can only display his power and the potential wealth he possesses.

Yao Yao looked at the sea, which had returned to calm after the disturbance, feeling relieved. At this moment, she still had no idea that she had become the envoy of the entire Eastern Sea.

Chong Yan looked up towards the distance.

The eyes of the fallen god returned to their position.

The Hourglass of azure feathers had been destroyed.

That person should have sensed the change in destiny.

It didn’t matter.

The fierce demon touched his chest with his hand.

Whoever dares to steal his treasure, he will kill them.

At the other end of the sea, fate also swept towards the great black snake.

He swept his tail and looked towards himself, feeling as if time was rushing by.

Wen Yu couldn’t understand the implications at the moment and only felt that his burned and charred body had become stronger and more powerful.

The big black snake looked down.

After bringing the little Pearl’s “father” out of the sea, he had lain on the beach seemingly dead for a while, but then he woke up.

It seemed that Pearl’s father was considered quite strong among the human cultivators. He had killed a lot of sea monsters and even fought with the person who started the fire.