Enter Through the Gates of Death, Exit Through the Gates of Life — The True Identity of the Demon Overlord's Son Exposed
Enter Through the Gates of Death, Exit Through the Gates of Life — The True Identity of the Demon Overlord’s Son Exposed
Hearing Bai Lian’er say this, Jun Fan nodded and began composing his words in his mind. But at that moment, he suddenly noticed subtle changes in the surrounding mountain terrain and landscape.
“What is this...”
Bai Lian’er’s delicate brows furrowed; she had noticed the change as well.
“Is that you, Bufan?”
An ethereal, otherworldly voice rang out, reaching the ears of both Jun Fan and Bai Lian’er.
“This... this is Ruoxi-jie’s voice.”
“Is that you, Ruoxi-jie...”
Hearing this voice, Jun Fan was first stunned, then joy flooded his face, and he couldn’t help but ask.
He had been planning to search for Jun Ruoxi’s whereabouts, yet unexpectedly, at this very moment, Jun Ruoxi had taken the initiative to find him.
Though this voice had not been heard for over six thousand years, he was all too familiar with it.
“It’s me, Ruoxi-jie. Where are you right now?”
Jun Fan’s voice was filled with irrepressible delight and excitement.
“Follow the sound, and you’ll find me.”
The ethereal voice rang out once more, also carrying a trace of excitement and joy.
“Jun Ruoxi.”
Bai Lian’er’s gaze shifted slightly. Then she followed behind Jun Fan, tracing the source of the voice all the way.
At this moment, deep within the Life Forbidden Area, there was a low, ancient well of bluestone, with purple mist rising and swirling from it, leading straight into the depths of the earth’s veins.
Within it, a blurry figure sat cross-legged, rising and sinking, as if cultivating, or as if self-sealed within.
It was a woman, utterly motionless, as if devoid of any vitality. Her skin was as white as mutton-fat jade, and a head of white hair cascaded down, concealing her face.
If any cultivator were here, they would be absolutely shocked, for the spring water within this ancient bluestone well was an extremely rare divine spring, flowing with colorful auspicious light, interwoven with chains of law — truly miraculous.
Moreover, the aura here was incomparably chaotic and terrifying. Even a Sacred Realm cultivator stepping in would instantly explode into dust, leaving nothing behind.
Beyond that, this ancient well contained an astonishing aura of life, as if it were the legendary Spring of Life itself.
The white-haired woman’s eyes were tightly shut, motionless, but now she seemed on the verge of opening them.
Finally, two terrifying divine beams shot out from her eyes, golden and brilliant, containing peerless divine might.
“Bufan, you’ve finally come. I’ve waited for you for six thousand years.”
The woman’s gaze became very gentle, though her body seemed unable to move, still sitting cross-legged in this place.
“Ruoxi-jie, are you inside this well?”
At this moment, Jun Fan’s shocked voice came from outside. Following the voice, he had found this place at once, but he only saw an ancient well and could not see Jun Ruoxi’s figure, which left him greatly astonished.
Behind him, Bai Lian’er, beneath her sleeve, was gripping a crystalline, jade-like Photographic Stone, quietly imprinting the many scenes of this place into it.
She discovered that this ancient well was extraordinary — it seemed to contain endless vitality, with immortal qi rising in steam, to the point that even her cultivation showed faint signs of loosening.
One must know, she was at the peak of the Sacred King Realm, and at this realm, she had not made a breakthrough for many years.
Yet now, because of a single well, she felt a mysterious transformation.
This shook her heart greatly.
What exactly was hidden within this well? Was Jun Ruoxi hiding inside it?
“I’m here. Bufan, don’t come near this place right now. With your current cultivation, you cannot do these things...”
Hearing Jun Fan’s words, Jun Ruoxi spoke from within the well, her eyes gentle. Though she was looking at the empty space before her, her gaze seemed to fall upon Jun Fan’s face.
“I understand, jiejie.”
Jun Fan nodded, but his heart was still shaken. He too could sense the profound mystery of this ancient well.
Soon, he remembered the important matter of this trip and prepared to speak, to warn Jun Ruoxi to be careful.
However, before he could say it, Jun Ruoxi had already shaken her head. “The things you want to say — I already know them. Here, they cannot find me. Unless it’s someone I wish to see, no one can see me.
Back then, the contract I made with Xi Yao was merely to stall her.
I know you have some doubts in your heart, but right now it’s difficult for me to explain anything to you. You only need to know this: only by using the key to open that Gates of Death can you find Father and personally ask him about these... truths.”
“The things I can tell you are actually not many.”
Hearing this, Jun Fan’s heart trembled violently. Could it be that the events of over six thousand years ago held some unknown secret? His poisoning by Xi Yao, and then his rebirth into a new life — was there actually another hidden story behind it all?
“A key? What is that? And the Gates of Death you mentioned, jiejie — where is it?”
Jun Fan’s heart was full of doubts at this moment, his mind in chaos.
“The key — I believe Father has already given it to you. As for the Gates of Death, I don’t know where it is either. Only the one holding the key can find the Gates of Death.”
Jun Ruoxi said slowly.
“Gates of Life, Gates of Death... could it be that this ancient well you’re in right now, jiejie, is precisely the Gates of Life?”
Jun Fan couldn’t help but ask, suddenly recalling a phrase his father had once said: enter through the Gates of Death, exit through the Gates of Life.
Back then, he had specifically asked about it, but his father had only smiled without speaking, never explaining.
Now it seemed these two matters were greatly connected.
Hearing this, Jun Ruoxi nodded. “What you said is correct. I am now responsible for guarding the Gates of Life. Before the Gates of Life opens, I cannot leave this place by even half a step.”
“I don’t have much time left. You need to quickly find where Father is. He should have very important matters to entrust to you.”
Hearing these words, the strange look in Bai Lian’er’s heart deepened. She knew that in the Demon World, there had long been rumors that between heaven and earth existed two gateways — one was the Gates of Life, the other the Gates of Death.
These two gateways were both laid down by the most ancient Absolute Beings of the Demon Race, containing countless formations, mysterious and unfathomable. Ordinary people who stumbled in by mistake would surely die.
And these two gateways were also tied to the Demon World’s greatest secret.
Her heart suddenly grew very curious. Jun Ruoxi clearly knew something.
The disappearance of the Six Demon Overlords — now it seemed there was another hidden story behind it.
Which meant her father’s years of flight, and even the death of her mother that it caused, were actually all connected to the Six Demon Overlords.
And her father had even foolishly regarded the Solar Demon Overlord as a brother, safeguarding the Brocade Bag for him for over six thousand years, and in the end even having her deliver it to Jun Bufan.
These six thousand years of hiding and being hunted — how truly ironic.
Thinking of all this, Bai Lian’er’s expression grew colder.
Afterward, Jun Fan and Jun Ruoxi, separated by an ancient well, began reminiscing about old times, recounting their experiences over the years. Bai Lian’er watched all of this with cold eyes, her jade hand gripping the Photographic Stone even tighter.
She had been somewhat worried earlier that Jun Ruoxi would notice her. Fortunately, the Jade Pendant left behind had finally proven reliable, and Jun Ruoxi had not detected her secret movements.
Bai Lian’er’s gaze was dark and deep.
Just moments ago, Jun Fan had actually refused to save her father, without the slightest consideration for why this matter had arisen in the first place.
Compared to Gu Changge’s cold hypocrisy, Jun Fan disgusted her even more.
Afterward, Jun Fan parted with Jun Ruoxi and went to find the Quelling Chaos King. Bai Lian’er, as he requested, concealed her figure within the void and did not show herself.
At the same time, she split off a wisp of her Dharma Body to deliver this Photographic Stone to Gu Changge, thus completing the task Gu Changge had assigned her.
The purge of this Life Forbidden Area naturally came to nothing in the end. The Quelling Chaos King led his great armies in searching the place inside and out, but found no trace of Jun Ruoxi or Jun Bufan, and in the end could only return empty-handed.
He figured that Jun Ruoxi and Jun Bufan had likely caught wind of things long ago and had fled before he arrived.
Though disappointed, he wasn’t surprised. After all, the two of them weren’t fools — how could they obediently stay there waiting for someone to come kill them?
However, Jun Fan did not return to the Imperial Capital with the great army. He planned to first search for the location of the Gates of Death. According to Jun Ruoxi, his father had left him the key to open the Gates of Death.
Only with this key could he find where the Gates of Death was.
As for where that key might be, he actually already had a guess in his heart.
In the process, he opened the Brocade Bag the Solar Demon Overlord had left for him. After learning the message left within, he stood dazed for a long time, unable to come back to his senses. In the end, his emotions were extraordinarily complicated, a mix of all five flavors in his heart.
Relief, anger, unwillingness, bewilderment... all of them at once.
In the end, he let out a long sigh. If things were truly as the Brocade Bag said — if all of this was just a misunderstanding — then what meaning did his revenge even have...
“Reporting to Your Majesty, your servant led troops to sweep the Life Forbidden Area thoroughly, but found no trace of Jun Ruoxi or Jun Bufan. Your servant suspects they fled long ago and did not choose to remain there.
Your servant arrived too late...”
“I beg Her Majesty the Empress for forgiveness.”
Within the resplendent, golden imperial palace, the Quelling Chaos King, having returned from the Life Forbidden Area, was now reporting the outcome of the matter.
Empress Yao Xi, dressed in phoenix robes, sat upon the seat of honor. Hearing his words, her expression turned stormy and uncertain — seemingly angry, but more than that, icy cold.
She did not utter a word.
Everyone in the great hall wore grave expressions, cold sweat beading on their foreheads, not daring to even breathe loudly, sensing that Empress Yao Xi was in a foul mood.
Even the Grand Tutor, the Marshal Who Guards the Nation, and the others remained silent, quietly watching how events would unfold.
Cold sweat also seeped from the Quelling Chaos King’s forehead.
In his view, this was because he had bungled the task, provoking Her Majesty the Empress’s wrath.
“Men, seize the Quelling Chaos King and throw him into the great prison for Us. At the same time, arrest everyone in the Quelling Chaos King’s residence. Anyone who defies this order shall be executed without mercy.”
The next moment, Empress Yao Xi’s icy voice suddenly rang out, containing unquestionable iron-blooded killing intent.
Boom!!
Hearing these words, everyone in the great hall was stunned, then their minds went boom, as if struck by a great bell, turning completely blank.
Their eyes widened, their faces changed drastically, unable to believe these words had come from Her Majesty the Empress herself.
One must know, the Quelling Chaos King was her most capable subordinate, like a sharp blade, invincible in attack and undefeated in battle, having swept away countless obstacles for her.
That Empress Yao Xi could have her current achievements — it could be said the Quelling Chaos King’s contributions were indispensable.
But now, she was actually going to punish the Quelling Chaos King over such a trivial matter? And implicate his entire household? Such punishment had only occurred a few times in the past six thousand years, and those were for great crimes like betraying her and colluding with the Remnants of the Five Demon Overlords.
Could it be that the Quelling Chaos King’s achievements had grown too great and overshadowed his sovereign, so she was taking this chance to knock him down a peg? Or was it something else?
“Your Majesty, your servant does not know...”
The Quelling Chaos King’s expression also changed abruptly; he almost wondered if he had misheard.
If he were punished over such a trivial matter, it would be unjustifiable by any reason or logic.
“See for yourself.”
Empress Yao Xi seemed to have regained her composure by now. Hearing this, she tossed a crystalline Photographic Stone in front of the Quelling Chaos King.
Filled with doubt, the Quelling Chaos King picked it up and poured his magic power into it.
However, the very first instant he saw the images within, he reacted — with a swish, all color drained from his face, turning deathly pale.
Clang!
His fingers trembled; he couldn’t even hold the Photographic Stone steady, and it fell straight to the ground.
“How is this possible...”
The Quelling Chaos King’s voice trembled, unable to believe his own eyes.
With his cultivation realm, he naturally knew whether the images in this Photographic Stone were real or fake.
This scene left everyone in the great hall silent as cicadas in winter.
Some had caught a glimpse of the images just now — though only a fleeting glance, they had seen clearly and knew what it meant.
After their shock, the way they looked at the Quelling Chaos King was now filled with sympathy, lament, and all manner of complex emotions.
“How did things come to this...”
The Grand Tutor sighed.
Who could have imagined that the Quelling Chaos King’s third son, Jun Fan, would have such an identity?
It was truly horrifying the more one thought about it.
“Do you have anything left to say?”
Empress Yao Xi’s face was ice-cold. “You have disappointed Us greatly.”
The Quelling Chaos King’s face was full of dejection and disbelief. In the end, he could only give a bitter laugh and collapse limply to the ground. Regardless of whether this matter...
had anything to do with him, the foundation he had built over thousands of years was now destroyed.
“Your servant knew nothing of this matter either...”
Even now, the Quelling Chaos King’s mind was still somewhat dazed, unable to believe it.
His third son Jun Fan’s true identity was actually Jun Bufan, the blood son of the Solar Demon Overlord from six thousand years ago — this news was simply too earth-shattering.
In the great hall, the many ministers wore varied expressions, never imagining such a matter would be dragged into the open.
“No wonder Jun Ruoxi vanished from the Life Forbidden Area... it seems Jun Bufan tipped her off...”
Everyone’s hearts trembled, feeling that Jun Fan had hidden himself far too deeply, concealing it for so many years.
The assassination attempt on Empress Yao Xi some time ago — it seemed Jun Fan had been the one scheming and directing everything behind the scenes.
Chills ran down everyone’s backs. If Empress Yao Xi hadn’t suddenly produced evidence today, they would probably still be kept in the dark without knowing it.
Afterward, the Quelling Chaos King was escorted away. As a Perfect Prodigy-level existence, if he wished, he could absolutely have broken free.
But doing so would mean he truly was in league with Jun Bufan, so he did not dare act rashly and obediently allowed himself to be imprisoned.
“Today’s matter must not be spread outside under any circumstances. Violators shall be dealt with under the crime of collusion and betrayal.”
Empress Yao Xi coldly swept her gaze over everyone, then rose and left the great hall.
“We respectfully see Your Majesty off.”
The Grand Tutor and the others all smiled bitterly, exchanging glances, not daring to defy Her Majesty the Empress’s decree. If such a matter were to spread, it would cause an enormous sensation.
However, the entire Quelling Chaos King’s household being thrown into the Heavenly Prison was no small matter either — those with keen eyes would definitely figure it out.
At the same time, in another side hall, Gu Changge was leisurely sipping tea, appearing quite relaxed and content.
Before him stood a blurry figure, no different in appearance from Bai Lian’er — it was a wisp of her Dharma Body, reporting certain matters to Gu Changge.
“That’s how things are. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Bai Lian’er’s Dharma Body said indifferently.
She was also the one who had brought back that Photographic Stone.
“Lian’er-guniang jests. How could I not believe you?”
Hearing this, Gu Changge smiled.
“Gates of Life, Gates of Death, the key... it seems the Demon World’s secrets will soon come to the surface.”
“If Jun Bufan is smart enough, he should realize it was you who sold him out. But I’ve already told Xi Yao to strictly forbid the ministers from spreading this matter, so it should stay hidden for a while longer. Jun Bufan won’t suspect you for the time being.”
Gu Changge then added.
“So should I thank you for being so considerate on my behalf?”
Bai Lian’er gave a cold laugh.
Gu Changge shook his head slightly. “Lian’er-guniang, no need to be polite. Between the two of us, there’s no need for such things.”
Bai Lian’er rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to say anything more to him.
At that moment, footsteps sounded from outside the hall. Empress Yao Xi walked in, and she recognized Bai Lian’er at a glance — after all, they had once been acquainted.
In her eyes, the Bai Lian’er of the past had been nothing but Jun Bufan’s little tagalong — weak, pitiful, and fond of meddling in others’ business.
It was hard to connect that with this coldly elegant, bewitching woman before her now.
“I’ve done as you requested and imprisoned the Quelling Chaos King in the Heavenly Prison. His entire family has been treated the same.”
She kept it brief, glancing at Bai Lian’er once before withdrawing her gaze.
Bai Lian’er, for her part, couldn’t be bothered to look at her at all, treating her purely as a stranger she didn’t know.
If not for Gu Changge, she would never have appeared in a place like the imperial palace.
“Mm, I understand.”
Gu Changge nodded, offering no explanation.
Though Empress Yao Xi was somewhat puzzled, she tactfully refrained from asking more.
In her view, the Quelling Chaos King absolutely could not have known Jun Fan’s true identity — and ignorance is no crime. She couldn’t possibly take her anger out on him over such a thing.
Over all these years, the Quelling Chaos King had rendered outstanding service to the stability of her dynasty.
She was not one to burn bridges after crossing the river.
However, since it was Gu Changge who requested that the Quelling Chaos King and his entire family be imprisoned, she naturally complied.
“How did you get Bai Lian’er to work for you?”
Still, Empress Yao Xi had one doubt in her heart. As far as she knew, Bai Lian’er and Jun Bufan were as close as blood siblings.
How could Bai Lian’er betray Jun Bufan and act as Gu Changge’s inside agent, providing him with that Photographic Stone?
“Naturally, it’s because Lian’er-guniang is intelligent and reasonable, unwilling to aid a tyrant in his evildoing.”
Gu Changge answered with a smile.
“Naturally, it’s because this guy threatened me with my father’s life...”
Bai Lian’er gave a derisive laugh, cutting Gu Changge off. She looked at Empress Yao Xi and said indifferently, “Otherwise, did you really think I’d be kind enough to help you?”
Hearing this, Empress Yao Xi wore an expression that said she had expected as much.