The Land of Death Finally Emerges — Hand Over the Key, or I'll Kill Her
The Land of Death Finally Emerges — Hand Over the Key, or I’ll Kill Her
“I’ve already heard about this matter. It’s probably because Father mishandled things this time and incurred Empress Yao Xi’s displeasure. Jiejie, don’t worry — perhaps after some time, once Her Majesty the Empress’s anger subsides, she’ll release Father and the others.”
Seeing Jun Yao’s expression, Jun Fan offered these words of comfort.
“Is that so?”
Hearing him say this, Jun Yao seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said nothing more.
Song Youwei had been watching the two of them from the side the whole time, her expression unusually calm, not saying a word.
Honestly, she was somewhat disappointed in Jun Fan. Things had already come to this point — what was so hard about admitting his identity? Why keep covering it up?
However, since Jun Fan had no intention of admitting it, she couldn’t be bothered to meddle further.
This trip exploring the ruins with him would be the last. From here on out, their friendship should come to an end.
Her purpose in coming here had been to ask about Jun Fan’s attitude, but seeing him conceal things even from his own sister, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed in him.
If Jun Fan had given her a reasonable explanation, she might have found a way to help him.
If he wasn’t guilty at heart, why would he need to hide anything?
“This place is said to hide an extremely mysterious portal of the Demon World, containing opportunities beyond description.”
Jun Fan spoke up, telling the two of them that he planned to first locate the Gates of Death. During this period, he had already scouted many areas and could avoid some dangerous places.
“Is that so? This place does indeed contain some strange domain fields. Based on what you’ve described... one can indeed find some discrepancies.”
Song Youwei nodded and took out a compass, upon which various runes flickered, dazzling and resplendent.
Seeing this, Jun Fan smiled and said, “If we can crack the domain field of this place, we might just find that mysterious portal, which contains unimaginable opportunities.”
Then he led the way forward, while in his mind an ancient route surfaced — it was the key left behind by the Solar Demon Overlord taking effect.
This ancient route, like a star chart, guided him onward, allowing him to avoid accidentally stumbling into certain life-forbidden death zones.
Here, the group saw many broken weapons and corpses, stained with black blood, as well as shattered fragments of Ancient Battleships, flying vessels, divine swords... It was clear that a great war had indeed once taken place here.
They traveled quickly, heading deeper, breaking through numerous Array Patterns and mists.
Song Youwei was highly skilled, and combined with Jun Fan holding the key with its specific route, they reached very deep regions with almost no obstacles.
Only Jun Yao followed behind in astonishment, watching the two of them, silently gripping the protective item Gu Changge had given her.
Soon, the group saw a desert-like landscape, yellow sand rolling, blotting out the sky.
On the other side were equally barren mountain ranges, lacking lakes and green hills — nothing but volcanic craters.
The magma within was black-red blood.
Wisps of black-red firelight, carrying divinity and the stench of blood, drifted continuously toward them — who knew how many years they had accumulated to form.
The scenery further away was unclear to them, but they felt that the natural laws of this place were unsuitable for the cultivation and survival of Demon World beings.
“What exactly happened here in the past... Jun Fan, you seem to possess a map of this place — many areas are completely unobstructed for you.”
Song Youwei glanced at Jun Fan and said.
“I just happened to obtain a fragmentary map...”
Jun Fan’s expression remained composed as he said, “That’s why I thought of inviting you to come, to see if you could crack the sights of this place.”
Song Youwei frowned slightly, nodded, and said nothing more.
They continued onward. There were quite a few ferocious beasts prowling here, powerful in strength — because they had been steeped in Death Qi for years, they were far stronger than ordinary ferocious beasts. The group expended considerable effort before passing through this area and heading to even deeper regions.
After Jun Fan and the others left this place, the figures of a group of experts emerged here, following behind them, their auras all concealed, not revealed.
“It seems Jun Bufan and his group really can find the exact route...”
“The so-called Gates of Death really are here.”
Jiang Luoshen’s figure was tall and slender, dressed in golden robes, her jade legs long, golden hair fluttering. Within her golden eyes, Divine Chains of Order gradually faded as she spoke with some interest.
After Jun Fan and the others stepped into this place, they had rushed over quickly, but to avoid alerting them, they hadn’t shown themselves, staying at the very back the whole time, maintaining a distance so they wouldn’t be detected by Jun Fan’s group.
“Gu Changge, how exactly did you manage to make Jun Yao so obedient, actually willing to be a tool to lead the way...”
She couldn’t help asking Gu Changge, who stood beside her with a calm expression, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
In her view, women were emotional creatures — even knowing that what Jun Fan did harmed the family, it would still be hard to steel one’s heart to move against him.
The deeper her understanding of Gu Changge grew, the more she found him... terrifying. Whether it was strength and cultivation, or methods and schemes.
“Does it matter?”
Gu Changge withdrew his gaze and glanced at her.
“Fine, don’t tell me then.”
Jiang Luoshen snorted coldly, feeling somewhat aggrieved. Her status was so noble, yet nowadays she stayed by his side being ordered around like a maid, and she hadn’t uttered a single word of complaint.
But sometimes when she asked about certain things, Gu Changge couldn’t even be bothered to respond to her — how cold his attitude was.
Although she knew this was Gu Changge’s true face, and that his usual gentleness toward her was merely a facade born of ulterior motives...
Sometimes she really felt that this man was incapable of feeling emotions.
“The princess of the Godly Illusion Clan also has days when she’s deflated and wronged like this?”
Bang! Amid the void, a mass of deep black mist spread out as Bai Lian’er appeared. Seeing Jiang Luoshen’s expression, she couldn’t help but speak with some amusement.
“Is it any of your business?”
Jiang Luoshen looked at her coldly.
Bai Lian’er laughed, said nothing more, and with another bang her figure dissolved into mist and vanished.
Jiang Luoshen’s face was frosty — Bai Lian’er’s words made her feel even more uncomfortable inside.
“What should be told to you will naturally be told to you. What shouldn’t be told to you — asking is useless.”
Gu Changge shook his head slightly as he spoke, then transformed into a divine rainbow, heading toward where Jun Fan’s trio was located.
Jiang Luoshen snorted coldly. Although Gu Changge’s attitude was perfunctory, it still made her feel a bit better — he did still care about her feelings.
In the distant ravines, thick Death Qi permeated the air.
Here one could even see the corpses of many enormous demon beasts, like small mountains, lying quietly here, long since devoid of any flesh and blood, leaving only a layer of dried-out bones.
There was also a collapsed palace here — it seemed to have once been a power’s territory, and in many places the outlines of pavilions and plazas could still faintly be seen.
“According to the route, deep within here is that portal. I’ve also sensed its aura...”
Jun Fan spoke, his words carrying some excitement. Finally, his efforts had not been in vain — he would soon be able to see his Imperial Father and ask about all that had happened over these six thousand years.
Song Youwei nodded. Beyond these collapsed ruins was actually a forest shrouded in crimson mist.
What species those trees were, she had never seen before. The main thing was that even with her skills, it took her considerable time to break through the obstacles within, and it even cost her an extremely precious array-breaking secret treasure.
At this moment, she too grew somewhat curious about this place.
“This... crimson mist contains intense corrosiveness, as if it blew in from the Nine Nethers. If exposed to it for long, one will inevitably invite calamity.”
Song Youwei took out a secret treasure from her Storage Ring, resembling an armillary sphere, and captured some of the crimson mist inside — only to discover that the mist seemed to possess sentience, even writhing about.
This sight sent chills down her spine.
However, with spiritual energy protecting her body’s surface, she could still fend it off for the time being.
Soon, Jun Fan and the others ventured deep into the crimson forest ahead. At the junction of several mountain ridges ahead, they saw an incomparably towering portal, flowing with radiance, carrying an air of ancient immortality, standing erect there.
Behind it was an unseen mountain body, seemingly able to lead to another world.
“What is this...”
Jun Yao felt a chill, as if they had arrived before the true gates of the underworld.
Wisps of crimson mist were drifting out from the portal, making one’s hair stand on end.
“Gates of Death...”
Song Youwei’s delicate brows furrowed tightly. Well-read and knowledgeable, she recognized the two ancient characters on the portal ahead — it was the Demonic Language from an extremely ancient era, now nearly lost to time.
The group began circling the portal, examining it from all around.
At this moment, Jun Fan felt a hazy radiance emerge within his Knowledge Sea space.
The key was glowing, manifesting from the corner, ready to be taken out at his will.
At this moment he was already certain — the Gates of Death the Solar Demon Overlord had told him about were right here.
Only one holding the key could enter this gate.
“So this is the opportunity you were looking for, Xiaofan — behind this portal?”
Jun Yao asked, very nervous, gripping the protective item Gu Changge had given her.
Jun Fan couldn’t help but reveal a smile. At this point, there was nothing left to hide.
He nodded and said, “Behind this gate hides the secret of the great turmoil that struck the Demon World six thousand years ago. As long as I walk in, everything will become clear.”
He believed that as long as he found the Solar Demon Overlord, the current situation of the Demon World would instantly be reversed.
Empress Yao Xi’s unification of the Nine Realms would also soon be shattered, and all problems would be readily solved.
“There’s also a line of small characters here — it seems to say that only one who possesses the key can pass through this gate and enter the Grand Array...”
“So inside the portal is actually a Grand Array. Who laid this down?”
Song Youwei drew closer, her delicate brows furrowed, staring at the line of small characters beside the portal, carefully identifying and recognizing them.
Having said this, she looked at Jun Fan — judging from his expression, he clearly knew about this matter.
Which meant Jun Fan actually held the key to enter the portal.
“You have the key in your possession, don’t you?”
Song Youwei asked.
“This is the key...”
Hearing this, Jun Fan saw no need to hide it — there were no outsiders present.
As he finished speaking, light flashed across his palm, and then an object resembling a scale emerged, glowing with hazy radiance, bearing strange patterns on it, looking like the scale armor of some demon beast.
If not for Jun Ruoxi’s reminder, he wouldn’t have known that the scale tossed into the corner of his Knowledge Sea space back then was actually a key.
“In a moment, I’ll enter. You can leave, or wait for me here — but I have a feeling that after going in, I may not necessarily come out from here.”
Jun Fan then added, looking toward the portal, intending to rely on the key to walk inside.
Boom!! But at that moment, terrifying killing intent suddenly struck from behind him, making his whole body go cold, his entire soul seemingly about to freeze.
A short blade tinged with ghostly blue swept through the void, killing intent filling all directions, space itself seeming to solidify.
“Young Master, watch out!”
At the critical moment, one of the experts behind Jun Fan roared, urging all his blood energy forth, his muscles and blood vessels glowing, erupting with the greatest strength of his life, shoving Jun Fan aside with one push.
As for himself, the short blade pierced through his brow, killing him instantly, body and soul annihilated.
Bang!! A mass of deep black mist emerged in the distance as Bai Lian’er appeared, short blade in hand, her expression carrying a hint of regret.
“What a pity. If your reaction had been a bit slower, you’d be dead just now. But your luck really is good — even that could be dodged.”
“It’s you...”
Jun Fan’s soul nearly fled in terror — he hadn’t expected to nearly die from carelessness just now. His face dark as he stared at Bai Lian’er, he was incomparably furious and ice-cold.
The many experts behind him now also grew vigilant, bringing out various divine weapons, staring at Bai Lian’er to guard against her striking again.
“What happened...”
Song Youwei and Jun Yao were also startled by the sudden scene just now, breaking out in cold sweat.
Although Bai Lian’er was the daughter of the Demon Master Bai Kun, six thousand years had passed, and those who could recognize her at a glance were actually few.
Neither of them recognized her at this moment.
“Hand over the key obediently, or today no one can save you. Everyone at your side will die along with you.”
Bai Lian’er looked at him indifferently, her voice without the slightest fluctuation, appearing extremely cold.
Jun Fan’s face darkened as he said, “You’ve been following me all this way?”
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that if you don’t hand over the key, you die today.”
Bai Lian’er didn’t answer, merely staring at the scale in Jun Fan’s hand.
“If you want the key, you’re welcome to try.”
Jun Fan didn’t hesitate either. From his Storage Ring he took out a golden Commandment, and after channeling his magic power, it began expanding against the wind, enveloping the sky.
Upon it flowed numerous divine scripts like stars, its momentum vast and heavy, like a Sky Abyss, ready to press down at any moment.
Moreover, each divine script was like a star, evolving supreme Sword Qi there, its sharpness world-shaking, making even the sky tremble.
This was one of his trump cards — once activated, it could erupt with unparalleled divine might.
He was confident he could fend off Bai Lian’er.
Chi!! Streak after streak of brilliant sword light descended, vast and boundless, submerging this place, domineering and terrifying, like thousands upon thousands of divine swords slashing down.
“You won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin — I see you’re courting death.”
Seeing this, Bai Lian’er’s expression was cold, not changing in the slightest because of Jun Fan’s methods. At the same time, her figure dissolved into mist and vanished, as if merging into the void.
World-shaking killing intent spread out. Everyone felt a bone-deep chill, their souls stinging with pain, even their brows seeming about to split open.
This was monstrous killing intent.
Bai Lian’er was truly worthy of being the Successor of the Killing Emperor — the moment she displayed her supreme methods, everyone’s souls trembled, as if dragged into the Nine Nethers, to sink for all eternity.
Chi!! However, the Golden Decree was no simple thing. As it revived, it began slashing down numerous divine swords, clanging and ringing, leaving Bai Lian’er nowhere to hide, unable to approach Jun Fan, forced out of the void.
Her brows furrowed as she looked up and swept a glance at the Golden Decree, manifesting her figure.
“How long do you think this decree can protect you?”
Bai Lian’er said indifferently, choosing not to continue her assault, instead standing where she was.
Jun Fan thought she was wary, and his heart eased as he sneered, “It doesn’t need to protect me for long. I only need to enter the portal — this much time is enough.”
“So it seems you’re going to abandon everyone here, regardless of whether they live or die?”
Bai Lian’er couldn’t help but mock.
Hearing these words, the expressions of Song Youwei and the others all shifted slightly. They naturally knew how terrifying Bai Lian’er was — if Jun Fan abandoned them to their fates, they would absolutely be no match for her.
“Are you threatening me?”
Jun Fan’s expression was ugly, his hand gripping the scale tightly. He was deeply unwilling — the portal behind him was clearly not far away.
But if he went in, Jun Yao, Song Youwei, and the others here would all die without a burial place.
Bai Lian’er would never let them go.
“Hand over the key, and I can spare their lives. If the people behind me arrive, it won’t be so easily resolved.”
Bai Lian’er, carrying pity-like mockery, stood where she was, gently wiping the short blade in her hand.
“Don’t even think about it. I won’t hand the key over to you. If you dare harm a single hair on their heads, no matter where you flee in the future, I have the means to kill you. Bai Lian’er, you weren’t like this back then — now you actually aid a tyrant in his evil. I wonder what Uncle Bai Kun would think if he knew?”
Jun Fan laughed coldly, seemingly having grasped Bai Lian’er’s weak spot. He believed that as long as he entered the portal and found his Imperial Father, what was there to fear from a mere Bai Lian’er?
“Shut up. My father ended up in such a state precisely because he listened to your father’s words — that’s what caused my mother’s early death.”
“For you to say such things now is courting death.”
Hearing these words, Bai Lian’er’s expression abruptly turned frigid, killing intent soaring to the heavens. If not for the Golden Decree protecting Jun Fan, she would absolutely have struck and torn him to pieces.
“What’s the use of saying all this? It doesn’t change the fact that you went against Uncle Bai’s words and betrayed me.”
Jun Fan calmed down, another item appearing in his hand as he began calculating the timing, preparing to bring it out in a moment to deliver Bai Lian’er a fatal blow.
“I nearly fell for your provocation. A dead man — I have no need to grow angry over you.”
But at this moment, Bai Lian’er seemed to come to her senses, her emotions returning to calm, her eyes very cold.
Boom!! At this moment, violent fluctuations emerged in the sky above, and then a golden great road unfurled, upon which stood numerous figures.
The leader was dressed in black robes, his hair crystalline, shrouded in five-colored divine radiance, his expression calm, exuding an overlooking air.
The next moment, a sky-propping giant palm descended, carrying world-toppling might, blotting out heaven and earth, tearing fiercely toward the Golden Decree ahead.
“Gu Changge...”
Seeing this scene, Jun Fan’s expression changed drastically, utterly horrified.
Chi!! In an instant, billions of golden rays erupted there, terrifying fluctuations surging like a tidal flood.
The Golden Decree tried to resist, but that sky-propping giant palm was supremely domineering, reaching over from there, wrapped in Chaos Energy — not a simple illusion, but the display of a supreme Physique.
With a ripping sound! The Golden Decree split apart, and the numerous terrifying Sword Qi were quelled by this single palm. The sight was incomparably frightening, leaving everyone trembling with dread, unable to speak.
“Hand over the key.”
“Or I’ll kill her.”
Gu Changge descended from high above, his expression without the slightest ripple. In his palm he gripped a figure, ready to suppress and kill her at any moment.