Chapter 899: Arrival at the Divine Prodigy Palace

Chapter 899: Arrival at the Divine Prodigy Palace

Ugly Granny coughed twice and fixed her gaze on the Moon Goddess. "If that’s the case, why are you so torn between killing or sparing him? If you believe he has fallen into the Demonic Path, then strike decisively and end his life. Why hesitate?"
The Moon Goddess’s face was cold, every inch of her skin radiating a moonlike glow. Yet a haze clouded her clear eyes as she replied, "I am not hesitating."
"If not hesitation, then what?" Ugly Granny pressed.
"I…" the Moon Goddess began.
Suddenly, Ugly Granny let out a thunderous shout, her voice as piercing as a phoenix’s cry or a dragon’s roar.
"Boom!"
The Moon Goddess jolted at the sound, her body trembling as if struck by a sudden awakening. A powerful surge of energy coursed through her, snapping her out of her daze.
When she came to her senses, she was drenched in cold sweat, her heart pounding with shock.
Ugly Granny sighed. "Lately, you’ve been too fixated, and it has birthed a Mental Demon within you. Ning Xiaochuan hasn’t even fallen to the Demonic Path yet, but you’re already teetering on the edge. Stay here for the next three days and calm your mind to restore your willpower. If your will remains unsteady, it will greatly hinder your future cultivation."
"Thank you for your guidance, Granny."
The Moon Goddess’s eyes gradually regained their composure. She walked outside and settled beneath a Green Osmanthus Tree, sitting cross-legged to begin her meditation.
---
The Blood River’s energy grew increasingly dense, its surface dotted with translucent humanoid figures resembling wandering souls.
Ning Xiaochuan and Ling'er sat side by side on the riverbank, one tall and one small, both fully immersed in their Martial Path cultivation.
Even Little Red, sensing the unusual atmosphere, refrained from her usual mischief and stayed within the Human Slayer King's Residence to cultivate.
Though typically lazy, Little Red was, after all, a descendant of the Divine Dragon—gifted with extraordinary talent and powerful bloodline. Merely by consuming rare herbs, spirit fruits, and elixirs daily, her cultivation advanced rapidly. After three days of focused training, she successfully broke through to the True Human Realm Third Level.
The innate talent of a Divine Dragon Youngling was truly something to envy.
Of course, the most terrifying cultivation speed belonged to Ling'er. With the aid of the Purple Star within her body, she had already reached the True Human Realm seventh stage—her progress defying all logic.
For her, each day of cultivation was equivalent to three years. Moreover, she faced no Heavenly Tribulation or bottlenecks.
Watching the widening gap between herself and Ling'er, Little Red felt the pressure, which was why she had obediently stayed in the Human Slayer King's Residence to cultivate these past three days.
Ning Xiaochuan withdrew the four strands of Mental Energy he had been cultivating within Ling'er, and in an instant, his own cultivation surged significantly—advancing from the early stage to the mid-stage of the True Human Realm Fourth Level.
Remarkably, this progress had been achieved in just three days.
If he could continue cultivating at this rate, he might even have a chance to break through to the True Human Realm Fifth Level within a month.
But today was the day he would accompany the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor to the Divine Prodigy Palace. Ning Xiaochuan had to halt his cultivation and adjust his condition to its peak.
"Human Slayer King, bring the two creatures by your side and come to the Demon Palace immediately." A strand of mental energy from the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor transmitted into Ning Xiaochuan's ear.
"She even wants me to bring Little Red and Ling'er. It seems the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor doesn’t fully trust me." Ning Xiaochuan's gaze settled on Ling'er beside him.
Ling'er seemed to sense something, opening her dewy eyes as she softly asked, "Godfather, did the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor ask you to bring me and Little Red to the Divine Prodigy Palace?"
For the first time, Ning Xiaochuan realized Ling'er had truly grown up—her mind had become so perceptive that she could guess his thoughts with just a single glance from him.
Ling'er rested her delicate face lightly on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder and said, "I’m willing to go with you to the Divine Prodigy Palace, Godfather. Even if it’s a mountain of blades or a sea of flames, Ling'er isn’t afraid at all."
Ning Xiaochuan immediately set off with Little Red and Ling'er to the Demon Palace where the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor resided.
Upon arriving, Ning Xiaochuan discovered that the three Divine Prodigies of the younger generation of the Demonic Beast Race were already waiting outside the Demon Palace—Long Taiyi, Princess Da Xi, and another towering figure. The latter was a burly man over 10 meters tall, his body covered in palm-sized crimson scales, exuding explosive strength.
He must be one of the three Divine Prodigies of the Demonic Beast Race—Cang Yi, the prodigy of the Armadillo Clan.
The Armadillo Clan was known as one of the strongest land-dwelling creatures, capable of carrying mountains. In myths, their ancestors had once borne an entire continent on their backs, their strength terrifying beyond measure.
Upon seeing Ning Xiaochuan's arrival, Long Taiyi flexed his fingers, eager for action. His previous defeat at Ning Xiaochuan's hands had left him deeply resentful.
Recently, he had been training relentlessly, even refining an incredibly precious 8,000-year-old Heavenly Dragon Grass to forcibly elevate his cultivation to the True Human Realm Fourth Level—all for the chance to face Ning Xiaochuan again and wash away his humiliation.
Princess Da Xi had also made significant progress, growing her seventh fox tail. Each of her seven tails was over 10 meters long, fluffy and white, peeking out from beneath her long skirt. Her entire being radiated an enchanting allure, enough to bewitch ordinary cultivators in her presence.
Her face was veiled with a white gauze, revealing only her apricot eyes, which gazed tenderly at Ning Xiaochuan. Even the slightest blink seemed like a flirtatious tease, utterly irresistible.
The Chi Wen Demon Attendant emerged from the Demon Palace and glanced at Ning Xiaochuan and the three Divine Prodigies. "Once the White Bones Altar's power is activated, it will transport us to the Central Land World. Since you all boast of being the Demonic Beast Race's top geniuses, today, the Demon Emperor will personally lead us to the Human Race's Divine Prodigy Palace. Let those so-called human geniuses witness the might of our race’s talents."
"Those human geniuses are nothing but decorations. If I strike, none can withstand a single blow from me," Cang Yi declared.
Then, under the guidance of the Chi Wen Demon Attendant and the Xuan Hou Demon Attendant, Long Taiyi, Cang Yi, Princess Da Xi, Ning Xiaochuan, Little Red, and Ling'er ascended the White Bones Altar together.
The altar, constructed from the bones of countless humans, stood taller than a mountain.
The Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor stood atop the White Bones Altar, her divine power continuously radiating from her body, transforming into misty rivers that merged with the altar's energy.
"Whoosh!"
A dazzling blood-red light erupted from the center of the White Bones Altar, tearing open a spatial portal.
Before long, Ning Xiaochuan stepped out from the other side of the portal, having traversed over 50 million kilometers to arrive in the Central Land World.
The Divine Prodigy Palace was built on the territory of the Tianxu Continent True Human Guild, located in the most prosperous, fertile, and central region of the Tianxu Continent. Countless relics left by Quasi-God-level beings could be found here.
The Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor's body emanated vast demonic energy, which condensed into thick dark clouds that blotted out the sky, obscuring the blazing sun.
In an instant, the surrounding area spanning thousands of kilometers was plunged into darkness.
Many human cultivators sensed the overwhelming aura. Some True Human Realm experts flew out from the Divine Prodigy Palace, their faces paling in shock at the sight of the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor standing atop the White Bones Altar.
"The Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor is here... It's the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor!"
"Is the demonic beast army preparing to attack the Divine Prodigy Palace?"
Both outer and inner court disciples of the Divine Prodigy Palace halted their cultivation and rushed to the training grounds, staring warily at the White Bones Altar floating in the void.
"Whoosh! Whoosh—"
Pillars of white light shot up from the underground.
All the formations within the Divine Prodigy Palace activated, transforming into circular arrays that hovered above the palace.
Ugly Granny, hunched over and leaning on a cane, shuffled out from the Divine Prodigy Palace and said, "Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor, you have finally come to the Divine Prodigy Palace."
The Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor stood tall and imposing, replying, "So you are the Heavenly Court Envoy? This emperor has long wished to pay you a visit."
"To be honest, this old one also wanted to visit the Northern Frontier to meet Your Majesty, but I was tied up with duties. Since you have graced us with your presence, would you care to sit down and share a cup of tea?" Ugly Granny asked.
"Very well. This emperor would also like to have a proper discussion with the envoy of the Heavenly Court."
The Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor moved, transforming into a streak of white light as she flew forward. In the next moment, she effortlessly bypassed the layers of defensive formations surrounding the Divine Prodigy Palace and stepped through its gates.
With each step she took, the formations shattered.
The arrays of the Divine Prodigy Palace were like fragile paper before her, utterly incapable of hindering her advance.
"Those formations were personally set up by a Supreme Being. If we dared to force our way in, we would be instantly crushed," exclaimed an inner court disciple at the first level of the True Human Realm, awestruck by the overwhelming demonic energy radiating from the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor.
A single strike from her could likely sink the entire Divine Prodigy Palace underground.
Two Demon Attendants, three Divine Prodigies of the Demonic Beast Race, Ning Xiaochuan, Little Red, and Ling'er also descended from the White Bones Altar, following behind the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor as they entered the Divine Prodigy Palace.
Human True Human Realm experts and disciples of the Divine Prodigy Palace gathered on both sides, watching warily.
"Why is there a human following the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor?" someone asked in confusion.
A mocking voice rang out, saying, "How could you not know? That’s the Human Slayer King, the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor’s favorite. He even gifted the human race’s imperial weapon, the Demon Tower, to the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor, willingly becoming her servant."
Ning Xiaochuan turned toward the source of the voice and realized the speaker was actually an acquaintance—the Divine Son of the Greenwood Sacred Land.
After the Divine Son of the Greenwood Sacred Land revealed Ning Xiaochuan’s identity, curses immediately erupted from the crowd.
"So it’s that traitor Ning Xiaochuan! He actually handed over the sacred artifact of the human race, the Demon Tower, used to suppress the Demonic Beast Race, to the Heavenly Dream Demon Emperor. He’s nothing but a criminal to humanity!"
"Scum of the human race!"
"Does he even deserve to be called ‘human’? I think he’s worse than a pig or a dog. If he ever falls into my hands, I, Qin Hantian, will make him beg for mercy on his knees, wishing for neither life nor death!" said an inner court disciple of the Divine Prodigy Palace.
Ning Xiaochuan remained calm in the face of the insults, his expression unreadable.
However, Little Red couldn’t tolerate it. Glaring at the human cultivators, she declared, "Anyone who dares insult Ning Xiaochuan again will be reduced to ashes. If you don’t believe me, just try!"