Chapter 208: Once-in-Three-Millennia

Chapter 208: Once-in-Three-Millennia

Ning Xiaochuan’s heart stirred as he solemnly asked, "You know about this too?"

"Of course I do."

Zi Zhui'er replied, "Although the Demon Emperor forbade anyone from mentioning it, people still talk about it in private. I heard that the previous Demon Sect Saintess was the Demon Emperor’s daughter, but she fell in love with a minor Marquis from a noble family. For love, that Demon Sect Saintess severed ties with the Demon Emperor and resolutely married that minor Marquis. But that was twenty years ago. The younger generation only knows vague details about it."

"I heard that eleven years ago, the previous Demon Sect Saintess and the minor Marquis were both executed."

Ning Xiaochuan said, "So, according to you, twenty years ago, that Demon Sect Saintess already cut ties with the Demon Emperor?"

"Exactly."

Zi Zhui'er continued, "But how easy is it to sever a father-daughter bond? After all, people are emotional creatures. I heard that because of this, eleven years ago, the Demon Emperor led the Demon Sect experts in a massacre through the Imperial City."

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "And then?"

"After that… I don’t know much more. All I know is that after the incident eleven years ago, the Demon Emperor ordered all Demon Sect disciples to never enter the Imperial City again and forbade any discussion of the matter. He then went into seclusion to cultivate. That seclusion lasted ten years."

Ning Xiaochuan thought to himself, No wonder the Demon Sect’s influence is vast, yet not a single Demon Sect cultivator can be seen in the Imperial City. What exactly happened back then? Why did the Demon Emperor order all Demon Sect disciples to stay out of the Imperial City? What was the real reason?

It was utterly perplexing.

Zi Zhui'er was young and didn’t know much about the events of the past. She didn’t even realize that Ning Xiaochuan was the son of the previous Demon Sect Saintess.

There was no point in questioning her further—unless he could find someone who had witnessed the events firsthand.

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "Why are you going to Nine Death Cliff?"

Zi Zhui'er smiled. "It’s not just me. All the Demon Sect experts in the world will gather at Nine Death Cliff on the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month this year for the Demon Sect Grand Assembly."

"The Demon Sect Grand Assembly? So, the Demon Emperor has emerged from seclusion?" Ning Xiaochuan said.

Zi Zhui'er nodded. "Naturally. This assembly is of extraordinary significance—it might very well reshape the entire world’s landscape."

In a way, this Demon Emperor could be considered Ning Xiaochuan’s grandfather.

But Ning Xiaochuan felt no connection to him whatsoever, treating him as a complete stranger. His only purpose in going to Nine Death Cliff was to uncover the truth of what happened back then.

After five days of continuous travel, the heavy snow still hadn’t stopped.

"Groooowl!"

At night, the Iron Coffin emitted eerie cries again—agonizing shrieks that sounded like the wails of ghosts or the roars of beasts, chilling to the bone.

"Boom—!"

The Iron Coffin violently trembled, shaking loose the nails embedded in it, as if the lid was about to burst open.

The Demon Sect experts tensed, surrounding the coffin with grim expressions, their hearts filled with dread.

After all, the corpse inside the Iron Coffin was no ordinary being. If it truly transformed into a monster, disaster would be inevitable.

"It's starting again at this time every night. The coffin makes these noises, and they're getting more terrifying. Even the Iron Coffin can barely suppress it," a Martial Artist whispered under his breath.

Thankfully, the Demon Sect Saintess is here. Otherwise, many Martial Artists would have already fled for their lives.

The Demon Sect Saintess also wore a grave expression as she retrieved an ancient Sixth-Grade Mystic Artifact—a Purple Cauldron no larger than a wine cup, hovering above her palm, held aloft by Profound Qi.

After absorbing the Profound Qi, the Purple Cauldron began to spin rapidly, expanding in size as dragon-shaped patterns flowed across its surface.

"Rumble—"

The Purple Cauldron grew to a towering height of 18 meters, suspended between the Demon Sect Saintess's hands. It emitted radiant beams of Profound Qi, blotting out half the sky and stirring the swirling snow into chaos.

The colossal purple cauldron descended upon the Iron Coffin, using the immense power of the Mystic Artifact to forcibly suppress the Yin Evil within.

Hearing the commotion, Ning Xiaochuan stepped out of the carriage and gazed into the distance, witnessing the enormous purple cauldron dyeing the entire sky in violet hues.

"This Demon Sect Saintess's cultivation is terrifying," Ning Xiaochuan murmured to himself.

Zi Zhui'er, her face filled with reverence, said, "Of course. If not for her unparalleled talent and supreme cultivation, surpassing all her peers, the position of Saintess would have gone to Duanmu."

"What do you mean?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

Zi Zhui'er explained, "Duanmu is the Demon Emperor's granddaughter. Her innate talent was already extraordinary, making her a key candidate for the Saintess position. But the current Saintess's talent cannot simply be called outstanding—it's earth-shattering. My mother once told me her aptitude reaches the level of 'Once-in-Three-Millennia.'"

Ning Xiaochuan's heart jolted. Once-in-Three-Millennia!

Back when he was at the Seventh Level of the Divine Body Realm and had cleared the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Bridge, he had only been recognized as a "Once-in-Eight-Centuries" talent, earning him the title of the Imperial City's top genius.

If the Demon Sect Saintess truly possessed "Once-in-Three-Millennia" aptitude, then Ning Xiaochuan's status as the Imperial City's foremost genius would pale in comparison.

Of course, Ning Xiaochuan's current talent was far beyond just "Once-in-Eight-Centuries."

Having refined nine Divine Abilities and cultivated an unprecedented tenth, while also breaking through to the First Level of Transcendence, even if his talent hadn't yet reached "Once-in-Three-Millennia," it couldn't be far off.

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "What exactly is this Demon Sect Saintess's background?"

Zi Zhui'er shook her head. "I don't know. The Saintess's identity is shrouded in secrecy. She rarely appears in public—this is my first time seeing her too."

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled. "To outcompete even the Demon Emperor's granddaughter, this Saintess must come from an extraordinary lineage. She's likely the descendant of some high-ranking figure within the Demon Sect."

Zi Zhui'er pondered for a moment before adding, "I did hear Third Mother mention that the Saintess resides in the Imperial City year-round, overseeing all Demon Sect affairs there."

Ning Xiaochuan's brow twitched. "Didn't the Demon Emperor decree that no Demonic Martial Artists were to enter the Imperial City?"

"That was just a public decree. The Imperial City is the strategic heart of the realm, a battleground no faction can afford to abandon. The Demon Sect wouldn't just give it up so easily. It's possible that was merely a temporary agreement between the Demon Emperor and the Jade Emperor eleven years ago."

"On the surface, Demonic Martial Artists naturally cannot operate within the Imperial City. But in the shadows, do you really believe the Demon Sect has no presence there at all?"

Zi Zhui'er's words reminded Ning Xiaochuan—eleven years ago, the Demon Emperor might have indeed negotiated with the Jade Emperor, forging some secret agreement: that Demonic Martial Artists were forbidden from entering the Imperial City.

But the Jade Emperor must have also conceded certain terms to the Demon Emperor.

Eleven years ago, the Demon Emperor’s own daughter was executed by the Jade Emperor’s decree. How could there have been room for negotiation?

Ning Xiaochuan clenched his fists tightly, unable to make sense of it, his mind swirling with countless thoughts.

"Boom!"

In the distance, the Iron Coffin trembled violently once more, shaking the massive purple cauldron and unleashing waves of destructive Chilling and Desolate Energy.

Streams of the malevolent energy surged from the coffin, coalescing into humanoid forms—spectral figures hovering mid-air, their chilling wails piercing the night.

When Chilling and Desolate Energy grows powerful enough, it can take human shape, becoming "Chilling and Desolate Spirits."

Like vengeful ghosts.

"Thud!"

A Demon Sect expert was struck in the chest by the energy, merging with it.

A bloodcurdling scream tore from his throat as fangs sprouted, his nails turned crimson, and his hair turned a sickly green—his appearance utterly terrifying.

The Chilling and Desolate Spirits rampaged through the caravan, unstoppable by any ordinary Profound Qi.

Screams rose one after another as over twenty people were possessed, twisted into monstrous abominations—neither human nor ghost—ruthlessly attacking their own companions.

"Stay close to me," Ning Xiaochuan said grimly.

A flicker of joy crossed Zi Zhui'er's delicate face as she immediately wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek against his back.

"Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi!"

Ning Xiaochuan summoned a shield of Purple Profound Qi, enveloping them both.

The surface of the shield shimmered with intricate patterns resembling twilight clouds—shifting forms of war chariots, colossal beasts, and grand palaces—radiating formidable defensive power.

An ordinary Profound Qi Shield would have been shattered by the Chilling and Desolate Spirits.

But Ning Xiaochuan’s Misty Profound Qi was a tier above Martial Arts Profound Qi, rendering him impervious to their assault.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The spirits collided against the Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi, shaking the shield violently, yet they could not breach Ning Xiaochuan’s defense.

The Demon Sect Saintess soared into the air, pointing a finger toward the heavens.

Instantly, the skies darkened, thunderclouds churning as Heavenly Thunder roared.

"CRACK!"

Hundreds of Lightning bolts descended from the heavens, obliterating the Chilling and Desolate Spirits, reducing them to wisps of smoke.

"So, this Demon Sect Saintess also possesses the 'Heavenly Phenomenon Divine Body,' capable of commanding celestial forces," Ning Xiaochuan mused. With the spirits annihilated, he swiftly withdrew his Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi.

Fortunately, amidst the chaos, everyone had been too preoccupied to notice his technique.

"Reporting to the Saintess, fifty-six individuals have been infected by the Chilling and Desolate Energy. Though subdued, their condition remains dire," Lin Zhanglao reported.

Duanmu Linger added, "I’ve already ordered the preparation of mystic medicines. They should recover soon."

"Brewing mystic medicines? Hmph, don't you know that 90% of the potency is already lost in brewed mystic medicines? Moreover, Yin Evil belongs to the category of malevolent forces. Ordinary mystic medicines can't expel it at all—unless one takes the Yin Season Pill refined by this old man."

An elderly man dressed in the robes of an Intermediate Heart Nurturer stepped forward, his aged face carrying an arrogant expression, as if looking down on everyone.

This was Liu Canyang, the Intermediate Heart Nurturer recruited by the Demon Sect Saintess in White Dragon City.

Having cultivated to the level of an Intermediate Heart Nurturer, Liu Canyang was naturally quite haughty. Having just joined the Demon Sect, he was eager to prove his worth.

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