Chapter 426

Chapter 426: The Polite Demon Sovereign

It’s common knowledge that the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign possesses countless treasures, but Lu Ye never expected he would own something like this.

This was simply unfathomable.

Should he go or not?

No denying, Lu Ye was tempted.

He didn’t even know what he would do with the Saint’s Heart, yet his heart still raced.

Could he go?

Yes!

He entered the No Return Cave precisely to seek out the chance with the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign, didn’t he?

And this Saint’s Heart, isn’t that a chance?

This was an astronomical opportunity, for goodness’ sake!

He absolutely must go!

But, he needed to make sure he stayed alive first!

One Lu Ye split from his body.

Without hesitation, Lu Ye dashed toward the location of the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign.

He knew the exact spot of the Demon Sovereign, so he had no difficulty making decisions.

The intricate pathways had twisted and turned so many times that he had lost count, and every junction had a maze of options—up, down, left, right.

Suddenly, Lu Ye paused.

What was he here to do?

“There’s even the power of forgetting?” Lu Ye couldn’t help but be astonished.

But no matter, he had the System helping him keep track.

There was no precise concept of time here, nor was there a single shadow of a person.

He kept traversing, with time slipping away.

Suddenly, a figure appeared up ahead.

The figure instantaneously opened its eyes; it was a mess! Hair and beard were in wild disarray, and its gaze was unfocused.

Good grief, looking at this state, it was hard to imagine how long the person had been trapped here.

“Roar!”

It let out a furious roar, filled with urgency.

Lu Ye understood its intention and swung his sword—instantly, the person split in two!

Huh?

No release in its eyes?

Could it be he misunderstood its meaning?

Probably not; it was likely dead too quickly to find relief.

Lu Ye kept moving forward.

The target was clear; no matter how far, it would be a matter of time.

Unless he stumbled into a trap left by the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign, this passage didn’t hold much danger. Come to think of it, anyone capable of hunting down the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign generally wouldn’t find the surroundings too threatening.

If he wanted to harm his enemies, it needed to be impactful.

The traps set by the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign would probably even give the Celestial Lords a headache.

The journey unfolded without any hurdles.

Lu Ye successfully reached the end of a corridor, spotting a little wooden house floating in the void.

The little house was right there, no disturbances. If it weren’t suspended in mid-air, anyone would think it was just an ordinary little wooden house.

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist!”

Lu Ye called out in a calm voice from outside the wooden house.

There was no response from inside.

“Knowing that you are on the brink of passing, do you have any last wishes? If I can retrieve your belongings, I can assist in fulfilling them.”

No response.

“Since you remain silent, I will be entering. If you wish to seize my body or take my life, feel free to attempt it. But remember, once the water’s spilled, it can’t be retrieved. I hope you act wisely.”

Lu Ye’s fist tightened, and the aura of the Celestial Lord Fist burst forth.

The meaning was clear: you’re a Celestial Lord, so am I. Although I am a reincarnated Celestial Lord, now that I have arrived here and found you, I certainly possess the ability to escape.

The next choice is entirely up to the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign.

“Ding!”

“Beep!”

In his mind, the System and Little Heavenly Dao were ready.

Of course, unless absolutely necessary, these two wouldn’t intervene.

But if it came to a dimensional drop in power, their chances of joining the fray would certainly spike.

Should the Heavenly Dao act, one wouldn’t even need to think about the chaos it would unleash; this is why the Heavenly Dao needs to be impartial and ruthless.

As long as emotions are involved, the likelihood of complete destruction of the heavens and earth would significantly rise. God forbid a romance develops, what with all those three lives, three worlds—talk about dancing dangerously on the edge of annihilation!

Yet, what everyone dreaded has now truly come to pass.

Lu Ye had no objections; after all, the Heavenly Dao was protecting him. If it had protected someone else, Lu Ye might have burst out in anger.

Pushing open the wooden door of the house, he saw the aged Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign, who had transformed into a youth. This young man was tall and handsome, with long hair cascading like a waterfall; his aura was restrained yet captivating.

“Fellow Daoist, please sit!”

The Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign spoke with a smile.

Lu Ye nodded slightly and took a seat across from him at an ordinary wooden table.

“At the brink of death, I never expected to encounter someone like you, Fellow Daoist. I thought I would perish alone here,” the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign remarked with a smile.

“I’ve heard of your great reputation for a long time; being able to meet you before your end is worth the journey. Can you return my Emperor’s Banner?” Lu Ye asked.

“Hahaha…”

The Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign laughed, and in his hand appeared the Emperor’s Banner. It, however, seemed to be asleep, giving off no reaction.

“Why is this clearly the Ten Thousand Souls Banner being called the Emperor’s Banner?” the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign inquired.

“Because ‘Ten Thousand Souls Banner’ sounds terrible; ‘Emperor’s Banner’ sounds good. Just as the saying goes, when the Emperor’s Banner is raised, all living beings must obey. Countless souls wish to enter within, truly deserving of the name,” Lu Ye replied with a relaxed attitude.

“You make a fair point. I haven’t seen this item in quite a while, brings back memories,” the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign mused.

He rose to prominence during the Dark Era—the hills and valleys were filled with Ten Thousand Souls Banners, so encountering one felt quite warm and familiar.

“Since you’re so injured, why haven’t you sought healing?” Lu Ye asked.

“It’s futile. I’d rather explore this Saint’s Heart here. If I comprehend the Saint’s method, I’ll heal; if not, then it’s just my fate,” the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign replied.

“It’s indeed a failure. The path to becoming a Saint is far too tough,” Lu Ye genuinely reflected.

In his last life, he had put in so much effort, had the System, which even elevated to the Heavenly Dao, yet he still failed at crossing the tribulation.

Although his failure stemmed from those eight hurdles, isn’t that still a failure?

“What’s this? You also tried to become a Saint?” the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign asked with surprise.

Lu Ye chuckled, not answering that question.

“You have so many treasures; do you not have any fine wine?” Lu Ye asked.

“Hahaha, of course I do!”

“I just can’t handle anything too potent,” Lu Ye smiled.

“Neither can I! Just some ordinary wine, I hope you don’t mind,” chuckled the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign.

He pulled out some fine wine, and Lu Ye produced some humble dishes—just everyday fare.

The Vermilion Bird True Flame ignited instantly.

At that moment, the two seemed to become lifelong friends, exchanging cups and stories.

The Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign spoke of his path to cultivation, shared tales about family and friends, and reminisced about the quirky adventures he’d experienced.

Lu Ye mostly listened, occasionally hearing a name, contemplating how he had ended that person’s life, and sometimes discussing his own cultivation journey.

After a hearty meal, the Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign hesitated, weighing his words, wanting to speak but holding back.

“Fellow Daoist, if you have something to say, feel free to.”

The Heavenly Thief Demon Sovereign sighed.

“Fellow Daoist, what if I were to, you know, possess your body?”