Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World

Zheng Fa eyed the Haori Mountain Dao Fruit, also out of caution.

Though Senior Sister Zhang didn't speak, the two didn't even exchange glances, but how could Zheng Fa not understand her concern?

This always observing Haori Mountain Dao Fruit, likely harbors ill intentions.

Fortunately, this person now seemed much more congenial — that smile was like seeing a beloved family member.

Yet the sweetness sent chills down his spine: limited by his level of knowledge, Zheng Fa didn't truly understand what this blood rain phenomenon signified.

Fortunately, this Haori Mountain Dao Fruit gave him an answer.

"The Great Freedom Demon Emperor, whom even Tianhe Venerable couldn't kill, died at your hands..." His face still wore a smile, but his voice quivered slightly, "Master Zheng..."

"This is the first Dao Fruit to die since this era, even the last."

He appeared to be praising Zheng Fa, yet seemed to be probing him.

But Zheng Fa was bewildered — I don't understand!

Objectively speaking, the battle in Jiushan Realm employed Qingjing Bamboo, Fusang Wood, and Qingping Sword, these three Dao Fruit-level forces, which was formidable indeed.

However, fundamentally, what defeated the Great Freedom Demon Emperor was the oddity within Zheng Fa himself, or rather, the hidden hand left by the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor —

Was the Great Freedom Demon Emperor truly killed by his hand?

He looked toward the ocean, where were the absent Chen Ting and Netherworld Immortal?

...

Half an incense time ago.

On a sea island, stood an altar, forged from rugged black rock, carved with totems of hundreds of beasts, the patterns of which fluctuated in dark red, as if real blood flowed through them.

The Avici Sword was embedded in the altar, emitting a faint light, seeming to thirst for the blood on the altar.

Chen Ting and Netherworld Immortal Qin Mu stood before the altar.

As a cautious person recently resurrected, although Zheng Fa's strength was still distant from his, the Great Freedom Demon Emperor had left behind contingencies:

Well, mainly he hadn't figured out Zheng Fa's true nature...

The newly ascended demons hadn't earned his trust yet.

But in the eyes of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor, Chen Ting and the Netherworld Immortal were full of loyalty and courage.

With only these two left in the Great Freedom Demon Sect, they were able to guide him once more!

Worthy of entrustment!

Chen Ting and the Netherworld Immortal also felt that the Great Freedom Demon Emperor's judgment was indeed wise.

Oddly, though Chen Ting was merely a Golden Core, the Divinity Transformation Expert Netherworld Immortal stood behind him as if he was the principal.

Especially with Chen Ting's darkly shaded pupils, making even a direct gaze intimidating.

Just as Zheng Fa pierced the Great Freedom Demon Emperor, Chen Ting spoke, his voice neither male nor female, seeming both illusory and real:

"It's time."

"Yes!"

The Netherworld Immortal responded respectfully, and both kneeled before the altar, chanting in low tones.

Their prayers began so quietly that even the dust beneath their knees couldn't be heard.

Then they rose high, so high that even the cloud seas in the sky shattered.

The light on the Avici Sword shifted from dark red to gradually black; this blackness was so pure, it appeared somewhat luminous, discouraging close inspection.

At this moment, strands of talismanic diagrams converged from all directions, forming the Great Freedom Demon Emperor's phantom.

There was still a wound on his chest, but his gaze remained calm, albeit slightly puzzled.

Seeing the Avici Sword, the Great Freedom Demon Emperor's eyes flickered with joy as he dove toward the Avici Sword, attempting to align with his Lifebound Immortal Sword.

The Avici Sword remained motionless, appearing extremely loyal, until... the black light swelled abruptly and devoured the Great Freedom Demon Emperor's phantom in one gulp.

"Who?"

At this moment, the Great Freedom Demon Emperor realized something was amiss and struggled within the black light, but it was futile, and he could only roar these two words.

His head twisted suddenly, his gaze falling on Chen Ting and the Netherworld Immortal; if he couldn't see that there was a problem with these two, he'd be a fool.

The Netherworld Immortal dared not lift his head, but Chen Ting met his gaze directly.

Right then, the Great Freedom Demon Emperor even guessed who was behind it all:

"Nine Nether!"

"Only you could deceive..."

The shadow below Chen Ting flickered, and a silhouette emerged slowly from the shadows.

None could clearly see this person's face, nor their figure.

Yet those eyes were vividly imprinted in the minds of the three present — those eyes seemed to contain the most intense emotions under the heavens, yet were extremely indifferent, like ice condensing on lava.

"It truly is you!"

Spirit talismans on the Great Freedom Demon Emperor's body stubbornly merged and separated, trying to resist the encroaching black light, but the wound on his chest became his greatest flaw.

The black light, like a cold venomous snake, slithered through his body.

"Was it you who resurrected me?"

"Did you plant your Dao Fruit within me?"

"Why..."

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor surprisingly did not rush and actually answered his questions, using the same non-male or female voice that Chen Ting had used earlier:

"If you did not resurrect, how could you die?"

"If you did not die..."

"How could I achieve a Supreme Treasure?"

He pointed a finger, and a black, antiquated book flew into the air, inscribed with three ancient characters that even the Netherworld Immortal couldn't recognize.

Yet at one glance, the Great Freedom Demon Emperor understood:

"Book of Life and Death?"

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor chuckled lightly, watching his phantom grow ever fainter, showed a bit of pride, and even nodded in praise: "Worthy of being the Great Freedom."

The Great Freedom Demon Emperor's face was full of understanding, and bitterness.

"Lord of life's demise, master of the realm's karma... you've actually forged this Supreme Treasure?"

"Not complete yet." said the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor, "If the Dao Fruit does not perish, how does one speak of mastering life's demise?"

"Without the fall of the Five Sects, how would one master the realm's karma?"

Hearing this, the Netherworld Immortal's head even buried into the ground, thinking that for the Book of Life and Death to be fully forged, merely killing a Great Freedom wasn't enough?