"Destroying it is for the best... stealing the power of the Heavenly Dao will bring endless disasters to this world..."
Hua Shan spoke in a deep voice.
Stealing the power of the Heavenly Dao meant severing the roots of this realm. With the Heavenly Dao incomplete, natural disasters and human calamities would ensue without end, the five elements in chaos, and the universe turned upside down.
Once, the Nine Great Ancient Sages, in their battle against the Demon Monster Clan, concocted fragments of the Heavenly Dao using the Refining Sky Array, an influence which persists even to this day.
Although they thwarted Hai Ye’s purpose, neither Su Changkong, Holy Emperor Jiang, nor Hua Shan felt much joy. On the contrary, they were weighed down with immense heaviness!
At that moment, Jiang Sheng couldn’t help but speak out, "Medicine Saint, that Demon Monster claimed... that the Refining Sky Array was something that the Ancient Sages had once researched. How could he... Why would he know how to set up the Refining Sky Array?"
This question undoubtedly voiced everyone’s thoughts and was the most pressing matter in their hearts.
Indeed, according to Hai Ye, the Nine Great Ancient Sages had once refined fragments of the Heavenly Dao, so the Refining Sky Array must have been their creation.
And this Refining Sky Array was extremely dangerous. The Nine Great Ancient Sages regarded it as a taboo and didn’t spread its methods. Yet, Hai Ye managed to set up the Refining Sky Array in the Bo Sea, making the key to this mystery self-evident!
"Did someone among the Nine Great Ancient Sages join the Demon Monster Clan? Only then... could we explain how Hai Ye knew about the Refining Sky Array..."
Su Changkong thought silently.
This was undoubtedly a bone-chilling, horrifying notion!
The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.
The Demon Monster Clan had gotten their hands on the Refining Sky Array, known only to the Nine Great Ancient Sages, which meant an Ancient Sage had defected to the Demon Monster Clan and handed it over.
And it was possible that more than one Ancient Sage had done so!
"I... I don’t know."
Faced with Jiang Sheng’s query, Hua Shan shook his head with difficulty. Compared to the horror in the others’ hearts, Hua Shan found this betrayal by a once-close comrade who had joined the Demon Monsters especially hard to accept. The blow was tremendous!
"People... can change."
Su Changkong also fell silent.
The Nine Great Ancient Sages had once fought selflessly for mankind against the Demon Monsters, enabling the foundation of the Ancient Holy Country and the survival of humanity to this day.
But so much time had passed since then, and even those Ancient Sages had undergone reincarnation. The unpredictable events that transpired in between made it normal for some sages to make different choices. Time could change everything, including the universe, let alone a person!
Nonetheless, it was undoubtedly bad news. Some Ancient Sages joining the Demon Monster side meant a shift in the balance of power.
"Which Ancient Sage has joined the Demon Monsters? Could it be the Ancient Demon Saint? Among the Nine Great Ancient Sages, his nature was the wildest and rebellious, unwilling to be constrained by rules... Or could there be more than one Ancient Sage who has joined the Demon Monsters?"
Jiang Shoudao speculated in his heart, feeling a sense of helplessness and suffocation just by contemplating it.
At that moment, Hua Shan encouraged everyone, saying, "There’s no need to be overly anxious. An era gives rise to its people, and this era is no longer one for us old ones... The future will be decided not by us, but by you all!"
"That’s right! Any who seek to annihilate the Holy Country, even if it’s an Ancient Sage, must first get past me!"
Holy Emperor Jiang declared in a firm voice, his silver-colored battle spear stained with blood, exuding an invincible aura as if he alone stood supreme.
The Nine Great Ancient Sages had once suppressed formidable foes amidst turmoil; Holy Emperor Jiang did not believe he was any lesser than them. He, too, had great ambitions - to completely stabilize the chaos and, given the chance, venture out into a broader world.
Though Su Changkong did not speak, a firm belief also resided in his heart. He had come this far; no matter who the enemy was, they would not stop him from his path!
Hua Shan nodded inwardly. The Nine Great Ancient Sages were the pinnacle of humanity, but they had nearly reached their own limits. The younger generations, however, still had infinite possibilities!
"Both of you have just slain a Demon Monster King and are likely marked by the Monster Soul. Let me remove it for you."
Hua Shan spoke, possessing Divine Skills related to life that could resolve even the Monster Soul imprint.
"Thank you, Medicine Saint," said Holy Emperor Jiang, nodding. He had just killed a Demon Monster King and could feel a new mark within his Sea of Consciousness – a unique Monster Soul imprint of the Demon Monster King, which was definitely a hidden danger that needed to be addressed.
Hua Shan then extended a finger, touching Holy Emperor Jiang’s forehead. Like a sapling drawing water, a wisp of black aura was extracted soon after, twisting around Hua Shan’s fingertip.
"The Monster Soul imprint... is in fact a manifestation of the Demon Monster Origin Source’s power. They are indestructible, just like the spiritual energy of this world, circulating endlessly, never diminishing."
The total amount of the world’s Spiritual Energy remained constant, absorbed and refined by Martial Artists. But eventually, with the death of the Martial Artists, it would return to the world, completing a cycle.
The existence of the Demon Monsters was similar to this. Although they died, their Origin Source power would cycle through the world like the Spiritual Energy, allowing for a rebirth after countless years!
As Hua Shan prepared to disperse the clump of Demon Monster Origin Source power he held, Su Changkong suddenly spoke up, "Wait! Medicine Saint, could you give me that clump of Demon Monster’s Origin Source power?"
Su Changkong intervened because it seemed too wasteful to him.
He had just discovered that the Monster Soul imprint left by the Demon Monster King could serve as energy to strengthen his constitution. Naturally, the power of a Demon Monster King could not be wasted.