Bai Xiao paused in surprise, staring at Ye Yu with astonished eyes. This unsettled Ye Yu—could he have seen through his identity? Before he could ponder further, Bai Xiao’s eyes turned red and he trembled as he whispered, “For tens of thousands of years, whenever I proposed this theory, everyone called me mad—only you did not. A kindred spirit!”
As he spoke, Bai Xiao reached out to grab Ye Yu’s hand—but Ye Yu deftly evaded him. “Hey, brother,” Ye Yu said earnestly, “we can talk all we like, but keep your hands to yourself. I have wives—I don’t care for male Demons!”
“Oh, oh, sorry! I got carried away!” Bai Xiao wiped the tear in his eye, then placed his hand back upon the planar chart formed of demonic qi.
“When I was young, I took great interest in ancient history and pored over every text I could find. I discovered that when the Five Realms’ passages still existed, the world’s spiritual qi was most abundant. At that time, the Demon Realm boasted its greatest number of powerful cultivators—records show nine Demon Emperors. But after the passages shattered and demonic qi faded, their numbers dwindled until only one Demon Emperor remained. I believe this to be a cycle of rebirth. Now that the Demon Realm’s qi has revived—just enough to awaken Demon Emperors—it began increasing further from yesterday. That led me to suspect the passages might reappear! And once the Demon–Heaven passage forms, the others will follow.”
Ye Yu’s expression darkened. Another cycle—but unlike the omen inscribed on the stele by the Demon Sovereign, Bai Xiao had independently discerned this pattern. That was no easy feat. Without his Dream System and his wives’ testimonies, Ye Yu himself might have believed Bai Xiao wholeheartedly. Yet in truth, no sign of the other passages had manifested even after an Emperor’s awakening. So why had the Demon–Heaven passage returned so swiftly? What had caused it?
He fixed his gaze on Bai Xiao. “Do you think the formation of these passages is driven by the world’s natural forces, or by some great cultivator’s divine art?”
Bai Xiao’s tone was resolute. “Of course it’s the world’s power. These passages seem ordinary, but they cleave through heaven and earth, linking two distant planes and ignoring all obstacles. Such a grand work no single person could achieve.”
Ye Yu nodded thoughtfully, then pressed on. “Two more questions: first, why do you speak only of Five Realms’ passages when there are six Realms? Second, if you predict the Five Realms’ passages will return, when will the remaining one restore?”
Bai Xiao replied at once. “The Divine Realm remains a mystery. Ancient texts repeatedly state there is no passage there—only a way to break through the void itself. That’s why I speak only of Five Realms. As for timing...”
Before he could finish, the heavens trembled once more. A surge of demonic qi swirled westward, and soon a blue beam of light appeared on the horizon. Upon seeing it, Bai Xiao cried excitedly, “Another Realm’s passage has restored—and faster than I ever imagined! Let’s go take a look.”
Without hesitation, Ye Yu formed the Shen Gui Zhen Tu (Divine Spirit Formation Chart) to condense a teleportation array, sending himself and Bai Xiao westward. Approaching the glowing pillar, they saw the passage identical in form to the last, save for its blue hue. Standing there, Ye Yu clearly felt the stir of a wild, bewitching aura—it must be the passage to the Monster Realm.
Bai Xiao twitched his nose. “Such unrestrained energy—definitely the Monster Realm. At this rate, the Five Realms’ passages will soon all be restored. Next, why don’t we discuss when the final passage will open?”
Ye Yu shook his head. With the Monster Realm passage open, his first priority was to find Nangong Jingtang. Too many variables had shifted; passages he’d never encountered in his dreams were appearing one by one. He worried for Nangong Jingtang’s fate.
“Let’s save that discussion for another time. But here’s a thought: might this so-called cycle you speak of really be a battle in the Divine Realm?”
With that, Ye Yu stepped into the passage and vanished at once. Bai Xiao remained, his expression growing ever more serious. A Divine Realm battle? Though fantastical, it was not impossible—and could explain much if pursued further.
Moments later, the space beside Bai Xiao rippled violently, and the Demon Respect cultivator who had argued with Ye Yu appeared. “Demon Lord, I still don’t understand,” he complained. “That youth’s aura was so concealed, yet he spoke with such arrogance—why did you stop me from attacking him?”
Indeed, the cultivator had only ceased his assault because he’d intercepted Bai Xiao’s inner-voice message. Bai Xiao smiled softly and said, “Wu Kang, haven’t you realized? That youth is not a Demon at all, but an Immortal.”
Wu Kang’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Impossible! He gave no sign of immortal power—only demonic qi. How can he be an Immortal?”
“Why not? He concealed his divine energy completely, so you sensed none. The demonic qi you felt was merely camouflage emanating from his demonic-immortal artifact. Once you reach the half-step Emperor ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) Realm, you’ll see it clearly.”
A golden glint flickered in Bai Xiao’s eyes as he gazed toward the Monster Realm passage and murmured, “What a fascinating Immortal—and he seems to know more secrets than I do.”
Meanwhile, Ye Yu arrived safely in the Monster Realm. Much like the Demon Realm, numerous Monsters clustered around the passage—but rather than slaying Immortals, they merely observed with curiosity. Upon spotting Ye Yu, they rushed forward to inquire, only to see his form flicker and vanish the next moment.
(“Sorry, brothers, I had a fever this morning—38°C—but I’m feeling better now; this is just finished. My update is late; please excuse me.”)
