The Eastern Peak Great Emperor and the others were no ordinary figures. They all knew that many unfathomable beings lurked in the shadows, among whom might be experts under Ancestor Xuehe's command. Therefore, when the Ancient Bone Demon appeared, they were not surprised.
This was also the outcome they had hoped to see. One could even say the more experts under Ancestor Xuehe who showed up, the happier they would be. If Ancestor Xuehe himself descended and clashed with Fusheng Dijun, that would be even better.
Of course,
they all knew that in a situation like this, Ancestor Xuehe would not come personally.
Though Ancestor Xuehe had not descended, the appearance of Ancient Bone Demon, one of his top experts, left the Eastern Peak Great Emperor and the others pleasantly surprised.
Because they knew Ancient Bone Demon was one of the four great protectors under Ancestor Xuehe, and also an Ancient Demon of the Nine Underworlds with extremely deep seniority, possessing high prestige within the demonic path. Back in the Primordial Era, he too was a demon that made people tremble in fear.
With Ancient Bone Demon here, Fusheng Dijun would not find it so easy to eradicate the Three-Eyed Demon Lord.
However,
the Eastern Peak Great Emperor and the others could see that Fusheng Dijun had been holding back against the Three-Eyed Demon Lord, never delivering a killing blow. Moreover, when the Three-Eyed Demon Lord attacked, Fusheng Dijun didn't even retaliate. Thinking with their toes, they knew Fusheng Dijun must fear that killing the Three-Eyed Demon Lord would provoke Ancestor Xuehe and bring retaliation upon the Eternal Life Pavilion.
The Eastern Peak Great Emperor and the others had already devised a countermeasure. If Fusheng Dijun refused to kill the Three-Eyed Demon Lord today, they planned to stand on the moral high ground and denounce Fusheng Dijun for consorting with demons, unworthy of being a hero of the Present Era.
But what utterly shocked the Eastern Peak Great Emperor and the others was that Da Xing the Mad Monk would suddenly appear halfway through. What frustrated them to no end was that Da Xing the Mad Monk had preemptively seized the moral high ground, incidentally tying them all together with Fusheng Dijun, even saying that whoever let the Three-Eyed Demon Lord escape today would be an enemy of Heaven and Earth, betraying the hundreds of millions of lives slaughtered by the Three-Eyed Demon Lord.
This was no small accusation—it was massive, big enough to ruin the reputations of these Destiny-Bearing Great Emperors.
What to do?
The Eastern Peak Great Emperor was a bit dazed, and Pure Robe Bodhisattva was also a bit dazed.
Suddenly saddled with such a heavy accusation by Da Xing the Mad Monk, even if they wanted to leave now, they couldn't. They had no choice but to act, after all they were Great Emperors bearing Heaven's Mandate, renowned far and wide—one backed by the Great Sun Glory Emperor of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, the other by the Wonderful Tathagata, Buddha-Emperor of the Western Heavens.
"Hehe!"
On the scene, Da Xing the Mad Monk shook his Great Compassion Fan, grinning at Ancient Bone Demon. "So, is what this old monk said clear enough?"
Ancient Bone Demon offered a thin, insincere smile and nodded. "This old one understands the Holy Monk's words, only..."
"Only what?"
"Only... the Holy Monk may have misunderstood. Although this old one came for Three-Eyes, it was not to save him."
Ancient Bone Demon's words left everyone present stunned. Da Xing the Mad Monk blinked—clearly, he too couldn't figure out what was going on. "What do you mean?
If you didn't come to save that little bastard Three-Eyes, then what did you come for?
What, don't tell me you came to kill him instead?"
"Although the Three-Eyed Demon Lord is a disciple of my emperor, Ancestor Xuehe, this child is too unruly and unteachable. Moreover, he stole my emperor's Nine Underworlds Banner. My emperor had long since expelled him from the sect. Upon learning that this child had slaughtered hundreds of millions of beings in the Great Wasteland to refine the Nine Underworlds Banner, my emperor specifically ordered this old one to eradicate him."
As he spoke, Ancient Bone Demon slowly walked up to the Three-Eyed Demon Lord, leisurely raising his skin-and-bones arm. The White Bones staff in his hand flashed with light, and without even a grunt, the Three-Eyed Demon Lord turned to ash and vanished.
Silence.
Deathly silence.
Everyone had thought Ancient Bone Demon appeared to save the Three-Eyed Demon Lord. No one had expected that his purpose was not only not to save the Three-Eyed Demon Lord, but to eradicate him instead.
This outcome exceeded everyone's expectations. They all stood there dumbfounded, somewhat at a loss.
In the air,
the Nine Underworlds Banner still stood, but after the Three-Eyed Demon Lord turned to ash, the banner had long lost its former brilliance, looking like nine ordinary flags.
"Esteemed ones, this Nine Underworlds Banner is a treasure of my emperor, Ancestor Xuehe. The Three-Eyed Demon Lord stole and refined it. May this old one now retrieve the Nine Underworlds Banner?"
Faced with Ancient Bone Demon's inquiry, no one answered, no one dared to answer.
Ancient Bone Demon had made things perfectly clear: the Three-Eyed Demon Lord had not only long been expelled by Ancestor Xuehe but had also stolen the Nine Underworlds Banner for refinement. As for his slaughter of hundreds of millions in the Great Wasteland, it naturally had nothing to do with Ancestor Xuehe. Now, Ancient Bone Demon eradicating the Three-Eyed Demon Lord was simply cleaning house, and retrieving the Nine Underworlds Banner was only right and proper.
Whether Ancient Bone Demon's words were true or false, no one knew.
Perhaps false, perhaps true.
Truth or falsehood was fundamentally unimportant.
What mattered was that Ancient Bone Demon had indeed eradicated the Three-Eyed Demon Lord in front of everyone.
Now Ancient Bone Demon wanted to retrieve the Nine Underworlds Banner.
Who dared refuse?
Who didn't know the Nine Underworlds Banner was Ancestor Xuehe's signature magical treasure? Seizing the Nine Underworlds Banner would be equivalent to slapping Ancestor Xuehe in the face in public. No one present wanted to offend Ancestor Xuehe; the consequences were something none could bear.
Ancient Bone Demon stretched out his hand, and the Nine Underworlds Banner was drawn into his possession. Then he cupped his hands again. "Thank you all for your magnanimity."
Turning around, Ancient Bone Demon came before Gu Qingfeng, bowing and cupping his hands. "My emperor has long admired Your Excellency and has long wished to befriend you, but unfortunately never had the opportunity. Hearing that Your Excellency has also come to the Primordial Black Hole, my emperor was exceedingly pleased."
"Oh?"
Gu Qingfeng laughed. "What a coincidence. I too was thinking of getting to know the illustrious Ancestor Xuehe."
Ancient Bone Demon held out a piece of black jade with both hands. The jade was about the size of a palm, resembling a statue. The statue was as evil and eerie as a ghost or deity. No one could tell what it was. Gu Qingfeng glanced at it but didn't recognize it either. "What's the meaning of this?"
"This is a small token from my emperor, hoping Your Excellency will accept it."
"Isn't your Ancestor Xuehe being too polite? We haven't even met yet, and you're already giving a meeting gift?"
"My emperor heard Your Excellency has a fondness for fine wine, so he ordered this old one to present you with a few jars of excellent liquor."
"This contains fine wine?"
"Indeed."
"Hahaha!"
Gu Qingfeng laughed heartily. "Since it's fine wine, then I'll accept it. No need for words of thanks. Tell Ancestor Xuehe later that when we have a chance to meet, I'll treat him to a drink."
"My emperor will respectfully await the occasion."
Ancient Bone Demon cupped his hands once more. "In that case, this old one will take his leave."
"Alright, you may go."
Ancient Bone Demon said nothing more, leaning on his White Bones staff as he slowly departed, his figure gradually vanishing without a trace in the air.