Translator: Fate Translation Checker: Silavin Seeing the look on Jun Yao’s face, Jun Fan comforted her again, “I’ve heard about this. It might be due to Father’s failure in doing the job well that Empress Yao Xi is unhappy. Don’t worry, sister. Her Majesty might release Father and everyone else after she’s given some time to cool off.” “Is that so?” Jun Yao seemed to feel more relieved after hearing him say that, and she didn’t say anything more. Song Youwei had been watching the two from the side with a calm demeanour. She, too, didn’t say anything. To be honest, she was somewhat disappointed in Jun Fan. She didn’t understand why he continued to lie and hide his identity, even at this point. However, she didn’t have the spare energy to dwell on this if he was going to continue denying the truth. This was the last time she would explore the ruins with him. It was the end of their friendship. She came here today to find out the reason for Jun Fan’s attitude, but seeing how he acted so secretively even in front of his sister, greatly disappointed Song Youwei. She could think of a way to help him but that was under the condition he gave her a reasonable explanation. After all, why did he feel the need to cover the truth up if he wasn’t guilty? “Supposedly, a mysterious portal in the Demon World that holds many pleasant surprises is hidden here.” Intending to find the Gates of Death first, Jun Fan began to talk to the two of them about it. Now that he had explored many areas, he could avoid some dangerous places. “Is it true that there are strange energy fields in this place? According to what you said, there are indeed some clear differences.” Song Youwei nodded and took out a geomantic compass with various eye-catching runes flashing on its surface. Seeing this, Jun Fan smiled and said, “If we can break the energy field here, maybe we can find that mysterious portal which contains unimaginable opportunities.” When he was on his way here, an ancient route appeared in his mind. It was the key left by the Solar Demon Overlord that was starting to work. Like a star chart, the ancient route directed him to go straight ahead, to prevent him from falling into life-threatening situations by mistake. The three of them saw many fragments of ancient battleships, flying boats, divine swords, and tattered, abandoned weapons stained with black blood. It seemed that war had indeed happened here. Hurrying along the misty path, they went into the deeper end while breaking many arrays. With Song Youwei’s resourcefulness, and Junfan’s key and detailed direction, they barely met any obstacles when they went in. Only Jun Yao looked at the two of them in surprise as she followed behind them. She was tightly holding the protective object Gu Changge gave her in her palm. It didn’t take long before they saw a desert-like scenery, where yellow sand covered every centimeter. The other side was also bare mountains crowded with volcanic craters. There was not a lake or green hill in sight. The magma bubbling in the craters was, in fact, blood of a darker red. Wisps of black and red flames with traces of divinity and the smell of blood constantly wafted in the air. No one knew for sure how many years it took for the bloody magma to take form. They couldn’t see the sight further away, but they could feel that the Principles here were not suitable for cultivation and survival of the beings from the Demon World. “What exactly happened here…” Song Youwei glanced at Jun Fan. “Jun Fan, you seem to have a map of this place. Most of the paths we took have been smooth.” “I just so happened to receive an incomplete map. That’s why I wanted to invite you here to see if we can break through the energy fields,” Jun Fan explained calmly. Song Youwei reacted by letting out a small frown, but she nodded in acknowledgement without saying anything else. They soon continued on their journey. There were many beasts here that were more ferocious and powerful than ordinary beasts because they had been surrounded by the aura of death all year round. It took the trio a lot of effort to pass through this place to go deeper. After they left this place, a group of experts appeared to follow after them with their energies concealed. Jiang Luoshen wore a golden robe on her tall and slender body. As her blonde hair fluttered, and the runes gradually disappeared in her golden eyes, she began to speak in an fascinated tone, “Seems like it’s true that Jun Bufan and the others can find the exact route. The so-called Gates of Death is here.” The moment Jun Fan and the others stepped into this place, Jiang Luoshen’s group had rushed over, but they hid at an appropriate distance away to avoid alarming or getting noticed by Jun Fan’s party. “Gu Changge, how on earth did you manage to get Jun Yao to be so obedient, to the point she’s so willing to let you use her to lead the way?” she couldn’t help asking Gu Changge who was standing beside her impassively. She had always thought of women as emotional beings. Even if Jun Yao knew that Jun Fan’s actions were harming the family, it would still be difficult for her to firmly decide to betray him. Regardless of whether it was strength, cultivation, or ability, the more she got to know Gu Changge, the more terrifying she realised he was. “Does it matter?” Gu Changge withdrew his gaze and threw a glance at her “Forget it,” she coldly huffed. She couldn’t help feeling wronged that someone of her status was now a mere servant that he could instruct at will. He would be rather cold and indifferent sometimes when she asked him about certain things. Even though she knew that this was his true self, and that the gentleness he usually showed was just a facade, it often hit her that he might be incapable of feeling emotions. Bang! A cloud of dark black fog filled the air in the void. Soon after, Bai Lian’er appeared. She couldn’t help musing when she saw Jiang Luoshen’s appearance. “So even the Princess of Godly Illusion Clan has no choice but to submit to another person.” “Stay out of my business.” Jiang Luoshen peered at her coldly. Bai Lian’er only chuckled in return before her figure turned into a fog that disappeared with a bang, leaving behind Jiang Luoshen, whose face remained as cold as ice. Bai Lian’er’s words were like a thorn in her flesh. “I’ll tell you what you need to know, but it’s useless for you to ask about something that I shouldn’t tell you.” Gu Changge shook his head slightly and uttered these words before he turned into a divine rainbow and went to the place where Jun Fan and the other two went. That made Jiang Luoshen snort coldly. As dismissive as Gu Changge was, his words still made her feel better. [At least he still cares about my feelings.] … A thick aura of death permeated the air in the hills and valleys in the distance. Many carcasses of huge monsters could be seen lying here, piled up to make what looked like a hill. There was neither flesh nor blood on them, as only their dried-up bones remained. There was also a collapsed palace here. From the outline of the pavilions and squares in many places, it seemed like it was once a majestic building. “According to the route, if we are already in so deep, that must be the portal we’re looking for. I can sense its aura,” Jun Fan exclaimed, his words a little excited. As expected, he would soon meet his father, and he would be able to ask about the many things that happened in the past six thousand years. Song Youwei nodded. There was actually a forest filled with crimson mist amidst the ruins. She had never seen the trees that grew here. The main thing was that even with her ability, it took her some time to break through the obstacles. Not only that, but she also used up an extremely precious array-breaking treasure. Now that she was here, she was intrigued by this place. “The crimson mist is highly corrosive. It’s as if it was blown here from the Nine Nethers. It’s inevitable that something bad will happen if we are exposed to the mist for an extended period of time.” Song Youwei took out a secret treasure that looked like a sphere from her storage ring. After she captured some of the crimson mist into it, she found that the mist had a spiritual nature, and it was even wriggling about in the device. Seeing this brought a nasty chill up her spine. However, she could still hold it in for the time being by protecting her body with the spiritual energy outside her body. Soon, Jun Fan and the others went deep into the crimson forest in front of them. At the junction of several mountains in front, they saw an incomparably majestic portal flowing with radiance. It was as if the Celestial Realm itself was erected right there. Behind the portal was a barely visible mountain which seemed to be a pathway to another world. As though they had come to the gates of Hell, Jun Yao felt a chill run through her body. “What’s this?” She gasped. The wisps of crimson mist seeping out from the portal made her hair stand on end. “It’s the Gates of Death…” Song Youwei frowned. With her good memory, she recognised the two ancient characters on the portal in front of her. They were of a Demonic Language that was near extinction from an extremely ancient era. Everyone began to gather around this portal as they wandered around it, all the while keeping their eyes wide. Right then, Jun Fan felt a burst of brilliance emerge in his Knowledge Sea. The key was shining as it manifested in a corner, and it could be taken out upon his calling. He had already confirmed now that this was the Gates of Death that the Solar Demon Overlord told him about. Also, only the possessor of the key could enter this portal. “Is the treasure you’re looking for behind this portal, Fan’er?” Jun Yao blurted out nervously. She was still grabbing onto the protective item Gu Changge gave her. Jun Fan couldn’t help letting out a smile as he nodded. He had nothing to hide at this point. “Behind this portal is the secret of the madness that happened in the Demon World six thousand years ago. As long as I walk in, I will know everything.” He believed that the current situation in the Demon World would be reversed in an instant as long as he found the Solar Demon Overlord. Empress Yao Xi’s control over the Nine Domains would soon be dissolved, and all the problems could be easily resolved then. With a frown on her face, Song Youwei approached the portal while she stared at a small line of characters next to the portal. She recognised those words after carefully examining them. “There is also a line of words in small characters here. It seems that only those who have the key can pass through this portal and enter the Grand Array. It turns out that there is a Grand Array inside the portal. I wonder who set it up…” She looked at Jun Fan after saying that. Judging from his expression, he obviously knew about it. In other words, Jun Fan had the key to enter the portal. “You have the key, don’t you?” she asked to confirm. Hearing that, he admitted, “This is the key.” He didn’t need to hide the truth when everyone here was his people. After saying that, his palm glowed before a scale-like thing that shone brightly emerged. The strange patterns on it made it look like the scale armour of some kind of monster. If it wasn’t for Jun Ruoxi’s reminder, he wouldn’t have known that the scale that was thrown into a corner of his Knowledge Sea would be a key. “I will enter the portal in a while. You can either leave, or you can wait for me here. But I have a feeling that I won’t be coming out from here after I enter,” Jun Fan added while looking at the portal. He intended to use the key to enter it. But at this moment, a terrifying murderous aura suddenly hit him from behind, making his frozen body shiver all over. A dagger with a faint blue glow flitted across the void then, filling the area with killing intent. Time seemed to stop here all of a sudden. “Watch out, Young Master!” At the critical moment, an expert behind Jun Fan let out a roar, prompting his whole body, his muscles and veins included, to glow. He abruptly released the most powerful force in his body as he pushed Jun Fan away. He himself was pierced between the eyebrows by the dagger, and he was killed instantly as both his body and soul were destroyed. Bang! A group of midnight black mist emerged in the distance before Bai Lian’er appeared with a dagger in her hand, her expression seemingly a little regretful. “What a pity. You would have died just now if he was a second slower. You must be one lucky guy to manage to evade that.” “You!” Jun Fan was startled out of his mind. He didn’t think he would be so close to death because of his carelessness just now. As he stared at Bai Lian’er with a gloomy face with cold rage written all over it, the many experts behind him grew vigilant this moment. They swiftly brandished all kinds of weapons while staring at Bai Lian’er, in case she continued to attack. “What happened!?” Song Youwei and Jun Yao were also so taken aback by the sudden turn of events earlier they broke out in cold sweats. Although Bai Lian’er was the daughter of the Demon Master, Bai Kun, six thousand years had passed after all. There weren’t a lot of people who could recognise her at a glance. Not even the women here knew who she was at this point. “Be good and hand over the key, or else no one can save you from this pickle today. Your companions, too, shall die with you.” Bai Lian’er looked at him indifferently, her voice sounded extremely indifferent. Jun Fan’s face dimmed. “Have you been following me the whole time?” “That’s not what’s important.” Instead of answering his question, Bai Lian’er stared at the scale in his hand. “What’s important is that you will die today if you don’t give me the key.” “Try taking it from me if you want it.” Jun Fan didn’t hesitate to take out a Golden Decree from his storage ring. After being activated, it began to expand against the wind and enveloped the sky. There were many star-like divine scripts circulating on it. It looked majestic and heavy like an abyss in the sky that could crush down at any time. Moreover, each divine script was like a star that evolved into a powerful sword energy, so sharp it shook both heaven and earth. This was one of his trump cards. After being activated, it could explode with the incomparable might of the gods. He was confident he could stop Bai Lian’er’s attack. Swoosh! One after another, bright sword glows fell and flooded the place like thousands of terrifying and powerful divine swords cutting their way. Seeing this, Bai Lian’er’s expression remained calm. There was no change in the slightest despite Jun Fan’s defence. “You won’t give up until you meet your end, will you? You must be looking forward to dying.” At the same time, her figure turned into a mist that disappeared, and probably merged into the void. The world-shattering murderous aura in the air sent chills all over everyone’s bodies. The pain that hurt even their souls felt like they were about to split apart between their eyebrows. This was a monstrous killing intent. Bai Lian’er was worthy of being the Successor of the Killing Emperor. The moment she showed what she was capable of, it made everyone tremble in fear that they would be dragged into hell and cease to exist. Whoosh! However, the Golden Decree was by no means weak. As it got activated, it began to chop off the divine swords loudly, making it impossible for Bai Lian’er to hide or approach Jun Fan. Just like that, she was forced out of the void. She frowned and raised her head to glance at the Golden Decree, and her figure appeared. “How long can your Decree protect you?” Bai Lian’er commented. Instead of charging ahead, she stood where she was. Thinking that she was afraid, Jun Fan breathed a sigh of relief and sneered, “I don’t need it to protect me for long. It’ll be enough as long as it lasts until I enter the portal.” “You’re going to give up on the rest of the people here, aren’t you? You don’t seem to care if they live or die,” Bai Lian’er couldn’t help but mock. Hearing this, Song Youwei and the others froze. They knew how scary Bai Lian’er’s powers were. If Jun Fan didn’t care about them, they definitely didn’t stand a chance against Bai Lian’er. “Are you threatening me right now?” Jun Fan’s face was dark as he held the scale tightly in his hand. He was reluctant to give up the key, now that the portal was not far behind him. But if he were to go in, Jun Yao, Song Youwei, and the others here would all die a horrible death. They knew that Bai Lian’er wouldn’t go easy on them. “I can let them live if you hand over the key. It won’t be this easy by the time the rest of my people come.” Bai Lian’er sympathetic words had a hint of ridicule in them as she stood there lightly wiping her dagger. However, Jun Fan let out a scoff as he seemingly got hold of her Achilles heel. “Don’t even think about getting the key from me. I don’t care if you hurt them. I have all sorts of ways I can kill you no matter where you scurry off to after this. You weren’t like this back then, Bai Lian’er, but you are helping the evildoers now? I wonder how Uncle Bai Kun will feel when he finds out about this?” He believed that he had no need to fear her as long as he entered the portal and found his father. Hearing this, Bai Lian’er suddenly looked glum and cold, and her murderous aura felt overwhelming. “Silence!” she growled. “My father ended up this way because he listened to your father. That’s why my mother died young. You’re only digging your own grave by saying this.” If it wasn’t for this Golden Decree protecting Jun Fan, she would definitely tear him into pieces. “What’s the point of saying all that? It doesn’t change the fact that you betrayed both Uncle Bai Kun and me.” After Jun Fan calmed down, another thing appeared in his hand. He then began to calculate the timing for a fatal blow he would hit Bai Lian’er with in a bit. However, Bai Lian’er seemed to have come back to her senses, and she returned to her calm and cold self. “I almost fell for your words. It’s only one dead person. There’s no need for me to get angry because of you.” Boom! At this time, violent fluctuations appeared above the sky, followed by a Golden Rune where many figures stood on it. The leader of the group was dressed in black clothes and shrouded in multi-coloured brilliance. Even his hair seemed to glow as he looked down on them with a calm face. The next moment, a giant palm that could cover the sky came down from above, and immediately tore off the Golden Decree in front of it. Jun Fan’s face fell in shock the moment he saw this. [Gu Changge!] Whoosh! In a matter of seconds, hundreds of millions of golden lights erupted, bringing about terrifying fluctuations that surged like a tide. The Golden Decree tried to resist, but the giant palm was too powerful. From there, instead of a simple illusion, a physical body of the utmost strength wrapped in Chaos Energy emerged. Crack! The Golden Decree started to split, and the terrifying sword energy was calmed down by this palm. The scene was so frightening that everyone quietly trembled in fear. “Hand me the key, or I’ll kill her.” Gu Changge descended from the sky with an unwavering expression. He was ready to kill the figure he was holding in his palm at any time.