Chapter Seventy-Seven: A Drop in the Vast Ocean

The pillar of flame formed by the combined power of the three demon lords was not true fire, but rather the illusion created by compressing their vital energy to the utmost limit. This inconspicuous streak of black light actually contained all the cultivation of the three demon lords. Their goal was nothing less than to shatter the Life and Death Grand Array with a single blow.

With a thunderous crash, their strike pierced through layers of low-level demonic creatures and smashed heavily against the Life and Death Grand Array.

At that very moment, Long Yun no longer hesitated; with a flicker of his figure, he dashed toward the Grand Array.

The earth quaked and the mountains shook. The entire space began to tremble violently, countless rays of light scattering in all directions. One could see with the naked eye the foundation pillars of the array trembling fiercely as beams of light collided. The enormous wheel of azure light began to crack at last, dense fractures rippling outward, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass.

At last, under the calculated strike of the three demon lords, the Life and Death Grand Array could no longer withstand the blow; it exploded with a deafening roar, and the surrounding stone pillars were reduced to flying ash in the same instant.

“We’ve done it! We’ve breached the Tomb of Life and Death—now we shall rule this world!” The three demon lords burst into triumphant laughter, charging toward the tomb’s gate.

The sky was churned with black clouds. Fewer than a fifth of the demonic creatures remained, but their numbers were still considerable, surging after the demon lords toward the stone door.

Long Yun, concealed among the multitude of demons, did not follow directly behind the three demon lords. His many brushes with death had taught him that the Tomb of Life and Death was not so easily conquered.

For such a place to have stood for so long, untaken through countless ages, it could not possibly fall so easily to the three demon lords.

Thus, Long Yun did not assault the front of the stone door, but instead positioned himself at the area closest to the left side, flying forward alongside a host of demonic creatures.

At that moment, the three demon lords were wholly absorbed in the joy of breaking the array, unaware that someone like Long Yun lingered behind them.

In the blink of an eye, the Gate of Life and Death was within arm’s reach. Ecstasy was etched onto the faces of the three demon lords. They raised their stone hammers and brought them crashing down upon the seemingly fragile stone door.

Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred.

Upon the previously ordinary stone door, a single brilliant emerald character blazed forth: “Life.”

Instantly, a dazzling emerald light shot out from within the door, transformed into surging waves of fury, and engulfed the cluster of demons at the very center before the door.

“A tomb of life and death, a grand array of life and death! What a marvelous formation—an array within an array!” Long Yun couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

The stone pillars were merely part of the Grand Array—a death array. Behind these pillars, the stone door itself formed the other half: the life array. Life and death in perpetual cycle, the array thus achieved its perfect unity.

With the death array destroyed, the life array was instantly activated, unleashing formidable power that directly engulfed the three demon lords and nearly half the remaining demons.

Where the emerald light surged, all demonic creatures were reduced to ash, not a trace left behind. The life array, the array of vitality, was also the nemesis of demonic death energy.

Though its restraint was not as absolute as that of the divine aura, it was nonetheless not something such evil forces could withstand.

Only Long Yun, standing in the aftershock of this vital energy, found the demonic shroud around his body dispelled, but his flesh remained unharmed, protected by the divine aura.

The divine aura—unique to the Genesis Dragon God, sovereign over the entire Dragon Realm. Though vital energy was high-level spiritual power, it could only yield to the divine aura when the two met.

Thus, the life array did not harm Long Yun, allowing his uninterrupted form to appear at the side of the stone door.

“Not good! There’s an infiltrator!” A furious roar rang out behind him. Long Yun spun around to see the eldest demon lord’s enormous body sprawled on the ground, his eyes fixed upon Long Yun and burning with venomous hatred.

“Such tenacity—not dead even after that!” Feeling the weight of that gaze, Long Yun’s scalp tingled; he dared not tarry even a moment longer. With his left hand, he pressed his palm lightly against the stone door.

The divine aura surged from within, pouring into his palm. He believed that since the vital energy had not harmed him due to this aura, entering the stone door must also require dependence on the divine aura.

“All of you, go! Kill him!” The eldest demon lord struggled to his feet, his body riddled with hundreds of wounds, blood gushing wildly and staining his massive frame a monstrous crimson.

Struggling, he charged straight at Long Yun.

Long Yun’s face paled. He shouted, channeling all the divine aura within him and flooding it into the stone door.

“Hmph! Boy, I never imagined you’d make it here—you must be a disciple of the righteous sects come in for training! Now that you know our secret, you think you can escape? Do you really believe the Tomb of Life and Death is so easy to enter?” the eldest demon lord roared, and before his words had faded, his stone hammer came crashing down.

Cold sweat beaded on Long Yun’s brow, but he dared not let his energy falter. Though the eldest demon lord was grievously wounded, he was still not someone Long Yun could withstand.

If he failed to enter the tomb, his fate would be death—he had no other choice.

Finally, upon the now-calm stone door, the character for “Life” shone again. At the same time, Long Yun felt a powerful force drawing him in; he was pulled straight toward the stone door.

“Impossible!” The eldest demon lord’s face twisted in terror; he released his stone hammer and tumbled away in panic.

With a resonant hum, that emerald light of vital energy burst forth once more. Apart from the eldest demon lord, who had sensed the danger and escaped by luck, all remaining demonic creatures were obliterated.

Long Yun did not crash into the stone door as expected, but passed straight through, vanishing into the Tomb of Life and Death without leaving a trace.

The eldest demon lord’s face contorted in fury; he pounded the ground with his fist, causing the very earth to tremble, fissures splitting the flagstones—a terror beyond words.

“Damn it! How treacherous!” he roared, his eyes nearly spitting fire, all his meticulous schemes ultimately benefiting another.

If he could lay his hands on Long Yun, he would tear him limb from limb.

As he gnashed his teeth and thundered with rage, a black figure silently appeared before him.

“Qing...” the demon lord stammered, his face shifting from fury to terror—a fear so deep it drained all color from his features.

This shadow, whom he addressed as Xuanqing, was clad in black robes and bore a human appearance. He looked little more than thirty, with a square, upright face. But for the sinister aura naturally emanating from him, none would take him for a demon lord.

“Mo Da, you and your brothers are all worthless,” Xuanqing said coolly.

Mo Da gazed at Xuanqing in terror, bowing his head. “Lord Xuan, you are mistaken...”

“Hmph!” Xuanqing sneered. “Do you think I don’t know what you three have been up to all these years? Not even we have full confidence in breaking the Life and Death Grand Array, but you three fools thought you could invade the tomb? For years, we elders left you to your own devices merely out of indifference. Now, two of you are dead and one is wounded—you deserve no less!”

Mo Da hurriedly knelt, knocking his head on the ground. “Lord Xuan, I know my mistake! Please, spare my life!”

“Spare you?” Xuanqing replied softly. “You knew the tomb’s secret and kept it to yourself, plotting to seize this place and control us as well. Your wolfish ambition is plain for all to see—do you think I’ll let you live?”

“No—!” Mo Da’s eyes filled with terror. With a sudden surge of strength, his massive body shot away like an arrow.

“Do you think you can escape?” Xuanqing slowly extended his right hand. Waves of black demonic energy rippled outward, and Mo Da’s form was immediately frozen in place, unable to move a muscle.

“Die,” Xuanqing said, a faint smile on his lips. His palm gently closed, and Mo Da’s huge body dissolved into a cloud of black mist, drifting away on the wind.