Battle Through the Heavens: Harmony of Flame and Shadow

Just as Jiang Yun was surveying his surroundings, the sound of something slicing through the sky suddenly reached his ears. He looked up to see several beams of light shooting out from the void ahead, tearing through the fierce astral wind. These beams emitted strong spiritual fluctuations, indicating that they were powerhouses above the Earth Supreme level, with even a Heavenly Supreme among them.

"Who dares to approach the Northern Desolate Hill without the Great Thousand Alliance's permission?"

The sound of breaking wind grew closer, and seven grey beams shot towards Jiang Yun, arriving in front of him within seconds. These figures turned out to be seven middle-aged men dressed in grey robes. 

Jiang Yun observed them carefully and noticed that they were all thin and expressionless. However, the spiritual fluctuations emanating from their bodies indicated that they were all Earth Supreme powerhouses at the pinnacle of their power, along with one Heavenly Supreme of the Spirit Grade.

Judging by their attire, they seemed to be from the Guardian Clan, a lineage that would deploy such a formidable patrol team.

Jiang Yun took out his Demon-Slaying King Medal from his bosom and said in a low voice, "I am Jiang Yun, the Demon-Slaying King of the Great Thousand Palace. I've come to the Northern Desolate Hill to seek an audience with the Immortal Lord."

The Heavenly Supreme leader of the seven heard this and his pupils shrank suddenly, but his rigid expression remained unchanged. Taking a deep breath, he cupped his fists at Jiang Yun and said in a somewhat hoarse voice, "So it's the Demon-Slaying King. Since you seek an audience with the Tomb Lord, I will take you there."

Although he had not anticipated Jiang Yun's arrival, after checking the authenticity of the Demon-Slaying order, he let down his guard, speaking with a hint of respect. 

Even though they seldom left the Northern Desolate Hill, Jiang Yun's reputation was well-known, even among the Guardian Clan. The Immortal Lord had mentioned Jiang Yun several times, often in a tone of admiration.

Thus, Jiang Yun was not a stranger to them.

To this day, there were only two Demon-Slaying King Medals in the Great Thousand World, one possessed by Qin Tian and the other by Jiang Yun. There might be doubts about others, but never about the Demon-Slaying Kings.

After confirming Jiang Yun's identity, they led him through the protective array and towards the deeper parts of the Northern Desolate Hill.

After passing through numerous mountain tombs, Jiang Yun followed the Heavenly Supreme Guardian to the sky above a massive black square. 

Numerous colossal black pillars stood on this square, all marked by the erosion of time. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that these weren't just ordinary black pillars, but huge upright copper coffins.

These copper coffins seemed like nails, firmly embedded in the black square. The whole square faintly emitted an eerie fluctuation.

At this moment, Jiang Yun's eyes glowed purple as he glanced over the copper coffins. Images of their positions appeared in his mind. These coffins were connected, forming a seal array with immense power.

These copper coffins were the main element of the seal array left by the Immortal Emperor, and the sinister god of the Extraterrestrial Demon Clan was sealed beneath the depths of this black square.

In Jiang Yun's perception, this array was genuinely beyond the Saint Grade, with power reaching up to the Immortal Emperor's level, half a step into the Ruler realm.

But even such powerful forces needed 49,000 years to completely erase the sinister god's life imprint, showing how terrifying the sinister god was.

There was only a half-step difference between the realm of half-step Ruler and Ruler, but that half-step was like a vast chasm.

"Have you noticed anything?"

At this moment, a hoarse voice revealing ancientness spoke behind him.

Jiang Yun did not turn around but continued to stare at the array, speaking heavily, "I've seen power surpassing the Saint Grade and also the terror of the sinister god."

"Indeed. Even the Immortal Emperor could not utterly erase the sinister god and had to seal him here at the cost of his life. Only through 49,000 years of continuous depletion could we finally annihilate him."

"Therefore, the Great Thousand Demonization Array a century from now must not fail."

"I originally feared that us old guys couldn't withstand the final desperate counterattack of the Extraterrestrial Demon Clan, but fortunately, young talents like you have recently emerged."

"Qing Shan, Qin Tian, Martial Ancestor, Xiao Yan, and you, Jiang Yun — in all of you, I see hope for success."

The voice rambled on. Turning to look, Jiang Yun saw an elderly man with white hair in a black robe. His entire being emitted an air of decay, as if his life's flame could extinguish at any moment. But even in such a state, he radiated an indescribable, terrifying pressure.

"Immortal Lord, I will do my utmost!" Jiang Yun cupped his fists slightly. This man was the leader of the Guardian Clan, the Immortal Lord, a direct descendant of the Immortal Emperor, a peak Saint Grade Heavenly Supreme. Before the rise of Jiang Yun and others, he was one of the top three, if not the top, powerhouses in the Great Thousand World.

Seeing Jiang Yun's resolute tone, the Immortal Lord, full of decay, smiled and nodded, leading Jiang Yun to a heavily guarded stone hall. 

The stone hall was ancient, lacking the splendor of typical palaces but exuding a unique antiquity.

Once seated, the Immortal Lord looked at Jiang Yun and softly asked, "Your recent deeds in the Northern Territory and Sacred Abyss Continent have greatly benefited the Great Thousand beings. In this respect, I am not your equal!"

"But I wonder, why has the Celestial Emperor come to my Northern Desolate Hill? Surely not just to visit an old man like me?"

"I have an unworthy request," Jiang Yun replied, turning his head to look at the Immortal Lord and uttering a shocking statement, "I wish to see the sinister god!"

As soon as he spoke, a dreadful cold atmosphere filled the hall. The Immortal Lord and the Guardian Clan typically stayed out of worldly affairs, but if something touched their bottom line, they'd turn into madmen.

Clearly, the sinister god was their bottom line.

"Does the Celestial Emperor know what he is saying?" The Immortal Lord's wrinkled face was frosty, his tone chilling.

If Jiang Yun were not known for fervently slaying Demon Emperors, the Immortal Lord would have suspected him of being in league with the Extraterrestrial Demons and would have ordered his clan to capture him.

"My cultivation has reached the late Saint Grade, and I'll reach the peak within ten years. But as for the Immortal Emperor's realm, I have no clue. In the Great Thousand World, only the sinister god has stepped into that realm. So, I wish to seek answers from him."

Jiang Yun, seemingly unaware of the killing intent in the hall, looked solemnly at the Immortal Lord, like a determined seeker on a path.

Indeed, upon hearing Jiang Yun's sincere words, the Immortal Lord's expression softened. He advised, "Though your power is formidable, I might not be your match."

However, the Immortal Lord sensed an unprecedented life force within Jiang Yun, a force vast as an ocean.

"Yet, the sinister god's power isn't to be trifled with. As for the realm beyond the Saint Grade, I believe you'll achieve it when the time comes, just like the Immortal Emperor. There's no need to take such risks."

"I understand," Jiang Yun nodded, then slowly stood up. At that moment, a fierce, unbeatable aura erupted from within him. "But I believe the process of cultivation is also a journey of the heart. If I retreat for mere danger, my heart will be sullied. Even if a breakthrough opportunity arises, hesitation might make me miss that glimpse of enlightenment."

The Immortal Lord, shocked, stared at Jiang Yun. He had never expected Jiang Yun to utter such resonant words, and he couldn't help but question himself: did he possess such a mindset?

After a long time, the Immortal Lord shook his head. He did not have such resolve. Among the countless powerhouses he had met in the Great Thousand World, not one had Jiang Yun's mindset.

Could this be Jiang Yun's secret to rapidly breaking barriers and reaching the peak?

Curiously pondering, the Immortal Lord looked at the spirited Jiang Yun and felt an inexplicable anticipation. Perhaps Jiang Yun could surpass the Immortal Emperor's realm before the centenary.

Then, the final Great Thousand Accord would be foolproof!

Jiang Yun's words left the Immortal Lord silent. After a long time, the old man slowly nodded, "Since the Celestial Emperor wants to try, come with this old man."

The Immortal Lord's heart struggled. As the leader of the Guardian Clan, he didn't wish for any risks as the sinister god's end approached. He preferred to wait the century and activate the final Great Thousand Demonization Array to eradicate the sinister god's threat.

But Jiang Yun's achievements in exterminating Demon Emperors in the Chiyan Continent and Sacred Abyss Continent made him treat Jiang Yun seriously.

Most crucially, he couldn't defeat Jiang Yun. If he forcibly stopped him, Jiang Yun's determined will might lead him to cause a ruckus and forcefully enter.

Should any accident occur during this, the Guardian Clan would be culpable!

In the vast, ancient black square, two figures walked among the copper coffins. Finally, they crossed numerous coffins and reached the center. The Immortal Lord pointed to the central coffin, "Celestial Emperor, please look. This is the eye of the seal array. From here, you can observe the sinister god's situation.

"But this demon is cunning and exceedingly evil and powerful. Over the years, even our Heavenly Supremes have been critically wounded from a wisp of its demonic aura."

The Immortal Lord's face was solemn. For a power transcending the Saint Grade, and the only one in existence, caution wasn't excessive.

Jiang Yun nodded, approaching the array's eye step by step. During this, the Immortal Lord secretly gathered spiritual energy, ready to control the array to suppress any potential threats from Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun now stood beside the array's eye, looking at the crack under the copper coffin with a serious expression.

"Sinister god."

Jiang Yun finally muttered in a low voice. Suddenly, a deep sound came from the ground, causing the entire square to tremble. Wisps of evil aura accumulated in the crack; if not for the array's suppression, they would've burst out already.

"Roar~~~"

From the depths of the earth came a roar filled with boundless destruction, able to change the heavens and earth, end worlds.

From the crack, blackish demonic aura gushed out like smoke, darkening the entire realm and corrupting all spiritual energy.

"Boom!"

The crack spewed demonic aura. Despite the copper coffin array's suppression, wisps of demonic aura penetrated, rolling towards Jiang Yun.

"Be careful!"

Seeing this, the Immortal Lord urgently shouted, his hands swiftly conjuring a black radiance to intercept the demonic aura.

"Hmph!"

"Impressive, sinister god. Power beyond the Saint Grade is indeed terrifying, but you underestimate me. Weak and sealed as you are, how can you destroy me?"

The Immortal Lord reacted, but Jiang Yun was quicker. Reaching out, a black-and-white light intertwined, clashing with the demonic aura with a continuous hissing sound, eventually dissipating it.

"This is..."

"The power of the Saint Demon Clan?!"

"Cackle, cackle, cackle. Indeed!"

From the earth, the sinister god recognized the familiar power within Jiang Yun the moment he acted.

Jiang Yun had forged his own path, free from the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor's influence, so even top powerhouses like the Immortal Lord couldn't discern it.

But to the sinister god, Jiang Yun's change was evident. As one of the Saint Demon Clan, he was more familiar with their power than anyone else.

He instantly identified Jiang Yun's power as derived from the Saint Demon Clan. Though he didn't know how Jiang Yun achieved it, he was sure Jiang Yun had a deep connection with the Demon Clan.

"Jiang Yun, are you alright?"

The Immortal Lord, now beside Jiang Yun, anxiously checked on him and sighed in relief seeing he was unharmed.

Before he could advise further, a deep voice from the earth spoke, "So, two little bugs have come. If I recall correctly, the millennium isn't yet up, right?"

"Have you come early to seek death?"