My gorgeous wife Chapter 1945: 1914: Encounter with the Destroyer
Previously on My gorgeous wife...
Heart demons are a profound dread for every cultivator.
Unlike any external threat, heart demons fester from the deepest fears and unresolved issues within a cultivator's core being.
The more profound the internal conflict, the more potent the heart demon becomes, and the greater its impact on the individual.
In the initial phases of the Heavenly Level, heart demons typically do not manifest unless a cultivator impetuously alters their cultivation technique, ventures onto an uncharted path distinct from their predecessors, or attempts to change their cultivation method at extreme risk.
Naturally, certain individuals harbor intense obsessions, allowing heart demons to take root and flourish; the depth of the obsession directly correlates to the strength of the heart demon—this is an established truth.
Should a cultivator be invaded by heart demons, the fortunate might merely lose their entire cultivation base, reverting to an ordinary existence yet managing to survive; with exceptional luck, they might even find an opportunity to re-cultivate.
The unfortunate, however, could vanish instantaneously, leaving no chance for reincarnation.
Numerous theories surround heart demons; some propose they originate from the malevolent thoughts pervading the starry cosmos, while others suggest they represent the antithesis of a cultivator's inherent duality of good and evil, actively impeding the cultivator's progress.
Irrespective of the prevailing theory, heart demons are horrifying entities that no one desires any close encounter with.
And given Yang Xin’s present condition, the emergence of heart demons is undoubtedly more probable.
“We are nearing our destination; the area ahead should be the place you indicated,” Li Chen stated suddenly, his attention piqued, addressing Li Changkong and the others in proximity.
“We have arrived?” Li Changkong and Li Bihai reacted with surprise. Their Divine Sense had not yet detected anything, yet Li Chen had already proclaimed their arrival.
While the range of Divine Sense is considerably restricted, Li Chen perceived it through the Eye of the Dao.
The location details, provided within the Jade Slip that Li Bihai had previously displayed, specified that the Four Emperors Territory would manifest within a vast, seemingly endless mountain range, and Li Chen’s Eye of the Dao indeed discerned an immense, ancient mountain range stretching before them.
“Does the Four Emperors Territory not materialize in different locales each time?” Li Chen inquired, turning his head.
“According to historical records, the Four Emperors Territory remains accessible for a maximum of ten years per appearance, and each manifestation occurs in a distinct location,” Li Bihai confirmed with a nod.
Li Chen stroked his chin: “A void secret realm capable of autonomous movement and temporal control over its opening – to construct such an unnatural realm… this already falls within the purview of creation, does it not? The powerhouses of the Palm Realm are truly unfathomable.”
“Indeed.” Li Changkong, standing beside him, also concurred, expressing in a sigh, “Previously, I had only encountered legends of the Palm Realm, but to ascertain that such beings actually exist.”
Li Chen subtly observed Li Changkong beside him. Through their interactions, Li Chen had begun to grasp the distinct personalities of these two brothers, who shared a blood connection.
Li Changkong seemed consumed by cultivation, perhaps indifferent to matters beyond martial arts practice, possessing a character that was notably rigid and direct.
However, the second brother, Li Bihai, was far from simple.
In contrast to Li Changkong, this second brother was learned and well-informed, not significantly inferior to Li Changkong in strength, and possessed a wealth of miscellaneous knowledge.
He could readily recall even obscure details like the Four Emperors Territory, demonstrating that this second brother had indeed accumulated extensive learning.
He cast a pointed look at Li Changkong: “Were you not born in Huaxia? Did you not read those fairy tales in your youth, were they not also considered legends? Those immensely powerful figures in those stories, were they not legends to you at that time?”
“Uh…” Li Changkong awkwardly ran a hand through his hair, “Actually, it wasn't quite like that. Father was quite formidable even then…”
“Was he a Heavenly King during that period?” Li Chen countered.
“Not precisely…”
“Could you have ever envisioned back then that years later, he, and all of you, would ascend to become Heavenly King level powerhouses?”
Glancing cautiously at Li Chen, Li Changkong murmured, “Father has already reached the level of Heavenly Sovereign now…”
Li Chen found himself momentarily speechless, meeting Li Changkong’s gaze.
Beside them, Li Bihai observed the exchange between the two brothers, his expression unchanged, yet his eyes held a hint of amusement.
Compared to their earlier reluctance to even acknowledge each other, the bond between Li Chen and them had subtly deepened over time, perhaps so much so that even Li Chen himself had not fully realized it.
At this precise moment, a sudden, booming sound echoed from a nearby location.
A group of individuals instinctively looked upward.
They witnessed a figure hurtling through the air from a distance, plummeting towards the ground like a falling meteor.
“Rumble!!”
The impact with the earth created a sizable crater, and from within this newly formed pit, a figure began to extricate itself somewhat clumsily, while another figure, visibly injured and bloody, rapidly descended from the sky.
As Li Chen observed the form within the crater, his expression grew increasingly somber.
For from this figure, he detected… the aura of the Law of Destruction!
A Destroyer!
This individual in the pit was a Destroyer, infiltrated by the Doomsday Beast Soul!
Before the figure in the sky could make a move, Li Chen swiftly commanded Bai Tianyi to deploy their Domain, aggressively pushing towards the figure.
This was because he discerned that this particular Destroyer was, astonishingly, an entity at the Shen Tian Realm!
Furthermore, the opponent's landing site was not distant. If a surprise assault were launched, Li Chen might manage to evade it, but those within the surrounding Domain realm might not fare as well.
He resolved to strike first to seize the advantage!
Upon sensing the sudden, encompassing Domain Force, the Destroyer appeared momentarily taken aback, but quickly regained their composure and also unfurled their own Domain.
Bai Tianyi, being a relatively new cultivator and having no prior combat experience, possessed extremely limited practical skill. In the ensuing domain confrontation, they were instantly repelled by the opposing force.
Without a moment's hesitation, Li Chen chose to intervene directly.
"Cease Spear!"
The Destroyer's movements abruptly halted, and the expansion of their domain ceased as well.
While Bai Tianyi lacked experience, the figure descending from the sky evidently possessed a wealth of it, seizing this precise moment to launch an attack.
"Demonic Soul Heaven Burial!!!"
The figure in the sky let out a fearsome cry, and a miniature purple sun materialized overhead, hurtling downwards.
"Damn it all, it's that lunatic from the Demon Realm!" At this juncture, even Li Chen couldn't refrain from uttering a curse.
The reason was that the very instant the miniature purple sun appeared in the heavens, it emanated an aura of unimaginable terror. Even from a considerable distance, subjected to such a dreadful assault, surviving with their life intact would likely leave them stripped to the very bone.
Li Chen immediately identified the celestial attacker's true identity.
A demon of the Eighth Rank! An Abyssal Great Lord!
Moreover, this Abyssal Great Lord was clearly in a perilous, dying state, launching this strike as their ultimate, life-sacrificing attack.
Just how potent could the final, life-ending strike of an Abyssal Great Lord be?
Li Chen had no time to dwell on such questions; he immediately employed Void Shifting to open a spatial rift, ushering everyone in his vicinity through it.
And just as Li Chen stepped into the spatial gate, the terrifying energy fluctuation behind him erupted with sudden force.
"Rumble!!"