Previously on The Martial Emperor with Dragon Blood...
Ao Canngwu reveals Ye Mo's rising strength and his involvement in the Wraith Clan's upcoming Heaven Rankings contest. He tasks Xue Wudi with killing Ye Mo, providing him with a massive vein of Energy Ores to aid his cultivation. Meanwhile, Ye Mo mourns the death of Senior Brother Li Xiuyuan and vows to defeat Xiang Qiu in his honor.
The grand-level mission has finally reached its conclusion, with the Demon Core belonging to the Lord of Myriad Demons now secured by Dantai Zanglian. Upon its surrender, the mission will be complete, yielding a staggering one hundred thousand Ascending Soul Pills – an amount so vast that even some Supreme Elders lack such a fortune.
"Let us return and properly inter Senior Brother Li Xiuyuan," Ye Mo declared with a sigh, acknowledging the impossibility of revival after his Soul Body was shattered.
Without a doubt, Ye Mo reaped the greatest rewards from this epic undertaking, while both Qin Yong and Dantai Zanglian had reached pivotal points in their cultivation. Their return to the Wraith Clan to resume their training would undoubtedly pave the way for breakthroughs before the impending Heaven Ranking Challenge.
Without delay, the trio journeyed back towards the Wraith Clan, venturing once more into the Abyssal Demon Sea Region. This time, Ye Mo opted against requesting Dantai Zanglian to summon the Giant Wheel. His current formidable strength rendered the great whale's aura, a deterrent for the Abyssal Soul Beasts, unnecessary. As he unleashed his own imposing aura, the beasts, filled with dread, retreated to the deepest parts of the sea, trembling.
"Junior Brother Ye Xiao, your fortuitous encounters are truly beyond belief. Moreover, to have absorbed the entirety of Demon King Huang Tian’s Demon Core is something a mortal could scarcely endure," Dantai Zanglian marveled. "Tell me, how did you discern that Loulan Star was already under control?"
"Indeed, I too found it peculiar. Even those Martial Artists at the Divine Venerate Seven Souls level failed to detect that they were ensnared in the Lord of Myriad Demons’ scheme, yet you foresaw it from the outset," Qin Yong added. The fact that Ye Mo had discerned the trap laid by the Lord of Myriad Demons prior to his breakthrough was indeed astounding.
"Truthfully, after Loulan Star vanished and reappeared, I sensed a profound wrongness. Furthermore, the desolate region the tribe led us to, I immediately recognized as an illusory construct. However, I dared not expose this knowledge, fearing the Lord of Myriad Demons would eliminate all four of us on the spot. Thus, I employed the guise of impending danger to urge your retreat, though you remained resolute in your pursuit of the Myriad Demon’s Fire," Ye Mo explained with a wry smile.
"So that is how it was. No wonder you persistently advised us to depart; now I comprehend that you were aware of the deception all along," Qin Yong said.
"Precisely. Since I could not persuade you to leave, I resolved not to stand idly by. I leveraged the moment when your attention was solely on the Lord of Myriad Demons, crafting an Energy Clone while my true self departed," Ye Mo revealed, leaving the other two in stunned silence. Such a feat was far beyond ordinary comprehension, executed with unwavering resolve.
Had it not been for this cunning maneuver, all four of them might have met their demise within the Myriad Demon Realm.
"Junior Brother Ye Xiao, with the upcoming Heaven Ranking Challenge, it is now abundantly clear that you will secure the first position. Even the current champion, Wang Luo Sha, will be no match for you," Qin Yong declared with hearty laughter. While they had once fiercely vied for a place on the Heaven Ranking, asserting dominance among the Twelve Emperors was no simple feat. Now, with Ye Mo’s strength elevated to the Divine Venerated Eight Souls level, even surpassing some Supreme Elders, his claim to the top spot was indisputable.
"Let us proceed to submit the mission. Upon its completion, we shall possess one hundred thousand Ascending Soul Pills, substantially bolstering the Soul Realm’s resources. With nearly three months remaining until the competition, we can redouble our efforts; perhaps all three of us can ascend to the ranks of the Twelve Emperors," Ye Mo proposed.
"Junior Brother Ye Xiao, what of the Myriad Demon’s Fire?" Dantai Zanglian inquired tentatively.
"The Myriad Demon’s Fire rightfully belongs to you!" Ye Mo stated without hesitation. He harbored no desire for the flame, already deeply appreciative of his immense advancement. As the Great Celestial Son of the Wraith Clan, he could secure the Netherworld Fan Flame.
With that, Ye Mo produced the flame seed of the Myriad Demon’s Fire and presented it directly to Dantai Zanglian, who accepted the precious seed with profound gratitude. The value of the fire, which Ye Mo had risked so much to obtain and which held the second position on the Soul Fire Leaderboard, was immense.
"Thank you, Junior Brother Ye Xiao!" Dantai Zanglian expressed his heartfelt thanks.
Upon hearing Dantai Zanglian’s sincere gratitude, Ye Mo smiled, replying, "We are comrades, and furthermore, without your assistance, I would never have gained entry into the Wraith Clan. Now, let us hasten to submit the mission—I eagerly await the Ascending Soul Pills."
The three accelerated their pace, making directly for the Wraith Clan and proceeding towards the Merit Hall.
As they traversed the path, numerous disciples observed the trio soaring towards the Merit Hall, murmuring amongst themselves.
"There goes Dantai Zanglian and the others; why have they returned so swiftly? Did they not undertake an epic-level mission?"
"An epic-level mission is a bit much for them, don't you think? They're back so soon, I'd wager they couldn't complete it."
"Wasn't Li Xiuyuan, who ranks second on the Earth Ranking, with them? Why don't we see him? Could he have perished in the Myriad Demon Realm?"
Word of Dantai Zanglian undertaking an epic-level mission quickly circulated within the Wraith Clan during their martial arts practice, reaching even the elders and causing quite a commotion.
However, it wasn't widely believed they could actually finish such a demanding task. Their swift return seemed to confirm their failure.
As Ye Mo and his companions proceeded towards the Merit Hall, they attracted the curious stares of numerous disciples, with some even trailing behind, eager to learn the mission's outcome.
Initially, their entry into the Merit Hall went unnoticed. But with a throng of disciples following, the hall's occupants soon realized Ye Mo and his party had returned.
"We have returned from undertaking the epic-level mission. Behold, the Demon Core of the Lord of Myriad Demons!"
Dantai Zanglian presented the Demon Core without any hesitation.
"So, you have succeeded in eliminating the Lord of Myriad Demons?"
The female attendant in charge of mission assignments was taken aback, her eyes fixed on the Demon Core held by Dantai Zanglian.
Despite her cultivation not being particularly high, she could clearly perceive the powerful demonic aura emanating from the Demon Core.
"That is correct!"
Dantai Zanglian affirmed with a nod.
At this declaration, the surrounding disciples were stunned into silence. They had actually accomplished the epic-level mission? How was this possible?
"Kindly wait a moment; I shall summon the Hall Master to verify this accomplishment!"
The attendant announced, exiting the hall.
For a mission of such magnitude, carrying a reward of one hundred thousand Ascending Soul Pills, the standard staff at the Merit Hall lacked the authority to provide confirmation.
Under the bewildered gazes of the onlookers, the trio remained composed, patiently awaiting the verification.
Before long, the attendant reappeared, accompanied by an elder clad in white robes. Approaching Ye Mo and the others, he stated, "I am the Hall Master of the Merit Hall, the Elder of Merits. Allow me to examine the Demon Core."
"Here you are."
Dantai Zanglian presented the Demon Core to the Elder of Merits.
Upon receiving and inspecting the Demon Core, the Elder of Merits' demeanor shifted dramatically. "This is not the Demon Core belonging to the Lord of Myriad Demons. It is the Demon Core of an expert at the Divine Venerated Eight Souls stage. Where did you acquire this? How dare you present it here under false pretenses?"
