Chapter 105: The Abyssal Demon Realm

With the courage of a warrior who would rather sever his own arm than hesitate, the Divine Emperor Nanluo broke the unspoken rules established by the Divine Court. In the short term, this curtailed the Court’s growth in power; in the long term, it blocked the influx of countless heretics into the Divine Court, thereby creating conditions for a serene and pure Divine Court for future generations.

After the removal of the compulsory membership rule, the Great Debate of the Way was increasingly revered by all beings of the Primordial Wilds, eventually becoming a truly universal sacred classic of philosophical discourse.

Although the Five Elements Daoist respectfully submitted to Divine Emperor Nanluo in time, he ultimately provoked Nanluo’s wrath, sowing the seeds for his own future imprisonment in the Divine Prison by the Divine Court.

However, every advantage has its drawback.

Though the Five Elements Daoist’s attempt to dismantle the authority of the Divine Clan was brutally suppressed by Emperor Nanluo—leading to his imprisonment—he also reaped unimaginable benefits.

As the first great immortal openly challenging the Divine Clan and the Way of the Gods, the Five Elements Daoist laid an immeasurable foundation of lofty prestige for his eventual rise as one of the leaders of the immortal path.

—From “History of the Divine Clan: The Great Debate of the Way and the Five Elements Daoist”

The turmoil stirred by the Five Elements Daoist was like a pebble dropped into a lake: it caused ripples, but the waters soon calmed.

Under the firm control of Divine Emperor Nanluo, the first Great Debate of the Way hosted by the Divine Court resolutely continued.

“Lord of the Seven Desires, step forward for your investiture!” The majestic voice of Divine Emperor Nanluo echoed through the realm of the debate platform.

The Lord of the Seven Desires bore an irresistibly seductive and handsome visage, clad in black armor etched with intricate runes symbolizing the seven desires. His long black hair cascaded naturally down his back, and his black cloak billowed as if stirred by an unseen wind.

Most striking were his black eyes, brimming with endless emotions and desires, like two vast whirlpools of longing.

Since the inception of the Great Debate, no god had been able to withstand the gaze of the Lord of the Seven Desires.

Those who faced him in battle would be ensnared by a mere glance from his eyes, uncontrollably caught in a vortex of desire, leading to their instantaneous defeat.

Hence, his eyes were known as the “Instant Desire Gaze,” signifying the immediate downfall of his opponents.

Responding to the emperor’s summons, the Lord of the Seven Desires stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, “Present before Your Majesty!”

Nanluo’s golden eyes examined the Lord of the Seven Desires, reflecting the true form before him.

Within Nanluo’s golden gaze, the Lord of the Seven Desires radiated overwhelming demonic aura, surrounded by boundless dark and desire-driven power—truly befitting the title of Demon of Darkness.

With a movement of his divine will, Nanluo unleashed a powerful divine consciousness that swept over the Lord of the Seven Desires, instantly drawing his soul into the illusory divine realm Nanluo had created.

Yet, even as his soul was pulled into this phantom realm, the Lord of the Seven Desires remained unperturbed, as if he had long anticipated this moment.

Hovering cross-legged in midair, the Lord of the Seven Desires studied the illusory divine realm created by Emperor Nanluo with curious calmness, exuding an aura of unshakable composure.

“How do you find my divine realm, Lord of the Seven Desires?” Nanluo’s figure slowly appeared within the illusory realm, seated high upon a dragon throne amidst clouds, surrounded by golden radiance stretching for countless fathoms.

“Your Majesty’s power surpasses all in the Primordial Wilds; how could a humble god like me begin to fathom it?” Though the Lord of the Seven Desires strove to maintain a composed expression, Nanluo detected a flicker of awe and shock in his eyes.

Yet little did the Lord of the Seven Desires know that all he saw was but an illusion Nanluo had deliberately crafted.

Nanluo intended to showcase his supreme might, securing absolute advantage in the forthcoming conversation.

A faint smile played upon Nanluo’s lips as he said, “Then, Lord of the Seven Desires, should I perhaps address you as ‘Lord of the Seven Desires Demon’?”

The Lord of the Seven Desires—no, the Lord of the Seven Desires Demon—lifted his gaze to meet Nanluo’s playful eyes. Clenching his right fist, he struck his chest, knelt on one knee, and bowed solemnly.

“I am the Lord of the Seven Desires Demon of the Netherworld Demon Realm, the Nether Demon Clan. I pay homage to Your Majesty, Divine Emperor of the Divine Court!”

All things in the world possess yin and yang—the natural order.

The vast Primordial Wilds, too, have their dual aspects.

The yang side brims with vibrant spiritual energy, known as the Spiritual Realm, home to the Divine Clan, the Dragon Clan, and myriad other spiritual beings.

The yin side overflows with endless demonic aura, called the Demon Realm, inhabited by the Heavenly Demon Clan, the Nether Demon Clan, and the Demon Clan, who rule over countless demonic tribes.

Because the Demon Realm is dominated by these three great demonic clans, it is also known as the Heavenly Nether Demon Realm.

Yin cannot endure alone; yang cannot be born without yin.

The Spiritual and Demon Realms, as the yin and yang halves of the Primordial Wilds, depend on each other to maintain the world’s stable order.

Yet, by nature, they oppose one another, their inhabitants mutually antagonistic as fire and water.

Therefore, a celestial barrier of yin and yang stands between the Spiritual and Demon Realms, severing communication and interaction between their denizens.

Only those who reach the rank of Divine Lord or Demon Lord can begin to perceive the existence of both realms.

Only at the level of Divine Emperor Nanluo can one deeply comprehend all facets of the Demon Realm.

Likewise, the Demon Emperors of the three great demonic clans fully understand the Spiritual Realm.

Seeing the Lord of the Seven Desires Demon perform such a formal greeting, Nanluo knew their true dialogue was about to begin. With an imposing demeanor, he asked, “Lord of the Seven Desires Demon, now that you have come to the Divine Court to meet me, what is your purpose?”

“Does Your Majesty not know that great calamity approaches?!” The Lord of the Seven Desires Demon declared with dramatic intensity, striking Nanluo with a startling proclamation.

“Oh?” Nanluo regarded the solemn figure before him with a light chuckle. “I am unaware of this calamity. Pray, do tell.”

“Is Your Majesty soon to undergo the Divine Sacred Tribulation?!” The Lord of the Seven Desires Demon’s black eyes fixed on Nanluo, speaking in a low, haunting tone.

Suddenly, the golden radiance enveloping Nanluo exploded outward, surging with divine sacred power to suppress the Lord of the Seven Desires Demon.

As expected, the demon lord was crushed like a lowly ant, rendered immobile, his thoughts shackled.

At that moment, a faint ghostly light drifted gracefully from the Lord of the Seven Desires Demon’s soul, unaffected by Nanluo’s divine power.

“The Nether Demon Emperor?!” Nanluo’s gaze fell upon the figure formed by the ethereal light, sensing a powerful existence equal to his own in life essence.

“Divine Emperor, I pay my respects. I am the Nether Demon Emperor.” The deep, resonant voice, imbued with overwhelming demonic power, slowly sounded.

With an irresistible demonic aura, the Nether Demon Emperor exuded an arrogant, world-dominating will.

“The Nether Demon Emperor warns that great calamity approaches. Pray, what tribulation does Your Majesty face?”

Unlike the humble Lord of the Seven Desires Demon, Nanluo’s tone naturally softened when addressing the Nether Demon Emperor, an equal in existence.

The Nether Demon Emperor said no more, merely sending a beam of ghostly light toward Divine Emperor Nanluo.

Nanluo received the light calmly and probed the information it contained. His expression, serene for millennia, darkened profoundly.

After a long pause, Nanluo met the Nether Demon Emperor’s gaze, his golden eyes colder and more merciless than ever.

“I understand the Nether Demon Emperor’s meaning.”