873: Chapter 874 The Father and Son of the Sky-Splitting Army

Sky-Rending watched the direction in which his father had disappeared, his heart a whirlwind of emotions. There was the warmth of being so dominantly protected by his father, but also the complex bitterness of being long ignored due to his Bloodline issues. He took a deep breath and turned toward the two Hou clan experts who remained.

The young Hou with a sturdy build and an overwhelmingly ferocious aura was his Elder brother—the Lie Hu Demon Emperor. Lie Hu's gaze swept over Sky-Rending, carrying scrutiny, a trace of hard-to-detect contempt, and a hint of confusion.

The other was a withered old Hou with sunken eye sockets like black holes; he was his father's most trusted right-hand man, the Wang Feng Demon Emperor, renowned for tracking, breaking Seals, and insight. Wang Feng's gaze lingered more on Yao Delong, those black-hole-like eyes flickering with deep, inscrutable light.

“Brother Lie Hu, Elder Wang Feng.” Sky-Rending cupped his hands in greeting.

Yao Delong's expression was calm as he gave a slight nod to Lie Hu and Wang Feng. “Fellow Daoist Lie Hu, Elder Wang Feng.”

“Fellow Daoist Long.” Lie Hu's voice was low, carrying the majesty of an emperor; his attitude was not warm, but neither was it rude.

“Fellow Daoist Long... your Divine Might is extraordinary.” A meaningful smile squeezed onto Elder Wang Feng's withered face, and his voice was raspy. “To be able to clash head-on with Yin Yue and not be defeated... the younger generation is truly to be feared.”

Yao Delong gave a faint smile. “It was merely luck. That Old Ancestor Yin Yue seemed to have misgivings and did not use his full strength.” He didn't want to get too entangled. “The recent entanglement with Yin Yue was quite taxing; I need to regulate my breathing for a moment. Please excuse me.”

After saying this, he nodded to the two again, and his figure turned into a phantom, disappearing into the depths of the Immortal Cave, leaving Lie Hu pensive and the light in Wang Feng's eyes even brighter.

Inside the Secret Chamber of the Immortal Cave.

“Master!”

As soon as Yao Delong's figure appeared, a snow-white silhouette pounced toward him along with a fragrant breeze; it was Xue Li, who had long been unable to suppress her excitement and worry!

Her delicate little face was currently covered in a worship as brilliant as the morning clouds and the joy of surviving a disaster; her large, glazed eyes were incredibly bright!

“Are you alright? You... you are too amazing!!” Xue Li's voice carried an unconcealed tremble as she recalled the earth-shattering scenes from just now: her master, like a golden god of war, clashing with the Demon Emperor's true body with his bare hands! Punch after punch to the flesh, beating that insufferably arrogant Old Ancestor Yin Yue into a wretched state! This imagery had stirred up monstrous waves in her heart!

“That was a Demon Emperor... a middle-stage Demon Emperor!” she murmured to herself. Her gaze toward Yao Delong had completely transformed from the initial awe and reliance into a feverish faith that reached her very bones! “Master... are you... are you a true deity?”

Yao Delong looked at the excited little fox and only gave a faint smile. “It's fine, just stretching my limbs a bit.” He then sat cross-legged and closed his eyes slightly.

The aura around him quickly became as deep and heavy as an abyss, and three illusory Great Sun Divine Wheels flickered behind him, rotating slowly and frantically devouring the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Within his body, the Great Sun True Form, like a sleeping star, vibrated slightly, digesting the insights gained from the fierce collision with the Demon Emperor—insights regarding the application of power, the confrontation of Laws, and his own shortcoming of still not being 'sharp' enough.

Seeing this, Xue Li immediately and obediently restrained all her aura, sitting quietly to the side on her knees, her beautiful eyes guarding her deity without blinking once.

Time flowed quietly, and in just half a day's time...

Boom!

A terrifying aura, containing the aftermath of a violent venting of rage, a trace of gratification, and the supreme majesty of an emperor, crashed down from the horizon like a falling star!

Mountain-Splitting Hou Beast Emperor had returned!

He still wore that dark-gold battle armor, but the Evil Qi swirling around him was as thick as substance, and the air was filled with a faint scent of blood and ice intertwined! He held a Storage Pouch flickering with complex Seal runes, tossing it casually to Sky-Rending, who had been waiting outside with a concerned face.

“Hmph! That old wolf was sensible enough!” Mountain-Splitting Hou Beast Emperor snorted coldly. His molten-gold eyes swept over Sky-Rending, and seeing his son safe and sound, a trace of hard-to-detect warmth flickered deep in his eyes, but his tone remained stern: “Tian'er! Look at your Elder brother, he entered the Emperor Realm years ago! You are still wasting time in the Demon King Realm! I have already reported to the clan's Old Ancestor to fight for an opportunity for you!”

He waved his hand with unquestionable authority: “As long as you rely on your own ability to Breakthrough to the Demon Emperor Realm within a hundred years, you can return to the True Hou Clan Lands! At that time, all resources in the clan will be yours to use!” This was the best condition he could secure for this unvalued younger son!

“Breakthrough to Demon Emperor... in a hundred years?!” Sky-Rending was first stunned, then a massive wave of wild joy surged through his mind like a flood! Returning to the clan lands! This was what he had always yearned for!

“Your son... your son kowtows in thanks for Father's great kindness!” Sky-Rending's voice trembled with excitement as he bowed deeply!

Mountain-Splitting Hou Beast Emperor nodded with satisfaction and pushed the Storage Pouch forward a bit more: “Take it! This is the compensation given by that old wolf! There are things inside that might assist you in charging toward the Demon Emperor Realm!”

Sky-Rending took the heavy Storage Pouch with both hands. Upon a brief probe with his Divine Sense, he immediately gasped! Ten-thousand-year Blood Lingzhi! Great Yin Moon Soul Stone! Soul-Condensing Profound Jade Marrow! They were all rare treasures! The Howling Moon Celestial Wolf Clan had truly been beaten into pain by his father, suffering a major loss!

“Father, rest assured! I will certainly give my all and not fail your expectations! Within a hundred years, I will surely become a Demon Emperor!” Sky-Rending spoke decisively, his eyes burning with unprecedented fighting spirit!

Mountain-Splitting Hou Beast Emperor looked at this younger son before him, who had seemed somewhat rebellious due to long-term marginalization but was now rekindling his fighting spirit. A rare smile of fatherly gratification finally appeared on his majestic face. He turned his gaze toward Yao Delong's Immortal Cave, a deep sense of inquiry flashing in his molten-gold eyes.

“Tian'er, this Fellow Daoist ‘Long De’ you've befriended...” His voice was low. “I cannot see through his roots... but since he could step forward to save you, it shows his friendship with you is not shallow. This person... is unfathomable and likely has a startling background. Befriend him well; it will bring you a hundred benefits and not a single harm.”

He patted Sky-Rending's shoulder: “Alright, I still have important clan matters to attend to and cannot stay long. Wang Feng, Lie Hu, let's go!”

“Respectfully seeing Father, Brother, and Elder Wang Feng off!” Sky-Rending bowed in salutation.

The three terrifying figures tore through the Void Realm once more and disappeared into the horizon.

Sky-Rending stood in place, gazing at the direction where his father had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time. The heavy Storage Pouch in his hand felt like a red-hot potato.

‘Friendship is not shallow?’ He gave a bitter laugh in his heart, filled with self-mockery. ‘Father, oh Father, my little life is held in this “Fellow Daoist Long's” hands! However...’ The terrifying image of Yao Delong clashing with Old Ancestor Yin Yue with his bare hands flashed through his mind, along with that unfathomable strength and the casually bestowed great void spirit nurturing pill... A strange light lit up in his blood-red eyes. ‘It seems... following this master isn't bad either? At least it's better than being a marginalized freak in the Hou clan!’

He composed himself, walked outside Yao Delong's Immortal Cave, and bowed with unprecedented respect: “My Lord.”

“Come in.” Yao Delong's calm voice came from inside the cave.