516: Do you want the Demon Emperor or not?

A corner of Old Huang's mountain-sized true form was revealed. His bell-like ox eyes looked down at the several Ancient Imperial Princes, and he grinned, revealing snow-white teeth.

"Run? Your old man is stone-cold dead. Where do you little brats think you can run to?"

With that, he opened his mouth and inhaled, creating a powerful suction that swept up the Ancient Imperial Princes together.

They turned into several streaks of light and were brought back to the vicinity of the Southern Region battlefield.

"Done and dusted." Old Huang gave a satisfied snort.

Before his voice had even faded, Yuan Tiangang Yuan Tiangang arrived, flying alongside the few remaining Yao Race Great Sages and tribal leaders.

He looked at the Ancient Imperial Princes who were firmly trapped before him and took a deep breath.

Straightening his tattered imperial robes, he actually gave a deep, formal bow to Old Huang, bending all the way to the ground!

This bow was more solemn than any before, filled with an inexpressible gratitude.

"Senior Ox King!"

Yuan Tiangang's voice was hoarse from surviving the catastrophe, yet it was exceptionally clear.

"During this great calamity of the Southern Region, if not for the full assistance of Senior and several human Fellow Daoists, my Current Era Demon Clan would have likely been beyond redemption! This favor is as great as giving us a new life!"

Old Huang rolled his ox eyes at this grand gesture and waved a massive hoof, saying nonchalantly:

"Hey, hey, get up, get up. Little Ape, cut it out with these empty formalities!"

"I, Old Huang, am also from the Southern Region. I just couldn't stand those old fogies crawling out of their graves to bully people, so I gave them a beating in passing!"

Yuan Tiangang slowly straightened up, his eyes burning as he looked at Old Huang. The meaning in that gaze made Old Huang feel an inexplicable sense of unease.

Yuan Tiangang seemed to have made a certain decision. He spoke again, his tone incredibly solemn:

"Senior..."

He had just uttered two words when Old Huang's fur bristled, and he hurriedly interrupted:

"Stop! Hold it right there! Enough with the 'Senior' talk, it makes my whole body feel awkward!"

"Just call me Old Ox like you used to! It sounds better!"

Yuan Tiangang was momentarily choked up. Seeing Old Huang's posture—as if he would buck his heels if called Senior again—he changed his address with a bitter smile:

"Fine, Old Ox."

He paused, his eyes becoming even more determined, as if he were using all his strength to ask an earth-shattering question:

"Old Ox, I just want to ask you... do you want to be the Yuan Tiangang?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the surroundings instantly fell silent.

Xiao Ruobai, Fang Hanyu, and the others all looked over in surprise. The remaining Yao Race leaders behind them also held their breath.

Old Huang's massive ox eyes blinked. A look of extreme disdain and inexplicable confusion appeared on his face as he rumbled, "What? Want you?"

His eyes scanned the bruised and tattered Yuan Tiangang from top to bottom. His massive ox head shook like a rattle as he repeatedly took half a step back.

"What would I want you for? You're covered in wounds right now, your fur is almost bald, you look uncomfortable to even touch, and I can't even ride you... If I'm looking for a mount, I'd find a spirited Qilin or something."

As he spoke, his ox eyes subconsciously glanced at Mo Yu nearby.

Mo Yu's red-gold scales tightened, and he silently shrank his head behind Wang Zhan.

Yuan Tiangang was nearly choked by these reckless words, his old face turning red and white in turns:

"Where is your mind wandering! I'm asking if you want the position of Yuan Tiangang! The throne of the Southern Region Demon Clan! Who said anything about wanting me!"

"Oh—" Old Huang finally drew out the sound, muttering:

"So it's that position. You should have said so clearly. You gave me a fright; I thought your brain had been beaten broken..."

The various tribal leaders and Demon Kings of the Southern Region Yao Race were first startled, then most of them showed expressions of contemplation and even some anticipation.

Having witnessed the scene of world-destroying power followed by new creation, if they could have such an unfathomable Yao Race Senior as their backer, why would the Southern Region Yao Race worry about not flourishing?

Old Huang's massive ox head shook like a rattle as he repeatedly retreated several steps, shouting in a muffled voice:

"No, no, no! Don't scare me! You should keep sitting in that position; it's fine, just fine!"

His disdainful yet slightly panicked appearance dissipated much of the heavy atmosphere on the scene.

Seeing this, Yuan Tiangang felt some regret in his heart but also a sense of relief, knowing that such an existence truly had no interest in such things.

Seeing Old Huang's firm attitude and knowing this lord's temperament, Yuan Tiangang knew he could not force the matter.

His gaze shifted and landed on Mo Yu, who was standing quietly to the side.

"Young friend Mo Yu," Yuan Tiangang set aside his solemnity toward Old Huang, his tone carrying a hint of sincerity and inquiry.

"You possess the Qilin Bloodline and extraordinary talent. This time, you even fought a bloody battle for my Southern Region. I wonder if you have any... for this Demon Emperor's Throne?"

Before he could finish, Mo Yu shook his head gently, his red-gold eyes clear and firm:

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but Mo Yu has no such intentions. This Junior is concerned for the safety of my clansmen and must go to the altar to investigate."

Yuan Tiangang nodded understandingly. "Young friend is loyal and righteous; it is only right."

Mo Yu cupped his hands in thanks, his body turning into a streak of red-gold light, instantly arriving before the ruined altar.

Mo Yu, as a streak of red-gold light, landed in an instant before the ruined altar that bore the marks of blood and fire.

The scent of scorched earth mixed with the lingering smell of blood assaulted his nose.

He focused his mind and steadied his Qi.

Pure Qilin Bloodline Power, like a warm current, was slowly injected into the totem.

Buzz—!

It was as if a heart that had slept for ages was reawakened. The altar vibrated violently, and the dim patterns lit up one after another!

A warm and grand sense of summoning, originating from the deepest part of his Bloodline, instantly enveloped him.

A light gate opened steadily. From behind the gate came Innate Fire and Earth Origin Qi so pure it made one tremble, along with countless faint but familiar heartbeats and auras!

Without the slightest hesitation, Mo Yu stepped inside!

The view before him suddenly opened up.

The sky was a pale gold with auspicious clouds swirling about. In the distance, mountains rose and fell like crouching Qilins. Furthermore, a vast, ancient Bloodline pressure, identical to his own, shrouded the entire area!

This place was actually the legendary Qilin Ancestral Land!

It was not a projection, but a real, ancient Legacy Secret Realm that had been hidden for aeons!

"Mo Yu! Mo Yu is back!"

"Young Lord!!"

Excited shouts came from the distance.

Mo Yu looked up and saw thousands of Qilin clansmen, more or less injured, emerging from the mountains and Immortal Caves. Leading them were several clan elders whose auras were weak but whose faces were full of excitement!

They had indeed successfully used the Blood Sacrifice Ancient Array to return to this ancestral land for refuge!

"Grand Elder! Uncles! Everyone is safe, that's wonderful!"

Mo Yu stepped forward quickly. Looking at his clansmen, who were disheveled but mostly alive, his long-tensed heart finally settled, and his voice choked up.

"Heaven has blessed our clan!"

One clan elder's eyes brimmed with tears.

"If this Ancestral Land Secret Realm hadn't suddenly appeared to receive us, we would have likely been wiped out. Young Lord, how is the situation outside? That Ancient Demon Court..."

Mo Yu briefly explained the earth-shaking changes outside. Hearing that the Supremes of the Ancient Demon Court were all dead and the turmoil had been quelled, the clansmen were all shocked and sighed, followed by wild joy.

"So that's how it is..."

The Grand Elder murmured, looking at Mo Yu with an incredibly complex gaze—one of relief, but also containing a heavy entrustment.

"Young Lord, to have met such an enlightened master is truly the greatest fortune amidst our clan's misfortune."

"This ancestral land manifested because it sensed the Bloodline wail of our clan on the brink of extinction. It is the final protection of our ancestors."

"This place not only provides a home but also holds..."

He paused and looked toward the most towering divine mountain in the depths of the ancestral land, which radiated an eternal aura.

"The complete Inheritance Ancestral Cave is waiting for its master."