264: Chapter 264 Demon Emperor

The group continued on their way. Along the road, other Disciples from various factions kept fleeing in a panic, most of them tattered and terrified, constantly shouting words like "Demon Emperor" and "Run!"

Some people saw the Zhao Family's team and wanted to join them, but Zhao Zuoyang decisively refused. The situation was critical; one extra person meant one more variable, and they could only look out for themselves.

They didn't know how long they had been fleeing, but the terrifying pressure finally began to weaken, and the trembling of the earth subsided significantly. Exhausted, the group found a relatively safe valley to rest temporarily.

"The Hu Family and the Lihuo Sect have likely been completely wiped out," Zhao Zuoyang panted, his face pale as he spoke. "Wu Muchuan of the Wu Family has always known how to assess the situation, and his own strength is formidable, so he might manage to escape, but he will surely suffer heavy losses."

Zhao Zuoyang nodded and looked at Ye Yisong: "This trip to the Secret Realm has been far more dangerous than expected. If not for your timely warning, Yisong, our Zhao Family might not have escaped disaster. After we return, I will propose to the Family Head that you be accepted as a Core Disciple of the Zhao Family, enjoying the most generous resources and treatment. What do you think?"

Ye Yisong's heart stirred. As one of the Four Great Families of the East Sea, the Zhao Family had a profound foundation. If he could become a Core Disciple, it would undoubtedly be of great help to his cultivation journey.

But he also understood that a tall tree catches the wind; becoming a Core Disciple meant bearing more responsibility and risk.

He pondered for a moment, looked up at Zhao Zuoyang, and said solemnly: "Thank you for your kindness, Uncle Yang. It is my honor to receive the recognition of the Zhao Family. However, I am from the Ye Family after all... The kindness the Ye Family has shown me is something I can never repay in a lifetime. Please forgive me for being unable to agree."

Hearing this, a trace of regret flashed in Zhao Zuoyang's eyes, but the look of admiration in his eyes grew stronger. Who wouldn't like a son-in-law who is loyal and righteous? He laughed: "Good! Brother Xiang certainly didn't misjudge you! I promise you, as long as your heart is with the Zhao Family, the Zhao Family will never treat you unfairly."

Just then, a faint sound of footsteps came from outside the valley, and shortly after, a familiar figure walked in. It was Li Xiuyan of the Li Family, who had secretly withdrawn from the conflict earlier.

He was currently dressed in tattered clothes, with blood at the corner of his mouth; he had clearly just met with misfortune.

"Zhao Zuoyang, let's join forces!" Seeing the group, Li Xiuyan looked like he had grabbed a life-saving straw. He stumbled over, his face full of terror. "The Lihuo Sect... the Lihuo Sect has been completely wiped out! Yuan Zhe... he was severely injured by a single blow from the Demon Emperor, and his life or death is unknown! I was lucky to escape, but I was injured by the aftershock of the Demon Emperor; my spiritual power is in chaos, and it's hard to recover for the time being!"

Hearing this, everyone was shocked!

They had all witnessed Yuan Zhe's strength; that terrifying Saber Qi had suppressed all the heroes. Was even he in such a precarious state?

The Demon Emperor was truly worthy of the title; it was indeed not an existence they could contend with.

Zhao Zuoyang's expression was grave as he looked at Li Xiuyan: "Why did you find your way here?"

Li Xiuyan panted and smiled bitterly: "I fled all the way west and sensed the spiritual power fluctuations of your Zhao Family here, so I tracked it down. I know I have offended you many times before, and I hope you will forgive me."

"The Li Family is willing to cooperate with the Zhao Family and act as the vanguard to escape the Secret Realm together."

Zhao Zuoyang looked at Li Xiuyan, his thoughts racing. Li Xiuyan was, after all, a Martial King expert; having one more person might provide more strength to deal with unexpected situations.

Furthermore, Li Xiuyan had not participated in the subsequent hunt for the White Lion, so he should not be targeted by that Demon Emperor. There was a basis for cooperation.

He looked at Li Xiuyan and said in a low voice: "Brother Li, let's go together!"

"Brother Li, you should first tend to your injuries. The situation ahead will only be more severe than it is now; the two of us cannot afford to fall."

Li Xiuyan quickly thanked him: "Thank you, Brother Zhao. Rest assured, my injuries are no longer a major issue. The sons of the Li Family will definitely not hold the Zhao Family back."

After a short rest, the group set off again, heading towards the periphery of the Secret Realm.

Along the way, they did not encounter anyone from other factions again; clearly, most had already met with misfortune.

Within the Secret Realm, the once lively conflict had now left behind only deathly silence and ruin.

Ye Yisong walked in the group, but his heart did not relax in the slightest.

He did not know when the Demon Emperor's rage would subside, or how many Martial Artists who had entered the Secret Realm had been slaughtered.

The unexpected turn of events during this trip to the Secret Realm would inevitably trigger turmoil among the major factions in the East Sea region.

And his bond with the Zhao Family, after the many events of this trip to the Wangchuan Secret Realm, would certainly deepen even further.

Resources and information that Ye Yisong could not access before—such as other Secret Realms, precious medicines, Cultivation Techniques, etc.—would likely be within his reach in the future.

This would cause Ye Yisong's future cultivation journey to face many more unknown challenges.

In the distance, the light of the Secret Realm exit was already faintly visible. Counting the days, it should be less than half an hour until the Secret Realm exit opened.

As long as they could hold out for this half hour and leave the Wangchuan Secret Realm, everyone would be safe.

The people from the Zhao Family and Li Family set up several concealment Formations, hiding both families in a mountain hollow less than ten miles from the exit, quietly waiting for it to open.

"We've arrived."

"Why hasn't the exit opened yet?"

"Damn it, what on earth did the Hu Family do to provoke that Demon Emperor in the core layer?"

"I heard the Hu Family was daring enough to collude with the Wu Family and the Zhao Family to hunt the son of the Demon Emperor."

"It is said that the Lihuo Sect and the Li Family also participated later. The Lihuo Sect suffered heavy losses this time; out of the fifty Disciples who entered the Secret Realm, only two or three remain."

"Pah, serves them right. Who told them to court death!"

Noisy voices gathered from all directions, letting the Zhao Family and Li Family, who were hiding there, learn of the many things that had happened later.

First, the Hu Family and the Lihuo Sect suffered the most devastating losses. Hu Yunxiao's life or death was unknown, Yuan Zhe died on the spot, and over ninety percent of the Disciples from both families were killed or injured.

Next was the Wu Family. Wu Muchuan had seen the situation early and did not enter the core layer with the Hu Family and the Lihuo Sect, so the losses were not very great, with less than thirty percent of his clansmen killed or injured.

Liu Ye, the seventh son of the King of Donghai, and Lü Jiaben of the Yunhai Sect were originally hunting a Demon King in the northeast, but after this upheaval, they had to give up their nearly captured prey and slowly retreat to the outer layer, hurrying towards the exit.

What was most surprising was that Zhang Xuanlang, one of the three great true Disciples of the Dan Jian Sect of this generation, had actually failed his Breakthrough to Martial King and was now in a coma.

As for Wen Rang, the Disciple of Hermit Hanjiang, he seemed to have vanished; he had not appeared again since that time he snatched the treasure.

On a mountain peak less than thirty miles from the Secret Realm exit, there seemed to be two figures standing in the clouds—one majestic and world-shaking, the other lithe and agile—quietly watching the people below.

"Little White, which of these humans below laid a hand on you? Tell your father one by one." The Demon Emperor stared at the people below with unkind eyes, as if it would tear them all to pieces in the next moment.