High Martial: I Grind Professions

Chapter 310: Chapter 179: The Demon Emperor Appears, Mountain Rain Pass in Peril

But these Great Demon Kings, who typically reigned supreme over their own territories, now all had their heads slightly bowed. Filled with a reverence that came from their very bloodlines, they stood in attendance behind a lone figure at the front.

He was a man of exceptionally otherworldly features. His face was demonic in its beauty, and his long, narrow eyes, though seemingly calm, looked as if they could pierce through hearts and spacetime itself.

Merely by standing there, his intangible pressure surpassed the combined might of all the Great Demon Kings behind him.

”Fu Yan.” The otherworldly man’s voice was level, yet it carried an indisputable power.

Fu Yan’s body stiffened imperceptibly. He quickly took half a step forward, bowing his head even lower.

”I am here, Ancestor. Please give your command.”

His voice held nothing but absolute obedience.

”Present the item.” The otherworldly man held out his left palm.

His palm was flawless and white, his fingernails gleaming with a jade-like luster.

”Yes, Ancestor.” Fu Yan dared not hesitate in the slightest, carefully retrieving an object from within his robes.

It was a peculiar stone, the size of a pigeon’s egg. Its surface swirled with a deep, dark luster, and within it, specks of light like frozen stars flickered and drifted.

It was none other than an extremely precious and rare Starry Sky Stone.

Fu Yan reverently placed it in the otherworldly man’s palm.

The otherworldly man picked up the peculiar stone, which contained the immense power of the stars, and held it before his eyes to study it for a moment.

He felt its cold hardness against his fingertips, along with the vast spatial energy contained within.

’If this gate weren’t about to reach its critical point, I really would be reluctant to use this item so soon,’ he murmured with a hint of regret. ’However, to ensure that net is cast sooner, I suppose it’s worth it.’

The moment he finished speaking, his five fingers clenched shut.

CRACK!

A crisp shattering sound echoed. The Starry Sky Stone, durable enough to withstand a full-force blow from a King-level expert without taking any damage, was crushed to pieces by his casual grip. It disintegrated into a handful of crystalline powder that shimmered with starlight.

An incomparably pure and indescribable spatial Origin Power instantly billowed out from it.

This strange energy didn’t scatter. Instead, as if drawn by a powerful summons, it surged directly toward the massive, stable Stargate ahead.

At the same time, the otherworldly man’s right hand shot forward, pressing down on the empty air as if with the speed of lightning.

BOOM!

An even more vast and irresistible torrent of terrifying Demon Power, like an invisible giant hand, instantly enveloped the entire Stargate.

The once-stable portal began to tremble violently, the spatial ripples on its surface growing frantic and chaotic.

The starlight powder and the Demon Emperor’s power converged, churned, and fused.

VMMMM—!

The frame of the Stargate suddenly erupted with an unprecedented, blinding light.

Immediately after, the entire portal began to expand and stretch at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Twenty-nine meters high... twenty-nine and a half... thirty meters!

The once-uniform frame twisted and warped slightly as it expanded. The stability of the spatial passage plummeted, emitting waves of chaotic turbulence that sent a tremor of fear through the hearts of even Great Demon Kings like Fu Yan.

”That’s enough.” Only when the Stargate had been forcibly expanded to a height of about thirty meters, barely maintaining its form under the suppression of the Demon Emperor’s power, did the otherworldly man slowly withdraw his hand. The immense pressure he exuded dissipated along with it.

The expanded gateway was like a massive, unstable wound connecting the two realms.

”Listen,” the otherworldly man’s voice rang out again, filled with an indisputable, icy chill.

”Once inside, follow the plan. Shi Yao, Profound Python, and Steel-Skull—the three of you will join forces. At all costs, you are to tie down the Mountain Rain King. He has stood guard for many years; his strength is not to be underestimated. Do not be careless.”

His gaze lingered for a moment on the three Great Demon Kings he had named. They were the most physically imposing, with powerful auras that marked them as experts in head-on combat.

”Yes, Talisman Emperor,” the three replied in low voices, their eyes burning with determination and bloodlust.

The Talisman Emperor’s gaze shifted to the other seven Great Demon Kings, including Fu Yan.

”The rest of you will conceal your auras and go into hiding at once. Scatter and make for the rendezvous point.

”Do not reveal yourselves unless you have my direct order or are absolutely certain of success. Your mission is to prepare for the true cleansing that will come later.”

”We shall obey the Talisman Emperor’s decree!” the ten Great Demon Kings declared in unison, their voices filled with fanaticism and fearlessness.

”Go,” the Talisman Emperor’s voice was as level as ever, betraying no emotion. ”The Demon Realm will remember your deeds.”

Ten incredibly powerful auras of Demon Power soared into the sky. The next moment, the ten Great Demon Kings—each one comparable to a King-level expert of the Human Race—fearlessly transformed into ten streaks of light, each a different color and form.

Shielded by the Talisman Emperor’s power, they forced their way through the Stargate, which had just finished expanding and whose energies had yet to stabilize.

The blue flames of the portal twisted and churned like a giant vortex, instantly swallowing them whole.

The Stargate flickered violently a few times before slowly settling back into a deep, tranquil blue, now significantly larger than before.

The Talisman Emperor stood alone before the gate, and as he gazed at the newly stabilized portal, a deeply calculating glint flashed in his eyes.

’Getting revenge for that kid, Fu Ye? Of course, that’s part of it. But it’s just a pretext.’

’What’s truly important is the crack pried open by this Starry Sky Stone, and these few, immensely powerful hidden pieces that have now slipped through.’

’The Human Race’s defensive line, a fortress that seems so impregnable, may well have its first crack pried open right here, starting at Mountain Rain Pass.’

’As for that Human Race prodigy, Li Wen... he’s beneath my notice. Even prodigies need time to grow, and I don’t believe the Human Race has much time left.’

...

「Mountain Rain Pass, in a quiet room within the underground fortress.」

The Mountain Rain King, who had been sitting cross-legged with his eyes shut, suddenly snapped them open.

Two beams of tangible, sharp light shot from his eyes, instantly shattering the tranquility of the room.