Chapter 1440: Who is the Demon Lord?

Novel:

“Is that true?”

The World-Ending Mill, which had been silent all this time, finally began to respond.

Chen Mobai’s eyes immediately lit up. He told Bai Guang to take the Dao-Annihilating Axe and move a bit further away, indicating that he wished to contemplate more. He then continued to activate the Concordance Pact to reconnect with this rare response.

“It’s absolutely true, I can put it in writing.”

However, after this message was sent, the World-Ending Mill remained silent, making Chen Mobai almost believe that his previous experience was an illusion.

After a long while, the World-Ending Mill spoke with some embarrassment: “Actually, I don't know how to leave this place either. Ever since I gained consciousness, everyone who has entered here either left quickly or simply died of old age…”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai’s vision immediately darkened.

So, it turns out this World-Ending Mill is also incomplete. Perhaps its artifact spirit has already reincarnated as the Demon Lord, leaving only its most basic sentience now.

Chen Mobai: “How did those who left manage to do so?”

Chen Mobai could only communicate with the World-Ending Mill incrementally, hoping it could find a method from its past successful experiences.

“I don't know either. It seems there's some mechanism on me; if the power of a Grand Dao reaching a certain realm is poured in, it automatically sends people away.”

The World-Ending Mill's words corroborated what the Dao-Annihilating Axe had said earlier: one could leave this place as long as they possessed Seventh-tier power.

The problem was, neither he nor Bai Guang could generate such power in a short amount of time.

If only I had known earlier, I wouldn't have wasted the power of the Grand Void Measuring Ruler.

Chen Mobai felt immense regret. Although the Grand Void Measuring Ruler had little power left after he entered Primordial Heaven, it was at least at the Seventh-tier level. If he hadn't overestimated himself and clashed with the Dao-Annihilating Axe, he would probably have taken Bai Guang back home by now.

“How about I send you videos of those who left before? Maybe you can find a pattern?” At this moment, the World-Ending Mill's sentience transmitted another message.

Chen Mobai was somewhat surprised: “You still keep these recordings?”

The World-Ending Mill: “I haven't moved from here for hundreds of millions of years. Out of boredom, I can only recall the living beings I've encountered.”

Hearing this, Chen Mobai vaguely felt something was amiss.

Hundreds of millions of years without moving!

Doesn't that mean this World-Ending Mill has been here since the Purple Cloud Universe was created?

But wasn't it said that the artifact spirit had reincarnated as the Demon Lord?

If its current sentience emerged after the Demon Lord's reincarnation, it shouldn't possess such ancient memories.

“Then send them over, I'll take a look first.”

With doubts in his heart, Chen Mobai could only see if he could find answers in the ancient videos preserved by the World-Ending Mill.

Soon, the first video was transmitted into Chen Mobai's Sea of Consciousness via the Concordance Pact.

Ever since the World-Ending Mill gained consciousness, it had been growing here, constantly rotating and absorbing the surrounding primordial chaos energy. At the very center of the millstone, however, an dark red lotus was rooted.

The red lotus bud was closed, seemingly unable to bloom due to lack of nourishment.

The first to arrive here was a Daoist in purple robes.

The Daoist stepped on the Golden Bridge of Creation, cleaving through the primordial chaos, and arrived before the inconspicuous gray-white millstone and the red lotus. After a glance, his face revealed surprise. He then calculated with his fingers, first showing realization, then a frown, and finally, with a sigh, took the red lotus and departed.

After watching, Chen Mobai immediately performed a respectful bow in the void.

Because this purple-robed Daoist was none other than Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign.

“You know this person?” the World-Ending Mill asked curiously, observing Chen Mobai's actions.

“He is my master,” Chen Mobai replied solemnly.

“No wonder you were able to find this place.” The World-Ending Mill's words greatly surprised Chen Mobai, but he soon understood their meaning.

Because the second video had already been sent.

The second person to find the World-Ending Mill was Purple Cloud Palace's senior disciple, Daoist One-Star.

By this time, Primordial Heaven, where the World-Ending Mill was located, had already appeared, likely because Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign had already opened the primordial chaos and the universe had taken shape.

Chen Mobai speculated that Daoist One-Star had found this place based on information from Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign.

After Daoist One-Star entered, he sat cross-legged before the World-Ending Mill, meticulously comprehending its three thousand facets. Chen Mobai clearly saw the Grand Dao manifestation above his head continuously evolving, transforming from a brilliant galaxy into an endless black hole, and finally becoming an abyss that devoured everything.

“The Demon Lord is Senior Brother One-Star!?”

Upon seeing this, Chen Mobai couldn't help but turn pale with fright.

This was because the characteristics of this black hole were almost identical to the black hole he had entered from outside earlier.

The video ended after Daoist One-Star evolved his Grand Dao into an abyss.

“Is there more?” Chen Mobai pressed.

The World-Ending Mill: “No, that's all. The next video is also of that Daoist's disciple.”

Hearing this, Chen Mobai could only set aside his shock for now and continued watching the third video.

This time, the one who appeared before the World-Ending Mill was his second senior brother, Ci Bei.

Like Daoist One-Star, he also comprehended the three thousand facets of the World-Ending Mill, ultimately realizing the method of the Great Freedom Heavenly Son.

The video also ended here.

Chen Mobai then watched the fourth, discovering it was Ancestral Dragon.

Next was the fifth, Tianhai, riding a turtle.

Then came the sixth, and final, video.

Just as Chen Mobai was guessing whether it was Reincarnation or Heavenly Phoenix, he saw a red-haired youth.

He naturally recognized him as his red-haired senior brother, the chief of the second row in Purple Cloud Palace.

Unexpectedly, not only had Red Hair obtained the Gate of Primordial Beginning, but he had also found this World-Ending Mill.

Or perhaps, the Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign had mentioned the existence of this World-Ending Mill during his lectures, which is why so many Purple Cloud Palace disciples were able to find it.

So, the question is:

Who exactly is the Demon Lord?

Previously, Chen Mobai had thought the Demon Lord was the reincarnated artifact spirit of the World-Ending Mill. However, after watching these videos, Chen Mobai began to suspect it might be one of Purple Cloud Palace's senior brothers or sisters who had fallen into devilry.

Also, what was that unbloomed red lotus that Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign took away?

At this point, the last video also reached its end. Red Hair brought forth the Gate of Primordial Beginning, intending to use the power of this Innate Supreme Treasure to merge with the Grand Dao of Doomed Fate and attain the Pure Yang realm.

The video did not show Red Hair's outcome.

It's possible that his righteous path failed, or that he successfully merged with the Grand Dao of Doomed Fate and ascended to become the Demon Lord.

Chen Mobai recalled all the scenes in his mind and found that Daoist One-Star and Red Hair were the ones who best fit the requirements for the Demon Lord.

No wonder Grand Void True King avoided discussing the Demon Lord last time.

So it was a family disgrace.

However, Chen Mobai still felt that this matter shouldn't be kept from him, especially since he was now also a disciple of Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign.

“So, did you find a way out?”

At this moment, the recovered Bai Guang walked over to Chen Mobai's side, pointed at the World-Ending Mill, and asked.

“I have some leads. I'll have another good talk with it.”

Chen Mobai gave a subtle look, Bai Guang nodded, and then brandished the Dao-Annihilating Axe in her hand.

The World-Ending Mill trembled slightly.

As an Innate Supreme Treasure itself, facing this axe that commanded destruction, even though it was a Doomed Fate Supreme Treasure, it truly couldn't withstand it.

“Senior, are there any other methods to leave?”

Chen Mobai continued to communicate with the World-Ending Mill using the Concordance Pact. Although he didn't know whether the videos he had just seen were real or fake, the most critical and urgent matter was to leave this place.

If he could relay the information obtained in Primordial Heaven to his true self, his true self would surely have a way to verify it.

Furthermore, Chen Mobai realized that this might be the deepest secret hidden by the Pure Yang Grand Beings in this universe after Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign transcended and departed.

“No, truly none. Only these few were able to leave before.”

The World-Ending Mill also felt helpless. Ever since Bai Guang was sent in, she would hack at it with the Dao-Annihilating Axe whenever she felt like it, causing immense pain. Now that it finally had a chance to send her away, it truly dared not hide anything.

“In that case, I'm afraid we'll have to wait until my wife merges with the Grand Dao of Destruction. By then, I estimate she could simply use the Dao-Annihilating Axe to completely cleave you apart.”

Chen Mobai also wore a helpless expression as he transmitted this sentence via the Concordance Pact.

The World-Ending Mill trembled once more, imagining this scenario.

A moment later, it proposed something that made Chen Mobai's eyes widen: “How about you try to refine me?”

This Primordial Heaven is a unique secret realm formed by the World-Ending Mill combining with the primordial chaos energy from the universe's creation.

Although there are many entrances, many demonic cultivators who have reached the Seventh-tier merely stop at the Kaleidoscope of Grand Daos and are unable to fathom the Primordial Truth and enter this place.

Previously, whether it was One-Star or Ci Bei, they clearly comprehended the truth of the Demonic Dao's Ninth-tier from the World-Ending Mill. Coupled with their profound cultivation realms, they easily departed.

Under the circumstances where Chen Mobai and Bai Guang didn't meet the conditions, the World-Ending Mill, to avoid being cleaved by Bai Guang with the axe after she merged with the Dao in the future, thought that if Chen Mobai refined it, he could control the entire Primordial Heaven through it, and perhaps freely enter and exit.

“This... is this feasible?”

Chen Mobai felt both shock and joy internally. After all, he already possessed the Purple Cloud Palace. Now, if he were to further refine this World-Ending Mill, the two Innate Grand Daos — Sacred Virtue and Doomed Fate, both leading to Pure Yang — would be completely within his grasp.

The only obstacle was the mysterious Demon Lord.

After all, in this universe, the Grand Dao of Doomed Fate was already occupied.

“You try it first. If it doesn't work, I'll see if I can quickly raise your Yin-Yang Heavenly Demon to the Seventh-tier in the shortest time possible.”

After the World-Ending Mill replied, it suddenly began to rotate on its own. The facet representing the Yin-Yang Heavenly Demon among its three thousand facets lit up, transforming into Yin and Yang energies that enveloped Chen Mobai entirely.

“Huh?”

Bai Guang, seeing this scene from the side, was startled. Thinking Chen Mobai was about to be harmed by the millstone, she lifted the Dao-Annihilating Axe, ready to swing.

“Wife, stop! I'm trying to refine this World-Ending Mill to see if I can control Primordial Heaven.”

Fortunately, the refinement process was initiated by the World-Ending Mill, and Chen Mobai still had the mental capacity to observe his surroundings. Seeing Bai Guang's action, he immediately shouted for her to stop.

Bai Guang had not yet fully refined the Dao-Annihilating Axe. With all her might, she managed to slightly deflect the axe's direction, striking beside the World-Ending Mill and carving a bottomless chasm into the earth and mountains.

Seeing this scene, the World-Ending Mill accelerated Chen Mobai's refinement of itself.

Moreover, with Chen Mobai already employing the Concordance Pact at this moment, the combined efforts quickly imprinted his mark upon this Innate Supreme Treasure.

Compared to refining the Purple Cloud Palace, refining this World-Ending Mill was not as smooth.

After all, the Grand Dao of Doomed Fate represented by this supreme treasure was already occupied by the Demon Lord.

While the Demon Lord remained unmanifested, one could use the World-Ending Mill to control the power of the Grand Dao of Doomed Fate, akin to an Innate Dao Monarch. However, once the Demon Lord emerged, a mere flick of a finger would send the World-Ending Mill flying back into their hands, rendering Chen Mobai's refinement useless.

A complete Innate Supreme Treasure embodies an entire Grand Dao, for example, the Gate of the Grand Void or the Purple Cloud Palace. However, to advance further, one must shed their original form to ascend to the Pure Yang realm, or even the Ninth-tier of Creation.

The reason it was previously believed that the Demon Lord was the reincarnation of the World-Ending Mill's artifact spirit was because the Demon Lord had merged with the Grand Dao of Doomed Fate and broken through the Innate Supreme Treasure's limitations, possessing an Eighth-tier realm.

However, after Chen Mobai refined the World-Ending Mill, he discovered that this Innate Supreme Treasure had a period of missing memories.

Perhaps the truth about the Demon Lord lay within this gap.

“You have no recollection of this missing period?”

Chen Mobai asked the World-Ending Mill mentally, but the latter was accustomed to this.

“I am merely an Innate Supreme Treasure. Although I am Eighth-tier, I am still helpless against Pure Yang Grand Beings. It's likely that your senior brothers and sisters, after comprehending the Primordial Truth from me, deliberately erased those memories because they didn't want others to know the depth of their attainments in the Demonic Dao.”

Hearing the World-Ending Mill's words, Chen Mobai found them very reasonable.

The mysteries of the Demonic Dao's culmination, the Ninth-tier Primordial, were recorded on the World-Ending Mill, which is why powerful beings like One-Star from Purple Cloud Palace were drawn to comprehend it.

It's just unknown why Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign, despite clearly having found the World-Ending Mill back then, didn't seal it.

After all, the Primordial Dao is fundamentally different from Xuanmen Creation; it requires world destruction.

It's highly possible that if One-Star and others saw no hope for Creation, they might have fallen into the Demonic Dao to attain the Primordial.

My Master's attainments in Creation are profound. Since he left the World-Ending Mill and allowed Senior Brother One-Star and the others to find it, he must have had his reasons.

Chen Mobai pondered, deciding that with his current realm, it was better not to speculate about the Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign, who had already transcended.

Any doubts I have, I'll ask Grand Void True King about them after I get out.

Thinking of this, Chen Mobai opened his eyes.

As he slowly stood up, a beam of light suddenly erupted from the center of the World-Ending Mill before him, piercing through the heavens and earth.

“What's happening?”

Bai Guang, watching the commotion from the side, looked startled.

At the same time, Bai Lang, the artifact spirit of the Dao-Annihilating Axe, flew out again. Seeing Chen Mobai extend his hand into the beam of light, parting it like a curtain to reveal a doorway, its wolf eyes widened in surprise.

“Wife, I'll take you home.”

After activating the World-Ending Mill and opening the portal to leave Primordial Heaven, Chen Mobai turned and extended his hand to Bai Guang.

Bai Guang flashed a brilliant smile and took his hand.

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