Qin Zi flew in the direction he had chosen, encountering no more demons along the way.
Perhaps it was because night had fallen.
Of course, Qin Zi preferred to believe that he was finally nearing the edge of the demon territory.
After all, according to common knowledge, border regions were usually more barren.
He imagined things were going well.
But what he didn't know was that his dear father had been quietly clearing the path for him, eliminating countless demons.
These demons would catch the scent of a human on him, but before they could even roar or charge, they would silently collapse to the ground, not even raising a puff of dust…
Thus, Qin Zi continued his journey without resistance, unknowingly delving deeper into the heart of the Fractured Star Demon Territory.
This proves one simple truth:
There's no such thing as a peaceful life—only because someone else is bearing the burden for you.
There's no such thing as smooth sailing—only because someone else is fighting your battles…
Time passed again. Another five days slipped by.
Finally, Qin Zi spotted a grand city in the distance. People were coming and going, some flying into the air, others arriving from distant places.
"A human city!"
Qin Zi's eyes lit up. This had to be the border of the Ziyun Domain. He had finally escaped!
"Hahaha, after more than half a year, I'm back! Ziyun Domain, I, Qin Zi, have truly returned to the land of the living!!"
He threw back his head and laughed triumphantly.
His shout drew the attention of many "people" at the city gates, but after a brief glance, they ignored him and continued moving through the narrow entrance, unaffected by his outburst.
Qin Zi, in high spirits, flew toward the city.
He was just about to enter when he suddenly froze in place, his body rigid.
Because there, above the city gate, were four ferocious characters—Eastern Yi Demon City!
A demon city!!
It wasn't that he was oblivious. He had simply been so desperate to return to human territory that he hadn't noticed. Now, seeing the characters and feeling the thick demonic aura in the air, he understood immediately.
A chill ran down his spine!
He realized that the atmosphere around him had become eerie, and the air was growing still.
Slowly, he turned his head and saw that all the "people" around him had stopped moving and were staring at him in silence.
Their eyes glowed crimson, and intense killing intent seeped from their gazes.
"Good morning... everyone..."
Qin Zi forced a stiff smile, raising his hand slowly to wave, fingers curling awkwardly in greeting.
"Kill him!!"
Someone shouted, and instantly the horde of demons lunged at him, filled with bloodthirsty rage.
"A mere Saint of the Heavenly Realm dares to barge into the heart of the Fractured Star Demon Territory—so arrogant!"
"He's acting like we demons don't exist!"
"Is this an insult to our entire race?!"
"Tear him apart!!"
The demons were furious. To them, this human's audacity to show up so brazenly was a clear act of humiliation.
They wanted to tear him to pieces.
However…
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A series of muffled sounds erupted as the demons were sent flying, tumbling through the air like the iconic scene from Kung Fu Hustle.
"Hmph, did you really think I'm someone you can easily bully?"
Qin Zi snorted coldly, then transformed into a streak of light, flying swiftly toward the horizon aboard his emperor-level flying shuttle. In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
The flying shuttle had been a gift from a Southern Region emperor back in the fragment continent—right before Qin Zi's father had impaled the emperor into the ground and stripped him of his belongings…
"How dare you!!"
"A mere human dares act so arrogantly!"
"Kill him!"
Soon, several demon emperors emerged from Eastern Yi Demon City, their powerful auras shaking the heavens as they pursued Qin Zi.
The arrival of demon emperors was no small matter.
It was as if several suns had risen simultaneously, accompanied by rumbling thunder and an overwhelming force that swept across the sky.
But it wasn't long before a terrifying commotion came from the horizon. A massive ice dragon spear descended from the heavens, illuminating the sky.
"Boom—"
The ground shook violently as the light spread across the landscape. Along with it came the agonizing screams of the demon emperors.
"Ahhh!"
"An emperor weapon! He has an emperor weapon!"
"Avenge me!!"
The shrill cries left the demons back in the city trembling, shocked beyond belief.
An emperor weapon!!
That human brat had an emperor weapon!
"I understand!!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out from somewhere, filled with self-satisfied insight and excitement:
"That human brat must have obtained information about an emperor weapon and discovered it was in the Fractured Star Demon Territory. That's why he risked everything to come here and search for it! It's obvious—he's already found it!"
The other demons all nodded in agreement, but when they looked around, they couldn't find the demon who had spoken.
No one seemed surprised by this.
Wise demons always hid among the masses.
Once the basic logic was confirmed, the information would spread naturally. As it passed from one to another, the details would become increasingly fleshed out and rationalized, until it seemed more real than reality!
And so.
Soon, the entire Fractured Star Demon Territory was buzzing. Countless great demons began to move, hunting down this audacious human.
The territory's reputation was a secondary concern—what they really coveted was that emperor weapon. Who wouldn't be tempted by it?
Meanwhile, Qin Zi was utterly miserable.
He couldn't figure out how these demons knew he had an emperor weapon. He assumed the Nine Phoenix Furnace's aura must have been detected.
In truth, it was because of Qin Chuan's Ice Dragon Spear!
Qin Chuan had been protecting his son from the shadows all along.
After Qin Zi's recent misadventure of asking directions, he'd more or less figured out the general direction of the human territories.
But every time Qin Zi tried to head toward human lands, Qin Chuan would release an aura of emperor-level strength and let out bizarre cries, pretending to be a pursuing demon emperor, forcing his son to flee in the opposite direction…
Much like a shepherd dog guiding sheep.
Except, in this case, he was herding a pig.
Dressed in his 30-point "Father Power" invisibility cloak, Qin Chuan wasn't worried about being discovered by the demons. Even a demon emperor would have to carefully investigate to detect him, and it wasn't likely the Fractured Star Demon Territory had any demon emperors.
Under Qin Chuan's protection, Qin Zi roamed freely through the heart of the demon territory.
Qin Zi found it strange.
The only demons he encountered were at the Third and Fourth Heaven levels. Not a single demon emperor appeared.
He had no idea that, in the eyes of the demon race, he had already slaughtered many demon emperors—and all of them with an emperor weapon…
Time passed.
The demons chasing after Qin Zi grew stronger and stronger. Ordinary emperors no longer dared to approach. At this point, only peak emperors were willing to give it a try.
Eventually, even Quasi-Emperors got involved!
"Boom, boom, boom!"
One day, Qin Zi finally encountered a Quasi-Emperor.
Why?
Because even Qin Chuan couldn't quietly deal with such a powerful foe anymore—and, in fact, he had been waiting for a Quasi-Emperor to appear all along.
"A mere Third Heaven Saint dares trespass in the demon territory… You have courage, but alas, you are not of our kind."
The Quasi-Emperor spoke from somewhere above, shrouded in clouds of black thunder, the skies themselves cracking with power.
"Spare me, senior!!"
Without hesitation, Qin Zi raised his hands in surrender, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Please wait, I have something to say!"
"I'm not interested. Die."
The Quasi-Emperor's voice was indifferent, and with it came an earth-shattering force. The sky seemed to invert as it descended.
"Ding! A Quasi-Emperor First Heaven expert has developed killing intent toward your son. Following the principle of 'Fatherly love as solid as a mountain, the father must always win,' your cultivation has now advanced to Quasi-Emperor First Heaven! You are now invincible in this realm!"
The system's voice echoed in Qin Chuan's ears.