Chapter Seventy-eight: The Ancestor's Image

Upon returning to the academy, Demon Night could barely contain his excitement as he dashed toward his own quarters. Seeing Demon Night’s anxious expression, Tang Ze called out loudly, “Demon Night, come to see me in an hour!”

Without so much as turning his head, Demon Night waved his hand in acknowledgment. The others exchanged glances and shook their heads. “What on earth is that child in such a hurry for?”

Once he arrived at his room, Demon Night closed the door and took out the jade box he had obtained from the tomb. “Oh, jade box, what secrets do you hide? Why do I feel such an inexplicable sense of kinship with you?”

He gently stroked the box, frowning. “Why can’t I open it? It’s as though it’s a single block of jade!”

“Ancestor, forebear! Can you tell me how to open this box?” he pleaded inwardly.

From his slumber, Demon Maple heard the call, and a surge of spiritual power emerged. “Try using a drop of your blood! I do not know, otherwise.”

Demon Night had already tried using spiritual power and vital energy, but to no avail. Considering Demon Maple’s suggestion, he hesitated for a moment. “Well, desperate times call for desperate measures.”

He forced a drop of blood from his fingertip and let it fall onto the jade box. At once, the box glowed with dazzling light. It began to spin rapidly, shrinking down to the size of a demon core, before burrowing into his body.

Demon Night’s brow furrowed as he watched the box inside him wrap itself around his demon core. Just as he was struggling to comprehend what was happening, a figure appeared before him.

“My descendant, if you are seeing this image, it means that the Heavenly Demon Wolf Clan has not escaped the calamity of annihilation. Alas…”

Demon Night stared in shock at the apparition before him, overwhelmed by a powerful sense of kinship, and asked curiously, “Who are you? Why do I feel such a strong connection to you?”

“Fate is inexorable! I once peered into the secrets of heaven and learned that our clan would suffer this catastrophe. I exhausted all my cunning, but still could not prevent it. Alas…”

Seeing the apparition speak to itself, ignoring him, Demon Night grew even more curious. “Ancestor, look! What is happening?”

Demon Maple glanced at the apparition and immediately burst into tears, his emotions surging. “Elder Patriarch! It’s me, Little Maple! Do you remember?”

The apparition paid Demon Maple no heed, merely gazing heavenward with a long sigh.

“No, this is an image left by the Elder Patriarch. Demon Night, do not interrupt him—listen carefully!”

Demon Night nodded uncertainly, watching the image before him.

“Fate cannot be defied! Still, it is fortunate that the Heavenly Demon Wolf Clan has you. You are the hope of our people. Yet when I looked further into your destiny, I saw a life of endless hardship, and this time you face certain death. I have, however, left you a sliver of hope.”

Demon Night frowned and glanced at his own body, murmuring softly, “Am I facing some disaster soon?”

The apparition continued, “I know you won’t believe this, but I have made arrangements. Your demon core will be pierced, and you will become a cripple. Yet I have used great magic to transform the jade box—it can shield you from this tribulation.”

Demon Night lowered his head, gazing at his chest, gently stroking the place where his demon core lay.

“But do not panic. You must feign defeat and allow yourself to be captured. They will surely torture you for half a year. You must endure in silence, waiting until your enemies grow complacent. Then, use the spatial jade token to escape! Someone will bring the token out for you.”

Demon Night’s jaw dropped in amazement. “He knows about the spatial jade token!” Half-convinced, he listened on.

“No matter what torments your enemies inflict, you must keep your mouth sealed. Do not reveal the secret of the Creation Cauldron. No matter what threats they make, you must never compromise—the fate of everyone on the continent rests on your shoulders.”

“He even knows about the Creation Cauldron!” Demon Night was utterly stunned by the barrage of revelations.

“When the time comes, do not fear their soul attacks. They will try to control your mind with spiritual power, but as the possessor of the Creation Cauldron, you are immune to all such assaults! Once you have escaped, go to a cave in the Primeval Forest, where I have secretly constructed a teleportation array.”

Demon Night looked at the apparition in bewilderment, thinking, “A teleportation array? Why have I never heard of it?”

“I know you have many doubts. In time, all will become clear. Remember: after your escape, before you use the teleportation array to leave the Northern Battlefield, do not use your vital energy, and do not seek out anyone. Remember this well!”

The apparition turned, glanced at Demon Night, and said, “Later, give the bead to Demon Maple. He knows what to do. Take care of yourself.”

Demon Night looked around in confusion. “A bead? Where is the bead?”

At that moment, the apparition slowly faded away, transforming into a bead that appeared before him. Demon Night picked it up, studying it curiously.

“Alas! I can only hope things do not unfold as the ancestor predicted. Otherwise, I will have to leave everything behind…”