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After unleashing his fierce attacks, Chen Xuanfeng wasn’t done yet. The Sword of Divine Punishment flared, instantly slashing out a massive platinum sword energy spanning a thousand meters, which then wove into an endless net of blades raining down below. Amidst a series of hissing cuts, the earth was carved into a chessboard pattern, crisscrossed with deep trenches of unknown depth.

Then, the next wave of assault followed without pause.

Having battled three million jade dragons, their shattered scales and broken armor filled the skies.

Before twelve gates, cold light melted; twenty-three strings thrummed with violet brilliance.

The twin supreme techniques of sword and blade fell in relentless succession, obliterating everything in their path—rocks, splintered wood, and shattered earth—leaving behind only a perfectly round crater several kilometers in diameter amidst the vast mountain range. Years later, a lake named "Burial Dragon Mountain's Celestial Wolf Pool" would form here.

After three consecutive rounds of attacks, Chen Xuanfeng finally released the pent-up fury of his near-death experience, exhaling deeply as he slowly descended from the sky. The nine twisted and coiled skeletal dragon heads behind him gradually faded away.

"Tsk, to think he still escaped despite all that. Truly worthy of being a monster who's existed for nearly a millennium," Chen Xuanfeng muttered. His spiritual perception had grown exponentially, clearly perceiving that although his attacks had severely wounded Leinster, the latter had still managed to escape by some unknown means, now completely vanished from his senses. "Well then, another immortal monster, won't you show yourself?"

As he spoke, Chen Xuanfeng turned his gaze toward an empty space to his left.

"Perfect timing. I came to find you precisely to discuss a deal," came a voice as the space twisted, and the puppet body of the great Demon King Bato, clad in white robes, reappeared.

Chen Xuanfeng snorted coldly. "You helped me break into the Saint Domain. I owe you a favor. As long as your terms are reasonable, I’ll naturally repay you once. But save your breath on other deals."

Bato's ethereal voice carried a hint of amusement. "Why? You should know that no one's ever regretted dealing with me."

"Hmph, though I was corroded by the laws of time earlier, I didn’t die. I heard your conversation," Chen Xuanfeng said icily. "Teaching the Ancestor of Sword Saints the mysteries of the Saint Domain, revealing the secrets of forbidden spells to the Twelve Sages, even aiding the DragonSealing Emperor in slaying the Abyssal Demon Dragon King—though I don’t know how you managed it, it’s safe to say the collapse of the Orc Empire was largely your handiwork. And now, you’ll surely rally an army to invade this world again. As your enemy, why would I agree to any deal with you?"

Bato chuckled. "Whether or not I’ll invade in the future is beside the point. My past actions against the orcs—how does that concern you?"

"I am an orc. How does it not concern me?"

"An orc? Perhaps your body is that of an orc, but tell me—is your soul truly that of an orc?" Bato’s voice suddenly took on a profound, enigmatic tone.

To others, these words might hold no meaning, but Chen Xuanfeng understood instantly. His expression darkened, and his voice rose sharply. "What do you know?"

"Ha, not much, but enough. At the very least, I know your soul isn't from this world. To be precise, your soul doesn’t belong to the Prime Material Plane, the elemental planes, heaven, hell, the Astral Plane, or even the Starry Abyss—none of the known planes. Your soul originates from an unknown realm beyond the entire world system. You are a unique soul." The great Demon King’s voice carried a faint excitement. "So, wandering soul from beyond, heed my words: Do you still yearn for the world you once lived in? Are there still loved ones left behind in your homeland? If so, then make a deal with me. As the ultimate reward, I will give you the key to traverse this world, allowing you to one day return home."

"What? You—" Chen Xuanfeng’s heart surged with overwhelming turmoil. Return home? See his wife Mei Chaofeng again? Reunite with his master? Such terms—he knew all too well he couldn’t refuse. As long as the great Demon King didn’t demand harm to those few dearest to him, he would agree to any condition, even betraying the Orc Alliance, relinquishing all power, status, and wealth, or even crippling his own martial arts.

Because it was his deepest, most fervent dream.

Yet, he took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm. "I need to know everything—how you know about me, why you sought me out, why you make these deals, and how you can fulfill this one. If you don’t give me a reasonable explanation, I won’t agree."

After all, he was facing the infamous world-ending Demon King. Despite his agitation, Chen Xuanfeng dared not let his guard down.

Bato nodded. "Of course. Without understanding the full reasoning, you couldn’t possibly make the deal. Though some of this will take time to explain... Let’s start with my origins."

"You know my name is Bato, and that my race is the Bato devils. So, why do I bear my race’s name as my own?"

"Because you’re the strongest among your kind?" Chen Xuanfeng frowned. The topic seemed unrelated, but since it involved the origins of a Demon King, he refrained from interrupting.

"Leinster is the strongest among humans, yet he doesn’t call himself ‘Human,'" Bato explained. "In truth, if you think carefully, you’ll realize only one scenario leads to an individual taking their race’s name as their own—when they’re completely severed from their kin and live among outsiders. That was my childhood. I was born a cripple, far weaker than others of my kind. In the war-torn hellscape, weakness is reason enough for death. So, shortly after my birth, I was abandoned by my own people."

The Bato devils are the second most powerful race in hell, with adult warriors typically possessing the strength of ninth-tier magical beasts. This power is hereditary, so even newborn Bato devils possess sixth-tier abilities—the minimum for full intelligence. But if Bato failed to meet this standard at birth, it meant he was born mentally deficient.