My Celestial Ascension

Chapter 897: Eternal Demon City

Yuan and the others didn’t order anything from the servants. Instead, they simply sat in the guest room, quietly waiting for the Duke to return.

After nearly two hours, the Duke finally came back after finishing all the necessary arrangements. He was visibly surprised to see that Yuan and the others were still seated on the sofa, patiently waiting for him.

’They’re quite a strange group… it’s hard to believe they remained seated for almost two hours without doing anything,’ Cedric thought, clearly not expecting such behavior from them.

“I’ve finished making all the arrangements required for this trip. We can depart immediately if you have no objections,” he said in a calm tone.

“I see… we have no problem leaving now. In fact, that would be even better,” Yuan replied calmly as he stood up from the sofa.

“In that case, follow me. We’ll set out at once.”

“Excellent… but before that, don’t you think it would be a good idea to inform your family about your departure?”

Cedric chuckled and replied, “There’s no need to worry about my family. I’ve already informed them in advance.”

“Well then, let’s not waste any more time, shall we?” Cedric gestured with his hand and guided them toward the prepared carriages.

Outside the manor, four carriages were parked neatly, accompanied by more than twenty guards who were assigned to escort them.

Each guard was equipped with exceptional gear to ensure their safety, and their firm posture showed unwavering loyalty toward the Duke.

The Demonic Continent was home to some of the most ferocious monsters in this world. And since there was no trace of Mana on this continent, every monster here was far stronger than those from other lands.

Every monster was a spiritual beast, capable of rivaling the strength of a Peak Spirit Master–realm cultivator.

“Is everything ready?” Cedric asked the guards standing before the carriages, briefly scanning the surroundings.

“Everything is ready, Sir. We’re good to go,” the captain of the guards replied immediately in a firm voice.

“Good,” Cedric nodded. “Order everyone to board the carriages. We’re departing.”

“Understood, Sir!” the captain responded at once before shouting loudly.

“Everyone, get ready! We’re leaving!”

“Understood, Captain!”

Yuan and the others boarded the carriages. The only issue was that they had to split into two groups, as everyone couldn’t fit into a single carriage.

Cedric invited Yuan to ride with him, as he had many questions he wanted answered. Unfortunately for him, Yuan refused without hesitation.

This left a bitter taste in Cedric’s mouth. However, he couldn’t voice his dissatisfaction, given that Yuan and the others’ origins were shrouded in mystery.

Soon after, the carriages began moving forward, gradually picking up speed as they left the manor behind.

And just like that, four days passed, and they finally drew close to the Eternal City of the Demonic Empire—the Capital City where the Demon Emperor resided.

Yuan and the others could already sense the city ahead with their Divine Sense, and it was incomparably massive compared to the other demon cities they had seen.

The city was surrounded by towering mountains, forming a natural barrier that made invasion by outsiders nearly impossible.

Not only that, the entire city was protected by extremely tall defensive walls on all sides, with patrol guards constantly moving along the top.

The walls themselves were a colossal fortress, with hundreds of soldiers standing vigilant at all times. It would be impossible for anyone to slip into the city without being noticed by the patrolling guards.

Although the journey had been quite long, it was far from boring, as they encountered many powerful monsters along the way.

They also gathered several valuable materials and spiritual herbs. While these weren’t as precious as the ones found in the Earth Immortal Sect, they were still considered highly valuable.

“We’ve almost arrived at the city. In a few moments, we’ll be passing through the city gates,” the captain of the guards shouted, informing everyone that they were about to enter the capital.

A short while later, the carriages passed through the city gates after a routine inspection by the patrolling guards. Since Duke Cedric was present, the process was much faster due to his authority.

Duke Cedric was well known throughout the Demonic Continent, as he had been one of the leading commanders during the great war.

He had fought against the Heroes of the Holy Church, and because of this, demons respected him deeply—many even regarded him as a role model.

Although the First Demon Emperor had fallen in that war by the Hero of Light’s Holy Sword, the Demonic Empire did not collapse.

The empire survived and eventually recovered from the scars of battle. However, the war left deep wounds in the hearts of its people.

Because of this, many demons harbored deep resentment toward humans and an even greater hatred toward the Holy Church.

“Look! That’s the emblem of Duke Vaen!”

“Indeed. It’s been five years since I last saw him in the capital.”

“He must be here on important business… could it be related to the rumors spreading around?”

“Oh? Are you talking about the undead making movements near our borders?”

“Yes and no… there’s a strange rumor circulating lately. They say a group of unusual people has been seen in public.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard of that… perhaps it’s just a false rumor.”

As soon as the people noticed the Vaen family’s carriages entering the city, whispers spread through the streets. Some voices were loud enough for Yuan and the others to hear clearly.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the Eternal Palace—the royal palace of the Demon Empire. Demons regarded this place as a Holy Ground, for it was where their Monarch resided.

Unlike humans and other races, the Demon Race held an unwavering devotion toward their Monarch.

The palace itself was awe-inspiring, with towering walls adorned with intricate designs. The patterns looked ancient, likely over a thousand years old.

Moreover, the entire area was enveloped in a faint yet unmistakable ancient aura—something that could not escape the perception of cultivators like Yuan and the others.

The entire palace was surrounded by numerous patrolling guards, and Yuan and his wives could clearly feel the powerful aura radiating from them.

“These guards are quite powerful… comparable to peak Spirit Warriors. As expected of the Royal Guards of the Demon Emperor,” Valeria muttered in a low voice, her sharp eyes carefully scanning the surroundings.

“Indeed. And judging by their presence, each of them is a seasoned warrior with extensive battle experience,” Yuan nodded in agreement.

“This is the Eternal Palace—the pride of the Demonic Empire. And those are the Royal Guards of our Lord,” Cedric spoke as soon as he stepped down from the carriage.

With a small chuckle, he continued, “Don’t compare them to ordinary soldiers. A single one of them is enough to defeat a hundred experienced warriors.”

“They only act when it’s absolutely necessary… their sole duty is to guard the palace and protect the Emperor.”

“I see… they are indeed quite exceptional,” Yuan nodded calmly, showing no sign of intimidation.

’How ridiculous… do you really think a few mortals would be enough to intimidate me? This is utterly disappointing,’ Yuan thought inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged.

Seeing that Yuan remained completely calm even after witnessing the Royal Guards, Cedric sighed and said, “Now then, let us head inside. Our Lord is waiting for us in the Imperial Hall. He already knows that we’ve safely arrived in the city.”

’How fascinating… he isn’t showing the slightest sign of nervousness or fear. Is he perhaps concealing it?’ Cedric wondered inwardly as he led everyone into the palace.

’Well, it doesn’t matter. My duty is simply to bring them before our Lord. I’ll leave everything else to him,’ he sighed to himself.

The sound of their footsteps echoed through the long hallway as they followed Cedric in silence, carefully observing the palace’s interior.

A massive door soon appeared at the end of the corridor, with two heavily armored guards standing on either side, fully armed and alert.

“His Majesty is waiting for you inside the Imperial Hall, Lord Cedric,” one of the guards spoke with a slight bow before pushing the massive door open.

Duke Cedric nodded and stepped inside.

As Yuan and the others passed through the doorway one by one, the guards’ sharp gazes swept over them, filled with caution as they searched for anything that might pose a threat to their Monarch.

Yuan glanced back at them—not with hostility, but with a gaze that made the guards’ hearts skip a beat. Cedric failed to notice this subtle exchange entirely.

’That young man… he’s extremely dangerous…’ the guards thought, cold sweat forming on their faces as their legs suddenly felt weak.

At the far end of the Imperial Hall, a single throne stood atop a raised platform, presenting an intimidating sight that commanded reverence.

The entire hall was engulfed in heavy silence. Not even the faint sound of a buzzing insect could be heard—it was absolute stillness.

A figure sat upon the magnificent throne, radiating an overwhelming aura of authority and superiority, his gaze looking down upon everything below.

Yuan and the others continued to follow Cedric in silence, not uttering a single word. At the same time, there wasn’t even the slightest trace of panic in their eyes.

’So these are the humans and demi-humans Duke Hexryn informed me about… travelers who do not belong to our Demonic Continent… fascinating indeed,’ a faint grin formed on the Demon Emperor’s face as he watched Yuan and the others follow Cedric.

“This humble servant greets His Majesty,” Cedric knelt before the Demon Emperor, his voice filled with deep respect.

“As per your decree, I have brought the travelers from beyond our Continent before your mighty presence,” Cedric said as he raised his head to look at the Emperor.

“You have done well, my subject,” the Demon Emperor spoke, his voice laced with immense authority and power. “For your hard work, I shall grant you one request. Ask for anything you desire, and it will be fulfilled.”

“I thank His Majesty for this generous reward. However, I have merely acted according to your will,” Cedric replied, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

The Emperor simply nodded, revealing no emotion, before fixing his gaze upon Yuan and the others.

“So, these are the travelers who have come from beyond our Continent—crossing the mysterious storm barrier and achieving a feat no one before has accomplished. Very impressive,” the Demon Emperor said with a smile, his eyes filled with keen interest as he stared at them.