Across the ages, throughout the eight directions of the world, perhaps no one had ever dared utter such arrogant and unrestrained words within the Xiān Gōng Sect itself. For a moment, everyone present was stunned into silence.
Wei Fang’s expression went blank for an instant. The fox Patriarch Qing Luo raised an interested brow, and even the Mistress of the Underworld, who had kept her gaze lowered and said nothing, paused and lifted her eyes toward the scene.
A full three seconds passed before Wei Fang suddenly came back to himself. His face sank to the depths as he burst into furious curses at Yue Jinshu: “This is the Xiān Gōng Sect territory! How can a demonic creature like you run wild here?! Cease your nonsense and surrender your life!”
“I merely offered a few words of admiration,” Yue Jinshu smiled leisurely. “Why should Cultivator Wei be so angered? But since we already stand upon this martial stage, this humble one will boldly seek your instruction.”
No sooner had her voice fallen than Bai Ruolin lifted her hand and sent a strand of sword Qi striking the Xiān Gōng Sect’s morning bell. After three resonant chimes, the first match officially began.
As if eager to wash away his humiliation, Wei Fang did not even wait for the echo of the third bell to fade before fiercely cleaving out a sword strike. Judging by its momentum alone, the strike was indeed impressive, even carrying a hint of his Master’s bearing.
But before the onlookers could finish praising the Xiān Gōng Sect’s rising talent, thinking that the sword move truly surged like mountains collapsing, its force overwhelming… the next moment, they saw Yue Jinshu lightly raise her sleeve. Purple mist, carrying a fragrant wind, swept forward, dissolving the sword Qi into nothingness with effortless ease.
According to what that fallen immortal had once said, everyone in the world had already undergone a rebirth, and because of that, their cultivation speeds had greatly increased.
Yet Wei Fang knew nothing of it.
He only felt that his own progress had been astonishingly swift. Now, seeing Yue Jinshu’s technique, light smoke and gauze, clearly some sinister and unorthodox art, he instinctively looked down on her all the more, convinced it differed from the Righteous Path.
But the Rakshasa woman was born adept at beguiling hearts. In the past, she had escaped Mu Hanyang’s pursuit precisely by exploiting her ability to peer into minds. A hundred years later, how could a mere Wei Fang be her opponent?
Seeing his first strike fail, Wei Fang immediately raised his hand, ready to unleash his life-bound sword technique.
“Cultivator Wei is the prized disciple of Sword Venerable Hanyang,” Yue Jinshu smiled at him. “Why shout about killing a weak woman like me?”
Before Wei Fang could reply, she shifted in a flash. With some unknown footwork, she slipped straight through the sword Qi surrounding him and abruptly appeared behind his back.
Wei Fang froze. His hair bristled as he swung his sword backward, but Yue Jinshu lightly pressed down on his wrist. Lowering her head, she whispered softly beside his ear: “Cultivator Wei… do you truly believe your honored Master would really pass the Hanyang Sword to you?”
“You demonic witch!” Wei Fang flew into a rage. “Do not attempt to sow discord between Master and disciple! Take this!”
Yet when his blade came crashing down, Yue Jinshu suddenly dispersed. Startled, Wei Fang hastily looked up, only to find that at some unknown moment, the sky above had already been completely shrouded in a purple demonic aura.
He could no longer even see the spectators outside the arena. Alarms flooded his heart, but Yue Jinshu’s smiling voice came from all directions, almost bewitching his soul:
“Cultivator Wei, don’t you wish to know why your Master is so determined to kill me?”
“Because I know his secret, his most hidden, most unspeakable, most filthy secret…”
“You lie!” Wei Fang’s scalp prickled as he slashed out sword Qi without pause, panting. “Stop spreading such demonic…”
“Cutivator Wei,”
Before he could finish, Yue Jinshu suddenly appeared at his side again, bending close to whisper in his ear:
“Now it’s your turn to share this secret with me… Once he learns that you also know it, tell me, will your good Master kill you as well?”
Her laughter chimed like silver bells, and Wei Fang’s pupils shrank. Instinctively, he tried to bite his tongue to clear his mind, but it was already too late. His thoughts exploded into chaos, and something suddenly surfaced before his eyes. He froze where he stood.
The unspeakable secret Yue Jinshu had once glimpsed within Mu Hanyang’s mind unfolded fully in his own.
From mutual love… to the wedding night beneath candlelight… to that figure, in the eerie darkness, personally sending his bride in a phoenix crown and crimson robes back into the bridal sedan…
Endless blood seeped across everything, staining Wei Fang’s mind a vivid scarlet.
To the guests outside, however, it only appeared that Wei Fang, who had just been loudly cursing, suddenly stiffened like a man possessed. Then, as if seeing something terrible, his expression collapsed, turning so pale it was nearly transparent.
Up on the high platform, Mu Hanyang’s face darkened at once. Seeing that, Yue Jinshu actually lifted her head and gave him a provocative smile. Then, before countless spectators, she leaned close to Wei Fang’s ear and said softly:
“Cultivator Wei, concede.”
Wei Fang snapped back to himself, but the earlier vigor was gone. His face changed several times before he gritted his teeth and said, “Even if I die, I’ll never yield to a witch like you!”
“Is that so? Even after seeing what you just saw, you still intend to keep acting like your Master’s loyal dog?”
Anyone could see Wei Fang swaying on the brink of madness. Standing upon the stage, he did not even dare draw his sword.
“That… that was only your fabrication!”
Upon hearing that, many in the crowd were taken aback, the same question rising in their hearts.
What exactly had Yue Jinshu shown him?
But Yue Jinshu merely laughed softly beside his ear, continuing, “Whether it was or not… just look at your Master’s expression.”
Wei Fang instinctively followed her words and looked up, only to see Mu Hanyang staring at them, his face dark as still water. Wei Fang’s heart jolted violently as the images he had just seen churned through his mind again and again.
Was it truly you, Master? The one who sacrificed your lover for the sake of the world… was that truly you? And the one who, out of shame and fury, has hunted the Rakshasa woman ever since… is that also you?
The purer the reverence and devotion, the less room there was for the slightest flaw. And once the seed of doubt was planted within it, the collapse of faith took only a single thought.
Seeing his reaction, Yue Jinshu suddenly unleashed her divine consciousness, and vast demonic Qi surged forward. Caught off guard, Wei Fang froze completely.
In that instant, it felt as though his head had been ripped away by an unseen hand. A massive, indescribable danger crashed over him.
This woman could take his life as easily as turning her hand!
Before everyone’s eyes, Yue Jinshu did not even strike. She simply lifted her hand and lightly rested it upon his shoulder, smiling as she said: “Concede, Cultivator Wei… Today is a joyous day for your sect. Why stain it with blood?”
Yet what Wei Fang heard was:
“Today, our Highness has rarely returned home. This humble one does not wish to spill dirty blood and risk displeasing His Highness.”
Still smiling, she whispered coldly into his ear: “But if you still don’t know what’s good for you, this humble one will take your dog life.”
Wei Fang’s face instantly drained of all color as only one thought remained in his mind.
I can’t hold on… I’ll really die!
His throat bobbed. At last, under a sea of stunned gazes, he murmured: “I… I concede.”
The moment those words left his mouth, it seemed like the world fell briefly silent, then the entire audience erupted in uproar. The two had scarcely fought at all. Yue Jinshu had merely used some kind of illusion, yet Mu Hanyang’s direct disciple had actually conceded just like that?!
Hua Ying’s face was filled with disbelief. Snapping back to her senses, she immediately sprang to her feet, shouting, “Wei Fang, what did you say?!”
“You were the one who said Xiān Gōng Sect’s disciples would rather die than yield!” She was so furious she looked ready to leap down and cut him herself, continuing, “You…!”
“Ying’er,” Mu Hanyang suddenly spoke, but no one could discern the meaning in his tone.
“Sit down.”
The one who had previously sought Yue Jinshu’s life was him. Now the one calming the matters was also him.
Hua Ying turned in shock, utterly unable to understand what her Master was thinking. After staring at Mu Hanyang in disbelief for a long moment, she finally sat back down with a dark, unwilling expression.
Thus, the result of the first match was decided.
Yue Jinshu rose unhurriedly. Gone was her earlier coldness; now she smiled brightly and bowed toward the audience below. Aside from the few demon cultivators, no one congratulated her, yet her smile remained radiant.
Mu Hanyang watched the scene with a dark expression, yet he was in no hurry. He firmly believed that, when the Heavenly Dao returned to its rightful place, the more wildly those people leapt now, the more miserably they would kneel before him then.
He had even already planned it: on the day of his and Feng Qingyun’s Dao ceremony, that arrogant demonic woman would personally sever the Demon Emperor’s head and present it as a congratulatory gift for their joyous union.
With each passing fantasy of wielding the authority of the Heavenly Dao, Mu Hanyang’s state of mind twisted closer and closer toward the extreme. But at that very moment, Yue Jinshu suddenly lifted her gaze and looked across at Feng Qingyun.
“Your Highness,” she said, “Cultivator Wei’s Master said that if he killed me, he’d pass the Hanyang Sword to him. If I were to kill him now, what reward would Your Highness grant me?”
The moment those words fell, the entire audience was shocked. Liu Wu instantly rose with his hand on his sword, and Wei Fang looked up at Yue Jinshu in stunned disbelief.
“You!”
Feng Qingyun, however, merely smiled faintly, asking, “What do you want?”
Wei Fang immediately drew his sword to resist, but Yue Jinshu smiled and pressed a hand onto his shoulder. His movement froze at once.
“I was only joking. Why so anxious, Cultivator Wei?” Yue Jinshu lowered her eyes with a smile. “You are Lord Mu’s direct disciple. Rumor has it that Lord Mu is the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao. How would this humble one dare take Cultivator Wei’s life? As for the reward, it was just a jest.”
“No matter. Even if you didn’t kill him, there’s still a reward,” Feng Qingyun replied with a smile. “Miss Yue, just say what you want. If I cannot provide it, Your Majesty will provide it for me. No need to be polite.”
Yue Jinshu’s eyes turned thoughtfully.
“Actually, I don’t want anything else,” she answered. “I merely ask that Your Highness let me take care of the Little Highness for half a day.”
She spoke lightly, but the effect was nearly explosive as countless faces changed at once.
If “Your Highness” referred to Feng Qingyun… then who exactly was this “Little Highness”?!
Even Mu Hanyang could no longer maintain his mountain-like composure. He immediately turned toward Feng Qingyun, suspicion flashing in his eyes. Yet under the gaze of countless spectators, Feng Qingyun did not explain. Instead, he smiled.
“That’s no difficult matter. Return to your seat first. Once I’ve fed it, I’ll send it to you.”
With that, before everyone’s eyes, he took the merfolk egg out of his storage ring and held it in both hands.
The moment the egg emerged, it sensed the unprecedented openness around it. At first, it didn’t realize how many people were present. Cheerfully, it hopped onto the table and lifted itself to look toward Long Yin, clearly remembering its assigned little “mission.”
But it had barely rolled a single turn, not even reaching Long Yin yet, when the small merfolk egg suddenly froze.
It carefully turned around and… saw the vast sea of people below.
The entire egg stiffened atop the table, not daring to move at all.
So many people, Father! What’s going on?!
Long Yin laughed and tapped lightly on its shell, then turned teasingly toward Feng Qingyun, his meaning obvious as he whispered in his mind:
[The egg you laid is this timid?]
Feng Qingyun shot him an immediate glare, answering:
[I told you I didn’t lay it!]
The egg sat frozen on the table, wide-eyed at the countless guests below. Many cultivators even forgot to drink, staring in astonishment at the egg.
What is this situation?!
In less than a year, had that frost-like Feng Qingyun and the Demon Emperor actually produced a child already?!
But why would their child be an egg? Wasn’t Feng Qingyun originally a spiritual plant?
Could Long Yin’s true form be some egg-laying creature?!
The tiny merfolk egg instantly stirred waves of speculation in countless hearts.
Meanwhile, Yue Jinshu, satisfied that she had obtained her answer, withdrew her hand with a smile and calmly returned to her seat.
Wei Fang, on the other hand, descended from the martial stage in a daze, sword hanging limply in his hand. Some cultivators finally dragged their gazes away from the egg and looked at Wei Fang instead. At the moment, only one question filled their minds.
What exactly had that demonic woman shown him that it shattered his will so completely, conceding without even using a proper sword technique?
From what they’d heard earlier… could it be related to Lord Mu?
Feng Qingyun took everything in, yet said nothing. He merely lowered his eyes with a faint smile, lifted the trembling egg from the table into his hands, and sent a gentle stream of demonic Qi into it, slowly nurturing it.
The moment it started eating, the silly little egg forgot its earlier fear and obediently snuggled against Feng Qingyun’s chest.
Soon after, Bai Ruolin drew the next lot. The following match would be Nan Anxue versus a disciple from the Fufeng Sect.
Seeing that the egg was calmer while eating, Feng Qingyun exchanged a glance with Long Yin. Then the two rose from their seats and walked together toward the area where the demon cultivators were seated.
They made no effort to conceal their aura, simply carrying the egg as they passed through the crowd. Many people cast looks, some scrutinizing, some shocked, yet overall, the tone of the ceremony remained relaxed and festive.
Only the great figures, such as the Mistress of the Underworld and the fox Patriarch, had long sensed that storm clouds were gathering. Their purpose in attending was never merely to drink and celebrate.
Even many cultivators above the Foundation-Building stage felt an indistinct premonition.
The end was approaching. Either ascend… or die.
There was no third path before them.
Feng Qingyun and Long Yin passed through the oblivious crowd. After eating its fill, the egg belatedly grew frightened again and burrowed into Feng Qingyun’s arms.
Long Yin chuckled and flicked it lightly, complaining, “Look at you. No backbone at all.”
“Why do you keep knocking it?” Feng Qingyun immediately pushed his hand aside. “If you knock any harder, it’ll crack.”
Because the Demon World delegation was small, Feng Qingyun had deliberately arranged them in one of the most prominent areas, with Qingqiu Mountain’s people on the left, and several well-known independent cultivators on the right.
When the demons arrived, they had looked fearsome enough that their names alone could stop children from crying at night. Yet now they sat together eating happily, much like those who, facing death, might still chat casually in their final moments.
As for Yue Jinshu, she truly lived up to her Rakshasa heritage, naturally smooth and socially adept.
Compared to someone like the terrifying Qiān Lóu Míng, her appearance was far more approachable. She didn’t look like some unforgivable demonic cultivator, and after her dazzling performance in the match, once she returned to her seat, some independent cultivators who weren’t overly hostile toward demons even came over to chat.
Yue Jinshu welcomed everyone, chatting easily with anyone who approached, utterly without airs.
When Feng Qingyun and Long Yin arrived, she was laughing with a few independent cultivators. Seeing them, she quickly set down her wine and fruit and rose to bow.
“Your Highness, Your Majesty!”
“No need for formalities.” Long Yin waved a hand.
Everyone immediately relaxed their posture and hurried to make space for them.
Since Nan Anxue’s match held little suspense, many spectators stole glances over when Feng Qingyun came down. Hearing those two forms of address, they couldn’t help but feel astonished.
So Yue Jinshu hadn’t been using “Your Highness” merely as flattery. The entire Demon World truly acknowledged him that way…
As for Feng Qingyun, he didn’t decline. He sat down naturally and handed the trembling egg from his arms to Yue Jinshu.
“Didn’t you want to hold it?”
“Oh my, the Little Highness is here.” Yue Jinshu immediately received the quivering egg with a smile. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Too many people. Cowardly,” Long Yin mocked. “Scared enough its yolk’s about to shake loose, isn’t it?”
The poor egg, suddenly transferred from Feng Qingyun’s arms, jolted upright in fright, not even bothering to react to Long Yin’s teasing. It truly looked on the verge of being shaken to pieces.
But when it turned and saw that Yue Jinshu was the one holding it, it seemed to relax instantly, the whole egg softening as it leaned into her arms.
No one had expected to witness such an extensive range of emotions from a single egg, and even the nearby independent cultivators watching couldn’t help but smile. Even the prim and proper Kū Xuè, charmed by its cuteness, reached out to rub its “head”, asking, “Little Highness, who’s your daddy?”
Daddy!
At that word, the egg instantly forgot its shyness. Like a child eager to show off, it wriggled in Yue Jinshu’s arms, trying to get down. Yue Jinshu quickly set it onto the table, and it immediately rolled forward, straight to Feng Qingyun, then proudly straightened its shell.
Feng Qingyun couldn’t help laughing. He reached out and patted its “head”, praising, “Baby’s amazing.”
“The Little Highness recognizes people even before hatching!” Everyone exclaimed in amazement. “Incredible!”
Just then, a commotion rose from the arena below.
In less than the time it took an incense stick to burn, Nan Anxue had already won her match, completely without suspense.
She descended from the stage, sword in hand, her expression cold as frost. Yet her eyes couldn’t help drifting toward their side, seemingly drawn to the adorable merfolk egg. After only two glances, however, she withdrew her gaze, as if restrained by pride.
After a moment’s thought, Feng Qingyun lifted his eyes and scanned the area, finally spotting someone idling.
“Ancestor,” he said, “I’ll trouble you to make a trip for me. Invite Chief Disciple Nan Anxue over for a talk.”
Given Feng Qingyun’s identity and strength, he technically needed no explanation to summon her, yet he still added, “Tell her it concerns her elder brother. But she’s just finished a tough battle, there’s no need to hurry. I’ll be here; she can come after she’s rested.”
“Yes!” Qiān Lóu Míng immediately replied.
Therefore, before the next match even began, some sharp-eyed observers noticed a rather terrifying skeleton rise from the demon cultivators’ seating area and walk toward Lingyuan Sect.
Many Lingyuan female disciples instantly grew tense, raising their guard to the highest level. Yet when the skeleton reached them, instead of behaving like a typical demonic cultivator, he politely bowed, saying, “His Highness has sent me to your honored sect to invite Chief Disciple Nan Anxue for a meeting.”
It took them a moment to realize who “His Highness” referred to. When they did, their expressions changed at once.
Feng Qingyun wanted to summon their Senior Sister?
Lingyuan Sect ranked among the foremost Righteous Sects, second only to the Xiān Gōng Sect. If not for Xiaoyao Valley, which specialized in medical cultivation and lacked combat strength, Lingyuan might even be called the greatest power beneath the Xiān Gōng Sect.
As Lingyuan’s Chief Disciple, Nan Anxue had always guarded her reputation carefully. Logically speaking, she should not go alone to the gathering place of demonic cultivators and risk staining her name.
Many who did not understand what was happening turned to look, already prepared for the skeleton demonic cultivator to fail. Unexpectedly, he said something more, and Nan Anxue froze upon hearing it and immediately rose to her feet.
Countless people were astonished. Seeing her reaction, Qiān Lóu Míng hurriedly explained, “His Highness says that you have just gone through a fierce battle. It would not be too late to rest for a while before coming.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Nan Anxue replied with rare impatience. “It was nothing more than a trivial matter, hardly a fierce battle. Trouble yourself to lead me to your Highness at once.”
When she followed Qiān Lóu Míng there in haste, a group of demonic cultivators was gathered, teasing the merfolk egg. At some point, several demons from the ancestral clans who had come to watch the excitement had also crowded nearby.
“Little Egg, what is your name?” Someone stroked the shell and asked with a smile.
The egg immediately puffed up with pride.
Egg’s name is Beichen! Father gave me this name!
Unfortunately, it had not yet hatched and could not speak. It spun anxiously in place, gazing eagerly toward Feng Qingyun and Long Yin, clearly hoping they would explain it instead. Yet its gentle, kindly daddy had been led astray by its mischievous father. At present, Feng Qingyun merely pressed his lips together and smiled at it, offering no help.
Seeing the child nearly hopping in anxiety, a wolf demon suddenly took out an inkstone from his storage ring. With a cheerful grin, he spread paper and even dabbed ink onto the egg’s “forehead”.
“If the little master cannot speak,” he said kindly, “just write it on the paper.”
Hearing himself addressed as little master, the egg brightened for a moment, but the joy quickly faded.
It did not know how to write at all, ah!
Once more, it looked pitifully toward Feng Qingyun. The ink dripped slowly down its forehead, making it look both miserable and ridiculous.
Feng Qingyun laughed so hard he could hardly close his mouth, yet fearing the child might grow embarrassed and angry, he braced a hand on Long Yin’s shoulder and turned his head slightly, trying to hide his smile.
Long Yin, however, had no such restraint. He simply wrapped an arm around the person in his arms and laughed openly.
From an outsider’s perspective, Feng Qingyun looked as though he had buried his face in Long Yin’s embrace, the intimacy unmistakable.
Yet faced with his parents’ laughter, the egg did not grow angry. Still wearing its ink-streaked forehead, it waited patiently until Feng Qingyun had laughed enough, then continued gazing at him expectantly.
Seeing how obedient it was, Feng Qingyun felt a small pang of guilt and finally spoke on its behalf:
“Its name is Beichen… its Father chose the name.”
Hearing him refer to Long Yin so naturally and directly, everyone froze for a moment and instinctively turned to look at the Demon Emperor. They saw Long Yin curl his lips slightly, silent yet clearly pleased, as if wanting to show off while pretending modesty.
At this moment, Long Yin was plainly waiting for someone to ask Feng Qingyun, “Isn’t Beichen’s father you, Second Palace Master?”
Then he could flaunt it openly, ah!
Unfortunately, after his subordinates met his gaze for three seconds, they all withdrew their eyes in perfect unison. Not a single person spoke as he wished, and Long Yin’s smile stiffened instantly.
Feng Qingyun knew exactly what he was thinking. Unable to hold back, he leaned into Long Yin’s neck and laughed softly, asking, “Your Majesty… have you perhaps been sidelined? Why does no one heed you?”
Long Yin was not angered. Recovering himself, he lowered his head and kissed Feng Qingyun’s cheek.
“If this Lord were truly cast aside,” he murmured, “this Lord fears he would have to beg the Little Palace Master for food. When the Little Palace Master rises to glory, do not forget this poor husband of humble origins.”
However, Feng Qingyun’s heart trembled at his words. Laughter filled the surroundings, yet he suddenly awoke slightly from the rare happiness.
“How could I ever forget you…” Feng Qingyun lowered his eyes, boundless sincerity hidden within the jest. “A father’s status rises with his son. You may set your heart at ease.”
At present, that “son”, the egg whose father’s status had risen, had never seen so many people in its life. It was so thoroughly coaxed and fussed over that it no longer felt shy.
“So, little Beichen, who is your Daddy’s beloved?” A fox demon teased it with a grin.
The egg tilted its head.
Beloved? What did that mean?
The word was far too complicated.
“Oh dear, it’s only an egg, how would it understand something so complex?” Yue Jinshu said, rubbing its shell affectionately. Then, drawing on considerable experience, she asked a far more direct question:
“Then tell us, who sleeps beside your Daddy at night, Little Highness?”
That, Egg understands!
Feng Qingyun froze, his expression changing instantly as he hurriedly sat upright, but he was too late to stop it. The egg rolled once across the table and stopped directly in front of Long Yin.
The entire Main Hall fell silent.
Nan Anxue arrived at that very moment and witnessed the scene. Her steps halted, and, for a moment, she did not know whether to advance or retreat.
Feng Qingyun’s face flushed red. Long Yin, smiling, wiped the ink clean from the egg’s forehead.
“Good child,” he said warmly. “Father did not raise you in vain.”
The crowd burst into laughter. Heat rushed to Feng Qingyun’s face, and even the righteous cultivators watching from nearby could not suppress their smiles.
The egg did not understand why everyone was laughing. Thinking it had been praised, it proudly straightened its shell. Seeing that, the crowd laughed even harder, and many stepped forward to pat its shell.
Yet amid the laughter, no one knew that before long, everything would reach its end.
Joyful moments were always fleeting.
For now, however, Feng Qingyun did not wish to think of such things. His face still warm, he glared at Long Yin, just about to speak, when Qiān Lóu Míng announced:
“Your Highness, Chief Disciple Nan Anxue has arrived.”
Feng Qingyun immediately came back to himself.
“Chief, please be seated.”
“How would I dare accept the title of Chief before the Second Palace Master? You may call me Xiao Xue,” Nan Anxue replied. She seemed to want to touch the egg as well, yet Feng Qingyun’s earlier words were more urgent. After sitting, she asked quickly, “You said there was news of my elder brother… is it true?”
Meeting her hopeful gaze, Feng Qingyun found himself momentarily unsure how to begin. After pondering for a long while, he finally used voice transmission to tell her everything about Nan Anyu.
The matter itself was simple, without much elaborate detail, and it did not take long to recount.
But when Nan Anxue heard it, she froze completely.
It was as though her mind could not process such information at once. She sat there blankly, unmoving. Laughter rang all around, yet Nan Anxue felt as though some force had pulled her away from the mortal world. She could only sit there, lost in the bustling crowd.
After a long time, her mind, overwhelmed by grief, finally began to accept what Feng Qingyun had told her.
Her brother… merely because of such a trivial matter, merely because he wished for her to live a slightly better life… had fallen into prostitution and suffered a hundred years of torment in the mortal world.
He had even been killed. Yet his resentment prevented him from reincarnating, leaving him bound in place like livestock, struggling in vain for a hundred years.
And all of it… simply because he had displeased someone in power.
So in the eyes of the lofty Lord Mu, mortals were nothing more than insignificant ants.
Nan Anxue sat there.
As the saying goes, the loudest sound was silence, the greatest form was formless. True grief and rage, when expressed outwardly, often appear as nothing at all.
Feng Qingyun was not worried that she would doubt his words. Some details between siblings could never be fabricated, and indeed, he had judged correctly. After sitting quietly for a moment, Nan Anxue gradually returned to herself. Frost that could not melt filled her eyes as she slowly lifted them toward Mu Hanyang, seated high above.
Mu Hanyang seemed to sense something and met her gaze calmly from afar.
At that very moment, after three tolls of the bell, the morning’s three martial matches concluded and…
Liu Wu had lost to a little cub from the demon race who did not even possess a title.
In a single morning, three matches had passed, and Xiān Gōng Sect had taken two defeats. Not only had the Demonic Path risen in prominence, but the whole world now knew…
After Feng Qingyun left with Long Yin, they even had a child.
Everything seemed to grind Mu Hanyang’s dignity into the dirt, and he could wait no longer. All the earlier restraint and hype had already lasted too long; they were no longer necessary.
The Heavenly Gate Ceremony had no meaning in continuing.
Next should have come the midday banquet, celestial music, and dance. Yet before the performance could begin, Mu Hanyang suddenly raised a hand. Many had come precisely for his so-called method of ascension. Seeing that, they immediately stilled and looked toward him.
Nan Anxue remained sunk in that vast, bewildering grief, staring at Mu Hanyang without blinking, boundless hatred filling her gaze. Though Feng Qingyun had spoken through voice transmission, Mu Hanyang could tell from her expression what he had revealed.
But he did not care.
He had merely killed a male prostitute. Even if the man’s sister knew, what of it?
Soon, he would become an existence none in the world could defy. If he wished, he could alter anyone’s memories, even control their fate.
Because he was the Heavenly Dao!
All the humiliation he had suffered seemed to exist only for this final moment. Under countless watchful eyes, Mu Hanyang slowly lowered his hand and spoke:
“Thank you, all of you, for attending this banquet. Before the music and dance begin, this Lord has something to announce.”
Feng Qingyun paused and looked up at him, his expression darkening.
He already knew what Mu Hanyang intended.
Mu Hanyang’s boundless craving for the authority of the Heavenly Dao had led him to advance the Heavenly Gate Ceremony, and now, he was unwilling to wait even a single extra day.
And sure enough, Mu Hanyang raised his voice, admitting, “The rumors you have heard are correct.”
“This Lord is the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao!”
The moment his words fell, the entire hall went silent, and all earlier joy ceased abruptly. Everyone held their breath, staring at him in shock.
The Mistress of the Underworld slowly lifted her head. At some unknown point in time, her face had regained that corpse-like pallor, her eye sockets now dry and empty. However, the holes still carried a trace of coldness, as though she were watching a clown perform.
Mu Hanyang did not understand her gaze, nor did he care.
Looking down upon the crowd, he continued: “Now that the hearts of the Four Ancient Beasts are gathered, once the performance ends, this Lord shall merge with Heaven and Earth and return to the Great Dao! At that time, the road to the heavens will open, and those with the ability may ascend in broad daylight and pursue the immortal path!”
Before the crowd could cry out in astonishment, he added: “As for the agreement I spoke of earlier, it still stands!”
Realizing what “agreement” he meant, the crowd’s expressions changed drastically as they abruptly turned toward Feng Qingyun and Long Yin among them.
“Whoever can take the Demon Emperor’s head,” Mu Hanyang continued, “even if it’s a mortal, this Lord shall guarantee their ascension in the name of the Heavenly Dao!”
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