Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Six
Demon Realm, Heavy Purple Hall.
On his way back to the inner hall after meeting with demon generals, Hong Yi spotted Yan Shuang perched on his demon tree, swinging her legs while lost in thought, holding a large gourd. Inside the gourd was ice-brewed wine from the Cold Demon Spring. In recent years, Yan Shuang had taken up long-term residence in the Demon Realm, and the two often explored its secret realms. They had discovered this ice-brewed wine in an icy valley, and since Yan Shuang had developed a particular fondness for it, Hong Yi often kept a supply ready for her.
Hong Yi’s footsteps snapped Yan Shuang out of her reverie. She looked down and met the Demon Emperor’s stern yet gentle gaze.
The Eagle Clan princess raised an eyebrow and snorted, “Oh, Your Majesty is back.”
Knowing Yan Shuang was in a sour mood, Hong Yi asked, “When did you arrive?”
Instead of answering, Yan Shuang fixed her dark eyes on him and suddenly said, “You knew all along that the Phoenix Sovereign was Ayin.”
Hong Yi nodded, a flicker of emotion stirring in his eyes. Yan Shuang saw it clearly and tightened her grip on the gourd, murmuring, “So that’s why you sent Elder Chang Yun to propose marriage.”
Seeing Hong Yi frown, Yan Shuang recalled Feng Yin’s polite refusal of his proposal in the Hall of Imperial Cosmos and felt a pang of awkwardness. She leaped down from the tree and patted his shoulder with a laugh. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Ayin said she’d be your sworn brother, didn’t she? She’s willing to offend the entire Immortal Tribe for you—that’s loyalty enough. It wasn’t for nothing that you waited for her all these years.” As she spoke, she sighed with emotion. “It’s good that she’s back.”
Hong Yi’s expression softened slightly. “Yes, it’s good that she’s back.”
“I came here for another matter,” Yan Shuang shifted the topic, looking at Hong Yi. “Yuan Qi issued an edict in the Hall of Imperial Cosmos to reopen the investigation into the Great Marsh Mountain incident back then. The message he had Elder Chang Yun bring you—have you received it?”
At the mention of Yuan Qi’s name, Hong Yi’s expression darkened. He replied indifferently, “What does it matter whether I know or not? As the Demon Emperor now, what concern are the Immortal Tribe’s old affairs to me?”
It’s probably not because of the Immortal Tribe, but because the one summoning Hong Yi to the Heavenly Palace is Yuan Qi. Yan Shuang sighed inwardly. Seeing Hong Yi’s stern and cold expression, she said, “A Jiu, what happened on Great Marsh Mountain back then wasn’t your fault alone. If you don’t go to the Heavenly Palace to clarify the past, the grave crime of destroying Great Marsh Mountain will remain on your shoulders, and there will be even less chance of peace between the Immortal and Demon Tribes in the future…”
Before Yan Shuang could finish, Hong Yi interrupted, “A Shuang, back then, I slaughtered countless Immortal Lords in Rakshasa Land. Even if I clear up everything that happened on Great Marsh Mountain, it won’t change a thing. The Immortals won’t let me go. Since I already carry the lives of so many Immortals, what’s one more charge of destroying Great Marsh Mountain?” Hong Yi looked at Yan Shuang. “The Immortal Tribe is about to select a new emperor, and it’s unlikely to be peaceful. Until the matter of the missing Eagle Clan members is resolved, Eagle Island remains in danger. Stay in Heavy Purple Hall these days and don’t return to the Immortal Realm for now.”
As Hong Yi turned to head into the hall, Yan Shuang called out to stop him.
“If Ayin came to invite you, would you still refuse to go to the Heavenly Palace to clear your name?”
Hong Yi paused, and after a long moment, his voice carried a hint of sorrow. “A Shuang, the one who returned is the Phoenix Sovereign of Wutong Phoenix Island, not Ayin. Even though I was controlled by the Demon Tribe back then, it was still I who slaughtered everyone on Great Marsh Mountain. Why would she come to the Demon Realm in person to invite me?”
Yan Shuang fell silent. The image of Feng Yin’s dark, somber eyes flashed through her mind, and she ultimately said nothing more.Hong Yi's figure gradually disappeared along the path. Yan Shuang unconsciously tapped the large gourd in her arms, a faint trace of doubt flickering in her eyes.
In the limestone cave on the back island of Hundred Birds Island, Hua Mo sat expressionlessly on his throne, watching Hua Shu curled up in agony in the corner.
Hua Shu's eyes were bloodshot, her nails unconsciously scratching the ground, blood flowing freely as chaotic Demonic Qi swirled around her. Pained groans escaped her lips. In just half a month, the once majestic and dignified Peacock Princess of the Heavenly Palace, deep in Immortal Power, had become utterly unrecognizable.
Not far from Hua Shu stood five wooden frames, upon which five Immortals with profound Immortal Power were bound by Demonic Power—precisely the missing members of the Eagle Clan. They glared at Hua Mo and his daughter with disgust, their eyes still filled with terror.
Half a month ago, Hua Shu had followed Hua Mo back to Peacock Island. Hua Mo implanted a seed of Demonic Power into Hua Shu's body. With her Immortal bones still intact, the Immortal and Demonic Powers clashed chaotically within her, causing unbearable agony. She had never imagined that what Hua Mo called "rapid cultivation of Demonic Power" involved devouring fellow avian beings—the Eagle Clan. Deep down, the pride of being an Immortal still lingered. Even after half a month of torment by Demonic Power, she had refused to consume members of the Immortal Tribe.
"Shu'er, absorb their Immortal Power, and the Demonic Power within you will surge. You will never suffer again," Hua Mo descended from his throne, approaching Hua Shu with temptation in his voice.
Hua Shu shook her head in pain. "Father, they are Immortals. I cannot..."
"If you don't devour them, how will you strengthen your Demonic Power?" Hua Mo's palm glimmered with dark Demonic Power. "How will you seize the Celestial Emperor's throne? How will you avenge Lan Feng?"
Hua Mo whispered temptingly into Hua Shu's ear, "Go, devour them. Become the Celestial Emperor, and the entire Immortal Tribe will revere you. Your father will be proud of you."
Hua Shu's gaze gradually grew unfocused. Hua Mo's words, "avenge Lan Feng," acted as the final straw. She abruptly rose from the ground, staggering toward the bound Eagle Clan members.
As Hua Shu approached, fear flashed in the eyes of the Eagle Clan members on the wooden frames, but they never yielded.
"Peacock King! You and your daughter collude with the Demon Tribe to harm Immortals! Aren't you afraid the Heavenly Palace will discover this?"
"Hmph, with the Demonic Power I now possess, why should I fear that mere child Feng Ran?" Hua Mo's icy voice echoed as he returned to his throne, gazing obsessively at the Demonic Power in his palm with a cruel smile. "Don't worry. Once my Peacock Clan rules the Immortal Realm, I will send the entire Eagle Clan to accompany you."
As the Peacock King spoke these words, piercing screams erupted in the limestone cave. A surge of chaotic Demonic Power swept through, and the Immortal Power of the Eagle Clan members on the wooden frames flowed ceaselessly into Hua Shu's body.
A quarter of an hour later, the screams gradually faded. The Eagle Clan members, their eyes wide with rage, shed tears of blood as their Immortal Power was utterly destroyed, leaving behind only shriveled husks.
The chaotic Demonic Power around Hua Shu finally settled. She opened her eyes, taking in the scene before her, her sharp nails digging into her palms, her face cold and devoid of any trace of humanity.
"Father," she turned around, her voice icy and indifferent. "To seize the Celestial Emperor's throne, these few are not enough."
"Hahahahaha!" The Peacock King laughed heartily at Hua Shu's demeanor. "Truly my daughter! Good! Your father will capture more nourishment for you. In three months, no one in the Heavenly Palace will be a match for you."The Peacock King spoke as he flew out of the limestone cave, heading toward Eagle Island.
Hua Shu turned back to look at the tragically slain eagle people, concealing the pain in her eyes.
This scene fell into the Water Mirror behind the God-Slaying Flower Sea in the Nine Nether Purgatory. Profound One sat on the jade throne, coldly observing everything that had transpired in the limestone cave.
Not far away, Bi Bo and San Huo were heatedly bickering over a bit of spiritual medicine. Bi Bo seemed to sense the icy aura emanating from Profound One and turned to shout at him, "Hey! Little White-Hair, are you in a bad mood?"
Profound One looked up at Bi Bo. The round, chubby beast was winking and making faces at him. For the first time, he did not correct Bi Bo's outrageous nickname and suddenly spoke, "Bi Bo, do you also think the Demon Tribe is the most terrifying thing in the world?"
Bi Bo was taken aback, unsure why Profound One would suddenly ask such a question. He raised his chubby paw to scratch his forehead and said, "No, it depends on who's using it. Like you, you're not terrifying at all."
Bi Bo flew cheerfully to Profound One's side, fawningly rubbing against his sleeve. "Little White-Hair, you're the kindest and most amiable Demon I've ever met in my life."
"Oh, do you know about the hundred thousand wraiths and ghosts in the Nine Springs of the Ghost Realm?" Profound One looked expressionlessly at the infatuated Bi Bo and spoke calmly.
"I know. I even guarded it for many years with that old Bi Xi."
"I killed them all."
With Profound One's cold and indifferent words, the Water Condensation Divine Beast, who had been acting cute and coquettish, immediately stiffened. Slowly, it withdrew its reckless paw and, as if by divine intervention, flew back behind San Huo's massive body, refusing to come out again.
OpenNovel