Chapter Ninety-One
In the maple forest beyond the Third Heaven, Yuan Qi, who was rushing toward the Mystic Crystal Palace, suddenly halted. His expression turned icy as he gazed deep into the forest. A dense Demonic Qi flickered in and out of sight, slowly surging toward the two of them.
"Your Highness?" Chang Que's expression shifted. He materialized an immortal sword and positioned himself protectively in front of Yuan Qi.
The Demonic Qi manifested, coalescing into a mass of black mist that stood not far from them.
"It's you!" Yuan Qi's face grew even colder, a rare glint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. "The Demon from the Demon Tribe who broke into the Scripture Pavilion."
Months ago, this Demon had intruded into Great Marsh Mountain, severely injuring Ayin, yet afterward, it had vanished without a trace. Yuan Qi now knew it had hidden within Hong Yi's body at the time—the one who had controlled Hong Yi to slaughter everyone on Great Marsh Mountain must have been this very being.
"It was you who controlled Hong Yi and killed everyone on my Great Marsh Mountain," Yuan Qi said coldly, stepping past Chang Que's protective stance to stare at the black mist.
"Your Highness!" Recalling Yuan Qi's current physical condition, a flicker of worry passed through Chang Que's eyes, yet he feared revealing any weakness before this Demon.
"Indeed, it was this venerable one who slaughtered everyone on Great Marsh Mountain. Divine Lord Yuan Qi, you sought Hong Yi precisely to uncover my whereabouts. Now that I have come, doesn't this suit your intentions perfectly?"
"Hiding your head and concealing your tail—how dare you call yourself 'venerable'?" Yuan Qi rebuked without hesitation.
"Divine Lord Yuan Qi is of noble status. As a mere Demon from the Lower Three Realms, I dare not claim to be 'venerable' before a Divine Lord." The voice from within the black mist dripped with mockery, dragging out a tone of utter disdain. "But even as the son of a True God, what use is it? You still couldn't protect your sect. Little Divine Lord, the screams of those old and young Taoists in their final moments—I savor them every day..."
"Silence!" Yuan Qi could no longer endure the black mist's desecration of Great Marsh Mountain's fallen. He summoned the Primordial Spirit Sword in his palm and charged toward the black mist.
"Your Highness! You mustn't!"
At that moment, Chang Que sensed something amiss and tried to stop Yuan Qi, but he was too late. Yuan Qi stepped deep into the maple forest, his sword striking the black mist. The mist shattered instantly under the sword's light, clearly not the Demon's True Form.
Where Yuan Qi stood, a black restriction suddenly appeared, trapping both him and Chang Que, who had tried to pull him back, within a formation array.
"Hahahaha! I never imagined Great Marsh Mountain held such importance in the Divine Lord's heart. Little Divine Lord, your sentimental and righteous nature truly differs from your mother's! Rest assured, I know I cannot harm you, but trapping you within this small realm—this venerable one can certainly accomplish that."
Wild laughter echoed from outside the formation array. Qing Li manifested her True Form, forcing out her heart's blood to consecrate the array. The Demonic Qi within the formation grew even more intense, making it as solid as iron.
Hong Yi had absorbed one-third of Qing Li's Demonic Power, and now she used another third to trap Yuan Qi. At this point, Qing Li likely struggled to maintain even her demi-god power.
She cast a cold glance at the trapped Yuan Qi before turning and heading toward the Heavenly Palace.
Within the formation, the Primordial Spirit Sword struck the array seal again and again, yet the black formation remained unshaken.
The Divine Light around Yuan Qi gradually grew extremely faint. The Primordial Spirit Sword emitted urgent hums, circling around him, refusing to draw upon more Divine Power.
"Your Highness!" Chang Que supported Yuan Qi. "In your current condition, how can you still wield Divine Power!"
Yuan Qi pushed him away, his brow furrowed tightly. "That Demon trapped me here for a reason. I was careless. This restriction is protected by her heart's blood. Chang Que, how long will it take you to break this formation?"Chang Que's expression was grave as he said, "This formation array was laid down with Upper Deity Power. It will take me at least half a month to break through."
Half a month? Yuan Qi's brow furrowed tightly. That was too long. Ayin's punishment had not yet lasted half a month. If he was trapped here, what would happen to Ayin in the Heavenly Palace?
Yuan Qi gazed through the misty, heavy demon formation toward the direction of the Immortal Realm's Heavenly Palace, a flicker of worry passing through his eyes.
On this very day, news that Demon Emperor Sen Hong had died at the hands of the Immortal Tribe and that the Fox race's tribal chief Chang Qin had perished spread like thunder throughout the Three Realms.
Hong Yi, the newly ascended tribal chief of the Fox race who had successfully achieved godhood, was urgently appointed as the new Demon Emperor under Sen Yu's support.
Three days after Sen Hong's death, the Demon Realm's army gathered at the Immortal-Demon boundary, awaiting the new emperor's military orders.
Heavenly Palace, Immortal Realm, Hall of Imperial Cosmos.
Yu Feng, Jing Lei, and two other High Immortals sat in high seats, while the old deities of the Three Prefectures and Six Caves frowned deeply. In contrast, Hua Mo and his daughter did not appear as troubled as the others.
"Supreme Venerable Jing Lei, it is now widely rumored among the Demon Tribe that Sen Hong died at the hands of our Immortal Tribe. Their army has gathered at the Immortal-Demon boundary, and war is imminent. At such a critical time, where has Divine Lord Yuan Qi gone?"
Having experienced the conflict between Immortals and Demons for tens of thousands of years, these old deities were long accustomed to it. However, going to war required a justifiable cause. It was clearly Hong Yi who slaughtered the Immortal Mountain, committing grave sins. Sen Yu rescued him back to the Demon Realm, and the Immortal Tribe had already shown leniency by not holding the Demon Realm accountable. Yet, within just a few days, it was claimed that the Demon Emperor had died at the hands of the Immortal Tribe. Not only had Hong Yi become the Demon Emperor, but the Demon Tribe also appeared aggressively poised for war. Such a reversal was unacceptable to anyone.
"Preposterous! The Celestial Emperor has not yet returned, and the Demon Emperor was a High God. Who among our Immortal Tribe could kill him? I believe it is internal strife within the Demon Tribe, and they are shifting the blame onto our Immortal Tribe!" Jing Lei angrily retorted, portraying the Demon Tribe as scheming and causing trouble.
"Venerable Jing Lei is correct," Hua Mo nodded in agreement. "That demon fox is guilty of grave sins. It is likely that he feared punishment from the Demon Emperor and, after successfully ascending to godhood, killed Sen Hong to seize the throne. He may even have shifted the blame onto our Immortal Tribe, deliberately provoking war between Immortals and Demons. If the Demon Realm were to win, how could our Immortal Tribe punish him as the ruler of the Demon Realm?"
Hua Mo's analysis was calm and seemingly well-reasoned, leading many Sect Leaders to nod in apparent agreement with his explanation.
Only Yu Feng shook his head. "I do not think so. Sen Yu dared to come to the Heavenly Palace to rescue Hong Yi, which must have been secretly approved by the Demon Emperor. Since Sen Hong protected Hong Yi so strongly, why would Hong Yi kill him? Moreover, the two brothers, the Demon Emperor and Sen Yu, have always been deeply affectionate and supportive of each other. If Hong Yi were responsible, how could Sen Yu possibly support him as emperor?"
Having assisted Lan Feng in managing the Heavenly Palace for many years, Yu Feng was rational and cautious, lending considerable weight to his words.
A faint glint of annoyance flashed in Hua Mo's eyes, though not a trace of it showed on his face.
"Venerable Yu Feng speaks wisely. However, the Demon Tribe has always been cunning. Hong Yi caused the deaths of the entire Great Marsh Mountain, who helped and rescued him, which is enough to show his ingratitude and ruthlessness. It is not impossible that Sen Yu misjudged his character and willingly allowed himself to be manipulated."Hua Mo only mentioned one possibility, not a definitive conclusion, making it difficult for Yu Feng to refute. Compared to the true cause of the Demon Emperor's death, the Immortals in the hall were more concerned about another matter. Hong Yi, having ascended to godhood as a Ten-Tailed Heavenly Fox, was far stronger than ordinary High Gods from the moment of his Divine Attainment. If he deliberately provoked conflict between Immortals and Demons, with the Ancient Divine Realm closed, the Immortal Realm's future would indeed be uncertain. Moreover, a hundred years ago, High God Bai Jue had single-handedly saved the Three Realms, finally bringing peace. Now that war between Immortals and Demons had erupted again, these old deities couldn't help but feel uneasy.
At this critical moment, Divine Lord Yuan Qi, who should have been overseeing the Heavenly Palace, had vanished. The Immortal Attendants of Sunlit Palace only knew that Yuan Qi and Chang Que had left the palace several days earlier, but no one knew where they had gone.
"Though the Immortal and Demon Tribes have been at peace for a century, even if Hong Yi is the Demon Emperor, he wouldn't dare to recklessly start a war. However, we must not be complacent. Jing Lei, you and Yan Huo immediately lead fifty thousand troops to the Immortal-Demon boundary. Guard it strictly to prevent them from threatening the safety of our Immortal Realm."
"Yes." Among the four High Venerables, Yu Feng held the highest authority. Jing Lei and Yan Huo nodded in acknowledgment.
"Ling Dian, take three High Lords with you to secretly search for Divine Lord Yuan Qi. Be sure not to let the Demon Tribe know that the Divine Lord is no longer in the Heavenly Palace."
"Yes."
"Esteemed Sect Leaders and old divine lords, the situation between the Two Realms is critical. I ask that you remain in the Heavenly Palace for now and assist us in stabilizing the overall situation." Yu Feng rose and bowed respectfully to the Immortals in the hall.
Moved by Yu Feng's sincerity, the old divine lords quickly returned the courtesy and agreed. As leaders of their respective mountains within the Immortal Tribe, they understood that if disaster befell the Heavenly Palace, none would be spared. Naturally, they would help the Heavenly Palace overcome this crisis.
"High Venerable Yu Feng." Just as Yu Feng was about to dismiss the assembly, Hua Shu suddenly stood up and spoke.
"Princess Hua Shu, is there something else?" Due to Lan Feng's influence, those in the Heavenly Palace had always treated Hua Shu with great respect.
"High Venerable, several days ago, Divine Lord Yuan Qi sentenced Lady Ayin of Great Marsh Mountain to have her immortal bones stripped and be expelled from the immortal register. The fifteen-day deadline is approaching. Will Lady Ayin's punishment..." Hua Shu's eyes showed a hint of sorrow and dissatisfaction, "...be carried out as scheduled?"
"This..." Yu Feng hesitated. He felt sympathy for Ayin, but Hong Yi had committed a grave offense against the Immortal Realm, and Ayin had indeed let him escape, making her a traitor to the Immortal Tribe. Moreover, as Lan Feng's widow, Hua Shu's raising of this matter was entirely justified.
All the High Immortals in the hall thought the same and raised no objections.
"Since the punishment was personally decreed by Divine Lord Yuan Qi, once the fifteen-day deadline passes, regardless of whether Divine Lord Yuan Qi returns to the Heavenly Palace, Lady Ayin shall have her immortal bones stripped and be expelled from the immortal register, then sent to Clear Pond Palace." Yu Feng sighed as he spoke.
"Yes, High Venerable." Hua Shu gave a slight bow, her expression of indignation easing slightly. She said nothing more.
As the hall emptied, Hua Shu went to the Celestial Tomb to pay respects to Lan Feng. Hua Mo had just returned to his resting quarters when he saw Qing Li waiting for him in the study.
Hua Mo's expression changed drastically, and he whispered angrily, "Have you gone mad? High Immortals from across the Immortal Realm are gathered in the Heavenly Palace, and you dare to come here? If Yu Feng discovers a Demon in my quarters, neither the matter of the Demon Emperor nor Great Marsh Mountain will remain hidden!"
Qing Li shrugged nonchalantly, raising an eyebrow. "What, those High Immortals didn't believe what you said?"
"The others were manageable, but that Yu Feng is stubborn and refuses to believe that Sen Hong was killed by Hong Yi, who then framed the Immortal Tribe.""Tsk tsk, truly someone Feng Ran values, you do have some brains. However, Yuan Qi is trapped by me. Having brains alone is useless. Sen Hong and Sen Yu share a deep brotherly bond. Once he helps Hong Yi stabilize the position of Demon Emperor, he will inevitably send troops to the Immortal Realm to avenge his elder brother." She smiled, "This is all thanks to you stealing Yu Feng's immortal sword. Otherwise, Sen Yu wouldn't have believed that Sen Hong died at the hands of the Immortal Tribe."
Hua Mo, however, did not think like Qing Li. He questioned, "Will the Demon Realm truly send troops? Sen Yu is grieving and enraged over Sen Hong's death, but Hong Yi is cunning. He is the Demon Emperor. If he harbors doubts and is unwilling..."
"Then force him to send troops." Qing Li's gaze turned cold. "His aunt is dead. Now all he cares about is that Water Condensation Beast. If he learns that the Water Condensation Beast cannot survive, do you think..." She flashed Hua Mo a ghostly smile, "...he would tear down the Heavenly Palace to rescue the one he loves?"
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