"Junior Brother, Junior Brother?" Cang Hai nudged Tantai Jin beside him. "What's wrong? I called you several times and you didn't hear me."
Tantai Jin snapped back to attention and said quietly, "It's nothing."
Cang Hai said, "I came to your room looking for you earlier, but you weren't there. Where did you go?"
"I was in a bad mood, so I went out for a walk."
Cang Hai didn't suspect anything. Since coming out of the cave, Tantai Jin had been pale-faced and clearly preoccupied. It was good that his junior brother had gone out for a walk.
See, he looked much more normal now.
"During the day, I went to gather information and learned that tomorrow is Moon Worship Night. At that time, there will be a Hundred Demons Night Walk, and the gates of the Demon Realm will open wide to welcome the return of various Demon Lords and Demon Masters. Since we have the tokens, we'll enter the Demon Realm tomorrow night. Junior Brother, you need to adjust your state. The Demon Realm is full of dangers, and we must not let our guard down."
Tantai Jin said, "Mm, I know."
Tantai Jin snatched the gourd of wine from Cang Hai's waist. "You should stop drinking too. Alcohol leads to trouble."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Cang Hai was heartbroken. "I promise I won't drink. Let me keep it myself."
Tantai Jin ignored him.
Cang Hai hadn't expected that coming to give some advice would cost him his wine gourd. Dejected, he returned to the next room.
"No respect for elders, no respect for elders!"
After Cang Hai left, Tantai Jin took out a sparkling crystal from his person.
Under the moonlight, the pearl emitted an eerie purple glow that captivated the mind.
From the surface of the glass-like pearl, Tantai Jin seemed to see Young Master Zhang's strangely smiling face.
The Illusion Face Pearl had already merged with Young Master Zhang. Even though the Demonic Energy of the Illusion Face Pearl wasn't apparent, it was still no good thing. Though Zhang Yuanbai was young, he had already embarked on the path of Demonic Cultivation.
The Illusion Face Pearl concealed his aura. Neither Su Su nor Cang Hai could tell that Zhang Yuanbai was no longer in a Mortal Body.
Tantai Jin had originally intended to kill him silently.
But...
Looking at the pearl in his hand that contained the power of the Illusion Face Pearl, Tantai Jin clenched it tightly.
When someone is driven into a corner, who would mind making a deal with a demon?
As Cang Hai had said, the following night was Moon Worship Night.
A red moon appeared in the sky, and the air was thick with Demonic Aura.
Night wind blew fallen leaves through the streets, and most mortals had closed their doors and windows.
For demonic creatures, this night was the best time for cultivation. The red Demon Moon contained vast demonic power, and cultivating for one night was worth several years.
Since the Desolate Abyss was unsealed, Demonic Beasts had run rampant in the human world. During every Moon Worship Night, mortals and Demonic Beasts had almost reached a consensus.
One side hid, leaving the world to the other.
Su Su and the other three held their tokens and walked under the red Demon Moon, waiting for the gates of the Demon Realm to open.
Yaoguang moved closer and asked Su Su, "Su Su, don't you feel like they're all watching us?"
Sure enough, all the passing minor demons were staring at them.
There was a bewitching woman in red, a bull-headed monster with a human body, and even a human-faced spider on a tree branch, all watching them covetously.
Su Su and the others hadn't expected that even after concealing their Immortal Aura and following Cang Hai's method of hiding a few strands of Demon Fox fur at their waists to mimic demonic aura, they would still be targeted by the demonic creatures.
Their Righteous Path attire was conspicuous even to minor demons, let alone when entering the Demon Realm.
Considering this, Su Su said, "We need to change our outfits."
Yaoguang nodded repeatedly.
The group moved to a corner. Su Su recalled the appearance of Demonic Cultivators in her mind, spun around, and her white Magic Robe transformed into a blue gauze dress. A matching silver fringe lock draped down her forehead, covering the Cinnabar mark between her eyebrows.The corners of her eyes were traced with alluring demonic markings, her gaze fluid and infinitely captivating.
"Is this acceptable?"
Yaoguang and Cang Hai stared transfixed. Cang Hai stole a glance at her exposed snow-white calves and silently swallowed.
Acceptable? It was more than acceptable—this was the very embodiment of a seductive demon.
Tantai Jin's eyes darkened slightly, yet the corners of his lips lifted as he nodded.
Su Su glanced at him.
Since emerging from the cave, Tantai Jin had shed his previous flustered demeanor, concealing all emotions beneath an inscrutable facade.
Once they understood how the demonic beasts were scrutinizing them, the group quickly altered their appearances.
Yaoguang gritted her teeth and decided to keep a pair of fox ears atop her head.
After all, when pretending to be demons, nothing was off-limits.
Tantai Jin closed his eyes briefly before reopening them. Blue-black demonic marks spread from his forehead to his chin like barren tree branches, forming what resembled half of an ornate and eerie mask.
Witnessing this, Su Su felt a strange sensation in her heart.
She had seen the Demon God five hundred years in the future when she was a child.
Back then, he sat upon the throne in the Demon Realm—a bleak, desolate place where distant magma seemed to boil and not a blade of grass grew.
Beneath his black cloak, she had only caught a glimpse of his refined chin, with demonic marks faintly visible.
Su Su quickly dismissed the thought.
It couldn't be. Since Tantai Jin now possessed the Divine Marrow, he had naturally distanced himself from the demonic path.
Besides, hadn't a new Demon Emperor already emerged? This proved that the past decline and extinction of the immortal realm would not repeat itself.
After changing their attire, they ventured out again, and indeed, fewer demons stared at them this time.
Before long, a fierce wind howled, whipping up sand and stones.
A massive gate materialized out of thin air, flanked on both sides by a pitch-black stele.
The entrance to the Demon Realm had appeared!
Su Su and the others hurriedly hid behind trees, observing quietly.
Fearing they might give themselves away, they decided to wait for other powerful demons to enter first, planning to follow closely behind.
They didn't have to wait long before an ornate sedan chair swept through the air. A pale, slender hand lifted the curtain, and the figure inside stepped out, heading toward the Demon Realm's entrance.
A transparent barrier silently materialized in the air. The woman raised her hand, and a token transformed into a Blood Raven that perched on her shoulder. The Blood Raven flew into the barrier first, guiding the woman as she followed.
Faint voices could be heard—
"Welcome, Southern Nether Lord."
Cang Hai lowered his voice. "That's a demonic cultivator. My master once said that the Desolate Abyss used to suppress many ancient monsters and powerful demonic cultivators, and the Southern Nether Lord was one of them."
Su Su murmured softly, "Strange..."
"What is it, Su Su?"
"If the seal of the Desolate Abyss was broken, these powerful demons could reign as overlords wherever they went. Demonic beings are arrogant by nature, and the Demon Realm is bleak and decaying. Why would these powerful demonic cultivators forsake their own domains to submit to a new Demon Emperor?"
Hearing this, Yaoguang also found it puzzling. She speculated, "Perhaps the Demon Emperor is so formidable that he forced these great demons and demonic cultivators to pledge allegiance?"
But that didn't seem right either. If they were coerced, the three-headed demon wouldn't have gone to such lengths to bring the "great gift, the Demon Infant" into the Demon Realm to please the Demon Emperor.
Su Su suddenly thought of something and looked at Tantai Jin.
"If you were the Demon Emperor, under what circumstances would you open the Demon Realm and summon demonic cultivators from all directions?"
At her words, everyone turned to look at Tantai Jin. Yaoguang gave Su Su a puzzled glance—why would she ask such a question to an unknown disciple of the Carefree Sect?
What a joke—how could the mindset of a Demon Emperor be compared to that of an ordinary little Taoist?Tantai Jin's gaze flickered slightly. Seeing Su Su's clear black-and-white eyes fixed on him, he lowered his lashes and said, "Perhaps the War of Immortals and Demons needs pawns."
Su Su pondered thoughtfully—was that all?
Cang Hai urged, "Quick, while there's no one around, let's hurry into the Demon Realm."
Tantai Jin followed behind them, lifting his eyes to gaze at the towering, sinister Demon Realm entrance shrouded in Demonic Energy, standing dozens of feet high.
If he were the Demon Emperor? No, he wouldn't be the Demon Emperor.
Su Su took out the token and imitated a woman's manner, attempting to transform it into a guiding Blood Raven.
Everyone couldn't help but feel tense—after all, the Demon Realm token was conjured by Zhang Yuanbai, essentially a counterfeit in a way. If it didn't work, they'd be in trouble.
Fortunately, the token stirred, slowly morphing into a Blood Raven before their eyes.
Su Su stared at the Blood Raven, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.
Tantai Jin, however, showed no surprise.
The Blood Raven before them was malformed—one wing large, the other small.
It flew erratically through the air, less agile than other Blood Ravens, devoid of any sharp Demonic Energy.
Cang Hai cursed under his breath, "That Zhang kid isn't messing with us, is he?"
Ugly as it was, the Blood Raven managed to fly safely into the Demon Realm, an invisible door swinging open for them.
Their eyes met a desolate wasteland. If the Desolate Abyss resembled a massive graveyard, the Demon Realm was a stifling barrenness.
Unable to discern direction, the scenery was identical everywhere, leaving them unsure which way to go.
The scent of blood permeated the air as the defective Blood Raven flew ahead, guiding them.
Yaoguang glanced around and said, "There really is no life here."
Legends said nothing grew or lived within the Demon Realm.
The closer they got to the center, the hotter the air became. Tantai Jin stared at the churning lava on the ground, the intense smell of blood filling his nostrils, and he frowned imperceptibly.
Beneath his chest, his heart—wounded by the Soul Extinguishing Nails—began to beat wildly. A terrifying sense of belonging made him halt uncomfortably.
He had always been sharp to danger.
Something unpleasant would happen in the Demon Realm; his instincts screamed at him to leave this place immediately.
But lifting his gaze, he saw Su Su and Cang Hai still following the Blood Raven forward.
He clenched his fingers, suppressing the discomfort in his heart, and followed.
The flames leaped with a crackling sound.
The faint firelight illuminated a red-dressed woman kneeling beside a black throne.
Countless Demonic Cultivators gathered below, yet she didn't glance back.
She caressed the cold, black seat with longing, as if stroking a lover's body.
Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, trailing along the ground as she knelt.
She wore no shoes, revealing jade-like feet adorned with two silver rings.
Cang Hai marveled inwardly: Goodness, from the back, she's another beauty.
But soon, the temperature in the Demon Hall rose sharply, as if throwing them into a furnace. Wiping sweat from his brow, his romantic thoughts vanished instantly.
Su Su and the others hid behind stone pillars. With many Demonic Cultivators gathered in the Demon Hall, their presence went unnoticed.
Until footsteps echoed, and the Demonic Beasts in the hall turned to look, quickly clearing a path.
The moment she saw the newcomer, Su Su frowned.
It was the purple-robed man they had fought that day—the Demonic Cultivator at the Unity Stage.
As the purple-robed Demonic Cultivator appeared, whispers arose: "It's Jingmie!"
"Jingmie is actually still alive."The man named "Jingmie" slowly walked to the red-clad woman's side and called out clearly, "Xie Ying!"
Hearing his voice, the woman slowly turned her head.
She was born with a pair of green Demonic Pupils, and the whites of her eyes appeared somewhat ashen. Seeing Jingmie, she covered her lips and laughed, "You're actually injured? Who could harm our Lord Jingmie?"
The moment Su Su saw the woman's appearance, her eyes trembled.
Yaoguang asked, "What's wrong?"
"There is only one person in this world with ashen eyes and green pupils."
"Who?" Yaoguang was momentarily stunned. She didn't possess an ancient treasure like the curved jade, so she naturally didn't know these things.
"Hanba," Su Su said gravely.
Hanba was an ancient Demonic Beast. The ancient Demon Gods had all perished, yet the ancient Hanba had actually survived to this day. No wonder the entire Taixu Mountain had been silently wiped out.
The red-clad woman... the Left Guardian who possessed extremely high Cultivation and could kill without a trace! She was actually the ancient Hanba, Tantai Jin's most loyal subordinate.
Su Su abruptly turned her gaze to Tantai Jin.
Tantai Jin's face bore eerie Demonic Marks, and he stared unblinkingly at the throne of the Demon Realm.
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