Chapter 19#

The Peerlessly Magnificent Great Demon, Ba Snake#

Having dismissed the little Shushu deer, Lu Heng turned and returned to his place of secluded cultivation. A demon king who had lived for tens of thousands of years did not care for worldly possessions, and his retreat was simply a cave carved out at the top of the mountain. Inside the cave was a bed of cold jade; outside, a spirit spring. Beside the spring stood a stone table and four stone stools.

Lu Heng sat down beside the stone table and flicked his finger casually. The paper bird transformed into a black-feathered bird. Its sharp beak opened, and human words came from its mouth: “Help~ Zhong! I was ambushed by an unknown demon race member and seriously injured — I’ve reverted to my true form. Fortunately, a disciple from the Qingquan Sect rescued me, but they have no way to treat demons. Right now, they can only use their sect’s healing formation to temporarily stabilize my injuries. Hurry and come bring me back to demon territory. I don’t trust anyone else — I only want you to come.”

The recording finished, and the paper bird began playing from the start again. Bai Li’s voice was crisp and melodious, like pearls falling onto a jade plate. She spoke very quickly, with a hint of coquettish drawl at the end of her sentences, which made Lu Heng’s temples throb. Unable to bear it, Lu Heng reached out and flicked his finger. The paper bird burst into flames in midair and quickly turned to a pile of ash.

What a nuisance, Lu Heng pinched the bridge of his nose. Before him was such a massive pit, yet he had to leap into it without hesitation. This feeling left Lu Heng somewhat uncomfortable. However, all he could do now was make sure he didn’t get too badly hurt when he jumped.

Lu Heng decided to retrieve a key item — the Demon Race’s Sacred Artifact. The Sacred Artifact had always belonged to the Demon King, but since Zhong had become the Demon King, it had been stored away in the Forbidden Land. As the most powerful Demon King in all of history, Zhong did not care much for such worldly treasures. What he valued was always the tempering of his own body, and in battle he relied primarily on his formidable demon physique. His only magical artifact was a long whip refined from the skins he had shed over many years.

The demon race’s Forbidden Land was located within Zhaoyao Mountain. In truth, it was a burial ground — the remains of all the great demons who had fallen throughout the ages were stored here. A demon who had cultivated into a Great Demon was a treasure trove from head to toe; even a single scale or feather falling into human hands would trigger a bloodbath of carnage. Therefore, this burial ground had always been guarded by the most powerful of Demon Kings, and only a Demon King could enter safely without triggering the restrictions within.

In the original storyline, Bai Li had entered and obtained the Sacred Artifact while wearing the magical robe that Zhong had gifted her. That robe was refined from the skin Zhong had shed, carrying his aura. Combined with the Demon King’s Mark he had given her for protection, it allowed the weak Bai Li to enter and exit the Forbidden Land safely.

Truly a farmer and the snake, Lu Heng shook his head. That Carlo from the last world had also been someone who was more trouble than help.

【Are all these Chosen Ones this… delicate?】 Lu Heng couldn’t help but ask the Assistant.

【Chosen Ones always possess overwhelming fortune, which easily affects those around them. When they encounter someone equally fortunate and powerful, one side is bound to suffer. You’ll understand once you’ve seen enough.】

【They dug such a huge pit ahead of me, yet I still have to leap into it without hesitation. I really want to light a candle for myself. But thinking about the Client, a sense of mission suddenly stirs within me.】 Lu Heng clenched his fist in his mind.

【Keep it up, darling! My upgrade prospects are tied to you — please be sure to maintain this enthusiasm.】 The Assistant paused. 【Of course, it’d be even better if you don’t break any CPs. Last time I got a “Pending” verdict, and I’m still on pins and needles about it.】

【Don’t worry — this time I absolutely won’t interfere with anything involving romantic storylines. I’ll never believe again that the emotional bonds between Chosen Ones are unshakable…】 Getting a “Pending” on his very first mission had left Lu Heng, who had always held himself to the highest standards, in a decidedly foul mood.

As he conversed with the Assistant, the demon race’s Forbidden Land came into view. Lu Heng waved his wide sleeve gently, and the heavy stone doors slowly opened to either side. Following the demon race’s longstanding tradition, what met his eyes was a cavern of enormous proportions. Beside the entrance stood a massive Peng bird — its black feathers darker than the night itself, yet its crown bore plumes radiant as gold. Its equally black beak gleamed with cold light, and upon closer inspection, a trace of dark crimson shimmered flickered within. Were it not for its closed eyes and perfectly still body, any observer would have believed this to be a living Great Demon.

The entire cave was filled with the remains of Great Demons of such imposing stature. As a Great Demon himself, Lu Heng felt no great pressure — if anything, there was a faint sense of kinship, perhaps because all Great Demons who cultivated the righteous path shared certain commonalities in their comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth.

The Sacred Artifact was stored on an altar deep within. Lu Heng squeezed out a drop of his essence blood. The pure and immense power contained within the blood quickly won the Sacred Artifact’s recognition. It transformed into a beam of light and, like a young swallow darting into the woods, plunged into Lu Heng’s palm.

Lu Heng examined the Sacred Artifact in his hand carefully, his feelings somewhat complicated. This world-renowned Demon Race Sacred Artifact turned out to be a soft, quivering lump resembling jelly. No matter how brilliantly golden its glow, it could not change the fact that it was a lump of jelly.

Zhong must have disliked its appearance — that was why he kept it in the Forbidden Land without ever claiming it as his own, Lu Heng thought. Perhaps sensing its master’s disdain, the Sacred Artifact trembled lightly a few times, then slowly morphed into an earring entwined with vine-like patterns, and promptly settled itself on Lu Heng’s ear.

The Sacred Artifact followed the heart. True to its name, Sui Xin (Follow the Heart), when it acknowledged its master, it determined its divine power based on the master’s wishes. In the original storyline, when the Sacred Artifact had acknowledged Bai Li, she only wanted to destroy the Demon-Sealing Formation and rescue Zhong — so its divine power became destruction. After carefully sorting through the future developments, Lu Heng’s mind stirred, and he set Sui Xin’s divine power.

Lu Heng was quite satisfied with Sui Xin’s divine power. But there was one more thing. Lu Heng conjured a water mirror, suspended it in the air.

Just as expected.

The person in the water mirror already possessed breathtakingly striking features, and now the black-gold earring coiled around his left ear — pale and delicate — only added to the effect. Together, they created a brilliance so dazzling that no one could bear to meet his gaze directly.

The Fuyu Mountain Range was a remarkable place. Beneath it lay a spirit vein of considerable size, so the mountains were brimming with spiritual energy. Typically, spirit veins of such scale were home to great sects that guarded the region. The Fuyu Mountain Range, however, was not like that. Five mid-sized sects inhabited the mountains, each governing its own territory, and they were in constant conflict over cultivation resources. Thousands of years ago, these five sects had actually been one — and one of the top human sects of the time. Later, for reasons that could no longer be verified, they had split into five separate sects.

The Qingquan Sect was one of these five. However, the Qingquan Sect had always considered itself the orthodox continuation and harbored the ambition of reuniting the other four sects under its banner. Such ambition was not without basis — within the Qingquan Sect’s grounds stood a powerful Demon-Sealing Formation inherited from thousands of years ago. It was said that when intact, this formation could easily trap a Great Demon. To this day, the Demon-Sealing Formation, lacking powerful formation masters to maintain it, had lost its peak power. Still, given the right opportunity, trapping a Great Demon was well within its capabilities.

And that opportunity had now arrived at the doorstep of the Qingquan Sect’s Sect Master, Qing Kongzi.

“Sect Master Qing Kongzi, I have already sent a message to Zhong. When the time comes, do you truly have a way to make him reveal the truth about my parents’ death?” The girl who spoke wore a white dress, her face slightly round, her eyes equally round and glistening — like those of a newborn cub — looking thoroughly innocent and adorable.

“Don’t worry. Once we have him trapped, I have a magical artifact here that can trace back a segment of truth using the person involved.” Qing Kongzi smiled benevolently.

“But you mustn’t hurt Zhong — you promised me.” Bai Li bit her lip.

“If he had nothing to do with your parents’ deaths, I naturally wouldn’t harm an innocent person. But if he is indeed the true culprit, then as your father’s close friend, I absolutely will not let go of the one who harmed my friend.” Qing Kongzi had a handsome face and spoke with lofty righteousness.

“I still don’t think Zhong could be my father’s killer. He’s always been so good to me.” Bai Li was still hesitant, but the blood-written letter Qing Kongzi had given her did bear handwriting that was identical to her father’s personal notes.

“Little Li, you must not treat a foe as your father! Back then, your father possessed a great treasure and was hunted by all manner of forces. In the end, the treasure’s whereabouts became unknown. I received a blood-written letter from your father, but after extensive searching, I could only learn that your parents had perished.” Qing Kongzi paused. “That Demon King may be trying to learn the treasure’s location from you.”

“But I don’t know anything about any great treasure…” Bai Li’s heart wavered again. She had always felt that Zhong’s kindness toward her was somewhat inexplicable. A high-ranking, supremely powerful Demon King — why would he place such importance on a nameless rabbit demon like her? This had always made Bai Li deeply uneasy.

“All truths will come to light once he arrives. I will protect you well.” Qing Kongzi patted Bai Li on the head.

“Sect Master — terrible news!” A disciple’s voice rang out from outside the hall.

“What is so urgent?” Qing Kongzi asked, while gesturing for Bai Li to slip into the room behind the hall.

The disciple hurriedly entered the hall and bowed hastily. “Sect Master — a demon has arrived outside the sect gates, claiming to be here to retrieve his clansman. That demon’s power is extremely formidable — our mountain protection formation cannot stop him at all!”

“What does this demon look like?” Qing Kongzi guessed it must be the Demon King.

The disciple’s face took on a dazed look for a moment before he snapped back. “His hair is very long, his skin very pale. Just one glance from him, and I felt as though my very soul was being drawn out. This demon must have practiced some sinister soul-devouring technique!”

“You may withdraw.” Qing Kongzi dismissed the reporting disciple.

Seeing this, Bai Li stepped out. “It should be Zhong.”

“Proceed as planned.” Qing Kongzi nodded to her.

Bai Li gripped the blood-written letter tightly in her palm, using the action to steel her courage.

It’s fine — I only want to learn the truth of what happened back then. As a child, how could I turn a blind eye to the truth behind my parents’ deaths? If it wasn’t Zhong, I’ll apologize to him properly — Zhong won’t blame me. But if it really was Zhong, then…

Bai Li dared not think further. She could only shake her head vigorously, pushing all her unease and anxiety to the back of her mind.

Things had come to this. One step at a time.