After a day and night, the demon soldiers on the other side of Nine Rivers were either dead or scattered, no longer helping Great Xia attack the city. Song Zhenshan, as a wandering deity of the mortal realm, had no authority to alter dynastic fate, so he could only cease his actions, leaving Shen Qiyuan alone to continue protecting Great Qian.
However, without demonic interference, Shen Qiyuan felt much more at ease. He harmonized favorable timing and geographical advantages, giving Great Qian the best conditions while subjecting Great Xia to the most severe weather and most treacherous terrain. Though Great Qian’s forces were weak, with such advantages, after five days of fierce battle, they achieved victory.
This was Great Qian’s first victory over Great Xia in decades. When news spread, the entire nation celebrated. Even border cities like Nine Rivers Prefecture hung lanterns and decorations, performed lion dances, and played music. Flower lanterns floated on the city’s waterways, candlelight reflected on the river, the water rippled gently, and roadside taverns set out bowls to serve guests, calling out their wares with lively enthusiasm.
Ruyi leaned against the second-floor railing, holding her wine cup as she gazed down at the crowd below.
“Great Xia has temporarily halted their offensive. We probably have more than ten days to catch our breath, enough time to arrange grain transport and deploy reinforcement troops,” Song Zhenshan said to Shen Qiyuan from nearby. “Fortunately, we arrived quickly, or with just those few border troops from before, Great Xia’s banner would already be planted on Falling Horse Mountain by now.”
Shen Qiyuan said nothing, half his face hidden in shadow, his expression unreadable.
Song Zhenshan patted his shoulder: “Don’t worry too much. You’ve done everything a young deity can do. The rest is up to fate. Besides, I can see that Great Qian isn’t without good generals. That one called Wei Zijue – in these five days, he’s slain over two hundred enemy soldiers. The small unit he leads has quite the bearing of an imperial army.”
Hearing this, Shen Qiyuan looked toward the figure on the terrace.
Ruyi had heard but showed no reaction, her crimson eye corners drooping with complete indifference.
He pressed his lips together, rose, and walked to her side: “The Nine Heavens have strict hierarchies. Those True Lords and Divine Lords may not be able to see the Celestial Emperor quickly, so some delay is expected. Supreme Lord acts cautiously – he definitely won’t lose your divine bones.”
She lifted her eyelids slightly, her blood-red earrings glinting in the candlelight: “I wasn’t worried about that.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
Ruyi licked the corner of her mouth, her fingertips repeatedly rubbing the wine cup in her hands: “I’m not worried about anything. I was just thinking of Yuncheng and Haiyan.”
Yuncheng had killed his close friend of many years over a moment of pride. She felt angry on Haiyan’s behalf, but when it happened to herself, she didn’t seem as furious as she’d imagined.
Probably because she had become a cold-blooded, cold-hearted demon.
Once past events were unraveled, while her heart felt lighter, it also felt empty. Even those blood-soaked memories seemed laughable now.
On her path seeking righteous fruit, she’d encountered too many disheartening things. Everyone yearned to become those supreme celestial deities, but what was good about being a celestial deity?
Setting down her wine cup, Ruyi rose and headed downstairs.
“Where are you going?” Shen Qiyuan followed a couple of steps.
She gently raised her hand in farewell: “To handle some matters. You needn’t follow.”
Firecrackers exploded in the streets, children played noisily, freshly cooked wontons steamed in the mist, and colorful flags at tavern entrances flew more than half a zhang in the wind.
The mortal world’s liveliness was just right. Under the same night sky, the road out of the city seemed gloomy and deeply shadowed.
Ruyi stood at the crossroads for a while, then finally gathered her skirts and stepped into that patch of shadow.
After the Great Xia’s defeat and retreat, the prince flew into a rage, wanting to blame the Demon King. But he couldn’t find the Demon King anywhere, so he could only vent his anger by destroying temples that worshipped demons.
With incense offerings suddenly reduced, the demons were also panic-stricken. Their only way out now was to atone through merit, attacking again while Great Qian had relaxed its guard.
So, despite countless casualties, the demons still limped back to regroup. The battlefield atmosphere was heavy as they gazed toward Nine Rivers from afar, their hearts already filled with sorrow before even approaching.
Just then, a figure flew across from the other side of Nine Rivers.
All demons were shocked and scattered in panic, but heard Yunque cry out: “Senior Sister!”
The fleeing footsteps stopped. The demons looked over and indeed saw Liu Ruyi arriving on moonbeams. Her demonic power was already formidable, and now upon landing she immediately suppressed several nearby great demons, preventing them from raising their heads.
“How did Senior Sister suddenly gain such great improvement?” Yunque said joyfully. “If Master knew, he would surely be very happy.”
Puhua acted cautiously. When he revealed his true form, he not only concealed the immortals within the formation but also concealed this group of demons who desperately followed him.
Ruyi sneered inwardly but put on a pained expression: “Master, I’m afraid, can no longer know.”
“What?” Yunque and all the demons panicked. “Where did the Demon King go?”
“He fought the young deity and was defeated and killed. Before dying, he transferred all his remaining demonic power to me.” She wiped the corner of her eye and sighed deeply. “Master died because of me.”
No demon could suddenly gain so much demonic power overnight, so when she said this, no one doubted her. Moreover, demons weren’t as sentimental as mortals – if the Demon King died from inferior skills, the remaining demons wouldn’t linger in attachment to him.
As she expected, the surrounding demons only felt regret for a moment before joyfully dancing around her: “A new Demon King ascends! We’re saved!”
“Hail the new Demon King!”
In terms of reputation and ability, Liu Ruyi was the best candidate for Demon King. She smiled and accepted the appointment from several old demons, leading the remaining demons back to the deep mountains to rest and recuperate.
“The Great Xia prince is laying blame. If we still do nothing, incense offerings will only decrease further,” Yunque worried.
“If incense decreases, then it decreases. Continue attacking and you’ll all lose your lives,” Ruyi said. “I’ve fought Shen Qiyuan and know his capabilities. The first time so many of our kind attacked together yet still couldn’t breach those walls – the rest of you would be throwing eggs against stones.”
At this most anxious time, as soon as she spoke, all demons immediately agreed: “The Demon King’s considerations are far-reaching.”
“We’re too badly wounded and need time to recover. As for the Great Xia prince, I’ll go explain to him.”
With her words, all demons felt reassured and went to find caves for secluded cultivation. Only Yunque said one more thing to her: “That prince is cruel and unreasonable, not easy to talk to. Shall I accompany you?”
“No need.” Ruyi flicked her painted nails. “Small problem – I can handle it.”
Puhua’s desire to manipulate mortal power politics for more incense was drinking poison to quench thirst from the start. He wasn’t considering the demon clan at all – clearly he urgently needed incense for his own cultivation. To exist in this world long-term, they needed to take a different path.
Ruyi went alone to the Great Xia prince’s camp.
Seeing the demon-summoning lamp in the tent flickering, the Second Prince laughed coldly: “Finally willing to come!”
He turned angrily, his long sword pointing directly at the visitor: “How did you promise me initially—”
The sword wind stirred the newcomer’s dark hair. The Second Prince looked up and was instantly frozen in place.