What had originally been a filthy mass of black mist had transformed into a beautiful young woman. Her shoulders seemed carved to perfection, her waist slender as silk. She walked toward his sword point, taking delicate steps, her gauzy dress hem swaying like lotus petals stirred by wind.

“You…” The Second Prince stepped back half a pace and sheathed his long sword. “You are the Demon King?”

Ruyi nodded with a smile.

Realizing that demons could transform in countless ways, the Second Prince quickly regained his composure, his expression turning fierce again: “You haven’t accomplished what you promised me. Now that we’ve been defeated, Father Emperor has already sent a letter demanding accountability. What do you say we should do?”

Pretending to think seriously, Ruyi looked up, gazing at him with clear eyes: “Withdraw the troops.”

“Withdraw?!” The Second Prince seemed to hear a joke. “I’ve planned for so many years, waiting for military achievements to seize the Eastern Palace position. After just one defeat, you tell me to withdraw?”

“Great Xia has a sparse population. Even if you conquered Great Qian, you couldn’t hold it long-term. Better to accept Great Qian’s annual tribute as before – you could preserve the lives of millions of soldiers,” Ruyi said. “This would ensure Great Xia’s stability for nearly a hundred more years.”

“Does Great Xia raise soldiers and horses for stability?” The Second Prince angrily slammed the table. “If you can’t accomplish something, just say you can’t – why use such absurd words to brush me off! I should never have trusted you from the start. Our alliance is void – completely void!”

Ruyi calmly watched him throw things and curse, speaking leisurely: “Your Highness didn’t trust the Demon King from the beginning either. Only after he helped you eliminate seven or eight troublesome political enemies and bewitched His Majesty’s heart did you form this alliance, isn’t that right?”

“So what? You can’t breach Great Qian’s walls now, so everything is useless!” The Second Prince glared. Considering your past contributions, I can give you one more chance. If you can lead your demon soldiers onto those walls within five days, I’ll build five hundred more temples for you. Otherwise, I’ll smash all hundred-plus temples on this border like I did today!”

“Won’t need five days,” Ruyi said.

Hearing this, the Second Prince’s expression softened slightly: “If you’d shown such confidence earlier, I wouldn’t have been so angry – how many days will it take? Three days?”

“Not even one day.” She smiled faintly and stepped closer to him.

Ecstatic joy flooded the Second Prince’s face, but in the next instant, that joy turned to terror.

Something suddenly splattered across the lit tent, landing on the canvas and slowly staining it red. The patrolling soldiers stood far away as ordered and didn’t notice the commotion in the main tent.

Far away in Nine Rivers Prefecture, Shen Qiyuan suddenly turned around.

“What’s wrong?” Song Zhenshan followed his gaze backward. “There’s nothing there.”

“Zhenshan.” He stared at a star in the night sky, murmuring: “Can a demon with divine bones become an immortal again?”

Song Zhenshan helplessly rubbed his face: “You know the answer – why ask me?”

Those bones were called divine bones because they were in the original Liu Ruyi’s body, but now she was a demon, so the bones in her body were demon bones. Not everyone could be like Puhua, going astray yet still gaining the opportunity for dual divine-demonic cultivation. Most who should be gods remain gods for life, and those who should be demons remain demons for life.

“Besides,” he sighed, “why would Miss Liu want to become an immortal again?”

They were both divine cultivators, so naturally they thought being immortal was good. But Liu Ruyi’s lifelong tragedy began with cultivating divinity. She went to Qidou Mountain to protect her people and friends, but after ascending Qidou Mountain, she lost her people and friends. In her eyes, immortals were half-murderers who watched death without helping, puppets shackled by heavenly laws and unable to be free. Why would she still want to cultivate divinity?

Shen Qiyuan closed his eyes.

“There’s movement.” Song Zhenshan suddenly pointed at the night sky.

He opened his eyes and looked, his expression changing as he quickly opened a crack in the firmament.

Supreme Lord arrived gracefully, taking mortal form as he emerged from a nearby alley. Seeing them, he smiled: “You two have accumulated great merit by slaying demons – I’ve come specially to congratulate you.”

Shen Qiyuan grabbed his bowing hand: “Where are the divine bones?”

“Don’t rush, don’t rush – they’re right here.” He smiled as he returned the divine bones. “As you said, these are indeed the divine bones of the divine cultivator Liu Ruyi from years past. They still contain memories of her bone extraction. The Celestial Emperor was deeply moved upon seeing them and specially bestowed twenty pills to enhance cultivation, which I’ve brought down.”

Something seemed off about these words. Shen Qiyuan frowned: “You only brought pills?”

Supreme Lord awkwardly gathered his sleeves: “Well, when we returned, Divine Lord Puhua had already seen the Celestial Emperor. His account differed from yours, and since none of us witnessed the Demon King reveal Puhua’s face, this accusation… I’m afraid it’s difficult to establish.”

Absurd!

Shen Qiyuan’s face darkened: “He lost his divine bones and his cultivation greatly diminished – isn’t that also evidence?”

“Puhua said he slew the Demon King and was severely wounded.” Supreme Lord sighed. “He even brought back the Demon King’s head – there’s nothing to question.”

“He IS the Demon King – what Demon King’s head could he bring back!”

“Don’t get anxious – here’s what happened.” Supreme Lord hurried to explain. “Knowledgeable True Lords examined it and confirmed it was indeed the Demon King’s head, with the Demon King’s blood, and even the Demon King’s seal was placed nearby. The Nine Heavens also requires evidence when handling matters. With such conclusive proof, we few couldn’t argue with just one divine bone of unknown origin.”

Shen Qiyuan laughed coldly: “Someone who’s cultivated for at least a hundred thousand years, yet allows such a petty person to play tricks right under their noses?”

“Young deity, watch your words.” Supreme Lord was frightened and covered his mouth, nervously looking up. Seeing the firmament still intact, he sighed in relief and whispered, “His magical power isn’t very high, but he’s extremely good at managing relationships. The Celestial Emperor trusts him, and many immortals in heaven are willing to speak for him. I think this matter should end here.”

“Impossible.” Shen Qiyuan brushed away his hand. “Setting aside my grudge with him, he bewitched mortal emperors, secretly consumed incense offerings, and cultivated the demon path, violating heavenly laws. If such a person remains listed in the divine registry, wouldn’t all divine cultivators in the world become a laughingstock?”

No longer looking at the Supreme Lord, Shen Qiyuan strode toward the outskirts of the city with Song Zhenshan.

“Ah, young deity, where are you going now?”

“If he can shamelessly return to the Nine Heavens to deceive, he’ll surely return to claim kingship among the demons. I’ll wait for him on the other side.”

Since the immortals couldn’t judge him, he would kill him when he revealed his Demon King face, avenging both himself and Liu Ruyi.

“You mustn’t go – that’s beyond your jurisdiction.” Supreme Lord kept advising. “Once you cross the river, your magical power will be halved. If you encounter Liu Ruyi again, it will bring down heavenly punishment!”

The pale blue brocade boots froze in mid-air. Shen Qiyuan turned back, suddenly furious: “This won’t work, that won’t work – what exactly can an immortal do?”