Liu Shuang was stunned for quite a while after hearing Yan Chaosheng say that Chi Shui Chong wanted to kill him.

On the day she left, her mother had clearly stated that her father had agreed not to harm Yan Chaosheng. Seeing that his expression didn’t suggest he was lying, Liu Shuang fell silent. She vaguely understood that while her existence could change many things, there were also many things she couldn’t change.

As Realm Lord, Chi Shui Chong would not tolerate demon creatures nor allow any potential threats to Kung Sang.

But unlike Liu Shuang, he didn’t know future events. He wouldn’t have imagined that Yan Chaosheng wouldn’t die under his oppression.

Not dying but instead harboring enmity—this was the worst possible outcome. Seeing Yan Chaosheng’s unpleasant expression, not mentioning anything else but only bringing up Mi Chu.

She could only follow his topic and ask: “How do you find Immortal Maiden Mi Chu after spending these days with her?”

The young man suddenly raised his eyes to look at her, coldly scrutinizing: “What if I say Immortal Maiden Mi Chu is wonderful?”

Liu Shuang glanced at him. At least one thing hadn’t deviated—in both past and present lives, his moonlight goddess, the one in his heart, had always been Mi Chu.

No one knew better than she did how Yan Chaosheng had once campaigned against the heavenly realm for years for Mi Chu’s sake, and how he had searched high and low for spiritual treasures for her. He had loved Mi Chu desperately.

Since Mi Chu was in his heart, this wasn’t a dead end.

Liu Shuang pondered for a moment: “If you two get along well, perhaps…”

Before she could finish speaking, Yan Chaosheng laughed coldly and suddenly grabbed her throat.

The young man’s body temperature was ice-cold. Liu Shuang hadn’t expected him to do this suddenly. The hand on her neck made her shiver. She looked up at him in astonishment.

Unexpectedly, she saw a pair of eyes devoid of warmth. The young man raised his raven-black, long lashes, revealing pitch-black pupils without any warmth.

Though he was the aggressor, his expression seemed even more restrained than hers.

“I’ll give you one more chance,” he questioned, enunciating each word. “If I get along well with Mi Chu, would that make you happy?”

Liu Shuang coughed softly from his grip.

The young man’s anger came so suddenly that she couldn’t help but wonder if Yan Chaosheng feared she would discover his feelings for Mi Chu and try to separate them.

She placed both hands against him and quickly said, “I’m not opposing your relationship.”

His expression grew increasingly cold, his eyes rimmed with red. His hand, which hadn’t been applying much force, suddenly tightened.

Liu Shuang was forced back several steps. Behind her was the entrance to the thirty-fifth floor. Yan Chaosheng’s action had nearly pushed her to the doorway.

Liu Shuang formed hand seals with her fingers, instinctively preparing to counterattack. Looking up at him, she saw no killing intent in his eyes and lowered her hands.

“Are you angry about my father trying to kill you?” But this reaction seemed too delayed—hadn’t they already moved on to discussing Mi Chu?

He pressed his lips together, staring at her intently, remaining silent.

Since he didn’t speak, Liu Shuang assumed he was tacitly agreeing. Thinking about Kung Sang trying to kill him, it was indeed Kung Sang who had been in the wrong first. At this time, Yan Chaosheng was wholeheartedly pursuing the path of immortality, without any rebellious or harmful intentions. Being treated this way by the sect would make anyone feel indignant.

“I’m sorry, Yan Chaosheng.” She lowered her hands, resignedly allowing him to grip her throat. After all, she was apologizing on Kung Sang’s behalf, and someone apologizing should have the appropriate demeanor.

She had an immortal body; Yan Chaosheng’s grip couldn’t kill her, at most it would just hurt her.

But after waiting for a while, that hand didn’t apply any more force. She blinked in confusion. His expression tightened, and he suddenly released her.

Within the Demon Suppression Tower, the aura of immortal beings drew closer. It seemed the immortal warriors had discovered Yan Chaosheng’s presence.

The situation was urgent. Liu Shuang didn’t have time to consider how Yan Chaosheng now viewed Kung Sang and asked: “How did you come to the Demon Suppression Tower? This place has restrictions—demons can enter, but can’t leave. If they find you, you’ll be imprisoned.”

“My affairs don’t need your concern.” He turned and walked away, heading in a different direction from the immortal soldiers, no longer caring about Liu Shuang behind him.

Liu Shuang followed for a few steps, not yet having thought of a strategy, when a person in white armor appeared beside her. When she looked again, Yan Chaosheng had disappeared.

“Shuang Shuang?”

“Uncle Master Wu Chen.”

Wu Chen’s features relaxed: “It is you. Where have you been these past few days? None of the immortals could find you. There was a disturbance in the Demon Suppression Tower earlier when a demon broke in. I was worried something had happened to you.”

“I’m fine,” Liu Shuang said. “Is Uncle Master looking for the demon that broke into the tower?”

Wu Chen nodded: “Have you seen it?”

Liu Shuang paused, then shook her head.

Wu Chen said, “Since you’re safe, just seal your five senses and stay here. Don’t wander around. Your uncle master has matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“Uncle Master Wu Chen!”

Wu Chen turned back.

“Can demons that enter the tower never leave?”

Wu Chen said, “Of course not.”

Liu Shuang couldn’t describe her feelings. Whatever the reason Yan Chaosheng appeared here, he had saved her. After the guards had moved far away, Liu Shuang went to look for Yan Chaosheng. Suddenly, a voice with a hint of amusement sounded from behind her: “Little immortal maiden of the Chi Shui family, are you looking for him to harm him, or to save him?”

Hearing this voice, Liu Shuang pushed open the door behind her.

The Night Demon Lord was still bound high in the air. His expression was innocent and docile. Seeing her open the door, he even smiled at her good-naturedly, his gaze sweeping over her with a meaningful smile.

It seemed part regretful, part disappointed, yet also somewhat satisfied.

“What base idea has Elder come up with now?”

“Are you angry with me?” The young man tilted his head, somehow looking a bit wronged.

Elder’s methods are overwhelming. How would I dare be angry with you? However, Elder might not be able to keep secret the collusion among demons in the Demon Suppression Tower much longer.”

The Night Demon Lord chuckled softly.

He had thought she was a docile little immortal maiden, not expecting her to have such a temper. The secret that these ancient demons in the Demon Suppression Tower had been able to communicate with each other for so many years was indeed a significant one.

Her reaction was understandable.

However, since His Highness had been successfully born and grown up, who cared anymore? Even if the Demon Suppression Tower strengthened its seals, there was now hope for demonkind.

These long ten thousand years, the pain of mystical iron piercing their bodies should finally end. No demon enjoyed living in such constraint.

Seeing the young woman glance coldly at him and prepare to leave, the Night Demon Lord spoke lazily: “I remember now where the fifth spirit meridian is located.”

Her footsteps halted.

A flash of malice crossed the Night Demon Lord’s eyes: “But I’m afraid you can’t obtain it.”

Liu Shuang didn’t believe at all that the Night Demon Lord would truly tell her the whereabouts of the fifth spirit meridian. However, from behind her, the Night Demon Lord spoke with a smile: “Have you heard of the ancient demon site, the Boundless Realm? The fifth spirit meridian is beneath the Weak Waters there.”

Liu Shuang’s fingers tightened. The Boundless Realm—wasn’t that the future demon realm, the palace where Yan Chaosheng resided after becoming the Demon Lord?

She had lived in the demon realm for ten years and had seen the Weak Waters Celestial River.

The Weak Waters were where nothing could survive. Legend had it that during the ancient battle, the Weak Waters had surged, bringing disaster to all living beings. Wherever it flowed, it devoured countless creatures. Originally a celestial river, it had been abandoned, eventually ending up in the demon realm.

Lord Su Lun had once joked: “A river abandoned by the Eight Wildernesses paired with a race abandoned by the Eight Wildernesses—how fitting. My lady, you must be careful here. If you fall in, even the Demon Lord couldn’t save you.”

Now, the Night Demon Lord was saying that the spirit meridian on which all immortal clans relied for survival was beneath the Weak Waters.

“Whether you believe it or not is up to you,” the Night Demon Lord laughed unrestrainedly. “I enjoy watching you immortals hesitate, longing yet fearful.”

He spoke as if watching a show: “Little immortal maiden, anyone who goes into the Weak Waters will die.”

Liu Shuang said, “Thank you for informing me, Elder.”

She didn’t even look at him as she went to search for Yan Chaosheng.

The Night Demon Lord watched her departing figure and chuckled softly, saying casually: “Dream Concubine.”

A nervous, hurried female voice responded: “Lord Night Demon.”

The Night Demon Lord said, “You say Chi Shui Liu Shuang’s heart seems to have shattered before.”

“Yes,” Dream Concubine said. “When Chi Shui Liu Shuang first came, I tried to bewitch her and discovered that her memories were strange. She had known His Highness very early on. And also…”

“What else?”

“It’s as if her love, hatred, infatuation, and desire had all dissipated once. She wanted to stay, but couldn’t retain her original pain and emotions. Her heart’s gate was forcibly closed. Now she can only hope to protect what she once lost—protect Kung Sang and an immortal realm called Azure Blue.”

The Night Demon Lord suddenly chuckled: “So that’s it, Azure Blue…”

No wonder when he planted the passion flower poison in her, she didn’t become extremely angry like other immortal maidens, hating him to the bone, or seeking revenge. She could still focus on the bigger picture and go looking for Yan Chaosheng.

Because her heart had shattered before, she no longer remembered her past pain, joy, and infatuation. The little girl of the Chi Shui family, who knew what wandering experiences she had undergone outside, related to their Highness that she couldn’t even preserve an intact heart.

“What kind of suffering would cause the core of the spirit to shatter? Since that’s the case, let her experience it all again.”

Dream Concubine asked: “Why is Lord Night Demon going to such lengths for a little immortal maiden?”

“I’m not helping her,” the Night Demon Lord curved his lips.

The ancient snake tribe’s bloodline, in such a situation, could actually restrain itself from hurting her. This proved that His Highness’s heart, when facing her, was as soft as mud.

And only when Chi Shui Liu Shuang reclaimed her love and hatred, turning into a sharp blade piercing the young emperor’s heart…

Only then would he be in unbearable pain, only then would his cruel awakening come.

The demon tribe needed a cold-blooded emperor, not a great snake that lowered its head for a woman.

The colorful, feathered small realm had dissipated.

Its infused magical power hadn’t been much to begin with. Now that the small demon bird had hatched, after barely sustaining for a few days, it completely collapsed.

Yan Chaosheng no longer had a place to hide. He tried to rush out of the Demon Suppression Tower but was pushed back by layers of restrictions, his flesh scalded painfully.

Throughout the Demon Suppression Tower, immortal soldiers were searching for him. Liu Shuang was safe, but he was trapped in a desperate situation.

When he broke into the Demon Suppression Tower, he had seen demon creatures covered in wounds, all locked within.

His eyes grew cold as he realized that if captured, he would meet the same fate.

The small demon bird perched on his shoulder, worriedly chirping: “Chirp chirp chirp chirp!”

Yan Chaosheng spoke: “I know, I’m fine.”

He covered his heart. Having endured the passion flower poison, his magical power was greatly reduced. Just now, attempting to break out of the Demon Suppression Tower, he had been injured by the backlash.

Typically, a demon’s most resilient part was the heart, protected by heart scales. But he had long lost his heart scale, making his chest now his most vulnerable area.

He removed his hand to see blood faintly seeping through his fingers.

The small demon bird turned its head and called out twice: “Chirp chirp.”

Yan Chaosheng: “Shut up. I won’t go back to find her. Going to Kung Sang in the first place was a mistake. Not killing her is already my mercy.”

The small demon bird lowered its head dejectedly. It didn’t understand why its master had become so fierce again. In the colorful feather realm, hadn’t everything been fine? It had seen how, before coming out, its master had been staring at the immortal maiden.

Though expressionless, his heart had been joyful then—the small demon bird could feel it.

But once outside, at the mention of the immortal maiden pushing him toward Mi Chu, its master had become gloomy and cold.

I prefer to break into the tower alone rather than seeking help from the little immortal maiden.

The little immortal maiden’s temperament was quite good. When its master grabbed her throat, she had blinked her watery eyes and let him grip her, without informing the immortal clan. If they went back to her, she would surely help them. Perhaps she had a way to help its master and itself leave the Demon Suppression Tower.

The small cyan bird was in great pain. Its master was insane. It must be the first ancient demon bird in the Eight Wildernesses to hatch inside the Demon Suppression Tower.

Born into captivity, possibly never to escape. Destined to spend its entire life in the tower.

As the pursuers drew near, a female voice said, “Come to me. I’ll help you hide. How about it?”

Yan Chaosheng turned to see a beautiful, gentle face.

The woman’s eyes were full of tenderness. Though her shoulder blades were pierced by chains, her gaze toward him was filled with gentle affection.

Liu Shuang couldn’t find Yan Chaosheng.

Such a large demon had seemingly evaporated within the tower. She searched from the first floor to the thirty-fifth floor without seeing any trace of Yan Chaosheng.

She searched for several days before finally giving up.

Having learned the whereabouts of the fifth spirit meridian, she had technically completed her mission and could leave the Demon Suppression Tower.

The Night Demon Lord sighed with a smile: “Why haven’t you left yet? Thinking about that little demon?”

Liu Shuang: “Do you know where he went?”

The Night Demon Lord pointed out languidly: “Little immortal maiden, for the sake of our acquaintance, let me advise you: if you don’t truly care about him, don’t provoke him. Though he may seem fragile now, always being soft-hearted toward you, one day, if pushed too far, he will make you cry. We demons love to eat immortal maidens the most.”

With that, he began laughing neurotically.

Liu Shuang waited quietly for him to finish laughing.

“So, where is he?”

The Night Demon Lord, with his docile young face, answered honestly: “The thirty-second floor.”

Liu Shuang was skeptical. She had passed through the thirty-second floor several times without seeing any trace of Yan Chaosheng. This time, she went down and returned to that place where countless great demons were imprisoned.

It was still a chaotic scene that shocked the eye, but a small cyan demon bird came hopping out. Unable to fly, it could only grip her skirt hem with its beak, pulling her inside.

Liu Shuang cradled this little creature, and after recognizing it, exclaimed joyfully: “Qing Luan?”

The small demon bird tilted its head to look at her: “Chirp chirp!”

It gestured for her to follow, and after a moment’s hesitation, Liu Shuang headed toward the thirty-second floor. In the dim environment, countless vines grew wildly, with mystical iron piercing through the bodies of demon creatures. A beautiful woman reclined on a bed of vines, and a young man in black robes slept in her embrace, his eyes closed.

Seeing Liu Shuang, the woman raised an eyebrow: “So you’ve returned after all.”

Liu Shuang remembered seeing this woman on her first day in the tower. She looked at Yan Chaosheng: “What happened to him?”

The woman’s gaze shifted slightly. After focusing her perception for a moment, she covered her lips and laughed: “How interesting. You truly believe his heart belongs to that immortal maiden called Mi Chu? And you’re confused about why he would be so intimate with me, disregarding Mi Chu?”

The female demon’s hand gently stroked Yan Chaosheng’s hair as she said with pity, “Fortunately, he’s not awake, or he would be so disappointed. Little girl, you unintentionally hurt his heart. Sometimes a man’s restrained anger is simply because he doesn’t want to appear vulnerable in front of you. If I return him to you, do you want him? Would you like to know who he truly cares for?”