“Young Master!”
“Young Master—” Xiao Shuang’s voice appeared from behind.
The demon cultivators had arrived.
Zanxing glanced at the Earth-Eating Ghost lying beneath the tree. The Earth-Eating Ghost was still half-reclining on the ground, with some remnants of the transmission talisman still smoldering at the corner of his mouth. This fellow had been playing dead for so long, but hadn’t been idle.
Xiao Shuang quickly walked to Zanxing’s side, asking with concern: “Young Master, this subordinate arrived late—”
“It’s fine,” Zanxing asked him. “Is everyone alright?”
“Everyone is well. You…”
“I’m fine too.”
This group of demon cultivators hadn’t lowered their voices, and everyone heard the words “Young Master” clearly. Mu Cengxiao spoke in confusion: “Young Master?”
Zanxing sighed inwardly.
She had originally planned to follow Bujiang’s advice and keep a low profile, hiding in the shadows and waiting until Gui Yansheng and the demon-slaying army had fought each other to mutual destruction before snatching the Xiaoyuan Pearl. Who knew that before even reaching the Five-Wheel Pagoda, she would first encounter the demon-slaying army, and some things had exceeded her expectations. She had imagined many scenarios for reuniting with Gu Baiying, but never anticipated it would be like this. She had rehearsed many drafts about her background, but now none of them were useful because Gu Baiying had forgotten her.
All their companionship, past, and camaraderie in battle, the wine-scented first kiss by Changchun Pool, the endless evening stars on summer nights beneath Chuhong Terrace—he had forgotten it all.
Since that was the case…
Zanxing raised her eyes and looked at Gu Baiying as she spoke: “Let me introduce myself again. I am the next master of Heishi City, daughter of Gui Diao Tang, future lord of the Demon Realm.”
“Yang Zanxing.”
Silence fell all around.
Wind passed through the flower forest, lifting the corner of the young man’s snow-white robes. Mimi, upon seeing an old friend, wanted to approach affectionately but dared not move rashly due to the subtle atmosphere. She cautiously put down her raised paw and returned to Zanxing’s side, gazing hesitantly at the person opposite.
He stood facing Zanxing, yet seemed as distant as a far shore, forever unreachable.
The more candid and suspicious the young man’s gaze, the more piercing it became.
Until a cultivator from the demon-slaying army shouted: “She’s the Demon King’s daughter, Gui Diao Tang’s daughter! Kill her! Avenge the cultivation world!”
“Who are you making noise with?” Tian Fangfang couldn’t help but strike her axe into the ground, cursing at the disciple who was shouting enthusiastically: “She hasn’t even demanded justice from you for the Ten Thousand Kill Formation, and you’re talking about avenging whom? Do you have any shame?”
That disciple choked for a moment, then gritted his teeth: “Gui Diao Tang caused so much evil in the mortal realm back then. What’s wrong with the daughter paying for the father’s debts?”
“Gui Diao Tang has been buried in the dirt for how many years? He’s already dead, so what debt is there? Stop being unreasonable.” Tian Fangfang showed no weakness.
“You!” That disciple couldn’t out-argue Tian Fangfang, so he threw an accusation: “You’re speaking for the demon race, you’re in league with them. Taiyan Sect is indeed in cahoots with the demon race, birds of a feather!”
“Our Taiyan Sect certainly doesn’t have disciples with mouths as righteous as your Chihua Gate.” Mu Cengxue, who had been silent until now, glanced at him and spoke indifferently: “If you have the ability, don’t let my martial uncle save you when problems arise, waste.” Ever since Mu Cengxue had finished reading the large stack of books Mendong gave him, he had become adept at sarcastic remarks.
“Hahahaha,” a woman’s light laughter came, this laughter ethereal and pleasant, seeming to carry a few traces of frivolity and soul-stealing charm. It was a scantily clad, beautiful young woman. This young woman was charming and seductive, with a face like a flower and beauty like the moon, appearing very pitifully attractive. However, she held a skull head in her arms, creating an eerie and sinister scene. She stroked the skull head with one hand as if caressing some treasured object, leaned close to Zanxing’s ear, and said coquettishly: “These cultivation people are annoying. Young Master, don’t hesitate anymore. They’re so disrespectful to you, just let this slave pick off their heads. Young men’s brain matter tastes the best. This slave hasn’t left Heishi City for over twenty years, and hasn’t eaten such fresh delicacies in ages. Young Master…” Her voice was like a golden oriole’s warble, but the words she spoke were chilling: “Just let this slave go.” After speaking, she licked her lips at the nearest young disciple, frightening him so much that he quickly shrank back into the group.
“Wuu wuu wuu,” someone else’s crying came from a man with hair reaching the ground, wearing a white tall hat and snow-white long robes, with bright pink powder on both cheeks and a naturally crying face. He cried while saying: “So sad, wuu wuu wuu, they’re all going to die, not one can escape, wuu wuu wuu, they’ll die so miserably…”
A Chihua Gate disciple glared at him angrily: “Monster, who are you crying for?”
“Crying for you,” that crying-faced man cried even more sorrowfully, his tone taking on a weird emptiness. Though crying, it sounded like a malicious curse: “Wuu wuu wuu, you’re about to die, you’re going to have bad luck, so pitiful…”
That disciple wanted to retort, but for some reason, when facing that crying face, he inexplicably felt a chill and couldn’t help but step back two paces.
Zanxing understood in her heart. This demon-slaying army was very young. At their age, many probably hadn’t personally experienced the great war between humans and demons back then. Most of what they knew about the demon race came from texts. Today was their first encounter with demons, and they were learning firsthand how terrifying the demon race could be. Regardless of whether the people from Heishi City had high cultivation or not, even three-year-old little demons were well-versed in the true essence of frightening people. No matter their actual strength, they couldn’t lose in terms of “evil and heretical” aura. For instance, at this moment, with just a slight intimidation from White Bone Woman and Mourning Gate Star, this group was already developing thoughts of retreat.
However… if they were dealing with Gui Yansheng, why would the cultivation world assemble such a demon-slaying army? Apart from the Taiyan Sect disciples, the other disciples didn’t seem particularly capable, as if they were hastily gathered to make up numbers, lacking both brains and cultivation. Without Gu Baiying, the demon subordinates she brought could almost effortlessly annihilate this entire demon-slaying army.
Could this be a trap?
But what would be the purpose of such a trap?
While Zanxing was pondering, Xiao Shuang spoke gently: “Young Master, it’s time to make a decision.”
Zanxing tilted her head slightly: “Hmm?”
“This demon-slaying army doesn’t seem willing to let us go,” Xiao Shuang smiled warmly and elegantly, his tone very amiable: “Meeting on a narrow path, if it comes to it, we can only fight them. Although our purpose is to enter the mountains to find Gui Yansheng and reclaim the Xiaoyuan Pearl, since we’ve encountered them and they won’t relent, we can only fight.” At this point, he sighed helplessly: “Dealing with this group of cultivation people isn’t a problem, but this would delay our time. If Gui Yansheng gets the treasure and his cultivation soars, he’ll probably immediately attack the cultivation world. He’s inherently bloodthirsty, and the world would likely be awash with blood.”
Xiao Shuang hadn’t lowered his voice, and his words fell entirely into everyone’s ears. Someone asked: “Gui Yansheng?”
“The one who has been wantonly slaughtering sects in the mortal realm recently is a golden-eyed youth,” Meng Ying spoke coldly. “It seems the previous sect destructions were all his doing, unrelated to Yang Zanxing. The troublemaker is the Demon King’s son, not the Demon King’s daughter. Our mission to enter the mountains is to slay the Demon King’s son. It appears the demon race has the same plan.”
“Complete nonsense!” The Zhao family disciple, who had lost his cultivation, looked sinister: “Don’t believe their lies! Being from the same demon race, they’re all in league together. These words are just expedient tactics to deceive you! Whether it’s the Demon King’s daughter or son, they’re all birds of a feather—there’s not a single good thing among the demon race!”
Tian Fangfang “hmph hmph” ed twice: “Fellow cultivator’s words are mistaken. We’re also both from the human race, cultivating together, but can you say we two are in league?” He earnestly lectured the other party: “Demons can be good or bad, just like humans.”
“You!”
Zanxing lost patience listening to their rambling and looked at Gu Baiying: “What do you plan to do?”
After all, she was currently the leader of the demon race, and Gu Baiying was the leader of the demon-slaying army. Someone had to make a decision. Her priority was Gui Yansheng and the Xiaoyuan Pearl. Fighting the demon-slaying army now would be putting the cart before the horse, and Gu Baiying’s fighting spirit wasn’t strong today either. If they could resolve this peacefully, that would be best.
Gu Baiying frowned: “I don’t want to fight you.”
“Quite a coincidence, I feel the same way.”
“But I also can’t let you go.” The young man raised his eyebrows slightly.
Zanxing fell silent. After a moment, she raised her head: “Then let’s fight a bit.”
The azure long staff immediately flickered with black light. At the same time, the Embroidered Bone Spear in the young man’s hand flowed with radiance. Both struck toward each other simultaneously. With a “bang,” the sea of flowers was scattered by snow waves, dancing in the air as countless snowflakes. The silver snow was dyed with a layer of crimson, becoming fragments of beautiful red scattered through the air.
Staff and spear collided like huge waves crashing against mountain rocks. In an instant, the exploding Yuanli bloomed from the air. With a thunderous sound, rocks tumbled from distant peaks, while a large expanse of nearby flower fields instantly turned to wasteland.
Both the demon race and demon-slaying army members were simultaneously forced back dozens of steps by the exploding Yuanli, their chests heaving violently. If not for supporting themselves with spirit artifacts, they would have been blown away by the激起的元力.
These two people, even their fight, created such a massive commotion!
Zanxing steadied herself and looked at Gu Baiying in surprise. She knew Gu Baiying had exceptional talent and extremely high cultivation at a young age, but when he had split off a fragment of his primordial soul for her, it had greatly damaged his cultivation. Two years had passed, and she thought the best result would be if Gu Baiying could recover to his former state. But from what she could see now, not only had his cultivation not regressed, it had advanced at divine speed.
Gu Baiying’s gaze toward Zanxing also showed some surprise, as if he hadn’t expected Zanxing could block his spear. He spoke: “You’re more formidable than I imagined.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Zanxing gripped the Wuyou Staff tightly. Before she could continue speaking, the Earth-Eating Ghost beside her had somehow finished playing dead and stood up on one leg, hopping around while instigating: “Protect the Young Master! Charge! Kill these stinking cultivators! Avenge our former Demon King! Wash away the demon race’s shame!”
The demon-slaying army wasn’t to be outdone, all drawing their spirit artifacts and rushing forward. Just as a great battle was about to erupt, suddenly, from a tree in the distance, a large white bird spread its wings and flew over. It flapped its wings, circling above everyone’s heads, its black bean-like eyes staring at the chaotic battle below. Suddenly, it opened its mouth and spoke human words sentence by sentence:
“The way of humanity values harmony above all.”
“Endure for a moment and the winds will calm and waves will still; take a step back and the sea will be vast and sky boundless.”
“Planting trees and cultivating forests brings fortune to descendants; burning mountains and destroying forests makes one a sinner for eternity!”