Great Demon - Chapter 110

Before Hanzhu could speak, she saw the Vermillion Phoenix transform into a crimson streak, darting across the sky like a scarlet lightning bolt tearing through the heavens. She wanted to chase after it, but Huoshu grabbed her hand, and the sudden pain in her arm brought her back to her senses.

Huoshu closed her folding fan and said coldly, “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Ignoring your mistress’ orders? I thought you were smarter than this.”

Hanzhu shook her head, rubbing her temples uneasily before finally uttering two words, “I’m scared.”

“What are you scared of? The Vermillion Phoenix and the Obsidian Dragon possess powers beyond the heavens, and even they show no fear. It’s like the Heavenly Emperor isn’t worried, but the mortals are panicking,” Huoshu rambled on. “Let’s go. What did Her Grace tell us to do? Keep an eye on the Mortal Realm’s dragon veins? Well, let’s go take a look. The dragon veins seem fine—it’s not like a dragon is going to suddenly emerge from them, right?”

She paused mid-sentence, sensing something was off. It wasn’t about a dragon emerging; perhaps, as the Vermillion Phoenix had said, demons and devils might crawl out instead. But how could the dragon veins, which were supposed to be intact, be hollowed out?

The dragon veins were tied to the rise and fall of dynasties. Now, with wars raging in the Mortal Realm and famine spreading everywhere, it seemed something had indeed gone wrong.

Hanzhu remained silent. She was truly afraid. Back when Zhuyou tried to reunite the Devil Lord’s three hun souls, she had felt the same fear—afraid that the Vermillion Phoenix would be consumed by the flames and unable to escape.

Seeing her unease, Huoshu didn’t want to dwell on the ominous possibility of the dragon veins being hollowed out. Instead, she changed the subject. “Even if a dragon did emerge from the Mortal Realm’s dragon veins, it would just be an earthbound dragon. What power could it possibly have?”

“An earthbound dragon might not be powerful, but I feel this situation isn’t that simple. Mistress previously tasked us with finding the devil gate, and now she’s ordered us to monitor the Mortal Realm’s dragon veins. Could it be that the dragon veins have become the devil gate?” Hanzhu remained gloomy, unable to shake her unease.

Hearing this, Huoshu’s heart skipped a beat.

Huoshu’s breath hitched, and she said with growing anxiety, “Then perhaps the Mortal Realm’s dragon veins do hold some power.”

***

Whether the dragon veins were powerful or not remained unclear, but Guanshang, who was currently bewitching the Demon King in Shangxi City, was undoubtedly formidable.

Devilish energy spread wildly, and a chilling wind swept through Shangxi City. The colorful lanterns swayed violently, their shadows flickering unsteadily on the ground.

Demons lurking in the shadows, trying to eavesdrop, were suddenly strangled as if by an invisible force. One by one, they turned to dust, leaving only piles of clothing fluttering to the ground.

These demons were snuffed out without a sound, without even a chance to struggle. Who could have imagined that their lives would be extinguished so abruptly?

In midair, several dark rifts suddenly tore open, resembling countless pitch-black eyes scrutinizing the demon lord.

Guanshang’s hand twitched slightly at his side, and from within the rifts came the sound of heavy, synchronized footsteps. The sheer weight of the noise made it impossible to guess how many devil soldiers were hidden within.

Many—there had to be many.

Yueyin slowly parted her pale lips, taking a labored breath. Her face grew paler, and her gray eyes fixed intently on the rifts in the air, wondering what kind of force could hide devil soldiers within them.

Was this… what the Nine Heavens feared? Could this be Shangxi City itself? No wonder the Vermillion Phoenix had severed this city from the Nine Heavens—it had clearly been overrun by devilish forces.

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Yueyin’s temple. She forced a gentle smile and said softly, “It seems the Devil Lord has come prepared.”

“I’ve waited a long time. If the lord of demons is unwilling to cooperate, I’ll have to resort to other means to claim the Demon Realm,” Guanshang said.

“Since I’m here, I must be willing to cooperate,” Yueyin replied, tense as a drawn bowstring.

“But I don’t know if the King truly intends to use the fortunes of the Three Realms to extend her life,” Guanshang said with a sinister smile. “Nor do I know what the Vermillion Phoenix has told you.”

Yueyin responded calmly, “The Devil Lord and I have never met, so it’s natural for you to be suspicious of me. But the Vermillion Phoenix risked moving Shangxi City to the Demon Realm and deliberately drew me into this. Can’t you trust her?”

“Do you know that the Vermillion Phoenix once fell into devilry?” Guanshang asked hoarsely.

“I’ve heard rumors,” Yueyin admitted.

“Those who have fallen into devilry are always a bit cunning. She ruined my plans before trying to appease me later. How do I know she’s not playing me?” Guanshang stood unmoving, as if nothing could shake him.

“Does the Devil Lord have a grudge against the Vermillion Phoenix?” Yueyin asked slowly, her voice gaining a bit of strength after drinking the medicinal brew.

“You could say that,” Guanshang replied with a smile. He knew exactly how the Vermillion Phoenix had fallen into devilry two hundred years ago.

“An eye for an eye is only fair,” Yueyin said, coughing lightly. “That grudge has been settled, so other matters can be discussed.”

“Unfortunately, the Vermillion Phoenix’s power now rivals mine. I fear she might try to seize my position as the ruler of the Three Realms,” Guanshang said bluntly, his dark skin contrasting sharply with his unnervingly white teeth as he grinned.

The ruler of the Three Realms?

Even the maid standing nearby widened her eyes in shock. She hadn’t expected the Devil Lord to be so audacious as to covet such a position.

Yueyin’s hand, hanging at her side, clenched and then slowly relaxed. Her pupils contracted, but she forced herself to appear calm to avoid revealing her inner turmoil. She lowered her gaze and smiled faintly. “It seems the Devil Lord also wishes to be the king of the Demon Realm.”

“I offer you a way to extend your life, and you give me the Demon Realm. It’s a win-win situation,” Guanshang said, folding his hands in front of him and watching her with a leisurely gaze.

“If the Vermillion Phoenix had the ambition, the position of ruler of the Three Realms might not fall to you. But it seems she has no such desire,” Yueyin said softly. Though she appeared delicate, she was not easily fooled.

Guanshang let out a light scoff, spreading his arms as if to embrace the countless rifts tearing open in the sky. He tilted his head back, the scars on his skull clearly illuminated by the flickering candlelight. “With this power, what does a Vermillion Phoenix matter?” he said.

“If the Devil Lord already has such a tool at his disposal, why does he need the Demon Realm’s allegiance?” Yueyin shook her head.

“Wouldn’t it be better to avoid unnecessary complications?” Guanshang smirked, tilting his head as if listening to the footsteps echoing from the Endless Abyss. He closed his eyes slightly, as though savoring some melodious tune. After a pause, he said leisurely, “I want 100,000 demon soldiers. Will the lord of demons provide them?”

“I will,” Yueyin replied, though she couldn’t help but feel that the Devil Lord truly feared nothing. She wondered how much of a chance the Nine Heavens even had. She turned her head slightly toward her maid and said calmly, “Give the order. Prepare 100,000 demon soldiers for battle.”

The maid froze for a moment, her stiff neck turning slightly as she glanced at the Devil Lord. His gaze met hers, cold and lifeless, as if she were already dead. A chill ran through her, and she quickly responded, “Yes.” She conjured a brush, swiftly drafting the order to mobilize the demon soldiers, then tossed the brush aside. “Your Majesty, please summon the demon seal.”

Yueyin retrieved a jade seal from her storage pouch. The seal was carved with the image of a three-headed, six-tailed tiger, its mouth clutching the moon—a symbol of arrogance and dominance that seemed out of place in the reclusive Demon Realm.

The maid presented the document with both hands, whispering, “Your Majesty, the order is ready.”

Yueyin nodded, slicing open her left palm and using her blood as ink to stamp the document with the demon seal. A blood-red mark of the demon lord’s authority fell onto the paper.

Guanshang’s eyes gleamed, his grin widening.

Yueyin retrieved the seal and held the document between two fingers, releasing it into the wind. It floated slowly toward the Demon Realm. “What if the Vermillion Phoenix has no intention of competing with you for the throne of the Three Realms? What if she only wants to lend you her strength?” she asked.

“She wouldn’t help me without reason,” Guanshang said lazily, his tone mocking. “What does she want? What is she trying to take from me?”

“Why don’t you ask her yourself?” Yueyin countered.

Guanshang raised his arm, pointing to the gruesome scar on his skull. “I’m afraid she might try to kill me again.”

“If she wanted to kill you, why would she leave Shangxi City and go to the Mortal Realm?” Yueyin said slowly. “I heard she even fought to retrieve something for you—something the Nine Heavens and the Obsidian Dragon nearly took.”

“What the Nine Heavens tried to seize was a mortal,” Guanshang said, his eyes narrowing. “She returned that mortal to the Mortal Realm. Now, even my devils can’t touch him—it’s as if he’s protected by some spiritual power. If she truly retrieved him for me, why would she do that?”

“Perhaps she wants to see you,” Yueyin suggested.

“More like she wants to lure me out,” Guanshang said, suddenly looking up toward the direction of the Nine Heavens. “The Obsidian Dragon has returned to the Heavenly Palace alone. Interesting.”

At these words, Yueyin’s eyes flickered. It seemed nothing in the Nine Heavens escaped Guanshang’s notice—it was as if he already had it all in his grasp.

Yueyin’s voice remained calm, though her cultivation far surpassed that of most demons. Facing Guanshang, she knew she stood no chance. Her hand, hanging at her side, twitched slightly. She wondered why Zhuyou had sent her to Shangxi City to meet Guanshang. If it was simply to lure him out, she had already succeeded.

But the Vermillion Phoenix had yet to appear, which meant her purpose wasn’t just to draw Guanshang out—she was also buying time.

Yueyin quietly circulated her spiritual energy, forcing her frail body to hold on as she pondered how to make a clean escape.

The maid stood nearby, untouched by the fate of the demons in the shadows. She stared nervously, not daring to look away from Yueyin.

After a moment of consideration, the Devil Lord said, “You claim the Vermillion Phoenix wants to see me. I’ve been here for so long—why hasn’t she come?”

Yueyin shook her head. “I am not the Vermillion Phoenix. How would I know when she will arrive?”

***

Meanwhile, the Vermillion Phoenix, who had come from the Mortal Realm, was swiftly approaching. Her crimson feathers streaked across the sky, setting the clouds ablaze with red.

In Shangxi City, half of the demons had already vanished. With each demon that disappeared, another rift tore open in the sky, filling the city with countless dark “eyes” that observed every corner.

The once lively Jianxiang Pavilion was now in chaos. Clothes littered the ground, but there were no demons in sight. These clothes weren’t discarded in revelry—they were all that remained of the demons, their bodies reduced to dust.

Some demons screamed in panic. When the Vermillion Phoenix had appeared before, many had witnessed the devouring power of devilish energy. Now, seeing it again, they realized the Devil Lord had returned—not to lead them to freedom, but to take their lives.

To the Devil Lord, they were nothing more than ants, easily crushed into dust.

The water demon hiding in a pool managed to avoid the carnage. She saw the cat demon trembling on a rooftop and beckoned him down, whispering, “Her Grace will return. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.”

It was unclear whether she was comforting herself or the cat demon.

The cat demon nodded slightly and joined her in the water, though he was clearly terrified. The moment he submerged, the fur on his ears stood on end.

Suddenly, the Vermillion Phoenix soared into Shangxi City, folding her wings and transforming into a tall, silver-haired beauty. Her eyes darkened as she took in the scene. In such a short time, the city had become saturated with devilish energy.

The devilish energy was rampant, showing no signs of restraint. It had even shrouded half of the Demon Realm in darkness, as if black clouds were pressing down, splitting the realm in two.

Now, the Demon Realm resembled what Shangxi City once was—half bathed in light, half plunged into eternal darkness.

Zhuyou descended slowly, her gaze sweeping the distance. She was startled to find the city riddled with rifts leading to the Endless Abyss, from which the overwhelming devilish energy was seeping.

Xuanqing’s divine power was waning, and his cultivation realm was bound to plummet. Whether from the exhaustion of his divine power or being annihilated by Changying, his fate was sealed—death was inevitable.

Guanshang was indeed in a hurry. If Xuanqing perished, Kunyi would inevitably be affected, and the devil gate in the Nine Heavens would close. Despite his millennia of scheming, the window of opportunity left to him was fleeting.

She lowered her eyes with a faint smile, thinking to herself how fortunate it was that the two immortal hun souls of Jingyi had not been devoured. The divine light of the Nine Heavens could still suppress Guanshang to some extent.

It was too quiet. She disliked silence; she preferred the clamor and liveliness of bustling crowds—whether it was the curses in gambling dens or the flirtatious banter in Jianxiang Pavilion. Noise was better than nothing.

Among the scattered houses, the towering, winding glaciers remained unmelted, with a row of pavilions frozen within, resembling an underwater crystal palace.

Zhuyou walked slowly along the long street, her flowing silk skirt suddenly tugged from behind. She paused and glanced down to see a small demon crouched on the ground, clutching the hem of her skirt.

The demon, enveloped in devilish energy, couldn’t even utter a plea for help before it disintegrated into dust, its coarse clothing slowly piling on the ground.

In the spot where the demon had been, a new rift tore open with a sharp sound. The clatter of armor and weapons echoed from within, clearly indicating that devil soldiers were guarding the rift.

The sounds of armor and weapons seemed to be a show of force, clanging loudly in her ears.

Zhuyou glanced briefly before averting her gaze. It seemed Guanshang was aware of her arrival in the city—this was clearly a display of intimidation.

She didn’t even need to use soul-searching techniques to detect the stench emanating from Guanshang—a putrid, decaying odor, like rotting vegetation and filth hidden in the shadows.

But she had no intention of entering the Endless Abyss now. Guanshang, knowing she had entered the city yet choosing to remain, was clearly waiting to confront her.

Zhuyou’s eyes darkened. If that was his wish, so be it.

She looked up at the oppressive, dark sky. Unfortunately, she had no access to the Endless Abyss or the devil gate. She wondered what was happening in the Nine Heavens. If the devil gate there wasn’t sealed soon, even ten Yueyins might not be enough to hold back the Devil Lord.

The long street was desolate. The once lively Shangxi City, which had only recently regained some semblance of life, had fallen back into deathly silence.

As she walked along the street, she lifted her gaze and saw Guanshang and Yueyin in the distance.

Guanshang was shirtless, his chest and abdomen fully displaying the intricate devilish markings. His previously messy hair had been shaved clean, likely due to the skull injury he had sustained earlier. He stood with his hands clasped over his lower abdomen, his posture relaxed and casual. When he saw her, his dark eyes flashed with malice.

Yueyin turned her head, her gray eyes steady and unwavering.

Guanshang grinned, his gaze slanting toward Zhuyou, his expression inscrutable.

Zhuyou smirked. “You’ve recovered quite well.”