Great Demon - Chapter 111

Guanshang remained silent, his eyes slightly narrowed as if assessing her level of cultivation. The ancient Vermillion Phoenix had already reached the pinnacle of her realm. If he didn’t have the Endless Abyss in his possession, he would undoubtedly be no match for her. However, his advantage lay in the fact that he held the Endless Abyss, a mystery even the Nine Heavens couldn’t fully comprehend.

He let out a light chuckle, “Your Grace has been traveling far and wide recently. You must be exhausted.”

“Indeed, I am somewhat fatigued,” Zhuyou replied, lifting her eyes. The crimson phoenix patterns at the corners of her eyes made her appear even more pitiable and innocent.

But Guanshang would never see her as innocent. The pain in his skull still lingered, and he sneered, “If I’m not mistaken, Your Grace has cast a small spell on me. It’s because of this spell that I’ve been hesitant to show myself.”

How could Zhuyou forget the spell he mentioned? It was none other than the Ten-Thousand-Mile Soul-Slaying Script she had cast after shattering his skull. She had tried it twice more, but Guanshang was too far away, rendering the spell ineffective.

Zhuyou’s eyes curved into a smile as she stopped ten feet away, a distance neither too close nor too far, just enough to hear each other clearly. “You framed me two hundred years ago. What’s wrong with me casting a spell? Can you plot my death but not allow me to retaliate?” She scoffed lightly. “Don’t forget, if I truly wanted your life now, it would be effortless.”

If she wished, she could simply recite an incantation, and the spell on Guanshang would activate. The only question was how Guanshang would escape.

Guanshang fell silent, then smiled leisurely, as if plotting some trick. His dark skin and sinister gaze made him blend into the shadows, like a figure that couldn’t bear the light. He spoke slowly, “I wonder, Your Grace, what exactly are you trying to gain from me with all this effort?”

“I have no intention of taking your position as the Supreme Ruler,” Zhuyou admitted frankly. She truly had no interest in such a burdensome role.

“Your Grace, please speak plainly. If you don’t, how can I possibly cooperate with you?” Guanshang’s voice was hoarse and muffled.

“You keep your position as the Supreme Ruler. All I want is a peaceful place to settle,” Zhuyou said, her gaze softening. “You know I used to live in the Grand Hall of the devil’s domain, but after leaving, it’s been difficult to return. Now, I have nowhere to call home.”

“Your Grace has regained your spiritual form. Why not return to the Nine Heavens?” Guanshang asked, his words deliberate as he continued to spar with her.

Zhuyou had anticipated this question and smiled, “What use is the Nine Heavens to me? Deceived by you, shattered my bones; what reason do I have to return?”

“Your Grace is quite perceptive.” Guanshang grinned, reaching up to touch the scar on his skull.

“Moreover, even though I’ve regained my spiritual form, the devilish energy in my spine hasn’t completely dissipated. I’m neither god nor devil, no longer bound by the Three Realms. Returning to the Nine Heavens would only bring me discomfort,” Zhuyou said, her lips curving into a gentle smile, her tone soft and warm.

“If Your Grace seeks freedom, why not take the position of Supreme Ruler?” Guanshang dug another trap.

Zhuyou glanced at him. “Such a taxing responsibility has never crossed my mind.”

Beside them, Yueyin stood silently, her eyes downcast. She had already resolved that even if she couldn’t protect herself, she would safeguard the Demon Realm. Exhausted, she found the convoluted conversation between the phoenix and the devil draining, her mind unable to keep up with their words.

After a long pause, Guanshang finally said, “Very well.” He seemed unaware that Hua Lingjun’s reincarnation had once again been immersed in Reincarnation Pool. Lowering his voice, he asked ominously, “In that case, let me tell you why I wished to snatch Qiao Fengsheng.”

Zhuyou raised an eyebrow.

“Qiao Fengsheng is the reincarnation of a celestial lord from the Nine Heavens. Two hundred years ago, this lord entered the Turbid Mirror and witnessed the fears and anxieties of the Heavenly Emperor,” Guanshang said, his eyes fixed on her as he spoke slowly. “The Heavenly Emperor’s fears and troubles were all caused by me, and this matter is known to no more than four individuals.”

“Besides you, the Heavenly Emperor, and that celestial lord, who else knows?” Zhuyou followed his lead.

“Kunyi,” Guanshang replied with a broad smile.

Zhuyou understood. This was exactly as she and Changying had guessed. It seemed Kunyi had long been devoured, leaving no trace. Feigning surprise, she asked, “Has Kunyi also fallen into your trap?”

“Indeed.” Guanshang nodded slightly, his expression one of utmost satisfaction. He turned to Yueyin and asked, “Are your hundred thousand demon soldiers ready?”

Yueyin dared not look at Zhuyou, fearing Guanshang would notice something amiss. She closed her eyes, her consciousness slowly descending from Shangxi City like a flowing stream of azure water, settling into the Demon Realm. Moments later, she opened her eyes and said, “They are outside the palace gates. May I ask how the Devil Lord intends to use my demon soldiers?”

Guanshang’s gaze remained fixed on Zhuyou, as if speaking directly to her, “These hundred thousand demon soldiers will follow me into the Endless Abyss. With a single command from me, the Heavenly Palace will be surrounded by devil soldiers, while your hundred thousand demon soldiers will be sent to occupy the Mortal Realm.”

Yueyin’s pupils contracted, and she spoke hoarsely, “To the Mortal Realm?”

“If I am to rule the Three Realms, how can I leave the Mortal Realm untouched? There are already devil gates in the human world. A hundred thousand demon soldiers can reach it in an instant,” Guanshang said, his voice raspy yet casual. He paused, then looked at Zhuyou. “I hope Your Grace will accompany me to the Nine Heavens. The divine light there burns my skin, so I ask Your Grace to spread your wings and shield me. Then, I will explain in detail how Kunyi fell into my trap.”

He spoke so casually that Zhuyou nearly thought she was one of his subordinates. She asked, “This place is thousands of miles from the Nine Heavens. Even if you surround it, your devil soldiers will be detected by the heavenly troops as soon as they reach the clouds. Do you have another way to enter the Nine Heavens?”

Guanshang smiled meaningfully, “Naturally, we will go through the Endless Abyss. These devil soldiers are hidden within the Endless Abyss and will not be discovered.”

Seeing his cold, white teeth gleaming in a wide grin, Zhuyou also smiled and agreed, “Very well. It’s just a matter of spreading my wings to shield you from the divine light. That’s no trouble at all.”

“Your Grace is most decisive,” Guanshang said, his eyes dark and unreadable, leaving no clue as to how much suspicion remained in his mind.

Zhuyou chuckled lightly, tugging at her collar. Her fingers brushed over Changying’s reverse scale through the thin fabric, sending a sudden itch through her heart. She said, “Then I must trouble the Devil Lord to take me into the Endless Abyss.”

Earlier, she had wandered aimlessly inside, unable to find an exit or Guanshang’s devil gate. She had waited so long precisely to have Guanshang show her how the Endless Abyss connected the Three Realms.

She couldn’t use the soul-slaying spell now. If Guanshang died, it might take her another century to unravel the mysteries of the Endless Abyss. Such a massive loophole left here would inevitably be exploited by others.

Changying… must have thought the same.

Guanshang raised his hand and gestured. From the open rift of the Endless Abyss, a voice called out, “My lord.”

Guanshang lowered his voice and said gravely, “The hundred thousand demon soldiers are waiting outside the palace gates. Take them to the Mortal Realm. As for the demon lord, please accompany me.”

He was clearly worried that Yueyin might interfere, so he kept her under his watchful eye.

Yueyin’s eyes darkened. Her hands clenched at her sides as she thought, Guanshang is truly treacherous. To occupy the Mortal Realm would inevitably result in countless lives lost. The karmic consequences would fall on the demon soldiers, while his devils… would remain unscathed.

The demons and devils who descended from Shangxi City upon hearing the news had also fallen into Guanshang’s trap.

Devils are truly cunning and deceitful, indulging their desires and committing evil without remorse.

The devil emerged from the Endless Abyss, his massive figure covered in devilish patterns, as if wearing a robe of dark, intricate designs. He clasped his hands and said, “Understood.”

Unexpectedly, Guanshang frowned, seemingly still dissatisfied. He suddenly turned to Yueyin and said slowly, “These hundred thousand demon soldiers have always obeyed only the demon lord. I wonder if the demon lord could lend me the demon seal.”

Zhuyou, standing at a distance, glanced slightly toward Yueyin.

The lord of demons’ face was as pale as a sheet, and her breath faltered at his words. The Ten-Thousand Withered Vine she had consumed was draining her life force; the more her cultivation grew, the weaker she became.

Yueyin pursed her lips and, seeing the Vermillion Phoenix blink slightly, felt as though she had been given a dose of reassurance. With a flip of her hand, she produced the demon seal.

As soon as the demon seal appeared, the maid beside her exclaimed in shock, “Your Majesty!”

Before the maid could finish, an invisible force gripped her throat, turning her face red and veins bulging on her forehead.

Yueyin, seeing this, tightened her grip on the demon seal and said slowly, “My maid is rather inexperienced. I will discipline her properly in the future.”

The force immediately loosened, and the maid clutched her throat, gasping for breath.

Only then did Yueyin release her grip and wave her hand, sending the heavy demon seal flying toward Guanshang. She said, “The demon soldiers obey this seal. You may rest assured, Devil Lord.”

Guanshang caught the demon seal, tossed it in his hand, and then handed it to one of his subordinates. “In that case, take this with you.”

The devil took the seal and said solemnly, “As you command.” With that, his figure transformed into a cloud of devilish mist, swiftly blown away by a fierce wind.

Zhuyou felt the gust of wind brush past her and subtly released a wisp of her energy, attaching it to the devilish mist.

Once the devil gate in the Mortal Realm opened, the situation would become irreversible. The demons and devils hiding in the human world would surely run rampant, wreaking havoc. She needed to use a small trick to find out where this devil would emerge in the Mortal Realm.

The black mist didn’t notice the energy attached to it, nor did Guanshang.

Zhuyou, being neither god nor devil, had an energy so faint and colorless that it was nearly undetectable.

She lifted her gaze, scanning the countless cracks of the Endless Abyss throughout the city. Reflecting on the spiritual threads of the past three thousand years, she hadn’t felt this way in a long time—her blood boiling with anticipation, as if eager for the impending battle.

It wasn’t that she relished war, but because she was confident of victory, she yearned for it.

The thousands of cracks in Shangxi City seemed to grow larger, like countless devil eyes widening.

Zhuyou raised her hand and slowly pressed it against her chest, where Changying’s drop of heart’s blood was swirling restlessly.

She said calmly, “Since the demon soldiers are in position, when shall we depart?”

Guanshang gestured toward the gaping crack of the Endless Abyss and said hoarsely, “Your Grace has already entered the Endless Abyss, so I won’t explain further. Let me tell you how Kunyi fell into my grasp.”

“Very well,” Zhuyou replied, her silver hair billowing in the fierce devilish wind, her moon-like face fully revealed.

She hoped that after she entered the Endless Abyss and uncovered its secrets, Changying would be able to erase the devil gate in the Nine Heavens. Otherwise, this battle would be unavoidable.

“Your Grace, Demon King, this way,” Guanshang said hoarsely.

Zhuyou stepped into the Endless Abyss, followed closely by Yueyin and Guanshang. As they entered, the thousands of cracks began to close.

The devil-eye-like fissures in Shangxi City sealed shut, and the glacier formed by the dragon’s breath melted away, revealing the chasm carved by Xuanjing beneath.

The buildings and pavilions trapped in the ice were now exposed. As the dragon’s breath dissipated, a strand of consciousness hidden below rode the wind, heading straight for the Nine Heavens.

The water demon who had survived the ordeal peeked out, gazing into the distance for a long time before confirming that the countless cracks in the sky had indeed closed. She quickly pulled the cat demon out of the water, fearing the cat might drown from fright.

The cat demon sat shivering by the pool, shaking his head vigorously to rid himself of the water droplets. Once he regained his senses, he noticed that Shangxi City seemed to have returned to normal. Cautiously, he leaped onto the roof and confirmed that not a single crack remained.

He looked down at the water demon in the pool and asked timidly, “Are they gone?”

The water demon nodded, her body limp as she climbed out of the water and landed on the eaves. She straightened up, her eyes hidden behind her hair slowly turning to gaze at the distant streets, where the devil-eye-like cracks were indeed gone.

She let out a long sigh, but her expression suddenly shifted, a strange look in her eyes.

The cat demon, still shaken from the earlier scare, asked nervously, “What’s wrong?”

“Look.” The water demon pointed toward the glacier in the distance. “That patch of ice is gone.”

The cat demon followed her gaze and indeed saw that the glacier had disappeared, revealing the chasm carved by the Obsidian Dragon. The depths below were pitch black, impossible to discern.

“Do you remember who created that chasm and who froze the ice earlier?” the water demon asked.

The cat demon dared not mention the Obsidian Dragon by name and simply said, “That one from the Nine Heavens.”

“It seems the Nine Heavens are already aware of the Devil Lord’s appearance. This battle is inevitable,” the water demon shuddered, her body slumping as she sighed. “Don’t worry, we’ll stay here and not go anywhere. Since they’ve left, they likely won’t return anytime soon.”

The cat demon nodded timidly. “I’ll listen to you.”

The water demon sighed again. “I just don’t know where Lady Huoshu is in the Mortal Realm right now.”

***

The dragon veins in the Mortal Realm remained quiet. These veins stretched across the eastern continent, making it impossible to monitor both ends simultaneously. Even if the head and tail were watched, the middle section would inevitably be overlooked.

Huoshu and Hanzhu were caught in a dilemma, thinking that the Vermillion Phoenix was deliberately making things difficult for them, two small demons. In all of the Nine Heavens, the only one capable of overseeing the entire eastern continent of the Mortal Realm alone was likely the Obsidian Dragon of the Nine Heavens.

A strand of the Obsidian Dragon’s consciousness, originally hidden beneath the ice, left Shangxi City and soared straight to the Nine Heavens. Like a wisp of smoke, it drifted into the main hall of the Heavenly Palace and slowly coiled around Changying’s index finger.

The gods and immortals were in a state of panic. “Since Guanshang has already found the realm beyond, why has he returned?”

Changying pressed the strand of consciousness back into her spiritual platform between her brows. “The realm beyond cannot accommodate him.”

The Immovable Buddha nodded slightly, silently twirling his prayer beads.

“Guanshang has entered the Endless Abyss and summoned a hundred thousand demon soldiers to descend to the Mortal Realm. Where is the Evil-Punisher Divine Lord?” Changying’s voice was cold.

In the main hall, the Evil-Punisher Divine Lord suddenly stood up and bowed with clasped hands.

Changying spoke calmly, “You will lead the heavenly soldiers to the Mortal Realm. I will guard the Heavenly Palace, so there is no need for concern.” She paused briefly, then turned to Xuanqing. “I hope the Heavenly Emperor can mobilize the earthly immortals and send them swiftly to the dragon veins below.”

“At Your DIvinity’s command,” Xuanqing replied. He unrolled a scroll on the table and, using his hand as a brush, wrote down the decree. Once finished, he rolled the scroll and tossed it to the Evil-Punisher.

Evil-Punisher Divine Lord caught it firmly and strode out of the main hall with swift determination, not wasting a single moment.

The main hall fell silent once more, and the gods and immortals turned their worried gazes toward Xuanqing.

One immortal asked, “Since Guanshang has borrowed power from beyond the realm, how can we counter it?”

Changying tapped the table with her fingers. “We need to understand how Guanshang is utilizing this external power.”

The expressions of the gods and immortals shifted dramatically. Another immortal anxiously said, “Now that Guanshang has entered the Endless Abyss, he could reach the Nine Heavens at any moment. We still don’t know how to neutralize this external power. How can we possibly defeat him?” His face was pale, and he gritted his teeth. “Your Divinity, this matter concerns the Three Realms. We cannot afford to delay!”

Changying replied coldly, “She is by Guanshang’s side. I believe she will soon uncover the truth.”

The immortal who had spoken gasped, immediately realizing that “she” referred to none other than the reawakened Vermillion Phoenix. What virtue did the Nine Heavens possess to earn her unwavering loyalty after condemning her?

Xuanqing’s eyes flickered, and he said hoarsely, “I thought she would no longer care for the Nine Heavens.”

“She doesn’t care for the Nine Heavens,” the usually ice-cold Obsidian Dragon said, her gaze softening, and a faint smile seemed to tug at the corners of her lips. Her expression remained aloof, but there was a hint of pride.

Changying thought to herself, She doesn’t care for the Nine Heavens—she cares for me.

I want her to care for me.

Xuanqing suddenly stood up, looking as though he had aged considerably, yet also as if a weight had been lifted. He took a step closer to Changying and said, “Since Guanshang has entered the Endless Abyss, it would be best to close the devil gate in the Nine Heavens as soon as possible.” 

His resolve was clear; he no longer wished to live.

He glanced at the assembled gods and immortals, his eyes devoid of attachment. With a wave of his hand, he gently patted the grand throne he had occupied for a thousand years, as if letting go of everything.

Changying raised her golden eyes and looked at him. “In that case, I will sever these chains for you.”

Xuanqing nodded. “I trouble Your Divinity.”

The Immovable Buddha, who had been silently twirling his prayer beads, paused and turned to gaze at Xuanqing. He did not intervene but watched as the Obsidian Dragon of the Nine Heavens pressed her slender finger to the Heavenly Emperor’s brow.

Changying’s icy divine power flowed through her finger into Xuanqing’s spiritual platform, enveloping his spiritual form.

Xuanqing closed his eyes, his expression serene. “If I perish, the Three Realms will know.Your Divinity will have to endure some hardship.”

“Tell me,” Changying said, her finger still pressed to his brow. “Will I act as you wish?”

The Immovable Buddha, anticipating this, lowered his gaze and resumed twirling his prayer beads.

Changying raised her left arm, which hung at her side, feeling her heart’s blood boiling and churning wildly in her chest. She lightly touched her neck with her index finger, slightly parting her lips to exhale a breath of scorching heat.

The reverse scale had been peeled from her neck, and now that spot itched intensely. Her heart’s blood was also seething, a clear sign that Zhuyou had touched the scale she had given her and stirred her emotions.

She pondered that once this matter was resolved, she would have to capture that phoenix and keep her by her side. She would also need to ask Huoshu for more things; her previous lessons had not been thorough enough.