Great Demon - Chapter 112

The celestial beings had even slowed their breaths, knowing full well that with just a thought from the Divine Venerable, Xuanqing could perish in an instant. Yet, Changying merely asked indifferently if it would go as he wished.

Xuanqing was stunned. Opening his slightly clouded eyes, he said hoarsely, “Your Divinity, we must act swiftly.”

“I know,” Changying replied succinctly.

The celestial beings dared not even blink, torn between sealing the devil gate in the Nine Heavens and their reluctance to part with Xuanqing. Previously, who in the Nine Heavens would have thought that Xuanqing, seemingly as eternal as the heavens, had weakened to such an extent without their notice.

After a moment, Xuanqing closed his eyes again, entrusting his life to Changying. “Is it true that she refuses to return to the Nine Heavens?”

“It is true,” Changying replied softly.

Xuanqing slowly exhaled a turbid breath, his eyes showing weariness.

Suddenly, a heavenly soldier approached from afar but was stopped outside the main hall by dozens of restrictions. The soldier reported, “Reporting to the Heavenly Emperor, the restrictions on the Lingyun Bridge have been broken.”

Xuanqing’s eyes snapped open, clearly hearing the report, his pupils contracting sharply before he let out a bitter laugh. He explained calmly, “The Lingyun Bridge is the only path from the Jade Pool to the main hall. I and several celestials secretly placed restrictions on it, comparable to those in the main hall. If the restrictions are broken, it must be Kunyi’s doing.”

Kunyi, sensing something amiss, was likely on her way.

Xuanqing sighed lightly and urged, “Your Divinity, quickly take my divine essence.”

Changying lowered her hand from her chest and channeled her spiritual power into his essence, flooding it entirely, leaving no space untouched.

The overwhelming spiritual pressure from her realm caused Xuanqing to tremble uncontrollably, feeling as insignificant as an ant in her grasp.

If the phoenix fire was the ultimate heat in the world, then Changying’s spiritual power was the ultimate cold across the Three Realms.

As her fingertip touched Xuanqing’s forehead, a thin layer of ice crystals formed, spreading slowly and completely encasing him in ice.

Covered in frost, Xuanqing’s body seemed even paler, the color drained from his face. Shivering from the cold, even his breath turned icy.

Changying swept her left arm beside him, and the frost turned into mist, returning to her fingertips.

The immortals and gods alike held their breaths, wondering if the Heavenly Emperor was truly about to perish before their eyes. It was like a dream, still hard to believe.

Changying suddenly asked, “Where are Immortal Piaomiao and Immortal Zhiying?”

From the assembly, two immortals stood and bowed. “We are here.”

Changying nodded, her gaze fixed on Xuanqing’s forehead, and said indifferently, “There are countless scattered immortals across the Three Realms. If the Heavenly Emperor perishes, they will surely notice. Go and issue the Divine Search Decree to restrain them. Scattered immortals are easily swayed by devilish influences; do not let them be exploited.”

Immortals Zhiying and Piaomiao nodded and swiftly left the hall.

Changying’s fingertip glowed with a blue light, like a clear spring flowing into Xuanqing’s forehead. She added, “I have heard that the Netherworld Lord has long been dissatisfied with the Nine Heavens. With thousands of ghost generals under his command, if Guanshang seeks to ally with him, he will surely join forces. The Ten Kings of the Dead, who govern life and death in the Mortal Realm, are at odds with him. Quickly have the Ten Kings deploy the soul-summoning banners to prevent the Netherworld Lord from unleashing ghosts upon the human world.”

The Netherworld Lord, though a ghost, was not controlled by the Palace of the Dead. Since the Devil Lord perished a thousand years ago, he had established his own clan, highly skilled in ghost manipulation.

An immortal from afar looked at Xuanqing, who nodded, and quickly drafted a document to be sent to the Ten Kings of the Dead.

Xuanqing’s essence was filled with cold, and he endured the discomfort to ask, “The devil gate in the Nine Heavens is with Kunyi, but where is the devil gate in the Mortal Realm buried?”

“The dragon veins,” Changying said coldly.

Xuanqing thought it was indeed so, understanding from Changying’s words that she already had a plan.

***

The Endless Abyss remained pitch black, filled with devil soldiers, their numbers seemingly doubled.

Zhuyou entered the Endless Abyss, flipping her hand to ignite a phoenix flame. In Shangxi City, she had heard countless footsteps, but the devil soldiers before her were not as numerous. She realized that Guanshang must have divided his devil soldiers into several groups, possibly heading in different directions.

She moved her raised arm, and the phoenix flame in her palm shifted, illuminating the area within ten feet.

The devil soldiers showed no expression, and behind them stood a figure in tattered white clothes, looking somewhat frail. She tilted her head slightly and finally saw the face behind the devil soldiers.

It was Wu Buzhi.

Wu Buzhi, who had been captured early on, was indeed in the Endless Abyss. His eyes were lifeless, perhaps from torment. His face as pale as Yueyin’s. But Yueyin’s cultivation was superior as the lord of ten thousand demons. Wu Buzhi was merely chained behind the devil soldiers, his hands tightly bound, his hair disheveled like dry grass, looking pitiful and wretched.

Zhuyou had not seen him often, but this was the first time she saw him in such a state. No wonder he had left behind a room full of paper crafts; he was not living in luxury with the Devil Lord but was imprisoned.

Wu Buzhi suddenly looked up, and upon seeing her and Yueyin, his eyes showed surprise before he lowered his head again, seemingly in despair.

“Are these all your devil soldiers?” Zhuyou asked.

Guanshang chuckled. “The Endless Abyss is vast. There’s no need to gather all the devil soldiers in one place. If all eggs are in one basket, they’ll all break if dropped. Don’t you think, Your Grace?”

“Some logic.” Zhuyou nodded. “But how do we cross the Endless Abyss to reach the Nine Heavens? If you only have devil soldiers, you likely can’t conquer the Nine Heavens. It’s you who wants to rule the Three Realms, not me. If the Nine Heavens obliterate you, I will merely watch.”

“How do you find my current cultivation, Your Grace?” Guanshang spread his arms slightly, as if presenting his body for judgment.

Zhuyou glanced at him. “Not at the peak, but certainly at the pinnacle. If we exclude the Immovable Dharma King, you’re likely only beneath me and the Nine Heavens’ Obsidian Dragon.” She spoke leisurely, even mentioning the Nine Heavens’ Obsidian Dragon without naming Changying.

“Indeed.” Guanshang was not angered or flustered, even smiling contentedly. “A thousand years ago, I was injured by the Obsidian Dragon’s po soul attack, leading to my defeat by the Nine Heavens. Now that the Obsidian Dragon has all seven po souls, I am even less of a match.”

“Does the Endless Abyss give you the confidence to launch an attack?” Zhuyou asked knowingly.

Guanshang raised his hand, as if the Endless Abyss was his personal domain, and boasted arrogantly, “Last time I was here, I mentioned to Your Grace that beyond the Endless Abyss lies the ‘realm beyond’. If we can harness the divine power from beyond this realm, what is the Nine Heavens to us?”

Zhuyou’s eyes flickered. “So you used the divine power from the realm beyond to strike Kunyi?”

“Indeed, I had her possessed,” Guanshang said lightly.

Zhuyou had guessed that Kunyi had long been harmed, but she had not expected it to be body possession. No wonder—if not for the use of the Endless Abyss, how else could these devil creatures have harmed the Queen Mother of the West?

The Queen Mother of the West rarely concerned herself with matters of the Three Realms, and the immortals and gods by her side were not as numerous as those around Xuanqing, making it much easier to target her than to act against Xuanqing.

A devil was, after all, a devil—truly insidious and scheming.

Zhuyou let out a soft chuckle. “But how did you harness this divine power?”

“That—” Guanshang grinned. “—is something I cannot say.”

Zhuyou also smiled, but unlike his narrow and sinister appearance, she was like a bright moon, her smile seeming free of any impurity.

Beyond the devil soldiers, Wu Buzhi lifted his head again. His gaze passed through the hundreds of devil soldiers in front of him and landed accurately on her. His eyes were sorrowful, and as his hands moved slightly, the chains binding him clinked.

Zhuyou no longer looked at him, only pondering in her heart—what other abilities did Wu Buzhi have to still be alive under Guanshang’s hand? She lifted her eyes, the slightly downturned corners making her look particularly innocent. If not for the supreme pressure she exuded, she hardly seemed like the Vermillion Phoenix who feared not the realm beyond’s heavenly thunder.

Speaking of which, the realm beyond’s tribulation had not come for a long time—perhaps the gods from beyond this realm had finally opened their eyes?

Zhuyou did not wish to think further. Seeing the rows of devil soldiers standing in perfect order, she said indifferently, “It seems the Devil Lord was indeed well-prepared.”

“Without such preparation, how dare we ascend the Nine Heavens?” Guanshang replied leisurely.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Zhuyou’s finger, hanging by her side, moved slightly. She sensed that the trace of devilish energy that had brushed past her earlier had already descended to the Mortal Realm. It seemed that before long, the human world would be swarming with demons and devils.

“Please, Your Grace, follow me.” Guanshang raised his hand, deliberately emphasizing the words “Your Grace” with a careless tone, as if he did not take her seriously.

Zhuyou did not take offense. She no longer knew anger—she only felt that this devil was too hasty. He pinned all his hopes on this realm beyond’s divine power to help him become the ruler of the Three Realms, rather than relying on himself. If this power were lost, he would have nothing left.

She cast a sidelong glance at Yueyin, her gaze soft but firm, as if offering a dose of reassurance to the demon lord.

Yueyin had never been to the Endless Abyss. Now trapped in darkness, she was naturally anxious, but she held herself together, refusing to show fear—worthy of being the ruler of the Demon Realm.

The young maid clung to her arm, trembling slightly, even suppressing her breath in fear.

Zhuyou withdrew her gaze and saw Guanshang striding into the distance. With a sweep of his hand in midair, a devil gate suddenly appeared.

It did not seem like a devil gate but rather a spell cast by Guanshang.

Devilish smoke swirled around the gate. Without the light of phoenix fire, it would be impossible to see it. The gate was so black it seemed to merge with the Endless Abyss itself. Strangely, it carried no trace of devilish aura—cold and flavorless like water, without any scent that should belong to the Devil Lord.

This kind of devil gate was something Zhuyou had never seen before, but she supposed the devil gate on the Nine Heavens must be the same. Otherwise, how could it have escaped the notice of the immortals and gods? She paused, quietly observing the distant devil gate, and frowned. “Is this truly a devil gate? You’re not trying to fool me, are you?”

“How would I dare deceive the Vermillion Phoenix?” Guanshang turned to look at her. The devilish smoke on the gate crept toward him like countless hands, brushing against him as if coquettishly clinging. He raised his hand, signaling the devil soldiers to proceed first, and said, “Let the devil soldiers lead the way, and Her Grace should be convinced.”

At his command, the neatly arranged devil soldiers marched toward the devil gate. The moment they leaped into it, their figures were swallowed by the devilish smoke, leaving only Wu Buzhi at the rear.

Wu Buzhi followed closely behind, clearly intending to cross the devil gate.

Yet, he was not a devil—crossing the devil gate would mean certain death.

Guanshang let out a faint laugh and suddenly clenched his fingers. With a sharp sound, the chains binding Wu Buzhi fell into his grasp. He gave a fierce tug, and Wu Buzhi, who was nearly at the gate, was yanked to the ground.

Wu Buzhi hit the ground with a thud, wincing in pain, but still tried to crawl toward the devil gate. However, before his fingers could touch it, he was dragged back several feet.

Guanshang toyed with him, pulling him away only to loosen his grip slightly, allowing Wu Buzhi to crawl closer—then yanking him back again.

Wu Buzhi no longer resembled a ghost—he was more like a dog.

Lying on the ground, panting, his eyes dimmed as he glared at the devil before him, yet he did not utter a word. He seemed utterly exhausted, unwilling to speak even a single syllable.

Guanshang hooked his fingers, tightening the chains and dragging Wu Buzhi a few more feet. He looked down at the ghost lying at his feet and said chillingly, “Are you seeking death?”

Wu Buzhi remained silent.

“You cannot die so easily. You’re quite familiar with the Mortal Realm, and your knowledge of the Three Realms is not something a mere ghost should possess.” Guanshang’s voice lowered ominously.

Zhuyou listened with a frown, realizing she had never questioned Wu Buzhi’s identity. Just like the demons and devils of Shangxi City, she had simply assumed he knew everything.

Guanshang took a step forward and yanked Wu Buzhi’s hair, forcing him to lift his head and stare at him with those lifeless eyes. “What’s the matter? Still unwilling to shed this human skin?”

Wu Buzhi gasped, wanting to lower his head, but the tight grip on his hair caused him to wince in pain.

Guanshang patted his face mockingly. “Did you think hiding in this shell would sever your connection to the Netherworld Lord?”

Wu Buzhi did not respond. His expression did not change, remaining as lifeless as ever.

Zhuyou’s gaze deepened. Her lips moved slightly as she silently repeated the name “Netherworld Lord.” She had, of course, heard of him, but had never met him—she did not even know what he looked like.

Aside from the Mortal Realm, the Lower Realm had the Palace of the Dead, the Eighteen Levels of Hell, and the small territory split equally between the Palace of the Dead and the Netherworld Lord.

The Netherworld Lord had established his own clan and came and went without a trace, having already reached an unfathomable realm. He raised a legion of ghost generals and specialized in ghost-controlling techniques. In the past, he often intercepted human souls when the Impermanence messengers led them away, refining them into ghost soldiers. Later, he seemed to restrain himself considerably.

Unexpectedly, Wu Buzhi was somehow connected to the Netherworld Lord?

Zhuyou cast a sidelong glance at Wu Buzhi, only to see that he remained silent as if he had turned mute.

Guanshang released his grip on Wu Buzhi’s hair and blew on his palm as if it had been soiled by something filthy. “Forget it. If you truly wish to die, I will personally send you off sooner or later.”

Zhuyou didn’t share a deep bond with Wu Buzhi and had even been tricked by him at one point. She should have felt no pity, yet now, she couldn’t help but find the ghost somewhat pitiful. Her lips moved slightly as she spoke indifferently, “I believe this is a devil gate now, but why does it smell so bland and tasteless?”

“Naturally, that is also due to the use of the realm beyond’s divine power.” Guanshang sneered. “The Endless Abyss contains an inexhaustible supply of that power—unlike the devil gate I buried in the Nine Heavens. That gate is hidden within Kunyi’s body. If Kunyi’s physical form is destroyed, the devil gate will cease to exist.”

“You certainly have some tricks up your sleeve.” Zhuyou’s gaze flickered as she let out a soft snort, feigning indifference. She added, “I see you can summon a devil gate with a wave of your hand—does that mean these gates can appear anywhere within the Endless Abyss?”

“Of course. Otherwise, how could I have escaped your strike that almost shaved off my skull?” Guanshang laughed coldly, pulling two strands of devil energy from his body. “Carry this devil energy with you, and you can pass through the devil gate.”

Though the devil energy was only a thin wisp, it was incredibly dense, and the stench of decay and rot was overwhelming.

Zhuyou glanced at Wu Buzhi, who was still lying on the ground, and frowned. “And what about this ghost?”

“I’ll throw him down to the Mortal Realm—he’s of no use in the Nine Heavens.” With that, Guanshang grabbed Wu Buzhi and pushed him into the devil gate.

At the moment he clutched Wu Buzhi’s neck, a surge of devil energy wrapped itself around the ghost, preventing the devil gate from causing him any harm.

Zhuyou pinched the strand of devil energy Guanshang had given her between her fingers. Although she had no desire to touch it, the situation left her no choice. Suppressing her distaste, she fused the devil energy with her spiritual power, enveloping herself entirely. After a brief hesitation, she stepped into the devil gate.

She intended to see for herself what was so different about this devil gate.