Great Demon - Chapter 78

Changying’s palm suddenly felt empty, and her heart sank. In the blink of an eye, that figure had already moved several feet away.

Dark clouds loomed over the sky like a canopy, lightning crackling through them. Thunder rumbled as it chased closely behind.

Don’t strike down, Changying thought.

Her neatly trimmed nails dug into her palm as she hurriedly took off in pursuit, her mind racing—if Zhuyou truly intended to resurrect the Devil Lord, how would she rid herself of the sins and karmic consequences to follow?

There was no time to dry her soaked robes. The black garments clung damply to her body as she leapt forward, sending water droplets flying. The sweeping wind caught the endless yellow sand, which clung to her clothes, staining the spiritual robe—formed from dragon scales—into a sullied mess.

Just as she took off, something came hurtling toward her like a shooting star. She instinctively raised her arm to catch it. The moment her right hand made contact, it felt as though Mount Tai itself had crashed down upon her, forcing her body downward.

She lowered her gaze—and saw that it was… a mustard seed.

Though minuscule, it bore the weight of a thousand catties. Sealed within it was a frozen expanse excavated from Shenhua Mountain.

Changying’s eyes widened. She clenched her fist tightly around the seed and shouted hoarsely, “Zhuyou!”

Zhuyou did not turn back. Instead, she channeled her spiritual energy, sending waves of golden sand surging skyward.

The sand recognized no master, rushing directly toward Changying’s eyes. She instinctively shut them, sweeping her hand to part the storm.

A rift tore through the airborne sand curtain. Seizing the moment, Changying opened her eyes—only to find that Zhuyou’s figure had already vanished.

Anxious rage surged within her. She had wanted to follow Zhuyou’s path, but before she could move, the yellow sand below condensed into a searing giant hand, which seized her calf without warning.

The scalding heat seared her flesh, producing a harsh sizzling sound. This was sand burned by earth fire—any hotter, and someone might just be lucky enough to feast on a pot of dragon meat.

Changying’s figure faltered midair. She hastily struck at the massive sandy hand, shattering it into soft grains that cascaded downward. But when she searched for Zhuyou again, even her aura was nowhere to be found—let alone the connection through their heart’s blood.

Perhaps Zhuyou had severed the link using sorcery, completely masking their bond. Though Changying could still sense the drop of heart’s blood within her, it felt hollow—like an empty shell.

The burn on her leg healed swiftly, scarring over and flaking off, but the scorching anxiety within her heart did not fade in the slightest.

Changying knew that Zhuyou was only a step away from breaking through. If heavenly thunder and earth fire struck simultaneously at that moment—how… how could she possibly withstand it?

Lifting her head, she remained the tall and slender woman she had always been—yet the roar that burst from her throat was that of a dragon, shaking the heavens.

Changying hastily released her divine sense. It shot up, blanketing the endless dark clouds, weaving through them like a vast net, attempting to take in all things across the Three Realms.

Yet—she still could not find Zhuyou.

***

While traveling outside, Goddess Luoyou sensed something amiss in the great desert and hurried back. Upon arrival, she caught sight of the black-haired, black-robed Nine Heavens’ Divine Venerable and faltered, saying uneasily, “I did not know Your Divinity was present—this humble immortal has been negligent.”

Luoyou was dressed lightly, her attire made of fine, scattered strips of cloth. She was even barefoot, her bare legs gleaming under the open sky. Yet despite her revealing appearance, she was neither coquettish nor shy—rather, she carried herself with a forthright and unbothered air.

Changying’s expression remained cold, her vision still blurred by the yellow sand. The wind howled, so strong it seemed capable of sweeping away even the dunes.

Frustration burned in her chest—she had no patience for idle talk with outsiders. She wanted only to question Zhuyou—to ask why she insisted on taking such reckless risks, why she had so little regard for her own life.

That was truly a path of no return. If she continued down it, it wouldn’t just lead to eternal damnation—there might not even be a path left at all.

They were meant to walk the same road, yet they had become bitter enemies, like water and fire—irreconcilable, as if bound by an unending blood feud.

Changying’s heart felt like a massive stone suspended in her chest. Each beat sent a suffocating pressure through her ribs. She suddenly shut her eyes, pressing a hand to her chest, convinced that if she couldn’t catch her breath, she might very well die here.

A sour ache rose in her heart. She had felt discomfort before, but never such unbearable bitterness—so sharp it stung her eyes, an emotion too tangled to name surging into her mind.

Luoyou had no way of knowing her thoughts. Seeing Changying’s dark expression, she hurriedly pressed her palms together, forcibly pacifying the raging sandstorm.

In an instant, the airborne sand curtain fell like a torrential downpour, cascading to the ground with a mighty rush. The surroundings were cleansed—so pristine that even the blue sky was revealed, unobscured once more.

The wild winds ceased abruptly, and a hush fell over the world.

Behind them, the lake reflected the sky’s deep azure and the sun’s dim radiance, so still it resembled a mirror.

Luoyou, her hands moving like a passing breeze, withdrew them slowly after settling the sands. She saw Changying standing motionless and, emboldened, cautiously asked, “This humble immortal left her post without permission and deserves severe punishment. But… did someone intrude upon this place?”

Changying’s fingers twitched at her side. In an icy voice, she uttered just two words: “No one.”

Luoyou was instantly perplexed. If there had been no intruder, why had the Divine Venerable suddenly appeared here? She swiftly extended her divine sense, searching the distant sand city—only to find that a restriction had been placed upon it. Even though she was its guardian, she could not pierce through the barrier.

Her heart jolted violently. In the two days she had spent indulging in leisure, something truly momentous must have occurred.

Luoyou was never one to be overly meticulous, and with this place being barren, it was rare for demon and devils to intrude. As a result, she had grown increasingly lax, thinking that as long as nothing major happened, she could consider it a peaceful blessing.

Now, however, her once-relaxed brows furrowed deeply. She asked, “Was the restriction over the sand city placed by Your Divinity?”

“Indeed.” Changying nodded, gripping the mustard seed in her hand tightly. If it were an ordinary object, it would have shattered by now, but fortunately, this was a spiritual artifact—one that contained a corner of Shenhua Mountain within it. It would not crack so easily.

She still couldn’t exhale the foul breath stuck in her chest. Within a hundred miles, she could no longer sense Zhuyou’s presence.

An immortal or devil could traverse a thousand miles in an instant. Zhuyou surely knew that once she obtained one of the Devil Lord’s hun soul, someone would undoubtedly be on her trail. There was no way she would foolishly remain in place, waiting to be captured.

Would Zhuyou have gone to Shangxi City? Changying wondered again.

But she quickly shook her head—impossible. Zhuyou was far too intelligent to head straight for Shangxi City, sending herself directly under the watchful eyes of the Nine Heavens.

“How many years have you been overseeing this desert?” Changying asked.

Luoyou immediately replied, “Around three hundred years.”

“You don’t seem to care much about this domain.” Changying observed.

Luoyou’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, “I wouldn’t dare. This humble immortal is simply accustomed to idleness. Your Divinity, please do not strip me of my divine duties—I am willing to ascend to the Nine Heavens to receive my punishment.”

“Punishment is inevitable.” Changying’s gaze darkened. She turned to glance at Luoyou, her golden eyes filled with an aloof and terrifying coldness.

Luoyou subtly raised her eyes, and in that instant, she caught sight of Divine Venerable’s golden pupils. Her own eyes burned as if scorched. The Divine Venerable of the Nine Heavens was truly beautiful, but such an icy, indifferent demeanor robbed that face of its vibrancy and allure.

“Search every grain of sand beneath your feet. Leave no corner unchecked. Dig out anything that shouldn’t be buried here.” Changying’s pale lips moved as she issued the command.

Luoyou hurriedly acknowledged the order, feeling as though a great weight had pressed onto her shoulders. Even though she had long grown accustomed to the heat of this land, the blazing celestial radiance above still left her drenched in sweat.

This desert stretched as far as the eye could see, and its depth was unfathomable. Mortal merchants frequently traveled the sand roads—care had to be taken to avoid them. If they were truly to sift through every grain of sand, who knew how long it would take?

But this was the Divine Venerable’s decree. She had no choice but to obey. After some thought, she said, “This matter must be reported to the Nine Heavens.”

“I will inform the Heavenly Emperor myself.” Changying’s voice was cold. “You just do as you are told.”

Luoyou was caught between a rock and a hard place, but she had no choice but to comply. She hesitated before asking, “And what of the restrictions in the sand city?”

“Something has happened in the city—I will handle it. Any loss or damage will be my responsibility.” Changying lifted her golden eyes and immediately soared toward the sand city.

Luoyou stood amid the vast desert, gazing down at the land beneath her feet. The more she thought about it, the more troubled she became. Something about today’s sands felt especially hot—almost as if fire was burning beneath them.

After a moment of contemplation, she raised her hand, causing the sand to swirl into the air before sinking into the depths below. In that instant, she felt as if she were being engulfed in a great fire—her entire body seared with unbearable heat, forcing her to retreat hastily.

The sand felt as though it had been baked in an inferno. Even standing on it had been scorching, but diving into it had been like plunging into molten gold.

Luoyou’s heart pounded in alarm. A sudden thought struck her—could it be that underground fire had surged up? Her mind raced, but she gritted her teeth and dove back down. At a depth of a hundred feet, she discovered an uncorroded remnant of an ancient devil’s bones.

She had hoped to retain her divine position, but after seeing that remnant, unease settled heavily in her heart. Over these past three hundred years, she had neglected far too many matters. There was no way she would be able to keep her divine office now.

But what had truly transpired here thousands of years ago?

***

In the sand city, all mortals stood motionless, like stone statues wearing human skin, devoid of any breath of life.

The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord wielded his long halberd and, with a swift stroke, severed the rope that had suspended Jingyi in midair. As soon as the rope snapped, it slithered upward, vanishing into the rolling dark clouds.

Jingyi’s body had withered completely—nothing but a waxy yellow layer of skin clung to her bones. Her lifeless eyes remained wide open as she crashed onto the dusty ground of the sand city with a dull thud.

A cloud of dust rose, making Mangfeng cough violently. He stared at the lifeless husk on the ground in disbelief, unable to process what he was seeing. His mind replayed Jingyi’s question from days ago—if her appearance were to change, how would he treat her?

But was this truly just a change in appearance?

How would he treat her?

How could he treat her?

What else could he do?

Mangfeng looked down in shock. As the skeleton hit the ground, it clattered apart, its bones knocking against one another. He instinctively reached out to catch it, but then abruptly remembered—this was the husk of the Devil Lord’s hun soul reincarnation.

The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord silently glanced in the direction where the Obsidian Dragon had just departed before withdrawing his gaze.

“But she… how could she be… could this be some kind of mistake?” Mangfeng’s hands were outstretched, frozen in hesitation just inches from the brittle remains. His expression was filled with confusion and grief, his bloodshot eyes wavering between anger and sorrow. His voice caught in his throat. “Couldn’t it be that an evil devil has merely taken her form? She was always gentle and obedient—how could she have devilish thoughts? How could she be…”

The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord’s face was emotionless. “You have been bewitched by a devil.”

“I have not! I simply find this whole matter suspicious!” Mangfeng became more agitated the more he spoke. In his panic, he blurted out, “No, I must take her back. Perhaps I can find some clues!”

With that, he bent down, his trembling fingers just a hair’s breadth away from the corpse—

The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord suddenly lashed out with his halberd. The blade scraped past Mangfeng’s fingertips, nearly severing his hands.

Mangfeng’s hands shook violently. He glared up at him. “Jingyi was my wife—I will take her back to the East Sea.”

“But she is the reincarnation of the Devil Lord’s hun soul.” The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord turned his halberd slightly, sending a wave of fierce divine energy surging toward Mangfeng.

Mangfeng deflected it with his palm, his sleeves billowing in the force. He shouted angrily, “I don’t believe it! She has been unwell these past days—someone must have harmed her!”

“You saw with your own eyes the things she did in the past. If you take this husk back to the East Sea, you will be sheltering the Devil Lord and defying the Three Realms. Your recklessness will drag the East Sea into ruin!” The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord’s face remained impassive as he lifted his leg and kicked Mangfeng to the ground. He then pressed the tip of his halberd against his throat.

The cold blade gleamed with a murderous aura.

Mangfeng panted heavily, his gaze fixed on the skeletal remains in the distance. He felt lost in thought.

Yes, he had seen it with his own eyes. Just before she was executed by the Divine Venerable, her twisted, monstrous appearance had been nothing like the woman he had once known.

Was she truly the reincarnation of the Devil Lord’s hun soul?

“East Sea Monarch spared no effort in cultivating you, yet you have fallen at the hands of a devil.” The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord interrogated harshly. “How can you be worthy of being a disciple under the Divine Venerable?”

Mangfeng immediately shook his head and gripped the Evil-Punisher Divine Lord’s halberd, his hand splitting open on contact, fresh blood pouring out. He clenched his fist tightly. “The Divine Venerable took me under her wing, clearly because…”

His pupils contracted sharply. No wonder the Divine Venerable had frequently visited the East Sea in recent days, taking both him and Jingyi as disciples. Perhaps it was all just so she could personally…

That thought sent a chill through him, yet he had no proof to support it.

The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord slowly twisted the halberd, causing Mangfeng’s torn flesh to peel back further, exposing the white of his bones.

Blood dripped from Mangfeng’s hand as he spoke, his voice trembling. “You say I have fallen into the hands of a devil, but whether I admit to it or not is one thing. What I want to ask is—has the Nine Heavens never fallen into the hands of a devil before?”

At those words, even Immortal Zhiying, who had been tending to the wounded mortals nearby, stiffened completely.

Not just two hundred years ago—when the Devil Lord perished a thousand years ago, it had seemed like a great victory for the Nine Heavens. But in truth… that fall had lasted a thousand years.

The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord remained silent, his breath quickening.

“I want to go to the Nine Heavens. I want to see the Heavenly Emperor,” Mangfeng said, his voice firm and deliberate.

“You wish to question the Nine Heavens? Do you seek to plead for the Devil Lord?” The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord’s expression turned ice-cold.

Mangfeng dared not. He bit his lips until they bled, his reddened eyes blazing as he said, “If the Nine Heavens miscalculated two hundred years ago, then it could miscalculate again today. I refuse to believe that the Nine Heavens could allow a devil to reincarnate within the Phoenix Clan. I—”

As soon as those words left his mouth, Immortal Zhiying felt a chill creep down her spine, and even the celestial soldiers standing nearby shuddered.

Yes—how could a devil deceive the Heavenly Dao and hide within the Phoenix Clan? How had they been able to manipulate fate, leading the star po soul to dim and fall onto the devil’s path?

How had the Devil Lord Guanshang managed to evade the watchful eye of the Heavenly Dao? How had he hidden from the heavens?

The Evil-Punisher Divine Lord’s grip on his halberd trembled slightly. His voice was cold as he said, “This matter will be discussed when the Divine Venerable returns.”

Immortal Zhiying finished healing a mortal’s burns and flicked her long robe, creating a barrier to prevent Mangfeng from seizing the remains.

A short moment later, Changying descended from the sky, her expression dark. With a turn of her palm, a mustard seed appeared in her hand—the very one Zhuyou had tossed to her before leaving.

She had left cleanly, leaving behind only this single mustard seed.

Changying clenched her fingers, and in an instant, Jingyi’s body was drawn into the seed, leaving behind only a faint imprint in the dirt. A chilling gaze swept over her shoulder as she turned back, meeting Mangfeng’s vacant stare as he half-lay on the ground, his eyes locked onto her.

“You have something to say,” Changying stated.

Mangfeng’s voice was hoarse. “I want to see the Heavenly Emperor.”

Changying slipped the mustard seed into her sleeve and, to his surprise, agreed. “Very well.”

By now, Zhuyou’s sea of consciousness should have been fully restored. It would not take long for the information within the soul threads to be absorbed by her. Soon, she would remember everything, returning to her original state and stepping once again toward power.

If nothing went amiss, the Devil Lord, in order to win her over, would surely reveal the method of eluding the Heavenly Dao. There was no longer anything that could stop this.

If the Devil Lord’s three hun souls were reunited, his return would be imminent. Then, the wailing of a hundred ghosts and the gathering of scattered demons would herald an inevitable battle.

The Nine Heavens was now overrun with idle, complacent celestials—more corrupt and blindly obedient than ever before. Compared to the past millennia, they had become weak.

When the battle came, how many would be able to stand against it?

Conveniently enough, she, too, needed to see the Heavenly Emperor.