Great Demon - Chapter 81 Part 2

Zhuyou tucked the devil hun soul into her sleeve, seized Changying’s collar, and said, “I have passed one tribulation—one more remains. If I survive… I’ll come and claim what’s mine from you.”

If Changying still didn’t understand, she would have wasted these thousands of years. “I can protect you,” she said through gritted teeth.

“This tribulation must be faced alone. You’ve already endured it—haven’t you understood that yet?” Zhuyou scoffed softly.

Changying bit down hard, her pale lips parting. “Is the Endless Abyss truly so mysterious?”

“Yes. Even though I was able to enter, I couldn’t glimpse the whole picture.” Zhuyou fixed her gaze on Changying’s golden eyes. She paused briefly before continuing, “I have hidden the devil hun soul in my sleeve. If Guanshang devours that immortal hun soul completely, he will truly become half-immortal, half-devil. Even divine light shining upon him won’t be able to harm him in the slightest.”

A dragon and a phoenix—eyes locking like flint striking steel, ready to spark a fire.

Zhuyou’s hand still clutched Changying’s collar tightly. A single tug downward, and that plain white chest would be exposed, revealing a vast expanse of skin. Perhaps, one could even catch sight of the bite mark she had left on Changying’s shoulder.

Changying immediately reached for the devil hun soul hidden in Zhuyou’s sleeve, but Zhuyou swiftly pulled her hand behind her back.

Zhuyou tilted her head, giving Changying a sidelong glance. Her eyes were utterly innocent, yet laced with a hint of disdain, as if silently asking: Is that all you’ve got?

Changying froze for a moment. A single drop of blood at the core of her heart seemed to ignite, flaring up into her throat. It felt as though she had been stifled in the desert for too long—desperate to find a sip of cool, clear spring water.

Suddenly, she caught sight of Zhuyou’s lips, ever so slightly parting, shimmering faintly with moisture. She leaned in—not to steal that glistening drop, but instead, in a voice hoarse as though scorched, she murmured slowly, “Then I’ll just have to take it.”

Zhuyou’s gaze remained as clear as ever, like the purest flame essence in the world, capable of burning away all filth. Though her body was neither divine nor devil anymore, she seemed no different from how she had been thousands of years ago.

Yes, how could she be any different? She was still herself.

Changying lunged at her sleeve, fingers catching onto the delicate, cicada-wing-thin outer robe—a deep, reddish-brown. The fabric was so fine, it seemed as if a single tear would shred it apart.

Zhuyou did not evade. Instead, she flipped midair, bending her knee to press Changying downward.

Changying suddenly fell from midair, crashing hard onto the snow. Her long black hair spread out loosely, and the collar Zhuyou had gripped was now completely undone. Her collarbone and half of her chest were exposed, pale as untouched snow, and the bite mark on her shoulder had yet to fade.

A divine body should heal such a superficial wound instantly—unless… Changying had no intention of letting it heal.

Zhuyou landed right after her, knees straddling either side of Changying’s waist, her body arching slightly as she leaned in. She braced her arms on either side of Changying’s shoulders, her silvery-white hair cascading down, brushing against Changying’s face.

Looking down from above, Zhuyou studied Changying. Changying stared back.

Changying’s breath was unsteady, though just barely. She reached out, fingers trailing along Zhuyou’s shoulder and neck, slipping beneath the gauzy, mist-like outer robe, searching—without any particular technique—for that devil hun soul.

Her hand glided over Zhuyou’s shoulder, fingers as fluid as a fish darting beneath lotus leaves. They traced slowly down the smooth expanse of her back, then skimmed lightly over her waist, teasing like fish playing among lotus stems—touching briefly, then slipping away.

Her hand circled forward, palm pressing against soft, warm skin, gliding upward a few inches before suddenly halting.

It was like gathering snow into a peak, smoother than the finest jade.

“Can’t find it?” Zhuyou murmured, pressing down on Changying’s shoulder. Her fingertips grazed the lingering bite mark.

She knew exactly what was happening. Even if she had been pure-hearted thousands of years ago, these past two centuries of being a devil were enough to make her understand.

She should have felt embarrassed, but after the restoration of her divine consciousness, she found herself strangely detached—almost like Changying. It’s just a body, isn’t it? The pleasures of the flesh… won’t lead one astray.

Changying had already hooked her fingers around the crimson sash at Zhuyou’s waist. With a slight tug, the sash loosened and fluttered to the snow, her robes slipping open instantly.

Zhuyou, clad in pure white, refused to be the only one exposed. She slid Changying’s collar further down her shoulders in return.

Against the vast, snowy landscape, Changying finally lost her composure. Propping herself up, she leaned in, pressing a fleeting kiss against Zhuyou’s fair cheek. Her pale lips traced downward along her jawline, barely exerting any force—just a slow, lingering graze.

After indulging in the bite mark, she finally captured Zhuyou’s lips, swallowing every breath of warmth between them.

Like a fish gliding through water, she alternated between closing in and retreating, brushing against the delicate petals of Zhuyou’s lips before moving down along her slender neck.

Zhuyou furrowed her brows, exhaling in short, fractured breaths. Her body softened, pressing completely against Changying, before retaliating—sinking her teeth once again into the previous bite mark.

Changying, still searching, let her hand slip beneath the loosened silk robe, roaming over smooth, pale skin.

Zhuyou bit deeper, fingers trembling slightly as she reached for Changying’s hand. When her waist and abdomen were touched, her body gave the slightest shudder, as if her very being recognized the impending intrusion—instinctively recoiling, yet unable to escape.

She seemed to be reaching her limit, her inner fire burning unbearably hot. Her breaths came heavier, as though she longed to press her knees together. She released her bite, about to speak—only to have her lower lip seized between Changying’s teeth.

Seeing no other choice, Zhuyou ground her lips against Changying’s pale ones in retaliation, muttering, “You’ll never find it.”

“I found it.” Changying finally reached for her sleeve, pulling out the sealed devil hun soul, her breath unsteady.

Zhuyou abruptly pushed herself upright, swiftly gathering her undone robes. With a flick of her fingers, the crimson sash cinched back around her waist. Then, without hesitation, she struck a palm toward Changying.

Changying, clutching the devil hun soul, barely dodged. Her robes slipped down to her elbows, the bite mark on her shoulder still raw and crimson. Her gaze was slightly misted, and the cold expression on her face had softened just a fraction.

“I’ll tear out the immortal hun soul that Jingyi added and take it back for proper handling,” she said.

Zhuyou lowered her gaze to the black-and-white hun soul in Changying’s hand. “If the Divine Venerable shows mercy, the Three Realms will scorn her for it,” she said slowly, emphasizing the title Divine Venerable with particular weight.

It felt like a feather brushing over the heart—strangely ticklish.

Changying pressed her lips together briefly before replying in an even tone, “Since it is an immortal hun soul, it should be handed over to the Nine Heavens.”

“What Nine Heavens?” Zhuyou held her gaze, speaking each word with deliberate clarity. “I choose you.” She knew all too well what had become of the so-called Nine Heavens.

Changying’s lips and tongue were parched. Her golden eyes lowered slightly as she averted her gaze and solemnly responded, “Then I shall execute them myself.”

Zhuyou was quite satisfied. Her lips had been bitten so thoroughly that they looked as if painted with rouge. Though she stood upright, her legs seemed devoid of strength.

Changying looked at the devil hun soul in her hand and removed its seal. Only then did the once-silenced hun soul finally speak.

A man and a woman’s voices spoke in unison, “You let me be taken away? It seems that even after reviving your original form, you are still inferior in skill!”

Zhuyou spoke leisurely, “My spiritual form has only just awakened. I must bathe in the essence of heaven and earth to stabilize my cultivation, so I left the Endless Abyss—only to unexpectedly encounter an old acquaintance.” She spoke as if it were the truth, as if she had not deliberately perched on the eaves, waiting. But at the time, Guanshang had been restrained and was unaware.

Guanshang cried out in anguish, “Retrieve me at once! If you succeed, I will tell you all the secrets of the Endless Abyss!” There was a brief pause, then the Devil Lord’s hun soul let out a cry of agony. Two voices called out together, “Your Divinity, please do not punish me! I know nothing! It was this devil who bewitched my mind! I-I don’t want to die!”

Changying’s ears buzzed from the sound. She suddenly thrust her pale fingers into the devil hun soul. Though it appeared as mere mist, it was firm and unyielding.

The last time she had captured this hun soul, just a little more effort would have been enough to completely dissipate it. Fortunately, she had not crushed it then, or she would never have learned that Shangxi City truly held such mysteries.

She remained silent, gathering spiritual power in her hand like a blade. Forcing her fingers inside, she clenched them tightly, as if seizing something.

Suddenly, the two voices cried out once more, “It hurts! It hurts! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die! You will be torn to pieces by me one day!”

Changying grasped a silver-white strand and yanked it free. Instantly, the hun soul split in two, and the previously muddled voices separated. Two cries of pain rang out—one belonging to Guanshang, the other to Jingyi.

Jingyi’s hun soul trembled violently, cracks spreading across it. Even without severe punishment, it was unlikely to last much longer.

With a flick of her wrist, Changying wove sigils across the devil hun soul, sealing it once more. Guanshang could not even curse her; he could only choke back his fury.

Seeing this, Zhuyou stepped forward with the wind, suddenly seizing Changying’s hand. She pried the severed devil hun soul from Changying’s clenched fingers, staring into her eyes with an unwavering resolve. Then, she smiled and said, “I will bear this karmic burden.”

Changying froze for a moment, staring at her. She watched as Zhuyou turned her wrist, storing Guanshang’s hun soul into a mustard seed pouch.

Noticing the dragon’s stiffness, Zhuyou lightly patted the back of her hand. Changying’s eyelids flickered. The phoenix markings at the corners of her eyes seemed to spread their wings, dyed in a deep crimson, making her eyes glisten as if on the verge of tears.

Changying flinched at the unexpected touch. She had just begun to curl her fingers inward when Zhuyou’s retreating hand suddenly brushed against her palm. It felt as if her heart had been grasped. Her throat moved, and she involuntarily swallowed.

“Hungry?” Zhuyou suddenly reached out again, gripping Changying’s shoulder. “So the Nine Heavens amount to this—they cannot even feed a Divine Venerable.”

Yes, Changying thought. Because the Nine Heavens do not have you.

The next moment, she felt her shoulder tighten as Zhuyou lifted her skyward, forcefully breaking through the bounds of that space. In the blink of an eye, they had returned to Shangxi City.

The surroundings were brilliantly lit—half shrouded in the profound radiance of the heavens, half illuminated by the glow of earthly lanterns.

Zhuyou, still holding Guanshang’s devil hun soul, released Changying’s shoulder and leaped back onto the eaves. She said, “Surely you did not come all this way just to see whether the Devil Lord’s three hun souls had reunited.”

Changying was silent for a moment. “There is a mystery here unknown to the Heavenly Realm. If there truly exists a place capable of eluding the Heavenly Dao, then I will sever this city from the Heavenly Realm and cast it down into the Mortal Realm.”

“Then you may split it now.” Zhuyou lifted her chin slightly. She suddenly ascended, her body enveloped in a crimson glow. Though she seemed to be trapped in flames, she bore a leisurely smile.

Soaring into the sky, she wrenched a fire-tempered feathered arrow from the void. Its tip burned a brilliant red, its flames dazzling.

She did not summon a bowstring but simply hurled the arrow with her hand. It pierced through the sky with a piercing shriek, like the cry of a phoenix.

At that moment, all demons and devils in Shangxi City were stunned, blood gushing from their mouths and noses, their minds reeling as if struck by a devastating blow.

Changying frowned, her gaze following the arrow’s path into the distance.

Zhuyou raised her voice, “If you have the ability, then execute that immortal hun soul yourself—do not rely on another’s hand.”

Changying nodded. Just then, Zhuyou suddenly revealed her true form—her feathers blazed like living fire, four wings unfurled behind her. With a single beat, the entire city seemed on the verge of being overturned, the scorching winds searing flesh and bone.

She suddenly let out a piercing cry, and a surge of red light swept forth. At once, the heavens and earth quaked—where Shangxi City connected to the Nine Heavens, a great chasm appeared.

Shangxi City shuddered and began to sink, forcibly severed from the Heavenly Realm.