The Dragon God’s mighty pressure forced Chongming Bird Xun to submit involuntarily. Chongming Birds had been annihilated and their clan eradicated during the destruction of the Divine Wood Realm. The Dragon God hadn’t expected to see a Chongming Bird here, even if it was just a descendant with diluted bloodline; it brought him some solace. He believed that one day, she would restore the glory of her clan.
“Rise. What is your name?” the Dragon God asked gently, retracting his pressure. He was the patriarch of the Divine Dragon clan and the Beast God of the ancient divine beasts. His Divine Dragon clan governed the Divine Wood Realm, and he regretted not having protected it better.
“Reporting to Lord Dragon God, my name is Xun. I was saved by Haotian Divine Venerable from a minor secret realm, so Xun has pledged allegiance to him,” Xun said, feeling a touch of shame. As she cultivated, the power from her bloodline made her increasingly aware of her origins. Her ancestors were priests serving the Beast God, possessing the innate skill to see the future and dispel all illusions, allowing the divine race to prosper. Yet, she had fallen to becoming someone’s mount.
“Xun, there’s no need for that. It’s enough that you are alive. Let your heart guide all your choices,” the Dragon God said, comforting her as he saw through her thoughts. He then made a seal and sent it into Xun’s body. This was to purify her bloodline, enabling her to inherit her ancestral power one day.
Ye Ling was deep in thought. Haotian’s ability to survive divine punishment was likely related to this Chongming Bird. In the Three Thousand Realms, there was a mortal realm where a ruler was the God of Flood Control, Yu the Great, who benefited all people. Legend had it that Yu the Great was a reincarnation of a Chongming Bird, born to a mortal. It seemed Haotian was behind this. This made sense; Yu the Great passed his own home three times while managing the floods, his merits eternal and his benefits to the people immeasurable. Such merit was enough for the Heavenly Dao to show leniency.
“Thank you, Dragon God! Haotian Divine Venerable, no, now Haotian Immortal Venerable, he is my life-saving benefactor. I must take him back to the Lesser Celestial Heavens to heal. As for Xuan Ji, you may deal with her as you see fit,” Chongming Bird Xun knew her master’s plan and did not doubt that Lord Ye Shen and the Dragon God would uphold their agreement. In her opinion, Xuan Ji had brought it upon herself; betraying a sister who had shown her kindness was the most despised act among the divine race.
Xuan Ji no longer begged for mercy. She recognized this Chongming Bird Xun; it was the mysterious woman from back then. She wouldn't forget her voice.
Learning that Haotian still had a sliver of hope, merely demoted to Immortal Venerable, she breathed a sigh of relief. She, too, was a child of a Divine Venerable, and she could not further disgrace her father. Even if the Dragon God reneged on his promise, or if Long Hu Hu did not help her remove the demonic seed, she would have no complaints. For she finally confirmed that her father had never truly abandoned her.
Xun took Haotian away, and Ju Yin and the others quietly watched Xuan Ji.
“I am sorry, Miss. I am sorry, Hu Hu!” Xuan Ji finally bowed her head and sincerely apologized to the two.
“Hmph!” Long Hu Hu snorted coldly.
“All past grievances will be settled once you return from reincarnation. From now on, you are you, and I am me. We need not see each other again!” Ju Yin turned away, unwilling to look at her.
“Hu Hu, help her remove the demonic seed. We dragons keep our promises,” the Dragon God said, stroking Hu Hu’s hair and gently persuading her.
…
With the matter of Xuan Ji’s demonic seed resolved, Ye Ling Divine Venerable personally opened the reincarnation channel and sent Xuan Ji to the mortal realm for reincarnation.
Demon Realm
Feng Du suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. He had been counter-attacked; the demonic seed planted in Xuan Ji’s body had been purified. Feng Du was shocked. Who was it?
“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?” Huan Ji asked, standing below the throne.
“It’s nothing. Go and find the other Demon Kings to discuss invading the Heavenly Realm,” Feng Du said, unwilling to elaborate on his spitting blood.
“Yes!” Huan Ji replied and retreated.
Feng Du’s expression turned grim. The disappearance of Xuan Ji’s demonic seed meant she had escaped his control, which pleased him greatly. Last time, when he was pursued in Bei Qi City, he was forced to reveal his true demonic king form to escape two Immortal Venerable cultivators from the Bei Qi Immortal clan.
He dared not reveal to Xuan Ji that he was the Demon King who had planted the demonic seed in her. She already had a poor impression of him, and if she knew it was him, she would hate him even more.
The Blue Demoness respected him immensely, and he had privately warned the Blue Demoness not to reveal his identity as a Demon King. Feng Du could no longer sit still; he decided to go to the Azure Sea and Blue Sky Realm to see Xuan Ji.
Upon entering the Azure Sea and Blue Sky Realm, Feng Du sensed something was amiss. Xuan Ji’s aura was completely gone, as if she had vanished from the entire Heavenly Realm. He should have left quickly, but he was not resigned. He concealed his presence and scouted the entire Azure Sea and Blue Sky Realm. Never before had he felt this place so vast.
The Azure Sea and Blue Sky Realm contained a celestial lake called Azure Sea, a valley filled with flowers named Dan Xun Valley, and a vast training ground for ten thousand divine soldiers known as Qing Qiu Plains. Buildings lined the lakeside, where most of the divine soldiers were stationed.
This was Ju Yin’s abode. As soon as she returned, the entire Azure Sea and Blue Sky Realm was within her divine consciousness. Feng Du, who had trespassed, was unaware that every move he made was under Ju Yin’s watchful eye.
“Sister, this person’s aura is very familiar. Oh, I remember now, this is that demon general we beat up. But his aura is different, like a Demon King,” Hu Hu said, as she and Ju Yin were hidden in the clouds.
“Yes, it seems this person has hidden his identity. I doubt Xuan Ji even knows he is a Demon King,” Ju Yin surmised, but she was also angry. Her territory had been trespassed, and the Nine Divine Generals hadn't even noticed.
What surprised her even more was that Xuan Ji had actually led the demons into the Azure Sea and Blue Sky Realm. It seemed the barrier needed changing. Moreover, with ten thousand divine soldiers leaderless for a million years, she didn’t know if they could still be used. If not, she would disband these ten thousand soldiers. If Heaven wanted to guard the Heavenly Realm, let whoever wanted to, guard it. She was done!
The Heavenly Dao sneezed and, calculating, realized it was all over. The Divine Maiden was angry and about to quit…
Ju Yin, seeing the lingering demonic energy, was filled with righteous anger. How dare he cause trouble in her domain! With a wave of her hand, she flung an ice-fire ball, imbued with white spiritual energy that purified demonic energy.
A scream echoed, and Feng Du revealed his form.
“It’s you! Divine Venerable Ju Yin!” Feng Du recognized Ju Yin’s figure. At this moment, neither Ju Yin nor Long Hu Hu had concealed their appearances.
“You demon, how dare you! Even the dignified Demon Lord back then did not dare to enter my Azure Sea and Blue Sky Realm. Who gave you the audacity?” Ju Yin’s commanding presence radiated authority.
Feng Du was greatly alarmed. He had never faced Divine Venerable Ju Yin in direct combat. Facing the Divine Venerable’s power, he vaguely regretted his impulsiveness. Yet, he was worried that if Xuan Ji’s demonic seed was removed, she might have been killed.
“This King meant no offense. I am friendly with Xuan Ji and merely wish to know where she has gone,” Feng Du revealed his true Demon King form. He wore black, possessed a beauty that transcended gender, and stood eight feet tall. His physique was unlike the Demon Kings Ju Yin had encountered, who were typically robust and strong.
“Hmm, Sister, this one is a pretty boy. Are there handsome people in the Demon race?” Long Hu Hu was a connoisseur of beauty and hadn't expected this Demon King to be so comely.
Ju Yin rolled her eyes in exasperation. “My dear lady, is this the time for such talk?”
“The demonic seed within Xuan Ji was planted by you, wasn't it? And you still claim to be friends with her? She colluded with the demons, was banished to the mortal realm, and will undergo a hundred reincarnations. You need not look for her anymore. Worry about yourself instead,” Ju Yin said sarcastically to Feng Du.
“What? You dared to treat her like this?” Feng Du was enraged upon hearing this!