Chapter 173
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Chapter 173: The Black Round Stone
Qin Xiao He, Ming Xiao Yi.
Yan Situ’s gaze faltered for a moment; these names were unfamiliar to him.
Yet, this was hardly surprising. Having been confined to the harsh, frigid lands of the Extreme West for years, it was only due to the grand coming-of-age ceremony of the Left Envoy Young Master that he and others of the so-called sinner bloodline had the rare opportunity to venture beyond their secluded existence.
As a distinguished envoy of the Demon Race, their status was of the highest nobility. How could a mere leader of Fei Hua Zhai be expected to recognize them?
His inquiry about their names was indeed a test of their identities, but his true intent was to gauge their demeanor.
The aristocratic grace and innate refinement that radiated from their every gesture were traits that no ordinary rogue cultivator could easily imitate or feign.
Thus, it appeared they were indeed envoys of the Demon Race.
For Fei Hua Zhai, this was a pivotal moment, a chance to ascend.
Yan Situ’s heart swelled with excitement, and he bowed even deeper, his demeanor growing more reverent: "So, it is Envoy Qin and Envoy Ming."
He lifted his gaze, a blend of awe and aspiration in his eyes: "I am Yan Situ of Fei Hua Zhai, journeying to Mo City to honor the Left Envoy Young Master’s coming-of-age ceremony."
"Might the esteemed envoys deign to accompany me? Fei Hua Zhai and I are at your service, ready to fulfill your every command with utmost loyalty."
The Young Man averted his eyes, concealing the scheming glint within.
The path to Mo City was neither short nor long, and the factions vying to intercept Fei Hua Zhai’s offerings were numerous. Securing the company of these two Demon Race envoys would ensure a journey free from peril.
Furthermore, as envoys of such high standing, though their retinue and carriage were absent, they would undoubtedly require attendants.
Thus, his proposition was mutually beneficial.
To his surprise, Qin Chu Yi’s brow furrowed, her eyes turning icy, her presence as sharp as a blade at his throat: "How do you know my identity?"
This was the envoys’ test.
Having declared themselves as envoys, what secret could they possibly hold?
It seemed that despite their profound cultivation and noble lineage, their worldly experience was limited, likely fresh from their aristocratic upbringing.
This made his task all the simpler.
Yan Situ chuckled inwardly, unafraid, yet his expression shifted, feigning a tremble as he bowed: "Though I have long resided in the Extreme West, I recognize the jade pendant of the Demon Race’s royal family."
His gaze fell to Qin Chu Yi’s waist, where a luminous white jade pendant hung, its glow piercing through the dark mist, unmistakably a symbol of the Demon Race’s royal lineage.
Moreover, their visages bore the unmistakable marks of their heritage.
Even in human form, the royal family of the Demon Race retained subtle traits of their true nature.
Though relations between the Demon Race and the demon race had been amicable in recent years, such casual visits were uncommon.
Their presence here, at this time, could only signify their dispatch by the Demon Race to honor the Left Envoy Young Master’s coming of age.
The jade pendant of the royal family.
Ming He’s expression shifted subtly as she leaned into Qin Chu Yi, her gaze dropping to the deep, lustrous white jade pendant adorning the blue hem of her dress. Its intricate patterns and crescent shape, with tassels swaying gently, exuded an aura of profound mystery.
This jade pendant—
Ming He’s breath caught, a flicker of light in her downcast eyes, mingling confusion with a hint of contemplation.
This was unmistakably the jade pendant bestowed upon Qiu Qiu by the realm spirit of the Vast Ancient Realm.
The Little Black Beast eventually found it too cumbersome to wear around its neck, so it was casually tossed into her storage ring.
It appeared that her Senior Sister had also acquired one.
It was known as Vast Jade.
Vast Ancient Realm, Vast Jade, Left Envoy Young Master, and the land of the demon race.
Fei Hua Zhai, Yan Situ.
Ming He was lost in thought for a moment, then her gaze sharpened. She was always acutely aware of her own condition and had thoroughly examined herself the moment she regained consciousness.
At that time, neither she nor her Senior Sister had been wearing that jade pendant at their waists.
It seemed that when the Senior Sister questioned Yan Situ about how he knew they were envoys of the Demon Race, and he mentioned the royal family’s jade pendant, it had suddenly and inexplicably appeared at their waists.
“So that’s how it is,” Qin Chu Yi remarked with a calm demeanor, though her eyes betrayed a serious undertone.
She was observant and self-aware.
Whatever Ming He could deduce, she naturally could as well.
“Who are those black-clothed men? Why are they pursuing you?” Qin Chu Yi asked nonchalantly, her tone light but laced with an air of authority.
Confronted with her seemingly calm yet subtly commanding presence, Yan Situ dared not withhold the truth. He replied honestly, “I do not know their exact identities, but I suspect they, like me, originate from the Extreme West.”
“As for their motive, they likely wish to seize the gifts I prepared for the Left Envoy Young Master’s coming of age ceremony, hoping to win his favor and thereby shed their status as sinners, allowing them to remain in the royal city of the demon race, Mo City.”
Left Envoy Young Master, coming of age ceremony.
Qin Chu Yi and Ming He exchanged glances, each seeing a mix of surprise and confusion in the other’s eyes.
Ming He blinked, recalling another surprising detail.
The Extreme West was indeed a harsh and perilous place, and those born there were branded as sinners. The descendants of sinners were also considered sinners, hence they were barred from the royal city.
However, that seemed to be a relic of thousands of years ago.
After Xin Ming Zhu, the Left Envoy of the demon race, ascended to power, she had overhauled many of the demon race’s policies, including the abolition of the rule that condemned sinners and their descendants to eternal punishment.
At this thought, Ming He’s heart skipped a beat. She sat up straight in Qin Chu Yi’s embrace, her rabbit ears twitching. With her sparkling peach blossom eyes, she lowered her voice and asked, “Is the gift you prepared for the Left Envoy Young Master particularly special?”
Her voice was soft and endearing, like that of a curious petite girl.
Yan Situ hesitated, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment, he looked up with a pained yet resolute expression, his eyes shining like a gambler’s final bet. He pulled out a dark stone box from within his robes and handed it to Ming He:
“We found this in a valley of demonic obstacles, a place shrouded in blood and guarded by luminous ripples. Fei Hua Zhai expended considerable effort to retrieve it.”
“If Envoy Ming finds it to her liking, please accept it as a gift from me.”
“Oh?” Ming He smiled, casting a glance at Qin Chu Yi.
Qin Chu Yi looked down, feigning helplessness as she glanced at her. With a flick of her wide red sleeves, the dark stone box flew from Yan Situ’s hands. After Qin Chu Yi inspected it and brushed off the dust, it traced a black arc through the air and landed gently in Ming He’s embrace.
“Thank you, Senior Sister Xiao He,” Ming He said with a radiant smile, examining the stone box.
It appeared unremarkable, yet it exuded an unsettling aura, sending an inexplicable chill through her heart.
Ming He’s expression darkened as she casually raised her hand. Her slender, pale fingers lightly brushed over the box, and it opened instantly, releasing an ancient and desolate energy that swirled around her, threatening to cloud her mind.
Just this little energy, and it dares to challenge my will?
Ming He smirked, her expression one of disdainful calm. She straightened her posture and extended her right hand, boldly confronting the wild energy.
With a soft “thud,” Ming He carelessly tossed the lid of the stone box aside.
Inside lay a black round stone, which glimmered with an otherworldly light as Ming He picked it up, its radiance both mesmerizing and perilous against her pale fingertips.
Her gaze followed the movement of her fingers, her expression seemingly surprised, yet beneath it lay an unshakable calmness that only deepened Yan Situ’s growing fear and reverence.
After enduring countless hardships to obtain the stone box, they had eagerly opened it, only to see many powerful cultivators injured by the terrifying currents that erupted from within.
It was this very incident that had convinced them of the black round stone’s extraordinary origins, making it a fitting gift for the Left Envoy Young Master.
But this Envoy Ming before them—
Her delicate appearance suggested she was a rabbit from the Demon Race, gentle and soft, likely not one for combat. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have sought refuge in her Senior Sister’s arms at the slightest disturbance outside.
Yet now, it seemed he had underestimated them.
A rabbit might appear weak, but such judgments were only valid among its own kind. To compare, one must first stand on equal footing.
What right did he, a lowly sinner from the Extreme West, have to assess the strength of others?
Yan Situ chuckled bitterly, watching the black round stone shimmer in Ming He’s pale fingers. For a moment, he felt as though the stone truly belonged to her.
There was no need for justification when it came to pleasing the envoys of the Demon Race. No matter how powerful they were, they were still of the Demon Race, not of Mo City.
Yet Yan Situ dared not voice any objections.
The temperaments of noble descendants were unpredictable, and the consequences of their wrath were beyond his capacity to endure.
Thus, when the Envoy demanded a gift, he could only comply without hesitation.
It seemed that Fei Hua Zhai’s efforts would ultimately come to naught.
He lowered his head, unable to conceal his frustration.
To his surprise, Ming He pouted, carelessly tossed the black round stone back into the stone box, and with a wave of her hand, closed the lid before casually tossing it into his arms.
The black arc reappeared in the misty haze as Ming He lazily leaned back into Qin Chu Yi’s embrace. With a playful tone, she remarked, “This mere stone? I wouldn’t deign to look at it!”
Her demeanor exuded pride and arrogance, perfectly embodying the aloofness of a solitary little Junior Sister.
Yan Situ paused, initially thinking she failed to recognize its value, but then he chuckled bitterly. As a distinguished envoy of the Demon Race, it was only natural for her to dismiss his mysterious stone.
Yet, with the black round stone returned, the hard-earned gift from Fei Hua Zhai remained intact, and he felt a wave of relief. His admiration and gratitude for Ming He soared, completely unaware that this was precisely the outcome she had intended.
The black round stone was indeed extraordinary, but if she had taken it, Yan Situ would have harbored lingering resentment.
Rather than guarding against his potential schemes, it was wiser to lay everything out plainly and assess the situation first.
“Junior Sister, mind your manners,” Qin Chu Yi chided lightly, her expression unchanged. Even in pretense, she couldn’t bring herself to reprimand Ming He.
Her red attire flowed gracefully as she sat on the soft couch, her tone as calm as ever. “Since you hold this gift in such high regard, it seems you greatly revere the Left Envoy Young Master.”
Though both parties understood this was a journey driven by mutual interests, maintaining appearances was still essential.
Yan Situ nodded. “Though the Left Envoy Young Master is young, his cultivation talent is exceptional, and he is highly favored by the Left Envoy of the demon race.”
The Left Envoy of the demon race? Mu Xuan Ye?
When had she taken on disciples? And to the extent of accepting a closed-door disciple?
Ming He paused, lifting her head from Qin Chu Yi’s embrace. “Is the Left Envoy truly powerful?”
Her question was rhetorical, of course.
The Left Envoy of a clan, standing above countless others—how could they not be powerful?
Yet Yan Situ hesitated, carefully choosing his words. “The Left Envoy—”
“He was once a formidable figure, unmatched under the Dragon Trap. But in recent years, perhaps due to the demands of political affairs, he has been preoccupied with important matters and has neglected his cultivation…”
As he spoke, he realized his explanation was falling short. After all, cultivation was the foremost priority for any cultivator, and he fell silent.
The Left Envoy, once renowned for the Dragon Trap, now burdened by political duties.
Ming He and Qin Chu Yi exchanged glances, seeing both shock and realization in each other’s eyes.
In their memories, the Left Envoy of the demon race was undoubtedly Mu Xuan Ye. But when Ming He had last seen her on the battlefield of the heavens, Mu Xuan Ye had not yet taken on any disciples, and her injuries had been severe.
The previous Left Envoy had been Xin Ming Zhu, a figure both infamous and notorious.
Yet Xin Ming Zhu had practiced pure blood magic, with no connection to martial arts.
The true master of martial arts was Qiu Sheng Tian, Xin Ming Zhu’s predecessor as Left Envoy.
Xin Ming Zhu had risen to power by slaying her Master.
Now, Yan Situ claimed the Left Envoy was Qiu Sheng Tian.
This meant that Ming He and Qin Chu Yi had not only arrived in the land of the demon race but had also traveled thousands of years into the past.
Spatial currents.
If space could be manipulated, what of time?
Ming He glanced down, noticing the Vast Jade at her waist swaying without wind, emitting a faint white light.
The Ancient Realm Trial, the cause and effect of the mortal world—was this not the intertwining of her and Qin Chu Yi’s fates?
She paused, then recalled something else.
If the Left Envoy of the demon race was Qiu Sheng Tian, then the Left Envoy Young Master—could he be Xin Ming Zhu?
