Chapter 177
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Chapter 177: The Power of Manifestation
The ancient gates of Mo City stood tightly shut, their dark hue blending with the towering walls that pierced the clouds. The black fog swirled around, casting mottled shadows as armored guards in dark armor patrolled with stoic expressions, their presence filling Ming He’s vision with an inky darkness.
She approached swiftly, but the heavily guarded atmosphere of Mo City made her pause. Instinctively, she felt this elaborate setup was meant for her. With a quick thought, she concealed her presence, blending into the shadows and slipping into the city unnoticed amidst the bustling crowd.
Inside Mo City, the defenses were even more stringent than at the walls. The air was cold and oppressive, and the once-thriving heart of the demon race now exuded an eerie stillness, as if cloaked in perpetual night.
Ming He’s heart grew heavier as she glanced toward Shura Hall. Dark ripples shimmered in the wind, and rows of black-clad guards stood vigilant, their formation mastery and strategic placements turning Shura Hall into an impenetrable fortress. Even with her Breath Control Technique, infiltrating it would be nearly impossible.
But she had no choice—she had to get in.
The Demon Lord was in seclusion, the young leader was still a child, the Left Envoy was away, and the Right Envoy was engrossed in cultivation. In the vast Shura Hall, only Shi Cheng Sui held the reins of power.
Whatever had transpired today was undoubtedly his doing.
And today, under the pretense of a welcoming gathering, he had invited her Senior Sister to his residence.
Ming He’s brow furrowed as she focused her aura, her gaze darkening as she assessed the distant defenses of Shura Hall. She was ready to take a step forward and force her way in when a voice from a nearby tavern caught her attention.
"Did you hear? Young Master Shi caught an alien spy this morning."
The alien spy, of course, was from the Tian Yan Tribe.
Thousands of years ago, the demon race had maintained a neutral stance with both the demon and human races, avoiding alliances with outsiders. They rarely ventured into the battlefield of the heavens or participated in the affairs of the five regions, only engaging when necessary.
It was Xin Ming Zhu who changed everything.
After ascending to the position of Left Envoy, she shifted the demon race’s stance dramatically, forging alliances with outsiders.
"Exactly! Otherwise, why would the defenses of Shura Hall and Mo City be so tight?" a companion whispered, then chuckled softly. "I heard the alien spy disguised herself as an envoy of the Demon Race to infiltrate Shura Hall. She planned to disrupt Young Master Wang’s coming of age ceremony, but Young Master Shi caught her just in time."
"Did you hear? That alien spy is said to be stunningly beautiful. A friend of mine who works in Shura Hall saw her from a distance—her looks, her figure—" He gave a thumbs-up, his eyes filled with admiration, then leaned in with a sly grin. "Do you think Young Master Shi was captivated by her beauty and—"
He left the rest unsaid, but the implication was clear: Shi Cheng Sui had taken a liking to her and falsely accused Qin Chu Yi of being an alien spy to get closer to her.
Ming He’s eyes turned icy as she pieced together Shi Cheng Sui’s scheme.
To him, both she and her Senior Sister were envoys of the Demon Race—noble and exceptional figures who couldn’t be touched lightly.
If he wanted to act against her Senior Sister, he had to consider the potential backlash from the Demon Race. So, he struck first.
The label "alien spy" was nothing more than a convenient fabrication, but with it, he positioned himself as righteous and beyond reproach.
So, the heightened defenses of Mo City and Shura Hall were meant to trap her?
Most likely.
Shi Cheng Sui feared she would return to rescue her Senior Sister and worried she might escape and expose his plans.
He assumed she wasn’t in Shura Hall and hadn’t anticipated her leaving the city.
Thus, Mo City allowed entry but barred exit, tightening its defenses to the extreme.
Truly—what a cunning and manipulative left envoy apprentice!
Ming He sneered coldly. Though she didn’t know what Shi Cheng Sui wanted with her Senior Sister, one thing was certain: she wouldn’t let him succeed.
Shura Hall was fraught with countless barriers today, but for her Senior Sister, she was determined to break through.
The cause and effect of the mortal world shouldn’t lead to actual death, right?
Ming He blinked, a cold smile playing on her lips as she took another step forward. Her spiritual energy surged wildly, fueled by her internal injuries, and her aura climbed steadily. She lifted her gaze, only to be halted by a tall, imposing figure.
It was a striking figure clad in red attire; the young man stood gracefully against the light, his eyes bright as they met Ming He’s. He spoke slowly, “I know of a secret passage that leads directly from Shura Hall to Shi Cheng Sui’s palace.”
A secret passage leading straight to Shi Cheng Sui’s domain.
Ming He’s breath hitched for a moment, and she raised her eyes sharply. Her expression remained stoic, but deep within her gaze, the tumult of the Deep Sea churned as she studied the young man before her.
With striking features and an air of confidence, the young man in red who had appeared in the Vast Ancient Realm was none other than Jiang An!
The Second Young Master of the Jiang Clan, Jiang An.
“Young Leader, we shall meet again,” he said, his voice clear and resonant, echoing through the void and time, lingering in Ming He’s mind.
Her gaze hardened, revealing no emotion, as she coldly uttered two words: “Lead the way.”
“At your command,” Jiang An replied with a slight bow.
The bustling street was alive with people coming and going. Unlike Ming He, who concealed her aura, Jiang An stood boldly in his striking red attire, bathed in light and shadow, yet no one seemed to notice him at all.
Ming He followed Jiang An into a narrow side alley, their figures disappearing into the dark secret passage. They walked along the passage until a glimmer of light suddenly appeared ahead, shining like a morning star against the darkness.
Jiang An stopped and turned to Ming He, “Young Leader, exiting this secret passage will take you to Shi Cheng Sui’s palace. After you save Young Master Qin, you can return the same way.
I will guard this passage and ensure no demon race interferes or blocks you. The only one you need to deal with is Shi Cheng Sui.”
“And as for your unanswered questions and mysteries—” Jiang An sighed softly under Ming He’s icy gaze, “If you wish to know after this, I will certainly speak without reservation.”
Speak without reservation.
Ming He regarded Jiang An deeply, then slowly said, “Alright.” She leaped into the passage, emerging into a garden filled with fragrant, vibrant flowers.
Shi Cheng Sui had such leisure!
Ming He scoffed lightly, activating the Star Lock to sense Qin Chu Yi’s location. She drifted through the corridor, stepping over artificial mountains, and nimbly leaped through a window into the palace upstairs.
Before her lay Qin Chu Yi, quietly resting on a Baiyu Bed, her breath even and seemingly asleep, showing no signs of life danger.
Feeling a bit relieved, she extended a thread of spiritual awareness to envelop Qin Chu Yi, confirming that she was unharmed before fully relaxing. Her gaze sharpened as she focused on the young man in fine clothing seated at the green-jade desk, reading ancient texts. Her tone was cold as she queried, “Shi Cheng Sui?”
Caught off guard by her sudden appearance, Shi Cheng Sui was momentarily stunned. However, upon realizing she was alone, excitement filled his heart.
Due to the vast gap in cultivation, lower-tier cultivators often struggled to gauge the true ability of higher-tier cultivators. He couldn’t see through Ming He’s level, assuming her cultivation was too low to be a threat, leaving him unafraid.
In terms of status, Ming He was an envoy of the Demon Race, while he was the Left Envoy’s apprentice. Inside Shura Hall, where powerful demons were numerous, combined with Ming He’s rabbit ears, he looked down on her. Thus, he felt no fear and instead welcomed the surprise of the “enemy seeking their own doom.”
“Ah, Ming He!” He stood up, exhaling, his expression warm yet hiding a glimmer of murderous intent. “You’re foolish enough to come right to me, resolving a great worry of mine.”
The Shura Guards had been hunting for her without success. He had feared she might escape Mo City and return to the royal city of the demon race. Now, this problem was conveniently solved.
Thus, he secured absolute certainty and could use Qin Chu Yi’s Phoenix bloodline to refine pills and eliminate cultivation risks.
When the Master returned, he would present the remaining pills. How could that little girl, Wang Yun Ping, compete with him?
Fool, thinking she could hide Xin Ming Zhu, that lowly half-demon! If it weren’t for Qin Chu Yi’s unexpected appearance providing him a surprise, he wouldn’t have willingly handed over the half-demon blood!
Shi Cheng Sui could vaguely envision winning favor with his Master, basking in glory after becoming the young leader of the demon race. A smile blossomed on his lips as he looked at Ming He with a fierce glint. He summoned demonic energy, forming a ruthless palm aimed directly at Ming He’s heart.
Yet, Ming He easily evaded, countering with a sword energy that pierced through his right arm, his agonizing scream echoing through Shura Hall.
Ming He wasn’t far from him; she could certainly stop him. However, she chose not to.
In the secret passage, Jiang An’s solemn vow echoed in her mind—she only needed to confront Shi Cheng Sui.
So, Ming He wanted to see Jiang An’s capability and confirm her thoughts.
Vast Ancient Realm, cause and effect of the mortal world, soul mastery practitioners.
Contemplating the connections, a cold smile crept onto her lips as she heard no one rushing to Shi Cheng Sui’s cries. Her smile grew colder as she lost patience. She stepped closer, pointing her fingers like a sword.
First, she would sever his meridians, then shatter his dantian, finally aiming her sharp sword energy at his heart.
Anyone who harmed her Senior Sister, anyone who plotted against her, must die!
“Clang!”
A metallic sound pierced the air.
Ming He looked down, seeing the circular jade pendant at Shi Cheng Sui’s waist shatter into dust, its last moment creating a blue ethereal glow that formed a small shield, blocking her sword energy and safeguarding his life.
The circular jade pendant looked exactly like the one Wang Yun Ping had crushed before.
Was this the life-saving tool given by the Left Envoy Qiu Sheng Tian?
Ming He sighed in regret, turning to Qin Chu Yi on the Baiyu Bed, checking her condition.
The young woman felt warm to the touch, her complexion rosy, appearing just as she had observed under her spiritual awareness—unharmed and not poisoned, yet in a deep slumber.
Moreover, the dark little horn atop her head seemed to ripple with layers of waves, like a stone splashing in a clear spring, subtle yet substantial.
Ming He lowered her eyelids, her expression flickering as she suddenly summoned her energy to channel it into her white rabbit ears. In the next moment, a warm flow swept through her body, growing hotter with each passing moment.
The rippling waves seemed to resonate in harmony with Qin Chu Yi.
What was happening?
Ming He frowned, bending down to carry Qin Chu Yi, deciding to leave first. As she stepped forward, she unintentionally glanced back.
Her peripheral vision caught four black characters written in ancient demon script on the jade desk as the breeze lightly stirred the aged pages.
The Power of Manifestation.
