Chapter 182
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Chapter 182: The Demon Lord
The white figure gasped softly, trembling in the dark corner, her neck stiffening as she dared not move, letting the sharp blade of the Jing Ying Sword press against her vital point. Her voice, clear yet filled with fear of death, trembled as she spoke, “This… this esteemed one, please don’t kill me! I’m just a servant under the Left Envoy; killing me would dirty your sword.”
As she spoke the last words, her shaking became more pronounced, her voice breaking, and the final plea almost vanished into the darkness. Had it not been for Ming He’s strong spirit, she might not have been able to hear it.
Everything about this trembling figure—the inconspicuous aura, the quivering body, the trembling voice, and the display of fear—fit perfectly with the humble identity of a servant beneath the Left Envoy.
Ming He held the Jing Ying Sword against her neck, her body half-turned to observe the sounds and movements from within the hall. She pondered slightly, deciding to temporarily seal her six senses and set them aside.
At that moment, a gentle breeze stirred, clearing the clouds, and a beam of cool moonlight poured in through the bamboo window, casting a flickering glow that seeped into the corner.
In the dim light, Ming He lowered her gaze, and her hand holding the sword uncontrollably trembled, a ridiculous emotion rising within her.
The eerie light revealed something peculiar, the Woman in White raised her brows slightly. Her amber eyes darkened, her features showed unmistakable fear—this was a look Ming He had seen before on the most terrified cultivators during her travels across the five regions.
It was the expression of a servant under the Left Envoy, caught by her, with life and death hanging in the balance.
This face, however, was familiar to Ming He; even if she had only seen it once, it was hard to forget.
She withdrew her attention from the sounds outside and fully focused on the Woman in White, a hint of a meaningful smile curling her lips.
Then, in the stillness of the Woman in White’s gaze, she sheathed the Jing Ying Sword and lowered her voice, saying, “Your Majesty the Demon Lord, this is not very amusing.”
The Woman in White, the young Demon Lord Mo Xiao, smiled slightly, “But I find it quite entertaining.”
She straightened her posture, her pure white robes standing out starkly in the darkness. Even if they were not particularly extravagant, they conveyed a sense of grandeur, reminiscent of the majestic nine levels of palaces.
Her face was solemn, her form tall and lean; though still young, she exuded the arrogance and aura of someone in power. Mo Xiao turned to Ming He, questioning and doubting, “How does Young Leader Ming recognize me?”
How did she recognize her?
Of course, it was because she had seen this face in the cause and effect of the mortal world, feeling the chilling and compelling aura up close.
At that time, she had hung from the eaves of the hall, the girl’s ice-like “who” had nearly pierced her soul, leaving a deep impression.
However, compared to the cautious, hidden demeanor of the girl in the cause and effect of the mortal world, the woman before her now was fully revealing her edges and had just begun to grasp power, displaying less diligence and more youthful recklessness.
But the fact remained that such an answer could not be given.
Thus, Ming He chuckled softly, her gaze drifting down until it landed on the small square Four-direction Compass hanging at Mo Xiao’s waist. She paused for a moment, then laughed genuinely, curiosity and playfulness evident in her voice, “What does Your Majesty the Demon Lord think?”
Mo Xiao followed her gaze and noticed the small compass at her waist. She briefly paused, a wave of joy washing over her at the thought of Nineteen.
Then, she sheepishly scratched her head in response to Ming He’s teasing look, blushing slightly, before suddenly realizing something and shot a fierce glare at Ming He, resembling a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Ming He found it amusing, thinking that judging by this young Demon Lord’s past achievements, she should be formidable and domineering, yet here she was, having fallen into Nineteen’s hands.
The Four-direction Compass could indeed be transformed into a smaller version, allowing for mutual sensing and even linking cultivation and life to some extent, similar to the Spirit Contract she had formed with Qin Chu Yi. Such a connection required intimacy and trust.
Her Senior Sister once said that Nineteen had accidentally entered the depths of the Demon Race’s Shura Hall when she was young and had saved Mo Xiao’s life.
Tsk tsk.
Ming He shook her head, recalling Nineteen’s serious and composed character, then comparing it to the bold and brash Mo Xiao before her, her gossip-loving soul ignited.
She looked at Mo Xiao, who was adjusting her facial expression in the darkness, contemplating how to prompt her to share juicy tidbits about Nineteen, when suddenly, a sound like rushing air sliced through the atmosphere, passing through walls and rushing toward her.
It was a droplet of water, a droplet still steaming, sharp enough to pierce a cultivator’s bones, akin to a blade.
So she has learned to take the initiative!
Ming He let out a cold snort, confident that even if Mo Xiao couldn’t win, she wouldn’t be harmed by a mere droplet of water. She ignored the provocation, swiftly sidestepping, and with her right hand extended like a blade, she sliced through the heavy curtain veiling the inner hall.
The cold moonlight poured in, revealing a square, black pool shrouded in mist, with a woman floating on its surface, her expression one of pain, barely visible through the haze.
The mist swirled, creating an ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere. Though Ming He couldn’t clearly see the woman’s face, she had a good guess about her identity the moment she stepped into the hall.
The Left Envoy of the demon race, Mu Xuan Ye.
So, she was currently—
“An herbal bath,” Mo Xiao’s cool voice whispered in her ear, laced with a hint of blatant schadenfreude and mischief.
Ming He glanced back and noticed that the woman in white had turned her back—not out of modesty, but out of a sense of belonging to someone else.
An herbal bath?
Ming He’s breath caught, her gaze flickering over Mu Xuan Ye, who was enveloped in mist. Though the mist obscured her figure, it seemed she was—completely unclothed beneath the surface!
An image of Qin Chu Yi’s wild, enchanting smile flashed in her mind, making Ming He’s heart tremble. She awkwardly averted her eyes to Mo Xiao, catching a mocking look that seemed to say, “Do you usually wear clothes during an herbal bath?”
Ming He: “…”
Ming He immediately focused her gaze, both of them turning to look toward the hall’s entrance.
If only the chaos of the battlefield of the heavens could return—that captivating and alluring Senior Sister was a bit too much for Ming He to handle.
She lowered her voice and asked Mo Xiao, “Was this also part of Nineteen and His Majesty the Demon Lord’s plan?”
Did they scheme to catch Mu Xuan Ye in such a vulnerable state?
By now, Ming He knew that Nineteen and the Demon Lord not only shared a past but had long been in sync, their fates intertwined at some point.
Nineteen had helped Mo Xiao subdue the Left Envoy and Right Envoy, while Mo Xiao led the demon race to conquer the battlefield of the heavens. This could have been a transaction or a decision Mo Xiao made after seeing Nineteen grievously injured.
After all, Senior Sister had once said that though this young Demon Lord’s cultivation was still low, her cunning and methods far surpassed Mu Xuan Ye and Zhou Yi. If she truly wanted to seize power, she wouldn’t be helpless.
She had been watching the struggle between the human race and the other races from a distance.
“Sort of,” Mo Xiao replied, giving Ming He a sidelong glance, her eyes filled with scrutiny and curiosity. “I do intend to stand with the human race.”
She had grown up under the oppressive pursuit of Xin Ming Zhu and Mu Xuan Ye. Since they had chosen other races, she naturally aligned herself with the human race.
Perhaps it was because, during her most difficult years, it was the human race—and Nineteen—who had given her hope and light.
“As for the elders of the Demon Palace and other powerful allies, they won’t interfere in today’s conflict.”
Having been suppressed under Xin Ming Zhu for a thousand years and further oppressed by Mu Xuan Ye, their servility and fear were deeply ingrained. Choosing to remain neutral was the best outcome of her decades of careful planning.
As the Demon Lord, she carried the pure royal bloodline of the demon race and never lacked capable followers. But compared to Mu Xuan Ye and Zhou Yi, they were still too weak.
Her current power could suppress Mu Xuan Ye and Zhou Yi without causing major conflict, but she couldn’t command them. To truly conquer them, she would need more time.
Mo Xiao was still young and believed she had plenty of time.
But after the earth-shattering bloodbath on the battlefield of the heavens, she suddenly realized that while she had time, the person she wanted to protect might not.
So, Mo Xiao set aside her pride and dignity as the Demon Lord, sending a message to the Imperial Palace to finalize this collaboration.
“The Four-direction Compass formed a bloodline resonance, and I gave her half of my cultivation,” Mo Xiao said with a faint smile, her expression unexpectedly gentle and serene.
“Nineteen knew that Young Leader Ming and Young Master Qin would arrive at the Asura Palace today, so she set this trap.”
“The demon race has a hierarchy based on bloodline suppression. I am of the pure royal bloodline, but Mu Xuan Ye—”
“She is merely a half-demon.”
Mo Xiao glanced at Ming He, noting the absence of surprise in her relaxed brow, realizing that Ming He was also aware of Mu Xuan Ye’s half-demon identity.
But how had Ming He come to know this?
The woman in white blinked, concealing a fleeting shadow of dark emotions in her eyes.
The young leader of the human race, indeed, was not to be underestimated.
Fortunately, she had no intention of unifying the Tianwu Continent, thus naturally avoiding the need to confront such an unfathomable adversary.
Mo Xiao narrowed her eyes. “As for Zhou Yi, Nineteen mentioned his role surpasses that of Mu Xuan Ye, hence he is to be left to her and Young Master Qin.”
So, has Senior Sister already met Nineteen?
Ming He’s gaze sharpened slightly as she heard Mo Xiao exhale, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “I just didn’t anticipate that Mu Left Envoy was so severely injured by your last strike, causing her cultivation to become unstable. She had no choice but to rely on the power of the herbal bath to recover, and coincidentally, you stumbled upon her.”
“Young Leader Ming, what a fortunate encounter!” Mo Xiao let out a hearty laugh, shedding her Demon Lord demeanor to give Ming He a playful wink.
Ming He: “……”
She cautiously extended her spiritual sense, observing Mu Xuan Ye, her face pale, eyes closed, absorbing the power of the medicinal pool. Her aura fluctuated intensely as she patiently waited, then slightly bowed to Mo Xiao. “I have yet to thank Your Majesty the Demon Lord for the aid you provided that day.”
She referred to the day she was taken by Mu Xuan Ye to the Left Envoy’s palace, where Mu Xuan Ye intended to refine her into a demonic puppet. However, Ming He retaliated with the power of the celestial laws, causing a commotion that shook the heavens, yet no one entered the vast Shura Hall.
The reason could only be Mo Xiao.
Only the Demon Lord could command the demon guards in the heart of the demon race.
The Right Envoy, Zhou Yi, had no reason to assist her.
Mo Xiao waved her hand dismissively, as it was merely a spontaneous decision to pass the time. She had known that the person in the hall was the young leader chosen by the human race, but she hadn’t expected her to grow so swiftly.
She had even surpassed her, the revered one of their race.
The bodies of the human race were incredibly fragile, yet they were inherently closer to the celestial laws.
This provided a unique advantage that the demon race, other demons, mermaids, and other foreign races could not rival.
Half-demon body, Mu Xuan Ye.
Mo Xiao clenched her hand hidden beneath her wide sleeves into a fist.
If her demon blood had not been so pure within, perhaps she wouldn’t have needed to grow so slowly. Then Nineteen—perhaps wouldn’t have needed to expend all her cultivation.
What of being invincible at the same level? She only desired true strength.
Mo Xiao suppressed her emotions and looked deeply at Ming He before suddenly chuckling softly. “Next, it seems I should be the one thanking you for your assistance.”
Ming He raised her gaze slightly, sensing Mu Xuan Ye’s slowly retracting aura. She opened her mouth, “What do you need me to do?”
Mo Xiao realized that Ming He thought the assistance was aimed at Mu Xuan Ye. She bit her lip and remained silent, only to hear Ming He’s clear and calm voice ring out again. “Is it to kill or to injure?”
Mo Xiao: “……”
The young leader of the human race was indeed unfathomable, and when she got ruthless, she was no less fierce.
Behind her, Mu Xuan Ye’s wrathful approach became audible, and she opened her mouth. “Just knock her down.”
