Chapter 36
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Chapter 36: The New Hall Master
Ning Wudao was composed and calm, completely devoid of any trace of fear.
The Elder in Black Robe stared coldly at him, with murderous intent flooding his gaze.
"Supreme Elder, Ning Wudao murdered his father—an unforgivable crime! If he isn’t executed, it will surely inspire others to do the same."
A Celestial Demon Hall elder knelt on the ground, pleading for justice.
He was a close ally of the Golden Toad Demon God. With the Golden Toad Demon God dead, he lost his protector; if Ning Wudao wasn’t killed, he would inevitably face retribution.
"The instigator will surely face a childless end!" This elder wept bitterly in sorrow.
Ning Wudao remained unruffled.
His battle with the Golden Toad Demon God was so tumultuous that it alarmed the entire Celestial Demon Hall.
This Supreme Elder held cultivation in the God King realm—wouldn’t he have noticed it all along?
Yet he only stepped forward to confront Ning Wudao after the Golden Toad Demon God was slain—how could that be mere coincidence?
Ning Wudao had guessed correctly.
The Elder in Black Robe had been secretly watching the clash the whole time.
The training method of the Celestial Demon Hall was like pitting rivals against each other to survive, not only among disciples but also among elders.
The strong reigned supreme.
It was the raw law of the jungle.
"Do you all share this view?" The Elder in Black Robe scanned the Celestial Demon Hall disciples.
"Reporting to the Supreme Elder, the hall master treated the Saint Son as prey. The Saint Son only slew his father to protect himself—I find it justifiable."
A Divine God realm elder declared respectfully.
"I also think the Saint Son acted out of necessity." Another Divine God realm elder chimed in.
Ning Wudao showed no change in expression, without a hint of gratitude.
These two old ones were the Hall Master’s Elder and the second elder of the Celestial Demon Hall, both in the Divine God realm. Usually suppressed, they felt overjoyed now that the Golden Toad Demon God perished.
They also understood the situation in the Celestial Demon Hall—the Supreme Elder was unlikely to harm Ning Wudao.
After all, Ning Wudao possessed formidable battle strength and was extremely young—a rare asset to nurture properly. Soon, the Celestial Demon Hall might gain an additional saint.
"Please, Supreme Elder, show mercy."
Many leaders of the Celestial Demon Hall knelt together, pleading clemency for Ning Wudao.
Among them were some who had mocked him before.
With the Golden Toad Demon God dead, they swiftly shifted allegiances.
"Elder Xue, you… you were the one the hall master valued most!" The Celestial Demon Hall’s Elder Hu, who demanded Ning Wudao’s execution, raged in shock. Pointing at a pallid middle-aged man, he bellowed, "The hall master’s corpse isn’t cold, and you side with Ning Wudao? How do you repay the hall master’s trust?"
"And you…"
Elder Hu named person after person, but no one acknowledged him.
After reciting the final line, all hope within Elder Hu vanished.
Bang!
His physical body suddenly exploded, bursting into a cloud of blood mist. His primordial spirit was devoured in a single bite by the Elder in Black Robe. With just a few chews, Elder Hu utterly ceased to exist.
"How to handle this matter is not yet for me to decide," said the Elder in Black Robe. "Ning Wudao, the Sacred Ancestor wishes to see you!"
Hearing this, Ning Wudao’s expression shifted slightly.
The Sacred Ancestor of the Celestial Demon Hall was a demon sage who had lived for over ten thousand years, known as Demon Sage Fire Phoenix.
"Yes," Ning Wudao acknowledged with a nod.
Whoosh!
The two transformed into streaks of light, soaring towards the depths of the Celestial Demon Hall.
Those kneeling on the ground rose to their feet one after another. The Hall Master’s Elder and the second elder, beaming with smiles, addressed the crowd, "Barring any unforeseen events, Ning Wudao will be the new hall master from now on."
They left one thing unspoken:
If anything unforeseen arose, the new hall master would be chosen from between the two of them themselves.
Deep within the Celestial Demon Hall, a minor void lay concealed.
As the two arrived, the void abruptly split open. A rainbow bridge extended from within, appearing to welcome them.
"The Ancestor summoned you by name. Go inside," the Elder in Black Robe said, gazing at the minor void with reverence but not daring to step into it himself.
Ning Wudao did not hesitate, stepping onto the rainbow bridge.
The next instant, the bridge, carrying Ning Wudao, vanished into the minor void. The void passage closed.
Gurgle…
This minor void was a world of seething magma.
Three suns hung overhead; rolling magma churned below. It was utterly terrifying.
Ning Wudao’s heart was filled with awe. This was no ordinary magma. Should he fall into it, he would likely be burned to ashes, his soul obliterated.
The rainbow bridge conveyed Ning Wudao upwards towards the central sun. Wisps of seven-colored divine light rose from the bridge, enveloping him and shielding him from the sun’s scorching heat.
Upon the sun stood a thriving phoenix tree.
This phoenix tree possessed miraculous qualities. Its entire form was entwined with crimson divine patterns, its dense foliage absorbing the essence of the sun. Nestled within the canopy was a resplendent palace.
A Daoist garbed in simple robes sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, cultivating in deep concentration.
Ning Wudao alighted outside the palace hall and spoke respectfully, "Disciple Ning Wudao seeks an audience with the Sacred Ancestor."
"Enter."
The voice of the Demon Sage Fire Phoenix reached him, soft yet surprisingly alluring – it was unmistakably the voice of a woman.
A ripple of surprise stirred within Ning Wudao. After over two centuries within the Celestial Demon Hall, he had only just learned that the Sacred Ancestor, the demon sage of the Celestial Demon Hall, was female.
He stepped into the Phoenix Divine Hall. There, a woman with an alluring figure sat cross-legged and barefoot, with her back to him.
Swoosh!
A divine light suddenly shot forth from the direction of Demon Sage Fire Phoenix. Ning Wudao’s expression turned severe as he instinctively attempted to activate his profound art to resist. Yet the divine light had already penetrated his flesh.
Boom!
Ning Wudao’s entire spiritual energy felt as if ignited, setting his whole body ablaze. The Golden Toad Demon God he had consumed was reduced to ashes, transforming into vast and pure energy that surged through every inch of Ning Wudao’s limbs and bones.
Ning Wudao instantly understood. Demon Sage Fire Phoenix was helping him refine the Golden Toad Demon God to elevate his cultivation.
He immediately activated the Celestial Demon Extermination Technique and sat cross-legged.
Two hours later, with the aid of Demon Sage Fire Phoenix, the Golden Toad Demon God was thoroughly refined by Ning Wudao. His cultivation smoothly advanced to the Complete Divine God realm.
"Many thanks, Ancestor." Ning Wudao kowtowed in gratitude.
"I have always known of your existence." Demon Sage Fire Phoenix turned around, allowing Ning Wudao to finally behold the Sage’s true countenance.
She was a woman of flawless beauty, her skin like congealed cream, rivaling frost and outshining snow.
Every gesture she made carried profound charm, capable of stirring the deepest hidden desires within one’s heart. A single glance made it impossible to look away.
Though dressed plainly, her exceptional beauty remained impossible to conceal.
Ning Wudao glanced only once before immediately lowering his gaze.
A flicker of surprise passed through Demon Sage Fire Phoenix’s eyes. How could a mere demon clan member at the Complete Divine God realm resist her charm?
"The Celestial Demon bloodline is the most supreme among the demon clan." Demon Sage Fire Phoenix spoke calmly. "Although you possess only a half-demon body, with impure blood, you still hold great potential."
"However, I did not immediately take you as my disciple to nurture."
"I knew of the Golden Toad’s schemes from beginning to end. Do you understand why I did not intervene to help you? Instead, why did I summon you only now?"
Ning Wudao solemnly said, "If this disciple could not overcome the trial posed by the Golden Toad, then I would not be worthy of the Ancestor’s regard."
"Conversely, if this disciple could eliminate the Golden Toad through my own power, it would prove I have the right to receive cultivation guidance from the Ancestor."
"Precisely so."
Demon Sage Fire Phoenix smiled lightly, her allure captivating all who beheld her.
"Would you be willing to become my disciple?" Demon Sage Fire Phoenix looked at Ning Wudao.
"This disciple is willing."
Ning Wudao agreed instantly.
His heart, though cold and distrusting of all others, did not make him a fool.
Becoming a disciple to a Sage brought him only immense benefit and absolutely no harm.
Moreover, Demon Sage Fire Phoenix was merely one of his supports.
In Ning Wudao’s heart, his most important pillars remained Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and Ye Xu.
"Good."
Demon Sage Fire Phoenix smiled, revealing teeth white as snow, using the gentlest tone to utter terrifying words.
"Had you refused just now, you would already be dead."
Ning Wudao shuddered.
He looked toward Demon Sage Fire Phoenix, and Demon Sage Fire Phoenix still wore an intoxicating smile, but Ning Wudao felt a chill in his heart.
He couldn’t see through Demon Sage Fire Phoenix.
This was a more terrifying master than the Golden Toad Demon God.
"I observe that the technique you cultivate is not unique to our Celestial Demon Hall. Do you have an interest in specializing in my technique?" Demon Sage Fire Phoenix asked.
Ning Wudao shook his head. "This technique was obtained through an incredible opportunity and harmonizes perfectly with the Celestial bloodline. Practicing it allows my strength to reach its limit."
Ning Wudao neither wanted to nor dared to cultivate Demon Sage Fire Phoenix’s method.
Who knew if she would turn out to be the next Golden Toad Demon God?
"Very well."
Demon Sage Fire Phoenix did not press the issue. A command token flew out from her sleeve. "This is my command token. Seeing this token is like seeing me in person."
"Starting today, you are the new hall master of the Celestial Demon Hall."
"Thank you, master, for your nurturing."
This outcome was within Ning Wudao’s expectations.
"If you have any requests, I can consider helping you," Demon Sage Fire Phoenix said.
Ning Wudao pondered for a moment.
After a while, Ning Wudao took a deep breath. "Master, if the Celestial Demon Hall wishes to thrive, it must establish rules. The so-called jungle law where the strong rule is unsuitable for the Celestial Demon Hall."
This law had deeply harmed Ning Wudao.
At the same time, he had also benefited from it.
But in his heart, Ning Wudao detested it intensely.
Demon Sage Fire Phoenix smirked faintly. "You want to set rules for the Celestial Demon Hall? Are you afraid of becoming the next Golden Toad?"
"I want the Celestial Demon Hall to become the teacher for all demons in the Yuan Realm!"
Ning Wudao spoke firmly, each word ringing with conviction.
For a moment, Demon Sage Fire Phoenix couldn’t even determine whether the figure before her was a rebellious son who slew his father for power or a reformer.
"You are the hall master of the Celestial Demon Hall. You should decide how to proceed. Don’t bother me with these trivial matters."
Demon Sage Fire Phoenix’s elegant brows furrowed slightly, her expression impatient.
"I understand, master."
Ning Wudao nodded his head.
Demon Sage Fire Phoenix did not oppose it, signifying that she agreed with Ning Wudao’s idea.
As long as the Saint Ancestor stood on his side, Ning Wudao had nothing to fear.
Transforming the Celestial Demon Hall was his most cherished goal.
"You may cultivate under the phoenix tree for ten days to consolidate your cultivation. If there is nothing else, you may depart now," Demon Sage Fire Phoenix waved her hand and said.
Her sleeve rippled, revealing a glimpse of snowy-white skin, but Ning Wudao ignored it as if he saw nothing.
"Your disciple takes his leave."
Ning Wudao bowed and withdrew.
BOOM!
Suddenly.
Demon Sage Fire Phoenix’s beautiful eyes turned icy sharp. She flew out from the divine palace, alighting on the phoenix tree, her eyes swirling with flames as two beams of divine light pierced the small void and fixed on a distant spot.
Ning Wudao’s expression shifted slightly. Anything that could alarm a Saint this much was certainly a momentous event.
Could it be related to that senior?
"Master, has something happened?" Ning Wudao asked uncertainly.
After a few breaths.
Demon Sage Fire Phoenix descended from the branch, her expression grave.
"On the Southern Wilderness, someone has attained Sainthood."
"Judging by the aura, it should be Ye Hongchen from the Red Dust Demon Sect!"
