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Chapter 59: Journey to Jade Sword Mountain (Part II)
The Demon God sneered as he left a message for his other self: You useless creature!
The Demon Lord left a message in return: Doesn't matter. I’ll follow her to the grave!
"..."
When Jinsui woke in the morning, she found the Demon God gazing into the distance. His eyes were usually a void of tranquility, devoid of any discernible emotion, yet today she could actually read a trace of profound disappointment in his gaze, the look of one seeing a piece of iron that refused to become steel.
She was well aware of the blood sacrifice’s influence on him. Had it been anyone else, they likely wouldn't dare sleep beside him, putting as much distance between them as possible.
The Demon God had wondered if the Heavenly Dao, upon discovering the influence of the sacrifice, would temporarily leave "Yanyan." Yet she appeared entirely unruffled, lacking any awareness that her bedfellow might kill her at any moment.
"Heavenly Dao," the Demon God asked, "are you not afraid?"
"I don't eat onions," she replied calmly.
Subconsciously, the Demon God picked every single onion out of her bowl and into his own.
"..."
It seemed there really was no need for her to be afraid.
However, he had made a promise to that love-addled version of himself; he still had to give her his word. "Rest assured," the Demon God said. "I shall not kill you."
The group was currently making their way toward the Jade Sword Conference venue. Upon hearing this, Little Eye turned its head, its serpentine body twisting as it let out a hiss of mockery.
"..."
The Demon God thought: How have I fallen to the point where even a snake mocks me?
The first stage of the Jade Sword Conference was the preliminary selection. On the massive platform at the peak of Jade Sword Mountain, countless red arenas floated in the air. Contestants stood atop them to defend their positions while spectators from below could challenge them. If the defender lost, they were replaced. Those still standing on the platforms at sunset would advance to the second round.
Aside from Yan Xueyi and Little Eye, who did not participate, everyone else from the Xirang Sect was driven onto the arenas under Sect Leader Zhaoyue’s prodding. After all, the conference included a sect ranking system. Since their numbers were pitifully small, they had to squeeze every ounce of potential out of every member.
The announcer's voice rang out: "Xirang Sect!"
Hong Niang, dressed in vibrant red and wielding her eight-section bone fan, looked every bit the delicate beauty as she took her stand. Ling Yun, a sword cultivator, occupied another arena with her blade in hand, her large, round eyes making her look deceptively easy to bully.
Then came Chao Zhaoyue. He held significant fame in the cultivation world. The crowd below began to whisper:
"That's him! The Moon-Plucking Sword!"
"Yes, that's the one! The one who said he'd only strike ten times but ended up landing ninety-nine!"
Chao Zhaoyue’s lip twitched.
Finally, there was Chao Jinsui. Her appearance required no introduction; the moment she stepped onto the arena, a deafening roar erupted from the crowd.
The only ones left from Xirang were Little Eye and the Demon God, who stood with his hands behind his back watching the matches. Perhaps because he was accompanied by a foolish snake, the Demon God's aura of oppression was greatly diminished.
Someone asked, "You're from Xirang too. Why aren't you up there?"
"I do not involve myself in the disputes of the mortal realm," the Demon God replied placidly.
"Hmph, sounds pretty, but you're just a pretty-boy!"
The Demon God raised a hand, intending to strike the man dead, but then a thought occurred to him: He’s right. That love-addled version of me truly does want to be the Heavenly Dao’s pretty-boy.
The Demon God kept his hands behind his back and remained silent.
In the arena, Chao Jinsui gave her Kunlun Sword a sharp flick. Because of her fame, a massive crowd had gathered before her arena, lining up to challenge her. She swept a glance over them, gauging the cultivation levels of those waiting.
She smiled. "To save everyone some time, why don't you all come at once?"
The challengers exchanged looks. A middle-aged cultivator in crimson robes snorted. "Lady Chao, do not be too arrogant!"
Hardly had he spoken when several figures flew onto the arena, reaching out to seize her. A dozen swords lunged toward her simultaneously! Yet she was as light as a swallow, showing no sign of disadvantage despite the encirclement.
With a light tap of her toes, Chao Jinsui stepped onto the blades of the dozen swords. With a nimble hop and a graceful arc of her Kunlun Sword in mid-air, the dozen blades were shredded like silk!
She smiled. "Gentlemen, my apologies."
The Demon God watched in silence. He admired the Heavenly Dao before him, she was calm, confident, and knew exactly when to advance or retreat.
He said to his other self: Look at her. Then look at you.
The Heavenly Dao possessed seven emotions and six desires, yet her inherent characteristics were clear, she was decisive in slaughter and excessively calm. The Demon God’s ideal version of himself with emotions would have been a carbon copy of her.
While the Demon God was busy loathing himself, Yanyan spoke: Isn't she captivating?
The Demon God: Yes.
"..."
The part of him that was Yanyan gave a mental "Hah."
Across from the arenas stood Songyun Pavilion, the premier vantage point for the matches. Chao Taichu and Yuan Fengnian sat in a small private room, watching the arenas below. They had hurried over as the day drew to a close specifically to observe Chao Jinsui.
The blood sacrifice was now half-complete, and the Demon God was slowly awakening. Logically, the current Demon Lord should be undergoing obvious changes. Chao Taichu had assumed that under such conditions, Chao Jinsui would be injured, or at the very least, completely estranged from him.
Yet there she was, perfectly fine at the conference, standing strong on her arena. And below stood none other than the Demon Lord himself.
Anxiety gnawed at Chao Taichu’s heart as he downed cup after cup of tea. When she drew the Kunlun Sword, he clearly sensed a change in her. He stared fixedly at her blade; every move and stance held a hint of power that could swallow mountains and rivers. If her style was previously an unstoppable edge, it had now reached a realm of refined restraint.
This was different from Chao Taichu’s own power. His cultivation was a gift from "that person," not something he had forged himself. The lightning whip on his sword was formidable, but could it compare to the girl before him?
No. Before entering the Water-Cloud Realm, perhaps it could. But after emerging, her swordsmanship had undergone a world-shaking transformation!
As Chao Taichu was lost in thought, a cheer erupted from the adjacent room! It belonged to Yuan Xiangsi and Yuan Tianyu’s group, who were joined by Ling Yun and Hong Niang, since few dared to challenge them, the two had finished early and were invited to watch.
"Excellent swordwork!" Yuan Tianyu praised. "I fear even our master might be a step behind. Truly, a hero rises from the youth!"
Yuan Xiangsi added with pride, "You don't know! I saw Sect Leader Jinsui in the Water-Cloud Realm. When she killed that stingray, there was a loud 'crack'!"
That "crack" sent a jolt through Chao Taichu, causing his hand to shake and spill his wine. As if that weren't enough:
"Its head just went flying! It landed in the water with a splash, and the blood... it just gushed out!" Xiang Si continued.
"When our Young Sect Leader killed Su Liuyun, that was truly clean and efficient!" Ling Yun chimed in. "One thrust into the gut, and she shattered every meridian!"
Ling Yun chuckled. "I wonder, if it had been off by a few inches, would his intestines have spilled out?"
Hong Niang giggled. "In my opinion, dealing with a scoundrel like that, one should crush the head. The sight of brains bursting out is far more beautiful!"
Chao Taichu found himself drenched in a cold sweat. His mind was filled with images of Chao Jinsui stabbing Su Liuyun. Then came the hum of the Kunlun Sword from below. Her figure spun in the air, descended, and with a single strike, sent the remaining challengers flying.
Chao Taichu stood abruptly. "Brother Fengnian, I must take my leave."
Yuan Fengnian stopped him. "Brother Chao, wait! Look!" He lowered his voice. "The blood sacrifice is not without effect! Look closely, his eyes are gold! That is the Demon God!"
Just as he spoke, the Demon God looked up, his gaze sweeping toward them. That single glance was enough to make one break into a cold sweat! Chao Taichu recoiled instantly, yet he couldn't help but squint his eyes, filled with anticipation.
As long as the Demon God awakened, it wouldn't matter how powerful the new Heavenly Dao was, she would still be struck down!
The gold-eyed Demon God quickly looked away because Chao Jinsui was coming down. He walked over to her and presented a silken handkerchief, pastries, and tea.
"..."
Chao Taichu demanded furiously, "Brother Fengnian, you call that the Demon God?"
"..."
Chao Taichu stormed off.
That night, Chao Taichu sat up in bed, drenched in sweat. Dreams of crushed heads, spilling intestines, and severed necks haunted him. He hurried from his bedroom to an ancestral tablet and lit three sticks of incense.
After a long while, he felt that presence descend. A wisp of green smoke rose slowly. How could Chao Taichu know of "blood sacrifices"? They were secrets lost ten thousand years ago. And how could he have the ability or confidence to handle a Demon God?
Unless there was a ghost standing behind him.
After the birth of the new Heavenly Dao, who could have imagined the old one still lived? Though diminished, it remained, a black shadow lingering in the world, watching the new Dao like an ever-present specter. Yuan Fengnian was one of the few who knew of the "Old Heavenly Dao's" existence.
"Could you... give me a bit more cultivation?" Chao Taichu’s voice was raspy.
The wisp of smoke asked: You wish to enter the Spirit Transformation stage? How many strikes of the Spirit Transformation lightning tribulation could you survive? What are you afraid of? Did I not leave you a life-saving talisman? Simply hide within your sect's great array when the time comes.
"But... that Demon God seems to... I just feel something is wrong!"
The smoke seemed to recall something from the distant past and paused for a long time. Finally, it sneered: Do you think it's a coincidence that while the ancient gods have all perished, the Demon God still lives? Because he was a god left in this world as a weapon of destruction.
Cruel, bloodthirsty, and viewing every single soul as equally deserving of death.
Chao Taichu shivered. "Then waking him means... means..."
The green smoke replied softly: You still have the energy to worry about heaven and earth? You had best worry about keeping your own miserable life.
"But I saw the Demon God hand her a handkerchief."
Was the handkerchief poisoned? the smoke asked.
"It was scented."
"..."
"Utter nonsense!"
Among the pantheon of gods, the Demon God’s cruelty was legendary. The Old Heavenly Dao had even seen the Demon God ten thousand years ago; his treatment of the Heavenly Dao could be described as nothing less than utter loathing!
The Old Heavenly Dao, having experienced that hatred firsthand, sneered: It must be that the blood sacrifice hasn't reached its peak effect yet! Stop doing them one by one; that's too slow. Tonight, trigger them all at once. Let's see if we can't fully awaken the Demon God!
Chao Taichu remained silent. The Old Heavenly Dao’s voice grew distant again: Rest assured. The new Heavenly Dao must slay her father to prove her path. As long as you live, how can she complete her ascension? I will keep you alive.
The smoke dissipated. Chao Taichu hurried into the night.
That evening, the small courtyard was filled with laughter and cheer. Every member of Xirang had advanced to the next round. By the end of the day, their ranking had broken into the top eight! Their numbers were few, but they made up for it by the sheer volume of opponents they eliminated. Each person defeated earned two points; Jinsui alone had racked up over two hundred points for the sect. While others took challenges one by one, she had taken on a dozen at a time, making their score skyrocket.
Chao Zhaoyue was still grumpy during dinner. "I wanted them to come at me all at once too, but some brat spread word that Xirang was just farming points in the first round and told everyone not to go up and deliver their heads."
As a result, he had waited for ages without a single soul stepping up. This left him deeply disappointed, a sentiment that made everyone burst into laughter.
When Chao Jinsui returned to her own quarters, her smile gradually faded. She looked at the Great Devil who had come over to nuzzle her and felt a strange sensation. She had the feeling that the Demon God and Yanyan were using this blood sacrifice to achieve a subtle fusion.
She wasn't worried about the Jade Sword Conference; she was worried about Yanyan. "Yanyan," she said, "you've been using your demonic energy too frequently lately. Is the next outbreak coming soon?"
Yan Xueyi narrowed his phoenix eyes and said lazily, "We'll just find a place away from the crowds when the time comes."
"But this isn't a permanent solution." She knew he didn't want to kill her, but letting the blood sacrifice continue left them too passive. "Why don't you try agreeing to them? Pretend to awaken at the altar and agree to kill me."
The Great Devil grew wary. "I won't kill you. I won't even if I die." He suspected she was testing him, his tone becoming righteous and firm.
"It's a pretense. We're casting a long line to catch a big fish."
He frowned. "But I can't act as if I loathe you to my core." This demon was a terrible actor. Asking him to pretend was less efficient than asking him to simply swat someone to death.
"Do you remember Wu Ya?"
The Demon Lord's face instantly darkened.
"Yes, that expression," Jinsui said. "When you talk about the Heavenly Dao, just imagine she's Wu Ya."
And just like that, the Demon Lord’s acting skills received a massive upgrade.
That night, after she had entered her sea of consciousness to practice her sword, Yan Xueyi sat before her, waiting for the blood sacrifice to descend. Her intuition was correct; he was indeed using this opportunity.
The one who laid this trap was exploiting the Demon God's "instincts." The blood-lusting state during the sacrifice was close to how the Demon God would be after returning to his position. Rather than being forced into the trap, it was more accurate to say that the Demon God and "Yanyan" were conducting a rehearsal.
Returning to the position of the Demon God was an unchangeable future. Both Yan Xueyi and the god knew that the severing of seven emotions and six desires was both real and inevitable. But Yan Xueyi was trying to leave a deep brand upon himself.
He did not want his divine self to completely forget and discard everything belonging to "Yanyan," to become a god without desire or need, forever silent in the eternal night of the Demon Realm. He could have accepted ten thousand years of darkness before, but now, as he sat in the dark watching the girl sitting cross-legged with a soft expression, he felt that the mere thought of "not having her company" was unbearable.
Even now, when neither of them spoke and they simply sat together, he felt peace and happiness. He did not want this fleeting time in the mortal realm; it was too short. The "Yanyan" of the previous life had left a deep impression after the Demon God’s return, but it hadn't been enough. The Demon God had only felt a sense of pain but had entirely lost the capacity to love. No matter how surging or powerful the emotions were, all that remained for the god was an impression of "slight pain."
Yan Xueyi was greedy. That wasn't enough. He truly wanted to clearly remember that he loved her even after his return. He was addicted to her presence. He wanted eternity.
The lifespan of the Demon God was as long as heaven and earth, and the Heavenly Dao, if whole, would not perish except by accident. They were meant for eternity. The Demon God sensed "Yanyan’s" thoughts, yet for some reason, he allowed it all to happen. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a game of chess between "Yanyan" and the Demon God.
The moment the sounds of the sacrifice rang out, the game began.
Sure enough, as soon as Yan Xueyi closed his eyes, he appeared atop a sacrificial altar. Each time it was a different location and a different group of people, yet they used the same words for the ritual. He realized these people were never surprised by the Demon God's brutality. They seemed to believe the Demon God lacked reason and never bothered trying to persuade him; it was as if they expected the mere mention of "Heavenly Dao" to drive him into a killing frenzy.
The Demon God isn't a rabid dog! Yan Xueyi thought. But then he corrected himself, after returning to his position, the Demon God really was a bit of a rabid dog. Their view of him wasn't entirely wrong.
But this time, he didn't immediately swat them all to death. Instead, he asked coldly, "The Heavenly Dao?"
The crowd below was overjoyed. "Yes, yes! The Heavenly Dao has awakened!"
"Where is she?" the Great Devil asked.
"She is right here on Jade Sword Mountain!" they cried excitedly. "There are forty-nine altars in total. With such powerful sacrificial energy, slaying the Heavenly Dao will be a simple task!"
"..."
I was wondering why I couldn't finish killing you lot. You bastards actually set up forty-nine altars?
Someone below asked cautiously, "God, is there any specific sacrifice you desire?"
"Yes," the demon replied. "Kill yourselves."
He raised his hand and swatted them all, leaving only one man alive to go back and deliver the news. In this sacrificial state, he could only possess this divine statue, so he left a trace of his consciousness on the survivor. This allowed him to see the outside world through the middle-aged man's eyes.
The man scrambled out of the altar room and ran outside. Yan Xueyi saw that they were on a mountain, likely one of the peaks near Jade Sword Mountain. The cliffside was lined with neat rows of caves, each containing an altar. Countless people were scurrying between them, hurrying into the caves.
Before he could see more, flames suddenly erupted on countless altars simultaneously! A chorus of chanting converged into a river of sound, surging into the Great Devil’s sea of consciousness. His trace of consciousness could no longer stay with the man; he was pulled back into the original divine statue!
As he opened his eyes, his vision became strange. He could see every altar and every person below. It was as if he truly had become a god above the nine heavens, seeing all through his statues. A cacophony of noise filled his ears. His eyes turned a brilliant gold as his emotions began to drain away, leaving his heart a hollow void.
Then, those voices all transformed into a single word: Kill! Kill! Kill! This command filled the god's empty eyes and heart.
But Yan Xueyi had anticipated this. Before "Yanyan" completely vanished, he had left a restriction upon himself! What he feared most about becoming the Demon God was that everyone around him would become mere ants; he would have no emotion other than the urge to kill. In that state, he wouldn't favor any side. He wouldn't see the sacrifice as evil, nor would he see the Heavenly Dao’s retaliation as evil. His perspective was from the heavens. He was a god, and he believed every living thing should die.
The sacrificers should be killed; the Heavenly Dao should be killed; even a passing dog should be struck dead. If you asked the Demon God who shouldn't be killed, the answer was no one, because after destroying the world, he would kill himself.
Yan Xueyi knew exactly what he was like in his divine state. His mindset was worlds apart from both humans and demons; he was essentially a monster. The person who designed this sacrifice had calculated correctly, perfectly understanding the nature of the Demon God.
But Yan Xueyi had placed a new chain upon himself.
"Yanyan" vanished completely. The Demon God’s gold eyes opened, devoid of emotion. Dozens of altars activated at once, their murderous aura nearly piercing the heavens! The swelling urge to kill forced the Demon God into a state very close to his original station.
Almost instantly, he opened his eyes and returned to the small courtyard where his original body resided.
Heavenly Dao. It is the Heavenly Dao.
The Demon God was not the calm figure who had appeared in the Asura Path. He was like a cold blade that remembered nothing but slaughter. But as he walked toward her, that "Yanyan" spoke from the depths of his heart.
His steps faltered. His eyes were hollow, yet he continued toward her. However, with every step, the voice in his head rang out.
Quiet, the Demon God commanded calmly. The voice vanished. But when he reached her and his fingers were about to touch her, they suddenly curled inward.
The voice had returned, lazy and filled with a mocking laugh: Go ahead. It doesn't matter. I'll just follow her to the grave.
A surge of demonic energy suddenly appeared around the Demon God's heart. If he moved, it would shatter his heart. The Demon God’s task was to destroy the world when it teetered on the edge of chaos; he couldn't simply kill himself before his mission was complete.
Finally, the Demon God closed his eyes. He realized that besides slaughter, he had firmly remembered one other thing: He was Yanyan. And Yanyan could not bear to lose her.
He turned his head.
As that overwhelming desire for slaughter reached its absolute peak, several statues of the Demon God simultaneously opened their eyes as if coming to life. Anyone who met that gaze felt as if they were being watched by an ancient, terrifying existence. Then, the chanting faltered, and the people before the altars were violently thrown back!
Explosions followed in rapid succession! The sacrificial platforms shattered, and the caves cracked open! Amidst the soaring flames, the golden eyes of the divine statue could no longer maintain their usual cold indifference.
"Yanyan" had succeeded. Even in a state so close to godhood, he had firmly remembered her. The god now had a selfish heart, a preference.
He opened his eyes and met hers. She had long since been disturbed. He was still in the posture of one about to choke her. A flicker of panic rose in the Demon God’s heart.
But then he thought: What are you panicking for?!
...But I'm still a bit panicked.
Finally, he realized with a sense of self-abandonment: He was Yanyan, and Yanyan was him. He was that love-addled fool who would follow someone to the grave at the slightest provocation.
The Demon God’s hand shifted course, smoothly picking up a cloak from nearby and wrapping it around her. "The night wind is strong," he said calmly. "It is cold."
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