Chapter 97: Yi Feng
Lu Xiu walked through the palace, and Feng Li appeared behind him.
“Have you found out?” Feng Li asked in a low voice.
“A year ago, the two figures Hu Qing saw in the forbidden area,” Lu Xiu said, “were Lu Chaoyang and the leader of Yinghuo, the clone Chen Zhen.”
Feng Li furrowed his brows, and Lu Xiu added, “Next, you’ll try to delay him, while I gather evidence.”
Feng Li responded, “To deal with him, we no longer need evidence. We just need to convene the four kings, announce his crimes, and that would be sufficient.”
"No," Lu Xiu replied, "We need evidence."
Lu Xiu stopped walking and added, "What are the chances that the four kings would submit to him if another me appears before you?"
Feng Li, clearly aware of the situation, also stopped in his tracks.
From this silence, Lu Xiu had already received his answer.
“Is that you?” Feng Li asked gravely. “If it's just an illusion…”
Lu Xiu responded, “That is me. He is the manifestation of my inner demon. Yinghuo used my dragon blood to nurture him. He has almost all of my memories and all my negative consciousness. He can be considered another me. The old me was full of reluctance, unwilling to accept or even face the fate that awaited me. But eventually, I was persuaded and discarded it. Yinghuo found it and, using my blood, reshaped another Lu Xiu.”
Feng Li asked, “Did this happen before King Xiang entrusted the sacred land to you, or after?”
"After," said Lu Xiu. "I think the answer is quite clear now."
Feng Li remarked, “In that case, we can only assume that when King Xiang handed over the sacred land to you, you and your inner demon were one. Both of you can be regarded as the 'Lesser King.' The current struggle between you and your inner demon is something the demon tribe cannot intervene in.”
Receiving the expected answer, Lu Xiu nodded. Feng Li said, “I too have battled my own inner demon. Mine appeared in the form of a twin, separated within our mother's womb during gestation.”
“The demon tribe cannot assist you,” Feng Li continued, “and similarly, they cannot assist the other you. That said, Lesser King, you still have a chance of victory. When will the final battle begin?”
Lu Xiu replied, “He is here in this palace. We will begin shortly.”
“I wish you luck,” Feng Li bowed and left Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu stood in front of the windy and rainy corridor, gazing towards the ominous Wushan Mountains, and at the highest peak, the Goddess Peak. She stood atop the summit, overlooking the age-worn earth. Below her, the ceaseless flow of the Yangtze River, like time, never stopped.
Jiang Hong was lost in a long dream.
“...That is Yinghuo,” a young voice said, “It is the ultimate destiny of the world... It is about to return...”
“Track its trajectory,” a man's firm voice commanded, “When the time comes, both the higher and lower dimensions will be shattered...”
The youth asked, “Soon, just four years after we left... Can Lu Xiu really withstand it?”
The man replied, “He will figure it out. I believe in him, just as you once believed in me without any reservations.”
The youth said, “But the sudden prophecy...”
The man stated, “The sudden prophecy is not the final outcome. It's an uncertain future, the end of the cycle. Every thousand years, the demon of heaven reincarnates. It's just Yinghuo harvesting nutrients, the stars collapsing one by one under the power of darkness. An Jie managed to escape to our world...”
This time, Jiang Hong's dream became clear. He suddenly found himself in a golden-lit cave with distinct murals.
There were murals depicting the world, and in front of them stood a man and a youth, holding hands, facing the murals.
The mural resembled the diagrams drawn by Zhu Jinling during her lessons, showing markers of the outer world, inner world, higher dimensions, lower dimensions, the Endless Dream, and cracks...
But on this diagram, there was an additional area. In the upper right corner appeared a crimson celestial body, burning with black flames, plummeting towards the world.
“This is the seed Yinghuo planted on Earth ten thousand years ago. The demonic energy is its power, life is its sustenance, making it stronger,” the youth murmured, “It's about to return.”
In an instant, countless scenes flashed before Jiang Hong. Faces he knew and didn't know, Lu Xiu, Cao Bin, Xuan He Zhi, his own parents, all passed by like a carousel. Finally, the grand world disappeared, revealing a strange child.
The child's eyes and brows shimmered with light, floating in the air, body half-curled, holding a glowing orb in front of him. The orb emitted a gentle blue light, vaguely outlining land, oceans, clouds... It was the Earth.
The child seemed to sense something, lifting his eyes to meet Jiang Hong's gaze.
It was only a brief moment before the dream returned to darkness.
In the sacred land, Lu Chaoyang felt the final seal being broken.
He dropped Feng Li, not even bothering to explain, and quickly returned to his aquatic tribe's council chamber.
But Lu Xiu was already there, seemingly prepared for this.
Lu Chaoyang halted, confronting Lu Xiu.
“Last night,” Lu Chaoyang said, “I had many things to say, but I knew you wouldn’t heed my advice. I’m curious, why would someone knowingly face obliteration yet refuse to even slightly resist their fate?”
“Living long has its advantages and disadvantages, and can easily lead to blindness,” Lu Xiu calmly stated. “Some species think just because they have lived long and absorbed more of the world's essence, they can challenge a dragon beyond their level.”
Lu Chaoyang smiled, saying, “Even as a Xiang Liu, I wouldn't dare challenge the highest beings between heaven and earth. But just because I can’t, doesn’t mean others can’t. Have you thought this through? This will inevitably be a duel to the death, beyond anyone's intervention.”
As he spoke, Lu Chaoyang raised a hand, but nothing happened.
“Looking for this?” Lu Xiu also raised his hand, revealing a small, ancient wind chime.
Lu Chaoyang was stunned, a dangerous look appearing in his eyes.
“Shall I call for you?” Immediately, Lu Xiu gently shook the chime, producing a clear “ding” sound.
A powerful oppressive force emerged, slowly opening every door from the courtyard to the main hall, revealing a dark figure in the far distance.
"I have been waiting for this day for a long time," Dark Lu Xiu said solemnly, "Are you finally ready to face me in an honest duel?"
Lu Xiu remained silent, just intently watching as Dark Lu Xiu’s figure steadily approached, while Lu Chaoyang swiftly made the wisest decision—to quickly retreat to one side.
Immediately, the power of two dragon languages stirred up towering waves, roaring and shattering the ground in their path, sending splinters of wood flying into the air. The moment they collided, an unstoppable shockwave erupted!
Jiang Hong was jolted awake by a loud sound.
“Wake up, quick!” Zhang Xiting anxiously shook Jiang Hong.
“What?” Jiang Hong, groggy from sleep, opened his eyes to find it was still early morning.
Zhang Xiting asked, “What happened last night?”
“Last night?” Jiang Hong, still drowsy, struggled to sit up, just as another loud bang resounded, shaking the glass windows, which began to crack like spiderwebs. A shockwave spread through the mountains, as if a giant beast was endlessly battling outside.
Shouts were heard from outside, and Jiang Hong called out, “Old Sun? Old Sun!”
“I’m here,” Old Sun replied, “Jiang Hong, get out of bed quickly.”
Then came a third thunderous boom, like rolling thunder. The floor-to-ceiling windows shattered, breaking into a cloud of dust that swept in with the wind and rain.
Immediately, Zhang Xiting and Jiang Hong rolled under the bed for cover. The cold rain doused Jiang Hong, snapping him fully awake. He said, “Where’s Lu Xiu? What’s happening outside?!”
“Two dragons!” Zhang Xiting exclaimed, “Another dragon suddenly appeared, and they started fighting in the valley!”
Jiang Hong instantly recalled what had happened before he fell asleep and shouted, “This is bad! It must have disturbed the dark clone! Where are the others?”
“They’ve already evacuated to the lower levels,” Zhang Xiting said. “Jin He, He Jian, Xiao Pi, Lian Jiang are still nearby, and that guy Yi Feng you brought in… The upper levels are temporarily closed. They say two demon kings are dueling…”
Jiang Hong immediately understood; it must be that Lu Xiu had found the hiding place of Dark Lu Xiu, and the two were engaged in a life-or-death battle again.
He grabbed Zhang Xiting, saying, “Let’s go see! What about the other demons?”
Zhang Xiting and Jiang Hong ran out of the corridor, with Zhang Xiting explaining, “Lu Chaoyang has ordered that no one, human or demon, should intervene.”
Hearing this, Jiang Hong felt slightly relieved, knowing that although Lu Xiu and Dark Lu Xiu were evenly matched, Lu Xiu had his own crafted Western sword, which might give him an overwhelming advantage this time.
“Is that all you've got?!” a roar sounded, seemingly Lu Xiu's voice, but Jiang Hong immediately recognized it as the arrogant Dark Lu Xiu.
He ran to the center of the corridor connecting two mountain peaks, leaning on the railing to look out.
The sky was shrouded in darkness, indistinguishable from day or night, as if the apocalypse had arrived. Under the thunderclouds, lightning zigzagged, and two figures were rapidly spiraling in the valley around the river, trailing dazzling lights. The dragon language turned into tangible spells, flickering with purplish-black luminescence in the darkness.
Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the entire sacred land.
Zhang Xiting nudged Jiang Hong, signaling him to look. Jiang Hong wiped the water off his face and surveyed the sacred land's buildings on the nearby mountains, crowded with demons who had come out to watch.
“That’s not Lu Xiu!” Jiang Hong shouted in frustration.
But all the members of the demon race ignored Jiang Hong, who kept his eyes fixed on the aerial duel. A crane flew down and landed behind Jiang Hong.
“For them,” He Rong's voice said, “the other party in the duel is also a dragon.”
Jiang Hong said urgently, “That's his clone! Created by Yinghuo!”
He Rong whispered back, “To the demons, it’s all the same. They don’t care if the other is a demon or not. Only if the Lesser King defeats his demon can everyone submit.”
Jiang Hong asked, “What about principles?”
Zhang Xiting signaled to stop, urging Jiang Hong not to argue pointlessly. At that moment, Lu Xiu and Dark Lu Xiu both transformed into dragons, each emitting a dragon’s roar.
Lu Xiu still shimmered with golden seals, breathing dragon fire, while Dark Lu Xiu was more agile. Both were thoroughly prepared for today’s inevitable, fated battle.
Amidst the thunderous noise, the two dragons entangled and crashed into the mountainside. A corner of the pavilion on the cliff collapsed like a landslide under their immense force. The demons scattered everywhere but remained resolute in not intervening in this decisive battle!
"Find a hidden place to hide for now," He Rong whispered, "This is as much as I can help you."
Then, He Rong transformed back into a crane and flew away.
Soon after, a figure approached the corridor from a distance, prompting Zhang Xiting and Jiang Hong to retreat immediately.
The person was tall and imposing—it was Lu Chaoyang!
“Jiang Hong,” Lu Chaoyang spoke gently, “Come with me.”
“Wait.” Another voice emerged behind Jiang Hong, who immediately turned back to see Feng Li.
Feng Li stepped forward calmly, saying, “Xiang Liu, His Majesty the Demon King hasn’t lost yet.”
Jiang Hong thought to himself: Lu Xiu won’t lose! He has the sword I made; he will surely win!
In the valley, the duel between the two black dragons had reached a fever pitch, but on the corridor, Lu Chaoyang and Feng Li didn’t even glance at the battlefield—
“Whether Lu Xiu devours his inner demon,” Lu Chaoyang said, “or the inner demon devours him, the outcome is the same. Feng Li, the day everyone has been waiting for is fast approaching. Are you still so stubborn?”
Feng Li, standing in front of Jiang Hong and Zhang Xiting, replied, “Even if they devour each other, we must wait for the new Demon King to emerge and follow his decision. It's not right to take hostages prematurely.”
Lu Chaoyang burst into laughter, saying, “Feng Li, you are becoming more and more like a human.”
Feng Li responded coldly, “I am merely fulfilling the last wishes of Xiang Cheng before he left.”
Another loud crash echoed as the black dragon, covered in golden seals, tightly gripped the other black dragon and crashed into the highest peak of Wushan.
In the attention of all, Lu Xiu and Dark Lu Xiu returned to their human forms, and suddenly an immense darkness erupted.
“I am going to devour you—!” the voice of Dark Lu Xiu thundered, “Surrender all your resentment and unwillingness! All the responsibilities you bear can be put down today—”
Lu Xiu raised his hand, as if trying to grasp something in the air.
At that moment, Jiang Hong seemed to instinctively foresee the future.
He knew this must be Lu Xiu's strategy! Next, he would draw the Western sword bestowed to him in a second, and six rays of light would burst forth, vanquishing his opponent with a single strike!
However, it didn’t happen. Instead, a black orb of light burst from the summit of Witch Mountain, like a red giant star burning in its twilight years. The orb collapsed and shrank within a second, and all the watching demons of the sanctuary shouted in unison.
Feng Li gestured with his hand behind his back, signaling to leave.
"Quick, let's go," Zhang Xiting urged in a low voice, "Jiang Hong, hurry!"
Lu Chaoyang momentarily forgot about Jiang Hong and turned his head towards the distance. The black orb spewed out majestic black flames, sweeping across the entire sanctuary like a tangible entity.
"Hurry!" Feng Li shouted to Jiang Hong, seizing the moment, "Go! Go!"
Jiang Hong saw Lu Xiu emerge from the black flames, the seal binding him disintegrating into pieces and crumbling away.
This is impossible…
Everything happened so fast that Jiang Hong was still not fully awake.
A thunderous dragon roar filled the air. The new Lu Xiu, with golden eyes, floated quietly in midair.
"A new king is born!" Lu Chaoyang’s voice echoed through Witch Mountain, "Bow again to your king! The king of the demon race! This is our true, pure-blooded leader—!"
"This can’t be!" Before Jiang Hong could fully shout, Feng Li made a swift decision, slapping his hand back, and with glowing runes, a powerful force propelled Jiang Hong and Zhang Xiting swiftly towards the depths of the palace.
Lu Chaoyang turned to Feng Li, who circled his left hand and pressed his right on a huge wooden pillar of the corridor. With a "whoosh," tiles shattered and flew, and the entire corridor collapsed in an instant, blocking the entrance to the palace with broken stones and wood.
"Your actions are pointless," Lu Chaoyang floated in the air while Feng Li kept retreating, and in an instant, Lu Chaoyang revealed his true form.
Amid the widespread exclamations, a gigantic nine-headed serpent appeared, with Xiang Liu having a human head and snake body, spewing fire and ice from heads several meters high. Feng Li swiftly dodged in mid-air, his aura exploding violently, transforming into an equally gigantic nine-tailed fox, its spiritual tails covering the heavens and earth, roaring at Xiang Liu, sweeping through the dark sky.
The second battle between demon kings began in an instant, with Lu Xiu engulfed in flames, merely watching the scene with a cold sneer.
Jiang Hong and Zhang Xiting crashed hard into the corridor, with explosions sounding continuously outside.
"Impossible, this can’t be happening." Jiang Hong struggled to get up, and Zhang Xiting helped him, saying, "We need to go down! To the lower area, Teacher He Zhi is still there!"
Jiang Hong took a moment to catch his breath, and Zhang Xiting said again, "Calm down!"
The words "Stay calm" snapped Jiang Hong back to reality. He looked towards the gray sky, hearing continuous explosions from afar. Zhang Xiting said, “Feng Li is buying us time; you need to find a way out!”
“Wait…” Jiang Hong suddenly interjected, “There’s still a way!”
Almost simultaneously, Jiang Hong touched the scale he wore on his body. The scale was still there! This meant that even if Dark Lu Xiu had devoured the real Lu Xiu, he still didn't possess the reverse scale!
Jiang Hong remembered what Lu Xiu had said in the car that day:
[How can you think like that?]
[If one day I lose myself, you must find a way to awaken me, even if it means shooting the decisive arrow at me yourself. You have to believe...]
[Impossible!]
[You know my weakness. Only you can summon me. I will respond to your call anytime, anywhere, even if you don’t call me often… But I will always come, right? You gave me my title, our bond was destined from the very beginning…]
[The Vajra Arrow of Acala only eliminates the demonic heart, and only by removing the demonic heart can the person engulfed in darkness be truly saved... And the Vajra Arrow signifies...]
“What does the Vajra Arrow signify?” Jiang Hong suddenly asked.
“I don’t know,” Zhang Xiting answered, “You have to ask Principal Cao. Why? Is this a trap?”
Jiang Hong took a few steps forward when suddenly the voice of Xiang Liu was heard outside again.
“A complete victory.” The voice echoed throughout the sacred land, “Next, it's time to eradicate the long-grown cancer in the sacred land.”
"We need to leave here first," Jiang Hong said. "The Vajra Arrow, I have to find Yao Ji."
“Yao Ji?” Zhang Xiting asked, “The Goddess of Wushan? Is she still alive? Didn’t she pass away more than twenty years ago…?”
“Let’s go! I’ll explain later,” Jiang Hong hurriedly said.
They quickly exited through another way, but suddenly another voice erupted, its owner sounding incredibly agitated.
“Let him go! Xiang Liu!” That was Keda’s voice.
“Ah, another acting Demon King…”
The next moment, the buildings of the sacred land trembled as if something had hit the mountain. Jiang Hong looked out through a window and saw a giant wolf fiercely battling with Xiang Liu.
“A… a nine-headed snake?” Jiang Hong gasped in shock.
“Where did the giant wolf come from?” Zhang Xiting was also stunned.
“That’s Teacher Keda!” Jiang Hong exclaimed, “He’s successfully buying us time. Let’s go!”
The two rushed through another corridor, heading towards the central courtyard. Old Sun caught up with them, saying, “Jiang Hong!”
“Do you still have the map?” Jiang Hong asked. “Take me to the place I marked. Let’s move!”
At the central courtyard, they were suddenly approached by another person—it was Yi Feng.
“What exactly happened just now?” Yi Feng, with his eyes covered and carrying his repair kit, said in confusion, “I heard someone playing historical dramas over the central broadcast? Was there an earthquake?”
Jiang Hong: “…”
Zhang Xiting: “…”
Clearly out of the loop, Zhang Xiting asked, “What should we do? Take him with us?”
With no other option, Jiang Hong agreed, “Yi Feng, follow us and don’t wander off. I’ll explain later.”
Zhang Xiting asked, “Is he a mortal?”
“We might have to use the oblivion flower powder on him later,” Jiang Hong said, “provided we’re still alive... Follow Old Sun.”
Old Sun led the three of them onto an elevator. Yi Feng commented, “Is this an elevator? It’s quite dangerous without inner walls.”
Jiang Hong replied, “I was thinking the same thing…”
“At a time like this!” Zhang Xiting exclaimed, half laughing, half crying, “You’re worried about the elevator?”
Jiang Hong quickly said, “Right, right, right, Lu Xiu, he... no, I think Lu Xiu still retains his consciousness because of his reverse scale…”
Yi Feng: “?”
Since they had decided to use the oblivion flower powder on Yi Feng, Jiang Hong didn’t hold back and explained to Zhang Xiting that although Lu Xiu had been devoured, his reverse scale was still with Jiang Hong. This meant that, judging by this mark, there’s a good chance Lu Xiu’s personality was still dominant.
“Are we going to find Yao Ji now?” Zhang Xiting asked, “You’re not planning to kill her, right? She’s Principal Xiang’s mother!”
“No, no!” Jiang Hong said, “I do need to find her, but first I have to locate someone else… right here. Can you break the seal? It’s all up to you now! Breaking the seal is too difficult.”
“I’ll try,” Zhang Xiting said, “You both be careful.”
Zhang Xiting placed his hand on the seal, leading to the secluded underground cavern with the remains of Kun. Jiang Hong decided to try his luck there first.
Zhang Xiting was in the midst of breaking the seal, a process that couldn’t be interrupted. Jiang Hong turned around, not daring to breathe loudly, and looked around. It was just him, Yi Feng, and Old Sun guarding the area.
Yi Feng remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.
However, at that moment, a gentle voice said, “I thought you might be here. What are you planning to do? Why don’t you come with me?”
A woman in a cheongsam, followed by several people in black, gracefully approached the corridor.
Jiang Hong’s worst fears came true. He remembered her as Hua Xiaoli, the woman who had guided him and Lu Xiu to their bedroom on their first visit to the sacred land and also Xiang Liu’s assistant.
Jiang Hong glanced at Zhang Xiting, deciding to stall for time, “Sister, aren’t you curious about what’s behind this door?”
“Behind this door are the remains of our aquatic tribe’s former leader, the dead Kun,” Hua Xiaoli said with a smile. “I thought you already knew. Now, shall we go? Please don’t make me use force. After all, it wouldn’t look good if the Demon King returns to find you injured.”
Jiang Hong retorted, “Aren’t you afraid I might harm myself?” He then pretended to reach into the dragon blood mark on his hand, planning to put on the aluminum pot if things turned sour. He wouldn’t leave Zhang Xiting and Yi Feng behind, but a surprise attack was definitely an option.
“Moreover,” Jiang Hong continued, placing his hand behind Zhang Xiting’s neck, “he’s focusing on breaking the seal. If I disturb him now, the seal will explode, killing us both. That would be hard for you to explain, wouldn’t it?”
Hua Xiaoli had clearly never encountered someone like Jiang Hong and showed an expression that read ‘Are you crazy?’ However, Jiang Hong’s threat was real and unbreakable.
Just as she was about to signal her subordinates, Yi Feng interjected, “Isn’t this too dangerous? You can’t drag a blind man to die with you. Although, living doesn’t mean much to me either.”
Jiang Hong: “... Uh, sorry, I was just threatening her, not actually planning to do it…”
Yi Feng began to smile, saying, “Let me handle this.”
Yi Feng then reached out his right hand, lightly grabbing the black blindfold and gently pulling it off.
Hua Xiaoli’s expression turned sinister, and she immediately realized something was wrong, instinctively trying to flee. But in the next moment, Yi Feng’s eyes emitted a bizarre glow, rendering Hua Xiaoli and her followers completely immobile!
Jiang Hong instinctively turned to look, but Yi Feng cautioned, “Don’t look, do you want to turn into stone?”
Jiang Hong: “!!!”
Hua Xiaoli attempted to flee, but it was too late. In the next second, all enemies except those near Yi Feng began to rapidly petrify from their feet to their heads!
“This is... this is…” Jiang Hong was stunned.
Three seconds later, silence fell over the area. On the red carpet, only six stone statues remained, with Hua Xiaoli's last expression frozen in extreme terror!
Yi Feng once again tied his blindfold, composed as if nothing had happened.
Jiang Hong stood as if petrified himself, speechless for a long while.
Yi Feng broke the silence, “Didn’t expect that, did you?”
Jiang Hong finally snapped back to reality, exasperatedly saying, “Do you find it fun to play the fool?”
With his eyes covered, Yi Feng's handsome face revealed a mysterious smile, “How else could I have entered the sacred land?”
“You…” Jiang Hong wanted to rush up and hit him, realizing that Yi Feng must be an exorcist, and a very powerful one at that! Any exorcist with such abilities would be at least… at least…
“Your name is Yi Feng?” Jiang Hong asked.
“No, my name is Fang Yifeng,” Yi Feng replied, “You’re a student at Cangqiong University, you must know my sister, Fang Yilan. Alright, I gave the drone to Old Sun as compensation for you, eight thousand bucks isn’t easy to earn, you know.”
Jiang Hong felt like all his energy had drained away, thinking to himself: I knew it! I knew it!
An S-class exorcist!
Jiang Hong said, “I really thank you! This is actually my first time meeting you.”
The legendary Fang Yifeng, whom even Chen Zhen couldn’t summon back despite several calls to all S-class exorcists, had unexpectedly appeared here without any fanfare!
"Done," Zhang Xiting said, looking like he had been pulled out of a pool of sweat. He turned and was stunned to see a group of statues in the corridor.
“Did you do this?” Zhang Xiting asked, wide-eyed.
Jiang Hong indicated it was Fang Yifeng’s doing. Understanding immediately, Fang Yifeng said, “Hurry up, whatever you’re looking for, you don’t have much time.”
Jiang Hong quickly said, “Let’s go!”
Fang Yifeng offered, “I’ll stand guard for you, go ahead.”
Chapter 97: Yi Feng
Lu Xiu walked through the palace, and Feng Li appeared behind him.
“Have you found out?” Feng Li asked in a low voice.
“A year ago, the two figures Hu Qing saw in the forbidden area,” Lu Xiu said, “were Lu Chaoyang and the leader of Yinghuo, the clone Chen Zhen.”
Feng Li furrowed his brows, and Lu Xiu added, “Next, you’ll try to delay him, while I gather evidence.”
Feng Li responded, “To deal with him, we no longer need evidence. We just need to convene the four kings, announce his crimes, and that would be sufficient.”
"No," Lu Xiu replied, "We need evidence."
Lu Xiu stopped walking and added, "What are the chances that the four kings would submit to him if another me appears before you?"
Feng Li, clearly aware of the situation, also stopped in his tracks.
From this silence, Lu Xiu had already received his answer.
“Is that you?” Feng Li asked gravely. “If it's just an illusion…”
Lu Xiu responded, “That is me. He is the manifestation of my inner demon. Yinghuo used my dragon blood to nurture him. He has almost all of my memories and all my negative consciousness. He can be considered another me. The old me was full of reluctance, unwilling to accept or even face the fate that awaited me. But eventually, I was persuaded and discarded it. Yinghuo found it and, using my blood, reshaped another Lu Xiu.”
Feng Li asked, “Did this happen before King Xiang entrusted the sacred land to you, or after?”
"After," said Lu Xiu. "I think the answer is quite clear now."
Feng Li remarked, “In that case, we can only assume that when King Xiang handed over the sacred land to you, you and your inner demon were one. Both of you can be regarded as the 'Lesser King.' The current struggle between you and your inner demon is something the demon tribe cannot intervene in.”
Receiving the expected answer, Lu Xiu nodded. Feng Li said, “I too have battled my own inner demon. Mine appeared in the form of a twin, separated within our mother's womb during gestation.”
“The demon tribe cannot assist you,” Feng Li continued, “and similarly, they cannot assist the other you. That said, Lesser King, you still have a chance of victory. When will the final battle begin?”
Lu Xiu replied, “He is here in this palace. We will begin shortly.”
“I wish you luck,” Feng Li bowed and left Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu stood in front of the windy and rainy corridor, gazing towards the ominous Wushan Mountains, and at the highest peak, the Goddess Peak. She stood atop the summit, overlooking the age-worn earth. Below her, the ceaseless flow of the Yangtze River, like time, never stopped.
Jiang Hong was lost in a long dream.
“...That is Yinghuo,” a young voice said, “It is the ultimate destiny of the world... It is about to return...”
“Track its trajectory,” a man's firm voice commanded, “When the time comes, both the higher and lower dimensions will be shattered...”
The youth asked, “Soon, just four years after we left... Can Lu Xiu really withstand it?”
The man replied, “He will figure it out. I believe in him, just as you once believed in me without any reservations.”
The youth said, “But the sudden prophecy...”
The man stated, “The sudden prophecy is not the final outcome. It's an uncertain future, the end of the cycle. Every thousand years, the demon of heaven reincarnates. It's just Yinghuo harvesting nutrients, the stars collapsing one by one under the power of darkness. An Jie managed to escape to our world...”
This time, Jiang Hong's dream became clear. He suddenly found himself in a golden-lit cave with distinct murals.
There were murals depicting the world, and in front of them stood a man and a youth, holding hands, facing the murals.
The mural resembled the diagrams drawn by Zhu Jinling during her lessons, showing markers of the outer world, inner world, higher dimensions, lower dimensions, the Endless Dream, and cracks...
But on this diagram, there was an additional area. In the upper right corner appeared a crimson celestial body, burning with black flames, plummeting towards the world.
“This is the seed Yinghuo planted on Earth ten thousand years ago. The demonic energy is its power, life is its sustenance, making it stronger,” the youth murmured, “It's about to return.”
In an instant, countless scenes flashed before Jiang Hong. Faces he knew and didn't know, Lu Xiu, Cao Bin, Xuan He Zhi, his own parents, all passed by like a carousel. Finally, the grand world disappeared, revealing a strange child.
The child's eyes and brows shimmered with light, floating in the air, body half-curled, holding a glowing orb in front of him. The orb emitted a gentle blue light, vaguely outlining land, oceans, clouds... It was the Earth.
The child seemed to sense something, lifting his eyes to meet Jiang Hong's gaze.
It was only a brief moment before the dream returned to darkness.
In the sacred land, Lu Chaoyang felt the final seal being broken.
He dropped Feng Li, not even bothering to explain, and quickly returned to his aquatic tribe's council chamber.
But Lu Xiu was already there, seemingly prepared for this.
Lu Chaoyang halted, confronting Lu Xiu.
“Last night,” Lu Chaoyang said, “I had many things to say, but I knew you wouldn’t heed my advice. I’m curious, why would someone knowingly face obliteration yet refuse to even slightly resist their fate?”
“Living long has its advantages and disadvantages, and can easily lead to blindness,” Lu Xiu calmly stated. “Some species think just because they have lived long and absorbed more of the world's essence, they can challenge a dragon beyond their level.”
Lu Chaoyang smiled, saying, “Even as a Xiang Liu, I wouldn't dare challenge the highest beings between heaven and earth. But just because I can’t, doesn’t mean others can’t. Have you thought this through? This will inevitably be a duel to the death, beyond anyone's intervention.”
As he spoke, Lu Chaoyang raised a hand, but nothing happened.
“Looking for this?” Lu Xiu also raised his hand, revealing a small, ancient wind chime.
Lu Chaoyang was stunned, a dangerous look appearing in his eyes.
“Shall I call for you?” Immediately, Lu Xiu gently shook the chime, producing a clear “ding” sound.
A powerful oppressive force emerged, slowly opening every door from the courtyard to the main hall, revealing a dark figure in the far distance.
"I have been waiting for this day for a long time," Dark Lu Xiu said solemnly, "Are you finally ready to face me in an honest duel?"
Lu Xiu remained silent, just intently watching as Dark Lu Xiu’s figure steadily approached, while Lu Chaoyang swiftly made the wisest decision—to quickly retreat to one side.
Immediately, the power of two dragon languages stirred up towering waves, roaring and shattering the ground in their path, sending splinters of wood flying into the air. The moment they collided, an unstoppable shockwave erupted!
Jiang Hong was jolted awake by a loud sound.
“Wake up, quick!” Zhang Xiting anxiously shook Jiang Hong.
“What?” Jiang Hong, groggy from sleep, opened his eyes to find it was still early morning.
Zhang Xiting asked, “What happened last night?”
“Last night?” Jiang Hong, still drowsy, struggled to sit up, just as another loud bang resounded, shaking the glass windows, which began to crack like spiderwebs. A shockwave spread through the mountains, as if a giant beast was endlessly battling outside.
Shouts were heard from outside, and Jiang Hong called out, “Old Sun? Old Sun!”
“I’m here,” Old Sun replied, “Jiang Hong, get out of bed quickly.”
Then came a third thunderous boom, like rolling thunder. The floor-to-ceiling windows shattered, breaking into a cloud of dust that swept in with the wind and rain.
Immediately, Zhang Xiting and Jiang Hong rolled under the bed for cover. The cold rain doused Jiang Hong, snapping him fully awake. He said, “Where’s Lu Xiu? What’s happening outside?!”
“Two dragons!” Zhang Xiting exclaimed, “Another dragon suddenly appeared, and they started fighting in the valley!”
Jiang Hong instantly recalled what had happened before he fell asleep and shouted, “This is bad! It must have disturbed the dark clone! Where are the others?”
“They’ve already evacuated to the lower levels,” Zhang Xiting said. “Jin He, He Jian, Xiao Pi, Lian Jiang are still nearby, and that guy Yi Feng you brought in… The upper levels are temporarily closed. They say two demon kings are dueling…”
Jiang Hong immediately understood; it must be that Lu Xiu had found the hiding place of Dark Lu Xiu, and the two were engaged in a life-or-death battle again.
He grabbed Zhang Xiting, saying, “Let’s go see! What about the other demons?”
Zhang Xiting and Jiang Hong ran out of the corridor, with Zhang Xiting explaining, “Lu Chaoyang has ordered that no one, human or demon, should intervene.”
Hearing this, Jiang Hong felt slightly relieved, knowing that although Lu Xiu and Dark Lu Xiu were evenly matched, Lu Xiu had his own crafted Western sword, which might give him an overwhelming advantage this time.
“Is that all you've got?!” a roar sounded, seemingly Lu Xiu's voice, but Jiang Hong immediately recognized it as the arrogant Dark Lu Xiu.
He ran to the center of the corridor connecting two mountain peaks, leaning on the railing to look out.
The sky was shrouded in darkness, indistinguishable from day or night, as if the apocalypse had arrived. Under the thunderclouds, lightning zigzagged, and two figures were rapidly spiraling in the valley around the river, trailing dazzling lights. The dragon language turned into tangible spells, flickering with purplish-black luminescence in the darkness.
Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the entire sacred land.
Zhang Xiting nudged Jiang Hong, signaling him to look. Jiang Hong wiped the water off his face and surveyed the sacred land's buildings on the nearby mountains, crowded with demons who had come out to watch.
“That’s not Lu Xiu!” Jiang Hong shouted in frustration.
But all the members of the demon race ignored Jiang Hong, who kept his eyes fixed on the aerial duel. A crane flew down and landed behind Jiang Hong.
“For them,” He Rong's voice said, “the other party in the duel is also a dragon.”
Jiang Hong said urgently, “That's his clone! Created by Yinghuo!”
He Rong whispered back, “To the demons, it’s all the same. They don’t care if the other is a demon or not. Only if the Lesser King defeats his demon can everyone submit.”
Jiang Hong asked, “What about principles?”
Zhang Xiting signaled to stop, urging Jiang Hong not to argue pointlessly. At that moment, Lu Xiu and Dark Lu Xiu both transformed into dragons, each emitting a dragon’s roar.
Lu Xiu still shimmered with golden seals, breathing dragon fire, while Dark Lu Xiu was more agile. Both were thoroughly prepared for today’s inevitable, fated battle.
Amidst the thunderous noise, the two dragons entangled and crashed into the mountainside. A corner of the pavilion on the cliff collapsed like a landslide under their immense force. The demons scattered everywhere but remained resolute in not intervening in this decisive battle!
"Find a hidden place to hide for now," He Rong whispered, "This is as much as I can help you."
Then, He Rong transformed back into a crane and flew away.
Soon after, a figure approached the corridor from a distance, prompting Zhang Xiting and Jiang Hong to retreat immediately.
The person was tall and imposing—it was Lu Chaoyang!
“Jiang Hong,” Lu Chaoyang spoke gently, “Come with me.”
“Wait.” Another voice emerged behind Jiang Hong, who immediately turned back to see Feng Li.
Feng Li stepped forward calmly, saying, “Xiang Liu, His Majesty the Demon King hasn’t lost yet.”
Jiang Hong thought to himself: Lu Xiu won’t lose! He has the sword I made; he will surely win!
In the valley, the duel between the two black dragons had reached a fever pitch, but on the corridor, Lu Chaoyang and Feng Li didn’t even glance at the battlefield—
“Whether Lu Xiu devours his inner demon,” Lu Chaoyang said, “or the inner demon devours him, the outcome is the same. Feng Li, the day everyone has been waiting for is fast approaching. Are you still so stubborn?”
Feng Li, standing in front of Jiang Hong and Zhang Xiting, replied, “Even if they devour each other, we must wait for the new Demon King to emerge and follow his decision. It's not right to take hostages prematurely.”
Lu Chaoyang burst into laughter, saying, “Feng Li, you are becoming more and more like a human.”
Feng Li responded coldly, “I am merely fulfilling the last wishes of Xiang Cheng before he left.”
Another loud crash echoed as the black dragon, covered in golden seals, tightly gripped the other black dragon and crashed into the highest peak of Wushan.
In the attention of all, Lu Xiu and Dark Lu Xiu returned to their human forms, and suddenly an immense darkness erupted.
“I am going to devour you—!” the voice of Dark Lu Xiu thundered, “Surrender all your resentment and unwillingness! All the responsibilities you bear can be put down today—”
Lu Xiu raised his hand, as if trying to grasp something in the air.
At that moment, Jiang Hong seemed to instinctively foresee the future.
He knew this must be Lu Xiu's strategy! Next, he would draw the Western sword bestowed to him in a second, and six rays of light would burst forth, vanquishing his opponent with a single strike!
However, it didn’t happen. Instead, a black orb of light burst from the summit of Witch Mountain, like a red giant star burning in its twilight years. The orb collapsed and shrank within a second, and all the watching demons of the sanctuary shouted in unison.
Feng Li gestured with his hand behind his back, signaling to leave.
"Quick, let's go," Zhang Xiting urged in a low voice, "Jiang Hong, hurry!"
Lu Chaoyang momentarily forgot about Jiang Hong and turned his head towards the distance. The black orb spewed out majestic black flames, sweeping across the entire sanctuary like a tangible entity.
"Hurry!" Feng Li shouted to Jiang Hong, seizing the moment, "Go! Go!"
Jiang Hong saw Lu Xiu emerge from the black flames, the seal binding him disintegrating into pieces and crumbling away.
This is impossible…
Everything happened so fast that Jiang Hong was still not fully awake.
A thunderous dragon roar filled the air. The new Lu Xiu, with golden eyes, floated quietly in midair.
"A new king is born!" Lu Chaoyang’s voice echoed through Witch Mountain, "Bow again to your king! The king of the demon race! This is our true, pure-blooded leader—!"
"This can’t be!" Before Jiang Hong could fully shout, Feng Li made a swift decision, slapping his hand back, and with glowing runes, a powerful force propelled Jiang Hong and Zhang Xiting swiftly towards the depths of the palace.
Lu Chaoyang turned to Feng Li, who circled his left hand and pressed his right on a huge wooden pillar of the corridor. With a "whoosh," tiles shattered and flew, and the entire corridor collapsed in an instant, blocking the entrance to the palace with broken stones and wood.
"Your actions are pointless," Lu Chaoyang floated in the air while Feng Li kept retreating, and in an instant, Lu Chaoyang revealed his true form.
Amid the widespread exclamations, a gigantic nine-headed serpent appeared, with Xiang Liu having a human head and snake body, spewing fire and ice from heads several meters high. Feng Li swiftly dodged in mid-air, his aura exploding violently, transforming into an equally gigantic nine-tailed fox, its spiritual tails covering the heavens and earth, roaring at Xiang Liu, sweeping through the dark sky.
The second battle between demon kings began in an instant, with Lu Xiu engulfed in flames, merely watching the scene with a cold sneer.
Jiang Hong and Zhang Xiting crashed hard into the corridor, with explosions sounding continuously outside.
"Impossible, this can’t be happening." Jiang Hong struggled to get up, and Zhang Xiting helped him, saying, "We need to go down! To the lower area, Teacher He Zhi is still there!"
Jiang Hong took a moment to catch his breath, and Zhang Xiting said again, "Calm down!"
The words "Stay calm" snapped Jiang Hong back to reality. He looked towards the gray sky, hearing continuous explosions from afar. Zhang Xiting said, “Feng Li is buying us time; you need to find a way out!”
“Wait…” Jiang Hong suddenly interjected, “There’s still a way!”
Almost simultaneously, Jiang Hong touched the scale he wore on his body. The scale was still there! This meant that even if Dark Lu Xiu had devoured the real Lu Xiu, he still didn't possess the reverse scale!
Jiang Hong remembered what Lu Xiu had said in the car that day:
[How can you think like that?]
[If one day I lose myself, you must find a way to awaken me, even if it means shooting the decisive arrow at me yourself. You have to believe...]
[Impossible!]
[You know my weakness. Only you can summon me. I will respond to your call anytime, anywhere, even if you don’t call me often… But I will always come, right? You gave me my title, our bond was destined from the very beginning…]
[The Vajra Arrow of Acala only eliminates the demonic heart, and only by removing the demonic heart can the person engulfed in darkness be truly saved... And the Vajra Arrow signifies...]
“What does the Vajra Arrow signify?” Jiang Hong suddenly asked.
“I don’t know,” Zhang Xiting answered, “You have to ask Principal Cao. Why? Is this a trap?”
Jiang Hong took a few steps forward when suddenly the voice of Xiang Liu was heard outside again.
“A complete victory.” The voice echoed throughout the sacred land, “Next, it's time to eradicate the long-grown cancer in the sacred land.”
"We need to leave here first," Jiang Hong said. "The Vajra Arrow, I have to find Yao Ji."
“Yao Ji?” Zhang Xiting asked, “The Goddess of Wushan? Is she still alive? Didn’t she pass away more than twenty years ago…?”
“Let’s go! I’ll explain later,” Jiang Hong hurriedly said.
They quickly exited through another way, but suddenly another voice erupted, its owner sounding incredibly agitated.
“Let him go! Xiang Liu!” That was Keda’s voice.
“Ah, another acting Demon King…”
The next moment, the buildings of the sacred land trembled as if something had hit the mountain. Jiang Hong looked out through a window and saw a giant wolf fiercely battling with Xiang Liu.
“A… a nine-headed snake?” Jiang Hong gasped in shock.
“Where did the giant wolf come from?” Zhang Xiting was also stunned.
“That’s Teacher Keda!” Jiang Hong exclaimed, “He’s successfully buying us time. Let’s go!”
The two rushed through another corridor, heading towards the central courtyard. Old Sun caught up with them, saying, “Jiang Hong!”
“Do you still have the map?” Jiang Hong asked. “Take me to the place I marked. Let’s move!”
At the central courtyard, they were suddenly approached by another person—it was Yi Feng.
“What exactly happened just now?” Yi Feng, with his eyes covered and carrying his repair kit, said in confusion, “I heard someone playing historical dramas over the central broadcast? Was there an earthquake?”
Jiang Hong: “…”
Zhang Xiting: “…”
Clearly out of the loop, Zhang Xiting asked, “What should we do? Take him with us?”
With no other option, Jiang Hong agreed, “Yi Feng, follow us and don’t wander off. I’ll explain later.”
Zhang Xiting asked, “Is he a mortal?”
“We might have to use the oblivion flower powder on him later,” Jiang Hong said, “provided we’re still alive... Follow Old Sun.”
Old Sun led the three of them onto an elevator. Yi Feng commented, “Is this an elevator? It’s quite dangerous without inner walls.”
Jiang Hong replied, “I was thinking the same thing…”
“At a time like this!” Zhang Xiting exclaimed, half laughing, half crying, “You’re worried about the elevator?”
Jiang Hong quickly said, “Right, right, right, Lu Xiu, he... no, I think Lu Xiu still retains his consciousness because of his reverse scale…”
Yi Feng: “?”
Since they had decided to use the oblivion flower powder on Yi Feng, Jiang Hong didn’t hold back and explained to Zhang Xiting that although Lu Xiu had been devoured, his reverse scale was still with Jiang Hong. This meant that, judging by this mark, there’s a good chance Lu Xiu’s personality was still dominant.
“Are we going to find Yao Ji now?” Zhang Xiting asked, “You’re not planning to kill her, right? She’s Principal Xiang’s mother!”
“No, no!” Jiang Hong said, “I do need to find her, but first I have to locate someone else… right here. Can you break the seal? It’s all up to you now! Breaking the seal is too difficult.”
“I’ll try,” Zhang Xiting said, “You both be careful.”
Zhang Xiting placed his hand on the seal, leading to the secluded underground cavern with the remains of Kun. Jiang Hong decided to try his luck there first.
Zhang Xiting was in the midst of breaking the seal, a process that couldn’t be interrupted. Jiang Hong turned around, not daring to breathe loudly, and looked around. It was just him, Yi Feng, and Old Sun guarding the area.
Yi Feng remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.
However, at that moment, a gentle voice said, “I thought you might be here. What are you planning to do? Why don’t you come with me?”
A woman in a cheongsam, followed by several people in black, gracefully approached the corridor.
Jiang Hong’s worst fears came true. He remembered her as Hua Xiaoli, the woman who had guided him and Lu Xiu to their bedroom on their first visit to the sacred land and also Xiang Liu’s assistant.
Jiang Hong glanced at Zhang Xiting, deciding to stall for time, “Sister, aren’t you curious about what’s behind this door?”
“Behind this door are the remains of our aquatic tribe’s former leader, the dead Kun,” Hua Xiaoli said with a smile. “I thought you already knew. Now, shall we go? Please don’t make me use force. After all, it wouldn’t look good if the Demon King returns to find you injured.”
Jiang Hong retorted, “Aren’t you afraid I might harm myself?” He then pretended to reach into the dragon blood mark on his hand, planning to put on the aluminum pot if things turned sour. He wouldn’t leave Zhang Xiting and Yi Feng behind, but a surprise attack was definitely an option.
“Moreover,” Jiang Hong continued, placing his hand behind Zhang Xiting’s neck, “he’s focusing on breaking the seal. If I disturb him now, the seal will explode, killing us both. That would be hard for you to explain, wouldn’t it?”
Hua Xiaoli had clearly never encountered someone like Jiang Hong and showed an expression that read ‘Are you crazy?’ However, Jiang Hong’s threat was real and unbreakable.
Just as she was about to signal her subordinates, Yi Feng interjected, “Isn’t this too dangerous? You can’t drag a blind man to die with you. Although, living doesn’t mean much to me either.”
Jiang Hong: “... Uh, sorry, I was just threatening her, not actually planning to do it…”
Yi Feng began to smile, saying, “Let me handle this.”
Yi Feng then reached out his right hand, lightly grabbing the black blindfold and gently pulling it off.
Hua Xiaoli’s expression turned sinister, and she immediately realized something was wrong, instinctively trying to flee. But in the next moment, Yi Feng’s eyes emitted a bizarre glow, rendering Hua Xiaoli and her followers completely immobile!
Jiang Hong instinctively turned to look, but Yi Feng cautioned, “Don’t look, do you want to turn into stone?”
Jiang Hong: “!!!”
Hua Xiaoli attempted to flee, but it was too late. In the next second, all enemies except those near Yi Feng began to rapidly petrify from their feet to their heads!
“This is... this is…” Jiang Hong was stunned.
Three seconds later, silence fell over the area. On the red carpet, only six stone statues remained, with Hua Xiaoli's last expression frozen in extreme terror!
Yi Feng once again tied his blindfold, composed as if nothing had happened.
Jiang Hong stood as if petrified himself, speechless for a long while.
Yi Feng broke the silence, “Didn’t expect that, did you?”
Jiang Hong finally snapped back to reality, exasperatedly saying, “Do you find it fun to play the fool?”
With his eyes covered, Yi Feng's handsome face revealed a mysterious smile, “How else could I have entered the sacred land?”
“You…” Jiang Hong wanted to rush up and hit him, realizing that Yi Feng must be an exorcist, and a very powerful one at that! Any exorcist with such abilities would be at least… at least…
“Your name is Yi Feng?” Jiang Hong asked.
“No, my name is Fang Yifeng,” Yi Feng replied, “You’re a student at Cangqiong University, you must know my sister, Fang Yilan. Alright, I gave the drone to Old Sun as compensation for you, eight thousand bucks isn’t easy to earn, you know.”
Jiang Hong felt like all his energy had drained away, thinking to himself: I knew it! I knew it!
An S-class exorcist!
Jiang Hong said, “I really thank you! This is actually my first time meeting you.”
The legendary Fang Yifeng, whom even Chen Zhen couldn’t summon back despite several calls to all S-class exorcists, had unexpectedly appeared here without any fanfare!
"Done," Zhang Xiting said, looking like he had been pulled out of a pool of sweat. He turned and was stunned to see a group of statues in the corridor.
“Did you do this?” Zhang Xiting asked, wide-eyed.
Jiang Hong indicated it was Fang Yifeng’s doing. Understanding immediately, Fang Yifeng said, “Hurry up, whatever you’re looking for, you don’t have much time.”
Jiang Hong quickly said, “Let’s go!”
Fang Yifeng offered, “I’ll stand guard for you, go ahead.”
