The door, tightly closed all night, opened when the sun was high.
Zhou Xuanlan’s collar was half open, revealing a chest with several scratch marks, the savagery between his brows completely dissipated.
Shen Liuxiang still had important matters to attend to and told him they couldn’t stay in bed too long.
Zhou Xuanlan understood and could only quickly satisfy his desire, but accidentally, he went too far. Shen Liuxiang’s slender, white fingers uncomfortably scratched randomly on his body, as if seeking an outlet.
But those nails were rounded and neat, unable to cause any pain at all. Instead, they felt more like a tickle, carrying a hint of allure that made Zhou Xuanlan’s desire grow even stronger.
After their intimacy, Zhou Xuanlan’s expression showed some satisfaction. Though the duration wasn’t quite to his liking, he had savored enough.
Zhou Xuanlan fetched a bowl of hot porridge and returned to the room to find the person on the bed asleep, so he softened his movements.
Shen Liuxiang was lying on his side, his brows slightly furrowed, his handsome fair face still flushed with lingering redness, a few strands of black hair curling past his neck and shoulders, quietly scattered before him.
Zhou Xuanlan stood beside the bed, staring at him tirelessly for a long while, the corners of his thin lips curving slightly.
The hot porridge was held dryly in his hands until it gradually cooled, only then receiving a glance. Zhou Xuanlan laughed to himself—clearly his concern wasn’t about drinking porridge, but that Shen Liuxiang might not keep his word and would quickly send him away.
Zhou Xuanlan put down the bowl, his slender fingers picking up the teapot to pour a cup of water. Lowering his eyes in thought for a moment, a small figure in dark robes appeared in his palm.
“What business do you have with me?”
Zhou Xuanlan repeatedly pondered the words “this seat” (a formal self-reference). Di Yunyu had once said that when his cultivation could match his primordial spirit, the Nascent Soul would return to normal and be able to communicate with him telepathically.
Now, although rarely, Zhou Xuanlan could sense things belonging to the primordial spirit, just like the fragmented scenes he had seen through the Nascent Soul in his earlier dream.
The reason why his and his master’s primordial spirits were different from others would eventually be uncovered. However, Zhou Xuanlan’s only fear, even terror, was—
In that strange yet familiar scene.
He was present, yet chose to stand aside, watching as his master sacrificed himself to save Ye Bing, showing only a faint, cold smile.
Beyond that, there was no other reaction.
Zhou Xuanlan frowned tightly, withdrew the Nascent Soul, and drank his tea thoughtfully.
When Shen Liuxiang woke up hazily, the familiar presence enveloped his body. He lightly nuzzled his forehead against Zhou Xuanlan’s neck, finding a comfortable position in his embrace, intending to return to dreamland.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes again, completely awake.
Lust clouds wisdom…
Shen Liuxiang slowly rolled out of the blankets. His inner clothes had been changed. He selected an outer robe from his storage pouch, put it on, tied his belt, and glanced at the figure on the bed.
Zhou Xuanlan was still sleeping. Normally, such movement would have awakened him immediately.
Shen Liuxiang placed his hand on Zhou Xuanlan’s forehead, sending in a thread of spiritual power, and frowned. Zhou Xuanlan’s internal spiritual power was overly agitated, like a sign of breakthrough, especially with the demonic markings that occasionally appeared on his face—he had once said these would appear when he couldn’t control himself.
Shen Liuxiang recalled Zhou Xuanlan’s nearly out-of-control appearance earlier, wondering what he had dreamed about.
Shen Liuxiang watched for a while, then, while Zhou Xuanlan was sound asleep, pinched his handsome face where the demon markings had disappeared, unceremoniously saying, “So domineering in bed, this is for acting like a jerk.”
Then, Shen Liuxiang withdrew his hand with satisfaction, left a note, and departed to continue searching for the sealing site.
Days rose and fell in cycles. In the blink of an eye, only two days remained until the demon princess’s wedding. Shen Liuxiang still hadn’t seen even a shadow of the fierce beast, but lately, he hadn’t had time to search—Zhou Xuanlan wasn’t right.
He seemed to be about to break through, but it was somewhat different from a normal breakthrough.
The sky was filled with heavy clouds and black mist. The Demon Capital experienced an unprecedented ten days and ten nights of continuous, torrential rain. Yet just a step away outside the city, the sky was clear and the sun shone brightly.
People discussed this wonder extensively, but only the Heavenly Dog Lord, who often appeared beside Yao Mengyue with a chicken leg in hand, saw through everything. He had witnessed this in the Eight Cardinal Realms before, feeling no need for alarm.
But by the tenth day, Ao Yue stumbled in the rain, all the food in his arms ruined. He finally couldn’t bear it anymore and went to find the culprit.
“What, what’s going on! Don’t tell me it’s about another letter written by the Evil Ghost Immortal Lord that you discovered! After so long, you’re still not over it?!”
Ao Yue strode into the room but fell silent upon seeing the scene inside.
Zhou Xuanlan sat cross-legged, spiritual energy continuously flowing toward him from all directions, dark light surrounding him, his eyes tightly closed, demon markings appearing and disappearing on his face. Shen Liuxiang’s palm rested on his back, forehead beaded with sweat, seemingly helping Zhou Xuanlan adjust his spiritual power.
After half an hour, Shen Liuxiang withdrew his hand.
Ao Yue circled around the two, rubbing his chin, pondering, “Is he about to breakthrough?”
Shen Liuxiang shook his head: “A breakthrough wouldn’t take this long.”
Ao Yue thought for a moment, pointing to his own forehead and revealing demon markings, “Not a small breakthrough, but a major breakthrough as a demon—awakening bloodline.”
Descendants of ancient great demons all have the possibility of awakening their bloodline. Once successful, their cultivation makes a qualitative leap.
Hua Jian had achieved the position of Demon King by awakening the nine-tailed fox bloodline.
Shen Liuxiang knew very little about these matters. Hearing this was like a wake-up call. For demons awakening their bloodline, some only need an instant, others take months. During this time, like during a breakthrough, spiritual power remains unstable, settling only upon success or failure.
After brief consideration, Shen Liuxiang told Ao Yue, “When he wakes up, take him back to the Eight Cardinal Realms.”
With Zhou Xuanlan’s current condition, the process of awakening his bloodline would be extremely lengthy.
Continuing to stay in the Demon Capital, in Heng Jiuyin’s territory, if discovered, many would target him. Moreover, Qiongqi was sealed near the Demon Capital. If he were forcibly interrupted while awakening his bloodline, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“But I’ve already promised the princess to help her escape on her wedding day. She saved my life, and I can’t fail to repay that debt,” Ao Yue whined. “You’re putting me in a difficult position.”
“I’ll help her instead,” Shen Liuxiang said. “Besides, Ling Hua arrives tonight. She won’t need you anymore.”
Ao Yue knew Ling Hua. Back in the cultivation world, it was this Immortal Lord who, using Yao Mengyue’s token, had him go to the Sword Sect to save Zhou Xuanlan.
Ao Yue was about to nod when he saw Zhou Xuanlan open his eyes. He immediately said, “If the Evil Ghost Immortal Lord doesn’t know, that’s one thing, but don’t you feel it yourself? Do you really want to openly awaken your bloodline in the Great Demon King’s territory? Your guts are fatter than a chicken leg!”
Zhou Xuanlan glanced at Shen Liuxiang, stood up, took out a handkerchief, and raised his hand to wipe the light sweat from Shen Liuxiang’s forehead. Without turning his head, he asked, “What are you here for?”
Ao Yue inwardly spat, baring his teeth: “The Evil Ghost Immortal Lord has asked me to take you back to the Eight Cardinal Realms.”
Zhou Xuanlan’s movements paused slightly: “I don’t need to go back.”
He had recently discovered that his bloodline was about to awaken and was worried that Shen Liuxiang would send him away, so he had kept it secret. Who would have thought that as soon as Ao Yue arrived, he would reveal it? At this critical moment, Shen Liuxiang certainly wouldn’t return with him to the Eight Cardinal Realms, and it was impossible for him to leave Shen Liuxiang alone in the Demon Capital.
Shen Liuxiang knew his thoughts and said: “You don’t need to worry about my safety. Since the sealing place hasn’t been found yet, Xu Xingchen and I have decided to return to the Imperial Palace tomorrow to stay with Father Emperor.”
Zhou Xuanlan had been staying in his room these past few days and was unaware of these matters. He looked at Shen Liuxiang with half belief and half doubt.
The latter raised an eyebrow: “What? Do you think I’m lying to you? Why don’t you come back to the Imperial Palace with me then?”
Shen Liuxiang was certain that Zhou Xuanlan wouldn’t go to the Imperial Palace.
Shenqi Mountain was a sacred place where, regardless of whether one was a human cultivator or a demon cultivator, their cultivation would be somewhat suppressed while there. This was fine under normal circumstances, but going there during a breakthrough would be asking for trouble.
But Shen Liuxiang hadn’t expected that his disciple, after brief consideration, seemed to estimate the increased difficulty and felt he could handle it. Seeing him about to nod in agreement, Shen Liuxiang immediately interrupted: “You should quickly return to the Eight Cardinal Realms, otherwise, with Father Emperor’s ascension and your bloodline awakening, I won’t be able to manage both situations!”
Zhou Xuanlan was stunned: “I… I only need a quiet place, this way also…”
Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Xuanlan’s face turned pale. The spiritual power within his body began to surge again, his meridians continuously assaulted, feeling like his heart and lungs were being torn apart.
Seeing this, Shen Liuxiang tightly pressed his lips together and directly pushed him onto the back of Ao Yue, who had returned to his original form. “Staying like this will only distract me. Go back to the Eight Cardinal Realms.”
That place was Zhou Xuanlan’s own territory, where there would be no danger.
Zhou Xuanlan tightly grasped Shen Liuxiang’s hand, his brows furrowed, his voice particularly hoarse from the pain. “Master, don’t send me away.”
His condition was terrible at this moment, with the rampaging spiritual power within his body forcing him to focus all his energy on it, making it difficult for him to even speak.
Shen Liuxiang’s dark eyelashes trembled slightly. After a moment, a smile appeared on his face. He moved closer and kissed Zhou Xuanlan’s forehead, then, in the moment when Zhou Xuanlan was stunned, knocked him unconscious with a palm strike.
Bloodline awakening couldn’t tolerate external disturbances. It was too dangerous for Zhou Xuanlan to stay here, and Shen Liuxiang couldn’t allow this. With Di Yunyu’s tribulation imminent, Shen Liuxiang couldn’t possibly run away. He had no choice but to let Ao Yue take Zhou Xuanlan back to the Eight Cardinal Realms to find a safe, secluded place for him to go into closed-door cultivation.
“Don’t worry, Evil Ghost Immortal Lord,” Ao Yue shook his back and spread his wings, saying, “Bloodline awakening is a huge event for demons, and he’s not taking it seriously enough. He doesn’t realize that if he succeeds, forget about the Great Demon King or the Second Demon King, I won’t be holding chicken legs anymore, I’ll be clinging to Zhou Xuanlan’s thigh!”
Among all the current demon kings in the demon realm, those with ancient great demon bloodlines had all ascended to their demon king positions after awakening, with only Zhou Xuanlan being the exception.
Even thinking with his toes, Ao Yue knew what this meant, especially since Zhou Xuanlan was awakening the dragon clan bloodline, the overlord of the ancient prehistoric times!
Ao Yue was already eager to bring him back to the Eight Cardinal Realms. He immediately spread his gray wings and flew away in a flash.
Shen Liuxiang went outside, looked up for a while, rubbed his face, and tugged at his lips in a smile.
He had repeatedly mentioned returning to the Imperial Palace, but he didn’t know if Zhou Xuanlan had believed him. He just hoped that after waking up, Zhou Xuanlan wouldn’t disregard his own condition and rush back.
Someone between him and Xu Xingchen was indeed going back, but it was only Xu Xingchen.
According to Heng Jiuyin, there were only two days left until Di Yunyu’s tribulation day. Xu Xingchen was worried and wanted to go back to stay with him. Although Shen Liuxiang also wanted to do so, someone had to stay in the Demon Capital; otherwise, if something went wrong with Qiongqi, they would be caught unprepared.
Shen Liuxiang glanced at the sky, took out a sugar figurine from his storage pouch, and took a bite. Just as he was about to return to his room, he spotted a figure in blue.
The person appeared at the entrance of the courtyard’s bluestone path, looking around. In front of him, a plump messenger bird was flying sluggishly, leading the way.
Shen Liuxiang’s eyes brightened, a feeling of familiarity welling up in his heart. “Hey, if you hadn’t come soon, she would have already married someone else!”
This was the first person he had met after coming to this continent, Ling Hua.
Ling Hua was soaked from the rain, having traveled a long way. Hearing the voice, he glanced at Shen Liuxiang, quickly approached him, and without a word, gave him two hard pats on the shoulder.
“What kind of chubby little bird did you send? It needed to rest after flying just a short distance! It nearly drove me crazy leading the way for me in the demon realm!”
Shen Liuxiang hadn’t expected that this was the reason for Ling Hua’s delay. He glanced at the chubby bird—though it wasn’t this fat when he bought it—and could only honestly take the blame. He rubbed his shoulder and said, “Change your clothes, I’ll take you to… the male brothel.”
Ling Hua stumbled, having already heard about the substitute that Yao Mengyue had found. He gritted his teeth and allowed Shen Liuxiang to lead him to the bathroom.
Shen Liuxiang closed the door, stood in the corridor for a while, and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Shen Liuxiang had seen the substitute that Yao Mengyue had found. He was about eighty percent similar, but only resembled Ling Hua when he was a child. Yao Mengyue had found the little boy, treated him well with good food and drink, fed him candy every day, and coaxed him by asking if he had a mother and if his father was the immortal lord of the Qinglin Sect.
This wasn’t about finding a substitute; she clearly suspected that Ling Hua had a son outside.
Thank You for the new chapter (ฅ’ω’ฅ)♥