The chief official raised his hand, signaling the shadow guards to take Gu Shan away. His sharp, blade-like gaze swept over the trembling minor officer beside him.
With a flick of his hand, dark demonic energy swirled, and the minor officer was yanked into his grasp.
The chief official gripped the officer’s neck tightly, his teeth clenched, his eyes flickering with a sinister black light. “Did I not warn you all to watch your words and actions, to ensure nothing goes wrong?!”
The officer’s legs flailed in the air, his face pale with terror as he struggled to explain, “M-my lord, p-please spare me! The prisoner suddenly attacked, and I had no choice but to—”
A sickening crack echoed as the officer’s neck was crushed, his head and upper body flung outward. The head rolled to a stop at the feet of Jian Huan and the other two, while the still-bleeding torso landed in front of the officer’s companion.
The shadow guard collapsed to his knees, slamming into the cold ground with a thud.
For a moment, the long corridor leading to the prison cells fell deathly silent. The demons huddled in the corners, not daring to breathe, their heads bowed low.
The chief official tilted his head from side to side, his gaze sweeping the room. His voice was icy as he spoke, “I’ll say it again. The Demon Envoy will be here soon. Make sure you behave. Don’t cause any trouble. Understood?”
The crowd responded in unison, “Yes!”
The chief official waved his hand, ordering the disposal of the officer’s body. He then personally escorted Gu Shan and Yu Qing to the prison entrance to await the envoy.
Not long after, a cloud of black mist drifted in from the direction of the Demon Palace.
The chief official’s expression shifted instantly. The ferocity he had shown his subordinates vanished, replaced by a deep bow and a sycophantic tone. “Your humble servant greets the Demon Envoy!”
The shadow guards and puppet guards knelt in unison, their foreheads pressed to the cold ground as they chanted, “Your humble servants greet the Demon Envoy!”
The swirling black mist coalesced into the hunched figure of an elderly demon.
The old man clasped his hands, his voice raspy. “No need for formalities.” He glanced at Gu Shan and Yu Qing behind him. “Has anything happened?”
“Reporting to the Demon Envoy,” the prison chief replied with a respectful bow, “The criminal Gu Shan is cunning. He suddenly regained consciousness and attempted to escape. However, the Abyss Prison is heavily guarded, and I acted swiftly to subdue him. There were no further incidents.”
The old man’s wrinkled eyelids drooped slightly. “Hmm. Anything else unusual?”
The prison chief shook his head. “No, Demon Envoy.”
The old man nodded. Dark energy swirled around his withered hands, enveloping Gu Shan and Yu Qing, who were being held by the shadow guards. The two prisoners floated into the air, encased in the dark mist.
“The Demon Palace’s chief is still searching the mountains,” the old man murmured. “You’ll handle this matter, then…”
The prison chief’s heart swelled with excitement. He quickly replied, “Please give your orders, Demon Envoy. Your servant will not hesitate to give his life!”
The old man’s murky, dark eyes turned to the sky.
Dawn was approaching, and the blood moon, about to set, glowed an even deeper crimson. Its light reflected in his eyes, revealing boundless anticipation and madness.
He spread his arms, and though his voice was soft, every word carried clearly to Jian Huan and the other two standing in the prison corridor.
“From this moment, announce to the entire city: In five days, the Demon Palace will open its doors. We will publicly cook the Nascent Soul cultivator Gu Shan and the Core Formation cultivator Yu Qing! A grand demonic feast will be held, and all demons are invited to attend!”
With that, the old man threw his head back and laughed heartily. He then soared into the air, taking Gu Shan and Yu Qing with him as he flew toward the Demon Palace.
Meanwhile, at the Jiang family estate outside the Abyss.
Jiang Wei hurried back. “Has anything happened at the estate?”
Jing Chi bowed respectfully. “Reporting to the master, everything is in order. There have been no disturbances.”
Jiang Wei nodded.
He stood by the window of his study, watching the sky gradually brighten. In a calm, measured tone, he instructed, “It’s almost dawn. Have the servants escort all guests out by this morning. Tell them that Madam Jiang fell ill after last night’s birthday banquet and is in critical condition. I am at her bedside and cannot attend to them.”
Jing Chi acknowledged the order. “Understood.”
Jiang Wei turned to the estate steward.
The steward shrank back, prostrating himself on the ground. “Master, we’ve traced Shen Jizhi’s location to a certain secret realm. Our men are on their way and should have news by this afternoon…”
“No need,” Jiang Wei raised his hand, cutting him off with a cold laugh. “There’s no need to pursue Shen Jizhi anymore.”
Jing Chi and the steward exchanged puzzled glances.
Jiang Wei offered no explanation. He had no obligation to justify his decisions to his subordinates.
He took a deep breath and issued his next order to the steward. “Spread my command: Recall all our key personnel from across the Nine Provinces Continent. They must return to the Abyss within three days. Then—”
Jiang Wei placed a hand on the windowsill, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as he stared in the direction of the Demon Forest. He spoke each word with deliberate emphasis, “Destroy the Demon Forest’s ancient well. Seal the Abyss!”
He had been outmaneuvered by the two intruders who had infiltrated the Abyss, forcing him to activate the hidden spies within the Jade Clarity Sect.
Dao Xuan, that stingy old fox, was sharp. It wouldn’t be long before he noticed something amiss.
And then there was the missing Ran Mu’er—a lingering threat.
The Harmony Union Sect’s leader was on good terms with Dao Xuan, and Jiang Wei couldn’t afford to take risks.
Success was within reach. He couldn’t afford to gamble now.
As long as he preserved his strength, the entire Nine Provinces Continent would eventually fall under demonic control. Once the demonic feast succeeded, nothing would stand in his way.
After issuing his orders, Jiang Wei turned to leave. “I’ll go check on Qiaoqiao.”
Jiang Qiaoqiao had not slept all night.
She sat by her mother’s bedside, gently patting Madam Jiang’s chest to help her sleep. But her mind was elsewhere, replaying the events of the banquet.
The words “Jiang Qiaoqiao is not a daughter of the Jiang family. Jiang Wei has colluded with demons and stolen the Bodhi Pagoda” echoed relentlessly in her mind, filling her with unease.
Jiang Qiaoqiao trusted her parents deeply.
She could feel how much they loved her. No one in the world could love her more than they did.
How could she not be their daughter?
And yet…
Jiang Qiaoqiao knew full well that the commotion at the banquet had been orchestrated by Shen Jizhi and his companions.
Shen Jizhi had promised not to ruin her mother’s birthday celebration, but he had broken that promise.
Why?
Why had Shen Jizhi and the others done this? Why had they said such things?
Jiang Qiaoqiao had grown up in the Jiang family. She knew better than anyone that her parents couldn’t possibly be demons.
She didn’t believe a single word of it.
Wasn’t Ran Mu’er the one with demonic heritage?
How could Shen Jizhi have aligned himself with Ran Mu’er?
There must be some misunderstanding. Perhaps Ran Mu’er had tricked Shen Jizhi into believing falsehoods.
Jiang Qiaoqiao desperately wanted to explain to Shen Jizhi that her father wasn’t the kind of man he thought. The Jiang family was innocent.
She also worried that Shen Jizhi might be deceived by the demons. If he were to fall into their trap and become corrupted, it would be disastrous.
But now, she had no idea where Shen Jizhi and Jian Huan had gone. Her mother was seriously ill, and she couldn’t leave her side…
Jiang Qiaoqiao grew more and more anxious. As she gazed at the faint light of dawn outside the window, she fidgeted restlessly, her eyes brimming with tears.
Just as she was at her wit’s end, the sound of servants greeting someone respectfully came from outside.
Her father had returned!
Jiang Qiaoqiao’s face lit up. She sprang to her feet and darted toward the door like a breeze.
The door creaked open.
Jiang Wei stepped inside, dust clinging to his robes. He closed the door behind him and walked in.
“Father!” she called softly, taking his arm. “Father, what happened? Did you manage to interrogate Ran Mu’er? How did she sneak in? Did she have accomplices? Where are they?”
Jiang Wei’s gaze lingered on Jiang Qiaoqiao’s face for a moment.
He snorted inwardly.
So that was it. His daughter must have discovered the demonic ore long ago and had been helping outsiders hide it from him.
The wind that Shen Jizhi and Jian Huan had used to escape—it must have been provided by his own daughter!
Jiang Wei had always known that Jiang Qiaoqiao had feelings for Shen Jizhi.
All these years, he had treated her well. Yet, when it came down to it, she had betrayed him.
After all, she wasn’t truly his daughter by blood.
Even with a new body and flesh, the inherent flaws of the Mu family’s lineage remained. The wickedness of humans was something demons despised.
Jiang Wei forced a gentle smile onto his face. “Qiaoqiao, you’re asking too many questions at once. Take it slow. Don’t worry.”
Jiang Qiaoqiao realized she had been too frantic and lowered her head, embarrassed. “Father, I’m sorry. I lost my composure. I’m just worried…”
Jiang Wei walked with her toward the inner chamber, his hand resting affectionately on her head.
In the blink of an eye, a surge of black demonic energy flashed in his hand, and Jiang Qiaoqiao's voice abruptly ceased.
Jiang Wei released his grip.
Without support, the slender figure of the young woman collapsed softly to the ground.
Her mind reeling from the demonic strike, Jiang Qiaoqiao trembled in agony, her very soul shaken to its core.
A pained moan escaped her throat as she clutched her head, writhing and struggling on the floor. Her eyes, filled with confusion, terror, and disbelief, stared up at Jiang Wei, who loomed over her. With great effort, she managed to stammer, "Father, you... you... you..."
"A strike like this would have obliterated the soul of an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, yet she remains conscious," Jiang Wei remarked, observing Jiang Qiaoqiao's every movement as if she were a lifeless dog. His tone carried a hint of admiration. "Truly, a rare mutated Wind Spirit Root, seen only once in a century."
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang, who had been lying ill in bed, opened her eyes.
She threw off the covers, rose to her feet, and approached, her gaze falling on Jiang Qiaoqiao with a mixture of emotions.
After all, though Qiaoqiao was not truly her daughter, she had carried her in her womb for ten long months.
Madam Jiang bowed slightly to Jiang Wei and asked, "Your Excellency, why tonight...?"
"The Demon Origin Stone has already entered the Demon Palace," Jiang Wei replied, sweeping aside his robe as he crouched beside Jiang Qiaoqiao. His hand caressed her face with a strange tenderness, his stern features taking on an eerie, chilling quality in the early morning light. "Everything is prepared. All that remains is you, Qiaoqiao... my daughter..."
The room, filled with the faint scent of sandalwood, was warm and comfortable, its floor covered in soft carpet.
Yet Jiang Qiaoqiao shivered uncontrollably, her body trembling with cold.
As his words faded, Jiang Wei's hand mercilessly covered Jiang Qiaoqiao's bewildered, unwilling eyes.
And with that, Jiang Qiaoqiao fell completely unconscious.
