The night was clear and the stars were bright, as the intense heat slowly subsided. Bai Ran's complexion was frighteningly pale, yet spiritual energy swirled around her in layers, her aura robust.
Xiao Zi pouted, "The higher the grade of the pill, the more potent the spiritual energy it draws."
This was why the little imp's strength had surged all the way, directly advancing from the sixth stage of the Integration realm to the sixth stage of the Mahayana realm.
Truly unprecedented, with no predecessor and no successor... Xiao Zi sighed helplessly, she was simply a monstrous prodigy.
Bai Ran's eyes gradually opened, the dark glint in them vanishing in an instant.
Xiao Zi looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "Little imp, you promised to return to the Demon Realm with me, don't go back on your word."
With the city lords of the three cities dead, and the most powerful ancestors and elders all perished, Black Crow City was as safe as could be with the people around the little imp.
Hearing this, Bai Ran chuckled and said, "Alright— I'll return to the Demon Realm with you tomorrow."
"Does the Demon Realm have a large-scale Alchemist Guild, or an Alchemy Alliance?"
Xiao Zi understood what she was thinking at once, "Before I left the Demon Realm, the largest organization was the Alchemist Guild. Now that I've been gone for so long, I'm not very familiar with the situation in the Demon Realm."
Perhaps the Alchemist Guild had disbanded, or perhaps it had seized great power; no one could say for sure.
Bai Ran nodded. As her body relaxed, the fatigue instantly surged through her. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and she fell onto the pillow, closing her eyes to sleep.
The next day, just as the sky began to lighten, Bai Ran was forcibly awakened by Xiao Zi.
"Lazybones, get up, the sky is already bright!"
Xiao Zi, who had been excited all night, was brimming with anticipation. Bai Ran rolled over, her face as black as ink, "If you make any more noise, I won't go."
"..."
When did the little imp develop morning grumpiness...?
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that Xiao Zi dared not speak another word. Finally, the person on the bed sat up and got out of bed.
"How do we get to the Demon Realm? A teleportation scroll?" Bai Ran's voice was hazy, stirring the heartstrings.
Xiao Zi patted himself proudly, "Every demon, from the moment they remember, learns a return formation. I am the Emperor of the Demon Realm, so a teleportation array is child's play for me!"
Bai Ran glanced at him indifferently and waved him out of the spatial realm, "I'll wash up. You go and inform Jing Feng."
A quarter of an hour later, Jing Feng rushed into the room in a panic, "Miss Bai! You must not be deceived by this demon!"
Xiao Zi leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his demeanor relaxed, "Do you want me to notify Long Jin Han? To say that I've kidnapped her?"
Jing Feng stared directly at Xiao Zi, his fists clenched in anger. While their Lord was away, this demon actually wanted to kidnap Miss Bai back to the Demon Realm!
"Jing Feng," Bai Ran fiddled with her hair, "Xiao Zi can be trusted."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zi smirked at Jing Feng, looking smug and triumphant.
Jing Feng gnashed his teeth in anger, that damnable fox spirit!
Xiao Zi glanced at Bai Ran, walked closer with a smile, clasped his hands together, and a hexagonal formation began to converge at his feet, "Come here."
Bai Ran looked at Jing Feng and curled her lips into a smile, "I'll be back soon. Tell Long Jin Han not to worry."
The light flared brightly. Before leaving, Xiao Zi still looked at him and raised his eyebrows, his expression somewhat annoying.
When they opened their eyes again, the two were in a magnificent palace, with purple gemstones embedded in the walls.
Silver corridors were entwined with wisteria, and in the distance was a garden crafted from colorless crystal.
It looked serene and elegant, quite different from what Bai Ran had imagined the Demon Realm to be.
"If you encounter any trouble, come and find me, understand?"
Xiao Zi's tail swayed, its fluffy fur looking very soft.
But before Bai Ran could reply, the entire palace suddenly trembled, "The aura of the Demon Emperor!"
"Nine tails! There!"
"The Demon Emperor! It's the true Demon Emperor!"
"The Demon Emperor has returned! Wonderful!"
Countless demon beings with beast ears and tails swarmed forward, surrounding Xiao Zi tightly, and even pushing Bai Ran aside.
Xiao Zi, who had been gratified to see his people, instantly his expression darkened as he caught sight of Bai Ran being roughly pushed by a female demon, causing her to stumble back.
His demonic aura filled the entire palace.
A chill suddenly rose from the backs of these demons, and they trembled, not daring to act rashly again.
After scanning everyone with an angry gaze, Xiao Zi walked towards Bai Ran and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"This human is my honored guest. Do not be disrespectful."
Hearing Xiao Zi's words, they finally noticed the human woman standing before the Demon Emperor, and began to whisper amongst themselves.
"She's human, and the Demon Emperor is protecting her."
"Could she be the Demon Emperor's beloved?"
"If so, won't those demon women who were offered as tribute cry their eyes out?"
Hearing this, Bai Ran turned to meet Xiao Zi's gaze with a smile, "Aren't you afraid of those tribute women getting angry?"
Tribute women? Xiao Zi pondered for a moment, a hint of confusion on his face, "I didn't receive any women before I left."
Just then, a voluptuous snake demon, swaying her hips, walked over from a distance. The demon folk parted, and she stopped before Xiao Zi, her face alight with joy.
"Your Majesty, my name is Hua Yun," her voice was extremely seductive, her eyes shimmering with allure.
"I am one of the women offered as tribute. From now on, I will serve by Your Majesty's side and share your burdens."
Bai Ran raised an eyebrow. A name? Didn't Xiao Zi tell her that ordinary demons didn't have names...?
She looked at Xiao Zi beside her, "It seems they have names now."
Xiao Zi's expression turned icy. He glanced at Hua Yun with disdain and then looked away, "I do not need a companion among the tribute women. This human alone is enough."
As soon as he finished speaking, murmurs of dissent began to ripple around them.
Hua Yun's pupils turned golden, becoming vertical slashes when she was enraged, like a constricting python staring at its prey.
However, at this moment, she fixed Bai Ran with such a gaze, as if wanting to tear her apart and devour her.
"I, Hua Yun, am well-versed in music theory, have read all ancient texts from beginning to end, and am a direct descendant of the Hua family. My cultivation is in the True Immortal realm, surpassing all other demons of my age."
"May I ask what this human's strength is, and what are her advantages?"
Before Xiao Zi could erupt in anger, Bai Ran chuckled lightly, "What if I have no advantages at all? Who asked your Demon Emperor to protect me so much."
Xiao Zi turned his face away, his earlobes suspiciously flushed, and his tail wagged with great enthusiasm.
What the little imp said was so suggestive... But it was also true...
Hua Yun's eyes sharpened, filled with hostile hatred. A useless person who knew nothing, how could she be worthy of accompanying the Demon Emperor!
The spiritual energy around her surged, and just as she was about to raise her hand, a powerful spiritual energy struck her arm.
"Do not be disrespectful! This is my honored guest. If she is harmed in the slightest, I will hold you accountable!"
Hua Yun clutched her reddened arm and lowered her head. Although displeased, she honestly ceased her troublemaking.
The other women offered as tribute were watching everything from behind distant stone pillars.