The familiar faces in the brocade box repeatedly struck Bai Ran's nerves.
"No..." Her heart was torn apart, a pain so profound it was like the mournful cry of a phoenix before its death.
Jiu Zai propped his chin, a glint of joy flashing in his eyes. "There is one more person. I think you'll be very happy to see her."
Bai Ran's head shot up, her eyeballs filled with bloodshot veins. She saw a still breathing body lying not far away.
"Master..."
The cold sword edge pressed against Xuan Qinghong's neck. "No! Don't—!!!"
Bai Ran rushed towards Xuan Qinghong like a madwoman. The next instant, warm blood splattered across her face...
"Ugh... Ahhhhhh—!!!"
Tears trickled down, her knees hitting the ground heavily. Bai Ran tremblingly brought the pill to Xuan Qinghong's lips.
"Master... Master..."
"Master—!!!"
The voice of the inner demon coiled around, and Bai Ran's soul gradually dimmed.
"Look—this is the consequence of your persistence—"
"You killed everyone, not a single one was spared—"
"Hahahaha! Bringer of disaster! Your reputation is well-deserved—!"
At this moment, the earring burst forth with a fiery light, tearing space apart. A dark figure, engulfed in endless rage, appeared.
...
Ninth Heaven—Divine Realm.
The person on the bed slowly opened their eyes, their azure gaze gradually clearing.
Bai Li Xiao sat up, clutching his head. He was alive...
Wu Si brought a cup of water, gently handing it to him. "Divine Lord, your injuries have not yet healed. Please rest more."
Bai Li Xiao started, turning to look at Wu Si urgently. "What time is it? How long has it been since I returned to the Divine Realm?"
Wu Si lowered his head, his lips tightly pressed. "Since the Divine Lord returned to the Divine Realm... it has been over half a month..."
Over half a month! It had been so long?
Bai Li Xiao threw off the quilt and moved to get out of bed. "Ran Ran doesn't know about the demonization plan yet. I must go and tell her!"
"Divine Lord!" A sharp voice called out. Wu Si trembled, his head drooping even lower.
"It's too late... it's too late..."
Bai Li Xiao looked at him, his movements gradually stopping. "What do you mean...?"
In the past half month, had something happened that he was unaware of?
Wu Si gritted his teeth, closing his eyes tightly. "Miss Bai..."
"Has already become demonized..."
In that instant, Bai Li Xiao's face turned pale, as if he had been doused with a basin of ice water from head to toe, leaving him numb.
He swayed, collapsing back onto the bed, powerless. Ran Ran had become demonized?
"On the seventh day after the Divine Lord returned to the Divine Realm, the lower realm was engulfed by a great fire..."
"When the Demon Lord arrived... Miss Bai's inner demon had already possessed her body..."
...
"It's the Venerable One and Miss Bai! Miss... Bai?" Jing Feng's joyous face turned to panic.
Zhong Zi's body trembled uncontrollably as he walked step by step towards the person before him. "King...?"
Bai Ran stood there, holding a brocade box filled with the head of her beloved, her hands covered in fresh blood. Yet, she laughed, unrestrained and wild.
"You're a step too late. This body is already mine."
Long Jin Han's large hand gripped Bai Ran's neck, but it trembled, unable to exert any force. "Girl..."
They had found a way... just one step away... it was just one step away...
Bai Ran looked down at the hand on her neck, a smile curling her lips. "Then choke harder, harder, kill me."
Her hand slid up Long Jin Han's arm, forcing him to grip her tighter. "Killing the one you love with your own hands, how wonderful that must feel."
Long Jin Han yanked his hand away, his breathing terrifyingly shaky.
Bai Ran raised a seductive eyebrow. "With Xuan Qinghong dead, the seal can be broken."
"Coupled with the heads of these old geezers, it's enough for me to possess this body. Your efforts were in vain."
Jing Feng rushed towards Bai Ran, a grim smile on his face. "Bai? Miss Bai?"
"You're lying to us, aren't you...? A mere inner demon... how could you...?"
"Pfft—" A black sickle instantly pierced Jing Feng's heart.
Jing Feng staggered, looking down in disbelief at the blood seeping from his chest.
"Lying to you?" Bai Ran sneered with a cold face. "Then see for yourself if I'm lying?"
Long Jin Han's expression was terrifyingly grim as he grabbed Jing Feng and fed him a life-saving pill.
Wang Yu tossed a handful of bloody feathers up and down. Jiang Ye's eyes instantly cracked, bloodshot.
"Little Pig!!!" He charged forward, attacking Wang Yu.
Wang Yu chuckled, extending his arm and letting the Vermilion Bird fall to the ground.
"Little Pig! Little Pig, how are you!!!" Jiang Ye cried out madly, his heart as if sliced by a knife, as he tremblingly picked up the bunch of feathers.
The blood clump was dying, vaguely recognizable as the form of a little chick. "Save... save Master..."
Jiu Zai chuckled, unconcealed joy in his eyes. "Until next time, we meet on the battlefield—"
The teleportation array lit up. Just as Bai Ran turned to leave indifferently, a roar echoed.
"Bai Ran!!!"
A familiar voice, an unfamiliar tone. Long Jin Han had never called Bai Ran by her full name.
But this time, he had.
Indeed, Bai Ran's steps faltered, and she slowly turned her head.
Long Jin Han's eyes were bloodshot, his brow filled with pleading. "Don't go..."
"Please..."
If she left now, the girl would never return...
Hot tears suddenly fell. Bai Ran wiped them from her face in confusion. Had her soul not yet perished?
This tear brought hope back to everyone's eyes. Bai Ran was still here... Bai Ran was still here!!!
"So be it. She can't cause any major trouble."
Bai Ran's red lips curved. She entered the teleportation array with Jiu Zai and the other two. Also leaving with them were Zhong Zi and Dong Ling.
...
Hearing this, Bai Li Xiao leaned against the edge of the bed, his hand slowly clenching into a fist. "Ran Ran..."
But the next moment, he stood up again, his expression resolute. "Where is the Demon Lord?"
Wu Si's face was filled with sorrow. She didn't understand what the Divine Lord intended to do. "He has returned to the Demon Realm."
"There is still a way... there is still a way!"
As long as he killed Ran Ran, he could guide all her soul fragments back into her Ninth Heaven body!
Ran Ran would be reborn, resurrected in her original body!
Ignoring his unhealed wounds, he resolutely walked out.
"Divine Lord, please rest within the palace." A soldier in armor knelt on one knee, his expression extremely displeased.
"Get out of the way!!!"
Bai Li Xiao's eyes were red, ferocity appearing on his face.
Wu Si choked back a sob, reaching out a trembling hand to pull him. "Divine Lord... the Divine Emperor's forces have already surrounded the Nine Stars Divine Palace..."
To prevent the Divine Lord from succeeding, the Divine Emperor had deployed an army outside the palace the day he returned...
They... they couldn't escape at all...
Ninth Heaven—Demon Realm.
"Venerable One... your body won't hold out..."
Tang Yi's expression was troubled, looking at the dispirited man before her, not knowing how to persuade him.
Ever since his wife left, the Venerable One had lost a considerable amount of weight, spending his days in a daze like a walking corpse.
He only wandered in the library day and night, searching for ancient books. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Even Jing Feng lay in bed, unable to move, recovering from his injuries day by day.
Tang Yi felt immense sadness. She looked at the person beside her and gently shook her head.
Zhong Yi Chuan's lips were tightly pressed, his expression mournful. Even he, who was usually away, had been summoned back, indicating the gravity of the situation.
"Lord Tang, someone is requesting an audience outside." A demon soldier rushed in.
"I will not see them! The Venerable One is in such a state, how can we receive guests!"
Zhong Yi Chuan's gaze was sharp, but the soldier shrunk his neck and spoke sheepishly.
"But that person claims to be the King of the Demon Race, and he has killed his way in..."