The Return of the Goddess

Xu Xian approached silently and saw Chi Ji sitting on the sand, her hands around her knees and her head buried as she sobbed.

He frowned slightly.

It seemed that his punch had been too light. Fortunately, he had arrived in time; otherwise, someone else might have truly taken advantage of the situation.

"Ahem!"

He coughed twice on purpose.

Chi Ji was startled by the sound, and her sobbing stopped abruptly.

She lifted her head and looked over. The moment she saw Xu Xian, the hope that had just begun to well up in her eyes instantly dimmed.

Her tear-streaked face, which had held a trace of joy, immediately darkened.

Her expression was even gloomier than the sky above.

She wiped her face with her long sleeves, her superiority stemming from the hierarchy of demon bloodlines.

As a heavenly demon race, even though she looked as pathetic as a dog right now—her cultivation sealed and her face a mess from crying—she immediately regained her high-and-mighty demeanor when facing Xu Xian, who possessed the bloodline of a common demon.

"Who are you?" she asked in a biting tone.

Xu Xian balled his hand into a fist and pressed it against the left side of his chest. He leaned forward slightly and lowered his head, saying respectfully, "May I ask if you are the Goddess of the Crimson Demon Palace?"

Seeing his respectful attitude, the little bit of wariness Chi Ji had left vanished.

She stood up, hiding the ancient jade beneath her sleeve. Maintaining the posture of a superior, she said indifferently, "I am indeed that goddess."

Xu Xian pursed his lips inwardly and said with feigned sincerity, "I have been ordered by the Crimson Demon to fetch the Goddess and bring her back to the palace. This subordinate has arrived late and caused you to suffer."

Hearing that he was sent by her father, the tension in Chi Ji's heart finally relaxed, and she let out a long breath.

"Phew..."

"You may rise."

Xu Xian said with a fake smile, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Chi Ji squinted, subconsciously scrutinizing the man before her.

He was quite handsome, and there was even a hint of familiarity about him.

However, she didn't pay it much mind.

In the Nether Capital, there were countless men pursuing her. Every one of them was handsome; when you've seen enough of them, they all start to look the same.

It was rare for her to think that the person before her looked slightly better than most.

Unfortunately...

He was a third-class demon.

Born in the Crimson Demon Palace as a first-class heavenly demon, she was required to maintain the continuity and purity of the high-level bloodline. Her partner could only be another heavenly demon.

She was destined to have little interaction with such a low-class demon.

In fact, within the demon race, if a low-class demon fell in love with a high-class demon, it was considered an act of rebellion and a crime.

The male would be sentenced to castration, and the female to excision.

And if it involved a heavenly demon?

Death would be the lightest punishment.

Xu Xian didn't care about her scrutiny at all. He said, "Goddess, your dantian and qi manor have been locked by a formation. Please allow me to release it for you. Do not take offense at my presumption."

Chi Ji tilted her chin up slightly and said softly, "You are pardoned."

Xu Xian bowed his head and stepped forward. Activating his Pupil of Insight, he located the formation eye. Disguising his spiritual qi as demon qi, he pointed his fingers like a sword and tapped her shoulder.

Thump—

A sound like a tolling bell echoed, sending out ripples.

Chi Ji's delicate body trembled, and she let out an alluring soft moan.

"Mm~"

Then the formation shattered, and her cultivation was restored.

Late-stage sixth-grade demon general—slightly higher than Xu Xian's current cultivation.

Xu Xian immediately backed away.

Realizing she had lost her composure, Chi Ji quickly regained her cold expression. Seeing that Xu Xian still seemed to hold her in awe, she acted as if nothing had happened.

As her cultivation returned, demon qi began to circulate within her dantian.

In an instant, it flowed through her entire body, clearing her meridians and reopening her acupoints.

All the superficial injuries she had sustained previously vanished at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The faint finger marks on her face disappeared.

The bump on her head was gone.

Her complexion returned to normal.

Her purple lips regained their rosy hue, and even her hair regained its former luster.

A crimson aura seemed to diffuse around her, and her emerald eyes became deep, dark blue, and brilliantly moving.

The Cinderella of the desert had turned back into a princess in glass slippers in the blink of an eye.

Her appearance and temperament had undergone a world-shaking change.

For a fleeting moment, Xu Xian even thought she had used a beauty filter or turned into a different person.

He had to admit that this woman was indeed quite beautiful. She was even a notch above his so-called Senior Sister.

The only thing that hadn't changed was that Chi Ji was still wearing the night-walking clothes he had given her.

The fully restored Chi Ji closed her eyes briefly and then opened them. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and her voice, ethereal yet deep, spoke in a commanding tone:

"Turn around."

Though Xu Xian was puzzled, he still obediently turned his back, though he couldn't help but complain in his heart:

'You really know how to put on an act.'

'If it weren't for the sake of those ten thousand Shadow Soul Stones, I'd have given you a couple more slaps to let you know who's boss.'

After Xu Xian turned around, Chi Ji took out the ancient jade from her sleeve, put it back around her neck, and hid it under her clothes.

Then she turned back and looked toward the sand dune behind her. A flash of purple light quietly flickered in the depths of her emerald eyes.

Her gaze focused on one spot.

With a gentle wave of her hand, as if pulled by an invisible thread, a wine flask shot out from under the shallow yellow sand at the corner of the dune and landed steadily in her hand.

Chi Ji gently stroked the wine flask, her expression shifting. Even she couldn't clearly describe her current emotions.

"Sigh—"

She sighed silently and told Xu Xian to turn back around.

Xu Xian said respectfully, "Goddess, please allow me to escort you back."

Chi Ji glanced at him and gave a hum of affirmation.

"Let's go!"

"After you, Your Highness!"

Chi Ji stepped lightly and rose with the wind, with Xu Xian guarding her side.

A moment later.

Outside the Blazing Fortress, as they approached the small desert town, the two were blocked by several Crimson Demon Guards.

Xu Xian, borrowing her authority, stood in front of her with his hands behind his back and shouted.

"Impudent!"

"The Goddess is here. Why haven't you paid your respects?"

The Crimson Demon Guards looked at each other, completely bewildered.

Hearing these words from the mouth of a white-haired third-class demon, the credibility was near zero in their eyes.

Furthermore, the "Goddess" he spoke of was wearing a veiled hat, so they couldn't see her face.

Chi Ji raised her hand and slowly removed the veiled hat, revealing an exquisite face.

Red hair, a pair of demon horns, and eyes as green as gemstones.

A heavenly demon race.

Undoubtedly the Goddess.

Seeing this, the Crimson Demon Guards, who had been skeptical, no longer hesitated. In fear and trepidation, they struck their fists heavily against the cold armor on their chests and bowed.

"Greetings, Goddess!"

"Greetings, Goddess!!"

Chi Ji raised her hand slightly from her sleeve, and the guards stood up, lining both sides of the path.

"Who has come?" Chi Ji asked.

The leader of the guards hurriedly replied, "It is Prince Yan leading the party."

Being granted a princely title meant the person's cultivation must be at least the seventh stage. A single-character title proved that the person's cultivation was at the eighth stage.

This was what Chi Ji had told Xu Xian.

A seventh-stage lesser demon king had a two-character title.

An eighth-stage greater demon king had a single-character title.

Of course, the prerequisite was being a heavenly demon race.

No one but a first-class heavenly demon could be titled a King. No one but a second-class earthly demon could be titled a Marquis.

These were the rules of the Demon Abyss.

In the demon race, the idea that "nobility is not determined by birth" simply did not exist.

Even if an ordinary demon worked hard and reached the seventh or eighth stage, they would at most be a guard or, at best, a general.

"It's Uncle Yan... take me to see him."

"As you command!"

As they led the way and guarded the flanks, Chi Ji walked slowly. Xu Xian intended to follow, but he was heartlessly blocked by two Crimson Demon Guards.

Xu Xian frowned.

"Hmm?"

'Are you trying to back out on the deal?'

Chi Ji said airily, "Let him come."