Interrogation in the Nether Hall

Inside the grand hall, the light was dim, and the atmosphere was thick with an unspeakable sense of oppression.

At the very front, a row of seats was lined up in a semi-circle.

There were no fewer than dozens of them.

However, only a few scattered figures sat upon them.

They were hidden in the darkness, their features indiscernible, exuding an air of mystery and eeriness. Yet, the aura emanating from them was so astonishing that it shook the soul.

Only the two seats in the center were different.

Two beams of light fell from the ceiling, shining directly and accurately upon them. Within the light sat two golden-haired, blue-eyed women.

They were beautiful.

They were noble.

They appeared like celestial beings.

They were gazing down at her, like the eyes of God scrutinizing the mortal world.

The hall was silent. Chi Ji was nervous; even though she deliberately lightened her every footstep, the sound of her rhythmic walking still echoed throughout the cavernous hall.

When he reached the center of the hall, Chi Ming stopped, and Chi Ji stopped with him.

Chi Ming gave Chi Ji a deep look, his eyes full of reassurance and carrying a hint of a father’s worry.

Chi Ji looked back and nodded to her father, indicating that she could handle it.

Chi Ming’s expression relaxed, showing a father’s relief. He then paced forward and sat down on a stone chair, his entire figure subsequently vanishing into the shadows.

Chi Ji took a deep breath to calm her nervous thoughts. She placed her right palm over her left chest, leaned forward slightly, lowered her head, and cast down her eyes, saying respectfully:

"Current Goddess of the Crimson Demon Palace, Chi Ji, greets the lords!"

Silence!

A heavy silence lasted for several breaths. The entire hall was so quiet a pin drop could be heard.

It was only when the golden-haired woman beside the Small Priest spoke that the tranquility was finally broken.

"You may rise."

Chi Ji looked up slightly, found the direction of the voice, and said respectfully, "Thank you for your grace, High Priest!"

Only then did she straighten her posture.

The Small Priest asked with a smile, "Chi Ji, daughter of the Crimson Demon, do you know why you have been brought here?"

Chi Ji responded respectfully.

"I know!"

"There is no need to be nervous. Just answer truthfully and tell us what you know. No one will make things difficult for you or harm you," the Small Priest added.

Chi Ji continued to respond, "I will."

As the Small Priest's voice faded, the High Priest's voice rose. Her tone was amiable, yet it held a hint of warning and pressure. "Chi Ji, this is the Nether Hall. The spirits of the Demon Lord are enshrined here. If you lie, you are mocking the Supreme Demon Lord. Do you understand this clearly?"

Chi Ji nodded in confirmation. "I understand."

From a corner, a feminine voice rang out unexpectedly, saying, "Then do you dare to swear in the name of the Supreme Demon Lord?"

A flicker of displeasure crossed the Small Priest's brow.

The High Priest closed her eyes, choosing to remain silent and give her tacit approval.

Chi Ji bit her lip, her gaze naturally drifting toward her father's direction. She... hesitated!

"What, you don't dare?"

The voice grew louder and more aggressive.

Chi Ji raised her hand, pressing her fingers together like a sword against her brow. She said word by word, "I, a bloodline of the heavenly demon Chi family and daughter of the Crimson Demon, Chi Ji, swear by the name of the Supreme Demon Lord. If there is half a lie in what I am about to say, I am willing to accept all punishment."

"Good! If you dare to tell a single lie, your status as a heavenly demon and all your honors shall be stripped away, and you shall be cast into the Demon Void, never to leave."

Chi Ji gritted her teeth and said, "As you wish!"

The High Priest slowly opened her eyes and said calmly, "Then let us begin."

Chi Ji withdrew her gaze and said with absolute respect, "I follow your will."

The High Priest said, "Recount the events of Ze Capital."

Upon hearing this, Chi Ji recounted what had happened truthfully, including how she had gone out, how she was captured, how she was rescued, and finally, their overnight stay in Ze Capital, the assassin's attack, the massacre of the town, and Chi Yan’s betrayal.

She spoke fluently because this was not the first time she had told the story.

Similarly, the people listening were not hearing it for the first time either.

After all, Chi Ji's account was identical to what Chi Ming had said.

The reason for having her repeat it was simply to see if there were any discrepancies with Chi Ming's version.

Evidently, there were none.

Of course, that did not mean there were no points of suspicion.

After Chi Ji finished speaking, the assembly began to raise doubts and question her in turn.

"You say you were saved by a human?"

"Yes."

"Why did he save you?"

Chi Ji replied, "I don't know."

"Then why did he let you go?"

Chi Ji replied again, "I don't know."

"Then do you know where he went?"

Chi Ji continued to reply, "I don't know."

She claimed total ignorance to every question regarding his motives and whereabouts.

In the dark corners, some sighs and sounds of doubt were already beginning to emerge.

Chi Ji hurriedly explained, "I was knocked unconscious by him at the time. When I woke up, he was already gone."

The Small Priest took over, her tone much gentler. "Do you know what his cultivation stage was?"

Chi Ji shook her head. "I don't know. My cultivation was sealed, so I couldn't see through him at all. However, when he killed those people, he was very fast. He should be... above the eighth stage."

Above the eighth stage?

That would be the great ascension stage.

"Did he use a sword?" the Small Priest continued to ask.

This time, Chi Ji answered with certainty, "Yes."

The murmuring grew a bit more chaotic.

The mere mention of a sword was enough to change the atmosphere; even the powerholders in the demon god stage were no exception.

"Did you ever see him again in Ze Capital?"

Chi Ji remained certain. "No!"

The Small Priest stopped her questioning and looked toward her sister.

"Sister."

They likely had their answer now.

Following this deduction, that sword strike outside Ze Capital was very likely executed by that same person.

In other words, an outsider had slipped into the Demon Abyss.

Moreover, it was no ordinary person, but quite possibly a sword immortal.

The High Priest was deep in thought. Suddenly, she asked, "That white-haired demon cultivator—what was his name?"

Chi Ji froze, her eyes dropping guiltily as she feigned confusion. "What is the High Priest saying?"

The High Priest narrowed her eyes slightly, the light in her blue eyes exceptionally sharp. "You know what I am talking about."

Chi Ji's fists under her long sleeves tightened unnaturally. Bracing against the immense pressure, she denied it. "I don't know what you're talking about."

From beginning to end, Chi Ji had never mentioned Bai Mang's existence to her father.

She only said she had been ambushed, Chi Yan had betrayed them, and by the time she woke up, she was by the river.

She claimed not to know who saved her.

She naturally only found out after waking up that someone had unleashed a sword strike in the Demon Abyss, with sword qi spanning nearly a thousand miles.

Chi Yan was dead!

The matter of that sword strike had become a massive issue with even greater implications.

She knew very well.

If she involved Bai Mang, given his status as a member of the mortal demon race, it would be impossible to protect him. He might even lose his life because of it.

If this incident hadn't happened, perhaps the Crimson Demon Palace could have protected him.

But now?

Even she had been called here for questioning; that alone said everything.

If his existence were exposed, the crime of killing a heavenly demon alone would be enough for him to die eight hundred times over.

The heavenly demon race didn't care who was right or wrong.

If he were linked to that sword strike as well, his fate would likely be worse than death.

Therefore, she hadn't mentioned him and had no intention of doing so, preferring death over having her soul searched.

A trace of anger flickered across the High Priest's brow.

The Small Priest quickly gave her a look, as if telling her not to frighten the child.

The High Priest took a deep breath and questioned her calmly:

"News has come from Blazing Fortress that you were originally found by a sixth-rank white-haired demon. At the time, the city guards said he entered Blazing Fortress with you. Why have you not said a single word about this?"