The Demon Dao Pavilion

When Chi Ji's back disappeared at the end of the long street, the youth finally pulled back his thoughts.

His gaze then extended, slowly sweeping across the surroundings—the tall buildings, the giant trees, the grey and heavy sky...

Xu Xian's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. He knew very well in his heart that he had likely already been targeted.

Even if they hadn't noticed him before, the moment Chi Ji found him, he was certainly exposed.

He just didn't know which aura in the shadows was the one watching. Was it the fourth-stage butcher selling meat across the street? Was it the fifth-rank member of the law enforcement squad who just walked by? Or was it an existence at the sixth or even seventh stage further away?

Any of them were possible.

They might be from the Crimson Demon Palace, the so-called Demon God Hall, or that Nether Hall on the north bank of the Nether Pool.

He retracted his gaze, returning to his room as if nothing were wrong, and proactively took back the Heaven-Sealing Trapping Formation.

This matter was of great significance.

The implications were immense.

He had entered the city yesterday, and in less than a day, Chi Ji had sought him out. Since the person in the shadows was only staring at him, what Xu Xian needed to do at this moment was to do nothing at all.

If he chose to flee as Chi Ji suggested, that would be the real trouble. It would be no different from a self-exposure.

At least one thing was certain for now: whoever the person in the shadows was, they were still observing.

Xu Xian thought that from anyone's perspective, it was unlikely they would believe he could strike with such a sword. To be honest, that strike truly hadn't been delivered by Xu Xian himself.

The reason they hadn't acted and chose to monitor instead was either because they suspected there was someone behind him and were waiting for that person to appear, or he was overthinking it and only people from the Crimson Demon Palace were watching him.

Between the two, Xu Xian was more inclined toward the former.

The little book spirit suddenly said, "Master, should we still run? I feel like we've already been targeted."

Xu Xian responded through his divine sense, "Have some confidence. Drop the 'feel like' part."

"Then if we don't run now, when will we?"

Xu Xian's eyes darkened. "No rush. Let's wait until we get the Nether Fire Secret Art."

"What time do you think it is? You're still thinking about that? You've got some nerve," the little book spirit complained heartlessly.

Xu Xian rolled his eyes and didn't respond.

The little book spirit floated down and sat on the edge of the table, its small legs swinging back and forth. Looking out at the gloomy world outside the window, it commented for no reason, "The winds and waves in this city are not small."

Xu Xian chuckled. "What are you afraid of? The bigger the wind and waves, the more valuable the fish."

The little book spirit curled its lip, already immune to its master's pretentious remarks. It said listlessly, "That's not funny at all."

Xu Xian casually picked up a book and leafed through it idly, saying with extreme confidence, "Alright, I know what I'm doing. Since we've come this far, we can't just leave in disgrace. The Sword Tower has to be built. Once I get the Nether Fire Secret Art, I'll just change my identity and slip away. The Nether Capital is so large; if I just dive in somewhere, what can they do? Can they really flip the entire Nether Capital upside down?"

The little book spirit did not argue. With the Pupil of Insight and the Immortal King's Cloak, being in such a densely populated and prosperous place was naturally different from the desolate mountains outside Ze Capital.

Even if Xu Xian was truly being watched and a demon god acted in the shadows, it was confident it could lead its master into the sea of people and disappear.

It also didn't believe that those in power would truly disregard everything for a single sixth-stage mortal demon and a matter of uncertainty, turning their own territory into a scene of blood and wind.

If that were the case, one could only say the demon gods in the Demon Abyss were either a bunch of fools or a pack of lunatics.

Furthermore, with Chi Ji of the Crimson Demon Palace involved and itself, the mysterious and invincible great sword immortal, the demon gods would have their reservations.

It was truly possible he was just overthinking it.

It sighed and compromised. "Fine, I'll listen to you, Master. I just feel this is a bit too risky."

Xu Xian curled his lips. "Fortune is found amidst danger."

The little book spirit finished the thought, "And lost amidst danger, too."

The youth laughed and stopped responding.

He had his own plans. The Nether Fire Secret Art was too important to him; it was worth taking a small risk. As long as he got his hands on it and learned it, the problem of the million shadow soul stones would be solved easily.

Beyond that, all his troubles could be resolved at once.

By then, even if his identity were exposed, once he broke through to the seventh stage and possessed a three-story Sword Tower, even a demon god could forget about keeping him here.

Furthermore, if his plan truly succeeded and he jumped into the Nether Pool, who could do anything to him?

Or, if he truly mastered the nether fire and could use it to refine shadow soul stones, he would be in control of a high technology that could change the entire Demon Abyss—and it would be an exclusive, non-replicable one. At that point, would he still fear a mere demon god?

He could just change his hair color and lie, saying he was a member of the heavenly demon race as well. Maybe they would even beg him to stay and become a demon sovereign or something.

After all, top-tier talent was a hot commodity no matter where they went.

At least, that was how Xu Xian thought. Since he had nothing better to do, there was no harm in a bit of daydreaming.

On the other side, after Chi Ji left the inn, she went straight back to the Crimson Demon Palace and found her father, telling him she wanted to enter the Demon Dao Pavilion to take a look.

The Demon Dao Pavilion, as a secret archive exclusive to the heavenly demon race, was to some extent one of the foundations of the heavenly demons' rule over the Demon Abyss. It was not a place anyone could enter at will.

There were restrictions outside the Demon Dao Pavilion, and one could only enter and exit by carrying a demon god token.

It had always been this way. Chi Ming didn't ask any questions and very readily agreed to Chi Ji's request. As the daughter of the Crimson Demon, she already had this privilege.

However, he also had his own thoughts.

Long before Chi Ji returned, he had already received word that his child had just met that youth. Upon returning, she immediately wanted to go to the Demon Dao Pavilion. There was certainly some unspoken connection between the two.

He truly wanted to see what that youth named Bai Mang wanted to do, and he was curious what charm this third-class demon had that could leave his daughter so bewitched.

He wanted to keep Bai Mang alive, as the boy very likely knew the truth behind that sword strike. And that was related to the rise and fall of the Demon Abyss.

He also had to help conceal Bai Mang's presence. Only as long as the boy didn't show his face would the truth of that sword strike remain hidden from the public. The matter of the Nether Gate would be postponed indefinitely, which was similarly related to the survival of the Demon Abyss.

In fact, the best way was to hide Bai Mang within the Crimson Demon Palace—that was the most secure option. Conveniently, his daughter and Bai Mang were well-acquainted.

As long as Bai Mang didn't have any improper thoughts, Chi Ming felt that having him stay by Chi Ji's side was the most appropriate arrangement.

Of course, this was only his own thought.

Having obtained the demon god token, Chi Ji headed straight for the Demon Dao Pavilion.

Just as her front foot stepped into the Demon Dao Pavilion, in an unknown residence in the Nether Capital, a green-haired demon hurried over to report to a golden-haired woman who was feeding fish by the pond. "Your Eminence, Chi Ji has just entered the Demon Dao Pavilion."

The woman pinched the fish food in her porcelain bowl, her brows lowering slightly as a dark glint appeared in her eyes. She murmured softly, "The Demon Dao Pavilion..."