The High Priest

After murmuring to herself, the golden-haired woman pinched a small bit of fish food, slowly rubbed it between her fingers, and sprinkled it into the pond.

Multicolored fish scrambled for the food, causing ripples to surge through the water. She asked softly, "Right... what did you say that white-haired demon was called?"

The person beside her spoke with clear articulation.

"Bai Mang!"

"Bai Mang..." she whispered the name to herself. "What about him? Has there been any movement?"

"He has been staying in the inn the entire time."

"Is he truly only at the demon general stage?"

The subordinate confirmed, "Yes, he is only at the early demon general stage."

The golden-haired woman remained half-doubting. "I see. Continue to watch him, but keep your distance. Do not startle him."

"Understood. Then your subordinate shall take his leave."

"Mm."

The green-haired demon bowed and slowly withdrew. He had only taken a few steps before he was called back.

"Wait."

The green-haired demon stopped and turned back.

The woman spoke calmly, "Find an opportunity to test his skills."

The green-haired demon pondered for a moment before responding, "Understood!"

The green-haired demon left the courtyard.

The golden-haired woman continued to feed the fish.

Inside the Demon Dao Pavilion, Chi Ji had found the dust-covered ancient book. She gently wiped away the accumulated grime and opened it, her brow furrowing instantly.

The ancient pages were yellowed, filled with ancestral demon script lying in every direction.

They did not recognize Chi Ji, and Chi Ji did not recognize them.

"What is all this writing?"

"Whatever, I'll just copy it down."

Xu Xian remained in the inn. When he grew tired of flipping through books, he would take a short nap. Upon waking, he would continue reading. When he grew weary, he would gaze out the window, bored to death.

In the shadows.

Two pairs of eyes never moved for even a moment, watching from dawn until dusk, and from early night until the break of day...

......

At noon the following day, Chi Ji finally stepped out of the Demon Dao Pavilion. She looked up at the grey sky, and her aching right hand twitched beneath her sleeve.

For a full day and night, she had spent the entire time copying.

"Has it been that long?"

She took a deep breath, her features relaxing. Feeling the storage ring on her finger, she walked away with high spirits and large strides.

Though she was tired, she had at least fulfilled her promise to him.

As she descended the long steps and reached the middle of the square, a person walked toward her from the opposite direction.

The newcomer moved with a graceful gait, her entire form hidden beneath a white robe.

Chi Ji did not pay much attention, her mind entirely focused on delivering the items to Xu Xian.

Just as they passed each other, the person behind her called out her name.

"Chi Ji!"

Chi Ji's footsteps halted. she turned her head in confusion and asked, "Are you calling me?"

The person turned around. Beneath the veiled hat, the corners of her mouth curled into a smile as she said softly, "We meet again."

Chi Ji scanned the person before her from top to bottom, then bottom to top.

She could not see through the other's cultivation level, nor could she see her face.

Suspicious, she asked, "Do we know each other?"

The visitor slowly removed her veiled hat, revealing a head of golden hair. She looked at her with a gentle gaze and a kind tone, saying, "If you don't mind, why don't you stay and chat with me for a while?"

Chi Ji instinctively frowned and quietly lowered her head.

Golden hair, golden demon horns—someone from the Jin family.

Within the Demon Abyss.

Everyone knew that the heavenly demon race had eight great surnames, and everyone also knew that only two people remained in the Jin family lineage.

One was named Jin Qing, and the other was named Jin Yu.

They were sisters.

However.

In the Demon Abyss, very few people dared to call them by their names. They referred to Jin Qing as the high priest and Jin Yu as the small priest.

Chi Ji had the honor of meeting the small priest before, so the person before her could only be the high priest.

She was also the person who had sat in the light within the Nether Hall the other day, interrogating her.

On that day, the priest had been in the light while Chi Ji was in the hall; she had been too nervous and hadn't seen clearly. Seeing her at such close range now, Chi Ji was naturally terrified. She quickly regained her senses and bowed in greeting.

Though she did not know why the priest was here or what she wanted to talk about, her mind was a jumble of confusion. She couldn't think too much and respectfully complied.

"Chi Ji, daughter of the Crimson Demon, pays respects to the High Priest."

"Chi Ji obeys your will."

The high priest dropped the solemnity she had held in the Nether Hall and smiled warmly. "This is not the halls of the Nether Hall, and I am wearing ordinary clothes. Therefore, there is no High Priest here. You need not be so formal. Rise."

Chi Ji remained stiff and said, "Thank you, High Priest!"

Perhaps.

In her subconscious, she had already cast the high priest as an imaginary enemy, whether from her father's perspective or from the standpoint of Bai Mang.

The high priest did not seem to mind. She pointed toward a bench near a flowerbed in a corner of the square and said, "Let's go sit over there and talk."

Chi Ji replied, "As you command!"

Jin Qing shook her head with a smile and turned to walk. Chi Ji followed behind her, matching her pace step for step.

She deliberately hid the hand wearing the storage ring beneath her large crimson sleeve, her thoughts in total disarray.

Her eyes could not hide her guilt, and a natural panic rose within her.

When the high priest sat down, Chi Ji stood as straight and stiff as a statue.

"You sit as well."

She snapped out of her daze. "Ah... no need. I can just stand."

The high priest insisted, "Let us sit and talk."

Chi Ji did not refuse again and sat on the very edge of the bench, her entire body remaining extremely tense.

"Are you nervous?"

Chi Ji thought about it and answered honestly, "A little."

Jin Qing made a playful remark to ease the awkwardness. "Don't be nervous. I won't eat you."

Chi Ji gave a sheepish smile, not knowing how to respond.

They sat in silence for a moment, the atmosphere quiet.

Chi Ji toyed with the hem of her skirt, either bunching it up or smoothing it out. Finally, she plucked up the courage to break the silence. "May I ask what the High Priest wishes to speak with me about?"

Jin Qing answered with an unrelated comment, speaking slowly, "Come to think of it, my father and your father are of the same generation, so we are practically sisters. In private, you can call me Sister Qing."

"I wouldn't dare," Chi Ji said.

Jin Qing said somewhat helplessly, "You child."

Chi Ji kept her head down...

Out of nowhere, Jin Qing asked, "What do you think of the current Demon Abyss?"

Chi Ji slowly raised her head and stared at Jin Qing blankly, completely confused. "I don't understand what you mean?"

Jin Qing said calmly, "Just talk about your views on the Demon Abyss. It's just a casual chat; speak your mind freely."

Chi Ji was still baffled. Originally, she thought Jin Qing sought her out to discuss the matters in Ze Capital. She truly hadn't expected her to ask this, and furthermore...

She was, after all, only a sixth-rank demon general. What views could she have?

However.

Then again, she was the daughter of a demon god and the future successor to the Crimson Demon Palace, as well as the leader of the younger generation of the Chi family lineage.

She had encountered similar topics many times before and had many of her own insights.

But.

That was before. Ever since she had taken a look at the world outside, many things had changed, and many of her thoughts had shifted as well.

She looked up at the heavy horizon, the light in her eyes as dim as the dark sky. She thought to herself:

"Chi Ji is of dull aptitude and shallow experience; I cannot say."

Seeing the girl's hesitation, Jin Qing changed her approach and asked specifically, "Say whatever you think. For example, let's talk about the future. What do you think the future of the demon race will be like?"

Chi Ji hesitated.

If it were before, she would certainly have said a lot of good things—that the future was promising, that the demon race would surely rise, and so on.

But now...

She stole a glance at Jin Qing.

The latter's eyes held an air of expectation.

After much consideration, Chi Ji spoke with profound meaning, "The future of the Demon Abyss might be just like the sky over this Nether Pool. Everyone knows the dawn has come, but in truth, it has only grown darker."