The Demon Lord?

"I know. The Nether Records mention that the Nether Fire Secret Art is one of the divine abilities of the supreme Demon Lord. This fire can freeze nether water and melt Shadow Soul Stones," Chi Ji replied calmly.

Jin Qing asked again, "And besides the Demon Lord?"

"No one else."

"Do you want to practice it?"

"I'll just give it a try."

"Then do you know what would happen if you truly mastered this Nether Fire Secret Art?"

Chi Ji was dazed. What could happen other than proving her own brilliance? Besides, she was certain she couldn't learn it; she couldn't even understand what she was looking at.

What would she even use to refine it?

She instinctively shook her head.

"I don't know."

Jin Qing gently stroked the red book cover and murmured, "You just mentioned the Nether Records. They say that nether fire is the sacred flame of our race. It can do more than freeze nether water and melt Shadow Soul Stones. According to the records, it can also drive away Nether Beasts... yes, the Nether Beasts locked behind the Nether Gate that you mentioned earlier."

"A long, long time ago, the Demon Lord was able to drive away the Nether Beasts in the Nether Pool by relying on this nether fire."

"So..."

Jin Qing paused, returned the secret manual to Chi Ji, and gently patted the back of her hand, saying one word at a time, "If you truly manage to learn it and summon the nether fire, then you will be the future Demon Lord."

Chi Ji was in a trance and repeated in a low voice, "The Demon Lord?"

Jin Qing teased, "Yes, the Demon Lord. Second across all ages, whose noble status stands above even the demon sovereigns of past generations. Even I, the High Priest, would have to bow and pay my respects upon seeing you."

Panic-stricken, Chi Ji waved her hands dismissively. "The High Priest must be joking. I certainly couldn't do it."

Jin Qing took a deep breath. Above her jade-green eyes, her long brows relaxed slightly. "Work hard. No one can say for sure how things in this world will turn out. If a Demon Lord truly is born in the Demon Abyss, perhaps the sky here can finally brighten. Then I wouldn't have to risk opening the Nether Gate, and naturally, I wouldn't have to keep fighting with your father."

Chi Ji lowered her head and remained silent.

She understood very well in her heart that her kidnapping at the Blazing Fortress and the overnight massacre in Ze Capital were inextricably linked to the golden-haired woman before her.

Before, she hadn't dared to hate her, but now she found she couldn't bring herself to hate her at all.

She thought the woman must have her own reasons for being forced into this, or rather, Chi Ji felt that she was just another pitiable soul.

Was it an illusion? Or something else? She couldn't say.

Jin Qing rested her palms on her knees and stood up, saying warmly, "It's getting late. Let's end our chat here."

Chi Ji hurriedly stood up and called out.

"High Priest."

"Yes?"

After hesitating repeatedly, Chi Ji finally asked, "If a common demon were to learn this Nether Fire Secret Art, could he also become the Demon Lord?"

Jin Qing narrowed her eyes and gave an indirect answer. "The demon laws prohibit any demon below the heavenly demon race from entering the Demon Dao Hall; violators are executed. They prohibit any demon below the heavenly demon race from practicing primordial demon arts; violators are executed."

Chi Ji's eyes dimmed.

Jin Qing said in a playful tone, "If an earthly demon, a mortal demon, or even a lower-class demon truly learned this Nether Fire Secret Art, he would likely die. As for the reason, I don't need to explain it for you to understand."

Chi Ji was stunned for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Indeed.

If the Nether Fire Secret Art was learned by a low-class demon, who knew how many heavenly demons would want him dead before he could even become the Demon Lord? Or rather, he would be forced to die.

A second-class demon cannot be a king.

A third-class demon cannot be a marquess.

How much more so for the Demon Lord? That was a position that reigned over demon sovereigns, a position destined to stand above everyone else.

It would certainly stand above the heavenly demon race.

And the heavenly demon race only allowed heavenly demons to stand above them.

If it were replaced by a low-class demon, how would the other demon tribes see it?

What kind of consequences would it trigger? Could the bloodline hierarchy still continue? Could the authority and interests of the heavenly demon race still be guaranteed?

The implications were too vast.

Human nature is selfish, and more importantly, the heavenly demon race was not just one person, but a group—the very embodiment of the system within the Demon Abyss.

If someone tried to break the rules and shatter the order, what awaited him would surely be the fierce storm of the heavenly demon race. This would likely include her own biological father.

Chi Ji might be a bit naive, but she wasn't stupid. She understood everything Jin Qing said.

Chi Ji's throat moved as she swallowed, but she still couldn't resist testing the waters. "High Priest... what about you?"

Jin Qing feigned ignorance. "What about me?"

Chi Ji asked patiently, "If there really was an ordinary demon who managed to cultivate the Nether Fire Secret Art, would you kill him?"

Jin Qing smiled slightly and said decisively, "I am of the heavenly demon race, but more than that, I am the High Priest of the demon race. I have never represented any single group."

She didn't answer directly, yet she gave an answer.

It was an answer that surprised Chi Ji, yet it felt perfectly reasonable.

Jin Qing gave a self-deprecating laugh and openly revealed her past. "Common demons don't know, but you must have heard your father mention why only two people are left in the Jin family."

"I've heard some rumors, but..."

Jin Qing interrupted, her eyes narrowing as she smiled. "That's right. I did it."

Chi Ji's eyes widened, her mouth hanging slightly open.

Jin Qing urged, "Alright, go back now."

Chi Ji hesitated to speak but eventually complied and turned to leave, her heart still overflowing with shock.

There had been rumors in the past.

The High Priest had once personally exterminated the Jin clan, killing her father and brothers, with only the newborn Small Priest being spared.

At that time, the demon sovereign was still alive and had personally intervened to protect her.

Later.

After the battle of the Thunder Demon, the Demon Abyss was in a state of neglected growth. To balance the various factions, the seven families had nominated her to become the High Priest.

This secret was so buried that no one in the streets dared to spread it anymore.

Chi Ji had heard of it occasionally but had never taken it seriously.

Having it confirmed by the woman herself today left her heart in turmoil. What kind of person, and what kind of immense hatred, could lead someone to do such a thing?

However.

One thing was certain: since she could destroy her own kin back then, she would surely dare to destroy the heavenly demon race today for the sake of the Demon Abyss.

It was a second confirmation of Chi Ji's question.

She might be wicked.

But she wasn't truly bad.

Near the doorway, Chi Ji's footsteps faltered. She turned her head, summoned her courage, and said with sincerity, "I don't blame you."

Jin Qing gazed at her calmly from across the room.

Chi Ji emphasized her words, "Opening the Nether Gate might be the right choice. If I were you, I think I would gamble too."

Jin Qing didn't respond, she only offered a gratified smile.

Chi Ji turned and left.

Jin Qing stood in place for a moment, shook her head, and sighed to herself with a hint of helplessness, "Unfortunately, you don't have the final say in the Crimson Demon Palace yet. But you and I are truly very much alike."

...

After Chi Ji left, she didn't go directly to Bai Mang. Instead, she returned to the Crimson Demon Palace. She waited until night fell, when all things rested and the Nether Pool brightened. She dismissed her guards and maidservants, put on a disguise, and then secretly slipped out of the Crimson Demon Palace.

Out of caution.

She deliberately took many circuitous routes through the inner and outer cities, intentionally pushing through crowds in the outer city and changing her clothes several times before sneaking her way to the Yuelai Inn.

Jin Qing's words had been too clear.

She felt that both she and Bai Mang were being watched.

She knew doing this might be useless, but it was better than doing nothing at all.

She cautiously knocked on the room door.

Thud!

Thud, thud!

"Who is it?"

Chi Ji kept her voice low. "It's me..."