Background

According to the plan, they continued to walk towards the area outside the Inner City. The little book spirit flew around him, nagging incessantly.

"To be honest, that was quite a close call just now. Luckily, Master is good at putting on a front and actually managed to scare them away. Not going to lie, you made it look real—a massive background that no one dares to mess with, haha."

Xu Xian was displeased and said speechlessly, "What do you mean 'look real'? My background is plenty big. I am the Little Grand-Uncle of the Wendao Sword Sect, after all."

The little book spirit clicked its tongue and remained silent.

Xu Xian emphasized, "Lei Yunche's junior brother. His direct junior brother."

The little book spirit snorted in disdain.

Xu Xian cursed angrily, "What's with that attitude? Do you think mentioning my senior brother's name doesn't work?"

The little book spirit grumbled, "I'm afraid it's better if you don't mention his name. If you do, people might just beat you to death instead."

"Hmm?"

"Don't forget, your senior brother once slaughtered his way through the Demon Abyss back then. In this city, just count how many people have a blood feud with him."

When Xu Xian heard this and thought it over, he sucked in a cold breath. "Hiss... You're right, that's actually hard to say."

The little book spirit put its hands on its hips and boasted, "Right? Better to rely on yourself than others. In critical moments, only I can save you."

Xu Xian looked at it with contempt. "Give it a rest."

The little book spirit showed off, "What do you mean? Was my sword strike not cool enough?"

The youth did not speak.

"A single sword chills fourteen provinces; sword qi spans thirty thousand miles."

The youth remained silent.

"I'm asking you a question!"

The youth made no sound.

"Was it cool or not?"

The youth remained silent.

"Aaaah!"

The youth said nothing.

"......."

The little book spirit's daily breakdown: +1.

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In the main hall of the Crimson Demon Palace, a first-generation demon god let out a startled shout that cracked his voice.

"What?"

The messenger was startled.

"One spear thrust?"

The messenger swallowed hard and confirmed, "Yes, one thrust. He skewered that man in a single strike."

The Crimson Demon stood up abruptly, placed his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth, his brows furrowed in thought.

A sixth-rank early-stage demon general killed a seventh-rank early-stage lesser demon king in one thrust.

If this wasn't a fabrication, then this youth named Bai Mang was an unparalleled demonic talent.

A lowly bloodline, yet killing enemies across a major realm.

He didn't deny that there were always geniuses who could achieve such a feat. Even in his youth, he had accomplished similar exploits.

But precisely because he had done it, he knew better than anyone how difficult it was.

That was achieving a difficult victory under the pressure of an absolute bloodline suppression, having to exhaust every means and scheme available.

Yet Bai Mang only needed one thrust. Was that reasonable?

"How did he do it..." he muttered to himself, completely baffled.

The person responsible for surveillance said in a low voice, "Perhaps it is because he is holding the Young Lady's Crimson Flame Gilded Spear."

Chi Ming glanced at him calmly and asked, "If it were you, could you do it?"

The visitor responded without even thinking, "No."

It was true that the Crimson Flame Gilded Spear was an immortal-demonic weapon, ranking in the top hundred of the Demon Abyss's weapon records.

However, it was definitely not some ultimate weapon of mass destruction. Holding it, one could naturally sweep through opponents of the same rank.

But for a cross-realm battle above the sixth rank, and with just one thrust...

Honestly.

Even if he were given the long-lost Great Dao Divine Weapon of the Demon Abyss, the Spirit-Sealing Seal, he doubted he could achieve the same result under the same circumstances.

Chi Ming continued to pace and said again, "Repeat what he said once more."

The messenger recounted, "He told us to bring a message to the masters behind us. He said not to provoke him because his background is huge and we can't afford to offend him. He also said if we kept following him, he'd kill us all... including you, Demon God."

After hearing this, Chi Ming sat back on his throne, rubbing his chin as he savored the words.

A huge background?

Who could it be?

The people who went to test him had already been identified as the High Priest's subordinates.

Who else could it be?

In the entire Nether Abyss, Chi Ming was the oldest and had lived the longest. He didn't recall any hidden families or reclusive masters training in some deep mountain forest.

Seeing that Chi Ming remained silent for a long time, the messenger couldn't help but ask, "Excellency, this person has already been targeted by the High Priest's people. What should we do next?"

Without even looking up, Chi Ming asked, "What do you think?"

The messenger thought for a moment and said in a low tone, "In my humble opinion, kill him."

"Hmm?" Chi Ming looked up.

The messenger hurriedly explained, "If he is captured by the High Priest's people and betrays the Young Lady, the things the Young Lady has done will surely be exposed. According to the Nether Records, she would be expelled from the heavenly demon race."

Chi Ming asked knowingly, "What did Chi Ji do?"

The messenger stammered, not daring to speak recklessly.

Deceiving the Demon Lord.

Stealing and gifting demon arts.

None of these were small matters. He didn't believe the demon god wasn't aware of them.

Chi Ming continued, "Don't forget whose child she is, and don't forget who set the so-called Nether Records. Would they dare?"

"Your Excellency is wise!" the messenger quickly flattered him and took the opportunity to ask, "This subordinate is foolish. Please give me clear instructions, Excellency."

Chi Ming thought again and said slowly, "If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move. Go back and keep watching him. But this time, stay further away. This child definitely has some kind of tracking technique."

The messenger continued to ask, "And if the High Priest's people make a move?"

Chi Ming curled his lips and smiled, "Then you bring him back to the Crimson Demon Palace. He is using the Crimson Flame Gilded Spear. Everyone in the Demon Abyss knows that is an item from my Crimson Demon Palace. Since he uses my palace's item, he is naturally one of our people. Understood?"

The messenger suddenly realized and understood. He thumped his chest heavily and said respectfully, "Understood!"

At the same time, by the side of a pond in a courtyard, Jin Qing looked at the still-warm corpse on the ground, remaining silent for a long time.

A green-haired youth stood nearby, also silent.

Jin Qing suddenly looked up, pointed at the corpse, and asked, "Do you think... could it be that he was just too weak?"

"Uh..." The green-haired youth's cheek twitched. He said seriously, "Excellency, this is a member of my Qing family. Strictly speaking, he was my nephew. My direct nephew."

Jin Qing asked suspiciously, "Is that so? Then your direct nephew was killed, so why aren't you sad or angry?"

The green-haired youth said calmly, "I have many nephews. Moreover, he died for the Nether Religion; it is his honor."

Jin Qing pursed her lips and agreed, "True. Among the eight great families of the Demon Abyss, your Qing family is the most prolific and flirtatious. However..."

She looked at the other party with interest and continued, "Don't you want revenge?"

The green-haired youth said respectfully, "I only listen to your Excellency. I will do whatever you command. If you want him alive, I will bring him back whole. If you want him dead, I will ensure he never sees the light of the nether water again."

Jin Qing seemed very satisfied with this answer.

She leaned lazily against the back of her chair, picked up a teacup from the table, and gently rubbed the lid against the rim. She smiled tenderly, "You are still so loyal. Heh, not bad. I like you this way."

The youth in green remained expressionless and bowed slightly. "Thank you for your favor, Excellency."

Jin Qing said nonchalantly, "Fine. You've worked hard all day. Take your nephew and go back. He died for the Nether Religion, so go to the Nether Mausoleum, pick a good spot, and bury him."

"And what about the white-haired demon's side?"

Jin Qing took a small sip of tea and responded softly, "You don't need to worry about that anymore."

The green-haired youth's expression shifted momentarily, but he still respectfully complied. "Understood. This subordinate takes his leave..."