The divine sons and goddesses looked troubled, lowering their heads while casting furtive glances at Bai Mang.
They were retreating.
They were handing Bai Mang over to someone else.
How would they explain this to their families?
Only Qingmu, who had seen through everything, didn’t hesitate for a moment and respectfully retreated.
"As you will."
Qingmu walked out of the small courtyard and stepped onto the clouds.
Chi Ji stood panicked in the crowd, looking left and right, unsure of what to do. The moment she looked at Xu Xian, the latter quickly gave her a meaningful look.
Capturing it perfectly, Chi Ji didn’t hesitate at all and left as well.
"As you will."
She listened to Bai Mang's words.
As for the others, seeing two people leave one after another, they began to waver, yet they remained rooted to the spot.
Jin Qing naturally understood their thoughts; they were just a bunch of children. A flash of annoyance crossed her brow as she looked up at the sky, her voice ringing out softly.
"What, does this seat's word no longer carry weight with you?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was infused with a certain demonic power. Ordinary people might not have heard it, but the demon gods far away by the Nether Pool heard it clearly.
Almost at the same time her voice fell, several voices came from the Nether Pool.
They sounded as if they were crashing down from above the clouds, like thunderclaps, filled with reprimand and fury.
"Rebellious child, get back here!"
"Is this how I taught you to behave, being disrespectful to the High Priest?"
"Retreat at once!"
"High Priest, my daughter is ignorant. Please do not take it to heart."
The divine sons being scolded looked as if they had swallowed bitter gall. They didn't dare to show even a hint of disobedience, hurriedly apologizing before fleeing in a panic.
"Go!"
"Withdraw!"
"Retreat!"
Ten figures, like ten streaks of light, sliced through the rain and ascended to the heavens. Then, the massive carriages turned around as the demon horses and demon falcons beat their wings.
They returned to wherever they had come from.
Xu Xian witnessed the entire process with a faint smile on his lips.
He had to admit, it was quite a show.
Chi Ji also returned to the Demon God Palace aboard her dragon. The swarm of heavenly demon race members dispersed, with the commoners below watching them go.
The mortal demon race members on the ground all breathed a collective sigh of relief; it was finally over.
Even if they never figured out who the person named Bai Mang had left with, or what kind of great figure he was, at least things had calmed down.
This slum hadn't suffered any collateral damage.
That was a great blessing!
The hidden spies, upon learning that the High Priest had appeared, fled faster than anyone. They didn't dare stay a moment longer. Even the enforcement squad of the Demon Court hurriedly dispersed.
The news was sent back.
The divine sons and goddesses had left, meaning the demon gods and the High Priest had reached an agreement.
What happened next was not for them to interfere with or question.
Outside the courtyard, in the rain, the sounds of commotion slowly returned as people stood up.
Some remained where they were, while others went inside to seek shelter from the rain, but they were still shaken, whispering to each other and occasionally crying out in surprise.
"They’re finally gone."
"That was terrifying."
"Just who is that Bai Mang that he could mobilize all Ten Great Demon God Palaces?"
"Who knows?"
"I saw him. He’s a mortal demon youth just like us, with long white hair and two horns on his head."
"A mortal demon? Receiving such treatment..."
"Incredible. This Bai Mang really gave us mortal demons some face."
In the courtyard, the youth Bai Mang was still sitting on the steps, though he had put away his previous flippant attitude and become more serious.
Jin Qing still stood by his side, not turning around as she spoke to the empty courtyard as if to herself.
"Everyone, let us discuss this at the Demon God Hall."
Her voice left no echo in the light breeze and fine rain. She glanced sideways, her gaze falling on him as she said calmly, "Let’s go, Young Master Bai Mang."
Xu Xian smiled knowingly and stood up, pushing off his knees. He mimicked the demon race's etiquette and responded respectfully, "Mortal demon Bai Mang obeys your will."
Jin Qing remained expressionless as she started walking, her voice soft and graceful. "Don't. This seat cannot accept such a grand gesture from you."
Xu Xian gave a wry smile, thinking this woman was quite the grudge-holder as he followed after her.
The two of them took to the air, traveling through the rain toward the majestic, magnificent, and towering Demon God Hall inside the Inner City.
On the way.
They remained silent with no communication between them, but in his mind, the little book spirit’s voice never stopped, nagging incessantly.
It said Xu Xian was muddled; he was originally in a wolf's den, and now he had jumped straight into a tiger's pit.
It also said Xu Xian shouldn't have exposed the girl’s identity; he should have taken her and run, then protected her through various traps.
Seduce her, move her, make her into a second Chi Ji.
Then use her, manipulate her, and finally lead her to her doom—it prattled on and on.
Xu Xian rolled his eyes repeatedly.
He wanted to do that too, but she was a High Priest who had lived for thousands of years. Would she fall for that?
Did the book spirit really think everyone was like Chi Ji—young and easy to fool?
If he messed up, he’d lose his life.
Against an old fossil like this, one couldn't conquer them with emotions or acting. There were only two ways to get her to protect him. First, touch her with sincerity.
Second, aligned interests.
He had to let her know he had value—that his value could help her achieve some goal. Only then would she consider protecting him and keeping him alive.
Xu Xian still couldn't figure out how they had tracked his aura. Running, hiding, and dodging all carried risks.
And if he just left, he wouldn’t gain anything.
After getting information from Chi Ji and combining it with the High Priest’s unusual actions, Xu Xian already had a general plan.
He would use the High Priest’s hand to save his own life and use his value to buy time.
His ability to cultivate nether fire was an invisible threat to the rule of the heavenly demon race.
But to the High Priest, it could actually become a life-saving talisman.
He just wasn't sure if the High Priest had enough power to protect him, so he deliberately played his trump card—that he knew the primordial demon script.
Based on his analysis of the intel he had and what Chi Ji had leaked, those demon gods were extremely desperate for those primordial demon arts.
If he had value, he could stay alive. As long as he could win enough time to condense his nether fire and create the things he needed...
When the time came, wouldn't he be able to leave whenever he wanted? If he jumped into the Nether Pool, who could do anything to him?
Once he dug enough Shadow Soul Stones to reach the seventh stage and unsheathed the third sword, even if the demon gods tried to hunt him together, they might not be able to stop him.
Of course, everything had its risks.
By entering the tiger's den, Xu Xian might encounter unexpected events.
But he still had cards to play. Don't forget, his name was Xu Xian.
If truly pushed to the brink, he would reveal his identity, bring up the matter of the Nether Gate, and yell out:
"Xu Xian of the Wendao Sword Sect is here! Don't move! If you touch me, my Senior Brother will arrive in an instant and wipe out your entire race!"
He could even turn the tables and say he was here to investigate the Nether Gate. If his soul lamp went out, the entire demon race would be buried with him.
Xu Xian dared to bet his life.
He didn't believe the heavenly demon race would dare to bet theirs.
Thus, he was fearless and composed.
"We have arrived!"
Rate on N.U.
