The grand palace doors looked even more solemn and majestic amidst the gloom of the rainy veil.
Surrounding the great hall was a vast square, where rows of stone carvings stood tall.
In the massive square, not a single tree or blade of grass grew. Only in the crevices of the stones and the dark corners did a bit of moss hide, emitting a faint, blood-red shimmer.
It looked like a subterranean light.
At this time, night had not yet fully fallen, and the waters of the Nether Pool had not yet begun to glow, making the area exceptionally dark.
Only when lightning streaked across the sky, under that piercing white flash, could one glimpse the magnificence of the great hall and the vastness of the square.
In that flickering uncertainty, an added layer of mystery was draped over this sanctuary.
Fortunately, both Xu Xian and Jin Qing were cultivators; they only needed the faintest glimmer of light to see through the haze of the night.
Xu Xian and Jin Qing landed one after the other. The two of them crossed the wide square and arrived before the doors of the great hall.
Jin Qing stopped, and Xu Xian stopped as well.
Jin Qing looked back and spoke the first words of their entire journey up here.
"We've arrived."
Xu Xian gave a soft grunt of affirmation, but internally, he couldn't help but complain.
'Am I blind?'
Jin Qing paused for a moment, contemplating. "Are you sure you're ready?"
Xu Xian shrugged. "Of course."
Jin Qing withdrew her gaze. The doors of the hall before them began to move.
A thunderous vibration echoed, and even the ground beneath their feet shook. Then, a crack opened in the middle of the massive stone doors that seemed naturally formed, and light squeezed through the gap.
Clack, clack, clack!
Crunch, crunch, crunch!
The two stone doors swung inward. The gap grew larger and wider until finally, the stone doors opened completely, letting out a heavy boom.
At that point, the world fell into silence once more.
Blood-colored light spilled onto the two of them as expected, and the great hall before them came into Xu Xian's view.
A crimson radiance, a hazy mist, and in the center of the hall, a dark, square long table.
And before that long table sat hazy figures, perched steadily within the crimson mist.
Jin Qing stepped forward.
Xu Xian followed closely behind.
Rows of gazes snapped toward him simultaneously. Their emerald eyes, set against the blood-colored glow, exuded an indescribable eeriness.
They were scrutinizing the youth.
But the youth was scrutinizing the great hall before him.
The light originated from a blood-red ruby at the top of the hall. It was massive—about the size of a room—suspended there, hanging alone like a great sun.
The mist originated from the walls around the hall, slowly billowing and unfurling like a crimson sea of clouds.
There was a single long table and twelve high-backed chairs. Five on each side, and two at the head facing the entrance.
A total of twelve people.
Aside from the golden-haired woman at the head of the table, the seats on both sides were completely filled. Their hair was every color of the rainbow, and their clothes were quite bizarre.
Twelve chairs, eleven people. Xu Xian didn't even need to think to know that these must be all the demon gods within the Demon Abyss.
And that golden-haired girl had to be the Small Priest, Jin Qing's younger sister.
Xu Xian hadn't expected them to arrive so early.
However, it was enough to prove how much they desired the translated version of the primordial demon art.
This also meant the bargaining chips in his hand were even more valuable.
The Demon God Hall was just like this; there was nothing else inside.
Xu Xian's attention remained fixed on that square long table.
Indeed.
It was a single, solid piece of Shadow Soul Stone. By Xu Xian's estimation, a piece of Shadow Soul Stone this large must weigh at least two hundred thousand tons.
He thought this must be the piece Chi Ji once mentioned, refined by the former Demon Lord using nether fire.
To be perfectly honest, Xu Xian really wanted that table.
He wanted it so much that he ignored the eleven pairs of scrutinizing and playful gazes coming from the ninth-stage demon gods.
Xu Xian stopped before the square table. The eleven demon gods remained perfectly still.
In the entire hall, only the click-clack of the High Priest's footsteps echoed.
Finally.
The High Priest walked to the opposite end of the table and sat down beside the Small Priest.
As the High Priest took her seat...
The stone doors behind them slammed shut. They closed much faster than they had opened, and with even greater force. The gust of wind dragged along by the closure blew against the youth's back, sending his white hair flying high.
The crimson clouds and mist in the hall also began to churn.
"Woo, woo, woo!"
Xu Xian withdrew his thoughts from the square long table and slowly looked up. He scanned everyone one by one, feeling the different gazes. An unnatural restlessness stirred within him, causing his cheek to twitch.
This feeling was as if he were being put on trial, making him feel very uncomfortable and stirring a sense of extreme resistance in his heart.
He forced himself to stay calm and settled his thoughts. Imitating the etiquette of the heavenly demon race, he placed his right fist against his left chest and bowed his head in respect.
"Greetings, my lords, the demon gods."
His voice wasn't loud, but the hall was empty, and it seemed to echo. After his voice faded, a long time passed without anyone responding. They were still scrutinizing Xu Xian.
However, it wasn't a direct stare, but rather a shroud of divine sense falling from all directions, penetrating every possible gap.
Except, of course, for the two golden-haired beauties at the head of the table.
One was sexy and alluring, while the other was elegant and noble.
Xu Xian frowned. To put it bluntly, these people were very rude, and he was quite unhappy about it.
Xu Xian straightened his back on his own accord. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a corner of the crimson mist. With just that one look, he strode forward and stopped right before that square stone table.
He reached out toward the corner and made a light hooking motion.
With a swoosh...
A high-backed chair, steeped in the motley marks of time, broke through the mist and slid over, coming to a steady stop right behind Xu Xian.
Acting as if he didn't see anyone else, Xu Xian sat down elegantly.
If there isn't a stool, I'll just bring my own.
Swish, swish, swish!
In an instant, all gazes converged upon him alone. Unlike the scrutiny and appraisal from before, this time, it was the direct stare of many pairs of deep eyes.
In them were anger, surprise, playfulness, and mockery.
Some thought he was very brave.
Some thought he was interesting.
Some thought he was rude.
Some thought he was too arrogant.
Was this young man a fool? Or did he truly not know the heights of the heavens and the depths of the earth?
Their thoughts were complex and their expressions dark, but not a single person spoke.
Xu Xian didn't care. He rested his hands on the square stone table and smiled. "I'm ready. Let's begin."
What did it mean to usurp the host's role?
There was likely no more vivid example than this moment.
A room full of the heavenly demon race, and demon gods at that, while he was just a mortal demon.
"Hehe..."
"Interesting."
Someone quipped, someone sneered, and someone naturally spoke up to reprimand him. Their tone was flat but carried an underlying majesty. "Who gave you permission to sit? You have quite the nerve!"
Xu Xian smiled slightly and didn't speak, but his gaze fell upon the speaker without flinching, carrying a hint of provocation.
Chi Ming spoke up at the right moment. "Enough. There's no need to bicker with a junior. Besides, he is the guest we invited. There is no reason for the hosts to be seated while the guest stands."
No one responded, choosing to give their tacit consent. Even the person who had just been displeased fell silent.
Since he had already entered the Demon God Hall, let him sit if he wanted.
At the very least, his courage was commendable.
Xu Xian nodded toward Chi Ming across the distance. He had a decent impression of this red-haired giant, who was Chi Ji's father.
The High Priest pursed her lips. She wasn't surprised by Xu Xian's reaction; it suited his character.
She scanned the crowd and said, "Very well. Since everyone is here, if any of you have questions, go ahead and ask..."
Rate on N.U.
