Chapter 42 Request for an Audience: "Someone outside the Demon Palace requests an audience with the Fairy Qingjiao."...

Hua Xun and the Divine Lord quietly went to the Nine-Story Pagoda as night fell.

As soon as Hua Xun approached the nine-story pagoda, he clearly sensed a dense dark purple demonic aura. The pagoda stood silently in the center of Thousand Shadows City, like a giant black iron blade piercing the night.

The tower is pitch black, constructed from smooth obsidian, which stands out starkly against the sacred statue carved from chalcedony beside it.

Above the first-floor tower gate is a black jade plaque with the three large characters "Zhuiyue Tower" carved in purple clay.

Hua Xun looked up at the top of the tower and felt as if a pair of eyes were staring at her from above, which made her feel uneasy.

"Don't stare for too long." The God's gentle voice slowly rang out.

Hua Xun suddenly snapped back to reality and whispered, "Divine Lord, is there something strange about the tower?"

The Divine Lord smiled and said, "A demonic rune array."

Hua Xun felt a pang of anxiety, but couldn't help feeling relieved.

If you stare at this demonic array for too long, you might even have your soul stolen away.

Thinking of this, she quickly focused her attention on her nose and mind, no longer looking around.

However... Hua Xun originally thought that Qian Zhichou, as a demon lord, would have a heavily guarded nine-story tower, making it extremely difficult to sneak in. She had even cautiously gathered all her magical power, just in case she was discovered, so as not to hinder the god lord.

Unexpectedly, when she and the deity quietly entered through the side door, no one noticed.

It was eerily quiet.

Hua Xun looked at the Divine Lord, who was still smiling, quietly following behind her. After meeting her gaze, he asked slowly, "What is it?"

Seeing that the deity was as usual, Hua Xun quickly shook his head: "It's nothing."

After saying that, he continued to carefully walk in along the stone wall.

Contrary to Hua Xun's expectations, the tower was not a hell on earth. Instead, it was extremely quiet, with only the occasional roar of a wild beast.

There were very few guards and demon servants.

Hua Xun frowned. She had clearly seen many demon guards coming and going some time ago.

“My Lord, something strange is happening here. Let’s be careful,” Hua Xun said, turning his head.

The deity calmly followed behind her. Unlike her tiptoeing, he seemed to be strolling leisurely on the White Mist Cliff, composed and peaceful.

Hua Xun couldn't help but glance at the Divine Lord a few more times.

The deity glanced at her with a smile, and even after the girl turned her head away, his gaze remained fixed on her.

He wanted to say something, but stopped when he saw her slightly curled up and walking lightly up the wall.

For a moment, he found it quite amusing and...

cute.

The god's smile faltered slightly, bewildered by his novel experience.

As Hua Xun climbed to the height of the seven-story pagoda, it seemed as if she stepped into some kind of magic array. The stone steps moved away with a "boom," and a bone-chilling heat wave surged in.

Hua Xun's foot slipped, and she was about to fall forward when a large hand gently grasped her wrist and pulled her backward.

Hua Xun swayed slightly, and before she could react, she had already been pulled behind the Divine Lord.

Looking ahead at the large hole, it led straight to the bottom of the tower, with bubbling lava constantly rising from it.

If one falls, one will likely be reduced to ashes in an instant.

"Are you alright?" the deity asked.

Hua Xun quickly shook his head.

The deity smiled and said, "Then let's go."

After saying that, he continued to step into the void above the magma.

Just as Hua Xun was about to offer a reminder, she noticed that the Divine Lord was walking on the void as if it were flat ground. Above the large crack, invisible steps seemed to appear, supporting people as they walked upwards step by step.

Hua Xun hesitated for a moment, then followed the steps of the Divine Lord. Sure enough, it was as if she were stepping on invisible stone steps. With each step, her toes shimmered with golden light.

Hua Xun looked at the golden ripples spreading beneath her feet with curiosity. After walking for an unknown amount of time, the snow-white figure in front of her stopped.

Hua Xun bumped into it without warning, covering her forehead with one hand, and said, "I'm sorry, Divine Lord."

Jiuqing paused for a moment, a slight touch coming from his back, he knew that the girl had bumped into him.

In fact, he had already noticed when she was lost in thought.

However, he inexplicably recalled the scene in Fengshen City where the girl secretly followed Yunxi and bumped into his back.

So that's what it feels like.

The deity lowered his eyes.

It felt somewhat like when she smiled and said "Happy Birthday" to him during the day.

"It's alright," the deity said slowly.

"Have we arrived?" Hua Xun asked softly.

“We’ve reached the top floor,” the deity said, a smile playing on his lips as he looked at her cautious expression, still hesitant to speak loudly. “Speak as usual.”

"What?" Hua Xun exclaimed in shock.

The deity said gently, "Lord Qian already knew that you and I were coming today."

Hua Xun's eyes widened in surprise: "Demonic Lord, you knew we'd been discovered all along? Why didn't you tell me?"

The deity gazed into her clear, black and white eyes, but remained silent.

Hua Xun was about to ask another question when she heard a soft, charming laugh from above. The voice was as gentle as smoke and mist, and the last syllable carried a captivating allure.

"As expected of the Nine-Tiered Divine Lord."

As soon as she finished speaking, a purple figure suddenly floated over, her body seemingly enveloped in a layer of flowing purple mist. Her long hair floated like seaweed, each strand seemingly carrying an overflowing allure. Only a strand of white hair grew from behind her ear, quietly stopping in front of the two of them.

Qianzhichou glanced at Huaxun, then fixed her gaze on the Divine Lord: "Long time no see, Divine Lord."

Hua Xun was slightly taken aback. He looked at Qian Zhichou, then at the Divine Lord: "Does the Divine Lord know her?"

Is that why the statues are so lifelike?

“Little Black Demon,” Qian Zhichou glared at her, “When I met Lord Jiuqing, not to mention your ancestors hadn’t even been born yet, the human race was still fighting with stones.”

Hua Xun was taken aback, but still looked at the Divine Lord.

The Divine Lord, with his usual gentleness, said: "Nearly ten thousand years ago, I met the Lord of the Thousand Towers."

Qian Zhichou frowned slightly, then covered her lips and chuckled: "At that time, the Divine Lord's appearance was solemn and majestic, covering the sky and the sun, standing outside Thousand Shadow City, protecting me and thousands of demon people. I will always remember it."

She raised her hand, and all the tightly closed windows at the top of the tower suddenly opened at the same time.

And outside the window was the unapproachable face of that statue.

Pure and noble, imbued with compassion that transcends millennia.

At the foot of the tower, the statue's slightly lowered eyes seemed to look down upon all living beings, but now, it felt as if those unblemished eyes were intently watching one person.

A subtle bittersweet feeling welled up in Hua Xun's heart.

“Since then, the demons of Thousand Shadows City have worshipped Lord Jiuqing for thousands of years,” Qian Zhichou’s voice softened slightly, “Does Lord Jiuqing still like it?”

Hua Xun looked at her and saw that she was quietly gazing at the statue, a look of daze passing through her eyes.

The deity's voice was like a sigh: "It's nothing but a waste of resources and manpower."

Qian Zhichou paused for a moment, then said, "I had already guessed that Lord Jiuqing would say that." She then glanced at Hua Xun, "Little Black Demon, do you think it looks good?"

Hua Xun paused for a moment, then said frankly, "Not as handsome as the Divine Lord."

The deity glanced at her.

Hua Xun pursed her lips and smiled ingratiatingly.

Qian Zhichou's smile faded slightly, and she ignored Hua Xun, looking only at the Divine Lord and asking, "I wonder what important matter brings the Divine Lord Jiuqing here so late at night?"

The deity raised his eyes with a gentle expression: "Those who offered sacrifices, I will save them."

Qian Zhichou sneered: "Didn't the Nine-Tiered Divine Lord never interfere with the fate of the Three Realms? I have been offering sacrifices for hundreds of years, and the Divine Lord has been suffering for hundreds of years, so why did you come to save me today?"

Hua Xun, fearing that the God Lord would be accused of interfering with the laws of destiny, frowned and said, "It was I who took the initiative to come and save them."

"You?" Qian Zhichou looked her up and down. "Overestimating yourself."

Hua Xun's cheeks flushed red, and she was about to speak when she heard the Divine Lord say with a smile, "The time has come."

Qian Zhichou was slightly taken aback, stared at him for a moment, and then laughed again: "I think so too, Lord Jiuqing, the time has come."

Hua Xun was puzzled, but the next moment a deep purple magic circle suddenly appeared on the top of the tower, growing larger and larger until it seemed to envelop the entire tower.

Within the magic array, countless twisted magic patterns intertwined, thick black mist surging within the patterns, each pattern exuding a chilling aura that devours life force.

Hua Xun felt his whole body was heavy, and the spiritual energy within him was sluggish.

They could only watch helplessly as the purple-black halo slowly rotated and descended.

Hua Xun frowned.

“I must thank Lord Jiuqing,” Qian Zhichou said, standing below the demon array with a calm expression. “If Lord Jiuqing had not personally descended to the mortal realm to search for Lord Luohe’s earth soul, I would not have gone to investigate this matter and borrowed the earth soul to refine this array.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a wisp of bamboo-green divine power appeared in Qian Zhichou's palm.

Hua Xun was stunned. That was...

"Did you injure that young rhinoceros and steal the Earth Soul of Lord Luohe?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Qian Zhichou smiled faintly. "It seems that compared to that beast, Lord Luohe would rather be used by me."

“Lord Luohe is a god, how could he willingly be used by a demon like you who offers human sacrifices?” Hua Xun argued, pursing her lips.

Qian Zhichou's smile faded slightly as she looked at her.

Hua Xun's heart skipped a beat, and she leaned closer to the direction of the Divine Lord.

The deity turned his gaze, glanced at the girl's arm pressed tightly against his, paused for a few moments, and then his protective divine light gradually enveloped her.

Qian Zhichou seemed to be stunned as well, her gaze sweeping over the protective divine light on Hua Xun's body: "Nine-fold Divine Lord, you should save your divine power."

"After all, under the Spirit Locking Array, you cannot retract your spirit into your body, nor can you come in your physical form."

Hua Xun was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at the deity: "You..."

Even at this moment, the Divine Lord remained calm and smiled slightly, saying, "I am fine."

The protective divine light was never withdrawn.

Qian Zhichou's expression twisted for a moment, then she suddenly laughed: "Little Black Demon, didn't you want to save those people down there?"

"How about I give you a chance?"

"What do you want?" Hua Xun asked cautiously.

Qianzhichou clapped her hands.

On the pillar supporting the nine-story pagoda, a crack appeared in the stone wall, which grew larger and larger, like a door.

Two demon servants dragged a young boy out of the door, and behind them were countless black cages lined up from top to bottom. The young girls and boys in the cages were only dressed in thin white clothes and collapsed in despair in the cold, hard cages.

Like... domesticated livestock.

Before Hua Xun could take a closer look, the gap slammed shut with a loud bang.

Qian Zhichou looked at the young man, whose face had turned deathly pale and who was trembling slightly. She smiled and walked up to him, looking at Hua Xun: "Do you know what wonderful use the fear of mortals has?"

Hua Xun frowned deeply and remained silent.

Qian Zhichou's palm was filled with dark purple magic power, which she pressed against the top of the boy's head.

The boy's trembling body immediately stiffened, and a pale blue aura emanated from the top of his head.

"What are you going to do?" Hua Xun subconsciously raised his hand, condensing a dark blue ball of light, and struck at Qian Zhichou's hand.

Qian Zhichou dodged backward, waved her long sleeves, and the ball of light was countered, crashing into the golden divine light and dissipating into nothingness.

The boy lay limp on the ground, his eyes closed, his once youthful face now appearing somewhat aged.

To Hua Xun's astonishment, the strand of white hair under Qian Zhichou's ear was slowly turning black.

"You use sacrificed people to maintain your appearance?" Hua Xun asked angrily.

“Ten thousand years is too long,” Qianzhichou sighed, her gaze seemingly casually drifting towards the god beside her. “Little crow demon, didn’t you ask me what I wanted?”

"Find me the Zhihua Pill, and I'll spare these people's lives, how about it?"

Hua Xun pursed her lips.

She had heard of the Zhihua Pill in Yongjin City, and that taking this pill could preserve one's youthful appearance.

"What about the earth souls of the Divine Lord and the Divine Lord Luohe?" Hua Xun asked.

"You little devil who's pushing her luck," Qian Zhichou's expression changed slightly, but then she remembered something and sneered, "Fine, if you can find them for me, I'll give you the Nine-Tiered Divine Lord and the Earth Soul as well, how about that?"

Hua Xun looked at the Divine Lord, whose expression always seemed calm. Even now, he was neither sad nor happy, neither calm nor undisturbed, like the statue outside the window.

Only when she looked at him did a ripple of emotion finally appear in her calm eyes.

He gazed at her for a long time. Hua Xun heard a sigh, and within her sea of ​​consciousness, a wisp of divine power gently enveloped the Spirit Rhinoceros Gu.

The Lingxi Gu gradually fell into a deep slumber.

Hua Xun withdrew his gaze and said in a deep voice, "I promise you."

"But you must treat the god well."

After saying this, Hua Xun looked at the God again: "I will definitely come back to save you."

The deity was still looking at her.

The girl's expression was exceptionally firm, and her eyes showed no sign of backing down.

That strange feeling in my chest surged up again.

Is it the subtle feeling of being protected for the first time after sheltering all living beings for so long?

The deity's fingertips twitched slightly, revealing a hint of confusion.

"I'll give you seven days." Qian Zhichou's face turned cold. Suddenly, she raised her hand, and Hua Xun felt the space behind her twist strangely, opening a dark purple passage.

"Where is Zhihua Dan?" Hua Xun asked hurriedly.

The passage closed in front of her, and the scenery around Hua Xun changed drastically. In an instant, she was outside the nine-story pagoda.

A cold, beautiful voice echoed: "Below the Crimson Moon River."

Hua Xun's expression changed.

In the City of Eternal Ashes, in front of the Demon Palace, lies the Crimson Moon River?

*

Inside the nine-story pagoda.

Qian Zhichou withdrew her gaze, looked at the God, and laughed: "Finally, that little demon is gone."

"Poor little demon, actually thinks he can accomplish great things."

The deity frowned slightly.

A feeling of neither joy nor dislike suddenly gave rise to a sense of separation.

He disliked the contemptuous yet pitiful tone in Chizuru's voice when she mentioned Hana.

Qian Zhichou looked at him and said, "The Nine-Headed Divine Lord is also heartless, actually watching someone die without offering any help."

The deity raised his eyes, seemingly puzzled.

“That little demon,” Qian Zhichou shook her head and sighed, “the God Lord just watched her go to her death.”

The deity said, "She will not die."

"Let alone the fierce winds blowing under the Crimson Moon River, even if she really obtained the Childlike Flower Pill," Qian Zhichou walked up to the Divine Lord, "Given the Demon Lord's bloodlust, does Divine Lord Jiuqing think she can return safely?"

The deity seemed to realize something, lowered his eyes, and looked slightly dazed.

*

Hua Xun never imagined that one day she would return to Eternal Ashes City.

When she left from here, she truly believed she would never return.

Now, returning to this place and looking at the bustling night market illuminated by fluorite, Hua Xun felt completely unfamiliar.

There seems to be some joyous occasion in Eternal Ash City. The streets surrounding the Demon Palace are filled with colorful fluorite, which emits a magnificent glow.

As you approach the Demon Palace, you can see all kinds of lanterns that look very similar to those of humans hanging on strange rocks and trees, except that the lanterns do not contain candlelight, but rather red crystal lamps.

Above the distant Demon Palace, a crimson light flickered gently in the night, and the red silk seemed to come alive, fluttering in the wind.

Hua Xun looked at the festive scene with puzzlement and stopped the demon who was hanging red silk: "May I ask what happy event is taking place in the city?"

The demon looked at her and said, "It's naturally a joyous occasion, Your Majesty..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was called over by someone in front of him to get things done.

Hua Xun frowned and pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered that when she was in Qingmu Town, Baili Sheng had asked her before he left: What if Fairy Qingjiao became the Demon Queen?

The only thing that could cause such widespread destruction in the Demon Capital is the Demon Lord's happy occasion.

Could it be that... Baili Sheng and Fairy Qingjiao are about to get married?

Thinking of this, Hua Xun's heart gradually felt lighter.

Fairy Qingjiao is about to become the Demon Queen. Is it possible that I only need to go and see Fairy Qingjiao, and don't need to see Baili Sheng again?

However, when Hua Xun arrived at the foot of the mountain where the Demon Palace was located, he was told by the Demon Guard that Fairy Qingjiao had left the Demon Palace half a month ago for unknown reasons.

Hua Xun stood there dejectedly, gazing up at the majestic palace atop the mountain. She felt it looked exactly like Baili Sheng, and just looking at it filled her with fear.

Just as she was struggling with her decision, a surprised voice came from behind her: "Miss Hua Xun?"

Hua Xun turned her head.

It was the demon protector named Shang Qu.

*

The main hall of the Demon Palace.

Baili Sheng sat calmly in the main seat, his demonic energy surging and churning around him.

He recalled once again the argument he had with Qingjiao a few days ago.

That night, after nourishing the newly resurrected demon guards with his magic for the last time, he fell into a rare light sleep due to the depletion of his magic power.

Qingjiao came silently and gently wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

The sweat beads evaporated, leaving behind a few wisps of coolness.

In a daze, Baili Sheng felt as if he had returned to Dahe Village. He was lying on a simple bed, seriously injured, with Hua Xun leaning against him, occasionally wiping away the bloodstains on his body and the thin layer of sweat on his forehead from the pain.

When the night is deep and the wind is strong, it always blows open the loose wooden bolts of the window, letting in a cool breeze.

Then he heard himself call out, "Close the window, Hua Xun."

The name came out so smoothly that Baili Sheng woke up before he could even finish the sentence.

The loss of magic power hadn't even caused a slight chill, but at that moment, a bone-chilling cold slowly crept up my spine.

When he opened his eyes, all he saw were Qingjiao's reddened eyes and a self-deprecating smile.

"Your Majesty." Shang Qu's voice suddenly rang out in the dark palace.

Baili Sheng snapped out of her daze, her demonic energy still surging, and glanced at him indifferently.

Shang Qu knelt on one knee, bowed his head and said, "Your subordinate has sent the invitation to the Demon Clan's Grand Ceremony to the four departments, to celebrate the resurrection of our clan's soldiers."

"Hmm," Baili Sheng said calmly.

With the demonic soldiers resurrected, revenge will be swift.

He will not let any of those who imprisoned and killed him go.

"There is one more thing..." Shang Qu paused for a moment before saying, "Someone outside the palace is requesting an audience with Fairy Qingjiao."

Baili Sheng's expression was indifferent. He seemed to recall something, then let out a mocking laugh: "A person from the Immortal Sect?"

“No,” Shang Qu hesitated for a moment before lowering his head and saying cautiously, “It is… Miss Hua Xun.”

In an instant, the demonic energy surrounding Baili Sheng froze, and all was silent.

-----------------------

Author's note: A certain scumbag (sneers): She didn't actually come to see me.

A certain scumbag (arrogant): But she still came.

Or is it some scumbag (in a fit of rage): She came for another god!

P.S.: There will be small red envelopes dropping in the comments section within 24 hours after this chapter ends!