Heart Abyss

This battle severely damaged the Demon Realm.

The once bustling Demon Palace was now shrouded in a heavy silence and a chilling oppressive atmosphere. Mo Yiheng sat on his throne, coldly glancing at the slightly sparse Demon Clan ministers below, whose numbers had been thinned by the cleansing. His face remained pale from his severe injuries and the uncertain fate of Yun Shu, but the near-shattering panic and despair in his eyes had been suppressed, replaced by a deep, almost cold, calm.

His knuckles tapped unintentionally on the armrest as he listened calmly to Ye Xiuluo's emotionless report. The results of the purge of this rebellion, the losses in the Demon Realm, and the follow-up situations in various places had already been recorded in jade slips and sent to him.

"In summary, the main body of the rebels has been eliminated, but their remaining influence will take time to be completely eradicated." Night Asura closed the dossier and awaited instructions. Meanwhile, Jade Guanyin, hidden in the shadows behind the throne, whispered to the Demon Lord's Medicine Platform about the progress of their investigation.

Mo Yiheng's expression was unreadable, and a dense demonic aura permeated the air, heavily weighing down the spines of all the demons in the inner hall.

"The Demon Abyss Secret Realm is sealed. Anyone who enters without my order will be executed." His voice, though not loud, carried an unquestionable authority. "Furthermore, dispatch an envoy, bearing my token, to escort Elder Yunhua and his junior disciple Jinzhu to Yunhua Mountain, truthfully informing the elders of the current state of the Demon Realm. In addition, inform everyone in Yunhua that Immortal Venerable Yunshu is temporarily under the care of Immortal Master Yunhua. Tell them that the Demon Realm is willing to share the responsibility of guarding Yunhua Immortal Mountain, and will do everything in its power to search for a solution to help Immortal Venerable Yunshu and Immortal Master Yunhua return. Anyone who dares to disrespect the people of Yunhua will be severely punished."

These words caused an uproar among the officials. The Demon Realm's initiative to send envoys to communicate with the Immortal Sects, even to join forces and share responsibility, was unprecedented in the history of either side. However… if this plan succeeded, the long-standing conflict between the Immortal and Demon races would ease, and Yunhua's side could be drawn into the "dealing with the Demon God" camp, thus freeing the Demon Realm from bearing the immense pressure brought by the Demon God Yunhua alone… It was indeed a good strategy.

However, some ministers still cautiously raised concerns: "Your Majesty, although this plan can solve the immediate crisis, our clan and Yunhua Immortal Mountain have been enemies for generations, and the appearance of the Yunhua Demon God is entirely beneficial to them... If Yunhua is unwilling, then... wouldn't the demon race become a laughing stock of the whole world?"

"What you say is absolutely right, my dear minister." Mo Yiheng smiled instead of getting angry, and raised his hand to conjure a demonic flame. "Therefore, when the envoy goes to Yunhua Immortal Mountain, he will bring my edict—if the immortal masters of Yunhua do not agree to this, Demon Lord Mo Yiheng will personally lead troops to perish together with Yunhua Mountain before the Demon God and the Immortal Lord return."

The population of Yunhua Mountain has long been dwindling. Of the three powerful figures, Yunhua has gone mad, Yunhe is far away in the Western Regions, and Yunshu's fate is unknown... However, Mo Yiheng's strength has greatly increased since he became a demon. Although he is not as strong as these three, he is far beyond what the people of Yunhua can withstand. This threat, although damaging to the reputation of the demon race, is in fact harmless to the demon race and will even help the demon race survive in the world.

He lowered his eyes, clutching the shattered jade pendant that had been carefully pieced back together, his gaze dark. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Ye Xiuluo, and couldn't help but recall the kind old demon woman who had helped him hide when he had murdered his father, seized the throne, and fled into hiding.

…His senior uncle's advice was good. He thought. Now, behind him lay the entire Demon Realm, and apart from the rebels, there were still many demons eagerly awaiting the new Demon Lord's guidance to the future. He… really shouldn't only think of himself, only of his master.

...It's just a show, to force Yunhua Immortal Mountain to agree to cooperation. I hope Master can see through this and not misunderstand his true intentions.

Mo Yiheng rose and swept his gaze over the assembled officials in the hall: "Today's calamity stems from internal strife and shortsightedness. From this day forward, the Demon Realm must rebuild its order and recuperate. Past ills must be eradicated. I hope you all will act accordingly."

There was no roaring, no anger, and no threats, but the determination hidden beneath those calm words was far more chilling than ever before. He seemed unchanged, yet he also seemed to have changed a great deal, but at least at this moment, he resembled the Venerable One of the Demon Realm more than ever.

After the court session, he walked alone into the depths of the Imperial Pharmacy. There, several auxiliary medicinal plants and the Ash Leaf Orchid were still thriving under the nourishment of demonic energy. He sat there for a long time, then reached out and touched the curled leaves with extremely gentle touch.

"Master... Heng'er will protect what you care about."

At the deepest part of the Demon Abyss, in the chasm of the "Primordial Beginning".

This place is like the chaos before the creation of heaven and earth, without any distinction between up, down, left, or right, nor any so-called light or darkness. Only the most primal and violent torrent of energy surges, collides, annihilates, and is reborn endlessly. Ordinary immortals and demons would be assimilated and decomposed here in no time, returning to the void of heaven and earth.

The immense power of immortals and demons stretched out a stable "egg," tightly protecting Yun Shu within it. On the contrary, Yun Hua himself had his flesh and blood torn off and his bones and blood extracted by the chaotic power of this place. His already tattered robes were torn apart, leaving him barely clothed. Only in his eyes did the confusion fade, replaced by a pure and stubborn light.

"Ball...purify..."

He muttered to himself, placing his palm once more on the horrific wound on the fox's chest and abdomen—no longer a brutal and direct extraction, but rather a very slow and gentle guiding, channeling the surrounding chaotic energy to carefully cleanse Yun Shu's "contaminated" meridians and demon core.

The process was undoubtedly extremely dangerous. Not only did Yun Shu, who was unconscious, convulse violently, but even Yun Hua's forehead and arms bulged with veins. The Nine-Tailed Fox unconsciously tightened its grip on Yun Hua's arms, almost turning the demon god's skin blue and purple.

The guiding motion paused for a moment, and Yunhua clearly saw the extreme pain that his little apprentice was enduring.

"Master... Master..." The fox was awakened by the pain, and its fox kiss almost imperceptibly touched the demon god's cheek. "I... don't want to die..."

Some instincts that had been worn away by time and forgotten by Yunhua have quietly awakened.

He lowered his head slightly, his forehead touching Yun Shu's cool nose, the melody he hummed intermittently, yet even more tenderly. Using Yun Hua's dwindling immortal essence as a guide, the all-consuming chaotic power under his control underwent a subtle transformation. It was no longer simply violent destruction, but carried a hint of tempering and rebirth.

Destruction and creation are two sides of the same coin. And in this "primordial" land, beside the demon god Yunhua, both of these extreme powers happen to exist simultaneously.

“I won’t… die…” Yunhua replied hoarsely, “Xiaohe can… Qiuqiu… can… also…”

Back then, he was able to protect Yunhe's immortal path with his two souls and seven spirits; now, he can also protect Yunshu's life with this broken body.

The foul demonic poison was forced out thread by thread, only to be completely annihilated the moment it came into contact with the power of chaos. Yun Shu's almost transparent, pale flesh and blood gradually revealed a faint trace of blood. The almost extinguished flame of life, the body that had nearly vanished from the world, stubbornly withstood this extreme pain, tenaciously reigniting and repairing itself in the midst of extreme and dangerous tempering.

Beneath his palm, the faint fluctuations of demonic energy gradually became warm and resilient, and a very awkward yet incredibly real smile appeared on Yunhua's eternally pained face.

"Qiuqiu...be good..."

The last vestiges of his celestial aura were fading away, and the once-renowned Immortal Master Yunhua was irreversibly transforming into the very demon he loathed most. Yet, he remained oblivious, smiling and coaxing the fox, even lowering his head to rub his cheek against the fox's gradually warming ear tips.

"Pollution...Master...took it all away..." Amidst the off-key lullaby, the whispers of a newly born, true demon god mingled, "Please...please...get better..."

The Western Regions, a land of molten lava.

In stark contrast to the frigid North, this place is ablaze with endless yellow sand and scorching heat. The sand is a fiery red, and even the air itself is distorted by the intense heat. In the distance, countless active volcanoes stand majestically, spewing forth thick smoke carrying lava, painting the sky an ominous dark red.

To express his gratitude to the possessed coral and the Snow Demon, the Mountain Lord had already changed the loan to a gift, giving the Bifang Feather Robe to Wu Ying and Yun He. At this moment, it had transformed into a light red veil, draped over Wu Ying's everyday clothes to insulate her from the deadly heat. However, even with this divine object's assistance, every step she took on the sand and gravel as she followed Yun He still produced a sizzling sound.

Yunhe was still dressed in green, but now she wore a bamboo hat to shield herself from the sun. Cool immortal energy surrounded her, keeping out the intense heat. The white flame within the soul lamp was still weak, but it had stabilized and was no longer flickering and on the verge of going out as before.

With his nerves slightly relaxed, Yunhe's steps were still swift and his speed did not decrease in the slightest.

Although the Lava Jade Essence and the Ten Thousand Year Ice Soul are both elusive creatures, based on the clues given by the Mountain Lord and its habit of being obsessed with heat and feeding on magma, it is most likely hidden in the belly of the most majestic mountain in this boundless sea of ​​sand—the Burning Mountain.

Although still a hundred miles from Mount Jinran, the environment here has become increasingly harsh. The ferocious beast Zhu Ming, which coexists with the Molten Jade Marrow, has almost solidified its power, and scorching hurricanes sweep across the desert, burning everything in its path to ashes. The rocky ground is riddled with cracks, and viscous lava churns endlessly. Occasionally, monsters, roasted red-hot, leap out from within, screeching sharply and glaring menacingly at any intruder.

"Stay close." Yunhe waved his sleeve, and a clear, ethereal light suddenly spread out, tearing apart several rabbits that pounced on him. "Zhu Ming is violent by nature, and monsters easily breed under the cover of his flames. Do not leave the range of my ethereal light."

"Yes, Immortal Venerable." Wu Ying hurriedly moved closer to Yun He, her fingertips clutching a few Ice Blue Demon Pills, just in case.

Just as they were about to venture deeper, the sound of clashing weapons suddenly rang out from behind the sand dunes ahead, accompanied by angry shouts and screams of humans.

With a sweep of his divine sense, Yunhe instantly understood the situation.

A group of human cultivators appeared to have been besieged by fire monsters and suffered heavy losses. The few remaining cultivators stood back to back, struggling to maintain the crumbling formation. The fire monsters were not physical entities, but rather formed from molten jade marrow and the pure flame power of the Crimson Emperor. They had no reason, no fear of death, only the instinct to burn.

He didn't want to cause trouble, but when Yunhe's gaze swept over the fire lotus on the cultivator's robe, he stopped in his tracks.

It's the Red Lotus Sect. When Yunhua was still the head of Yunhua Mountain, he had established good relations with them. Although a long time has passed, there is still some friendship—last time, during Yunhua's ancestral worship ceremony, although the Red Lotus Sect was too far away to send anyone in person, their leader still sent a special letter to inquire after him.

They were saved.

"Conceal your aura and wait here." After instructing Wu Ying, Yun He's figure flickered and drifted towards the battlefield like a wisp of smoke.

Without even needing to use the Illusionary Moon Chasing Light Fan, she simply pointed her fingers like a sword, unleashing a bone-chilling sword intent that pierced the sky. The raging fire monster vanished instantly, as if wiped away by an invisible hand, without even a trace, unable to utter a wail.

The disciples of the Red Lotus Sect, having survived the ordeal, stood frozen in disbelief, gazing at the woman in green who had suddenly appeared and saved them from their peril.

The elderly man at the head of the group was seriously injured, but he still struggled to his feet with assistance and bowed respectfully: "Thank you for saving my life, senior! May I ask your honorable name? When we return to our sect, we will certainly..."

His words came to an abrupt halt, his gaze fixed on the fan pendant at Yunhe's waist—a token of the Yunhua Sect Leader.

"You...you are Immortal Yunhe!" The old man's voice trembled with excitement, and he and his disciples were about to perform a grand ceremony.

"Our two sects have always been on good terms, there's no need for such formalities." Yun Hexu raised his hand, gently lifting him with his immortal power. "Why have you ventured so deep into this place?"

The other person looked bitter and sighed, "Immortal, you do not know, we came for the 'Earthfire Lotus Seed.' Not long ago, the fire at the core of this place suddenly trembled, and our leader, to ensure the safety of our sect's base, personally went to suppress it... But unexpectedly, an abnormal fluctuation came from somewhere in the southeast, which frightened the beasts into a frenzy, and they attacked us all... Now our leader is seriously injured and urgently needs this item to save his life. We entered this molten land, but who would have thought that the Zhu Ming would descend upon the world, making the fire monsters here exceptionally ferocious... Now our disciples have suffered heavy casualties, and I fear... Alas."

Yun He glanced at the disciples, who were covered in wounds and looked desperate. After a moment of silence, he finally took out a pill and gave it to the old man: "Mount Jinran has been acting strangely recently. It is not a place where your cultivation level is sufficient. This pill can stabilize your injuries and help you retreat."

The turbulent flames at the Earth's core and the frenzied movements that drove the beasts mad... are likely all related to Yunhua's awakening. Helping him retrieve the Earth Fire Lotus Seed and heal the Red Lotus Sect Leader's injuries can be considered an act of atonement.

The old man, unaware of all these concerns, gratefully accepted the pill, but hesitated, "But what about the sect leader's injuries..."

Yunhe had already gone with the wind, leaving only his clear, cold voice echoing back: "I will keep an eye out for the Earth Fire Lotus Seeds. If I obtain them, I will send them to the Red Lotus Sect."

Upon hearing this, the old man burst into tears and, together with his disciples, bowed deeply: "Immortal, you are merciful. We have no way to repay such a great kindness. If Yunhua ever needs us in the future, the Red Lotus Sect will certainly do its utmost to repay you!"

The figure in green had already disappeared into the distance, as if it were all a dream.

“…Immortal Venerable,” Wu Ying stepped out of the sand dune and caught up with Yun He again, “Do we really want to help him find that lotus seed? Will it cause any delays…”

"We were going to search for the Molten Jade Marrow here anyway, so this was just a side trip," Yunhe said calmly. "Besides, the Red Lotus Sect Leader was injured, which is related to Yunhua of the Demon Realm. This responsibility should be borne by Sect Leader Yunhua."

She paused, looking at Wu Ying with rare hesitation: "You..."

"As the current apothecary of the demon race, I should also do my part." Wu Ying looked up and smiled, "I hope the immortal venerable will not find me a burden."

"...How could that be?" Yunhe chuckled, pressing his knuckles down on his bamboo hat, and led the way forward. "Let's go, let's retrieve two life-saving items. There might be many more spiritual herbs waiting for you to discover inside the Molten Land."

"yes!"

The two figures were distorted by the heatwave as they walked towards Mount Jinran.