newborn

The Demon Realm, the Demon Lord's Bedchamber.

Mo Yiheng stood with his hands behind his back by the window. Outside, the dark sky of the Demon Realm had remained unchanged for billions of years. Crows cawed incessantly, but he paid them no heed. The Demon Lord's gaze pierced through the dark clouds, landing on the unknown chaos.

The shadowy figure appeared silently, and Night Asura whispered, "Your Majesty, the envoy has successfully escorted the Second Elder and Jinzhu to Yunhua Mountain and presented a formal letter of greeting and a written order. The people of Yunhua were shocked upon hearing the news, but showed no hostility, only saying that they needed time to discuss it."

"Hmm. Keep an eye on their reactions, but don't be rude." Mo Yiheng didn't turn around, and his expression was unreadable. "Any progress on the matter of the traitor within the Imperial Pharmacy?"

"We have made progress." Ye Xiuluo presented a brocade box. "Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Upon opening the brocade box, the wriggling maggots inside were nauseating.

"Our informant reports that the former chief physician has been frequently fishing in various rivers and lakes lately, and this is the item found in his room. Upon examination, the maggots in the box were found to be carrying the poison of the Spirit-Eating Grass. The physician was feeding the bait with this poisonous grass and then spreading it under the pretext of fishing, allowing the poison to spread everywhere. It is understood that a considerable amount of poisonous bait is still being secretly fed underground in the pharmacy. Currently, we have ordered it all to be burned."

"Has the physician been apprehended? What was his motive?"

"Your Majesty, Jade Guanyin went to apprehend this person half an hour ago. She just sent word that he has been taken to the Demon Realm's Dark Prison to await Your Majesty's judgment. Tracing this person's three generations back, we learned that his son once served under the Envoy of the Smoke Domain, but was executed when you ascended the throne. His motive may have been personal grudge. However, his methods were secretive, and the method of feeding him poisoned bait was not ordinary... I personally believe that it is more likely that someone is behind it all, taking advantage of this physician's love for his son to kill him with a borrowed knife."

It's another case of using someone else to do the dirty work. And this move is practically identical to Liu Qing's gruesome death. Is Liu Qing making a comeback, or... is it the very person who taught him evil arts and the faction that led him back to his country for revenge who's interfering?

"Order Guanyin to interrogate him severely and find out who is instigating him." Mo Yiheng's eyes were piercing. "In addition, conduct a thorough investigation of the entire Demon Realm. We must not allow any other place to hide poisonous bait or insects underground, lest our demon race suffer another heavy blow."

"Yes." Ye Xiuluo accepted the order, then took out the familiar note and read it expressionlessly, "Your Majesty, you have not closed your eyes for several days. This is not conducive to the recovery of your injuries, nor is it conducive to the growth of the auxiliary medicines. Your Majesty, please make sure to get some rest."

"...I understand." His head ached from being read aloud, Mo Yiheng rubbed his temples and said, "Next time you use Wu Ying's words to persuade me, have Jade Guanyin or anyone else read them, it doesn't matter. As long as there's intonation."

Every time Ye Xiuluo opened his mouth, he felt like he was listening to someone chanting scriptures, which not only gave him a headache but also made him sleepy.

“Your Excellency, the Jade Guanyin and I are one. Her coming is also my coming.”

"...Whatever. You, go back to work."

"yes."

Ye Xiuluo said no more and quietly withdrew. Silence returned to the hall. Mo Yiheng slowly closed his eyes. His master's severely injured and bloodied appearance, his grandmaster's cold and disgusted gaze, his uncle's words... and the pain caused by Yun Hua's casual strike that day, all flashed through his mind.

Why is he a demon... and why is he so weak?

...Thinking too much is pointless.

He took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes again, there was no longer any hesitation in them, only calmness. He turned and walked towards the mountain of files piled up on the table.

In the primordial void, the chaotic energy continues to flow endlessly.

The "egg" supported by the power of immortals and demons was much cleaner than before. Light flowed within the "egg," and a giant, snow-white fox could be vaguely seen curled up inside. Yun Shu's breathing, though still weak, had become steady. The horrific wound on her chest and abdomen was now enveloped by a strange membrane, and the flesh beneath was slowly healing. The persistent demonic poison seemed to have truly been cleansed by the "purification" process.

Yunhua sat quietly to the side, his mangled body now bearing many more deep, bone-revealing wounds. The aura of "immortal" emanating from him grew increasingly faint, while the purest, primordial power of "demon" grew ever more profound, far surpassing that of Mo Yiheng, the "Demon Lord," and even overshadowing the other demon gods within the secret realm. Yet, the chaos and savagery that had been tearing at his remnant soul within his eyes miraculously subsided, revealing a tranquility that was almost assimilated with nothingness.

Through his touch, the surrounding raging energy became docile and obedient, no longer trying to devour the white fox. Instead, it nourished and repaired Yun Shu's depleted essence like the gentlest spring breeze. The nine-tailed celestial fox no longer wailed in its sleep; the long-lost divine power made it feel incredibly relaxed.

"Qiuqiu, you're getting better..." Yunhua reached out her hand with relief, as if she wanted to check Yunshu's condition again.

But as soon as he touched the edge of the "egg", a wisp of chaotic demonic energy uncontrollably escaped from his fingertips, almost scratching Yun Shu's newly grown skin.

“…!” He abruptly withdrew his hand, looking helplessly at his fingertips like a child who had done something wrong.

Those hands, which once could refine elixirs that brought the dead back to life, draw talismans that could stabilize the soul and calm the mind, and gently knead the hair of Xiao He and Qiu Qiu... but now, only the power of destruction remains.

"...Oh, I am now a pure demon god...I can no longer touch them." He reminded himself hoarsely. After losing his immortal aura, speaking was not as difficult as before. He tightly clasped his hands behind his back, as if in doing so he could imprison the dangerous power and prevent it from harming his two disciples.

"It doesn't matter."

Yunhua bent down, her forehead a short distance away, and gently touched the soft fur between the white fox's brows, which had regained their luster, feeling the vibrant life force and listening to its steady breathing.

"It's okay..." he murmured to himself, unsure whether he was comforting Yun Shu or himself, only a bright smile appeared on his lips, "Sleep, Qiuqiu... When you wake up, everything will be alright... Our Qiuqiu will still be the strongest, the most beautiful, and the most powerful little fox."

Cannot be touched, must not be touched.

But it's good that I can still stay by your side and watch over you.

Western Regions.

As they approached the heart of the Burning Mountain, the heatwave almost materialized. It distorted the space before them, making it difficult to see anything more than three feet away. Beneath their feet lay no longer yellow sand, but newly solidified lava.

The clear, ethereal light remained stable, protecting Wu Ying within it.

“The fire element here is extremely intense, which matches the records.” Yunhe’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his steps became steady. “The Molten Fire Jade Marrow is an extremely yang substance. If it is really here, it must be hidden in a place where the fire element is most abundant. And the Earth Fire Lotus Seeds are born from the essence of the earth’s core fire, so they should also exist in the heart of this mountain.”

Wu Ying nodded, the demonic core between her fingertips extremely cold. She carefully observed her surroundings and asked in confusion, "Immortal Venerable, the fire spirits here are unusually restless... could it also be related to the awakening of the Demon God?"

Not only the lowest-ranking fire monsters, but all creatures composed of pure fire essence appeared extremely irritable, clashing and colliding with each other irrationally, finally exploding into lava that flowed back into the earth.

Yunhe nodded, his eyes showing a hint of approval: "That's right. They didn't simply go mad because of your and my intrusion, nor just because of Zhu Ming's power, but because they were afraid of the turbulence of the 'Source', so they devoured each other to obtain a more powerful body and power."

She didn't say it explicitly, but Wu Ying already understood the connection between the turmoil of the so-called "source" and the demon god.

As the two ventured deeper, the environment became increasingly treacherous. Every now and then, giant fire spirits, their minds completely corrupted by Zhu Ming's power and devoid of reason, would go out of control and attack from all directions. However, Yun He would casually repel them with a flick of his sword or a fan blade, sending them back to their blissful abode and into the gates of rebirth.

Struggling through the boiling inferno and roaring fire spirits, they finally rounded another cliff, and suddenly an endless lake of lava appeared before them. The Illusion Moon Chasing Light Fan cleared away the obstacles in their path, but Yunhe did not immediately go there. Instead, she closed her eyes and let her divine sense spread and ripple like water, probing the state of the lake's center.

A moment later, she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze locking onto a corner of the lakeshore. There, a cave was constantly spewing out clouds of fire, and the rocks at the cave entrance had been tempered by pure fire into a translucent, glassy state—both beautiful and extremely dangerous.

“The heart of the mountain is a molten lake, the nest of the Ming dynasty.” She was certain that “the chalcedony must be nearby.”

However, the closer one got to the cave entrance, the more violent the surrounding fire element became, and the more ferocious and troublesome the fire spirits that followed grew. The scorching whirlwind began to tear at the protective immortal light and demonic energy, and a certain ancient, blazing, and vibrant aura spread outward from the depths of the cave, like the breath of a volcano.

Zhu Ming's power... Wu Ying's face turned pale, and she had no choice but to take a pill to stabilize her internal energy.

Yunhe's expression also grew more serious. She took out the Soul Lamp, its white flame burning steadily, seemingly much more solid than before. Reassured, she put the lamp away and looked at the perilous cave, saying in a deep voice, "Zhu Ming is guarding his nest; forcing our way in will likely only create more trouble. The Molten Jade Marrow is an extremely yang substance, inherently averse to extreme yin and cold… Pure water might lure Zhu Ming out."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to look at her companion: "Wu Ying, as a demon pharmacist, you should be spending most of your time with various spiritual creatures. Have you brought any water spirits or similar items with you on this trip?"

Wu Ying was taken aback, then took out a palm-sized jade bottle from her medicine pouch. The bottle was icy cold, covered with a fine layer of white frost.

"This is black water taken from the bottom of the Demon Realm's Nether River, extremely cold and yin in nature. Immortal Venerable, please take a look and see if it can be of any use?"

"Hmm." Yunhe took the examination and judged it calmly, "The purified Mingchuan Black Water... does indeed contain the purest water essence, and can be used as a mildener to treat strong medicines... It's usable, thank you."

Handing the Illusionary Moon Chasing Light Fan to Wu Ying, and then imbuing the Bi Fang Feather Robe with a layer of azure-white immortal energy for protection, Yun He took a few steps towards the cave first, instructing, "Later, I will use my immortal energy to stir this water, causing its aura to spread to Zhu Ming's senses. It has always been fond of pure fire elements and hates water the most, so it will surely appear and chase after me. At that time, you should seize the opportunity to sneak into the cave and search for the jade marrow. Remember, because there will definitely be restrictive fire spirits guarding the jade marrow, you can only obtain its location and wait for me to deal with Zhu Ming and return. Do not approach or touch it rashly... If you see the Earth Fire Lotus Seed or other spiritual objects, you can act according to your ability. Don't be afraid, the Illusionary Moon Chasing Light Fan is my natal magic weapon, it will protect you."

Holding the radiant, unique treasure, Wu Ying's heart pounded, her eyes filled with trepidation. This was the supreme trust bestowed upon her by Immortal Venerable Yunhe; how could she not be nervous and excited?

Pressing down her pounding heart, Wu Ying bowed deeply and said, "I will follow the Immortal's instructions and avoid any unforeseen complications."

Yunhe said no more and uncorked the bottle. A surge of immense immortal power poured in, and the jade bottle, unable to withstand it, instantly shattered. The purest water essence and the most intense fire essence collided violently, hissing as large plumes of white mist rose and instantly condensed into water droplets. In a flash, an extremely cold, pure vapor spread rapidly, briefly suppressing the intense heat of the molten lake at the mountain's heart, making the place as cool as late autumn.

At the same time, Mount Ember trembled violently, as if it were the prelude to an eruption!

The sound of birdsong, like metal clashing against stone, exploded from the depths of the cave, filled with an overwhelming, offensive rage that was deafening.

With each breath, the phantom of the giant bird, as large as a Kunpeng and composed entirely of blazing flames, burst forth like lightning. Its wings blotted out the sky, its giant claws shattered mountains and rocks, carrying a terrifyingly high temperature that could burn everything, and rushed straight toward the source of the nauseating cold air!

“Come…” Yunhe’s figure swayed, and he actually pinched a black water crystal and condensed it into an ice crystal. He took the initiative to go forward and said, “Follow me.”

Zhu Ming let out a sharp shriek and indeed followed the man in green into the distance. Wu Ying dared not hesitate for a moment. Her demonic energy and immortal power enveloped the Bi Fang Feather Robe, and in that instant, she transformed into a blurry black shadow, shooting into the cave like lightning and disappearing into the glass.

Inside the cave, crimson magma churned and flowed like blood, scorching heat distorted vision, and the pervasive flames almost stole all the air, making it stifling and suffocating.

She carefully avoided the fire spirits and monsters, following a path where the flames were weaker. Soon, she approached the most scorching center of the molten lake. Searching around with her Illusionary Moon Chasing Light Fan, she finally caught a glimpse of a bewitching red. On a protruding reef, a crimson lotus-shaped spiritual plant bloomed silently, its heart containing several finger-sized lotus seeds emitting a soft glow.

Earth Fire Lotus Seed!

Just as he was about to pick the fruit, he suddenly lost his footing and got his leg stuck between two scorching hot rocks. Struggling to free his leg, he peered down using the dim light of the Illusionary Moon Chasing Light Fan and saw a hastily built bird's nest at the bottom, its surface covered in fiery lava. Inside, nestled, lay a deep blue egg. The egg, no bigger than a human head, seemed to contain all the light and heat of the world; its interior flowed like molten gold, and the faint outline of a fledgling bird could be seen.

Wu Ying was momentarily stunned. She had never actually seen the so-called Molten Jade Marrow, but based on the information Yun He had given her, the aura of that rare treasure was somewhat similar to that of this bird egg.

Could it be that the so-called molten jade marrow is Zhu Ming's egg?

Just as they were puzzled, the Illusionary Moon Chasing Light Fan tilted slightly, clearly illuminating a shadowy figure not far from the bird's nest.