Tong seemed to have opened a floodgate of words, and continued, "So, it's only natural that Ji Chen hates Qi Rong so much. Even though he wasn't the Demon Lord who ruled the Demon Clan back then, the blood feud of slaughtering his clansmen has continued from generation to generation. But there's one strange thing: Ji Chen said that Qi Rong killed him once, which doesn't make sense."

Qinghe: "What do you mean?"

Tong looked at her and said, “According to the timeline, during the war between the three realms, Qi Rong led the gods to fight against the demons. At that time, the demon lord was Ji Chen, the progenitor of the demon realm. In terms of seniority, he was Ji Chen’s ancestor. No matter how powerful Qi Rong was, it was impossible for him to kill someone who had not yet been born. Don’t you think that’s strange?”

Qinghe nodded, "But judging from Ji Chen's expression of both deep hatred and considerable fear towards Qi Rong, it doesn't seem like he's lying, and he has no reason to lie to me."

The two thought and thought, but still couldn't figure it out. Tong simply stopped thinking about it and handed her another fruit, saying, "If you can't figure it out, it's better not to think about it. Everything has a conclusion. You will know everything eventually. It's just a matter of time. Now, eat the fruit."

Qinghe smiled at his carefree appearance and said, "You're right, everything has a conclusion, but things always need someone to push them forward." She paused and said, "Do me a favor."

Tong immediately had a bad feeling and asked warily, "What are you planning to do now?"

Qinghe smiled slightly, her smile as gentle as a spring breeze. "You are a magical beast, able to come and go freely in the Demon Realm without being detected. I need you to help me leave the Demon Realm and deliver a message to my senior brother and the others."

Tong lowered her guard and flatly refused, "No, what will you do if I leave? What if Ji Chen kills you? Wouldn't I become a sinner for all time?"

Qinghe, however, was extremely serious. "No, you just need to go."

Unable to resist Qinghe's insistence, Tong compromised for the third time, asking, "What message do you want me to pass on for you?"

Qinghe glanced around, gestured for Tong to disappear into the spiritual sea, and then said to him, "I was captured by Ji Chen and brought to Yihuang Mountain. Senior Brother and the others will definitely try to rescue me. Tell them they don't need to come. I want to stay in the Demon Realm and follow Ji Chen. I have a feeling that soon, Ji Chen will take action against the human realm again."

Tong was somewhat worried: "What if something happens to you? Ji Chen is so mad, he won't let you off easily."

Qing reassured him, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Tong wanted to say something more, but seeing Qing's determined expression, she said no more.

A streak of red light flew out from between his eyebrows, lingered in the air for a long time, and then disappeared.

Qinghe watched Tong walk away, his gaze slowly turning deep and unfathomable.

...

The desolate mountains were gloomy, and the beautiful scenery was also darkened and desolate due to the perennial darkness of the demon realm.

Qinghe sat amidst a sea of ​​dark red flowers, admiring them in solitude.

Perhaps it was because the figure was too lonely, or perhaps it was because few people ventured into this place, that it gradually attracted the attention of many demons. Most of them were low-level demons with only one eye, sharp mouths and fangs, and they looked quite fierce.

As Qinghe watched them approach, they quickly moved away as if afraid of disturbing her, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

"I wonder if the demon spirit tastes good?"

A casual remark caused the demons to be greatly alarmed. Although they did not understand human language, they could tell from her expression that she had no good intentions.

Having been in the Demon Realm for so many days, Qinghe was perhaps truly delirious with hunger, and actually had the urge to put this idea into practice.

He stretched out his hand halfway, but stopped because of the person coming towards him.

Yan Luo, dressed in a black dress, stood out conspicuously amidst the blazing sea of ​​flowers.

With a wave of her fan, the demon spirits dispersed on their own. She then spoke slowly and deliberately, "How are you? Getting used to it here?"

Qinghe raised her face, pale with hunger, and asked, "What do you think?"

Yan Luo smiled, raised her hand and waved, and an exquisite food box appeared in front of Qing He.

Qinghe's eyes lit up with a strange glint, and he quickly opened the food box and began to stuff himself with food.

Yan Luo frowned as she looked at her, finding it hard to bear the sight. She couldn't understand why Qi Rong had taken a liking to her.

After a long while, when Qinghe had almost finished eating, Yanluo said, "The Five Sects Grand Competition is almost here."

Qinghe continued working, and upon hearing this, puffed out his cheeks and mumbled, "I know, Ji Chen wants to make his move at that time."

Yan Luo calmly asked, "Who do you think will win?"

Qinghe looked up at her, still holding a chicken leg in her hand, "As long as you don't help him, the outcome is very clear."

Yan Luo's lips curled up, carrying a hint of deeper meaning.

After that, the two didn't speak again. Qinghe sat and ate, while Yanluo stood beside her watching.

After a long while, when Qinghe had finished eating and drinking, and Yanluo was about to turn and leave, Qinghe suddenly asked her, "Are you friend or foe?"

Yan Luo tilted her head: "Neither enemy nor friend."

Qinghe: "Then why did you help me?"

Yan Luo paused for a moment, then said, "It's just returning a favor to a friend."

Qinghe scoffed, "If you're going to be a bad guy, you have to be thorough so you won't hold back during the final battle."

Yan Luo sneered, "Do you think you can kill me? In this world, apart from that person, no one is my match."

That person? Could it be Qi Rong?

Just as Qing was about to ask for clarification, she saw that Yan Luo had already left without lingering.

The dark and gloomy sky was now empty except for Qinghe.

The lurking monsters around them tentatively moved forward, but Qinghe merely raised the corners of his lips and ignored them.

I got up, straightened my clothes, and drifted aimlessly. A breeze blew in from somewhere, causing the sea of ​​flowers to sway and sway gracefully.

A strange object resembling a will-o'-the-wisp appeared before Qinghe's eyes.

Qinghe stared at it for a few seconds, then asked, "What is that?"

The will-o'-the-wisp stirred, seemingly displeased with her tone, and after a moment emitted a hoarse, chilling voice: "Do you remember me?"

Qing listened carefully to its sound and confirmed that she had never heard it before.

The will-o'-the-wisp circled around her once, then uttered a heartfelt compliment: "You are so beautiful."

Qinghe raised an eyebrow: "You have good taste."

The will-o'-the-wisp showed no displeasure at her inexplicable confidence; instead, it chuckled, "Too bad, this body will soon belong to me."

Qinghe narrowed his eyes: "You want to possess me?"

The will-o'-the-wisp laughed maniacally, its eerie green flames trembling incessantly, becoming ethereal, before finally revealing its true form a moment later.

She had an ordinary appearance, but Qinghe recognized her at a glance. "It's you, Wang Xiaotong."

Zhou Xiaotong: "...My surname is Zhou!"

Qinghe had no interest in her surname. "I didn't expect you to have already fallen into the demonic path."

At this moment, Zhou Xiaotong had no physical body, only an ethereal soul. Her body was transparent, but her expression was visibly distorted. "So what? The Demon Lord treats me much better than those bastards from the Floating Life Pavilion. He not only taught me cultivation but also gave me a beautiful body. What reason do I have not to become a demon?"

Qinghe nodded in deep agreement, "You're right, the treatment is quite good, and this place is full of gold and silver, much richer than the Qingyun Sect."

Zhou Xiaotong narrowed her eyes dangerously. "What, you want to become a demon too?"

Qinghe sneered, "Unfortunately, I have far more humanity than you."