Chapter Thirty-Two: Undercurrents and the Tide of Public Opinion

News of Qi Mu's execution and the collapse of his legion had already spread like wildfire throughout the Demon Realm. But when news of Shiyi Niang's swift execution at the victory banquet arrived, this heavy blow truly struck hard, sending a chilling and terrifying shiver through You Chi, Gong Liang, Ao Li, and Guan Shanyue deep within the Demon Palace.

Inside the Grand Elder's mansion, You Chi's face was ashen. He had long since processed the news of Qi Mu's death, but the swift defeat and public execution of Shiyi Niang still sent a jolt through him. A jade ring, nurtured for hundreds of years, cracked subtly under his unconscious exertion. Shang Jiuya's series of ruthless methods far exceeded the description of a mere "puppet," completely disrupting his long-term plan to use the conflicts among the heirs to maintain balance and ultimately gain control of the entire situation. A sense of shock and rage at the complete loss of control spread through his heart.

Inside Gong Liang's mansion, the sounds of smashing and breaking ceased, replaced by a deathly silence filled with fear. He had already lamented the loss of resources when Qi Mu died, and now, with Shiyi Niang, a pawn also connected to Guan Shanyue's interests, also removed, Shang Jiuya's decisiveness and power had, for the first time, overwhelmed his greedy nature by the fear of survival.

In the Hall of Law, Jiang Zheng stared at the case file detailing Shiyi Niang's "conclusive evidence and execution according to the law," his fingers pausing as he tapped the table. He had originally believed in the logic of "the incompetent should step down" and supported You Chi's "co-governance" based on this. However, Shang Jiuya's assertiveness, decisiveness, and use of "evidence" precisely matched his subconscious definition of "the strong" and "the maintainer of order," creating a fatal contradiction with his previous stance and plunging him into deep confusion and self-doubt.

Amid this pervasive panic, an extremely unusual meeting quietly took place.

In a secluded and luxurious courtyard within the Demon Palace, belonging to the Gongliang faction, the Fourth Prince Ao Li and the Ninth Prince Guan Shanyue, a brother and sister who were usually wary of each other and rarely interacted directly, sat down face to face in a rare occurrence.

Ao Li broke the silence first, his voice low and emotionless: "Ninth Sister, it seems we all underestimated that Eleventh Sister."

Guan Shanyue's beautiful face had long lost its usual smile, leaving only a cold solemnity and a trace of barely perceptible fatigue. She gently fiddled with the beads on her wrist, her tone equally unreadable: "Fourth Brother is right. To be able to kill Sixth Brother and then swiftly execute Eleventh Sister, this strength and ruthlessness are not like that of a puppet who only knows how to look at account books."

“Changdong is on her side.” Ao Li pointed out the key point: without Changdong’s military support, no matter how strong Jiu Ya is personally, she will find it difficult to shake the overall situation.

"Not just Changdong?" Guan Shanyue sneered. "Fourth Brother, you must have seen the commotion that old scholar Mo Luo and that brat Xing Yuan caused, right? Now everyone in Shanghai is practically praising her as a hero who set things right."

The two remained silent for a moment. They both realized the seriousness of the problem. Shang Jiuya's rise threatened the vested interests and living space of all of them.

"Elder You Chi must have already made a plan?" Ao Li finally turned his gaze to Guan Shanyue, his eyes deep and unfathomable. He knew that Guan Shanyue was getting closer to You Chi and Gong Liang.

Guan Shanyue met his gaze without flinching: "The Grand Elder is naturally unwilling to sit idly by. But Fourth Brother, given the current situation, in a one-on-one fight, I'm afraid no one is confident they can suppress her. Sixth Brother's experience serves as a stark warning."

A quick, calculating glint flashed in Ao Li's eyes. He understood this principle perfectly well: while trying to negotiate with a tiger was dangerous, being defeated piecemeal was even more unacceptable. "What does Ninth Sister mean?"

“In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are needed.” Guan Shanyue lowered his voice even further. “At least in the Daqing Hall, our goals should be aligned. Let’s eliminate the biggest threat first, and then… we’ll deal with the rest later.”

Ao Li pondered for a moment and slowly nodded: "Alright. But we need to have a detailed plan for how to proceed, and we must not give her any more chances."

This brief but efficient meeting did not result in any solid agreement, but it marked the beginning of an attempt by the old powers to unite under immense threat.

Meanwhile, the civil service system led by the Fourth Elder Moro and the younger generation linked by the Ninth Elder Xing Yuan are operating their propaganda machine at full capacity.

Through various channels—official gazettes, rumors among the people, storytellers in taverns, and even children's songs—the bloody atrocities committed by Qi Mu in slaughtering the Shi Fu tribe on the border, and the crimes of Shi Yi Niang repeatedly using insidious illusions to frame the Demon Lord and even attempting to poison him at the victory banquet, were vividly and meticulously exaggerated and widely disseminated.

Meanwhile, Shang Jiuya's "achievements"—how he endured hardship, how he spoke out against the atrocities in the Daqing Hall, how he resolutely ordered the suppression of the rebellion, and how he personally risked his life to kill the Seven Mu and restore order—were carefully packaged and widely circulated like an epic of heroism.

The legitimacy of the Demon Lord, the legality of her quelling the internal strife, and her courage and wisdom were repeatedly emphasized and deeply ingrained in people's minds.

The high ground of public opinion that You Chi and others tried to control quickly crumbled in the face of the information storm launched by Mo Luo and Xing Yuan.

The hearts and minds of the people have undergone a subtle but decisive change.

Ordinary demons may not understand the power struggles at the highest levels, but they can grasp the simplest truth: whoever is cruel and ruthless is the one maintaining order. Shang Jiuya's image has transformed from a vague and distant puppet into a powerful demon lord who dares to rid the people of evil and restore order to the land.

Many minor nobles began to secretly express goodwill towards the Ziguang Palace or remain neutral, realizing that the balance might be tilting.

Even some of the lower- and middle-ranking officials and soldiers who originally belonged to Youchi and Gongliang's camp began to feel uneasy, discussing among themselves and having doubts about their superiors' orders.

The younger generation of demons almost unanimously regards Shang Jiuya as a symbol of breaking the old, corrupt order and bringing new hope! Her experiences have been given a legendary quality, inspiring countless young demons.

The atmosphere in the Demon Realm has become extremely strange. Beneath the surface, a surging undercurrent of the old forces sharpening their knives, attempting to launch a fatal attack in concert; on the surface, however, public opinion is overwhelmingly praising Shang Jiuya and attacking the old forces, with people yearning for change.

Inside the Purple Light Hall, Shang Jiuya's shoulder injury had mostly healed. The intelligence sent by Bai Yu and Li Yue became more frequent and urgent, including not only the secret plans of You Chi, Gong Liang, and Jiang Zheng, but also the unusual meeting between Ao Li and Guan Shanyue.

She knew the final battle was approaching. The other side was backed into a corner and was about to launch their most ferocious counterattack. And this time, they might temporarily set aside their differences and unite.

"Li Yue, how is the Shadow Guard?"

"Your Excellency, we are ready for battle at any time!"

"What about Elder Changdong?"

"Reply received. The Legion has sealed off key passages and is on high alert."

"Elder Moro and Elder Xingyuan's propaganda offensive cannot stop; they must continue to shake the other side's foundation."

"Bai Yu, keep a close eye on all unusual movements, especially the gathering of Ao Li and Guan Shanyue's forces."

"Elder Qingcheng's last batch of supplies must be delivered as soon as possible."

One command after another was issued clearly and calmly. Shang Jiuya stood inside the hall, her gaze sharp.

Are you nervous? Yes.

The final battle against the old forces is about to erupt on the core stage of this Demon Palace—the Daqing Hall.

And she was already prepared.

The mornings in the Demon Palace are always shrouded in a thin layer of pale purple mist. The sunlight struggles to penetrate the gloomy clouds of the Demon Realm, casting weak and distorted shadows on the cold, black stone palace complex.

Inside the Purple Light Palace, Shang Jiuya's biological clock awoke with remarkable precision from a light sleep. Her body still felt heavy with fatigue, but her alert mind prevented her from truly falling back asleep. She had just opened her eyes, attempting to move her body, which ached from old injuries and cultivation, when a soft voice sounded from outside the curtains.

"Your Majesty, you're awake?"

Bai Yu approached silently, carrying a cup of warm water that exuded the calming fragrance of herbs, and skillfully hung up the curtain. There were also faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she was also lacking rest, but her eyes remained clear and focused, constantly observing Shang Jiuya's condition.

"Mmm," Shang Jiuya responded, her voice still hoarse from just waking up. She took the water glass; the water temperature was just right, with a few calming flower petals floating on it, gently dispelling the dryness in her throat and the lingering dryness in her body caused by the "Burning Marrow and Corroding Heart Technique."

"Li Yue just reported that nothing happened outside the palace last night, and all forces were unusually quiet, but the patrols have been tripled as you ordered," Bai Yu reported in a low voice as she gently fetched the casual clothes she would wear that day. It was a set of exquisitely made but relatively simple turquoise palace attire, more suitable for dealing with any possible emergencies.

"It's just the calm before the storm," Shang Jiuya said calmly, taking a sip of water. She put down her glass and, with Bai Yu's help, got up to change. When Bai Yu's fingers accidentally touched the old wound on her left shoulder, Shang Jiuya frowned slightly.

Bai Yu immediately noticed and became even gentler and more careful: "Your Majesty, does the wound still hurt? Elder Qingcheng sent some new ointment, shall I change it for you again later? He said it has a miraculous effect on removing residual demonic energy."

"It's alright, I'm better than yesterday." Shang Jiuya shook her head, her gaze falling on Bai Yu's obviously sleep-deprived face. "You don't need to do everything yourself, there are always reliable people under you. You need to get some rest."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yu paused in her work, raised her head, and looked up with a stubborn determination in her eyes: "Serving Your Majesty is my duty, and it is also... something I do willingly. I don't trust anyone else to do it." She paused, her voice lowering, "Besides, only when I'm busy can I not feel so... afraid."

The last few words were almost muffled, but Shang Jiuya heard them clearly.

She reached out and gently patted the back of Bai Yu's hand as he tied her belt. "There's nothing to be afraid of. We've overcome the toughest times. And we will too."

Bai Yu's eyes welled up slightly. She nodded vigorously, suppressing all her emotions, and focused more intently on tidying her clothes: "Yes, Your Majesty, this servant believes you."