Chapter 2 This male protagonist is really hard to kill (2) I almost killed him...
Hidden behind layers of carved railings and adorned with golden threads, the once lifeless Demon Palace, after fourteen years of meticulous work by Fu Li, has been transformed into the most luxurious palace in the mortal realm. The Radiant Palace alone boasts over thirty rooms, including not only the central sleeping quarters but also a kitchen, pharmacy, flower room, meditation room, treasure pavilion, spirit spring pool, and even a separate room for storing the Demon Lord's clothes—a testament to its extreme extravagance.
Soon, Fu Li, with a hint of disdain, instructed his men to clear out a space in his favorite side hall for the male protagonist to live in.
Then, as if summoning a puppy, he called Wufeng into the bedroom.
The child was well-behaved the whole way, showing no extra reaction to the extravagant scene of Yaohua Palace. He followed Fu Li like a little tail, going wherever he was told to go.
The boy's cooperative attitude brought Fu Li a rare sense of pleasure. Being able to command a future prodigy satisfied Fu Li's vanity and desire for conquest.
After entering the hall, he spoke to the child with a rare gentle tone: "You've been in the beast camp for so many years, what level of cultivation have you reached?"
Wu Feng obediently replied, "Your Majesty, I have already mastered the Soul-Slaying Heart Technique and am currently practicing the Netherworld Thousand Hands. When Vice Envoy Gui Li came to see me last time, he said that I was about to form the Demon Core."
His expression was docile, and he had no idea what this meant.
Fu Li's heart skipped a beat.
As expected of the chosen one destined to cultivate both immortality and demonic arts, even with his immortal bones transforming into demonic bones, his cultivation speed remains incredibly fast. The cultivation realms in the Demon Realm are largely the same as those of the righteous path of immortal cultivation. The righteous path is Qi Refining - Foundation Establishment - Core Formation - Nascent Soul - Void Refining - Tribulation Transcending. However, because the early cultivation methods of demonic cultivators differ from those of other cultivators, they must first temper their physical bodies with demonic energy to attract demons, corresponding to Qi Refining, which has a total of eighteen realms. Then comes the formation of the Demon Core, corresponding to the Golden Core formed by ordinary cultivators. After that, the cultivation paths are the same.
Therefore, it's equivalent to Wu Feng being only fourteen years old and about to form his core! Even the original owner, Feng Fu Li, had a slower cultivation speed compared to him.
It can only be said that he was born with immortal talent. Whether cultivating demonic or immortal cultivation, he is an outstanding figure among his peers, far surpassing them.
Fu Li silently called him "Brother Gua". He carefully selected several obscure and difficult-to-cultivate cultivation manuals from his storage bag and tossed them to the other party.
"From now on, you and I will teach you. You don't need to practice the previous techniques anymore. After you form your demon core, I will assign you training missions. These next few days, stay in your room and practice. Don't come out and hang around in front of me and annoy me, understand?"
The child's face was flushed, and his heart was filled with joy. He took Fu Li's giving him the cultivation technique as a sign of her care for him, and he couldn't wait to get closer and closer to the Venerable One.
Therefore, he did not care that the Demon Lord's attitude had changed from gentle to impatient in the next moment. He respectfully bowed and accepted the cultivation method, suppressing the burning excitement in his heart, and said softly, "Disciple understands."
Fu Li had no intention of taking him as a disciple, but he didn't correct him either.
Finally, he glanced sideways at Wufeng with a hint of disgust and said, "Next time you see me, don't make yourself look so shabby, or you'll dirty my Yaohua Palace."
Then he waved his hand, signaling the other person to get lost.
The child obediently lowered his head and retreated towards the door, clutching tightly the things Fu Li had given him as if they were some precious treasure. It took him a long time to finally leave the main hall.
After the male lead left, Fu Li said to the system in a boastful tone, "Is this okay now?! The plot is going smoothly now! Can I go watch the Warcraft show now?!"
The system remained silent in response to its host's non-violent, non-cooperative attitude. It didn't say anything, "Given Fu Li's attitude of wanting him to fend for himself or die somewhere else, who else should we kill if not him?"
However, the subsequent developments were not quite what the system had predicted.
After leaving the Demon Lord's palace, Xiao Wufeng returned to the side hall that Fu Li had arranged for him. Although it was nominally called a side hall, it was actually far from Fu Li's palace, and he would only occasionally come here when he wanted to cool off and rest.
The inhumane training methods of the Beast Camp caused Wu Feng to suffer from chronic malnutrition. His cultivation level improved, but his body didn't grow much. In the vast hall, his figure appeared so small, as if he would be swallowed up by the dark palace at any moment, but there was no trace of loneliness or fear on his small face.
He buried his head in his chest, carefully inhaling the faint, fruity scent lingering on the pages of the cultivation manual, the scent belonging to Demon Lord Fu Li. A look of longing appeared in his eyes. And this fragrance also lingered in the main hall.
A soft murmur escaped her lips: "Your Majesty... I like it... I like it so much..."
Even now, when he recalls the first glimpse of Feng Fuli under the Juju fruit tree a few hours ago, his heart still races.
It was all like a dream. The Venerable One was like a celestial being descended from heaven, bestowing upon him a small favor that left him utterly captivated and deeply moved.
Before, Wufeng was just a wild little beast in the beast camp, but now he not only met a venerable master who was like an immortal, but was also taken in and raised by the master. Thinking of this, his heart pounded with joy, and his brain felt like it was boiling.
Being raised like a wild beast instilled in him a bestial mindset, making him willing to pay any price to get what he wanted. But his human nature kept him rational.
I must be good and listen to His Majesty's words obediently, so that His Majesty will like me and be willing to be close to me. I mustn't frighten His Majesty like a wild beast, and I mustn't make His Majesty angry or disgusted with me...
He repeatedly warned himself while frantically inhaling the aura of the Demon Lord in his arms, like a fanatical believer.
From that day on, Wufeng never left his bedchamber again. He always remembered the Venerable One's instructions, telling him to cultivate diligently in his room and not to come out until he had formed his demon core.
Wu Feng diligently followed the teachings of his master and began cultivating tirelessly, as if possessed.
A month later, Fu Li went out for a stroll as usual, subdued a few unruly demonic beasts, and then returned to the Demon Palace satisfied and swaggering back.
On their way back, the demon generals who had accompanied him showered him with flattery, praising him enthusiastically: "Your Majesty is truly benevolent! Not only did you eliminate the demonic beasts that plagued the four northwestern cities, but you also vanquished the ancestor of demonic beasts in the far west, who had already reached the Tribulation Transcending stage. The city lord of Weiyue City, who originally harbored rebellious intentions, turned pale the moment he saw you appear dragging the karmic fire beast by the leg. I'm sure that from today onward, the four northwestern cities will remember your virtue of eliminating disaster and evil, and even history will record a place for you!"
Fu Li accepted the flattery from his subordinates without hesitation. When they said, "Once this news spreads throughout the continent, won't those demonic sects be completely convinced?" he asked, "I heard that some of the seventy-two demonic sects have developed disloyal intentions. What is this about?"
The Left Protector hurriedly said, "Hey, they're just a few incompetent juniors, like grasshoppers jumping around, they won't cause any trouble, Your Majesty can rest assured."
After the Guiyan Sect, once the leader of the righteous path, was wiped out, Feng Fuli established the Seventy-Two Demonic Sects in the cultivation world as pawns to hinder the righteous path.
Hearing that nothing was wrong, he nodded expressionlessly. After returning to the Demon Palace, he rewarded his subordinates for their contributions and then ordered the kitchen to stew the karmic fire beast he had slain.
Then, as usual, he leisurely went to the side hall, intending to take a good rest on the ice bed while waiting for the banquet to begin.
I was almost asleep when I suddenly smelled a faint, foul odor in the air. I frowned and opened my eyes.
Even if you don't look, it doesn't matter. Right in front of him, through a beaded curtain, you can vaguely see a dark figure. The person is sitting cross-legged, covered in filth and stench, and occasionally lets out a painful groan.
It took Fu Li a few breaths to recall what had happened.
Oh no! He placed the male lead in this side hall, but he forgot about him!
Just then, the system suddenly spoke up: [Host, we have detected that the male protagonist of this small world is in danger and his life is in imminent peril. We have also detected that you are not far away. Please proceed immediately to his rescue!]
That means we have no choice but to take action.
Fu Li cursed under his breath and immediately got up and went over. He quickly used his knowledge as a Transcending Tribulation stage expert to determine that the male protagonist was forming his Demon Core. It's said that forming the Demon Core is the first step into immortality, because before that, the body's blood and qi circulate, expelling all impurities and filth, completely shedding the mortal body. From then on, one no longer needs to eat grains like ordinary people, and lifespan will increase exponentially.
Now that Wufeng has passed the first step, his body is covered in a foul-smelling filth. Normally, cultivators would choose to bathe or wash themselves by a pond before forming their core, making it easier to cleanse themselves. But Wufeng lacked this common sense. Feng Fuli, having been careless before, forgot about this, and now he can only reap the consequences.
Wu Feng was in very poor condition, not only because he hadn't eaten or drunk for a month and would have starved to death if it weren't for his cultivation, but also because he was facing the Core Formation stage, but the tribulation lightning hadn't come down yet. It was stuck in a limbo, consuming his mental and physical energy, and his body was on the verge of collapse.
As for why the lightning tribulation couldn't descend, the reason is quite simple: the Demon Palace is surrounded by a barrier, personally reinforced by Feng Fuli, a powerful cultivator at the Tribulation Transcending stage. Therefore, the lightning tribulation was blocked outside the barrier. If one wanted to undergo the lightning tribulation, they had to go outside.
This was something Feng Fuli should have taken seriously, but he completely disregarded the male lead, which led to the current situation where the chosen one is on the verge of death.
Fu Li knew that if the protagonist died in front of him, the system would definitely find an excuse to electrocute him.
Ignoring the stench and filth, Feng Fuli immediately picked up Wufeng and flew out of Yaohua Palace. The stench filled her nostrils, as if she were carrying a garbage dump in her arms. Fuli was afraid that if she looked at the male lead, she would be unable to resist throwing him down, so she forced herself not to lower her head.
After floating in the sky for a few breaths, he quickly found a hilltop with a pool of water and threw the male protagonist down like a hot potato.
Thunderclouds were gathering here, yet the system still warned: "Given the male protagonist's current condition, he cannot successfully overcome the tribulation on his own and requires the host's assistance."
Fu Li: ......
Even though the veins on his forehead were bulging, as the culprit, he had no choice but to suppress his disgust and help.
Before the first lightning strike, Fu Li flashed behind Wu Feng.
At this moment, Wufeng had already sensed that the tribulation was approaching, and could only muster his last strength to prepare for the tribulation.
He roughly understood that he was likely doomed in this ordeal. In an instant, countless images flashed before his eyes. Strangely, the time spent in the beast camp, which had occupied almost his entire life, did not appear much. Instead, the most prominent moments were in the recent short month. From that glance under the Juju tree to the guidance and bestowal of cultivation techniques in the Venerable's palace, he had thought countless times about quickly forming his core, becoming stronger, and staying by the Venerable's side.
However, is this dream still impossible to realize?
Was his luck really that bad? He was so close, just a hair's breadth away!
"Concentrate, you're about to form the Demon Core." A deep, clear voice came from behind. Immediately afterward, the back no longer felt as cold as pool water, but instead felt a warm touch, like a palm. Pure demonic energy was continuously sent from the palm, circulating through the meridians and dantian, replenishing the depleted demonic energy.
Hearing the voice that haunted his dreams, Wu Feng's heart immediately began to flutter.
The thought that Feng Fuli had come to save him made his blood boil with excitement.
In fact, when the Venerable One entered the side hall, he sensed the other party's arrival and thought that he had come to see him, which made him overjoyed. However, the other party simply went to the couch in the outer room to take a nap and did not notice his presence at all.
No, they've probably long forgotten that he even exists here.
Even so, Wufeng did not feel wronged or resentful. On the contrary, in order not to disturb the Venerable One, he even separated some of his demonic energy to create a barrier to block the smell when he formed his core, not wanting his own odor to offend the other party.
However, His Majesty was still awakened by him.
Wu Feng originally thought that the Venerable One must despise him and was going to throw him away, but the Venerable One disregarded past grievances and stayed to help him overcome the tribulation of lightning.
At this moment, the person he had been longing for stood behind him, his hand resting on the other's back. He could feel the intense body heat emanating from the other, and even detect a faint breath from the other's nostrils. These thoughts made his blood surge like boiling water, and in his excitement, even a certain part of him began to stir.
Wufeng wasn't completely clueless; a barely perceptible blush rose to her pale face, and she shrank back shyly. She was secretly relieved that they were in the water, and that the Venerable One was standing behind her and couldn't see her.
Just as he was lost in thought, the first bolt of lightning struck down from the tribulation clouds with a deafening roar, like the end of the world.
Fu Li knew that no one should disturb him during his tribulation, so he casually took out an umbrella-shaped magic artifact from his storage bag, then flew backward to the shore and stood on a boulder to observe.
Wufeng also put aside his thoughts and focused on fighting the tribulation lightning. He absorbed the spiritual power within and used it for his own purposes. After filling his meridians, he gradually expanded and strengthened his fragile meridians. After completing this step, all the demonic energy in his body gathered in his dantian and gradually formed a dark bead that flowed with purple light.
The demon core has been formed.
After the twelfth bolt of lightning struck, the tribulation clouds in the sky slowly dispersed, and the sky returned to its original state.
Fu Li waded across the water to the center of the lake, scooped up the boy who was charred black all over, and flew back to the shore.
As soon as they reached the shore, Fu Li tore the person off his body with a look of disgust. Seeing that the person was in no danger and was clearly out of danger, he coldly ordered, "Show me your demon core."
For demonic cultivators, displaying their demonic core in front of others is tantamount to exposing their vital point, a highly taboo act. But Wu Feng did as he was told without hesitation.
A large, round bead slowly emerged from the boy's dantian. When it reached Fu Li, it became even more radiant, radiating pure demonic energy, as if trying to please him.
Fu Li remained noncommittal, but nodded slightly and said, "A high-grade demonic pill, not bad."
The few simple words, though spoken, carried a hint of praise in Wufeng's ears, instantly making him happy.
He spoke with boundless gratitude and admiration, "Your Excellency, I..."
Before he could even finish a complete sentence, the aftereffects of the huge deficit he suffered during the formation of his core manifested. Although he had Feng Fuli's assistance, the formation of this superior-grade demon core still consumed all of the boy's energy. After the excitement subsided, his vision went black, and he fainted, falling into Fuli's arms.
At this moment, Fu Li not only had foul-smelling stains from the male lead, but also the male lead himself, who looked like a lump of charcoal.
Fu Li, who has maintained her Demon Lord persona for many years and has a phobia of germs:
A note from the author:
I can't say for sure how much I'll write in the first world, I'll just follow the pace. The outline for this world is already finished, and the male lead is a complete stalker from beginning to end, which is why I had the courage to add the "sweet romance" tag.
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