After leaving the ancestral hall, Shang Xiye met up with Ji Fengming and Hei Xiao in a secluded, abandoned hall in the Cold Palace.
As soon as Ji Fengming saw Shang Xiye, he came up to him with a bitter face and said, "Brother-in-law, Xiao Chen and I set up a concealment array on ourselves as you said and successfully sneaked into Shang Beiyu's Red Sleeve Palace; but Xiao Chen and I searched the Red Sleeve Palace almost from top to bottom and still couldn't find the thing you said that exudes overwhelming demonic energy, Shang Beiyu's natal item."
“Yes, since it’s his personal possession, I think Shang Beiyu would most likely keep it close to his body,” Black Owl also analyzed eagerly.
"Probably not," Shang Xiye shook his head and explained to the two of them, "Demonic cultivators and spiritual cultivators are different. A spiritual cultivator carries their natal artifact on their person. If the host does not actively give it to them, the artifact will not actively absorb the spiritual power from the host. Instead, it will automatically absorb the spiritual energy between heaven and earth to nourish itself."
However, the natal objects of demonic cultivators are even more evil than the demonic cultivators themselves; they will instinctively absorb all demonic energy to strengthen themselves.
If the host carries it with them at all times, it will continuously devour their own magic power.
Therefore, demonic cultivators with insufficient power would never dare to carry their natal artifact on their person; they would usually entrust it to a demonic land rich in demonic energy.
"A demonic land?" Ji Fengming found Shang Xiye's claim unreliable and retorted, "Although the capital is currently in chaos due to that fake emperor, it is still the capital of a country and an auspicious place. The imperial palace is the center of an auspicious place, so how can it be a demonic land?"
Shang Xiye and Hei Xiao both frowned slightly upon hearing this.
If there is no place of supreme demons in the capital, and they cannot find Jiu Yue's natal artifact, then they will not be able to break the formation imprisoning Ji Fenghua.
They cannot begin their demon-slaying operation without rescuing Ji Fenghua.
If they cannot begin their demon-slaying operation by dusk, then the little bandit who had been crowned by Jiu Yue...
"No, no matter what, we must launch a final assault before dusk." Shang Xiye clenched his right fist, his heart pounding like ants.
“Yes, we absolutely cannot let Yao’er face that great demon alone.” Ji Fengming nodded, his face conflicted and pained. “I suppose… Fenghua wouldn’t want Yao’er to suffer any harm because of him.”
Black Owl's brows furrowed even more as he turned away, deep in thought, and said, "We naturally assume that the place where that demon resides is a demonic land; but the mortal realm is not like the demon realm, it is mostly sunny and auspicious places, and less dark and gloomy places. Therefore, the place where that demon resides may not be a demonic land. In that case, it makes sense that his natal item is not in the Red Sleeve Palace."
“What you say makes sense, but if the item isn’t in the Red Sleeve Palace, then where could it be?” Ji Fengming was extremely troubled and blurted out, “It can’t be in the Chaoyang Palace, where dragon energy gathers and all people turn to!”
Upon hearing this, Shang Xiye and Hei Xiao's eyes lit up, and they exclaimed in unison, "Chaoyang Palace!"
"Huh?" Ji Fengming looked completely confused. "No, I just said it offhand!"
Both Shang Xiye and Hei Xiao had serious expressions on their faces.
Ji Fengming was even more confused and incredulous: "You don't really think that thing is in Chaoyang Palace, do you? That's where the emperors of all dynasties lived, it's the most auspicious and yang place in the world!"
“Fengming, have you ever heard the saying, ‘Things will turn into their opposites when they reach their extremes’?” Black Owl patiently guided him.
"???" Ji Fengming still had a childlike question mark on his face.
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