Great Yan Empire, Imperial Palace.
Deep beneath the palace was an exclusive cultivation chamber. Jiang Ling, dressed in a golden robe, sat cross-legged. As the Thunder Origin Pearl Ling Qi had given her fused within her body, faint golden lightning sparks danced and crackled around her.
Just then, as she fully entered a state of cultivation, her golden eyes suddenly snapped open, staring into the void ahead. In that instant, her vision seemed to pierce across boundless space, glimpsing scenes far beyond her reach.
She saw a vast sea region where an endless army of sea demons besieged an island. She saw countless people on Demon Island fighting desperately, caught in an unprecedented siege. Jiang Ling’s eyes flickered. “Ye… Youluo?”
At that moment, far away on Demon Island, Ye Youluo also sensed an inexplicable connection with Jiang Ling. She heard Jiang Ling’s voice and perceived that, within the distant Great Yan Empire’s palace, Jiang Ling was watching everything unfolding on Demon Island. Ye Youluo was puzzled. How could she suddenly be linked to the Empress of the Great Yan Empire?
“What is happening? Why has such a connection suddenly formed between us?” Jiang Ling’s voice echoed. In truth, the two of them had no ties whatsoever, yet now they could perceive one another, even seeing what was happening at the other’s side.
Ye Youluo thought coldly, “I should be asking you that. Why are you suddenly connected to me?”
Jiang Ling frowned deeply, unable to find the reason. She only asked, “What’s going on at your Demon Island? Why are there so many sea demons?”
“Isn’t it obvious? A million sea demons are besieging Demon Island!” Ye Youluo’s tone was cold.
“Why would they attack your island? And such terrifying numbers… where did this army come from?” Jiang Ling asked again. By all reason, every demon should be in the Forbidden Demon Region. To enter human lands, they would need to cross the great wall her Great Yan Empire had built at the border. How could such numbers appear directly at Demon Island?
“How would I know where they came from?” Ye Youluo replied.
Jiang Ling’s face darkened. “Can I… help you?”
“Hahaha!” Ye Youluo let out a mocking laugh. “Do you truly mean that?”
“Ye Youluo, the demon race is our true enemy. I never wished to oppose you,” Jiang Ling’s voice was calm. “With such a great calamity at hand, whatever grievances exist between us should be set aside. In truth, you and I have no real enmity.”
“No enmity?” Ye Youluo sneered. “No enmity, and yet you joined hands with Chu Xinyue to target me? When your Great Yan Empire strikes Demon Island, it will surely resemble this very siege, will it not?”
Indeed, if the empire ever launched a full-scale crusade against Demon Island, it would be no less than the sea demons’ assault. Jiang Ling frowned, for she could not deny this truth. As Empress, she had the duty to wipe out the Demon Sect that endangered the world. Yet the immediate threat was not the Demon Sect, but the demon race itself.
“Enough, I need no help from you, nor can you help me.” Ye Youluo’s voice rang out coldly. “Ling Qi and Chu Xinyue are already on Demon Island.”
Jiang Ling drew a deep breath. That was good. Though Ye Youluo was branded a ruthless demoness, she was still part of the human race. Preserving their collective strength was crucial. With Ling Qi there, even a million demon soldiers posed no fear.
“Though I don’t know why, it seems fate has tied us together,” Jiang Ling said. “Ye Youluo, if you are willing, perhaps we can truly join hands against the demon race.”
The Demon Sect’s power rivaled that of an empire, and Ye Youluo’s peak Heaven-Revering Realm strength was among the top ten in the world. If united, such a force would be formidable.
“Fate?” Ye Youluo sneered. “Surely this so-called fate is Ling Qi’s doing.”
“What do you mean?” Jiang Ling was confused.
“He gave you a pearl before, didn’t he?” Ye Youluo asked. She realized the link must be from that.
Jiang Ling nodded. “Yes, he gave me a Thunder Origin Pearl.”
“Exactly,” Ye Youluo said. “The three elemental pearls—fire, ice, and thunder—are linked. You have the Thunder Origin Pearl, I hold the Fire Origin Pearl. Naturally, a resonance formed between us. That must be why we can sense and see each other now.”
Indeed, it made sense. When both activated their pearls simultaneously, their link was forged. It was also likely why the demon dragon had once tracked them—it must have been drawn by this connection.
“I see,” Jiang Ling said softly. “Then the third, the Ice Origin Pearl, must be with Heroine Chu.” Ling Qi had three treasures, and naturally, he would give them to the three women he valued most.
Ye Youluo sneered again. That man truly schemed well. She, her sister, and Jiang Ling were once unrelated, even opposed. Now, by his hand, they were bound together. What a meddler.
“Regardless,” Jiang Ling said firmly, “in facing the demon race, we are on the same path. I hope we will one day cooperate for real.”
“Perhaps. But right now, I’ve no patience to chat with you,” Ye Youluo answered, neither refusing nor agreeing.
“Then… we’ll speak again.” Jiang Ling replied, and their link faded.
Exhaling lightly, Jiang Ling rose to her feet, golden lightning flickering at her fingertips. A faint smile curved her lips. How amusing. Ling Qi truly meant to bring her, Chu Xinyue, and Ye Youluo together. Did he intend for all three of them to get along and fall into his grasp? How wishful. She would never become part of his harem.
“But in uniting against the demon race,” she murmured with a smile, “I have no objections.”
She left the chamber. As she emerged from the stone stairway, Jiang Yao hurried up to her. “Sister, look what I found!” She handed her a sheet of paper.
Jiang Ling’s brows furrowed. A wanted notice? The target was none other than Ling Qi, with his portrait and name.
“Someone dares issue a bounty on Ling Qi?” Jiang Ling’s eyes lit with interest. She examined the unique mark on the document. “This emblem… the Immortal Soul Sect?”
The pale purple seal was unmistakable. The Immortal Soul Sect, an ancient and hidden sect outside the reach of any empire. Its strength rivaled that of the Great Yan Empire. Known as a sect of fairies, it admitted only women, no men at all.
Jiang Yao nodded. “Yes, I asked around. Every so often, they descend from their mountain to gather talented women. Their entire sect is female, a place of fairies, with immense strength and ancient roots. But why would such a sect issue a bounty on Ling Qi?”
“Fairies?” Jiang Ling smiled coldly. “There are no fairies, only mortals with talent, praised by fools.”
“As for why they hunt Ling Qi…” She shook her head with a laugh. “He must have wronged one of their disciples. Perhaps he even toyed with someone of high standing there. A sect without men—of course he couldn’t resist causing trouble. Maybe he made one of them fall for him, breaking vows that should never have been broken. Would such a sect swallow such humiliation? Naturally, they would hunt him across the world.” This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
This bounty was likely ancient, only now reaching the Great Yan Empire.
“Hmph, shameless womanizer!” Jiang Yao pouted. “How many debts of affection does he carry? Even such a secluded sect, he managed to offend?”
“You cannot imagine how reckless he was,” Jiang Ling said with a smile. “Yao’er, if you want to leave him, now would be the time.”
“I…” Jiang Yao faltered. Though she disliked his entanglements, she could not abandon him.
“If you can’t let go, then learn to accept it,” Jiang Ling said gently, patting her shoulder. “Xu Qingxue accepts it. Many things are only hurdles in your heart. Cross them, and it will be fine.”
With that, she walked away. Jiang Yao stood silently for a long time before exhaling deeply. Fine. If only she had met him earlier… she would never have let him be tied to other women. But since she was late, she could only accept it now.
…
Meanwhile, on Demon Island.
BOOM!!! Another thunderous blast shook the harbor. Scarlet flames clashed violently with black demonic aura, the impact spreading in shockwaves. Ye Youluo was hurled back hundreds of meters before she barely steadied herself. She looked disheveled—facing two enemies at once was impossible to withstand.
Opposite her, the Snow Sect’s old ancestor and the Snake Demon Empress sneered coldly. Alone, Ye Youluo could match either of them. But two against one, her defeat was certain.
“Give up, Ye Youluo. Today, you have no chance,” the Snow Sect’s old ancestor said with a cruel smile. He would claim her, and through her, step into the Supreme Limit Realm.
As for cooperating with the demon race? He didn’t care in the slightest. To him, dignity, loyalty, righteousness—such words were hollow lies. Only results mattered. And the result he sought was absolute power.
And he had always been a man who only cared about results.
Across from him, Ye Youluo’s expression was icy cold. Just a little longer, just a little more time—Ling Qi’s treatment was nearly complete. The most important thing now was to delay!
“Why so silent, Sect Master? Weren’t you sharp-tongued a moment ago?” The Snow Sect’s old ancestor sneered as his black fist blasted forward once again. “To see a trace of weakness in you is truly refreshing.” To make such a proud, regal woman bend was a great pleasure. What he craved was conquest—the thrill of making Ye Youluo bow her head, beg, and admit defeat.
“Hahahahahaha!” The old ancestor roared with laughter, surging forward with black demonic aura.
Swoosh!!! Suddenly, from behind Ye Youluo, a snow-white ice dragon shot forth. A terrifying chill swept across the battlefield as the dragon swallowed the old ancestor whole, freezing him into a massive ice sculpture that crashed from the sky.
Crack… crack… BOOM! The ice shattered moments later, revealing the old ancestor, who steadied himself mid-air with a dark expression. His gaze fixed on Ye Youluo’s rear. “Who’s there?” Another expert equal to himself? Did the Demon Sect truly harbor more than one power on par with Ye Youluo?
Swoosh! A graceful, snow-white figure drifted down beside Ye Youluo. Clad in white, ethereal and serene—Chu Xinyue. The two women stood side by side, one in crimson fire, the other in icy white, like a breathtaking vision of ice and flame across the heavens.
“Chu Xinyue?” The Snake Demon Empress narrowed her eyes.
The Snow Sect’s old ancestor licked his lips, eyes gleaming. Another woman at the peak of the Heaven-Revering Realm, just like Ye Youluo. Perfect. Whether Ye Youluo or Chu Xinyue, capturing either would let him break into the Supreme Limit Realm.
“Hehe, capture either one of them alive!” he ordered the Snake Demon Empress.
Yet she didn’t rush to strike. Twisting her serpentine body, she slithered closer, eyes locked on Chu Xinyue. “Shouldn’t you… be with Ling Qi?” Though she hadn’t entered the Forbidden Demon Region herself, news of what happened there reached her instantly. Chu Xinyue and Ling Qi had escaped together with Xiao Qian. If Chu Xinyue was here, then Ling Qi might be too.
“Could Ling Qi also be on Demon Island?” Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
At her words, the old ancestor’s face darkened. If Ling Qi was truly here, things would become difficult. He claimed invincibility below the Supreme Limit Realm, but Ling Qi… Ling Qi was the Supreme Limit Realm itself.
Chu Xinyue only smiled faintly, neither denying nor admitting. “Why not see for yourself? He might be asleep. If he wakes up… he’ll kill you all.”
The Snake Demon Empress’s brow furrowed. If Ling Qi truly was here, even their million soldiers wouldn’t be enough. They might instead meet their end.
“Then why hasn’t he appeared?” she sneered. “Two possibilities: either he isn’t here, or he is here… but weakened.” Ling Qi had escaped the Forbidden Demon Region with the demon sword, surely injured. If he was here, he might be vulnerable. Now was the perfect chance to kill him—slay the demon race’s nightmare once and for all!
“You may keep guessing,” Chu Xinyue replied coolly. “Guess all you want.” Her only aim was to stall for time. Whether the demons stayed or retreated was up to them.
The Snake Demon Empress sneered. “Very well. Search! Scour the entire island—find Ling Qi!” At once, the sea demon army shifted their focus, swarming toward the Demon Sect’s headquarters.
“Stop them! Hold them back at any cost!” the Demon Sect’s experts roared desperately. Ling Qi’s recovery meant the survival of Demon Island. If interrupted, they would all perish. Yet their numbers couldn’t withstand the demon horde. In moments, countless sea demons flooded into the headquarters.
At the harbor, Chu Xinyue frowned slightly. “Sister, he should be ready soon?”
“Almost. Just hold them back!” Ye Youluo’s voice was firm. If they delayed Ling Qi’s recovery long enough, they had nothing to fear.
“Then let’s hold them back.” Chu Xinyue’s eyes sharpened as nine white dragon sword auras burst forth, chilling the air. Ye Youluo’s crimson flames surged, fire and ice splitting the battlefield into two extremes.
Swoosh! Both women launched forward, Chu Xinyue targeting the Snake Demon Empress, Ye Youluo striking at the old ancestor. The strongest enemies had to be stopped by them. The rest of the Demon Sect would handle the army. As for Ling Qi—he was in Xiao Qian’s care.
BOOM!!! Four peak Heaven-Revering Realm experts clashed, shattering the harbor into ruins. Ice, fire, black miasma, and demonic aura tore the land asunder.
…
Within the Demon Sect headquarters, at Ye Youluo’s residence, Xiao Qian stood guard before the blood pool, spear in hand, hair flying in the wind. She could already sense the sea demons surging closer. From here on, she would fight to the death to protect Ling Qi until he emerged.
Whoosh! Flying demons spotted the small courtyard below—Xiao Qian, and the Heavenly Son Sword resting beside the pool. That sword had been in Ling Qi’s hands in the Forbidden Demon Region. If it was here, so was he. But if he hadn’t acted yet, he must be weakened.
“Hehe, found him!” a demon shrieked, and the message spread. At once, countless demons turned toward the courtyard, swarming like a flood.
The first wave of flying demons swooped down. Xiao Qian’s eyes hardened. With a sweep of her crimson-tasseled spear, a crescent arc of energy split the sky, cleaving a dozen demons in half. She leapt onto the rooftop, standing tall against the horde. Unless she died, no demon would set foot here.
Wave after wave descended like falling meteors, but Xiao Qian’s spear met each one, knocking them aside. Her silver armor gleamed, her long hair danced—spear like a dragon, fierce and beautiful. This story is hosted at novelping.com.
“Xiao Qian, daughter of Xiao Jiankong? Hah! Alone, you overestimate yourself!” A demon commander at the Heaven-Revering Realm lunged, his aura clashing with hers. The impact hurled her down, shattering the rooftop. But the blood pool remained untouched.
She glanced back once, saw the blood pool solidified into amber, then launched back into the sky. Time and again she leapt, clashing with the flying demons, even as more Heaven-Revering Realm commanders joined. Soon, over ten such elites besieged her. Her armor cracked, her body bloodied, yet she fought on.
“Let’s finish this!” a massive demon wielded a giant axe, cleaving down from above.
Battered, Xiao Qian forced her body to rise once more. Burning her life force, she met the strike head-on. BOOM!!! The shockwave tore the courtyard apart. Her broken body crashed into the rubble, blood spraying. Yet she staggered up, wiping her mouth, spear in hand, still ready to fight.
“See how long you last!” the demons mocked, swarming again.
Once more, she leapt, only to be smashed down again, her body failing, her strength almost gone. At last, her spear slipped from her grasp, clattering onto the amber pool.
Crack… crack… Fractures spread across the amber surface.
“Rip her apart! Then kill Ling Qi!” a demon commander roared. “Slay him, and we’ll be the heroes of the demon race!”
The demons surged forward, ready to shred Xiao Qian to pieces.
BOOM!!! Suddenly, a blinding pillar of light erupted from the pool, piercing the heavens. The skies split open as countless demons were instantly reduced to ash. The survivors recoiled in terror, forming a wide circle around the courtyard.
As the light faded, a figure appeared at its heart. Bare-chested, long hair flowing in the wind, his body was strong and flawless. In his arms, he held the dying Xiao Qian.
It was Ling Qi.
The void patterns once spreading across his body were now gone, condensed into a small sigil glowing faintly blue on his chest.
The demons’ eyes widened in horror. In the next instant, they fled in all directions, their siege collapsing.
Ling Qi gazed coldly at them, then down at Xiao Qian in his arms. She smiled faintly, blood staining her lips. “Not bad, right? I… I’m worthy of being your woman now, aren’t I?” She had long felt unworthy beside him, believing only women like Ye Youluo and Chu Xinyue matched him. So she had fought desperately to prove her worth.
Ling Qi’s voice was soft. “I never asked you to risk your life. I never needed proof. From the beginning, you’ve always been my woman. I’ve never denied you.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but her smile only deepened. She touched his chest weakly. “So… you’re back to full strength now?”
“More or less,” Ling Qi replied with a nod.
“Then show me… what the Supreme Limit Realm looks like at full strength. The rest… is yours.”
Ling Qi set her down gently, shielding her in a barrier of energy to heal her wounds. Then he rose, his aura soaring, as he gazed upon the fleeing demon horde.
“You dared harm my woman. And now you think you can simply run?” His voice was ice. “Since you’ve come… none of you will leave.”
BOOM!!! He stomped the ground. A wave of invisible force blasted out, sweeping the land. Buildings shattered like glass, and fleeing demons were caught in the ripple, disintegrating into ash with screams of terror.
From the rooftop, Xiao Qian watched, lips curling into a faint smile. This was her man—the Supreme Limit Realm in full glory.
Ling Qi glanced back and smiled at her, then shot toward the harbor with a roar.
Xiao Qian exhaled deeply. Full-strength Ling Qi… had arrived.
At the harbor, Ye Youluo and Chu Xinyue both halted as the blinding light pierced the sky. Their lips curved slightly. “It’s time,” Ye Youluo whispered.
On the opposite side, the Snow Sect’s old ancestor and the Snake Demon Empress stiffened, fear surfacing in their eyes. “Ling Qi… he’s here!”
And from the look of that power, he wasn’t injured at all.
“Retreat! All forces, retreat!” the Snake Demon Empress shrieked. Panic rippled through the demon horde as they fled desperately toward the sea.
But as she turned to leave, a shadow appeared behind her. Her body froze, dread engulfing her. Slowly, she turned to see Ling Qi, bare-chested, long hair flowing, his cold eyes upon her.
“You’re a demon king, aren’t you? Why didn’t I see you in the Forbidden Demon Region?” he asked coldly.
Her lips trembled, unable to speak, fear burning in her gaze.
BOOM!
Ling Qi’s foot slammed into her waist, sending her crashing like a cannonball into the island.
Then his eyes fell on the old ancestor. “And you… the so-called Snow Sect old monster?”
The old ancestor trembled.
Though he had once mocked Ling Qi, now under that crushing aura he felt like an insect. Before the true Supreme Limit Realm, he was nothing.
He bowed hastily. “Honored one…”
But before he could finish, Ling Qi’s foot smashed into him as well, hurling him into the island beside the Snake Demon Empress.
Neither of them would escape today.