Ling Qi and Xiao Chan lay flat on the flower-covered wall, peering into the elegantly designed courtyard.
It seemed this Demon Queen had a fondness for flowers—especially red ones. Not only that, she clearly enjoyed peace and quiet. The courtyard was clean and fragrant, without a single guard in sight. Understandable—at her level of strength, who would dare disturb her? Especially within the Demon Sect headquarters.
She likely never imagined that someone would actually have the guts to climb up her courtyard wall and peek at her bathing.
Next to Ling Qi, Xiao Chan wore a speechless expression. Wasn’t the goal to find the medical tome?
So why were they peeking at someone bathing now?
What a pervert…
Still… Ye Youluo really was beautiful.
Even though only her back could be seen, that alone was enough to imagine how breathtaking her face must be.
Her skin was white as snow, her bare shoulder shimmering with droplets of water, an image that stirred the soul.
Xiao Chan nudged Ling Qi with her hand, signaling: Shouldn’t we be doing something? We can’t just lie here staring like this, right?
Ling Qi only gave a small smile and shot her a look that said: Don’t rush.
Since they were already here, might as well enjoy the view.
They weren’t really peeking—it was just a coincidence.
Fate, really…
At that moment, the woman in the hot spring slowly raised her snow-white arm. Water rolled off her skin, every detail laced with allure.
She truly enjoyed such tranquil moments—bathing alone in the quiet warmth of the spring.
In fact, she made many of her major decisions as Sect Master in this very place.
Just then, she turned slightly, allowing Ling Qi and Xiao Chan to see her side profile.
As expected—stunning, cold, and flawless.
Strangely, her eyes were red, like radiant rubies, glowing with clarity.
Her full chest half-emerged from the water’s surface, adding even more seductive charm.
“Her eyes are red too? Just like Her Majesty the Empress—how unique,” Xiao Chan whispered.
She had now seen two people with unusual eye colors. And both were breathtakingly beautiful—truly the most beautiful women in the world.
But just as she spoke, Ling Qi quickly reached over and covered her mouth.
Are you dumb?
Who told you to speak?
That was Ye Youluo! The moment she heard anything, how could she not detect them?
Sure enough, the next second, Ye Youluo’s head whipped around sharply from within the spring.
Her full face came into view—and neither Ling Qi nor Xiao Chan was disappointed.
She was stunning—every bit as beautiful as Empress Jiang Ling and Fairy Chu Xinyue.
But her aura was different: a natural, cold nobility, unlike the other two.
“Meow.”
Instantly, Xiao Chan transformed into a black cat and nestled into the flowered vines atop the wall, pretending to be nothing more than an ordinary stray.
Ye Youluo’s icy face remained expressionless.
Then, she flicked her slender jade fingers.
Whoosh!
A column of water shot like a spear toward the black cat.
“Meow!?”
Xiao Chan froze, fur bristling.
Seriously?
You’re trying to kill a cat too?
A little cat saw you bathing—what’s the big deal?
Besides, I’m a female cat!
Is this really necessary?
Buzz!
Just then, an invisible wall of spiritual Qi appeared, instantly blocking the water attack and shattering it mid-air.
Seeing this, Ye Youluo’s scarlet eyes narrowed.
Splash!
She shot up from the water in a flash.
Simultaneously, a flowing red robe whipped through the air and wrapped around her.
As her flawless jade feet touched the ground, she looked back toward the wall—but the black cat had vanished.
Her icy features tightened, brows slightly furrowed.
That cat… was it a hallucination?
No, definitely not. She never doubted her instincts.
But her strike had been blocked.
It was clear—someone had brought a cat to spy on her while she bathed.
And after being discovered, they fled.
To be able to block her strike, the intruder’s strength must be extraordinary.
Ye Youluo’s crimson eyes filled with a glint of cold killing intent.
In the Demon Sect headquarters, no one was allowed near her residence.
That was the rule.
And now someone had not only approached but even spied on her while she bathed?
As the Demon Sect Master, when had she ever been subjected to such an insult?
She composed herself and stepped out of her chambers.
In the middle of the night, she summoned all high-ranking members of the Demon Sect to convene immediately.
…
Meanwhile, Ling Qi carried the black cat-form Xiao Chan through the maze of glowing pavilions.
“This Demon Queen really is scary. She even tried to kill a cute little cat like me. How could she?” Xiao Chan muttered.
She was now nestled in Ling Qi’s arms.
This first encounter had already shown her just how fierce Ye Youluo was.
Definitely short-tempered!
Ling Qi, on the other hand, wore an amused smile. That’s exactly why she was the Demon Sect Master.
If she didn’t even have a temper, what kind of Demon Queen would she be?
“By the way… you’re in the Supreme Limit Realm. Why not just go snatch the tome from her directly?” Xiao Chan grumbled. “She’s no match for you. What’s stopping you?”
“You’re such a little cutie,” Ling Qi chuckled.
“Why are you mocking me?” Xiao Chan huffed.
As a fellow transmigrator, she understood he wasn’t actually complimenting her.
“You saw her personality. Do you think she’s the kind of woman who can be subdued by force?”
Ling Qi said, “Right now we don’t even know where the medical tome is. If we offend her…”
“Do you think she’d still hand it over?”
“Sure, she’s no match for me, but if she decides to burn everything and destroy the tome out of spite, what then?”
With Ye Youluo’s temperament, any hint of force would provoke her to extremes.
She’d rather destroy the tome than give it up.
If that happened, Ling Qi’s only path to survival would vanish.
Xiao Chan now understood. “Oh… yeah, that makes sense.”
“That tome is my only chance to live. I can’t afford a single mistake,” Ling Qi said.
No matter what, he had to get that medical tome on this trip.
So for now, they would lay low within the Demon Sect headquarters.
Once the tome’s location was found, they’d act.
Suddenly, a deep gong echoed throughout the entire compound.
The stillness of night was instantly replaced by a flurry of activity.
Everyone quickly prepared to gather at the central main hall.
This was a summons from the Sect Master—all senior members were required to attend.
“What’s going on? Did we get discovered?” Xiao Chan tensed.
Was the Demon Queen really that sharp?
“Of course we were discovered. But she doesn’t know who we are,” Ling Qi grinned.
He had saved Xiao Chan earlier, so Ye Youluo naturally realized someone had been spying on her.
But she didn’t know it was outsiders.
Summoning the entire sect was her way of investigating and hunting down the culprit.
“What do we do now?” Xiao Chan asked nervously.
She was just tagging along at this point—her safety rested entirely in Ling Qi’s hands.
“Let’s go take a look,” Ling Qi smiled and darted toward the grand hall where everyone was gathering.
“You’re insane…” Xiao Chan was speechless.
They were looking for you, and you still want to show up?
It’s a good thing you’re in the Supreme Limit Realm. Anyone else would’ve died a hundred times over pulling stunts like this.
…
Inside the grand hall of the Demon Sect headquarters.
More and more people streamed in. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Everyone looked puzzled.
Why had the Sect Master called a meeting in the middle of the night?
Was it because of the Great Yan Empire’s upcoming campaign against the Demon Sect?
“She must’ve found a new lead and wants to revise our strategy.”
Of course, the Demon Sect was aware of the looming threat from the Great Yan Empire.
They had already discussed plans during the day.
This sudden late-night meeting must mean something had changed.
“Could it be the Empress or Chu Xinyue have already arrived?”
Someone speculated.
Everyone’s expressions shifted slightly.
“Don’t joke. To reach the Demon Island, they’d have to cross hundreds of kilometers of open sea.”
“The Great Yan Empire doesn’t have an army full of experts. How could they move that fast?”
“Exactly. They’d need an entire fleet of warships just to carry their forces here.”
…
The room was abuzz with discussion.
Meanwhile, Ling Qi and Xiao Chan arrived quietly on the rooftop and began eavesdropping.
“Sect Master arrives!”
With a cry, a crimson figure emerged from behind the pearl-beaded curtain atop the platform.
Ye Youluo walked in barefoot, gracefully reclining behind the veil.
The veil created a mysterious, hazy allure…
As soon as she arrived, everyone in the hall straightened their posture and bowed slightly toward the platform, “Greetings, Sect Master!”
“Sect Master, all thirty-six Heavenly Stars and seventy-two Earth Fiends are present.”
These were the Demon Sect’s highest-ranking members—over a hundred gathered in the hall, like an imperial court assembly.
Behind the veil, Ye Youluo lightly gestured with her hand.
Everyone immediately stood.
“Among you… does anyone keep a black cat?” her cold, regal voice asked.
Everyone looked baffled.
She summoned them in the middle of the night… for this?
Was this really so important?
Up on the roof, Ling Qi and Xiao Chan knew immediately—she had indeed called this emergency meeting just to find them.
The crowd inside exchanged puzzled glances.
Clearly, no one among the high ranks kept a black cat.
They were all too busy to keep pets.
“Sect Master, we have confirmed—none of us keep cats,” one of the leaders stepped forward and reported.
“Anyone else on this island?” Ye Youluo asked again.
“Well… with thousands of disciples, we’re not certain,” came the collective reply.
“Investigate,” Ye Youluo ordered. “Find out who owns a black cat—tonight.”
Everyone was shocked.
Was this really so urgent?
She wanted this solved tonight?
Ling Qi smiled faintly on the rooftop. This Demon Queen was persistent.
Not even letting her subordinates sleep tonight?
“Start now,” Ye Youluo’s voice echoed coldly.
“Yes, Sect Master!”
Though they had no idea what this was about, no one dared question her order.
Everyone began sweeping the island, checking for anyone who owned a black cat.
As for Ye Youluo, she lay back on her bed behind the curtain.
She wasn’t going to sleep until she got to the bottom of this.
Any slight disturbance—she’d pursue it to the end.
And she meant immediately.
After over an hour of exhaustive search, a report came in.
“Sect Master, while some keep cats on the island… none are black.”
That was the result.
There were many people on the island, and sure enough, a few kept small pets.
But no one raised a black cat.
Hearing this, Ye Youluo, behind the pearl curtain, furrowed her brows.
So… the person who peeked at her bathing wasn’t someone from the Demon Sect?
“Has anyone come ashore recently?” Ye Youluo’s cold voice followed. “Or… has anyone approached the Demon Island?”
“Reporting to Sect Master, no outsiders have landed,” one of the higher-ups stepped forward and replied. “However… a few hours ago, a small boat did approach. It was destroyed by the guards with fire arrows.”
The moment he said that, Ye Youluo, behind the curtain, abruptly stood up.
Her stunningly beautiful face turned colder than ever. “What kind of small boat?”
“It was… just a plain, insignificant little boat,” the subordinate answered.
“Fools!” Ye Youluo shouted.
All present lowered their heads, not knowing why their Sect Master was enraged.
“Anyone who can sail a tiny boat across hundreds of kilometers of sea to reach the Demon Island—how could they be ordinary?” Ye Youluo said coldly.
Suddenly, everyone understood.
“Subordinate… subordinate will have it investigated immediately! If they’re dead, we’ll find the bodies!” the man quickly dropped to his knees.
Ye Youluo waved her hand. The man stood up and rushed away, immediately commanding his subordinates to search the surrounding sea under cover of night.
After nearly another hour of scouring, they found only the charred fragments of a boat.
No bodies.
In other words, though the boat had indeed been destroyed, the people on it had already—unnoticed—come ashore!
“Sect Master, this subordinate… this subordinate failed in his duties. Please punish me,” the commander of the island’s guards knelt and confessed after reporting everything.
He knew he had made a grave mistake.
For years, no outsider had ever set foot on the island alive.
Yet tonight, due to negligence, someone had quietly slipped into the Demon Sect’s headquarters.
His men should’ve realized that anyone capable of piloting a lone boat to the island wasn’t ordinary and couldn’t be killed so easily by random arrows.
But they had overlooked that.
Behind the pearl curtain, Ye Youluo’s cold and beautiful face darkened.
So the one who peeked at her bathing… was not one of her own.
They were skilled—very skilled.
Not only had they gotten onto the island, but they had also found their way to her private quarters without being detected?
This could very well be a serious threat.
Ye Youluo immediately issued a cold and resolute order, “By my decree, from this moment onward—any stranger seen on the island is to be killed on sight!”
“Tonight, find them!”
No matter what their purpose was—sneaking onto the island was ill-intentioned.
And daring to peek at her while she bathed… that was a capital crime.
So if discovered, kill without mercy or question!
“Yes!” everyone responded firmly.
They turned and hurried off, rallying their men to begin a full-scale search of the entire island.
Any unfamiliar face was to be eliminated on the spot.
Although the people on the island were all part of the Demon Sect and might not know each other perfectly, there were always some who could identify fellow sect members.
If anyone was spotted that no one recognized, they would be deemed an outsider—no hesitation, no questions, immediate action.
Soon, the Demon Sect was in full mobilization under the cover of night.
A comprehensive search was underway.
With such an aggressive, sweeping operation, it wouldn’t take long before the intruder was found.
At that moment, on the roof of the great hall, Ling Qi sat calmly, gently stroking the sleeping black cat in his arms.
This Demon Queen really was tough to deal with—swift and decisive.
Even if he could evade the current hunt, eventually, he’d be seen by someone.
Originally, he thought about disguising himself as a Demon Sect member to explore from within.
But clearly, that wasn’t going to work now.
If it wouldn’t work, then there was only one option left…
Face the Demon Queen directly!
Ling Qi leapt down from the rooftop with Xiao Chan still sleeping in his arms.
Then, step by step, he walked openly and confidently through the main hall entrance.
At this point, only Ye Youluo and a few maids remained inside.
The moment they sensed someone enter, Ye Youluo’s gaze snapped toward him, her expression immediately cold.
“Sec—Sect Master!” the maids cried out in alarm.
A stranger. Holding a black cat?
Wasn’t that exactly who they were looking for? This story is hosted at novelping.com.
This man actually dared to walk in on his own?
Behind the curtain, Ye Youluo’s blood-red eyes exploded with murderous intent.
Without hesitation, she lifted her hand and swept it through the air.
BOOM!
With a thunderous sound, the curtain shattered into countless beads, shooting like a storm of arrows toward Ling Qi and the black cat, aiming to turn them both into sieves.
Buzz!
But in the next moment, an overwhelming force burst from Ling Qi’s body, instantly freezing every single bead mid-air.
Then they dropped, clattering to the floor.
“My apologies. I only accidentally wandered into your residence earlier and happened to see you bathing. Honestly, I didn’t see much,” Ling Qi said with a relaxed smile, stepping forward. “Just your back and a side view. You were in the water, and I didn’t see everything…”
“Courting death!” Ye Youluo’s red eyes sharpened again, and she raised her hand.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…
Countless silver needles exploded outward, aiming for Ling Qi’s vital points.
For anyone else, these attacks would’ve killed them ten times over.
But unfortunately for her, her opponent was Ling Qi.
None of her attacks had any real effect.
Like before, all the silver needles froze mid-air, then dropped harmlessly to the ground.
Ye Youluo’s face grew slightly grim.
Who was this man? His cultivation was terrifyingly profound.
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, Ling Qi stepped past the shattered curtain and appeared before her.
Normally, no one was allowed near the high platform.
But he had just walked right up and stepped through the curtain.
“Sect Master…” the surrounding maids were dumbfounded.
Not only was this man powerful, but his audacity was off the charts.
He even admitted to seeing the Sect Master bathe?
My god, who was this lunatic?
Anyone else would’ve died a hundred times by now!
“I’m here to make a deal, not to cause trouble,” Ling Qi said calmly. “I think you’ll be interested—it concerns the survival of your entire Demon Sect.”
Hearing that, Ye Youluo temporarily held back.
First, because his strength was clearly extraordinary.
Second, she was curious—what kind of deal?
Ling Qi glanced at the maids around them.
Ye Youluo exhaled deeply and waved her hand.
The maids nodded and obediently left.
But the moment they exited the hall, they rushed to summon the entire Demon Sect back to the great hall.
The one they were searching for was right here—in front of the Sect Master!
Instantly, the massive search forces on the island turned around and flooded back, quietly surrounding the main hall.
Inside, Ling Qi smiled and approached Ye Youluo, saying, “No need to call everyone or try to fight me. Your Demon Sect… isn’t a match for someone in the Supreme Limit Realm.”
He sat directly on her bed.
Under normal circumstances, Ye Youluo would never have tolerated such disrespect.
But this time… she did.
Because she heard it—Supreme Limit Realm.
She stood up and let Ling Qi sit alone on her bed. Then she asked in a low voice, “You… are in the Supreme Limit Realm?”
She didn’t fully understand how strong the Supreme Limit Realm was, but she did know one thing: if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be able to block her attacks so effortlessly.
And if he wasn’t in the Supreme Limit Realm, how would he have the nerve to walk into the Demon Sect’s stronghold alone?
How would he dare stand before her so arrogantly?
So… this man really was Supreme Limit Realm?
Did such a realm truly exist?
“What’s this deal you mentioned?” Ye Youluo asked next.
“Sit down. Let’s talk,” Ling Qi patted the bed. “Relax. If I meant to hurt you, I would’ve already acted.”
Ye Youluo didn’t sit.
This man was absolutely brazen—he had no respect for her authority.
Still… if he truly was in the Supreme Limit Realm, then he did have the right to be arrogant.
“You already know that Empress Jiang Ling and Chu Xinyue are planning to take down the Demon Sect.”
Ling Qi gently stroked the sleeping cat as he spoke, “And you should also know your Demon Sect can’t win against them.”
“Heh. Even if I’m no match, I can make them suffer!” Ye Youluo sneered coldly.
She wasn’t foolish—she knew the odds.
But even if she died, she’d make sure they paid the price.
“But what’s the point of that?” Ling Qi smiled. “If you’re dead, and your sect is gone, who cares if they’re a little bruised?”
Ye Youluo said nothing, only stared at Ling Qi, waiting for him to continue.
“But if I stood on your side… it’d be a different story.”
He smiled again. “If I help you, not even Jiang Ling and Chu Xinyue together could defeat you.”
Ye Youluo’s blood-red eyes locked onto his.
If someone like him stood beside her, she’d fear no one.
But…
“What’s your condition?” she asked.
There was no way he’d help for free.
“I want something you have. Give it to me, and I’ll keep your Demon Sect safe,” Ling Qi said slowly.
“What is it?” Ye Youluo asked.
“Years ago, your Demon Sect killed an old divine doctor who once served as the Imperial Physician of the Great Yan Empire. You took a medical tome from him.”
“I want that tome,” Ling Qi said flatly.
Hearing this, Ye Youluo’s eyes narrowed slightly.
That’s it?
“And what if I don’t give it to you?” she said with a cold smile.
“Then you better think carefully,” Ling Qi said calmly. “You’re already no match for them. If I don’t help you—and worse, if I help them instead—you won’t even scratch them.”
“Really? And if I die, won’t you never get what you want?”
Ye Youluo sneered.
“If I kill you, it’d be easy to take it from your hands,” Ling Qi smiled.
“Then why not do it now? Why aren’t you trying to take it?”
Ye Youluo mocked, “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”
“You’re afraid I’ll destroy the tome rather than hand it over.”
“You’re afraid I’ll take it to the grave. That this tome is extremely important to you. Right?”
Ling Qi’s brows furrowed. “Tch…”
This Demon Queen really was troublesome.
Conventional tactics weren’t going to work.
“You’ve probably already thought about using all kinds of tricks against me,” Ye Youluo continued. “Maybe even considered using force or seduction.”
Ling Qi chuckled. She wasn’t wrong.
“But let me tell you clearly—if you want the tome, the only way is… to make me happy!”
Ye Youluo said coldly, “Make me give it willingly.”
“Oh?”
Ling Qi stared at her, then slowly stood up. “And what if I threaten your life—will your subordinates hand it over?”
He stepped closer, gaze sharp, clearly ready to do just that.
“Heh!”
Ye Youluo scoffed. “What’s the point of threatening them?”
She pointed to her head. “What you want… is in here. There’s only one copy in the entire world.”
“You can’t get it from anyone else. And you can’t force it out of me.”
“So tell me… what can you do now?”
Ling Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly.
So… the tome no longer existed?
It was all in her memory?
She was the only person alive who possessed that knowledge?
Now this was troublesome.
Because that meant… his life was in her hands.
“So? Not only can you not harm me, you now have to protect me,” Ye Youluo sneered. “Otherwise, you’ll never get what you want.”
Looking at the proud smirk on her flawless face, Ling Qi took a step forward, grabbed her waist, and pulled her into his arms.
Then, gazing coldly into her blood-red eyes, he said, “I have countless ways to extract what I want from your mind. Right now… I could let you taste the first one!”