As soon as those words were spoken, everyone in the hall looked puzzled and confused.
You ran all the way to Netherveil Continent, where demonic cultivators gather, just to look for the Holy Son of the demon race? Are you serious?
“You demon race saintess, you’re crying at the wrong grave. There’s no Holy Son of the demon race here. Please don’t interrupt my wedding,” Lin Ze coughed lightly, politely indicating that he’d like to get on with the wedding ceremony and enter the bridal chamber.
But before he could finish that thought, Luo Ruling suddenly flew in front of him and said something shocking, “Holy Son, please return with us.”
???
Lin Ze was completely baffled.
I’m a proper human being—how did I suddenly become the Holy Son of the demon race?
And that title… sounds kind of intimidating.
Everyone else was equally confused, utterly unable to make sense of it.
The Black Demon Sect Master added fuel to the fire, “Wasn’t he the Holy Son of the Azure Spirit Holy Land?”
“No way, no way… Don’t tell me he’s actually from the demon race? Hiss… then wouldn’t his father have been wearing a big green hat this whole time?”
“Hiss hiss hiss…”
There was just too much information at once. Everyone perked up their ears, eager for juicy gossip.
Shocking! The Holy Master of the Azure Spirit Holy Land actually gave birth to the Holy Son of the demon race!
Was it a genetic mutation or a moral collapse?
Lin Ze’s face darkened. “Don’t think you can talk nonsense just because you’re pretty! My parents are both human—I’m not from the demon race!”
Luo Ruling’s gaze remained firm. “Impossible! The demon race’s treasured artifact, the Myriad Demon Diagram, never makes mistakes!”
“You are the Holy Son of the demon race—the descendant of the Fire Phoenix!”
Listen to that! Even the identity of the alleged father is being exposed. And with such strong evidence, it really sounded convincing!
What a scandal—this was definitely a juicy one!
Many of the experts in the hall were munching on seeds, eyes glued to the two of them, looking completely entertained. Even You Yiran wasn’t immune; her ears perked up as she listened with great interest.
Lin Ze clenched his fists. “Enough!”
“I’ll say it again, for the last time!”
“I am not the so-called Holy Son of the demon race! And my father wasn’t cheated on!”
His voice trembled with suppressed rage.
Luo Ruling remained unmoved, her face calm. “I don’t care if your father was cheated on or not. All I know is that the Myriad Demon Diagram pointed to you.”
Just as Lin Ze was about to explode, he suddenly remembered the little fat bird given to him by the system. Could it be because of that?
Thinking of this, Lin Ze quickly took it out from his spirit pet pouch.
So much had happened lately, he almost forgot to feed it. Better not let it starve.
“Chirp chirp chirp…” The chubby bird flapped its wings and flew out, chirping nonstop as it circled around Lin Ze.
The Sect Master of the Beast Taming Sect raised a brow. “Wow, beautiful feathers. This little chubby chicken has a nice build!”
“Didn’t expect the prince consort to be into birds. And to be so good at it too. Judging by its plumpness, I bet you’ve fed it all kinds of good stuff, haven’t you?”
“Chirp chirp!!”
The little fat bird shook its head fiercely and pointed its beak at the empty plate on the table, clearly saying, “I haven’t had a single bite from him!”
Luo Ruling stared at the scene, an unbelievable thought flashing through her mind. She moved in closer to examine it carefully. “You can understand human speech?”
The little fat bird hesitated, then shook its head like a rattle drum.
???
If you can’t understand, why are you shaking your head?
Its reaction was a bit silly, but the fact that it could comprehend human speech and even knew how to play dumb in front of outsiders showed that its intelligence wasn’t low at all.
Luo Ruling slightly parted her red lips, “Fellow Daoist, can you give me this bird? I’m willing to trade anything for it!”
No more calling him Holy Son?
Everyone in the hall noticed this sudden change in how she addressed him. Something was definitely up.
Could it be… this little fat bird really is a descendant of the Fire Phoenix?
Someone immediately shouted, “The prince consort can’t give it away! This fire… this little fat bird belongs to our Netherveil Continent!”
“That’s right, that’s right! This little guy’s so unique—trading it away would be a huge loss!”
You Yiran’s eyes flashed with interest. She raised her delicate hand and caught the bird in her palm.
Luo Ruling frowned, her tone unhappy. “Your Majesty, what’s the meaning of this?”
You Yiran smiled lightly. “Lin Ze and I are husband and wife. This bird counts as shared marital property. I don’t want to trade it.”
“Lin Ze, what do you say?”
“Whatever my wife says.” Lin Ze blinked, instantly catching her intention.
Luo Ruling took a deep breath. Though unwilling, she had no choice.
You Yiran’s strength was far above hers. Forcing it would be foolish.
“We’re leaving.”
Luo Ruling gave Lin Ze a resentful glance before turning around and walking away, looking exactly like a wronged little wife.
That look left Lin Ze utterly speechless.
Wait, what?
The farce finally came to an end, and the wedding ceremony continued.
At this point, no one dared say Lin Ze wasn’t good enough for the Empress.
Some even began praising him like crazy.
Sword intent manifesting… descendant of the Fire Phoenix…
Outside Netherveil Palace, Luo Ruling stopped in her tracks.
A guard behind her said, “Saintess, that little fat bird must be the Fire Phoenix’s descendant. We must take back the Holy Son!”
Luo Ruling thought for a moment, then said, “First report this to the Grand Ancestor. Let him decide.”
“Before we receive his reply, stay hidden and wait for an opportunity.”
…
At the same time, You Xueyao had also heard what happened in the main hall. Enraged, she nearly destroyed the entire palace!
“Useless! All of you are useless!!”
“Especially that damned black charcoal! I told him to humiliate Lin Ze, and he went and did a strip dance for him instead!”
“Damn it!” You Xueyao gritted her teeth and stomped her jade foot in fury.
“But… Lin Ze actually challenged everyone for You Yiran. I’ll admit, that did shock me a bit.”
“Could this… be love?”
Standing by the window, You Xueyao looked toward the abyssal Demon Tower shrouded in black mist. Her gaze shifted, and a trace of loneliness and longing appeared on her flawless face.
A nearby guard looked puzzled. “Empress Xueyao, what is love?”
You Xueyao said slowly, “A friend once told me, love is when two people stay by each other’s side and support each other through everything.”
“I’ve been alone for so long… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to experience that kind of feeling. What do you think?”
The guard looked enlightened. “Makes sense! Even an Empress is still a woman—longing for love now and then is perfectly understandable.”
As he thought of that, the guard’s forehead grew hot. “Your Majesty, if you wish… I can let you experience love!”
You Xueyao turned, her eyes turning cold. “You?”
Then, she walked over and gently stroked his head.
“You seem to have forgotten your place.”
“You’re just a dog I keep. A dog shouldn’t say such things to me.”
“Oh right, being told by a dog that he wants to experience love with me… that’s disgusting.”
“W-What? Empress?”
The guard hadn’t even figured out what was going on when suddenly his head throbbed in pain. He felt her hand on his skull applying more and more force.
In an instant, terror swallowed him whole.
Cold sweat poured down, and his body began to tremble.
“Your Majesty! I was wrong! I was wrong!! I’m your dog, just a dog—please spare me!”
“Your Majesty! Aaaah!”
With his final scream, his skull cracked open.
Blood soaked the floor as his lifeless body collapsed.
You Xueyao remained expressionless. After calmly cleaning her hands, she focused her mind and tore open a rift in space.
She stepped through with her long, fair legs and vanished from the palace.