Chapter 103: The Demon Emperor’s Son
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
The disciples of the Heavenly Script Academy were fully prepared as they exited the Jade Balance Hall, ready to descend the mountain. Yet, their gazes turned toward the horizon, where they saw the grand protective formation of the Pill Sect stirring in the wind.
The Sect Master, Yuan Li, stood with several elders of the Pill Sect’s inner court, positioned before the mountain gate. It was clear that their presence was not to bid farewell, for their expressions were grave as they stared down the mountain.
Among them was Yuan Cai Wei, dressed in a flowing silk gown, her brows tightly furrowed as she watched her father peruse a scroll.
“What has happened?” she asked.
“The Demon Clan has come to pay their respects,” Yuan Li responded solemnly.
“What?”
The disciples of the Heavenly Script Academy gathered at the mountain gate. Looking down the mountain path, they saw ten or so strange beasts, their scales glinting and horns sharp, standing side by side beneath the divine path of the Pill Sect. At the center of the path stood a demon holding a silver spear, a scar still visible across his face, and a patch of scales missing from the left side of his neck. His presence was fierce and commanding.
But the most striking figure was a young man with piercing blue demon eyes. He stood before the grand formation of the mountain gate, his aura overwhelming.
“This man… his aura is incredibly strong,” one disciple murmured.
“Yes, perhaps even comparable to Chu Xian of the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace,” another added.
He Ling Xiu placed her hand on her sword hilt, her expression wary. You Bu Yu, standing beside her, mimicked her posture, but his sword intent was aimed at Ji You. His suspicions were aroused when he noticed Yuan Cai Wei instinctively stepping behind Ji You for protection. Ji You, in turn, extended his arm slightly, as if to shield her.
What vexed You Bu Yu even more was the attention from the fierce demon leader. The demon’s gaze also locked onto Ji You.
“It’s been a while. I didn’t expect to meet you here,” the demon said.
“?”
The statement drew astonished gazes from everyone. Even Yuan Li, the Sect Master, turned to Ji You with surprise.
The Son of the Demon Emperor conversing with the Sect Master of the Pill Sect was understandable due to his exalted status. But what baffled the crowd was why he would address an outer court disciple of the Heavenly Script Academy, and without a hint of arrogance.
Under the watchful eyes of all present, Ji You smirked faintly. “Indeed, it has been a while.”
“Do you have any interest in sparring with A Qiu again? He still feels humiliated by that sword strike,” the demon continued.
Ji You shook his head with a light smile. “We’re on a journey, and besides, this is the Pill Sect’s territory. Perhaps another day.”
The young demon fixed his eyes on Ji You. “My name is Ye Han, ninth son of the Demon Emperor. Could I trouble you to share your real name?”
This revelation caused an uproar among the surrounding disciples. The whispers spread like wildfire. The rumors of a fierce battle on Eternal Prosperity Avenue suddenly clicked into place—Ji You’s mysterious opponent had been none other than members of the Demon Clan.
Yet no one had expected that the young man before them would be the son of the Demon Emperor.
Ji You cupped his hands and bowed slightly. “Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Bai Ru Long.”
Ye Han chuckled. “Ji You, your sense of humor is unique. That first sword strike you landed on me in the Central Plains… I must know the name of the one who delivered it.”
Ji You’s smile faded. He turned to Yuan Cai Wei and lowered his voice. “Why is the Demon Clan here at the Pill Sect?”
“They claim to be here to purchase pills,” Yuan Cai Wei replied softly, her gaze avoiding his. After the events of the previous night, she wasn’t sure how to face Ji You. Thoughts of Yan Shu Yi lingered in her mind, making her feel a sense of inadequacy.
Her mind drifted to the young appraiser from Spirit Sword Mountain. During their encounter in Ningcheng County, she had thought it was their first meeting, only to later realize their actions revealed familiarity. Especially when Yan Shu Yi had sent Zhuo Wan Qiu to escort them. It seemed, in retrospect, as though the escort had been specifically for Ji You.
Her turmoil, partly stemming from this realization, made it harder to address Ji You.
Ji You, upon hearing Yuan Cai Wei’s reply, turned his gaze back to the demon contingent below, his expression thoughtful.
Wen Zheng Xin had once explained that the Demon Clan was innately estranged from the Heavenly Dao, making their cultivation of mystic arts exceedingly difficult. However, the Pill Sect’s Pill Dao, being derived from the Heavenly Dao, could still benefit the Demon Clan through the consumption of alchemy pills to achieve enlightenment.
It appeared that after leaving the Capital, this group of demons had gone straight to Cinnabar Mountain to purchase alchemical pills and send them back to the Snow Realm. For the Pill Sect, this was an extremely alarming sign. Supplying pills to the Demon Clan, aiding their enlightenment, posed a direct threat to the Human Race, and the Seven Great Immortal Sects would undoubtedly obstruct it. Selling such pills was absolutely out of the question.
As Ji You had surmised, Yuan Li had informed the young demon earlier that the Pill Sect currently lacked the quantity of pills they sought, asking them to return another day.
“I will return,” said the youth coldly, his demon-blue eyes flashing. With a final glance at Yuan Li, he turned and descended the mountain.
Seeing that no immediate conflict arose, the disciples of the Heavenly Script Academy seized the opportunity to bid farewell to the Pill Sect’s representatives. However, none dared to relax their vigilance. They noted that the Son of the Demon Emperor had not left after descending but was instead watching the mountain.
The situation turned tenser still as Ti Qiang, a demon bearing a silver spear, fixed his gaze on Ji You. The spear intent emanating from him grew sharper by the moment.
“Young Master Ji, be cautious,” Yuan Cai Wei warned gently.
Ji You nodded, stepping out of the Pill Sect’s grand formation. At that moment, the silver spear hummed violently, its battle intent surging.
Just as the situation threatened to escalate, Ye Han, standing behind Ti Qiang, rested a hand on the latter’s shoulder and squinted toward the Hall of Resplendent Glow, perched atop the mountain.
In the distance, the overflowing Pill Dao aura abruptly withdrew, returning to stillness.
The reason for the Demon Clan’s foray into the Nine Provinces at this time stemmed from their emperor’s judgment: the Heavenly Dao had weakened, scattering its fortune across the provinces once more. However, upon witnessing the vast, surging Pill Dao on Cinnabar Mountain, Ye Han found himself doubting his father’s prophecy for the first time.
Sacred Artifacts, the foundation of the Human Race’s Daoist Lineage, would not radiate such grandeur if the Heavenly Dao were truly in decline—even if only for a single day and night.
Meanwhile, the Pill Sect’s revered masters also turned their gaze toward the Hall of Resplendent Glow, their expressions tinged with regret.
“The Pill Dao has returned to the furnace…”
“Damn it, I thought it could last for a few more years…”
“This phenomenon cannot be forced. Even a single day and night was already a blessing from the Heavenly Dao.”
News of the Demon Clan seeking pills from the Pill Sect spread swiftly to the Heavenly Script Academy and the Seven Great Immortal Sects. Within the Office of Affairs, three stewards sat in the high hall, debating the matter heatedly. Since the incident at Qiling, both the Demon and Barbaric Races had grown notably active.
Years ago, the Primordial Demon Emperor had declared that when the Human Race no longer basked in the favor of the Heavenly Dao, they would return. Such words now seemed chillingly prophetic.
The Demon Emperor’s lineage, descended from ancient dragonkind, boasted immeasurable longevity. The reigning Demon Emperor’s lifespan rivaled that of the Headmaster of the Heavenly Script Academy himself. Such longevity brought with it far greater perspective, far surpassing that of the younger generation.
Excluding the few remaining elders who had reached the Realm of Immortality, everyone else in the world appeared youthful in their eyes.
Shortly thereafter, Steward Qin Ang proceeded to the Inner Court, entering the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest to report this matter to Zuo Qiu Yang, who was playing chess with Hall Master Chai Hu of Longevity. Both furrowed their brows deeply as they listened.
“After the Primordial Remnant Race disrupted the Heavenly Dao in ancient times, it began selecting sages among all races, leading to the Primordial War,” Zuo Qiu Yang reflected. “The flames of that conflict reduced the Azure Clouds Dominion to ashes. Then, the Heavenly Dao bestowed Sacred Artifacts, binding its fortune to the Human Race.”
His gaze turned profound as he murmured, “Now both the Demon and Barbaric Races are moving into the Nine Provinces. Could it be that the Heavenly Dao has begun selecting new sages? Are they preparing to reclaim the fortune for their own kind and ignite another era of chaos?”
Chai Hu raised his eyes to Zuo Qiu Yang. “It must have been that incident at Qiling which stirred their ambitions.”
“Qiling…” Zuo Qiu Yang echoed gravely.
Zuo Qiu Yang couldn’t help but recall the scene of crimson Heavenly Radiance descending from the skies that day, gently rolling the black game piece in his fingers. Although the Clan Ancestor Zheng had failed to ascend, it was undeniable that he had indeed summoned celestial light and even set foot upon the Path of Ascension. However, his efforts ended in failure when the Divine Thunder struck him down.
Under normal circumstances, such an event would not occur if the Heavenly Dao of the human race were functioning properly. The mere fact it happened implied that something had gone awry. This was likely the reason the Demon Clan and the Mystic Wilding Tribes grew covetous, intending to seize the opportunity to claim the human race’s fate and reshape the Daoist lineage for themselves.
Yet, as someone like Zuo Qiu Yang, a cultivator who had perfected the Upper Five Realms, he was capable of divining heavenly secrets but still could not discern what exactly had gone wrong. Especially on that day, when the Divine Thunder of Nine Heavens resounded across the Nine Provinces, everything seemed to signify that all was well.
“Leaving aside the fact that the Heavenly Tome of our Heavenly Script Academy still illuminates the Nine Provinces, I’ve also heard that the Red Furnace of the Pill Sect overflowed with alchemical energy just yesterday. How could anyone claim that the human race’s fate is dissipating? Truly, I cannot fathom what the Demon Clan and Mystic Wilding Tribes are scheming,” Zuo Qiu Yang mused aloud.
At that moment, Steward Qin appeared in the hall’s antechamber. Hearing this, he looked up and asked, “How does the matter of the Demon Clan seeking pills from the Pill Sect resolve itself?”
Zuo Qiu Yang turned at the sound and, after a moment of thought, replied, “Just decline on behalf of the Heavenly Script Academy. Once they recognize the reality of the situation, they will return to the Snowy Expanse.”
“The Pill Sect… could this not lead to unrest?”
“The Demon Clan and Mystic Wilding Tribes have been neighbors for generations. If they were truly united, Cold Iron Pass would have fallen long ago, and the world would already be in chaos. Given that it hasn’t happened yet, why would a few pills suddenly incite them to turn hostile now?” Zuo Qiu Yang continued to rub the game piece in his hand. Then, he added, “Where is You Bu Yu now?”
Steward Qin promptly responded, “We’ve just received word. They lingered at the Pill Sect for a day and night, just as the Demon Clan paid their visit. Now, they’ve resumed their journey.”
Zuo Qiu Yang glanced at You Ying Qiu and remarked, “Junior Sister You’s nephew is certainly eager about this matter.”
Chai Hu chuckled, placing his game piece on the board. “Perhaps it is just the right age for such zeal.”
“But his attachment to worldly matters may hinder his path of cultivation,” Zuo Qiu Yang observed.
“Since Junior Sister You isn’t worried, why should Senior Brother trouble himself?” Chai Hu countered. Then, his brow furrowed slightly as he asked, “Was it Senior Brother’s decision to arrange the inquiry at Spirit Sword Mountain?”
Zuo Qiu Yang looked up at this. “That’s correct. Affairs of the Office of Affairs fall under my jurisdiction.”
“Did you consult with Master about this?”
“Naturally, for matters of such significance, I sought his opinion. Why do you ask, Junior Brother?”
Chai Hu seemed perplexed. “Master is the one who most desires peace in the world. Dispatching a direct disciple to Spirit Sword Mountain at this time is akin to pouring oil on the fire, yet he approved it.”
Zuo Qiu Yang chuckled softly. “The Dao Seeking Sect and Spirit Sword Mountain Sect allied to besiege our Heavenly Script Academy. If for no other reason than pride, we must respond. A full-scale battle would plunge the world into disorder, but a minor confrontation is preferable to swallowing this indignity.”
“But the direct disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain are not to be underestimated,” Chai Hu cautioned.