Chapter 189: No Friendship, Only Interests

"You..." Ruan Xing was speechless, "You're that sure?"

The Demon Lord nodded, "Yes, didn't you tell me before that if there's food, it will deliver itself to the door? I guess this is it."

Both Demon Cultivators were horrified upon hearing this conversation.

The female cultivator looked at the two of them, trembling as she said, "Sect Master, you... aren't you a Righteous Cultivator..."

The Demon Lord grinned, revealing a mouthful of ghastly white teeth, the stitching on them stained with the color of dried blood, "If your eyesight is poor, don't go out casually in the future. Though, you won't have a future anyway."

Channeling his cultivation technique, he swallowed both of them whole. The Demon Lord narrowed his eyes in satisfaction; as the speed of refinement increased, the Yin energy on his body grew increasingly dense.

After a moment, it seemed he had reached a critical point, and a small, qualitative change finally occurred.

The Demon Lord's strength had reached the Early Nascent Soul Stage.

He felt a bit regretful, "Only recovered this much."

This was a far cry from his strength before he died.

"Be content. I will never let you escape my control again," Ruan Xing said mercilessly.

She looked at the Demon Lord, but in her mind, she was recalling the memories the Xumi Realm had shown her.

Thus, after a brief moment of thought, she used the Illusion Technique to transform into the appearance of that woman.

The instant her transformation was complete, a flash of astonishment crossed the Demon Lord's eyes.

"It seems you recognize this person," Ruan Xing sighed.

"What a coincidence. The appearance you're using now is that of a junior sister of mine. But you shouldn't have met her, right? She might have died long ago," Xie Feng said, somewhat uncomprehending.

"You can't eat the meal and then refuse to acknowledge the debt. Tell me in detail."

Xie Feng curled his lip, "There's nothing much to tell. My master was a great demon, and she was the little disciple he took in, named Xie Yao. Let's get this straight: I have no blood relation to her. We orphans all took our master's surname. But unfortunately, two days after she joined, I killed our master. Afterward, I chased away all the junior brothers and sisters. Later, I heard she was occasionally using my name outside. I couldn't be bothered to care, so I didn't manage her. The last time I saw her was during the Immortal-Mortal War. I think she was already at the Golden Core stage then, right?"

"So that's how it is," Ruan Xing said. "I didn't expect you to have a sudden burst of kindness and spare your junior brothers and sisters."

If not for Xie Feng's sudden kindness, perhaps the matter of the Xumi Realm wouldn't exist today.

"Eh, I was young then and looked down on them for their low cultivation. I didn't expect that now... tsk tsk," Xie Feng shook his head melancholically.

Ruan Xing waved her hand to dispel the Illusion Technique, "Then what do you think if Xie Yao is still alive now?"

"How is that possible?" Xie Feng scoffed, "How many years has it been? If she were still alive now, wouldn't she already be at the Return to Ruins Stage? Everyone who can become a Demon Lord has crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. She isn't ruthless enough."

Ruan Xing silently calculated in her heart. From the Immortal-Mortal War until now, it had been about five or six thousand years. Because the history of that time had its records and traces covered up by numerous sects working together, and the Immortal, Demon Lord, and Sumeru Tree who personally experienced it were all trapped in some place, unaware of the passage of time, the exact duration could not be determined. But in any case, the margin of error would not exceed one thousand.

Foundation Establishment grants two hundred years of life, Golden Core five hundred, Nascent Soul one thousand, Spirit Severing two thousand, Return to Ruins five thousand, plus Longevity Pills.

Since Xie Yao had just reached Golden Core during the Immortal-Mortal War, it was possible for her to have lived to be over five thousand years old today.

However, she likely didn't have many years left, otherwise, she wouldn't be so anxious to attack Nanzhou directly in ten years' time.

"It seems your eyesight isn't that great either," Ruan Xing laughed. "Those two Demon Cultivators just told me they came in the name of the Saint Demon Lord, and the current Saint Demon Lord is named Xie Yao."

Xie Feng's expression changed slightly, "It's a good thing I didn't go to the Northern Territory. Otherwise, wouldn't I have to make a living in front of an ant from the past? That would be too embarrassing."

No, you have such a serious expression, and that's what you're thinking about in your head?

Ruan Xing rolled her eyes in annoyance, "She's asking me for the Sumeru Tree now."

"If she wants it, let her have it. What does it have to do with me? That Sumeru Tree of yours is such a treasure, I haven't even been allowed to see it yet," Xie Feng said indifferently.

"I won't give her the Sumeru Tree, but you also said that if she's lived until now, she must be at the Return to Ruins Stage. I'm afraid she'll come to Nanzhou regardless of the cost. Why don't you go to the Northern Territory for me and put in a good word? You two are senior brother and junior sister, after all, you have a connection."

Ruan Xing smiled and probed.

What if Xie Feng and Xie Yao weren't as he described, but actually had a good relationship? Then Xie Feng would absolutely be capable of the "Please come in, Your Excellency" act of inviting a wolf into the house.

"I'm not going," Xie Feng said. "There is no friendship among Demon Cultivators, only interests."

Seeing that there was not a single flaw in Xie Feng's expression, Ruan Xing temporarily let down her guard.

She then ended this Real-scene Simulation.

【Simulation Ended】

The plaza was empty.

Hu San retreated to the side, clearing a space for Ruan Xing and the two Demon Cultivators to talk.

Ruan Xing stepped forward and looked at the two, whose expressions still carried a hint of arrogance.

She didn't waste words and said directly, "Want to see the Sumeru Tree? Impossible."

The female cultivator was startled, not expecting Ruan Xing to not give any chance for negotiation, but she suppressed her anger and smiled, "We came here to see the Sect Master with sincerity..."

Ruan Xing's eyes showed sarcasm, "What sincerity? The sincerity of swaggering in front of my sect's gates and revealing your identities as Demon Cultivators? Go back and tell Xie Yao that this level of sincerity is not enough."

Upon hearing this, the female cultivator was stunned on the spot.

The Northern Territory had been very low-key for the past few hundred years.

They rarely set foot in the territories of the Immortal Sects, and the name of the Saint Demon Lord only circulated among their own people.

How did this Sect Master of the Fengling Yueying Sect know the name of the Saint Demon Lord?

Which faction did she belong to?

The more she thought, the more terrified she felt, so she could only force a smile, "It is our rudeness, Sect Master, please do not take offense. I cannot convey such words to the Saint Demon Lord. Why doesn't the Sect Master state your conditions? After all, we have a common goal, which is the Sumeru Tree. If the Sect Master has a way to make the Sumeru Tree grow and sprout again, the Saint Demon Lord will definitely support you with all her might."

"Alright, then go back and tell Xie Yao that the Sumeru Tree currently needs one most important step, which is the two islands that were connected during the Immortal-Mortal War. But now, the islands are floating above the Central Province. May I ask what should be done about that?" Ruan Xing said meaningfully.

The female cultivator lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Very well, Sect Master, just wait for my news. However, traveling between the Northern Territory and Nanzhou is quite troublesome; I'm afraid it will be a long time before we meet again."

The female cultivator had said the same thing last time.

She didn't know what method they used, but there should be a time limit to this method; they certainly wouldn't be able to come to Nanzhou again within a few years.

Ruan Xing nodded haughtily.

The two Demon Cultivators no longer held the contempt they had upon arrival; they bowed respectfully to Ruan Xing and prepared to leave.

But Ruan Xing reached out and blocked their path.

She twirled her fingers, "The Fengling Yueying Sect is not a place you can come and go as you please. You may leave, but he must stay."

"But! We are in a friendly cooperative trading relationship..." The female cultivator wore a forced smile, "Besides, leaving a Demon Cultivator on the Sect Master's territory is also a trouble for the Sect Master."

With a flick of her mind, her Divine Ability activated without warning; she pinched her palm, and the male Cultivator flew toward her hand in terror, his entire body's magic power unable to be deployed before Ruan Xing snapped his neck.

"It's no trouble now," Ruan Xing said indifferently.

The female Cultivator took a deep look at Ruan Xing, "... Farewell."

She draped a dusty outer robe over herself, instantly concealing her stunning appearance, and followed behind Hu San to descend the mountain and leave.

Ruan Xing lowered her eyes; this Dharma Artifact... actually had a similar effect to the Mask Artifact that Xie Huai had given her.

Perhaps because Demon Cultivators were weak and couldn't show their faces, they had researched this kind of Dharma Artifact to make traveling convenient.

The extreme dominance she had displayed in front of that Demon Cultivator just now was to make the female Cultivator misunderstand that she had a profound background, just as in the Simulation, and to call out Xie Yao's name while posing a very difficult problem to solve.

If Xie Yao were truly intimidated, then ten years later, it might not be Nanzhou that was invaded, but the Central Province. This would give her more breathing room.

Moreover, the Central Province was not an easy bone to chew; there were plenty of Cultivators with profound cultivation, and perhaps Xie Yao's Demon Cultivator army would suffer heavy casualties.

If Xie Yao did not believe it and still attacked Nanzhou, it didn't matter; by then, the Fengling Yueying Sect could change its name, hide the Immortal Cultivator disciples inside, and display the Demon Cultivator disciples on the outside, still managing to muddle through by fishing in troubled waters.

As thoughts flashed through her mind one by one, Ruan Xing called Xie Feng over via their spiritual connection.

Xie Feng appeared on the plaza riding a lazy snake, swaying back and forth; seeing the corpse on the ground, his eyes first lit up, "Something good to eat!"

Then, his expression turned to disappointment, "Only one."

"Be glad there is one; don't be picky," Ruan Xing glanced at him.

Xie Feng patted his own chest to comfort himself, "That's fine too, better than nothing."

He had been starved for these past three years.

Of course, it wasn't hunger in the physiological sense, but hunger in the spiritual sense.

Because of the existence of his devouring technique, he could turn all things into his own use by devouring them, but after getting used to eating, once he hadn't eaten for a long time, he would feel an unbearable, restless itch.

He activated his technique to devour, then began to refine it.

Ruan Xing watched silently, and after waiting a moment, the Yin energy and strength within the Demon Lord remained at the Golden Core Consummation.

She nodded silently in her heart.

Not bad; leaving only one this time also controlled the Demon Lord's cultivation, preventing him from breaking through to Nascent Soul.

After finishing, the Demon Lord blinked, still wanting more, and looked at Ruan Xing.

Ruan Xing tilted her head, "What?"

"Eating someone's food makes you soft-mouthed, taking someone's things makes you soft-handed; you gave me something good to eat, isn't it so I would listen and do things for you?" Xie Feng said as a matter of course, "Speak, what do you want to know, or what do you want me to do?"

Xie Feng had already sensed that his usefulness to Ruan Xing was becoming smaller and smaller.

He was quite quick on the uptake.

However, Ruan Xing had already asked everything she needed to ask in the Simulation, and she didn't want to say anything else about Xie Yao now, nor did she want Xie Feng to know about the news from the Northern Territory.

So she said: "No rush, we'll talk about it next time."

She stretched, turned around, and returned to the main hall.

Xie Feng's eyes became deep and thoughtful.

This little girl... is a bit strange today.

A woman draped in a dusty long robe climbed up from the bottomless canyon by stepping on thick, long chains.

She pulled her collar tight and hurried into the massive Underground Palace composed of square blue-grey rocks.

On both sides of the wide passageway, eerie candlelight flickered from time to time, and walking within it, one could feel a dark, cold, bloody scent.

The murals on both sides of the walls carried the scent of ancient history; looking at them for too long made one feel a faint stinging pain in their Soul Sea.

After passing through countless intricate and complex passageways, the woman finally arrived in front of a stone grotto entrance.

The stone grotto had no door, but was blocked by a curtain made of strings of blue-green beads; the woman reached out and condensed a faint white light in her palm, seemingly matching some secret code with the bead curtain, and the bead curtain slowly opened from both sides.

The woman walked in, but did not approach the innermost part; instead, she knelt on one knee at the entrance, humble and devout, "Subordinate pays respects to the Saint Demon Lord!"

A clear, quiet woman's voice came from within, "Why have you returned alone?"

Xie Yao leaned on a cushion, beneath her were thick, soft Monster Beast furs; her appearance was not extremely beautiful, but she carried an alternative charm.

Only, her entire being revealed a sense of mature exhaustion.

She toyed with her hair, and although her hair was still black, her heart was already old.

The woman trembled with some agitation, "Subordinate is incompetent, Tuo Na... has been killed."

Hearing this, Xie Yao sat up slightly, frowning, "How bold, daring to kill my people; what happened?"

The woman caught her breath nervously and hurriedly recounted her encounter in Nanzhou in full detail, though she was somewhat vague and glossed over some of the disrespectful words Ruan Xing had spoken.

"It sounds like the person you mentioned knows me," Xie Yao said indifferently, "Shui Linglong, you know the consequences of deceiving me."

Shui Linglong lowered her body, cowering, "Subordinate dares not deceive, every word is true!"

Xie Yao lowered her eyes, beginning to ponder which old acquaintance it could be.

She had not set foot in the Immortal Sect territories for nearly two thousand years.

Two thousand years ago, among the other Cultivators she knew in the Central Province and Nanzhou, was there someone like this?

Seeing Xie Yao frowning and thinking for a long time, Shui Linglong took the liberty to say: "Perhaps she is not using her real name or true appearance."

Xie Yao's thousands of years of memories were truly too jumbled; if it were just someone she had met a few times, there were simply too many to filter through, and she didn't even know if those people had lived for two thousand years.

"Perhaps," Xie Yao sighed leisurely, "You may withdraw."

She needed to think carefully about whether or not to believe that 'old acquaintance' she didn't remember.

Shui Linglong retreated from the inside, trembling with fear, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the bead curtain close.

It seemed the Saint Demon Lord was in a good mood today, as she hadn't mentioned punishing her.

She walked out of the passageway but began to worry again, "Attacking Nanzhou is still feasible; every thirty-plus years we go there, and in the Northern Territory, there is the most information about Nanzhou, and we have some understanding of every Sect, none of which have particularly strong power. But if the Saint Demon Lord really intends to attack the Central Province, what should we do?"

In such a head-on collision, the Demon Cultivators of the Northern Territory were not very united to begin with, and I fear that after a thousand people die, they will scatter and flee.

She was preoccupied with her thoughts, so she didn't pay much attention while walking, and suddenly a person appeared in front of her, nearly colliding with them.

After seeing clearly who the man in green robes before her was, she hurriedly lowered her head to apologize, "Palace Prince, your subordinate was just distracted."

The man before her was extremely mysterious; clearly, he only had the cultivation of the Golden Core Late Stage, and in front of the Saint Demon Lord, he was just a small fry like a consumable.

Yet the moment he appeared, he was treated with extreme importance by the Saint Demon Lord.

The reason Shui Linglong had been able to remain safe and sound by the Saint Demon Lord's side for so long, besides her efficiency in getting things done and pleasing the Saint Demon Lord, was also because she was sufficiently well-informed.

It is said that this Palace Prince has a blood relation to the Saint Demon Lord!

Although most Demon Cultivators do not care much about bloodlines, descendants, or juniors, and are all fellows who disown their own kin, there are those who value them, and Shui Linglong estimated in her heart that the Saint Demon Lord was the latter.

"It doesn't matter." The man shook his head, "Did you just return from Nanzhou?"

"Yes."

The Saint Demon Lord had almost no secrets from this Palace Prince, so as soon as he asked, Shui Linglong spoke.

The man's gaze became somewhat strange, and he gently chewed over the name in his mouth, "You say, the Sect Master of that Fengling Yueying Sect which annexed the Six Suns Study is named Ruan Xing?"

"Palace Prince, do you know her?" Shui Linglong asked.

The man smiled and denied it, "No, I don't know her."

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