Chapter 108

The sky of the Demon Realm is forever shrouded in a layer of dark red mist, like congealed blood. Luo Changfeng panted, leaning against a black boulder for a brief rest. His Daoist robe was torn to shreds, and a ferocious wound on his left arm oozed dark purple blood—the mark of demonic corruption.

"Damn..." Luo Changfeng gritted his teeth, tore off a strip of his sleeve, and hastily bandaged the wound. He lifted his gaze to the twisted mountains in the distance, where demonic energy shot up into the sky, and vague silhouettes of bizarrely shaped demons roamed. He had been in the Demon Realm for three days, yet found no trace of his master; instead, he himself was quickly being overwhelmed by the pervasive demonic energy.

"I must find a way to hide my aura..." Luo Changfeng pulled a faintly glowing jade slip from his bosom; it was left by his master. It bore his master's aura, and having no other recourse, he could only rely on this slip to locate him.

Moreover, over these three days he felt he had penetrated deep into the Demon Realm, seeing no sign of Mei Ruoxue or Gu Yusheng. Fortunately, the passing demon cultivators mentioned no intruders, so no news is good news.

Luo Changfeng drew a deep breath, formed hand seals, and chanted. As a flash of white light passed, his form gradually shrank, eventually becoming a wholly snow‑white fox, only a vermilion dot on his forehead hinting at his extraordinariness. This is the Floating Dream Sect's uniquely created "Bionic Talisman," which can completely alter one's aura for a short time.

After becoming a white fox, Luo Changfeng clearly felt the surrounding demonic energy's erosion on him weaken. He shook his fluffy tail and cautiously proceeded along the shadows of the rocks. The ground of the Demon Realm was laced with fissures, from which dark purple demonic flames occasionally spurted, and the air reeked of sulfur and decay.

"Where exactly is my master..." Luo Changfeng murmured inwardly. He needed to find his master quickly, then figure out how to leave this accursed place. As he pondered, a piercing shriek suddenly rang out from afar.

Luo Changfeng's hairs stood on end, and he instinctively darted into a rock crevice. Through the gap he saw three vulture‑like beasts with human faces circling in the air, their scarlet eyes continually scanning the ground as if searching for something.

"They're Tracking Demons..." Luo Changfeng held his breath. These creatures are extremely sensitive to spiritual energy; even in his white‑fox form, a careless leak of spiritual power would be detected.

The monsters flew lower and lower; one suddenly perched on the rock above Luo Changfeng's hiding place, cocked its head, and emitted a strange "ke‑ke" laugh. His heart pounded like a drum, his claws involuntarily digging into the ground. At that critical moment, a clear bell tone rang out from afar.

The three Tracking Demons instantly turned and flew toward the source of the bell. Luo Changfeng exhaled in relief, yet grew more wary—anyone capable of commanding Tracking Demons must be a high‑ranking demon.

After the monsters flew off, Luo Changfeng cautiously slipped out of the crevice, hesitated a moment, then decided to follow the bell's direction to investigate. Perhaps he could find a clue about his master. He nimbly weaved among the jagged stones, tracking the faint, intermittent chime.

After passing through a twisted grove of dead trees, the view suddenly opened up. A pool of azure water appeared before him, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding dark‑red Demon Realm scenery. Even more shocking to Luo Changfeng, a woman was bathing in the center of the lake.

The woman had her back to the shore; her black hair fell like a waterfall into the water, revealing a jade‑white back. The surface around her glowed with an odd halo, as if starlight flowed within. Luo Changfeng instantly realized she was no ordinary demon—her demonic aura was pure and mighty, far surpassing any demon he had encountered before.

"Had enough, little fox?" the woman suddenly said, her voice like striking ice‑jade, cold yet carrying an irresistible authority.

Luo Changfeng stiffened, about to retreat, only to discover that his limbs had somehow been entwined by black threads extending from the water.

The woman slowly turned; on her porcelain‑white, snow‑like body a sword scar stood out starkly, running from chest to lower abdomen, the flesh bulging outward yet the wound clean, as if made by a single stroke. Luo Changfeng fixed his gaze on the injury, momentarily forgetting propriety—this swordsmanship reminded him of his master's hand.

"Lady Si Tong!" several small demons scrambled out from behind the lakeside rocks, kneeling respectfully on the ground, reporting, "The Tracking Demons spotted an intruder, but it escaped."

Luo Changfeng startled awake, finally seeing the woman's face—her features were picturesque yet icy as frost, her heterochromatic pupils glittering eerily in the moonlight like embedded violet crystals, captivating the soul.

It turned out to be an old acquaintance—Si Tong, the Holy Maiden of the Demon Realm who had fled from the Heavenly Pivot Sect!

Si Tong gently raised her jade hand, and Luo Changfeng was lifted by an invisible force, hovering above the water before her. She narrowed her eyes to examine this "white fox," then let out a cold laugh: "What an exquisite illusion—you almost fooled even me."

Luo Changfeng's heart filled with alarm; he was about to break free, but Mi Tong suddenly reached out and touched the vermilion mark on his forehead. A wave of intense pain surged through him, and Luo Changfeng's bionic seal was forced to dissolve, restoring his human form.

Mi Tong said, "You seem to be called... Luo Changfeng?" Her eyes flashed with surprise, then turned dangerous: "How dare you intrude the Demon Realm and even peek at this saintess bathing? You deserve death!"

Luo Changfeng was in a sorry state, entangled by water threads and suspended midair, his drenched Daoist robe clinging to his body. He endured the pain, staring into Mi Tong's eyes: "I meant no offense; I came only to find someone, and I will leave immediately once I find them."

Mi Tong heard his words and gave a light laugh, that smile breathtakingly beautiful yet devoid of warmth: "Is the Demon Realm a place you can come and go as you please?" She flicked her finger, and the water threads suddenly tightened, eliciting a muffled groan from Luo Changfeng.

Just as Mi Tong was about to further torment this bold human, she suddenly noticed blood seeping from Luo Changfeng's wound—there was a faint fragrance hidden in the blood.

"Huh?" Mi Tong leaned in to sniff, her pupils slightly dilating: "Your blood...?" A flicker of greed flashed in her eyes: "Interesting, so interesting."

Luo Changfeng's heart sank. He knew his special constitution—since childhood, his master had washed his marrow with immortal elixir, leaving a trace of innate spiritual energy in his blood, a delicacy in the Demon Realm.

Mi Tong seemed to see through his thoughts, her lips curling slightly: "Don't worry, I won't eat you right away." She flicked her finger, loosening the water threads a bit: "After all, when I was imprisoned, you once gave me a bowl of clean congee."

She had been imprisoned in the so-called dark, heaven-less cell; all the cultivating disciples humiliated and neglected her, except this fool from the Floating Dream Sect, who gave her a bowl of unspoiled congee when he left—although for her as a demon cultivator it made no difference whether she ate it or not, she still remembered it.

Mi Tong said, "Luo Changfeng." She suddenly reached out and pinched his chin: "Let me guess—you're lying low in the Demon Realm, but who exactly are you looking for? If you let me recover my original form, I'll help you find him. How about that?"

Forced to lift his head and meet her gaze, Luo Changfeng saw danger in her strange violet pupils, yet also a flicker of complex emotion he could not decipher.

"Why would you help me?" Luo Changfeng asked warily.

Mi Tong released his hand, turned, and walked toward the shore, the water threads dragging Luo Changfeng along behind her: "Who said I'm going to help you?" she said without looking back, "I'm merely interested in your blood..."

Upon reaching the shore, Mi Tong waved her hand, and a dark purple luxurious robe appeared out of nowhere, enveloping her splendid figure. Several little demons immediately stepped forward to comb her hair and place a forehead ornament inlaid with black gems.

Luo Changfeng was lowered by the water threads, but his hands remained bound. He looked around and saw that dozens of demon guards had gathered at the lakeside at some point, all kneeling respectfully on the ground.

"Your Holiness, this person's origins are unknown; he should be executed immediately!" a horned demon commander stepped forward to suggest.

Mi Tong lazily glanced at the demon: "My prey, it's not up to you to decide life or death." She flicked her fingertip, and the demon commander immediately screamed in agony, collapsing to his knees.

Luo Changfeng secretly marveled—after being wounded by his master, to still be able to wield demonic power so calmly, there are no more than two such people in the world; was this girl deliberately captured by them in the first place?

Mi Tong walked up to Luo Changfeng, looking down at him: "You have two choices—be torn apart by them right now, or follow me back to the palace and become my... slave."

Luo Changfeng gave a bitter smile: "Looks like I have no choice!"

"Smart." Mi Tong nodded satisfactorily, then suddenly leaned close to his ear, her warm breath brushing his neck: "Don't even think about escaping, little Daoist. In the Demon Realm, without my permission, you can't even die."

As she spoke, Luo Changfeng felt the water threads on his wrist seep into his skin, turning into a black pattern that wound around his pulse.

"This is a demonic mark; it will tell me your every move." Mi Tong straightened up, turned, and walked toward a sedan chair made of white bones and black gauze: "Bring him along."

Luo Changfeng was escorted by two demon guards, following behind Mi Tong's sedan chair. He furtively observed his surroundings, seeking an escape opportunity. However, the terrain of the Demon Realm was bizarre and ever-changing; the path he had taken had long vanished, replaced by stretches of twisted, dark-red wasteland.

As the party advanced into a canyon, the ground suddenly shook violently. Luo Changfeng's footing gave way, and he began to plummet. At the critical moment, a purple light flashed—Mi Tong had somehow appeared beside him and grabbed his collar.

"Useless, you can't even walk properly." Mi Tong said coldly, yet she steadied him and brought him back to the ground.

Luo Changfeng was about to thank her, but he saw Mi Tong's expression suddenly change: "Step back!"

Before her words even faded, the canyon walls on both sides suddenly split open, dozens of massive black tentacles lashing out toward the party. The demon guards quickly formed a defensive line, but the tentacles' power was astonishing; in the blink of an eye, several guards were swept away.

"An abyssal devil octopus! How could it appear here?" Mi Tong frowned, quickly forming hand seals, and a purple barrier enveloped her and Luo Changfeng.

A tentacle as thick as a tree slammed into the barrier, shaking the entire space. Luo Changfeng saw a trace of blood at the corner of Mi Tong's mouth—clearly this creature's power exceeded her expectations.

"You... all right?" Luo Changfeng asked instinctively.

Mi Tong glanced at him in surprise, seemingly not expecting a captive to care for her: "Shut up, focus your mind so the demonic energy doesn't corrupt you."

Only then did Luo Changfeng notice that, with the devil octopus's appearance, the concentration of demonic energy in the surroundings was rapidly rising. Even with Mi Tong's barrier protecting him, he began to feel dizzy and lightheaded.

Noticing his discomfort, Mi Tong cursed: "Damn it." She suddenly bit her finger, placing a drop of blood on Luo Changfeng's brow: "Lend you a bit of strength temporarily—don't waste it."

The instant that drop of blood merged into his skin, Luo Changfeng felt a warm current surge through his body, all discomfort vanishing. What shocked him even more was that he could now clearly sense the flow of demonic energy around him.

"Now, stay here and don't move." Mi Tong released him, leapt out of the barrier, and her silhouette turned into a purple bolt of lightning in the air, shooting straight toward the rock fissure where the devil octopus's main body lay.

The ensuing battle left Luo Changfeng stunned. Mi Tong's displayed power far exceeded his imagination; each swing of the purple light blade she condensed in her hand could sever several tentacles. The devil octopus let out an earth-shaking roar, and the entire canyon trembled.

Finally, Mi Tong located the devil octopus's core—a massive dark-red eyeball. She clasped her hands together, and a brilliant violet-gold pillar of light descended from the heavens, striking the eyeball precisely. The devil octopus emitted its final wail, and all its tentacles instantly turned to black smoke and dissipated.

As Mi Tong floated back down to the ground, her robe was torn in several places and her complexion paler than usual. Luo Changfeng involuntarily stepped forward: "Are you injured?"

Si Tong waved her hand: "A mere demon octopus can't hurt me." But as soon as she finished speaking, she staggered, and Luo Changfeng instinctively supported her; the area where the tentacles touched was icy cold.

"Let go!" Si Tong shoved him away hard, but then collapsed forward from exhaustion. This time Luo Changfeng didn't let go; he firmly caught her.

"Don't push yourself." Luo Changfeng said softly, "That drop of blood just now... isn't ordinary blood, is it? It's your lifeblood essence, right?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Si Tong's eyes, then she sneered, "You guessed wrong."

Luo Changfeng didn't respond, merely silently supporting her as they walked toward the palanquin. The remaining demon guards looked at them in awe, no one daring to step forward—not only because of Si Tong's dignity, but because they witnessed an unbelievable sight: the Holy Maiden actually allowed a human to touch her.

On the way back, Si Tong closed her eyes to rest, while Luo Changfeng was allowed to sit beside the palanquin. As night deepened, the demon realm's moon—a crimson-purple blood moon—rose into the sky, casting an eerie glow over everything.

"Back then, why did you save me?" Luo Changfeng finally couldn't help but ask, "To you, I'm merely a captive."

Si Tong opened her eyes; her violet pupils looked especially mysterious in the moonlight: "Who said I was saving you? I'm saving myself—your Master's sword requires your blood as repayment."

Luo Changfeng twitched the corner of his mouth, his Master having wounded her so severely; he didn't know how his Master was faring now, whether he too would be injured by Si Tong, and what blood would be needed to heal him.

Luo Changfeng gazed at the distant blood moon, "One thing at a time—thanks just now."

Si Tong fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Why did you give me a bowl of congee back then?"

Luo Changfeng looked at her in surprise, as if recalling, and after a while said, "I just happened to have it, you just happened to need it, so I gave it—there's no particular reason!"

Si Tong gazed toward the distant blood moon, saying nothing more; Luo Changfeng didn't press further. They proceeded in silence, only the bell on the palanquin ringing crisply, echoing through the demon realm's night sky.

After an unknown amount of time, a black palace floated into view in the distance, composed of countless spires and bridges, resembling a slumbering giant beast. That was Si Tong's residence—the Dark Moon Palace.

"We've arrived." Si Tong stood, resuming her lofty demeanor, "Remember your status, Luo Changfeng. In front of others, you are merely my captive."

Luo Changfeng nodded. He knew that in this perilous demon realm, Si Tong might be his only ally... even though she herself would never admit it.

When the party landed on the platform before the Dark Moon Palace, Luo Changfeng gazed at this gloomy yet magnificent structure, his feelings mixed. He didn't know what awaited him, but one thing he was certain of—find his Master and return to the Floating Dream Sect.