Chapter 1213: Why

At the edge of the grey mist space, ripples undulated; Yan Xirou's figure struggled to pierce the seal and emerged. She was no longer the sorrowful, hopeful self of before; her face was icy, her eyes burning with long‑suppressed anger and a near‑desperate questioning. She even bore a hint of dishevelment, as if her journey had not been smooth.

She stared directly at the figure formed of grey mist at the center of the space, an aura vast and cold, and got straight to the point; her voice trembled slightly from agitation, yet carried an unprecedented sharpness.

Yan Buji!

She no longer even called him "father."

The grey‑mist silhouette slowly turned, its black‑hole eyes falling on her without a ripple, as if looking at an irrelevant stranger.

"You've come." Yan Buji's voice was flat, devoid of emotion, "It seems that old waste Zhou Hua still couldn't fully control you."

That sentence was like lighting a powder keg!

Yan Xirou's delicate frame shuddered, bloodshot eyes instantly filling; she cried out shrilly: "Why?! Tell me why?! Back then, to curry favor with that lecher Zhou Hua, you actually handed your own daughter over to him as a plaything?! I am your biological daughter!"

She could never forget those sunless days, when she was treated like merchandise and given to an old devil old enough to be her grandfather, who practiced evil arts, enduring endless humiliation and torment! Had she not secretly endured and seized a chance to escape, she would likely have been drained to death.

Upon hearing this, Yan Buji's face showed the faintest hint, almost a sneer, as if he'd heard a foolish question.

"Why?" he repeated, his tone icy enough to chill the heart, "Because you were suitable. Your 'Tide Maiden Wind Chant Physique' is one of the best furnaces for dual cultivation; back then I didn't realize it, but it was merely a transaction—each taking what they needed."

"As for your daughter?" he paused, his gaze stabbing at Yan Xirou like an ice pick, "Before my Grand Dao, blood ties are nothing but disposable bonds, mere specks of dust. Your ability to contribute strength to my great cause is your worth—and your honor."

Honor?!

Those two words were like the most vicious curse, plunging Yan Xirou into an ice cave, her whole body freezing! She had still harbored a sliver of fantasy, thinking her father might have had difficulties, or been forced… but now, hearing this utterly cold answer in her own ears, all her persistence and fantasies collapsed completely.

"What about the Yan family then?!" she almost shouted, tears bursting uncontrollably, "You abandoned everyone, abandoned the whole Yan clan, leaving them to fend for themselves—why? Is it also for your damned Grand Dao?!"

Yan Buji's eyes finally showed a hint of change, but it was not guilt or longing; rather, it was… contempt and disdain.

"The Yan family? That narrow‑minded, stupid clan that only drags me down?" he said coldly, "They cannot comprehend my ambition; they'll only be stumbling blocks. Discarding them is like sweeping away dust—utterly correct."

He looked at the nearly collapsing Yan Xirou, his tone even carrying a hint of "instruction": "Xirou, you remain trapped by these useless emotions, truly disappointing me. The Path of Desire dictates putting oneself first; all things are merely resources. Kinship, love, pity… these are poisons only the weak need. If you grasped this sooner, perhaps you could still have a place under my command."

Yan Xirou stared blankly at him, as if seeing this person for the first time. No—this was no longer a person, but a completely emotionless demon! For his so‑called Grand Dao, he could sacrifice anything, trample everything.

All her grievances, pain, and fury, at this moment turned into utter despair and dead silence.

She gazed at Yan Buji; the light in her eyes faded bit by bit, leaving only a cold void.

"I understand…" she murmured, voice so faint it was almost inaudible, "It turns out… from the very start I was nothing… merely a tool in your eyes, something you could swap out and discard at will…"

Yan Buji looked at her indifferently; her despair moved him not at all, instead leaving him feeling clearer. This daughter who constantly tried to "pollute" him with boring emotions had finally faced reality.

"Since you understand, then behave." Yan Buji lost interest in talking; his tone turned cold and threatening again, "Seeing that your veins still carry my blood, I'll spare your life for now. Stay obedient—perhaps you'll still be useful later. If you dare defy again…"

He didn't finish, but that icy killing intent already spread out.

Yan Xirou said nothing more, nor glanced at Yan Buji again. She silently turned, like a soulless puppet, step by step, trudging and staggering, once more piercing the grey‑mist seal and vanishing.

This time, the last trace of longing for her father in her heart was completely severed.

All that remained was bone‑deep hatred, and a cold despair toward this merciless fate.

Yan Buji watched the direction she disappeared, his black‑hole eyes showing no ripple, as if merely shooing away a trivial nuisance. He quickly tossed this aside, his mind sinking again into deducing the "Snake Swallows Elephant" divine ability and absorbing the energy of the Swallow Desire Pot.

In his world, only power and the Grand Dao are eternal; everything else can be sacrificed.

Above the valley, killing intent froze the air.

The Blood Demon Venerable and Golden Slaughter Demon Lord saw the Yin Bone Elder slain in a single glance by Han Wuxian; aside from shock, it aroused their ferocity. They locked eyes, each seeing the other's resolve—this brat must not be allowed to live!

"Three Powers Demon Slaughter Formation!" the Blood Demon Venerable shrieked, hurling his blood‑colored feather fan; it turned into three scarlet streams in the air, instantly merging with the three streams of natal demon qi spewed by the Golden Slaughter Demon Lord and the residual curse black qi of the Yin Bone Elder (forcibly seized by the Blood Demon Venerable).

Hum!

A terrifying demon formation covering several li in radius instantly took shape! Divided into the Three Powers, it represents the extreme negative essences of "essence," "qi," and "spirit": the Blood Demon Venerable leads lust‑erosion of soul and spirit, the Golden Slaughter Demon Lord leads violent tearing of flesh, and the residual curse of the Yin Bone Elder is like a bone‑deep ulcer destroying foundations! The three forces cycle and engender, power multiplying severalfold; the formation's interior is completely sealed, illusions abound, demonic sounds fill the ears, and invisible killing blades slash in all directions.

This is their true combined strike! Earlier the Yin Bone Elder died too fast to fully unleash it; now led by the Blood Demon Venerable and Golden Slaughter Demon Lord, its power is slightly reduced but still terrifying!

"Die!" the Golden Slaughter Demon Lord, occupying the "qi" position, gained the formation's boost; his body swelled again, muscles knotted like dragons, as he swung his great axe, bringing forth torrents of golden killing lightning, like a thunder god descending, wildly chopping toward Han Wuxian!

The Blood Demon Venerable, at the "spirit" position, became illusory and shifting, chanting a soul‑hooking demonic melody; countless phantoms of bewitching demon women and ferocious evil ghosts surged from the formation, straight toward Han Wuxian's consciousness, also seeking to stir his deepest lust and fear!

Han Wuxian suddenly felt the pressure greatly increase. This demon formation is indeed profound; the three forces united not only attack his body and spirit, but also constantly erode his protective Return‑to‑Void qi. Phantoms and demonic sounds penetrate everywhere, trying to disturb his mind. That golden killing lightning is unmatched in its ferocity—each strike shakes his qi and blood to surge.

His figure flickered rapidly within the formation; his Return‑to‑Void Blade swung repeatedly, chopping away the incoming killing lightning and dispersing the phantoms. But the formation's power is endless, the killing lightning infinite, the phantoms ceaseless, and furthermore an intangible curse power like a bone‑eating worm constantly weakens his condition.

"Hahaha! Kid, see how long you can last!" the Golden Slaughter Demon Lord, seeing Han Wuxian apparently losing ground, laughed hysterically, his attacks growing ever more violent.

The Blood Demon Venerable also wore a grin, his demonic sound growing more urgent: "Sink down! Let your desire become my nourishment!"

In the valley below, Xiao Ran and Qing Lin watched anxiously, wanting to rush up to help, but Wang Tie firmly blocked them: "No! That demon formation is strange; if we go in we won't help at all and will only distract Fellow Daoist Han!"

Han Wuxian's gaze remained calm, in the midst of a storm-like attack, he seemed to be carefully experiencing the marvel of the demon formation's operation, experiencing the strange change produced by the fusion of the three negative energies.