The atmosphere of the room turned heavy as everyone became serious, aside from Xi Meili and Little Zoe, of course.
They both looked relaxed, as though they couldnât sense the strange tension filling the room.
Lady Hexryn looked at Yuan with a very serious expression and asked, "What are you doing in the Demonic Continent, knowing that demons and humans are at odds?"
"Is there any specific reason you came here? What is your true goal for coming to the Demon Empire?"
Lady Hexrynâs questions were direct and unwavering; her gaze never left Yuan as she waited for his answer.
âI see... sheâs being cautious of us. No wonder she invited us here for a âconversation.â She doesnât want the citizens panicking after learning our origin.â Yuan smiled inwardly as he understood Lady Hexrynâs intentions.
"We do have a reason for coming to the Demonic Continent. But rest assured, we have no intention of meddling in the affairs of demons." Yuan said with a calm smile after a brief pause.
"Are you certain you have no connection with the Holy Church by any chance?" Lady Hexryn asked sharply, locking eyes with Yuan. "For all I know, you could be spies sent by the Holy Churchâsent here to investigate demons."
"After all, you brought an angel with you. You should already know we despise angels. They serve the gods and the Holy Church." Lady Hexryn added, casting a cold glance at Selvariel.
"Let me correct that misunderstanding before it grows, Duke Hexryn," Yuan spoke with confidence.
"I do not associate myself with the Holy Church or any organization in this world, nor do my wives. And as for Selvariel, she is my captive."
"Hmm... captive, you say? Then why is she free? Shouldnât she be chained like a lowly slave?" Lady Hexryn asked, shocked but maintaining her composure.
Hearing this, Yuan chuckled softly. "Thereâs no need to go that far. Selvariel knows betterâshe understands what fate awaits her if she tries to run."
He continued, "And regarding the Holy Church, you donât need to worry. The Holy Church no longer exists in this world."
Lady Hexrynâs expression froze, her eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at Yuan.
"W-What do you mean the Holy Church no longer exists? Are you saying it has been eradicated from this world?!" Lady Hexryn asked with a trembling voice, completely stunned.
With a smirk, Yuan revealed the truth. "The Holy Church was destroyed a couple of months ago. Completely erased from this world."
"What?! Thatâs impossible!" Lady Hexryn exclaimed with a disbelieving look on her face, shock filling her mind.
"Everything is possible when Iâm involved, Duke Hexryn. You just have to believe," Yuan said with a smirk.
Lady Hexryn was stunned to learn that Yuan was the one who destroyed the Holy Church. The Holy Church was a powerful organization supported by the gods of the High Heaven.
And yet, the young man sitting before her was the reason it had been destroyedâcompletely erased from this world.
âJust as I suspected... this young man isnât as simple as he appears. Behind that handsome face lies a monster,â Lady Hexryn thought, realizing she had underestimated Yuan all along.
âHowever, I canât tell whether heâs speaking the truth or lying to my face... I have no way to confirm his words.â
âThe barrier is still intact, and while we can breathe and move through it, the true threat lies in the sea monsters beneath the ocean.â
With so many powerful sea beasts lurking below, demons had no way to cross the barrier and reach the other continents.
However, for now at least, Lady Hexryn had no choice but to believe Yuanâs words. And judging by his expression, he truly seemed to be telling the truth.
Lady Hexryn was a perceptive woman. She had fought countless battles against the Holy Church, slain many of their warriors, and survived endless political struggles within the Demon Empire.
She had dealt with traitors, manipulators, and double-faced noblesâyet she still couldnât read Yuan at all.
But one thing was certain: from the way he spoke, he was clearly connected to the destruction of the Holy Church.
Some moments later, after calming herself from the shock, Lady Hexryn asked, "So, what is the reason behind your arrival in the Demonic Continent? Surely you wouldnât risk crossing the barrier without a purpose."
Yuan thought for a moment before replying with a calm expression, "Our goal is simpleâweâre searching for something. And I believe weâll find clues on this continent that will lead us to it."
A few moments later, Lady Hexryn rose from the sofa and said, "Well, letâs end it here. Iâve asked everything I wanted to know."
"Since thatâs the case, weâll take our leave now. Weâre tight on time... letâs hope that if we ever need assistance, you might lend us a hand," Yuan said with a smile as he stood up.
"Definitely," Lady Hexryn nodded with a soft smile before stepping closer and whispering, "Just make sure you donât cause any trouble in my city... otherwise, Iâll have to arrest all of you."
And she continued, "Remember, this is not the Human Continent where you can run rampant. Also, do not try to attract unwanted attention... or else you will find yourselves in trouble."
"Weâll keep that in mind," Yuan nodded, and suddenly his expression turned cold. "However, I must also warn youâno one has ever lived after becoming my enemy."
Lady Hexryn felt a chill run down her spine as she made eye contact with Yuan. She could tell he wasnât joking or trying to intimidate her. He was stating a fact.
"Is that so... Iâll keep that in mind as well," Lady Hexryn let out a dry chuckle, trying to maintain her composure.
Shortly after, Yuan and his wives left the mansion, returning to the city square to find a place to spend the night.
After searching for a couple of minutes, Yuan and his wives found a nice establishment with high-end rooms available. Since money was not an issue, they immediately booked several rooms.
"That demon woman... sheâs not as simple as she appears. She must have already sent someone to keep an eye on us," Valeria spoke with a serious look as she sat on the soft mattress.
Aisha nodded, saying, "Indeed. She seemed to be testing us back there... trying to figure out our intentions. Unfortunately for her, we have no interest in meddling in demon affairs."
"However... she has quite the nerve to threaten us, donât you think, Darling?" Anna Grace said with a mischievous smile, completely unfazed by the tense atmosphere in the room.
"Indeed. But her threat means nothing to us. After all, weâre not planning to stay in this city for long," Yuan replied with a smile, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his embrace.
"However, there is one thing all of you seem to have overlooked... or perhaps you didnât notice it until now," Yuan said with a smirk.
"And that is?" Angela raised her eyebrows, curious.
With a very serious expression, Yuan spoke, "The fact that every demon weâve met so far possesses Spiritual Energy instead of Mana. Every single one of them had traces of Spiritual Energyâeven the most ordinary demons."
"The stronger the demon, the stronger the Spiritual Energy within them. Almost like a cultivator... However, Iâve checked multiple times by now. None of them are cultivators."
"Isnât that strange? No cultivation techniques whatsoever, yet they wield strong Spiritual Energy and fight using it. This is a phenomenon I did not anticipate at all." Yuan said, crossing his arms with a thoughtful expression.
"What?! I didnât even notice that! How is something like this possible?!" many of his wives gasped, shock clearly written across their faces. They appeared utterly bewildered.
However, Xi Meili remained perfectly composed, a calm expression on her face.
"Hubby, I think itâs because of the Spirit Vein that lies underneath this continent. And I also believe that the strange barrier is caused by the Spirit Vein as well." Xi Meili said after thinking for a moment.
Yuan and his wives became confused after hearing thisâyet equally curious. Except for Fang Xiaoyan, who seemed to know a thing or two about Spirit Veins.
"Are you saying there is a vein deep beneath the continent?" Yuan asked, a deeply curious look on his face.
"Of course." Xi Meili nodded with a smile and said, "Otherwise, where do you think all the Spiritual Energy comes from? It is the Spirit Vein that produces all Spiritual Energy."
"Spirit Veins are the reason this world has Spiritual Energy. Without Spirit Veins, this world wouldnât have any Spiritual Energy at all," Xi Meili explained, and Fang Xiaoyan nodded in agreement.
After thinking for a moment, Xi Meili continued, "As for the strange barrier... perhaps the Spirit Vein was disturbed. Maybe during the battle between the Holy Church and the Demon Emperor. Or it could simply be a natural phenomenon."
"Can this Spirit Vein be extracted or removed?" Yuan asked.
"Naturally, it is possible. However, to do so, a person must have cultivation above the Immortal Realm. And extracting a Spirit Vein is forbiddenâit is frowned upon by all cultivators," Xi Meili explained with a serious tone.
"I see..." Yuan sighed softly.
But after hearing Xi Meiliâs explanation, Yuan couldnât help but wonder whether Earth also possessed a Spirit Vein... or whether hidden cultivators might exist on Earth.
Unfortunately, he had no way of knowing unless he found a way back to Earth and witnessed it himself. Yet he still had no clue where to find the gateway to Earth.
âThe Demonic Continent must have a clue... otherwise all our efforts will be wasted.â Yuan thought before finally falling asleep.