Inside the ruined sect.
Qu Zhengding sat in the relatively intact main hall, yet every detail felt wrong to him. He thought the Celestial Realmās sect paled in comparison to his own Demon Lord Palace. But this was only temporary; once he fully conquered the Celestial Realm, he would build the greatest Demon Lord City in history, to be worshipped by all demons! At the thought, his spirits soared.
At that moment, Shen Fuguiāhis expression dazedāapproached, cupping his hands. āDemon Lord, Bai Qingsong, Demon Lord of Dongyao Prefecture, requests an audience. He claims there is an urgent matter to discuss.ā
Qu Zhengding snorted in disdain. āWhat could that worthless wretch want? His strength is mediocre; he wouldnāt dare join the front lines and risk his life against the immortals. Heās only fit to scavenge leftovers in the rear. Were it not for his title, Iād have killed him long ago!ā
Shen Fuguiās expression remained unchanged. āDemon Lord, perhaps you should see him. It might really be important!ā
After repeated urging, Qu Zhengding sighed and waved him off. Soon, Bai Qingsong and Ye Yu strode into the hall. Shen Fugui stood silently behind Qu Zhengding.
āLord Bai, why arenāt you scavenging food in the back? What brings you to me?ā Qu Zhengding said, eyeing Ye Yu. This newcomer was unfamiliar. Yet from the demonic aura around him, he was not to be underestimated. When had Dongyao Prefecture produced such a figure?
Ye Yu in turn studied Qu Zhengding. He looked different from the version in Ye Yuās dreamāthen heād worn a magic-artifact robe. Now he wore jet-black battle armor that shimmered faintly, looking extraordinary. A new trophy seized from the Celestial Realm?
Bai Qingsongās face darkened. They were both Demon Lordsādid Qu Zhengding have to insult him with āscavengingā? How hateful! He cast a soundproof barrier at the door. āOld Qu, donāt get cocky! My elder brother has business with you; youād better answer properlyāor youāll regret it!ā
Qu Zhengding blinked in surprise. He hadnāt expected the usually submissive Bai Qingsong to be so bold.
āElder Brother, you mean that horned male demon? Heāā Qu Zhengding began, but before he could finish, Shen Fugui slapped him on the head.
āDo not disrespect Elder Brother!ā Shen Fugui warned.
Qu Zhengding pressed a hand to his head and stared at Shen Fugui in disbelief. Crazyāall insane! Even his most trusted lieutenant dared strike him. Had he lost his mind?
āFugui, do you know what youāre doing?ā Qu Zhengding demanded.
āOf course I do. And you must never call me Fugui againāthat name is only for Elder Brother. I am the best loyal dog under Elder Brother. Woof woof!ā Shen Fugui barked twice, then slapped Qu Zhengding again. As Qu Zhengding reeled, Shen Fugui crouched at Ye Yuās feet, looking up with a pleading expression. With no tail to wag, his devilās horns bobbed. He was the perfect obedient dog.
Ye Yu smiled and patted his horns. Indeed, he was far better behaved now!
Bai Qingsong, seeing this, felt a flicker of fear. Heād just watched Ye Yu seize Shen Fuguiās mind in an instant, turning him into a toy. Thank goodness heād knelt quicklyāotherwise heād have suffered the same fate!
āAh!ā Qu Zhengding roared in fury. The surrounding space warped as he glared at Ye Yu. āWho exactly are you?ā
From Shen Fuguiās crazed expression, Qu Zhengding knew his once-loyal subordinate had been mind-controlled. The instigator had to be this newcomer, Ye Yu. Bai Qingsong lacked both the ability and the nerve!
Ye Yu stepped forward, his cultivation stabilizing the space. āWho I am is unimportant. What matters is, do you know Hua Jiuming?ā
Qu Zhengdingās eyes widened. His secret collaboration with Hua Jiuming was known to no oneānot even the other Demon Lords. How did this man know the name?
Ye Yu smiled, then appeared before Qu Zhengding. āSince you know him, why not tell me everything? If you refuse, Iāll uncover it myself.ā
āYouāre courting death!ā Qu Zhengding roared and moved to strikeābut Ye Yu was faster. His fist slammed into Qu Zhengdingās chest.
Qu Zhengding flew backward like a cannonball, crashing through two columns before coming to rest. Ye Yu eyed his right hand in surprise. Qu Zhengding was only half a step into the Emperor ā NоvеlŃgŅ»Ń ā (Continue reading) Realmāthis punch should have killed him. Yet he lived. Was it the armor?
Qu Zhengding coughed up two mouthfuls of old blood; his armor had a huge dent at the chest. It looked direābut he was still alive! Moreover, the armor visibly began to mend itself. Indeed, a true treasure. Ye Yu decided on a different approach.
He held one hand forward and summoned a purple talisman on his fingertip. With a gentle toss, the blazing sun above blazed brighter. A beam of light pierced the hallās roof, engulfing Qu Zhengding. Fire from the sun burned him from within! This was the
Taishang Commanding Edict
(Taishang ChimƬng Jue ā commanding the power of heaven and earth).
Qu Zhengding howled in agony as his demon body was utterly incinerated, leaving only the black armor on the floor. A wisp of his soul tried to fleeābut a powerful suction drew it into Ye Yuās palm. The translucent form of Qu Zhengding struggled in vain as Ye Yu read his memories.
Only then did Ye Yu understand why Bai Qingsong had never heard of Hua Jiuming. Six months earlier, a bloodied young man had appeared at the Juque Prefecture Demon Lord Palace. Qu Zhengding, arrogant to the core, had intended to expel himābut was defeated instantly. Faced with death, he became compliant and produced many top-grade healing pills at the manās command. The next day, Qu Zhengding learned that this bruised, battered man was called Hua Jiuming.