The palace was shrouded in countless formations, a mysterious black mist swirling within.

And beyond the black mist, outside the palace, an overwhelming demonic aura had gathered without anyone noticing.

From the moment she entered the palace, the Demon Empress hadn’t even glanced at Fang Long.

Only when Fang Long spoke did her eyes show a hint of confusion, glancing at him through the hazy demonic aura.

After a moment, she casually withdrew her gaze.

“Did you hear that? Even my subordinates in the Demon Realm know what will happen if you cut off contact with me. You’re usually clever, but it seems you have moments of dullness, too?”

Her voice, soft and gentle, echoed through the palace.

Seductive and alluring, her red lips curled into a mocking smile. She raised her eyes, her bright red pupils enchanting, her gaze fixed on Mu Zhi’an.

Although the palace had just been filled with a murderous aura, the moment the Demon Empress spoke, that aura seemed to freeze in an instant.

Fang Long was slightly stunned.

Yao Shan narrowed his eyes, looking at the scene with uncertainty. For some reason, he had a faint, ominous feeling.

Ye Yu subconsciously swallowed, his throat bobbing, his eyes filled with both an uncontrollable infatuation and a hint of doubt.

Even Ye Qingxin was equally puzzled.

At this moment, Ye Qingxin seemed to stand in the void, a red flame illuminating her black and red dress, making it even more vibrant. Her graceful body was hidden within the interwoven black and red flames, like a fairy of fire.

Her usually clear and beautiful eyes were now filled with confusion.

She had been prepared to burn this wisp of her consciousness to protect Mu Zhi’an. After all, with the First Seat of the Demon Realm present, no one in the Nine Provinces could confidently say they could defeat her, not to mention Ye Yu and Fang Long were also eyeing them.

However… the Demon Empress had appeared.

And she could clearly sense that this new Demon Empress, who had devoured the Primordial Demon Emperor, seemed to have no hostility towards Mu Zhi’an.

Judging from her tone just now, it was almost as if the two of them already knew each other!

Amidst the stunned silence of the crowd, Mu Zhi’an slowly raised his hand, bowed, and said, “This junior just felt that Your Majesty is busy day and night. If I were to disturb your important matters, I would also feel guilty.”

As these words fell, the air seemed to freeze for a moment, accompanied by Ye Yu’s rapidly accelerating heartbeat.

Indeed!

It wasn’t his imagination. Mu Zhian really did know the Demon Empress!

Mu Zhian is a spy from the Demon Realm. He must have colluded with the Demon Empress long ago!

But how was that possible? He was just a Core Formation cultivator. How could he have come into contact with a Dao Integration expert like the Demon Empress?!

Ye Yu’s mind was roaring, but on the surface, he didn’t even move, as if he were a statue.

No… it wasn’t that he didn’t want to move, but rather a deep-seated fear.

Ye Yu’s body trembled slightly, and not far away, Fang Long’s legs were already uncontrollably shaking.

The Demon Empress, known to the world for her captivating beauty and charm, exuded an irresistible allure that could drive any cultivator mad.

Even the current Ye Yu was captivated by her aura. Although he knew something was wrong, he found it difficult to move.

On one hand, it was due to an uncontrollable infatuation, and on the other hand, it was a deep fear of the Demon Empress, which made his feet feel like lead, completely immobile.

In the past, when he was in Tianxuan City, he had reported to the Two Polarities Sect that Mu Zhian was harboring a demonic cultivator. But at that time, he only knew about Bai Ruoxi’s identity as a demonic cultivator. He had no idea that Mu Zhian himself was connected to the Demon Realm!

“What do you think I should do?” the Demon Empress asked again, her voice soft and playful.

Her tone was playful, filled with an arrogance that looked down on the world, and her bright red eyes were filled with a teasing smile as she looked at Mu Zhian.

Mu Zhian raised his head and saw her alluring figure faintly visible within the demonic aura, and his heart couldn’t help but flutter.

This beautiful snake… was truly like a deadly poison. Even knowing the danger, one couldn’t help but be drawn to her.

Mu Zhian respectfully said, “It’s all up to Senior to decide.”

Fang Long’s body trembled, and he finally came to his senses.

He finally realized the situation, and his pupils contracted violently. He hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, this is all a misunderstanding—”

“Fool, shut up,” the Demon Empress said softly.

For some reason, even her scolding carried a hint of coquettishness, which was probably the innate charm of the Demon Empress.

Although it was inappropriate, Mu Zhi’an suddenly felt that being scolded by such a woman would be quite… stimulating.

However, Fang Long clearly didn’t feel any of that charm. The moment the Demon Empress spoke, an overwhelming pressure descended upon the palace, and the vast demonic aura almost completely enveloped it.

One moment she seemed far away, but the next, the Demon Empress was right in front of Mu Zhi’an.

Her seductive red eyes were filled with allure as she stood almost face-to-face with him, her breath warm against his skin.

Her exquisite face was filled with an indescribable charm, and Mu Zhi’an’s heartbeat quickened uncontrollably as he stared at her enchanting face.

Ye Qingxin frowned slightly, glancing at Mu Zhi’an without drawing attention. For some reason, she felt a pang of displeasure. She had enjoyed teasing him earlier, but seeing the Demon Empress act so forward was unsettling. It was even more disconcerting that Mu Zhi’an, usually a seasoned player, seemed so innocent and flustered before the Demon Empress, as if she held all the power. But there was nothing she could do about it.

Her clear and bright eyes, the sweet fragrance that escaped her slightly parted red lips, and her innate seductive aura—any man would appear as innocent as a pure boy before the Demon Empress.

This was the true body of the Demon Empress. Unlike the wisp of consciousness that had interacted with Mu Zhi’an before, the seductive aura she exuded now was something that even Nascent Soul cultivators couldn’t resist.

At first glance, she seemed seductive and charming, but upon closer inspection, one might find her pure and innocent. Another look might reveal her as a noble and aloof empress…

No matter what, one could always find a type they liked in her.

Fortunately, Mu Zhi’an had some resistance. He bit his tongue slightly to maintain his composure, lowered his eyes, and broke the silence. “Senior is joking. This person seems to be a demonic cultivator from the Demon-Devouring Rhinoceros clan of the borderlands, and his status is not low.”

“This junior dares not ask Senior to do anything. It’s alright for me to suffer a little grievance.”

Hearing this, Fang Long secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his back was already drenched in cold sweat.

Besides a sigh of relief, he felt a surge of hatred towards Yao Shan and Mu Zhi’an.

The former had dragged him into this mess. He had thought it was a great opportunity, but he nearly lost his life.

As for the latter…

Mu Zhi’an was the center of this incident, and although he didn’t know why the Demon Empress was so ambiguous towards Mu Zhi’an, he guessed it was related to the forces behind him.

After all, Mu Zhi’an’s Dao Companion was the Jade Empress, and since Mu Zhi’an was a spy planted by the Demon Realm in the Eastern Continent, the Demon Empress likely needed some information he provided…

Thinking about it this way, everything made sense.

However, when Mu Zhi’an was no longer useful…

However, before he could secretly ponder the subsequent matters, he heard Mu Zhi’an’s reserved and gentle voice continue, “Although this junior is not a member of the Demon Realm, I hope that the Demon Realm will become better and better in the future… I think that even if it’s Your Majesty, if you so easily kill a clan leader of the borderlands, there will probably be some trouble in the future, right?”

At first glance, these words seemed to be no problem, but they were like a gentle knife, concealing a murderous intent.

Fang Long, a widely experienced demonic cultivator, naturally understood the killing intent in Mu Zhi’an’s words, and his heart skipped a beat.

The Demon Empress didn’t pay attention to the others, she just gently stroked Mu Zhi’an’s face, and then leaned down slightly, bringing her red lips close to Mu Zhi’an’s ear. She softly said, “If someone wants to hurt you, don’t let them off easily.”

Mu Zhi’an raised his head and looked at the alluring figure before him. After being silent for a while, he whispered, “Then what if… it’s someone from the Demon Realm?”

“Your Majesty—”

Fang Long suddenly raised his head. He realized that if he didn’t speak now, he might not have another chance to speak.

However, before he could finish speaking, a pink demonic aura silently enveloped the palace.

Red lights lit up in the demonic aura, and a giant, ethereal python opened its fangs, swallowing the Vice Clan Leader of the Demon-Devouring Rhinoceros clan in one bite.

There wasn’t even a hint of blood in the palace, and even the spiritual energy was completely devoured.

The Demon Empress’s alluring red eyes were filled with a teasing smile.

“If you like them, they’re all yours.”

When she said the last part, she glanced at Ye Yu inadvertently.

And just that casual glance made Ye Yu’s heart tremble violently. Only then did he finally realize his current situation.

This was a true Dao Integration expert, not a wisp of consciousness, but the true body of the Demon Empress!

Although she hadn’t refined the essence of the Primordial Demon Emperor yet, she had already vaguely touched the bottleneck of Dao Integration.

“Teacher!”

Ye Yu roared inwardly, his expression filled with terror.

Yao Shan’s eyes flickered, and he was equally terrified.

If they didn’t think of a way out, both he and Ye Yu would probably die here today.

Mu Zhi’an glanced at them casually, already sensing Ye Yu’s intention to retreat, but he didn’t say anything.

He wasn’t sure what the Demon Empress’s attitude towards him was. If he asked her to intervene now, he felt it would be too much.

If the Demon Empress really had designs on his body, then this scene was probably a reenactment of the historical event of “using the beacon fires to entertain the feudal lords.” (A story where a king repeatedly lit warning fires to amuse his concubine, eventually leading to the kingdom’s downfall when a real threat arrived and no one heeded the signals).

But what was her motive? Was she really just… interested in his body?

It was possible. After all, when the Demon Empress first appeared, she didn’t kill him because his Innate Celestial Furnace was interesting. She had used him as a spy in the Two Polarities Sect.

And after that, although he had interacted with her a few times, it was just a subordinate reporting to his superior.

However, ever since the Demon Empress gave him the authority to meet her directly… things seemed to have changed.

But no matter what, Ye Yu couldn’t die yet.

As for the reason…

Mu Zhi’an silently glanced at his personal interface, at his luck value.

Since he last checked, his luck value had increased to ’95’. Ye Yu’s luck must be dwindling.

However, he didn’t know exactly how much luck Ye Yu had left.

If he killed him now, he might trigger the Heavenly Dao’s backlash.

“Teacher, we have to go now!”

At this moment, Ye Yu suddenly roared in his heart. In that instant, Yao Shan immediately took control of Ye Yu’s body. He burned Ye Yu’s essence and instantly turned into a streak of light, rushing out of the abyss palace.

Faced with a Dao Integration expert who had descended in her true form, neither Yao Shan nor Ye Yu had any desire to fight. They just wanted to escape from the abyss palace alive.

The Demon Empress turned her head slightly to look outside the abyss palace, and a torrential demonic aura gradually filled her body.

“If you kill him now, you might suffer the Heavenly Dao’s backlash,” Mu Zhi’an said, seeing her reaction, and quickly reminded her.

“I know,” the Demon Empress whispered, looking up at Ye Yu, who seemed to be desperately trying to escape from the abyss. Her beautiful red eyes rippled slightly.

“But I said earlier, if you like something, I’ll give it to you.”

I want you. Will you give yourself to me…? Mu Zhi’an thought, then hesitated, about to speak.

However, at this moment, he suddenly felt the Demon Empress’s teasing gaze, and he was slightly taken aback. Then, his heart skipped a beat.

This woman can read minds!

Mu Zhi’an composed himself and said, “If Your Majesty really wants to deal with Ye Yu, perhaps you can wait a little longer.”

“If I’m not mistaken, there will be another good show soon.”

The Demon Empress was indeed intrigued by his words and asked with interest, “You’re so sure?”

Mu Zhi’an nodded slightly.

“Someone who doesn’t even spare his own ancestor… who would feel safe around him?” he said softly.

At this moment, Ye Yu seemed to be burning with an intense fire. His face was extremely pale, but his aura was stronger than ever before.

After taking control of the body, Yao Shan directly burned Ye Yu’s essence. Although it consumed nearly half of his lifespan, as long as he was still alive, there would always be a chance for a comeback in the future.

“It seems we have successfully escaped danger.”

Ye Yu’s voice rang out, his tone carrying a hint of lingering fear, as well as intense hatred. “I didn’t expect Mu Zhi’an to collude with the Demon Empress. If I report this to the Two Polarities Sect…”

Yao Shan said quietly, “I’m also a little surprised. The Demon Empress is extremely arrogant by nature. A mere Core Formation cultivator wouldn’t be able to catch her eye. It seems that Mu Zhi’an has some secrets that have attracted her attention.”

“I didn’t expect that fool Fang Long to actually bring the Demon Empress here… If it weren’t for her, even if Mu Zhi’an died in the abyss, no one would have noticed,” Ye Yu’s voice was filled with anger.

“But fortunately, I’m still alive… After this, I must leave the Eastern Continent. When I return in the future, I will make Mu Zhi’an pay for his revenge.”

While Ye Yu felt regretful, he also felt a lingering sense of relief, secretly thinking about his future plans.

“With the Demon Empress’s strength, even if I burned my essence, I wouldn’t be able to escape her grasp… She must know about your luck, so she doesn’t want to kill you and suffer the backlash of luck,” Yao Shan said quietly.

“Backlash of luck? Teacher, do you mean that my luck is so strong that even a Dao Integration expert would be afraid of it?” Ye Yu was both surprised and delighted.

Yao Shan’s eyes showed a hint of coldness, and he said in a very subtle way, “In short, if someone wants to kill you by force, they will be backlashed by your luck.”

“There are only two ways to kill you. One is to wait until your luck is completely exhausted, and the other is… Ye Yu’s consciousness dies, but Ye Yu still lives.”

Ye Yu was stunned for a moment, as if he didn’t hear clearly.

“If my consciousness dies, how can I still be alive…?”

A thought seemed to flash through Ye Yu’s mind, and his face changed slightly. He said urgently, “…Teacher, what do you want to do?!”

He had been rushing all the way here, and he had consumed a lot of his spiritual energy. Now, his consciousness was extremely weak.

In the past, he had been slow to help Yao Shan nourish his consciousness, partly because he was afraid that Yao Shan’s consciousness would become stronger and take over his body.

But he didn’t expect that although Yao Shan’s consciousness had not become stronger, his own consciousness had become weaker at this moment.

“After you die, I will be Ye Yu. In this way, the Heavenly Dao will not backlash against me.”

Yao Shan’s eyes were already filled with a sinister coldness. His consciousness took the initiative and was devouring Ye Yu’s consciousness.

“Actually, if you had chosen to spare your ancestor today, perhaps I wouldn’t have made a move so soon… But your heart is too vicious.”

“People who deceive their masters and destroy their ancestors, I’m talking about you, Ye Yu.”

If he dared to attack his own ancestor today, who could guarantee that he wouldn’t poison his own teacher next time?

Such a Ye Yu could no longer be trusted.

“I’m not reconciled! I’m the Chosen One. How could I be devoured by you?!” Ye Yu’s consciousness was already extremely weak at this moment. He let out a low roar, gritted his teeth, and tried his best to resist the devouring of Yao Shan’s consciousness.

Yao Shan said coldly, “After you die, I will make the name Ye Yu become a Dao Integration expert in the Nine Provinces in the future. You can rest in peace.”

“No matter who uses this body, they can reach the pinnacle of cultivation, except for yourself. If it weren’t for its support, you wouldn’t even have reached the Core Formation Realm.”

The fall of these words made Ye Yu’s will waver. He subconsciously said, “It? Who is it?! Could it be that my luck is not innate?!”

Yao Shan showed a faint smile, trying to break down Ye Yu’s will with words. “Your luck is naturally not innate, but bestowed by the heavens. To be more precise, it’s because—”

“Because of the Heavenly Dao.”

The struggle for control of the body hadn’t ended when a soft, seductive voice suddenly echoed in their ears. To both Ye Yu and Yao Shan, this voice was like a nightmare, haunting them.

Then, they both discovered that the spiritual energy within the vessel was being rapidly drained!

Ye Yu’s heart trembled, and he looked up, his eyes bloodshot. He saw a stunningly beautiful woman emerging from the demonic mist.

She walked towards them step by step, a captivating smile on her face.

“The Demon Empress, why are you here?!” Yao Shan stared at the woman in fear.

He had thought that the Demon Empress would let Ye Yu escape, but he hadn’t expected her to follow them.

Seeing the spiritual energy in his body being devoured by the strange demonic mist and his consciousness gradually weakening, Yao Shan said urgently, “Release me, and I can sign a master-servant contract and become a member of the Demon Realm!”

“If I had the Myriad Transformations Cauldron, I might be able to refine an immortal-grade pill to help you ascend!”

The Demon Empress remained unmoved, gazing at him indifferently.

Yao Shan was both shocked and angry. “You can’t kill him! You can’t kill him! If you kill him, you’ll suffer the backlash of luck! This is a rule set by the Heavenly Dao. Even Dao Integration experts must obey this order!”

“Demon Empress, why are you helping a cultivator from the Eastern Continent? If you suffer the backlash of the Heavenly Dao, it might even affect your future cultivation…”

Ye Yu’s consciousness let out a terrified and desperate roar.

Why was she disregarding even the Heavenly Dao? If the Heavenly Dao retaliated, even a Dao Integration expert wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

Boom!

Just as Ye Yu’s consciousness was becoming weaker and weaker, almost dissipating, a loud rumble came from the sky outside the abyss, and a gentle white light silently enveloped the area.

The will of the Heavenly Dao!

At this moment, it was as if a corner of the sky had collapsed. On one side was a clear blue sky, and on the other was a deep darkness.

Drip…

The Heavenly Dao’s backlash caused a drop of blood to appear on the Demon Empress’s fingertip. Ye Yu looked up, as if seeing hope, but he was greeted by the sight of the World-Snatching Serpent emerging from the demonic mist.

Ye Yu’s pupils contracted suddenly. He didn’t even have time to speak before he was completely devoured by the World-Snatching Serpent.

Even in death, Yao Shan and Ye Yu didn’t expect the Demon Empress to disregard the rules of the Heavenly Dao and kill him directly.

A faint white light silently appeared in people’s field of vision, and the entire abyss seemed to be filled with the will of the Heavenly Dao. All the cultivators involuntarily knelt down, their bodies trembling.

That wisp of white light seemed to have a consciousness of its own, and its pressure descended upon the Demon Empress.

The Demon Empress raised her head, her alluring red eyes calm and indifferent. She slapped the will of the Heavenly Dao, shattering the white light.

She licked the drop of blood from her fingertip and said softly, “Next time, send the real one. You’re not qualified enough.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay