Chapter 100
Xiao Xiao rushed to Wei Jie’s side, grabbing his arm. “Wei Jie, stop fighting!”
But he ignored her, his attacks relentless, the Dongyuan Emperor barely able to defend himself. Black scales spread across Wei Jie’s face, his demonic nature intensifying.
Gods and mortals were vastly different. But a true demon… they could rival even a deity.
Wei Jie, fully consumed by demonic energy, effortlessly deflected the Dongyuan Emperor’s attacks, his power growing with each blow.
The Dongyuan Emperor cursed his mortal vessel. If he were in his true form, he wouldn’t be struggling like this.
Xiao Xiao, seeing Wei Jie’s murderous rage, his intent to destroy, panicked. The Dongyuan Emperor, no matter how vile, was still the son of the Heavenly Emperor. If Wei Jie killed him, he would be making an enemy of the entire celestial realm.
It wasn’t worth it!
Wei Jie was losing control, consumed by his demonic nature. She couldn’t let him continue down this path.
She leaped onto his back, her voice ringing out. “Wei Jie, control yourself! Don’t let it consume you! The Dongyuan Emperor’s crimes… the heavens will deal with him. But we’re mortals! Killing a god is a grave sin!”
He finally stopped, turning to look at her, his gaze fixed on her bruised chin, a mark left by the Dongyuan Emperor’s grip.
The Dongyuan Emperor, seeing Wei Jie relent, closed his eyes, focusing on calming his turbulent soul, his body still submerged in the rising water. Wei Jie’s attacks had nearly dislodged his soul from this newly acquired vessel.
He needed to stabilize himself. But as he opened his eyes, the scene before him nearly caused his soul to flee in outrage.
Cui Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie were embracing, their bodies pressed together, their affection undeniable…
He remembered Wei Feng’s reluctance, her refusal to fully surrender to him. And now… she was clinging to the ancient Flame Emperor’s reincarnation.
It was as if a blunt knife was sawing at his heart.
He had yearned for her for centuries, and she had chosen his enemy! Jealousy and rage consumed him. She had betrayed him!
His gaze fell upon the tunnel Tang Youshu had created.
The earth there was soft, the island’s weak point…
He leaped forward, charging towards Tang Youshu, snatching the statue from his belt.
He knew that with the statue, he could reverse time. He could go back, to the beginning, and prevent her betrayal!
He was a man of action, unlike those pathetic mortals who groveled at their beloved’s feet, begging for forgiveness.
With the statue in his hand, he moved like lightning, reaching the tunnel, widening it with a blast of energy, then disappearing into the darkness.
But his escape triggered the island’s defenses. The opening sealed rapidly, the earth hardening, forming a mountain. A blood-red tablet, bearing three large characters – Zhangwei Mountain – appeared on its peak.
The mountain blocked their only escape route. Tang Youshu, clutching the little white fox, stamped his foot in frustration.
The water was rising, reaching their waists, trapping them.
Xiao Xiao looked at Wei Jie, his face now half-covered in black scales, her heart heavy.
But in his eyes, she saw… disgust.
With the demonic bead from his past life returned to him, his demonic nature had intensified, memories flooding his mind.
He remembered the horror his scales evoked, the fear in the eyes of those who had once admired him, their revulsion at his monstrous appearance.
He had glimpsed his reflection in the water during the fight. He was a far cry from the handsome young man he once was.
The thought of Xiao Xiao reacting like those others, fleeing in terror… it triggered a wave of bitterness, of anger, accelerating his transformation. More scales appeared, his fingernails lengthening, turning black.
He was a demon now. Why pretend to be good? If she tried to escape, he would stop her, bind her to him. She was something he had never possessed before, something precious. He wouldn’t let anyone take her from him!
He pulled her close, his grip on her chin mirroring the Dongyuan Emperor’s.
He didn’t want her tainted by another’s touch. She was his! He lowered his head, wanting to kiss her, to erase the other man’s scent.
But as he leaned in, he saw tears in her eyes, a fierce, unyielding anger…
He glanced at his reflection in the water, his face monstrous, grotesque, even repulsive to him…
She loved beauty, her desire to establish the Joy Sect, to gather handsome men…
And now… the handsome young man she had once favored was gone. Seeing her tears, her anger, her humiliation… his hardened heart ached.
He had always indulged her, never wanting to see her hurt. How could he bear to subject her to this?
He released her, turning away, unable to look at her.
But she grabbed his chin, forcing him to face her.
And then, cupping his scaled face in her hands, she yelled at him, her voice familiar, her anger a comforting warmth. “You and Tang Youshu! You’re both impossible! Look at this mess! He nearly died, and you… you absorbed another demonic bead! Are you trying to speed up your transformation?! Why didn’t you leave with them?! Now the Dongyuan Emperor has the statue!”
Her familiar scolding, her anger… it calmed the storm within him. “You… you’re not afraid of me?” he asked, his voice a low murmur.
She didn’t answer his foolish question. Her thumb, wiping the blood from his lip, brushed against his skin. She was so close, he could smell the fragrance of her hair. If he lowered his head, he could kiss her…
And he did. His kiss was fierce, possessive, demanding, a reflection of his inner turmoil. And she responded, her arms wrapping around his neck, her lips meeting his, her passion matching his own.
She knew he was struggling. His hesitation earlier, his averted gaze, the pain in his eyes… it reminded her of the lonely, black-scaled man in her dreams.
Her heart ached for him. Even in this dangerous situation, her priority was to comfort him.
As they kissed, the scales on his face faded, his demonic nature receding.
It seemed that in this life, although he was still a demon, he wasn’t the same lonely, isolated individual. His control over his demonic nature was stronger.
He wasn’t being controlled. He was wielding it.
Xiao Xiao, relieved, sighed.
Tang Youshu, standing in the waist-deep water, the lifeless white fox cradled in his arms, exchanged uneasy glances with the other foxes.
He didn’t want to interrupt his master and Xiao Xiao, but the water was rising. They had to do something! He lifted the fox above his head, shouting, “Master! The island is sinking! The tunnel is blocked! What do we do?!”
Xiao Xiao, pointing at the newly formed Zhangwei Mountain, said, “Let’s climb the mountain! We need to get out of the water!”
The mountain, now towering over them, had stone steps leading to its peak. But as they climbed, they realized something was wrong – the white stones beneath their feet… they looked like bones!
Madam Fu’s voice, cold and mocking, echoed through the air. “I thought the world was a cold, heartless place, devoid of true love. But you… you’ve managed to create such a touching spectacle, a love story unfolding on the brink of destruction! Congratulations! At least you’ll die together!”
Her voice hardened. “The steps beneath your feet… they’re the bones of the demons slaughtered in our city. Wei Feng, you built your reputation on their blood. This is your punishment!”
Something erupted from the ground. Several demonic embryos, prematurely matured, burst from their sacs.
Tang Youshu, his knowledge vast, recognized them instantly.
They were true demons, born of darkness, each with a single, sharp horn protruding from their foreheads.
These newly hatched creatures, resembling oversized toads, were Yasha demons, also known as Water Yasha.
They were the vanguard of the demon army, known for their ferocity and strength.
For some reason, during times of peace, their numbers dwindled, but during times of war, they multiplied rapidly.
Xiao Xiao understood now why Madam Fu had flooded the island.
As their name suggested, Water Yasha thrived in water. Submerged, they became invisible, blending seamlessly with their surroundings, capable of appearing anywhere, their attacks unpredictable.
The water was rising, soon to engulf the island. Once it did, they would be at the mercy of these creatures.
The Yasha demons leaped into the water, their forms dissolving, disappearing into the blue depths.
But submerged, they would regain their strength, preparing for a devastating attack.
Two of the foxes, standing too close to the water’s edge, screamed as two long, serpent-like heads, resembling those of toads, shot from the water, piercing their chests.
Xiao Xiao reacted instantly, leaping forward, two silver talismans in her hand, striking the water, rescuing the foxes.
Her attacks sent sprays of water exploding into the air, accompanied by toad-like croaks of pain.
“Xiao Xiao, can you see them?” Tang Youshu asked, his voice filled with surprise. “The Water Yasha?”
Xiao Xiao, her eyes wide, scanned the water, seeing fleeting shadows, their movements clear. And strangely, she could even predict their next attack.
“Three approaching from the northeast, two from the south,” she said, her voice urgent. “They’re surrounding us!”
With her guidance, the invisible threat became visible. But their speed was incredible. She would point them out to Wei Jie, and a moment later, they would have shifted positions.
But no matter how they moved, she could track them.
And strangely, as she spoke, their croaking grew fainter, their movements hesitant.
They surfaced, their heads emerging from the water, as if compelled, crawling onto the shore, prostrating themselves before Xiao Xiao, their croaks now rhythmic, almost reverent.
Madam Fu reappeared, her usual smile gone, her eyes wide with disbelief. “What’s wrong with you?!” she shouted, her voice laced with anger. “Why are you surrendering?! You’re the vanguard of the demon army!”
These Water Yasha, even in battles against deities, were fearless, fighting to the death, their hunger for divine flesh insatiable.
But now… they were docile, their ferocity gone.
Xiao Xiao was also puzzled. It seemed Madam Fu had been relying on these creatures as her trump card. But why were they acting so… submissive? Was this a trick? Or were they afraid of her phoenix guardians?
Madam Fu, staring at the prostrated Yasha demons, then at Xiao Xiao, her eyes widening, asked, “Are they… bowing to you?”
Xiao Xiao, clueless, simply shrugged, her eyebrows raised innocently.
Madam Fu, her gaze fixed on her, asked, “You could see them? The Water Yasha?”
Xiao Xiao nodded. “I had a high fever when I was a child. It gave me the ability to see… things… Don’t tell me you’re going to claim I’m the Wei Feng Divine Lady again.”
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