Chapter 61 How Can Demons Deserve Love?

Chapter 61: How Could a Demon Have Feelings?

In his dream, Yuan Xiao and Que Zizhen had bid him farewell, offering no destination, merely turning and vanishing into the darkness, deaf to his desperate cries.

Waking to their absence, Yuan Qichen’s premonition intensified.

A Half-Step Tribulation cultivator could sense the workings of the heavens; his dream, perhaps, was an omen.

Xi Yue pounded on the door with such fervor, as if vowing not to cease until he appeared. Yuan Qichen, at his wit's end, rubbed his temples and cursed, “Make them wait!”

He then cast forth his spiritual sense, scouring the Ten Thousand Demons Abyss for any trace of the two. Yet, neither Yuan Xiao nor Que Zizhen left the slightest imprint of their presence.

After his outburst of vexation, Xi Yue fell silent, but soon, Yuan Qichen opened the door.

“What time is it now?”

Xi Yue replied, “It’s just past Yin hour.”

Normally, at this time, Que Zizhen would still be teaching Yuan Xiao sword techniques in the small grove outside the Demon Palace. Given the reach of his spiritual sense, it was impossible for him to have missed them.

Unless they had already departed the confines of the Ten Thousand Demons Abyss.

The only question was whether their departure was voluntary or forced.

“How many people did that Bian Xiu bring?” Yuan Qichen asked, a cold, mocking smile playing on his lips, his eyes glinting with frosty intent.

Xi Yue suddenly felt her earlier worries had been superfluous. From his demeanor, it seemed less like Bian Xiu was invading the Ten Thousand Demons Abyss and more like Yuan Qichen was spoiling for a fight.

“Six Great Perfection Stage guardians, and his younger brother, Bian Xi,” she reported truthfully.

Six?

He had certainly moved swiftly to replenish his ranks.

Yuan Qichen remained as arrogant as ever, casting a disdainful glance at her. “Are you intimidated by mere six Great Perfection Stage cultivators?”

Seeing his calm, almost dismissive reaction, Xi Yue’s anxiety dissipated, and she reverted to her usual self. “Oh, it’s just that I haven’t seen much of the world.”

The Ten Thousand Demons Abyss lacked the formidable barrier of the Tianshu Palace’s Mountain Protection Formation. Moreover, according to demonic customs, avoiding a fight was tantamount to relinquishing the title of Demon Lord and surrendering the Ten Thousand Demons Abyss without a struggle.

Yuan Qichen harbored both fresh grievances and old animosities, so he naturally couldn’t let it pass.

But making him wait a little longer was no great challenge.

By the time Yuan Qichen emerged alone, Bian Xiu’s face already betrayed signs of impatience. However, caution was etched into his very bones. Having waited so many years, a little longer made no difference.

“The Demon Lord certainly knows how to put on airs,” Bian Xiu sneered, his tone dripping with resentment.

Yuan Qichen rarely found himself at a disadvantage in such verbal sparring. He feigned confusion and retorted, “If I don’t put on airs, should I let a defeated rival like you do it instead?”

The phrase “defeated rival” grated on Bian Xiu’s nerves. “It’s been a hundred years since our last encounter. Who will emerge victorious today remains to be seen.”

Yuan Qichen chuckled. “You don’t actually believe breaking through to a new realm guarantees your victory, do you? Within the same stage, aside from Que Zizhen, no one has ever bested me. Half-Step Tribulation? Who here isn’t a Half-Step Tribulation?”

As he spoke, an overwhelming demonic energy erupted, its pressure enveloping the entire Ten Thousand Demons Abyss.

The six Great Perfection Stage guardians couldn’t withstand it and collectively took half a step back, their hearts trembling with fear.

To have survived the Tianshu Palace’s innate artifact-enhanced Mountain Protection Formation and, in less than a month, not only recovered but even broken through to a new realm—he was nothing short of a monster in cultivation.

Fortunately, Bian Xiu remained standing firm, which offered them some reassurance.

After all, who wasn’t a Half-Step Tribulation?

In terms of who broke through first, Bian Xiu held the advantage.

They were brimming with confidence in Bian Xiu, but only Bian Xi knew that his elder brother’s obsession with avenging his defeat against Yuan Qichen was almost akin to an inner demon. Yuan Qichen’s words were precisely targeted at Bian Xiu’s most vulnerable point.

Luckily, they hadn’t come unprepared.

“I’ve heard that the Young Master of the Demon Realm practices both immortal and demonic arts—a rarity in this world. Why hasn’t he come out with the Demon Lord today to broaden his horizons?” Bian Xi asked, feigning curiosity.

Yuan Qichen shot him a sharp glare, his expression darkening as he pieced things together. He sneered, “It’s common for children to be playful. If he’s wandered off too far, someone from home will naturally go looking for him. As for broadening his horizons… what horizons are there to see today?”

Bian Xi refused to believe that Yuan Qichen felt nothing for his son and couldn’t help dropping a hint. “I’ve heard that a dangerous karmic realm has appeared recently in the demon domain. I just hope the Young Master of the Demon Realm hasn’t accidentally stumbled into it. It would be such a pity if he lost an arm or a leg.”

To his surprise, Yuan Qichen showed no reaction at all.

Bian Xi was incredulous.

He had witnessed the murderous look in Yuan Qichen’s eyes when he was fiercely protective of his son. How could he remain calm upon hearing that his son might be in danger?

In reality, Yuan Qichen had already sent a mental message to Xi Yue, instructing her to send people to search for the karmic realm.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t worried—it was that he knew Que Zizhen would undoubtedly be by Yuan Xiao’s side.

That child was one they had risked their lives to protect. Que Zizhen would definitely bring Yuan Xiao back safely.

“Enough, I have no old sentiments to share with you,” Yuan Qichen said.

No matter what he did, Yuan Qichen always carried a lazy, languid air—even when facing off against an enemy.

“Let’s settle how we’ll fight. If you challenge me alone, according to demon customs, the winner becomes the Demon Lord. If you plan to bring those useless trash with you, I’ll treat it as a provocation and summon the demons of the Ten Thousand Demons Abyss to battle.”

Bian Xiu had never intended to abide by any rules from the start—he wanted to be the one to make the new rules.

But Yuan Qichen’s words forced him to make a choice.

Still, the outcome would be the same.

Bian Xiu’s obsession ran too deep; no matter what, he would choose the former.

Without further ado, the two summoned their lifebound artifacts simultaneously, rising into the air. In the blink of an eye, the clash of their demonic energies rivaled the intensity of the Tianshu Palace’s Mountain Protection Formation.

Yuan Qichen had been simmering with anger since morning, and now he finally had an outlet, holding nothing back in his attacks.

Though Bian Xiu’s desire to win was fierce, his fear of losing was equally strong.

Their battle was so intense that those of lower cultivation couldn’t even follow their movements. But Bian Xiu, locked in combat with Yuan Qichen, knew all too well that if they continued like this, he would surely lose.

Resentment—nothing but resentment filled him.

Yet, at this point, even if he was unwilling, he had only one choice left.

Bian Xiu feigned an opening, luring Yuan Qichen to the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Demons Abyss, where the six guardians and Bian Xi were already poised and ready.

The moment Yuan Qichen stepped into the range of their formation, Bian Xiu swiftly took the final key position and shouted, “Activate the formation!”

Even someone as unfamiliar with formation arrays and their restrictions as Yuan Qichen could recognize at a glance that this formation was a perfected version of the Moon-Listening Tower's formation—or rather, this was the true form of the formation.

"Eight against one? It seems you’ve chosen the second option after all." Yuan Qichen was astounded by this man’s audacity.

They clearly had no intention of a head-on confrontation, yet they insisted on staging this pointless duel.

Bian Xiu had schemed for a long time and was determined to succeed today. He wouldn’t be swayed by a few sarcastic remarks. "Yuan Qichen, today, you die!"

Yuan Qichen looked at him as if he were a fool. "Even the so-called righteous sects of the Various Immortal Sects understand mob tactics. Did I really expect you to face me alone?"

With that, he snapped his fingers. "They’ve come to our doorstep to provoke us. Time to get to work!"

The Sixteen Generals of the Four Directions emerged instantly, surrounding Bian Xiu and his followers.

Although only two among the sixteen were at the Great Perfection Stage, compared to Bian Xi and others who had relied on forbidden arts to artificially inflate their cultivation, it was like comparing the real deal versus cheap imitations.

Yuan Qichen gathered his strength for a full-force strike, locking the attention of the eight formation maintainers firmly on himself. Feng Xuan, with a sleazy grin, rubbed his hands together and led the charge toward the weakest link in the formation—Bian Xi’s position.

"Brothers, attack!"

In an instant, all kinds of life-bound magical instruments—swords, spears, and halberds—whirled through the air in a frenzy. It didn’t take long for Bian Xi to be pummeled until he was vomiting blood.

Thanks to the ten increasingly difficult layers of restrictions in the Tianshu Palace’s Mountain Protection Formation, Yuan Qichen had gained some understanding of formation restrictions himself.

The moment the formation loosened, Yuan Qichen seized the opportunity, pinpointed the weak spot, and broke through with sheer force.

"Whoever kills Bian Xiu will not only gain a favor from me but also inherit his Wangran City in the Far North," Yuan Qichen promised.

Instantly, the Sixteen Generals of the Four Directions surged with excitement, all rushing toward Bian Xiu.

Regardless of how he had attained his cultivation, Bian Xiu was still a Half-Step Tribulation expert. Moreover, according to Shiyi, the Heart Devouring Art he practiced himself was likely not entirely the same as the version he had spread to others.

The sixteen charged at him, only to be repelled without exception.

Yuan Qichen’s Jinghong followed closely behind. When the first strike failed, it swiftly transformed into a whip, leaving a terrifying lash mark on Bian Xiu.

Just as the second strike was about to land, Bian Xi rushed over and took the blow for him.

The two brothers clung to each other, a pitifully touching scene.

Yuan Qichen watched them coldly. "Any last words?"

Once again, Bian Xiu clearly felt that his defeat was inevitable.

A century of scheming had come to nothing in an instant.

Why was the Great Perfection Stage not enough? Why was even Half-Step Tribulation still not enough?

What about the Tribulation Stage?

As this thought crossed Bian Xiu’s mind, he glanced down at his brother, who was leaning against him.

They hadn't emerged from some blessed background. Like every other fiend race parent, their own parents had seen their children as rivals competing for resources.

He and Bian Xi had grown up licking each other’s wounds.

But so what? How could demons be worthy of emotions?

Useless emotions were nothing but burdens. He should have foreseen this outcome long ago.

Instead of last words, Yuan Qichen witnessed Bian Xiu’s sudden, ruthless move against his own brother.

Even the hardened demons present, who had seen everything, were shocked by his ruthlessness.

Seizing the opportunity, Bian Xiu discarded the corpse of his wide-eyed, disbelieving brother and transformed the six fleeing guardians into nourishment to boost his own cultivation.

"What is he trying to do?" Wu Ting frowned, puzzled.

Yuan Qichen hadn’t expected him to gamble everything like this. "He wants to undergo the heavenly tribulation."

Half-Step Tribulation was the highest realm a cultivator could reach. Beyond that lay only transcending the tribulation to become an immortal.

However, for ten thousand years, no one in the Three Continents and Four Realms of the Vast Sea had ever ascended to immortality.

The path to heaven had long since collapsed, and no one knew what would happen if one forced a tribulation under such circumstances.

Perhaps someone had tried over the long river of time, but so far, no one had succeeded.

Layers of tribulation clouds gathered overhead, denser and more imposing than yesterday or this morning.

Bian Xiu laughed maniacally, unafraid. "Hahaha... If the Great Perfection Stage isn’t enough, I’ll reach Half-Step Tribulation. If that’s still not enough, I’ll ascend to immortality! Yuan Qichen, today your life will be the sacrifice for Bian Xi’s soul!"

Yuan Qichen: "You’re insane."

Feng Xuan wholeheartedly agreed. "The Honored Lord is absolutely right. Let’s not bother with a madman. Let's get out of here!"

With that, he led the way to put as much distance as possible between them.

At that moment, the heavenly tribulation gathered completely. The rumble of thunder echoed from the clouds, but Bian Xiu seemed not to hear it, his eyes fixed solely on killing Yuan Qichen.

Yuan Qichen stood his ground.

As Bian Xiu closed in, Yuan Qichen didn’t move an inch.

"Boom—"

Heavenly lightning struck down, hitting Bian Xiu squarely.

But he was still an arrow’s flight away from Yuan Qichen.

And the next bolt of heavenly lightning was already gathering power.