GD Ch. 49 Part 1

Chapter 49: Why Are They Abandoning Her?

For centuries, who has ever heard Xuanjing mention his former master?

No one.

Xuanjing had never spoken a word about it in front of others. The devils only knew that he once had a master, but whether that master was an immortal or a devil, male or female, beautiful or hideous—none of them had any idea.

Heavenly warhorses arrived in waves, each carrying a celestial soldier clad in black armor. With a sharp cry, they swung their long swords, and in an instant, several small devils were decapitated.

The vast desert was drenched in blood. Pools of crimson seeped into the sand, but as the fierce wind howled, the traces of slaughter were buried as if nothing had ever happened.

Xuanjing slightly tilted the devil sword in his hand, and at once, a surge of devilish energy rose like boiling water. Wisps of inky black smoke clung to the sword’s black-and-white scabbard.

The blade remained sheathed, yet its sword aura had nowhere to hide. As the energy swirled, a massive vortex suddenly formed within the yellow sand, gaping like a giant mouth, swallowing the galloping celestial horses whole.

Several warhorses reared in terror, letting out panicked whinnies. The celestial soldiers riding them channeled their spiritual power, and in response, their steeds lifted off the ground, stepping on the wind to escape the sand pit that stretched dozens of feet wide.

Xuanjing clenched his five fingers, and the yellow sand instantly condensed into a colossal hand, slamming down on the rising celestial horses.

Each grain of sand moved like a swarm of ants, devouring the struggling warhorses until only bones remained—without even a drop of blood left behind.

The one leading the celestial troops to the Lower Realm was the undefeated Evil-Punisher Divine Lord. His face was concealed behind a mask, and his form was strong and imposing. Seeing Xuanjing about to draw his sword, he coldly warned, “You should not stand against the Heavenly Realm.”

Xuanjing had never met him before. But after seeing blood, his true nature was laid bare. He let out an unrestrained laugh.

“I am a devil sword. What wrong is there in opposing the Heavenly Realm?”

Right and wrong were but a matter of perspective, with no distinct boundaries. As a devil’s weapon, he was not in the wrong.

Evil-Punisher Divine Lord was unsurprised. He had long expected this sword to be obstinate and unrepentant. Pulling his reins sharply, he spoke icily, “Years ago, you slaughtered nearly a hundred villagers in search of someone. Many of their souls were shattered beyond reincarnation. Why did you act with such cruelty?”

Xuanjing’s expression was full of impatience. His fierce eyes lifted as he sneered, “Judging by your level of cultivation, what right do you have to lecture me?”

Evil-Punisher Divine Lord’s face darkened. “Do not bring calamity upon yourself.”

Xuanjing cast a disdainful glance at him. “When you first ascended to immortality, the souls perished under my blade were already countless. Who, then, is truly inviting calamity?”

Hearing this, Evil-Punisher Divine Lord’s grip tightened around his sword. With a swift nudge of his legs, his warhorse charged forward without another word.

The galloping celestial steed moved like a bolt of white lightning. Its hooves never touched the ground, yet the force of its speed sent sand billowing into the air, forming a hundred-foot-long dust trail in its wake.

At last, Xuanjing unsheathed his sword. The blade was long and slender, and from its tip to its hilt ran a narrow golden line, glowing brilliantly, like the stars condensed into a single streak.

The sight of that golden line stunned Evil-Punisher Divine Lord into pulling back his reins. He had not expected this sword… to be bound by a divine contract.

“Whose sword are you, truly? Bound by a divine contract, you should not exist in the devil’s domain!”

“As long as I have not found my former master, I will not leave the devil’s domain.” A smirk lifted Xuanjing’s lips as he suddenly pointed his sword at the Divine Lord on horseback.

“You intend to oppose your own master?” Evil-Punisher Divine Lord asked, momentarily stunned.

“My master is devoted to subduing devils. They will surely come to the devil’s domain and suppress me once more.” Xuanjing let out a cold scoff, showing no sign of a weapon abandoned by its owner.

Evil-Punisher Divine Lord could only assume he had lost his mind. He had never heard of any Divine Lord wielding a devil sword. “Foolish.”

“I only submit to the one who can claim me as their own. You, however—” Xuanjing bared his teeth in a grin, “—are not worthy.”

He was far too arrogant, even his sword aura carried an air of ruthless pride.

With a swift motion, Evil-Punisher Divine Lord dismounted. His warhorse instantly transformed into a spirit beast, standing half the height of a man, with long ears and an elongated tail—resembling both a dog and a cat.

***

Meanwhile, Luo Qing and a group of devil soldiers stood guard outside the Heart-Questioning Rock—even though the Crystal of Law inside had already disappeared.

The Heavenly Realm had yet to discover that the Devil Lord’s two soul fragments were no longer within the devil’s domain. Luo Qing was perceptive. Though he did not know Zhuyou’s intent, he trusted that she would not easily surrender those soul fragments.

For now, it was best the Heavenly Realm remained unaware. If they learned that the souls were missing, they would surely search elsewhere.

Thus, Luo Qing intentionally stationed himself here—not only to protect the Devil Lord’s body but also to prevent suspicion from arising.

He had been a formidable general in the Mortal Realm before his death, yet ironically, he found himself leading troops once again in the very same desert where he had perished.

But this time, the devil soldiers under his command were nothing like mortal troops. Though powerful, they were undisciplined and rarely obeyed orders.

Holding a long halberd, Luo Qing’s expression was grim and unwavering. Fear was absent from his gaze—he had long since grown accustomed to such battlefields.

The Heavenly Realm had discovered the Heart-Questioning Rock’s location and would not foolishly allow a single devil to block their advance. Their forces had already split into several groups, closing in from multiple directions.

And as expected, within moments, the Heart-Questioning Rock was surrounded. The sand dunes were teeming with celestial soldiers.

The sky over the Devil Realm had changed. It was once pitch black, void of even a single star. Now, it burned a deep crimson, speckled with descending embers—Heavenly fire.

The desert sky resembled a vast expanse adorned with endless scarlet stars. The flames that fell ignited into towering blazes upon contact, soaring several meters high, setting the land ablaze in a sea of fire.

The howling wind carried the flames forward, licking at the Grand Hall’s gates.

Luo Qing did not fear death. He had already died once. If he fell again, it would merely mean his soul would shatter beyond return. What he regretted was that after all these years, he had yet to witness the reincarnation of the young emperor.

He had not yet been able to ask: Why had he been treated as a disposable pawn? Why had the unwavering loyalty of the Luo clan been overlooked? Why had his life been sacrificed for the sake of fleeting peace?

Had he survived, the peace he could have brought would have lasted far longer. But now…

There was no returning. And he would never meet the emperor’s reincarnation.

His brows furrowed. Gripping his halberd tightly, a burst of devil flames surged forth. The priority now was to break through the encirclement and relocate the Devil Lord’s body.

At the sound of the war drums, the devils finally rallied. Even the usual slackers among them straightened up. Those who wished to flee had already done so—whether to the human world or Shangxi City. They would never return, and even if the devil’s domain survived, they would no longer have its protection.

The celestial soldiers remained silent, but the devils could not hold their tongues. Used to acting on impulse, they began shouting profanities and taunts, much to Luo Qing’s irritation.

“Silence.” 

A sharp and chilling devilish aura spread outward, silencing the little devils at once, preventing them from making any further provocations.

In an instant, halberds clashed, sparks burst forth, and a loud clang echoed.

The Heavenly Realm soldiers, who had encircled Heart-Questioning Rock, surged forward, while Luo Qing, who was guarding it with his devil troops, was forced to engage in battle.

Immortals take countless forms, and so do devils. Becoming an immortal or a devil is merely a matter of a single thought.

A delicate and charming beauty could be a devil. A scholar-like figure could be a devil. A bold and valiant warrior could be a devil. Even a refined and courteous nobleman could be a devil. And now, all these different kinds of devils had gathered together, forming a devil army.

In the vast, boundless desert, the sounds of battle roared. The grudges and enmities between immortals and devils, which had been dormant for so long, flared up once again. This time, the Heavenly Realm was determined to ensure that these devils would never rise again.

***

The human world remained peaceful.

Zhuyou took a sip of mortal tea but lost interest immediately. Propping her chin up with one hand, she idly glanced at the little dragon who was frowning while listening to the storyteller.

Changying was listening reluctantly. Though she was unwilling, her downcast eyes never left the storyteller on the high platform below. When the storyteller’s voice rose in excitement, her hand, which rested flat on the table, moved slightly in response.

Her dragon claws clenched, forcibly suppressing the emotions stirring within her heart.

She knew Zhuyou liked listening to stories; otherwise, she wouldn’t have deliberately made her read all those strange and ancient books and then repeat them back. But she had never expected that Zhuyou’s preference was…

This kind of dramatic storytelling, complete with kicks and punches.

She listened with an indifferent expression, but when she turned back, she noticed Zhuyou’s brows furrowing slightly.

Zhuyou flipped her pale palm over, and a handful of fine sand appeared in her hand.

The sand was delicate, with faint traces of devilish energy barely perceptible—evidence that it had come from the devil’s domain. Like water, the fine grains slipped through Zhuyou’s fingers and fell onto the table, slowly gathering into two crooked words.

The writing was Hanzhu’s, scrawled so poorly that it resembled a dog’s scratching.

Enemies incoming.

Zhuyou merely frowned slightly before sweeping the sand away. She stood up at once and said, “We’re leaving.”

Changying followed her downstairs without a word, obedient and quiet. It was the first time she had seen Zhuyou like this—her expression cold, her usually gentle eyes now devoid of any innocence.

After leaving the tavern, Zhuyou returned to the inn. As soon as she entered the room, she shut the door without a word and even placed a restriction spell.

It was still early. They had barely spent half a day at the tavern, and even though time passed quickly in the Mortal Realm, it wasn’t late enough to warrant sleep while the sun was still high in the sky.

Yet Zhuyou spoke as if it were natural. She stood by the bed, cast a spell to straighten the messy bedding, lifted her chin slightly, and said, “Time to sleep.”

No matter how much Changying kept a stern face or remained aloof, a hint of hesitation still flickered across her features, filled with confusion. “It’s still early.”

Zhuyou acted as if she hadn’t heard. Sitting at the edge of the bed, she crooked her finger, and with just that slight movement, Changying found herself walking over involuntarily.

She lifted the disguise spell, and in an instant, her black hair turned white, cascading down her chest and back like a silver waterfall. Her already stunning appearance, admired even by mortals, became even more breathtaking.

She lifted the corner of the cold quilt and lightly patted the bed twice with her other hand. “Come lie down.”

Changying reluctantly lay down. The moment the back of her head touched the soft pillow, half of her face was covered by the blanket that Zhuyou pulled up.

With a flick of Zhuyou’s hand, the curtains over the window suddenly fell, blocking some of the sunlight, and the room dimmed at once.

Changying was thoroughly puzzled. Frowning, she said, “There were still many people on the streets just now. It shouldn’t be time to sleep yet.”

“That’s because they don’t know any better,” Zhuyou said meaningfully.

“You expect me to know better?” Changying’s pale eyes fixed unblinkingly on the devil before her. Though her features still carried traces of youth, her expression was calm and composed.

“Naturally.”

Zhuyou thought to herself—how could she not expect it? This was a dragon she had raised. Lowering her head slightly, her gaze was devoid of warmth as she pressed her palm, through the blanket, against Changying’s chest.

Within that frail body, the drop of blood that did not originally belong to her had already fused with this shell—not burning hot as before, but resting there with a steady warmth.

Changying lowered her gaze and saw Zhuyou’s wrist, its bone structure sharply defined, pale and slender. When her thumb stretched out, a small hollow formed at the joint connecting it to the wrist.

Such a beautiful hand.

“Sleep.” Zhuyou spoke again, even leaning down slightly, her silver-white hair cascading over the side of Changying’s face. 

Her eyes narrowed slightly, lips moving softly. Suddenly, Changying felt drowsy.

She lay there staring at Zhuyou, sensing that something wasn’t quite right. As she struggled against the feeling, her pale eyes abruptly turned a dazzling gold—dragon eyes. Those golden pupils fluttered open and shut, her eyelids growing unbearably heavy.

Zhuyou saw her close her eyes and was just about to get up when her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Changying’s hand emerged from beneath the blanket, her golden eyes struggling to stay open, rimmed with red. A faint flush rose on her pale face.

The little girl clung tightly to her hand, refusing to sleep. Loosening her clenched teeth, she spoke in a still-young voice, “Where are you going?”

Zhuyou’s face remained emotionless, but her heart pounded wildly. Seeing Changying struggling with such distress, she wondered briefly if she had gone too far.

But she could smell it—the scent of heavenly fire scorching the devil’s domain, burning everything in its path.

The Grand Hall’s ceiling, once draped in phoenix-fire-infused gauze, was likely reduced to ashes. In the handful of sand Hanzhu had sent, she had seen remnants of that very gauze.

She hadn’t expected the heavenly soldiers to go this far—to use heavenly fire to annihilate the devil’s domain.

That fool Hanzhu had clearly seen the heavenly soldiers coming, yet instead of hiding, she had stayed in the devil’s domain, foolishly sending her a message. She had gone through so much trouble to find this reincarnated peafowl, only for her to throw herself into the fire once again.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Zhuyou lied without hesitation. She pried open Changying’s fingers one by one, then pressed a single fingertip against her brow.

The dragon could hold on no longer and fell into a deep sleep.

Zhuyou stood up and, without even opening the door, stepped directly through the wall. The moment she passed through, her appearance changed.

Descending the stairs, she flicked a golden pearl onto the innkeeper’s ledger. The innkeeper, who had been dozing off, jolted awake in shock. When he saw the bright golden pearl on his account book, he rubbed his eyes vigorously, thinking he must be seeing things.

“For the next few days, don’t knock. No matter what happens, do not disturb.” Zhuyou instructed.

The innkeeper nodded repeatedly, quickly picking up the golden pearl. Only after the beautiful guest had left did he cautiously bring the pearl to his teeth to test it, worried he might accidentally swallow it.

***

Zhuyou left the inn, strolling leisurely toward the outskirts of the city. In a secluded spot, she turned her palm over, and a luminous Crystal of Law floated above it.

With a casual swipe of her fingers, the light flowing within the Crystal of Law was instantly concealed, making it appear like an ordinary, unremarkable stone. Now it was nothing but a dull, gray rock, with no trace of the soul once contained within.

She lightly stepped forward, and the ground beneath her feet split open with a thin crack, winding its way outward. Though not deep enough to form a ravine, the gap was more than sufficient to swallow a single stone.

The disguised Crystal of Law was buried underground, and the fissure closed immediately afterward. Not a single clump of fresh soil was left overturned, the wild grass above remaining untouched—without a trace that the earth had ever been disturbed.

After burying the Crystal of Law, she turned and released the ashen-black devil mist. Passing through the boundary, she would return to the devil’s domain.

She stepped in, her figure swallowed by the inky mist. Somehow, she seemed to hear a faint, strange sound of breathing.

It lasted only a moment—when she focused, the sound had already vanished.

The vortex of devil energy dissipated abruptly, and when the boundary reopened, she was already within the Devil Realm.

All she could see was a sea of crimson—blood and corpses strewn everywhere. 

Zhuyou’s heart sank to the bottom. The moment she stepped out of the boundary, she suddenly sensed a child’s presence behind her.

The aura was faint and barely holding on—wasn’t it Changying?

Zhuyou abruptly turned around, eyes widening in shock. Only then did she realize where that strange noise had come from—wasn’t it Changying, secretly following behind her?

She had actually… not noticed at all.

The dragon that should have been sound asleep within the restriction forced her golden eyes open despite her exhaustion, stumbling after Zhuyou with unsteady steps.

Zhuyou froze in place, heart leaping to her throat. She had no idea how this dragon had managed to endure.

“You were returning, yet you didn’t tell me?” Changying asked coolly, a deep frown etched between her brows.