Volume 1, Chapter 175 – Strength

Feeling the unrestrained aura hanging overhead, Shi Lan understood that, barring any surprises, the visitor was eight or nine times out of ten that Cangyue Demon King.

After weighing things over in her heart, Shi Lan rose and walked slowly out of the cave.

Tianbai was crouched at the cave entrance, head raised toward the sky. Its body trembled ever so slightly, a faint nervousness and unease in its posture.

Before a Demon King, ordinary demon beasts would instinctively feel fear. In front of Shi Lan, this fake Demon King, it had always been better. Aside from being occasionally startled by the bloodline pressure she let slip, it had not felt much discomfort.

Now, facing the true pressure of a genuine Demon King, Tianbai could barely bear it. This was a bloodline gap carved into the bones, almost impossible to cross.

A purple figure stood in the air, feet stepping on the void as he lowered his head to look down at Shi Lan walking out of the cave.

He looked like a man in his early thirties, wearing a long purple robe with a carved jade belt at his waist. His hair fell loose down his back to his waist. His eyes were narrow and long, his gaze deep and unfathomable like an ocean, as if nothing in this world could stir his emotions.

After staring at Shi Lan for quite some time, a trace of doubt flashed in the purple-robed man’s eyes. What a weak aura, and very strange as well, not like that of the demon race…

“I am Cangyue. This is my territory. You indulge your subordinate in wanton slaughter of the demon beasts within my domain. What is your intention? May I ask which clan’s Demon King you are? Please reveal your identity.”

Hearing the clear shout from overhead, Shi Lan’s expression remained indifferent. She had no intention of replying.

Seeing Shi Lan act like this, the Cangyue Demon King in the air furrowed his brow slightly and forced down the anger rising in his heart. Just as he was about to speak again, he suddenly felt a strand of qi lock onto him.

The aura of that seemingly frail Demon King below his feet began to surge wildly.

Late Earth Fiend Realm…

Earth Fiend Realm perfection…

Heavenly Astral Realm…

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Heavenly Astral Realm perfection…

Myriad Phenomena Realm…

Feeling that Demon King’s aura shoot up in an instant from the Earth Fiend Realm to the Myriad Phenomena Realm, Cangyue was not surprised. Clearly it had only been hidden and was now being revealed, a small trick.

After stepping into the Myriad Phenomena Realm, that aura did not pause in the slightest and continued to rise.

Mid Myriad Phenomena Realm…

Myriad Phenomena Realm great perfection…

In just a few breaths, it broke through the shackles of the Myriad Phenomena Realm and stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm.

Cangyue’s expression gradually turned grave. He had not expected this woman to actually be a Nascent Soul great demon.

That thought had only just formed and had not yet settled when the aura below his feet surged once more, climbing into a realm he could not fathom at all.

Under the shroud of that aura, although Cangyue stood high in the heavens, he suddenly felt as if he were the one being looked down upon, his whole body shaking.

“This…”

Cangyue’s expression went blank. His narrow eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and a faint fear. He quickly reacted, hurriedly descending to stand before Shi Lan and bowing deeply.

“This little king was blind and ignorant, not recognizing the honored one before me. I have offended your exalted might. I beg the honored one to forgive me.”

Cangyue, who had not felt the chill of winter or summer for several thousand years, now felt a faint cold on his back as cold sweat began to form.

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The way he had come to call today had originally been meant to deliver a show of force. Now it seemed he had stomped right on this Demon Venerable’s face.

All the Demon Venerables in the area were supposed to have been summoned away to the Feather Emperor Hall. How could there still be an honored one here?

Cangyue felt a bitter taste in his heart. Because of the war on the border, countless Heaven Demons and Nascent Soul great demons had been conscripted. He had barely enjoyed a few days of peace before stirring up such a great disaster.

If the Demon Venerable before him became angry…

The aura erupting from Shi Lan’s body was too terrifying. Tianbai could not endure it and had fled seven or eight li away. When it saw Cangyue Demon King’s reaction, it froze for a moment, then a surge of wild joy rose from the bottom of its heart.

Even a Demon King had to bow his head.

As expected, sticking close to Shi Lan would be the greatest fortune of its life.

…

Glancing at the extremely respectful Cangyue Demon King in front of her, Shi Lan’s feelings were a little complicated. It seemed that sometimes Samsara’s energy did not need to be spent heavily to achieve the result she wanted.

A peerless Demon King who could kill her with a lift of his hand was now this deferential simply because of a portion of the aura she released. A clash had been strangled in its cradle, and any trouble that might have followed was erased outright.

When Shi Lan remained silent for a long time, Cangyue, whose heart had calmed a little, began to quietly observe her, sensing that faintly strange aura he had perceived earlier.

The more he observed, the more wrong Cangyue felt things were. The demonic qi on this Demon Venerable’s body was far too faint.

So faint it did not seem like the demon race at all. Yet that pure aura did not resemble the human race either, and it was even farther from the devil race.

A race outside human, demon, and devil, yet one that had some connection to the demon race…

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Thinking of some very ancient rumors, a trace of horror flashed through Cangyue’s eyes.

Could it be…

Shi Lan reined in her aura and turned back into the cave. Cangyue tactfully straightened and followed her in.

Tianbai walked up to the entrance, hesitated for a moment, then lay down at one side of the cave mouth.

…

“This little king has greatly offended today. I hope the honored one will give this little king a chance to make amends. If there is any way I can be of use, please speak.”

They reached the deepest part of the cave. When Shi Lan stopped, Cangyue faced her back and spoke very quickly.

“Five hundred demon beasts at the Earth Fiend Realm or above, and this matter will be over,” Shi Lan said evenly, without turning around.

The moment the words left her mouth, Shi Lan felt a bit guilty, but as the saying went, ask sky-high so you can settle on the ground. The price had to be set high.

Five hundred, and at the Earth Fiend Realm or above?

Cangyue drew in a sharp breath. Even if he cleaned out every demon beast in his territory, he might not be able to gather five hundred. He instinctively wanted to refuse.

But the words stopped at his lips and were swallowed back down.

He had come today because this honored one’s subordinate had been slaughtering demon beasts in his domain. His reason for coming was not wrong, but the way he had gone about it had been too heavy-handed, so the fault lay with him.

If he tried to dodge it and angered this honored one, the consequences might be more than he could bear.

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In the end, it still came down to the word “strength”.

Shi Lan’s strength was greater than his, so he was the one in the wrong. If it were the other way around, Shi Lan’s bones would already have turned to dust.

“This little king will do everything in his power to accomplish it.”

Hearing Cangyue agree to the demand, Shi Lan could not help being a little surprised. Were the demon beasts in the Boundless Demon Domain really this numerous?

Had she perhaps asked for too little?

After hesitating for a moment, Shi Lan said nothing more. She only waved her hand to indicate that Cangyue could leave.

Keeping that cold, aloof expression and maintaining so-called dignity was honestly quite tiring.

Cangyue did not move his feet and still stood where he was.

Shi Lan turned around and knit her brows slightly. “Is there something else?”

“Honored one, there is something I do not understand. I hope you can clear up my confusion.”

“Speak.”

“I see that the demonic qi on your body is extremely faint…”

Cangyue asked softly, not quite daring to believe, “May I ask, are you of the Half-God Race?”