Chapter 623: Chapter 561, Heartblood

The sky thundered with such a startling roar that the small green-leafed tree on the altar shuddered and trembled as if a great calamity of heaven and earth had begun. Flashes of lightning across the heavens were like dragons in five colors: crimson, frosty blue, deep purple, heavenly white, and golden yellow.

Within the complex Thunder Array in the sky above, the lightning wove a distinct pattern, like a net spanning the heavens, scattering Thunder Debris in all directions. In an instant, amidst this vast heavenly might, a fierce Spiritual Power rainstorm fell beneath the firmament.

With no water on earth, the four seasons’ attributes in the Demon World and the essence of Demon Spirits turned into a tangible torrential rain that poured down upon the Time Platform.

Amidst the stormy winds and rain, a little tree born from demonic soil within the altar swayed incessantly.

The sudden change in the weather alarmed the Demon Servants guarding the area, who quickly took action to deploy Barriers.

The deluge, amidst the thunderous roar, cascaded down from the veins of the sky, creating a magnificent spectacle. The rain, like silver threads, pierced through the Barrier like fine needles through rice paper.

The thousand Demon Servants managing the Barrier vomited fresh blood as if severely injured, their hands holding broken spears, falling to their knees under this imposing heavenly atmosphere.

At the banquet, numerous Demon Generals also exerted their powers, swaying with difficulty but managing to stand.

The Female Demon Lord sat calmly on the high platform, untouched by even a drop of rain, her small world seemingly impervious to the storm, as if it belonged to another realm entirely.

One river, Shu Ci, let the heaven-sent rain drench her completely. She pushed away the cup in front of her, watching the myriad leaves on the small green-leafed tree turn red swiftly in the rain. One by one, figures were forcibly expelled from the small world of green leaves.

Within the Qingye World, the Demon Generals who had been fighting fiercely had no idea what had happened. In the blink of an eye, they fell from the small world back into the Demon World, kneeling in the rain, feeling their inner strength being drained by some force as quickly as a whale drawing in water, leaving their bodies weakened and their Demon Essence withered, hinting at an impending defeat.

The Demon Generals all wore pale, bewildered faces, looking at the rainstorm, at a loss for what to do.

Ning Feiyan, standing behind them, quietly unfolded a grand Butterfly Soul, its wings like an umbrella, protecting her from the rain’s harmful energy.

Zangxin tossed his wine toward the heavens, which was immediately ignited by a flash of thunder, creating a three-foot flame. Standing within the blaze, his skull-shaped metal mask reflected the crimson of the fire. His dark eyes stared intently at the lone proud leaf blooming amidst the thousands of damaged leaves on the tree, his deep voice muttered, “What is the River Lord of Wuhe doing?”

He considered himself stronger than Ye Lian of the Taixuan Sect and its Shengqing Scripture, especially since the Cultivation Technique Ye Lian practiced was not suited for battle.

The Shengqing Scripture, primarily a tool to suppress the Heart Demon, rid oneself of Evil Spirits, and cleanse the murky energy, was gentle in its methods and not prone to combat.

Yet, in the face of Ye Lian, Su Xi immediately fought with all his might from the start, but the struggle between him and Zangxin within the world of green leaves was merely a touch-and-go, leaving both wounded but without harm to their Demon Essence foundations.

In this earth-shattering rain, it seemed Su Xi had resorted to a self-sacrificing strategy, betting his life on mutual destruction.

To deal with one versed in the Taixuan Nine Classics, was such self-sacrifice necessary?

Unlike others who seemed to be on the verge of a grand battle, One river, Shu Ci, showed no fear of the eroding rain, as if bathing in mundane red dust and rain. Her hair and clothes were soaked through, with water cascading down her cheeks. Catching a handful of rain, her eyes shimmered with a strange hue, though her voice remained coldly detached, “Has he gone mad? Doing so, isn’t he just blatantly revealing the sophistication of his Mohe to the world?”

The rain, the thunder, the lightning—all these weather phenomena were merely manifestations of the Wuhe’s power at the Monarch’s Return Banquet. The inner strength of everyone present was being drained rapidly; even the defensive power of the Four Directions Array was not as strong as before.

In contrast, inside the small world, Su Xi’s aura and cultivation soared as if fueled like a raging bonfire; the very leaves of the Qingye World that bore him began to crack. The large miniature world seemed unable to sustain his singular weight.

Even the ancient altar sank three meters deep, the rain compressing the branches, thunder shaking the tree.

Ning Feiyan listened intently to the conversation between the two, while Mi Lu remained stunned by the rain, her complexion marked by shock, apparently not yet able to discern the river’s name through the rain’s ferocity. In a kind gesture, she clarified, “By taking all the laws of heaven and earth, stealing the Four Seasons Absolute Kill, everything unites, and I observe once more, all things are manifold, each returning to its root. To steal the ancient heaven and earth, the name of Wuhe, hence it is called Stealing Spirit.”

“Stealing Spirit…” Mi Lu murmured, her face a mix of shock and confusion.

“Speaking of which,” the Female Demon Lord suddenly interjected from above, “the River Lord of Wuhe has been voiceless in the Mortal World for four hundred years. It was rumored he was sealed by the Righteous Immortal Sect. His return to the Demon World to attend the Monarch’s Return Banquet is quite remarkable. Your ability to find the lost River Lord and bring him back was indeed a great feat,” she stated, seemingly in praise.

Ning Feiyan demurely smiled and replied, “Your servant merely did what was within my power; it is undeserving of such high praise.”

Shu Ci rolled her eyes and glanced at her, saying, “The River Lord of Si He seems to know many things. We’re quite curious, from where exactly did you find Su Xi and bring him back?”

The six rivers of the Demon World do not belong to the mundane human realm and are composed of evil spirits. Yet every one of them, except for Shu Ci, wears a mask.

The air flowed like water, with the rain casting a spotty shadow. Ning Feiyan raised a hand delicately, an orchid-like jade finger, upon which a beautifully fluttering Demon Butterfly landed. She watched the butterfly at the tip of her finger with a gaze both serene and profound, and whispered softly, “Perhaps it’s because… my luck is really good.”