CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 145: GOODBYE, SENIOR SISTER

When Jin Daowen and others arrived at the Demon Clan’s headquarters responsible for the Hunting Ground, Ao Juli’s heart was in turmoil.

Ever since the Returning to Void Hunting Ground under his command had been thrown into chaos by two Spiritual Beasts, Ao Juli had been the laughingstock at every meeting, perched on a low stool in the farthest corner.

Ignored when there was work to be done but scolded otherwise, Ao Juli had had enough of this life.

In the Demon Clan, face and power were paramount, even more crucial than life itself.

In terms of power, Ao Juli was only mediocre among the Heavenly Immortal Demon Kings, and his face had long been lost while sitting on that low stool during meetings.

So when the Elders of the Four Peaks arrived with a horde of Immortals for an assault, Ao Juli promptly surrendered, even capturing a Heavenly Immortal from the Demon Clan whom he could defeat and presenting him as his pledge of fealty.

After cleaning up the battlefield and securing all the demons, Elder Jiang Ziyue from Green Dragon Peak looked incredulously at the Demon King sitting on the low stool and said, "Are you saying that you surrendered just because they looked down on you, made you sit on a small stool, and you lost face?!"

Ao Juli, seeing the doubtful look from the Human Clan, couldn’t help but angrily say, "In the Demon Clan, if no one gives you face, then other demons won’t fear you, you’ll lose your status, and you might even be made the scapegoat for this failure. I’m not from the direct lineage of the Aoli Clan; I’m just a son-in-law. If I didn’t surrender, I would have died upon returning."

Jiang Ziyue was astounded by these startling words. This was the most peculiar demon he had encountered in all his years. Accompanied by the peculiar Ao Juli, the group returned in a grand procession. The detained demons were left under the guard of the Immortals, led by Jin Daowen from White Tiger Peak.

***

「Demon Clan’s Main Camp」

Yue Yinghua, dressed in white now stained with blood, was boredly prodding the dead Demon Clan Marshal, a sight that made Li Yao’s scalp tingle.

Mustering his courage, he stepped forward and said, "Junior Sister Yue, why did you kill him? Didn’t the Patriarch say to surround them?"

Yue Yinghua’s face went blank as she responded, "But he was too weak. I barely used a few slashes of my blade; I didn’t even deploy my Tao Fruit."

Hearing this made Li Yao cringe. Doesn’t she realize her own strength? How many Heavenly Immortals could withstand those few strikes of hers? He helplessly looked at his capable and talented junior sister and suddenly understood why their Eldest Senior Brother, who loved fighting, refused to come when he heard he’d be paired with Junior Sister Yue.

Even their combat-loving Eldest Senior Brother was unwilling to team up with Junior Sister Yue; there was indeed a reason for it.

"Alright, then stop poking him. I’ll handle it," Li Yao sighed.

"Sure."

Then, Li Yao watched as Junior Sister Yue folded her arms and stood aside, lost in thought.

What kind of monsters are these? I guess I’m probably the only normal one among these Core Disciples, Li Yao thought to himself.

***

Chen Jiuge was delighted when he saw Da Bai again, but understanding the situation made him sad.

Looking at Da Bai, who was brought back by Senior Sister Wen, Chen Jiuge initially felt joy for the safe return of the two beasts. However, he then heard Senior Sister Wen say, "Junior Brother, you need to discipline Da Bai better; his mouth is too prone to offend. Fortunately, the Elders are quite magnanimous."

After fully understanding the situation, Chen Jiuge confiscated the Merit Da Bai had earned this time, although he still paid off Yue Meng’s debts.

"Wait until you diligently cultivate and grow up. Then, I will transfer this Merit to you. Reflect well for now. Outside is not like home. This time your disrespectful speech was towards our own Elder. If it had been another unfamiliar Heavenly Immortal you were disrespectful to, you would have been roasted on a skewer by now," Chen Jiuge admonished.

Da Bai wanted to say something but eventually just hung his head and returned downcast to the Secret Realm.

"Bai Ya’s injuries are not light, but fortunately, Elder Jin Daowen healed her. Junior Brother, Bai Ya’s Blood Battle Divine Ability is quite impressive. You should nurture it well, ideally letting Bai Ya master it independently. This will be greatly beneficial to her," Wen Ruo said, petting Bai Ya’s large tiger head.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. I will," Chen Jiuge gratefully responded. I actually hadn’t known about Bai Ya’s Blood Battle Divine Ability. Perhaps there were already some signs of it awakening when Da Bai was captured last time. After I formed a Contract with her, the Golden Finger purified her Bloodline, and it awakened automatically.

Having discussed the matters regarding the Spiritual Beasts, the senior sister and junior brother, who hadn’t seen each other for years, began to ask about each other’s recent circumstances.

"Junior Brother, the Demon Clan has now been dealt with, but we need to stay here in the Hundred Games Realm for a hundred years. If you’re not busy, perhaps you could explore around here," Wen Ruo said with a light smile.

"The Demon Clan has been dealt with?"

Seeing the shocked expression on her junior brother’s face, Wen Ruo wasn’t entirely clear about this anticlimactic campaign either, but she roughly described the sudden support from the Inner Sect’s Four Peaks and how they had captured all the demons in the Hundred Games Realm in one fell swoop.

"So, just today, the Demon Clan was completely dealt with by our Sect Elders?" Chen Jiuge’s eyes twitched violently. This can’t be a joke, can it? The situation was described as so severe, a compulsory mobilization for war was even issued, and yet it’s all resolved in a single day?

"Although I’m not entirely clear about the details, it seems that’s the case."

"Alright, then Senior Sister, does that mean you don’t have many tasks recently?" Chen Jiuge inquired.

"It can’t be said that there are no tasks; I still occasionally need to go on patrols, but it will be relatively more relaxed," Wen Ruo smiled.

"I see. I thought that since you completed the mission, Senior Sister, you would be able to properly consolidate your cultivation," Chen Jiuge said. He found it hard to understand Wen Ruo’s behavior of venturing out to engage in magical combat with the Demon Clan without first consolidating her own cultivation.