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God.

Among the Demon Race, this title represented only an ancient, supreme existence.

Though cultivation in the human realm was divided into three trials and nine realms, the ninth realm, Mystic Communion, had always been a legendary realm. Those who could reach it were truly once-in-a-millennium rarities.

Three thousand years ago, an unparalleled demon emperor of the Demon Race reached that supreme realm, becoming the world's first demon god of the Mystic Communion Realm—and the only Mystic Communion Realm being in the human realm at the time.

The human cultivators thus faced a catastrophe.

The demon god slaughtered in every direction. Countless immortal sects rushed forward one after another, yet none could stop it. Before the world's most absolute power, no sea of people, however vast, could drown it. As all watched, the Demon Race was about to conquer the Nine Provinces and Four Seas under the demon god's leadership.

In the face of that calamity, with all living beings suffering, seven elders of Shushan at the Celestial Origin Realm brought forth the peerless divine artifact, the Demon-Suppressing Tower. At the cost of six of their lives, they finally sealed the demon god within it.

That battle also established the Demon-Suppressing Tower's position as the foremost divine artifact in the human realm.

The reason was simple. Before then, the Mystic Communion Realm was godhood. Between gods and every other living creature lay a chasm beyond reach—one that could not be challenged, defeated, or overstepped.

Yet the existence of the Demon-Suppressing Tower leveled that gap.

Only it could accomplish such a thing, which was why it was a supreme divine artifact, beyond anyone's denial.

But legend had it that even the Demon-Suppressing Tower could not erase the demon god, only seal it. Thus, throughout the long years that followed, members of the Demon Race continually tried to breach the Shushan Sect, open the Demon-Suppressing Tower, and release that ancient demon god. Unfortunately, every demon that attempted it, openly or in secret, without exception remained inside the Demon-Suppressing Tower.

Until five hundred years ago, when the Demon-Suppressing Tower vanished.

To this day, Shushan had offered no definite explanation. Or perhaps they themselves did not know.

At first, rumors spread through the martial world that the demon god had shattered the Demon-Suppressing Tower and escaped, and that Shushan had suppressed the news for fear of causing panic throughout the human realm.

Yet five hundred years had passed without any news of a demon god's return, and such rumors gradually faded away.

Three thousand years was too long. So long that the human race of today had long forgotten that terrifying era.

But...

The Demon Race would never forget!

They missed beyond measure those days when the Demon Race ruled the world and humans fled at the mere whisper of wind.

West of the Western Regions lay the boundless Far West. It was desolate and brutal, yet it housed the world's greatest Demon Race power.

It had been founded there by the seven surviving demon kings, remnants of the demon god's forces, after they were hunted all the way to the Far West.

It was called Seven Kings Ridge!

Seven Kings Ridge had always devoted itself to reviving the Demon Race and had never abandoned hope of welcoming back the demon god. To the demons living within the lands of the human nations, Seven Kings Ridge was more like a distant and lofty holy land.

And this divine envoy today had actually come from Seven Kings Ridge.

The area immediately filled with sharp intakes of breath and cries of shock. Even Chu Liang was greatly surprised.

They had originally come merely to settle a marriage dispute. Who could have expected an unexpected harvest?

The demon god was about to return?

If this news was true, it would be enough to shake the Nine Provinces and Four Seas!

The divine envoy announced the news in a voice brimming with devotion, then spread his arms wide.

"The Tiger King was sent by our Seven Kings Ridge to open up territory. We will gather batch after batch of our own forces within human territory, waiting for the day when the god truly returns..."

"That will be the moment we answer his call!"

"Those willing to follow in the god's footsteps, join Hidden Forest Mountain. Of course, if you are unwilling, we will not force you. The god loves every child of the Demon Race."

His speech had not been long, yet it ignited the entire gathering.

The god was about to return, and siding with Tiger King meant joining the god's camp in advance. In an instant, the eyes of many demon kings present turned bloodshot.

When Tiger King had been persuading others everywhere before, many lesser demon kings had still hesitated. No matter how powerful he was, if they were already living comfortably, there was no need to become his subordinates.

But with the god's name behind him, things were entirely different.

Many demon kings who had wavered or firmly refused would likely change their minds in this instant.

Even Cat King's breathing grew somewhat rapid.

Chu Liang glanced at him with slight concern. This fellow won't suddenly have his demon heart blazing red, stand up, and report me, will he?

Thankfully, Cat King seemed to have kept his head clear and had not forgotten the purpose of their trip.

Once the surroundings became noisy again and all the demons were discussing the divine envoy's words, Cat King leaned over and said, "Young Master Chu, we need to move quickly. If we wait any longer, Tiger King will be heading back to the bridal chamber."

Demon weddings did not have as many rituals as human weddings. After the divine envoy finished speaking, he appeared to have other urgent business and hurriedly departed with the demons.

After he left, Tiger King swept out a hand and announced that the feast would begin. Then he picked up a huge wine jug and went from table to table, drinking extravagantly as he toasted everyone.

Chu Liang looked around, then rose from the table as well.

According to the plan they had made earlier, Madam Ming, who was already waiting in the bridal chamber, was to poison both the candles and the wine. When Tiger King was drunk, she would trick him into drinking the poisoned wine.

Then Chu Liang, hidden in the shadows, would strike without warning and ambush him with his sword, striving to kill him.

If Tiger King had been a cultivator of the fourth or fifth realm, Chu Liang certainly would not have acted this way. But against a demon of a higher realm, it was worth attempting such a challenge.

If things went awry, he could simply crush the jade talisman and summon his master. From what Chu Liang knew of Empress Feng, at this hour she probably had not drunk herself senseless yet. Flying over at full speed would take only the time needed to drink a cup of tea. With such support in mind, he dared attempt this somewhat risky plan.

Before Tiger King returned to the bridal chamber, Chu Liang needed to sneak in first and hide.

So he rose and edged toward the rear of the cave.

Beyond the inner hall were the residences of Tiger King and several great demons within Hidden Forest Mountain, much like the rear courtyard of a wealthy household. The bridal chamber was there as well.

Ordinary demon lairs had always been lax, and it usually did not matter if one wandered about freely. Tiger King governed his subordinates somewhat more strictly, however, and had arranged quite a few lesser demons to patrol the inner hall.

But the lesser demons nearby were all drunk, and even the guards were not paying much attention. Chu Liang was just about to slip into the inner hall.

At that moment, a bull demon with two enormous horns on its head came over from ahead. It suddenly slapped Chu Liang on the shoulder and demanded, "Password!"

"Hm?" Chu Liang's heart immediately tightened.

There was even a password?

Tiger King truly deserved to be from Seven Kings Ridge. Hidden Forest Mountain was managed with remarkably tight discipline.

He could not help touching the flying-sword bracelet on his left wrist as he made up an answer. "The Heavenly King Covers the Earthly Tiger."

He then prepared to unleash his sword. If the other party made a move, he would immediately strike first and kill one demon, then summon his master without caring about anything else.

But...

The result was unexpected.

After hearing him, the bull demon actually nodded, then walked past Chu Liang without a care in the world.

Huh?

Chu Liang froze for a moment. Had he actually guessed right?

That was a little too absurd.

Out of surprise, he stared at the bull demon's retreating figure for a few more moments. He saw the bull demon swagger into the inner hall, only to run into two patrolling lesser demons along the way.

One of the lesser demons demanded, "Password!"

The bull demon answered in an incomparably confident tone, enunciating each word, "The Heavenly King Covers the Earthly Tiger!"

Immediately afterward, the two lesser demons across from him drew their weapons at the same time and shouted, "An infiltrator!"

In that instant, the bull demon turned to look in Chu Liang's direction. Because he swung his head too hard, half of one horn was flung right off... His eyes looked exactly like those of a desk mate who had copied the nonsense answer he had written.

They were filled with the bewilderment and astonishment of someone who had been deceived.

Last night, I had insomnia again after such a long time and did not fall asleep until after five. Then I dragged myself up after eight to get a nucleic acid test. Absolutely devastating. They could have done it any morning, but they had to pick the morning after I slept badly. Sigh.