Because of the pressure Shen Gui had displayed earlier, the demon soldier sent to report did not dare delay. The news quickly passed through layer after layer until it reached Shang Yang.
Hearing that someone wished to see her, and that this person's cultivation was rather high, Shang Yang, who had only recently destroyed Huoyun City, could not help but read more into it.
For someone to suddenly come visit her at this time, it was most likely related to her destruction of Huoyun City.
If the visitor were an enemy, then logically, they would not have come calling so politely. They should have simply fought their way up the mountain.
Therefore, the visitor should be a friend rather than an enemy.
With that thought, Shang Yang made her decision.
Stretching lazily, Shang Yang said indifferently, "Bring him in."
"Yes." The Demon General who had come to report hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to look any further, then left in response.
Before long, Shen Gui, who had been waiting on the mountain path, was led into Qingmang Mountain.
However, since Shang Yang wished to see Shen Gui, the one sent to receive him was naturally not one of the previous Demon Soldiers. Instead, it was a Demon General of considerable status on Qingmang Mountain—the very Demon General who had delivered the final report to Shang Yang.
Following behind that Demon General into Qingmang Mountain, Shen Gui was somewhat curious about the place, but he did not use his divine sense to investigate the mountain.
After all, he had come intending to cooperate with Shang Yang, so he needed to avoid actions that might cause misunderstandings.
Led by the Demon General, Shen Gui soon arrived outside an enormous palace at the summit of Qingmang Mountain.
Three large characters were written above the palace gates: Qingmang Palace.
Stopping outside the palace, the Demon General said to Shen Gui, "Lord Shang Yang is waiting for you inside. Go in yourself."
On Qingmang Mountain, Shang Yang was the supreme existence. Without her permission, even a Demon General of considerable standing like him could not enter Qingmang Palace without authorization.
Hearing this, Shen Gui said nothing and headed straight into the great hall.
However, the moment he stepped inside, his vision blurred.
The hall was decorated everywhere with all sorts of colorful gemstones, jade, crystals, and similar things. Sunlight shining through what seemed to be several specially opened holes overhead refracted off them, casting dazzling, dreamlike light. Countless luminous pearls were embedded in the walls as well, making the hall appear even more luxurious.
Strictly speaking, none of these things were truly precious, but arranged like this, they still gave Shen Gui the overwhelming impression of a nouveau riche.
Yes, that was right.
Looking at this exceptionally dazzling and colorful hall, Shen Gui, who came from the future, did not first think it was beautiful.
He thought it was extravagant.
Extravagantly inhuman.
Rich people, let's be friends?
But Shen Gui quickly remembered that this was the Primordial Wilderness.
These things were worthless.
If one had to put it that way, a single Origin Crystal could be exchanged for a great many of these things.
So in truth, if Shen Gui wanted such things too, with his strength, obtaining as many as he wanted would not be difficult.
It was just that aside from looking nice, Shen Gui truly could not think of any other use for them.
The random thoughts flashed through Shen Gui's mind, and then he looked toward the only person he could see in the hall, who was undoubtedly the master of this place.
Shang Yang.
The woman in multicolored robes sat in the hall's only seat. Yet her cold, beautiful face and iceberg-like temperament did not quite suit the gaudy decorations of the hall.
"Shen Gui greets Fellow Daoist Shang Yang."
Shen Gui clasped his hands slightly and spoke.
Then he heard a lazy voice sound beside his ear. "Is it beautiful?"
Shen Gui froze, then looked up at Shang Yang and confirmed that the voice had come from her mouth.
It was just that this lazy feeling did not seem to match Shang Yang's cold, beautiful face or icy temperament at all, did it?
Still, looking at Shang Yang's multicolored robes and the gaudy decorations throughout this palace, it seemed that one or two more mismatched things would not make much difference.
Suppressing the urge to complain, Shen Gui carefully examined Shang Yang twice and honestly answered, "Beautiful."
Then he saw Shang Yang roll her eyes in a manner utterly unfitting of her temperament. "Nonsense. I'm beautiful to begin with. Do I need you to tell me that? I'm asking whether this hall is beautiful. Didn't I see you looking around when you came in?"
Shen Gui choked.
Was this really Shang Yang?
Why did it seem like everyone he had met since taking human form was somewhat abnormal?
Whether it was Xing Tian, Kuafu, and Hou Yi back then, or Nuwa, Qingluan, and now Shang Yang later on.
It seemed the only two relatively normal ones were Houtu and Golden Phoenix.
Still, with everyone else's abnormality as precedent, Shen Gui did not dare guarantee that Houtu and Golden Phoenix did not have abnormal sides hidden beneath the surface.
Not to mention anyone else—just look at Shang Yang before him.
So, one of the Ten Great Demon Sages of the Demon Race, the future-renowned Shang Yang, was actually a narcissist?
Seeing that Shen Gui had not answered for a long time, Shang Yang could not help frowning.
"What? Do you think my hall isn't beautiful?"
"It's all right, I suppose," Shen Gui answered instinctively.
Then he saw Shang Yang's two lovely brows knit together.
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