The Cause

Chapter 49: The Reason

"What do you mean, 'at least'?"

"I originally thought that since you're a Grand Unity Immortal cultivator at my level, you'd have a better appreciation for aesthetics. But now it seems you don't even have as good taste as little Qingzi did back then. It's a shame that stinky toad killed him, hmph!"

Shen Gui was completely bewildered by Shang Yang's rambling.

What kind of logic was that?

Why should having a higher cultivation level mean he should have a better appreciation for aesthetics?

Shen Gui could probably guess that "Stinky Toad" was the Huoyun Toad that Shang Yang had killed, but who was "Little Qingzi"?

As if sensing that Shen Gui didn't understand what she was saying, Shang Yang let out a depressed hum and lazily explained, "That stinky toad was the Demon General from Huoyun City that I killed a while back. Little Qingzi was the former chief of the Qingniao Clan, and the one who understood my aesthetic sense the most. Besides little Qingzi, there's no one in this vast Qingmang Mountain who truly understands me. Only little Qingzi thought my palace was the most beautiful in the world. Alas, now that little Qingzi is dead, I've lost another kindred spirit. It's all the fault of that stinky toad and that so-called Demon Country!"

Seeing Shang Yang's indignant expression, and combining it with her previous behavior, a terrible thought struck Shen Gui—could it be that the reason Shang Yang protected the Qingniao Clan, and even went against the Demon Country to slaughter Huoyun City after breaking through to the Grand Unity realm, was simply because the former chief of the Qingniao Clan believed her palace was the most beautiful in the world?

Little did Shen Gui know, his internal grumbling was infinitely close to the truth.

The chief of the Qingniao Clan, Qing Feng, although not possessing high cultivation, had his unique strengths to lead the Qingniao Clan to occupy Huoyun City.

Qing Feng's greatest talent was flattery.

So, when Shang Yang met Qing Feng, Qing Feng described Shang Yang's palace as the most beautiful palace in the world, and Shang Yang herself as Pangu's finest creation, the most beautiful woman in existence.

Shang Yang wholeheartedly agreed, believing she had finally found a kindred spirit—because she deeply felt the same way.

Therefore, when the Qingniao Clan, led by Qing Feng, was being pursued by the Huoyun Toad, Shang Yang intervened.

Unfortunately, her intervention was a bit late, and Qing Feng had already perished.

Despite his potentially sycophantic personality, Qing Feng was undoubtedly a qualified clan chief.

Thus, when facing the Huoyun Toad's army massacring the Qingniao Clan, he, as their chief, chose to fight to the death to cover their retreat.

It was precisely because such a kindred spirit died at the hands of the Huoyun Toad that Shang Yang slaughtered Huoyun City after breaking through to the Grand Unity realm.

In fact, if history had not changed, Shang Yang would later have joined Eastern Emperor Tai Yi's side and become one of the Ten Great Demon Saints—because he was dazzlingly handsome!

So, upon seeing Eastern Emperor Tai Yi, who shimmered with golden light when he channeled his power, Shang Yang immediately felt she had a new pursuit in life and surrendered.

It's a good thing that the Great Desolation world didn't have "sparkly" characters.

Of course, Shen Gui knew none of this now; it was just him venting internally before.

After Shang Yang finished her explanation, she turned her gaze back to Shen Gui.

However, Shang Yang showed little interest in Shen Gui, who, in her eyes, lacked sufficient aesthetic taste.

"Who are you? And what business do you have with me? With your Grand Unity realm cultivation, you can't be some nobody. Yet, as far as I know, there's no one of your caliber around here."