Of course, if he truly had no other way to solve the problem, he could only manufacture another demon himself—one who could make the Demon Ranking in a short time.
If he had no choice but to resort to this, then he would have to kill himself twice in a very short span.
Time crept forward. Just as Xu Yi was making plans to bring a brand-new demon into being, the Ruyi Pearl in his pouch stirred. He activated its restriction, only to hear a voice he had not heard in a long time.
The one sending him a message was Chen Fangge, a figure he had nearly forgotten.
Back then, after Xu Yi helped Zhang Bao'er and her father escape, he followed Zhang Bao'er's advice and entered the Thunder Cavern, where he cultivated the Samadhi Primordial Thunder Righteous Intent. Later, while seeking an official talisman and helping Lu Zhenhai contend with Zhao Lingwu for a spirit spring, he had met Chen Fangge.
Chen Fangge was known as the Corpse Sword, the strongest figure in Lu Zhenhai's faction after Xu Yi. Unfortunately, he had fallen to Old Ancestor Kumoku, whom Zhao Lingwu had brought in. If Xu Yi had not intervened in time, Chen Fangge would certainly have died.
At the time, as they parted, Chen Fangge had told Xu Yi that he would remember this kindness and repay him someday. (For this scene, see "The Corpse Sword Battles Cangmu," chapter 43 of this volume.)
Back then, Xu Yi had paid no mind to it. Later, he had forgotten all about it. He never expected Chen Fangge to come looking for him.
"Brother Chen, what I did that day was nothing more than a casual favor. You needn't take it so seriously. I'm terribly busy at the moment. Another day—when