At that moment, Ye Xingchen made his leisurely way to Ten Thousand Demons Square, which was packed to overflowing.
The many members of the Demon Race bowed in greeting when they saw Ye Xingchen arrive, their eyes full of admiration.
Because of the Imperial Consort, they could have pills refined freely, no longer having to scrimp and save as before. All the spirit stones they saved could go toward cultivation, allowing their strength to improve greatly.
Likewise, the strength of the entire Demon Race had increased considerably. Their numbers had always been small, and countless demons had died or been wounded in the ancient war between immortals and devils. Had they not still had Immortal Emperor experts holding the fort and a Great Emperor ancestor keeping the major powers of Divine Desolation in check, the Demon Race might long since have been nibbled away and swallowed whole.
Yet for some unknown reason, all Demon Race experts above the Great Emperor level had vanished, as had the Human Race experts above that level. This had become a taboo subject throughout the Divine Desolation Continent.
Over the years, countless rumors had circulated in private. Some said those experts had ascended to a higher world; others said they were secretly protecting the Divine Desolation Continent. There were even rumors that those experts had long since abandoned Divine Desolation and were awaiting the Devil Race's invasion.
Whatever the case, although the Demon Race now ranked among the greatest powers on the Divine Desolation Continent, ruling the Endless Forest with its innumerable spirit herbs and immortal medicinal plants, their lack of pill refiners left them sitting helplessly atop a mountain of treasure.
Now, however, the Imperial Consort's arrival had brought tremendous changes to the Demon Race. Just as their Great Emperor ancestor had said, the Imperial Consort was born with great fortune and would lead them to reclaim the glory of the ancient Demon Race.
Although the Imperial Consort was not particularly powerful, he lacked the Human Race's arrogance. His unique personal charm had won the recognition of every member of the Demon Race, who respectfully called him-Boss Imperial Consort!
Ye Xingchen smiled as he walked. Seeing the admiration in the demons' eyes, he sighed inwardly at how simple and sincere they were. The Human Race fell far short.
When Luo Qingshan saw Ye Xingchen arrive, she flashed to his side, her eyes filled with delighted surprise.
Utterly unconcerned by her people's gazes, she affectionately took Ye Xingchen's arm and led him to sit in the chairs beside the Heavenly Demon Spirit Transformation Tower.
Every demon's eyes held well wishes. Seeing the Empress and the Imperial Consort so intimate, they all smiled.
"What brings you here, husband?" Luo Qingshan asked, her face full of delight.
"Today is a great day for the Demon Race. How could your husband not come take a look?"
At Ye Xingchen's words, the smile in Luo Qingshan's eyes deepened.
"Shan'er knew you disliked crowds, husband, so I didn't ask you to come along. I'm so happy you came."
Luo Qingshan looked at Ye Xingchen and spoke softly, her face brimming with happiness.
"Wife, how is it going? The transformations should be nearly finished by now, shouldn't they?"
Ye Xingchen gazed at Luo Qingshan with deep affection and asked with a faint smile.
"Yes, they're essentially finished. Apart from those too young to transform, everyone who had yet to take human form has now completed their transformation. The Demon Race will grow stronger and stronger because of it."
Hearing her husband's question, Luo Qingshan answered happily.
Hearing Luo Qingshan's words, Ye Xingchen smiled and nodded.
Suddenly, a black-clad figure appeared and cupped his fists in salute to Luo Qingshan and Ye Xingchen.
"This subordinate greets Your Majesty and the Imperial Consort!"
At the sudden appearance of the black-clad figure, all the demons fell silent. He was one of the Empress's personal guards, all of whom were at the Immortal King realm. Whenever they appeared, something important had happened, so every demon quieted down.
Looking at the Black-Clad Guards who had suddenly appeared, Luo Qingshan asked:
"Didn't I order you to patrol the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion? Why have you returned to the Demon Race?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this subordinate has returned on the Immortal Emperor ancestor's orders, bringing news and spirit stones!"
Hearing Luo Qingshan's words, the Black-Clad Guards answered directly. They glanced at Ye Xingchen with eyes full of admiration, then continued:
"Demand for the three pills refined by the Imperial Consort has already outstripped supply at our Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion. The ancestor sent this subordinate back to report this to Your Majesty and bring another batch of pills over."
"Also, this subordinate has brought back all the spirit stones earned from this round of pill sales, after expenses-a total of one million!"
Having finished speaking, the Black-Clad Guards took out a dark gold token and a storage ring and presented them to Luo Qingshan.
Hearing the Black-Clad Guards' words, all the demons were shocked. In just a few days, those three pills had sold for a million spirit stones. It was simply beyond anything they dared imagine.
They turned toward the smiling Imperial Consort seated there, their eyes filling with even greater admiration.
Luo Qingshan was shocked as well. She accepted the dark gold token and storage ring, returning the token to the Black-Clad Guards only after confirming that it was genuinely the ancestor's.
Then she swept her divine sense through the storage ring. Seeing the million spirit stones within, Luo Qingshan's eyes filled with excitement.
It was not that Luo Qingshan had never seen a million spirit stones, but that so much income could be earned in just a few days. This left her utterly shocked and excited. She had never imagined the pill business could be so profitable.
If this continued, the Demon Race would no longer need to worry about spirit stones. It was all because of the man beside her.
Luo Qingshan turned and gazed at Ye Xingchen with deep affection. She had countless things she wanted to say, but with so many people present, she could not voice them.
Ye Xingchen seemed to understand the meaning in Luo Qingshan's eyes. He smiled faintly and gripped her hand tightly. Their eyes met, and it was as though their hearts were linked; everything passed between them without words.
The countless demons around them watched their gazes, so tender they seemed to draw silken threads between them, and were promptly fed another helping of dog food!
Suddenly, two ill-timed voices shattered the lovely moment.
"Second Brother, see that? When you find yourself a woman, find one like Her Majesty-a woman whose gaze at you can draw out silken threads. That's true love, understand?"
"Big Brother, I get it. Just like how Cuihua looks at you! Every time she sees you, her eyes sparkle like stars. That's true love!"
Those two sudden voices made Ten Thousand Demons Square even quieter. Every demon's face twitched as they struggled to laugh but dared not, holding it in until their faces flushed red.
Behind Luo Qingshan, a pretty, delicate-featured woman blushed scarlet, her eyes flashing with a man-eating glare as she looked toward the pair.
"Big Brother, why do I feel chilly all over? Do you feel it too?"
"Yeah, strange. I feel it too. Are we imagining things? In this weather, that shouldn't happen! Why does it feel so much like when Cuihua looks at me?"
Listening to their exchange, Ye Xingchen's lips twitched as well. Sensing the heaven-shaking killing intent emanating from the woman behind him, he looked at the two with boundless sympathy.
These two were none other than that pair of clownish brothers, Xiong Wufa and Xiong Wutian.
The next moment, the woman behind Ye Xingchen vanished, and a spirited voice rang through the air.
"Xiong Wufa, I'll cleave you in two!"
In the next instant, she appeared beside Xiong Wufa, startling him out of his absorption in the brothers' own little world. He knew this presence all too well.
He was just about to flee when a strong, fair hand seized his ear and gave it a twist.
An earth-shaking yell rang out.
"Ow... ow... ow! Cuihua, let go! Are you trying to murder your own husband?!"
At that moment, the surrounding demons could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.
This made the pretty Cuihua blush even harder.
"All right, Cuihua, come back! It's not as though you don't know what these two oafs are like!"
Luo Qingshan's voice rang out, carrying a hint of helplessness as she shook her head slightly.
Only after giving his ear another vicious twist did Cuihua seem satisfied, glaring fiercely at Xiong Wufa.
She turned and kicked Xiong Wutian, who was snickering beside them, to the ground. With a soft huff, she flashed back behind Luo Qingshan.
Her pretty face flushed red as she bowed to Luo Qingshan and Ye Xingchen. Looking at the dejected Xiong Wufa, the corners of her lips involuntarily lifted.
Luo Qingshan, too, looked speechlessly at the two dejected brothers before saying to Ye Xingchen beside her:
"Husband, you earned these spirit stones, so you should distribute them. What do you intend to do?"
At Luo Qingshan's words, everyone turned their gaze toward Ye Xingchen. He merely smiled faintly and said gently to her:
"You can distribute them, wife. What's mine is yours. Why distinguish between us?"
That simple, gentle sentence fed the countless demons around them another full helping of dog food.
At her husband's words, Luo Qingshan's pretty face flushed faintly, while her heart filled with boundless tenderness.
"In that case, Grand Elder, place the million spirit stones in the Demon Race treasury. From now on, greatly increase benefits for all demons, with additional rewards for those who contribute to the Demon Race!"
"Also, take a batch of each of the three pills and have the Black-Clad Guards bring them back to the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion. Henceforth, the Grand Elder will go to the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion every few days to deliver a batch of pills and collect the spirit stones from their sale!"
Luo Qingshan's commanding voice rang out, filling the countless demons around her with excitement. They would never again need to fret over spirit stones.
Hearing her orders, Grand Elder Wan Qianli flashed before Luo Qingshan and excitedly accepted the storage ring. Then he bowed slightly to her and Ye Xingchen and vanished.
When he appeared again, he had already handed three storage rings to the Black-Clad Guards.
The Black-Clad Guards cupped their fists toward Luo Qingshan and Ye Xingchen and said:
"This subordinate will take his leave. The ancestor ordered me to return to the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion as quickly as possible, fearing that pill sales might be affected!"
Hearing the Black-Clad Guards' words, Luo Qingshan nodded slightly. Seeing this, the Black-Clad Guards turned and were just about to leave when Ye Xingchen's voice rang out.
"Since you've come back, brother, there's no need to rush off. Today brings a double blessing, and I have a few small gifts for everyone. Please take some back to the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion as well!"
The next moment, Ye Xingchen casually waved his hand, and an astonishing sight appeared.