Thunder rumbled through the skies, but Song Wanníng heard only the voice beside her ear. She turned, startled, to look at Mo Yuan.
He had just brought up the idea of opening the Demon Sea and luring both Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan into it.
The Demon Sea was the largest and most mysterious secret realm of the demon race. It could only be opened once every thirty years, and the key to unlocking it was the bloodline of the guardian's descendants.
Now, Mo Yuan was the sole surviving heir of that lineage.
In her previous life, Mo Yuan had also opened the Demon Sea, but it had happened thirty years later. By then, the female lead and her companions had all advanced to the Nascent Soul stage and had gained enormous opportunities within the realm.
But now, because of her interference, Mo Yuan was planning to open the Demon Sea early.
This was an unexpected delight.
"You're certain about this?"
Song Wanníng didn't let her joy show. Instead, she frowned and asked, "Opening the Demon Sea will surely alert the Demon Sovereign. Your cultivation is still too low…"
Her instinctive concern made Mo Yuan's heart flutter with warmth.
"With Senior here, I'm not afraid."
His eyes were dark, but filled with deep admiration. "Besides, the Demon Sea is under my control. I'm not the one who needs to be afraid."
As the guardian of the Demon Sea, he possessed unique advantages. Others might not know, but he was well aware. His mother had once told him that once he opened the realm with his blood, everything inside would fall under his control.
Not only could he deal with the Demon Sovereign and Ye Chuxue's group, but he could also grow stronger himself. He had been suppressed for far too long. He no longer wanted to be someone Song Wanníng had to protect. He wanted to be the one to shield her from the world.
Seeing the earnest look in Mo Yuan's eyes, Song Wanníng almost laughed aloud. The Heavenly Dao had gone to such lengths to orchestrate Ye Chuxue's destiny. And now? That so-called great opportunity was about to turn into her death sentence.
How amusing.
With a brief pause, Song Wanníng gave a small nod. "Since you've made up your mind, we'll do it your way."
The two exchanged a glance, then silently merged into the crowd.
A short while later, Ye Chuxue successfully completed her tribulation. Joyfully, she leapt down from the rooftop.
"Congratulations, Daoyou! Well done!"
Several cultivators came forward to offer cheerful congratulations. After all, entering the Golden Core stage marked one's entry into the middle tier of the cultivation world. In some minor sects, a Golden Core cultivator could even serve as an elder.
"Thank you!"
Ye Chuxue beamed, bowing gratefully to each person before running back to Gu Qingyuan's side. Her eyes, when she looked at him, had subtly changed.
She might not have noticed it herself, but Song Wanníng certainly did. So did Mo Yuan.
"Heh, seems the rumors were true. And clearly, this wasn't just Gu Qingyuan being one-sided." Mo Yuan's expression twisted with revulsion. He felt sickened by the affection between them.
"Such a chaotic, shameless relationship... and yet they carry on as if it's nothing."
Song Wanníng remained expressionless, then curled her lips into a smile.
"Love. Let them love.
The deeper the better.
The more they love, the more they'll be scorned by the entire cultivation world. Isn't that the perfect proof of their 'true love'?"
After leaving the inn, Mo Yuan led Song Wanníng toward the Demon Sea. Just moments after their departure, a group of demon cultivators arrived, searching for them—but they had already missed their chance.
Qu Shang hadn't expected Mo Yuan to go completely against expectations and head straight for the Demon Sea. As a result, they chased in the wrong direction entirely.
Meanwhile, Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan remained in Wuyuan City, as Gu Qingyuan still needed time to heal.
The days passed in calm silence.
Until one day, clouds thickened ominously over the Demon Realm. Billowing waves of demonic energy swept across the sky like a tide of feral beasts, baring their fangs in a terrifying display.
"What's going on? A demonic energy surge?"
"Doesn't look like someone's undergoing tribulation…"
"Anyone know what's happening?"
Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan both frowned, their eyes locked on the swirling chaos above.
Gu Qingyuan had been to the Demon Realm before, but he had never witnessed the opening of the Demon Sea. He was just as clueless now.
The only ones who seemed thrilled were the shopkeepers of Wuyuan City. Their faces were full of barely contained excitement.
"The Demon Sea is opening!"
Ever since the last Demon Sovereign perished, the Demon Sea had remained sealed. Now, it was suddenly being opened again...
Many cultivators immediately thought of Mo Yuan.
The demon clan's young master had returned.
Those who understood the implications quietly slipped out of the crowd and began rushing toward the Demon Sea as fast as they could.
One less person meant one less competitor. The quieter they moved, the better.
Gu Qingyuan noticed all of this. The gleam in those shopkeepers' eyes was too obvious to miss. And their eagerness to leave told him everything he needed to know. Something valuable was happening. He took Ye Chuxue's hand and quietly led her out of the crowd, following in that same direction.
They weren't the only ones.
Others, more perceptive than most, also realized something was off and began tailing the group. But no one was more shocked than the demon clan themselves.
"It's the young master! The young master has returned!"
Those still loyal to the former Demon Sovereign were overwhelmed with emotion. Even under pressure from the current Demon Sovereign, their hearts had never turned.
To them, only the young master had the right to open the Demon Sea. If he died, then the secret realm would no longer belong to the demon race at all. "Go. We must reach the Demon Sea. Now that the young master has appeared, we must protect him!"
Everyone knew of the Demon Sovereign's ambition. He would never let Mo Yuan live.
At the same time, Qu Shang and his men also realized something was wrong. He immediately sent a message talisman to the Demon Sovereign.
When he learned that Mo Yuan dared to open the Demon Sea on his own, Qu Shang's face twisted into a savage expression.
"That worthless trash actually grew a backbone?"
But if Mo Yuan wanted to walk right into the trap, then so be it. They would take this chance to destroy him once and for all.
Qu Shang mobilized his forces and began racing toward the Demon Sea.
And soon, countless cultivators were heading in the same direction.
"How is it?"
Song Wanníng stood to the side, guarding him carefully. She was ready to act the moment the Demon Sovereign appeared.
The Demon Sovereign was now a peak Divine Transformation stage cultivator—three full stages above her. If they fought, her chances were slim. Maybe even nonexistent.
But the opportunities within the Demon Sea were right in front of her. She had no reason to retreat.
Fortune always favored the bold. That had never changed.
"Almost there!"
Mo Yuan had one hand pressed against an unremarkable stone. Blood was flowing steadily from his wrist. The blood dripped onto the stone and was immediately absorbed, vanishing without a trace. Above them, the demonic energy in the sky grew thicker, more chaotic, swirling toward a breaking point.
This was the sign that the Demon Sea was about to open.
Mo Yuan's face was tense. He felt extremely uneasy, but he couldn't control how fast the stone absorbed his blood.
All he could do was wait, helpless and anxious.
The Demon Sovereign's cultivation was too high. Not even Song Wanníng could match him. If this dragged on any longer, she might get hurt trying to protect him. He scanned their surroundings with growing desperation, silently praying that the bastard would arrive late.