The Demon Realm
The cry of an infant pierced the tranquil dark night, like a golden ray of morning light tearing through dense, heavy clouds, abruptly shattering the silence of the Demon Realm.
At that moment, an elder in a gray robe, his face etched with strange, eerie markings, slowly approached the man seated on the black-gold throne, his heavy footsteps echoing. In his arms, he carried the newborn girl.
The man wore a black-gold robe. His gaze was sharp as a blade, his presence chilling and commanding, as if even the night itself would retreat before him.
The elder bowed low, respectfully presenting the infant. His voice was deep and hoarse, yet tinged with barely concealed excitement: "Demon Sovereign, she will become the strongest ruler in the history of the Demon Realm."
The Demon Sovereign took the baby, looking at her soft, pink face and clear eyes. His normally iron-hard countenance softened with a rare, gentle smile: "Her name is Aidi (艾狄). She is the Crown Prince of my Demon Realm. She will unite the Demon Realm, pacify the four corners, and achieve an eternal, glorious foundation!"
The demons knelt, their voices thundering in unison: "Unite the Demon Realm, glory for a thousand autumns!"
The night was like ink, but in her cry, a blood-red dawn was rent open.
Childhood
Years flew by; in the blink of an eye, several hundred years had passed.
Aidi grew up under the Demon Sovereign's boundless love and protection. Today, she followed her father to the Southern Border of the Demon Realm for a meeting with their allies, the Demon Wolf Clan.
"Little Princess, please don't run off!" A demon servant chased after her, panting heavily.
Aidi zipped into the Demon Wolf encampment. Her small figure darted nimbly and unimpeded between the tents, her laughter as clear as a silver bell. Just as she smugly thought she had shaken off the servant, she suddenly collided head-on with a small boy in rough, coarse clothing.
"Ouch!" Aidi fell hard onto the ground, even scraping the skin on her little palm. She frowned and sucked in a sharp breath. Standing up, she immediately pointed at the boy: "My hand is hurt. You need to apologize to me."
"It was clearly you who ran into me. How is that my fault?" The boy also stood up, squinting at her, his tone defiant. "You're the one who should apologize to me."
"You, you, you... Do you know who she is, you little boy!" The servant was hopping mad, pointing an accusing finger at the boy's nose.
"I don't care who she is!" The boy stood his ground, his eyes as stubborn as a wolf cub's. "If you make a mistake, you have to admit it. Don't you have parents or anyone to teach you manners!"
Before the servant could launch a furious retort, Aidi pushed him aside. Hands on her hips, she glared directly at the boy: "You're the one with no parents or anyone to teach you!"
The boy grew enraged and snapped back immediately: "I might not have parents, but I have manners! Unlike you—you're tyrannical, rude, and utterly vulgar!"
"Waaahhh..." Aidi finally burst into tears. The tears that had been welling up finally rolled down her cheeks: "You bully me! I'm going to tell my Royal Father!"
Her cries alarmed the distant main tent, and the Demon Sovereign and the Wolf King arrived almost simultaneously. The Demon Sovereign stepped forward, bent down, and picked up Aidi, comforting her gently: "Don't cry, Father is here."
The Wolf King frowned at his adopted son: "Qin Dousheng (秦斗生), why did you make the Princess cry?"
"She ran into me and then demanded an apology." Qin Dousheng pouted, his voice full of grievance. "I wouldn't apologize, so she cried."
"Royal Father!" Aidi wailed, "He... he even cursed at me! Waaah..."
The Demon Sovereign's gaze darkened slightly. His tone was level but overwhelmingly intimidating: "Wolf King, this boy has quite the temper."
The Wolf King patted Qin Dousheng's shoulder, hinting softly: "You're a boy, just apologize."
Qin Dousheng gritted his teeth, refusing to yield, and practically shouted: "Foster Father always says, 'A good man doesn't fight with women.' I! Am! Not! Sorry!"
Aidi was still dissatisfied. Puffing out her cheeks, her eyes darted around, and she immediately hugged the Demon Sovereign's neck: "Royal Father, didn't you say you were going to find me a personal guard? I think he's really good."
Qin Dousheng froze, and the corner of his eye twitched: This girl is poisonous!
Before he could protest, Aidi immediately turned and hugged the Wolf King's massive leg. She cooed endearingly: "Wolf King Uncle, please agree! Don't worry, I'll take good care of him!"
"Who needs you to take care of me!" Qin Dousheng angrily retorted.
Aidi mischievously stuck out her tongue at him, looking exactly like a triumphant little fox.
The Wolf King sighed. How could he not see through the girl's scheme? He crouched down to her eye level, a rare, fond indulgence in his eyes: "Oh, if I had a daughter, I suppose she'd be just like you."
"Hehe, so you agree!" Aidi was ecstatic. She wrapped her arms around the Wolf King's neck and kissed his cheek, making the Wolf King roar with laughter.
"What about Father?" The Demon Sovereign looked displeased. Aidi immediately turned and kissed his cheek as well.
Qin Dousheng watched the three of them in their joyful moment, his head throbbing—he had a sinking feeling that his "nightmare" was just about to begin.
Guardian
After entering the Demon Palace, Qin Dousheng formally began his career as a guard. As the Crown Prince's personal bodyguard, his training was far more arduous than the average person's. Running with a sword under the scorching sun, grueling practice with injuries in the freezing night—he could only grit his teeth and persevere through it all.
Worse still, his "hand-picked" status by Aidi became a focal point of jealousy. In the training grounds, he was always the first to be called out, challenges coming one after another. The intentional difficulties set by his superiors, the cold looks and ostracization from his colleagues, meant he never had a moment of peace.
But Aidi had already completely forgotten about him. Had she not accidentally caught a glimpse of his familiar figure, she might have truly forgotten her "hand-picked guard."
This day, she secretly slipped away from the demon servant again, sneaking into the training camp. Just as she turned the corner, she saw Qin Dousheng kneeling on the ground. She froze, clearly seeing fresh, split wounds on his palms, sweat mixed with dust dripping down his forehead, his face etched with exhaustion.
"How... did you end up like this?" Aidi grabbed Qin Dousheng's hand. Her fingertips touched the wounds, trembling slightly.
His arms were covered with a mixture of old and new cuts, and she could faintly see black-and-blue bruises. His palms were already chafed raw, and the dried blood could still seep fresh.
Fear and anger flashed in Aidi's eyes. "Who did this? Why would they do this to you..."
Qin Dousheng gritted his teeth and hissed: "Isn't it because of you? I've been tormented like this—are you satisfied now?"
He seemed to be venting all the frustration and anger of this period: "What 'hand-picked guard'? Pah! I'd rather die today than become your lapdog later on!"
Aidi froze, the light in her eyes dimming. She felt a sting in her nose, and her voice was as light as a breeze: "...I'm sorry."
With that, she turned and ran out of the training ground, instantly vanishing from his sight.
Qin Dousheng stood rooted to the spot, feeling a pang of regret as he watched her leave. A moment later, he bit his lip and chased after her, but only saw two figures in black cloaks silently abducting Aidi far in the distance.
His heart jolted. He immediately ran, sprinting with all his might to follow them, making sure to drop small objects along the way to mark the trail.
A Sword for Protection
In the gloomy forest, the wind howled miserably. Aidi was ruthlessly thrown onto the ground, where she huddled in fear.
"Hurry up and do it!"
Hearing the command, one of the figures raised a long sword.
"Stop!" Qin Dousheng burst in, a twin pair of swords in his hands, their cold gleam flashing.
He desperately blocked the opponent's fierce attacks, but the difference in strength was too vast. His small frame was no match for the opponent's powerful demonic energy. He was subdued within three moves, his weapons snatched away, leaving him kneeling beside Aidi.
The man in black raised his sword for the killing blow. The cold light reflected in Qin Dousheng's eyes. He suddenly opened his mouth, his teeth clamping down tightly on the descending blade!
"Clang!" A crisp sound rang out. Blood streamed down the corner of his lips. Even as the blade sliced his cheek, he held fast, his hands instinctively gripping the sword.
A bone-chilling coldness surged into his bloodstream. His eyes widened—the sword is poisoned!
The man in black intensified his strength, trying to forcibly cleave Qin Dousheng's head open; the other, meanwhile, drew a knife and started walking towards Aidi...
The next moment, a surge of powerful demonic energy swept through the area. Reinforcements had finally arrived!
Before his consciousness faded, Qin Dousheng only heard Aidi's heart-wrenching cries.
"This woman..." he complained in his heart before collapsing, "Why is she always crying..."
The Wounds
Qin Dousheng struggled to open his heavy eyelids. His body felt as if it were crushed under a rock, and even breathing was muffled. The lower half of his face was completely swaddled in thick bandages, feeling numb and feverish. He couldn't speak at all, but his eyes could still move freely.
But more unbearable than all this was the intermittent, never-ending sound of crying in the room, like a perpetually turning waterwheel.
Could she just stop? How long has she been crying? Where does she get so many tears? This absolutely deserves serious research as a mystery of the Demon Realm.
"Waaahhh... Dousheng, you're awake! I thought you were going to die!" Aidi threw herself into his arms. Her tears soaked half of his chest, and her cries continued to echo throughout the room.
His jaw was still wrapped in thick gauze. Unable to speak, his attempts at verbal comfort were useless. He reluctantly raised a hand and slowly patted her back...
Later, when he woke up again, the sky had already darkened. Aidi was still slumped on his chest, sound asleep and heavily breathing. Her eyelashes were stained with a few tear tracks, making her look like a weary little animal.
Qin Dousheng looked at her, and suddenly, a quiet corner of his chest felt a gentle tap.
—What a foolish woman.
The Promise
Since then, the Demon Sovereign had been furious, ordering a full-scale manhunt for the masterminds and significantly increasing the palace guards. Aidi was never again in danger.
Time flew by. The children of yesteryear had grown into young adults.
Deep within the Demon Palace, the night was profound. Starlight was obscured by thick clouds, leaving only a few lamps flickering at the end of the corridor.
A palace maid walked by, holding a night lamp, when she suddenly felt dizzy and staggered. Looking down in shock, she noticed a fine cut on her wrist that had appeared unnoticed, silently oozing blood.
At the same time, Aidi stood still in her bedchamber, delicately drawing a formation that looked like a serpent or a bone, sinister and alluring.
It was a Blood Array of her own creation. It could use blood to transform her into another person. Not only was the appearance identical, but the aura and demonic energy were almost perfectly the same.
The Blood Array quietly glowed on the pitch-black floor. "Hmm... this palace maid is quite suitable, though her demeanor is a bit lacking," she muttered. She then placed a drop of blood into her mouth and swallowed it. She lightly guided her fingertip, and a wisp of blood-red color instantly diffused, turning into a mist of light. Her appearance rapidly transformed, becoming exactly like the palace maid's.
She slowly opened her eyes. Her voice, tone, expression, and actions were now indistinguishable from the palace maid's.
"Alright, the real Princess Aidi... is going to check out the night market stalls!"
She changed into the maid's uniform, held the palace lamp, and walked past the guards with light, yet perfectly dignified, steps. She then vanished into the darkness via a secret passage that she was already intimately familiar with.
At this moment, no one suspected that the real Aidi had already left the palace. Even the secret guards tasked with monitoring her merely thought, "She's surprisingly well-behaved today," and relaxed their vigilance.
At the Rooftop
Currently, she had just secretly snatched another fruit from an old vendor's stall at the demon market. Barefoot, she ran freely across the rooftops, her clear laughter echoing across the tiles.
Too bad her little tricks were long figured out by Qin Dousheng—at this very moment, he stood perfectly straight at the end of her usual escape route, waiting for her to run right into his arms.
"Put on your shoes," his voice came from the other side of the ridge, steady and mixed with a hint of exasperation.
"I won't," she stood on the eaves, biting into the fruit, her head stubbornly raised. "It's cooler this way."
Qin Dousheng snorted: "Want to be cool? Then why not take off your clothes too?"
Aidi bit the fruit, clutching her collar, and rolled her eyes in annoyance. She muttered indistinct curses: "Pervert, sicko, shameless."
She was about to turn and jump down when he grabbed her by the back of her collar. Due to the momentum, she stumbled backward, and Qin Dousheng smoothly swept her up and cradled her in his arms.
Their eyes met, their breaths mingling.
He didn't say much. He simply placed her gently back down by the edge of the eaves and crouched beside her. Aidi tried to struggle but was stopped by his actions.
His fingertips were cool, but his movements were surprisingly gentle as he helped her put on her shoes. Aidi's cheeks involuntarily flushed. She turned her head away, unable to look him in the eye.
"Done," he said, and then sat down next to her.
Qin Dousheng raised an eyebrow, and the topic suddenly shifted, his voice carrying restrained frustration: "Have you been using the Blood Array to turn into me and sneak into the guard camp recently?"
"N-no, I haven't." Aidi's eyes darted away, her voice clearly trembling with guilt: "How could I do such a thing? There's no reason to. Hehe..."
"It's one thing to turn into me..." He narrowed his eyes and pinched her cheek. "But you even dared to go peek at the guards bathing?"
Aidi's eyes widened, and the juice from the fruit she had been biting still stained the corner of her mouth. "I... I just happened to pass by... just happened to see it... seriously! Besides, whose fault is it that the bathhouse is so close to the training ground?"
He was not going to accept her excuses. "Do you know that when I went back, the entire camp was discussing how 'I' suddenly developed a new quirk—hanging around the bathhouse entrance, staring wide-eyed at people washing! Do! You! Know!"
"My Princess Highness, you are truly lawless!"
Aidi mumbled stubbornly: "I didn't actually go in to wash with them... I was just curious to peek. They won't lose a limb, will they?"
Qin Dousheng was speechless, his frustration turning into a helpless smile. Looking at her righteous little face, the last bit of his anger was swept away by amusement.
He sighed, finally releasing her cheek. Aidi rubbed her face, which was slightly red from his pinch.
"I'm telling you, if you're really interested in them, don't turn into me next time." He added in a low voice, teasing with a playful smile: "You can just walk in openly. You're the Demon Sovereign's daughter; who would dare say anything to you?"
Aidi paused, her ears suddenly turning red, but she didn't talk back. Instead, she lowered her head and fiddled with the corner of her robe. Her voice was muffled: "I'm not interested in them."
She looked up at him, saying earnestly: "I turned into you because I'm most familiar with you. I know how you talk, how you frown, how you walk. It's the least likely way to be exposed. And..."
She paused, her eyes flashing, and quietly added, "I just... wanted to see what your world is like."
Qin Dousheng was momentarily stunned, gazing at her profile. After a long silence, he said softly: "If you want to know something in the future, just tell me. You don't have to sneak around."
Aidi didn't look up, only moving her foot slightly closer to his. Her toe lightly touched his ankle, like a petulant plea, and an apology wrapped into one.
The wind on the eaves was gentle, and the night was soft.
Qin Dousheng suddenly pulled a fruit from his pocket and offered it to her.
"That old vendor said you gave her too many demon stones when you snatched the fruit. She felt bad and asked me to take a few more back."
Aidi took the fruit, took a large, excited bite, and mumbled indistinctly: "There are people who complain about too much money these days? That vendor is really nice."
She chewed a few times, then seemed to remember something, her eyes lighting up. She leaned closer to him: "Hey, Dousheng, we demons are quite good, so why do those gods look down on us?"
Qin Dousheng lay on the rooftop, his voice lazy: "I don't know. I only hear that the gods are arrogant and follow some principle of 'governing by the Dao.' Plus, they've achieved unity. As for our Demon Realm? We're still fractured, each claiming kingship, not to mention the constant internal strife. Naturally, they look down on us."
Aidi nodded thoughtfully, then looked down at the fruit in her hand and said seriously: "I'm telling you, when I become the Demon Sovereign, I'm going to unite the Demon Realm so that all the children here can eat fruit this good."
She took a bite, ignoring the juice running down the corner of her lips, and laughed. "No, I think the God Realm and the Human Realm too! Haha! Although I don't know if their fruit is as sweet as ours."
Qin Dousheng watched her spirited demeanor, his eyes involuntarily curving into a smile: "Alright then. When you become the Demon Sovereign, I'll accompany you to unite this world."
He paused, a hint of amusement in his tone. "But isn't your ideal a little too simplistic? Conquering the three realms just so everyone can eat fruit?"
Aidi tilted her head, stating earnestly: "Of course! You need good food to have the strength to live well!"
"I mean... can't we eat something else?" Qin Dousheng was exasperated.
Aidi pondered seriously for a moment, then shook her head: "No, this is my favorite. Hehe."
Qin Dousheng gently shook his head, his eyes full of tenderness.
After a moment of silence, she swallowed the last bite of the fruit and finally asked the question she had been holding in: "Recently... why did someone come and move your things out of my palace?"
Qin Dousheng couldn't help but rub his forehead, saying crossly: "My Princess Highness, I am your guard, but I am still a man. You've never treated me as a man, but do you think others see me as anything else?"
Aidi stared at him, then quirked an eyebrow, her tone playful and teasing: "Are you a man? Do women chase you then? How come I don't know?"
He didn't retort, just sighed and removed the mask from his face.
The scar, which stretched from the corner of his mouth to his cheekbone, was hideous and frightening, like a perpetual, ripped smile. He pursed his lips and said helplessly: "They all run away, scared by this face!"
Aidi was stunned.
It was the scar left from the sword poison and subsequent demonic energy backlash when he was a child rescuing her. Back then, the demon doctors had been completely helpless...
After a long while, she slowly reached out her hand, her fingertips lightly tracing the scar. The action wasn't pity, but more like a confirmation, a gaze and touch of unspoken truth.
"...Does it still hurt?" Her voice was as light as the wind.
He looked at her and slowly shook his head.
He had always thought he had no heart. But at this moment, he questioned it for the first time—this woman... she probably has truly entered his heart.
The Demon Sovereign
Royal Father...
Aidi knelt before the Demon Sovereign's remains. She didn't cry out loud as she had in childhood; she simply knelt silently. But her knuckles were white, her fingers almost digging into her father's robes, and her body trembled subtly.
She had grown up.
As the next Demon Sovereign, she was now stripped of even the privilege of crying. The Demon Realm was a place where the strong reigned supreme.
The Demon Realm had an ancient law of succession—only those whose ideology aligned with the previous Demon Sovereign could smoothly absorb his demonic power. However, many Demon Sovereigns' bodies faced collapse and explosion under the immense power. Therefore, the lifespan of a Demon Sovereign was always shorter than that of the average demon.
Now, the Demon Sovereign throne fell to Aidi. She had to inherit this energy and take on the responsibility of the sovereign.
She now stood at the gate of the Sea of Consciousness Boundary (识海轮界). The demonic energy inside surged like a raging sea, as if suppressing all sound in the heavens and earth. It was rumored that only the royal family could enter this boundary; anyone else who set foot in it would face certain death.
Qin Dousheng, her elder brother Youli (幽离), and numerous demon ministers stood solemnly outside the gate, watching the slender but resolute figure walk in.
The Sea of Consciousness Boundary was not completely dark.
Specks of starlight hung in the void—the residual consciousnesses of previous Demon Sovereigns. They condensed their thoughts into forms, seemingly watching her arrival.
"Little girl? Are you the new Demon Sovereign?"
"Her? She doesn't look like much."
These voices were not 'heard' by the ears but directly entered her mind. Aidi's expression was calm. She clasped her hands and bowed: "Aidi greets the elders."
"Less talk. If you receive our power, what do you intend to do?"
She was silent for a moment.
"What I want to do is more than just reclaim the various demon tribes." Her gaze was sharp as a blade, her voice like a bell: "I will unite the three realms. The God Realm and the Human Realm will all be under the rule of my Demon Clan."
Silence fell over the surroundings.
A wisp of soul light drifted closer. She could sense it was her Royal Father.
"If you have this ambition, I am willing to lend you my strength." As his words fell, immense demonic power surged into her body.
"Hmph, this little girl has quite a mouth. Let's see if you have the life to bear it."
Following closely, the second, third... until the twenty-fourth Demon Sovereign's soul all merged into her body.
As the souls continuously poured in, her aura rapidly exploded like a shattered star. The demonic power circulated freely within her, as if her body was naturally created to bear it.
Just as the multitude of souls poured in, only one ethereal female figure remained still.
It was the Tenth Generation Demon Sovereign—the only one in the history of the Demon Realm who seized the throne by force, was not of royal lineage, and successfully walked out of the Sea of Consciousness Boundary. She was the first female sovereign of the Demon Realm.
Aidi's gaze was cold: "You, do not plan to dedicate your strength?"
A chilling female voice echoed in the Sea of Consciousness: "Your 'unite the three realms' is too boring. I am weary. I believe the power of twenty-four Demon Sovereigns is enough to support you in achieving your great undertaking and realizing your ambition."
Aidi scoffed and turned to leave.
When the gates of the Sea of Consciousness Boundary burst open, a majestic, overwhelming demonic might poured out, pressing Youli and the ministers to the ground. Their blood churned, almost suffocating them.
Only Qin Dousheng stubbornly raised his head, looking at the figure of the young woman slowly walking out of the gate.
She opened her eyes, engulfed in demonic flames, her red pupils burning, like a creature reborn.
"The ballad of the three realms—" She spread her arms, her voice cold yet firm, "I, Aidi, shall begin it!"
From that day on, Aidi became the youngest female sovereign of the Demon Realm.
War
In the mere three hundred-plus years since Aidi ascended the throne, she and Qin Dousheng, leading the Black Armored Army, reclaimed all territories of the Demon Clan.
Her name became a legend, a terrifying and revered intertwining of fear and respect among the tribes. Most tribes surrendered without a fight wherever she went.
Those who still resisted were personally dealt with by Qin Dousheng. One decisive battle, one strike to kill the leader to quell the rebellion. They minimized casualties as much as possible, making the journey of unification less bloody.
"What are you thinking about?" Qin Dousheng asked softly.
"Today's battle... was the last tribe, wasn't it?" Aidi unfolded the map. Her tone was flat, but it couldn't hide a sense of relief.
"Mhm. Thanks to you. We didn't even need to fight; the surrender document was signed directly." Qin Dousheng's gaze darkened as he looked at her bare feet. "You, even after becoming the Demon Sovereign, still can't break the habit of going without shoes."
Aidi chuckled, hiding her true thoughts, but her lowered voice betrayed her: "Tomorrow... we're heading to the God Realm. Do you think everything will go smoothly?"
Qin Dousheng was silent for a moment, then said softly: "Hasn't your goal always been to unite the three realms? Now, the plan is about to be realized."
"Mhm," she softly agreed, her fingertip tracing the boundary line on the map. "It's not because someone pushed us to the brink that I wanted to vie for power, but to ensure the next generation doesn't have to walk the path we did."
She looked into the distance, her voice even lower. "Only by taking destiny into our own hands can there be fewer wars in the future, instead of passively bleeding over and over."
Sensing her hesitation, Qin Dousheng reached out and stroked her hair: "No matter the outcome, I will be by your side."
She patted the ground beside her, signaling him to sit down.
He sighed and sat next to her. She tilted her head, resting it on his leg. He naturally placed his hand on her shoulder, quietly patting her.
She didn't want to fight, but she knew that peace had never truly existed.
Negotiation in the God Realm
[Skyfire Heaven Realm]
It was rumored that the ancient God Realm was once fractured, much like the Demon Realm, but was later unified under the Great Dawn Emperor (太晨帝君), forming the current four heavenly realms: the Great Dawn Emperor of the Morning Glory Heaven (朝暉天界), the Shiji Emperor (釋偈帝君) of the Skyfire Heaven, the Holy Mother of the Western Pond (西池聖母) of the Profound Solitude Heaven (玄寂天界), and the former patriarch of the Changling Clan in the Nether Abyss Heaven (冥轅天界), universally called "Grandfather."
Now, these four rulers of the heavenly realms stood shoulder to shoulder, facing Aidi and Qin Dousheng.
"Demon Sovereign, please present the peace treaty." Grandfather's voice was ancient but authoritative.
Qin Dousheng respectfully presented the documents one by one. The four main gods scanned them, and their expressions subtly shifted.
The Shiji Emperor frowned and roared: "This document speaks of peace, but the very first point is a 'Three-Realm Co-governance with the Demon Clan as the Alliance Leader'? Demon Sovereign, is this what you call peace?"
Aidi's expression was calm: "I merely wrote down the most realistic situation. The Demon Clan is now united, its army strong and its resources abundant. Yet, your Majesties of the heavens still govern separately. How can you speak of genuine co-governance?"
The Holy Mother of the Western Pond smiled faintly: "In that case, your so-called co-governance is merely a transfer of power veiled in the attire of peace. You call it peace, but we see conquest."
"If I truly intended to conquer by force, would I need to stand here to discuss a truce with you?" Aidi's voice was not loud, yet it brooked no argument. "I am here to give you a choice, not to beg for mercy."
"If the Demon Sovereign is accustomed to autocracy in the Demon Realm, how does she know that the shared ruler of the heavens requires trust, not fear?" The Great Dawn Emperor said coldly: "Or do you think because you are strong, we will be afraid to die and yield?"
Aidi looked at him, her voice pausing slightly: "I understand your concerns. But have you ever understood the Demon Clan's position in the three realms you dominate? Have we ever had a voice? How we feel about having been excluded from judgment for hundreds of thousands of years?"
"We do not seek to overturn peace. When the Demon Clan was fractured, we had no choice, but the situation is different now. This time, we want to be the true masters of peace for the first time."
"To demand equality when the difference in strength is so clear is true hypocrisy."
Aidi blinked, her expression utterly matter-of-fact: "I am here today to give the heavens a choice. If the situation can be settled in this hall, there is no need to slaughter outside."
The Shiji Emperor tapped his divine throne lightly and sneered: "Demon Sovereign's rhetoric is cunning, but the clauses read like a declaration of war. Do you think renaming it can conceal its edge?"
Aidi smiled lightly: "It is because you view the Demon Realm as an enemy that this treaty seems harsh. If you considered me a friend, why would I need to lead the alliance?"
"Are you saying the fault lies with us?" The Holy Mother of the Western Pond's eyes were icy.
"No." Aidi slowly shook her head. "I am saying that we have all been pushed by history to a position where we must be strong. Hundreds of thousands of years of war between the gods and demons have made us blind to the true nature of the problem."
The Great Dawn Emperor said gravely: "Demon Sovereign, the heavens are not afraid of war. If you insist on this, then we will have no choice but to hold you accountable with our swords."
Aidi wanted to speak further, but the Shiji Emperor had already drawn his sword. He slashed it at her, his power sharp and fierce!
She remained unhurried, a surge of demonic energy quietly swirling from her sleeve, instantly forming a pitch-black barrier that firmly blocked the sword's edge. Her feet did not move, her eyes serene as a mirror: "Before you strike, at least hear me out."
Shiji snorted: "No need for the Demon Realm's words."
"Then I will have to fight back." She said softly, her tone almost coldly detached.
The next moment, her demonic power exploded, surging out like a black tide. Her figure flashed, and she struck with a backhand, an invisible demonic pressure enveloping the Shiji Emperor. It forced him back three steps, his robe shredded, blood spilling from his mouth, and his divine sword trembling.
Her feet hadn't moved, and her voice was tranquil: "You are eager to strike before hearing my every word. This is not prudence, but fear of change."
Aidi's eyes dimmed, and she sighed softly: "A pity. I originally thought we could discuss a different future today."
The Great Dawn Emperor and the Holy Mother of the Western Pond also moved silently, their divine powers intertwining to form a barrier, sealing the sky.
Aidi's eyes narrowed. The demonic energy in her palm rotated, transforming into a defensive posture, steadily resisting the impact of the two divine powers. Her footsteps were steady, her robe fluttering wildly.
"Hmph, three emperors joining forces against a single woman—is this the courtesy of the heavens?" She sneered.
"The opponent is the Demon Sovereign, not a child," the Holy Mother of the Western Pond said coldly.
A thought flashed through her mind: This is not the Demon Realm. My demonic power is restricted, and the situation might be disadvantageous. If I continue to fight, the outcome is uncertain, but casualties are guaranteed. Moreover, that old man hasn't even moved yet...
She curved her lips into a smile, suddenly stopping her attack. She shook her demonic energy back, forcefully creating distance from the three gods.
"You are nothing more than this," she whispered. "If you dared to talk, I would have dared to concede. But now that you've drawn your swords first, behaving so contemptibly, then don't blame me for bathing the God Realm in blood and deciding the fate of the three realms with a single war."
She slowly stepped back, her demonic energy rising with her, her gaze icy: "With the start of this war, I alone will bear the blood of the three realms."
With that, she glanced at Qin Dousheng. He understood instantly, abruptly drawing his sword and erupting in power. The two of them combined their strength to shatter a rift in the divine barrier.
"Go!"
A Sword for the Demon Realm
More and more celestial soldiers and divine generals converged from all directions. Qin Dousheng didn't hesitate, turning and plunging his sword into the crowd. He knew this was the God Realm, not the Demon Domain, and their demonic power would be suppressed.
"Stay here," he whispered.
Immediately, he used seventy percent of his demonic power to forcefully create a Demon Realm Domain in the heavens, locking thousands of celestial soldiers within it. With their spiritual power suppressed, the divine soldiers' combat strength drastically dropped.
In just a moment, the black mist dissipated, leaving only a field of corpses on the ground.
He was severely wounded, his face pale, his body barely holding up, and blood faintly trickled from the corner of his mouth. Without resting for a moment, he again gripped Aidi's hand and continued the breakout.
"You're recklessly overdoing it again! I should be doing this." She bit her lip. "At a time like this, you still..."
He softly interrupted her: "A guard's duty is to stand in front of you, and besides... your power shouldn't be wasted here."
She looked back at the shattered boundary of the God Realm, silent, but her fists were tightly clenched.
It seems this can only be a fierce war.
After that, rumors spread that the Demon Sovereign Aidi had not moved a finger, but her single general had bathed Skyfire Heaven in blood. The name Qin Dousheng, the Godslayer General (弑神将军), originated from the heavens, and from then on, no one in the three realms was unaware of him.
"Dousheng! Dousheng!"
Qin Dousheng slowly opened his eyes. Sure enough, he saw her again, her face streaming with tears.
"I told you..." Before he could finish, Aidi fell onto him, clutching him tightly, her voice trembling.
He slowly lowered his gaze, his hand gently patting her shoulder.
What kind of feeling... do you truly have for me?
A Sword for Peace
For over a hundred years, the conflict between gods and demons had been continuous. Initially, they only clashed in small-scale skirmishes near the River of Oblivion (忘川) border—Aidi's original intention was to use the flames of war to intimidate the God Realm, forcing them to yield and compromise. She thought the gods would temper their aggression after the initial heavy blow.
But she was wrong.
The gods were unyielding, preferring death to surrender, and the war was ignited all the way to the heart of the God Realm. From the eastern bank of the River of Oblivion to the Western Ridge Mountains, blood stained the stellar river, and the slaughter never ceased for a hundred years.
The Demon Army was unstoppable, and the God Realm continuously retreated.
Aidi stood atop a high platform, looking down at the scorched earth and the mountains of corpses. Flames devoured the ruins, and blood soaked the divine runes. The once-high and mighty gods were now dead or captured, all wailing beneath her feet.
She should have felt joy. This was the victory she had long dreamed of. Yet, her heart was as still as dead water.
Just then, a Black Armored Army general escorted a captured divine general to her, kneeling to report: "Demon Sovereign, this man is the Grand General of the Western Ridge in the God Clan. He has been captured."
Aidi glanced at the opponent. The divine general wore fragmented armor, covered in wounds, yet he stood with a straight spine, his expression arrogant.
"I ask you, are you willing to surrender?" she asked flatly.
The divine general sneered, spitting blood onto the ground: "Pah! Absolutely not."
The next moment, she drew Qin Dousheng's sword. The cold light flashed. Without hesitation, she severed his head with one strike.
The general's head fell, blood splashing everywhere.
The Black Armored Army general's expression changed dramatically, and he quickly said: "Demon Sovereign! He is a key general of the God Clan. You could have used him as a bargaining chip. Why this?"
Aidi casually tossed the sword back to Qin Dousheng, her tone cold: "I naturally know his value. Are you questioning me?"
The Black Armored Army general immediately added: "I would not dare."
Her voice was non-negotiable: "My demon army is sweeping forward. Why do we need captives? Moreover, a warrior can be killed, but not insulted."
The general dared not speak further.
As he was about to retreat, another commander rushed over, reporting in a low voice: "Reporting, Demon Sovereign, a large number of God Clan elderly, women, and children have been found hiding in the Western Ridge Divine Temple."
Aidi fell silent. Her eyes shifted, but she did not immediately issue a command.
Qin Dousheng, standing next to her, noticed the anomaly. His tone was icy: "First, try to persuade them to surrender. If there is resistance... capture them alive. Detain them temporarily as our prisoners of war."
The Black Armored Army commander looked hesitant and glanced at Aidi.
She spoke slowly: "The General's command is the same as mine."
"Yes, I obey, my Lord."
In a hundred years, this was the first time she had etched a mark of "mercy" into a military order.
Afterward, Aidi and Qin Dousheng returned to the military camp. The camp was ablaze with light. Demon soldiers were raising their glasses in celebration, ecstatic about the imminent victory. The wine in their cups reflected a seductive red glow.
As she walked in, she suddenly felt utterly out of place with the joyous atmosphere.
Just then, a demon soldier, after downing his wine, laughed loudly: "The blood of the gods, when mixed into this wine, is much more fragrant! Hahaha!! Brothers, don't you agree..."
The words died in his throat as a cold light flashed.
Crack!
A head rolled. The laughter ceased abruptly. Blood splattered everywhere.
The crowd stared in shock at Aidi, whose expression was indifferent, her eyes reflecting the remaining fires.
In that moment, her aura was unlike the Demon Sovereign they knew. It was like an abyss had possessed her—cold as iron, utterly decisive in her killing.
Several demon soldiers trembled, forgetting even to kneel.
"Who permitted you this blasphemy?" Her voice was low and hoarse, like a blade suppressing fury.
Just then, Youli walked over from a distance, his tone gentle but with an unreadable emotion: "I wonder what offense my subordinate committed to incur the Demon Sovereign's wrath."
Aidi didn't even bother to look at him, simply saying coldly: "Those divine soldiers should die on the battlefield, not in a cup. We are here to reclaim a blood debt, not to revel in drinking blood."
Youli raised an eyebrow, subtly probing: "Is the Demon Sovereign... feeling pity for those divine soldiers?"
Aidi turned her head away, her tone still absolute: "I simply will not tolerate military discipline breaking down. Since you are a commander, Royal Brother, please manage your troops properly."
A flicker of dissatisfaction crossed Youli's eyes, but he still bowed his head submissively: "Yes, I understand, your Majesty."
Outside the tent, the cheers of the demon soldiers celebrating victory continued; faintly, one could also hear the distant fires of war and wailing from the God Realm.
She sat with her knees hugged, her eyes unfocused, her fingers and robe stained with mud and the smell of gunpowder. Qin Dousheng quietly approached, crouching beside her.
"Have you ever thought..." Her voice was slightly hoarse. "That we are also becoming like them... becoming the history we despised."
He did not answer. He just reached out and smoothed the stray strands of hair by her temple.
"If you want to stop, I will stop with you," he said.
Her eyes wavered, but she said nothing. It wasn't until the next day, when she stepped onto that scorched earth, and saw that charred, withered little hand. In that instant, her world collapsed!
She bent down and started digging, ignoring the dirt that covered her fingertips, hoping for a glimmer of life.
But in the end, she only dug up a charred, nameless little hand.
Qin Dousheng rushed over. Seeing the withered, burnt hand in her grip, his brows furrowed, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Dousheng... didn't we say we wanted to let the children of the three realms eat sweet fruit?"
She laughed hysterically, her laughter tearing and filled with pain.
"But what have we done! What exactly have we done to these innocent lives!"
Her cries were almost manic, her tone full of regret and despair. Was this what she wanted? Was this truly the world she desired?
A Choice Made
For the next few days, Qin Dousheng overruled all dissent. Even with her elder brother Youli's repeated opposition, he insisted on halting the offensive against the God Realm.
At night, he entered Aidi's military tent. The tent was a mess, and she was curled up in a corner, motionless as stone.
He slowly sat down beside her, silent for a long time. Aidi finally spoke in a low voice: "Dousheng, I don't want to fight anymore."
"Alright," he softly agreed.
"Is... is what I'm doing right?" Her voice was confused, her gaze empty.
"As long as you are not suffering, any decision, to me, is the right one."
That night, Qin Dousheng stood in the war council tent, facing a room full of doubts.
"Has she gone mad?" Youli slammed his hand on the table and raged. "Stopping the army because of the normal casualties of war?! If we don't kill all the gods today, they will surely seek revenge in a thousand years!"
"Qin Dousheng, have you gone mad too?" Another demon general sneered. "The God Realm is exhausted. We're only one final strike away!"
Qin Dousheng said nothing. He simply unrolled the scorched-earth battle map on the table, pointing to the little burnt hand.
"How many battles have we won? And how many children like this have we left behind?"
Silence fell over the great hall.
"The Demon Realm needs a king, not a butcher," Qin Dousheng stated. "She is the King. I am merely the blade. But this blade is now being sheathed."
Before his words cooled, a demon general questioned coldly: "Qin Dousheng, are you issuing a false decree from the Demon Sovereign?! She hasn't appeared for so long, and only you can reach her. It's hard not to suspect that you've already taken control of her!"
Another stood up, his voice fierce: "Exactly! We demand to see the Demon Sovereign herself! We need to hear the order from her own mouth, not your one-sided account!"
The generals echoed in fury, anger surging. Killing intent arose in the tent, and several men even made to step out to verify.
Qin Dousheng's twin swords suddenly appeared in his hands. Powerful demonic energy surrounded him, and the air in the tent instantly solidified. The generals felt as if they were bound by an invisible force, unable to move another step forward.
This was the first time in so many years he had drawn his sword on his comrades. But if he backed down now, Aidi would die, the Demon Realm would completely fracture, and it would once again descend into a slaughterhouse... He had no choice.
The atmosphere in the room was tense, as if blood would spray at any second.
After a long while, someone swallowed hard and whispered: "You... you are disobeying orders. The Demon Sovereign's last command was to take the God Realm directly..."
"I am protecting a life." Qin Dousheng coldly swept his gaze around. "The Demon Sovereign no longer wishes to kill. So, I will shield her from all your dissatisfaction and fury."
This single sentence finally silenced the generals temporarily.
But the most vocal general remained unconvinced, roaring: "We only want to confirm the truth! What crime is that?"
As he took a step, trying to cross the threshold of the tent, a cold light flashed. Qin Dousheng raised one of his swords, pointing it directly at the throat of the general who had shouted the loudest, the blade resting steadily on his neck.
"I have given you your chance," his tone was icy, his eyes like blades. "Whoever dares to take another step, I will kill them."
Everyone jolted, and silence fell instantly. Everyone clearly knew Qin Dousheng's strength. If he said it, he would absolutely do it.
Youli frowned tightly and said gravely: "Qin Dousheng, do not be so presumptuous. Although I am not the commander of the army, I am Aidi's elder brother. Are you saying you don't even respect me?"
Qin Dousheng refused to back down, his voice like steel: "Your Highness Youli seems to have mistaken my allegiance. I, Qin Dousheng, have always been loyal to Aidi herself. Never to the 'Demon Sovereign' you speak of, much less that empty royal title."
"She is the Demon Sovereign. Her will is the strongest law in this Demon Realm."
He turned and walked away, his footsteps firm.
He returned to the royal tent and saw Aidi still curled up in the corner. Her shoulders trembled slightly, her eyes vacant. She was still silent.
Qin Dousheng walked over, crouched down, and said softly: "I have told them that we will not send out troops anymore."
She looked up at him. She had faintly heard what had happened moments ago. Her voice was hoarse: "Are you not afraid of death?"
He looked at her, his tone steady and firm: "You don't want to fight anymore, so why should I kill?"
"You are the Demon Sovereign. Your philosophy is my only mission."
Abyss
Aidi returned to the Sea of Consciousness Boundary alone.
It was the second time, and the last.
In the Sea of Consciousness Boundary, demonic energy churned like a tide. The souls of the successive Demon Sovereigns were already waiting. They looked down upon her, their gazes a mix of coldness, doubt, sarcasm, and disappointment.
"You say you don't want to fight anymore?"
"You want to abandon our grand ambition?"
"You are a coward."
"You are unworthy of the throne."
Even her Royal Father appeared from the void, his voice stern: "Aidi, this is not the vow you made then."
"I remember," she stood, bracing her body, which was on the verge of collapse, but she did not retreat: "But I do not want to see charred hands, the deaths of those innocent lives, and... Qin Dousheng's blood all over him."
"I want peace, not victory."
After a moment of silence, the gate of the Sea of Consciousness Boundary slowly closed—her title as Demon Sovereign had been stripped away.
When the gate opened, Qin Dousheng was the first to rush forward, embracing the weak, slumping figure in his arms.
He clearly felt that the immense Demon Sovereign power that had once surged like an abyss within her was now completely gone.
"Did... did I really make a mistake?"
She sobbed softly on his shoulder, like the little girl who had been bullied long ago.
"They say I'm a traitor, a useless person... Even Royal Father... won't forgive me..."
"You did nothing wrong." Qin Dousheng held her tightly.
The Fall
A few days later, Youli entered the Sea of Consciousness Boundary.
Rumor had it that he gained the support of eight former Demon Sovereigns' wills within. He returned from the Sea of Consciousness, his eyes colder than before, his footsteps like iron, bringing with him Guizhen (鬼鸩), Wangjia (魍迦), Fanjing (梵镜), and an army.
The Black Armored Army was ambushed and suffered heavy casualties.
Qin Dousheng shielded Aidi, fleeing all the way. To save her life, he fought off the pursuers, staining the wilderness with blood. Finally, the two retreated to the Lifefall Cliff (断生涯).
The wind howled like a cry, the cliff was ten thousand feet deep, and blue mist rolled like the weeping of ghosts and gods.
Her figure plunged into the abyss. The wind stopped instantly.
Qin Dousheng vanished without a trace soon after. Rumors said he jumped off the cliff with the Demon Sovereign Aidi. Others said he failed in his assassination attempt on Youli and was killed...
For the next five hundred years, there was no more Demon Sovereign Aidi and no more Godslayer General Qin Dousheng in the world.