Damn it… it's all because of me.
I'm Baihu's younger sister!
Lu Shiyun's expression turned extremely grim.
She didn't need to guess—she already understood what these people intended.
They wanted to offer her as a sacrifice.
"My lord," someone stepped forward, "what about this woman? She's Baihu's younger sister. Beautiful as a flower, pure-bodied."
"Acceptable," Chu Xuanfeng replied calmly.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief at those words.
Even Lin Naoyi, standing nearby, subconsciously relaxed.
Chu Xuanfeng's woman frowned and spoke to Lu Shiyun coldly:
"Don't think of a sacrifice as a death sentence. In fact, you'll be sent to the God Himself, to serve at His side. Do you realize what a rare opportunity this is? It's like ascending to the heavens in a single step."
"I once witnessed a snake, far smaller than the White Snake, offered to another god.
Now, its body stretches across thousands of miles. Its breath summons storms. Its voice commands thunder."
Is it really so incredible...?
Everyone seemed puzzled.
If that was the case, was this really a sacrifice?
It sounded more like a blessing.
"Enough," Chu Xuanfeng interrupted. "This discussion is over.
Consider what offerings you will give in return to our God.
Also, contact the organizations behind you. Let them weigh their options carefully."
"When the temple construction is complete, I'll summon the heroes of the world.
Anyone who refuses to attend will be considered an enemy of the Eternal Church."
His words carried a chilling killing intent.
But no one thought he was going too far.
This was about faith. About religion.
Since ancient times, these were no light matters.
The representatives of the three major forces exchanged glances.
They retrieved their communicators and began contacting their families.
Without exception, every reply they received carried the same message:
Submit.
All factions beyond the starry sky were useless.
None compared to the Eternal God.
Lu Shiyun was sold out by her family without a second thought.
They didn't even bother offering resistance.
Other powers immediately prepared vast amounts of rare materials, ancient tomes, and treasures to offer as sacrifices.
No one felt ashamed.
In truth, without Liu Che's rise, they would have already submitted to someone else.
That's the greatest difference.
The law of the jungle—the rule of the strong over the weak—was fully revealed.
Fairy Sword World
A few days ago.
Yong'an City.
A group of strange people had suddenly appeared and abducted a young man named Jing Tian (Sedum).
"Hey! What are you doing?! Don't grab me—I didn't break any laws!" Jing Tian shouted.
"What's going on? Help... somebody, help!"
He struggled fiercely but couldn't break free of the strange figures' control.
Even worse, though he cried out at the top of his lungs, no one around him seemed able to see or hear him.
A cold breeze swept across his forehead.
Oh no. This is supernatural.
What do I do? Someone save me!
Jing Tian's thoughts raced in panic. His mind went blank.
Eventually, they brought him to a ruined temple.
Once inside, the black-cloaked figures dropped their disguises.
Beneath the cloaks, they wore golden armor and carried themselves with extraordinary poise.
"General Fei Peng, long time no see..."
The leader smiled as he addressed Jing Tian.
But to Jing Tian, that smile looked sinister and disgusting.
"Who are you talking to? I'm not some General Fei Peng. I'm just an ordinary guy from Yong'an. My name's Jing Tian. You've got the wrong person!"
Several of the golden-armored figures chuckled.
The leader explained patiently:
"You are General Fei Peng.
But... the seal over your current incarnation hasn't been lifted yet. That's why you don't recognize us."
"Let me put it simply—we're all gods. An invasion of evil spirits is underway. You must return to your rightful place."
Jing Tian backed away, eyes wide in disbelief.
"I-I can't fight. You've got the wrong person. Go find someone else! I'm not Fei Peng!"
He turned to run.
But before he could escape, a golden beam of light struck him.
It was a divine spell bestowed by the Jade Emperor himself—
meant to awaken Fei Peng's true spirit and bind him to his celestial duty.
With a dull thud, Jing Tian fell to his knees.
The light in his eyes dimmed.
"Is it done?"
"Yes. The Jade Emperor ordered this."
"Good thing we acted quickly. Reports say the demoness has already arrived in Yong'an and is searching for him."
"Heh... let her look," the priest sneered.
"The Jade Emperor dispatched us personally.
Even with her power from the Evil God, she can't defeat us with just a few followers."
What nonsense! the priest thought to himself. No way she can stand against heaven's will.
Several days passed.
Jing Tian—or rather, Fei Peng—slowly rose from the ground.
"Why did you wake me so early? My cycle of reincarnation isn't finished yet..."
His calm, composed voice carried an overwhelming sense of security.
General Fei Peng had returned.
The priest approached respectfully.
"General, there's a dangerous demoness in the mortal realm. She's a follower of the Evil God and is spreading her dark faith.
His Majesty has pardoned your past transgressions. If you slay her, you'll be allowed to return to the Heavenly Realm."
"Very well. Take me to her."
A silver light flashed.
Fei Peng's battle armor materialized around him, forged by the power of the immortals.
A long sword was presented by the priest.
But none of the proud celestial beings noticed the disgust flickering in Fei Peng's eyes.
Summoned once again...
Am I nothing more than a dog to them?
He clenched his fist.
Then, without complaint, he transformed into a streak of light and followed the priests.
Soon, they returned to Yong'an City.
As they arrived, a blue figure appeared in Fei Peng's mind.
Memories surged into his heart.
Solanum nigrum...?
It's Solanum... yes.
But... how can she be here?!
Fei Peng stood in silent shock.
The priest beside him pointed at Long Kui and said coldly,
"It seems the general has locked onto her. That's right. This demon girl is a follower of the Cthulhu."
Fei Peng's expression tightened.
He grabbed the priest's collar and snarled,
"What nonsense are you spouting?! She's my sister!"
"This is the Jade Emperor's command," the priest replied without fear.
"Even if Long Kui is your sister, she is also a worshiper of the Evil God. Do you truly intend to disobey the Jade Emperor's orders?"
He stared back without the slightest concern for the murderous rage in Fei Peng's eyes.
Don't think I have no leverage, the priest thought smugly.
The divine light that had awakened Fei Peng was a double-edged sword.
If Fei Peng dared resist, the priest held the means to destroy him.
High in the sky, five figures stood at an impasse.
Below, Long Kui sensed her brother's turbulent emotions.
She raised her head and met his gaze.
Brother and sister locked eyes.
But the moment stretched only briefly.
Suddenly, countless chains of light bound Fei Peng's body.
The priest sneered.
"Since the general refuses to carry out righteous justice, I'll handle it myself."
With a twist of his hand, Fei Peng was forced to his knees.
Cold sweat ran down his face.
Only then did he understand—
the Jade Emperor had only awakened him as a tool.
If he obeyed, he was useful.
If he resisted, he would be punished like a disobedient captive.
There was no longer even a pretense of dignity.
A flash of blue light.
Long Kui appeared before the priest, her eyes blazing with anger.
"What are you doing? Release my brother!" she demanded.
"Release him?" The priest laughed arrogantly.
"Witch, you brought this upon yourself by worshipping the Evil God.
Now, I give you two choices:
Submit yourself willingly, and I'll release General Fei Peng.
Or refuse, and I will crush his true spirit."
Long Kui froze.
She hadn't expected things to escalate to this.
If I die, my brother dies too.
It was a dilemma she had faced once before.
A thousand years ago, she'd chosen death.
As a result, not just her, but all her siblings had been slaughtered.
And now?
Her eyes turned cold.
Then—unexpectedly—she smiled.
A chilling, tragic smile.
It made the scalp of everyone present tingle.
It wasn't the smile of a gentle princess.
It was the smile of someone utterly unafraid.
"Good people always get bullied," she thought.
As her laughter faded, her thick black hair gradually turned silver-white.
"Then kill him."
"If you kill only my brother, then I'll kill every god in the heavens.
Let's see who's more ruthless."
Her voice was hoarse and indifferent—
a sound that chilled everyone to the bone.
Is this still the timid Princess Jiang...?
Or has the crimson demoness truly returned?
The priest's eyes narrowed in alarm.
He gritted his teeth.
"Are you truly unafraid of him dying?"
The only response was a blinding streak of sword light.
Long Kui had blackened.
The blackened Long Kui would accept no threats.
Even if her brother died—
she knew the gods would only manipulate his soul anyway.
In that case, why be afraid?
Just kill.
Once the heavenly gods lay dead and the temples of the Three Realms open, her brother would naturally return to her side.
"You forced me into this. The demon girl will die!"
The priest, both furious and fearful, slashed his sword downward.
At the same time, he shoved Fei Peng forward and detonated the seal placed within him.
A terrifying surge of power erupted, tearing apart Fei Peng's true spirit.
As he lay dying, Fei Peng, tears in his eyes, whispered,
"Sister... I'm so sorry. I only wanted to see you once more before I died."
He wasn't foolish.
He had already realized the Jade Emperor's scheme.
But he hadn't expected such treachery—
that they would detonate his true spirit without hesitation.
BOOM!
The sky and earth trembled.
The blast obliterated the city below.
The priest quickly fled with his followers.
The strongest god in the heavens had self-detonated.
That should be more than enough to destroy the demon girl.
Even if only half of his soul exploded, she couldn't possibly survive.
The priest felt certain of it.
But as he retreated—
A crimson figure blocked his path.
Hong Kui smiled coldly.
"My, aren't you ruthless.
I thought your heart was black, but it turns out it's blood-red too."
The priest's eyes fell on her hand.
She held a still-beating heart, blood dripping from her fingers.
Whose heart...?
He looked down.
A gaping hole had appeared in his own chest.
"How...? I didn't even feel it..."
He muttered weakly, coughed up blood, and plummeted toward the earth.
Hong Kui's pale fingers clenched.
More blood spilled over her hand.
"Tch..." Hong Kui licked the blood from her fingertips and spat in disgust.
"What kind of 'god' bleeds with such a stench?"
The three remaining gods were visibly shaken.
They scattered in all directions, trying to escape and confuse her.
But it was useless.
Hong Kui's power had long surpassed their comprehension.
Her crimson sleeves fluttered.
A demonic sword appeared in her hand.
Sword aura tore through the sky, piercing space itself.
In the blink of an eye, all three were slain.
"If you knew that Long Kui and Fei Peng were dangerous..."
"Why didn't you stop this?"
A new voice rang out.
Xi Yao stepped forward from within a shattered seal, fury burning in her eyes.
Her chest heaved as her emotions surged.
The man she had secretly loved for so long had perished—
how could she not be enraged?
SLAP.
Hong Kui struck her across the face without hesitation.
"What are you?" Hong Kui's voice was cold, each word sharp as a blade.
"A dog raised by the heavens, and you dare shout at me?
First, figure out your own status."
"Where were you when the Jade Emperor punished my brother and forced him into reincarnation?"
"Wasn't he your enemy then?"
"I truly find this laughable."
"You didn't dare bare your fangs at the Emperor, so now you come running to bark at me?
Why didn't you stop those four lapdogs who accompanied him?"
Every word struck like a whip, cutting deep into the heart.
Xi Yao clutched her fair cheek but could find no words to refute.
She had no excuse.
Yes, the Jade Emperor had harbored malicious intent.
If not for him...
Why else would Fei Peng have been forced into reincarnation?
Aside from her silent, unrequited love, she had offered nothing but a single fruit over the years.
How pitiful. How laughable.
Deep down, she feared death.
Seeing Xi Yao's silence, Hong Kui sneered.
"My brother is dead," she said calmly.
"But I have my own ways to bring him back."
"But she—" Hong Kui gestured toward Xi Yao— "cannot.
If she doesn't suffer a deep enough wound, she'll never understand what true cruelty is."
Hong Kui knew her rival all too well.
Xi Yao was still just a foolish, naive girl—
Always believing others had no ill intent.
Always keeping a kind, gentle heart.
But people like her were the ones who suffered most.
So Hong Kui used this moment to force her to awaken.
"As for you," Hong Kui continued, narrowing her eyes,
"'Goddess of the Heavens' Xi Yao...
When the time comes, I'll sacrifice you to the God of Eternity to bring my brother back."
Xi Yao said nothing.
She simply stared up blankly at the drifting clouds.
If offering my life could bring Fei Peng back...
That wouldn't be so bad.
The smoke finally cleared.
The battered figure of Long Kui appeared on the ground.
Her once-beautiful, flowing fairy robes were in tatters.
Her long hair had been burned away in places.
She looked pitiful, enough to make even Hong Kui hesitate.
Hearing footsteps approach, Long Kui rasped,
"Are you satisfied now?"
Her tone was weary and sorrowful.
It was easy to imagine how much her heart had endured in such a short time.
Hong Kui sat down beside her, knees bent.
She looked at Long Kui's arms—only scraps of rough cloth remained.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
"Once, I was naive," Hong Kui whispered.
"I gave you everything."
"You even fought for me, despite your wounds."
"I never imagined it would hurt this much."
Her face remained expressionless, but a single tear fell to the earth.
Yes.
Back when she had been sealed inside the Demon Locking Tower, she had survived only by relying on her will and her strength.
Step by step, she had climbed upward.
But who could understand the suffering she had endured?
Long Kui clutched what remained of her clothes and sobbed,
"So... from now on, I'll be even more ruthless than you."
"I'll make sure no one in this world can ever bully us again."
"I'll bring my brother back."
"I'll become the ruler of this world!"
Demon?
Devil?
Without power, those labels meant nothing.
The powerless were just ants to be trampled.
Long Kui had blackened—
But more than that, she had awakened.
She finally understood why she had failed to protect her brother before.
It wasn't Hong Kui's fault.
Nor the fault of the God of Eternity.
It was because she had been too naive—
blind to the reality of a world ruled by strength.
If she had followed Hong Kui's example sooner,
if she had accepted sacrifice early on,
if she had become a two-star divine envoy,
if she had learned every form of divine magic—
Then even if the Jade Emperor himself appeared,
he would have no choice but to kneel before her.
"It's good that you finally understand," Hong Kui said quietly.
"Now, let's go home."
"I recently gathered some new followers.
Come help me spread the faith of the God of Eternity."
Hong Kui helped Long Kui to her feet.
The two flew toward Mount Shu,
with Xi Yao trailing silently behind.
By now, the area surrounding Mount Shu had become the stronghold of the Eternal Church.
People lived in peace there.
Unlike the Buddhist temples, they didn't have to burn incense or chant sutras daily.
Everyone went about their lives freely—
except for one hour each night, when all gathered for prayer.
A temple stood every few miles.
Blessings radiated from each, and powerful believers guarded them.
No demons or monsters dared approach and cause trouble.
In fact, even the faithful among the demon races were welcomed into the Eternal Church.
After a few days of rest,
Long Kui prepared to set out for the southern lands.
She had heard rumors of descendants bearing Nuwa's bloodline living there.
They would serve as the next sacrifice.