I became the demon of the female devil

Chapter 423 The overprotective empress! She lost both her wife and her army!
Deep within the Qingyang Mountains, the three stood quietly at the foot of the mountain, waiting.

Before long, the clouds and mist that had been covering the sky dispersed, revealing a huge archway built of white stone, with the sharp and glaring character "武" (wu, meaning martial arts) carved on the lintel.

Two figures flew out from inside; they were Shen Zhixia and Ling Ningzhi.

"elder brother!"

"Master Chen!"

Seeing Chen Mo standing there unharmed, the two finally breathed a sigh of relief, and their suppressed emotions surged up. Like swallows returning to their nest, they rushed into his arms.

"Brother, are you alright? You almost scared me to death." Shen Zhixia bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears. "If I had known that the Sword Washing Pool was so dangerous, I would never have let you go in."

Ling Ningzhi looked at him with concern, "Lord Chen, are you alright?"

"Don't worry, I feel great now." Chen Mo reached out and ruffled their hair, smiling as he said, "The process looked a bit scary, but it was all over without any real danger. Besides, Dao Zun was there, so there won't be any problems."

"By the way, where is Master?"

Ling Ningzhi's mind was entirely on Chen Mo just now. Upon hearing this, she looked up and noticed that Ji Hongxiu was standing not far away, her expression seemingly rather unpleasant.

Beside her stood a woman in a plain-colored long dress, her hands clasped behind her back. She had a slender and graceful figure, and her bare feet, sculpted like jade, were visible beneath the hem of her dress. Her exquisite face was flawless, like a piece of flawless jade, and her sharp phoenix eyes exuded a captivating majesty.

"This is……"

Ling Ningzhi felt that this woman looked somewhat familiar.

After thinking carefully for a moment, his pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints.

She had seen this person in person on the flying boat before, and he almost fought with her master because of Chen Mo!
"Jade, jade..."

"Ok?"

His blue-green eyes glanced at me, like a bottomless abyss.

Ling Ningzhi's heart trembled violently, and her throat felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand. The intense pressure made her body stiff, and she couldn't even utter a single syllable!

However, Yu Youhan only glanced at her before looking away, as if he didn't take her seriously at all.

"call--"

Ling Ningzhi finally caught her breath, her breasts heaving, her Taoist robe soaked with cold sweat.

"Strange, why is Consort Yu here?"

"And she's standing next to Master? I remember those two had a terrible relationship..."

Just as she was puzzled, a melodious bell rang out from inside the mountain gate.

thump—

Several figures arrived through the air and suddenly appeared in front of Chen Mo.

Leading the group was Huo Wuyai, the sect master of Wusheng Mountain, followed closely by several peak masters including Zi Wenzhong and Jiang Zhiyun.

Following behind were a group of elders, all core members of Martial Saint Mountain, who already knew what had happened in the Sword Inquiry Pool.

"Young friend Chen Mo, it's so soon we meet again. I wonder how your recovery is going?" Huo Wuyai greeted him.

Chen Mo cupped his hands and said, "This junior is fine. Thank you for your concern, Sect Master."

Jiang Zhiyun glanced at him discreetly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

She had personally witnessed the other party drain the sword intent from the Sword Washing Pool, yet he was completely unharmed.
Putting everything else aside, that terrifying baleful aura alone could shatter a person's soul. Even a first-grade grandmaster would probably not be able to withstand it... Yet, only a few hours have passed, and he has already regained consciousness.

Moreover, judging from his energetic and spirited appearance, his cultivation level seems to have improved!

"How did this kid do that...?"

Huo Wuyai had obviously noticed this as well, and his smile grew even brighter as he said, "Your condition back then really startled me. Now it seems like you've turned misfortune into blessing?"

Chen Mo did not hide anything and frankly said, "This junior has indeed benefited greatly and has now reached the Dao Integration Realm."

"hiss--"

"A shared path?!"

Everyone gasped.

As martial arts masters, they certainly understood what those two words represented.

The Dao Integration Realm is divided into three minor realms: 'Body Integration', 'Spirit Integration', and 'Dao Integration'.

After reaching the third rank, one can use their physical body to bear the power of the Dao and exert power beyond the limits of the body, which is called 'body integration'.

Upon reaching the 'Divine Harmony' realm, one can master various supernatural abilities and techniques through the law of divine soul resonance, and the strength of the divine soul will also be further enhanced, making up for the biggest weakness of martial arts practitioners.

This is also an important reason why the status of martial arts practitioners becomes completely different after reaching the third rank.

The 'Dao He' realm is quite special; one must truly comprehend the laws and form a unique Dao imprint based on one's own understanding.

Looking across the entire Nine Provinces, including the Three Saints Sect, there are only a handful of grandmasters who have taken this step. Many of them have already broken through to the second rank, but still haven't been able to form a Dao Seal.

However, the Dao Seal is a prerequisite for condensing the Dao Fruit.

Therefore, to some extent, the third rank is just the beginning; whether or not one possesses the Dao Seal determines how far one can go in the future.

Chen Mo achieved the Great Perfection of Dao at the young age of twenty, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, proving himself to the First Rank of Dao is a certainty!
No wonder the sect leader wasn't angry at all when the Sword Washing Pool was destroyed...

Turns out I've found a treasure!
"Just as I expected!"

"With this kid's talent and luck, he might just be able to glimpse that transcendent realm!"

Huo Wuyai was deeply moved, but his face remained calm as he nodded and said, "Young friend Chen is indeed blessed. Since you are alright, I am relieved."

He then changed the subject, "Now, shouldn't we talk about compensation?"

"compensation?"

Chen Mo blinked and asked, "What do you mean by that, Sect Leader Huo?"

"We're all smart people, so let's not beat around the bush." ​​Huo Wuyai cleared his throat and said, "The Sword Washing Pool is of extraordinary significance to our sect. It not only contains a thousand-year-old sword intent, but also the sword dao laws left by our ancestor. It is precisely because of this that our sect has been able to stably produce grandmasters. Now it has been destroyed by you, which can be said to have shaken the foundation of the sect..."

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and said, "But you're the one who told me to go..."

Huo Wuyai nodded and said, "That's true. I also bear some responsibility for this matter, but ultimately, you are the beneficiary. After all, it was you who absorbed that Supreme Sword Intent, right?"

Following the sect leader's prior instructions, the elders adopted fierce and menacing expressions, glaring at Chen Mo with displeasure, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.

The pressure from more than a dozen martial arts masters was so intense that it was almost suffocating. Ordinary people simply couldn't withstand it and would immediately have to admit their mistakes and back down.

Chen Mo remained calm and said indifferently, "Then what does the sect leader intend to do? It seems I am powerless to ask this junior to return the items to you now."

Huo Wuyai's eyes showed increasing appreciation as he stroked his beard and said, "Don't worry, I'm not that stingy. The purpose of the Sword Cleansing Pool is to temper the bodies of people in the sect. How much one can absorb depends entirely on one's own ability. It's just a consumable."

"The only point of contention now is Chen Xiaoyou's identity." "As long as Xiaoyou is willing to join my sect, all conflicts will naturally disappear, and I can give them an explanation."

"..."

Chen Mo's lips twitched slightly.

Finally, we've gotten to the main point: this map of the Yan Kingdom is just too long...

Actually, he wasn't too opposed to becoming a disciple of the Martial Saint. Huo Wuyai seemed reliable enough, and he was also Zhixia's master. Moreover, the background and resources of the Holy Sect would help him advance to a higher realm.

But everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

First of all, he is an official of the imperial court. Once he becomes a disciple, he will become the official endorsement of Wusheng Mountain. Getting too close to people in the martial arts world may bring unnecessary trouble to the Chen family.

Moreover, the Yuan Dynasty will eventually purge the sects, and being caught in the middle will only put the Empress in a difficult position.

From any perspective, taking on a master now is not a good idea.

At least it can't be done openly.

Seeing Chen Mo remain silent, Huo Wuyai continued to persuade him, "Actually, I still admire you quite a bit, which is why I'm willing to take you as my last disciple. This way, you and Zhixia will be even closer in marriage. When you two get married in the future, I will definitely be there to witness it..."

"Master!"

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

Shen Zhixia's cheeks flushed red, and she stomped her foot in embarrassment and annoyance.

"Hey, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Aren't you always thinking about Chen Mo? Why are you embarrassed now?" As he said this, Huo Wuyai suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He turned his head and saw two women staring at him intently.

The Daoist Master had long ago stated that he had no objection to him accepting disciples.

As for the other person, he looked somewhat unfamiliar, and his aura was quite profound and unfathomable. Huo Wuyai didn't think much of it and assumed he was one of the elders of the Tian Shu Pavilion.

"Young friend, what's your decision?" Huo Wuyai said, "Don't worry, as long as you join my sect, you'll have everything you need, from cultivation techniques to resources. With my careful guidance, I guarantee you'll achieve the first rank before you turn thirty!"

He believed that the terms he offered were generous enough that no one could refuse them.

Chen Mo shook his head and said, "I am deeply honored by the sect leader's favor, but as a member of the Tianlin Guard, I must consult my superiors before making such a decision."

"Should we consult our superiors?"

Huo Wuyai frowned, of course he could tell that this was just an excuse.

As the supreme being, he had already shown enough respect by personally accepting a disciple, but the other party remained completely unmoved!
His originally amiable expression gradually turned cold. Thinking that he had to put some pressure on this kid, he immediately said in a deep voice, "My original intention was to achieve the best of both worlds, to solve the problem without hurting the harmony. Since young friend Chen is not appreciative, then you should find a way to replenish the sword intent in the Sword Washing Pool yourself."

"Let me make this clear from the start: I'm giving you three days. If you don't meet the previous standards, don't blame me for taking advantage of your size and being ruthless!"

The peak masters exchanged glances upon hearing this.

Those sword intents accumulated over nearly a thousand years to reach such a scale; how could they possibly be replenished in three days?
This is simply an impossible task!
It seems the sect leader is resorting to force when soft tactics fail, and is preparing to coerce Chen Mo into submission!

Just then, a cold voice rang out: "Old man, who do you want to be impolite to?"

"Ok?"

Huo Wuyai frowned and looked in the direction of the sound.

The cold and beautiful woman beside Ji Hongxiu was staring straight at him, her eyes filled with a chilling murderous aura.

"The Dao Venerable hasn't even spoken yet, what right do you, an elder, have to interrupt?" Huo Wuyai was also getting angry at this point, waving his hand, "I'm putting my words here today, this matter must be resolved, even if the Heavenly King himself came, it wouldn't make a difference!"

"Um, actually she is..."

Ling Ningzhi was about to speak up to remind him when she noticed her master's gaze. Her expression changed slightly, and she silently lowered her head.

"Who is Ji Hongxiu? Do I need her permission to speak?"

Yu Youhan narrowed her eyes as she looked at him, her tone sharp and piercing: "You're not very capable, but you've got quite the nerve. I'd like to see if your methods are as tough as your mouth."

? !
Upon noticing the words "this palace," Huo Wuyai frowned, suddenly realizing something.

The next moment, a giant hand made of cyan particles appeared out of thin air and slammed down with overwhelming force!
Huo Wuyai reacted extremely quickly, his Dharma form rapidly unfolding, and a phantom of a warrior clad in armor appeared behind him, raising his fists to meet the attack.

boom!
The fists and palms collided, unleashing a surging shockwave that sent more than a dozen grandmasters flying hundreds of meters away!

Before they could even regain their footing, the scene before them made them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave—

Under the crushing force of that cyan giant hand, the indestructible martial arts avatar cracked inch by inch, turning into dust in the blink of an eye and dissipating with the wind!
boom!
boom!
boom!
The massive hand struck repeatedly, causing the entire mountain range to tremble.

Yu Youhan slammed Huo Wuyai into the ground inch by inch, as if playing whack-a-mole!
After striking more than a dozen times, he finally stopped. When the dust settled, a huge pit appeared in front of him. In the center of the pit, Huo Wuyai was buried from the neck down, looking extremely disheveled and covered in dust!

"metropolitan!"

"Are you OK!"

The crowd tried to rush forward, but Huo Wuyai stopped them.

"You are... Yu Youhan?!"

His face was pale, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Although I have never seen that female demon in person, her reputation precedes her. There is no one else in the world with such power except for Consort Yu!
What shocked Huo Wuyai the most was that he had not noticed anything unusual from beginning to end. The other party's aura was almost no different from that of an ordinary person, which meant that his strength was far above his own!
The gap between the two sides has probably become so large that it is difficult to overcome!
"No wonder Ji Hongxiu has been silent all this time; she was waiting for me here!" Huo Wuyai thought to himself with resentment.

Yu Youhan approached, looked down at him, and said calmly, "You haven't answered my question yet. How do you intend to be impolite to Chen Mo?"

Huo Wuyai's throat moved slightly, and his scalp tingled.

What's going on with this kid? Why are both the Daoist Master and the Imperial Concubine protecting him?
"Ahem, Your Highness, you misunderstand. I had no intention of bullying the weak. My sect has indeed suffered a great loss this time..."

"I already know the details of the matter, so there's no need to elaborate."

Yu Youhan said slowly and deliberately, "You plotted to deceive Chen Mo, luring him into the Sword Washing Pool with the intention of harming him. Fortunately, Chen Mo was lucky enough to escape danger, but now he's still not letting it go and is turning around and accusing you..."

???

Huo Wuyai looked bewildered.

No, who's biting whom here?!
Yu Youhan paused slightly before continuing, "According to the laws of the Great Yuan Dynasty, plotting to harm an official of the court should be a capital offense. However, considering that Chen Mo was not injured, I will not pursue the matter with you."

"..."

Huo Wuyai's forehead veins throbbed, but he was helpless.

Yu Youhan's strength is unfathomable; one should not fight him without absolute certainty.

Besides, this woman is notorious for slaughtering entire sects and families at the drop of a hat; he can't possibly drag Martial Saint Mountain into this mess!

Since the matter of taking on a disciple had completely fallen through, Huo Wuyai simply gave up struggling and thought he should get rid of this plague god first. He forced himself to endure the humiliation and said, "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty. This matter was indeed something I did not consider properly."

Yu Youhan nodded and said, "Alright, let's talk about compensation next."

Huo Wuyai: (O_o) ? ?
(End of this chapter)