Misery: There is a pawn shop here

Chapter 143 The Spirit of the Demon
Amidst billowing smoke and towering ancient trees, outside the primeval forest of the vast sea, the disciples of Xuanzong descended lightly, their robes billowing like the sound of pine waves.

The leader of the Six Strings wore a purple ribbon hanging down his shoulders, his eyes fixed on the tragic scene before him, his brows furrowed with frost. Behind him, several Daoist disciples also wore solemn expressions and their auras were slightly heavy.

Amidst the overgrown weeds, Huang Shangzi and Jiu Fangchi lay dead in pools of blood, their robes torn and stained with blood, their condition utterly tragic. Each had taken a blow from Mie Tianlai's palm, and then suffered the backlash of the formation, leaving them covered in wounds and barely clinging to life. The demonic army had retreated like a receding tide, leaving behind only this desolate scene, causing the Xuanzong members immense grief.

"Jiu Fangchi, Huang Shangzi..." Beside the string master, the only woman among the six strings, her delicate hand trembled as she raised it slightly. Gazing at the familiar yet battered face, tears streamed down her face, wetting her clothes. Scenes of cultivating and discussing the Dao with the two of them, and fighting against foreign enemies together, floated through her mind. Now, only these two scarred bodies remained. How could she not feel heartbroken?

The leader of the Six Strings let out a long sigh, his voice deep and resonant, filled with unspeakable grief: "Gentlemen, take Huang Shangzi and Jiu Fangchi back to Xuanzong. We will make the Otherworldly Demon Realm pay for this blood feud in blood!" Before he finished speaking, his palm trembled slightly, and the sword energy faintly rang out, revealing the turmoil in his heart.

"Yes!" the other three echoed in unison, their voices filled with indignation and resentment. They stepped forward slowly, their movements gentle yet urgent, carefully lifting the bodies of Huang Shangzi and Jiu Fangchi, afraid to touch their wounds again. As they turned, they couldn't help but glance once more at the battlefield, their eyes filled with hatred and sorrow. Then, they rose into the air, their figures receding into the distance, leaving only the wild grasses outside the primeval forest swaying in the wind, as if mourning the departed spirits.

In the fiery demon city, demonic energy surged, and the crimson walls seemed to drip blood in the twilight. Yama, the Drought Demon, returned with heavy steps, his black robes billowing, his body shrouded in demonic energy like a dark cloud pressing down on the city. Entering the council hall, his gaze swept over the assembled crowd. He noticed low morale, the absence of many demon generals, and the black-robed figure standing beside the throne.

"It seems this battle was a crushing defeat. Who knows what happened? You tell me. I want to know the whole story." Yama Hanba took the main seat, his voice like a heavy hammer hitting the ground, causing the demonic energy in the hall to fluctuate.

"Yes..." Gui Zhi, still severely injured and hunched over, stepped forward shakily to pay his respects, his every movement revealing his pain. He forced himself to speak, recounting the entire battle in detail, from the initial successful offensive of the Otherworldly Demon Realm, to the reversal of the battle after Ping Shan's arrival and Lian Emei's appearance, and then to the critical moment when his entire army was almost wiped out, his tone filled with regret and helplessness.

"It was my mistake that led to the death of my colleague. I, Ren Chenfu, beg the Demon Lord to punish me..." Before he could finish speaking, Ren Chenfu hurriedly stepped forward, clasped his hands in apology, lowered his head to his chest, and his voice was full of remorse.

"Ren Chenfu, is it your turn to speak?" Yama Hanba roared, his voice like a thunderclap, a cold glint in his eyes. "Let's hear what Guizhi has to say first."

Ren Chenfu trembled and hurriedly retreated, not daring to utter another word.

"That's roughly the story..." Gui Zhi said, "Lian Emei killed four comrades in succession and seriously injured She Sheng and others. Just when we were about to be wiped out, Xi Mie Tian arrived at the battlefield, briefly fought with Lian Emei, and then helped everyone retreat."

Yama Hanba listened to Guizhi's account without expression, then nodded slightly: "Lian Emei has indeed lived up to my expectations. Very good. This will make me even more furious and want to kill her."

“A general who doesn’t focus on the big picture, but instead gets obsessed with breaking the deadlock in one-on-one duels.” Xi Mie Tian glanced at Yan Mo Han Ba ​​from the side, “The defeat in the Realm of Nothingness was all due to your underestimation of your opponent.”

"Xi Mie Tianlai, who gave you the courage to speak to me like this based on mere merits!" Yama Hanba looked at Xi Mie Tianlai with hostility.

"A little bit of credit? It seems that the Demon Lord's great achievement is the loss of his troops. Haha."

With a sarcastic remark, Xi Mie Tianlai turned and headed deeper into the Demon City. In the Otherworld, where demon bloodlines are highly valued, Xi Mie Tianlai, not being a pure demon, naturally faced targeting and cold treatment from various factions, including Yama Hanba.

Watching Xi Mietian's departing figure, Yanmo Hanba's usually calm expression turned extremely ugly.

“Demon Lord…” Guizhi then said, “Mingjian and I have a request, and we hope the Demon Lord will grant it.” “Speak!”

"Si Xiansuo has failed, and Mingjian and I are both in ruins. We humbly request the Demon Lord to allow us to enter the Demon Pool, so that our bodies may merge with the souls of Si Xiansuo and condense into a spirit divination divination to predict the secrets of heaven and continue to serve the Demon Lord."

"Hmm?" Yama Hanba looked at Meijian standing next to Guizhi. "Do you think so too?"

Mingjian was too badly injured to speak, so he simply nodded slowly.

"Since that's the case, this is the spirit of the two of you, I grant your permission." Yama Hanba raised his hand and gestured, "Shesheng, take the two of them into the Demon Pool."

"As you command." Shesheng Tongzi bowed and accepted the order. Guizhi and Mingjian thanked the Demon Lord for granting their request and then followed Shesheng Tongzi out of the council hall. The generals of the Demon Realm watched the two figures with great respect. To be born for the Demon Realm and to die for the Demon Realm was the highest honor of the Demon Realm.

After leaving, Yama Hanba spoke again: "Ren Chenfu, now it's your turn to speak."

"Where I failed, I will rise again. I will not fail a second time," Ren Chenfu said solemnly, cupping his hands in greeting.

Wise men are always proud. Without considerable self-confidence, how could they have acted as undercover agents among Tan Wuyu, Mu Shaoai, and others? Now that their plans have failed and the situation has collapsed, they are unwilling to accept their fate and are determined to avenge their humiliation.

"Making good use of one's life—that is the spirit I seek."

Yama Hanba didn't blame Ren Chenfu too much. Schemes can succeed or fail, and there are good and bad aspects to them. Moreover, even if he didn't want to listen to what Xi Mie Tianlai said, Yama Hanba knew in his heart that he was indeed careless in this battle, which almost led to the annihilation of the Demon Realm. This was a responsibility he couldn't escape. If he were to shift all the blame onto Ren Chenfu, it would undoubtedly be a loss of dignity.

"Yes." Ren Chenfu was naturally unaware that so many thoughts had flashed through Yanmo Hanba's mind in that instant, and simply replied with a serious expression.

"Did you escape during the Night Rebirth Battle? Should this matter be investigated?" Tunfo Tongzi asked immediately from the side.

“Ye Chongsheng is cunning and calculating. Being too harsh on him will only shake the alliance and is meaningless,” said Yanmo Hanba. “Lian Emei’s life is mine. As for him, let him go.”

"Yes." Tunfo Tongzi nodded and said, "Now that the fault lines have reconnected, the Demon Realm plan can move to the next step, or should we still deal with Lian Emei first?"

Yama Hanba shook his head and said, "Let's wait for the secrets of heaven to be revealed by the spirit of ghosts and the underworld. I will also discuss it with the Queen."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)