Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Within the void passage, the teleportation array's light abruptly froze. The surrounding fault lines ceased collapsing, and the swirling light spots remained suspended in mid-air. Darkness poured in from all directions, filling the gaps. A demonic law, surpassing even that of a Great Sage, forcefully forced its way in, freezing the spatial turbulence. A piercing screeching sound echoed from the passage's walls as the law shattered inch by inch.

In the depths of darkness, the two stepped out, shattering the void.

The person at the forefront, clad in a dark gold nine-dragon imperial robe and wearing a flat-topped crown, was none other than the Demon Emperor Shi Tian. With each step he took, dark gold ripples spread beneath his feet, and the domineering and unparalleled aura of the Demon Emperor instantly filled the entire passage.

Half a step behind was Tianpeng. She removed her armor, changing into a simple blue robe, and held a nine-toothed rake upside down in her hand. Her aura as a half-step Great Sage intertwined with the pressure of the Demon Emperor, forming a solid barrier that firmly blocked the path to the Central Continent. The passage could not withstand the crushing force, and large pieces of space peeled away, revealing the endless void outside.

Without uttering a word, Gu Xiang and Bai Yin instantly stood on either side, tightly protecting Su Chang'an behind them.

Gu Xiang flicked his sleeve, his fingertips sketching in the air. A surge of righteous energy erupted, influencing the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty, transforming into a dark golden five-clawed dragon that coiled before him.

Bai Yin stepped heavily into the void, his bare torso bulging with muscles, and a burst of malevolent energy from the far west erupted from his bones and blood. The pure white energy shattered the darkness, condensing into a white tiger's head, which stood alongside the dark golden dragon shadow as a second barrier.

The two barriers exerted their power simultaneously, firmly keeping the oppressive force three feet away.

The collision of their energies shook the void. Gu Xiang's lips bleed, which he casually wiped away, his eyes cold and sharp. Bai Yin's newly scabbed wound on his back burst open again, bleeding profusely, yet he remained as immovable as an iron tower, completely blocking Su Chang'an's view.

Di Shitian stopped. He ignored Gu Xiang, his gaze piercing through the dragon's shadow, fixed on Bai Yin.

"Bai Yin, do you know your crime?" The Demon Emperor's voice echoed through the passage, cold and unquestionable.

Bai Yin grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth, but remained silent.

Di Shitian raised his hand, his fingertips swirling with the essence of the Demon Court: "You are the one destined to face the calamity of the Demon Clan, your fate is tied to the survival of the Demon Court. The Demon Clan's fortune has been severed for ten thousand years, and only you can fill that hole and restore its glory."

His gaze swept over Bai Yin's wounded body, and his tone turned cold: "I will not allow you to die in vain in this deadly predicament in the Central Continent. Your life belongs to the demon race."

A cold laugh rolled down Bai Yin's throat as he clenched his fists.

With his hands behind his back, Di Shitian offered his bargaining chip: "If you are willing to return with me, I will use all the resources of the demon race to refine your physical body and help you break through to the Quasi-Emperor level. The worship of ten thousand demons is but a thought away."

The tone shifted abruptly, a murderous intent emanating from behind the tassel: "If you remain obstinate, I will break your arms and legs and cripple your cultivation. Even if you're a cripple, I'll take you back to fill that hole!"

The temperature in the passage plummeted, while the oppressive force surged, forcing the illusory dragon and tiger figures to retreat in disarray.

Bai Yin felt a sudden weight on his shoulders, and he abruptly straightened his spine, his bones cracking.

"Pah!" Bai Yin spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, then ripped open his tattered clothes. On his bronze chest, a dark red fox mark stood out prominently.

"My life was given to Xiao Jiu long ago!" Bai Yin pointed to his chest, his voice booming. "The Demon Court's mess is their own business! What do I care about fortune or tribulation?"

His eyes were bloodshot, his murderous aura raging: "Anyone who dares to stop me from going to the Central Continent today, I'll tear them apart alive!" With that, he took a step forward, and the phantom of the white tiger surged, forcefully resisting the Demon Emperor's oppressive aura. Gu Xiang stepped forward side by side, the dragon and tiger intertwining, stabilizing the defensive line.

After a long silence, Tianpeng gripped his rake and stepped forward past Di Shitian. Her gaze pierced through the barrier and landed on the hem of a plain white robe behind her.

"Su Chang'an." Tianpeng's voice was hoarse, full of exhaustion. The blood-red sacrifice of Guanghan Palace haunted her like a nightmare, and she could no longer bear to watch that face disappear before her eyes.

"Turn back." Tianpeng looked at the gap, his tone pleading. "The situation in Zhongzhou is a matter of certain death. You can't go."

Su Chang'an remained unmoved.

Tianpeng spoke rapidly: "Li Changgeng has gone mad. He used the 'Heaven-Suppressing Bell' to seal off the Central Continent, stirring up the evil energy of heaven and earth accumulated underground for three thousand years. That great formation would annihilate even a quasi-emperor! You are now just a remnant soul; going there will only result in your soul being refined, and you won't be able to save anyone!"

Gu Xiang's eyes darkened slightly, and Bai Yin gritted his teeth. The two refused to give an inch, instead tightening their protective space even further.

Tianpeng looked at the two of them, his guilt turning into stubbornness: "Back then in the Moon Palace, I failed to protect Su Xiaojiu. I watched her die on the altar. For three thousand years, I have regretted it every single day."

She slowly raised her rake, and the radiance of the moon dispelled the darkness. A layer of starlight barrier opened, its edges shimmering with the sharpness of laws.

"Even if you hate me for a lifetime, I will still take you away." Tianpeng's voice was filled with twisted obsession. "I will hide you in the deepest part of the Demon Court. Preserving your last wisp of soul is what I owe you."

The star barrier expanded outwards, attempting to envelop the three of them.

"ridiculous."

A soft snort broke the stalemate. Su Chang'an stepped out from behind the two. Her white robes fluttered in the wind. She exerted no power whatsoever, her aura was contained, yet she stood there, subtly becoming the center of heaven and earth. Gu Xiang and Bai Yin immediately positioned themselves on either side, protecting the flanks.

Su Chang'an stared directly at Tianpeng, his eyes filled with icy mockery:

"Hide me? And then, like three thousand years ago, confine me to the Moon Palace, and send me to the altar again?"

Tianpeng's face turned deathly pale instantly, and the rake in his hand trembled slightly.

Su Chang'an ruthlessly tore away his hypocrisy: "You always make these kinds of 'for your own good' choices. Back then, you didn't dare to defy the Demon Ancestor, you didn't dare to disobey the law, you only dared to watch me die, and then drown your sorrows in alcohol."

She stepped forward, her gaze sharp as a sword: "You still dare not defy the will of Heaven, dare not face Li Changgeng directly. You've decided you're doomed, so you imprison me. Is this what you call protection?"

Tianpeng opened his mouth, as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat.

"Your so-called protection is nothing but cowardice." Su Chang'an's words were piercing. "Unable to break the deadlock, you lock people in cages to ease your conscience. This kind of self-deceiving compensation is disgusting."

The lunar barrier shook violently at his words, and the starlight dimmed.

Su Chang'an withdrew her gaze and turned to Di Shitian. Her expression was calm and serene, but her tone carried an absolute killing intent:

"Anyone who stops me, I'll kill them."