When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

The atmosphere on the high platform was harmonious.

Ji Ran set up a chessboard between himself and the Demon King Ming Si, picked up a black piece between his fingers, and placed it down without hesitation.

Ming Si leaned back slightly, a smile playing on his lips. "It seems I have won."

Ji Ran's gaze swept across the chessboard, unsure how to explain to this demon that they were not playing Gomoku, but rather the game of Go.

Demons are inherently barbaric, so there's no need to reason with them.

"Actually, the main reason for this meeting with His Majesty the Demon King is to discuss the matter of the Thousand-Frozen Cold Iron."

Ming Si's lazy smile vanished, and he raised an eyebrow slightly. "Thousand-layered Cold Iron?"

In his eyes, the Thousand-Condensed Cold Iron is a rare and precious material unique to the Northern Dark Demon Clan's territory. As a top-grade material used to enhance weapon performance, it is circulating in the market. Its production is scarce and its mining is difficult. Once it enters the market, it will fetch an astronomical price.

"If Your Highness needs to purchase Thousand-Frozen Cold Iron for the royal family, you can go to the wandering tribes of the demon race to trade. They occasionally have some stock that leaks out, but the price..." Ming Si nodded knowingly, casually tapping the chessboard with his fingertips.

"Your Majesty the Demon King has misunderstood," Ji Ran said, shaking her head.

"My sudden mention of this item is not to seek procurement channels, but rather... for the sake of the half-demon."

He spoke the last four words very softly, and Ming Si's fingertips, which were tapping the chessboard, paused.

"Oh?"

Ji Ran did not answer immediately, but gracefully took a sip of hot tea.

"Your Majesty, the Demon King, may not know this. While Thousand-Condensed Cold Iron is a top-grade spiritual material for ordinary cultivators, it is a powerful tool for suppressing the bloodline turmoil of a half-demon."

"As long as it is combined with the special techniques of human weapon cultivators, the Thousand-Condensed Cold Iron can be forged into a magical artifact, which can effectively suppress the malevolent energy of half-demons. From now on, the wicked creatures that Heaven cannot tolerate will no longer harm the world."

His words sounded like something out of a fairy tale.

Ming Si's smile gradually froze. At first, he was still processing the other person's words, but when he saw Ji Ran's indifferent expression, he knew that what he said was true.

After all, no one would joke about being a half-demon, especially someone like Ji Ran.

The young Crown Prince of Nancang was a man of deep and reserved nature. Although he was a sickly man who spent most of his time on medicine, he was able to keep his words and actions perfectly confidential. He would never do anything pointless. Since he dared to make such a clear statement, he must have conducted some kind of verification.

"...It is quite refreshing for me."

Ji Ran smiled slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Ming Si had no doubt about the truthfulness of Ji Ran's words and directly asked, "Does Your Highness mean that my Northern Underworld Demon Clan will provide Thousand-Condensed Cold Iron, and human craftsmen will provide the refining technology to create magical artifacts, so that the two clans can cooperate to completely quell the threat of half-demons in the world?"

Ji Ran nodded: "Exactly."

"If this matter succeeds, it will not only resolve a major concern but also restore peace to the world. I believe it will benefit both races."

The air seemed to quiet down at that moment, and even the faint noise from the distant square gradually faded away.

Ming Si roughly understood.

The Crown Prince before us is in a truly delicate situation.

The royal family of Nancang is known for its intricate and roundabout methods, unlike the demon race which selects its demon king based on strength.

Ji Ran sat on the throne he was about to ascend, and it would be fair to say that he had nothing remarkable to show for himself.

Born with a heavenly spiritual root, Ji Ran should have been a cultivation prodigy, one in ten thousand. Unfortunately, his physique was weak, and his cultivation progressed slowly.

In the cultivation world where strength is revered, how can such a prince not be considered incompetent?

With the crown prince's ascension to the throne imminent, he has yet to achieve anything that would convince the people. While the major sects outwardly submit, they may harbor resentment. How can the Southern Cang royal family, represented by Ji Ran, establish prestige in the cultivation world?

In contrast, Ji Fuyao, the senior sister of Xuan Yang Sect, is also a member of the royal family. She has become famous at a young age and is very outstanding among the younger generation. Even without a heavenly spiritual root, her aptitude is no worse than that of the crown prince.

But, if...

If Ji Ran can solve the problem of half-demons, a scourge that has plagued the cultivation world for thousands of years.

That would be completely different.

It was no longer an achievement within the royal family, but a feat that was enough to shake the entire cultivation world.

Having accomplished this great feat, who among the major sects and cultivators of the world could possibly object?

After making a rough guess, Ming Si's gaze settled on the smiling face opposite him, a cold glint flashing deep in his eyes.

The pacification of the half-demon sounds noble and righteous, and is said to be for the benefit of all people. But frankly, it's just a way to build momentum for the crown prince and secure his future.

By concealing personal interests within the guise of righteousness, this was indeed a clever move.

But Ji Ran made one mistake in her calculations.

Ming Si completely disregarded the greater good of the world.

He didn't care whether the world was in chaos or how his people were doing; as long as he could sit in a high position and enjoy himself, he was content. Other troublesome matters would naturally be handled by his subordinates.

A half-demon wreaks havoc on the world?

Why not just kill him?

Why bother with all that trouble, researching magical artifacts to suppress malevolent energy?

The dead half-demon is the most docile half-demon.

However, Ming Si didn't mind continuing the conversation with Ji Ran. The Demon King leaned back in his chair and asked slowly:

"If the Thousand-Cooled Cold Iron truly can effectively suppress the malevolent energy of half-demons, as Your Highness claims, what are Your Highness's plans to do with these controlled half-demons?"

"Of course..." Ji Ran was saying.

Footsteps sounded beside her, and then a palace servant stepped forward, bowed, and whispered something in Ji Ran's ear.

Ming Si took a sip of wine, and then heard Ji Ran cough softly, her expression slightly apologetic.

"I need to leave for a moment, please wait for me, Your Highness."

The Demon King made a "please" gesture.

"Please proceed, Your Highness."

Ji Ran got up and left her seat, following the palace servants to a quiet courtyard near the square, where someone had already prepared warm, nourishing medicinal soup.

Almost the instant the unrelated people left, the Shadow Guard landed on the ground.

"Your Highness, there is new progress in the investigation regarding that child."

Ji Ran remained silent, stirring the medicinal soup slowly with a silver spoon.

"Do you remember when I reported that after the incident, unidentified members of the immortal sects secretly took the child away and allegedly sent him to a sect to cultivate?" The shadow guard knelt on one knee and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, there is progress on this matter."

Ji Ran asked, "Have you found out who it is?"

"Although we have not been able to find out the child's specific identity, multiple clues confirm that the sect he was sent to back then was most likely the Taiyi Sect."

Ji Ran finally raised her eyes.

The shadow guard continued, "The Taiyi Sect has always been aloof and self-possessed, and our people have never been able to infiltrate its core ranks. And His Highness the Fourth Prince, on the other hand..."

At this point, the shadow guard hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

After all, it's not appropriate to gossip about the Fourth Prince.

At this point, a hint of weariness flashed across Ji Ran's face. Ji Cheng'an... his fourth brother, was incompetent and useless at crucial moments.

Taiyi Sect...

Ji Ran's thoughts sank.

That child has no spiritual roots, so he must be of mediocre talent.

Logically speaking, even if one were lucky enough to enter a major sect like the Taiyi Sect, there would be no chance of standing out. At best, one would only be a lowly outer disciple, leading a mediocre life.

After that, the shadow guard explained a few more things.

Just as he finished reporting and was about to leave, Ji Ran suddenly trembled violently!

He trembled violently, his already pale lips lost all color, and his face turned deathly white. He suddenly arched his back and pressed his hand to his dantian.

"puff--!"

A large mouthful of black and red blood spurted from Ji Ran's mouth, splattering across the ground in a shocking manner.

"Your Highness!" The shadow guard's expression changed drastically.

Ji Ran clenched her teeth, having no time to respond.

That feeling... is back again.

A tearing, throbbing pain shot through the depths of his spiritual root in his dantian, as if something was frantically devouring his foundation and spiritual power.

"From...my storage pouch..." Ji Ran coughed repeatedly, blood dripping and staining his chest. His remaining consciousness told him that he had to find Xie Qingying to stabilize his condition.

"Take out... the mustard seed space..."

At the same time, a loud cry of alarm erupted from the direction of Wanjianbei Square.

Ji Ran opened her eyes wide, and her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the corner of the water mirror.

Within the secret realm, another red pillar of light, triggering extraordinary phenomena, shot into the sky.