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

A-Yue walked up curiously and asked, "What interesting thing is Your Highness looking at?"

The prince chuckled softly and pushed the book toward her: "The gift the half-demon presented yesterday was quite interesting. Take a look."

"Oh my god, why are there these incomprehensible scribbles again?" Ah Yue wailed, clutching her head. "You'd better hide them well, lest those old men see them and start saying you're not doing your job properly and pointing fingers at His Highness."

Chu Xianlan thought it was some long-lost forbidden technique or skill, and was just about to glance at it and learn a trick when suddenly, neat footsteps sounded outside the door. Many palace servants and guards filed in and bowed respectfully through the beaded chain: "Your Highness, the cloud boat has arrived."

The crown prince immediately closed the book, his eyes flashing slightly before dimming, and replied, "Let's set off."

Chu Xianlan blinked. She was actually a little disappointed that she hadn't been able to steal the secret techniques from a thousand years ago. However, judging from the prince's tone, he seemed rather unhappy.

He had heard similar tones from Ji Fuyao, Ji Cheng'an, and even Ji Ran.

Perhaps the former crown prince was unwilling to agree to the marriage alliance.

In the cultivation world where strength reigns supreme, anyone can change their destiny through cultivation and gradually embark on the path they have chosen.

The only exception is the princesses and princes.

Their fate was decided at the moment of their birth. Although Ji Fuyao and others in later generations were not forced into marriage, they were still sent to various sects to cultivate, in order to maintain the relationship between the imperial family and the sects.

Ultimately, it's just a different kind of helplessness.

This is the first time that humans and demons have formed a marriage alliance. It is not only a family matter but also a national one, so this trip is undoubtedly a grand one.

Chu Xianlan followed the entourage out of the palace, and even though she was mentally prepared, she was still surprised by the scene on the street.

What Caiyuan said is true.

On the street, there weren't many half-demons, but they walked among the crowd with ease, chatting and laughing with the humans, and no one cast strange glances at them.

For him, a descendant, witnessing the grandeur of the cultivation world a thousand years ago was like a dream.

What if Master... could live here too?

At that moment, Chu Xianlan actually saw in her mind what Yi Chen looked like in this era. That was the true image of a mortal descending to heaven, and every aspect of him was accepted by the world.

The more I read, the more curious I became about why a half-demon had fallen to such a state.

Perhaps this hallucination will give him the answer.

-

Meanwhile, the palace of the Northern Underworld Demon Clan was also bustling with activity, all in preparation for a grand night banquet.

Some of the demons were curious about this and huddled together, whispering among themselves:

"Speaking of which, what's so special about the human prince that we have to go to such lengths to welcome him?"

The other demon replied, "He's not simple."

How can you tell?

"Hey, where did this country bumpkin come from? You don't even know that? You're so ignorant! That prince is something else; he has the only Heavenly Spiritual Root in the world!"

The demon asked in confusion, "I've heard of that too, but what's so special about the Heavenly Spiritual Root? Is it that powerful? How exactly is it stronger than the five spiritual roots of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth? I've never understood this."

"Well, I don't have a Heavenly Spiritual Root! I only know the general idea. It's said that he can use any of the five elemental spiritual roots and switch between them freely!"

"...What! That's the Five Elemental Roots!"

The knowledgeable demon was rebuffed and angrily retorted, "Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand! The Five Elemental Roots are mixed and impure, while the Heavenly Elemental Root can encompass all things. In short, since that human prince's talent is so exceptional, if we could preserve his bloodline, we might be able to give birth to a half-demon with a Heavenly Elemental Root—at that time, would our demon race still worry about not being powerful enough?"

The Southern Cang royal family's spirit ship quickly arrived at Buzhou Divine Mountain, the border that separates the Southern Cang Continent from the Northern Underworld. After crossing the mountain peak, it slowly sailed towards the territory of the demon race.

As night fell, the spirit boat that had traveled a long way landed in the Northern Underworld.

Chu Xianlan followed the Crown Prince through the banquet process, and only then did she understand how apt the description of the Demon King's "so many children that they could circle the cultivation world three times" was.

The demon palace, the demon mountains, and the demon seas are half occupied by demon concubines and their offspring.

The young females were all slender and graceful, and the young males were handsome as jade—of course, Chu Xianlan couldn't see any of their faces.

At this moment, Chu Xianlan was already dazzled. She silently counted the number of demon queens and princes in her mind, but gave up after counting to the third row. Instead, she looked at the legendary, womanizing demon king on the high platform.

The Demon King, with his bloated figure and round belly, sat on the couch, exuding an air of decadent indulgence in wine and women. The wine cup in his left hand wobbled, while his right hand held a pipe filled with some kind of spiritual herb, from which white smoke curled, a picture of drunken revelry.

Chu Xianlan was greatly shocked.

How could this be? Compared to this demon king from a thousand years ago, even the annoying Ming Si seems handsome.

Inside the palace, singing and dancing filled the air, with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filling the air. The aroma of wine mingled with the scents of rouge and face powder, creating a unique and enchanting atmosphere. The dancers twirled in their magnificent long skirts, a breathtaking and lively spectacle.

After the human race finished presenting their gifts, His Highness the Crown Prince took the initiative to bring up the matter of a marriage alliance.

A moment of silence followed, and then the banquet finally entered its main event.

But a glint of light flashed in the Demon King's eyes, and he chuckled, "Human guests have come from afar and must be tired from their journey. Why don't you rest well and recharge your energy? It just so happens that some of my daughters haven't been able to return yet. When all my children arrive tomorrow, Your Highness can take a closer look and choose the one you like."

Chu Xianlan was dumbfounded: "??"

There's more? Not all of them have arrived yet??

You demons are incredibly prolific!

A-Yue whispered in his ear, "I heard that the Demon King's original form was a snake. No wonder, snakes are inherently lustful, that's probably what it means."

She sighed, "So, you absolutely must never choose a snake demon as your Daoist partner in the future."

Chu Xianlan choked as soon as she picked up her teacup. Ever since she learned that A-Yue was her grandmaster, she always felt a sense of awkwardness whenever she chatted with her.

The prince took the demon king's words to heart and couldn't help but frown.

For him, the marriage alliance was merely a matter of necessity to maintain peace between the two tribes, and the moment he arrived in the Northern Sea Realm, the Crown Prince relinquished his freedom.

But no matter who becomes his crown princess, he will treat her with respect and honor, and give her the respect she deserves.

The Demon King's casual tone, as if he were treating his soon-to-be-married daughter like an object to be picked over, stirred up an indescribable unease in the Crown Prince's heart.

As a result, the Demon King's next words were even more explicit.

"Your Highness, there's no need to worry," the Demon King chuckled, his interest piqued. "As long as we can breed the most talented half-demons, we'll definitely cooperate fully!"

These words were extremely harsh and unpleasant to hear, and Chu Xianlan frowned and looked up.

"Come on, cheers!"

Amidst laughter and conversation, the Demon King raised his wine cup, and all the demons in the hall raised their cups in celebration, making the banquet lively and joyful once again.

The crown prince remained gentle, offering tea instead of wine in return, and suppressing his complex and indescribable feelings by lowering his eyes.

After the banquet ended, it was nearly dawn. Chu Xianlan returned to the bedroom arranged by the demon clan and pondered for a while what she had seen and heard in the illusion today. Just as she was sorting out her thoughts, two knocks suddenly sounded on the door.

"Knock knock."

Immediately, the soft, alluring voice of the demon woman rang out:

"Young master, are you asleep?"

Chu Xianlan, standing at the door: "...?"

Considering the wild nature of the demon race, he had a bad feeling, so he said, "I'm going to sleep."

The woman let out a series of melodious, tantalizing laughs, her tone playful, "Asleep... how can you still reply? Young man, don't tease me."

After he finished speaking, the door was suddenly pushed open.

An indescribable fragrance wafted into my nostrils, sweet and alluring, almost stealing my soul. My gaze was forced to meet a pair of glowing pink eyes.

Chu Xianlan felt dizzy for a moment and knew something was wrong.

This is the fox demon's most skilled charm technique!!

Why do I have to experience this kind of thing even in a hallucination?!

The fox-woman licked her lips, staring intently at the boy who was covering his head with a half-smile, clearly quite pleased with his appearance.

She came with a mission—the Demon King had ordered that those around the human prince must experience the "warm hospitality" of the demon race. As for how to be hospitable, that was entirely up to them.

Oh my, spending a night with such a handsome young man is worth it.

She narrowed her eyes, about to raise her hand to stroke the boy's arm, when suddenly she was blasted away by a merciless ice-type spiritual force. The fox demon cried out and fell unconscious.

"Master..." Chu Xianlan's mind went blank. Before she could react, her wrist was tightly gripped by a cold hand, and she was pulled into someone's arms with lightning speed.