My Beautiful Duchess Wife

Lin Peng nodded, just as the young man standing at the head of the row of officials on the left saw him. His eyes narrowed slightly, and the young man asked with interest, "Sister Shia, who is this person? He doesn't even kneel before my father!"

Just as Shia was about to explain, Jerry released an extremely powerful aura. The civil officials standing in the ranks seemed unable to withstand it, and several of them collapsed, bleeding from their trachea.

However, Lin Peng stubbornly persevered. His entire body seemed to begin to go numb, and he couldn't help but tremble. Shia was startled and was about to say something when Jerry released his powerful aura once more.

The aura was similar to the last time, and even Shia trembled slightly. Lin Peng was even worse off, almost bleeding from all seven orifices. However, there was already a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

His body was slightly bent over, as if he were being pressed down by a mountain.

His gaze, however, was extremely resolute as he coldly looked at Jerry: "Your Grace, I am Duke Shia's advisor. However... in the Demon Realm, it seems that a duke's subordinate does not need to bow to another duke!"

As he spoke, crimson blood slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth. A surge of inner pride prevented Lin Peng from kneeling. It seemed the fire within him shared this same sentiment, continuously igniting waves of heat that flowed throughout his body, giving Lin Peng even greater strength.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense; it seemed as if the air in the entire hall was thickening. Inhaling became incredibly difficult. Shia's gaze grew colder, while Medusa remained expressionless.

The most impressive was Angelina. Although she was half-bent over, she still persevered. Nadas, on the other hand, was already lying on the ground, almost unable to breathe.

Chapter Fifty-Four: The Injustices of Treatment

The hall reeked of gunpowder. The thick, fire-elemental air carried an indescribable aura of explosive activity. A single spark could ignite it. Jerry, whose body seemed more obese than burly, remained seated. His small eyes were now almost invisible, yet even unseen, his sharp, razor-sharp gaze swept down upon them.

Especially towards Lin Peng, it seemed as if he could kill him with his eyes at any moment.

After a long while, this atmosphere was broken by Jerry's sudden, unexpected smile. A faint smile graced his fat, reptilian face. Air seemed to immediately circulate in the hall; the subtle fire element combined with the warm air currents offered some relief to the civil officials whose seven orifices were bleeding.

"You're quite good!" He stretched out his fat finger, pointing at Lin Peng with a strange expression. Then he burst into laughter: "Xia, you really did find a capable advisor! Hehe, well then... let's begin the feast!"

As he spoke, the obese man slowly stood up and walked towards the backyard.

The young man, led by a civil official, gave Lin Peng a cold look. His usual sneer remained, and he turned and walked away with a flick of his sleeve.

The castle's banquet hall was ridiculously large, easily accommodating tens of thousands of people for banquets and dances. Rows of fiery red pillars stood in the somewhat empty hall, and tables nearly ten meters long were laden with all sorts of food. Just tell the waiters what you want to eat, and they'll bring it to you immediately. Meanwhile, soft, colorful leather sofas sat in a dimly lit corner.

After everyone entered with strange expressions, Lin Peng took advantage of the moment when no one was around and walked towards the sofa. He had barely sat down when he spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the dark red sofa, creating a dazzling effect.

Angelina, who was following behind, collapsed into Lin Peng's arms as if she had lost all her strength.

Lin Peng gently held Angelina, who seemed to have no strength left and whose face was frighteningly pale, and gave a bitter smile: "We really are brothers in misfortune. I never imagined that just this aura would have such power. If a Demon Emperor-level expert were to unleash their true ultimate move, I really don't know if we could survive!"

Angelina shook her head weakly and said indifferently, "Let alone a Demon Emperor level expert, it's hard to say whether we can even survive against a Demon King level expert right now." Lin Peng shook his head slightly and nodded with pursed lips.

"Oh, so you really are good siblings!" Abel sneered, sitting directly opposite Lin Peng and his companion. Her large eyes were full of mockery.

Lin Peng had no intention of dealing with this guy right now. He coughed, picked up a glass of water from the crystal coffee table, and rinsed his mouth. Then, he looked at the nobles who had already started wandering around.

And Shia, who was talking to Jerry the whole time.

Medusa, however, seemed to have vanished in an instant. He searched the area thoroughly but couldn't find her. He frowned slightly, coughed, and then smiled, "This is your territory, could you show me around?"

Abel was taken aback, then gave Lin Peng a strange look and nodded slightly: "Okay, but there are some forbidden areas in this castle that you can't go to!"

After Lin Peng nodded in agreement, Abel got up and led Lin Peng out of the banquet hall.

The castle was truly enormous, covering at least a thousand acres. At that moment, Lin Peng, led by Abel, entered a place that resembled a training ground. Seeing the shirtless men, sweating profusely, Lin Peng was somewhat surprised.

The men merely nodded slightly upon seeing Abel, as if to acknowledge her. However, Abel seemed somewhat angry. She let out a cold laugh and suddenly darted away.

The wind blade in his hand, already in a semi-circle, swept directly towards one of the more burly men. With a bang, the wind blade dissipated. At the same time, a burst of fire suddenly appeared. After exploding, the burly man crashed directly into the wall.

With another muffled thud, the wall seemed to have collapsed, revealing a huge hole. The others stared coldly at Abel, some even with a hint of hatred in their eyes.

"You useless bunch of things, humph, Father actually let you in here. Humph... Get out of here, all of you!" With that, Abel unleashed countless wind blades as if he had gone mad.

The wind blades instantly ripped the entire training ground into a maze of gullies, and suddenly flashes of red light appeared. The red light flickered on those target-like objects. Abel chuckled, "See that? This is true power. You lot are utter trash, unable to even light something like this. Hahaha..."

The woman's laughter surprised Lin Peng. He also realized that these target-like objects were actually tests of strength. The deeper the red light, the stronger you were.

However, a Demon Lord like Abel is basically at the Crimson level. If it were a Demon Emperor, even the target wouldn't be able to withstand it. Therefore, the highest level is only Crimson, or rather, the peak is a Demon Lord-level test.

Lin Peng immediately became interested in the targets. He smiled faintly, "Miss Abel, if you don't like being here, you can leave now! Hehe... Well, these people can stay too, and tell me how to play with these things?"

Abel was furious, acting like a spoiled young lady who had suddenly lost something she loved and was very upset. She stomped her foot heavily and stormed out of the training ground.

However, the way those people looked at Lin Peng was exceptionally cold. Each of them seemed to harbor deep hatred.

"No need to be so nervous, I'm Duke Shia's subordinate. Hehe... I'm Duke Jerry's enemy! Hmm, and who are you people, and why are you being bossed around by Abel?" Lin Peng pinched his chin, looking somewhat puzzled.

At this moment, the man who had been blasted out of the training field by the wind blade slowly walked back, covered in wounds. Seeing that Abel was no longer there, and that the young man was deep in thought, he was first stunned, then sat down heavily on the ground.

He exchanged a glance with Angelina and slowly walked towards the heavily injured high-ranking demon.

With a slight flick of his fingers, a bottle of what appeared to be a ghostly green potion appeared in Lin Peng's hand. He tossed it directly to the high-ranking demon and said, "Tell me, who exactly are you people? Why is Abel so angry when he sees you!"

The man picked up the bottle, gave a wry smile, and then drank it down in one gulp. His eyes widened, filled with surprise and anticipation. He glanced at Lin Peng, then said seriously, "You actually used such a good medicine to treat me?"

It seemed as if this were the most impossible thing in the world. Lin Peng nodded slightly, even more confused. Could it be that these people held a lower status in this castle than a mere soldier?

"The six of us are Lord Jerry's biological sons. Heh... but our mothers are all maids, low-level demons. Kerry and Gree, on the other hand, were born to the principal wife. Their mothers were at least Demon King level experts. So... this bloodline limitation limits us to the highest level we can reach, the peak of high-level demons. Once, while on patrol, we encountered Blood Knights and were easily defeated by one of their soldiers. So..."

"So, Jerry won't let you go out anymore. And you... you must challenge yourselves and become the strongest before you're satisfied. So... you've all been training like crazy. And the last time she led you on patrol, it must have been Abel! And she was defeated by a captain-level member of the Blood Knights!"

Lin Peng stood with his hands in his pockets, speaking with great confidence and clarity. It seemed as if he already knew all along.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the men, Lin Peng crossed his arms and sneered, "So realistic, huh... In the Demon Realm, strength reigns supreme! Well, since that's the case, if... I mean if, I'll give you a chance to advance. However, the medicine is very potent, and there might be a risk to your lives. But, at least you can advance to the Demon King level. You..."

Before Lin Peng could finish speaking, the six men exchanged glances and then knelt down. Their faces were filled with sincerity, as if they were worshipping a god.

Among them, the strongest high-ranking demon spoke on behalf of everyone, saying, "If, if you can really give us such a potion, then... the six of us will follow you forever! Even if it means going against Lord Jerry, we will never hesitate to help you!"

The shock that came from within Lin Peng momentarily filled him with a sense of sorrow. His father was none other than Lord Jerry, or perhaps the Duke. His brother was born more than a generation above them.

They seemed to be just ordinary soldiers, like servants. Even Abel, an adopted daughter, held a higher status than them.

Looking up at the huge hole that Abel had punched, Lin Peng gazed at the white moon in the sky outside, a wave of emotion washing over him. Why was the difference in birth so vast? A nobleman might never understand this. Their very origin was a huge advantage. And the poor? Like himself in his past life, they struggled desperately just to earn a living.

And what about family ties? Where are they? Do feelings even exist?

Suddenly, Lin Peng felt as if he had fallen into deep thought...

Chapter Fifty-Five: Fulfillment and the Whereabouts of the Secret Treasure

Looking at the tall, imposing men staring at him nervously, Lin Peng, a small man barely reaching their ears, seemed hesitant. Was it desire, or a genuine yearning for greater power? A desire to live better in this demon realm, to gain a higher status.

He did indeed possess the potion to advance to the Demon Lord level—the ring he obtained from the black mist. However, those Demon Lord power potions were truly harmful. A slight miscalculation could mean certain death.

That kind of violent power would be difficult even for a Demon King-level expert to withstand. Let alone these men who are at most at the peak of the high-level demon realm! If they were Great Demons, they could advance to the Demon King level most quickly.

However, due to the limitations of medication, he may be stuck at the Demon King level for life.

Moreover, failure would mean real death.

Angelina's eyes narrowed slightly, her small hands gripping her own tightly. She glanced down and whispered, "Let them have their way. Living like servants, like beasts, is worse than a truly decisive end. Success or failure is just a matter of one move. If they succeed, even a Demon King level expert will be a formidable force!"

Lin Peng looked into their burning gazes and nodded slightly. He flicked his fingers a few times, and several bottles of blue potions appeared before the six of them.

"Each person gets one bottle, and these potions have significant side effects. So, it's best to find a quiet place to drink them. The Demon King's Power Potion isn't something that can be successfully obtained by just anyone who can endure the pain. Moreover... it also contains an interpretation of power. If you survive it, slowly come to understand it! At least, it will still have some benefits for you in the future."

As they spoke, the group moved with the utmost care, as if handling a magic card that led to the realm of the gods. They seemed afraid the potion might suddenly disappear.

"If we succeed, we will never forget your great kindness today!" the leader said in a low, sobbing voice. Then, turning to look behind him, a smile spread across his face: "Korant! My name! As long as I live, I will lead my brothers to pledge our loyalty to you!"

After saying that, he turned and ran out of the training field.

Lin Peng watched their retreating figures and gave a bitter smile. Is this what life is like for those at the bottom? No security, no comfort. All they have is their own flesh and blood, their own struggle.

If you forge ahead against the current, victory is not far away. But if you encounter giant waves, it seems you can only rely on luck.

"Sigh... Angelina, how many of them do you think will succeed?" Lin Peng sighed and shook his head before asking.

Angelina shook her head slightly, then nodded gently: "If we're talking about willpower, maybe I have enough. However, I remember that even a Demon King-level expert would suffer greatly after drinking the Demon King Power Potion. Brother, you must have reached the peak Demon King level in an instant thanks to this, right? But, similarly, the demands on the body are just too high! Ordinary people simply can't withstand it. It's really fortunate that one or two of them survive!"

Lin Peng nodded slightly, and as soon as he turned around, he saw Abel, who was fuming. Abel rushed up to Lin Peng, her big eyes wide: "Why did they all leave? They didn't even look at me. And... that seriously injured one, you saved him?"

Lin Peng smiled and nodded: "There's nothing I can do, I simply don't know how to do this. Everyone else ignores me. I have to save him! Otherwise, who else can I turn to?"

"I can do it!"

"Um... well, I didn't know that."

……

The banquet didn't end until well past midnight. Shia, looking extremely angry, slammed the door to her assigned room. Lin Peng, not wanting to get involved, decided to avoid the situation.

The white moon shone even brighter at this moment. It seemed as if the entire earth had been baked white. Looking down at the city from the castle, it resembled a colossal beast.

The entire city was enveloped in a soft red glow. Every household seemed to radiate a special, warm light. And it was precisely this light that kept the temperature in Fire City comfortable, even in the volatile Demon Realm.

The castle was built on high ground, so he opened the window and went out onto the balcony. A cool breeze seemed to instantly rouse Lin Peng, and in the pale moonlight, a figure suddenly appeared behind him like a ghost.

However, Lin Peng simply smiled slightly and didn't say anything.

After a long silence, Tianmeifu's uniquely magnetic voice rang out: "We've found where that thing is, but... the guards there are far too tight. Moreover, there's a Demon Emperor-level expert stationed there, so it's practically impossible to just snatch it by force!"

Lin Peng had been waiting for this answer for so long. Although it wasn't ideal, it was better than nothing. He squinted and nodded, then after a moment's thought, said, "Then we'll have to outsmart them. Let's wait a few more days. We'll see how things go. If we can divert their attention, maybe we can steal it directly! Now, take me to see just how secure that place is!"

Medusa nodded slightly, then grabbed Lin Peng by the neck and vanished in a flash. A cool breeze blew across Lin Peng's face, making him somewhat annoyed. How could he have been carried away like a chick?

This woman seems a bit too domineering!

The castle was large, but at Medusa's speed, it would only take a few minutes. It used to be a mountain, or more precisely, an artificial mountain. The entire artificial mountain seemed to radiate a scorching heat.

Lin Peng looked at the lifeless place, then at the two-story building outside the artificial hill. There were as many as forty guards outside, effectively covering the entire area of ​​the artificial hill, which spanned a hundred meters.

Moreover, these defensive forces were almost entirely composed of powerful demons. Each squad consisted of ten demons, led by a demon king-level expert. Lin Peng, however, did not sense the demon emperor that Medusa had mentioned.

However, I suppose it's because my own abilities are still insufficient.

With numerous hidden sentries and visible ones, it seemed impossible for Medusa and herself to break through by force. However, just as Lin Peng was racking his brains for a solution, the two of them hid in a distant, clock tower-like building, watching below. A thin, almost skeletal demon, completely concealed under a cloak, emerged from the building. He looked around, but couldn't hear anything from this distance.

However, two Demon King-level experts immediately rushed towards him. At this moment, the Demon Emperor-level expert seemed to suddenly realize something and abruptly looked towards the clock tower.

Lin Peng was startled and immediately sealed off all his aura. Medusa moved even faster; from the very beginning, she hadn't released any of her aura.

After observing for a long time, the Demon Emperor-level expert nodded to the two Demon King-level captains, then left the area and disappeared in a few flashes in one direction.

Medusa narrowed her eyes and said calmly, "That's Jerry's place over there. Looks like they're going to discuss something with him!"

Lin Peng nodded, then looked at the breathtakingly beautiful face: "To be honest, what exactly is it that can restore your strength? A potion? Or some kind of secret treasure?"

Medusa glanced at him dismissively and said, "What potion can't my teacher make? Hmph... It's a secret treasure, a magic bow that can enhance my strength. With this magic bow, as long as it doesn't reach the peak of the Demon Emperor level, I can escape and survive!"