Martial Cultivator

The Demon Emperor’s journey southward should have been a sensational event that shook the entire world. But fortunately, the Demon Emperor had yet to make a move, and his demonic qi was well-concealed along the way. For someone of his stature, if he did not wish to reveal his whereabouts, it would be nearly impossible to detect him unless another figure of similar power was nearby.

As for the demon princess, although she had killed many during her journey south, she had rarely taken the initiative to attack and had not provoked any entities that she should not have. Therefore, not many people knew her whereabouts. Even Chen Chao, at this moment, only had an inkling that the girl came from an extraordinary background. He would never have guessed that she was the Demon Emperor’s own daughter, the princess of the entire demon race.

The demon princess followed her father all the way south but had questions of her own. ”Royal Father, what ultimately happened in the Demon Realm?”

After the Demon Emperor’s great battle with that human monarch, she had been instructed by the Demon Emperor to leave the Demon Realm. She was not entirely sure of the current situation there.

The Demon Emperor shook his head and said indifferently, ”It was never a significant issue. How could a bunch of worthless trash pose a threat to Us?”

The demon princess smiled. Her royal father’s pride was something she was well aware of and had always known.

”Your brothers have been scheming with those people, trying to take Our throne. But they are all fools. Even if they really manage to kill Us, do they think they can hold the throne securely? ”The demon race’s emperor, bloodline is secondary; cultivation realm is paramount. These fools don’t understand that. Even if they do manage to take Our place, how many days can they last?”

The Demon Emperor was expressionless. Among humans, the succession of the throne was often accompanied by endless intrigue and fratricide. In reality, the demon race was no different. For the throne, a father ceased to be a father, and a son ceased to be a son.

The demon princess softly said, ”Royal Father, you can live for many more years. They are thinking too far ahead.”

The Demon Emperor smiled faintly, not responding to her comment, but instead asked rather curiously, ”Since you’ve come to the human world, have you thought of giving yourself a human name?”

The demon princess frowned, ”I’m not interacting with humans, so why would I need a name?”

The Demon Emperor shook his head and said, ”Since you don’t have one, We will give you one. How about Hongxiu?”[1]

The Demon Princess was expressionless, ”It seems Royal Father isn’t very good at naming.”

The Demon Emperor smiled lightly, ”Then you choose one yourself.”

The demon princess pondered for a moment and said softly, ”Autumn[Xilu].”[2]

The Demon Emperor was taken aback, then smiled and said, ”Do you like autumn that much?”

This Demon Emperor was different from the previous demon emperors. Before ascending to the throne, he had a great interest in the history of humans and later read many of their books and poetry. However, his regard for humans did not influence too many people. His sons remained largely disinterested in humans. When occasionally mentioning humans, there would only be disdain. But his one and only daughter had read a fair amount of human literature under his influence, inheriting his interests.

”The cicadas sing in the West, stirring deep thoughts in the guest from the South.”

Autumn said softly, ”Royal Father, I have never seen autumn.”

The demon territory was located in the far north. After summer, snow would already start falling, with autumn almost nonexistent. In her youth, while reading, she often encountered human poems describing autumn, but no amount of reading compared to seeing it with her own eyes.

”Since you like it so much, don’t be in a rush to go back. Stay and see autumn before you leave.”

The Demon Emperor looked at his youngest daughter with affection and smiled. ”As long as We don’t die, no human will dare kill you.”

With the Demon Emperor still alive, neither the Great Liang Dynasty nor the foreign cultivators would dare to harm Autumn even if they learned about her identity. If she were to die, the entire human race would face the frenzied revenge of the demon race, and not even the foreign cultivators would want to bear this consequence.

Autumn nodded. Perhaps to her brothers, the Demon Emperor had always been an unreachable figure since they were young. To them, he was the emperor of the demon race first and their father second.

But Autumn was different. From a young age, she knew him only as her father, her most respected and beloved father.

”Father, are you only going to the Infatuation Daoist Temple to fight that daoist?”

Autumn was somewhat curious about her royal father’s journey south. The best decision would have been not to come southward, for if the Demon Emperor were to die in the Great Liang, it would be unacceptable for the entire demon race.

But since he was already here, Autumn naturally would not say anything against it.

The Demon Emperor stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, ”If We make a move, do you think that daoist alone can stop Us?”

……

……

Infatuation Daoist Temple, with the setting sun, was bathed in the most beautiful sunset glow.

It was widely acknowledged that the Infatuation Daoist Temple had the most beautiful sunsets in the world. However, since only the daoists of Infatuation Daoist Temple could witness this spectacle, many doubted this claim. Yet, anyone who managed to come here and see it with their own eyes would know it was true.

Yun Jianyue had recently created a flower garden on a plot of land halfway up the back mountain of Infatuation Daoist Temple, planting medicinal herbs that ordinary people would not have the chance to see. In reality, he chose these herbs mainly because they would bloom into flowers, thus justifying the term ”flower garden.”

Today, Yun Jianyue had secretly fetched some spiritual liquid from the spiritual pool in the back mountain to water his plants. He was extremely cautious, fearing someone would catch him. After all, if anyone found out that he was using the precious spiritual liquid to water his seemingly worthless herbs, he would surely be reported. He was not worried about the Temple Master who had always been very easygoing, but the conservative daoists in the temple, especially that old antique Granduncle Taiyi, whom even the Temple Master privately cursed. If he found out, Yun Jianyue would be in serious trouble.

“Are you really not afraid of getting caught? They’ve already started investigating the missing spiritual liquid in the back mountain.”

Yun Jianyue had just finished watering the last herb when he heard a voice. Looking up, he saw an ordinary middle-aged daoist standing not far away, watching him with a blank expression.

Yun Jianyue did not panic. He simply scratched his head and said softly, ”Temple Master, as long as you don’t tell anyone, no one will know.”

The daoist who was the Temple Master of Infatuation Daoist Temple let out a sigh, ”You deny being foolish, but with these herbs growing so fast, who wouldn’t notice something’s off?”

Yun Jianyue was momentarily taken aback, then stubbornly replied, ”This disciple meditate and cultivate in the flower garden every day, accumulating spiritual energy. It’s natural for them to grow faster. Besides, these herbs are just common plants. It’s normal for them to grow quickly.”

The Temple Master sneered, ”How many people do you think would believe that?”

Yun Jianyue chuckled sheepishly without answering.

The Temple Master could not be bothered to waste his breath on this fellow, he just said calmly, ”There’s no problem with planting flowers and herbs, but your cultivation realm should improve. Those behind you are going to surpass you.”

Yun Jianyue asked curiously, ”Temple Master, are you planning to pass your position to me?”

The Temple Master furrowed his brows.

Yun Jianyue grinned, ”No need to worry, Temple Master. Those behind will always be behind, for life. Even Senior Sister Ye is the same.”

The Temple Master replied calmly, ”The saintess from Myriad Heaven Palace is coming to the mountain. She will probably stay for several months. She should be arriving soon. Go to the foot of the mountain to wait for her. Show her around. I’m entrusting her to you.”

Yun Jianyue was taken aback and hesitated, ”Won’t Senior Sister be upset?”

The Temple Master was expressionless, ”Why don’t you consider whether I will be upset?”

”Temple Master, you’re a great daoist. Of course, you wouldn’t fuss with a junior like me. But Senior Sister might not be so...”

Before he could finish, he saw the Temple Master raise an eyebrow at him. Yun Jianyue immediately understood and said seriously, ”I’m sure Senior Sister will understand Temple Master’s intentions. Doesn’t Senior Sister know what kind of person I, Yun Jianyue, am?”

The Temple Master looked pleased and then communicated telepathically, ”I’ve saved your life. Remember to think of how to repay me.”

Yun Jianyue wore a bitter expression.

The Temple Master laughed heartily and left.

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