Chapter 544: A Son Would Never Betray His Father

Chapter 544: A Son Would Never Betray His Father

The terrain was rugged, with scattered rocks and giant trees growing chaotically, forming a damp and shadowy hideout.

The sky was covered in dark clouds, concealing the figures of the two people below.

Yue Tiance frowned and looked down, then glanced sideways and said, "Are you sure this is the cave mansion of a powerful demon that could injure you?"

Any demon with some cultivation would not willingly subject themselves to such a crude place.

Purple Orchid Immortal paused for a moment, closing her eyes to sense the surroundings.

When she opened her eyes again, a hint of worry appeared in them.

Based on the dense demonic aura, the bear demon was not hiding here due to some accident or being pursued by someone.

It had been living here for many years.

Such a powerful demon did not have any subordinates to command, so what did it eat and drink? How did it maintain its demonic power at its peak? Could it be that it relied solely on meditation and breathing exercises?

"I'll go in and take a look. You stay outside and keep watch for me."

Purple Orchid Immortal took the lead and stepped forward.

Yue Tiance's Black Cloud Divine Ability could even evade the perception of Unification Realm experts, which was why his clan allowed him to leave Northern Hong alone to search for his brother.

"..."

Yue Tiance stretched out his hand, intending to suggest that he enter the cave, but considering the nature of the Purple Beard White Dragon Clan, he quietly retracted his hand.

This was also the reason why he was so obsessed with Purple Orchid.

Heaven had given the Purple Beard White Dragon Clan an exceptionally keen perception, allowing them to easily discern the emotional fluctuations of others. When interacting with others, they could always gain the upper hand.

Few could resist someone who completely understood them.

Not only that, even many years ago, Xuan Qing, who was emotionally indifferent and ruthless in his killing, had also fallen for another Purple Beard White Dragon.

However, for the White Dragons themselves, having such keen perception was not always a good thing.

The sufferings of humanity and the plight of living beings were things that others could ignore by closing their eyes, but for the kind-hearted White Dragons, it was a constant torment.

Rather than saying they were saving the world, it was more like they were comforting themselves.

"Don't worry, although it doesn't give face to the Eastern Dragon Palace, it doesn't seem to have any intention of harming me. Perhaps it feels that it's not worth the risk."

Purple Orchid Immortal softly reassured her, she wasn't a fool, and she could tell that when the bear demon appeared a few days ago, it clearly recognized her, and it definitely had no intention of completely severing ties with the Eastern Dragon Palace.

After speaking, she slowly descended towards the damp cave mansion.

As she approached the cave mansion, Purple Orchid Immortal's movements became increasingly cautious.

She quietly stepped over the muddy logs, fully sensing everything inside, and suddenly her steps paused... The cave mansion was empty, and the bear demon was not currently there.

Instead, Purple Orchid Immortal sensed a different aura.

Under the cover of the black clouds, she glanced sideways and saw a tall and slender figure in the distance wearing an ink-colored robe.

He was a young cultivator with a hint of disappointment in his eyes, standing quietly at the cave entrance, gazing towards the horizon.

Purple Orchid Immortal's gaze shifted to behind the young man, and upon seeing the petite girl, she instinctively furrowed her delicate eyebrows.

With the White Dragon's keen perception, even a Unification Realm expert could not completely conceal their cultivation from her.

The girl was completely devoid of any aura, clearly an ordinary mortal, and she seemed to have endured some kind of torment, as her heart was filled with deathly silence.

How could someone bring such a young girl to a demon's cave mansion?

With this thought, Purple Orchid Immortal turned her attention back to the young man, and once again, she was stunned.

Even with her preconceived notions, she still couldn't sense any obvious malice from him, but he was clearly not a good person either, as the bloodlust on his body was too strong!

Furthermore, although he was tainted with the bear demon's aura, it was clearly a recent occurrence, indicating that he was not an accomplice of the cave mansion's owner.

Strange...

Purple Orchid Immortal hesitated for a moment, then her figure swiftly moved to stand between the two, revealing herself and bowing politely, "Forgive my intrusion, I am Purple Orchid from the Eastern Dragon Palace. May I ask why you have come to this demon's cave mansion?"

"..."

Shen Yi and An Yi both fell silent.

As the black clouds approached, the little girl instinctively transformed her palm into a claw. If Purple Orchid hadn't exposed her back to her, that delicate little hand might have pierced through her heart.

Shen Yi was also surprised.

He had always relied on the Turning Stone's unusual breath-suppressing ability to launch sneak attacks, and it had been a long time since he had encountered someone who could approach him without being noticed.

What puzzled him even more was that this woman had been hiding for so long, only to come out and be "subdued" by An Yi.

Moreover, if he had heard correctly just now, she had mentioned the Eastern Dragon Palace?

A wild Purple Beard White Dragon... Shen Yi subconsciously scanned his surroundings.

"Please don't misunderstand, the person outside is my fellow cultivator, merely keeping watch for me. There's no ill intent."

Sensing the young man's gaze, Purple Orchid Immortal also detected the sudden surge of killing intent on him, thinking that he had misunderstood something, she quickly explained.

As soon as she finished speaking, the killing intent on the young man dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, vanishing without a trace.

Even Purple Orchid was taken aback, could someone who dared to wander in Western Hong be so easily trusting of others?

"Hmm."

Shen Yi sighed inwardly, following the news from Ten Thousand Phenomena Pavilion, but it turned out to be a wild goose chase.

He had thought he could find a Purple Beard White Dragon with a Turning Stone, but there was someone outside keeping watch, and this breath-suppressing ability was indeed worthy of a top-tier power in Hongze.

"My lord, this woman is clearly not a good person. It's better to kill her first and then interrogate her thoroughly in the Ten Thousand Demon Hall!"

Ke Shisan, hidden in the Sea of Consciousness, eagerly suggested.

Shen Yi couldn't be bothered to respond. He didn't care about making enemies, as long as his cultivation speed was fast enough, any trouble would be insignificant.

However, he still had to consider the cost-benefit ratio. Compared to offending the Eastern Dragon Palace, a giant in the world of cultivation, capturing a White Jade Capital Purple Beard White Dragon seemed like a small gain.

With this thought, he casually bowed and said, "I happened to pass by and was looking for a place to rest."

"You..."

Purple Orchid Immortal almost laughed out loud, but thinking about how the cultivator had so easily believed her, she realized he indeed had a carefree personality.

"Friend, with such dense demonic aura, can't you sense it? Moreover, you're even bringing a young girl with you."

Speaking up to this point, Purple Orchid Immortal crouched down, her heart aching as she gently caressed An Yi's face. Such a well-behaved appearance, what had she experienced to become this kind of person?

She managed a sweet smile and said softly, "Don't be afraid, Sister will protect you."

An Yi's face remained cold, and she curled her fingers into claws, directing a questioning gaze at Shen Yi.

She truly wasn't used to someone touching her so abruptly.

Shen Yi casually shook his head. Up to this point, he still hadn't figured out how to deal with the "fellow cultivator" outside. Moreover, this Purple Beard White Dragon seemed a bit foolish, but he didn't seem malicious.

He also wanted to know where the demons in this cave mansion had gone. Surely, they hadn't been taken away by Qi Da in advance.

"Fellow cultivator, you said there are demons here. Where are they?"

"You've found them." Purple Orchid Immortal comforted the little girl, then sighed and stood up, looking helplessly at Shen Yi. "If you want to rest, come back to Crimson Maple Valley with me first. This place is too dangerous. We can chat after we return; Purple Orchid will definitely give you the details."

This young fellow cultivator seemed extraordinary in strength and was probably a late-stage cultivator from a great clan. He shouldn't risk his life here due to lack of experience. Otherwise, it would inevitably lead to another bloody storm.

"..."

Shen Yi pondered for a moment and didn't refuse her.

According to the information from Ten Thousand Phenomena Pavilion, Qi Da had settled these demons in Western Flood. They shouldn't be allowed to move around freely.

Something unexpected must have happened, causing the people from Dong Long Palace to be summoned.

He needed to quickly grasp the information; otherwise, others might take the lead.

"Please."

Purple Orchid Immortal didn't say more. She turned and picked up An Yi, quickly striding out of the cave.

Although this youth didn't seem like a bad person, he had blood on his hands. It was always better to be a little cautious.

Seeing this, Shen Yi didn't show any surprise.

He had never seen someone so eager to be a "hostage" before.

"Who is this?"

Yue Tiance anxiously waited in the air for a long time before finally spotting Purple Orchid Immortal's figure. Before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, he saw two unfamiliar silhouettes.

His brows furrowed slightly as he turned his gaze towards the youth in the ink-colored robe.

"Let's go first."

Purple Orchid Immortal strode directly towards the distance. She didn't mind taking the risk herself, and Tian Ce had his own means of self-defense. However, he didn't want this innocent little one to stay in such a filthy demon cave.

Once they were far away from the demon cave, she looked at Shen Yi. "This is the second young master of the Northern Flood's Yue family. I haven't asked for your surname yet, fellow cultivator?"

"Shen Yi, a wandering cultivator." Shen Yi lightly nodded.

Looking around at the Hongze Waterscape, there were countless people with the same name and surname. Moreover, he himself wasn't particularly famous, so there was no need to use an alias.

"Hmm." Yue Tiance's smile didn't reach his eyes.

Did he really think others were fools? Without the support of a powerful force, how could someone of such a young age cultivate to such an extraordinary level? Even he himself hadn't hidden his identity. Was this young man's background more mysterious than the Yue family's? It was unnecessary.

"Fellow cultivator Shen." Purple Orchid Immortal didn't inquire further. Everyone had their own difficulties, and she didn't care about this. Looking around at the Hongze Waterscape, there were very few people with higher status than Dong Long Palace.

"Why are you out here for cultivation and still bringing such a child? Aren't you afraid of any accidents?"

"A friend asked me to take care of her. It's safer to have her by my side."

Shen Yi wasn't lying. With An Yi by his side, he indeed felt much safer.

"I see... Don't wander around recklessly in the future."

Purple Orchid Immortal led the way in front, wanting to remind him a few more times, but she hesitated due to their recent acquaintance. After a moment's thought, she took out a jade scale from her waist and placed it in An Yi's embrace.

"If you encounter any danger, just call out to this jade scale once, Sister. You don't need to use your breath for this."

After some thought, she took out another one and handed it to Shen Yi. "Fellow cultivator Shen, you take one too. The surroundings haven't been peaceful lately, so it's always better to be cautious. If there's nothing else, it's best to leave quickly."

"..."

Shen Yi took the jade scale and habitually rubbed it in his palm.

This was his second encounter with Purple Beard White Dragon. Whether it was the Jade Mountain Dragon Consort or the young Dragoness before him, they both seemed a little abnormal.

This rubbing motion caught Yue Tiance's attention, causing his eyes to twitch slightly. He opened his mouth to scold but looked at Purple Orchid Immortal beside him and suppressed his anger.

He was a real scoundrel!

Purple Orchid Immortal's face also turned slightly embarrassed. However, from their first meeting, when she had introduced herself, fellow cultivator Shen had remained so calm, indicating that he probably wasn't very familiar with Dong Long Palace.

Ignorance was no crime, but reminding him now would make her seem petty.

"Unpeaceful?" Shen Yi put away the jade scale and glanced at her. He was only interested in this matter now.

Purple Orchid Immortal hesitated for a moment before narrating what she knew, "I've already reported to my elders. We need to wait for them to send someone over to resolve this matter. Fellow cultivator Shen, if you're not in a hurry, stay at Crimson Maple Valley for now to avoid being targeted by that demon... Its situation is strange. Although it's powerful, it seems extremely hungry and doesn't even spare the corpses of Return Void Cultivators."

"I understand."

Shen Yi nodded again.

As long as that demon was still alive, it was good. If it had targeted Crimson Maple Valley, it wouldn't come just once.

Seeing the two beside him speeding up, he also activated Dragon Leap Heavenly Virgin, transforming into a purple-white rainbow and rushing towards the direction indicated by Purple Orchid Immortal!

"..."

This time, even Purple Orchid Immortal was stunned in place.

Yue Tiance gritted his teeth and pulled the corner of his mouth towards Purple Orchid Immortal, transmitting his voice, "You pretended not to know, but you've seen me bathing. Do we really need to take care of this liar?"

Purple Orchid Immortal's face turned slightly red, and she waved her hand. "Can you say less? We don't have much interaction anyway."

Seeing her wasn't a big deal. After all, countless people had seen her in Hongze, and some shameless ones had even recorded it in their paintings. Her dragon scales were like ordinary girls' clothing; there was nothing that couldn't be seen. It was just a little annoying.

But the moment before, she had thought fellow cultivator Shen wasn't familiar with Dong Long Palace, and the next moment, he had acted like this. She couldn't help but feel like he was mocking her.

Purple Orchid Immortal shook her head and continued towards Crimson Maple Valley.

Soon, they landed in that crimson valley.

"You're back." The Crimson Maple Valley Lord seemed resigned, and he had already ordered all the disciples and servants in the valley to start refining the Jade Maple Treasure Pills with all their might, aiming to gather a thousand years' worth of them.

Right now, he only hoped that this Purple Orchid Immortal would help him explain the situation to the Cloud River Upper Sect later.

"Prepare accommodations for these two guests," Purple Orchid said softly.

"I understand," the Crimson Maple Valley Lord said, only then noticing the two additional people. After quietly observing them for a moment, he shifted his gaze from the youth in the black robe to Yue Tiance, and his eyes lit up.

Purple Orchid Immortal was starting to call upon her friends!

This man with horns on his head and fine scales made him inexplicably think of a powerful demon clan in the Northern Flood, which had produced an extraordinary genius many tens of thousands of years ago, known as Yue Tianji.

Before the senior from the Southern Flood became renowned in the Hongze Waterscape and dominated the same realm, Yue Tianji was undoubtedly the first genius of Hongze.

He even had the potential to lead his clan to a status not inferior to the Western Dragon Palace.

Unfortunately... it was heard that Yue Tianji had been suppressed for tens of thousands of years, and his frustration was indescribable. He could only seek teachers and ask for guidance everywhere, pouring his heart and soul into it. Not only did he want to enhance his bloodline concentration, but he also tried to replicate the myriad techniques mastered by the Southern Flood senior.

After enduring countless hardships, when he finally felt he could reclaim the title of the first genius, the Southern Flood senior unexpectedly met with an accident.

Yue Tianji's efforts over the years were in vain, and it was rumored that his Dao heart was shattered. Since then, no news of him had been heard.

However, this interlude, although it cut off the clan's opportunity to rise further, had no impact on their status as a major clan in the Northern Flood.

With the Eastern Dragon Palace and the Yue family stationed there, the Crimson Maple Valley Lord didn't believe that the bear demon would dare to cause trouble!

Moreover, regardless of background, just judging from their auras, the Valley Lord didn't think this late-generation member of the Yue family would be much weaker than the bear demon.

As for the youth in the black robe, although his strength seemed much lower, he could at least bolster their numbers.

"Honored guests, please follow me."

The Crimson Maple Valley Lord quickly summoned several elders and personally led the way.

...

Outside the damp hideout amidst the chaotic giant trees.

Two figures landed boldly, and when they revealed themselves, they turned out to be two robust bear demons, one tall and the other slightly shorter.

"Dad, you ate people again?" The shorter bear demon sniffed, looking at him helplessly, "Eating those Crimson Maple Valley cultivators won't help you break through, and it will only make the nearby powers distrust us."

To be honest, if Dad hadn't eaten those cultivators' corpses and just displayed the six of them outside the Crimson Maple Valley, this matter would have been resolved long ago.

By doing this, it was as if he was telling those cultivators that after they finished their work, they still wouldn't be able to escape.

"Mind your own business!"

The taller bear demon bared his teeth, his eyes filled with resentment, "Qi Zhaoyu is not a good person. He clearly knew that I was just a step away from breaking through, but he didn't keep his promise and cut me off. He's just toying with me!"

"Dragon Lord must be worried that Dad will stop listening to him after breaking through. I heard he went to the Southern Flood, probably to do something big... Actually, there's no need to rush. He still needs us, and he's been giving us heaven-grade treasures for tens of thousands of years. How could he possibly abandon all his efforts?"

The shorter bear demon softly advised, "At least the current situation is better than when we were being hunted down in the Northern Flood."

"Bullshit!" The taller bear demon spat, "It's not like we're hiding in this ghost place for tens of thousands of years. I don't believe that without the Western Dragon Palace, I can't break through this realm."

"Dad, what about Purple Orchid Immortal?" Seeing things getting more and more absurd, the shorter bear demon steered the conversation away from the previous topic.

At this point, the tall and majestic bear demon's face also showed some difficulty. The reason he had ignored the dragon girl earlier was not because he feared the Eastern Dragon Palace, but because he didn't know how to handle the situation.

He definitely wanted the Jade Maple Treasure Pills, but negotiating with Purple Orchid Immortal... if Dragon Lord found out, it would be bad. It was like having the thought of betraying him written on his face.

This would be a stain that couldn't be washed away even by the Yellow River.

Hence, he could only ignore Purple Orchid Immortal... When this woman inexplicably took the spear, she almost scared him to death. Fortunately, her strength was formidable, and she managed to catch it; otherwise, it would have caused a huge commotion.

At this moment, a third bear demon transformed into a black gale and swept in. As soon as he landed, he said solemnly, "Dad, she invited two more people. It seems she's serious."

The tall bear demon clenched his teeth and then stepped into the cave mansion.

Following him, he saw the cave mansion in disarray: "Damn it, I almost forgot that the stinky woman also has the ability to track and find demons. She's so troublesome! Can she manage all the affairs in Hongze? She's truly a beast!"

Hearing this, the third bear demon's eyes rolled, and he walked forward, saying softly, "Dad, forcing her to leave isn't difficult. Everyone knows Purple Beard White Dragon's temperament. We just need to capture one of her invited guests, leave a letter as proof that we have no intention of harming anyone, and as long as she agrees to back off, we'll release the person after she leaves."

"Will she believe this?" The tall bear demon looked at him disdainfully.

"I don't know if she'll believe it, but she definitely won't cause trouble for her friends. Dad doesn't understand Purple Orchid Immortal well enough." The third bear demon smiled and lowered his voice, "As for revenge later... Dragon Lord is probably planning to take action. By then, we'll already be in the Southern Flood, and you'll have successfully broken through. What's there to fear from her?"

"As for capturing someone... there's a guest she invited today who has average cultivation."

At this point, he directly used his demon energy to create a letter: "Dad only needs to capture the person. Later, just place this letter on the table. Within three days, she will definitely leave."

Hearing his confident words, the tall bear demon was moved. His son wouldn't deceive him.

Moreover, there was no other way, so he might as well give it a try.

As long as the Crimson Maple Valley bows down, all the large and small powers near the Cloud River Sect will obediently send their tributes.

If he can successfully break through and become a powerful demon comparable to the Unification Realm, he won't even need to take risks with Dragon Lord anymore. From then on, he can roam freely with the sky as his limit.

Thinking of this, he turned and walked out of the cave mansion, grinning maliciously, "Let's do it this way."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end