Chapter 21: Comeback

“Zidian is made from the true gold of the North Sea in Beihai. Although it was a low-grade spiritual weapon in the early forging stages, it is said to be the only spiritual weapon in the world that can ‘cultivate.’ The more it is used, the more powerful it becomes. It was a wedding gift from the Demon King Qiyao to the queen in those years, symbolizing the enduring love and eternal commitment.”

As Yang Taizai narrated, Cheng Shan felt the purple thunder in her hand inexplicably hot. Seeing his fascinated expression, she couldn’t help but chuckle, unable to find words. She thought, “What’s with this admiration? They are a couple with enduring love, but why is he so fascinated? Can an old sheep still have thoughts of love in his heart?”

Yang Taizai seemed to realize his loss of composure, blushed, and smiled, his expression turning sorrowful. “However, shortly after the king’s wedding, he was provoked by the Ghost Emperor Xiyi. They fought for several months, but our king was no match and fell at the hands of Xiyi.”

Cheng Shan recalled the story of the Ghost Emperor slaying the Demon King, vaguely hearing it from Yin Li. Upon reflection, this ghost emperor seemed to be a troublemaker and a belligerent character. No wonder his two disciples had such hostile auras. But what Cheng Shan didn’t know was that when the Ghost Emperor took office, he initiated a sweeping movement to eliminate demons and evil spirits. It became widely acclaimed, and he gained immense popularity. Of course, Yang Taizai, as a trusted aide to the Demon King, wouldn’t openly express this to Cheng Shan. He continued, “The queen was devastated. She went to the Three Realms, seeking justice from the Celestial Sovereign, but he refused to meet her. Unwilling to accept defeat, the queen gathered tens of thousands of demon soldiers and invaded the Netherworld, intending to seek revenge. Unfortunately, she suffered a disastrous defeat, and the demon race has been declining ever since, now reduced to a shadow of its former self.”

Yang Taizai sighed deeply, exuding a desolate aura. While Cheng Shan felt a bit awkward, he didn’t seem to notice and continued, “However, the fact that you can retrieve the Zidian shows that it’s fate. I believe that as long as you step forward and raise your arms again, our demon race can regroup and regain its former glory!”

Cheng Shan, feeling like she was struck by lightning, was momentarily speechless. Revive the demon race? Challenge the Ghost Emperor. This was ridiculous! Why would I want to be a pawn in their dangerous game? Although Cheng Shan was inwardly puzzled, she didn’t express it outright. She said helplessly, “The priority is to save my father’s life. Only then can I consider other matters without worries.”

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Taizai suggested, “I overheard that Ouyang Jun seems unable to take away a person’s soul easily. We need to wait until his father breathes his last before he can act. So, let’s wait until nightfall and see if we have an opportunity.”

“Alright,” Cheng Shan nodded. After a while, a thought crossed her mind, and she approached Yang Taizai with a smile and asked, “Are you confident?”

“They say Ouyang Jun is a genius in swordsmanship. However, as a disciple of Changchun, he is not easily provoked. It seems he has never been known to fight anyone seriously. So,” Yang Taizai pondered for a while and said uncertainly, “it’s hard to say.”

“Can’t you find some help?” Cheng Shan blinked her eyes, looking hopeful.

“Well…” Yang Taizai sounded hesitant. “Over the years, I’ve come to realize that not only does the Ghost Emperor like to suppress the demon race, but the Three Realms also prefer the demon race’s decline. So, until we are ready to counterattack, I think it’s best to keep a low profile in front of Changchun’s people.”

Hearing this, Cheng Shan didn’t insist any further. Yang Taizai added, “If we end up fighting directly, just consider me a helper you invited from the Netherworld. After all, the aura around you is quite ghostly.”

“Oh,” Cheng Shan smiled, understanding his intentions. It seemed this guy wanted to use her as a front to test Ouyang Jun’s strength.

Yang Taizai also taught Cheng Shan some techniques for concealing her breath. Cheng Shan quickly grasped them, but before she knew it, it was already night. The two silently returned to Cheng’s home. Yang Taizai, being a spirit for thousands of years, easily concealed himself, and Cheng Shan was led to a tree outside the courtyard. She observed Ouyang Jun sitting in meditation not far from Cheng Qian, seemingly unaware of her presence.

The restrictions around Cheng Qian had disappeared, and the ice shield created by Cheng Shan’s arrow had melted away. Cheng Qian’s emaciated face was now exposed without any concealment. The backyard looked dilapidated, as if it had been abandoned for years, but just a dozen days ago, it was still a lively home full of laughter and joy. Cheng Shan felt nervous and worried, her hand holding Zidian trembling uncontrollably.

Yang Taizai had already hidden his figure, and Cheng Shan, lacking confidence in her abilities, could only do her best and go with the flow. She slowly activated the vital energy in her body, accumulating true essence. In her sea of consciousness, waves of turbulent energy surged. Unconsciously, Cheng Shan had gathered the true essence to its peak.

Whether it was due to nervousness or not, her heart was pounding incessantly. Although Ouyang Jun hadn’t opened his eyes, he smirked and said, “Who’s lurking around here?”

Whether Ouyang Jun sensed someone or not, Cheng Shan couldn’t help holding her breath, not daring to move recklessly. She kept in mind that her role was merely to provide cover and act opportunistically. Acting rashly might disrupt Yang Taizai’s plan.

However, Ouyang Jun had already exposed her position with words, and the opportunity for a surprise attack was lost. Yang Taizai made a decisive move, revealing himself in mid-air and attacking Ouyang Jun head-on. Ouyang Jun sneered, unsheathing his sword to meet the attack. The sound of clashes echoed in the air. Cheng Shan, looking closely, discovered that Yang Taizai’s spiritual weapon was an abacus. With a flick of his hand, countless beads spun through the air. After being blocked by Ouyang Jun’s long sword, they returned to the abacus on their own.

“Wow!” Cheng Shan couldn’t help but admire. She thought it might be a good time for her to take action. She pulled her bowstring on the tree, and a visible energy arrow started to form. Cheng Shan continuously released her true essence, intending to deliver a powerful blow to Ouyang Jun. However, just at this moment, an unexpected change occurred. Cheng Shan suddenly felt her true essence rapidly drain away. The nearly formed energy arrow gradually dissipated into a wisp of light smoke due to the lack of follow-up power.

Anxious, Cheng Shan inwardly examined her sea of consciousness and saw that the almost withered water lily, amidst turbulent waves, was slowly blooming again. It stood tall and radiant, covering an endless expanse with its brilliant light.

“Han Luo…” Cheng Shan gritted her teeth and muttered, realizing the trouble. Soon after, her vision blurred, and she fell from the tree.