Chapter 257 - 257 255 The Darkness from the South

Words : 1344 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

257: Chapter 255: The Darkness from the South 257: Chapter 255: The Darkness from the South The air was thick with a nauseating stench of blood. Baili Pianpian’s stomach churned, unsure whether from fear or disgust. He stared at the man standing at the entrance of the guesthouse, his mind going blank. In that instant, the Demon Cultivators inside the guesthouse all revealed excited, savage looks, including the seemingly amiable old innkeeper, whose fake smile soon disappeared, replaced by genuine respect and devotion. “Qi Ren, my lord.” With the old man’s call, everyone in the guesthouse stood up, none daring to remain seated any longer. The ordinary-looking middle-aged man gestured with his hand, his smiling face becoming serious as he said, “In front of our supreme leader, Qi Ren has no right to be addressed as ‘my lord’ by any of you.” The old man’s face showed shock as he looked at the girl on the horse, as if understanding something. His aged and withered face flushed with excitement, and he was about to kneel and worship. “Save this effort, shall we?” Qi Ren’s voice was indescribably smooth and magnetic as he turned and knelt toward the girl on the horse, saying respectfully, “Your Eminence, we have arrived at the Quicksand Land.” The girl, who looked like she could faint at any moment, forced her half-closed eyes a bit wider, still appearing listless. She gathered her tattered cloak around her and stepped onto Qi Ren’s back, dismounting the horse. The black horse submitted to her, kneeling down. Just like Qi Ren. “I want to see the Red Flame Quicksand,” she stated, her voice like a pool of black stagnant water. Not long ago, someone had wanted to see the Red Flame Quicksand, but now, all that person’s men were dead. Baili Pianpian had already guessed the girl’s identity; his hands, which rested obediently on his thighs, began to tremble violently. His body, paralyzed by immense fear, was unable to react. For a moment, he even felt as if he had been beheaded and died along with his subordinates. The old man was already prostrating fully at the girl’s feet, his back shaking slightly as he was about to speak, but another voice interrupted him. “That’s rather inconvenient, because I also wish to see the Red Flame Quicksand.” A gust of wind lifted the curtains, and the whining of cicadas filled the air. A sliver of heaven-sent light fell into the corner through the lifted curtain, making the girl’s emerald eyes extraordinarily clear, like jade under the clear afternoon sky. She seemed to despise the light and heat, dressed very lightly, her exotic black gauze dress adorned with jade pendants and ivory bracelets, her arms lightly decorated. Her black crow-feather-like hair was woven into a long scorpion-tail braid hanging down in front, with a golden hook ornament dangling from the end. Although beauties from Desert North were common sights, one dressed like her was rare. This was the attire of the ancient Fenglan Kingdom. But the Fenglan Kingdom had perished nine thousand years ago. Even though the sun was high above, when people saw the beauty behind the curtain, it was as if they were witnessing the profound quietness of eternal night, the black gauze dress covering her fair skin, seemingly capable of engulfing everything in deep darkness. The young girl in a short robe looked at the sunlight spilling over the woman in a black dress, the dark circles under her eyes still present. But the weariness and lack of spirit in her eyes had, at some unknown moment, dissipated without a trace. Her expression was unusually deep and solemn. Qi Ren stood upright, his gaze at first bewildered, then filled with shock. How could she appear here! After quietly observing the woman for a while, she said, “The domain of darkness cannot reach into the deserts of the North.” The woman, however, did not look at him. Her indifferent gaze fell on the Qi Ren of the Demon Sect, “You have quite a few masters.” The words were indescribably hurtful and mocking. Qi Ren showed no sign of irritation, his eyes darkening for other reasons. He could not understand why the conflict between the Daoists and Demons, as well as the internal chaos of the Demon Clan, would attract such dark entities to this place. And this was the desert. The land that the corpse demon loathed and feared, the land of the scorching sun. He spoke coldly, “The corpse demon Royal Family, although never on good terms with my clan, have always kept the peace. Your Highness’s presence in this guesthouse seems quite inappropriate.” When the words “corpse demon Royal Family” were spoken, the poor Young Master of the Wandao Immortal Alliance collapsed onto the ground in fright, his face ashen, his soul nearly leaving his body. The Vajra Pestle he carried in his arms seemed pathetically laughable now. He had thought that with this item alone, he could traverse Desert North with pride and return triumphantly with the sacred treasure from the Red Flame Quicksand. Who could have imagined that he had hardly reached his destination only to encounter such a terrifying legendary figure. A truly despairing experience. Now, he envied Baili Xianxian, chosen by his father to attend the great trial in Xianling City. Si Li patted the mane of the Snow Lion, laughing coldly, “When did you discuss reason with me when you trespassed into my Demon Cave, you little insect?” Qi Ren’s furrowed brows hinted at pain, and a fine line of blood silently dripped from the corner of his mouth. His heart, under the tremendous pressure, began to pound like a drum and even started to crack and bleed. He was indeed powerful enough to instantly kill more than a dozen disciples from the Wandao Immortal Alliance. But in front of Si Li, he could only wait for death, helpless to retaliate. He couldn’t even perceive how she had struck. The girl with dark circles under her eyes lightly moved to stand between them. The sensation of being enveloped by death suddenly cleared around Qi Ren. He leaned against the doorway, gasping for air, his nostrils filled with vivid crimson. The girl had quietly countered the pressure, but couldn’t help coughing twice, her weary face showing a hint of sickness. She gathered her tattered cloak as the sound of blood flowing within her was replaced by a cracking sound of freezing. In the blink of an eye, her complexion turned as pale as snow, white frost covering her long eyelashes as if she had just stepped out of a snowfield, her lips turned an unnatural shade of blue-gray. The girl’s expression remained indifferent, accustomed as she was to the pain the internal poison brought her. She tilted her head slightly, “Si Li, it’s been a long time. I’ve missed you.” Si Li watched the silver light stretching from her neck to the Bai Hui acupoint, shimmering beneath the skin. She narrowed her eyes and said with a cold smirk, “So, one from the six rivers of the Demon World can also become a Demon Lord, huh?” The girl touched the silver line under her ear, her hollow expression suddenly breaking into a smile. “As long as that head remains buried in the yellow sands, I am the supreme ruler of the North. Si Li, as the only member of the corpse demon Royal Family left, I truly wish to be on good terms with you, but if you intend to take that head away, I won’t allow it.” Regarding the girl’s statement about being “the only corpse demon Royal Family,” Si Li noncommittally raised an eyebrow, “A ruler? Or a Puppet? That little insect by your side took away an egg from the Demon Cave that day.” And this girl was clearly not that egg. Qi Ren, expressionless, wiped the blood from his mouth and nose, bowing his head even lower.

Chapter 257 - 257 255 The Darkness from the South

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