ASER - Chapter 236
Chapter 236: Demonic Seed
After stirring up such a storm, her display was truly magnificent. In any case, everyone present felt she had thoroughly put on a show. But the most terrifying part was that even knowing she was posturing, one's heart still raced, and face flushed.
Baiyue Lingxi told herself: This is scum, a degenerate, a shameless bitch, don't fall for it.
But she touched her face and still felt it burning.
Excited?
Of course, she was excited, because what they saw was the brilliance of an era.
Not from the Imperial Family, not from the Three Teachings, not any kind of world-saving hero or formidable figure predicted by the sages of the time.
She was Chen A'Diao, an utterly unremarkable demon.
While everyone's thoughts surged like a tide, and people from the three nations frantically sent their mental power, A'Diao returned, grabbed Kunlun, and ran.
The most quiet and peaceful giant panda was thus led away by her, running.
Yu Xuanji and the others: "..."
At Wu Mountain, after the Founder returned, she sent a voice transmission of a few words to Baiyue Mochou. The latter looked embarrassed but still took her daughter to the front of a cave.
"Later, you just say what I taught you."
Baiyue Lingxi was a bit resistant; she had been intimidated by this aunt since childhood. Of course, she also knew her own mother was intimidated too.
This aunt was too cold. Someone even the Founder Ancestor couldn't handle–was she really going to stir up trouble?
"Mother, the Founder Ancestor clearly told you to say this."
"You dare to disobey?"
"..."
So, Baiyue Lingxi mustered her courage and said from outside the cave: "Mother, I didn't expect that Chen A'Diao to be so formidable. Are you confident you can defeat her?"
Baiyue Mochou: "No."
Baiyue Lingxi: "Such a character, no wonder she can make Lushan's Kunlun obediently listen to her. I originally thought Senior Kunlun must be stern and indifferent; I didn't expect him to have such a caring side."
Baiyue Mochou: "Quite a good match."
Baiyue Lingxi: "How can they be a good match?! Although both are exceptionally talented, that Chen A'Diao is clearly vulgar, teasing me one day, teasing you the next. Such a person, flirting everywhere, very promiscuous. And Senior Kunlun has a cold and detached temperament, unfamiliar with worldly affairs, what if he's deceived..."
Before these words were finished, a wave of bone-chilling cold air emanated from within the cave.
The two of them, Baiyue Lingxi and her mother: "..."
"Great, no reaction for hundreds of years, as if dead, even the Founder's visit was useless. But the moment Kunlun, that dog of a man, is mentioned as being led astray by a scummy woman, you react?!!!"
【From Baiyue Xiangsi +555 stars.】
A'Diao suddenly saw a "big fish" on the mental power list and was a bit puzzled. While teleporting to the Huaiguang Mountain Range, boating amidst its green mountains and clear waters, and eating hotpot, she asked Kunlun, "Who is Baiyue Xiangsi?"
Kunlun paused for a moment, his bear paw holding the chopsticks hesitating slightly. His large head tilted as if thinking, and then he came to a conclusion.
"A Saintess from Wu Mountain, very strong."
Strange. To be considered very strong by him, she must be outrageously strong.
She figured it was Baiyue Lingxi's love-struck aunt.
"Is she beautiful?" A'Diao asked.
Kunlun: "I don't know."
A'Diao: "Compared to me?"
Kunlun: "Are you still going to let me eat?"
A'Diao: "..."
"No, a while ago you were all ethereal and detached from worldly desires. Now you snap at me just for interrupting your hotpot?!"
A'Diao grumbled, but looking at Kunlun's panda form, she thought for a moment and said: "I'm afraid it will be very difficult for me to mend the damage to your spiritual body. But the most important thing right now is that you must reconstruct your former physical body. Otherwise, if you can't defeat that old fellow from Bronze Mountain in the future, what will we do?"
Kunlun seemed unconcerned, "If I can't beat him, then I can't beat him."
A'Diao: "That won't do! Oh, Old Ancestor Master, aren't you willing to die in battle for me?"
Kunlun: "?"
Toilet: "..."
Accepting disciples? The kind that will die in battle for me.
However, since the matter of reconstructing his body was brought up, A'Diao was serious. While eating hotpot, she asked for Kunlun's measurements. "Oh, never mind. Later, when we get home, show me your soul body. I'll take good measurements of your body..."
Kunlun: "Insolent."
A'Diao: "Give me the tofu skin."
The Undead Sky Lantern was something A'Diao procured for Yan Xi. In reality, Yan Xi was her slave. She didn't need to give such a significant benefit to a slave. However, to conquer the last trace of stubbornness deep within his heart, obtain his life-core contract, and make him her dog forever, A'Diao didn't mind using the Undead Sky Lantern to fulfill his wish.
The wish was also quite simple: to send his wife into the cycle of reincarnation.
An ordinary mortal, three hundred years had passed, could her soul still be found?
"Yes, I've always preserved it."
A'Diao couldn't be bothered with more nonsense, tossed the Undead Sky Lantern to him, and let him tinker with it himself.
Afterwards, she returned to Lushan with Kunlun.
Kunlun went back to read and sleep, but Yu Xuanji and the others returned without stopping.
What was supposed to be a grand palace banquet turned out like a Hongmen Banquet; no one even managed to eat a couple of bites. Now, seeing A'Diao eating and drinking well in the Langya Courtyard, they felt displeased. So, a group of Spirit Kings whipped up a table of food, and Yu Xuanji sat down and asked A'Diao: "You used him and those corpse puppets to threaten the Three Imperial Families. Aren't you afraid they'll secretly deal with the threat from the Huaiguang Mountain Range?"
A'Diao, quite unceremoniously, changed her shoes and clothes and put on slippers. "No, because that's just one aspect. The reason they didn't take me down this time is, firstly, they weren't confident they could. Secondly, my prestige is at its peak, so they daren't take the risk, or the losses would outweigh the gains. Thirdly, they are very clear that the Huaiguang Mountain Range will inevitably be the primary fortress for demonic den attacks. With Yan Xi controlling the corpse puppets to block them, it's actually beneficial to Tang Song. But if he and those corpse puppets were gone, the first to suffer damage would be Tang Song's safety. For myself, there's actually no harm."
"After all, if one Yan Xi dies or the people on both banks die, the responsibility isn't on me. They might even think this is a trap I deliberately set, perhaps even wishing they would make a move. This way, it would add to my prestige while damaging their reputation."
"Most importantly–looking at Dantai Lingyao's expression, that dog is probably waiting with other trump cards for me. And this time, when he makes a move, he'll surely be confident in annihilating me, just like when they annihilated the Langya Clan back then."
Qing Zan was eating a vegetable salad and looked up upon hearing this. "In the first era, when I used to travel outside, I did know a few Spirit Kings from the Imperial Families. How should I put it... I feel the Imperial Family system is vast, with numerous descendants and abundant talent, but they would die in battle at a certain stage. The fathers of these Spirit Kings were like that. However, the reason given at the time was assassination. This was one of the charges later used to annihilate the Langya Clan. Previously, few people doubted it, but now it seems this reason doesn't hold up."
Now, as the true colors of the Three Imperial Families become increasingly apparent, and with their actions of suppressing Lushan in their eagerness to cover up the past, the truth is plain to see.
It's just that, compared to the truth, strength decides everything. Plus, the Celestial Clan is the Celestial Clan, the Human Clan is the Human Clan, everyone is a vested beneficiary, so there's nothing to dispute.
Now...
"Within the Imperial Families, there must be a group of people who faked their deaths and went into hiding. But the severance of spiritual energy back then was an accident, I'm very sure. No one in the Three Nations, or even any power in the Nine Cauldrons, anticipated that spiritual energy would disappear after eliminating the Celestial Clan. Therefore, their hiding was definitely not for hibernation and later revival, but more like a form of self-concealment."
Qing Zan's words affirmed that the Three Imperial Families must have hidden forces.
Yu Xuanji sighed, "The most important thing is that we still haven't seen the results of the Three Imperial Families digesting the greatest benefits from the Celestial Clan's defeat–if there is war, there must be interests that cause the war. Not seeing them isn't a good thing; it means they are hidden even deeper. So, I was quite pleased that you could take a step back at that time."
This was said to A'Diao.
Because he had dealt with the Imperial Families for so many years, he had some understanding.
A'Diao, however, rolled her eyes and thought to herself: I retreated because I couldn't win. Otherwise, I would have killed Dantai Lingyao then and there, and then killed all the Imperial Family members present, eradicating them root and stem. Even if the Imperial Families still had foundations hidden elsewhere, experts are experts, and foundations are foundations. If the people die, the power-sharing ruling system would be shaken. It's like an ancient emperor, no matter how powerful, if he's infertile, the dynasty is recognized as unstable because there are no sufficient successors.
But how could she say such deranged words in front of these teachers? She lowered her head and silently "ate melon," then asked Yu Xuanji, "What do you think they will do next?"
Yu Xuanji: "The three nations will form an alliance, like the slaughter of Changting."
After everyone else had left to recuperate and heal, Yu Xuanji stood by the window with A'Diao. Watching the drizzling wind and rain over Lushan, Yu Xuanji suddenly asked, "Where did Qu Xia'er and the others go? And Song Ling and his group?"
A'Diao leaned on the railing with both hands, looking down at the layers of Lushan's buildings below.
She said lightly, "If there are storms in this world, flowers and grass will naturally sway. To be my people, they can't make no contribution at all."
"Old Salted Fish Master, no need to probe my future goals. You just need to know that you and Lushan have no choice."
"I am your only choice."
Yu Xuanji: "..."
Half a year ago, their Lushan was still her best backer and only choice. How long has it been?
Her wings had hardened; she was truly formidable now.
But he still didn't understand what she had sent Song Ling and the others to do.
In terms of strength, these people were far from enough to help her.
The Nan Jin Imperial Family's perception was very poor.
First, Tang Song had internal strife, and its Imperial Family suffered a setback, but Chen A'Diao was, after all, from Tang Song. Her strength meant Tang Song's strength.
Second, as Nan Jin's leading sect, Wu Mountain was siding with outsiders. Its Saintesses, both senior and junior, seemed to have been bewitched by that scum from Lushan, as if drunk.
Third, Lie Qin was united from top to bottom and had an advantage over Nan Jin.
All in all, Nan Jin was in the most disadvantageous position.
So, the Nan Jin Imperial Family hastily held meetings, wrangling with Wu Mountain. On one hand, they accused; on the other, they weakly expressed that Wu Mountain's actions were wrong...
As for Lie Qin, needless to say, they were undoubtedly united in figuring out how to kill A'Diao and bring down Tang Song.
And Tang Song?
The once fine Imperial Palace was now a scene of devastation. The princes and princesses present felt as if they were in a different world.
It was as if what had been bombed was not the Imperial Palace, but their status, their pride, their privileges.
Today, all of it had crumbled.
The Great Elder and others had no time to console these juniors.
At this moment, the Great Elder and Dantai Lingyao were together in a small ancestral hall. Inside the hall were ancestral tablets of generations of Imperial Family experts. Dantai Lingyao stood there coldly. The Great Elder lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?"
Dantai Lingyao took out an incense stick, lit it, and placed it. He paid respects to his father, the founding emperor, his voice low and cold.
"Activate Tianshu."
The Great Elder was shocked, "Tianshu? But isn't that supposed to be activated only to deal with the exhaustion brought by the Demon King Supreme's revival? Then..."
Dantai Lingyao turned back and sneered, "Fool! If we are first defeated by Chen A'Diao, and my Dantai imperial power falls into other hands, what's the use of stopping this Demon King Supreme?! If the common people die, they can be reborn. Wasn't it like that in the war back then? Vitality was restored in three hundred years. But what if my Dantai imperial power is extinguished? What then?"
The Great Elder was convinced.
However, Dantai Lingyao also calmed his expression, "But it's not that I intend to exhaust everything for her alone. Currently, I'm more interested in knowing her background. If she's from the Celestial Clan, then things would be easier to handle."
"Believe me, as long as she is of the Celestial Clan, the whole world will want her dead, including the Demonic Spirit Clan."
The Great Elder understood. "But I'm afraid we won't find anything from DNA alone. This person's intelligence is unparalleled; she has probably already cleaned up all traces and won't leave us any openings."
Dantai Lingyao looked at the flickering candlelight before him.
His voice was very soft.
"The appearance of the Human-Demons is an opportunity."
"There must be a secret within this."
"Go investigate if there are other Human-Demons. Capture one and examine it."
"Also, I haven't fully recovered my peak strength... You go..."
Dantai Lingyao always felt that this method of breaking through racial reproductive barriers was strange. He didn't know when the Demonic Spirit Clan had mastered it.
Truly terrifying.
So he had to recover his peak strength as soon as possible, at any cost.
Three days later, the Great Elder discovered the identities of these Human-Demons. It wasn't that he found out through painstaking investigation, but because some people had disappeared without reason, and upon closer inspection, their identities were found to be suspicious, suspected Human-Demons.
They all mysteriously disappeared after the Dantai Ye incident erupted. Were they silenced by murder?
Or they had retreated.
Obviously, this was the work of the Demonic Spirit Clan.
While the Great Elder was having a headache, in a hidden space, a group of Human-Demons had been gathered and enslaved by A'Diao. After enslavement... they were dissected.
She could control molecules; this was the highest technique of dissection.
So she saw these demonic seeds.
"Truly amazing, to be able to create such technology. The Demonic Spirit Clan doesn't seem like the type to pursue this kind of technological path."
It's not that those Demon Kings aren't intelligent, but rather, like the characteristics of groups such as the Daoguang Three Imperial Families, they lack a sufficiently advanced technological civilization system, making it difficult to create such precise and abnormal technology from scratch.
She, on the other hand, felt this technology seemed to have originated from the Human Clan.
Toilet: "Ah, you don't suspect that old Daoist, do you?"
A'Diao: "I haven't said anything. Why are you reacting so quickly?"
Toilet: "?"
The atmosphere was a bit quiet for a moment. Toilet said awkwardly: "I just felt that the old Daoist was secretly scheming in all the previous instances, so I thought it was him this time too."
A'Diao just chuckled lightly, looking at the demonic seed floating before her, and said thoughtfully: "It could be him, or it could be someone else–I'm more curious about what happened after the Celestial Clan was exterminated. Since the Three Imperial Families obtained the Celestial Clan's Book of Civilization, it means they obtained the Celestial Clan's legacy. At the very least, they definitely got the bodies of the Celestial Clan members. If so... how would they digest these benefits? With the precedent of the 'bone-devouring method,' it's unlikely to be very humane, but eating them raw would surely be the most wasteful."
"The nature of living beings is greed. Greed also equals devouring–devouring superior genes to evolve. I'm wondering, after the Three Imperial Families obtained the bodies of the Celestial Clan members, would they think of fusing Celestial Clan genes, to create Human-Demons like Dantai Ye, or beings like me."
Huh?
Toilet: "I think the probability isn't low; it almost perfectly aligns with their modus operandi. Moreover, if they achieved something, this technology might have leaked from the Human Clan, been mastered by the Demonic Spirit Clan, and then the Demonic Spirit Clan created the Human-Demons."
A'Diao continued to think: "If they created Human-Demons, it means the research on the Three Imperial Families' side failed. At least they couldn't directly break through the reproductive barrier and could only resort to clever tricks. So, if there are demonic seeds, perhaps there are also celestial seeds or human seeds."
Someone like her, born naturally, was probably unique.
But if there were celestial seeds or human seeds, each comparable to a figure like Dantai Ye, it would be enough to give her a headache.
A'Diao, with a dark expression, fished out Dantai Ye's corpse. She directly performed a soul-devouring wave on his remnant spiritual body.
Soon, she indeed verified her conjecture.
Toilet: "My heavens, it really was leaked from within the Human Clan! And the Arbitration Council, what kind of place is that?"
A'Diao was still digesting the memories. She saw the memories inherited from the depths of the demonic seed since Dantai Ye's birth.
It was a palace standing in the ruins of a yellow-sand homeland.
Ancient and decadent, its exterior seemed to have undergone some repairs in the style of the magnificent Human Clan civilization. But it was somewhat incongruous. One could vaguely discern its antiquity and grace, as well as a cold aura that was out of sync with the later superficial repairs.
The memory quickly disappeared.
Because this memory came from the prying of the technology thief; later, it was transmitted to the Demon King's Palace.
A'Diao pressed her glabella, her expression unsightly. "I can feel that place's attraction to me, but it's very, very far away..."
Strange, what place was that exactly?
The Celestial Clan's?
But wasn't the Celestial Gate sealed and forbidden to humans? The Three Imperial Families had no way to enter back then.
But regardless, this place was clearly now Imperial Family territory. And the Celestial Clan bodies and this technology all flowed out from this "Arbitrator." Its terror was self-evident.
Toilet: "No matter what, the Three Imperial Families are still very difficult to deal with. I always feel they're preparing something. The next wave might be unbearable for you. What do you plan to do?"
Although this time the foundation of the Tang Song Imperial Family was damaged, directly shaking its roots, it also meant that the next wave would force out their trump cards.
It would surely be terrifying to the extreme.
A'Diao's eyes were cold and stern. Pinching a demonic seed, she slowly said, "I need more sun-form substances and resources."
She still had some ovoids in her hand, but they were definitely not enough to support a fourth or even more mutations.
"At the very least, I must make this Book of Civilization work for me, even if it means exposing my Celestial Clan identity. I won't hesitate."
As long as one is strong enough, identity doesn't matter.
As long as one is weak enough, even a pure-blooded human is actually no different from a dog.
A'Diao's eyes were icy. She placed these demonic seeds back into the bodies of the Human-Demons. She began to look for Chen Xun to jointly calculate cosmic astrological phenomena to reduce time. Of course, the reward was also very generous, consisting of some mechanical energy resources.
She was very rich now; after all, she had killed too many big shots. Just Dantai Ye, that dog, had nearly half a national treasury in his storage ring.
She wondered if the Imperial Family was currently hesitating about asking her for it back.
Chen Xun: "Do you know what I've been doing recently?"
A'Diao: "Why do you sound so happy? Pervert? Even Xu Ye isn't as obvious as you."
When she sent Song Ling and the others out on errands, Xu Ye was quite happy at the time. Such a cold and glamorous person, acting like a silly girl, made A'Diao think their roles had reversed. Actually, I am Xu Zhaoyin's child, while Xu Ye is Xie Yuqing's offspring.
Chen Xun chuckled lowly, "Nothing much. It's a deal. Also, this is information I recently compiled using Ministry of Works data. Take a look. Perhaps you can find some regions where sun-form substances might have accumulated after historical solar eclipses."
This kind of matter involved geography, energy waves, celestial phenomena, and spatial studies; it was an extremely complex method. Specifically, refer to how the incomparably talented Chen Gui managed to scrounge up 99 ovoids back then. Now, Chen Xun had merely repeated the feat.
He had already calculated the approximate regions for her.
Ah, collaborating with intelligent people is indeed pleasant.
Originally, A'Diao could have searched for it herself, but she worried that the Imperial Family had many strategists and lackeys. They were surely also looking for these methods now. After all, the secret of her mastering this technology was now difficult to hide. Even if the other side couldn't master it, they would be eager to cut off this path for her.
So, Chen Xun's information, which pinpointed locations ahead of time, was very useful.
No matter how unpleasant A'Diao's past with the Chen family had been, long-term benefits always outweighed past grievances.
A'Diao took this information, and while making a rough calculation, she had already dispatched her avatars with ovoids to go and load up... while collaborating with Chen Xun to calculate the essence of cosmic solar phenomena.
Of course, most importantly, she activated her Dragon Vein karmic luck; she was sensing.
Sensing what?
Sensing other Dragon Vein karmic luck.
Three months later, the Tang Song Imperial Palace was completely repaired, showing no trace of damage. It was as if the turmoil from three months ago had long since vanished. And over these three months, the demonic dens around the world had also quieted down a lot, allowing the Human Clan to rest and recuperate. But discerning people felt vaguely uneasy, always sensing that a storm was approaching.
In Tang Song, A'Diao had obtained the authority she deserved. A million elite troops were stationed in Huaiguang, mostly under her command. Including the military commander who once wanted to poach Chen Xun from the Ministry of Works, who now found himself A'Diao's subordinate. He gleefully felt this was a kind of "saving the nation indirectly"–with a super-strong commander above and a super-strong Ministry of Works support line below, it felt so secure!
However, A'Diao only appeared occasionally, and the Great Corpse King over there had also vanished as if deeply buried. Recently, however, some strange news had been coming from various places.
"Although there are fewer Demonic Spirits, the number of missing people in various places has increased. I don't know why. Especially in the north and south, it's not peaceful. Our side is relatively okay. Thanks to Her Highness Huaiguang's fearsome reputation being widespread."
A'Diao's current title was Huaiguang. Because she commanded the Xie family and other noble clans, Xie Jingyu and others were now mostly stationed in Huaiguang. Hearing the military commander say this, Xie Jingyu frowned slightly and asked, "Are there case files on the missing people?"
"Yes, with the Ministry of Revenue. They have investigated. I heard it's related to evil cults like the Tianli Cult. It's not a big problem; some have been eradicated, and it seems to have improved. But I'm afraid such evil cults will become more numerous."
While everyone was discussing, Xie Jingyu thought it over and felt something was wrong. After contacting and discussing with her "plastic husband," she proactively contacted Yu Xuanji and left him a message.
"Even if the Imperial Family has more trump cards, he will also have a sense of crisis. After all, the more experts there are, the more his power will be suppressed. So he definitely wants to rely on himself to get rid of me. If I were Dantai Lingyao, my biggest thought right now would be how to recover my peak strength–Mountain Head, do you still remember the Qu family?"
For Xie Jingyu, her aversion and hatred for the Qu family might even exceed that of the two Qu Jiangnan sisters. Because her temperament wasn't strong enough, she couldn't let it go.
These words were both a way to sow discord and a reminder.
Yu Xuanji also replied to her.
"Already investigating."
Obviously, this old salted fish was not simple either; it was just unknown what he would do.
Xie Jingyu recalled the subtle and indescribable attitude of the elders after the family council three months ago. Looking at the now peaceful and prosperous Huaiguang territory, she smiled faintly.
Although she used to curse her daily and still didn't like her much, it was very clear that there was no better choice than Chen A'Diao.
She just didn't know what A'Diao had been doing these past three months.
And what she was doing now.
In the cosmic starry sky, Chen A'Diao, aboard a spacecraft, approached a chaotic asteroid belt. It was full of constantly shuttling meteors; any collision would have devastating consequences.
A'Diao was now somewhat hesitant. This place was not very safe. Even peak Great Spirit Kings couldn't handle it. Should she really go in?
Comments
Post a Comment