As night fell, Wuhuan walked alone on the streets of Wuji City, like a wandering soul, heading towards the city gate.
Midnight Wuji City had quieted down. Occasionally, drunken mercenaries stumbled past, but they subconsciously avoided Wuhuan.
Wuhuan reached the city wall and gazed towards the Land of the Forbidden. The Land of the Forbidden was very quiet in the dark, but he could feel the restless stir in the air, as if something was about to break free.
Just then, Wuhuan saw a figure emerge from the Land of the Forbidden. It was Xiao Man. Su Dan Novel Network.
Xiao Man also saw Wuhuan on the city wall and immediately opened the barrier to let Wuhuan in.
"When I woke up and you were gone, I figured you'd gone to the Land of the Forbidden," Wuhuan said, his gaze fixed on the barrier of the Land of the Forbidden. "If my sister was right, a mighty being in the Deity Transformation stage could tear open the barrier of the Land of the Forbidden with their own strength, but I tried, and I couldn't budge it at all."
"In the past, a mighty being in the Deity Transformation stage could tear open the barrier of the Land of the Forbidden. But now, not even a God King could hope to break through it," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "If I'm going to tamper with the seal of the Land of the Forbidden, I naturally need its barrier to protect me when I'm weak."
A hint of surprise flashed in Wuhuan's eyes. "It seems you've grasped the laws of heaven and earth."
"You could say that." Xiao Man made a welcoming gesture to Wuhuan. "Welcome to my domain."
A smile curved Wuhuan's lips. "Yue Tianxia must be racking his brain, unable to figure out that you'd be hiding in this Land of the Forbidden."
"I haven't been hiding here for the past ten years," Xiao Man said softly. "Yue Tianxia even sent people to investigate, but unfortunately, he found nothing. And I'm not far from Tianjian Sect."
"Hiding in plain sight," Wuhuan immediately understood. Everyone thought Xiao Man would stay far away from Tianjian Sect, but who knew she was hiding right under their noses. "Your courage is as great as ever."
"It's an honor to receive praise from Ghost King."
"When will you release the Lord?"
"We have to wait."
"Still waiting?"
"Yes, we have to wait." Xiao Man led Wuhuan towards Yangming Valley. "We need the right time, place, and people."
"Time and place?"
"Yes. People, we have. Place, we also have. Now, we're just waiting for the right time." Xiao Man looked up at the sky. "If my calculations are correct, in seven days, it will be the Extreme Yin Day."
"Extreme Yin Day?"
"Yes. The Extreme Yin Day is the best time for us to make a move. On that day, the cultivation of righteous path cultivators will be suppressed, but it will be the most advantageous time for the demon race." Xiao Man stopped at the entrance of Yangming Valley. "Yangming Valley is full of poisonous creatures. Ordinary people can't enter..."
Before Xiao Man could finish speaking, Wuhuan had already charged in. Ordinary poisonous creatures posed no threat to him. The only thing that threatened him was the bamboo viper in the center.
At this moment, Zhu Qing crawled onto Xiao Man's shoulder, looking like a ruler. "Minions, I'm back."
Wuhuan glanced sideways at the arrogant, foolish snake on Xiao Man's shoulder. His lips twitched slightly. As expected of a direct descendant of the Qin family, even a highly poisonous creature like the King Bamboo Viper posed no threat.
Xiao Man glanced at Zhu Qing. "Has Huo Wu woken up?"
"Not yet." Zhu Qing rubbed against Xiao Man's face with its head. "Master, will I be unable to defeat Huo Wu from now on?"
"He is inherently your bane, and now his cultivation has soared, so you are naturally not his opponent," Xiao Man said calmly. "If you provoke him less, it will be fine."
"Master is biased."
"Everyone's heart is biased," Xiao Man smiled. "Who knows, when she wakes up, even I might not be her opponent."
"That powerful?"
"Is the Black Dragon powerful?"
"Very powerful. It frightens me just looking at it."
"When Huo Wu wakes up, she'll probably be on par with the Black Dragon."
Zhu Qing swallowed and slithered down Xiao Man's shoulder. "I'll go find some food for Huo Wu. She must be hungry when she wakes up."
"Such a dignified King Bamboo Viper, yet so spineless," Wuhuan said with a hint of amusement. "Is Huo Wu your companion beast?"
"Yes," Xiao Man looked at Wuhuan. "Once the Demon Lord is out, the Black Dragon..."
"The Black Dragon has already signed a contract with Nangong Yu. Unless Nangong Yu willingly breaks it, the Black Dragon cannot leave him," Wuhuan said, sensing Xiao Man's worry. "Though the Dragon race is lustful and greedy, they are also a proud race. How could they betray their master?"
"Yuju was the Black Dragon's former master."
"The Black Dragon is not the Lord's companion beast; they are friends," Wuhuan explained. "So, you don't need to worry about the Black Dragon betraying Nangong Yu."
"Alright, let's stop here," Xiao Man halted. "If you go any further, your body won't be able to bear it."
Wuhuan stopped and looked towards the deepest part, which was the core of the Demon Subjugation Formation. In seven days, the Demon Lord would be released, meaning he only had seven days left to live.
"Xiao Man, am I considered your friend?" Wuhuan asked softly.
"Yes."
"Then, will you forget me?" Wuhuan looked into Xiao Man's eyes and asked earnestly, "You know that after seven days, Wuhuan will cease to exist."
"I think, not just me, but Miao Shao, Xinyu, they won't forget you. Even more people will remember Ghost King Wuhuan."
Wuhuan smiled and sat down on the ground. "To the demon race, I am merely a puppet. My existence is to await the Lord's return. Now that the Lord is about to return, I no longer have a reason to exist."
"It's not ceasing to exist, but returning to your original form," Xiao Man explained. "Even if you return to your original form, you won't disappear. You will be with the Demon Lord."
Wuhuan nodded, not arguing. He was the body formed by the condensation of the Demon Lord's three souls. When the three souls and seven spirits returned to their original form, he would no longer be the main personality; the main personality would be the Demon Lord's.
Suddenly, Wuhuan felt a tremor from beneath the ground, as if something was resonating with the three souls within him, instantly turning his face pale. Wuhuan stumbled, almost falling, and Xiao Man reached out to steady him.
Thump-thump-thump, he heard the familiar heartbeat again, as if it were beating within his own chest, deep and powerful. Yuju, who was sealed underground, also felt it and struggled with all his might. The seal of the Land of the Forbidden instantly lit up, but it only glowed for a moment before returning to calm.
"Did you feel that?"
Xiao Man nodded with a grave expression, then looked into the distance. "I have something to attend to. I'll be back before the Extreme Yin Day. If you don't want to stay here, take my token and go to Bafang Sword Sect."
"Where are you going?"
"To save someone."