"Let him in directly," Yue Zhiyin replied, lifting his gaze.
The maidservant acknowledged the order and went to open the door.
Outside, Yuan Cang, holding Ling Ruo's hand, strode in.
As Ling Ruo entered the inner chambers of the Dragon Palace, she looked up and met a pair of crimson vertical pupils. Her heart skipped a beat, and her body involuntarily knelt down.
Although Yue Zhiyin often appeared playful and prone to fighting in front of Qi Yu and others, making it difficult to feel awe towards him,
In reality, Yue Zhiyin possessed exquisite features. Furthermore, due to his dragon bloodline, this exquisiteness was imbued with nobility and a hint of severity. Coupled with his powerful dragon breath and racial suppression, his stern expression often left people breathless with tension.
Ling Ruo was subjected to Yue Zhiyin's pressure.
She knelt before Yue Zhiyin, trembling, feeling as though she could barely breathe, unable to even avert her gaze.
Yuan Cang, losing his composure and suave demeanor from before Ling Ruo, knelt before Yue Zhiyin, swallowing hard.
"Brother, this is Ling Ruo. She... she wishes to ask you for a favor, concerning how to jointly deal with the Ice Demon. I believe you should hear her out."
"Oh, it seems the Dragon King's temple has been flooded by the dragon king himself. What a coincidence," Qi Yu chuckled from the side. "Regarding dealing with me, this is a major matter. Your Majesty, you must agree to Prince Yuan Cang and Goddess Ling Ruo's request."
Yuan Cang and Ling Ruo blinked in surprise.
Having not glanced at either of them since entering the room, the two finally turned their heads at the sound of the voice.
Ling Ruo's face turned pale as her eyes met Qi Yu's.
Si Qing slammed his hand heavily on the table, revealing his true divine form. He held a long spear, clad in black armor, exuding immense pressure.
"Goddess Ling Ruo, everyone is present now. What guidance do you have? Why not state it directly?"
Yuan Cang trembled, intimidated by the killing aura emanating from Si Qing.
Ling Ruo's face was pale, but she forced a calm demeanor. "I know you all dislike me, but you will understand in the future. I am the only savior who can prevent the hundred-year catastrophe of the Three Realms."
"Perhaps my actions towards the Ice Demon are cruel now, but aren't these all brought upon by Qi Yu, the Ice Demon himself?"
Ling Ruo looked at Qi Yu. "I had no intention of opposing you. If you had honestly accepted your punishment in the Bitter Cold Hell for your transgressions, perhaps after the hundred-year catastrophe passed, I might have interceded with the Heavenly Emperor on your behalf, considering this body."
"I never expected you to be so obstinate."
Qi Yu calmly regarded her. "Why do you take my body and act as if it's your right? Goddess Ling Ruo, do you have any followers?"
Goddess Ling Ruo did not understand why the topic had shifted. "What do you mean? Speak plainly."
"Nothing. I just want to ask, are all your followers bandits and thieves?" Qi Yu teased with a serious expression. "Otherwise, anyone who agrees with your logic must be mentally ill."
Ling Ruo's face flushed red, her hands clenching into fists.
Yuan Cang wanted to speak up for Ling Ruo, but before the words could leave his lips, the combined pressure from Si Qing and Yue Zhiyin rendered him speechless.
Yue Zhiyin looked at Ling Ruo. "Who told you that you are the only one who can stop the hundred-year catastrophe?"
"Does that even need asking? I am, of course, the chosen one by popular acclaim," Ling Ruo said with immense pride.
Qi Nian was speechless.
Yue Zhiyin turned to Yuan Cang. "And you? Is your brother Yuan Cang among those who support you by popular acclaim?"
Yuan Cang's expression became flustered.
Yue Zhiyin looked at Ling Ruo with a cold expression. "Savior Miss Ling Ruo, as you can see, my brother Yuan Cang does not seem to wish to be a member of your 'popular acclaim.' I hope you will be sensible and leave on your own, and do not enter the North Sea casually in the future."
"After all, water and fire are merciless. If you enter the North Sea waters without permission and are swept away by a single wave, my North Sea cannot bear the responsibility."
After being humiliated by them collectively for so long, Ling Ruo finally seemed to reach her limit. She stood up abruptly. "If you won't help me, then I will go to the Phoenix Clan! The world is vast, and there will surely be a clan willing to help me!"
Sui You: "...Then go."
"I don't need you to tell me!" Ling Ruo lifted her skirt and turned to leave.
Qi Yu watched silently. The moment Ling Ruo turned, he gathered a palmful of spiritual energy and struck fiercely in her direction.
That palm of spiritual energy dissipated and bounced off as it neared Ling Ruo's body, without causing any ripple.
Qi Yu pouted, looking regretful.
Yu Zhen asked curiously, "Strange, why couldn't I hit her?"
"The Lesser Heavenly Dao, before dissipating, transferred some divine power to Ling Ruo. I suspect some form of protection was bestowed upon her," Qi Yu said unhurriedly. "I expected this. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let her stay until today. I will find a way to deal with her in the future."
"Well, it's more important to discuss business now," Yu Zhen looked at Yue Zhiyin. "You promised to treat us to a seafood feast. You won't go back on your word now, will you? I'm already prepared to eat you poor."
"Want to eat me poor? That might be a bit difficult," Yue Zhiyin chuckled and waved to order shrimp soldiers and crab generals to prepare a banquet.
Yu Zhen smiled and looked at the shrimp soldiers and crab generals behind him. "I've also invited two daughters and one son. They are from the Demon Realm. Their names are noted. When they arrive, please bring them over."
The shrimp soldiers and crab generals behind nodded.
Seeing that he had nothing to do, Qi Yu yawned and stood up, his hands tucked into his sleeves, lazily wandering around the Dragon Palace.
Ming Lou walked beside Qi Yu, looking at the surroundings and swallowing hard. "Junior Brother Qi Yu, it's so good here with Senior Brother! So much seafood..."
The shrimp soldiers and crab generals standing guard were unnerved by Ming Lou's gaze and kept backing away.
Qi Yu covered Ming Lou's head. "These can't be eaten. Stop drooling over them."
Ming Lou nodded vigorously, swallowing his saliva with a gulp.
Qi Yu felt a bit embarrassed and covered his face.
Just then, a ripple suddenly appeared in the water flow outside the Dragon Palace.
Following that, a small opening was made in the Dragon Palace's formation.
Two girls, dressed in black, off-the-shoulder, floor-length gowns that revealed their collarbones, with their hair half-pinned up and a few strands of ink-black hair falling past their waists, entered from outside.
Beside them walked a handsome man in a lavish, dark purple, bat-sleeved robe of the Demon Realm.
These two girls looked identical.
The one on the left waved and smiled, greeting Qi Yu while loudly calling out to Qi Nian behind Qi Yu.
The girl on the right had a detached expression. After greeting, she remained silent, not very talkative.
Qi Yu guessed that this quiet girl was his mother's fourth daughter in the Demon Realm.
Feng Yun Zui, the twin sister of the Third Princess Feng Si Qian.
And the handsome man beside them... should be Feng Ming Qi, the elder brother of Feng Si Qian and Feng Yun Zui, his mother's eldest son in the Demon Realm, Feng Mian.
Feng Mian walked up to Qi Yu, a smile on his lips. "You are... my brother's Senior Brother, Qi Yu? My name is Feng Mian, Feng Ming Qi's elder brother. Behind me are my two younger sisters. I've heard much about you."
"You are too kind," Qi Yu smiled at him.
Feng Mian curved his lips.
When Qi Yu turned to walk back, Feng Mian walked to a secluded spot with great interest, took out a dark jade pendant, and spoke to the opposite side.
"Lord Evil God, this young man named Qi Yu is the Ice Demon who has recently become famous for killing the Lesser Heavenly Dao? He... doesn't seem all that impressive."