"Bang!!!"
With a loud bang, the door slammed shut just as Yun Si stepped inside, sealed by a mysterious force. Outside, a swirl of black mist was repelled the moment the door closed.
The black shadow, upon being repelled, transformed into a middle-aged man. His aura was menacing, and even from a distance, the murderous intent in his eyes was palpable.
"So you've finally decided to show yourself, Demon Lord!"
A man in mid-air slowly descended, landing lightly on a branch. His long robe fluttered gracefully in the moonlight.
The soft moonlight painted the figure on the branch, casting a picturesque silhouette against the pale moon.
"Jun Feng, you despicable scoundrel, born of the celestial path yet indulging in such vile deeds. Hand over my son, and I might spare you. Otherwise, don't blame me for using your life as an offering to avenge my brethren who died at your hands."
The Demon Lord's rage grew, his aura becoming increasingly malevolent. He was unaware that if he continued like this, he would eventually be consumed by his own malevolent energy.
Jun Feng gazed at him, more composed than ever. His calm wasn't because the malevolent energy might consume the Demon Lord but rather because he feared that if it did, the Demon Lord would become even harder to deal with.
Jun Feng tossed the red celestial umbrella into the air, and with a thud, a child rolled out of it, bound by invisible ropes.
The more Ye Bai struggled, the more he squirmed on the ground like a worm, fiercely gnawing at the ropes with his sharp teeth, cursing Jun Feng all the while.
"If you don't want this child to die, obediently return to your Xuanming Sea! If you continue to wreak havoc in the mortal realm, I will show no mercy!"
Jun Feng's words were flat, without a hint of fluctuation, like a gentle breeze passing by, yet they carried an undeniable pressure.
The Demon Lord laughed wildly, "Ignorant child, dare you be so arrogant? Your father exhausted his cultivation and scattered his soul to seal me in the Xuanming Sea. Don't bring disgrace upon yourself, you wretched scoundrel."
In the dim light, Jun Feng's expression was unclear, but Ye Bai could feel that Jun Feng was genuinely angry this time!
With a slight bend of his left arm, a flowing qin appeared on his forearm. As his jade-like fingers lightly plucked the strings, a clear and captivating melody began to echo through the palace.
His fingers danced across the strings, producing a sound that lingered in the air, melodious and continuous, like spring water trickling, like lotus flowers weeping dew.
As the water droplets dripped, they transformed into soldiers!
The spring water surged forth, forming a thousand troops. The melody commanded them, kill and destroy.
Surrounded by the water soldiers, the Demon Lord grew frustrated with their incessant chattering. He grasped at the air, and a demonic sword swept across, scattering the water soldiers into puddles.
Jun Feng's eyes flashed with even more anger. The tempo of his playing quickened, his hands moving so swiftly they seemed like a hundred hands dancing on the strings.
As Jun Feng's melody shifted, the water on the ground began to float, gathering in mid-air.
The floating water droplets sparkled like stars in the sky, mesmerizing yet revealing nothing of their true lethality.
The Demon Lord laughed even more arrogantly, "Hahaha, I thought you had some great skill, but it seems you only know how to play these little tricks from the shadows. Hahaha, boy, no offense, but you are nothing compared to your father! Hahaha!"
The Demon Lord, caught off guard, hadn't noticed when Jun Feng had changed the melody. The previously floating, round water droplets suddenly sprouted sharp edges.
Countless arrows shot toward the Demon Lord like a rainstorm.
Dark smoke billowed around the Demon Lord, gradually coalescing into a tangible form. A dark shield formed, deflecting the incoming arrows.
The Demon Lord laughed loudly, "Boy, you can't defeat me. Stop now, and I might leave you a whole corpse."
The smile on the Demon Lord's face froze, and his eyes widened in terror as he watched the arrows he deflected gather into a formation.
He knew this formation well; it was the one that had trapped him before, allowing the celestial beings to take advantage. After finally being reborn, he wouldn't let himself be caught again.
Wielding his sword, the Demon Lord tried to break the formation, but his efforts were in vain.
The murderous intent in the Demon Lord's eyes grew stronger, making him look like a wrathful deity.
Although Ye Bai didn't want to see the Demon Lord, he didn't want him to be consumed by malevolent energy either, especially since his mother was waiting for him at home.
"Get a grip! If you continue like this, you'll die!" Ye Bai shouted, putting all his effort into each word, hoping to wake him up.
The Demon Lord glanced up, his shadowed gaze fixed on the man atop the tree. With a swift motion, he sliced his palm with the demon sword, letting the blood seep into the blade.
With a sweeping motion, the formation shattered into pieces under a crimson blade of light, scattering across the ground.
The power of the Demon Lord's attack was so immense that even after breaking the barrier, it surged toward Jun Feng with unstoppable force. Though Jun Feng reacted quickly, casting a spell to block it, the impact was so powerful that the collision sent shockwaves in all directions.
The surrounding palaces crumbled under the impact, reduced to rubble, except for the lone hall behind the Demon Lord, which stood firm.
Jun Feng had set a protective formation in that hall earlier to safeguard Yun Si, isolating her from the outside world, making her unaware of the events unfolding outside.
Seizing Jun Feng's moment of distraction, the Demon Lord struck again.
"Boom!!!"
Suddenly, a flash of white light intercepted the descending sword.
Yao Xi collapsed just as Jun Feng caught her in his arms, blood staining her pink feathered dress.
"Heh, another one rushing to their death?" The Demon Lord sneered, raising his sword again.
"Stop!" A childish voice cut through the tension, suppressing the entire atmosphere.
The Demon Lord looked at Ye Bai in surprise, not expecting his own son to protect the one who wanted to kill him.
"Ye'er, what are you doing? Move aside now!"
Seeing Ye Bai's small figure standing before his enemy, his short arms shielding them, his resolute gaze directed at him, the Demon Lord felt a pang of sorrow and more anger.
"Unfilial son! Do you know who you're protecting? Don't be deceived by him! Don't be stubborn!"
"You're the one being stubborn!" Ye Bai shouted, his voice rising with emotion.
"Are the Six Realms so important that you abandon your wife and child? Have you ever truly considered us? Do you know how Mother cried for you when she was ill? And where were you?"
"Ye'er, I... I didn't realize you hated me so much." The Demon Lord shook his head in resignation.
"Enough! I'll spare you today, but next time, Jun Feng, I will sacrifice you to the Demon Tower."
As the Demon Lord retreated, Jun Feng made to follow, but a lazy voice from behind stopped him.
"Give it a rest. In your current state, do you think you can catch him? Don't come crawling back to me after getting beaten."
Jun Feng looked at Ye Bai's proud expression, feeling an odd urge to punch him. Watching him, Jun Feng suddenly chuckled, "Well, it seems keeping you around is somewhat useful. I might even miss you if the Demon Lord comes to take you back someday."
With that, the red celestial umbrella flew over Ye Bai's head, opening its shaft and sucking him inside.
"Let me out, Jun Feng, you old rascal! How shameless can you be? You can't beat the Demon Lord, so you take it out on me? What did I ever do to you? I just saved your life, and this is how you repay me? Let me out!"
Jun Feng held the red umbrella close, gently stroking it, and smiled, "You just stay in there. When I'm no longer angry, you can come out!"
"Immortal Lord!" Yao Xi suddenly spoke up.
Only then did Jun Feng remember Yao Xi was gravely injured and promptly started treating her.
"Immortal, please don't shield me from harm like that again. Always consider yourself first."
After Jun Feng's healing spell, Yao Xi's condition improved. When she explained her purpose for coming, Jun Feng was shocked to learn that something significant had happened in the celestial realm.
"Mo Xuan is trapped in the Land of Despair!"
The Land of Despair! It is a void, yet it exists in every corner of the Six Realms. It is born of human obsession; the deeper the obsession, the closer to endless darkness, trapping the obsessed in it, tortured by their thoughts, devoured by inner demons, and ultimately succumbing to darkness. Wherever it spreads becomes the Land of Despair.
"Why did you come to me? He's the son of the Heavenly Emperor. Go find the Heavenly Emperor."
"The Heavenly Emperor is in seclusion. We didn't want to disturb him. We're out of options and had to seek your help."
Yao Xi looked at Jun Feng, her eyebrows hinting at a subtle tenderness, making her appear gentler than ever.
Jun Feng snorted, "Seclusion? His son is on the brink of death, and he's still in seclusion?" His words, though harsh, were spoken in the softest tone, a stark contrast that left Yao Xi momentarily stunned.
"So, we're asking the Immortal Lord to return to the celestial realm and take charge!" she said with a gentle smile, her eyes filled with unmistakable affection.
After all, when you love someone, it shows in your eyes.
Before leaving, Jun Feng's gaze lingered on the lone hall for a long time. Yao Xi, noticing this, glanced in that direction, her eyes dimming slightly.
Meanwhile, in the celestial realm's Lotus Pond, Dan Jun sat cross-legged, trying to locate the Land of Despair through spells. Unfortunately, her magic was insufficient, and repeated attempts nearly caused her own formation to rebound, shattering her internal organs.
Fortunately, Jun Feng arrived in time, averting a disaster.
Jun Feng had no choice but to set up the formation himself, finding the entrance to the Land of Despair. He forcibly opened it using his own cultivation, needing to maintain it until Dan Jun could bring Mo Xuan out.
This journey was fraught with danger; one misstep could cost them their lives.
The Land of Despair is akin to a mirror, reflecting one's emotions and desires, turning greed and fear into deadly weapons.
Initially, Jun Feng didn't want Dan Jun to go, but she insisted. Although she was weak and not very intelligent, which meant entering was akin to a death sentence, Jun Feng reconsidered. Dan Jun's simple heart, focused solely on Mo Xuan, might actually be an advantage in this perilous mission.