Chapter 32: The Mad Demon King
Reina felt her whole head spin. Not only was her face flushed, but her heart raced, and she felt warmth radiating from her body.
(Brother said before that I am his soulmate… but these two men are saying I'm… his delicate wife?
Just thinking about the term 'delicate wife' made Reina's brain go blank, her eyes wide with panic as her body trembled slightly. Could it be that brother sees me as… his wife!?
She had never considered that she held such a role in Leo's heart.
In fact, she had never thought deeply about her relationship with Leo; she simply called him brother because he was older. In her heart, Leo was as dear to her as her grandfather, a person with whom she shared everything and supported each other. Just like Leo had said when he adopted her, they were of the same kind and would always be together.
But the role of a wife… seemed a little different from what she had imagined… 😌
Reina shyly lowered her head, yet her eyes still lingered on Leo.
She didn't know how to articulate what she was feeling; all she knew was that she felt excited, surprised, and bashful.
A wife? As long as it means being with brother… perhaps that wouldn't be so bad.
Seeing that Reina wanted to say something, Leo pulled her into his embrace.
"Damn it, Leo, you're going too far!" Wang Zhi shouted.
"Yeah, showing off love right in front of us! Don't care about the feelings of us single dogs."
Leo ignored them and whispered in Reina's ear, "When we get back, I'll explain everything; let's keep pretending."
Reina paused, then nodded.
Leo released her and wore a smug smile.
"Uncle, Aunt, while you're still young, actively seek out a partner! Otherwise, when you reach a hundred or eighty years, where will you find the youthful passion?" he continued. "In that case, the partners you find will just be to get by. There wouldn't be much affection, and wouldn't that mean feeling alone for the rest of your life?" When Leo said this, Wang Zhi and He Han rare momentarily fell silent, shocked into inaction. They opened their mouths but couldn't find the words.
Indeed, life is long, and for cultivators, it's even more so. By the time they grow old, their personalities and edges can fade, becoming dull and indifferent. How much passion remains to actively seek out romantic love?
The reason soulmates are so important is that they greatly impact cultivation; it's not just about supporting each other but sharing resources and insights. And perhaps even more importantly, it's about understanding each other's thoughts!
Human beings are not grass or wood; who can remain emotionless? Whether mortal or cultivator, one must have an emotional anchor and reciprocity to maintain a healthy mindset!
Wang Zhi and He Han exchanged surprised glances, silently digesting the implications of his words. Even Sofia, who had kept her distance, looked over at Leo with an expression of astonishment and disbelief!
Leo was only fifteen years old, the youngest cultivator in this temporary team.
Prior to this, while everyone acknowledged Leo's strength, they still saw him as a child. After all, by age alone, they found it hard to believe that Leo's life experience exceeded their own. But this statement revealed a remarkable depth for a fifteen-year-old boy, making Wang Zhi and He Han question whether they had wasted the last thirty years of their lives…
Sofia also scrutinized Leo with a hint of curiosity and doubt after observing him.
"Leo, your words are very valid!" Zhong Haoran said, still looking shocked, as he clapped and praised him.
"Doesn't this exemplify the innocent heart that Confucianism seeks? Leo is open and sincere, with the demeanor of a gentleman!"
Now he truly believed that Leo wasn't just significantly stronger than his peers; his intellect and wisdom were equally top-notch!
"Too flattering, Zhong," Leo responded modestly.
After such discussions, Wang Zhi and He Han lost interest in mocking Leo.
Clearly, this guy was the one who showed off with the reflective ball, yet somehow they felt more like the clowns!
If the person in that reflective ball really was him, then he was definitely out of line, not loving this Reina at all!
How could he say such profound things?
These two lifelong single cultivators were left puzzled...
Reina, who was being held by Leo, also fell into thought now.
While she was still young, she should love more...
Who do I love the most right now?
Grandfather is gone; I only have brother left…
Reina turned to look at Leo, silently making some kind of resolution in her heart...
---
Three days later, deep within the Li Mountain.
A strange phenomenon began to appear; the deeper they ventured into the mountain, the more the sky turned crimson, as though dyed with blood, and the air grew increasingly hot.
Zhong Haoran and his group didn't encounter any other cultivators, quickly avoiding others' psionic signals when they sensed them nearby. Everyone's goal was the auspicious beast Baize, and they didn't want to waste their energy ahead of time.
Only when they could spot the legendary Baize embryo did Zhong Haoran decide to halt their advance.
At this boundary, advancing would lead right into the realm guarded by the great demons of the Lan Yuan Kingdom and the old demon king!
And the sight of that Baize embryo astonished every person present, even the knowledgeable Zhong Haoran and the aloof Sofia were momentarily speechless!
Suspended above the peak of Wuzhifeng was a massive blood-red cocoon, with five sturdy umbilical cords stretching down to the mountain peak.
The entire scene was grand and eerie! "This is... the auspicious beast Baize…" Zhong Haoran murmured.
"Zhong, this aura is too terrifying; I feel we won't get it!" He Han said nervously.
"It's okay; before the Baize is born, no one knows what will happen." Zhong Haoran reassured confidently.
"Even though Baize was created from the demon king's bloodline, it has no memories and won't consider the demon king as its kin."
"Otherwise, it wouldn't have left the Lan Yuan Kingdom to fly thousands of miles here; the old demon king wouldn't need to send so many elite fighters for protection."
"It's clearly afraid of being robbed of opportunities, which means we have a chance!"
The others nodded in agreement, continuing to wait patiently.
Suddenly, an earth-shattering roar resounded from under the Baize embryo and the five peaks, like a whirlwind sweeping through the entire forest!
"Get lost!" This was an old, yet powerful and imposing, growl, shocking all nearby cultivators into a frenzy.
"Greedy, shameless humans, daring to covet my son! Whoever dares to step onto Wuzhifeng, I will crush them to dust!"
All the cultivators understood; this was the monarch of the Lan Yuan Kingdom, the demon king Mo Xiang!
His true form was said to be a pitch-black flood dragon, with a lifespan of over two thousand years.
While the other four major dynasties had been passed down for thousands of years, he was only the sixth monarch of the Lan Yuan Kingdom.
His long lifespan had accumulated unfathomable cultivation strength!
"Those old farts from the three families, hurry up and chase these pests away!"
Mo Xiang roared again, his voice thundering like rolling thunder.
But no sooner had he spoken than a similarly eldritch and powerful voice rang out from another direction: "Mo Xiang, don't get too carried away!"
"While Baize may be your son, this is not your Lan Yuan Kingdom! We are not your guards!"
"The people outside the valley are all self-cultivators; we have no authority to restrain, and we've already shown kindness by blocking other forces from interfering!"
This voice clearly came from a strong figure associated with the Justice Alliance, Confucianism, or the Hidden Valley, sounding somewhat dissatisfied.
It seemed that Mo Xiang was indeed getting a bit too presumptuous.
In the path of cultivation, killing and robbing treasures are common; everyone wants incredible opportunities.
Not to mention the Baize embryo descending in Li Mountain, even if it were being born in the palace of his Lan Yuan Kingdom, people would still seize the chance to snatch it.
How could they expect all cultivators to quietly stand by and watch?
But the Mo Xiang in the valley ignored this completely.
A more furious and frenzied roar erupted from the center of the Wuzhifeng, a terrifying dragon roar that sent chills down one's spine!
The demon king's insane roar was not a name taken for granted!
"Then don't blame me for being ruthless! My beloved son, none of you will get a finger on him!" After this declaration, the whole forest fell into a brief silence for a few seconds.
Then, there was a dull rumbling noise.
Like the sound of a stampede of a thousand horses, it charged from the direction of Wuzhifeng with unstoppable momentum!
Everyone was stunned for a moment, still unaware of what was happening, only Zhong Haoran and Leo's expressions suddenly turned horrified!
"It's the 'Beast Tide'! Mo Xiang unleashed the 'Beast Tide'; Despersed to avoid!!"
As soon as Zhong Haoran shouted this, he saw Leo already pulling Reina's hand, turning, and sprinting a few meters away.