Chapter 8 - Little Demon Empress

Ren Zu was still recovering from the shock of seeing the Little Demon Empress with his own eyes when, suddenly, she transformed. Her body slowly descended until it touched the ground.

Her hair, long and black as the pitch of a starless night, cascaded below her hips. The night wind stirred it, brushing it against her face, which was as pale and perfect as white jade. As soon as the soles of her feet touched the center of the lake, she stopped, gently closing her eyes.

In that instant, the heavy, sinister, and icy aura emanating from her dissipated completely, as if it had never existed.

The young woman remained serene in the heart of the lake, her expression tranquil, while her black hair danced delicately in the breeze. She seemed like a painting of ethereal beauty, untouchable, that no one would dare disturb. Ren Zu watched her in a trance, beginning to doubt whether the initial impression he had of her was nothing more than a misunderstanding.

Slowly, she opened her arms, revealing small, white hands, as delicate and translucent as porcelain, emerging from the wide sleeves of her robe. Then, her body continued to descend until her head submerged in the lake's waters. Suddenly, blazing flames erupted from her body.

The flames, flat and controlled, spread quickly, enveloping her completely. Amid the fire, her black hair danced wildly. But it wasn't the movement of her hair that captured Ren Zu's attention. As the flames began to consume her body, the gray robe covering her turned to ashes, revealing a delicate body, sculpted in white jade, so pure and perfect that it would touch anyone's heart. The night wind blew, and her naked figure appeared proudly before Ren Zu's eyes.

He stared at her, absorbed, unable to tear his gaze away from the magnificence of her natural form. Despite the dozens of meters separating them, his sharp vision made it seem as though she were right in front of him.

The more he observed her, the more Ren Zu felt dazed, reluctant to blink even once. Her body was delicate, almost small, with snowy shoulders, a slender waist, and discreet hips. Her breasts, slightly prominent, adorned her chest with softness. Her skin, white as snow, was as delicate as a newborn's, reminiscent of pure jade, without a single imperfection. Under the light, the subtle traces of bluish veins could be glimpsed beneath her skin, especially on her slender, translucent thighs, which seemed to glow with an almost supernatural purity.

That exquisite body seemed as light as air. Her waist, so narrow, could easily be encircled by the palm of a hand. On her chest, two small snowy mounds were crowned with perfect, delicate red pearls, the most enchanting decoration of her figure. It was a sight so beautiful it took one's breath away.

Ren Zu then looked downward and saw a lovely pink and soft area, clearly revealed amidst the immaculate white of her skin, like a delicate secret of nature exposed under the moonlight. It was a scene of such pure and mesmerizing beauty that it seemed to defy reality itself, a subtle contrast between the rosy softness and the breeze caressing her figure. His heart, already racing, thundered in his chest, a disjointed drumming echoing in his ears. He tried, with effort, to calm himself, feeling the heat rise to his face and the weight of his own breathing. Desperately, he attempted to avert his gaze from the spectacle, but his eyes, as if possessed by a greater force, kept returning to her.

The young woman remained oblivious to his torment, enveloped by the flames that now seemed to dance in harmony with the wind, licking her skin without ever marking it. The lake's waters, reflecting the glow of the fire, created a halo of light that made her even more ethereal, like a goddess who had descended to the mortal world only to challenge the limits of human beauty. Her movements were slow, almost ritualistic, as if she were in communion with the lake itself, with the wind, with the flames enveloping her.

Ren Zu, still struggling with himself, took a step back, seeking support from a nearby tree. His trembling hands gripped the rough trunk, hoping to anchor his mind, which seemed to float in a sea of thoughts. But even with the effort, he couldn't erase her image from his mind. Every curve, every line of her body seemed etched into his soul, a vision he knew would haunt him for countless nights.

… This was why he had always loved the theme of Eastern fantasy; the beauties described by authors were incredible…! But nothing compared to the reality before his eyes.

He stood frozen in a stupor, watching the naked girl in front of him.

Ren Zu, little by little, managed to calm the turmoil in his heart. His hands, still clutching the rough tree trunk, relaxed. He allowed his eyes, now less dominated by the daze of the mesmerizing vision, to appreciate the young woman…

She remained in the center of the lake, enveloped by the flames that danced in harmony with the night wind, her ethereal figure reflected in the waters like a living painting.

Her beauty was undeniable, and as various thoughts flooded his mind, igniting a "certain fire" in his body, he began to shift his attention to another detail: the flames surrounding her.

They were the Golden Crow Flames, or rather, a weaker version of them, but still carrying traces of the fiery, untamed essence of the legendary bird.

Ren Zu recalled the details his predecessor had read when younger in some books.

Although members of the Illusory Demon Royal Family possessed the bloodline of the Golden Crow, this heritage was passed down through generations, diluting over time. The flames they conjured, though far more powerful than ordinary profound flames, could not be considered the true power of the Golden Crow. The last person to wield the authentic Golden Crow Flames was the late Demon Emperor, the only one who, according to legends, had been accepted and blessed by the Golden Crow.

He knew that only those who received the Golden Crow's Blood could access the true flames and the profound art known as [Record of the Burning World]. Without this blessing, members of the Illusory Demon Royal Family relied on their bloodline heritage to ignite flames that carried only characteristics of the Golden Crow. Furthermore, everyone in the family, except the Demon Emperor, cultivated other forms of profound fire arts, complementing their abilities with varied techniques.

He couldn't help but compare the Golden Crow Flames to other legendary ones. His mind wandered to the Three Supreme Fire Beasts: the Vermilion Bird, the Phoenix, and the Golden Crow. He recalled that, in terms of overall strength, the Vermilion Bird was considered the most powerful, followed by the Phoenix, and lastly, the Golden Crow. However, when it came to the pure power of flames, the Golden Crow reigned supreme.

This was because strength wasn't the only criterion. The Vermilion Bird's flames possessed divine attributes, feared in the Primordial Era by the Demon Race that lived alongside the God Race. Called [Flame of Salvation], they held an almost sacred power. The Phoenix's flames, in turn, were benevolent, capable not only of destroying but also of purifying, earning the name [Flame of the Lyrical World]. The Golden Crow's flames, however, were the pure essence of destruction. Known as the [Sun Bird], the Golden Crow was, according to legends, an extreme divine being born from the core of the sun. Its flames, scorching and violent, had no purpose other than annihilation. It was said that there was nothing in the universe that the Golden Crow's fire could not burn.

Of course, this ranking was based on the recognition of the masses' hearts. Although the Golden Crow was not an evil beast, its emotions were as intense and untamed as its flames, making it less revered than the Vermilion Bird with its Salvation or the Phoenix with its Lyrical World. However, the Golden Crow's fierce personality did not accept such a hierarchy…

… Recalling this, he couldn't help but feel a bit insecure about how to obtain the Golden Crow's Bloodline.

The Three Supreme Beasts did not like each other; all believed their flames were the most powerful in the universe. If a person possessed the bloodline of one of the three, the others would never allow their bloodline to coexist! Especially the Golden Crow! Its personality was extremely irritable and inflexible. Expecting it to grant its legacy to someone with the Vermilion Bird's bloodline… was a task that was technically almost impossible!

When he chose to merge with the Vermilion Bird's Bloodline, essentially becoming its full heir, he had already considered that obtaining the Golden Crow's Bloodline afterward might be more complicated.

Still, he already had a plan in mind, one that used this very "bloodline" as the key to achieving what he wanted.

His greatest advantage was knowing many secrets of this world, and obviously, he would use them to get what he desired. The story of *Against the Gods* ceased to be just a story the moment he began living in this world, and his secondary role went down the drain along with it. He didn't give a damn about the plot. Even before he had none of the things he "fished" from that lake, his intention was never to accept his role and stay quiet…

The reason for his insecurity was that he truly didn't know if this plan would work; it was his only chance. If it failed, it was game over.

Snapping out of his thoughts, his eyes, as if guided by an irresistible force, returned to the young woman in the center of the lake. The sight of her reignited that warmth in his chest.

But as he admired her, a sudden, chilling thought cut through his mind like a blade: *If she discovered I saw her in this intimate moment, I'd be dead.*

The weight of that possibility made his heart race again with a mix of fear and caution. The Little Demon Empress was a terrifying figure. Hundreds of years ago, when she assumed her position, many turned against her because she was a woman. Many of those people were killed, a good portion by her. After that, everyone trembled at the sight of her, and no one dared defy her anymore…

He had no doubt that if she noticed his presence, not even his most powerful ability could save him.

Fortunately, he had taken precautions earlier.

The Demon Empress hadn't detected him because, before approaching the lake, he had activated his space manipulation through the [Ancestral Space Symbol], using one of its many applications he had devised and trained over the past three months: the ability he called [Void God Concealment].

This ability allowed him to become temporarily invisible and undetectable, hiding his presence from others' gazes and senses. The curious thing about this technique was that nothing changed in his position or physical appearance; he remained exactly where he was, but a subtle spatial layer was woven around him, like a curtain that erased his existence from the world perceived by others.

However, the [Void God Concealment] had its limitations. The ability could only be maintained for one hour at his current cultivation level before exhausting all his profound strength (if he didn't have near-perfect control over his profound energy, achieved over the past three months, he wouldn't last even ten minutes). Another point was that he doubted it could fool an expert above the Sovereign Profound Realm.

In other words, the only way the Little Demon Empress would notice his presence was if he revealed himself.

And considering he wasn't Scum Che with his plot armor thicker than the celestial wall, any misstep would send all his plans straight down the drain.

Thus, it was obvious he wouldn't do something as suicidally stupid as exposing himself to the Little Demon Empress at this moment.

His naturally dark eyes seemed to deepen even further, as if swallowing the light around them, turning into an unfathomable abyss.

A faint smile curved his lips.

In his mind, the pieces of a bold plan began to align, like stars in a constellation he was drawing himself. If everything went as planned, he would not only reclaim the lost power of his family in the Illusory Demon Realm but also claim the Golden Crow's Bloodline and, who knows, perhaps even the heart of the Little Demon Empress…

But for now, he needed to get out of there.

Taking one last good look at the breathtaking beauty before his eyes, Ren Zu, with his heart still racing from the sight of the Little Demon Empress and the adrenaline of his precarious situation, made that quick decision.

He knew that staying there, even protected by the [Void God Concealment], was too risky. The time for his ability was running out, and every second longer at the lake increased the chance of being detected. With a slight movement of his fingers, he channeled his profound energy into the [Ancestral Space Symbol], activating another of its applications: teleportation.

In the blink of an eye, the lake's scenery vanished, and Ren Zu found himself in his room, the familiar air enveloping him as he tried to stabilize his breathing.

The teleportation, though efficient, had consumed more than half of his Profound Energy, leaving him with a sense of exhaustion weighing on his shoulders. He rested his hands on his knees, breathing deeply, feeling the cool air fill his lungs as he tried to calm the frantic rhythm of his heart. Each breath was an effort to regain balance, not just physical but also mental, after the intensity of what he had just witnessed.

"That was intense… That unexpected encounter would've ended in my death if I didn't have the 'Void God Concealment' ability…"

He murmured to himself, letting out a heavy sigh shortly after.

"I'm starting to act like those protagonists who think they're invincible… only to find out they're just a frog at the bottom of a well. I think I've become too confident these past few months, ever since I reached a level of power beyond my former self. That confidence might end up making me take stupid decisions…"

"I should've thought better before just going to investigate traces of the Golden Crow in that lake. Considering everything I know about the Illusory Demon Royal Family and the original story, it was obvious it was the Little Demon Empress. But I let curiosity guide me… and deep down, I believed I wasn't in danger."

"But just remembering that terrifying aura… my heart still tightens. I need to stabilize my mindset before I make another stupid mistake."

"… Though for that view, that stupid mistake was worth it."

After a few minutes, with his breathing finally under control, Ren Zu set aside the exhaustion and walked to his bed. He sat cross-legged, assuming a meditative posture that helped him focus.

He needed to get stronger to safely set his plan in motion. With his current strength, approaching the Little Demon Empress would be dangerous.

With that in mind, he thought about striving over the next eight months to reach at least the Sky Profound Realm.

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