After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 3

This woman took one look at my legs and suddenly decided to chase me away.

Demon Lord Hongchen was a unique existence between heaven and earth neither quite a flower nor entirely not one. She could summon all the blossoms of the world and was said to have slain countless immortals with flowers. Once, a group of immortals banded together to subdue her, guarding the exit of the demon realm for over a hundred years. Yet, she never emerged elusive as a dragon glimpsed only in fleeting moments.

Yan Lai gazed at the not-so-bright girl before her, light flickering at her fingertips. The girl tilted her head and smiled, pointing to her own forehead. “Give it a try.”

Yan Lai’s true form was that of a phoenix, the only one in all of heaven and earth. The Heavenly Emperor hoped she would unite with the Crown Prince, wishing for more phoenixes to be born. But what was the true form of the Demon Lord?

A beam of golden light descended upon the girl, and the bracelet on her wrist suddenly sprang to life, shooting out a red glow to block it. Yan Lai was quicker, immediately withdrawing the light in surprise. “You’re human? And you’ve cultivated the demonic path?”

In this world, mortals had limited lifespans, and the path of immortal cultivation was fraught with peril. Demonic beings who sought immortality first had to cultivate a human form, then follow the same path as humans. Most humans cultivated immortal techniques, enduring three thousand heavenly tribulations and receiving enlightenment from immortals before ascending through the Immortal Ascension Platform to shed their mortal forms and become immortals.

For a human to cultivate the demonic path and become a Demon Lord was unprecedented throughout the ages.

“Is it not allowed for a human to cultivate the demonic path?” Hongchen asked, puzzled. “You immortals deceive the world and steal fame. I looked down on the path of immortality and turned to demonic arts, what’s wrong with that? And you still haven’t answered whether you’ll agree to dual cultivation.”

Yan Lai laughed in anger, rising gracefully into the air. With one palm strike, she split the white jade bed in two. “For a human to enter demonhood is an offense against the natural order.”

Hongchen remained unperturbed, lightly evading the strike. Beneath her feet, three thousand red blossoms swirled around her jade-like feet, their snowy-white skin rivaling frost and snow. The stunning beauty of red plum blossoms against white snow dazzled the eyes. Enraged, Yan Lai struck out with her palm, severing the three thousand red flowers. Yet, in the blink of an eye, the blossoms reunited, clinging to her ankles.

Hongchen was taken aback. This person was, after all, a high immortal, how could she turn hostile so suddenly? Humans who cultivated the demonic path did so because they disliked the immortal path was that worth getting angry over?

Frowning, the corners of her eyes lifted slightly. Her cold, emotionless face radiated a sharp light as she waved her hand, conjuring another white jade bed. “Why so angry? No wonder immortals have such short lifespans, it’s all because you’re so quick to anger and turn hostile.”

Yan Lai hadn’t expected her to remain so composed. She seemed nothing like a Demon Lord, more like an innocent young girl. Yan Lai’s anger suddenly dissipated. Seizing the opportunity, Hongchen drew closer. In an instant, red blossoms enveloped Yan Lai’s entire body. Hongchen’s face drew near cold and aloof, her eyes icy, yet her breath warm.

The red flowers coiled around Yan Lai like ropes, their demonic energy intensifying and slowly seeping into her skin. She looked up, meeting Hongchen’s clear, bright eyes. The girl’s eyes resembled the spiritual springs of Phoenix Mountain, her brows long and lips thin. Her lively smile warmed the heart.

Similarly, Hongchen drew closer to Yan Lai, who was exceptionally beautiful not in a flamboyant way, but with a noble grace, every movement exuding elegance.

Hongchen smiled and said, “How are you so beautiful? If you’re unwilling, I’ll just tie you up and take you back.”

As soon as she finished speaking, flames erupted among the flowers, blazing fiercely and withering the petals in an instant. Phoenix fire could burn all things.

Hongchen frowned, quickly stepping back to avoid the flames. With a wave of her sleeve, a gust of wind surged forth. Yan Lai chuckled lightly. “In all of heaven and earth, there is no water that can extinguish my phoenix flames.”

Having lived for many years in the mortal world, Hongchen had never seen the fire of a phoenix before. Unlike ordinary flames, it burned crimson and could not be extinguished once it clung to one’s body.

The two of them battled in the study, water and fire refusing to blend. Hongchen focused on defense, showing not the slightest intent to kill. With a flick of her sleeve, Yanlai summoned astonishing flames, her aura utterly transcendent.

Hongchen’s water could not quench the fire, and Yanlai’s flames could not consume the red blossoms. Neither was willing to yield.

At that moment, Yanlai realized the girl was not as simple as she appeared. Beneath her seemingly uncomplicated mind lay astonishing combat prowess.

Just then, the bracelet rose into the air, emitting a red glow that enveloped Hongchen and attempted to whisk her away. Hongchen refused to flee. “I haven’t lost yet. Why run? You’re so foolish.”

Yanlai frowned, wanting to retort that the girl wasn’t particularly clever either. With a mere thought, she struck at the bracelet.

“Damn you, why attack a magical artifact?” Hongchen finally grew angry. She formed a hand seal, flashed forward to shield the bracelet, and resumed her confrontation with Yanlai.

Yanlai spoke calmly, “Give me three days to consider. Lend me the bracelet for three days as well. How about it?”

“Huh?” Suspicious, Hongchen paused, hovering mid-air with her hands behind her back. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Three days is too long. How about three hours?”

“Three hours,” Yanlai frowned. This girl even knew how to bargain. As she hesitated, the bracelet trembled. Hongchen remarked, “You have a visitor.”

Someone from the Heavenly Realm had arrived.

Yanlai swiftly raised her hand and waved her sleeve toward Hongchen. The lovely, spirited girl transformed into an ugly celestial attendant.

Hongchen touched her own face. “I feel like I’m touching a flatbread.”

Ignoring her, Yanlai quickly restored the room to its original state and handed the ugly attendant a pill. “This can conceal your demonic aura.”

Hongchen blinked but did not take it. Instead, she pulled out her own pill and swallowed it. “I can manage on my own.”

She wasn’t foolish she knew better than to take medicine from a stranger.

Yanlai sat behind the desk, leaning lazily against it. Footsteps echoed from outside. “Great Deity, you have a visitor. The Crown Prince of the Heavenly Realm has arrived.”

Hongchen was astonished. That man whose face could walk on its own?

As she pondered, a sudden gust of wind swept her behind the desk, placing her at Yanlai’s side. No sooner had she steadied herself than a group of people strode in.

The young man at the lead was the Crown Prince of the Immortal Realm. He moved like a swift breeze, his features dignified and noble. She glanced up and saw his sharp brows and starry eyes, broad shoulders and slender waist, his skin pale as the moon hanging in the lunar palace.

He wasn’t an ugly man after all. Hongchen unconsciously touched her own flatbread-like face. Judging by his appearance alone, he was flawless. In the Immortal Realm, cultivation was classified by the pursuit of the ultimate Dao, seeking emptiness in all things, with the world and all living beings as the highest priority. The demonic cultivation methods, however, were cruel killing others to absorb their immortal or demonic power, slowly integrating it, but with the slightest misstep, one could suffer a backlash.

Yet such methods had long been eradicated. The current demonic cultivation was not as brutal, but the bloodline had already been tainted, and the Immortal Realm would never acknowledge the demonic race. The two factions had been locked in a prolonged war, with countless immortals perishing. The immortals grew to despise the demonic race even more, especially Hongchen.

Following the Crown Prince were three or five immortals. Hongchen shook her head she didn’t recognize any of them. Just as she was about to give up, the Crown Prince, Qingfeng, spoke angrily, “The Nine Cold Great Deity has fallen.”

Yanlai raised an eyebrow, her expression indifferent, as if to say, “What does that have to do with me?” The Crown Prince looked slightly embarrassed, a faint smile on his lips. “I heard that Nine Cold was slain by the Demon Lord, his soul scattered to the winds.”

Yanlai glanced sideways at the person beside her with cold eyes. The vibrant red flower was lethally beautiful, capable of killing without a trace. While she was observing Hongchen, Qingfeng was observing her, a pure and elegant beauty with profound spiritual power and a gentle demeanor.

He took a glance, and Hongchen glared at him as if he were coveting her prized possession. She raised an eyebrow and said, “Crown Prince, where are your eyes wandering? They’re practically drilling into the High Goddess’s robes.”

“Yanlai, your attendant is truly hideous. Her face reminds me of the uneven, pothole-ridden roads in the mortal realm,” an elderly man with a flowing beard spoke up. He was an immortal in charge of mortal fates.

Hongchen seethed with anger, but Yanlai suddenly reached out and pressed her hands down.

Hongchen lowered her head, her eyes slowly dropping. Yanlai’s hands were pale, with long, slender fingers, distinct knuckles, and warm fingertips. Her nails had a faint pink hue. Hongchen blinked her hands were beautiful too. If she were to play the zither, it would surely sound exquisite.

At that moment, a wicked thought crossed her mind. She wanted to kidnap this woman, take her back, and have her play the zither day and night.

Those hands, like her face, were utterly tantalizing. She stealthily pinched the tips of Yanlai’s fingers.

Yanlai trembled, her heart suddenly racing. Without a second thought, she withdrew her hand. Just then, the Crown Prince’s voice echoed beside her: “I’ve come here for two reasons: first, to finalize the wedding date, and second, to ask for your help in rescuing the High Goddess Jiuhan.”

“How do you plan to save her?” Yanlai finally spoke, her tone icy.

Qingfeng coughed lightly and met Yanlai’s frigid gaze. “I’ve heard you possess an immortal art that can bring the dead back to life. I hope the High Goddess will consider the well-being of all immortals.”

“Who told you that?” Yanlai stared directly at her fiancé. There was no lingering affection in her eyes, nor the shyness one might expect between an engaged couple. Instead, her gaze was as calm as a still lake, without a single ripple.

Crown Prince Qingfeng felt a chill under her stare and replied, “The Immortal Sanmeng said so.”

“Immortal Sanmeng was drunk and spouting nonsense, and you believed him? If I had such abilities, I wouldn’t need you to ask, I would have acted already. Please leave.” Yanlai stood up, dismissing him.

Crown Prince Qingfeng was deeply embarrassed. Covering his mouth, he coughed softly and said, “If the High Goddess is unwilling, I won’t press further. However, my father has ordered us to discuss the matter of killing the Demon Lord Hongchen. When the time comes, we hope the High Goddess will lend her aid.”

“What does your fight with the Demon Lord have to do with Phoenix Mountain?” Yanlai retorted impatiently, casting a glance at the handsome young man. “I have no interest in involving myself in the affairs of the celestial and demon realms.”

Qingfeng refused to leave, but Yanlai had no patience for further words. She turned and walked away. Qingfeng hurried after her, calling, “High Goddess! High Goddess!”

“How shameless,” Hongchen muttered. She raised her hand, forming a hand seal, and a red light enveloped the Crown Prince and his companions, hurling them out of Phoenix Mountain. Then, she revealed her true appearance, a striking figure in red robes with a delicate, rosy complexion.

Eagerly, she followed Yanlai. Passing by the “Spirit Trees” outside the gate, she glanced at them and called out, “Color, what should we do with these trees?”

“It’s Yanlai, not Color,” Yanlai corrected, stopping in her tracks. “The affairs of the celestial realm have nothing to do with Phoenix Mountain.”

Her cold indifference sent a shiver down one’s spine.

Hongchen leaped in front of her. Yanlai turned her gaze, and inadvertently, their eyes met. Yanlai’s expression was detached, while Hongchen’s gaze was gentle. In each other’s eyes, they saw themselves reflected, and slowly, an invisible net seemed to envelop them both.

Hongchen frowned. “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

“Such clichéd sweet talk from the Demon Lord,” Yanlai said disdainfully. “You’re so glib-tongued, yet so foolish. How many heartless men have you encountered?”

“Do you think anyone would dare to betray me?” Hongchen lifted her chin proudly, straightened her back, and declared, “Those who betray me shall be consumed by raging flames, suffering a fate worse than death.”

Yanlai hesitated upon hearing this. Though she appeared foolish, she had once slain Jiuhan, the War God of the Heavenly Realm. She gazed intently at Hongchen’s face, her eyes lingering from the brows down to the jawline. The cold, pale complexion bore a slight resemblance to the Crown Prince. Her gaze drifted lower, finally settling on those long, slender legs.

They were fully exposed, the curve of her calves graceful, and around her ankles were fiery red patterns, red like flames, resembling scorching imprints. The longer Yanlai stared, the more a layer of white gauze seemed to veil her vision. Through the haze, that pale skin appeared even more strikingly cold and enchanting.

Frowning, she raised her head, and the gauze vanished. Without hesitation, she formed a hand seal and sent Hongchen out of Phoenix Mountain.

Temptress, sowing chaos in the hearts of mortals.

Hongchen’s heart raced and her cheeks flushed under Yanlai’s intense gaze. By the time she realized what had happened, she was already outside Phoenix Mountain. Stamping her foot in frustration, she grumbled, “That woman stared at my legs, why did she suddenly kick me out?”