After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 9

Spiritual power or dual cultivation, you choose one.

The Demon Lord’s bedchamber resembled that of a mortal emperor, with luminous pearls covering the pillars and walls, the largest of which was embedded in the beam. Yanlai recognized it as an item from Phoenix Mountain.

The little thief had stolen her treasure again.

The demon realm was dark, shrouded in demonic energy, with no light in sight, making the luminous pearls the only source of illumination. Yanlai was treated as an honored guest by the disciples, all of whom were women with charming appearances. They were the Demon Lord’s disciples, possessing profound cultivation, yet they carried no arrogance. Even though Yanlai presented herself as a mere mortal, they remained exceptionally respectful.

The first four disciples had died at Jiuhan’s hands, and now the eldest disciple was the fifth, Yanguang. She stood at the forefront in the hall, tall and graceful. Yanlai observed her and was surprised to discover that her true form was also human. Curious, she asked Yanguang about it.

“I failed to endure my tribulation, and my soul left my body. It was my master who happened to pass by and saved me,” Yanguang explained succinctly, clad in a purple robe, exuding a heroic and spirited aura.

Yanlai was astonished. Hongchen said to her, “You see, ascending to the immortal clan is fraught with countless hardships. Why not come to our demon realm instead?”

“The thunder tribulation is meant to refine one’s body and bones, replacing them with immortal bones. Those with weaker abilities naturally cannot endure the thunder, it’s a way to separate the worthy from the unworthy,” Yanlai disagreed with Hongchen’s statement.

But Hongchen retorted, “Some are born as immortals. How is that a fair selection? The Crown Prince was born an immortal, so he naturally passed the thunder tribulation. Even if he never becomes a god, he can still live for tens of thousands of years. Is that fair?”

Yanlai focused her gaze, unconsciously taking a closer look at the girl. She was actually talking about fairness.

“In our demon realm, we hold competitions every year. Their status depends on their abilities, not on flattery,” Hongchen said disdainfully. The thunder tribulation for becoming an immortal only targeted mortals; immortals didn’t need to undergo it.

She was unusually angry, her eyebrows slightly raised, looking lively and adorable. Yanlai couldn’t help but smile. Hongchen continued, “Do you know the Heavenly Emperor has sired many daughters to use for marriage alliances to win over various clans? Your Phoenix Clan has only you, which is why he was willing to offer the Crown Prince. I heard the Barbarian Clan married Princess Deshun, while the Mermaid Clan refuses to take a princess, and the situation is at a stalemate.”

The Heavenly Emperor had little talent but was fond of bearing children, using marriages to consolidate his power. Hongchen sneered, while Yanlai lowered her gaze. What Hongchen said was true, but she wouldn’t agree aloud.

The Heavenly Emperor indeed had little capability. Ten thousand years ago, his reckless commands caused heavy losses among the immortals.

Xiao Shi brought the demon physician. She had obtained an immortal flute and was amazed to find that it could fly, carrying her through the air. She was overjoyed. Yanlai watched her, and Hongchen explained, “Xiao Shi is just a blade of grass, a Ningzhu Immortal Grass I dug up from your immortal realm.” I gave her some spiritual power to help her take human form.When Jiuhan discovered that Xiao Shi’s true form was the 凝珠仙草, he wanted to take her back to the immortal realm. The senior disciples naturally wouldn’t let him have his way. Everyone protected Xiao Shi, and neither side was willing to back down, leading to a fight.

Yanlai was shocked. “Why do you always steal things from the immortal realm?”

“I don’t know either. I just feel like stealing,” Hongchen waved her hand dismissively. “What else are you curious about? I’ll explain it all to you. My disciples are very kind-hearted; they rarely harm others. They’re much better than your immortal clan, who often bully others based on their status.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the demon physician hurried in, and the junior disciples tactfully withdrew.

The demon physician was so exhausted his legs trembled. Hongchen dragged him to the bedside. “How do we dual cultivate? Do we just lie down and rest together?”

Seeing Yanlai, the demon physician was struck dumb. The only phoenix in ten thousand years, he stared intently until Hongchen patted his head. “Say something.”

“Divine Lord Yanlai?” The demon physician rubbed his eyes, so panicked he nearly thought he’d mistaken the person.

Yanlai met the demon physician’s gaze, pursing her lips slightly, a bone-chilling coldness radiating from her. “You actually recognize me. You participated in the Immortal-Demon War.”

Too many had died in the great war ten thousand years ago every notable figure from both the immortal and demon races had perished.

Hongchen nodded, not particularly concerned at the moment. She had read demon history; many predecessors had died at the hands of the immortals, which was precisely how she had ascended to her current position. While she remained indifferent, the demon physician trembled with fear, his gaze drifting uncertainly when he looked at Yanlai.

Hongchen asked Yanlai bluntly, “Did you participate too?” The demon physician had lived over fifty thousand years, weathering countless storms and serving as the demon race’s living “history.” Yet he had not taken part in the Immortal-Demon War.

Yanlai’s eyes remained as aloof and vacant as ever. “I did not participate. All the elders on Phoenix Mountain perished.”

“That is rather pitiable. Our demon race also lost many predecessors. The positions of the guardians remain unfilled to this day,” Hongchen lamented, though she quickly remembered her original purpose. Tugging at the demon physician’s sleeve, she chattered on, “You said you’d teach me how to dual cultivate once Divine Lord Yanlai returned. You have no idea, we’ve already ‘rested’ together, but every time, I ended up falling asleep. Teach me how to ‘rest’ while I’m still awake.”

“The two of you have already dual cultivated?” The demon physician was stunned. So soon? He immediately reached for the demon sovereign’s wrist. After the initial shock came another wave of astonishment. “You haven’t dual cultivated! Demon Sovereign, how is it that you possess fire-attribute spiritual power within you?”

Phoenixes bathed in flames Yanlai’s spiritual power was of the fire element.

He glanced at Yanlai, then silently withdrew his hand, quietly informing the oblivious demon sovereign, “She deceived you. You haven’t dual cultivated. She merely transferred some of her spiritual power to you.”

“So we haven’t dual cultivated? Perfect. Teach me how to do it, and we’ll start right away. You have no idea my spiritual power is restricted. A single immortal official can send me fleeing in defeat. It’s utterly humiliating,” Hongchen rambled on, her eyes clear as water, devoid of any lustful intent.

Her expression was innocent and harmless, yet both Yanlai and the demon physician were too embarrassed to respond. The demon physician could bear it no longer and asked, “Do you know that dual cultivation involves removing your clothes?”

“Why remove clothes? Oh, alright, go on. I’m listening,” Hongchen immediately adopted the posture of an earnest student.

The demon physician looked utterly defeated and apologized to Yanlai, “Our demon sovereign is a bit naive. Please do not take offense.”

Yanlai did not reply, instead massaging her temples as she gazed elsewhere. The demon palace had stood for ten thousand years. Luminous pearls dispelled the gloom, revealing a maiden’s preferences rabbit-shaped lanterns hung in the corners, woven crickets dangled above the bed, and there was even an octagonal treasure shelf from the mortal realm, adorned with clay figurines.

Anyone stumbling in by accident would never guess this was Demon Sovereign Hongchen’s bedchamber.

In the brief moment Yanlai spent observing her surroundings, the demon physician began lecturing Hongchen on the intricacies of dual cultivation.

“Dual cultivation isn’t about ‘resting’ together. Simply lying side by side is useless.”

“Then how does one cultivate?”

“This subject finds it difficult to explain. You should visit the mortal realm and observe how ordinary couples engage in intimacy.”

“The mortal realm? Fine, I’ll go to the mortal realm and take Xiao Shi with me.” Muttering to herself, Hongchen turned to Yanlai and declared, “We’re going to the mortal realm.”

“Why?” Yanlai spoke, but her gaze fell upon the demon physician, her eyes slightly widened as if filled with endless doubts.

Hongchen said, “Let’s go see how ordinary couples enjoy themselves.”

The demon physician: “…”

Yanlai: “…”

The words were too direct, leaving the two at a loss for a response. Yanlai wished she could cover her ears, then turned to question the demon physician, “What was she like before she lost a soul and a spirit?”

Before losing a soul and a spirit? The demon physician shook his head. “I don’t know either. I only know that her soul is with the Heavenly Emperor. Beyond that, I know nothing.”

“Was she defeated by the Heavenly Emperor?” Yanlai seized the opportunity to ask. She had heard rumors that Demon Lord Hongchen would slay any immortal she encountered, with almost no one escaping her grasp. Thus, no one knew what she truly looked like. Recently, she killed Jiu Han, shocking the entire immortal realm.

The demon physician shook his head again. “I don’t know. She only has memories from the past ten thousand years. Most likely, she is a demon who escaped during the great war between immortals and demons. The lost soul and spirit must be in the hands of the Heavenly Emperor in the immortal realm. No one else could have harmed her.”

“She’s only ten thousand and one years old,” Yanlai reminded.

The demon physician clarified, “The great war between immortals and demons ended exactly ten thousand and one years ago.”

Hongchen considered the day she awoke as her birthdate.

Yanlai was stunned. She had intended to uncover Hongchen’s past, only to realize that even Hongchen herself knew nothing of it. Hesitating, Yanlai watched as Hongchen approached and patted her shoulder reassuringly, saying, “Why bother with so much? I rule the demon realm, and the immortal realm dares not provoke us. That’s good enough. Let’s go to the mortal world.”

Hongchen’s expression relaxed, a bag slung over her shoulder. Yanlai, however, was not ready to leave so easily and shook her head. “Let’s go tomorrow. I’m tired.”

“Then we’ll go tomorrow. Demon physician, where are your miraculous elixirs?” Hongchen tossed the bag aside and began rummaging through the demon physician’s robes. “Give me all the medicine. I’ll give it to Yanlai to nourish her body.”

The demon physician’s medicines were of little use to Hongchen. No matter how much she consumed, they had no effect. Her body had surpassed the point where medicine could heal her, which was why the demon physician had suggested dual cultivation after her severe injury. Medicine was useless; spiritual nourishment was the only effective method.

Forced to hand over the elixirs he had spent ten thousand years refining, the demon physician watched as Hongchen eagerly presented them all to Yanlai, extolling their virtues. The sight made him frown. They weren’t even officially partners yet, and she was already giving away all his treasures.

Yanlai accepted everything without refusal, not forgetting to thank the demon physician. The corner of his mouth twitched. Ten thousand years of effort gone just like that.

He wanted to cry but couldn’t, for his esteemed demon lord was sitting obediently before the exalted Yanlai, almost as if begging for favor.

The demon physician left the hall in tears.

As he walked, he kept an eye on his surroundings. Reaching a secluded spot, he immediately channeled his spiritual power, releasing a beam of light that paused mid-air, forming a letter before soaring toward the heavens.

Meanwhile, inside the hall, Hongchen lay down exhaustedly on her back. She tried to grasp Yanlai’s hand. “My chest hurts so much, so much.”

The girl lay on the bed, her robes loosened, revealing snow-white skin beneath her red garments, her chest full and heaving as she moaned and writhed. Yanlai remained indifferent, lowering her head to brush the hem of her own robe. “You want my spiritual power?”

“Will you give it to me?” Hongchen clutched her chest, gazing pitifully at the composed and aloof figure.

Yanlai pushed her hand away. “You’ve got quite the scheme going.”

Hongchen felt a hint of difficulty and raised an eyebrow, tilting her head to nuzzle the back of Yanlai’s hand. Her soft, fluffy hair brushed against it, like a gentle feather caressing Yanlai’s heart, sending tingles of delight through her. Yanlai, who was ticklish, stared at her intently. Hongchen sat up, and the two drew closer, so near that their breaths mingled, almost merging into one.

Yanlai gazed steadily into her eyes clear and untroubled, shimmering like spring water, radiant and luminous.

Hongchen took a breath and slowly leaned in, her nose touching Yanlai’s. In that moment, she sensed something different, and her heartbeat suddenly quickened. She pressed a hand to her chest, puzzled by her own reaction.

Never mind, spiritual power is what matters. She asked Yanlai, “Spiritual power or dual cultivation, choose one.”