Chapter 75: The Dream-Making Flower Shatters – Strange Emotions…

“The domain created by the Dream-Making Flower was too realistic.” As Gu Changhuai spoke, a cool breeze blew over, chilling his stomach. He looked down and immediately blushed, hurriedly adjusting his clothes.

The spot where he had been dug into had miraculously healed, but the fabric had a large tear, exposing his flat, pale abdomen glaringly to the air. It seemed he had pulled too hard, tearing the clothes further, and they threatened to slide down with every movement.

Gu Changhuai quickly removed one sleeve and tied it around his waist as a makeshift belt to cover his abdomen. Only then did he feel a sliver of safety.

Lifting his head, he met Rong Ye’s darkened gaze and guiltily averted his eyes. “Maybe it got caught on a branch when I fell.”

Fortunately, Rong Ye didn’t press further. He only said, “The illusion can hold for another quarter of an hour before it dissipates.”

Gu Changhuai gazed at the sky. At some point, the thick clouds had dispersed, revealing a brilliant blue backdrop with colorful clouds floating at the horizon.

He said steadily, “A scenery like this is hard to come by.”

Such a huge commotion in the Dream-Making Flower’s illusion—who knew if the outside world could sense everything that had happened here? Suddenly remembering something, Gu Changhuai asked, “The Dream-Making Flower is about to shatter. What about the killing array outside?”

The Path of Slaughter activated by the Left Protector could shred all living things.

After he spoke, a low chuckle came from beside him, light and dismissive. Gu Changhuai turned to look and saw Rong Ye’s expression unchanged, his voice deep and cold. “Merely petty tricks.”

As soon as the words fell.

Rong Ye abruptly raised his hand, and spiritual power surged from his palm straight into the sky.

“Crack, crack, crack—”

Gu Changhuai stood there. In the blink of an eye, he felt a terrifying power coiling around Rong Ye, sudden and spine-chilling. This force was abrupt and horrifying, as if it could shred all life in the world, tinged with a faint icy hue as it shot skyward.

In an instant, the blue sky cracked into countless fragments under the impact of this spiritual power, turning into scattered petals that fell like stars exploding outward.

Beautiful, yet dangerous.

This signified that the Dream-Making Flower had been completely shattered. Behind the crumbling illusion emerged the desolate, eerie Gobi, now enveloped by the Path of Slaughter into a grim, ink-black environment. Thick black mist drifted around, occasionally filled with the eerie wails of heroic spirits, brimming with boundless chill and killing intent.

Gu Changhuai lowered his gaze and quietly prepared for battle.

Yet a surge of spiritual power wrapped around him, blocking the knife-like winds from the Path of Slaughter blowing from all directions. Gu Changhuai’s eyes shifted to the edge of the Gobi, where the Dream-Making Flower that should have bloomed there had been shredded into powder by the winds the moment the illusion broke, bereft of protection.

Rong Ye stood unmoved, only instructing Gu Changhuai, “Don’t move.” His tone turned icy as he commanded, “Qiankun Sword! Kill!”

In the next instant.

Visible spiritual power emanated from Rong Ye’s body, the chilling force spreading rapidly. Gu Changhuai instinctively narrowed his eyes, but the killing intent-laden power bypassed him, surging straight toward the rear. The moment it touched the black mist, the mist was instantly purified.

The Qiankun Sword formed the instant it was called, splitting into countless sword intents that shattered the pillars and flew outward.

Golden talismans then appeared, binding the troublesome heroic spirits, channeling them to the afterlife until their forms faded and vanished.

Everything happened too quickly, too matter-of-factly, in an utterly overwhelming manner that exceeded all expectations.

Gu Changhuai’s eyes widened. He whipped his head around to look at Rong Ye, who chanted the transcendence incantation with an expressionless face.

The spiritual power lifted a few strands of his hair. As he surveyed the surroundings from top to bottom, the corners of his eyes curved with an icy chill, like a god of slaughter descending.

No wonder he was handed out as a golden finger—his strength was beyond doubt. What Gu Changhuai had thought was a dire trap became mere child’s play in his hands.

Gu Changhuai swallowed.

This also proved that when Rong Ye had come here with him earlier, searching east and west, it had all been mere play. The Immortal Lord hadn’t even gotten serious.

*

Once all the baleful energy was cleared and the heroic spirits transcended, the storm finally subsided.

Pei Tianyi lay on the ground like a dead dog. Gu Changhuai went over and kicked the troublesome thing, checking and finding that the heart demon had been suppressed.

Rong Ye said, “Take him back to the sect first.”

Gu Changhuai asked, “What about you, Immortal Lord?”

Rong Ye withdrew the Qiankun Sword and said flatly, “This matter isn’t settled. I need to make a trip to Red Feather Manor and the Capital’s Imperial City.”

Gu Changhuai huffed, “I want to go too. I don’t want to go back to Supreme Peak.”

No sooner had he spoken than he felt the top of his head being ruffled, freezing him in place with wide eyes. Rong Ye softened his voice. “Be good and wait for me back there.”

“…”

“…”

Even after sitting atop Supreme Peak, Gu Changhuai hadn’t recovered.

He belatedly realized something was off, but he couldn’t pinpoint the feeling. It wasn’t unpleasant—rather, it was tingling and numbing, like he’d eaten honey for no reason.

Just this slight strangeness nagged at him for days, as if his soul had left his body. He sat by the pond fishing, oblivious even when fish bit.

“Caw.”

“Caw.”

Two calls from Han Ya rang out beside him. The crow stood proudly on the pavilion’s eaves, calling twice. Seeing no reaction from Gu Changhuai, it fluttered its wings dejectedly and hovered in front of him, circling to catch his attention.

“Why are you ignoring me?” Han Ya accused. “What kind of master are you?”

Gu Changhuai lounged motionless on the recliner, drawling lazily, “No crow acts like you either. How dare you enter Supreme Peak today? Aren’t you afraid of getting killed?”

Han Ya said smugly, “I smelled it—you’re already the strongest king of the Demon Clan. As your top crow subordinate, I can’t show weakness.”

Gu Changhuai rolled his eyes. “I think it’s because Qing Lian Immortal Lord isn’t here.” He paused. “You didn’t come just to flatter me, did you?”

“Oh, right, business.” Han Ya scratched its neck and cawed, “The Demon Venerable says the Left Protector died because of you. You must injure Qing Lian Immortal Lord within a month.”

“…” Gu Changhuai hesitated. “The Left Protector died? Didn’t send a message back before dying?”

“Too fast—didn’t have time to report back.” Xue Lao Er’s voice came from behind.

Xue Lao Er walked to Gu Changhuai’s side and sat on the ground. “After the Dream-Making Flower shattered, he died right there in the Path of Slaughter.”

Gu Changhuai wasn’t surprised to see Xue Lao Er here; he was more surprised by something else. “So you’re still alive, Xue Lao Er.”

Xue Lao Er: “…”

Xue Lao Er gritted his teeth and glared at Gu Changhuai. “Don’t say ‘still alive’ like you’re so disappointed! Why can’t I live?!”

Gu Changhuai stroked his chin. “The scene was too chaotic then, but logically, you should’ve died.” Unless Rong Ye had protected Xue Lao Er with spiritual power too.

Xue Lao Er said, “Don’t remind me. I soaked in the Blood Pool for three days, and I still feel haunted.”

Gu Changhuai propped his cheek, inviting details. “Elaborate.”

Xue Lao Er looked exasperated, smacking his lips thoughtfully. “It’s like… a ton of memories were forcibly stuffed into my brain, but they felt like they’d always been there, just forgotten.”

Gu Changhuai chimed in, “Then after remembering, you realized your enemy is actually your master…”

“What bullshit master!” Xue Lao Er bristled, retorting, “It’s the General! General! I’m a subordinate! Gu Sanbai, don’t talk nonsense!”

Gu Changhuai “oh”ed and asked, “So how do you feel?”

Xue Lao Er flopped onto the ground, staring blankly. “Dunno.”

Gu Changhuai said, “Figure it out slowly.”

“…” Xue Lao Er said gloomily, “Normally, you’d comfort me now.”

Gu Changhuai cast his line again. “That’s for humans. We’re demons—no such thing. Get real.”

Xue Lao Er said, “But…”

He frowned at the drifting clouds, murmuring, “But I tried, and I can’t go back to my old mindset. Human emotions keep popping up—awkward ones, loyal ones… not what a blood demon should feel.”

Gu Changhuai said impassively, “Lighten up. I’ve got some strange emotions too. Probably normal.”

Hearing this sparked Xue Lao Er’s interest. “What’s your issue? Same as mine?”

“Not quite.” Gu Changhuai shook his head, pondering seriously before explaining in detail. “Whenever I see Rong Ye, I feel happy. I want to pin him down and kiss him, strip his clothes off…”

“Shut up already.” Xue Lao Er cut him off, even wanting to cover that blabbering mouth.

Gu Changhuai’s brows furrowed in displeasure. “You asked, then tell me to shut up. I sat here thinking for days to figure out what I want!”

Xue Lao Er snapped, “Who wants to hear about your lust! Figures you hang with that Hua Mei—you only pick up bad habits!”

“How bold! Daring to badmouth me behind my back!” A silk ribbon shot through the air at Xue Lao Er. He rolled on the ground, stood up, and faced a pair of furious eyes.

Hua Mei stood there with hands on hips, cursing Xue Lao Er. “What do you mean ‘no good from me’? I say hanging with you just makes you the Demon Venerable’s lapdog!”

Xue Lao Er summoned his weapon to counter.

Gu Changhuai quietly bit into a snack, reminding them, “Argue, make noise, fine—but no fighting. Make too much racket, and you’ll draw the Xinnan Immortal Sect elders. Then we’re all done for.”

“…”

Xue Lao Er snorted coldly and withdrew his weapon. Hua Mei retracted the ribbon. They glared at each other, then sat one on each side of Gu Changhuai’s recliner.

Han Ya cawed, “Heh heh, Left and Right Protectors, all here! All here!”

Hua Mei, annoyed, flicked a spell to seal its beak. “Adults talking—no interruptions from little birds.”

Gu Changhuai smiled, sharing snacks to the left and right, evenly distributing favor for perfect balance and peace.