Chapter Ninety-Eight: An Unexpected Harvest

Liu Qing arrived at the demon race’s stronghold and carefully concealed his presence. When he saw the brightly lit grand hall in the distance, he cautiously made his way closer.

Inside the hall, Chi Lian, Mang Huang, and Mang Yuan sat high upon the platform, while below them sat Xuan Tiangang, Xiong Batian, and the other members of the demon race. Chi Lian raised his wine cup high and gestured to the assembled crowd.

"Come, come! Let us drink to our victory!"

When everyone had drained their cups, Mang Yuan rose, lifted his own cup, and addressed Mang Huang and Chi Lian with great enthusiasm.

"Big Brother! Elder Chi! Let me toast you both. You truly are old foxes, the both of you! Such a great achievement is cause for celebration indeed!"

The three of them laughed heartily and drank again in one gulp. Chi Lian set down his cup and broke into delighted laughter.

"Capturing Yao Ye alive and securing the Cauldron of Creation only counts as a small accomplishment. What do you think?"

Mang Huang, hearing Chi Lian’s question, also burst into laughter. "With this great feat, it is enough for the three of us to enter the royal clan!"

At once, Mang Huang and Chi Lian were filled with longing, occasionally letting out foolish grins. But Mang Yuan could no longer sit still.

"Big Brother? What great feat? How can securing the Cauldron of Creation count as only a small one? And what could possibly be greater than obtaining the Cauldron of Creation? We can even enter the royal clan? Why have I never heard of this?"

At the mention of the royal clan, Liu Qing, who was crouched on the roof of the hall, became even more curious. "The royal clan?" He racked his mind but had no recollection of such a thing, so he could only keep listening closely.

Mang Huang stood up, gently patted Mang Yuan on the shoulder, drank a cup of wine by himself, and laughed.

"Think about it carefully. That little blond girl."

"You mean... the girl we captured? The one named Liu Xin?"

At the mention of Liu Xin, Mang Yuan suddenly understood. "Right, right! Look at my memory. How could I not have thought of her? But she has only just begun her training. She can’t be of that much help to us, can she?"

Hearing them mention Liu Xin, Liu Qing grew curious. "Liu Xin? Is there something I don’t know? Some hidden story?"

"Heh. Her cultivation is still shallow, so she is of little use to us for now. But once she reaches the perfected stage, one woman will be worth an army of thousands."

Mang Yuan asked anxiously, "Then will she submit?"

Chi Lian took a deep swig of wine. "She will. Yao Ye is in our hands. We can use him to make her obey us. After that, we report to the leader and have the great purge operation canceled."

Mang Huang glanced at Chi Lian. "You mean... make her?"

"Hahaha, exactly. We cancel the great purge, but small-scale wars can still be launched. We’ll let that little girl take part in them. That way, first, her cultivation will rise. And second..."

Mang Huang stood up, setting down his cup. "And second, it will deepen the misunderstanding between her and the human race. By then, even if she wants to go back, she won’t be able to. Hahaha!"

"Only Brother Mang Huang understands me! That is precisely what I was thinking."

"Liu Xin? Cultivation method? It seems that while I was away this time, a great many things have happened."

Liu Qing sighed quietly and continued lying low on the roof, listening.

Just then, a figure walked in. "I pay my respects to all the elders."

Chi Lian stepped forward and patted the newcomer on the shoulder. "You’ve worked hard, Honorary Elder Lin. How is Yao Ye now?"

Honorary Elder Lin clasped his hands together and replied, "Yao Ye has now stabilized. I should be taking my leave. Before I came, the leader ordered that one of you return and give a detailed report on the situation."

Mang Huang stepped forward, took Honorary Elder Lin by the arm, and led him toward the platform.

"Honorary Elder Lin, you came in haste and leave without even drinking tea. That would not be our way of treating a guest. How about this: after the banquet ends, let us return together."

Honorary Elder Lin sat down rather stiffly. "Very well. Then I shall comply rather than refuse."

Mang Huang laughed loudly. "That’s more like it! Someone, bring out the wine and food!"

Two little demons carried in all manner of dishes and fine wine. Mang Huang raised his cup to Honorary Elder Lin in salute.

"Come, Honorary Elder Lin, let us drink!"

"Good! Please."

After setting down his cup, Honorary Elder Lin clasped his hands toward the three men. "Because Yao Ye’s beast core has shattered, his power has dissipated and he has been reduced to a cripple. He will never have the chance to cultivate again in this life. So he now needs large quantities of medicine to sustain him. The three elders should bear this in mind."

"Thank you for the reminder. Come, come, today we speak of nothing else. Let us drink!" Chi Lian was the first to lift his cup.

"What? Yao Ye’s beast core shattered, and he has been reduced to a cripple? This..."

Shock surged through Liu Qing’s heart. At that very moment, with a sharp crack, a tile beneath him broke apart.

"Bad!"

Liu Qing knew he had failed to control his aura, causing the mishap. To avoid needless trouble, he immediately fled.

"Who is there?"

Chi Lian and the others shot out of the hall. Seeing the figure vanish into the horizon in the distance, Chi Lian flicked his sleeve and strode back inside.

"Xuan Tiangang! This place is no longer safe. Take Yao Ye and Liu Xin to your clan tonight and move them immediately."

Xuan Tiangang took his leave at once. In the hall, Chi Lian paced back and forth, brooding in silence.

"Who could it have been?"