“Who painted this picture?”

The servant answered, “It wasn’t painted; the Elder used illusion magic to create it.”

“An illusion?”

The woman in the portrait appeared gentle and graceful, entirely unlike the legendary Demon Lord known for quelling a rebellion single-handedly, revered by the entire demon race, and whose extraordinary power had once shaken the entire celestial realm.

Bai Fanlu observed the painting carefully, increasingly captivated by the brushwork, especially the eyes that seemed so lifelike, as if they were deeply gazing at the viewer.

“Did my uncle… miss my mother very much?”

“The late king saved my life. I have followed the Elder since childhood, and he held the late king in the highest regard. His feelings are certainly special.”

The fact that the Elder could rebuild the old residence exactly as it was after the capital was moved and create such a lifelike portrait using illusion magic speaks volumes about their sibling bond.

After a night of meditation in Shui Liu Ju, Bai Fanlu’s headache had slightly eased. He got up and went to the Demon Palace to find Bai Junming.

“The Elder is in the dark prison. He said if the young master arrives, he can go in at any time.”

The stone chamber was dark and secretive, with no windows for light. Only a flame of intertwined blue and red flickered in the center, casting distorted and shifting shadows on the walls.

A beautiful woman in red stood silently against the wall, motionless like a lifelike but soulless porcelain doll. However, the array of torture instruments hanging on the wall behind her added an eerie contrast.

Even Bai Fanlu was startled by the scene when he entered.

Bai Junming seemed to be waiting for Bai Fanlu and asked leisurely, “Do you recognize her?”

Bai Fanlu frowned, “Sect Leader Qingyang? Why is she here?”

And dressed like this…

The Sect Leader Qingyang he remembered was a cold and ruthless female immortal, always in a dark gray Taoist robe, with a harsh temperament and a stern expression.

Bai Junming observed Bai Fanlu’s expression and said, “I captured her. Want to know why? Let her tell you herself.”

Bai Junming snapped his fingers.

With that sound, Wu Yue Shuang slowly lifted her lowered eyes. Although she still resembled a puppet, she could now speak. She said, “I hate Bai Chu Yu. She stole Senior Brother Ling Jue. Senior Brother should have been mine…”

Bai Junming asked, “What did you do?”

Wu Yue Shuang sneered, “What did I do? I… I poisoned Bai Chu Yu. She fell ill right before battle… Wasn’t she supposed to be very powerful? I wanted to see who she could defeat after being poisoned!”

At this, Wu Yue Shuang suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, which abruptly stopped. “But Senior Brother Ling Jue!”

Her tone was agitated. “How could Senior Brother Ling Jue sacrifice himself for that demon woman! How could he do that! He’s a cultivator, and yet he died for the demon race! He brought shame to our celestial race! He—”

Wu Yue Shuang suddenly clutched her face in pain. “No… What am I saying? I’m not… Senior Brother Ling Jue…”

Suddenly, she caught sight of Bai Fanlu, her pupils contracting instantly. “Senior Brother Ling Jue!”

Her piercing gaze caught Bai Fanlu off guard, and he asked Bai Junming, “Who is she talking about?”

Ling Jue… The name seemed vaguely familiar.

Bai Junming remained expressionless, faint spells swirling in his hands. “Your father, Lu Ling Jue.”

Bai Fanlu was stunned by the answer.

Bai Junming’s hand pressed down slightly, and Wu Yue Shuang suddenly collapsed to her knees, crawling toward Bai Fanlu and clutching the hem of his clothes.

“Senior Brother Ling Jue… I didn’t kill you, I really didn’t…”

Bai Junming watched Wu Yue Shuang, who was now weeping sorrowfully, in stark contrast to her earlier venomous attitude toward Bai Chu Yu.

“Tsk! Such a pitiful sight. It seems your ‘heartless path’ has been a waste of effort. Or is it that the so-called ‘heartless path’ is just a way to lessen guilt?”

Bai Junming shook his head in disgust. “You’re all hypocrites, one worse than the other. Allow me to do you a favor and let you take a good look.”

With a wave of his spell, Wu Yue Shuang’s hand, clutching Bai Fanlu’s clothes, stiffened, and her whole body began to tremble violently. Tears welled up in her eyes, restoring her clarity.

She immediately realized she was kneeling before someone and was about to stand up when she saw Bai Fanlu’s face.

“Ling… Bai Fanlu? How… why are you…”

She paused, “You! You are a demon!”

Wu Yue Shuang tried to stand but lacked the strength, finally realizing that her hands and feet were bound by invisible chains. The chains pierced through her tendons and bones, causing excruciating pain with every movement.

“These are our demon race’s bloodline chains, making it impossible for someone to live or die… How does it feel, Immortal Lord?”

Bai Junming sneered, leaning down slightly and lifting Wu Yue Shuang’s chin in a mocking manner. “But compared to the pain you inflicted on my sister, this is barely a fraction.”

Wu Yue Shuang turned her head sharply, shouting, “That demon woman deserved to die! My only regret is not acting sooner!”

“Slap!”

Bai Junming suddenly lashed her with a whip.

Wu Yue Shuang bit her lip, making no sound, glaring at Bai Junming in hatred.

Three more heavy lashes followed, the Seven Stars Soul-Breaking Whip cutting flesh instantly but leaving the clothes intact.

Wu Yue Shuang’s red robe hid the blood, with only a trickle of blood seeping down her fingers, indicating that her body was already in tatters.

Bai Junming lashed out with brutal force, his face twisted in a terrifying expression, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, showing the intensity of his blows.

But Wu Yue Shuang was resilient, enduring dozens of lashes without a single cry, only breathing slightly heavier in the end.

“I… Even if I die, I will never bow to the likes of you demons!”

Though utterly drained, she still stubbornly held her back straight.

Finally, seeing her about to faint, Bai Junming stopped and looked at Bai Fanlu, who had been silently observing.

“Bai Fanlu, as a welcome gift for your return, I’ll leave her fate in your hands.”

Bai Fanlu looked down at the swaying Wu Yue Shuang, remaining silent.

Bai Junming, seeming exhausted from the whipping, received some whispered information from a demon guard and left the dark chamber, leaving Bai Fanlu and Wu Yue Shuang alone.

Bai Fanlu watched the trembling woman, wondering if she was the one who caused his parents’ deaths.

To be honest, Bai Fanlu admitted he didn’t feel a deep hatred. Since birth, he had never seen his parents’ faces. He was raised by Ling Qingzi for 400 years, only learning about his origins 100 years ago.

But revenge for one’s parents is a duty as old as time.

When Bai Junming tortured Wu Yue Shuang earlier, Bai Fanlu found the scene unpleasant but didn’t pity her.

He was more struck by the intense aura of hatred Bai Junming exuded when wielding the whip, reflecting his deep-seated anger.

It was no surprise, given what the servant had said about Bai Junming’s profound bond with his sister.

Both immortals and demons feel pain when losing loved ones.

Though Bai Fanlu was raised in the orthodox ways of the immortal sects, he believed in the law of karma.

Revenge for parents’ deaths cannot be forgiven, so there was no reason to show mercy.

Bai Fanlu raised his hand, conjuring a sword.

Wu Yue Shuang stared at Bai Fanlu, as if trying to discern his features. “I really… I always thought you resembled Senior Brother Ling Jue, but I never imagined you were actually…”

She smiled sadly. “I was foolish. I thought they had no children, so I never suspected you were his son.”

“Is this retribution? If it is, it came too late.”

Wu Yue Shuang murmured, speaking as if to Bai Fanlu and herself.

Bai Fanlu remembered the painting of Bai Chu Yu he had seen in Shui Liu Ju.

His sword pointed at the kneeling Wu Yue Shuang.

The sword’s reflection flickered on her beautiful face.

“Heh! It’s my own incompetence, losing to Bai Junming. I have nothing more to say.”

Closing her eyes, Wu Yue Shuang said, “Do it. At least this will give Senior Brother Ling Jue some closure.”

“Weren’t you saying you’d never bow to demons?”

Hearing Bai Fanlu’s cold remark, Wu Yue Shuang opened her eyes in surprise.

The sword clattered to the ground in front of her.

Wu Yue Shuang stared at the sword, picked it up, and after a while, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

“You really do… resemble Senior Brother…”

Wu Yue Shuang shook her head. “The paths of immortals and demons diverge. I advise you not to follow in his footsteps. No matter how deep your feelings, what good can come of it?”

With that, Wu Yue Shuang turned the sword on herself.

“The paths of immortals and demons diverge… Is that really true?”

Bai Fanlu smiled bitterly and turned to leave the dark prison.

“Young master, the Elder says if you’re done, you can go to the council hall to find him,” the servant was already waiting at the entrance of the dark prison.

“Alright, I understand.”

Bai Fanlu was planning to discuss matters concerning the demon realm with Bai Junming.

Unlike the previous day when he was a stranger, today, as Bai Fanlu walked through the demon palace, the patrolling guards would stop and respectfully greet him as “Young Master.”

However, before he could reach the council hall, he unexpectedly encountered an old acquaintance.

“Left Protector,” the servant first saluted the newcomer.

While Bai Fanlu was sizing him up, the man also looked Bai Fanlu up and down with a rather unfriendly gaze.

“It’s been a long time. You seem to have changed quite a bit,” the man said, dressed in a light blue robe, pure and graceful, contrasting sharply with the dark demon palace.

It was He Sang, the merman from the Eastern Sea. Bai Fanlu was surprised to see him in the demon realm, thinking that after Wei Lin was killed in Yingzhou, He Sang should have perished as well. How had he become the Left Protector of the demon clan?

“The Elder said you’ve been through a shock and that your mind is unclear. It seems he wasn’t wrong.”

He Sang slowly approached Bai Fanlu, his azure eyes full of gentle innocence. “So, you must have forgotten what I once told you?”

“…What did you say?”

Bai Fanlu sensed a subtle malice in He Sang’s gaze. This person, who should have been an innocent victim, suddenly made Bai Fanlu feel an inexplicable aversion.

“It’s nothing much,” He Sang took two steps back, as if to show something, slightly turning his body.

Under the light blue fabric, a beautifully shaped calf was revealed.

“I now have a new pair of legs. What do you think? Are they beautiful?”

Bai Fanlu didn’t understand why He Sang was asking him this. What did it matter to him if his legs were beautiful or not?

Yet He Sang continued to admire himself, “Even the Elder said they’re beautiful. Don’t you think so?”

“Sorry, I have something to attend to.”

Bai Fanlu nodded slightly, still polite as he walked past He Sang.

As they brushed past each other, He Sang suddenly smiled coquettishly, “Such a hypocrite, just like the woman who gave birth to you.”

But just as these words left his mouth, a shadow suddenly darted out from the darkness. Before either of them could react, a sharp slap landed on He Sang’s face, instantly turning one side of his face bright red, sending him staggering a few steps, nearly falling.

Bai Junming appeared with a grim expression, coldly saying, “If I hear you mention her again, it won’t be just a slap.”

He Sang, in disbelief, clutched his right cheek and turned to run away in anger.

Bai Fanlu ignored the commotion and said directly, “Uncle, I need to discuss something with you regarding the celestial realm…”

Seeing that Bai Junming’s expression softened slightly, indicating he was listening, Bai Fanlu continued, “The demon energy rifts in the human realm have been sealed, but our clan is in decline. The Demonic Pavilion will eventually be discovered; this situation cannot continue.”

“If you could have retrieved the Hengqing Key, things wouldn’t be like this.”

“…” Bai Fanlu knew Bai Junming was also angry with him. After hiding for so long, his identity was exposed, yet he hadn’t found the Hengqing Key as Bai Junming had hoped.

The Hengqing Key was the lifeblood of the demon clan. Without it, survival was difficult, let alone competing with the celestial clan.

“Let’s set aside the Hengqing Key for now. You mentioned that the Demonic Pavilion would be discovered. Indeed, a troublesome person arrived just a moment ago and has been attacking the barrier since.”

Bai Fanlu was shocked—attacking the barrier?

Bai Junming waved his hand to reveal a flame mirror, “Take a look, who is it?”

With the flame mirror activated, the scene outside the barrier was clearly visible.

Yun Zhan stood there, his spiritual power continuously bombarding the thin barrier. Though they were in the heart of the demon city and couldn’t feel the impact, the scene in the mirror showed the ground trembling and dust swirling, as if the sky was falling.

Bai Junming leisurely glanced at Bai Fanlu, “Will you meet him or not?”

The man persisted in attacking the place. Although the barrier hadn’t been breached, there was no doubt that the exact location of the Demonic Pavilion had been discovered.

“I’ll meet him,” Bai Fanlu replied.

In the next moment, a purple mist swirled beside Bai Junming, and Bai Fanlu vanished.

Moments later, the flame mirror showed Bai Fanlu’s figure gradually appearing behind Yun Zhan.

Without saying a word, Bai Fanlu immediately summoned his sword, Cangjin.

“Senior Brother!” Yun Zhan sensed it at once, but before he could express his joy, as he turned around, Bai Fanlu’s Cangjin transformed into six threads, splitting the air with a sound like tearing fabric.

Yun Zhan felt a sharp pain in his head, and the next moment, two dark auras attacked him from both sides.

These weren’t celestial powers; they were demonic arts. Bai Fanlu was using demon techniques against him!

“Senior Brother! What are you doing? It’s me!”

“I’m attacking you.”

Cangjin quickly wrapped around Yun Zhan’s arm, a chilling blade of ice stabbing toward his lower back.

Bai Fanlu was not holding back; he was going all out.

“Senior Brother?!”

Yun Zhan gritted his teeth, enduring the intense pain in his lower back, and grabbed Cangjin with one hand, trying to pull Bai Fanlu closer. But Bai Fanlu struck him with a palm, forcing Yun Zhan to block it.

With a boom, the barrier itself was shaken.

The massive recoil sent both of them flying. Bai Fanlu landed lightly, his eyes cold and emotionless as he looked at the half-kneeling Yun Zhan.

“You’ve improved your skills quite a bit. Why not show me all you’ve got? Don’t think that holding back will make me go easy on you.”

Yun Zhan was already seriously injured, having been forced to take Bai Fanlu’s full strike just now, but seeing Bai Fanlu looking at him, he forgot the pain and was overwhelmed with joy. “Senior Brother, you can see again!”

Bai Fanlu was taken aback for a moment, then sneered, “Yes, I was blind before, but now I can see. I can see you clearly. What? Surprised?”

With that, he unleashed another fierce attack, forcing Yun Zhan to dodge left and right, barely managing to defend himself. Yun Zhan didn’t want to fight Bai Fanlu, but it seemed like Bai Fanlu was determined, attacking with terrifying ruthlessness.

“Senior Brother! What’s wrong with you? Are you under Bai Junming’s control? Don’t you recognize me? I’m…”

“Yun Zhan, how could I not recognize you?”

Bai Fanlu’s attacks didn’t stop for a moment, “Even if you turned to dust, I would recognize you.”

“…” Yun Zhan was utterly shocked. How had Bai Fanlu changed so much after emerging from the chessboard? How had he become so unrecognizable?

The chessboard! Right, how could he not have thought of it? The overlapping chessboard was incredibly dangerous. Bai Fanlu had given him his soul during the tribulation, so it was possible that unexpected consequences had occurred.

Yun Zhan took advantage of a close moment to say, “Senior Brother, stop fighting! Let’s talk!”

“We have long since severed ties; what’s there to talk about!”

Bai Fanlu’s attacks grew even more relentless, forcing Yun Zhan to retreat step by step. Yun Zhan was getting increasingly frustrated.

“You broke into my demon realm today, trying to breach the barrier, all to exterminate us. Why are you holding back now? Fight me properly!”

“I’m not fighting you, and I didn’t come to invade the demon realm. I came to bring you back.”

Yun Zhan seized an opportunity, grabbing Bai Fanlu’s hand, but Bai Fanlu immediately shook him off and quickly retreated several feet.

“What a joke! You’ve been scheming to force me into the demonic path, to distance yourself from me. And now you say this? It’s laughable!”

“I’ve been scheming?” Yun Zhan was desperate. “When did I ever…”

Bai Fanlu sneered, “When did you start pretending to be innocent? Do you think that just because I once gave you a part of my soul, even giving up my next life for you, that I should let you play me for a fool every time?”

“…”

“Yun Zhan, I advise you to drop your tricks and pick up your sword. Stick to your role as a righteous disciple.”

Bai Fanlu’s words were harsh and cutting, with no hint of pretense.

Yun Zhan was utterly stunned. The things Bai Fanlu mentioned… a part of his soul, giving up his next life, those were things…

Yun Zhan was momentarily speechless.

“Cat got your tongue?” Bai Fanlu raised his hand, and Cangjin transformed into a sword form after a few swirls.

“Yun Zhan, I am a demon, you are a celestial. What I’m doing now is protecting my people. If you insist on invading my demon realm, then defeat me with your sword.”

“Otherwise… I will end you here today, removing a threat to my clan.”

“You can choose. I’m ready for anything.”