Because of their previous unpleasant encounters with the Fantasy Demon Realm, Xiao Lingyu had already formed a poor impression of them. Along the way, he sat silently beside Chu Mingwei, holding Zhu Yurun without much conversation. In contrast, the people of the Fantasy Demon Realm, likely because they rarely left their territory, were visibly excited by everything outside and chatted nonstop the entire journey.
At this moment, Xiao Lingyu and Chu Mingwei were seated inside the Fantasy Demon Realm’s flying carriage. Unlike cultivators who traveled long distances using massive Cloud Traveling Boats, the Fantasy Demon Realm used a carriage pulled by a strange beast-like bird with a wingspan of dozens of meters. According to Shen Mian, this creature—called the “Flying Wing”—was a unique beast of their realm. It was gentle, had no offensive ability, and was excellent at long-distance flight. Most importantly, its speed was extremely fast; even their clan’s fastest flying beast, the Kunpeng, might not be able to catch up at full speed.
“By the way, you know the Kunpeng, right?” Shen Mian said as he spoke, dangling a fragrant fruit while teasing Zhu Yurun in Xiao Lingyu’s arms. Shen Mian was the young man who had previously frightened Zhu Yurun with his emotional outburst; he was also the one who spoke the most during the journey.
Zhu Yurun, with admirable dignity, ignored the temptation and turned his rear away in rejection of the fruit. Xiao Lingyu found this amusing and, instead, took out a pastry from his storage bag as a reward.
Shen Mian did not mind being ignored and instead watched Zhu Yurun happily devouring the pastry. “You feed him this every day? There isn’t any spiritual energy in it. How can he even eat that?”
His voice was a bit loud, and it immediately drew everyone’s attention. All eyes turned sharply toward Xiao Lingyu, as though he were mistreating Zhu Yurun. Xiao Lingyu remained calm and unaffected. Chu Mingwei, however, quietly pulled Xiao Lingyu into his arms and released a faint pressure. Instantly, the surrounding gazes scattered away, no longer daring to linger on Xiao Lingyu.
The middle-aged man from earlier—whom Xiao Lingyu had learned was named Bai Mi—soon handed over a storage bag filled entirely with freshly harvested spirit herbs.
“These were prepared specifically for Little Pig before we came,” Bai Mi said succinctly, his tone leaving no room for refusal.
Xiao Lingyu accepted the storage bag without comment and casually took out a Frost Spirit Grass, offering it to Zhu Yurun. Zhu Yurun immediately shook his head in disgust. “Little Pig doesn’t want this. Little Pig wants pastries.”
That single sentence immediately made the expressions of everyone in the carriage, except Xiao Lingyu and Chu Mingwei, turn unpleasant. Bai Mi frowned as he looked at Zhu Yurun, his gaze full of undisguised scrutiny.
Zhu Yurun did not care at all. He instinctively sensed Xiao Lingyu was in a good mood and took the opportunity to beg for more pastries, happily lying beside him and eating contentedly.
After a moment, Bai Mi finally spoke. “Fellow Daoist Xiao, Little Pig is very important to our clan. We hope he grows up properly.”
Xiao Lingyu frowned slightly, but before he could respond, Chu Mingwei smiled and interjected, “Fellow Daoist Bai means to say that Zhu Yurun is not growing properly now?”
Though phrased as a question, his tone carried certainty that Zhu Yurun was perfectly fine. The surrounding people, however, exchanged subtle looks of disapproval. In their eyes, a fully awakened spirit beast like the Spirit Rhinoceros Pig should be intelligent and composed, not as naïve and childish as Zhu Yurun appeared. Moreover, such beasts naturally consumed spiritual treasures, yet Xiao Lingyu was feeding him ordinary mortal pastries with no spiritual energy at all. At this rate, how could he ever advance again? And he seemed completely unaware of what bloodline inheritance even was—could it be that Zhu Xi’er had misjudged him? Perhaps Zhu Yurun had not truly awakened spatial divine ability after all.
Bai Mi smiled calmly and explained, “Fellow Daoist Chu has misunderstood. Little Pig is doing very well. In fact, we are grateful to Fellow Daoist Xiao for caring for him. However, for his sake, it would be better to reduce feeding him such non-spiritual foods.”
“You’re so bad! You won’t even let Little Pig eat pastries!” Zhu Yurun immediately reacted with outrage. “How can you be so bad? You don’t even let Little Monster feed me pastries!”
Bai Mi froze slightly, clearly not expecting such a reaction. “Little Pig, Uncle Bai is doing this for your own good.”
“Hmph. Little Pig doesn’t believe bad people,” Zhu Yurun said stubbornly, turning his head away.
Xiao Lingyu gently patted his head in satisfaction and deliberately fed him a few more pastries while smiling faintly at Bai Mi.
Bai Mi’s expression darkened slightly, but he said nothing more. The carriage soon fell into silence.
For the remainder of the journey, no one dared approach Xiao Lingyu or Chu Mingwei again. Only Zhu Yurun continued happily eating.
After several hours of calm flight, excitement gradually returned among the passengers. Chu Mingwei glanced outside and naturally reached out to straighten Xiao Lingyu’s slightly disordered collar.
“We’re almost there,” he said softly.
Xiao Lingyu looked ahead. The scenery was not much different from what they had seen along the way. The Fantasy Demon Realm was indeed mysterious—this was Xiao Lingyu’s first time here in both lifetimes. He remembered that even Chu Mingwei had never been here before, yet somehow he knew they were close.
Seeing Xiao Lingyu’s confusion, Chu Mingwei smiled indulgently. “I haven’t been here before, but the sect has detailed records. This is only the outer region of the Fantasy Demon Realm. The true realm is said to be a self-contained world, entirely different from the cultivation world we live in.”
A thought flashed through Xiao Lingyu’s mind, but before he could grasp it, it vanished.
In the next moment, the flying beast suddenly stopped midair.
Bai Mi appeared outside in a flash and stood in the air before the distant mountain range, forming several strange hand seals. Moments later, a massive spatial rift appeared ahead. Dense spiritual energy surged out like a tide.
He turned back and signaled the Flying Wing forward. The carriage flew directly into the rift.
As they passed through, the spiritual energy became increasingly intense. When they fully emerged on the other side, Xiao Lingyu looked around in shock before turning toward Chu Mingwei.
Chu Mingwei held his hand. “This is ancient land.”
Xiao Lingyu nodded.
Yes.
This was ancient land.
The Flying Wing continued forward. Bai Mi returned to the carriage and smiled.
“This is the Fantasy Demon Realm. Welcome, fellow Daoists.”
Chu Mingwei observed carefully. “This is an ancient relic land?”
Bai Mi nodded with pride. “Indeed. Our clan is an ancient surviving lineage.”
Shen Mian added cheerfully, “Our inheritance has never been broken for tens of thousands of years.”
Outside, towering mountain ranges stretched endlessly. Figures could be seen moving and flying among them. At the highest peak stood a massive palace.
“That is the Demon Emperor Hall,” Bai Mi explained. “It is where our ruler resides.”
“Where are we going now?” Xiao Lingyu asked when he noticed they were not heading toward the palace.
Bai Mi had clearly prepared for this question. “Since you have traveled far, you should rest first.”
Chu Mingwei interrupted. “We don’t need rest. Where is Zhu Yurun’s ancestor? Take us there first.”
Bai Mi paused. “Elder Yun Ting is currently weak. Meeting him requires the Demon Emperor’s permission. You should rest first. Tonight, after the Demon Emperor meets you, arrangements will be made for Zhu Yurun.”
Xiao Lingyu frowned. The story was inconsistent—first they said the elder was dying and urgently needed to see Zhu Yurun, now they were delaying.
Before he could think further, an ancient voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
“Bai Mi, bring the honored guests to the Demon Emperor Hall.”
Bai Mi froze. “Yes—by decree of the Demon Emperor!”
Xiao Lingyu and Chu Mingwei exchanged a sharp glance.
The Demon Emperor’s voice had come from thousands of miles away.
Such cultivation strength was far beyond what either Chu Mingwei or even their sect master could match.
Their expressions grew solemn.
If the Demon Emperor truly intended to keep Zhu Yurun by force, they might not be able to resist.
Chu Mingwei gently squeezed Xiao Lingyu’s hand. Xiao Lingyu steadied himself and held Zhu Yurun tighter.
No matter what happened, he would not allow Zhu Yurun to be harmed.
Soon, they arrived at the grand hall.
The interior of the Demon Emperor Hall was vast but simple. At the center sat an elderly man with white hair and a kind expression.
Xiao Lingyu had imagined countless terrifying forms for the Demon Emperor—but he never expected such a gentle-looking old man.
The old man smiled warmly. “Two young friends are truly outstanding. Your arrival brings light to my humble realm.”
Chu Mingwei remained cautious. “You honor us, Demon Emperor.”
The old man waved his hand. “Bai Mi, leave us.”
Bai Mi obeyed and withdrew silently.
The Demon Emperor’s gaze fell on Zhu Yurun. “Little Pig, do you remember Grandpa Qin?”
Zhu Yurun shook his head blankly.
“It’s alright,” the old man said gently. “Grandpa still remembers you when you were born—small and white. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so big. I hear you even awakened intelligence and spatial divine ability.”
Zhu Yurun blinked. “What is spatial divine ability?”
The old man smiled kindly. “It is like where you hide your favorite pastries.”
Zhu Yurun immediately brightened. “Little Pig likes pastries the most!”
The old man laughed. “Good, then Grandpa will give you pastries.”
Zhu Yurun happily nodded, then secretly whispered, “Don’t tell Little Monster.”
Xiao Lingyu’s face twitched.
The old man then turned his gaze toward Xiao Lingyu. “Fellow Daoist, you have taken good care of him.”
He continued casually, “You seem to hold some hostility toward the Fantasy Demon Realm.”
Xiao Lingyu’s expression tightened. Chu Mingwei immediately stepped in front of him.
The old man chuckled softly. “No need to be so guarded. If we speak of Zhu Yurun, then the Fantasy Demon Realm is indeed not a good place.”
That sentence alone made both of them freeze.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The old man sighed. “Do you know about the Great Ancient Collapse?”
Both shook their heads.
He looked distant. “The ancient world was once home to humans, demons, and beasts. It collapsed because humans stole the Heavenly Mechanism Disk, triggering heavenly punishment. The world shattered, the three races fell into chaos, and eventually… everything was destroyed.”
His voice grew heavy.
“Our clan survived only because we were sealed within this relic land.”
At that moment, Xiao Lingyu felt something inside him stir.
And when he looked down at Zhu Yurun again, he met the old man’s deeply sorrowful gaze.