Chapter 585: Great Ceremony Suspended

The Prince of Huai’s lips turned purple. His hands trembled slightly, and his chest felt like it would explode. This was the most vicious insult he had ever suffered in his life. Even more agonizing than enduring such an insult was his inability to retort.

What appeared to be a "reminder" was, in fact, an outright verbal assault directed at the Prince of Huai and the royal families on the eastern side. This left the royal families and clans on the western side dumbfounded. The princes on the eastern side looked increasingly grim, and some princely households even began to regret their allegiance to the Prince of Huai in this situation.

Yun Che's words were not just an insult; they placed an incredibly heavy yoke on the hearts of these disloyal princes, making them writhe in agony.

"Prince of Huai, and all you princes present," Yun Che said slowly, sweeping his gaze across the eastern side, "Is there anything I, Yun Che, have said incorrectly? If so, please do not hesitate to correct me."

The Prince of Huai, Prince Zhong, and all the initially defiant princes on the eastern side were utterly silent. Not one of them dared to retort or reprimand. Their state of mind at that moment was like being force-fed excrement, unable to spit it out or resist, and instead having to unanimously nod in agreement that it was served correctly.

The Little Demon Empress watched Yun Che in silence, her gaze revealing a complexity that others could not comprehend. She had prepared for every contingency in this Demon Empress Hall, yet none of her expectations materialized. This grand ceremony had become a solo performance by Yun Che. The Prince of Huai, whom even she had to describe as "terrifying" and against whom the guardian families were powerless, had been utterly defeated by the "heaven-sent" Yun Che, making the seven renowned heads of the guardian families almost look like clowns.

Under her gaze, Yun Che suddenly turned to face her, picking up the Demon Emperor Seal again. "Little Demon Empress, please forgive Yun Che's impulsiveness earlier. Yun Che will now return the Demon Emperor Seal to you."

With that, he slowly stepped forward, holding the Demon Emperor Seal in both hands towards the Little Demon Empress.

As their eyes met at close range, Yun Che's mind uncontrollably conjured the image of the young girl's exquisite body in the misty night. A strange glint flashed deep within his eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched. The trace of almost lecherous intent in his gaze was clearly caught by the Little Demon Empress's razor-sharp eyes, causing her gaze to turn momentarily icy, making Yun Che almost shiver. She did not immediately take the Demon Emperor Seal but calmly said, "Do the demands you just made no longer need to be pursued?"

"No longer needed," Yun Che shook his head. "The Demon Emperor Seal rightfully belongs to the Demon Emperor Clan; it's only natural for it to return to its original owner. However, this seal carries my grandfather's loyalty and life, and his sacrifice, along with the treatment he received over the years, left me unable to let go. That's why I used the Demon Emperor Seal just now to demand apologies from the seven family heads to my grandfather, and to remind some people not to forget their duties or extinguish their conscience... As a descendant of the Demon King, I refuse to see what my grandfather protected with his life fall victim to the schemes of certain wicked individuals!"

"Since the reminder has been given, that is enough. Otherwise, if we were to see faces hesitant, unwilling, and uncomfortable when faced with oaths of allegiance later, wouldn't that sicken the Little Demon Empress and all those loyal to her?" Yun Che's unhurried words were undoubtedly several more jabs at "certain individuals."

The Little Demon Empress extended her hand and gently received the Demon Emperor Seal, carefully and slowly holding it. Her expression remained calm, but Yun Che, standing so close, still perceived a slight tremor in her eyes.

As the sole surviving member of the Demon Emperor lineage, no one truly understood what the return of the Demon Emperor Seal meant to her, nor could anyone know the intense stirrings within her heart at that moment. Feeling the seal's scorching warmth and the pure Golden Crow aura, she gently closed her eyes, then turned and walked towards the imperial throne.

Before the imperial throne, the Little Demon Empress turned, holding the Demon Emperor Seal. Her fair, slender hands and pristine wrists, illuminated by the seal's clear fiery glow, were as exquisitely pure as the world's most flawless jade. However, in the entire Demon Emperor Hall, it was likely only Yun Che who still had the presence of mind to appreciate the Little Demon Empress's arms.

"The return of the Demon Emperor Seal after a century of loss is an immense blessing, and the Yun Family's immense contributions cannot be denied! For the Yun Family's great service, I will grant lavish rewards, and I will certainly address the injustices the Yun Family has endured over this past century! I will thoroughly investigate the rights and wrongs that have long been buried!"

The Little Demon Empress swept her gaze across the hall. Everyone who met her eyes froze, immediately holding their breath. With a sweep of her arm, the Demon Emperor Seal vanished from her hand. "I once swore an oath before my imperial father's spiritual tablet that I would spare no effort to retrieve the Demon Emperor Seal and would offer sacrifices to the late Emperor on the day it was recovered. My oath to my imperial father cannot be broken. Therefore, this grand ceremony will be temporarily suspended today. All of you, please return to your residences. The ceremony will resume in three days!"

"Ah? This..." The Little Demon Empress's sudden announcement of the ceremony's temporary suspension caught everyone off guard, yet they also felt it was somewhat reasonable. It was logical for her to immediately offer sacrifices to the late Demon Emperor and inform the young Demon Emperor upon the return of such a crucial item as the Demon Emperor Seal. Moreover, the Little Demon Empress would need sufficient time to process and consider how to respond to the day's events.

"The Demon King's remains will be temporarily placed at the Yun Family residence and will be buried on a chosen day with the highest royal honors. Furthermore, in fifteen days, the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley will reopen. The Yun Family may select thirty individuals to enter at that time. Other families and princely households have likely made their preparations, and the Yun Family should also prepare well within these fifteen days. During these three days, I need to quietly mourn my imperial father. No one, no matter how urgent the matter, shall disturb me!"

"You may all disperse now. We shall reconvene in three days to discuss important matters!"

Having finished speaking, and without waiting for anyone to respond, the Little Demon Empress waved her dark sleeves. Her entire body was enveloped in flames, and when the flames dissipated, her figure had completely vanished.

The Little Demon Empress's swift and decisive departure left everyone wide-eyed and bewildered. Yun Che, too, was momentarily stunned. He had laid the groundwork perfectly; with the Demon Emperor Seal in hand, the Little Demon Empress could easily exert public pressure on the Prince of Huai and others, deterring them from any rash moves, at least in the short term. Yet, after obtaining the seal, she chose to suspend the ceremony and left abruptly, solely to offer sacrifices to the late Demon Emperor. This behavior did not seem to align with the Little Demon Empress's character.

The moment the Little Demon Empress departed, discussions immediately erupted in the hall. Yun Qinghong stood up, looking at his father's remains in the center of the hall, a profound melancholy in his heart. "Everyone, let us go... It's time to take Father's remains home."

Yun Qinghong's quiet words caused the Yun Family elders, who could no longer control their emotions, to rush like madmen towards the center of the hall, falling prostrate before Yun Canghai's remains.

"Patriarch!!" "Oh, Patriarch!!"

In their overwhelming emotion, they no longer cared about their image or dignity, crying out in sorrow and wailing uncontrollably. Today, they had experienced the most intense joy and sorrow of their lives. Recalling a century of dreadful news and all that the Yun Family had endured, even with the strongest will, they could not suppress the outpouring of emotion at that moment.

"Yun Duanshui... greets the Young Patriarch!" Second Elder Yun Duanshui bowed deeply to Yun Che, his face alight with excitement and the reverence he usually reserved only for Yun Qinghong and Yun Canghai. "I had no idea the Young Patriarch had returned. My previous neglect and disrespect are truly unforgivable."

"Second Elder, please don't say that..."

Just as Yun Che was about to step forward to help Yun Duanshui up, a large group of Yun Family elders and disciples collectively knelt beside him, bowing. "Greetings, Young Patriarch!"

Today, Yun Che had completely reversed the Yun Family's grim fate and dispelled an impending storm. Everyone in the Demon Emperor Hall today was astonished by him, let alone those from the Yun Family. Although he was only in his twenties and had returned to the Yun Family just three months ago, they all bowed willingly and sincerely. Some elders and young disciples who had been disrespectful to him on regular days were now filled with apprehension.

"Truly the grandson of the Demon King, and successor to the Yun Family Patriarch. I have lived for over a thousand years, and only today do I truly understand what it means to be a hero," Qin Zheng said, standing beside Yun Qinghong and looking at Yun Che with a face full of admiration.

"Domain Master Qin, you flatter me," Yun Qinghong bowed solemnly to him. "This junior thanks you for speaking out on our behalf just now. Please rest assured, Domain Master Qin, if those seven clans dare to retaliate against you, this junior will certainly not stand by idly."

"Haha, I was merely atoning for my own past misdeeds. That the Yun Family Patriarch does not blame me is already something I am grateful for; I certainly cannot bear the words 'thank you,'" Qin Zheng said, waving his hand with a faint smile. "As for the Yun Family Patriarch's concerns, there's no need. I'll be in the ground in a few decades anyway; they wouldn't bother resorting to underhanded tactics against an old man like me."

"Congratulations, Yun Family Patriarch, on finding your beloved son... With such a descendant, the Yun Family's return to its former glory is surely just around the corner," a city lord squeezed forward to congratulate Yun Qinghong.

"City Lord Yue, I don't quite agree with that. The Yun Family's Young Master is only twenty-two this year, yet he has already earned our admiration and made us feel ashamed by comparison. With Patriarch Yun and Yun Che, coupled with the Little Demon Empress's esteem and solemn promises, the Yun Family's resurgence will be far more than just restoring past glory, hahahaha!"

"Brother Lin is absolutely right! Patriarch Yun, congratulations, congratulations!"

Various powerful figures converged to congratulate Yun Qinghong and curry favor, as it was clear to everyone that the Yun Family was about to rise with immense power. Yun Xiao had been granted a princely title, the Yun Family had received public promises from the Little Demon Empress, and Yun Qinghong's severely injured body had miraculously recovered. Their lost prestige would also be restored immediately, even greatly amplified. More importantly, the Yun Family had produced a young master who astonished and impressed them all.

It would be exceedingly difficult for the Yun Family *not* to rise.

Although the Yun Family currently held the weakest overall power among the twelve families, at this moment, no one could even imagine how prosperous the Yun Family would become in just a few short years.

The Yun Family was surrounded by powerful figures from all over, with crowds behind them desperately pushing forward to speak with Yun Qinghong or Yun Che. The Prince of Huai watched coldly, his gloomy expression seemingly frozen on his face, utterly unable to relax.

"Yun... Che..." The two syllables, laden with endless hatred and icy coldness, barely escaped from between his grinding teeth.

He had prepared and endured for so many years, all for this very day! Yet, in the blink of an eye, he was utterly defeated. His plan had only reached its first step, and even that single step backfired, not only allowing the Yun Family to assert their dominance but also costing him immense face and a vast amount of Purple Veined Divine Crystals.

"Prince of Huai, what... what should we do now?" Prince Zhong approached, whispering. He looked in Yun Che's direction, also gritting his teeth. Both were well aware that their crushing defeat today was entirely due to Yun Che—because of him alone.

"Hiss..." The Prince of Huai gritted his teeth, a cold breath escaping between them as his chest heaved. "Leave!"

The Prince of Huai turned his grim face, ignoring everyone, and stiffly walked out of the hall. Seeing his actions, the seven family heads, who were utterly flustered, and the princely households on the eastern side also rose, following him away with rather dejected expressions.

"Farewell to His Highness Prince of Huai and the seven family heads!"

Just as the Prince of Huai took a few steps, Yun Che's loud voice came from behind him. Yun Che stared at the Prince of Huai's back, his gaze casually flicking towards the seven family heads on the side, and said with a chuckle, "However, there's one thing I, Yun Che, still need to remind you about: remember to deliver the Purple Veined Divine Crystals you lost to my Yun Family on time and in full. The entire Illusory Demon Realm will soon know about this, and I don't think your esteemed princely households and guardian families would sacrifice basic integrity and face, earning the contempt of all, for a mere few pounds of Purple Veined Divine Crystals, would you?"

The Prince of Huai's steps halted, his body rigid for three full breaths. Only after forcibly suppressing the impulse to immediately kill Yun Che, no matter the cost, did he resume his steps, walking out of the Demon Emperor Hall without a word.

"Hmph!" Yun Che coldly watched the Prince of Huai leave, letting out a soft snort. He had clearly sensed the chilling murderous intent emanating from the Prince of Huai just moments ago.

"In just one day, you've managed to provoke so many enemies! And these are the top figures in the Illusory Demon Realm," Jasmine scoffed. "It really does fit your nature of seeking trouble wherever you go."

"This concerns my family, and my grandfather's honor and will. Even if it means digging my own grave, it had to be done," Yun Che sighed, then smirked playfully. "Besides, this kind of crisis is nothing compared to those two years in the Primordial Profound Ark."

After speaking, Yun Che slightly furrowed his brow and mused, "Why did the Little Demon Empress suddenly suspend the ceremony and leave after getting the Demon Emperor Seal..."