Chapter 615: Phantom Demon New Lord

In the Illusory Demon Realm, north of Demon Imperial City, at the entrance to the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley.

The long-dormant protective profound array suddenly gleamed with crimson-gold light and began to slowly rotate. Two figures then appeared beneath the array's radiance.

"Finally out," Yun Che exhaled, breathing in the now cool air. Though only three months had passed, it felt like an eternity.

Beside him stood a slender, petite girl in gray, barely reaching his shoulder. She appeared to be only twelve or thirteen, with a face so breathtakingly beautiful it could dim the sun and moon. Yet, her expression and eyes betrayed an endless indifference, almost devoid of any living emotion. Most striking was the crimson-gold flame mark shimmering between her brows.

All Demon Emperors who awakened the Golden Crow bloodline would manifest a Golden Crow mark between their brows, symbolizing their status. Past Demon Emperors had a light gold mark that could be concealed at will, but hers was a dazzling crimson-gold, permanently visible. This mark consumed her life. When it faded, her lifespan would be exhausted.

Her entire aura had undergone a drastic transformation. Previously, her presence had exerted an immense pressure on Yun Che. Now, despite standing merely a step away, Yun Che's spiritual perception couldn't detect her existence in the slightest. Yun Che vaguely understood the implications. The Little Demon Empress beside him, her power, might have already transcended the limits of this world… becoming almost ethereal.

"There's no one here, which is a bit unusual," Yun Che mused, scanning his surroundings. No figures or living auras were visible. "Could something major be happening in Demon Imperial City?"

"Um... Little Demon Empress, what level have you reached in the Golden Crow's Record of the Burning World?" Yun Che turned to her. Though their relationship had changed significantly, her almost non-existent aura still made him feel an uncontrollable sense of suffocation when facing her.

"Third," the Little Demon Empress replied, her gaze fixed straight ahead, her voice as calm and unruffled as still water.

"Oh... I reached the seventh level half a month ago," Yun Che stated matter-of-factly, a plain expression on his face, while quickly glancing over, anticipating a look of shock, admiration, or even worship from the Little Demon Empress.

To his disappointment, not a ripple of emotion disturbed the Little Demon Empress's expression. Her dull eyes remained fixed indifferently on the direction of Demon Imperial City, devoid of any waves, joy, or sorrow, offering no response at all. Though, with his extraordinary Devil God bloodline, reaching the seventh level in less than two months was not particularly remarkable.

"..." When the Little Demon Empress's bloodline fully awakened and she emerged from the Golden Crow Secret Realm, he had sensed a profound change in her aura. No, perhaps this change occurred even earlier, perhaps, at the moment she had forcefully pinned him down. Driven by an obsession for revenge and a craving for power, she seemed to have extinguished everything within herself, including emotion and even life. The power she yearned for was now hers, yet her emotions were frozen, and her life was rapidly ebbing away. She stood there silently, unmoving, like the most beautiful, lifelike doll.

Just as Yun Che was desperately trying to figure out how to provoke a reaction from her, a gray blur flashed in his peripheral vision, and the Little Demon Empress was suddenly a hundred yards away.

"Ah... wait for me!"

Yun Che hastily activated his Phantom Light Thunder Extremity, putting every ounce of effort into chasing her. Having acquired the Golden Crow bloodline, the Devil God's Thunder Seed, mastered the Golden Crow's Record of the Burning World, and continuously absorbed the potent flame energy from the Sea of Death Flames for several months, Yun Che's profound energy had undergone a revolutionary change compared to four months prior.

With his Purgatory now active and his King Profound aura surging, his peak speed was several times greater than before, yet the Little Demon Empress still outpaced him. Fortunately, after a short while, she slowed down, allowing Yun Che to barely catch up. Gazing at her slender back, Yun Che silently sighed. Four months had passed since they entered the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley until their departure today. Four months was ample time for many things to happen; she must be extremely anxious about the current situation in Demon Imperial City. Just like her, he was constantly worried about his parents, Xiao Yun, and whether the entire Yun and Mu families were safe.

Her lifespan had only three years left...

Three years...

Indeed, as Yun Che had suspected, something significant was happening in Demon Imperial City today. For today was Prince Huai's coronation day!

Four months ago, all the powerful figures from across the continent who had come to Demon Imperial City for the Demon Empress's Grand Ceremony were still there, having never left. After the ceremony was abruptly interrupted, they did not receive news of its resumption. Instead, they heard the shocking news of the Little Demon Empress's demise in the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley. They waited anxiously for a month, but with no further news of her, the last shred of hope for those who refused to believe was shattered.

For a time, the Imperial City was in turmoil, and the world mourned. Though the Little Demon Empress's body was never found, the funeral rites for the Demon Emperor—the last Demon Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm—had to proceed. The Little Demon Empress's funeral lasted an entire month. The subsequent question was: who would rule the Illusory Demon Realm after her? After all, without an emperor, the realm would inevitably fall into chaos.

However, with the Little Demon Empress's "demise," there were no more direct successors to the Demon Emperor's lineage. The closest blood relatives were the Illusory Demon Royal Family. Among them, the most prestigious, influential, and qualified person was undoubtedly Prince Huai of Prince Huai's Manor. Furthermore, in the months since the Little Demon Empress's "death," Prince Huai's Manor had overseen all major and minor affairs in Demon Imperial City, including her funeral rites.

Within four months, the influence of Prince Huai's Manor had terrifyingly spread throughout Demon Imperial City, bringing almost every sector under its complete control. Years ago, people in Demon Imperial City already knew that the forces loyal to Prince Huai's Manor surpassed those loyal to the Little Demon Empress. Now, with Prince Huai's Manor truly baring its fangs, people finally understood the extent of its power.

Upon hearing the news of the Little Demon Empress's death, previously wavering factions rushed to pledge their allegiance to Prince Huai's Manor, fearing they would be too late. Even some forces originally loyal to the Demon Emperor's clan chose to surrender to Prince Huai's Manor to preserve themselves. Those who had already been loyal to Prince Huai's Manor felt immensely fortunate and triumphant. The factions that remained staunchly loyal to the "extinct" Demon Emperor's lineage were pitifully few, and were increasingly shunned, isolated, and even antagonized by others.

Two months ago, the cry "The Illusory Demon Realm cannot be without a ruler for a single day" resounded throughout Demon Imperial City and quickly spread across the entire Illusory Demon Realm. Prince Huai's reputation for loyalty and virtue was lauded everywhere. Over ninety percent of the factions in Demon Imperial City declared their support for Prince Huai as emperor. Suddenly, the name "Prince Huai" was proclaimed from all corners of the Illusory Demon Realm, almost hailed as the foremost sage of the age, the sole choice for the Illusory Demon Realm's new ruler, a great new monarch who could surpass the Demon Emperor's era. He was also the person with the closest bloodline to the Demon Emperor's clan at that time. By today, anyone opposing Prince Huai's ascension would be defying the world's consensus.

The Demon Emperor's Grand Hall was packed. The ceremony's grandeur even surpassed the Demon Empress's Grand Ceremony four months prior. City lords, domain masters, sect leaders, and powerful figures from across the Illusory Demon Realm could never have imagined they would come to Demon Imperial City for the Demon Empress's Grand Ceremony, only to remain for four months, witnessing the tumultuous events of the Little Demon Empress's demise and a new emperor's coronation. All the powerful figures were gathered in the Demon Emperor's Grand Hall. Each was a pillar of the Illusory Demon Realm, representing its entirety. Today, at the hour of 巳, the new emperor would be crowned, and Prince Huai would ascend to the throne. With less than a quarter of an hour remaining until the designated time, the coronation ceremony was imminent.

The Guardian Families and various princely manors still occupied the most central positions in the hall, their seating arrangements identical to four months ago. The Yun and Mu families were also prominently present. Yun Qinghong sat at the head of the Yun family's section, his expression unusually calm. Mu Yurou sat beside him, their hands clasped tightly together, never letting go. Compared to the persistent clamor in the Demon Emperor's Grand Hall, the entire Yun family section, along with the adjacent Mu family section, was eerily silent. For a full half-hour, not a single person spoke.

"Prince... Huai's... Manor... Arrives!"

With a long, sharp cry, the Demon Emperor's Grand Hall instantly fell silent, all eyes turning to the hall's entrance. The crimson-gold doors slowly pushed open, and Prince Huai, in a pale gold ceremonial robe, strode into the Demon Emperor's Grand Hall, surrounded by the retinue of his manor like stars orbiting the moon. His demeanor was composed, a smile on his face, yet an invisible majesty emanated from his relaxed brow. His entire being now exuded imperial dignity. Without the Little Demon Empress, he was now demonstrably the Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm.

"Greetings, Emperor Huai!"

A piercing shout rang out from the core seating area. Patriarch Helian Kuang of the Helian family rose, knelt on both knees, and prostrated himself, a gesture of extreme reverence and humility—a grand prostration he had never performed even when the previous Demon Emperor and Little Demon Empress were on the throne. This shout jolted everyone present as if from a dream. Immediately, people in the hall hastily left their seats, knelt, and bowed in greeting:

"Greetings, Emperor Huai!"

The overlapping shouts of nearly a hundred thousand top experts from the Illusory Demon Realm made the entire Demon Emperor's Grand Hall tremble for a long time. Prince Huai's gaze casually swept across the hall, silently noting all the individuals and factions who had not knelt in greeting. Then, he slowly raised his head and said with a humble demeanor, "Please rise, everyone. Although I have received your misguided affection and been nominated as the new ruler of the Illusory Demon Realm, the coronation ceremony has not yet taken place. This title 'Emperor Huai' is not yet appropriate, and such a grand prostration is too much for me to accept."

"This humble one dares to speak... Emperor Huai, your words are mistaken!" Prince Zhong exclaimed loudly with a cupped-hand salute. "Emperor Huai, you are the new ruler of our Illusory Demon Realm, universally desired and awaited by all. How could this be 'misguided affection'? After the Little Demon Empress's passing, Emperor Huai maintained order in the world, quelled chaos, and brought peace to the hearts of the people. Without Emperor Huai's wisdom and virtue, Demon Imperial City, and indeed the entire Illusory Demon Realm, would surely be in great turmoil now. In our hearts, even if the coronation ceremony has not yet taken place, you are already the emperor whom we will follow and pledge our loyalty to for life. Today's coronation... please forgive my rash words, but it is merely a formality to announce it to the world!"

"Exactly! Prince Zhong is absolutely right!"

"What Prince Zhong says is what this humble one also thinks!"

"Emperor Huai unites the Illusory Demon Realm, may his life be as long as the heavens!"

"We pledge our allegiance to Emperor Huai until death!!"

The new emperor's coronation ceremony had not even begun, and Prince Huai had only just appeared, yet cries of allegiance already rushed to fill the entire Demon Emperor's Grand Hall. This undoubtedly demonstrated the astonishing power and deterrent force Prince Huai had displayed since the Little Demon Empress's demise. No one doubted that nothing could possibly stop Prince Huai from becoming emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm. Pledging allegiance to Prince Huai was the wisest, if not the only, choice. Otherwise, it would be tantamount to seeking one's own destruction.

"Hahahaha," Prince Huai lowered his arm, let out a long laugh, and said nothing more. He strode towards the imperial throne at the far end of the hall. As he passed the Yun family's seating area, his peripheral vision casually swept over Yun Qinghong, and the corner of his mouth curved into a faint smile. During these four months, before officially becoming emperor, it was naturally not opportune for him to act ruthlessly against the Yun family, given their status as a Guardian Family. But after today, anyone could guess that Prince Huai's first target would undoubtedly be the Yun family! At that point, the Yun family would either suffer a severe decline or face complete annihilation!

Yun Qinghong did not bow to Prince Huai, nor did anyone from the Yun family. He watched Prince Huai and everything in the hall with cold eyes, his expression and gaze so impassive that not a flicker of emotion could be seen. From the moment Prince Huai entered until he sat on the imperial throne, Yun Qinghong's only action was to tighten his grip on Mu Yurou's hand. Mu Yurou's hand also squeezed his more tightly; their hearts and minds as a couple were already inextricably linked. Prince Huai's ascension to emperor was unstoppable, even if the Yun family sacrificed all their lives, they couldn't prevent it. But how could they allow the man who had caused the Little Demon Empress's death and their son's death to achieve his desires so easily?

The couple had come here today not for the Demon Emperor's clan, nor for the Yun family's dignity and will, but as parents, ready to use their own lives to avenge their son—the son they had lost and regained, the son for whom they felt longing, debt, joy, pride, and sorrow—to exact a blood debt!