Chapter 619: Revenge Flames (Part 1)

At the Demon Empress Hall, in the midst of chaos, the Little Demon Empress and Yun Che finally arrived. Their arrival was perfectly timed, yet incredibly perilous. Had they been even a moment later, Yun Qinghong's bloody thunder would have detonated, ensuring his death.

On the way back to Demon Imperial City, Yun Che had envisioned dozens of grand entrances for himself, and prepared scores of domineering and imposing lines. After all, with the Little Demon Empress as his ultimate backing, he could show off to his heart's content, even in front of the Underworld King.

The chaos in the Demon Emperor Hall made him frown, but the moment he saw Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou's condition, everything else vanished from his mind. He cried out in alarm, abandoning all other considerations, and rushed down at top speed.

“Father! Mother!”

“Che… Cher!”

Watching Yun Che draw closer, Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou’s eyes were blurred and unfocused, as if in a dream. Yun Che flew down, rushing to their side, and urgently asked, “Father, Mother, how are you… are your injuries serious?!”

With his abilities, he could tell at a glance that while Mu Yurou was injured, it wasn't severe. However, Yun Qinghong’s face was pale, his lips purple, and his upper garment soaked in blood; he was not only severely wounded but also gravely depleted of his vital energy. Without hesitation, he pressed his left palm onto Yun Qinghong’s chest, fully activating the Grand Way of the Buddha and transferring all the absorbed essence of heaven and earth into his body.

“Cher… you’re alive… my Cher isn’t dead… this is wonderful… truly wonderful…” Mu Yurou paid no mind to their surroundings; nothing else mattered to her in that moment. She rushed forward and embraced her son tightly, tears streaming down her face, weeping uncontrollably.

Yun Che softly said, “How could I die like that when I haven't even properly fulfilled my filial duties to my parents? Father, Mother, I must have caused you so much worry and sorrow during this time…”

Under the essence of heaven and earth infused by Yun Che, Yun Qinghong's injuries rapidly eased, and even his senses sharpened. He looked at Yun Che, and this iron-willed man also had tears in his eyes. “It’s good you’re back… It’s good you’re back… You’re alive… that is the greatest filial piety you could show us… Even if my life ends now… I will have no regrets.”

“Father, don’t say such foolish things!” Yun Che stated emphatically. “Don’t forget, your son is a divine physician! These injuries of yours… this little loss of vital essence is nothing! Father, Mother, rest assured, I will make Father recover… completely recover!”

“Good…” Yun Qinghong closed his eyes, that single short word carrying immense relief. Though he was severely injured and had lost a great deal of vital essence, and even with the Little Demon Empress's return, powerful enemies still surrounded them, meaning the danger posed by Duke Huai’s faction was far from over. Yet, at this moment, he smiled through his tears, devoid of any tension, resentment, or anger, only feeling profound comfort and contentment. His family was reunited, a luxury he had believed he would never experience again in his lifetime.

The Little Demon Empress’s gaze slowly swept across the hall, and from her delicate lips came a voice as cold as ice: “Who will explain to this Empress exactly what has transpired here?!”

The Little Demon Empress's voice carried an extremely heavy… immeasurably heavier aura of pressure than before. Even without meeting her gaze directly, merely hearing her voice caused breathing difficulties and stiffened bodies.

The Little Demon Empress, presumed dead, had returned on the day of the new emperor’s coronation, bearing the Golden Crow mark and having awakened her Golden Crow bloodline! This was undoubtedly the most astonishing and awkward scene in the history of the Illusory Demon Realm.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Demon Emperor Guards stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly. “Little Demon Empress, four months ago, you vanished without a trace, and the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley was forcibly opened. After the seal closed, you did not emerge… Everyone believed you had perished in the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley. Therefore… therefore… today is… is… the new emperor’s coronation ceremony…”

“Coronation ceremony?” The Little Demon Empress slowly turned her gaze, her icy stare like a chilling blade piercing directly at Duke Huai and everyone standing behind him. “Duke Huai. You certainly project a grand air. But how dare you wear that imperial robe?!”

The Demon Empress’s burgeoning anger, and the astonishing oppressive force, instantly suffocated everyone. Those who had hastily pledged allegiance to Duke Huai in recent months were thrown into turmoil, their hearts pounding with fear, utterly at a loss. However, many other factions—especially those who had long been affiliated with Duke Huai’s manor—exchanged glances, and gradually, even their initial panic subsided. For what difference did the Little Demon Empress’s return from the dead make? Duke Huai’s faction had always far surpassed hers in strength. In these short few months, their power had expanded even more significantly… What could the Little Demon Empress now compare to Duke Huai, apart from the millennia-old prestige and lingering authority of the Demon Emperor clan?!

The Little Demon Empress's appearance was nothing more than an added complication to this coronation! Today, not to mention the Little Demon Empress, even if the former Demon Emperor were to return from the dead… he wouldn't be able to stop Duke Huai’s ascension!

Amidst rapid exchanges of glances, the minds of those aligned with Duke Huai quickly settled. Things had progressed too far; they had no room for retreat, nor any need to do so! King Zhong stepped forward, meeting the Little Demon Empress’s gaze. “Little Demon Empress! Four months ago, you abruptly halted the ceremony, then abandoned the powerful figures from across the realm who had come to attend, vanishing for four months without a trace. All of us believed you had met with disaster in the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley.”

“During these past few months, if not for Duke Huai… no! If not for the New Emperor taking charge, the Illusory Demon Realm would surely have fallen into chaos! The New Emperor's ascension is supported by the realm, a result of popular demand… What reason do you have to accuse the New Emperor?!”

Though facing the Little Demon Empress, King Zhong’s words were sharp, impolite, and unreservedly accusatory. It was clear he no longer considered her the ruler of the Illusory Demon Realm.

“Duke Zhong, how dare you!” Mu Yubai roared. “You dare to be so disrespectful and speak so rudely to the Little Demon Empress? It seems you are openly planning rebellion!!”

“What did Duke Zhong say wrong?!” Helian Kuang bellowed, forcefully suppressing Mu Yubai’s voice. “Little Demon Empress, your being alive is certainly a pleasant surprise, but you vanished for four months without a word, and the Illusory Demon Realm believed you dead. Therefore, the ‘Little Demon Empress’ has naturally become a part of history! Now, the New Emperor is robed in imperial attire, the deed is done. By all accounts, the true Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm is now Emperor Huai, and no longer the Little Demon Empress!”

“Hah!” Mu Feiyan scoffed. “As the Guardian Family Head of the Demon Emperor clan, you utter such treasonous words! Your generation has shamed your Helian ancestors for a hundred generations!”

“Hmph!” Helian Kuang’s expression remained unchanged. “What our Helian clan truly protects is a wise ruler of the Illusory Demon Realm! We protect the stability of the Illusory Demon Realm! Leaving aside that the Little Demon Empress is a woman, in terms of ability, the New Emperor far surpasses her! In terms of popular support, the New Emperor also surpasses her! The New Emperor is inherently more suited to be the Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm than the Little Demon Empress! The only reason the Little Demon Empress became Emperor a century ago was solely due to her Demon Emperor bloodline! Now, she abandoned the wavering Illusory Demon Realm for four months, causing great chaos throughout the land… Having returned now, what prestige or authority does she have left to continue leading the Illusory Demon Realm?!”

Under Yun Che’s power of heaven and earth, Yun Qinghong's injuries finally stabilized, and his complexion improved significantly. Yun Che secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then turned his face, staring at Duke Huai with a faint sneer. “You, who bear the mission of protection, who once loudly proclaimed unwavering loyalty to the Demon Emperor clan until death, are now brazenly scolding the Little Demon Empress… What grand authority! What shameless effrontery! I’d like to ask this Helian Family Head: Who unified the once chaotic Illusory Demon Realm? Who brought ten thousand years of peace to the Illusory Demon Realm, allowing humans and demons to coexist peacefully? Who led your Guardian Families to unite the realm, enabling you to stand at the apex of the Illusory Demon Realm for ten millennia? And who allowed certain ungrateful, deceitful dukes to enjoy boundless glory from birth?! Was it the Demon Emperor clan… or this so-called ‘New Emperor’ whom you’re so eager to grovel before?!”

“You…” The moment Yun Che spoke, Helian Kuang’s heart lurched. The shadow of four months ago reawakened and magnified in his mind, rendering him speechless for a moment.

“You actually have the audacity to openly declare that this Duke Huai is more suitable to be the Emperor of the Illusory Demon Realm than the Little Demon Empress, hahahaha! What a colossal joke! Without the Demon Emperor clan, Duke Huai is nothing but a nobody; what right does he have to be compared to the Little Demon Empress?!” Yun Che’s gaze sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, “You keep accusing the Little Demon Empress of disappearing for four months without reason… So why don’t you ask this so-called New Emperor why the Little Demon Empress disappeared for four months? He knows… clearly knows!!”

“Young Master Yun, what exactly happened?” Qin Zheng, the Heavenly Demon Domain Lord, eagerly asked. “What truly transpired four months ago? Is it possible Duke Huai really…?”

Yun Che shifted his gaze, and facing the attention of the entire hall, he calmly stated, “All of you have been in Demon Imperial City for several months, so you must have heard of Duke Huai’s long-standing ambition! However, Duke Huai’s manor not only harbored rebellious intentions early on, but they are also thousands of times more malicious than you could ever imagine! Four months ago, it was Duke Huai himself—along with his father, the Underworld King, who had been missing for many years—who seized the opportunity when the Little Demon Empress forcibly opened the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley with the Demon Emperor Seal, to lay a deadly trap for her inside the valley! At that time, I stumbled upon the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley opening and also entered it! As a result, I happened to witness their assassination attempt on the Little Demon Empress! The Little Demon Empress and I were forced into a desperate situation, compelled to fall into the Sea of Death!”

“Wh-What?!” Gasps filled the hall. Su Xiangnan said, “Entering the Sea of Death means certain death; how then did you…?”

“Of course, it was due to the protection of the Golden Crow Divine Spirit!” Yun Che said with a cold face. “The Demon Emperor clan is the sole inheritor of the Golden Crow Divine Spirit; how could it allow its last lineage to be severed? Thus, it rescued us from the Sea of Death… Otherwise, the Little Demon Empress and I would have long been buried within! Such regicides and traitors, so blasphemous, are intolerable to heaven and earth… To think that today, they would be hailed as the New Emperor… It is truly a disgrace to the Illusory Demon Realm for ten thousand years!”

Yun Che’s words instantly stirred an uproar in the hall. Duke Huai let out a cold sneer and said gloomily, “Yun Che, have you said enough?! This Emperor originally held some respect for your Yun family, but… today, I am truly greatly disappointed! Yun Qinghong slandered me, and I tolerated it repeatedly. The moment you, Yun Che, appeared, I knew you would certainly parrot Yun Qinghong’s accusations… and indeed you did! Your Yun family has truly gone to great lengths and spared no effort to frame this Emperor!”

Yun Che watched him with cold eyes, his gaze filled with mockery, as if watching a clown trying to perform.

“But unfortunately, your framing has a ridiculous flaw,” Duke Huai sneered. “Once one enters the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, there is no way to exit unless the seal is reborn—a fact known throughout the realm. However, four months ago, after the Yun, Mu, and Su families entered the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, and before the seal was reborn, I was always in Demon Imperial City and never left! Countless people present, including many from your Yun family, witnessed this with their own eyes! You claim this Emperor laid a deadly trap for the Little Demon Empress… Does this Emperor have clones or something?! After the ceremony was suddenly interrupted that day, I never saw the Little Demon Empress again. This utterly flawed slander is nothing more than a joke that brings shame upon your Yun family!”

Duke Huai’s face grew even darker. “While your Yun family’s desperate attempts to frame this Emperor are utterly shameless and despicable, they could perhaps be seen as a form of loyalty to the Demon Emperor lineage, so this Emperor could still tolerate it repeatedly! But… you, Yun Che, to slander this Emperor is one thing, but to dare to slander my Royal Father’s reputation as well?!”

“My Royal Father lived a life indifferent to fame and fortune, free from worldly disputes. Over a hundred years ago, he bid farewell to the former Demon Emperor and traveled the Illusory Demon Realm, living a life of leisure, like a carefree crane… this is well-known throughout the land! For these past hundred years, let alone others, even this Emperor has never seen Royal Father again. You, a mere Yun family brat…” Duke Huai was trembling with anger. “To dare to slander my Royal Father has crossed this Emperor’s bottom line… Your Yun family must give this Emperor an explanation today! Otherwise, do not blame this Emperor for showing no mercy!”

“You want an explanation?” Just as Yun Che was about to speak, the Little Demon Empress’s utterly cold voice came from above. “Then this Empress shall personally give you an explanation!!”

The Little Demon Empress’s grey robes swayed slightly as she suddenly made her move, the mark between her brows flashing with a momentary crimson-gold brilliance.

“Your Highness, look out!!”

Duke Huai’s guards quickly moved, trying to shield him. But in the next instant, no one saw any other movement from the Little Demon Empress, yet a flash of fire suddenly erupted from Duke Huai, followed by a sharp, shattering “ping” sound…

Duke Huai’s spatial ring directly collapsed and shattered. A jade seal, emitting a crimson fiery glow, shot out from Duke Huai’s broken spatial ring right before everyone’s eyes. Then, under an irresistible suction force, it traced a crimson streak and flew into the Little Demon Empress’s hand.

“That’s… the Demon Emperor Seal!!”

“It’s the Demon Emperor Seal!!”

“The Demon Emperor Seal… this…”

Its form, radiance, and aura… it was undeniably the one and only Demon Emperor Seal in existence! To shatter a mid-stage Emperor Lord’s spatial ring with a single blow was a power capable of astonishing the world. But the crowd no longer cared about that, for they had all watched with their own eyes as it flew out from Duke Huai’s shattered spatial ring…

The hall instantly erupted in an uproar. Even those belonging to Duke Huai’s faction had drastic changes in expression, looking horrified, and Duke Huai’s own face became completely rigid.

“Duke Huai!!” Mu Feiyan roared. “Since you claimed you hadn’t seen the Little Demon Empress since the ceremony… then why was the Demon Emperor Seal in your possession?!!”