She Dominates the Immortal Realm with Her HP Bar-Chapter 120

◎She Actually Fancies the Snake—How Is She Any Different from Xu Xian?◎

Originally, after the Crow’s Cry Fire had merged with its main body, Yan Luoyue and the others planned to return directly to the human realm.

However, a minor incident occurred along the way.

—Because Clan Leader Xiangyun didn’t know their true origins, he genuinely mistook Yan Luoyue and her companions for messengers sent from the human realm.

Clan Leader Xiangyun thought that although a desolate place like Birdsong Gorge was unlikely to receive any letters, there was a saying—"Since you’re already here."

Having come all this way, wouldn’t it be a waste to return empty-handed?

As everyone knows, one of humanity’s inherent traits is bringing back souvenirs from wherever they go.

Now, applying this to the cultivation world, even demons couldn’t escape this custom.

Thus, Clan Leader Xiangyun specially requested Yan Luoyue’s group to stay a little longer.

In exchange, he would take the opportunity to gather firsthand intelligence from the various demon alliances, which Yan Luoyue and the others could bring back.

If convenient, they could even escort a demon messenger back with them.

This way, at this critical juncture when demonic creatures were growing restless, the human and demon realms could reestablish communication.

After hearing this proposal, Yan Luoyue only pondered briefly before deciding to stay.

It wasn’t just for delivering messages—more importantly, she wanted to use this opportunity to repair a functional spatial passage between the human and demon realms.

Coincidentally, the Crow’s Cry Fire had just merged with its main body, and she could also test how well she and the fire harmonized.

Once their synergy improved, refining the main body of the Falling Moon Wood would be twice as efficient.

As the saying goes, sharpening the axe won’t delay the chopping of firewood.

……

Back in the day, constructing spatial passages between the three realms was a major event that drew everyone’s attention.

Since both demons and fiends primarily focused on developing their innate abilities rather than relying on external tools, neither had many master artifact refiners.

Thus, all the cultivators responsible for opening spatial passages were humans from the human realm.

To secure their services and avoid falling behind, the demons and fiends paid exorbitant prices—so steep that even mentioning them now would make people gasp.

After receiving the deposits, several master refiners joined forces, backed by most of the cultivation world.

Even so, it took nearly ten years to complete the spatial passages connecting the three realms.

But for the Puppet-Devouring Web of Emotions, such a task was as easy as eating or drinking.

This invader’s innate talent lay in opening spatial passages. To achieve this, it only needed to manipulate a few of its silver threads.

This was also why, even as the passages between the demon and human realms fell into disrepair, the fiend realm could still invade with such ease.

After hearing Yan Luoyue’s plan, Clan Leader Xiangyun was both pleasantly surprised and skeptical, with a hint of hesitation.

The surprise went without saying.

The skepticism arose because Yan Luoyue seemed far too young to single-handedly accomplish such a monumental task.

As for the hesitation…

Clan Leader Xiangyun asked tentatively, "H-how much will it cost?"

Yan Luoyue: "…"

She could tell that the exorbitant fees demanded during the first construction of spatial passages had left a deep impression on the demon realm.

Amused, she shook her head and said frankly, "This is serious business—consider it my public service. Just provide the necessary materials."

To repair a spatial passage, three essential elements were required.

The first was special materials. Just as bridges spanning rivers and seas needed pillars for support, spatial passages needed materials to serve as the "skeleton" holding up the tunnel.

After much deliberation, Yan Luoyue settled on puppet threads as the "bones" for the passage.

Coincidentally, the demon realm was currently at war with the fiends.

Materials like these could be sourced locally.

Over the years, the demon realm had stockpiled a vast number of puppet threads. If she needed more, she could always harvest them fresh—supplies were readily available.

The second element was stable yin-yang harmonizing energy.

For a passage, stability was paramount.

Its role was akin to the air in an underground tunnel—invisible and intangible, yet no one dared overlook its importance.

In the past, when constructing passages between realms, obtaining pure, stable, and balanced yin-yang energy had been a major challenge for human refiners.

But for Yan Luoyue, this problem was easily solved: as long as she was present, yin-yang energy was guaranteed.

As for the third element, it required a heaven-and-earth strange fire capable of burning through space.

The Crow’s Cry Fire puffed out its chest proudly and chirped twice, declaring itself up to the task.

……

While waiting for the demon alliance to gather materials and assign personnel, Yan Luoyue and the others remained in the River Valley Clan.

Near the River Valley Clan was the spatial passage they had arrived through.

Before the materials were delivered, Yan Luoyue and her two companions stayed with the River Valley Clan.

One day, Yan Luoyue was chatting and laughing with the River Valley Clan Chief as they discussed the unique methods demons used to deal with fiendish creatures.

In this world, all things exist in a cycle of mutual restraint. Though these fiends were invasive outsiders, given the demons' endlessly creative nature, there was always "a perfect counter" for certain fiends that even humans found troublesome.

The River Valley Clan Chief vividly described: "Take the Winged Fiends, for example..."

These were low-level fiends with cultivation comparable to human Foundation Establishment cultivators, but they existed in vast numbers.

In the cultivation world, since humans could only wield flying swords at the Foundation Establishment stage, they usually sent Foundation Establishment cultivators to deal with these fiends.

But this was somewhat like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

The River Valley Clan Chief proudly said, "As for us..."

Yan Luoyue chuckled, "You send out Qi Condensation bird demons, right?"

"Hahaha, that’s one way. But bird demons are usually smaller than Winged Fiends. So we..."

"—We use giraffe demons!"

Yan Luoyue widened her eyes in surprise. "Huh?"

"Winged Fiends don’t fly very high, and giraffe demons often cultivate a secret technique that allows them to stretch their necks much longer."

The River Valley Clan Chief took a sip of tea, her face glowing with excitement as she continued:

"Let me tell you, when a giraffe demon sticks its head into the clouds, bites a Winged Fiend’s wings, and yanks it down—it’s faster than fishing! One bite, one catch!"

Yan Luoyue: "..."

That was certainly an angle she had never considered before.

Just then, faint sounds of commotion seemed to drift over from the distant borders of the clan’s territory.

Yan Luoyue extended her spiritual sense and, upon seeing the scene there, raised an eyebrow slightly.

Meanwhile, a demon sentry rushed over to deliver a report.

"Clan Chief, a Great Maw Fiend has suddenly appeared near our territory!"

Though the fiend’s name sounded unremarkable, it occupied a high position in the fiendish hierarchy.

The Great Maw Fiend resembled a loose cloth sack, with twenty-eight pairs of sharp legs protruding from its underside. It moved slowly, like a massive mobile war machine.

Its catfish-like mouth spanned a full third of its body length. Though it had no teeth, its suction power was unparalleled.

This fiend’s hide was incredibly tough, earning it the title of "glutton" among fiends—it devoured everything in its path.

As long as something was edible, it would suck in any cultivators, living beings, or even its own kind... straight into its belly.

Upon hearing the name, Yan Luoyue immediately stood and politely asked, "River Valley Clan Chief, should we...?"

The Clan Chief also rose to her feet.

Though the situation was unexpected, her demeanor remained unshaken.

First, she calmly reassured the messenger with a few steady words. Then, she invited Yan Luoyue to observe the battle from the front lines.

"Our honored guest need only watch—no need to intervene," the River Valley Clan Chief said confidently. "Over the years, we demons haven’t relied on others’ help to survive."

It wasn’t until they arrived at the scene that Yan Luoyue understood the Clan Chief’s strategy.

At first glance, the sight was rather alarming:

Before the Great Maw Fiend’s gaping mouth, a line of fierce-looking men and women stood, their expressions brimming with wild determination.

Like a suicide squad, they charged toward the fiend’s maw with heroic resolve.

Yan Luoyue, well-traveled as she was, immediately made the connection: "Are they... voluntarily feeding sword cultivators to it?"

In the human world, a similar tactic was used against Great Maw Fiends.

Since the fiend’s hide was too tough, its inner walls were comparatively softer—though not by much.

Thus, someone had devised this "fight your way out from within" strategy.

Initially, people tried tossing poison into the Great Maw Fiend’s mouth while it was sucking things in.

But the fiend had strong resistance—likely due to its indiscriminate diet—and toxins had little effect.

Later, sword cultivators would enter the fiend’s stomach with their swords and stab their way out from the inside.

Unfortunately, the mucus secreted by the fiend’s inner walls was highly corrosive to metal but less so to flesh.

Some speculated this was because the fiend had limited feeding opportunities, so it needed to preserve its meals for slow digestion.

Thus, in later adaptations, sword cultivators would entrust their blades to comrades before leaping in, relying solely on sword energy to fight—unwilling to let their beloved weapons be damaged inside the enemy.

Yan Luoyue mused, "In the human world, it usually takes four or five sword cultivators working inside the Great Maw Fiend’s stomach for half a day to successfully break free."

The River Valley Clan Chief waved his hand with a chuckle. "Oh, we in the demon realm don’t have that many sword cultivators."

"Then what did the Clan Chief just send in…?"

The River Valley Clan Chief smiled meaningfully, playing coy. "Care to take a guess, honored guest?"

Yan Luoyue couldn’t discern the origins of the teams of men and women who had leaped into the demon’s maw.

But what she could see was that, before long, the giant-mouthed demon flipped onto its back, exposing its belly.

It writhed and rolled on the ground like a delicate young girl struck by menstrual cramps.

Yan Luoyue blinked. "Huh?"

To her knowledge, giant-mouthed demons had fairly robust digestive systems. For it to react so violently—what on earth had it swallowed?

The demon thrashed about, soon coated in a layer of dust, its expression one of sheer agony.

Soon enough, it gaped its mouth wide and began vomiting up the cultivators it had devoured earlier, one after another.

"……"

The first to be expelled was a brown-robed man with a head full of tiny braids.

He wiped the sticky mucus from his face, and a clansman promptly handed him water to wash up, as if they’d anticipated this very outcome.

After observing for a while, Yan Luoyue noticed that these people’s hair all looked rather stiff and bristly.

A realization dawned on her. "Could it be that these heroes are…?"

"Yes, yes!" Before Yan Luoyue could even finish forming the word, the braided man grinned broadly, thumping his chest proudly. "We’re from the porcupine tribe!"

In an instant, everything clicked for Yan Luoyue.

Porcupine quills were notoriously easy to shed.

And if they lodged into an opponent’s flesh, they could cause excruciating pain.

No doubt this porcupine squad had transformed back into their demon forms upon charging into the giant-mouthed demon’s belly, then proceeded to roll around recklessly in its stomach cavity.

Given the demon’s tough inner lining, the quills might not have punctured it outright, but they certainly wouldn’t have made for a comfortable experience.

—To put it in human terms, a dry straw might not pierce your esophagus, but try shoving a broomstick down your throat.

Even a human would vomit, let alone a giant-mouthed demon.

Unfortunately for the demon, the lightweight quills clung stubbornly to its stomach walls, making them nearly impossible to expel completely.

Meanwhile, the porcupine squad took advantage of the demon’s convulsions to slide right back out of its gaping maw.

The demon tried desperately to flee, but its sluggish movements left it vulnerable as the rest of the clansmen swarmed in, surrounding it.

At one point, the demon attempted to swallow some of the attackers, but soon enough—thanks to the porcupine quills still lodged in its gut—it had no choice but to regurgitate them helplessly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yan Luoyue noticed the demons employing an "ants gnawing at an elephant" strategy.

Though most of the River Valley Clan’s demons were no match for the giant-mouthed demon in terms of cultivation, their clever use of racial traits gave them the upper hand early on, allowing them to secure victory with minimal casualties.

Clearly, Yan Luoyue’s assistance wouldn’t be needed from here on out.

The River Valley Clan Chief beamed as he explained, "This works because our clan has many porcupine demons. That’s why we use them for attacks."

Catching the implication in his words, Yan Luoyue asked curiously, "Are there other methods?"

The porcupine tactic alone was already ingenious.

The Clan Chief nodded. "Indeed. I’ve heard some clans with more aquatic demons use pufferfish to deal with giant-mouthed demons."

Pufferfish…

Yan Luoyue’s lips curled into a smile as she pictured the spiky fish that could inflate like balloons when threatened.

Compared to swallowing a pufferfish, eating a porcupine almost seemed merciful.

After all, gulping down a pufferfish would be like ingesting a bunch of spiked rubber balls.

Yan Luoyue was thoroughly impressed by the demons’ resourcefulness—each race had its own unique way of handling problems.

But her curiosity got the better of her. "What if a clan has neither porcupines nor pufferfish?"

The moment she asked, the answer came to her.

"Ah, they could borrow fighters from neighboring clans."

Wasn’t the whole point of the ten-clans-one-banner, ten-banners-one-alliance system to foster solidarity?

The River Valley Clan Chief laughed. "Borrowing fighters is an option, but I’ve yet to hear of anyone doing so."

Yan Luoyue tilted her head. "Why not?"

The Clan Chief guffawed. "Well, a clan might lack porcupines or pufferfish, but with so many insect demons around, practically every territory has at least a few dung beetle tribes, right?"

Yan Luoyue: "……"

Wait, surely not…

Misreading her expression, the Clan Chief kindly elaborated:

"Force-feeding manure to induce vomiting—it’s an age-old remedy passed down by our ancestors…"

Using this method, it would be easy to repel the Great Maw Demon, but killing it would be far more difficult.

The River Valley Clan Chief had only spoken halfway when Yan Luoyue earnestly stopped her from continuing.

Holding the Clan Chief’s hand with deep emotion, Yan Luoyue said sincerely, "I understand completely. Please, say no more."

If she went on, Yan Luoyue would start picturing it all too vividly in her mind!

At the same time, after witnessing the group’s united efforts against the Great Maw Demon, Yan Luoyue felt a surge of inspiration.

The Demon-Subduing War three thousand years ago had been so brutal for two main reasons. First, no one had encountered these invasive alien species before, and their numbers were overwhelming—kill one, and a whole nest would emerge, leaving everyone scrambling to respond.

Second, the demon realm back then was still somewhat isolated and exclusionist. A single clan’s territory might only house a few different species, often closely related, resulting in a lack of diversity.

But now, everyone had come to understand the weaknesses and traits of these demonic creatures.

Different races lived together in mixed communities.

No matter what kind of demon they faced, they could adapt and assemble a suitable counterforce.

It felt almost like...

Like the Moonfall Tree, entangled by puppet strings, had ultimately given birth to the "game" known as All Realms as One.

Smiling faintly, Yan Luoyue suddenly recalled a modern saying:

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

The Puppet’s Love-Devouring Web would eventually perish at the hands of the enemies it had created.

Yan Luoyue was certain of this.

...

That evening, the River Valley Clan held a courtship festival, and the Clan Chief warmly invited Yan Luoyue and the others to attend.

If the human realm’s grandest celebration was the New Year, then the demon realm’s equivalent was undoubtedly the courtship gatherings held by each clan.

The date wasn’t fixed, but everyone—elders, children, even invited friends, relatives, and promising youths from other clans—could join in.

Ling Shuanghun summed it up in one sentence: "It’s like they get to celebrate New Year multiple times a year."

Yan Luoyue’s face lit up with envy. "Ah, so besides weekends, they must get plenty of annual leave too, right?"

Ling Shuanghun: "???"

Of course, the bit about weekends was just a joke.

Treating the courtship festival as a grand buffet, Yan Luoyue happily brought Wu Manshuang along.

"This is what you call bringing your own partner," Yan Luoyue teased, playfully winking at Wu Manshuang.

That night, the River Valley Clan’s largest square was illuminated by bonfires bright as daylight.

Elders, children, human merchants who’d come specifically for business, and the River Valley Clan’s single men and women—everyone gathered in high spirits, their faces alight with joy.

Among the demon races, many were gifted in song and dance.

And unlike humans, who pursued romance with restraint, demons believed courtship was about showcasing their finest qualities to their desired partners.

And what were those finest qualities? Vibrant feathers, lush fur, strong muscles and bones, resonant voices...

So ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‍the scene was both lively and bold, brimming with a joy that bordered on the unbelievable.

As for Yan Luoyue, she, Wu Manshuang, and two friends found a quieter corner to sit.

Before them lay an array of snacks they’d bought from various stalls—all authentic, uniquely demon-realm delicacies.

Yan Luoyue first tried a strip of dried meat, then devoured a skewer in one go, followed by sampling some demon-realm-style dried fish.

After savoring the flavors, she remarked with slight regret, "Not as good as Sister Yu’s dried fish."

From these three dishes, Yan Luoyue deduced that demon cuisine leaned toward bold, salty, and spicy flavors. Food prepared this way left a strong impression, addictive to those who enjoyed it.

Paired with a local specialty fruit drink, the tastes of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty all danced on the tongue.

Yan Luoyue occasionally stole glances at Wu Manshuang’s handsome profile...

The myriad flavors of the world, the countless emotions in her heart—in this moment, it was pure bliss, surpassing even the joys of immortals.

Except for one thing...

The two shared a knowing look and sighed in unison: "Ah—"

If only the Crying Crow Flame would behave and stop causing trouble.

Lately, though the flame had accepted Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang’s relationship, it had developed a fondness for mischief.

For instance, the moment it saw them holding hands, it would let out a loud, "Cock-a-doodle-doo!"

The crowing was eerily realistic—who knew when the flame had even learned it?

The enthusiastic cry even attracted a lovelorn hen searching for her rooster beau.

Yan Luoyue burst into laughter, nearly toppling over.

And just like that, the tender atmosphere between them dissolved into helpless giggles amid the relentless cock-a-doodle-doos.

Helpless, Yan Luoyue covered her eyes with one hand, wiping away tears of laughter.

Then, suddenly, she felt a tug on her sleeve.

She lowered her hand and looked over, realizing the person tugging her sleeve was Ling Shuanghun.

"?"

Yan Luoyue shot him a questioning glance.

Ling Shuanghun subtly glanced at Wu Ti, then at the nearly touching fingertips of Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang, before smirking teasingly.

Yan Luoyue blinked, and a sudden idea flashed through her mind.

She clasped her hands together and shook them pleadingly at Ling Shuanghun.

—Xiao Ling, please, please! This girl wants to fall in love, wants a romantic date, wants it so badly!

Ling Shuanghun had nudged Yan Luoyue precisely for this reason.

Seeing her gesture, the elegant white crane smiled gracefully and mouthed to her: "Leave it to me."

Then, Ling Shuanghun cleared his throat and turned his gaze to the scene before them.

Perhaps because his form resembled a bird, Wu Ti's Flame had a particular fascination for avian demon cultivators.

Whenever birds sang and danced in the gathering, he would sway along in delight, sometimes even forgetting to bother Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang.

A radiant presence like Wu Ti's Flame shone as brightly as stars in the night.

Naturally, the cheerful little Wu Ti drew plenty of attention.

However, the demon realm was vast, and its bizarre creatures were countless.

So when others saw Wu Ti, they assumed he was just another rare demon breed, sparing him a glance before moving on.

Once again, as Wu Ti's Flame turned his gaze toward a preening peacock in the crowd, Ling Shuanghun suddenly stood up.

Pointing at a graceful silhouette in the distance, he loudly "muttered to himself."

—"She’s such a beautiful maiden. I’m going to talk to her—no one better try to stop me."

Yan Luoyue followed Ling Shuanghun’s finger and saw a woman with feathered wings—clearly another avian demon.

She was chatting animatedly with a companion, her wings fluttering so vigorously that one could almost hear her bright, melodious voice.

But what truly captivated Yan Luoyue was the woman’s voluptuous, curvaceous figure.

Especially her ample bosom, so full and round it seemed ready to burst through the seams of her top.

Yan Luoyue raised an eyebrow in surprise, giving Ling Shuanghun a stunned look.

Never judge a crane by its feathers—who knew Xiao Ling had such tastes?

Wu Ti's Flame had a childish streak, believing that snatched snacks tasted better and that playmates were only fun if they were stolen away.

So, before Ling Shuanghun could take a step forward, Wu Ti's Flame kicked up a cloud of dust, blinding the white crane.

Then, with a triumphant chirp, he zipped ahead toward the avian maiden.

"Jijijijiji!" Wu Ti's Flame crowed victoriously. "Too slow!"

Ling Shuanghun pretended to chase but stopped after a few steps, watching as Wu Ti's Flame streaked away like a comet.

He shot Yan Luoyue a knowing smile and flashed a thumbs-up.

"Just wait a little longer," Ling Shuanghun said, grinning. "Wu Ti won’t have the mind to bother you two after this."

The words carried a deeper meaning, but Yan Luoyue’s focus had already shifted.

She teased, "Xiao Ling, I never knew you liked that type of girl."

"What? What type? You mean—" Ling Shuanghun caught on and burst into laughter.

His clear, resonant voice spiraled into an operatic trill as he waved his hands dismissively.

"Xiao Yan, you shouldn’t jump to conclusions so quickly."

Yan Luoyue looked over just as Wu Ti's Flame reached his target and said something.

Immediately, the buxom maiden spun around, rolling up her sleeves aggressively.

…Huh? Wait a minute.

For a woman, weren’t her arm proportions a bit… off? And that chest of hers—

Yan Luoyue instinctively touched her own chest, her expression turning puzzled.

Um… shouldn’t a normal girl’s upper chest be attached a little lower than the neck?

As if confirming her suspicions, Wu Ti's Flame came streaking back, sparks flying in his wake.

He stomped in place, quacking furiously at Ling Shuanghun.

"You—you—!"

"What about me?" Ling Shuanghun feigned innocence. "I wanted to talk to that maiden, but you cut in. Fine. But why are you so worked up?"

Wu Ti's Flame shrieked, his voice cracking:

"—HE’S A MAN!!!"

"!"

Yan Luoyue recoiled dramatically: Holy hell, no wonder his chest looked weird!

Was gender transition already a thing in the demon realm? That’s way too progressive.

Ling Shuanghun finally lost it, laughing uproariously as he explained:

"That’s a male sage grouse. During mating season, they inflate two air sacs on their chests… Well, it makes them look quite… voluptuous, as you’ve just witnessed."

"Ahhhh, I'm going to peck you bald!!!"

The furious Wu Ti Zhi Huo flapped its wings, smothering Ling Shuanghun’s face like an angry cat.

Squeezing out a gap between the flapping wings, Ling Shuanghun shot Yan Luoyue a look that clearly said, "You and Wu Manshuang owe me one," before leading the enraged bird away.

With the departure of these two ridiculous friends, the corner suddenly fell into quiet.

Yan Luoyue rested her chin on her hand, her gaze drifting unconsciously toward the little snake.

The flickering campfire cast dancing shadows across Wu Manshuang’s profile, deepening the contours of his features.

At some point, he had loosened his collar slightly, revealing pale collarbones now gilded with a warm golden hue by the firelight.

The color reminded Yan Luoyue of sweet honey egg tarts and refreshing chilled lemonade.

For a moment, she felt an inexplicable thirst.

What she didn’t know was that the fire’s glow had painted a faint blush at the corners of her eyes.

Noticing this, Wu Manshuang gently pressed his palm against her cheek, his thumb brushing softly over her eyelid.

"What are you thinking about?" he murmured.

Yan Luoyue blurted out, "—I actually crave snake?! How am I any different from Xu Xian?"

Wu Manshuang: "???"

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected such an answer.

But he was long accustomed to Yan Luoyue’s occasional randomness—so much so that he could react almost instantly.

The next second, Wu Manshuang crooked his finger, pressing his knuckle against her lips.

Leaning closer, the shadows of his lashes flickered across her pupils with every blink.

With a teasing smile, he asked, "Want a taste of snake? Would you like to try a bite?"

"..."

Yan Luoyue imagined herself biting down on his knuckle, and her ears burned instantly.

Seeing her press her lips tightly shut, Wu Manshuang shook his head with a chuckle and leaned in further.

"I gave you a chance, but you refused… So now it’s my turn."

In the next moment, a black cloak suddenly draped over both of them, plunging their world into darkness.

Within this confined space, the air grew thick with heat and tension, pulling them impossibly close.

Under the cloak, Yan Luoyue let out a soft yelp before her voice was muffled by something.

A while later, the cloak was lifted again, revealing Wu Manshuang smiling at the three or four bite marks on his knuckle.

Meanwhile, Yan Luoyue clutched one of her flushed ears, her breaths slightly uneven, her eyes shimmering with an unconscious sheen.

Wu Manshuang helpfully prompted, "Well? Still want to be Xu Xian?"

Though he didn’t know who Xu Xian was, he had clearly grasped her earlier meaning.

Yan Luoyue huffed, "No, I’m going to be Fa Hai."

Snake demon, I’ll suppress you under Golden Mountain Temple!

Otherwise, you’re far too enchanting!

Wu Manshuang chuckled softly, then carefully tucked his bitten knuckle into his palm, as if treasuring it.

......

Not long after, the spatial passage Yan Luoyue had been repairing was nearly complete.

Just as the final reinforcements were about to be applied, the River Valley Clan Chief personally came to deliver news to the trio.

This was unusual—after all, she could have contacted them via communication stone.

Whatever she had to say must be important.

Setting aside her work, Yan Luoyue, along with Wu Manshuang and Ling Shuanghun, received the Clan Chief.

Without preamble, the River Valley Clan Chief stated, "We’ve received intelligence."

The message came from the Heliang demon tribe across the valley.

On stormy nights, they dreamed of a dark cloud entering their homes, followed by an overwhelming sense of urgency.

Then, to their shock, some found their limbs moving on their own.

They rose from bed, walked to the center of their rooms, and used sticks to carve the words "Preparing to attack the human realm" into stone slabs.

The same incident had occurred for three consecutive nights.

At first, some dismissed it as sleepwalking.

But by the second night, no one believed that anymore.

No sleepwalking could make three or four different people act so identically.

Here, the River Valley Clan Chief sighed softly.

We suspected enemy infiltration, but the Yaozu all insist they saw no intruders.

"Preparing to attack the human realm."

The message could be a taunt, a feint—or, however slim the chance, a desperate warning from allies in the demon realm.

Yan Luoyue nodded. "It’s definitely worth taking seriously."

She and Wu Manshuang exchanged a glance, reading the same thoughts in each other’s eyes.

Wu Manshuang said, "Once we finish constructing the final stretch of the spatial passage, we’ll bring this news back."

After the River Valley Clan Chief left, Yan Luoyue, Wu Manshuang, and Ling Shuanghun exchanged uneasy glances.

As fellow participants who had lived through the Chu Tiankuo incident, they had all keenly detected certain familiar traits in this situation.

The overcast gloom of a rainy sky, the restless stirrings of emotion, and the puppet-like strings of manipulation…

The three of them looked at one another and spoke in unison: "—An Emotion Devourer?"

Realizing this possibility, Wu Manshuang immediately stood up.

His voice was gentle as he said, "Luoyue, you continue refining the spatial passage. I’ll go investigate that location."

Ling Shuanghun also rose to his feet. "Then what about me…?"

Wu Manshuang shook his head lightly. "It’s better if I go."

After all, he was the incarnation of the Frostheart Stone. If the Emotion Devourer attempted to possess him, the extreme Yin energy within him would inflict harm on such a troublesome fiend.

Two or three hours later, Wu Manshuang finally returned.

His expression was calm and solemn—Yan Luoyue recognized it at once as the look he wore when deep in thought.

Ling Shuanghun pressed, "Well?"

"I saw it." Wu Manshuang pinched his fingers, lost in contemplation. "That Emotion Devourer… it seemed to recognize me."

Yan Luoyue paused her work. "Why do you say that?"

Wu Manshuang gave a faint shake of his head.

Logically, Emotion Devourers had no fixed form, appearing as nothing more than a dark mist.

Thus, they shouldn’t have expressions, nor could humans discern any body language from them.

Yet, strangely, when Wu Manshuang detected the Emotion Devourer hiding beneath the cloud cover, disguised as a wisp of gloom, its reaction had seemed almost… flustered.

This wasn’t because Wu Manshuang had suddenly mastered mind-reading.

Rather, the creature’s demeanor had felt unnervingly human.

Yan Luoyue pressed urgently, "And then?"

Wu Manshuang shook his head again, clearly just as puzzled by why the fiend had fled from him as if he were a monster.

"Then, the Emotion Devourer ran away."

This sudden appearance—and equally sudden disappearance—was merely the final interruption in their construction of the spatial passage.

After that single encounter with Wu Manshuang, the Emotion Devourer never showed itself again.

……

A few days later, the stabilized spatial passage was finally completed.

And with that secure channel now in place, the human and demon realms were reunited after so many years apart.

Watching the two realms reestablish communication and work together in harmony, Yan Luoyue was reminded of the days during the Demon Subjugation War, when they had fought side by side, trusting one another with their lives.

Three thousand years ago, three thousand years later—this bond had not changed in the slightest.

……

Not long after, multiple spatial passages suddenly opened within the human realm, linking directly to the demon world.

The battle that had been destined to come… arrived far sooner than anyone expected.