Volume One Hidden Abyss Chapter Twenty-Six

She journeyed north, from snowfields to icy mountains, from icy mountains to lakes, from lakes to tall forests, from tall forests to open plains, searching endlessly for Bai Wanting’s lost divine consciousness scattered across the Six Realms. By the time she returned to the mortal world, Bai Wanting had already lived through her fifth life.

She entered the imperial palace and saw a small palace maid cowering in a corner, her tormentors laughing and jeering as they left her behind. Truly, this world is governed by the cycles of fate; fortunes rise and fall in turn. Once, others suffered under her cruelty—now, it was her turn.

Jin Li stood before her. The little maid raised her dirty face, bruised and battered, yet her eyes remained bright and clear. Jin Li squatted beside her; lacking divine consciousness, she had no emotions—she could neither cry nor laugh.

The maid gazed at Jin Li with wide eyes and slowly said, “Sister, you look so beautiful.”

Sister?

Jin Li smiled, reached out to gently touch her head, and infused her with divine consciousness. A smile tugged at the maid’s lips.

Wasn’t she supposed to cry after being beaten?

“Sister, are you a goddess?” the maid asked.

Jin Li replied gently, “Yes, from now on, I’ll be your guardian spirit. So you must behave.”

Bai Wanting smiled with delight.

Watching her departing figure, Jin Li thought: it seems this lifetime will be spent within these deep palace walls.

Jin Li turned to leave, but just then sensed someone’s gaze upon her. She looked up: atop a lofty pavilion, a figure dressed in yellow robes watched her. Jin Li said nothing, shifted her gaze, and quietly disappeared into mist around a corner.

The Emperor of Yue hurriedly summoned his shadow guard. “Did you see her? That young lady just now.”

The guard nodded. “Go, quickly, find her.”

With a bow, the guard departed.

On the street, Jin Li was enjoying a bowl of noodles when she overheard people discussing how the Emperor of Yue was searching for a beauty.

She set down her chopsticks, calculated with her fingers, and mused that the fortunes of Yue were indeed flourishing; soon, a new ruler would ascend the throne. The Emperor of Yue was cruel and debauched, obsessed with beauty—when the new sovereign launched his coup, both would burn together.

She sighed, paid her bill, and headed toward the outskirts.

Wildflowers and grasses stretched endlessly. Jin Li rode a donkey she had found somewhere, traveling west, just as a galloping cavalry came into view.

She leaned against a stone, transformed herself into a man, and lounged leisurely in the shade. Her donkey wandered off to graze. Hearing the horses stop before her, she saw someone dismount and ask, “Sir, could you tell us the way to Jingyue City?”

Jin Li pointed eastward; the man thanked her and mounted his horse to leave with his companions. As she opened her eyes, she glimpsed a striking figure atop a tall horse, wearing a mask. Their eyes met—briefly, but Jin Li caught a glimpse of the eyes beneath the mask: the eyes of the future ruler of Yue, months hence.

“Old donkey, let’s go.”

Jin Li led her donkey away, wandering without destination.

That night, she took shelter in a temple. Perhaps due to the sparse population nearby, the incense offerings had faded.

Jin Li found a clean spot and conjured a fire with her magic, but just then, she heard an untimely sound.

Resigned, she shifted aside and made room.

At the door, she heard a familiar voice: “Hey, this donkey looks familiar.”

As the door opened, it was indeed the travelers she’d met earlier, now just two.

“Ah, it’s the gentleman who let his donkey roam today.”

Jin Li looked up, sized the pair, and smiled. “What a coincidence, meeting again.”

The three sat by the fire. Jin Li observed the man across from her—handsome, with refined brows and a dignified air, clearly the leader. The other, stout and cheerful, had a simple, honest look. The slender one must be the masked rider from earlier.

The jovial one spoke up, “Brother, where are you headed?”

“Just wandering, out for a spring excursion.”

“Are you from Jinli City?”

Jin Li shook her head. He pressed, “Then you must be from Shengjing?”

At the mention of Shengjing, the masked one slowly opened his eyes, regarding her.

Those eyes were familiar—very familiar, beautiful, pitch-black irises with starlight swirling within.

“No, I’m just a city dweller in the capital, running away from an arranged marriage.”

“I knew it! With your attire and bearing, you must be fleeing from family pressure.”

How did he deduce that?

Jin Li felt embarrassed for him. “I haven’t asked your names yet. I’m Ah Hu, and this is Ah Jing.”

Ah Jing?

Jin Li paused, memories rippling in her heart.

“I have other matters; I’ll take my leave,” she said, rising and stepping out. By the time Ah Hu chased after her, she was gone.

Jin Li sat among the clouds. After so long, she still hadn’t moved on, though she thought she had—it was only self-deception.

Just then, she sensed a sinister presence. In an instant, she darted through the clouds to a secluded mansion, eerily silent and abandoned.

She gazed above the mansion, where demonic energy billowed. Perhaps a new demon was about to be born here.

Eighty thousand years ago, before the Demon Lord was sealed, he cast a curse: he would use his own blood to nurture the most vicious demon in existence.

So this was the birthplace of the demon fetus.

She pressed her fingers together; as golden light flared at her fingertips, she twisted her fingers and formed a seal, palms facing, summoning arrays of golden talismans in the air.

Standing atop the eaves, wind beneath her feet, she looked down on the vast courtyard. At its center lay a gigantic cocoon, entwined by thick, silver-white threads. Faint purple light emanated from the cocoon, flowing along the threads.

The enormous spiderweb was littered with bones.

It seemed the spiders here had been corrupted by demonic energy, mutated into demon beasts.

“Brother, do you see anything?” Ah Hu’s voice drifted from behind, startling Jin Li, who grabbed his shoulder and tossed him down—only to realize the ground was covered in dense webs.

Quickly, she pulled Ah Hu back up.

Ah Hu was still shaken, his round face pale.

“Are you all right?” Jin Li saw that the two from the ruined temple had reunited with her once more.

Ah Hu shook his head. Jin Li spoke coldly, “Sorry, I don’t like people speaking behind my back.”

Ah Jing regarded the slender youth before him with keen interest. Moon-white hair ribbons fell across his shoulders; clear eyes shone brightly in the night, full of alertness and seriousness.

Ah Hu scratched his head, a bit embarrassed.

Jin Li studied the mansion; though the demonic energy was heavy, she sensed no sign of the demon fetus.

She touched the demon-binding cord at her waist to ensure it was still there, then whispered to the two behind her, “This place is dangerous; leave quickly.” She set up a protective array for them.

Without another word, she stepped into the demonic lair.

Thousands of threads glimmered with faint purple light as she tiptoed along them, eyes wary.

Ah Jing folded his arms, his dark gaze never leaving her.

Suddenly, the sound of something spinning silk echoed. Jin Li froze, turning just in time for a needle-sharp thread to brush past her, nearly knocking her off balance.

She glanced into the darkness, where countless green lights glinted.

The spinning intensified.

Jin Li formed seals with her hands as a massive mutated spider lunged at her, its mouth reeking with poisonous stench. She pushed golden talismans toward it; the demon spider howled and retreated several meters.

But as it awakened, more demon spiders emerged. The silver web trembled, Jin Li’s footing faltered; she felt her spiritual power suppressed, unable to fully unleash it.

Losing her balance, she fell from the web, quickly casting more talismans. Golden threads ensnared the spiders, immobilizing them as their mouths opened in loud cries, purple poison saturating the air.

“Brother, that purple mist is poisonous—be careful!” Ah Hu called from above.

She almost forgot these two were still on the eaves.

How could mere mortals be so fearless?

But there was no time; she quickly sealed her blood and strode toward the demonic cocoon, hearing faint heartbeats.

If she destroyed the fetus before it matured, the Demon Lord would never be born.

But she was mistaken. As she drew near, the cocoon shuddered violently.

She looked up at the night sky. The full moon was slowly turning red.

On the night of the lunar eclipse, the Demon Lord would descend.