Chapter 8: Fallen on Hard Times

"Jun Cailin, I never expected that after all these years, you would still be as beautiful and moving as ever!" said the Shadow Demon. He remained deeply wary of this woman; yet, he could not fathom why she, having lived in seclusion for so many years, had appeared here today.

"Mother! Why have you come?"

Liang Xi was overjoyed. He threw himself into Jun Cailin's arms. At this moment, he was no longer the hero who fought to the very last breath, but simply a child, seeking comfort in his mother's embrace.

Jun Cailin gently stroked Liang Xi's head and laughed. "Why did I come? It was your father. A few days ago, he sensed you would encounter danger and urged me to rush here. Fortunately, I made it in time. You little rascal, you've been a troublemaker since you were small, never able to stay out of trouble. Is the Shadow Demon someone you should be provoking? You have no sense of the gravity of things!"

Jun Cailin’s tone was gentle. While it sounded like a reprimand, it was filled with care. What she truly meant was: Is the Shadow Demon so impressive? My child bullied him—so what?

Indeed, the Shadow Demon’s expression darkened instantly. However, constrained by her status, he could only offer a cold snort, not daring to act presumptuously. But Zhu Xin, not knowing who Jun Cailin was, felt that if someone dared to insult the Shadow Demon in his presence, they were asking for death!

"You filthy woman, you're courting death!"

"Cangyun Death-Dealing Sword!"

A sharp, piercing sword light shot from Zhu Xin's hand!

Seeing this, the Shadow Demon’s face turned even uglier. Zhu Xin, that useless fool, was always bringing him trouble! If this woman were just an ordinary person, would he have waited until now? Still, it was fine; let this Zhu Xin suffer a bit so his temperament wouldn't be so arrogant.

Jun Cailin’s expression did not change. She did not even look at the so-called Cangyun Death-Dealing Sword. She continued to look at Liang Xi with a smile, then cast her gaze toward Ji Anran. She understood the look between the two youngsters all too well—her boy had good taste. "Don't worry, now that Mother is here, I will not allow anyone to hurt you!"

Clang!

The incredibly sharp divine sword was blocked by an invisible wall of air a foot in front of Jun Cailin!

"Break!" Jun Cailin commanded with a soft cry.

Bang!

The Cangyun Death-Dealing Sword shattered instantly!

A standard air wall was usually for defense, but in Jun Cailin’s hands, this technique—which everyone knew—could actually be used for offense! The Qin family disciples had completely lost the capacity to think; with their limited experience, such a phenomenon was beyond their comprehension.

"Shadow Demon, it’s been a while, and your subordinates have become increasingly unruly, daring to strike at me. Just now, it was only for the sake of our past acquaintance that I didn't kill that dog. Now, I give you two choices: either you apologize to my son, and for the sake of our old friendship, we can put this behind us, or I fight you myself, life or death notwithstanding. You bullied my son, and as his mother, I must vent his grievances!"

"What? You say Liang Xi is your son? How is this possible? If he were truly your son, he should have revealed his identity from the start; why go through the trouble of fighting personally?"

"Hmph, my son must naturally rely on his own strength to carve out his path. As his mother, I support him. What was that look for? What? Can a beauty like me not have a son? Enough talk. Fight or apologize; choose. My patience is limited."

Jun Cailin rarely lost her temper, but when she did, it was like a thunderous storm. Purple lightning crackled around her, her aura formidable. If he wanted to fight, they would fight; she hadn't moved in a long time, and the Shadow Demon had likely forgotten how terrifying she could be.

Though Liang Xi knew his mother’s strength was immense, the fact that she could cow the Shadow Demon with just a few words felt exaggerated. Liang Xi did not know that many years ago, the Shadow Demon had been soundly defeated by Jun Cailin, and for a long time, the mere sound of her voice had filled him with inexplicable dread.

But the Shadow Demon had endured enough of those days. What was his status now? The Master of Heavenly Demon City! If he lowered his head and apologized today, his reputation would be ruined. He could not back down; the Qin family was his goal!

"Jun Cailin! You go too far!"

"Demon God Palm!"

Suddenly, the Shadow Demon’s body swelled in the wind, transforming him into a giant demon god dozens of feet tall. A pair of palms, vast as a city, slowly smashed toward Jun Cailin!

"Jun Cailin, your era has long since passed! Today, you die!"

"Hmph, so many years have passed, and you truly haven't changed your ways—your mouth is always the most formidable thing about you!"

"Thunder Sword!"

The lightning surrounding Jun Cailin gathered in her palm, forming a sword of electricity in an instant. "Thunder law blankets all things; thunder roars in the void!"

Empowered by these incantations, the Thunder Sword spun at high speed, swelling in the wind! Were these two supreme experts of the age truly going to fight to the death?

The Thunder Sword flew directly toward the giant demon god with staggering momentum!

"Go to hell! Today, I will defeat you!" The Shadow Demon was now completely twisted by madness!

Boom!

Before the disbelieving eyes of the crowd, the once-arrogant giant demon god was pierced by the Thunder Sword and collapsed! How could this be? He was a once-in-a-century genius of Heavenly Demon City, entering the path of martial arts at ten, defeating the previous city master at eleven to become the youngest master in the city's history, reaching the pinnacle of martial arts at fifteen, and entering the martial realm at twenty. He was a dragon among men, yet he had been defeated again—and so thoroughly!

It seemed that only in front of this woman were all the Shadow Demon’s pride and achievements fragile and hollow.

"I will not lose to you a second time!"

"Demon God Slash!"

With so many people watching, the Shadow Demon refused to admit defeat. If he lost now, he would have nothing left! The shattered giant demon god was forcibly reformed by him, and a sword of terrifying killing intent condensed in its hand!

"I am the Lord of Heavenly Demon City; I cannot be defeated! Today, all of you will die!"

The demon god gripped the sword with both hands, and a sharp, tyrannical blade light erupted!

Boom!

A crescent-shaped beam of light roared forward! No one could withstand this sword of killing intent! The Shadow Demon’s face was completely deranged. Suppressing himself, restraining himself—that was not him. Only through crazed battle was he truly himself!

"Hahaha! That’s right, that’s right!" The frantic laughter echoed in the air. At this moment, all the Qin family disciples fell into deep despair. Perhaps this was truly the retribution for their family!

"Descent of the Thunder Ancestor!"

Even at this moment, Jun Cailin remained indifferent. Jun Daoxing had taught her that only when facing a powerful enemy could one truly ignite their potential. There is no end to the martial path—only constant battle!

Jun Cailin’s slender body was now surrounded by lightning, transforming her into a Thunder Ancestor dozens of feet tall. "This battle today is the one where you and I settle our grievances. Whether we live or die depends on this final strike!"

"Hahaha, the one who dies will be you!"

The Shadow Demon had become the Great Demon God, and Jun Cailin had become the Thunder Ancestor. Everything was exactly as it had been in their battle from long ago!

This battle was beyond the comprehension of ordinary men; it transcended the very understanding of the martial path! Can the martial realm, practiced to its limit, truly achieve such feats?

Boom!

The shocking impact instantly leveled the newly rebuilt houses of the Qin family. If the Qin family square and buildings had souls, they would surely be angry—how many times had the family been destroyed, including this time?

The incredibly powerful Demon God Slash, while peerless, had now encountered the even more formidable Thunder Ancestor. The giant body of the demon god was shattered once again in an instant!

"Since you chose not to apologize, I will beat you until you submit!"

"Thunderbolt Strike!"

Boom!

The sky was now filled with terrifying purple lightning. This scene left all the Qin family disciples in horror. They had thought Liang Xi was surprising enough, but who could have imagined his mother was even more insane? Looking at this posture, was she trying to exhaust all the lightning power of the world today?

The violent purple lightning condensed into a fierce tiger, descending from the sky and smashing heavily into the Shadow Demon!

Boom, boom, boom!

The earth shook. How would this battle end? The Shadow Demon was suppressed by absolute power; he had no recourse!

Pfft!

His once-formidable body suffered another heavy blow, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, crashing hard into the ground!

"Is this your Great Demon God? Now it seems there is really nothing to it. I originally thought you might give me some surprises, but now it seems there are no surprises, only much disappointment. Weren't you very arrogant just now? Come on then, is this all you have? Hmph, if that is the case, you cannot defeat me!"

"I heard that all these years, you have been studying curses to defeat me. Unfortunately, you truly have no chance to use them now. Die! You hurt my son, and you must pay with your life! It is all over!"

"Thunder Slash!"

Boom!

The Thunder Sword pierced the Shadow Demon’s body once again! Zhu Xin was so terrified he couldn't even speak a complete sentence! This was too shocking—the invincible Lord Shadow Demon of Heavenly Demon City had been defeated just like that?

"Master!!"

Zhu Xin’s shout brought everyone back to their senses. What had just happened? It had all occurred too fast, leaving no time for reaction.

"The Shadow Demon has lost! The Shadow Demon has lost! The Qin family is saved!"

Swoosh!

The Qin family disciple who had been cheering was pierced through by a sword in the blink of an eye, falling with a smile and a look of shock! It was the Shadow Demon’s sword! Could it be that the Shadow Demon hadn't died despite such heavy injuries?

"Demon God Liberation!"

The Shadow Demon’s voice echoed in the air.

In an instant, he transformed into a streak of black light and slammed into Jun Cailin! The speed was so fast that even the quick-reacting Jun Cailin was caught off guard!

Boom!

Jun Cailin’s body was sent flying, crashing into a hill a hundred meters away from the Qin family, causing it to shatter! What was happening? Why could the dying Shadow Demon suddenly unleash such astonishing power?

"Aiya, I was truly beaten terribly by you just now. So many years have passed, and you are still as formidable as ever. But what about now? Haven't you been severely injured by me? If I hadn't possessed the Heart of Curses, perhaps that thunder strike would have killed me! I spent a great deal of effort to obtain this Heart of Curses. Fortunately, it seems it was all worth it!"

"Fierce Tiger Thunder God Strike!"

Under the horrified gaze of everyone, a tiger covered in lightning appeared out of thin air, its posture incredibly fierce! The entire space distorted at this moment. Standing to the left of the tiger was the Thunder God.

"Now, this is the end of everything!"

Roar!

Swoosh!

The tyrannical tiger roar merged with the Thunder God’s sword light, striking Jun Cailin once more!

Jun Cailin’s beautiful face was cold. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. This was how it should be!

"Son, don't worry, Mother is fine. Just watch calmly and see how I deal with this bastard!"

Jun Cailin sent a telepathic message to Liang Xi, telling him not to worry. She hadn't encountered such a battle in a long time; it seemed the Shadow Demon had truly made significant progress over the years!

Swoosh!

Jun Cailin’s movement was like the wind, leaving behind trails of afterimages. She felt a powerful curse rushing toward her!

"Hahaha, Jun Cailin, now I will let you truly experience what despair is! In the past, this was how I survived, and now everything has changed! You cannot withstand my Fierce Tiger Thunder God Kill!"

"Thousand-Mile Heaven-Shocking Palm!"

A giant flame palm slowly descended from the dark, cloud-covered sky. The pressure was astonishing. Everyone noticed that there seemed to be a giant phantom in the sky, though it was too far away to see clearly.

In front of this Thousand-Mile Heaven-Shocking Palm, the Shadow Demon’s Fierce Tiger Thunder God Kill seemed so small and fragile!

Boom!

The shockwave from the two ultimate techniques caused the sky to crack open completely!

"Die for me!"

The Shadow Demon was using his final ounce of strength. His face was completely twisted. Damn it all—if it weren't for this woman, the Qin family would already be his! Why did she have to come!

"The one who should die is you! Martial God Fist!"

Bang!

Jun Cailin had entered the Martial God mode. In this mode, she was invincible; no matter how severe her internal injuries, they could be healed in an instant. The Martial God Fist was her strongest killing move!

"You want to defeat me? That will never be possible in this lifetime!"

Bang, bang, bang! The Shadow Demon’s strong body broke six pillars standing in the Qin family, and he spat out a torrent of blood. The Shadow Demon was defeated—truly defeated this time! His cultivation was crippled!

"Hoo, hoo, hoo," Jun Cailin panted. This damn man was truly powerful to have pushed her to this point. "The heavenly pillars have broken; the Qin family is truly finished. This is retribution!"

"Hahaha, that’s right, that’s right. I have finally waited for this moment. The pillars collapse, and the Qin family’s years of effort turn to nothing in an instant! Zhu Xin, our mission is finally complete!"

"Tell me quickly, what exactly is suppressed beneath the Qin family? What are these six pillars? Why would a man like you be so interested in the tiny Qin family?" Jun Cailin sensed something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"Hahaha, even the always-calm Jun Cailin has moments of panic? I can answer your three questions now. The Qin family suppresses the generation-defining Demon King, Yu Hualong. You must have heard that name, right? Now he is about to break his seal, and there is no one left in the world who can stop him!"

"Everything I did was for him. Back then, Yu Hualong was such a hero, yet he was sealed away for years by the ancestors of the Qin family. These six pillars were the core of the seal. The pillars are destroyed, and the Demon King emerges! Hahaha, long live the Great King!"

Suddenly, the heavens and earth changed color. Wild winds howled, and countless red bolts of lightning descended, turning the land into scorched earth. The Qin family members were horrified. Yu Hualong was out—who could stop him now?

"Hahaha, I never thought I, Yu Hualong, would have a day to see the light again!"

Boom!

The earth shattered, and a man in his thirties slowly stepped out of the smoke and dust. Having been sealed for so many years, Yu Hualong’s complexion was pale. "So many years... the air outside is still better!"

Ah!!!

At the same time, countless Qin family disciples screamed and died, blood pouring from their seven orifices—clearly their meridians had been shattered by a powerful force. "To think the Qin family has become like this, not even a single decent person left. A Qin family like this is useless!"

"Master, Demon King Master, you have finally returned. It was worth all the hard work I put in over the years!" The Shadow Demon’s face was filled with joy and awe. Even though he had been tyrannical just moments ago, in front of Yu Hualong, he was like a rabbit.

Yu Hualong glanced at the Shadow Demon faintly. "You were the one who let me out? Then you must know where Old Qin is. Tell him to come see me; tell him his old friend whom he hasn't seen in years misses him and wants to chat and catch up!"

Old Qin referred to the Qin family ancestor, Qin Mengzu.

To be able to seal Yu Hualong with his own power—such a person was not just an opponent, but a rare friend in this life.

"Master, the Qin family ancestor passed away many years ago." The Shadow Demon did not understand the complex emotions Yu Hualong held toward the Qin family.

Yu Hualong’s expression turned somber. "Is that so? Heh, I should have guessed. I must go see my old friend. You don't need to follow. I know what you want; you have done me a service, and I will not mistreat you."

The Shadow Demon had been waiting for these words, but he dared not show too much. "Master is joking. Letting you out is the only wish of this disciple's life. Seeing you is enough; I ask for nothing else!"

"Speaks with a forked tongue; truly disgusting," Yu Hualong muttered. "Fine. Judging by your aura, you must be a disciple of Demon Heaven City. Go back for now; when I need you, you will come!"

As for Liang Xi and the others, Yu Hualong didn't even spare them a glance. He had seen many such juniors before. "You want to defeat me? Or even kill me?"

The deep voice echoed in Liang Xi’s mind. Under such an aura, Liang Xi could not move at all! "Don't be anxious. Since I have emerged, I have many things to do, so there is no need to rush. I will let you perform well!"

That was the aura of a generation of Demon Kings—few words, but every syllable carried immense power, not to be underestimated!

This was Plum Blossom Ridge, the geomantic treasure of the Qin family. There used to be a saying: "Plum blossoms bloom on Plum Blossom Ridge, drawing countless predecessors here." So many years had passed, and it remained unchanged. No, there were changes—his friends were no longer by his side.

"Burial site of the hero Qin Mengzu."

"Mengzu, is this the result you sought after all these years of effort? I have emerged, and the seal you worked so hard to build is now destroyed by me! You must be unwilling. You had so many things you wanted to do. How did you put it to me before? You said you would protect the Qin family. Now you have become a joke!"

"You are here alone on Plum Blossom Ridge; do you know what has happened to the Qin family? I said before that as long as I emerged, I would destroy the Qin family. The Qin family is a shackle—it didn't just destroy me; it destroyed you too! Tell me, if I destroy the Qin family now, you would surely be very happy, right?"

Yu Hualong spoke to himself for a long time, drinking three jars of wine from day until dusk. Finally, he stood up. "Alright, I must go. When I have finished everything, I will come back to see you."

"Go!"

Yu Hualong walked past the Shadow Demon and said faintly.

"Master, where are we going now?"

"Naturally, to Demon Heaven City. After all, that is my territory. There are some people and some things I must settle! Before that, I must visit the Qin family once. You just wait."

"Yes!"

"People of the Qin family, listen well: tomorrow, I will destroy the Qin family!"

Yu Hualong’s voice reached every ear in the Qin family, leaving them at a loss. The Qin family was destroyed; the one who killed Beifeng would naturally appear. If they didn't believe it, they could try!

Demon Heaven City was the former seat of the Demon Sect. Unfortunately, years had passed, and the Demon Sect was no longer what it once was! The people of Demon Heaven City now only knew how to indulge in pleasure and did not understand cultivation at all!

"Big brother, have you heard? That person has emerged? You say, we treated him like that back then—how will he treat us? I am truly a bit scared!"

Duan Shui’s face was pale. It was true; when the group from Heavenly Demon City besieged Yu Hualong, he was the one who charged at the front. If Yu Hualong really came, he would be the first to die!

"Look at your lack of spine. What are you panicking about? We were able to cripple him back then, so why fear him now? If he doesn't come, then fine. But if he dares to come, I will ensure he dies without a burial place!"

Shen Ren’s words made Duan Shui feel slightly better. It was true; this was Demon Heaven City, with a large number of elite forces outside—it wasn't that easy to break in!

Boom!

The mountain gate, several feet thick, was thrown into the main hall, creating a large crater in the floor. Two people walked in slowly: the former master of Demon Heaven City, the Demon King Yu Hualong, followed by the Shadow Demon.

"Shadow Demon, you are presumptuous! Daring to bring an outsider to my Demon Heaven City—do you want to be expelled from the sect?"

The astonishing noise startled Duan Shui and Shen Ren, who naturally questioned the Shadow Demon with ugly expressions.

The Shadow Demon now had a backer and no longer needed to care about the faces of these two old ghosts. He had waited for this day for a long time.

"Two old things, today is the day you die! As long as you two live, Demon Heaven City will never know peace! Having said so much, neither of you seems to have noticed who the master beside me is? Has his appearance really changed that much after all these years?"

"Two blind things, why haven't you knelt before the Demon King? I think the ones who should die are actually you!" As soon as these words were spoken, Duan Shui fell to the ground, his face full of horror. "He has returned... he has finally returned!"

"Yes, I have finally returned. But you, Duan Shui, are still as useless as before. What? After all these years, is the only thing you've learned to stir up trouble? Weren't you very arrogant back then?"

Bang!

Yu Hualong squeezed his hand gently, and Duan Shui exploded and died on the spot!

"Such trash naturally doesn't require me to act. But you are different, Shen Ren. You are a disciple I personally cultivated. I hate you as much as I once trusted you. But don't worry, I won't let you die so easily. I will torture you bit by bit. All the pain I suffered in the past, I will collect back from you, piece by piece!"

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Several sharp rays of light burst forth!

"Don't come over! You are already a dead man! Die now! Demon Heaven City doesn't need you anymore; my current strength has surpassed yours!"

Clang, clang, clang!

These blades were all blocked by Yu Hualong’s protective aura!

"After all these years, you really haven't made any progress. Have you forgotten? This set of blades was something I taught you. You’ve used this set to build a great reputation over the years. Die!"

Bang, bang, bang!

Ah!!

Shen Ren let out a miserable scream; all his meridians were broken!

"Disciple, all your meridians are now destroyed. You are like a dead dog. You don't even have the qualifications to die by my hands. I’ll spare your life so you can go report to Ghost Hand. I know you two are close—he is my true opponent! I am waiting for him to come. I have planted a deadly poison in your body; if you dare to run, your fate will be the same as Duan Shui's!"

Shen Ren knew this man’s character—whatever he said, he would do. Even after so many years, the fear of this man had not diminished by a single fraction.

Boom!

The boulders sealing the back mountain cave shattered! A man in red floated out—the strongest person in Demon Heaven City now: Ghost Hand! "Has he finally returned? It was worth all these years of bitter cultivation. But old friend, it won't be so easy to see me. Try the dessert I've prepared for you first."

"Yu Hualong, you traitor, you actually dare to return! Everyone, listen well: the man in front of you is no longer our leader; he is a traitor to Demon Heaven City! Kill him!"

"Nine Heavens Mysterious Spirit Formation!"

Instantly, a powerful force locked Yu Hualong’s body in place. He had likely entered another dimension. The Nine Heavens Mysterious Spirit Formation fused all the power of heaven and earth—it could heal and it could harm. Demon Heaven City’s former prestige relied on it!

Countless forces condensed into beasts like tigers and lions, and thunder and lightning flashed all around. "Old friend, long time no see. Seeing you so energetic, I am relieved. I think you must be very familiar with this place. You created the Nine Heavens Mysterious Spirit Formation, yet now it is being used against you. My heart truly feels sad!"

"Hmph, Ghost Hand, after all these years, you still enjoy being sneaky. Rest assured, I have long since stopped putting such a mere formation in my eyes. When I get out, the first person I will look for is you!"

Yu Hualong was completely unafraid of the violent power surrounding him. If he wanted to, he could suppress these forces in minutes!

"Hahaha, good, well said! After all these years, you are still as formidable. Fine, then try it. I’ll be waiting for you!"

Boom!

This mysterious space had been modified; it was completely different from when he was here. He was knocked to the ground by a shockwave.

That’s right—only this way is it interesting!

"Space Division!"

Wind blades swept through the space, leaving Yu Hualong no chance to fight back!

"Moonlight Divine Slash!"

A pale blue blade light shot from his hand, but such a powerful move was absorbed by the space!

"I knew your Moonlight Divine Slash could cut through any barrier in the world, so how could I not make preparations? You cannot use any moves now; only death awaits you!"

"Back then, I could defeat you, and I still can! Your era has long since passed. If you had stayed quietly at the Qin family, I might have visited you for the sake of old times. Unfortunately, you are never one to stay quiet. This is all your fault. Die!"

"Sand Flow!"

Ghost Hand would not let Yu Hualong go. "Old friend, this move was also taught to me by you. Now I am returning it all to you. But you should know, this Sand Flow is much more powerful than when you used it. You cannot withstand it!"

"Full Moon Starfall!"

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Sharp rays of light fell from the sky like meteors, striking Yu Hualong. Yes, this move was magnificent—it was also a supreme technique he had created!

Pfft!

Yu Hualong spat blood. He had just emerged from the seal of the Qin family and had no time to recover his cultivation; now he had suffered a severe blow!

Damn it, he had been careless. Only now did he realize half his body had been shattered. Fortunately, his soul power was strong enough, but such persistence could not last long!

"Let's go. This Yu Hualong is finished. Even if he lives, he is a cripple. What else do you have to worry about? But since this man is back, I must cut the weeds and pull the roots!"

How long had he been asleep? No, half his body was shattered. Even with the support of spiritual power, it shouldn't be sustainable—so why was he still alive?

"Master, are you awake? Good, I was just worried—what would happen if you didn't wake up? It's been so many years, I never expected to see you again! But you are a busy person who forgets things—you might have forgotten who I am!"

"Luo Jiutian? It’s you? How are you here?"

Yu Hualong had a good memory; anyone he had met, he remembered.

Luo Jiutian was truly excited. So, the Master still remembered his name. The suffering he had endured for so many years was worth it. "Master, have you forgotten? Back then, I was called a traitor. My being here is actually all because of you. I was a dead man, but you saved my life at the last moment. Although that was a small matter for you then, I have remembered it for so many years. I wanted to repay you, but I didn't know your whereabouts. How did you get here too?"

"Needless to say, it must be Ghost Hand’s trick. That man has always been like this—anyone who gets in his way must die. Master, I am sad to see you like this. Anyway, I can't get out, so I am willing to give you all my cultivation. You are the master of Heavenly Demon City!"

"I have always believed this!"

"You believe this? Very good. Actually, I also believe it. But, Yu Hualong, you are very lucky to have survived all this. Don't you want to know who is responsible for your current state? I’ll tell you—it’s because of me!"

Steady footsteps sounded, and the Shadow Demon’s voice echoed faintly in the space.

"Shadow Demon, it’s you? You dare to betray me? I will kill you!"

In his rage, Yu Hualong never expected to see the Shadow Demon. The damn man—he had trusted him so much, yet he had betrayed him!

The Shadow Demon looked down at the once-arrogant Yu Hualong, stepping hard on his face. "Betrayal? Hahaha, Master, you are wrong. I was never your man, so how can it be called betrayal? Actually, Ghost Hand knew you would break the seal. Since you were coming out sooner or later, I might as well help. If I hadn't tricked you for your trust, how would you have given me the key to the Treasury?"

"Now, I am the master of the Treasury! You are useless! Tsk, tsk, tsk. You used to be so high and mighty. Someone like me, you wouldn't have spared a glance. But look at you now—you have ended up in my hands. Oh, right, I have one more important thing to tell you: your family will be executed tomorrow. This is your fault; if you hadn't come out, they would have lived well!"

"Unfortunately, you killed them in the end. Ghost Hand said that for the sake of old times, he would grant you one last wish. This is your final moment. Whatever request you make, I will satisfy it. How about that? At the very last moment, I, your disciple, am the best to you!"

"Luo Jiutian, don't look at me like that. Trash like you can only fend for yourself. But I am surprised you are still alive!"

Yu Hualong was no longer as angry as before. "If I make any request, you will satisfy it? Good. Then I only have one request: I hope you can die by my hand!"

"Hahaha, that wish is truly difficult. Master, you are making things hard for me. But you can only talk big now. Speak whatever you want; if you can truly kill me, that is your fortune. But you should know that is absolutely impossible!"

"Hahaha, Master, I am happy to see you today. Don't worry, your family will be reunited with you soon. Congratulations!"

"Master, many years ago, I told you Ghost Hand could not be trusted, and the Shadow Demon even less so. Unfortunately, you were arrogant and never wanted to listen. I say this not to blame you, but to let you know that one cannot be too soft-hearted. You are fine in every way, except that your heart is too soft. Fortunately, we still have one night; I will give you all my cultivation!"

"I know you came back for revenge, and I want revenge too, but I don't have the chance. Master, it is up to you now!"

"Everything is done? Very good. Shadow Demon, you truly are the chameleon of Heavenly Demon City. Sometimes even I cannot see through you. Tomorrow, send Yu Hualong’s family on their way!"