Chapter Fifty-Three: Deterrence

From the stands, Black Moon witnessed Hei Cheng about to kill Yang Ta and felt a fleeting sense of satisfaction. Unexpectedly, someone intervened, prompting her to shout out in frustration.

Hu Baisheng hadn’t expected that even after Yang Ta swallowed the Blood Fate Pill, he would still nearly die at Hei Cheng’s hands. Regardless, Hu Baisheng couldn’t allow anything to happen to Yang Ta—otherwise, who would he rely on to find the treasure?

“I think it’s best if no one’s life is at risk.”

To outsiders, Black Moon’s cultivation was that of a great demon, so Hu Baisheng always assumed she was no match for him and often put on airs, though Black Moon always ignored him.

“But you made the rules just now.”

“Can’t I change the rules now? Neither the Great King nor the Second King has said anything—why are you meddling?”

“No.”

“Silence!” King Yu Rong interrupted the quarreling demons. The two were important figures on Wuzhang Mountain, and to have their petty dispute become a laughingstock was intolerable.

Yuan Wuji sat above, expressionless, and only spoke when the hall grew quiet:

“Then the two of you should spar.”

Yuan Wuji wished to gauge Black Moon’s true strength; Black Moon understood Yuan Wuji’s intentions, which made her hesitate to make a rash decision. Hu Baisheng, meanwhile, was eager to suppress Black Moon and elevate his status in Wuzhang Cave.

“This…”

“What, old fool, are you afraid?”

Normally, Black Moon would have ignored Hu Baisheng, but with so many eyes upon them today, she couldn’t swallow her pride. Besides, she was eager to teach the insolent Hu Baisheng a lesson.

“Very well, today I’ll fight you.”

Meanwhile, Hei Cheng and Yang Ta were helped off the stage by demon soldiers, and for some unknown reason, one of the main players—Mao Xue—was absent today.

Now, only Black Moon and Hu Baisheng stood atop the arena. At first glance, Hu Baisheng’s aura seemed much stronger than Black Moon’s, but in a real fight, things would be different.

“Old man, I’m going to teach you a lesson right now.”

Hu Baisheng summoned all his strength, launching an attack on Black Moon. His aura, reminiscent of the Ten Thousand Demon Gold Core, was something Black Moon had sensed before on Yuan Wuji. She couldn’t help but be wary of Hu Baisheng, but soon dismissed her concerns.

How could a mere great demon hope to defeat me?

Facing Hu Baisheng’s ferocious onslaught, Black Moon’s arms moved, but unlike Hei Cheng’s earlier display, hers were restrained and subtle.

In a single instant—no more than a heartbeat—Hu Baisheng was already lying on the ground, coughing up blood, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Not only the demon soldiers below, but even King Yu Rong beside Yuan Wuji couldn’t make sense of what had happened in that fleeting moment.

Black Moon might have thought her actions flawless, hiding her cultivation perfectly. The only explanation could be the use of a magical treasure, but would the steward of Wuzhang Cave lack such items?

Yuan Wuji narrowed his eyes. He had clearly witnessed Black Moon’s supernatural technique. Only those who had mastered their powers to perfection could achieve such a result—Black Moon was indeed extraordinary.

“Impossible! Old man, what trick did you just pull?” Hu Baisheng sputtered resentfully.

He staggered to his feet, unleashing his full power and pushing his cultivation to the peak of the great demon realm. But Black Moon’s cultivation was at least at the consummate level; there was no way he could win.

Just as the demon soldiers below thought Hu Baisheng was about to make a comeback, a voice rang out from the viewing platform:

“Lost is lost—get off the stage.”

Hu Baisheng was still of use to Yuan Wuji; he could not be allowed to die at Black Moon’s hands. Black Moon recognized the aura in Hu Baisheng’s battle mannerisms—one she had sensed before on Yuan Wuji—so she understood why Yuan Wuji had spoken up to stop Hu Baisheng’s reckless defiance.

A great wave surged in Hu Baisheng’s heart. The voice carried an aura only he could feel, one that made the demon core in his body submit. Others might not sense anything, but Hu Baisheng knew exactly what had just happened.

“Disperse,” King Yu Rong announced, seeing Yuan Wuji depart and losing all interest in lingering. Everyone was left to their own affairs.

Back in the central hall of Wuzhang Cave, Yuan Wuji recalled the aura Hu Baisheng had unleashed during the fight. Apart from the demon core, there was a natural aggression—a power Yuan Wuji, well-versed in such matters, would never mistake.

The Devouring Demon Heart sent Yuan Wuji a signal, confirming his suspicions.

“Impossible, impossible—none of this is possible.”

Back in his own cave, Hu Baisheng clutched his tiger head and roared in anguish. He couldn’t believe he had lost to Black Moon, and Yuan Wuji’s warning left him even more terrified. The feeling of his heart submitting was something he had never experienced before, and it frightened him deeply.

“I knew it—there’s no way he’d give me cultivation for nothing.”

Now, Hu Baisheng was at a loss. The power his cultivation granted was not something he could give up, yet Yuan Wuji’s warning made clear that his life and death rested on another’s whim.

Ever since obtaining the demon core, Hu Baisheng had heard a nightly voice urging him to destroy it. In his naïveté, he had trusted Yuan Wuji not to harm him, so he ignored it. Yet the Ten Thousand Demon Gold Core was no ordinary thing—countless primordial beasts had bowed before it. Even though Yuan Wuji had used a simplified method to refine Hu Baisheng’s core, it was not something just anyone could command.

The Ten Thousand Demon Gold Core stirs all the desires and emotions of living beings—one thought begets a thousand.

Hu Baisheng found his demon core not only far stronger than a normal one, but also sensed its strangeness, even uncovering secrets that spurred him to action.

“I will become the strongest—what are the King of Divine Apes and King Yu Rong to me?”

“As for those things in my dreams, they’re not even worth pursuing.”

Hu Baisheng was about to take a crucial step forward and would not abandon it because of Yuan Wuji’s warning. He firmly believed he would surpass Yuan Wuji.

“First, let Yang Ta reveal the location of the treasure.” With that, Hu Baisheng strode out of his cave.

His impatience grew—he longed to confront Yang Ta immediately.

“Tiger General…”

The demon soldiers outside Yang Ta’s cave barely had time to greet him before Hu Baisheng rushed in.

Inside, Yang Ta, battered and exhausted, slumped on a stone chair, eyes lifeless. Only when Hu Baisheng entered did a feverish gleam return to his gaze.

“Little Tiger—no, General Tiger, Lord Tiger, have you come up with another plan?” Yang Ta rushed excitedly to Hu Baisheng.

“I’ve done all I can for you. Now, take me to the treasure.”

“Bah! Unless I get Mao Xue, I won’t hand it over.”

Unlike the Blood Cloud Pill, the Blood Fate Pill’s main side effect was to unleash all desires. Yang Ta had taken the Blood Fate Pill more than once, and after years of longing for Mao Xue, his mind was now almost entirely ruled by desire. The charm he once had was gone—which was also why Mao Xue chose Hei Cheng.

The simple yet genuine Hei Cheng, the desire-driven Yang Ta—it was an easy choice.