18: The devil rescues people, the black-bellied master picks up the leaks online

In the Xuanhuang World, Fallen God Wasteland.

In the sky, dozens of Nascent Soul Old Monsters, who usually made the Xuanhuang World tremble with a stomp, were now as docile as quails, suspended in mid-air, lined up perfectly, not even daring to let their robes flutter. Leading them was an old Daoist, Xuanji Zi, whose white beard nearly reached his feet. His old face was wrinkled like a chrysanthemum, and he was trying to force a fawning smile that looked worse than crying, bowing towards the void in front of him.

On the ground, a vast crowd knelt, all the leaders of the major sects and aristocratic families, and their elite disciples. Golden Core? Nascent Soul? In this situation, they didn't even dare to raise their heads, their foreheads pressed tightly against the cold ground, their backs drenched in cold sweat that soaked their robes.

Why? All because of that Lord Lin Xuan standing in the void!

Dressed in black, he stood with his hands behind his back, as if out for a stroll. There was no expression on his face, his gaze swept over the quails and ostriches below, and the corner of his mouth seemed to curl slightly, or perhaps not. Beside him, the Lie Tian Divine Tiger squatted, its body shrunk to the size of a large golden retriever. Its amber tiger eyes occasionally swept over a certain trembling Nascent Soul cultivator below, letting out a 'grrr' sound from its throat.

"Pre... Senior... no, Palace Master!" Xuanji Zi's voice was trembling, and he bowed even lower. "All cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm in the Xuanhuang World, a total of thirty-seven, along with the leaders of all sects and clans, a total of one thousand three hundred and sixty-five people, are here... awaiting the Palace Master's decree!" His tongue was almost tied in knots. The gaze of the one above him was colder than ten-thousand-year-old profound ice. Just now, a defiant Demonic Dao Nascent Soul tried to put on airs, but the Lord just glanced at him, and that old devil evaporated on the spot without even finishing his scream, leaving no trace of ash! He died so cleanly and decisively!

"Hmm." Lin Xuan replied with just one word, his voice not loud, but it hit everyone's heart like a hammer.

His gaze swept over the quails and ostriches below. With his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes activated, all their little schemes and unwilling thoughts were as clear as an open book in his eyes.

"I will only say my words once." Lin Xuan spoke, his tone flat. "The Xuanhuang World is now under the jurisdiction of the All Heavens Star Palace. The rules will follow those of the Palace. If anyone has objections, they can raise them now." He paused, his gaze lingering specifically on a few old Demonic Dao devils with gloomy auras. "Of course, you bear the consequences of raising your objections yourself."

A deathly silence.

Raise objections? Were they tired of living? That one who evaporated just now was a bloody example!

The few old Demonic Dao devils almost buried their heads in their crotches, cursing inwardly, but their faces were plastered with a loyalty that looked worse than crying.

"No objections? Very good." Lin Xuan seemed a little disappointed. No fight, quite boring. "Xuanji Zi."

"This old man is here!" Xuanji Zi jolted.

"You, for now, will serve as a... hmm, Realm Coordinator." Lin Xuan casually threw out a title. "You are responsible for compiling a list of the assets, cultivation techniques, spirit veins, mineral deposits, and so on, of all sects and clans, and submitting it to the Star Palace. From now on, the disciple assessments and resource allocation for each family will be handled according to the Palace's rules. Anyone who dares to hide private possessions..." He casually pointed a finger at a bare stone mountain in the distance.

Boom—!

That thousand-zhang-tall stone mountain, along with a treasure vault secretly hidden by some unlucky small sect within its belly, instantly turned into dust! Not even a wisp of smoke appeared!

"Gulp..." A chorus of swallowing sounds.

"Understood! Palace Master, rest assured! This old man will dedicate his life! Absolutely no disloyalty!" Xuanji Zi almost pulled off his beard as he quickly swore an oath.

"Alright, go do what you need to do." Lin Xuan waved his hand, as if shooing flies. "Don't stand here blocking the view."

Whoosh!

The 'quails' and 'ostriches' in the sky and on the ground, as if granted a great pardon, scrambled and tumbled, transforming into streaks of light, fleeing the Fallen God Wasteland as if ghosts were chasing them. In the blink of an eye, the vast wasteland returned to its deathly silence.

The Lie Tian Divine Tiger snorted in disdain, shook its paw, and flicked away some charred stone debris: "Roar!"

"What's the hurry?" Lin Xuan patted its fluffy big head. His Law-Breaking Sword Eyes looked towards the depths of the void, where a coordinate was flashing wildly on the system panel—the Demon Realm! The mission target, an SSS-grade talent fluctuation! "The next venue is guaranteed to be exciting."

"Roar!" The Lie Tian Divine Tiger instantly perked up, its crimson-gold divine flames blazing, and its body swelled! Its two front paws fiercely tore at the void where Lin Xuan's gaze was directed!

Rip—!

A spatial rift, with rich spatial cracks flowing along its edges, was forcibly torn open! On the other side of the rift, there was no blue sky and white clouds, only a dark red sky like congealed blood, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of blood and decay! It was indeed the Demon Realm!

"Let's go." Lin Xuan stepped onto the tiger's back.

A flash of crimson-gold light, and one person and one tiger instantly vanished into the rift. The space closed, and the Fallen God Wasteland completely returned to its usual deathly silence, as if the kneeling event that decided the fate of a realm had never happened.

Demon Realm, on the edge of the Myriad Bones Demonic Abyss.

The ground here was blackish-purple, crunching underfoot. The sky was an oppressive dark red, and the demonic energy was so thick it almost condensed into ink-like liquid, dripping from the sky, corroding the ground with sizzling sounds. Twisted, demonized plants writhed menacingly.

"Roar!" The Lie Tian Divine Tiger, as soon as it landed, shook its head vigorously in disgust. Crimson-gold divine flames rose around its body, sizzling as they burned away the corrupt demonic energy attempting to invade. "Roar!"

Lin Xuan ignored it. His Law-Breaking Sword Eyes, like two searchlights, instantly penetrated through layers of foul demonic energy, scanning this chaotic land. The SSS-grade fluctuation indicated by the system was nearby! And... it was very strong!

"Catch her! Don't let that traitor escape!"

"Linglong! Hand over the Demonic Heart Origin! We'll spare your life!"

"Hehehe... Little beauty, surrender obediently, and this old ancestor might let you have a few days of pleasure!"

Sharp whistles and malicious roars came from a jagged forest of demonic bones ahead! Immediately after, a petite and exquisite black figure, moving so fast it almost left afterimages, suddenly darted out of the bone forest!

She was a girl who looked no older than sixteen or seventeen. Her tight black leather armor was torn in many places, revealing fair skin stained with dark purple demonic blood. Her small face was exquisitely beautiful, yet she had a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes that naturally carried a hint of charm when they moved, but were now filled with panic and ferocity. Most uniquely, on top of her head were a pair of small, black jade-like devil horns, emitting a faint purple glow. Behind her, three figures emanating monstrous demonic might pursued relentlessly! A bull-headed demon general at the early Nascent Soul stage, wielding a giant white bone axe! An old demon at the middle Nascent Soul stage, wrapped in chains of resentful souls! And another old demon, whose aura was the most terrifying, as thin as a skeleton, with ghastly green soul fires flickering in his eye sockets, at the late Nascent Soul stage!

The girl fled for her life, her figure constantly flickering and shifting between solid and ethereal, each flicker leaving behind an almost identical afterimage to confuse her pursuers. Meanwhile, she kept cursing: "Bah! You old, withered bone devil! You want to take this granny's origin to curry favor with that damn Heavenly Court? Dream on! This granny would rather feed it to a dog than give it to you lot!" Her voice was clear, but her curses were incredibly sharp.

"You're asking for death!" The withered bone old demon at the late Nascent Soul stage flew into a rage. His shriveled claw swiped through the air! A hundred-zhang-long giant claw, completely formed from pale white bones and entwined with countless suffering resentful souls, tore through space with a soul-freezing chill, fiercely grabbing at Linglong's back! Its speed was extreme!

Linglong's face instantly turned pale! She could feel the shadow of death enveloping her! The Myriad Transformation Demonic Heart within her pounded frantically, trying to transform again to escape, but the opponent's realm suppression was too strong, and space had been locked down!

"It's over..." A trace of despair and unwillingness flashed in Linglong's eyes, and she subconsciously closed them.

Just at this critical moment!

A bland, almost annoying voice, suddenly echoed above the battlefield, clearly overriding all the demonic roars and battle cries:

"Tsk, all this noise, you're disturbing me from picking someone up."

The voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry some strange magic, causing the terrifying bone claw reaching for Linglong to suddenly freeze!

Linglong suddenly opened her eyes, looking towards the sound in astonishment!

She saw that on top of a large, black, strangely shaped rock resembling a demon's head not far away, a person and a tiger had appeared at some unknown time. The black-robed youth stood with his hands behind his back, his robes unmoving in the foul demonic wind, as if this impure world was completely incompatible with him. Beside him squatted a magnificent giant tiger, its entire body burning with crimson-gold divine flames, currently covering its nose disdainfully with a paw.

That youth... so handsome! The first thought that popped into Linglong's head was untimely. Wait! Picking someone up? Picking up whom?

The withered bone old demon also looked at Lin Xuan with suspicion, his ghastly green soul fire flickering intensely. He couldn't discern the depth of the opponent's power! But the aura of the divine tiger beneath the opponent made even him feel a tremor in his heart! And that clean aura that disregarded the filth of the Demon Realm... he was definitely not from the Demon Realm!

"Who are you, Your Excellency? This is our Myriad Bones Demonic Abyss cleaning up its own house! I advise Your Excellency not to meddle!" The withered bone old demon's voice was hoarse, carrying a warning. The other two demon generals also stopped their pursuit, vigilantly staring at Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan didn't even look at the three of them. His Law-Breaking Sword Eyes, like a precise scanner, instantly locked onto the bewildered girl, Linglong, below, whose small horns were shaking. In the depths of his pupils, chaotic star-like patterns swirled, clearly seeing a strange core at her heart—like a black hole vortex, constantly changing in form and aura, emitting endless power of chaos and creation—the SSS-grade talent, Myriad Transformation Demonic Heart!

"Found it." The corner of Lin Xuan's mouth curved into a satisfied, slightly mischievous smile, as if he had found a treasure. Only then did his gaze lazily sweep over the three old devils, who were facing a formidable enemy, as if he were looking at three stones blocking his path.

“You three,” Lin Xuan said, pointing at the Withered Bone Devil Lord and the two Devil Generals, his tone as casual as if he was ordering food, “are too noisy. Clear them out.”

Clear them out?

Linglong’s small mouth formed an ‘O’ shape. The Withered Bone Devil Lord was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage: “Arrogant junior! You’re courting death!”

His words hadn’t even finished!

Lin Xuan didn’t even move a finger; his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes simply swept over them indifferently!

Buzz—!

An invisible, intangible, yet seemingly all-annihilating and soul-piercing terrifying eye power instantly crossed space!

“Uh… ah…?” The rage on the Withered Bone Devil Lord’s face instantly turned into boundless horror! He only felt an irresistible, incomprehensible supreme will, like a giant axe splitting the heavens, fiercely cleaving into his sea of consciousness! His proud late-stage Soul Transformation devil soul was as fragile as a candle in the wind before that will!

Bang! Bang! Bang—!

Three soft sounds, like bursting bubbles!

Under Linglong’s stunned gaze!

The arrogant Withered Bone Devil Lord, along with the two Soul Transformation stage Ox-Head Devil Generals and the Resentful Soul Devil Lord beside him, their entire bodies, their devil artifacts, and their protective devil light, were like glass puppets thrown into a shredder, suddenly exploding from the inside out into countless fine black light particles, without any warning!

There was no earth-shattering explosion!

No gruesome scene of flesh and blood flying!

Only countless tiny specks of light, like black sand scattered by the wind, leaving not even a trace of devil energy fluctuation!

In an instant, three Soul Transformation stage Devil Lords, infamous in the Myriad Bone Devil Abyss, were wiped out! Not even a speck of dust remained!

Absolute silence enveloped the edge of the Myriad Bone Devil Abyss.

Only the foul devil wind still whimpered, and the dripping devil liquid still corroded the ground.

Linglong stood frozen, her peach blossom eyes wide open, her small mouth slightly agape, her brain completely crashed. Who am I? Where am I? What just happened? Three old Devil Lords who chased me to the ends of the earth… were… eliminated… by that incredibly handsome black-robed young man… with a single glance?

Lie Tian Divine Tiger put down its paw covering its nose and yawned: “Roar.”

Lin Xuan ignored it, his gaze falling on Linglong, who was still petrified. His Law-Breaking Sword Eyes swept over her Myriad Transformation Devil Heart, which was beating wildly from shock, and he raised an eyebrow slightly: “Good aptitude, just a bit timid.”

Timid? Linglong suddenly snapped back to reality, nearly jumping up! Who’s timid! Your granny, I… I was shocked! I was awestruck! It was… it was strategic bewilderment!

She looked at Lin Xuan, and the fear in her captivating peach blossom eyes receded like a tide, replaced by an indescribable, fervent glow, like a volcanic eruption! Strong! Too strong! Unbelievably strong! So strong it made one’s legs go weak! So strong… it made one want to cling to his thigh!

Linglong almost scrambled and crawled to the base of the demonic rock. Ignoring the dirty ground, she knelt down with a “plop,” looking up with a crisp, sweet voice, tinged with excitement: “Senior! Big Boss! Immortal Brother! Please take me in! Serving tea and water, warming the bed and folding quilts, killing and setting fires, framing others… ah, no! It’s going through fire and water! I, Linglong, am proficient in everything! As long as you take me in, this little life of mine is yours! Myriad Transformation Devil Heart? You can take it to play with anytime! Just leave me a breath!”

This speed of changing face, this ability to climb the pole… even Lie Tian Divine Tiger couldn’t help but glance sideways: “Roar?”

Lin Xuan looked at the girl below, who was staring at him eagerly, her small mouth chattering non-stop, and her little horns still swaying. The corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly. This girl… is interesting. Clever enough, shameless enough, and her talent is also top-tier SSS-grade, perfectly meeting the standard for a prodigy.

“Does this Venerable One lack a maid to serve tea and water?” Lin Xuan deliberately put on a stern face, his voice cold.

“Yes! How could you not!” Linglong immediately interjected, her peach blossom eyes blinking, trying her best to squeeze out the most sincere smile, “Look how mighty and majestic you are, busy with myriad affairs, how can you not have a clever and sensible maid by your side? Although my cultivation is a bit low, I run fast! My words are sweet! And I can shapeshift! If you don’t want to see those nobodies, I guarantee I’ll block them all for you! I guarantee I’ll be more useful than that… majestic and magnificent big tiger next to you!” She didn’t forget to flatter Lie Tian Divine Tiger.

Lie Tian Divine Tiger: “Roar?!”

Lin Xuan almost couldn’t keep a straight face. He suppressed a smile, looking at Linglong’s peach blossom eyes, full of longing and cunning. Under his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes, this girl’s thoughts were actually very simple—to find a big tree to shelter under, plus blind adoration for his terrifying strength. As for her little schemes… they were harmless.

“Fine.” Lin Xuan said with a “reluctant” expression, “Seeing that you still have some use. From now on, follow this Venerable One. Direct disciple.”

“Direct?” Linglong’s small mouth formed an ‘O’ shape again; happiness came too suddenly! She thought at best she’d be a maid doing odd jobs, but she directly ascended to become a direct disciple? “Master above! Your disciple Linglong bows to you! Bang bang bang!” Without a word, she knocked her little head, making a resounding noise, genuinely sincere!

Ding! Successfully subdued SSS-grade talented disciple — Linglong Myriad Transformation Devil Heart!

Completed ‘All Heavens Prodigy Harvester’ quest progress: 2/3!

Received quest stage reward: Ten thousand wisps of Chaos Devil Source Essence! One All Heavens Myriad Worlds lottery chance!

Ten Thousand Times Return triggered! Congratulations to host for obtaining: One Chaos Myriad Transformation Art! Ten thousand fragments of Myriad Transformation Devil Heart Origin!

Ding! Detected host taking in a top-tier Devil Realm prodigy, triggering hidden quest: Devil Abyss Allegiance!

Quest content: Integrate the Devil Realm, making the All Heavens Star Palace the sole ruler of this realm!

Quest reward: Sect gains ‘Devil Abyss’ subsidiary plane! Sect luck +5000 points! Three All Heavens Myriad Worlds lottery chances!

Quest failure penalty: Host charm value reset to zero!

Charm value reset to zero? Lin Xuan’s eyelid twitched. System, you’re ruthless enough! Although he didn’t care much about that, this… this penalty was too vicious!

“Master?” Linglong finished kowtowing and, seeing Lin Xuan unresponsive, cautiously raised her head, just meeting Lin Xuan’s somewhat strange gaze, and her heart skipped a beat. Could it be… Master had second thoughts?

“It’s nothing.” Lin Xuan retracted his gaze, looking at this chaotic and defiled Devil Realm land. Chaotic starlight flowed in his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes, and a terrifying pressure, transcending the Devil Realm’s laws, erupted from him with a boom! It instantly enveloped the entire Myriad Bone Devil Abyss and spread towards the entire Devil Realm at an astonishing speed!

“Roar—!” Lie Tian Divine Tiger, sensing its master’s will, let out a cooperative roar that shook the Devil Abyss! Crimson-gold divine flames shot into the sky, illuminating half of the dark red sky with gold!

Linglong was almost flattened by this sudden terrifying pressure, but her eyes erupted with an even more fervent glow! It’s coming, it’s coming! Master is about to show his power!

Lin Xuan’s voice, like the edict of a Nine Heavens Devil Lord, domineering and unquestionable, echoed deep within the souls of all living beings in the entire Devil Realm:

“This Venerable One, Lin Xuan, Lord of the All Heavens Star Palace.”

“Effective immediately, the Devil Realm shall be under this Venerable One’s command.”

“Those who comply shall enter the Star Palace, and be granted new life.”

“Those who defy…”

Lin Xuan’s voice paused slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of space, falling into the depths of several of the most ferocious ancient devil lairs in the Devil Realm.

“…shall be annihilated in body and spirit, and their devil lairs shall fall forever!”

“Within three breaths, all Devil Lords at or above the Soul Transformation stage, roll to the Myriad Bone Devil Abyss… and kneel to receive orders!”

As his voice fell!

The entire Devil Realm instantly exploded into chaos!

Countless ancient Devil Lords, awakened from their slumber, let out roars of shock and anger! Several devil lairs erupted with sky-high devil light, attempting to resist this sudden terrifying pressure!

However, before Lin Xuan, who was in the late stage of Chaos Soul Transformation and had integrated the Law-Breaking Sword Eyes and the World Tree’s origin, these resistances were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!

Lin Xuan didn’t even bother to move; his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes merely swept indifferently towards the directions of the most troublesome devil lairs.

Bang bang bang—!

A series of dull explosions, like muffled thunder, rang out across the Devil Realm! Those ancient devil lairs that had just erupted with rebellious devil light, along with the peak Soul Transformation stage old Devil Lords slumbering within, instantly collapsed and were annihilated, like balloons squeezed by an invisible giant hand! Even the surrounding thousand li of devil territory was razed to the ground! Leaving only several bottomless giant pits!

Absolute suppression by force!

Resistance? It was a joke!

At the edge of the Myriad Bone Devil Abyss, Linglong looked at the huge devil energy clouds rising from those directions, her small mouth agape enough to fit an egg, then she suddenly jumped up, excitedly waving her small fists: “Master is mighty! Master is domineering! Master is invincible! From now on, I, Linglong, will cover this Devil Realm! Whoever dares to disobey, just tell them my Master’s name!” Her fawning demeanor was exactly like a top henchman.

Lie Tian Divine Tiger rolled its eyes: “Roar…”

Lin Xuan ignored Linglong’s antics, simply standing with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly fixed on the depths of the Devil Realm. Under his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes, he could clearly see powerful devil thoughts, whether terrified, submissive, or fawning, madly “rolling” towards the Myriad Bone Devil Abyss like stray dogs.

The Devil Realm now also bore the surname Lin. Next, only the last SSS-grade prodigy remained. Lin Xuan’s gaze turned towards the human world coordinate, which was shimmering with a soft white light on the system panel.