861: The "Passionate" Sky-Splitting Blood-Eyed Hou

Yao Delong paid no attention to the astonished gazes around him. Led by Overlord Ape, he transformed into a streak of light and headed toward the Peak. Xue Li curiously turned her little head, her glass-like eyes surveying the Lietian Peak, which was filled with violent demonic Evil Qi. Her small nose twitched occasionally, as if distinguishing the various spiritual aromas permeating the air.

At the summit of Lietian Peak stood a magnificent palace carved from a single massive dark-red bone, exuding overwhelming ferocity and ancient Evil Qi—the Blood Hou Palace!

At this moment, the atmosphere in the vast square before the palace was solemn, yet tinged with an indescribable... tension and reverence.

Led by a figure whose aura was as deep as an abyss and as oppressive as a prison, clad in ferocious blood armor, behind him stood dozens of elite Yao Race members with formidable auras, each at least at the Peak of the eighth-tier Demon General! They held their breaths, their gazes filled with awe and curiosity, watching the streak of light rapidly approaching along the mountain path.

That leading figure was none other than the a mythical beast!

He wore deep-red, ferocious battle armor that seemed forged from solidified magma mixed with dark demon blood! The armor was covered in twisted ancient demonic patterns and sharp, pale bone spikes—just a glance was enough to sting one's Divine Soul! His crimson, flame-like disheveled hair flared wildly, and his rough, fierce face was covered in dark-red, eerie demonic patterns that wriggled slowly like living creatures!

Most heart-palpitating were his vertical, enormous pupils, carved like the finest blood diamonds! Those pupils should have been filled with the ferocity and bloodlust to tear the heavens, but now... they were brimming with barely concealed anxiety and a hint of... sycophancy?!

Just a few days ago, the a mythical beast suddenly felt a slight disturbance in the Heart Sword Restriction planted in his Sea of Consciousness by Yao Delong—a Restriction that could annihilate his Primordial Spirit with a single thought! This terrified him! His first reaction was ecstatic joy:

'Could it be that the Baleful Star has perished in some Secret Realm?! Am I, Sky-Splitting, finally free?!' He had even begun to fantasize about how to expand his influence in the western Demon Domain after shaking off the Restriction... but before his sweet dream could finish, the urgent message from his capable general Overlord Ape arrived—an old acquaintance from the Pill Venerable Secret Realm was visiting!

Those seven short words struck the a mythical beast's head like a Nine Heavens divine thunderbolt!

The Baleful Star wasn't dead! And... he had come knocking!

The immense psychological gap nearly made him spit out a mouthful of old blood! He couldn't fathom why Yao Delong, instead of staying peacefully in Human Race territory, had come deep into the Demon Domain's Ten Thousand Mountains to find him. Could it be that he thought his life was too long and came to remind him the Restriction was still in place? He reflected that since the Restriction was planted, he had strictly ordered his subordinates not to cross the Demon Transformation Mountain Range to harass the Human Race, so he shouldn't have offended this Baleful Star... Unable to figure it out? He dared not think further! The a mythical beast practically leaped from his throne in an instant!

'Quick! Quick! Bring out all the best spiritual wine and spiritual fruits from our reserves! Stew the 'Dragon Spine Blood Ginseng' that's been nurtured in the 'Blood Flame Pool' for a hundred years! And... have 'Phantom Shadows' dress up immediately and perform a dance as soon as the lord arrives! Set up all the ceremonial guards! If we slight that master, I'll skin and dismember you all first!' The a mythical beast's roar shook the entire Blood Hou Palace, sending his Yao Race subordinates into a frantic scramble as they prepared with unprecedented speed.

When he saw Overlord Ape leading Yao Delong onto the Peak's square, the a mythical beast's face instantly broke into an extremely 'sincere' smile!

That smile, on his fierce face covered in demonic patterns, looked particularly... eerie!

He almost jogged forward to greet them, bending his waist lower than ever before, his voice filled with sycophancy, as if meeting a long-lost father:

'Ah! Lord! It truly is you gracing us with your presence! Look at you, coming without notifying little Hou in advance, this... this hasty preparation is truly a slight! A slight!' He rubbed his hands together, his posture extremely humble. 'Lord, you must be weary from the journey! Please, come inside quickly! Little Hou has prepared modest wine and spiritual food to welcome and refresh you!'

He cautiously stepped aside to lead the way, his gaze sweeping over Yao Delong with utmost flattery.

Yao Delong looked at this 'passionately enthusiastic' Peak Demon King before him, his expression still calm, merely nodding slightly: 'Thoughtful.'

Those two plain words sounded like celestial music to the a mythical beast's ears! He was overjoyed inwardly—it seemed this Baleful Star's mood wasn't too bad? He hurriedly guided Yao Delong toward the main hall with even more eagerness.

This scene burned like a red-hot brand into the hearts of all the Yao Race members in the square!

Especially the a mythical beast's trusted Demon Marshals and Demon Generals—their mouths hung open wide enough to fit their own fists! Their eyeballs bulged almost out of their sockets!

'Am... am I seeing correctly? Is that our great king?!' 'That... that one smiling like a Shop Assistant... is that really the Sky-Splitting Lord who dared slam the table at the royal clan's Elders?!' 'Heavens! Who exactly is this azure-robed lord?! The great king before him... is practically like a tail-wagging dog!' Countless thoughts of shock, confusion, and terror roared wildly in their minds.

The a mythical beast was of the Royal True Hou Bloodline! Even if his mutation made him unwelcome within the clan, that deeply ingrained royal pride was rooted in his bones! Even ordinary Tenth-Tier Demon Kings would respectfully address him as 'Fellow Daoist Sky-Splitting' when they met! When had anyone ever seen him act so... so subservient to someone?!

Everyone's gaze toward Yao Delong instantly filled with unparalleled awe and fear! Even the little white fox beside him, who curiously surveyed the surroundings and seemed to have no cultivation, received looks of extreme reverence—anyone who could accompany such a terrifying existence was certainly no ordinary being!

Led by the a mythical beast with a reverence bordering on trepidation, Yao Delong entered the main hall's banquet hall of the Blood Hou Palace.

The hall had already been arranged with utmost extravagance!

On the long table carved from Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Jade were arrayed rare spiritual fruits and delicacies brimming with Spiritual Qi and emitting alluring radiance: there was Thousand-Year Queen Bee Honey flowing with golden nectar, Vermilion Fruits burning like flames, Profound Ice Jade Marrow exuding chilling cold yet containing vast water Spiritual Qi, and even a pot of thick soup simmered with unknown massive beast bones, its broth dark red, releasing rich blood Qi and medicinal fragrance. Within the soup, a treasure ginseng resembling a true Dragon spine, entwined with blood Qi, could faintly be seen—precisely the Dragon Spine Blood Ginseng nurtured for a hundred years!

The air was filled with intoxicating wine fragrance, from top-grade spiritual wine brewed with the Demon Domain's unique Blood Bodhi and Demon Spirit Flowers.

The a mythical beast personally guided Yao Delong to the uppermost seat—a throne crafted from a single piece of dark-red Demon Crystal.

Xue Li very naturally and effortlessly leaped onto the luxurious soft couch beside the throne, covered with soft Snow Marten Fur. She curled her little body, finding the most comfortable spot to lie down, as if this were her exclusive place.

The a mythical beast glanced at this snow-white little fox, feeling that her pure icy aura seemed familiar, as if he had sensed it somewhere before... but with his mind fully occupied by how to serve Yao Delong, this slight doubt was instantly cast to the Nine Heavens.