136: Chapter 136 A Blessing or a Curse: The Demon King's Battle

[These few days also happened to be the White Bone City Lord's 299th birthday.]

[Chu Sheng was naturally invited as well.]

[New lamps were installed in the great hall, and the magic stones were upgraded from common ones to the Red Blood Stones, a specialty of Blood Moon City, casting a crimson glow over the entire room.]

[The dishes on the long tables were also upgraded, featuring several rare Demonic Beasts said to be hunted only in the Far North.]

[The White Bone City Lord sat in the main seat, his Face full of smiles as he frequently raised his glass in toasts.]

[After several rounds of drinks, he began to probe the relationship between Chu Sheng and Demon King Rumeng.]

["Brother, what does Her Ladyship, Demon King Rumeng... usually like?"]

[Chu Sheng replied, "I don't know."]

[The White Bone City Lord asked again, "Then what are Her Ladyship's usual hobbies?"]

[Chu Sheng thought for a moment: "Sleeping."]

[The White Bone City Lord was choked up.]

[Sleeping? With whom?]

[He didn't dare ask that, so he just laughed awkwardly and drained his cup.]

[The City Lord's son, Bai Wugou, sat in the secondary seat and hadn't looked Chu Sheng in the eye since he walked through the door.]

[He was a pure-blooded Demon Race at the Early Stage of Spirit Spring, and he looked quite dashing.]

[Hearing his father act so submissively toward Chu Sheng, he finally couldn't take it anymore and spoke up in a sarcastic tone: "Father, he's just a Demon Cultivator, is this really necessary? Just because he clung to a high branch, does he really think he's a big shot?"]

[Chu Sheng ignored him and continued drinking.]

[Seeing that Chu Sheng didn't take the bait, Bai Wugou thought he was afraid and raised his voice: "I heard you only broke through to the Spirit Spring by relying on Demon King Rumeng's primal yin? Tsk tsk, living off a woman while acting tough, what a talent!"]

[Chu Sheng set down his wine cup and glanced at him.]

[The aura of the Heavenly Demon Body was instantly released. The pressure of the Early Stage of Spirit Spring bore down like a mountain, and black Devilish Qi surged from his body, condensing into substance. The temperature of the entire hall instantly dropped to the freezing point.]

[Bai Wugou's Face turned deathly pale. The wine cup in his hand shattered into powder with a 'crack.' His legs went soft, and he slumped back into his chair, trembling all over.]

[Chu Sheng retracted his aura, picked up his wine cup again, and took a sip.]

[The White Bone City Lord's Face turned ashen as he glared fiercely at his son: "Get out!"]

[Bai Wugou scrambled out of the hall in a panic.]

[The City Lord's wife, Su Daji, sat beside the White Bone City Lord and had been staring at Chu Sheng since the banquet began.]

[She was a Fox Clan Succubus at the Spirit Lake Early Stage. She was extremely well-preserved, her exact age impossible to tell, exuding an all-consuming charm where every frown and smile seemed to hold a hook.]

[Instead of being upset that her son was scared off, she laughed even more happily.]

[She picked up her wine cup, swayed her hips as she walked over to Chu Sheng, and leaned down to offer a toast, her neckline dipping very low.]

["Young Master Chu is quite formidable."] Her voice was as soft as cotton candy and sickeningly sweet. ["I offer you a toast."]

[Chu Sheng took the wine cup, his fingertips brushing against her hand, which was cool and soft.]

[Su Daji's eyes sparkled as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.]

[Chu Sheng's heart skipped a beat.]

[What is this married woman doing? Your son was just scared off by me, your husband is right there, and you turn around to flirt with me?]

[But he soon understood.]

[He cultivated Lustful Devilish Qi, and the attraction of the Heavenly Demon Body to a Succubus was more effective than any aphrodisiac.]

[Su Daji wasn't interested in him as a person; she was interested in the aura he carried.]

[He subconsciously glanced at 'Fake Name' sitting in the corner.]

[The sister disguised by Yu Rumeng was drinking expressionlessly, not even looking this way.]

[But Chu Sheng knew that she knew everything.]

[A chill ran down his spine.]

[No matter how beautiful Su Daji was, she was still the White Bone City Lord's wife and a Fox Clan Succubus at the Spirit Lake Early Stage.]

[In front of Demon King Rumeng, she was absolutely nothing.]

[If he dared to take the bait, he might be carried out horizontally tonight.]

[He gave a dry laugh and pushed the wine cup back: "Madam is too kind. This Junior cannot handle my liquor; I will accompany Madam for a drink another day."]

[Su Daji was stunned for a moment, not expecting him to refuse.]

[She suddenly realized something, smiled, and turned back to her seat without further pestering.]

[Huang Gula spent the entire time buried in his food, completely oblivious to these undercurrents.]

[Chu Sheng kicked him, and he looked up, grease still hanging from his mouth, asking indistinctly, "What's up?"]

[Chu Sheng said, "Nothing, just keep eating."]

[Huang Gula gave an "oh" and went back to his work.]

[The day after the banquet ended, the Zhou Family sent over heavy gifts.]

[A whole chest of magic stones, five Profound Rank High Grade demonic artifacts, and a Spirit Fruit said to be able to stabilize one's Spirit Spring Foundation.]

[The messenger sent by Zhou Lie was respectful, and his words carried one clear meaning: the Zhou Family wanted to form an alliance with Chu Sheng.]

[Chu Sheng didn't agree or refuse, only saying he would consider it.]

[The Old Grandfather sneered from inside the ring: "This old fox, seeing that you've connected with Demon King Rumeng, he immediately comes crawling. The day you're no longer useful, he'll be the first to turn against you."]

[Chu Sheng said he knew, but since the gifts were accepted, he had to give some Face.]

[Zhou Wuliu wasn't idle either.]

[He secretly contacted the scions of several other families in the city, wanting to give Chu Sheng a show of strength.]

[A few playboys gathered together, discussing how to corner Chu Sheng in the street and make him lose Face in public.]

[When the news reached Chu Sheng's ears, he just smiled and didn't take it seriously.]

[What kind of waves could a bunch of brats who hadn't even reached the Spirit Spring make?]

[Instead, something happened on Huang Gula's end first.]

[Huang Gula went out to buy wine, and while passing by a Zhou Family shop, he looked at it a few extra times, leading the Zhou Family guards to think he was looking for trouble.]

[That guard was a pure-blooded Demon Race at the Peak True Solidity who was used to walking arrogantly in the streets by relying on the Zhou Family's power.]

[He shoved Huang Gula and cursed.]

["Old fool, I'll put my head right here, do you have the guts to kill me?"]

[Who was Huang Gula? A Body Cultivator by trade with a violent temper, at the Late stage of True Transformation.]

[Without a word, he threw a punch, directly shattering the guard's head.]

[The guard flew backward, collapsing half a wall.]

[Pedestrians on the street screamed and scattered in all directions.]

[The Zhou Family's Spirit Lake Guest Elder arrived upon hearing the news; he was a sinister old man at the Spirit Spring Middle Stage.]

[He blocked Huang Gula and struck out with a palm.]

[Huang Gula took the palm strike head-on, stumbling back three steps with blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.]

[Just as he was about to fight for his life, 'Fake Name' suddenly appeared in front of him and raised a hand in a palm strike.]

[It was light and effortless, like shooing away a fly.]

[The Spirit Lake Guest Elder flew backward, coughing up blood and smashing through three walls before coming to a stop, motionless, his life or death unknown.]

[The street fell into a deathly silence.]

[Huang Gula stood frozen on the spot, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit a fist.]

[He looked at 'Fake Name's' back, his legs shaking.]

[When did Fake Name become so powerful?]

[Chu Sheng stood across the street, silently breaking into a cold sweat for Huang Gula.]

[Brother, the one in front of you isn't Fake Name, it's Demon King Rumeng. You were almost slapped to death just now, do you know that?]

[The White Bone City Lord stood on the city tower, taking all of this in.]

[His expression was grave, his gaze lingering on 'Fake Name' for a long time.]

[This 'Fake Name' was not right.]

[Someone who wasn't even a Demon General couldn't possibly blow away a Spirit Lake Guest Elder with one palm.]

[Unless she wasn't Fake Name, but someone else.]

[Someone he couldn't afford to offend.]

[He took a deep breath and turned to go downstairs, deciding to be even more polite to Chu Sheng in the future.]

[Back at the residence, a letter was already placed on the table.]

[A black envelope with no signature, only a Skull Flower drawn on it.]

[Chu Sheng opened it, and there was only one line of text inside: In three days, meet outside the city.]

[The Old Grandfather's voice rang out, low and grave: "The letter has the mark of the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons."]

[Chu Sheng held the letter close to the candle flame. The fire licked the corner of the paper, and the black stationery curled into ashes.]

[He stared at the pile of ash for a long time.]

["The Hall of Ten Thousand Demons has finally come knocking."]

[The Old Grandfather spoke in a rare serious tone: "They aren't sure the Legacy is with you, so this is just a probe. If you go, you're practically revealing yourself. If you don't go, they'll think you have a guilty conscience."]

[Chu Sheng was silent for a moment: "Then I'll go."]

[The Old Grandfather asked, "Not afraid?"]

[Chu Sheng said, "I am. But not going is even more troublesome."]

[Yu Rumeng stepped out from behind the screen and dropped her disguise. Her breathtakingly beautiful Face flickered in the candlelight.]

[She looked at the ashes in his hand and didn't ask what was written in the letter, only saying, "In three days, I'll go with you."]

[Chu Sheng wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but looking into her eyes, the words died in his throat.]

[He nodded.]

[In the distance, the lights of the City Lord's mansion gradually went out.]

[Huang Gula was snoring in the next room, the sound thunderous.]

[Yu Rumeng sat beside him, her finger tracing itchy circles in his palm.]

[Chu Sheng held her hand and didn't speak.]

[Three days later, the meeting outside the city.]

[He didn't know what was waiting for him, but with her by his side, he didn't seem so afraid anymore.]

Chu Sheng watched this scene and let out a long breath: "The Hall of Ten Thousand Demons is finally here. If it is a blessing, it is not a curse; if it is a curse, it cannot be avoided. What's meant to come will come."

He took a sip of tea and looked at the figure sitting in the candlelight on the screen.

"But with Yu Rumeng there, it should be fine. A Devil King of the Dao Palace Realm—no matter how overbearing the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons is, they'll have to show some Face."

He smiled, "Next, it's just a matter of how to deal with the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons. If things go south, it'll be another grand spectacle, maybe even triggering a Great Devil King War."