32: Life-or-death standoff

I'm done for!

Chen Qingxuan's mind buzzed.

Watching Ji Qianyou throw herself into Ji Li's arms to complain felt like being sentenced to death in a courtroom.

Although he had stopped in time to avoid a cultivation Breakthrough after obtaining the Demon Emperor Bloodline and exposing his human Profound Power, the current situation... didn't seem too promising either!

I'll go all in.

Chen Qingxuan gritted his teeth, knowing he couldn't just wait passively for death.

The next moment, he strode towards the mother and daughter pair and boldly reached out to grab Ji Qianyou, 'Qian You, be good. Come here and let Your Master examine you.'

Smack—

Chen Qingxuan's hand was slapped away by Ji Li's swift reaction before it could touch the little girl.

"You..."

Ji Li was just about to scold him;

But before she could finish her sentence, Chen Qingxuan, knowing he had to be forceful, preemptively played the victim, "Why did you hit me?"

"You're asking me?"

Ji Li looked utterly bewildered;

Even if she weren't the Demon Lord of the Demon Emperor Palace, a little girl throwing herself into her mother's arms and accusing a man of hugging her while her mother was away... how serious this matter was needed no further explanation, right?

Yet Chen Qingxuan dared to question her back?

But angry as she was, she had to admit that Chen Qingxuan's tactic of 'the thief crying stop thief' indeed prevented the furious Ji Li from using the most direct means to 'seek justice' for her daughter.

Instead, it sparked a curiosity within her to understand the reason.

So, after a brief silence, Ji Li demanded, "What were you going to examine her for?"

Whew—

At this moment, Chen Qingxuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He admitted there was an element of gambling involved, but upon hearing Ji Li ask a question instead of attacking him directly... he knew his gamble had paid off.

Regaining his confidence, Chen Qingxuan immediately brought up the Bloodline hint, deliberately avoiding the words 'Demon Emperor Bloodline', "I don't recommend you tell Qian You now. After all, this kind of thing... could very well affect her state of mind, leading to unnecessary trouble... Do you understand what I mean?"

Ji Li frowned, remaining silent.

"Mother, what are you two talking about?"

Ji Qianyou, meanwhile, was completely confused. Pointing at Chen Qingxuan, she accused, "He not only hugged me... but also said he would be quick or something... very strange words."

"..."

Ji Li's lips parted slightly, hesitating to speak;

In truth, after Chen Qingxuan used the Bloodline as his excuse, even if she still had suspicions, without evidence... she couldn't say anything more.

She could only comfort her daughter first.

"You, come with me." After calming her daughter, Ji Li glanced at Chen Qingxuan and turned to leave first.

Chen Qingxuan assumed it was just to warn him;

So, once they were out of Ji Qianyou's sight, he proactively spoke up, "Is this really necessary? Do we need to have a private chat about this kind of thing?"

"If similar situations occur in the future, you'd better report to me first." Ji Li stopped walking and looked at Chen Qingxuan, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, "I advise you, it's best not to have any improper thoughts... My patience has its limits!"

"Especially concerning Qian You... If I discover you're scheming something... I assure you, even if it means she misses the Demon Emperor Bloodline, I will make you regret it!"

Ji Li's words were no simple warning;

After all, to any mother, a daughter Is an untouchable reverse scale.

Gulp~

Chen Qingxuan swallowed.

As someone who had come to the Western Regions precisely with designs on her daughter, he felt somewhat guilty at this moment.

"Alright, alright... Don't worry... Are we done? I need to go back and guide Qian You's cultivation." Chen Qingxuan feigned a clear conscience while changing the subject.

Unexpectedly, Ji Li snorted lightly, "Follow me!"

"Huh?"

Chen Qingxuan was baffled.

If she was angry earlier, that was one thing, but now that things were cleared up... why this attitude?

"Where are we going?" Chen Qingxuan quickly caught up with Ji Li, feeling an indescribable unease, especially since the latter remained silent;

It made the atmosphere even more off.

Not long after.

They arrived at the great hall where they first met.

At this moment, a figure stood in the center of the hall. It was a middle-aged man of the Yao Race, dressed in very simple, worn-out clothes.

"Who Is he?" Chen Qingxuan's unease intensified.

"..."

Ji Li remained silent, walking straight towards the throne in the hall.

Chen Qingxuan approached the man. Their eyes met, and a strange atmosphere filled the air.

"Do you two know each other?"

Only then did Ji Li speak, her phoenix eyes scrutinizing the two men.

Both Chen Qingxuan and the Yao Race man shook their heads.

"Hmph!"

Ji Li snorted coldly, her crystal-red phoenix eyes fixed on Chen Qingxuan's, "You claim to be an envoy from the Demon God Valley. He also claims to be from the Demon God Valley... Yet now, both of you claiming to be from the Demon God Valley don't recognize each other... So, who should I believe?"

Whoosh—

As these words fell, the atmosphere in the hall plummeted to freezing point.

Chen Qingxuan quickly looked at the other man... Someone from the Demon God Valley?

The middle-aged man also looked at Chen Qingxuan, but the next moment, he raised his head and addressed Ji Li, "Demon Lord, this person Is an impostor... He Is definitely not from the Demon God Valley."

"Is that so?"

Hearing this, Ji Li rested her fair chin on one hand, gazing at Chen Qingxuan with great interest, "So you're not from the Demon God Valley after all!"

Gulp~

At this moment, Chen Qingxuan's heart nearly leapt out of his throat.

What the hell?

The Demon God Valley... Why would they appear now?

Although things had exceeded expectations, fortunately, Chen Qingxuan hadn't lost his senses. He quickly realized Ji Li hadn't attacked him because she couldn't be sure who was telling the truth.

Thinking of this, Chen Qingxuan pretended to be relaxed, "Does he also have a token from the Demon God Valley?"

Token?

The middle-aged man was taken aback.

Ji Li took out the previous jade pendant, "This Is the token he claims proves he's a Demon God Valley envoy. Do you have one too?"

"..."

The middle-aged man looked utterly bewildered.

There's such a thing?

It wasn't his fault for not reacting; this Demon God Valley token was something Chen Qingxuan had forcibly altered and created using the heavenly dragon brush.

Under Ji Li's scrutinizing gaze, the middle-aged man answered honestly, "Reporting to the Demon Lord, when I left, the Demon God Valley did not give me a token, but..."

Before he could finish, Chen Qingxuan directly interrupted, "You don't have one, right? Well then, let me ask you... Why did you come to the Demon Emperor Palace?"

Ji Li did not stop him;

After all, she couldn't determine the truth now, and what Chen Qingxuan asked... was also what she wanted to know.

Could it also be because of the Demon Emperor Bloodline?

"This matter... Is of great importance." The middle-aged man glanced at Chen Qingxuan before saying gravely, "Could the Demon Lord please first remove this impostor claiming to be from the Demon God Valley?"

"No need, you may speak directly."

Ji Li stated firmly.

In her view, the other party's 'great importance' must refer to the Demon Emperor Bloodline. But since Chen Qingxuan was here for that very reason, there was no need to send him away.

"This..."

The middle-aged man looked hesitant;

Seeing that Ji Li wouldn't back down, he could only tell the truth, "To be frank, the reason for my visit to the Demon Emperor Palace Is that the Demon God Valley has predicted a great calamity will befall the palace. I was specially dispatched to warn you and assist the Demon Emperor Palace in avoiding this disaster, thus forging a bond of goodwill."

Before Ji Li could speak;

Having found a flaw, Chen Qingxuan seized the opportunity decisively, "Nonsense! What calamity? Clearly, the Demon Lord's daughter possesses the Demon Emperor Bloodline and Is about to awaken... This Is a tremendous blessing!"

"Demon Emperor Bloodline?!"

Hearing this, the middle-aged man didn't immediately realize he'd fallen into a trap but instinctively inquired, "Demon Lord... Is it true that your daughter possesses the Demon Emperor Bloodline...?"

Boom—

At that moment, a violent surge of Demonic Power erupted from Ji Li's body, its powerful pressure suddenly bearing down on Chen Qingxuan.

"Who told you to say that?"

"..."

Chen Qingxuan's body shuddered violently;

But facing Ji Li's furious pressure, he forced himself to remain calm, "Don't panic... He doesn't even know about the Demon Emperor Bloodline, clearly an impostor... In that case, just kill him. That way, no one will leak the secret of Qian You possessing the Demon Emperor Bloodline."

Middle-aged man: "???"