Chapter 98.1
Editor: Casey
When the demon lord knelt, it was so quiet that you could hear mosquitoes buzzing around.
After he spoke, there was an all-consuming silence in the air.
The sect master: “……”
The other supreme elders: “……”
Zhang Cheng, who managed to sit up, holding his chest after being hit: “……”
Apparently, the demon lord brought his army here just to negotiate an alliance with the cultivation world. Even soap operas wouldn’t have such a ridiculous twist.
Alas, reality was often stranger than fiction.
In the end, with thousands of people watching him, that aloof and distant supreme elder finally made a move. He looked at the kneeling form of his former first disciple with complicated eyes. Even his voice seemed to convey his chaotic state of mind.
“Why do all this?”
Rong Jue kowtowed once again, his head striking the ground with a resounding thud.
This demon lord, with an army at least a hundred thousand strong behind him, showed no care about his image. He continued kowtowing to Shi Qing with firm devotion.
It was as if, despite their immeasurable difference in cultivation levels, Shi Qing was his G.o.d, his reason for living.
This scene was so provocative that the sect master almost had a heart attack on the spot.
He struggled to catch his breath.
Although he said that whole spiel before about taking their enemy down with them…
Who would’ve known that the demons weren’t here to fight?
In that case, the sect master was more than glad to play along.
Risking his own life was fine, but what of the countless Chi Yun Sect disciples here? If the sect was to fall under his leadership, how would he face his ancestors in the afterlife?
Therefore, the sect master coughed dryly and retrieved a handkerchief to wipe the sweat that had acc.u.mulated on his forehead from shock or fear. He chose his next words carefully.
“Demon lord, if you really are here to ally with us, why bring so many forces with you?”
They could not be blamed for thinking that the other side had come to fight. In fact, with this kind of formation, no one would believe otherwise.
Rong Jue raised his head, but he still knelt in front of Shi Qing. There was a self-righteous look on his handsome face.
“I am a former member of the Chi Yun Sect, and I know that the cultivation world has always been extremely cautious against the demon realm. If I come directly to discuss making an alliance, I am afraid that some in the cultivation world would fear deception on my part. Therefore, I brought the demon realm army along to ensure the alliance can be formed smoothly.”
The sect master: “……”
The other supreme elders: “……”
Why was it that they could understand every individual word Rong Jue said, but not when they were put together?
Bringing the demon realm army along…to ensure the alliance can be formed smoothly?
Is there a relationship between those two pieces of information??
Is there really?!!
As if knowing what was on their minds, the demon lord, who was still imposing even as he knelt on the ground, continued.
“Since the demon realm army is stationed here, I can immediately lay waste to the cultivation world if I so wished.”
Everyone: “k2026;k2026;”
So he was showing the utmost k2018;sincerity’ by bringing the demon realm army to make an alliance.
His reasoning was ironclad and irrefutable.
Rong Jue couldn’t care less about the flabbergasted crowd. His gaze drifted back to Shi Qing with an almost obsessive fervor. The supreme elder was expressionless with slightly furrowed brows.
“Shizun, when the demon realm and the cultivation world become allied, I will abdicate from the demon lord position.”
“Only Shizun is fit to sit on that throne.”
Everyone: “……”
You’re just going to give that position you fought so hard for to someone else??
Is Rong Jue insane?
Shi Qing: [Tsk. As expected, I didn’t think of my Baby Rong every night in vain.]
As a supreme elder of an immortal sect, he could not openly be with a demonic cultivator without going OOC.
But what if the demon realm became allied with the cultivation world?
In full view of the crowd, the supreme elder locked eyes with his former first disciple, the current demon lord. His beautiful eyes were overflowing with complex emotions.
Then, Supreme Elder Shi Qing shrunk back from the demon lord’s hopeful and fond gaze, turning away.
“Alliances require discussion. Why bring such a large army to Chi Yun Sect? I have wronged you, but the people of Chi Yun sect are–”
“This disciple has never thought about harming Chi Yun Sect!”
Rong Jue keenly perceived Shizun’s heart softening, which made him incredibly happy. He quickly put on a pleading expression and dragged himself closer to Shi Qing on his knees.
“Shizun, I just want to make sure that nothing went wrong. Chi Yun Sect has raised this disciple, so how could I raise a hand against it?”
–At most, he would set a boundary around Chi Yun Sect and trap everyone inside.
Rong Jue was now dressed in dark robes, but his expression was still that of Qing Jian Peak’s Da-shixiong. His gaze towards his shizun was filled with admiration.
“Don’t worry Shizun, I can guarantee that I will keep Chi Yun Sect safe and sound.”
As for the rest of the cultivation world? Heh, no promises there.
–After all, if the cultivation world didn’t agree to the alliance, Rong Jue would need to give them a good scare or two.
The kneeling demon lord’s words were resounding. That, combined with his determined eyes, made his words seem heartfelt.
This look obviously rea.s.sured Shi Qing, who hastily avoided the overly pa.s.sionate eyes of his eldest disciple.
“Since Chi Yun Sect will be fine, I’ll be going back first.”
“You…”
He ‘hesitantly’ looked back at Rong Jue with slightly flushed ears. Shi Qing spoke in barely a whisper, just enough for the demon lord to hear.
“Take care of things here. Come find me only if the two realms really become allied.”
Rong Jue’s eyes immediately lit up.
Almost everyone present could see that the demon lord’s aura disappeared in an instant. It was like an imposing and enormous bear suddenly turned into a soft little wolf dog.
In front of Shizun, he was willing to shed all the thorns of his exterior.
Shi Qing left.
The current scene had a unique beauty to it.
Above was the demon realm army decked out in black, and below were the Chi Yun Sect disciples dressed in white.
Everyone was motionless, with the blue-robed supreme elder being the only exception. His sleeves and the hem of his robes fluttered as he walked away.
Rong Jue stared intently at Shizun’s back. It was hard for anyone to reconcile his gentle and meek gaze with the overbearing demon lord in the recordings, the one who carved out a path of blood (not his) and carnage on the battlefield.
It was natural for people to let their guard down subconsciously against seemingly harmless people, particularly because Rong Jue had grown up in Chi Yun Sect.
Although the sect master and the supreme elders may not have had much contact with him, they knew all too well what kind of person he once was after he became the demon lord.
Almost everyone’s conclusions were strikingly consistent.
He was kind, generous, talented, patient, and never shied away from teaching his younger martial siblings.
Some had doubts about this description in the past, but their suspicions were somewhat relieved after seeing Rong Jue’s demeanour in person.
That’s right.
How could a person’s nature change so drastically in such a short period of time?
Even if he had become the demon lord, it seemed that Rong Jue was still the same kind and generous eldest Qing Jian Peak disciple of before.
Just look, he was still so respectful towards Shi Qing despite the insurmountable difference in their cultivation levels.
The atmosphere gradually eased.
One of the supreme elders that had met Rong Jue on several occasions before recalled how Rong Jue always greeted him respectfully.
If Rong Jue is still treating Shi Qing the same as before, I should get the same treatment, right?
That supreme elder：”Rong Jue, you–”
The rest of his words were stuck in his throat after the demon lord raised his eyes.
Rong Jue slowly rose to his feet.
His sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes seemed harmless when he was just a senior disciple of Chi Yun Sect, but now…
Although his eyebrows were the same, they gave his face a hint of cruelty and demonic nature.
His appearance made most hesitate to say he was a member of the righteous path.
With a wave of his hand, the sword that had been placed on the ground immediately flew into the demon lord’s hand.
Rong Jue’s aura only became more oppressive after that. He regarded the people of Chi Yun Sect with indifference.
“This lord has made my intentions clear. The alliance between my demon realm and the cultivation realm is not up for discussion!”
At this point, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
If the cultivation realm refuses to cooperate, then that means war.”
Everyone: “……”
Are you from a f.u.c.king theatre group??
You’re so quick to change your tune!!!
Supreme Elder Shi Qing literally left seconds ago, ah!
That supreme elder almost thought he had heard wrong. He forced himself to look calm. “You just said you would keep Chi Yun Sect safe.”
“That’s right.”
As Rong Jue swept his eyes over every blade of gra.s.s and tree in Chi Yun Sect, they revealed a few hints of tenderness.
Shizun loved Chi Yun Sect, so Rong Jue would naturally preserve this place.
The demon lord: “Me waging war on the cultivation world has nothing to do with Chi Yun Sect.”
Everyone: “……”
So was their Chi Yun Sect not a part of the cultivation world??
But none of the people present reached for their weapons.
If you knew that you would definitely die, thoughts like going out in a bang of glory were understandable.
However, it would just be silly to rush over towards someone who wasn’t trying to kill you and paint a target on your back.
So in the end, the sect master decided to play ball and have a discussion.
Everyone was on high alert as they brought Rong Jue to the meeting room.
Rong Jue’s att.i.tude was firm.
You want the demon realm to stop killing indiscriminately? Sure.
You want the demon realm to not cause trouble in the mortal realm? No problem.
But the alliance was non-negotiable.
All the denizens of the demon realm, even the ones not currently present, must be given an official ident.i.ty. This was one of the ways to change demonic cultivation from an evil path to a proper form of cultivation.
Outside, some of the demon soldiers landed and stood guard in various parts of Chi Yun Sect, faithfully guarding their demon lord–
And the demon lord’s shizun.