Chapter 78: Taking a Master, the Lynx

Red Cloud did not enter the grand hall, but merely cast a distant glance before settling in an empty seat within one of the private rooms outside, leisurely sipping wine and nibbling on food. If not for his lingering worry over Little Moon, he would have departed long ago from such a lively spectacle. The girl, being the child of fate in this world, naturally possessed unique qualities. All that he had done thus far could be considered a form of investment. Whether this investment would ever pay off remained uncertain, but what mattered to him was that he had finally entrusted this little burden to another, a cause for celebration. He sensed her attachment to him, but so what? In his heart, nothing mattered but the pursuit of the Way.

...

"Today, let it be a witness," the Mountain-flipping Demon King said with a chuckle, raising his cup as he surveyed the room, his heart full of delight. "In my three hundred years, I have never taken a disciple. Today, on the occasion of my grand birthday, this girl, Chai Xiaoyue, becomes my first apprentice. This child is pure of heart and honest to a fault. If any of your juniors ever find themselves in conflict with her, I ask you to show me some consideration and let her have her way."

The assembled demons were deeply shocked by his words, their gazes turning to Chai Xiaoyue, eyes filled with astonishment and envy. Although the Yujia Nine Families, the Thirty-six Clans, and the myriad other demon tribes knew nothing of her, it did not prevent them from taking note of her from the very beginning. Now that her identity was revealed, each resolved to remember her well, intending to depict her back home and hang her image on their walls for the young to memorize.

Though Chai Xiaoyue did not fully grasp the scene before her, she heard the voices of praise and congratulations, and sat there dazed, uncertain how to respond. She could hear the blessings and compliments all around, yet none of them were what she wished for. When she realized the voice she longed for was absent, a trace of disappointment flickered in her heart.

Why hadn’t Uncle Yun come...

She reflected on her recent days, feeling a touch of self-reproach: surely she had spent too much time away from cultivation. When she returned, she would devote herself to practice with renewed diligence.

...

The feast continued until dusk. As the banquet drew to a close, a sudden disturbance swept through the skies of the Half-Demon Kingdom. Yue Lei seemed to sense something, his smile fading as he looked up, anger brewing in his eyes.

A loud crash—

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Just then, the barrier above was torn open, two claws ripping it apart, and a massive head emerged. His face was like a mountain cat, yet also reminiscent of a leopard—similar yet not quite the same. After entering through the barrier, he transformed, taking on human form. His gaze swept toward the distant hall, as if seeing through all concealment. Despite sensing a dozen powerful presences locking onto him, he remained unfazed, even offering a faint smile.

"Demon King, will you not come out to meet me? After all, I’ve brought a gift for our meeting."

"So it’s you," the Mountain-flipping Demon King replied, twisting his form as he darted from the hall, appearing before the newcomer in the blink of an eye. "Rare to see you with time to visit—how about I accompany you for a stroll?"

The two demons ignored the crowd below, exchanged only a few words, then departed together beyond the kingdom’s boundaries. Soon, from afar, the sound of thunderous battle could be heard.

Bloodslaughter Demon King Yue Kang, a lynx demon king, sworn brother to Yue Lei, adopted son of the current demon king...

Red Cloud listened to the murmurs around him, recalling tales of this figure as he sipped his wine. This demon king would come every few years to try and win Yue Lei’s heart, but it had been nearly thirty years since his last visit. Yet this was not Red Cloud’s concern.

Once assured of Chai Xiaoyue’s safety, he did not rush to see her, but instead found a place to stay after eating and drinking his fill. He spent nearly three days carefully recording the process and analysis of forging his Cloud Feather Blade onto a jade slip. Then, he secluded himself.

Indeed, he chose a desolate snowy mountain, dug a pit, and buried himself within. Inspired by the cultivation methods of this world, he began to deduce a practice suitable—and strongest—for himself.

...

Yue Lei was wounded.

Yue Kang delivered his message, but Yue Lei did not wait for him to finish before striking. Both were late-stage metamorphosis demon kings, their power unrivaled in this world.

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After two days of battle, when things heated up, the adversary laughed, tore open another hole in the sky, and fled. Though not Yue Lei’s equal head-on, his agility and unpredictable moves gave him an edge—after all, he was a lynx! Such demons, in his own words, were ferocious, cunning, wicked, and unrepentant—yet still his brother.

Upon his return, the feast had long ended. He did not go to the hall but back to his own residence. Reaching out with his senses, he found Yue Sansi accompanying Chai Xiaoyue, instructing her in cultivation. Though her level was modest—only at the peak of Nirvana—she was reliable and would soon be able to stand on her own.

Yue Lei poured himself a cup of tea to calm his nerves, sitting there and feeling the burning pain in his chest. Though both had held back, the fight still grew fierce. The thought brought a satisfied smile—after all, he’d won, defeating his brother by three moves... no, three and a half.

As for the message his brother brought, upon recollection, he scoffed—after so much trouble, would he really care?

...

Truly, changing one’s cultivation method was not advisable. Even if he followed it precisely and broke through to the metamorphosis stage, the road ahead would be fraught with uncertainty. Still, he was halfway there.

No one knew how long Red Cloud remained buried in the snow. Eventually, he broke through the drifts and emerged, squinting at the dazzling whiteness. After sensing his surroundings, he unfurled his Cloud Wings and flew toward the Half-Demon Kingdom.

If memory served, a certain demon king had once suggested his offspring accompany Red Cloud on his journey. Now, having gained all he needed from the Half-Demon Kingdom and with no further ties, it was time to take his leave.

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