Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 102 - The Demon-Revealing Formation (2)

The youth possessed a pair of deep blue eyes like the sea, with features so handsome they seemed almost unreal. Yet within his enchanting appearance, there was a hint of indescribable vulnerability.

Below his eyes and extending to his cheeks, a layer of fine silver scales emerged. These silver scales appeared eerie, but as shark demons were naturally beautiful, they didn’t evoke terror, instead, they added a touch of allure to his already mesmerizing aura.

Though he lacked a beautiful silver fish tail, his appearance left no doubt about his identity.

Rong Yu looked down at the crowd on the Starry Sky Terrace and laughed heartily. “Who am I? Haven’t you already figured it out?”

“Shark demon!” the guards of Li’er Country shouted in alarm. “It’s a shark demon! Protect the sovereign, quickly!”

The guards shielded the king as they retreated to the back of the White Jade Palace. The cultivators on the Starry Sky Terrace were caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, focusing on summoning their artifacts. However, the shark demon paid them no mind. He only turned his head to look at the Merit Stele beside the white jade steps, a mocking expression plaYing across his face.

“They sure have the nerve to erect that monument,” he remarked.

“What do you intend to do?” Princess Lizhu, disregarding her safety, stepped forward and rebuked, “You must not show disrespect to the late emperor!”

The shark demon turned his head towards her, then suddenly chuckled. “Senior Gu, Miss Yang, you’ve been investigating in Tianlu Pavilion for so long, why not reveal the truth about the Secret Art of Yanyang to the royal family? The royal family of Li’er Country, to cover up their misdeeds, is willing to use shark demons as scapegoats. It seems that even the prestigious sects of the cultivation world are of the same ilk. They readily kill demons and speak with righteousness, but when it comes to the royal family, they refuse to say anything?”

“Monster, spare us your deceitful words!” a cultivator interjected. “What Secret Art of Yanyang? It’s just sophistry!”

“I’ve heard of it,” Nie Xinghong said, gripping his folding fan tightly, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes. “It’s said that if a girl born on a Yin month, on a Yin day, at a Yin hour, sacrifices her blood, she can prolong her life and achieve immortality. Could it be…” He looked up at Gu BaiYing.

“What does he mean?” Princess Lizhu also inquired.

Tian Fangfang cleared her throat. “We investigated the girls who were killed forty years ago, and they were all born on a Yin month, on a Yin day, at a Yin hour and possessing a pure Yin physique. Instead of being harmed by shark demons, it seems more like they became sacrifices for the Secret Art of Yanyang.”

“But demons are known for their longevity,” Pu Tao frowned. “It doesn’t make sense for them to do this.”

“The demons are long-lived,” the shark demon chuckled mockingly. “But the previous sovereign of Li’er Country, Emperor Shengning, was nothing but a short-lived weakling.”

Emperor Shengning was nothing but a short-lived weakling!

Those present were no fools. They understood the implication of these words in an instant.

“Nonsense!” the Li’er Country’s king’s complexion turned red, abandoning his usual mild demeanor. “You, shark demon, are trying to deceive people and shift the blame onto my father!”

Rong Yu sneered, “If you want to know the truth, why don’t you ask Senior Gu?”

The sovereign looked towards Gu Baiying, who remained silent.

“N-No,” Princess Lizhu’s body swayed, and she reached out to grasp the railing to steady herself.

“In the past, Emperor Shengning of Li’er Country, in order to prolong his life, harmed innocent girls in the city of Li’er Country. As his end drew near, he even shifted the blame onto the shark demons. The truth was so different from what everyone knew. For so many years, the golden statue by the seaside seemed like a joke.”

“Princess, Lizhu,” the shark demon looked down at her again, as if finding her current state not sufficiently painful, and continued, “Do you know why Senior Gu asked about your birthdate? Have you ever thought about your own birthdate? You were also born on a Yin month, Yin day, and Yin hour.” He laughed maliciously. “You, too, were chosen as a sacrifice by your husband!”

Princess Lizhu’s face turned pale.

In a daze, many scenes from the past flashed before her eyes. The inexplicable betrothal, the hurried marriage, the overly considerate emperor, all those meticulously thoughtful care, now seemed like indulgence akin to keeping a pet, tolerating it knowing that its death was inevitable, so allowing everything and fulfilling its every request.

She remembered Zanxing’s words. “Everyone has flaws. Even in the eyes of a lover, where minor imperfections can seem endearing, there are always some flaws. You and the late king were husband and wife. Didn’t he have any shortcomings, even just a little?”

Even the most loving couples, as long as they care, will have friction. Emperor Shengning treated her so well, yet there was no conflict between them, which was inherently unreasonable.

Because in his eyes, she was never a wife, but a ‘sacrifice.’

So that’s how it was.

Seeing Princess Lizhu suddenly become distraught, Rong Yu felt even more delighted. He suddenly reached out, a surge of demonic power directly aimed at the Merit Stele beside the white jade steps.

Bang!

Countless tiny stone fragments flew in the air. Those meticulously carved ‘meritorious achievements’ were now like tofu dust, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

A hint of hostility suddenly appeared in the shark demon’s eyes. He tilted his head and chuckled, “Now, it looks much better.”

As everyone regained their senses, Princess Lizhu looked at Rong Yu. Despite her shock and pain, she quickly regained her composure. The woman asked coldly, “Are you seeking revenge for what happened back then?”

“Revenge?” The shark demon was momentarily stunned, the silver scales beneath his eyes sparkling even more brightly. He spoke lightly, “More than just revenge. I want to kill everyone here. I want to destroy Li’er Island, so that there won’t be a trace of it left on the map of the continent!”

“You little demon, daring to boast shamelessly.” Tan Tianxin pointed his long sword at the shark demon and flew towards him. “Today is the day you die!”

The swordsmanship of the Chihua Sect had always been superb. However, Rong Yu just smiled faintly. His robe fluttered in the wind, and before anyone could see how he acted, there was a muffled sound. Tan Tianxin was sent flying, crashing into the stargazing pillar on the high platform. He staggered back several steps before regaining his balance, his eyes filled with shock as he looked at Rong Yu.

Tan Tianxin was not a weak cultivator, but this move not only failed to gain an advantage, but was also beaten back by the shark demon.

“Sect cultivators, you dare to show off?” Rong Yu laughed arrogantly, “Even if it’s you, even if the Demon-Revealing Formation comes, I’ll kill you without hesitation!” With that, he flew towards the Starry Sky Platform.

The last step was no obstacle to him, and he easily passed it.

“Isn’t this a Demon-Revealing Formation?” Rong Yu was stunned.

“Of course not.” The young man in white shrugged, “Even the simplest formation takes at least a month to set up and complete. This is just an ordinary Fixating Step Technique,” he grinned mischievously, “I was just bluffing you, and you spilled the beans. It seems that you shark demons aren’t very smart either.”