Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 255 - Good News (2)

Zanxing hesitated for a moment but eventually asked the question she had been meaning to ask: “Then my father…”

Bu Jiang turned around, lightly sweeping her sleeve. The wide crimson sleeve moved like a brilliant flower in bloom, and as she moved, the scenery before them changed. A small stream appeared.

The stream’s water was red.

The water emerged from deep within the earth, flowing gently forward, splitting into countless tiny streams along its way, enveloping the entire Heishi City. The bright red water flowed over the forest, through the dark soil, and past the stone caves scattered across the mountain, nourishing the entire Heishi City.

“This is the demon realm’s spiritual vein,” Bu Jiang said. “The spiritual vein supports the entire Heishi City and its inhabitants.”

Zanxing had never seen a red spiritual vein before. In the cultivation world, spiritual veins were mostly golden, with occasional white ones. This vivid color was not frightening; it was as bright as the morning sun, joyful and auspicious.

“Do you know why your father died?” Bu Jiang asked.

Zanxing replied softly, “Because he was corrupted by the process of refining the Xiao Yuan Pearl, wreaking havoc in the mortal world, and was slain by several major sects of the cultivation world at the Ruins of the Golden Gate.”

“Then do you know why he wanted to refine the Xiao Yuan Pearl?”

Zanxing thought for a moment. “To become stronger?”

It was normal for cultivators, whether demons or humans, to desire greater power. As the ruler of the demon realm, it was understandable that Gui Yansheng sought to use the Xiao Yuan Pearl to advance to a higher level.

Bu Jiang smiled but did not answer Zanxing’s question. She turned and looked down at Heishi City. “Over twenty years ago, the spiritual vein of the demon realm began to diminish.”

“At first, it was only a slight decrease in flow. Later on, it became noticeable that the spiritual vein was shrinking, and eventually, it seemed to be on the brink of depletion.”

“You might have heard of sects whose spiritual veins had dried up, leading to their decline and eventual disappearance from the cultivation world,” she said. “The same applies to the demon realm. Once the spiritual vein is depleted, the demonic energy of all the demons will gradually vanish, and Heishi City will become a dead city until the entire demon race disappears from the region.”

Zanxing frowned. “Why would the spiritual vein deplete?”

Bu Jiang shook her head. “Who knows? The dao of heaven is fair, and the ebb and flow of the seasons are determined. The demon race, having prospered for many years, is bound to face a period of decline. When Heishi City disappears and the demon race vanishes, years later, a new Great Demon will rise and repeat the cycle of fate.”

“Your father was someone who defied the dao of heaven.”

“It is said that the most powerful Demon King could restore vitality to the spiritual vein. The stronger the Demon King’s power, the more flourishing the spiritual vein. By then, your father had reached a bottleneck in his cultivation, having not made a breakthrough for years. At this time, he happened to obtain the Xiao Yuan Pearl.”

Zanxing was slightly stunned, already guessing part of the truth.

“The Xiao Yuan Pearl contains the essence of heaven and earth. Your father tried to refine it, hoping to use the power of the Great Demon to awaken the spiritual vein. However…” Bu Jiang sighed. “As you know, he failed.”

Not only did Gui Diaotang fail to refine the Xiao Yuan Pearl, but he also fell into madness, losing his sanity, wreaking havoc in the mortal world, and was ultimately slain by the joint efforts of the sects.

“After your father’s fall, the spiritual vein of Heishi City was completely depleted. The demonic energy of the entire demon race began to gradually disappear. Over the years, although I have barely managed to maintain the balance of Heishi City, I knew in my heart that if things continued like this, the demon race would eventually decline. It wasn’t until two years ago, when the Gui Yansheng appeared, that the spiritual vein of the demon realm began to regain some vitality. I initially thought this meant the spiritual vein had recognized the Gui Yansheng as the one who could save the demon race. However, I also felt it was somewhat hasty to let a madman be the ruler of the demon realm, until you appeared.”

“The day you walked out of the Abyss of Extreme Ice, the spiritual vein of the demon realm began to flow again.”

“Zanxing,” Bu Jiang’s voice was calm, “you are the one who can save the demon race.”

Zanxing opened her mouth, unable to find words at that moment.

The Queen’s gaze fell upon Zanxing, as if seeing another person through her. After a long silence, she said, “You and your father are very similar.”

“You are both stubborn, both innocent, both unwilling to give up until you hit the wall. He firmly believed he could refine the Xiao Yuan Pearl to save the entire demon race, while you are convinced you can walk out of the Abyss of Extreme Ice and become the next prodigy.”

“He failed, but you succeeded.”

“So,” Bu Jiang’s gaze showed a trace of complexity, “I don’t know if you can change the heavenly dao and alter the demon race’s destined fate once again.”

Zanxing was somewhat confused. “I don’t understand.”

Bu Jiang smiled slightly, took a few steps forward, bent down to put away the umbrella by the tree, and then turned around, extending her hands towards Zanxing.

As the Queen claimed to be the most beautiful woman in the Three Realms, every inch of her was flawless. Her hands were white and perfect, seemingly the finest creation of the divine. However, on her slender, fair wrists hung a pair of black, heavy bracelets.

The bracelets were rough and appeared quite cumbersome. They were unadorned with any carvings or gems, hanging awkwardly on her wrists, looking especially out of place.

Zanxing was puzzled. Bu Jiang lowered her eyes, and the next moment, a massive surge of demonic power erupted from her hands, surging towards Zanxing with great force.

Zanxing instinctively channeled her demonic energy to block the attack, looking at Bu Jiang with a confused expression. “Mother?”

The clanging sounds rang out. The two black bracelets in Bu Jiang’s hands had transformed into two enormous, serrated black wheels, spinning ferociously in her grasp. Raising her brows, her voice revealed no discernible emotion. “After all this time, let me see the results of your closed-door training.” Before Zanxing could react, the spinning black wheels rushed toward her.

If the black wheels hit someone, they would crush them into bits. Zanxing’s heart sank, and she shouted, “Wuyou!”

As soon as her voice fell, the frost flower on her green ring erupted with a blinding light, transforming into a long green staff that fell into Zanxing’s hands.

The staff collided with the black wheels, producing a deafening explosion on Heishi Mountain. Sparks flew in every direction. Zanxing immediately felt a tidal wave of force rushing toward her chest from the staff’s tip. She was jolted by the energy, feeling as if her meridians were about to be shattered. The black wheels continued to grow larger, their serrated edges sharpening into blades, emanating a menacing demonic aura as they rolled toward her.

Zanxing planted the staff firmly, releasing countless floral streams to envelop the black wheels. The wheels began to slow down until they could no longer advance. Bu Jiang clasped her hands again, and the massive black wheels transformed back into bracelets. These bracelets then multiplied into countless smaller ones, each spinning like a blade, overwhelming Zanxing with a relentless barrage.

Bang bang bang bang bang—

Wuyou’s staff swung like the wind, blocking all the incoming black bracelets. Zanxing shouted fiercely, a surge of turbulent energy flowing from the staff’s tip. Previously blue, this energy now contained a streak of black, intertwining demonic and elemental forces. The dark azure light surged through the night sky like meteors, crashing down fiercely onto two of the black bracelets—

Clang—

The two bracelets fell to the ground, rolling to the edge of the green paper umbrella propped against the locust tree, and lay still.

Zanxing gasped for breath and looked at Bu Jiang.

Bu Jiang’s bright red robe was stained with dirt, and the intricate patterns embroidered on it had become blurred, but she seemed indifferent. She walked to one side, bent down to pick up the two bracelets, and put them back on. Then she raised the oil paper umbrella and walked to Zanxing’s side, shielding her from the rain overhead.

“You managed to break my Vajra Bracelets in such a short time. You are even more formidable than I expected.”

Zanxing remained silent.

The Demon Queen was indeed formidable. She managed to sustain Heishi City despite the fall of Gui Diaotang and the withering of the magic realm’s veins, proving herself to be quite remarkable. Zanxing had defeated Bu Jiang, but it was clear that it was not as easy as it seemed.

The blue mark of the Demon King on her forehead seemed to constantly remind her of her identity as the Demon King’s daughter.

“What’s the matter?” Zanxing asked.

Bu Jiang wouldn’t test her abilities without reason. The sudden request to go out tonight must have had significant meaning.

“Look,” Bu Jiang said, pointing to the crimson veins of magic. “When you first arrived in Heishi City, the veins flowed vigorously and were abundant in spiritual energy. In just two years, the flow has diminished considerably.”

Zanxing focused on the sight. Since she had not been here before, she wasn’t aware of the changes. After a moment of thought, she asked, “Are the veins still continuing to wither?”

“Yes,” Bu Jiang’s face showed rare signs of concern. “I had hoped the plight of the demon race had been resolved, but now it seems this calamity has only just begun.” Before Zanxing could respond, Bu Jiang looked at her with an enigmatic tone. “I have a piece of bad news and a piece of good news. Which would you like to hear first?”

“Bad news.” It was better to prepare for the worst, and given the current situation, things couldn’t get any worse. Zanxing wasn’t sure what could possibly be more troubling.

“My people reported that recently, Gui Yansheng has reappeared in the capital of the Eastern Region. He’s still alive, which is a grave threat.”

Zanxing was surprised. During the past two years of her seclusion, Gui Yansheng had been absent, which allowed Heishi City a brief period of tranquility. Everyone hoped that Gui Yansheng had died from his own madness, as had happened before. Now it seemed that hope was in vain. His reappearance signaled that the peaceful days for Heishi City might soon end.

“What’s the good news?” Zanxing asked.

Bu Jiang smiled. “The good news is that Gui Yansheng, as soon as he emerged, began to cause chaos and kill people in the sects. The cultivation world hates him deeply and has united a demon extermination army to eradicate the demon head at the Yue Mountains”

“So the cultivation world is temporarily shouldering some of the risks for us, and we can be at ease for a while?” Zanxing asked. “For Heishi City, that is indeed good news.”

Bu Jiang shook her head with a smile. “The good news I’m referring to is not that.”

Zanxing looked at her with confusion.

“Have you been worried about your little martial uncle?” Bu Jiang gave her a meaningful glance and said, “The leader of the demon extermination army this time is your martial uncle.”