Futile Devices Scans

An hour later, Chen Yixin woke.

Wenren Li fed him a bowl of plain porridge made from spirit ingredients, then stayed with him for a while longer before leaving the bedchamber and heading to the discussion hall in the outer palace.

Wu Fei had just returned to the Demon Palace after being sent out to collect Weaving Cloud. After handing the materials over to Nan Ke, he received word that Wenren Li wanted to see him.

“Taixuan hasn’t been very peaceful lately,” Wu Fei remarked the moment he saw Wenren Li.

Among the residents of the Li Kui Demon Palace, most cultivators were cold and expressionless. Wu Fei was the rare exception.

He was born with a smiling face and treated everyone warmly, nothing like the stereotypical cultivator of the demonic path.

Of course, appearances were deceiving.

If he truly possessed a pure and kind nature, he would never have ended up serving under Wenren Li—one of the Ten Demon Lords of the demonic sects.

Wu Fei paused, glancing around.

Not a single person in the room looked remotely interested in gossip.

His cheerful smile had been entirely wasted on empty air.

When Wenren Li’s gaze swept over him, Wu Fei immediately restrained his grin and straightened his posture.

“The matter of the Demon Consort being expelled from Yuding Sect is still surrounded by rumors throughout the cultivation world,” he reported. “Our investigation only confirmed that it’s related to his former fiancée, Jing Zhihua. As for the exact circumstances, we have yet to determine them.”

The “Demon Consort,” of course, referred to Chen Yixin, who was currently staying in the Demon Palace.

Wu Fei knew more details than Nan Ke and the others.

After a brief bow, he suggested, “In my opinion, Demon Lord, it would be best if you asked the Demon Consort directly.”

Wenren Li did not respond.

With a slight flick of his finger, he signaled Wu Fei to skip the subject and continue with other matters.

Standing beside Wu Fei was a demonic cultivator who looked like a middle-aged man but was unusually short in stature. He stepped forward to deliver his report.

“The secret realm of the Burning Heaven Nether Palace on the Xiguang Plains will open again in one year. Both the Ten Immortal Sects and the Ten Demonic Domains will certainly compete for a share of the opportunities there. Demon Lord, we should begin preparations early.”

The Burning Heaven Nether Palace opened once every eighty-one years.

Inside grew immortal herbs and spiritual materials that were thousands—sometimes tens of thousands—of years old.

Legend also spoke of the inheritance left behind by the Immortal Lord Burning Heaven himself.

Every time the secret realm opened, countless cultivators—both immortal and demonic—lost their lives there. Yet many also emerged with profound opportunities and priceless treasures.

The previous opening of the secret realm had given rise to Chen Yixin of Yuding Sect.

He had formed his Golden Core before the age of fifty.

If not for the turmoil within Yuding Sect, he might have become the youngest Nascent Soul cultivator in the history of Taixuan.

Many people had studied Chen Yixin’s life and concluded that the Burning Heaven Nether Palace was the key to his astonishing cultivation speed.

Now that the secret realm was about to open again, the competition would likely be even more intense than before.

“Burning Heaven Nether Palace…”

Wenren Li murmured the name.

A surge of aura suddenly radiated from him, forcing Wu Fei and the others to step back instinctively.

The pressure vanished just as quickly.

Then Wenren Li nodded slightly.

“We should indeed prepare.”

While Wenren Li discussed matters with Wu Fei and the others, Chen Yixin was strolling through the Demon Palace under Nan Ke’s escort.

Contrary to what many mortals imagined—a gloomy fortress filled with sinister energy—the Li Kui Demon Palace was luxurious and exquisitely constructed.

Its architecture was magnificent beyond measure.

“So the place I’m currently staying in is actually Wenren Li’s palace?” Chen Yixin asked casually.

Nan Ke was a little surprised that he had only realized this now.

He nodded.

“Yes.”

But the moment he answered, the surprise vanished from Chen Yixin’s face.

Instead, Chen Yixin turned his attention to the immortal herbs and demonic flowers growing in the palace gardens.

Nan Ke scratched his head.

He had escorted Chen Yixin for over a month, yet he still could not understand what went on in the man’s mind.

“Let’s rest here for a while,” Chen Yixin said after walking a short distance.

He was already tired.

Too lazy to continue toward the pavilion ahead, he simply found a stone stool and sat down.

Nan Ke had long since grown accustomed to Chen Yixin doing whatever he pleased.

He dared not object.

So while Chen Yixin rested, he stood guard beside him.

The area wasn’t far from Wenren Li’s residence, and relatively few guards passed through, making it quite peaceful.

Of course, that was merely Chen Yixin’s judgment based on what he could see.

Hidden demonic guards were certainly stationed nearby.

While Chen Yixin sat there lost in thought, his body suddenly lifted off the ground.

Wenren Li had picked him up.

Chen Yixin instinctively wrapped his arms around Wenren Li’s neck.

He stared at him in mild surprise.

At the same time, he was surprised by his own reaction.

Had he already grown so accustomed to being carried by Wenren Li that it had become instinctive?

When their gazes met, a trace of gentle warmth appeared in Wenren Li’s eyes.

As he carried Chen Yixin away, he explained calmly,

“The stone stool is cold. You shouldn’t sit on it too long.”

Even while discussing affairs with his subordinates, his spiritual sense had been monitoring Chen Yixin at all times.

If Chen Yixin wanted to rest, he wouldn’t stop him.

But he would keep track of the time to prevent him from catching a chill.

If Chen Yixin grew too tired to walk, he would simply come and carry him back.

To Wenren Li, this was only natural.

“Oh.”

Chen Yixin responded softly.

His hand tightened slightly on the collar behind Wenren Li’s neck.

After studying Wenren Li’s profile for a few moments, he slowly leaned his head against his shoulder.

“I’m living in your palace and sleeping in your bed. Where do you sleep?”

The muscles in Wenren Li’s cheek stiffened slightly.

He pressed his lips together and glanced briefly at Chen Yixin before answering stiffly,

“I’m taking care of you. I don’t need to sleep.”

Chen Yixin paused.

Then the corners of his mouth lifted.

His curved eyes seemed to hold a galaxy of starlight, dazzling and bright.

“After cultivating for a hundred years, life doesn’t feel as vivid as a hundred days among mortals,” he said with a laugh. “I almost forgot—you’re a Soul-Transformation cultivator.”

Wenren Li nodded.

As if recalling something, he allowed himself a brief, slightly awkward smile before it disappeared.

“You’re right.”

In cultivation, time passed without notice.

Hundreds of years went by in a flash.

Even thousands passed quickly.

Yet the bustle of the mortal world often left the deepest impressions.

Chen Yixin had been watching him the whole time and naturally didn’t miss that fleeting smile.

Leaning closer against his shoulder, he asked,

“Right about what?”

Wenren Li pursed his lips.

Warm breath from Chen Yixin’s whisper brushed against his ear and spread heat across his face.

Almost without thinking, he answered,

“Right… about everything. Everything you said is right.”

Chen Yixin burst out laughing.

He leaned against Wenren Li’s shoulder, shaking with uncontrollable laughter.

All the moments from the past two days rushed through his mind, and he found the situation increasingly amusing.

Wenren Li had no idea what he was laughing about.

But seeing Chen Yixin laugh so freely made him happy too.

Still carrying the laughing man in his arms, he returned all the way to the bedchamber.

Even after Wenren Li placed him back on the bed, Chen Yixin continued laughing while clutching his stomach.

“Good heavens… how can there be a Soul-Transformation cultivator as amusing as you…”

Clearly he stiffened whenever Chen Yixin touched him, yet he kept coming closer only to be teased.

“Alright, stop laughing,” Wenren Li said with concern. “Laughing too much isn’t good for your health.”

Chen Yixin rolled around on the Weaving Cloud bedding, laughing without restraint.

His shoulders trembled as he buried his face in the soft cloud-like material.

Just as his muffled laughter continued, Wenren Li scooped him up together with the blanket.

“Be good. Stop laughing for now.”

“Alright.”

Chen Yixin stopped trembling.

Though his lips pressed together, his eyes still curved with lingering amusement.

That bout of laughter had finally dispelled the distance he once felt because of their difference in cultivation.

This dignified Soul-Transformation great demon was even more innocent—and easier to embarrass—than some novice Daoist just beginning cultivation.

Chen Yixin continued teasing him silently in his mind but gradually restrained his laughter.

“I laughed so much I’m hungry. I want snacks.”

He spoke with complete confidence, his expression as straightforward as a child’s.

Wenren Li’s gaze flickered.

He almost looked away but ultimately couldn’t bear to.

Instead, he gently brushed aside the strands of hair scattered across Chen Yixin’s cheek.

“Alright.”

He liked Chen Yixin most when he acted this way—so naturally and confidently demanding everything from him. 

Between the two of them, things should have been like this from the very beginning.

Chen Yixin’s own residence—the Luxin Palace—was fully redecorated on the third day after he moved into Wenren Li’s palace.

Yet half a year passed without its master ever returning.

At first, Chen Yixin truly forgot about it for half a month.

Later, when he remembered, he had already grown accustomed to living in Wenren Li’s Li Palace.

Since Wenren Li never suggested he move back, Chen Yixin never brought it up either.

All the Weaving Cloud prepared for Luxin Palace was eventually moved into Wenren Li’s palace.

After all, if he moved, he would have to take half the things with him. The hassle wasn’t worth it.

Throughout the cultivation world, even a single foot of Weaving Cloud was incredibly difficult to obtain and had countless uses.

Yet in the Li Kui Demon Palace, it was used as blankets, pillows, and carpets.

As for cushions—

Chen Yixin already had a Soul-Transformation Demon Lord–grade cushion named Wenren Li, so he had no need for anything else.

“Your dantian has fully recovered,” Wenren Li said after placing his hand over Chen Yixin’s lower abdomen and carefully examining it.

“But you must not rush your cultivation.”

Chen Yixin pulled his hand away and leaned back into Wenren Li’s arms.

His voice remained lazy and relaxed.

“So I can live another twenty or thirty years, at least.”

Wenren Li shook his head and corrected him seriously.

“Once you break through again, you’ll have hundreds, even thousands of years left.”

The cultivation path had seven great realms:

Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Tribulation Crossing, and Mahayana before ascension.

Each realm had ten layers and four stages.

With every major breakthrough, one’s lifespan also increased.

Qi Refinement cultivators lived about as long as mortals—roughly a hundred years.

Foundation Establishment allowed two hundred.

Golden Core five hundred.

Nascent Soul a thousand.

Soul Transformation three thousand.

Tribulation Crossing ten thousand.

Mahayana cultivators could live tens of thousands of years.

Cultivation became harder the further one progressed.

On the Taixuan Realm, Soul-Transformation cultivators were already the pinnacle.

No one had ever heard of any sect possessing Tribulation Crossing or Mahayana cultivators.

Chen Yixin was now one hundred and thirty-one years old.

Though his dantian had been repaired, his body was still that of a Golden Core cultivator at peak completion.

If he never cultivated again, living another twenty or thirty years would not be difficult.

But once his cultivation returned, so would his lifespan.

With his top-grade single spiritual root, living for thousands of years—or even ascending to immortality—was entirely possible.

Chen Yixin slowly put away his lazy smile.

Sitting upright, he met Wenren Li’s gaze and nodded solemnly.

“Thank you.”

Wenren Li looked at him, clearly wanting to pull him back into his arms again.

But after a moment of consideration, he decided the time wasn’t right to reveal everything yet.

Instead, he gently ruffled Chen Yixin’s hair in approval.

“No need to thank me. I’m happy.”

There were very few things in the world that made him happy.

And Chen Yixin occupied most of them.

“As for the injury to your soul,” Wenren Li continued, “I can only suppress it for now. In three months we’ll go out together. Your cultivation method and the curse will be resolved at the same time.”

“Alright.”

Chen Yixin smiled and nodded.

Then he poked his bare foot out from the Weaving Cloud blanket and lightly kicked Wenren Li’s calf.

“Demon Lord, may I go to sleep now?”

“Sleep.”

Wenren Li nodded.

Yet his gaze unconsciously drifted toward the leg Chen Yixin had kicked.

Even now, he did not dare cross any boundaries beyond hugging or patting Chen Yixin’s head.

Meanwhile, Chen Yixin touched him freely all day long without restraint.

And yet Wenren Li’s instincts told him that Chen Yixin’s casual touching only expressed closeness—nothing more.

Seeing Wenren Li’s expression stiffen again, Chen Yixin turned onto his side and nearly laughed again.

He had begun living according to Wenren Li’s earlier advice:

Don’t think too much.

He no longer dwelled on hatred.

Nor on the rules and burdens that once constrained him.

When he felt happy, he laughed.

When he didn’t, he simply didn’t.

Aside from the constant pain within his body and soul, his life now was actually quite pleasant.

And though he tried not to think about other things—

One thing he remembered clearly:

All the kindness Wenren Li had shown him.

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