Futile Devices Scans

Wenren Li bore Chen Yixin’s enthusiasm, his cheeks faintly flushed, the tips of his ears tinged red—but he was no longer stiff and unresponsive as before.

After Chen Yixin had kissed him to his heart’s content, Wenren Li shifted their positions. With two fingers resting lightly beneath Chen Yixin’s chin, he gave him a deep kiss, carrying a trace of solemnity.

A lively blush rose on Chen Yixin’s face as he wrapped his arms around Wenren Li, a smile curling at his lips. “A-Li is mine—he was mine in the last life, he is mine in this life, and he will be mine for all lifetimes to come.”

No one could ever stop them from being together.

“I am A-Rong’s,” Wenren Li agreed. Though neither of them remembered their past life, such a bond could neither be denied nor needed to be.

Chen Yixin glanced at him, then reached up to rub his cheek, speaking the words Wenren Li ought to have said himself.

“And I am A-Li’s.”

Though domineering by nature, Chen Yixin was an absolute exception when it came to Wenren Li. His love came straight from the heart, entirely beyond control. He was willing—willing to become Wenren Li’s Dao companion, willing to do anything for him.

After speaking, Chen Yixin waited a moment, then frowned slightly. “A-Li, say it again—learn it properly.”

Wenren Li fell silent for a while before finally understanding what he meant. “…A-Rong is mine.”

After saying it, his cheeks seemed to flush even deeper—not from shyness, but from an inexplicable surge of emotion.

Hearing this, Chen Yixin was finally satisfied. He kissed Wenren Li’s lips in approval, then let his gaze linger a moment longer on Wenren Li’s slightly flushed face. He held back with effort, barely stopping himself from laughing aloud.

Teasing someone—especially someone you loved—really could become addictive.

The red bridal sedan flew low across the Xi Guang Plains, then disappeared from sight as it sped forward at full speed. They were truly going home.

By now, ten years had passed since they had left the Li Kui Demon Palace.

Chen Yixin had completely freed himself from the curse, achieving a full rebirth. While his cultivation had not entirely recovered, it was not far off—and in terms of combat strength, he was likely even stronger than before. After all, he now cultivated the Flying Immortal Scripture, an immortal art, and the Six Burning Heaven Arts, divine techniques of the ancient Phoenix clan—far beyond anything in Taixuan.

The small town and forest had both been taken away by Chen Yixin. Naturally, this meant that Jing Zhihua and the others imprisoned beneath the town god’s temple, as well as some cultivators who had remained trapped within the secret realm, had all been taken along as well.

Their journey there had taken over two months. On the return, they bypassed Chaotic Demon City entirely and headed straight for the Li Kui Demon Palace. In just ten days, they arrived in Yan Province, where the palace was located.

Chen Yixin and Wenren Li stepped out of the bridal sedan hand in hand, greeted by all the demonic guards and protectors of the palace.

“Welcome, Demon Lord. Welcome, Demon Consort.”

The Li Kui Demon Palace was adorned with lanterns and decorations, as if celebrating a grand victory.

News of what had occurred within the Burning Heaven Nether Palace had already spread rapidly across Taixuan. It was said that Chen Yixin had obtained the inheritance, causing phenomena that shook the outside world, while rumors claimed that Wenren Li had fought three Soul Transformation powerhouses at once, slain two, and retreated unharmed.

Their journey had been an overwhelming success, once again solidifying the Li Kui Demon Palace’s unshakable position in the Southern Domain.

Within the palace’s domain, Wenren Li held absolute authority. In the past, when he intended to marry Chen Yixin as a “mortal”, the guards and protectors had objections. Now, with Chen Yixin having obtained an inheritance and becoming a true cultivator, they had none at all.

In fact, they even felt honored—after all, for the demonic path to win over the foremost beauty of the righteous path was quite a rare achievement.

“Ping Cheng, you and Wu Fei will oversee the arrangements for the upcoming wedding ceremony,” Wenren Li instructed the leading protector.

He paused slightly, turning his head to look at Chen Yixin, who was also looking at him. After a brief moment of thought, he said, “Shall we set the wedding date for the middle of next month?”

Counting everything, that would give them exactly one month. Before leaving, Wenren Li had already instructed Ping Cheng to begin preparations, so this timeline was not rushed. The month would primarily allow invited guests to travel to the Li Kui Demon Palace.

In the Upper Realm, Chen Yixin had once invited all immortals to witness their union. Now, in Taixuan, Wenren Li intended much the same—to announce their marriage to the world. Regardless of what others thought, those who attended would have no choice but to offer their congratulations and smiles.

“A-Li can decide. I’ll follow your lead,” Chen Yixin said, his expression obedient—as though whatever Wenren Li decided would be final. Several of the more senior protectors could barely conceal their satisfaction.

Rumors outside claimed that their Demon Consort was willful, domineering, and ruthless—clearly slander from those jealous of him. Before their Demon Lord, the Demon Consort was gentle and compliant.

Chen Yixin lightly scratched Wenren Li’s palm, maintaining his composed smile. Wenren Li’s lips curved into a faint smile in return as he led Chen Yixin back toward the palace they had once shared for a year.

Meanwhile, after returning to Yan Province, Yun Zhenzi had only just arrived back at the Jade Cauldron Sect. Before he could even speak with the sect elders, he went straight to one of the sect’s forbidden grounds—the Tai Xu Mountain, where Chen Yixin’s master, Yun Yazi, was in seclusion.

Yun Yazi was nearing the end of his lifespan, yet he was unwilling to die just like that. Here, he used a special secret technique to place both his body and soul into a state of deep slumber, thereby prolonging his life.

To put it more plainly—he was waiting for the “Divine Son” mentioned in the seven-character divine message to bring him hope of breakthrough, to lead him toward true immortality.

Yun Zhenzi naturally understood Yun Yazi’s expectations. But now was truly not the time for Yun Yazi to remain asleep. The Divine Son had fallen into the hands of Chen Yixin and Wenren Li. If anything happened, then even if Yun Yazi were left undisturbed, he would never see the hope of immortality.

When Yun Yazi awakened from his slumber, he felt as though a thousand years had passed in a dream. Yet upon learning from Yun Zhenzi that only some fifteen years had gone by, he was taken aback—this was clearly not within his expectations.

“What has happened?”

Unless it concerned matters of great importance—both for the sect and for attaining immortality—Yun Zhenzi would not have dared to awaken him so rashly.

Now that he had already been awakened, anger served no purpose. It was better to understand the situation, resolve it, and then return to waiting—return to slumber.

“The Divine Son has been taken by the Li Kui Demon Palace of the Southern Domain. I attempted a rescue, but alone, I was no match for him.”

Yun Zhenzi and Yun Yazi had been fellow disciples for over a thousand years, so there was no need for courtesy. He spoke directly, placing the problem before Yun Yazi. After all, Yun Yazi had once cooperated with Wenren Li—perhaps his standing would be different.

Yet upon hearing the words “Li Kui Demon Lord”, Yun Yazi froze for a moment, a trace of alarm flashing across his expression. “He’s already awakened?”

It had not even been a hundred years. Wenren Li had once destroyed his own soul to kill seven Soul Transformation powerhouses—yet he had already awakened? By Yun Yazi’s estimation, it should have taken at least a thousand years…

Without waiting for Yun Zhenzi to elaborate further, Yun Yazi hurriedly asked, “What about Yixin? Is he still in the Jade Cauldron Sect?”

As long as Chen Yixin remained in their hands, Wenren Li would have something to fear—and everything would still be negotiable.

However, Yun Zhenzi’s gaze dimmed slightly, as if realizing something critical. He shook his head and answered truthfully, “Chen Yixin… married into the Li Kui Demon Palace a year ago.”

“W-What?” Yun Yazi’s voice rose sharply—whether from shock or fear was unclear. But Yun Zhenzi had already noticed that Yun Yazi must have been hiding something he himself did not know.

Otherwise, even if Yun Yazi were surprised, fear should not have been his reaction. What he ought to feel was anger… yet there was none. Instead, there was a strange sense of inevitability—as if he had long known that Chen Yixin would marry into the demonic palace.

“What exactly happened? Start from the beginning—from when I entered seclusion.”

“Yes,” Yun Zhenzi replied without hesitation, recounting in as much detail as possible everything that had occurred since Yun Yazi’s seclusion.

He spoke of how the Heaven’s Secret Sect had announced the divine message to the Ten Great Immortal Sects, how the emissary had arrived to confirm Jing Zhihua’s identity as the Divine Son, how Chen Yixin had broken off the engagement, failed his seclusion, and been sent back to the Chen clan of Zhenhai, and so on.

It took him a full two hours to recount every detail he knew. Throughout the entire process, Yun Yazi remained silent, but his expression shifted constantly—flushing red, then pale.

At last, he struck the jade bed beneath him with his hand and barked in anger, “Utterly foolish!”

“How could you allow the Divine Son to act so recklessly? And Yixin… Yixin… enough. It is also my fault—I never explained things to you properly. A hundred years ago, he and the Li Kui Demon Lord shared a karmic bond within the Burning Heaven Nether Palace. In Taixuan, even the Divine Son cannot harm him in the slightest—otherwise…”

Even setting aside Chen Yixin’s vengeful nature, Wenren Li alone possessed the power to annihilate seven Soul Transformation cultivators. Even if the Divine Son had summoned aid from the Upper Realm, they would still not necessarily be able to deal with Wenren Li.

Moreover, in Taixuan, even if an Upper Realm Immortal Lord descended, their cultivation would be suppressed below the Soul Transformation stage. Yet even below that level, Wenren Li would still be capable of fighting. Who would win or lose would be uncertain.

“But Chen Yixin humiliated the Divine Son with the marriage arrangement. If I did not allow retaliation, I feared the Jade Cauldron Sect would be implicated,” Yun Zhenzi finally revealed his true thoughts.

He had allowed Jing Zhihua and Zhou Yan to harm Chen Yixin for this simple reason—he dreamed of “one attaining the Dao, and even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven”.

To him, the Divine Son entering the Jade Cauldron Sect was a once-in-a-millennium fortune. As sect master, he had to seize it.

Yun Yazi’s face flushed even more, and he spoke through gritted teeth, “But after everything Yixin did for him—how could he even speak of revenge?”

Even if those benefits had not originally been intended for Jing Zhihua, he had still received them. How could he call the engagement a “humiliation”? How could he think of revenge? Even as an immortal, he was utterly heartless.

Though Yun Yazi felt both anger and guilt, he still had to consider how to retrieve Jing Zhihua.

Yet there was no doubt—he was somewhat afraid to face Wenren Li and Chen Yixin.

Yun Zhenzi and Yun Yazi discussed matters for half a day but failed to reach any concrete plan. Then a disciple stationed at Jade Void Mountain came to report that Zhou Yan had arrived, requesting an urgent audience.

He not only knew that Yun Zhenzi was at Jade Void Mountain, he also knew that Yun Yazi had already awakened—this was not something an ordinary Golden Core cultivator could possibly achieve.

Yet he himself was one of the instigators. Even if he had not come to seek an audience, Yun Yazi would have sought him out to settle accounts.

“Let him enter…”

While the three of them gathered to discuss countermeasures, Chen Yixin also released Jing Zhihua and the others from the ring. Along with them came a group of bewildered rogue cultivators and low-level disciples from various sects who had remained trapped.

In the past, it was not unheard of for people to remain inside the Burning Heaven Nether Palace and fail to emerge. Yet when it opened again, none of those who had stayed behind were ever found alive. Now that all the entrances had suddenly disappeared, these people had long resigned themselves to waiting for death.

And now that they had suddenly been released, they were still dazed.

“This… we’re out?”

Lin An himself could hardly believe it. They had been confined in the underground space, their cultivation sealed. Though they would not starve, they could not cultivate, and they lived in constant fear of how Chen Yixin would deal with them—every moment had felt unbearable.

“Yes,” Chen Yixin replied casually. “Once the ransom is paid, you can leave.”

Seated in a chair, his body slightly reclined, he appeared extremely easygoing. Yet when the stranded cultivators reached for their storage pouches, they discovered they were gone—clearly, the contents of those pouches could not be used as ransom.

“Demon Consort, may I send a message to a friend? I can have them bring my ransom…”

These rogue cultivators were cunning; Chen Yixin did not believe they carried all their possessions on them. However, the ransom he demanded was not excessive. For a Qi Refinement cultivator, it was three mid-grade spirit stones. For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it ranged from ten to one hundred mid-grade spirit stones, depending on their level.

Of course, this pricing applied only to rogue cultivators. For disciples of established sects, Chen Yixin was far less lenient. He had them write letters as well, but the final ransom would be set personally by him. Though steep, it was still within what those sects could afford if they gritted their teeth.

The only exception was Jing Zhihua. His ransom was outrageously high—practically enough to empty half the treasury of the Jade Cauldron Sect. What kind of human treasure was he, to be worth so much?

All of Chen Yixin’s actions were carried out in full view of everyone. Facing their puzzled expressions, he simply smiled again.

“So you still don’t know?” he said lightly. “He is the Divine Son who can save Taixuan in the future. Of course he’s valuable.”

Chen Yixin’s intentions were unmistakable. Not only did he intend to extort a hefty sum from the Jade Cauldron Sect, he also wanted other sects to get involved—turning it into a bidding war where the highest offer would win.

This time, he was determined to recover everything from Jing Zhihua in one stroke.

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