Chapter 689 - 325: I Want to See Stockings!

You Su followed Qu Zhaixing’s guidance and crossed the battlefield strewn with debris alongside Ji Xueruo.

Passing by the huge pit, You Su couldn’t sense any trace of life, only the damp and fetid odor wafting from the bottom of the pit — certainly not an environment that Fire Armadillos would favor.

"Where did the Fire Armadillo go?" You Su asked with furrowed brows.

Qu Zhaixing, now devoid of his previous scholarly arrogance, appeared completely like a lackey, nodding and bowing.

Ji Xueruo noticed this demeanor, recalling how Huo Ranhua had successfully deceived him due to his self-assertions, thinking this person was truly a textbook example of outwardly resplendent but internally rotten.

"I don’t know either... Just know that it went berserk attacking us that day, then suddenly seemed to sense something and ran away..."

"Ran away?!" Ji Xueruo asked in astonishment, "Where could it run to?"

The young girl’s concern was reasonable; to everyone on the island, the Fire Armadillo was a calamity.

"I didn’t dare chase it..." Qu Zhaixing responded humbly.

Ji Xueruo rolled her eyes helplessly, more concerned about what could scare away such a fierce beast than its actual whereabouts.

"Why did you say it seemed to sense something?"

"Because it almost swallowed Ao Yu whole, yet suddenly turned around and fled after a brief glance."

Qu Zhaixing recalled the scene, still feeling a lingering fear. If not for the Fire Armadillo’s abrupt cessation, he wouldn’t have been able to rescue Ao Yu.

You Su raised his brows slightly, "Which direction did it look?"

Qu Zhaixing glanced at the sun to calculate the direction, "It looked toward the northwest."

"Northwest?"

Ji Xueruo scanned that direction and then frowned, whispering to You Su, "Since arriving on the island, I’ve mostly been around here, which is the southeast side of Celestial Awakening Island. That the Fire Armadillo could settle here indicates there’s nothing around threatening it, yet it was scared off. My initial judgment is there’s only one possibility — that a creature more powerful than it has come ashore, prompting it to flee inland."

You Su nodded slightly, acknowledging the plausibility of Ji Xueruo’s deduction, though they had no time to investigate what might be on the southeast corner of Celestial Awakening Island now.

"Let’s locate Zixun first." You Su quickened his pace slightly, feeling the island was becoming increasingly chaotic.

The trio reached a mound and finally saw Ao Yu.

Leaves rustled softly in the breeze, while this tranquil mound stood untouched by the ravages of battle, adorned with various wildflowers.

Yet juxtaposed with these vibrant flora were six somber graves suffused with the aura of death.

Kneeling, Ao Yu murmured unfamiliar elegies with eyes closed. He was of the majestic Golden Lion Race, yet his voice was now gentle like a warm breeze, soothing and safeguarding these slumbering souls.

Ji Xueruo was slightly moved; this was a special song sung during Demon Race funerals, performed in the obscure ancient language of the Spirit Fox Race rather than the common tongue of the Five Continents.

Star Shining Immortal Ancestor was the sole Demon cultivator among the six Immortal Ancestors, and the only legendary dragon known. During the great battle of the Celestial Demon’s invasion, Star Shining Immortal Ancestor united all the demons in war, though the battles were brutal. For those demons who perished, she personally composed an elegy calling their spirits back home.

This song became a Demon Race tradition, passed down through the ages. However, today’s Demon Race lacks leaders like Star Shining Immortal Ancestor, no longer as united as before.

Qu Zhaixing looked back at the pair, his expression slightly helpless since bringing Ao Yu to safety; Ao Yu had been digging, filling graves, and mourning, having not spoken a word to him.

"Which one is your brother’s?"

You Su tread gently, approaching Ao Yu.

Ao Yu’s face was pallid, his lips cracked, eyes bloodshot, and several dried bloodstains marked his once handsome face.

He didn’t raise his head to look at You Su, instead, he stared blankly at the tombstone before him. His closed eyes were not due to reverence but because he dared not look at the name inscribed on the stone.

You Su felt a connection, refraining from speaking further, opting instead to bow deeply before Ao Yunlie’s grave.

Honestly speaking, he harbored no profound emotions toward Ao Yunlie, yet he respected this demon thoroughly, not merely because Ao Yunlie saved him.

In such dire human-demon relations, Ao Yunlie was proactive in learning from the Human Race, striving to foster harmonious coexistence, gaining trust through self-restraint.

He was clever yet foolish; faced with cold reality, he was a destined-to-be-short-lived idealist. This was why when Ao Yunlie first invited You Su to form a team, You Su turned him down.

Because those who believed in that kind of teamwork were too naive, even without the Fire Armadillo issue, Ao Yunlie would inevitably pay for his excessive faith in those around him.

Despite this, You Su must concede that such demons are exceedingly precious: he had the potential to become a key figure in improving human-demon relations. Ironically, such a scarce demon was exploited by Huo Ranhua, ultimately ending in such a lamentable outcome.

"He could have survived, even using family Forbidden Techniques, he could have lived. He was Ao Yunlie... No Elder didn’t like him; if he had left, they would have made efforts to save him. But why was he so foolish? Why did he desperately protect us, one by one tearing off charms to leave the island? Why didn’t he rip off his own charm to leave first?"

Ao Yu muttered, tears streaming down, embodying the anguish within his heart.

Ji Xueruo also bowed, she pressed her lips together and finally spoke:

"I have slain the true enemy with my own hands. Your brother will return home in spirit. Those who tried to use the Demon Race, not a single one will be spared."

Upon hearing this, Ao Yu finally lifted his head, his brows and eyes lowered.

Ji Xueruo pinched the hem of her skirt, thinking that with Ao Yu’s personality, he would question her about where she was during the decisive battle, or perhaps believe her coming to pay respects now was a mere pretense.

But Ao Yu did not; he simply uttered a low thank you.

Ji Xueruo felt the pain of losing family deeply; from the moment she learned of her blood feud, she grew up overnight just like Ao Yu.

Suddenly, Ao Yu stood up, only to see him take six exquisite wooden boxes from his Qiankun Bag, each inscribed with a name belonging to the master of six graves.

"Please, Miss Ji, help me take them back. This is the true return to one’s roots..."

"But... you can take them out yourself." Ji Xueruo hesitated to take them.

"I won’t be leaving." Ao Yu smiled.

Ji Xueruo found the smile somewhat piercing and suddenly grew angry, "Your brother fought and died to save you! If you don’t hurry to break the talisman and leave the island, how could you live up to his intentions?"

Ao Yunlie had a younger brother, and she too had a younger sister.

Ao Yu merely shook his head, "It’s not the first time I’ve angered him anyway... If we wanted to leave, we would have done so long ago. I will not leave until I have avenged him personally."

"But I’ve already killed Huo Ranhua, whom else will you seek revenge upon?"

"The Saint Heir!"

Ao Yu mentioned the name with cold brows, his voice like a chilling wind, carrying an undeniable resolution, "It was he who killed my brother with his own hands, that beast crushing my brother underfoot before me, venting his frustration at not being able to defeat him! There are several others as well, I remember all their faces! Even without Huo Ranhua’s incitement, they would still be enemies of the Demon Race!"

Ao Yu spoke with undeniable certainty, the name of the Saint Heir had become a thorn deeply embedded in his heart.

Ji Xueruo frowned slightly, both morally and logically unwilling to see Ao Yu continue to rush headlong into danger. Though the Saint Heir couldn’t defeat Ao Yunlie, it didn’t mean he couldn’t defeat Ao Yu. Yet she knew it was impossible to persuade Ao Yu at this moment, she stopped herself from speaking further.

You Su, who had been silent all along, resembled an impotent husband in Ji Xueruo’s eyes, causing her to slap You Su unceremoniously:

"Try to convince him!"

You Su raised a brow, taking a Dragon Marrow Elixir from his Qiankun Bag and handing it over.

"Without healing your injuries, you cannot kill the Saint Heir."

Ao Yu was slightly startled, he did not lack elixirs, but You Su’s understanding was like a withered tree finding spring, resonating deeply in his heart. He once again admired his brother’s insight; this man was truly unlike others.

"Thank you." Ao Yu was about to accept the Spirit Pill, also accepting You Su’s acknowledgment.

"No need to thank me, if I were in your place, I would make the same decision."

You Su’s words were carefree, while Ji Xueruo glared angrily, feeling that he had to oppose her deliberately.

You Su smiled awkwardly, then continued, "But Miss Ji is also right, if you die, your brother’s death would lose all meaning. So I have only one request, you can seek revenge, but you must ensure your own survival. Revenge is never a temporary matter."

Ao Yu considered the elixir in You Su’s hand, hesitating for a long time, finally deciding to accept it.

"Why have you come to find me?"

Ao Yu immediately swallowed the Dragon Marrow Elixir, though immersed in the grief of his brother’s passing, he had overheard the message that echoed across the island.

He wasn’t foolish, easily deducing that their visit wasn’t simply to offer condolences. It was clear You Su’s understanding had resonated with the lion consumed by sorrow and hatred.

You Su did not hesitate either, "As you belong to the Golden Lion Race, do you know your brother’s Golden Lion Roar?"

Ao Yu nodded; it was a gift of innate divine ability from the Golden Lion Race, of course he knew it, though still lacking compared to his brother who had mastered it.

"Who do you want me to shake?"

"I don’t want you to shake people, I just need you to shout a sentence with all your might, so that your voice spreads as far and wide as possible!" You Su said decisively.

"Shout?" Ao Yu was somewhat stunned, feeling slightly underutilized, "Shout what?"

You Su clenched his fist, excitedly saying, "Just shout..."

"I want to see pantyhose!"

Before Ao Yu could react, Ji Xueruo’s fist had already struck his waist solidly.