Gate of God

“Emperor Yun, who do you think is the most likely to impersonate Meng Tian?” Lin Yu took a glance at Emperor Yun and stopped showing the respectful look towards Yun Qingwu. Instead of directly answering Emperor Yun, he asked him back.

“Who do I think is the most likely to impersonate Meng Tian… Unless you are referring to Fang…”

“Exactly!” Lin Yu nodded and continued, “Although based on the battle report, the tactic did not seem to be Fang Zhengzhi’s tactics and neither does Fang Zhengzhi have such high capabilities, there are some similarities between the tone and expression of the attacker and Fang Zhengzhi. That is why I developed this speculation.”

“Speculation? Then what is the relationship between this and sacrificing the five Vice Domain Chiefs of the Demon Race?” Emperor Yun frowned and asked.

“In order to prove my speculation, we have to make a trip down to the Northern Mountain Village. If I went, Fang Zhengzhi would not be able to stand an advantage. However, if the five Vice Domain Chiefs of the Demon Race went and followed Young Lord’s order to take revenge, then…” Lin Yu stopped at the last part of his sentence.

“Demon Deity, you mean you want the five Vice Domain Chiefs to get themselves killed?!” Emperor Yun finally understood what Lin Yu meant.

“Haha…” Lin Yu did not answer and instead, raised his teacup and took a small sip from it. “According to Young Lord’s plan, if we can keep holding on to the ‘Source of God’, then we will be able to get as many Vice Domain Chief of the Mortal State as we want!”

“However, just because of a mere speculation, we are… Alright, I understand, go and make the necessary arrangements right away.” Emperor Yun wanted to say something but after looking at Lin Yu’s expression, he decided to not continue.

“Young Lord, what is your opinion?” Lin Yu waved his arm and stopped Emperor Yun who had already stood up from his chair, turning his gaze to Yun Qingwu.

Yun Qingwu stood up and stared outside of the palace. She bit her lips and looked hesitant.

“Qingwu, what are your views?” After taking a look at the silent Yun Qingwu and Lin Yu, Emperor Yun took a deep breath and asked again.

“Father, you don’t have to seek my opinion for such small matters. You are the current Demon Lord.” Yun Qingwu took a glance at Lin Yu then Emperor Yun and said softly.

“Haha… Alright, then I shall decide!” Emperor Yun smiled and looked at the few Domain Chiefs standing underneath. “Ying Dao, I shall put you in charge of this.”

“Sir Demon Lord, Young Lord had not expressed her views,” Ying Dao replied respectfully as he took a step forward.

“What do you mean?” Emperor Yun’s smile froze.

“Sir Demon Lord, please seek Young Lord’s views before making a decision. I am saying this because of the future of the Demon Race as I do not want a similar loss to be made like the one in the Northern Mountain Village.”

“You mean I sent out the troops previously without asking for others’ opinions?!”

“I do not dare to say that, but it is true that Sir Demon Lord did not wait for Young Lord to return to the city before ordering the Demon soldiers to travel across the Cang Ling Mountain, resulting in the loss of a Vice Domain Chief of the Demon Race and a few hundred Demon soldiers.

“You…” Emperor Yun clenched his fist and looked at Lin Yu again before turning his gaze to Yun Qingwu.

Emperor Yun could not make out much from Yun Qingwu’s expression. Apart from a calm and peaceful look,a look of respect towards her father could be seen on her face.

Of course, Yun Qingwu did not speak. In fact, her words became very little after Emperor Yun ordered for the troops to travel across the Cang Ling Mountain before she returned to Blood Shadow City.

“Sigh…” Emperor Yun sighed and looked back at Ying Dao. “I have an abdication edict that I have drafted for days, if Domain Chief Ying don’t mind, please help me announce it.”

“Abdication edict!” The few other Domain Chiefs in the palace looked at each other after hearing Emperor Yun’s words. Instead of looking surprised, they looked somewhat happy.

That was because the abdication of Emperor Yun and succession of Yun Qingwu had been something that everyone of the Demon Race had looked forward to. Furthermore, this announcement was also an assurance to the Demon Race.

The reason was simple…

Everyone knew the status of Yun Qingwu, the Young Empress of the Monster Race.

As the Young Empress of the Monster Race, Yun Qingwu’s status was extremely respectable and valuable. However, this also implied something else.

She had double identity!

Therefore, in this battle for “results”, the most important aspect was whether Yun Qingwu leaned in the Demon Race or Monster Race’s favor.

The only way to solve this problem was to make Yun Qingwu the successor of the Demon Lord so that she could not abandon the Demon Race.

“I refuse to succeed the position of the Demon Lord. No more discussion is needed!” Yun Qingwu’s voice caused Ying Dao who was about to start reading out the edict to freeze on the spot.

Soon, he regained his senses and fell to his knees and went to a kowtow position.

“In consideration of the future of the Demon Race, I hope Young Lord…”

“Shut up!”

“Young Lord…”

“Whoever who continues to mention about this matter would be killed!” As Yun Qingwu said this, she turned to bow to Emperor Yun before walking out of the palace.

The Demon Domain Chiefs kept silent after seeing this and stared at Emperor Yun with a worried expression.

Emperor Yun, on the other hand, instead of looking worried, looked somewhat shocked.

He was extremely clear about the current plight of the Demon Race.

Although he was still named the “Emperor”, Yun Qingwu was more superior than him in terms of both her right to speak and credibility.

Emperor Yun did not actually feel unhappy about this.

That was because the future of the Demon Race could only be placed in the hands of Yun Qingwu, the sole potential successor of the Demon Lord.

Therefore, without a second choice, he did not bother about her credibility and right to speak.

After all, it was only a matter of time before Yun Qingwu became the successor of the Demon Lord.

“Qingwu, Dad genuinely wants to pass the position to you. Since the beginning of time, the Demon Race had followed the rule where the most powerful gets to take charge. Since a young age, Dad had been involved in training my skills, as compared to your intelligence, I am too short-sighted…” Emperor Yun sighed again after Yun Qingwu walked out of the palace.

“Demon Lord, do not be over-worried, it is indeed not the best time to handover your position to Young Lord now. However, I believe that within two years, Young Lord would agree to succeed.”

“Two years?” Emperor Yun looked at Lin Yu.

“Yes!” Lin Yu affirmed and looked at Ying Dao who was still kneeling on the floor. “Domain Chief Ying, why aren’t you making the necessary arrangement based on Demon Lord’s order?”

“I will do it now!” Ying Dao stood up and left the palace quickly.

Emperor Yun looked at Ying Dao, then turned to Lin Yu beside him and smiled bitterly. “Looks like I have to continue staying in this position for another two years.”

“Demon Lord, you will be able to get a relief in less than two years’ time.” Lin Yu smiled.

“Haha, it is indeed a relief. Oh right, I remember you mentioned about the five problems a Demon would face when he was breaking through the Sagely State, I have two questions regarding that, would you help me clarify my doubts?

“Since Young Lord had went back to her room to rest and my role is to protect Young Lord’s safety, please come to my room to talk if you have any queries.”

“Sure!”

…

At one of the halls of the Demon palace in Blood Shadow City, Yun Qingwu, who was wearing a white dress sat down. After taking a look at the Guqin in front of her, she pressed her fingers down on the strings of the Guqin.

Ding! A pleasing tune was heard.

The same old “Guanglin San” echoed in the palace. Yun Qingwu looked as calm as ever but looked far away as though she was trying to recall about something, as though as she had returned to the boat in the River of Trust.

During the dawn seven days later, the sun casted a golden shade to the Blood Shadow City.

Lin Yu, who was dressed in black clothing, stood beside Yun Qingwu and waited patiently for Yun Qingwu to finish eating her breakfast before turning to the door and nodding his head.

Soon after, a Demon soldier who was covered in dirt entered and knelt in front of Yun Qingwu immediately after he entered the hall.

“Greetings, Young Lord!”

“Rise. Did you see everything that you have written in the letter with your own eyes?” Yun Qingwu stretched out her arm to signal the Demon soldier to stand up.

“Yes, I have witnessed everything with my own eyes. I found a hidden spot in the Northern Mountain Village that was blocked by a rock, hence I was not discovered by Fang Zhengzhi,” The Demon Soldier stood up and replied.

“Are you sure that all five of the Vice Domain Chiefs were killed by Fang Zhengzhi alone?” Lin Yu frowned as he heard this.

“I am sure!” The Demon Soldier nodded.

“How so?” Lin Yu asked again.

“Traceless Sword, he was holding his Traceless Sword. Although I did not dare to go up close, I can definitely recognize the Traceless Sword!” The Demon Soldier said.

“Just using a sword?” Lin Yu did not seem to believe him.

“And his powers, his absolute powers of the Sagely state. Although all of the five Vice Domain Chiefs had the power of the Rebirth State, they did not even have the chance to resist when Fang Zhengzhi attacked, they could not even…”

“Even what?”

“They could not even escape. Fang Zhengzhi was too powerful. When the five Vice Domain Chiefs saw Fang Zhengzhi, they had the intention to escape but none of them succeeded.”

“Alright, you may go now.” Lin Yu nodded and stopped probing.

“Yes!” The Demon Soldier exited quickly.

Lin Yu frowned again and looked at the sun outside the window. He seemed to be deep in thought.

After a long while, Lin Yu looked back into the room.

“In three days’ time, the five Vice Domain Chiefs had rushed to the Northern Mountain Village. If Fang Zhengzhi was in the Souther Region, he would not have made it back in time.”

“Hmm.” Yun Qingwu nodded.

“However, I still think that it is impossible. After all, if Meng Tian was really alive all this while, why were there no news from him? But…”

“Are you referring to the ‘Source of God’?” Yun Qingwu gradually lifted the ancient book on the table and flipped it open.

The book clearly looked ancient and its texture showed its age. However, strangely, it had a very special texture. Although it was old, the words could still be seen vaguely.

“If the ‘Source of God’ had really landed in Meng Tian’s grave, he would have revived under the influence of the ‘Source of God’. This is possible.” Lin Yu nodded his head lightly after keeping silent for a while.

“I would actually hope that he is Meng Tian.” Yun Qingwu stood up from his chair and walked to the door of the hall with the book in her hand.

“Young Lord thinks that this is possible too?” Lin Yu narrowed his eyes and looked out of the window again.

“Judging from the time, Yun Qingwu could not have possible rushed back to the Northern Mountain Village from the Southern Region,” Yun Qingwu said softly.

“Or should I try it myself just to make sure?” Lin Yu spoke again after his consideration. Meanwhile, he clenched his fist.

“No, it’s alright.” Yun Qingwu shook her head and looked afar. “Lin Ji was defeated and now we are lacking a force in the Holy Region. We should leave the Blood Shadow City and head to the Holy Region.”

“Understood, I will do the necessary preparation now.”

“Alright.” Yun Qingwu nodded with a calm expression.

Meanwhile, Lin Yu left the hall quickly and walked into another stone room that was constructed completely out of black stones.

After seeing Lin Yu walk into the stone room, Yun Qingwu walked back into her room and looked at the Guqin on the table.

“Meng Tian, is it really the Sagely Battle God Meng Tian?” Yun Qingwu spoke as she reached her hands to touch the pendant on her neck before her fingers froze as she realized that there was nothing there. Yun Qingwu smiled bitterly and said, “Fang Zhengzhi, what a thief!”