Chapter 686: Great Demon 49

’Speaking of which, I, a Peacock Great Demon, have ancestors of my own. Why haven’t they ever appeared? Clearly, I’m the unloved stepchild, unlike Tan You, who’s her ancestor’s precious granddaughter.’

Jing Yue’s face stiffened. He had just been making threats, only to be caught red-handed by his target’s elder. The scene was utterly mortifying. Yet he couldn’t say a word. Everyone knew the Golden Ring Snake Clan was fiercely protective of their own.

The Golden Ring Snakes’ combat prowess far surpassed that of others at their level, but this meant their clan’s population was sparse. Pure-blooded Golden Ring Snakes were already few and far between, and those capable of complete ancestral reversion were even rarer.

This was especially true for the Golden Ring Snakes of the lower realm. Across the entire Ten-Direction Mountains, Tan You was the only one. And even though the Purple Ringed Snake Clan lived in the Ten-Direction Mountains, not a single one had ever survived the Heavenly Tribulation required for ancestral reversion.

’So, in essence, Tan You is the apple of the Golden Ring Snake Clan’s eye right now. Her status is on par with my own in the Buddhist Sect, maybe even higher. After all, I’m not the only Son of Buddha with a natural Buddha Heart. But Golden Ring Snakes... they are genuinely rare. If she ever cultivates to the level of a Golden Ring Snake Emperor, I won’t even be worthy of touching the hem of her robes.’

Tan You’s reaction was lightning-fast. "Ancestor, you’re finally here! He was just threatening me. I’m just a weak, helpless little snake, and he’s an Immortal Monarch from the Upper Realm, famous for ages..."

"If anything happens to me in the future, he’s definitely the one who did it! Ancestor, you have to get justice for me!"

Seeing Tan You cling to her powerful backer, the eyes of all the Great Demons twitched. When it came to shameless adaptability, no one in the Ten-Direction Mountains could match her. She was truly pragmatic, with no regard for her image whatsoever.

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor played along perfectly. "You’re right. My clan’s junior, Little Jinzi, is well-behaved, sensible, and never causes trouble. She’s also weak, and just surviving in the Ten-Direction Mountains is already difficult for her. Now she’s been targeted by the Buddhist Sect. If Jing Yue returns, it will mean endless trouble down the line."

’Well-behaved, sensible, and never causes trouble...’ All the Cultivators scoffed inwardly. ’She single-handedly ruined the ascension of the Buddhist Sect’s Son of Buddha, Jing Yue, and exposed his private affairs with the Taixu Sect’s Shi Miao in front of everyone. That’s what you call never causing trouble? As for being weak, that was even more laughable. Over five hundred years ago, having just reached the eighth rank, she wreaked havoc across the Cultivation World with the God Trapping Array. Now, she can emerge unscathed from an Ascension Stage Cultivator’s Heavenly Tribulation. You call that weak? They’re really two of a kind. Cut from the same cloth.’

Jing Yue ground his teeth so hard they audibly clicked. "It was I who misspoke just now. I have already done wrong and should not have taken my anger out on the Golden Ring Snake. They were merely words spoken in a fit of anger. I implore Your Eminence not to hold it against me."

"That won’t do," the Golden Ring Snake Emperor said, his eyes crinkling into a smile. "Little Jinzi is our clan’s greatest treasure. You threatened her to her face. As her elder, I must stand up for her."

"How about this? I will remember you. I do hope the Son of Buddha Jing Yue fares well in the Buddhist Sect. I will personally pay a visit one of these days."

At that moment, every Cultivator and Great Demon was green with envy. ’Who doesn’t have an ancestor in the Upper Realm? But look at her ancestor, and then look at our own ancestors who we never hear from. Why is there such a huge difference?’

Tan You cleared her throat. "Ahem, Ancestor, I’m deeply grateful that you’re standing up for me, but a grudge like this is something I should settle myself. Though I may be weak now, one day..."

"Spoken with spirit!" the Golden Ring Snake Emperor boomed with laughter. Then his voice turned serious. "But he is an eighth-rank Immortal Monarch, and you are only a tenth-rank Golden Ring Snake. The gap between you right now is as vast as that between heaven and earth."

Tan You’s brow twitched. "Ancestor, just say what’s on your mind."

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor’s tone held a note of temptation. "Let’s say you have two paths before you. The first is to follow the conventional path of cultivation. You will face countless hardships and obstacles, but as long as you persevere, you’ll still have a chance to ascend to the Upper Realm."

Tan You’s expression remained unchanged. "And the other?"

"The other is much simpler," the Golden Ring Snake Emperor said, his voice growing more persuasive. "The Heavenly Dao of your lower realm has already been manipulated by several great sects from the Upper Realm. It’s become a breeding ground for them to siphon away the Demon Clan’s fortune and use it to nourish the Human Clan."

"It shows the Demon Clan one part pity and nine parts suppression. But now, if you intercept four parts of the fortune that has already been siphoned away, you can ascend to the Upper Realm immediately, bypassing tens of thousands of years of cultivation and the agony of the Heavenly Tribulation."

But Tan You wasn’t about to be swayed by such a grand promise. "And then what? Is there really such a thing as a free lunch? In this world, there are always gains and losses. If I accept this benefit, what are the consequences?"

"Clever," the Golden Ring Snake Emperor clapped. "There are consequences, of course. These four parts of fortune are what the Immortal Monarchs of the Upper Realm stole from the Demon Clan; they merely disguised it as belonging to the Human Clan. If you obtain this fortune, your path to immortality will be smooth sailing. You might even reach the rank of Golden Ring Snake Emperor."

"And now, that fortune is in my hands. Are you willing to accept it? On one side, tens of thousands of years of bitter cultivation. On the other, a smooth path to immortality, well within your grasp. What will you choose?"

A stir went through the crowd of Cultivators. Who wouldn’t want such a fortune? The further one progressed, the more crucial fortune became. With a fortune like that, one’s future path would be clear. And this one was being handed to her on a silver platter.

Tan You was silent for only a moment before she smiled. "I will not accept this fortune. Even if it means my death and the obliteration of my Dao in the future, I will not accept it."

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor smiled. "Oh? And why is that?"

Tan You considered her words. "Have you seen the demons who were abused in the Spirit Beast Garden? Have you seen the blood and tears of those persecuted spiritual beasts? Have you seen the plant spirits trembling under the Heavenly Thunder? Many Cultivators haven’t, but I have. We demons of the Demon Market have all seen it. This fortune is undeniably tempting."

"But it is steeped in the blood and tears of countless members of the Demon Clan. No one with even a shred of conscience can ignore the suffering of others just to build their own success."

"If one’s success must be built upon the suffering of others, upon their sacrifices, then that person doesn’t deserve to succeed. They don’t even deserve to live in this world."

"I’ve gotten this far by always acting with a clear conscience. This fortune would burn my hands to hold. It’s not for me."

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor’s smile grew wider and wider. "Little Jinzi, you never fail to surprise me. You’ve even moved me."

Tan You pursed her lips. "To be honest, it breaks my heart to refuse this fortune. But some things should never be touched, just as some lines should never be crossed."

The moment that pained expression appeared on her face, Tan You’s noble and righteous image instantly shattered, which, paradoxically, made her seem all the more real.