This must've been what it looked like when that immortal artifact was forged and drew the heavenly tribulation.
Song Wanníng grew even more certain that the tomb's owner was Xuan Yan. But Xuan Yan had been killed ages ago. How could someone like that turn into a demonic creature after death? He should've already been scattered into dust and soul fragments.
Filled with doubt, Song Wanníng slowly reached her hand toward the stone door. Before her fingers could even touch it, the door rumbled open on its own.
A wave of dust rolled out, making her tense up instantly.
But the danger she expected never came. When the stone door fully opened, she saw a black coffin inside. Strange runes and array marks covered its surface, each one faintly pulsing with eerie light.
She paused, hesitated for a moment, then stepped in.
The vast chamber held nothing but that single coffin. The unseen gaze that had been watching her vanished the moment she entered. She stopped before the coffin, staring quietly.
"Senior, aren't you going to show yourself?"
Her voice was calm, almost lazy, as if she couldn't be bothered to take whatever was inside seriously. Her dismissive tone worked exactly as she expected.
Right after she spoke, a shadow burst out of the coffin, thick with demonic energy. It was the demonic creature itself. Even shrouded in darkness, its appearance was strikingly beautiful, its aura impossible to hide. He opened a pair of clear, almost childlike eyes, studying her curiously.
"So, you're the one who ruined my plan?"
There was no anger in his tone, only curiosity.
Song Wanníng stared back at him, her guard rising even higher.
"Yes, it's me," she said, a faint smile curving her lips. "You're Senior Xuan Yan, aren't you? The Monster that Song Jue raised was your doing, right? You planned all this to destroy the world?"
From the beginning, Song Jue's involvement with the Monster had been suspicious. How could he have known how to raise one? Someone must've guided him. And now, that someone had finally appeared.
"Heh." At the mention of his name, Xuan Yan laughed softly. "You're right. I planned everything. Everything was going perfectly—until you showed up and ruined it."
His words sounded calm, but Song Wanníng could feel the hidden fury beneath them. Because ever since he appeared, she'd sensed a killing intent he couldn't hide.
"So your name's Song Wanníng?"
He floated down to stand in front of her, eyes running over her face.
"You're beautiful, and your talent's remarkable. Not bad at all. Now, I'll give you two choices," he said with a smile. "Become my wife, or be devoured by me. I'll let you think about it."
There was amusement in his eyes, even a hint of indulgence.
But every hair on her body stood on end. Her instincts screamed danger. She frowned. "I don't buy that you'd fall for me. What are you really after?"
No way she'd believe a demonic creature could fall in love at first sight. He was clearly up to something.
Xuan Yan threw his head back and laughed. "You really are bold. I like that!"
His face darkened, and the clear light in his eyes turned pitch-black. The gentle expression vanished, replaced by something twisted.
"Be my wife, serve me, and together we'll destroy this world. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
His voice turned dreamy, almost tender.
"This world should've been destroyed long ago. Only through its destruction can we gain eternal life. Don't you see?"
A flash of madness flickered in his eyes. His gaze turned sharp, predatory.
"You don't have any other choice."
The demonic energy behind him surged violently, pressing down on her like a storm.
But Song Wanníng didn't move. The magic swept past her, yet her expression didn't even flicker. She lifted her eyes slightly. "Why do you want to destroy the world?
And why did you become a demonic creature? The records said your sect surrounded and killed you, didn't they?"
She deliberately mentioned that event, watching his reaction closely.
Just as she expected, his calm shattered in an instant.
"What do you know? What the hell do you know!? This world deserves to be destroyed! It should've been destroyed long ago!"
His voice rose into a shout, his demonic energy thrashing wildly in all directions.
"You went mad. Your sect killed you for the people's sake. That's what I know," she said coldly, her eyes full of disdain.
"Creatures like you should've been wiped out. How's that wrong?"
Her words hit like a slap. The demonic energy around him exploded, forming a violent storm.
The wind lashed at her face, forcing her to grab the coffin to steady herself. Her skin burned painfully from the force, but she didn't look away from him.
Then, unexpectedly, Xuan Yan laughed again. The laughter grew louder, sharper, echoing through the chamber until he nearly doubled over, tears glinting in his eyes.
"So that's what they told everyone?" he said, straightening slowly. His gaze was dark, poisonous. "How ironic."
He looked at her, lips twisting in bitter amusement.
"You know, I used to be so naive. My life had always been smooth, my talent unmatched in cultivation and artifact forging alike.
I thought I was blessed. My sect cared for me, respected me, always came to me first for everything.
So even when I didn't want to take custom orders for magical artifacts, I still accepted them, just to avoid troubling the sect.
I worked tirelessly, crafting day and night, even if it delayed my own cultivation. I gave them countless treasures!
My Master, my Senior Brother, my Senior Sister—they all used artifacts I personally refined and improved. They thanked me for it, promised they'd repay me double."
A mocking smile spread across his face.
"At that time, I actually believed them. Until I forged an immortal artifact. That was when everything changed. They say treasures tempt the heart. I was foolish enough to think otherwise.
The truth was, my Master, my Senior Brother, and my Senior Sister—all of them wanted me dead for that artifact."