It was then the black obsidian ring shone and ghostly laughter filled the air:
"Kekeke... it seems the leader of Blood Fang Gang is not as stupid as you. So they want to force the real culprit out in the open. Very interesting."
Just then the voice turned incredibly cold: "Hmm, if they think that would force me to come out, then they are still too green."
Sui Zheng didn't dare to breathe too loudly when the demonic master was speaking. He silently listened.
"Spread the word—Demon Queen is here..."
Realizing something, Sui Zheng's figure trembled and he asked: "It can't be her?"
However, next moment to his horror, the mysterious master confirmed:
"It is indeed her, but why should she care about some measly nascent soul treasure..."
This time even the voice of the mysterious demonic master sounded solemn, as if even he was convincing himself.
Noticing this, Sui Zheng swallowed hard, screaming internally: Damn, I am fucked! Who said I got to enjoy all the wealth as a cultivator? I just want to go back to my village and live a peaceful life!
While shivering, Sui Zheng couldn't stop but think about his past. A few decades ago he lived in his village alone—life was peaceful, until one day he found a mysterious ring with a demon inside, who asked him if he wanted to grow stronger.
Thrilled, Sui Zheng said yes and the rest was history.
"Are you sure you want to do this...?"
Zi Han spoke in an indifferent voice while looking at the clear blue sky. Her gaze seemed to pierce the blue sky and look deep into space. If you could look closely, you would see there was longing in those eyes.
After a moment, Zi Han turned her head away from the sky to look at the girl respectfully kowtowing on the ground.
The girl was extremely beautiful, looking like a fairy who had descended on the earth from the upper realm. Her lips the color of red and waist that was even slender than a snake's.
After kowtowing, the girl got up and said: "I am willing to follow Master. Although being gang leader is good, but compared to receiving the teaching of Master, it is nothing."
Although Zi Han showed no emotions on the surface, internally she was extremely satisfied. As expected of the child that had fate with me.
Some days ago she was stirred awake by a ripple in the distance. When Zi Han followed that ripple, she found this girl, Xin Yi, the leader of Seven Flowers Gang.
Just then Zi Han turned and said: "Follow me."
Without saying a word, Xin Yi followed her out.
After some time, to Xin Yi's surprise, they stopped in front of a strange-looking sign:
Phoenix and Dragon Dojo...
Without another word, the master and disciple pair walked inside.
Meanwhile, a young girl barely sixteen years old moved through the alleys at fast speed. If someone with a discerning eye were to stop and examine her, they would be shocked to discover, although the girl was so young, she was already at the peak of Qi Refining realm, just a step away from the Foundation Building realm.
The young girl carefully moved through the alleyways as if searching for something familiar.
Li Mei moved like wind while muttering: "Although a few things from my previous life had changed, most had remained the same. I was still able to get my hands on the Ten Thousand Soul Banner."
Shockingly, this girl was the one who stole the damaged nascent soul treasure.
"Now I just need to meet the Demon Queen and get her to accept me as her disciple. Then my journey to immortality in this life should be smooth."
Li Mei was no ordinary girl, but someone from the upper realm who was betrayed and died while breaking through. Instead of dying however, she found herself back tens of thousands of years in the past, back when she was just a lowly beggar struggling to survive in the Imperial City.
At first she was heartbroken, not expecting the closest person to betray her in such a critical moment, but after some time she got herself together and used the info she had of the future to ascend even higher in this life.
As to why she hadn't left the city even after achieving the peak of Qi Refining realm—first it was because of the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, and the other reason being, if the rumors were to be believed, the legendary Demon Queen Zi Han should be in the city looking for a disciple.
Thinking up to this point, Li Mei's eyes turned firm.
With this thought, her search continued.
Meanwhile, Zi Han and her disciple, Xin Yi, moved through the training ground and were making their way to the reception of the Dragon and Phoenix Dojo.
Xin Yi silently followed behind Zi Han's mature figure gracefully, her eyes scanning the place they were in.
She had ruled the Imperial City for almost a year, but even then she had never heard about this so-called Phoenix and Dragon Dojo.
Just as they were walking, Xin Yi's eyes happened to land on a figure... hmm, kissing the earth?
Compared to before, the coldness in her eyes intensified. Meanwhile, Zi Han acted as if she didn't notice Lin Huang doing push-ups at all.
"Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, and hundred."
Lin Huang only stopped when he completed hundred push-ups, a thrilled smile on his lips.
Indeed, these mundane exercises were helping clear the blockage in his meridians.
Although he had noticed the two ladies, he didn't go to confront them, as he was in the middle of his workout. Moreover, this was a dojo, so he thought they might be customers.
After taking a deep breath, he started doing his sit-ups.
Meanwhile, Wang Chen was lazing around in his rocking chair, a thoughtful frown on his face.
He was contemplating whether to speedrun the first floor again or try the second floor this time.
Wang Chen hadn't noticed the presence of Zi Han and Xin Yi at all.
So when he heard a mature voice coming from outside, he almost fell on his butt:
"Fellow Daoist, are you still not coming out to greet us!"