The Perfect Chicken Soup for the Demon Clan

Watching the legendary Blood Ant Clan kowtowing and begging for mercy, as if scared out of their wits, everyone’s minds were in a daze, as if they were dreaming.

Zhong Limeng was about to cautiously inquire when the giant ant suddenly collapsed, its massive body slamming to the ground, blood gushing from its forehead. It appeared to have fainted—until the youngest disciple stepped forward to check and realized it had actually kowtowed itself to death…

Everyone stood frozen, exchanging bewildered glances in stunned silence.

Zhong Limeng, too, was at a loss.

After staring at the blood-soaked pit for a long while, her expression grew several shades graver.

"This Blood Ant Clan member was frightened into madness, mindlessly begging for mercy. Something terrible must have happened on Waterfrost Star. We must proceed with extreme caution!"

The disciples nodded solemnly, their eyes filled with grim resolve.

Surveying the desolate surroundings, Zhong Limeng’s unease deepened. Steeling herself, she issued the order.

"We have no other choice now. We must venture deeper to investigate, both to search for traces of Yi Feng and to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the demonic clans."

The group bowed in unison, their throats tight with tension.

Once the plan was settled, the ten of them took to the skies again, advancing cautiously into the unknown.

As they pressed forward, the glacial valleys below began to reveal signs of demonic clans—but upon closer inspection, every single one of them had long been dead!

"What in the world happened here?!"

Zhong Limeng and the others grew even more alarmed, their movements turning increasingly wary.

The deeper they went, the more corpses they encountered. Even thousand-zhang ice mountains had been flattened!

The remnants of powerful auras lingered on the demonic corpses, sending chills down their spines with just a glance.

The frozen river valleys were cracked, fissures stretching thousands of zhang wide. In the distance, glaciers had toppled, and towering peaks had been split clean in half. The horrifying scars of battle were everywhere, growing more nightmarish the further they ventured.

Hovering midair, the group trembled, gasps of shock rising among them.

"This—!"

"The demonic clans were slaughtered like livestock?!"

"That skeletal remains—isn’t that the elite Golden-Thread White Skeleton? Ancient texts say they’re born with Heavenly-tier cultivation! How could it have died in such a state?"

"Senior Sister, look! That pile of corpses at the foot of the mountain—aren’t those all Blood Ant Clan members?!"

"And over here—a hundred-zhang giant demon! Even the ancient texts don’t mention such a thing! Its residual aura is absolutely terrifying!"

The more they saw, the more their hearts pounded. Cold sweat dripped down Zhong Limeng’s back.

Even hovering in the air, they were shaken by the ghastly scenes below. The once-peaceful veil of snow mist now seemed ominously treacherous.

Exchanging fearful glances, the group was overwhelmed by dread.

"Demonic clans are innately formidable. For them to be slaughtered like cattle—this is beyond horrifying!"

"I’ve never even heard of such a thing. Could it be infighting among the demons? Or perhaps some monstrous entity descended upon Waterfrost Star, causing this carnage?"

"Gah! What kind of terrifying being could do this?!"

"Whatever lies ahead, we’re no match for it!"

"Senior Sister, what should we do?!"

Panic-stricken, they turned to Zhong Limeng for guidance.

Though shaken herself, she managed to retain some composure.

"Junior Brother Lu is right. Whatever awaits us is beyond our comprehension. This is a calamity far beyond our ability to intervene."

"We must report this to the Palace Master and let him and the senior elders of Lan Star decide our next steps."

As she spoke, a flicker of unwillingness flashed in her eyes.

"Given the circumstances, this is far beyond our capabilities. My cultivation… is simply too lacking."

The disciples snapped out of their daze, offering consoling words.

"Senior Sister, don’t blame yourself. You’ve already gone above and beyond by returning to search for Young Master Yi. We can repay his kindness to his loved ones in the future."

"With Waterfrost Star in such a state—even the mighty demonic clans were massacred—Young Master Yi’s fate is likely sealed. You’ve done all you could…"

"Alas, witnessing such horrors makes me realize how pathetically weak our cultivation truly is. What a sobering thought!"

Listening to their attempts at comfort, Zhong Limeng sighed and nodded reluctantly.

"Then we’ll return to Lan Star for now."

The group immediately turned back, the journey home shrouded in heavy silence.

Even after reaching the valley’s edge, their hearts still raced, the images of what they’d seen flashing vividly in their minds.

As they prepared to board the flying vessel, Zhong Limeng’s eyes dimmed with disappointment. A thick fog of doubt clouded her thoughts. Gazing back at the distant foothills, she lingered on the remnants of their past campsite, unwilling to leave just yet.

Then—

A glint of light reflected off something at the base of the mountain as clouds drifted overhead!

Zhong Limeng’s eyes widened.

She shot forward without hesitation!

Her sudden movement startled the disciples, who hurried after her.

Landing at the foothills, they finally saw it—a longsword embedded in the icy wall, right where they’d once pitched their tents!

In their haste during their initial search, they’d missed it.

But now, under the sunlight, Zhong Limeng spotted it clearly. The sword was driven deep into the ice, pinning a note beneath it!

Instantly, curiosity lit up their faces. Zhong Limeng swiftly retrieved the sword.

Unfolding the weathered note, she squinted at the faded handwriting.

"Miss Zhong Limeng, I hope this finds you well."

"When I returned, I found no trace of you. Your flying vessel was gone as well. After waiting two days with no word, I had no choice but to depart. May fortune favor you all. Until we meet again."

"Yi Feng."

Zhong Limeng’s brows relaxed, joy flooding her eyes.

"It’s a message from Young Master Yi! He made it out safely—thank the heavens!"

The disciples erupted in disbelief, then relief.

"No way! Young Master Yi actually escaped unscathed?!"

"Damn! With Waterfrost Star in such a state, he walked away without a scratch? Talk about divine luck—good karma at work!"

"At least this settles our worries about him!"

"This is wonderful news! The heavens have eyes after all. Next time we see him, we’ll have to properly thank him."

"Finding this out makes the whole trip worth it!"

Their spirits lifted, laughter and chatter soon filled the air.

As the tension melted away, they finally took a proper look at the sword, chuckles breaking out.

"Hey, this sword’s actually pretty decent."

"Hmm, it’s comparable to our inner-disciple blades—all of which are Saint-tier high-grade. This one’s no slouch either."

"Brothers, let’s be real. Anyone who travels the stars alone like Young Master Yi must have some resources. Even if he’s from a backwater like Cloud Star, owning a sword like this isn’t too surprising, right?"

"Junior Brother, true—but would you use your prized sword as a paperweight for a note?"

"Uh… I’m not that rich. Young Master Yi really doesn’t hold back, huh?"

"Ha ha ha…"

Laughter dispelled the gloom, leaving behind only relief and warmth.

Zhong Limeng finally smiled, holding the sword with gentle appreciation.

"Alright, enough teasing the junior."

"This blade may not be a supreme treasure, but it’s far from ordinary. For Young Master Yi to leave it behind as a message shows his sincerity. He likely has no other weapon for self-defense now. If fate allows us to meet again, we must return it to him."

Everyone nodded in unison as Zhong Limeng sheathed her sword into her spatial ring.

Having finally fulfilled their wish, the group felt immense relief. However, recalling the strange anomaly on Watercold Star, they dared not linger any longer and immediately boarded their flying vessel to return to Lan Star.

Meanwhile, deep in the mountains of the Southern Li Heavenly Domain...

Lu Caiwei had been recuperating in the forest for some time when she finally opened her cold, clear eyes.

A satisfied, hoarse laughter echoed in her mind.

"Keh keh keh..."

"You truly haven’t disappointed me. To recover from your injuries in just a single day and even comprehend more of the inheritance—such talent indeed makes you worthy of my Demon Clan’s legacy."

A faint smirk curled on Lu Caiwei’s lips as she activated her cultivation technique.

Instantly!

A surge of baleful energy erupted around her, several times denser than before!

Purer black mist spread outward, withering plants and cracking the earth wherever it touched, as if it had gained sentience—reaching a higher level of power.

Even the longsword by her side became shrouded in demonic energy, emitting a terrifying hum!

"Vzzz..."

The deep resonance, like a dragon’s roar, sent birds and beasts fleeing in panic!

After absorbing all the black mist, Lu Caiwei finally revealed a look of delight.

Slowly gripping her willow-leaf sword, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.

"The Demon Clan’s inheritance is truly extraordinary. Not only has my cultivation improved drastically, but even my sword has absorbed part of the legacy, now reaching the Heavenly Tier!"

"It seems you haven’t lied to me."

The hoarse voice reverberated in her mind, its tone aloof yet brimming with arrogance.

"Heavenly Tier? That’s nothing."

"Once you fully awaken the inheritance and truly become one of my Demon Clan, even Heavenly Tier cultivators will be nothing more than ants before you—crushed with a single finger!"

"As you are now, you already stand above all human cultivators of your level!"

Hearing this, Lu Caiwei’s eyes gleamed with ambition, her coldly beautiful face hardening with ruthlessness.

The black mist in her consciousness seemed to sense her thoughts and promptly warned in a chilling tone:

"Though your power has grown, you may not yet achieve absolute victory against your previous enemies. That woman’s techniques are peculiar, and those gloves of hers provide formidable protection. Do not underestimate her."

"You bear the great responsibility of our Demon Clan’s revival. There can be no further failures. Do not act recklessly unless you are certain of victory!"

"If you must seek vengeance, target the other foe first."

Lu Caiwei’s eyes flickered with unwillingness.

After pondering the words, she gradually calmed herself.

Indeed...

That bitch Qing Yin Xianyun—who knew what backer she had found—was absurdly strong, to the point even the Demon Clan repeatedly warned against her. Those gloves of hers were clearly no ordinary treasure.

For the sake of the greater plan, she couldn’t afford to act rashly.

Her cultivation was advancing by leaps and bounds. Sooner or later, she would crush that wretch and claim those gloves for herself. Let the bitch revel in her temporary advantage for now.

With this in mind, Lu Caiwei gave a composed nod.

"You’re right..."

"For safety’s sake, I should deal with Zhong Limeng first. Once my power grows further, I’ll settle the score with Qing Yin Xianyun. Steady progress, one enemy at a time—that’s the wisest strategy."

The demonic voice in her mind praised her in return, exuding confidence.

"Your mindset is exceptional. You truly are a rare talent."

"The other woman may have treasures guarding her, but your other foe is no match for you. This time, victory is assured. Settle your personal grudges swiftly—our Demon Clan’s grand mission awaits."

"I look forward to watching you sweep across Lan Star!"

First came flattery, then reminders—each word dripping with expectation. The sugar-coated bullets of encouragement came rapid-fire, culminating in the grand promise of dominating Lan Star.

Who could resist such temptation?

Most crucially, Lu Caiwei had already tasted the rewards of her growing power. Even as the promises grew more extravagant, they felt increasingly tangible—almost within reach.

This was a masterclass in manipulation, flawlessly executed.

The Demon Clan excelled at exploiting the darkness in human hearts, and Lu Caiwei was now firmly in their grasp.

True to form, her eyes gleamed with arrogance.

"Exactly!"

"I may not yet be a match for Qing Yin Xianyun, but how could I possibly lose to Zhong Limeng?"

"In terms of cultivation, she hasn’t even broken through to the Heavenly Tier. As for weapons, even if she’s the top disciple of the Heavenly Palace, the best she could wield is a Saint-Grade weapon. How could she compare to me?"

"Surely that bitch doesn’t have protective treasures too, does she?"

"This time, I will wash away my humiliation!"

Her red lips curled into a confident smile as Lu Caiwei rose to her feet, sweeping her sleeve through the void with regal disdain.