This is Just Ridiculous

Gu Qingfeng was utterly shocked and blurted out, "You can't do that!"

Ling Fei'er froze. "What do you mean, 'can't do that'?"

Seeing her reaction, Gu Qingfeng couldn't be bothered to hide his intentions anymore and spoke bluntly, "Why did you take the Demon Seed back? Give it to me now!"

Ling Fei'er instantly turned deathly pale, her body trembling. "You... you knew all along?"

"I’ve known you were a Human-Demon since the day we met. Now hand over the Demon Seed."

Ling Fei'er thought he was being sarcastic, her beautiful eyes brimming with sorrow and despair.

"I'm sorry, I..."

She found it hard to speak, overwhelmed by a storm of emotions, and tears began to fall.

"Enough. Stop crying. What’s there to cry about? If you weren’t a Human-Demon, I wouldn’t even have spared you a second glance."

Ling Fei'er: "..."

"Don’t mock me. You’re human, I’m a demon. Between us..."

"Shut up. I’m in no mood to explain today. Just give me the Demon Seed first."

Gu Qingfeng was indeed furious—not just in one way, but mainly because he had failed to obtain the Emperor Demon Sword and had even lost countless divine swords in the process.

The heavy losses had put him in a terrible mood.

Now, just when he thought he could salvage something from the day, Ling Fei'er had taken it back. There was no way he’d accept that.

Ling Fei'er was startled by his outburst, but her heart turned to ash as she reluctantly produced the Demon Seed, assuming Gu Qingfeng wanted it as evidence.

To her shock, the moment he took it, he swallowed it whole.

Ling Fei'er paled in horror. "What are you doing?! Spit it out! I’m not worth this kind of sacrifice!"

"What sacrifice?"

At this moment, Ling Fei'er’s tears burst forth like a broken dam. "You’re trying to turn into a demon for my sake, aren’t you? No, I won’t allow it! You’re the Sword Sect’s Imperial Scion, the future Heavenly Emperor! I can’t let you ruin your future because of me!"

Gu Qingfeng: "..."

So just because he was handsome, everything he did was automatically noble?

"Spit it out now! This Demon Seed is different from the others—it will take root inside you, and then you’ll be at their mercy!"

"What do they want me to do?"

"You’re the Sword Sect’s Imperial Scion. Only you can get close to the Emperor Demon Sword. They want to use you to control it."

"And the Emperor Demon Sword is that easy to control?"

"Humans can’t wield it, but Human-Demons can. The Emperor Demon Sword has already fallen to demonic influence—it now favors demons over humans! Stop talking and just spit it out!"

Gu Qingfeng suddenly understood. Now that he knew the Human-Demons’ goal, he willed his Indestructible Demon Soul to seize control of the Demon Seed before it could harm him—lest the system accidentally crush it to death.

With his Indestructible Demon Soul, manipulating the Demon Seed was as easy as breathing.

As he suppressed it, he instantly grasped all its functions and information.

A plan formed in his mind. If the Human-Demons wanted to control him this way, why not play along? Pretend to earn their trust, then use their help to claim the Emperor Demon Sword!

"Can’t spit it out. It’s already inside."

Ling Fei'er stiffened, then burst into tears, burying her face against Gu Qingfeng’s shoulder. "Why... why would you do this for me? I’m the one who deceived you... You really didn’t have to. I was prepared to die if I failed my mission, but you..."

Gu Qingfeng felt Ling Fei'er had misunderstood him deeply, but he never bothered lying to women—he usually just took what he wanted.

He stated plainly, "Don’t misunderstand. It’s not for you. I just wanted to eat it."

But to Ling Fei'er, his blunt words were nothing but a selfless lie meant to spare her guilt.

After all, who in their right mind would willingly eat a Demon Seed?

It reminded her of what her mother once said: "Men are all liars. Never listen to their words—only watch their actions."

And now she had seen it. Gu Qingfeng said one thing but did another, sacrificing his future and consuming the Demon Seed—all for her sake.

The more she thought about it, the more moved and guilty she felt, to the point where she couldn’t bear to face him.

"You don’t have to explain. I understand. I’m the one who wronged you. You’re a good man... I don’t deserve you."

Ling Fei'er turned to leave.

Gu Qingfeng was thoroughly annoyed. Today had been nothing but absurd.

First, Dugu Wei insisted he had turned demonic when he hadn’t.

Now, Ling Fei'er was convinced he was some kind of saint just because he ate a Demon Seed?

Damn it!

When he tried hard to prove he was good, they called him a demon.

Now that he stopped pretending, they thought he was a hero?

What kind of twisted logic was this?!

Slap!

He grabbed Ling Fei'er’s slender wrist and yanked her back, deciding to "cultivate" with her right then.

At first, she resisted fiercely. "Let me go! I can’t face you anymore..."

But when Gu Qingfeng refused to release her, she eventually gave in and began participating actively.

Perhaps it was resignation—she no longer cared about the future, as long as she could be with him now.

The next day...

Ling Fei'er seemed like a completely different person, her eyes overflowing with tender affection, cherishing every moment with Gu Qingfeng.

But she didn’t stay long—after all, this was the Meditation Hall.

......

Seven days later...

Gu Qingfeng had finally devoured every divine sword except for Reverse Scale. The losses this time... amounted to roughly a hundred million.

But his Indestructible Sword Body had improved drastically, now just one step away from reaching Great Perfection.

After Great Perfection came Completion, and then the ascension to an Immortal Physique.

Being so close yet so far left Gu Qingfeng restless. He often found himself staring at Reverse Scale, debating whether to consume it as well.

Reverse Scale was a top-tier Sacred Artifact—devouring it would undoubtedly push him into Great Perfection.

Just as he resolved to do it, Dugu Wei arrived.

"Junior Brother Gu, you should be fully recovered by now, yes?"

The moment Gu Qingfeng saw Dugu Wei, he remembered the stolen sword and gritted his teeth, itching to beat him senseless.

But fearing he’d be accused of demonic influence again, he forced himself to endure.

"Many thanks for Senior Brother’s assistance earlier. I’ve made a full recovery," Gu Qingfeng replied with exaggerated politeness.

Dugu Wei nodded in satisfaction at his calm demeanor. "No need for thanks, Junior Brother. As fellow disciples, we should support one another."

Gu Qingfeng’s eye twitched. "Senior Brother speaks wisely."

"Good. Then you may leave now. Rest well, and in three days, accompany me to meet the other Seven Swords Masters."