Thunder rumbled, but all Song Wanning could hear was the voice beside her.

She looked at Mo Yuan, her expression one of astonishment.

Mo Yuan had actually taken the initiative to suggest opening the Demon Sea and luring the master-disciple pair, Ye Chuxue and her master, inside.

The Demon Sea was the Demon Clan’s largest and most mysterious Secret Realm. It could only be opened once every thirty years, and the key was the bloodline of the Guardian’s descendants.

And now, the only one left with the Guardian’s bloodline was Mo Yuan.

In her previous life, Mo Yuan had also opened the Demon Sea, but that had been thirty years in the future. By then, the heroine and her companions had already advanced to the Nascent Soul realm and obtained great opportunities after entering.

Now, because of her intervention, Mo Yuan was actually preparing to open the Demon Sea ahead of schedule.

’What a pleasant surprise!’

"Have you thought this through?"

Song Wanning hid her inner joy, instead asking with a frown, "Opening the Demon Sea will certainly alert the Demon Lord, and your Cultivation is still low..."

Her subconscious concern sent a wave of sweetness through Mo Yuan’s heart.

"With you here, Senior, I’m not afraid!"

His gaze was deep, tinged with heavy adoration. "Besides, I’m the one in control inside the Demon Sea. I’m not the one who should be afraid."

As the Guardian of the Demon Sea, he was bound to have special abilities. Others might not know, but he was very clear about them.

His mother had once told him that as long as he used his blood to open the Demon Sea, everything within would fall under his control the moment he entered.

This way, he could not only deal with the Demon Lord and Ye Chuxue’s group but also improve his own strength.

He had been suppressed for too long, and more than that, he didn’t want to be protected by Song Wanning forever.

He wanted to be the one to shelter her from the storm.

Looking at Mo Yuan’s earnest expression, Song Wanning almost laughed out loud.

’The opportunity the Heavenly Dao went to such lengths to arrange for Ye Chuxue has now turned into her death warrant. How interesting.’

How could she possibly turn down such a wonderful turn of events?

After a moment of contemplation, she nodded. "Since your mind is made up, let’s proceed as you’ve said!"

The two exchanged a look and quietly blended into the crowd.

A quarter of an hour later, Ye Chuxue successfully completed her tribulation and jumped down from the roof in excitement.

"Congratulations, Fellow Cultivator! Heartfelt congratulations!"

Many Cultivators cheerfully offered their congratulations.

After all, a Golden Core Cultivator was considered to have officially entered the middle echelons of the Cultivation World.

In some smaller Sects, one could even hold the position of an elder.

"Thank you!"

Beaming with joy, Ye Chuxue returned the pleasantries one by one, then excitedly ran back to Gu Qingyuan’s side. The way she looked at him had changed once again.

She might not have noticed it herself, but the perceptive Song Wanning did, and so did Mo Yuan.

’Hah, so the rumors aren’t baseless. And from the looks of it, Gu Qingyuan’s feelings aren’t one-sided either.’

A flash of disgust crossed Mo Yuan’s eyes. The romantic tension between the two of them sickened him.

’That they could even engage in such an incestuous love... they have some nerve.’

Song Wanning’s expression was cold, but after a moment, the corners of her lips lifted into a smirk.

’Let them love. Let them love.’

’The deeper, the better.’

’It would be best if their love was so profound that the entire Cultivation World condemned them for it. Only then would their true feelings be proven, wouldn’t they?’

...

Leaving the inn, Mo Yuan led Song Wanning toward the Demon Sea.

They had just left when the pursuing members of the Demon Clan arrived, missing them by a hair’s breadth.

Qu Shang never expected Mo Yuan to do the opposite of what was expected and head directly for the Demon Sea, so he was pursuing him in the completely wrong direction.

Meanwhile, Ye Chuxue remained in Wuyuan City because Gu Qingyuan needed to recuperate.

The days passed, calm and uneventful, until one day, the skies above the Demon Clan’s territory suddenly became shrouded in dark clouds. Countless streams of Demonic Qi danced across the sky, a terrifying sight.

They were like savage beasts, baring their fangs at the people below.

Many who saw it were bewildered. "What’s happening? Is the Demonic Qi running rampant?"

"It doesn’t look like someone is undergoing a tribulation..."

"Does anyone know what’s going on?"

Ye Chuxue and Gu Qingyuan also frowned, their gazes fixed on the swirling Demonic Qi.

Although Gu Qingyuan had been to the Demon Realm before, he had never witnessed the opening of the Demon Sea and was currently clueless.

Only the shopkeepers in Wuyuan City looked ecstatic, their excitement palpable.

’The Demon Sea is about to open!!!!’

The Demon Sea hadn’t opened since the previous Demon Lord fell. For it to suddenly open now...

Many people instantly thought of Mo Yuan.

’It seems the Young Master of the Demon Clan has returned!’

The Cultivators who knew the inside story quietly slipped out of the crowd, turned a corner, and began rushing toward the Demon Sea at full speed.

One less person entering the Demon Sea meant one less competitor. Naturally, the quieter they were, the better.

Gu Qingyuan took all of this in. The unconcealable excitement on the shopkeepers’ faces told him something was up.

Seeing them rush off so eagerly, he didn’t even have to think to guess that something good was about to happen!

He took Ye Chuxue’s hand, quietly withdrew from the crowd, and headed in the same direction.

Besides them, there were plenty of other clever people who had guessed what was happening and secretly followed along.

But the most shocked of all were the members of the Demon Clan themselves.

"It’s the Young Master! The Young Master has returned!"

Some of the old guard loyal to the former Demon Lord were incredibly excited. Even under pressure from the current Demon Lord, their hearts still supported only the Young Master’s ascension.

Just like now—only the Young Master was worthy of opening the Demon Sea.

If the Young Master were to fall, the Demon Sea Secret Realm would no longer belong to the Demon Clan.

"Go, hurry to the Demon Sea! The Young Master has appeared, so we must find a way to protect him!"

Everyone knew of the Demon Lord’s ruthless ambition; he would certainly not let Mo Yuan go.

At the same time, Qu Shang and his men also realized something was wrong and quickly sent a Communication Talisman to the Demon Lord.

When he learned that Mo Yuan had dared to open the Demon Sea himself, a savage look flashed across Qu Shang’s face.

’That piece of trash must have a death wish!’

’But it’s just as well that he’s walking right into a trap. This gives us the chance to eliminate this great menace for good.’

So, Qu Shang led his men and hurried toward the Demon Sea. In an instant, countless people began converging on the location.

...

"How is it?"

Song Wanning stood to one side, acting as a protector, constantly on guard for the Demon Lord’s arrival.

The Demon Lord was a Peak of Divinity Transformation Cultivator, three minor realms higher than her. If they were to face off, her chances of winning were low, perhaps even non-existent.

But the opportunities of the Demon Sea were right before her eyes, and she had no reason to give up. Fortune favors the bold—that was an eternal truth.

"Almost there!"

Mo Yuan’s hand rested on an extremely inconspicuous stone, and blood was rapidly seeping from his wrist.

The blood rolled onto the stone, only to be absorbed in an instant, disappearing without a trace.

Meanwhile, the Demonic Qi in the sky grew denser and more chaotic, on the verge of erupting into a frenzy.

This was the sign that the Demon Sea was about to open.

Mo Yuan’s gaze was heavy, and he felt a deep unease. But he couldn’t control the speed at which the stone absorbed his blood, so all he could do was worry anxiously.

’That bastard’s Cultivation is high; even Senior is no match for him.’ He was afraid that any further delay would get her hurt.

His expression was fraught with anxiety as he kept looking around, praying in his heart that the bastard would arrive later rather than sooner.