Ye Fan had just set off when news swept across the world: the Undying Phoenix had revived and taken control of the Demon Clan. Shockingly, the clan’s former leader, the Seven-Colored Demon Empress, had been branded a traitor.
Everyone knew the typically peaceful Demon Clan was on the verge of a bloody storm. Though it had not yet begun, it was only a matter of time. Moreover, this conflict would arrive with staggering speed, leaving no room for recourse. This war would ignite from within the Demon Clan itself. Yet, at this critical juncture, their army was stirring restlessly. In the Divine Domain, the only powers that held any real sway were the Demon Clan and the Righteous Divine Lineage. Could their restlessness mean they intended to strike at their former allies?
Not long ago, the Righteous Divine Lineage had been their ally. However, the Undying Phoenix was one of the Ancient Strong People, and her return might signal a plan for the grand unification of the Divine Domain. After all, back in that remote era, her name was already infamous. It seemed that after countless years of slumber, her nature had not changed a bit. Upon her revival, she immediately trampled her own beloved disciple underfoot, slandering her name. Whether the return of the Undying Phoenix was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen. Under her control, the Demon Clan’s once-harmonious Holy Land became a tense and solemn place where the threat of death loomed at every turn.
It was under this oppressive atmosphere that the Seven-Colored Demon Empress returned.
"Seize her!"
Instantly, a group of Demon Kings rushed forward and surrounded her.
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress gazed at the nervous Demon Kings. "You intend to capture me?" she asked.
Seeing her commanding eyes, which held no anger but radiated authority, and recalling their shared past, the Demon Generals were struck with guilt. They did not move forward.
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress said, "It seems times have indeed changed. I know you were forced into this, so I will not blame you. Stand down. I will discuss this matter with my master."
The guilt-ridden Demon Generals stammered, "Lord! We..." They could not bring themselves to speak.
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress continued, "Say no more. After all, I was once your commander."
"Lord, just give the word, and we will defy her orders!" a group of Demon Kings declared, their fighting spirit seemingly ignited by her mere presence.
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress shook her head. "It seems you still don’t understand. The Demon Clan can stand united against outsiders, but we must not suffer from internal strife. No matter who leads the Demon Clan, you must all serve them well and not disobey. Do you understand? This is my final command to you."
The Demon Kings began to sob. When it came to spirit and courage, the Demon Clan was second to none among the races of the Divine Domain.
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress then ascended to the grand hall atop Demon Mountain. There, she finally saw her master, the Undying Phoenix.
With a stooped, sinister smile, the Undying Phoenix said, "You’ve finally returned. I thought you wouldn’t dare."
"This is my home. Why wouldn’t I dare to return?" the Seven-Colored Demon Empress replied.
"You are quite calm," the Undying Phoenix noted. "You have governed the Demon Clan for so many years, and I am greatly disappointed. You are not a qualified leader! So today, I will pronounce your crimes!" At this, she seethed with fury.
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress said, "Master, this is unnecessary. Although I may not have been a qualified leader, I did my best."
"You did your best?" the Undying Phoenix sneered. "A fine ’best’ that was! Is this what I taught you?"
The Undying Phoenix had taught the Seven-Colored Demon Empress from a young age, instilling her own ideology. Only now did she realize that her disciple had never truly taken her teachings to heart.
"Your teachings are from a dark era; they are useless in this age," the Seven-Colored Demon Empress stated. "Master, once a teacher, always a mother. Everything I am, you gave to me. Had you said but a single word, I would have stepped down. But why did you have to kill A Jiu? You spare outsiders, yet you strike down your own people!"
At that moment, the Seven-Colored Demon Empress was incomparably furious. The death of the Jiufeng Demon General was a devastating blow to her.
"I don’t want your pity," the Undying Phoenix spat, her emotions running high. "He disobeyed my orders and incited many Demon Generals to support you. He deserved to die!"
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress, however, responded with indifference. "So that’s how it was. I used to believe that everything you did was for the Demon Clan’s sake. But now I realize you were never acting for the Demon Clan at all. Everything you’ve done has been for your own selfish greed! How pitiful I am to have had a master like you," she said desolately.
"Shut up!" the Undying Phoenix rebuked. "You have no right to bargain with me. Do you believe I could kill you at any moment?"
"You raised me from childhood. You can take my life whenever you wish."
"Very well! You think I don’t dare?"
The Undying Phoenix attacked, unleashing a surge of Ancestor Power. At the last moment, however, she held back.
"Why didn’t you kill me?" the Seven-Colored Demon Empress asked.
"Because you are still useful to me. Do you know how I was able to revive? It was entirely due to the power of a single drop of fresh blood—the Ancestor Realm Bloodline! You actually concealed this from me. That person must be very important to you. He left behind his Ancestor Realm Bloodline on the Holy Mountain, and I just so happened to find it.
"By borrowing the power of the Ancestor Realm Bloodline, I revived. Since that person is so important to you, I’d like to see if you are just as important to him," the Undying Phoenix sneered.
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress lost all hope. She had once thought the Undying Phoenix could be saved, but now she could see her master was truly beyond redemption.
"I have always been important to him," the Seven-Colored Demon Empress said coldly. "However, this is an internal matter of our Demon Clan. I told him not to interfere, so don’t waste your energy!"
At this, the Undying Phoenix imprisoned her. "I will find a way to make him reveal himself!"
「Three days later.」
Shocking news spread throughout the world: the Demon Clan army had launched a massive assault on the defensive lines of the Righteous Divine Lineage. At the same time, it was announced that the Seven-Colored Demon Empress had been imprisoned by the Undying Phoenix. She was charged with colluding with the Righteous Divine Lineage to bring disaster upon the Demon Clan and was sentenced to beheading in ten days.
To think the former sovereign of the Demon Clan would end up in such a predicament. Indeed, the bloody storm within the Demon Clan had begun.
Ye Fan was stunned when he heard this news. He had already arrived in the Demon Clan’s territory and was planning a rescue mission for the Seven-Colored Demon Empress the following night.
Meanwhile, the Undying Phoenix was very pleased with this turn of events. She had orchestrated an elaborate conspiracy. Though its price was the shattered alliance between the Righteous Gods and the Demon Clan, she believed it was all worth it. As long as she could obtain the complete Ancestor Realm Bloodline, she could seize full control of the Divine Domain.
However, just then, two visitors arrived.
"Reporting to the Ancestor, two Martial Artists from the Evil Divine Lineage request an audience!"
"Bring them in!"
"Yes!"
Two figures were led into the grand hall. They were the last two remaining Divine Monarchs of the Evil Divine Lineage: the Crownless God Monarch and the Absolute Cold God Monarch.