Zong Biao Yao Jiang made up his mind—no matter what, he was going to take Lin Xue away.
He grinned, revealing his pig-like mouth, and said cheerfully, “You little snake spirit, if you want this Yao Jiang to forgive you, it’s quite simple. I have a wonderful opportunity for you. As long as you accept, I’ll pretend nothing happened today.”
Lin Xue immediately felt a sense of dread in her heart.
As expected, Zong Biao Yao Jiang continued, “Our Hei Pi Yao Wang of Erlong Mountain possesses vast powers and astonishing abilities. He commands over a dozen mountains and tens of thousands of demon soldiers—when he stamps his foot, all of Demon Realm within a thousand miles trembles.”
“Though the King has achieved much, he has one regret: he has no heir. Such a great legacy, and yet no one to inherit it in the future.”
“Now, the King wishes for an heir and has decided to select a Yao-Fei from among the suitable female demons. He has tasked me with searching every mountain under his rule for worthy candidates.”
“My coming to Xixia Mountain today is for the purpose of choosing a Yao-Fei for the King.”
“Looking at you, little demon, your appearance after transformation isn’t bad, and you’re quite clever. If you’re willing to come with me to Erlong Mountain and marry the King as his Yao-Fei, with your qualifications, the King will surely favor you. If you even bear him an heir, you’ll be unstoppable—rising straight to Yao Hou, enjoying endless glory and wealth for a lifetime!”
“This is an incredibly rare chance, little demon. You mustn’t let it slip by!”
“Go tidy up right now. Soon, you’ll return to Erlong Mountain with me and meet the King.”
After speaking, Zong Biao Yao Jiang smiled at Lin Xue, waiting for her definite answer.
Meet your grandmother’s leg!
Lin Xue cursed inwardly and said evasively, “Thank you for your kind offer, sir, but I’m devoted to my cultivation and used to living alone. I have no wish to marry. Please let this opportunity go to another sister.”
When Zong Biao Yao Jiang saw Lin Xue refuse, his face instantly darkened. He asked, “Are you sure about this? My King is a Condensed Core Realm Yao Wang. What, do you think you’re too good for him, little demon?”
Lin Xue shook her head and replied, “No, no. How could I possibly look down on the King? It’s just that I’m used to my freedom, I don’t like being tied down in one place, and my manners are crude—I’d surely offend the King and damage his reputation. Please, Yao Jiang, choose someone more suitable.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang laughed, “No matter. The King likes demons just like you. Just follow me back to the mountain.”
No matter what he said, Lin Xue politely but firmly refused.
After a few more attempts to persuade her, seeing Lin Xue remain unmoved, Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s face turned cold.
He sneered, “Little demon, do you think I’m giving you a choice? Being selected as Yao-Fei for the King is an honor! Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink forfeit wine!”
Seeing this stubborn pig was about to resort to force, trying to coerce Lin Xue into being that Hei Pi Yao Wang’s tool, Lang Buping mustered his courage and stepped forward to plead, “Yao Jiang, this Lin Xue comes from Unicorn Mountain. She isn’t under the King’s rule and shouldn’t be considered for Yao-Fei.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang glared with his pig eyes and scolded, “Your Xixia Mountain failed to gather enough candidates for Yao-Fei. I haven’t even held you accountable, and now you’re mouthing off?”
Lang Buping’s face went pale, and he dared not say another word.
Hong Yanzhi also tried to explain, “Sir, Unicorn Mountain is Jin Jiao Demon King’s territory. This elder sister is a Condensed Core Realm great demon. If you take her by force, Jin Jiao Demon King will surely hear that you stole one of his own, and that may cause conflict between the two Kings. Wouldn’t the King blame you in the end?”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang gave a mocking sneer and said, “What’s this? You’re just a Body Tempering Stage little demon, and you think you can teach me how to do my job?”
Hong Yanzhi’s face froze, and she stepped back, bowing her head. “I wouldn’t dare.”
At this moment, the little demon who had left earlier returned, leading six female demons at the Body Tempering Middle Stage and brought them before everyone.
Zong Biao Yao Jiang glanced over the six female demons. To him, they all looked plain, none of them to his liking.
Instantly, his expression grew frosty and he snorted, “Is this the quality you offer the King from Xixia Mountain?”
Hong Yanzhi and Lang Buping, realizing he was about to make trouble again, looked extremely uneasy.
In fact, these female demons weren’t bad. Though their transformations weren’t especially beautiful, their features were proper and youthful, with a certain charm.
But after seeing Lin Xue and Hong Yanzhi, Zong Biao Yao Jiang could only see these others as ordinary and dull.
He said coldly, “Looks like your Lang Family and Hong Family don’t take the King’s orders seriously at all. If you won’t do the work, there are plenty of monsters who will! Maybe it’s time for Xixia Mountain to change hands.”
“Since your Hong Family now lacks a Condensed Core Realm great demon, I’ll report to the King and have your authority over Xixia Mountain revoked. We’ll appoint another obedient and capable Condensed Core Realm demon to take over!”
He then turned to Lang Buping. “Your Lang Family should stay out of this as well. Just go back to Yellow Wind Mountain where you belong!”
Lang Buping was dumbfounded.
Hearing that Zong Biao Yao Jiang wanted to strip the Hong Family of their control over Xixia Mountain, Hong Yanzhi’s face went white.
Zong Biao Yao Jiang was the son of Zong Lie, and Hei Pi Yao Wang had sworn brotherhood with Zong Lie, treating his words as law.
All it would take was a few bad words from Zong Biao Yao Jiang to his father, and he could easily reclaim the Hong Family’s power and assign a new great demon to Xixia Mountain.
The Hong Family had ruled Xixia Mountain for centuries—now, it was about to be lost under her watch.
Hong Yanzhi felt she had become the disgrace of her family.
She quickly knelt, pleading, “Yao Jiang, our Hong Family has always been loyal to the King, guarding Xixia Mountain for years, offering tribute on time, and never slacking in any assigned tasks. If not for our merits, at least consider our hard work!”
“This time, we didn’t lack effort in selecting Yao-Fei, but there are just too few female demons in the mountain, and the time was short. That’s why we only gathered these six. Please, Yao Jiang, for the sake of our diligence, give the Hong Family another chance.”
Zong Biao Yao Jiang gave her a sidelong glance and sneered, “You want me to give you another chance? Fine.”
He pointed at Lin Xue. “Since you’re short on quantity, make up for it with quality. This snake spirit is worth three by herself. Add her in, and that makes nine candidates—close enough to your target.”
“As long as this snake spirit is willing to become one of Xixia Mountain’s demons and go as Yao-Fei to the King, I’ll give your Hong Family another chance.”
Hong Yanzhi and Lin Xue were both stunned.
They hadn’t expected Zong Biao Yao Jiang to be so shameless, tying Lin Xue’s decision to the Hong Family’s authority over Xixia Mountain.
Hong Yanzhi felt hopeless.
Of course, she couldn’t persuade Lin Xue to become a tool for that dying wild boar Hei Pi Yao Wang.
But if not, she’d be giving up the Hong Family’s right to govern Xixia Mountain.
Despair and sorrow filled Hong Yanzhi’s eyes.
Looking at her, Lin Xue sighed and said, “Fine. Yao Jiang, I accept. I’ll represent Xixia Mountain as a demon and go as Yao-Fei to the King.”
She didn’t want to see Hong Yanzhi put in such a tough spot.
Inside the Teleportation Ring, the Chuanyin Fashu would finish cooling down in seven or eight days, ready for use.
Lin Xue decided to agree for now—she’d go to Erlong Mountain and keep a low profile, avoid drawing attention, and wait until the Teleportation Ring’s spell was ready, then escape with Chuanyin Fashu as soon as possible.