Cheng Zui was grieving over Zhu Ji's death when he heard her speak.
Not seeing anyone, Cheng Zui thought it was Zhu Ji's ghost.
"Zhu Ji, I know you like me, don't worry.
After you die, I will remain a widower and keep vigil for you.
And I will help your soul ascend, so you can reincarnate soon.
Do you have any unfinished wishes? Tell me now.
I will surely help you fulfill them. Rest in peace?"
Cheng Zui said with tenderness, as if Zhu Ji were right before his eyes.
"Go to hell, and help my soul ascend.
How much do you wish I were dead? Did you hope my death meant you wouldn't have to marry me?
Don't worry, even if I die, I'll take you with me.
This life, the next life, the life after that.
For all eternity, you will never escape my grasp."
Zhu Ji suddenly appeared beside Cheng Zui, as if she had grown from the earth.
She slapped Cheng Zui on the head, roaring like a lioness.
"You're not dead, that's great!
Zhu Ji, you're really not dead?"
Cheng Zui immediately jumped up, taking Zhu Ji's hand.
He hopped and skipped in place, shouting and yelling, as happy as a child.
"Fool!"
Zhu Ji chided him verbally, but her heart was filled with sweetness.
Cheng Zui must have liked her too, she could tell from his words.
"If you wanted to take me with you even in death, why did you risk your life to save me?"
Cheng Zui couldn't understand why Zhu Ji was saying one thing and meaning another.
"I won't die before marrying you.
Let me tell you, although my cultivation is low, I am a bamboo demon.
So I have an innate divine ability, the art of earth遁 (dùn).
Therefore, no formation can harm me. At worst, I can hide underground.
If you hadn't asked and just carried me away,
I would have already left the Langya Cave and be resting in bed by now."
Zhu Ji looked at Cheng Zui smugly, showing off.
"I see, it's good that you're alright.
Now that the formation is broken, let's get out quickly.
Master will surely discover that the formation was activated when he returns.
I'll tell him then that I was curious and entered the cave.
You don't need to say anything. I'll bear all the punishment."
Cheng Zui pulled Zhu Ji, about to leave the cave.
He was already thinking about how to cover for Zhu Ji when his master returned.
"That won't do. I was dodging falling rocks earlier.
I burrowed underground and found a secret chamber.
Isn't it strange? Aren't you curious?
Since you're already prepared to face punishment, leaving now is a punishment.
Staying a bit longer to figure things out is also a punishment.
Why not see clearly? What do you say?"
Zhu Ji tried hard to persuade Cheng Zui. Having spent so much time with Ming Yue,
her twisted logic and sophistry came to her as easily as breathing.
Cheng Zui hesitated, it seemed Zhu Ji had a point.
As a result, Zhu Ji pulled him along and used earth遁, disappearing into the ground.
The two of them appeared inside a secret chamber. The walls were built with huge bluestones.
In the center was something resembling an octagonal altar, with a faint glow flickering on it.
It emitted subtle fluctuations of spiritual power, and its purpose was unknown.
Zhu Ji didn't have much experience, but Cheng Zui was a disciple of a living immortal.
Even he didn't recognize it, which immediately piqued his curiosity.
The altar was octagonal, with a diameter exceeding twenty feet.
It occupied most of the room, and was carved with many mysterious symbols.
It emanated an ancient and mysterious aura. The two stood aside and watched at first.
Finally, they both stepped onto the octagonal platform to examine it closely.
Unexpectedly, they touched something, and a white light enveloped the altar.
The light was blinding, making it impossible for them to open their eyes.
Fearing for Zhu Ji's safety, Cheng Zui pulled her into his embrace.
When the light dissipated, they opened their eyes.
They found that the octagonal platform was still beneath their feet, but they were no longer in the underground secret chamber of Langya Cave.
"Careful, there's demonic energy."
Cheng Zui sensed something was wrong before he even opened his eyes.
When he opened them, he saw demonic energy swirling all around.
He immediately pushed away Zhu Ji, who was clinging to his chest and his waist, unwilling to open her eyes.
"Demons? Why are we in a place of demons?"
As soon as Zhu Ji opened her eyes, she was startled by the scene before her.
"This octagonal platform must be a legendary teleportation array.
It connects Master's cultivation place with this location. Could it be that the demons, taking advantage of Master's seclusion,
intended to use this teleportation array to harm Master?
We discovered them before they could act.
This matter concerns Master's safety, I must investigate it thoroughly."
Cheng Zui's thoughts grew more and more unsettling. He jumped off the octagonal platform, ready to go out and investigate.
Zhu Ji, with her extreme curiosity and love for excitement,
followed behind Cheng Zui. The two of them tiptoed out of the door stealthily.
It was quiet outside, and the demonic energy was even thicker.
Even the moonlight was blocked, making the place appear even more sinister and eerie.
Looking around, they could see by the dim light that
they were surrounded by mountains, likely a valley.
Four palaces were arranged in a circle, and the one they came out of was one of them.
The tallest palace opposite them was brightly lit, with figures moving within.
The two of them hid their tracks among the valley's flora and fauna, and crept towards it.
However, they soon had to stop, as a large number of demonic cultivators
were guarding the entrance to the palace, preventing them from approaching.
Just as Cheng Zui was anxiously racking his brain for a solution,
Zhu Ji took his hand, and they disappeared into the ground.
"Five Elements Demon Lord, this time I, the Heavenly Demon, have dispatched you and ten thousand demons
to Four Directions Mountain. You must bring back that treasure.
You will succeed, not fail.
If you fail, you all understand the rules of the Heavenly Demon Valley."
Zhu Ji, taking Cheng Zui, used earth遁 and appeared underground in the palace.
Not knowing the situation inside, they were afraid of being discovered.
Therefore, the two of them hid beneath the floor tiles, not daring to show their heads.
They heard a majestic voice, identifying itself as the Heavenly Demon,
giving instructions to the Five Elements Demon Lord.
He was to lead ten thousand demons to Four Directions Mountain to seize a treasure.
Just as Zhu Ji was about to continue eavesdropping, she felt Cheng Zui, whom she was holding, trembling.
Fearing exposure, she quickly pulled Cheng Zui away.
They emerged in a deserted place.
"Cheng Zui, what's wrong?"
Zhu Ji quickly asked Cheng Zui what had happened.
Cheng Zui calmed himself and explained the reason.
He was like this because from what he had overheard, he could confirm several things.
First, this was the largest gathering place for demonic cultivators in the Moon Radiance Realm, the Heavenly Demon Valley.
Second, the Heavenly Demon, who was supposedly killed by the immortal sects during the Immortal-Demon War a hundred years ago, was not dead.
He could accept these two facts, but what caused his emotional breakdown
was something else: the Heavenly Demon was his master, the Living Immortal.
Although he hadn't seen his face, he had heard his master's voice for twenty years and wouldn't mistake it.
He couldn't fathom that his master, the Living Immortal,
who was outwardly a highly respected senior among the immortal sects,
and who had slain countless demonic cultivators, was actually the leader of the largest demonic cultivation organization,
the Heavenly Demon of the Heavenly Demon Valley. This was too much for him to accept.
From childhood, his dream had been to eradicate all demonic cultivators in the Moon Radiance Realm.
Unexpectedly, his master was the Heavenly Demon, leaving him with no direction.