Ouyang Mo stared with bloodshot eyes at a certain point in the void. There sat a luxurious black carriage—or rather, a palatial structure pulled by five horse-like demonic beasts. The carriage featured an exquisite canopy that shimmered with black light, and within it sat a black throne. Reclining upon the throne was a man dressed in black robes and a purple crown. His features were handsome and refined; had it not been for the demonic beast patterns adorning his attire, it would have been impossible to associate him with the word "demon."
Li Xue and her companions appeared beside Ouyang Mo. Having already received a voice transmission, Ouyang Mo bowed respectfully to the three of them. Even though Li Xue and Li Lin were only at the Tribulation Transcendence stage, they were people he could not afford to offend.
As an Eighth Tribulation Loose Immortal, Ouyang Mo possessed far greater insight than ordinary cultivators. He secretly speculated that Li Xue and her son might be the reincarnations of some great figures from the upper realms; otherwise, why would a being from the upper realm be guarding them?
The Third Prince of the Demon Realm had noticed the group’s arrival long ago. His eyes flickered with black light, and he suddenly leaped up, pointing at Lei Yan as his voice trembled. "You... you are the Thunder Roc Emissary?!"
"Heh, demon brat, you have a good eye," Lei Yan chuckled.
The Third Prince swallowed hard. Among the archives kept by the Demon Emperors, he had once seen images sent back to the Demon Realm by the Demon God Ye Wushang, and the Thunder Roc Emissary was among them.
"The Gates of the God Realm have not yet opened. How did your Excellency descend to the lower realms?" The Third Prince’s initial panic had settled into a forced calm.
"Brat, that is not for you to concern yourself with. I have some history with Ye Wushang. Withdraw your Heaven-Sorrowing Demon Surge and return to the Demon Realm. Stop wandering about aimlessly," Lei Yan said indifferently.
The Third Prince’s face contorted. Who wanted to wander aimlessly? If it weren't to search for a fated opportunity, did they think he enjoyed coming to this cultivation realm? There weren't even any high-level demons to devour; his mouth had long since grown bland from the lack of flavor.
"Lord Emissary, it is not that I enjoy wandering. I truly have business here," the Third Prince said.
"What business?" Lei Yan frowned.
"I will not hide it from your Excellency. I was entrusted by the Dark Night Demon Emperor to find the whereabouts of the Cloud Crane Clan. Ever since they left the Demon Realm, they have never appeared again. We suspected they had come to the cultivation realm," the Third Prince explained.
Beside them, Li Xue, Li Lin, and the gathered Loose Immortals all rolled their eyes inwardly. *If you're looking for the Cloud Crane Clan, why are you attacking the Fangyuan Star Sector? It's not like they're hiding here.*
"Mistress, what do you think of this?" Lei Yan knew that Yun Xi had a way to contact the Cloud Crane Clan, but he wasn't sure if they should help the Third Prince. Since Lei Yan had a special relationship with the Demon God Ye Wushang, he was actually inclined to help.
"Ask him why he’s looking for them first, then we’ll see," Li Xue said cautiously. Yun Xi could contact them, but the most important thing was not to bring trouble to the Cloud Crane Clan.
The Third Prince’s eyes sparkled as he scrutinized Li Xue. For the Lord Emissary to call her "Mistress," could this young woman be the reincarnation of a Heavenly God? He suddenly grew excited. The closing of the Gates of the God Realm didn't just prevent Immortals from ascending; the Demon Realm was equally stuck. Even the ten Great Demon Emperors of the Demon Realm could not divine the reason through their joint calculations, only saying that the "fated opportunity" had not yet arrived.
*Opportunity, opportunity, it’s always this damn fated opportunity!* The Third Prince cursed in his heart. *I’ve been lingering in this cultivation realm for nearly a thousand years for this opportunity, all while dodging the pursuit of those Heavenly Lords from the Immortal Realm. To hell with this opportunity!*
The Third Prince produced a token—a statue of a Cloud Crane. "Back then, Granny Yun bestowed this token upon me, saying it could be used to request an audience with the Cloud Crane Clan."
Seeing the token, Li Xue realized the Third Prince was telling the truth. After a moment's thought, she decided it was best to let Yun Xi meet him. As for whether Yun Xi would contact her clan, that would be her own decision.
Seeing Li Xue begin to form hand seals, Lei Yan knew she was summoning Yun Xi. With a wave of his hand, he teleported all the Loose Immortals of the Fangyuan Star Sector away. Some things were better left unknown to cultivators; their cultivation was too low, and knowing too much would only hinder their progress.
A ripple in space passed, and Yun Xi appeared before them. She stepped forward and bowed to Li Xue. "Mistress!"
"You are Yun Xi?!" The Third Prince looked at Yun Xi in shock, which quickly turned into excitement. He cried out, "Is Granny Yun here?" Clearly, he assumed Yun Xi had come directly from the Cloud Crane Clan's current home.
"Oh? Third Prince, why have you come to the cultivation realm?" Yun Xi recognized him.
"I’ve been here for nearly a thousand years, searching for your Cloud Crane Clan the entire time!" the Third Prince said, his voice tinged with the weariness of ages.
"Back then, Granny told you that when the opportunity arrives, you will naturally find what you seek. There was no need to search for the Cloud Crane Clan so intently," Yun Xi said.
"Oh, my dear sister, I’ve stayed in this bird-shit-less cultivation world for nearly a millennium and haven't seen a single glimpse of any opportunity!" The Third Prince began pacing and jumping about in the void, completely abandoning his regal image.
Li Xue and the others couldn't help but chuckle. This Third Prince seemed to be a man of genuine, if eccentric, character.
Yun Xi glanced at Li Xue and then said to the Third Prince, "Could it be that the Prince’s eyes have been clouded? Perhaps the opportunity is right before you."
The Third Prince suddenly went still. His gaze shifted between Lei Yan, Li Xue, and Yun Xi for a long moment. Then, he burst into laughter. "Sister Yun Xi is right! I'll go have a meeting with those two old fogies, Dao Fan and Ling Wei, before I head back to the Demon Realm. Dammit, those two lingering ghosts... this time, I'll give them something to remember!"
The Third Prince thanked Yun Xi and Lei Yan, then bid farewell to Li Xue and Li Lin. With a few flashes of spatial movement, the demonic beast carriage vanished into the void.
"I still don't understand why he was attacking the Fangyuan Star Sector," Li Xue said, looking at the empty space.
"I think he was just bored out of his mind," Li Lin said, pursing his lips.
"Exactly." "Makes sense," Lei Yan and Yun Xi nodded in agreement.
Wandering the cultivation realm for nearly a thousand years with nothing to do would make anyone go a bit stir-crazy.
After Li Xue and Li Lin informed the people of the Fangyuan Star Sector that the Third Prince had departed, they summoned the Youyu Flying Boat and left the sector, beginning their journey of experiential cultivation.
"The Youyu Flying Boat is so easy to use. It's much faster than the Nebula Boat!" Li Lin said as he steered the vessel.
"Of course. This boat was used by your father; it's naturally the best the Tianyou Sect has to offer," Li Xue replied.
Li Xue was checking the Void Mirror when she suddenly noticed fluctuations of spiritual energy in the distant void. She called out, "Careful! There's a fight going on over there!"
Li Lin noticed it too and said with some excitement, "Mother, should we go take a look?"
"Alright, let's sneak over!" Li Xue felt a surge of excitement herself. It had been a long time since she’d been in a good scrap.
The flying boat navigated carefully through the turbulent void affected by the battle. Meteorites, nebulae, and even planets were dancing wildly in the vacuum, and spatial rifts were opening everywhere. It was incredibly dangerous.
And this was only the outermost edge of the aftermath. *Could it be the showdown between the Third Prince and the Heavenly Lords?* Li Xue and Li Lin looked at each other, feeling conflicted. Should they really go and see?
***
