V2c8: Reunion after Two and a Half Years.
“You have quite a nerve, daring to barge into Chi Yan Demon Lord’s manor.”
Lin Mo was taken aback by the demonic cultivator’s words.
He had stumbled into the Chi Yan Demon Lord’s home?
Along the way, he had been ruthlessly killing demonic cultivators, accumulating Regret value.
He hadn’t realized he’d gotten so carried away and ended up here.
But it didn’t matter; he had intended to come here anyway.
“Call your Demon Lord out.”
“You, just you wait.”
The demonic cultivator knew he was no match for the man in white snow-like robes before him.
He scurried off towards the manor.
Lin Mo noticed many other demonic cultivators watching him from a distance.
With a flash, he appeared before them.
Witnessing Lin Mo’s strength, the demonic cultivators, whose cultivation levels were below the Soul Transformation stage, immediately caved. “We were just watching, no other intentions,” they pleaded.
Lin Mo smiled, “So you’re just onlookers.”
The demonic cultivators breathed a sigh of relief when Lin Mo smiled.
“However, even watching is forbidden. It’s a sin to watch.”
Lin Mo’s cold laugh echoed in their ears.
Many of the curious demonic cultivators collapsed one after another.
Their final thoughts were simple: ‘If we could do it all over again, we would never choose to be mere onlookers.’
The remaining curious demonic cultivators, terrified by Lin Mo’s ferocity, quickly switched tactics. “Uh, we were just passing by.”
“Passing by?” Lin Mo scoffed, “Even if you don’t dance ‘Love Like Fire,’ you’ll still die.”
The remaining demonic cultivators: “???”
They died without understanding what ‘Love Like Fire’ was.
Satisfied with the Regret value received, Lin Mo nodded.
Just then, several powerful waves of demonic energy surged towards him.
Lin Mo turned and was immediately surrounded by five figures.
“You chose the path to hell when paradise lay open.”
“Do you really think my Chi Yan Clan has no one to deal with a mere Soul Transformation brat like you?”
The speaker was a woman standing directly in front of Lin Mo.
Adorned in resplendent black armor, she looked incredibly commanding.
Sensing that the pressure emanated by the woman far surpassed the other four, and noticing the prominent scar on her face, Lin Mo guessed her identity: “Chi Yan Demon Lord?”
Chi Yan Demon Lord glanced at Lin Mo, “It’s somewhat perceptive of you to recognize me.”
“It’s not just my perceptiveness,” Lin Mo chuckled, “My daughter told me that the person who tormented her was an ugly woman with a scar on her face.”
Hearing this, Chi Yan Demon Lord’s face contorted with rage.
The scar, stretching from her forehead to her chin, was inflicted by a Rogue Cultivator during the ancient battle between immortals and demons a hundred years ago.
As a demon, any external wound, even a severed limb, could be healed as long as she didn’t die.
However, the rogue cultivator’s swordplay contained a power akin to the laws of the universe, making this scar impossible to repair.
“You deliberately provoke me, and you’re truly not afraid of death.”
Despite her anger, Chi Yan Demon Lord did not attack. She still needed to question Lin Mo about the whereabouts of Yan Ruyu’s child.
“And you mention your daughter. Could it be that you are the one who slept with my cousin?”
Chi Yan Demon Lord’s cousin was Yan Ruyu.
Lin Mo had learned a fair amount about Yan Ruyu from Qi Qi recently.
He had been puzzled: if Yan Ruyu was from the Chi Yan Clan, why hadn’t she shown more care to the Chi Yan Clan after the Old Ancestor sealed the Demon Realm?
Qi Qi’s explanation was that after Old Ancestor Chu Tiange was sealed, to maintain balance in the Demon Realm, Yan Ruyu could not show favoritism to any of the three major demon races.
Otherwise, the balance would be broken, and chaos would erupt in the Demon Realm.
Furthermore, from the moment Yan Ruyu was chosen as Saintess, she was no longer considered part of the Chi Yan Clan. Strictly speaking, she only answered to Old Ancestor Chu Tiange.
Lin Mo readily admitted, “That’s right, I am the one who gave your cousin a ‘soul-penetrating’ experience. Is there a problem?”
Chi Yan Demon Lord asked, “So, you’re here to save her?”
“You can think of it that way,” Lin Mo said with a smile, “but strictly speaking, I’m here to collect a debt.”
Chi Yan Demon Lord inquired curiously, “Oh? What debt can you collect?”
“A debt of love,” Lin Mo stated. “When I was still at the Foundation stage, she was taken in by my looks and talent, drugged me, and committed improper acts against me. Is there a problem with me collecting this debt today?”
Chi Yan Demon Lord’s face darkened, “Your statement makes it sound like you were the one wronged?”
Even Chi Yan Demon Lord found it hard to listen.
She thought Lin Mo’s words were utterly shameless.
After all, Yan Ruyu was a Saintess of the Demon Realm, always pure and chaste. No one in the Demon Realm was worthy of being with her.
For a mere Foundation stage brat like him to have such an honor would surely mean his cousin was the one who suffered a loss.
Wait…
Now was not the time to be thinking about this.
“I was almost led astray by you, kid.” Chi Yan Demon Lord shifted to the main topic, “I’ll give you a choice: hand over your daughter, and Yan Ruyu will transfer her position as Saintess. I can guarantee your family of three will be safe.”
“Otherwise, you will die, and Yan Ruyu will not have a good life.”
This sounded like a very good deal.
However, handing over Lin Xiang’er to her meant she would continue to be forcefully cultivated by demonic energy. “q un 6 .3 . . 8 . 3。。 0 6 4 9 .7”
Thinking of the inhumane torment his daughter had endured for so long.
Lin Mo’s expression turned cold, “Since you brought it up, I have another score to settle with you.”
“You were the beast who forcibly infused my daughter with demonic energy, causing her to grow rapidly, weren’t you?”
Chi Yan Demon Lord laughed, “What? I used my own demonic energy to nurture your daughter, shouldn’t you be thanking me?”
“And you dare curse me? You are truly ungrateful.”
She waved her hand, signaling the four demons beside her, “Take it easy on him. Don’t kill him.”
With that, Chi Yan Demon Lord vanished, heading towards where Yan Ruyu was imprisoned.
She intended to bring Yan Ruyu over to witness this human’s torment.
Of course, the most important objective was to have them torment each other.
To see who would break first and accept her proposal.
…
In an elaborately decorated room, Yan Ruyu’s limbs were bound by demonic restraints.
Not only that, but her body was pierced by four black hooks from behind, completely sealing her demonic energy.
With a “crack,” the door creaked open.
“My cousin, are you well?”
Chi Yan Demon Lord’s voice reached Yan Ruyu’s ears.
Yan Ruyu looked up at Chi Yan Demon Lord’s mocking face and said faintly, “I will not pass down the position of Saintess. You can leave.”
“Cousin, I didn’t come here for that.”
“Do you know your old flame from the Human Realm has come looking for you?”
Yan Ruyu furrowed her delicate brows, “I don’t have any old flames in the Human Realm.”
Chi Yan Demon Lord smiled, “Yes, yes, not your old flame, just someone you spent a night of passion with.”
“He even came all the way to my manor to save you.”
Yan Ruyu’s confusion deepened. Her first thought was Lin Mo.
But only two and a half years had passed. No matter how great Lin Mo’s talent, he couldn’t possibly possess the strength to infiltrate Chi Yan Demon Lord’s manor in such a short time.
However, besides Lin Mo, she couldn’t think of anyone else.
Those people from the Human Realm were her enemies; it was impossible for them to enter the Demon Realm.
Yan Ruyu stated firmly, “I don’t know such a person. If you’re trying to play tricks, save your efforts.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, your dear daughter has even been saved by him, and she calls him ‘father’.”
Chi Yan Demon Lord waved her hand, “If you don’t recognize him, then forget it.”
Hearing that her daughter had been captured, Yan Ruyu’s demeanor grew agitated, “What did you say?”
She was even less convinced that the person was Lin Mo.
Her daughter had never met Lin Mo, so how could they possibly recognize each other?
“Take me to see.”
Chi Yan Demon Lord smiled without a word and led Yan Ruyu towards Lin Mo’s location.
She secretly calculated, “By this time, that human should have been captured.”
After all, his opponents were the four strongest True Demons under her command.
And all of them were at the Soul Transformation stage.
Even a human with heavenly talent would be useless.
At the same cultivation level, True Demons could almost crush human cultivators.
Unless the human cultivator possessed extremely high aptitude and talent, along with superior cultivation techniques and weapons.
Only then might they be able to barely defeat a True Demon of the same cultivation level in a one-on-one fight.
Therefore, Chi Yan Demon Lord was absolutely certain that Lin Mo had been captured.
…
Meanwhile, at Lin Mo’s location, after Chi Yan Demon Lord left.
The four True Demons looked down on him with utmost disdain.
“A mere human. It’s too much for the Demon Lord to have us deal with him.”
After consulting with each other, only one of them stepped forward to challenge Lin Mo.
“Human, you’ve only killed some demonic cultivators. They are fundamentally different from us True Demons.”
“Dealing with you is enough for me alone.”
Lin Mo also knew that if he fought all four True Demons, he would gain no advantage.
However, by refusing the challenge of one demon, the pressure of the subsequent fight would be greatly reduced.
Therefore, seizing this opportunity, the moment he clashed with this True Demon.
He didn’t hold back, unleashing his full demonic energy and executing the “Seven Kill Sword Art,” which heavily injured and incapacitated the True Demon fighting him alone.
The other three demons, seeing the exceptionally pure and monstrous demonic energy emanating from Lin Mo’s body.
Instantly realized.
“He’s not human, he’s also a True Demon…”
The three demons were stunned, unable to comprehend how Lin Mo had managed to conceal himself.
Lin Mo was not surprised that they mistook him for a True Demon.
The System had told him that if he suppressed his spiritual energy completely, he would appear as a demon.
“Now, why aren’t you all attacking?” Lin Mo sneered.
The remaining three demons dared not delay.
They attacked Lin Mo in unison.
Facing their combined assault, Lin Mo could barely fend them off each time.
It had to be said that the combat prowess of True Demons was truly formidable.
If it were a human cultivator of the same level, even facing three of them, Lin Mo could have easily dealt with them.
In the subsequent battle, the three demons fought back and forth with Lin Mo.
When Chi Yan Demon Lord arrived with Yan Ruyu, they were both astonished.
“He’s actually not human, he’s a demon…” Chi Yan Demon Lord exclaimed in disbelief.
The perception of demonic energy could not deceive her.
Apart from not having transformed into his demon form, the demonic energy surrounding Lin Mo was something only True Demons possessed.
Yan Ruyu, on the other hand, was equally amazed.
But what she couldn’t comprehend was how Lin Mo had broken through from Foundation to Soul Transformation in such a short period.
When she had proposed a ten-year timeframe for Lin Mo to reach Soul Transformation, it had been an impossible feat.
And Lin Mo had only taken two and a half years?
This growth rate was simply unbelievable.
She couldn’t understand what Lin Mo had experienced during this time.
Nor could she understand why Lin Mo had come to the Demon Realm and fought his way to Chi Yan Demon Lord’s manor to save her.
And how had Lin Mo recognized Lin Xiang’er as their daughter?
All of this was too unbelievable.
In fact, from the moment Lin Xiang’er was born, she had a slight doubt.
That was, the demonic side of Lin Xiang’er’s bloodline was more pure.
At the time, she hadn’t understood where the problem lay.
Now, seeing Lin Mo, she knew the issue.
“He’s not a True Demon, he’s a Half-Demon,” she said to Chi Yan Demon Lord.
“Half-Demon?” Chi Yan Demon Lord frowned, “You’re quite impressive to have found a Half-Demon body in the Human Realm.”
A Half-Demon was a child born of a human and a True Demon.
Yan Ruyu gave a bitter smile. She hadn’t known Lin Mo was a Half-Demon back then either.
Everything Lin Mo had shown at the time was that of a complete human.
She didn’t know how he had hidden his Half-Demon bloodline; even she hadn’t discovered it.
However, this had inadvertently worked out well, allowing her Xiang’er to possess even more demonic bloodline.
Lin Mo, meanwhile, had also noticed Yan Ruyu.
However, at this moment, she no longer possessed that unattainable aura he had felt when they first met.
Her pale face, the chains on her hands and feet, and the four hooks piercing her body from behind made her look rather disheveled.
“Yan Ruyu, it’s been a while, you’re quite pathetic,” Lin Mo quipped at Yan Ruyu while parrying the attacks of the three demons before him.
Hearing this, a strange emotion welled up in Yan Ruyu’s heart.
When she had first met Lin Mo, he was a timid youth who had to be extremely careful when speaking to her, an ant she could crush with a casual flick of her wrist.
Now, he had grown to a point where even she was no match for him.
She herself had no confidence in facing the attacks of Chi Yan Demon Lord’s four Soul Transformation subordinates and gaining the upper hand.
Yet Lin Mo managed it, and even had the leisure to chat with her.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke, “Have you seen Xiang’er?”
“Yes, I like her very much.”
“It was Xiang’er who asked me to save you.”
“What? Aren’t you moved to see your husband come to save you?” Lin Mo teased Yan Ruyu.
Strength was his capital. If it were in the past, he wouldn’t dare speak to Yan Ruyu like this.
But now, he truly had the qualifications.
Yan Ruyu felt a sense of embarrassment. Having always been in a position of authority, no one had ever dared to treat her with such casual disrespect.
However, she didn’t dislike it…
“Flirting and bantering right in front of me, you two really don’t have me in your eyes.”
At this moment, Chi Yan Demon Lord also realized that her four proud subordinates were falling into disadvantage.
If the fight continued, her subordinates would undoubtedly be defeated.
Even she had to admit that Lin Mo was truly powerful.
If Lin Mo were allowed to continue growing, he might reach the Integration stage, and even she would have difficulty dealing with him. At that point, he would be a significant threat to her.
So, she changed her mind. She could not let Lin Mo live.
He had to die here today.
The next moment, Chi Yan Demon Lord joined the fray.
A long spear formed from demonic energy appeared in her hand, emitting an incredibly terrifying power as she hurled it towards Lin Mo.
“Using a ultimate move right off the bat?”
Lin Mo didn’t hesitate and unleashed his Seven Kill Sword Art.
A colossal sword energy clashed with the spear. The immense power caused the surrounding ground to tremble slightly.
In a short while, deep pits began to appear on the ground, and dust plumed into the air.
Soon, the giant sword energy began to flicker and fade, eventually being completely shattered by Chi Yan Demon Lord’s spear formed from demonic energy, which then flew towards Lin Mo.
Seeing this, Yan Ruyu couldn’t help but shout, “Be careful.”
Lin Mo also knew that it was time for him to use his trump card.
The next moment, the demonic energy around him began to spin.
His eyes were stained with blood energy, and the body of the Liuli Sword was completely enveloped by it.
With a gentle swing, a massive blood-colored sword energy descended from the heavens, engulfing the spear flying towards Lin Mo.
Chi Yan Demon Lord couldn’t help but widen her eyes: Lin Mo now gave her an extremely dangerous feeling. “What’s going on with this kid?”
Yan Ruyu was also stunned.
But what astonished her wasn’t Lin Mo’s strength.
It was that Lin Mo had truly mastered the sword technique she had left behind.
There was a familiar feeling about Lin Mo’s presence now.
Yan Ruyu’s thoughts were pulled back to the battlefield of the Immortal-Demon War a hundred years ago.
At that time, she, as the Saintess, had accompanied Old Ancestor Chu Tiange to fight against the immortal cultivators.
To be honest, the overall strength of the Demon Realm was weaker than that of the Human Realm.
But they had Old Ancestor Chu Tiange’s power.
In the days leading up to the great battle, Old Ancestor’s cultivation had inexplicably soared overnight.
Even she didn’t know the reason. Although she could clearly sense that Old Ancestor Chu Tiange’s condition was abnormal at the time, she didn’t think much of it.
Chu Tiange, by himself, had forced the five sect leaders of the Rank 1 Immortal Sect to retreat.
Even the Old Ancestor of the Spiritual Sword Sect, Sword Maniac, couldn’t withstand Chu Tiange’s attack when he appeared.
Their subordinates only needed to help Old Ancestor fend off the attacks of the five great families from the Upper Realm.
At that time, she had fought with all her might but still lost to a move from the patriarch of the Lin Family.
Just as she thought she was certain to die, a sword energy severed the Lin Family patriarch’s fatal blow.
Then, it saved her and instantly transported her outside the battlefield.
That person, through some unknown cultivation technique, had concealed their face.
She was amazed by their power but still asked the question in her heart, “You are not from the Demon Realm, why did you save me?”
The person did not answer her question but inexplicably said, “You are truly cute at this moment.”
As soon as they finished speaking, the person gently patted her head.
She was utterly bewildered.
“Who are you?” she asked again.
The person chuckled, “Don’t worry about who I am. Chu Tiange will be sealed by me. I will leave you a sword technique, to be given to someone you believe can make it famous throughout the world.”
After speaking, the person vanished.
She had found it all very strange. How could Old Ancestor Chu Tiange possibly lose?
But the truth was just that.
Her Old Ancestor had lost and was indeed sealed by that unknown, sudden rogue cultivator.
Originally, their Demon Realm would have won the battle between immortals and demons, but the outcome was ruined by this unknown rogue cultivator.
The rogue cultivator who sealed their Old Ancestor eventually disappeared without a trace, as if they had entered nirvana.
However, it was certain that without that person’s intervention, she would have surely died.
Her thoughts returned to the present. Yan Ruyu stared intently at the current Lin Mo.
The feeling Lin Mo gave her now was incredibly similar to the rogue cultivator who had appeared and sealed their Old Ancestor…
Author’s Note: I can only reveal one thing: Yan Ruyu died in the worldline of Lin Mo’s nine hundred and ninety-nine reincarnations. Only the current worldline, where Lin Mo has gained real memories, has changed.
Those of you who have seen Steins;Gate should understand the meaning of worldlines.
Lin Mo’s nine hundred and ninety-nine reincarnations are equivalent to nine hundred and ninety-nine different worldlines.
The current worldline is the correct one.
