Cultivating with Bragging System-Chapter 508 - 254: The Foreign Demon Dares to Kill a Pureblood? A Change is Coming! (6800 words)_3
Qingyun ignored everyone, staring intently at Xiang Shan. His gaze was as sharp as a knife, his aura terrifying.
"All demons are equal. Purebloods are not nobler than Foreign Demons, and Foreign Demons... are certainly not nobler than Purebloods! You harmed someone without cause, so you are at fault. Even if you gave me a hundred or a thousand more chances, my answer would remain the same!"
Qingyun’s aura was formidable, like an endless ocean sending towering waves crashing toward Xiang Shan.
Xiang Shan’s face paled slightly, but his gaze remained unwaveringly firm, meeting Qingyun’s stare without flinching.
The atmosphere instantly grew incredibly tense.
The other demons held their breath, swallowing nervously as their own auras flickered unstably. They were all extremely tense and apprehensive. Qingyun’s ferocity was overwhelming; if a fight truly broke out, they all feared they would die. They could only wonder if the experts from the three great families could arrive in time.
WHOOSH! 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
All at once, the crushing presence dispersed. Qingyun reined in his ferocity, and a smile bloomed on his icy face. "Very good," he said. "My trip was not in vain."
Then, right before everyone’s eyes, he dropped to one knee before Xiang Shan and swore his fealty.
Everyone was astonished and confused.
Only Xiang Shan, watching Qingyun kneel before him, felt something stir deep within his heart. He isn’t kneeling to me, he realized. He’s kneeling to an impractical fantasy he holds in his own heart. A fantasy he could never achieve on his own, but now... now he sees the first signs of it succeeding through me.
Xiang Shan sighed, extended a finger, and lightly tapped Qingyun on the forehead. Everyone behind him immediately recognized the gesture—it was a ritual exclusive to the Ancestral Demon Sect, signifying that Xiang Shan had accepted Qingyun into their ranks.
A frenzy of celebration erupted. With such a powerful expert joining their ranks, the Ancestral Demon Sect’s future looked bright.
***
Afterward, Xiang Shan led the members of the Ancestral Demon Sect outside the city to speak with the Foreign Demons who had traveled from afar. After their conversation, the newcomers became even more convinced that this Ninth Prince was the one to follow.
Immediately, countless Foreign Demons knelt on the ground, begging Xiang Shan to accept them into the Ancestral Demon Sect as well.
Xiang Shan did not agree right away. Instead, he gave them a mission: to persuade their own friends and relatives to join the cause, to strive together for the grand ideal of equality among all demons, and to fight for the beautiful Demon Realm that the Demon Ancestor envisioned.
As the news spread, it caused a massive stir.
***
"Heh, Sixth Prince, I hear your younger brother has been causing quite the commotion lately!"
Elsewhere in Three Origins City, a group of powerful and influential figures were gathered together.
"My brother is simply being mischievous. My apologies for the spectacle," Xiang Yuan said calmly.
"Mischievous? I don’t think the Ninth Prince is just playing around. This looks quite serious. Even an expert as powerful as Qingyun has submitted to him. Oh, and speaking of which, I almost forgot to congratulate the Earth Magic Elephant Clan on acquiring such a potent new Offering Priest," a middle-aged demon said mockingly.
"Indeed. At first, I couldn’t understand what he was trying to achieve with all this effort. But now I think I get it. Could he be planning to recruit all the top experts from the Foreign Demon rankings to his side?"
"If that’s the case, it’s truly a grand scheme. I just wonder... is the Ninth Prince the one playing this game of chess, or is there a master strategist guiding him from behind the scenes?"
One after another, they spoke, their words as sharp as knives and heavy with insinuation.
"Are you all suggesting this was orchestrated by my Earth Magic Elephant Clan?" Xiang Yuan asked coolly.
"We wouldn’t dare. We’re merely speculating!"
SMACK!
Xiang Yuan’s expression turned glacial as he slammed his palm down, smashing the table before him to splinters. With an icy gaze, he swept his eyes over everyone present. "Merely speculating? You are slandering the reputation of the Earth Magic Elephant Clan and questioning our clan’s loyalty and faith in the Demon God!
"I, Xiang Yuan, was chosen to participate in the Divine Demon Ritual. That is proof enough of my sincerity and the sincerity of the Earth Magic Elephant Clan!
"As for my ninth brother, he is still young. He’s found a new toy and wants to play with it, which is understandable. This is a private matter for our clan. While some of his actions may be improper, our clan will discipline him. It is not your place to pass judgment!
"If I hear any more idle gossip or baseless slander that damages our clan’s honor, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!"
The room fell into a dead silence. The demons exchanged glances, a flash of resentment in their eyes, but they did not dare to act on it. The Earth Magic Elephant Clan was currently in a position of power, so all they could do was let Xiang Yuan have his way.
***
「Days passed.」
The Ancestral Demon Sect became increasingly prosperous. The number of its followers grew and grew. It had even begun to blossom everywhere, with branches appearing in numerous cities. The scale was massive, the numbers terrifyingly large.
Xiang Shan gradually grew more brazen, arranging for uniform attire and identity tokens for all his followers. Looking around the streets and alleys of Three Origins City, one could see members of the Ancestral Demon Sect almost everywhere. It was quite a spectacular sight.
***
In a certain brothel, a Pureblood young master sat ostentatiously in the center of the hall, listening to music. His eyes were fixed greedily on the alluring, indistinct silhouette of a woman behind a screen, his lecherous gaze completely unconcealed.
As the music ended, the young master from the Pureblood Family waved his hand and commanded, "This Snake Woman isn’t bad. Someone, take her away!"
Hearing this, the brothel’s madam hurried over. "Young Master Lanshi, this girl... she is new. She only performs; she does not sell her body!"
The Pureblood young master, Lanshi, raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "Do you think this is my first time here? Since when did any woman in your establishment only perform without selling herself?"
The madam gave a bitter smile. "It’s true that there were none before, but in the last couple of days, many such girls have arrived! There’s nothing I can do!"
Lanshi sneered, "That rule might apply to others, but do you have any idea who I am? That I would want her is a blessing she’s earned over ten lifetimes. Go and ask her. See if she dares to refuse me!"
The loud commotion immediately drew the attention of the other guests.
