Reuniting with an old friend should have been a joyous occasion, but Liu Jinghong found herself unable to smile. A strange feeling had already begun to surface in her heart.
Something was wrong.
From the Sky Ladder's unexpected reactivation and her own inexplicable teleportation to this place, to the appearance of Ji Xiu and the Demon King, every event was shrouded in mystery.
These did not feel like coincidences; rather, they seemed orchestrated, with the explicit purpose of gathering them all together.
Could it be… Xu Yi?
The thought, as soon as it arose, was forcibly suppressed by Liu Jinghong.
Such a grand undertaking was beyond the capabilities of a Tribulation Stage cultivator, indeed, beyond any cultivator on the Kyushu Continent.
Could it truly just be a series of coincidences?
Liu Jinghong's brows furrowed slightly, her gaze falling to conceal her unease.
"Demon King, Demon Lord, we will handle our own grievances with Liu Jinghong. Should you two not provide us with an explanation?" Ji Xiu's voice was cold.
In the face of a great crisis, personal grudges naturally took a backseat.
He had already learned from the Sect Leader of Azure Lotus that the Demon and Devil races had broken their pact and declared war on humanity. Seeing the Demon Lord and Demon King descend now confirmed their premeditated plan.
Had it not been for the Sky Ladder's accidental reactivation, humanity would have been defeated in this war.
The mere thought of defeat sent shivers down Ji Xiu's spine, chilling him to the bone.
Regret, resentment, and lingering fear—a complex mixture of emotions—caused Ji Xiu's expression to grow even colder.
The Demon King and Demon Lord exchanged glances, each recognizing the helplessness in the other's eyes.
Ultimately, their plans had been thwarted.
With Ji Xiu and his group present, their plan to annihilate humanity could no longer proceed.
The Demon King and Demon Lord could not help but feel a sense of relief. Fortunately, they had not descended in their true forms, and at most, they could retreat with only minor costs.
Since that was the case, why not stir the pot a little more?
A glint flashed in the Demon King's eyes as he slowly said, "It was Liu Jinghong. She said the Devil race's destiny was nearing its end, but as long as they signed a peace treaty with her, they could make a comeback after overcoming the difficulties."
"You're lying!" Liu Jinghong shrieked. "I never said such a thing!"
"You didn't, not directly. You merely hinted at it with your words and actions," the Demon King sneered dismissively.
Liu Jinghong vehemently denied it, but the Demon Lord just scoffed. The Demon Lord, seeing Liu Jinghong's attempt to refute, smiled and picked up the conversation, "So Liu Jinghong also advised my demonic brother this way. It seems we are fated."
The Demon Lord's words served to corroborate the Demon King's statement.
For a moment, the entire realm fell into an eerie silence.
But Liu Jinghong could feel sharp, blade-like gazes sweeping over her entire being, as if intending to flay her alive.
Liu Jinghong's pupils trembled, and she roared, "Everyone, do not believe them! They are spreading falsehoods to sow discord and frame me! That's right, everything they say is false, false!"
Liu Jinghong could not possibly admit to it.
If she accepted this accusation, not only would she have no place on the Kyushu Continent, but not even in the Upper Realm.
She dug her fingertips into her palm, forcing herself to calm down.
These were merely the words of the Demon King and Demon Lord; they had no evidence and could not establish guilt.
With both sides presenting conflicting accounts, a flicker of hesitation crossed Ji Xiu's eyes.
"Demon King, I have a question. May I ask for your clarification?"
Just as everyone's minds were wavering, a Buddhist cultivator with a clear countenance and holding a Buddhist staff stepped forward from the Myriad Buddhas sect.
Upon seeing the Buddhist cultivator, a look of disgust instinctively flashed across the Demon King's face.
The Buddhist radiance emanating from the cultivator was too dazzling. Without even thinking, the Demon King could guess the person's identity—it must be the newly appointed Buddha Son of the Myriad Buddhas Sect.
"Ask," he uttered a single word.
Hong Jing smiled slightly, "Ancestor Jinghong is exceptionally talented but not adept at divination. Why does the Demon King trust Ancestor Jinghong's words so much and willingly lie dormant for a thousand years?"
"The Buddha Son speaks wisely!"
"Demon King, please tell us your reasons so we may hear them!"
"This matter is indeed peculiar?"
The crowd's curiosity was greatly piqued, and they began to murmur amongst themselves.
Liu Jinghong's eyelids twitched.
This Buddha Son seemed to be defending her, yet he also appeared to have ulterior motives. She could not fathom his intentions.
"She can steal fortuitous opportunities, and her cultivation path has been unbelievably smooth," the Demon King's eyes narrowed. "I discovered long ago that she seemed to be able to foresee where great opportunities lay. However, perhaps because it was stolen fortune, it was often fragmented. Even so, it was enough for her to reap considerable rewards. I dared not fully believe her words, yet I dared not disbelieve them either. That is why I signed an equal contract but also left a contingency. It has only been a few thousand years; I can afford to wait."
The Demon Lord nodded in agreement.
Liu Jinghong was not unintelligent, but she could not be considered truly wise.
She thought she had concealed her peculiarities well, but she could not deceive old monsters who had cultivated for millennia.
The Demon King and Demon Lord had discovered her anomalies long ago and had not exposed them, but rather, had exploited them. How ironic that Liu Jinghong believed she possessed irresistible charm, drawing the kings of two races to her feet.
The unease in Liu Jinghong's pupils was almost spilling out.
They knew?
Liu Jinghong suddenly looked at Ji Xiu and the others. Indeed, she saw expressions of dawning realization on their faces. So, they had all noticed the peculiarities about her but had not revealed them for various reasons.
Liu Jinghong felt a chill spread throughout her body from her heart.
The only comfort she could find was that even if these people knew something was amiss, they didn't know the specifics. Her greatest secret remained unexposed.
Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, she heard Hong Jing's voice continue, "So that is it. The Demon King has clarified my confusion, and I shall, in turn, clarify one for the Demon King. The reason Liu Jinghong can know heavenly secrets is that she uses evil arts to steal others' destiny. Her character is flawed, her heart is impure, and her actions are treacherous."
Liu Jinghong froze in place the moment Hong Jing uttered the last sentence.
He knew?
He actually knew!
Liu Jinghong could not believe that someone could reveal a secret she had never disclosed to anyone.
"You… who are you… who are you…" Liu Jinghong's lips trembled as she spoke with difficulty.
Hong Jing clasped his hands together and offered her a Buddhist salute, "I am Hong Jing."
"Hong Jing?"
Liu Jinghong's face was filled with confusion. She had never heard this name, nor had she read it in any book.
"I am merely one among the countless beings; you naturally wouldn't know of me. But you must have heard of the name Ancestor Zhū Mó."
"Ancestor Zhū Mó?"
Everyone was stunned. How had they never heard of this title?
The Demon King snorted dismissively. What kind of ancestor dared to call themselves "Zhū Mó" (Slayer of Demons)?
However, upon hearing this, Liu Jinghong's body swayed, and she exclaimed, "You're a transmigration writer too? When did you transmigrate?"
Liu Jinghong's eyes widened, and she stared fixedly at Hong Jing, her pent-up resentment finally finding an outlet. All that had happened to her today was his doing! It was because a new transmigration writer had appeared that all her past actions were exposed!
Liu Jinghong seethed with hatred. This world was enough with one transmigration writer; why did another have to appear! Clearly, she was the favored child of the Heavenly Dao!
Hong Jing's words stirred a colossal wave in Liu Jinghong's heart. And her words, in turn, stirred a tempest in the hearts of the people of the Kyushu Continent.
Transmigration writer?
What is a transmigration writer?