The clue had gone cold again.
A rare hint of fatigue flickered across Xu Yi's brow.
Meeting with the Demon King was proving exceedingly difficult.
However, Xu Yi's urgency had lessened. The Monkey King's decisive victory against the Eight-Tailed White Fox and other demons had caused many to defect.
It would take the Eight-Tailed White Fox at least several times the effort and time to re-unify the demon tribe.
During this period, Xu Yi could explore other avenues, even mobilize the Five Great Sects to search for the Demon King's whereabouts.
As Xu Yi pondered, Jin Yuanbao suddenly leaped before her, chirping, "Demon King, do you remember me?"
The Great Roc's Golden Wings on Xu Yi's shoulder ruffled its feathers, seemingly ignoring Jin Yuanbao's words, or perhaps it didn't realize the "Demon King" Jin Yuanbao spoke of was itself.
Jin Yuanbao blinked its eyes in disappointment, then suddenly burst into tears.
Its tears fell to the ground, transforming into round, golden pearls.
The Great Roc's Golden Wings was startled by Jin Yuanbao's wails and quickly tucked its head behind Xu Yi. It only tentatively observed Jin Yuanbao once it sensed no danger.
Xu Yi initially tried to comfort Jin Yuanbao for a few sentences, but since Jin Yuanbao paid her no heed, Xu Yi stopped speaking, her expression gradually becoming numb.
"You, you wait for me a moment."
After crying for a while, Jin Yuanbao, sniffling, said this to Xu Yi and the other person before turning and running into the palace.
Watching Jin Yuanbao run off, Xu Yi grinned and, without a word, reached out to pick up the scattered golden pearls on the ground.
Just as she was about to store all the pearls in her storage ring, she noticed Ji Buwang looking at her with a half-smile.
Unsure of why she did it, Xu Yi reached out, took Ji Buwang's hand, and placed half of the golden pearls into his palm.
Xu Yi's action was entirely subconscious. After doing so, she shyly withdrew her hand, smiled at Ji Buwang, and then awkwardly averted her gaze.
The slightly cool touch caused Ji Buwang to falter.
Immediately, a warmth spread rapidly from the point of contact to Ji Buwang's body.
Ji Buwang closed his hand, clenching the golden pearls, and his gaze involuntarily shifted downwards.
Though both tried to avoid each other's sight, a peculiar atmosphere flowed around them, only broken when Jin Yuanbao reappeared.
"Here, take this. It should help the Demon King recover sooner."
Floating behind Jin Yuanbao was a thin, leaf-like object, as delicate as a cicada's wing, with its golden veins clearly visible.
As the leaf appeared, the Great Roc's Golden Wings on Xu Yi's shoulder hopped excitedly, agitated.
Seeing this, Jin Yuanbao was delighted and presented the golden leaf to the Great Roc's Golden Wings as if offering a treasure.
However, even Xu Yi and Ji Buwang could see the Great Roc's Golden Wings' longing, yet it still didn't leave Xu Yi's shoulder. Instead, it tilted its head, observing Xu Yi's expression.
Xu Yi felt a pang of surprise.
Could the Great Roc's Golden Wings truly consider her its mother?
Xu Yi suddenly recalled the young mountain eagle she had encountered in the Giants' Realm; it had been just as dependent on her then.
"Hey! The Demon King is looking at you!"
Jin Yuanbao, seeing the Great Roc's Golden Wings actually seeking Xu Yi's opinion, became furious and shouted.
Xu Yi snapped back to reality, reached out, took the golden leaf, and handed it to the Great Roc's Golden Wings, asking, "What is this?"
"Hmph, hmph." Jin Yuanbao, seeing the Demon King happily snatch the leaf, snorted twice before enlightening Xu Yi. "This is a leaf from the World Tree. There is only one such leaf in the entire Jiuzhou Continent."
After speaking, Jin Yuanbao seemed to recall something and threatened, "The World Tree leaf is precious and rare. Don't you dare think of taking it, or I won't let you off!"
Neither Xu Yi nor Ji Buwang paid Jin Yuanbao's words any mind. Their attention was entirely captivated by the World Tree leaf, and they even unconsciously slowed their breathing.
"So, the World Tree truly exists..."
Xu Yi's eyes sparkled, and the corners of her mouth curved upwards involuntarily.
Legend had it that the World Tree was born when the Jiuzhou Continent was first created, connecting the heavens and the underworld. Each leaf represented a rule of power.
However, no one had ever seen the World Tree, nor had anyone obtained its leaf. It was like the Four Divine Beasts, appearing only in legends, shrouded in mystery.
Xu Yi had recently learned of the Vermillion Bird's whereabouts, and now the World Tree had appeared. She began to believe that those old rumors were not baseless but rather reflections of actual past existences.
"What rule of power does this World Tree leaf contain?" Xu Yi asked curiously.
"It is wisdom," Jin Yuanbao declared proudly. "The Demon King is the wisest and most intelligent demon beast in the Jiuzhou Continent, which is why the World Tree leaf fell into the Demon King's hands."
Wisdom?
Xu Yi gazed intently at the Great Roc's Golden Wings, ultimately shaking her head and sighing softly.
There was no trace of a Demon King's demeanor about the Great Roc's Golden Wings now.
She hoped the World Tree leaf would truly help the Great Roc's Golden Wings recover quickly.
"Since the Demon King has chosen you, you must take good care of him. Otherwise, I..."
"Otherwise, you won't let us off. I've noted that," Xu Yi said helplessly.
"You better mean it!"
Jin Yuanbao huffed and puffed, still uneasy. It tried to curry favor with the Great Roc's Golden Wings again, hoping to change its mind.
However, the Great Roc's Golden Wings didn't even glance at Jin Yuanbao. It held the World Tree leaf in its beak and rested against Xu Yi's cheek, looking completely content.
Jin Yuanbao's eyes turned red with anger, but it had to suppress its temper and escort Xu Yi and Ji Buwang out of the Demon King's Palace.
This was because no one besides Jin Yuanbao could open the Demon King's Palace, nor could anyone leave alive without its permission.
The Great Roc's Golden Wings stood on Xu Yi's shoulder, and Jin Yuanbao respectfully ushered them out.
Ji Buwang did not receive such good treatment; he was pushed out by Jin Yuanbao.
"We actually got out."
Xu Yi and Ji Buwang had expected Jin Yuanbao to escort them to the outskirts of the Demon King's Palace, but instead, they were sent directly to the border between Shenzhou and Yangzhou, leaving Shenzhou territory.
Xu Yi and Ji Buwang marveled once more at Jin Yuanbao's capabilities, and their curiosity about the Great Roc's Golden Wings, Jin Yuanbao's master, grew.
The Great Roc's Golden Wings was likely the most mysterious among all the past Demon Kings. Shortly after taking the throne, it had mysteriously disappeared, yet it possessed extraordinary talent, commanding the obedience of the untamed myriad demons. It held treasures like the World Tree leaf and had the allegiance of Jin Yuanbao.
Xu Yi began to understand why the Demon King, before ascending, had gone to such lengths to extract a wisp of the Great Roc's Golden Wings' soul. It seemed he harbored great fear of the Great Roc's Golden Wings and had to strike first.
Xu Yi turned her head to look at the still bewildered Great Roc's Golden Wings, "Demon King, you must recover quickly. Whether we can win over the demon tribe depends on you."
Although the Great Roc's Golden Wings didn't understand what Xu Yi was saying, it nodded enthusiastically, making Xu Yi unable to suppress a chuckle.
The affairs in Shenzhou had finally concluded. Next, she needed to find a way to rapidly enhance her own strength.
A spark named ambition ignited in Xu Yi's eyes.