"Rather than being a hardworking, diligent emperor who might eventually be usurped by those who resent you, wouldn't you prefer to be a decadent, wealthy prince?" Qi Yu said with a meaningful smile. "Drink the strongest wine, eat the most delicious meat. With a beauty in each arm, and children calling you father as they play around your knees."
Si Qing imagined it carefully and finally nodded. "Who wants to be a common laborer? Of course, being a leisurely and contented wealthy prince is much easier."
His thoughts were immediately led astray by Qi Yu.
After Jin Yan and Yu Yuan excitedly returned to their roles as guardian deities, Qi Yu and Si Qing found their workload significantly reduced.
The two spent their days idly in the thirteenth heaven, with nothing to do but listen to the thoughts of beings from all three realms.
Qi Yu was initially diligent, listening at a fixed time each day. But as time went on, he occasionally grew lazy, leaving all the work to the upright and incorruptible Si Qing.
He would stay in his room, reading storybooks and eating snacks.
Occasionally, he would descend to the mortal realm to grant blessings. What Qi Yu did most often was to conceal his form and stand in a corner, peeking at people's mortal love stories.
Finally, after three days like this, the day arrived for Feng Mingxi to enter the Dragon Transformation Pool.
The banks of the Dragon Transformation Pool were already crowded.
Feng Yunzui and Feng Siqian stood nearby, the sisters looking somewhat uneasy.
"You're finally here," Yue Zhiyin walked towards Qi Yu and Si Qing. "Everyone arrived half a day ago and has been waiting. We decided to officially begin once you arrived."
"Senior Brother, where is Feng Mingxi?" Qi Yu asked curiously. "Why don't I see him?"
"He's over there, feeling nervous," Feng Siqian shook her head helplessly and pointed towards a long bench not far away.
Only then did Qi Yu see Feng Mingxi sitting on the bench, nervously flipping through the procedures for entering the Dragon Transformation Pool.
Feng Mingxi was not wearing any demonic accessories today. He had even handed his demonic crown to Feng Siqian.
He held the detailed record book of the Dragon Transformation Pool procedures in both hands, muttering the things he was about to do under his breath, intending to memorize them so he wouldn't forget what to do due to pain once he entered the pool.
In millions of years, the Dragon Transformation Pool had never been used. This was the first time.
Therefore, everyone was eager to witness the astonishing scene of Feng Mingxi transforming into a dragon.
Qi Yu walked over, patted Feng Mingxi's shoulder, and comforted him. "You don't need to be so nervous. In the end, even if you forget the procedure, the Dragon Transformation Pool will remind you what to do and ask for your opinion. It won't just throw you into the pool and leave you to fend for yourself."
Feng Mingxi forced a smile at Qi Yu. "I understand the logic, but I've never experienced anything like this before. Seeing the pool makes me nervous. Will everyone be able to see the scene inside the Dragon Transformation Pool later?"
Feng Mingxi's expression was somewhat embarrassed, wishing that everyone else would leave.
"In fact, they won't be able to see much. Once you enter, the Dragon Transformation Pool will create a barrier, blocking everyone outside. They will wait outside," Qi Yu reassured Feng Mingxi. "So, you don't need to be nervous. You won't miss anything. By the way, have all the succession rites for the demon clan been completed?"
Feng Mingxi nodded and looked towards Feng Siqian. "I originally wanted both my sisters to share the position of Demon Lord, but Feng Yunzui said she had no interest, so it could only be passed to Feng Siqian."
Feng Siqian was wearing the female version of the Demon Lord's long dress. Her demonic horns were golden, likely specially adorned, and she had the Demon Lord's mark on her brow.
She turned her head, saw Qi Yu looking in her direction, her eyes widened, and she raised her hand to greet him.
Qi Yu also nodded, returning a smile, and then glanced at the sky, urging Feng Mingxi, "It's time to enter the Dragon Transformation Pool. Hurry up and go in. This cannot be delayed."
Feng Mingxi looked at the Dragon Transformation Pool, which was bubbling with immortal mist, swallowed hard, and stepped in with his shoes on.
The moment Feng Mingxi entered the Dragon Transformation Pool, a barrier immediately enveloped the entire pool.
The immortal officials from the nine heavens all came to watch the spectacle.
They were all whispering amongst themselves:
"What kind of dragon will the Demon Lord transform into in the Dragon Transformation Pool?"
"I reckon it'll be a black dragon, to save face."
"Hey, that's not necessarily true. After the Dragon Transformation Pool purifies demonic energy, it depends on the inner purity and kindness of the one transforming."
"Exactly. The quality of this transformation is determined by one's own level of goodness. If the Demon Lord is a kind person, he might even transform into the purest white dragon of the South Sea."
"Don't be ridiculous. Feng Mingxi is the Demon Lord, of the demon clan. Demons are always fighting and killing. How could there be anyone purely kind?"
These people argued endlessly, almost coming to blows outside the Dragon Transformation Pool.
Si Qing coldly uttered, "Silence."
The surroundings immediately fell silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Meanwhile, inside the Dragon Transformation Pool.
Feng Mingxi gritted his teeth, clearly feeling his demonic energy rapidly dissipating.
The rate at which this demonic energy was draining was fatal. Feng Mingxi's body instinctively activated its protective mechanism, trying to retain the demonic energy. The clash between these two forces caused Feng Mingxi intense pain.
He closed his eyes tightly, sat cross-legged in the center of the Dragon Transformation Pool, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
Qi Yu and Si Qing stood outside the barrier, watching silently.
Not far away, Feng Yunzui walked over quietly and asked Qi Yu in a voice only the two of them could hear, "After my brother... transforms into a dragon and directly takes over the South Sea, will we no longer have any blood relation?"
Qi Yu looked at Feng Yunzui and after a moment of silence said, "That depends on how you see it. Even without a blood relation, your years of companionship are undeniable. He will still be your brother."
"Even with a blood relation, if he doesn't care for you after so many years, you will still be strangers."
"Therefore, in my opinion, the familial bond between you and Feng Mingxi is not something that can be solely determined by blood."
Feng Yunzui fell silent for a moment, then thought about it carefully and felt it made sense, nodding her head.
After Qi Yu gave Feng Yunzui some simple guidance, he turned and saw that there was still no movement from the Dragon Transformation Pool. He estimated it would take at least another half a day. So, he asked Si Qing to stay and play, while he casually found a corridor out of sight of people, sat down, propped his chin on one hand, and dozed off.
As he dozed, at some point, Qi Yu actually fell asleep.
When she opened her eyes again, everyone around was still waiting for Feng Mingxi in the Dragon Transformation Pool.
Everything was much the same as before she dozed off.
The only difference was that when Qi Yu looked down, preparing to tidy her clothes and stand up, she found a little dumpling on her body.
Qi Yu: "......?"
Whose child is this?
Why is it in my arms?!
I really only took a short nap, didn't I?