After receiving Fan Wu's response, Yang Kai gave a slight nod and was about to beckon Ruoxi over when Shi Huo suddenly spoke in a cold tone: "You can take the others with you, no problem, but this girl stays." He extended a finger, pointing at Zhang Ruoxi on the far side, his tone brooking no argument.
Yang Kai's expression darkened. He glared at Shi Huo and shouted furiously: "On what grounds?"
Shi Huo tossed the Myriad Beast Seal up and down in his hand, looking down from on high: "On the strength of this alone. She dared to seal away a million beast souls belonging to our Ancient Land — for that act alone, she must answer to the Demon Race of the Ancient Land!"
This statement drew nods of approval from most of the Demon Kings present.
No one wanted their soul to be collected into an artifact after death and commanded to fight on someone else's behalf. Zhang Ruoxi's Myriad Beast Seal had truly earned the wrath of all.
Fan Wu and the other Saints — Luan Feng and Cang Gou — furrowed their brows. Though they could tell Shi Huo was making trouble out of nothing, his words weren't entirely without merit. From the standpoint of the Ancient Land's Demon Race, they found it hard to argue against him.
It seemed… today's matter was not going to be resolved easily. Shi Huo was dead set on driving Yang Kai into the ground.
Yang Kai had long known that Shi Huo was the type to seek revenge for the slightest grievance, but he hadn't expected the man to be this petty — hounding him relentlessly simply because the Mountain and River Bell had once suppressed him.
Having failed in his ambush to kill Yang Kai, Shi Huo — thick-skinned as he was — couldn't very well attempt a sneak attack a second time. But the appearance of the Myriad Beast Seal had given him a fresh opportunity to stir up trouble.
"What kind of answer do you want?" Yang Kai's eyes went cold. He had already been forced to swallow his pride and endure the humiliation of not retaliating against Shi Huo's ambush — a decision that had been extraordinarily difficult. Otherwise, given his temperament, he would have fought Shi Huo to the death right here and now, even if it meant perishing.
But Ruoxi was here. The Stone Spirit clan was here. And so was the Third…
If he openly clashed with Shi Huo, the worst possible outcome was that everyone would die!
He had been forced to bury that humiliation deep inside his heart…
He never imagined that Shi Huo still wasn't willing to let it go!
Shi Huo snorted: "Those who profane the Demon Race of the Ancient Land shall die!"
"Die!"
"We can't let her go!"
"Kill her!"
Numerous Demon Kings began shouting as well, every one of them bristling with righteous indignation — as though Zhang Ruoxi had committed some crime unforgivable by both gods and men.
Yang Kai's face was still streaked with not-yet-dried blood. His icy gaze swept over those Demon Kings before settling on Fan Wu.
Fan Wu spoke calmly: "This girl was not part of our prior agreement. Since she has committed a taboo… she will remain in the Ancient Land."
Though he disdained Shi Huo's underhandedness, he was ultimately still a Saint of the Ancient Land. Naturally, he wasn't about to chill the hearts of the assembled Demon Kings.
"Heh heh…" Yang Kai suddenly let out a strange, almost unhinged laugh. He regarded the crowd of Demon Kings with open mockery and said in a frigid voice: "Wonderful. Dozens of Emperor Realm cultivators, four Saints, and all of them determined to put a girl barely past twenty to death. The Demon Race of the Ancient Land… this young master has truly learned something today."
The words stung. Several demons immediately flew into a rage and roared: "Watch your mouth, boy!"
Fan Wu and the others wore dark expressions as well. But truth be told, Yang Kai wasn't wrong — so many powerful beings, all insisting on killing a young woman in her early twenties. If word got out, it would be a terrible look.
"Young Master, don't worry about me! Please, don't worry about me!" Ruoxi suddenly dropped to her knees and cried out, her eyes filled with desperate urgency. "You have to go!"
Realizing what had gone wrong, she was overcome with regret, believing she had dragged Yang Kai into this mess. If she hadn't brought out the Myriad Beast Seal earlier, none of this would have happened.
Yang Kai turned to look at her and slowly shook his head.
Ruoxi burst into tears again, sobbing uncontrollably: "Young Master, for Ruoxi to have been raised and cared for by you has been the greatest fortune of Ruoxi's life. Being able to stay by your side all these years — Ruoxi has been so happy. My only regret is that I was never able to help you, and instead held you back at every turn. After Ruoxi is gone, you must take care of yourself, Young Master!"
Yang Kai's face changed drastically. "Ruoxi, what are you going to do?!"
Ruoxi did not answer. Instead, she turned to look at Shi Huo, then at the assembled Demon Kings, and finally settled her gaze on Fan Wu. Her tear-filled eyes suddenly turned utterly cold, and her voice — chilling and resolute — rang out with iron conviction: "Since Ruoxi has committed a taboo of the Ancient Land, then let me pay with my life. I hope this will quell the anger in your hearts, my lords. And after I die, should you still trouble my Young Master… then even if Ruoxi becomes a vengeful ghost, I will never let you go. I will haunt you day and night, and claim your lives with every passing moment!"
The moment these words left her lips, every Demon King's expression shifted. Even Fan Wu and the other Saints were visibly moved.
They could see it clearly now — Zhang Ruoxi meant to trade her own life to protect Yang Kai. That a gentle, delicate young girl could utter such fierce words spoke volumes about the strength of her will and the depth of her hatred.
If someone made such a solemn vow before death and it went unfulfilled, she would truly become a vengeful ghost, haunting them without end.
A chill suddenly rose from the hearts of every Demon King present.
Ruoxi turned her head. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her beautiful eyes once again filled with tenderness and a deep, lingering reluctance to part. She gazed痴痴地 at Yang Kai, her voice breaking with sobs: "Young Master, Ruoxi will serve by your side in the next life!"
With those words, she raised one hand high. Source Power surged through her palm as she slammed it down toward the crown of her own head.
If this blow landed, Ruoxi would be dead for certain.