He crashed heavily to the ground in a wretched heap. Before Yang Kai could even get to his feet, Bei Li Mo had already drifted down from midair to land before him, planting one slender foot on his chest. That delicate jade-like foot was suddenly as heavy as a mountain, pressing down until Yang Kai's chest ached and he couldn't breathe.
Her voluptuous figure leaned slightly forward, revealing a glimpse of snowy cleavage. Bei Li Mo's face was cold as frost, her beautiful eyes boring into Yang Kai. "What did you just call me?"
Yang Kai struggled several times but couldn't move an inch. He opened his mouth, and a golden arrow of blood shot toward Bei Li Mo.
She tilted her head to dodge it, and in a fury raised her foot and stamped down. With a thunderous boom, Yang Kai's entire body was nearly driven into the earth. Several ribs in his chest snapped, and blood gushed from his mouth.
"This is what happens when you can't keep your mouth shut!" Bei Li Mo's face was ice-cold.
"If you've got the guts, then kill me!" Yang Kai stared up at her, his expression wild and defiant.
Bei Li Mo sneered, "Kill you? How could I bear to kill you? I still need to bring you back."
A portion of the Star Boundary's will resided within Yang Kai—whoever killed him would seize that fortune. No matter how furious Bei Li Mo was, she would never actually kill Yang Kai here. She would bring him back and have one of her Half-Saints do the deed.
Any Demon Saint would have done the same.
After speaking, she frowned. "Have you fallen to the Demon?"
When Yang Kai had attacked moments ago, an extraordinarily dense and refined surge of Demon Qi had erupted from within him. Though it lasted only an instant, it was impossible to escape Bei Li Mo's observation. She couldn't help but wonder—Yang Kai didn't seem like someone who had truly fallen to the Demon, so why was there Demon Qi inside him?
"None of your damn business!" Yang Kai clenched his teeth, eyes blazing at her. "You'd best kill me now, because if you don't, I'll find a way to destroy you later!"
Bei Li Mo let out a light, melodic laugh. "Not much strength, but plenty of ambition. I'd love to see how you plan to destroy me! But there is something I want to ask you."
"If you've got something to say, say it. If you've got something to get off your chest, get it off." Yang Kai's face was so cold it could have frozen solid. Even as he spoke, his mind raced, trying to figure out how to escape. He was filled with bitter frustration. He had finally broken through to the Emperor Realm third layer and resolved the hidden danger in his dantian, and before he'd even had a chance to savor the growth in his strength, he had fallen into Bei Li Mo's hands. His luck was truly terrible.
Bei Li Mo seemed to have grown somewhat accustomed to his hostile attitude and didn't take offense. "Boss Huang said earlier that unless you truly become one of our Demon Race, no one will be able to protect you. Tell me honestly—have you fallen to the Demon?"
"So what if I have?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow.
Bei Li Mo studied him carefully, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. She pressed down with her foot. "Use your power again. Let me see."
Yang Kai paused for a moment, then obediently circulated his Demon Essence. Instantly, pitch-black Demon Essence surged across the surface of his body, enveloping him entirely. But he didn't use the opportunity to strike at Bei Li Mo—he knew he was no match for her, and attacking would only humiliate himself further.
"You really have fallen to the Demon..." Bei Li Mo's lips parted slightly, her face filled with surprise. She couldn't understand how, in just a matter of twenty days or so, Yang Kai had transformed like this.
Given the current situation, Yang Kai could already be considered a member of the Demon Race. Though he had been born in the Star Boundary, having fallen to the Demon made him indisputably one of them. Boss Huang's words had turned out to be prophetic.
"I'm actually starting to find it hard to kill you." Bei Li Mo's brows knotted tightly, as though she had encountered a problem of monumental proportions. Setting aside the fact that Boss Huang had spoken first—if she really brought Yang Kai back and had a Half-Saint kill him, it would be tantamount to slapping Boss Huang in the face, and angering that fellow would bring no benefit. And then there was Yang Kai's own ability—within the Demon Domain, he was one of a kind. Killing him would truly be a waste. But if she didn't kill him, Yang Kai couldn't be put to her use. With Yu Rumeng's heart-imprint secret technique constraining him, this brat would forever be loyal to Yu Rumeng alone.
It was giving her a headache.
Hearing her words, Yang Kai felt as though a sliver of light had appeared in the darkness. His eyes darted about, and he said, "Then perhaps we could sit down calmly and have a proper talk."
Bei Li Mo scoffed. "Brat, what scheme are you hatching now? I'm not Yu Rumeng, who can be fooled by your honeyed words. I advise you to put away those little tricks of yours, or you'll suffer for it."
Yang Kai grinned. "How would I dare have any schemes in front of a Saint Venerable?"
Bei Li Mo snorted. "Now you call me Saint Venerable? Why couldn't you speak properly just a moment ago?"
"Times change. Besides, I've cooperated with the Saint Venerable before—we're not strangers. I have some understanding of the Saint Venerable's character."
"Are you trying to say you know me well?" Bei Li Mo smiled with mock derision.
"I wouldn't dare. I only mean that compared to the other Demon Saints, the Saint Venerable is far easier to get along with. If the Saint Venerable is willing, I would be happy to serve under your command."
"And what about Yu Rumeng?" The corner of Bei Li Mo's lips curled upward.