The Demon Lord's Invasion

Chapter 45: Obsession

At the center of the Nebula Sea, a towering, steep peak pierced through the nebula, vanishing into the actual cloud layers, making it even harder to catch a glimpse of its true form. The Nebula Sea revolved around this peak, ceaselessly refining the dense primordial energy of heaven and earth into spiritual energy, nourishing the entire colossal peak as well as the Cloud and Mist Mountains. Upon this colossal peak, a vast cloud hovers year-round, its interior filled with swirling spiritual energy, the songs of birds, and the fragrance of flowers. In the afterglow of the setting sun filtering through the clouds, a complex of jade palaces and crystal towers shone with magnificent grandeur, resembling a celestial realm amidst the clouds. Inside one of these jade palaces, a dark-skinned youth doll giggled in Yu Chang’s arms, only to burst apart moments later, scattering into fragments across the bed. “Have you had enough of this madness?” With a cold snap, a young woman walked in from outside the door. She bore a striking resemblance to Yu Chang, yet her features were more dignified and imposing, and her demeanor was ethereal. Yu Chang paid the woman no mind, however. She cradled the doll’s head against her face, rubbing it gently against her skin. The look of infatuation on her face gradually faded, and finally, with a look of disappointment, she muttered to herself, “It’s still so much better to hold the real person… his face is so soft and smooth… I really want to see him…” The woman’s face darkened, and she said displeasedly, “What do you mean, ‘feels so good’? Look at the things you’re saying. I told you to use your emotions as a path to the Dao, not to be so shameless. Look at the state you’re in—and you even went to see him on your own.” Yu Chang hugged her head, rolled over, and lay across the jade couch, gazing at the woman. “If you like something, you have to get it—isn’t that what Mother taught me?” The woman pressed her hand to her forehead; she simply couldn’t bear to watch any longer. With a reach through the air, she crushed the puppet’s head and said coldly, “Nikuang Mountain has already expelled him. Hurry up and pick someone else from these portraits.” “No way.” Yu Chang shot her mother an elegant roll of the eyes. With a wave of her hand, she drew a newly crafted doll of a pale-faced young man into her palm, tucked it into her bosom, and clamped her legs around it—the creaking sound made one’s teeth ache. “A dark-skinned one would be so much better—dark, petite, just like in the painting. But a fair-skinned one has its own charm too. You know, Mother, he’s got quite the temper…” As she spoke, Yu Chang accidentally applied too much force, and the doll shattered once more, leaving only a head behind. The woman’s face darkened even further, and she said in a deep voice, “I got the sect to agree to let you lead the Ten Elite on a training journey to Spirit Island, but you must choose another one for me.” Yu Chang’s entranced expression froze, and she stared coldly at her mother. “You forced me to love him—telling me how wonderful and extraordinary he was, how his future achievements would be boundless, how he’d never settle for being beneath me, and how I had to train hard to win this wager so he could marry into Xian Zong. Now that I love him and he’s here, you’re telling me to replace him!” Yu Chang raised her head and looked at him, as if seeing a man who had grown fairer and more handsome. She said dreamily, “Why don’t you show your daughter how it’s done, Mother? Just replace Father. He’s actually quite pitiful now that he’s met you.” “Don’t talk nonsense,” the woman snapped coldly, flinging her sleeve as she strode toward the door. “If you won’t swap him out, you’ll stay here and cultivate—you’re not going anywhere.” Seeing the woman about to leave, Yu Chang sneered, “If I don’t go, I’ll just marry into Nikuang Mountain.” “You!” The woman turned to glare at Yu Chang, but Yu Chang refused to back down. “The Xuantian Stone can indeed record a cultivator’s current cultivation level and combat techniques, but what if I don’t go all out?” The woman turned to look at Yu Chang. “How could I have given birth to a daughter like you?” To be honest, he couldn’t run nearly as fast as her. Gao Heng stood atop a gigantic, multicolored sword, circling Jiang Tang several times as she sneered, “Hurry up, Junior Brother Jiang. At your current pace, it’ll take you more than a year just to reach the Wuyuan Sea.” “I don’t have the money. If I did, I’d get a Fifth-Grade Wind-Riding Technique or buy a flying magical artifact—I’d have been way ahead of you by now,” Jiang Tang said gloomily. “No money?” Gao Heng frowned. Jiang Tang certainly couldn’t explain that he was supporting a spendthrift, could he? Of the four thousand crystals he’d won in the Grand Competition, Jiang Tang had already blown through three hundred! “Come on up,” Gao Heng said suddenly. “Up?” Just as Jiang Tang was about to ask, he saw Gao Heng tap the Five-Light Giant Sword with her toe. Jiang Tang watched the small group ahead, already flying far away. After a moment’s thought, he nodded and said, “Thank you.” As he flew onto Gao Heng’s light sword, Jiang Tang saw her wave her hand. A swath of five-colored radiance enveloped the two of them; the sound of the wind outside vanished instantly, and the scenery around them blurred. The light sword carried them both through the air, and in the blink of an eye, they caught up to the nine people ahead. Just then, Yu Chang, who was floating in midair, glanced back at the two of them before turning her head away with an expressionless face. For some reason, Gao Heng felt a chill run through her, causing her to shiver involuntarily. “Why are you shivering?” Jiang Tang, who was shorter than Gao Heng, could see only her broad shoulders, which looked like a clothes hanger. Since he hadn’t projected his spiritual sense outward, he naturally had no idea what had happened. Gao Heng didn’t answer; she simply slowed her pace and followed at a steady, unhurried pace. But the group ahead was picking up speed, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for Gao Heng to keep up. It wasn’t just her—apart from one female disciple, the other seven ahead were also drenched in sweat, and their spiritual energy was beginning to waver. “Little Great-Uncle,” a female disciple up ahead couldn’t help but say, “Slow down!” Yu Chang paid no heed, however. Her figure, gliding as if walking on air, grew ever more distant, leaving the disciples so frantic that they had to muster every ounce of strength to keep up at full speed. Finally, after leaving Cloud and Mist Mountain, Yu Chang drifted down onto a deserted island. She turned to look at the disciples, who were panting heavily, furrowed her dark brows, and suddenly pointed at Gao Heng, who had fallen behind. Gao Heng froze, not understanding what this meant. “Come here.” Hearing Yu Chang say this, Gao Heng stared blankly as she pointed at herself. Yu Chang shook her head and pointed again; only then did Gao Heng realize it wasn’t her, but Jiang Tang standing behind her. “I’m not going,” Jiang Tang exclaimed, which was completely out of character for him. Yu Chang’s expression turned cold, instantly causing the other eight disciples to turn pale with fear. They hurriedly said, “Junior Brother Jiang, hurry up and go—our Great-Great-Aunt is about to give you some guidance.” “That’s right, Junior Brother Jiang—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” “You guys don’t know a damn thing!” Jiang Tang cursed inwardly. He finally got it—this girl was definitely upset that he’d taken Gao Heng’s place on the sword! At first, Jiang Tang had been skeptical of Senior Sister Ji’s words, but after returning and asking Qiong Sang, he learned an even more terrifying truth! Yu Chang was truly insane! The women of their lineage all entered the Way through love. There had been many instances where sisters fought to the death over a man—a battle to the death. If they treated their own sisters this way, imagine how they’d treat the men they loved! Once a man catches her eye, he has no choice but to accept his fate. Even fleeing to the ends of the earth is useless—unless you kill her. But they’re incredibly powerful; the more they can’t have you, the deeper their obsession becomes, and the faster they cultivate! When they can’t defeat you, they’ll never engage you. Once their cultivation far surpasses yours, what choice do you have but to accept your fate? But don’t think that once she has you, her cultivation will slow down, allowing you to catch up to her, control her, or even break free from her. Countless men have tried this, yet Qiong Sang says that in tens of thousands of years, not a single man has ever succeeded in breaking free! Because their demands are insatiable—they not only want the man, but also his heart and everything he possesses. And, as if to add insult to injury, the men they choose are precisely those who cannot be controlled! Every single one of these men is a prodigy—a master of his own destiny, not at the mercy of the heavens. How could they possibly deign to submit to a woman? Yet the more you resist in your heart, and the more frantically you train to break free, the more you’ll ultimately discover that she still towers above you! Among all the laws of the world, the Dao knows no bounds; the origin of everything lies in obsession. If Dongfang had no obsession, his soul would have long since dissipated; and if Jiang Tang had no obsession while on Nikuang Mountain, he could never have fought so fiercely. Likewise, Yu Chang also has an obsession—and that is to claim everything that belongs to Jiang Tang! To dare to get involved with another woman in front of her—and even take Gao Heng’s sword—it would be a miracle if Yu Chang could accept it. Yet, surprisingly, Yu Chang did not fly into a rage. Her self-control was remarkable; she merely gave Jiang Tang a piercing look, then lightly tapped her storage pouch. Instantly, a streak of light shot out, growing longer as it flew through the wind, and in the blink of an eye, a spirit boat landed on the seashore. “A magical artifact!” the disciples exclaimed in surprise. The spirit boat had neither sails nor oars; shaped like a painted pleasure boat, its entire body shimmered with radiant light, and both its interior and exterior were extraordinarily magnificent. “Little Great-Uncle, can we go on board?” two female disciples asked excitedly. “Mm-hmm.” At Yu Chang’s nod, the two female disciples immediately flew onto the spirit boat with excitement, followed closely by the other six male disciples. Finally, Gao Heng, having clearly sensed something, glanced at the way Yu Chang was staring at Jiang Tang, then deliberately avoided him as she flew into the spirit boat. Jiang Tang didn’t dare linger; he took a single bound and rushed onto the boat. However, the moment he stepped onto the painted barge, his vision blurred. By the time he could see clearly again, he was astonished to discover that he was already on the second deck of the barge. The spirit boat cut through the waves like a arrow, speeding across the sea. On the first deck, the nine disciples all wore strange expressions, occasionally glancing upward at the ceiling in a daze. They dared not discuss anything; even when communicating via sound transmission, they spoke only of trivial matters. Even a fool could tell that Junior Great-Grandmaster Yu Chang felt something special toward Junior Brother Jiang! If even Ji Yukui knew about it, how could they have heard nothing? “Junior Sister Gao, you’d better stay away from him in the future!” The female disciple who spoke was Yu Xinian from Qingling Cave, also the top-ranked young disciple in teleportation techniques among this cohort.