Late Night Tales Of The Capital

13th year of Shenwu.

Spring rain fell on both banks of Luo River and the capital saw peonies blossoming overnight.

The evening was about to arrive. The sunset in the twilight combined with the sunset glow outlined Luoyang City in a myriad of colors. Boats cruised along the streams and rivers as singing filled the whole place.

Lights began to illuminate both sides of the river amid the backdrop of a darkening sky. During this season, the capital wouldn't close their gates before 11:45 p.m. The people thronging the bustling night market wouldn't disperse until late at night. It was currently the hour just after dinner. Most people poured out of their homes and headed for the night market, brothels, restaurants, and lavishly-decorated ships on the riverside.

The roadside was lined with lanterns and the riverside was lit by unextinguished fire lights. Vendors shouted as the street performers put on lion dances and beat their gongs. Wispy sounds of obscene noises drifted from the prostitutes' rooms in the brothels.

Inside a shabby sedan chair made for two, Ye Que looking at the scene around him while touching his young, tender arm. In his dazed eyes were traces of shock and in his puzzlement was a hint of disbelief.

"Since when did I become a teenager?"

"Is this the Human World?"

"Is it Luoyang I'm stepping on?"

The night descended, bringing the excitement in Luoyang City to its peak. Some young master set off fireworks out of boredom, perhaps to elicit a smile out of a beautiful woman. The large canopy of brilliant, flickering flames covered the sky. Ye Que raised his head to look at the sky, where the bright moon had quietly appeared amidst the clouds.

"Everything is peaceful."

"I can't detect even the slightest hint of Demonic Qi."

"Has the demon already left the Human World?"

The capital Luoyang was crisscrossed with lanes extending in all directions, where magnificent carriages and precious horses flowed endlessly. Princes, ministers, nobles, and rich merchants had their respective luxurious mansions. There were galloping jade chariots with continuous use of golden whips, as well as imperial canopies with tassels in the mouths of embroidered phoenixes.

"Childe, we've arrived at the General's Manor," a dull male voice drifted from the front of the sedan chair.

"The General's Manor!" There was finally a dramatic shift in Ye Que's expression. Moreover, he was able to confirm something, something unimaginable.

Perhaps he had truly returned to his teenage years, back to one hundred years ago.

It was like a dream.

Moments ago, he was still fighting a hundred thousands of demons in the Celestial World but he had now returned to Luoyang of one hundred years ago.

Standing in front of the gates of Luoyang, and now in front of the main entrance of the General's Manor, Ye Que was deeply touched.

Ye Que, nicknamed Demon-slaughtering Asura, was an exceptional genius of the Qingqiu Sword Sect who ascended the Celestial World in the 43rd year of Shenwu. He was invincible for decades in the three realms, triumphing in every battle. Back when the army of hundred thousand demons ambushed the three realms, Ye Que and his sword alone killed 3,006 demons. The incident made him the idol of the younger generation in the Celestial World.

No one could have imagined such a hero would suffer such a great humiliation in the General's Manor in Luoyang. The reason was that he was an illegitimate child and some people suspected he was here to scramble for power and profit.

The truth was Ye Que had lived in the countryside with his mother since he was a child. Before his mother died, she expressed her hope that he would return to the General's Manor to return to his ancestral roots. Ye Que had come to Luoyang alone to fulfill his mother's wishes.

Standing in front of this aristocratic General's Manor, Ye Que hesitated as to whether he should enter. When he first came here, he had found everything around him to be spectacular: the pavilions, lush trees, safflowers, maids and servants, as well as the armored guards everywhere. Back then, he felt inferior and a little afraid. However, his main emotion was joy because he thought this place would be his home from now on. He believed he would also have a father and would have the opportunity to become a general with outstanding military achievements in the future.

The penniless Ye Que hired a sedan chair after arriving in Luoyang, thinking he should appear as presentable as possible. He even boasted to the sedan bearers that he was a childe of the General's Manor.

Imagination was beautiful but the reality was terrible. This place didn't welcome him at all.

"You dare to claim your ancestral roots when you're an illegitimate child?"

"Keep dreaming!"

Looking back now, it was indeed laughable. Both he and everyone else had simply viewed the sky from the bottom of a well.

"Tread, tread, tread!"

There was a rapid sound of horse hooves as a herd of armored horses galloped around the corner. The leader was a young master with beautiful eyes and sharp eyebrows riding a big horse. Behind him were seven to eight heavily-armed cavalries.

The man lifted the rein, stopped the horse, and dismounted.

In addition to the young master leading the group, the rest of the cavalries moved in impressive uniformity. Ye Que could tell they were definitely not ordinary soldiers that guarded the city walls. These were calvaries who had stormed battlefields and tasted blood.

"Whose sedan chair is this? Why is it blocking the entrance of our General's Manor?" The young master waved his golden whip and encircled the sedan chair Ye Que hired. In his opinion, it was impossible for a shabby sedan chair like this to belong to a guest who had the right to enter the General's Manor.

Still immersed in his memories, Ye Que didn't speak. He had just returned to his youth and he was still integrating his memories with his surroundings. He was in a complete daze.

He might not be speaking but the sedan chair bearers who were waiting to collect their fee dared not to linger around. This was the General's Manor. They were terrified just looking at the swords hanging at the waist of the soldiers. If they made even the slightest mistake, they might end up dying without even collecting his fee.

"Sir Officer, it was the young master in front who hired this sedan chair. He said he came to the General's Manor to return to his ancestral roots. I'm a poor sedan chair bearer who exchange my labor for a meal. I wouldn't dare to block the entrance of the General's Manor for no reason," the sedan chair bearers said with a bitter face.

"Return to his ancestral roots? Who is he? On what grounds is he returning to his ancestral roots?" The young master riding the tall horse raised his voice by one decibel after listening to this explanation.

"He said his father is General Ye." The bearer looked like he was close to tears. He knew his words were ridiculous but he didn't dare to lie. He could only tell the truth. His heart was nearly bursting with his resentment for Ye Que.

"His father is General Ye? If his father is General Ye, what does that make me? Everyone in Luoyang knows that there's only one young master in the General's Manor."

"That person is me, Ye Yunhai."

Ye Yunhai tugged on the reins and arrived in front of Ye Que in a few steps. With the horse's head squarely opposite Ye Que's face, he looked down at Ye Que with a ferocious look. "Kid, it's the first time in Luoyang that someone's trying to scam the General's Manor. Speak. Who gave you such great courage to pretend to be me?"

The two sounds of severe scolding caused Ye Que to recover his senses. He slowly raised his head to look at Ye Yunhai. His gaze then shifted to the soldiers nearby who had unveiled their weapons. Finally, he turned his head and glanced at the shaking legs of the bearers. With a calm expression and tranquil eyes, Ye Que said, "I'm Ye Que. I'm from River Village in Weicheng. It's true that I came to the General's Manor in Luoyang to return to my ancestral roots. It was my mother's dying wish and I dare not disobey her. What I said to the bearers isn't a lie."

Ye Que reached into his bosom and took out a jade pendant. "This is a token that my mother gave me. I believe it can prove my identity."

In Ye Que's previous life, he hadn't hesitated after arriving at the General's Manor. Thus, the one he met hadn't been Ye Yunhai but the second lady of the manor. He had been promptly thrown out of the manor. To his current self, the small General's Manor was too insignificant to even enter his mind. However, this was his mother's dying wish after all and he would say whatever necessary. It didn't matter whether he was speaking to the madam of the manor or the young master.

To the current Ye Que, it wasn't at all important whether he could return to his ancestral roots. The cultivation journey was extensive, profound, boundless, and unpredictable. How could the vulgarities of the Human World compare?

"Weicheng, River Village, Tang Wanru?" Ye Yunhai seemed to have recalled something and his expression became a little solemn. However, the corners of his mouth were lifted to form a mocking smile as if he was both ridiculing and despising Ye Que. "You're the bastard who was driven out of the General's Manor back then?"

Ye Yunhai snorted as he raised his head haughtily.

"To think that the evil seed of a slave still has the face to return to his ancestral roots."

"Who sent you here?"

"What's your purpose to come back at this time?"

Ye Yunhai couldn't be blamed for his line of thinking. General Ye Zhengru had fallen gravely ill after this year's Spring Festival and had been bedridden for three months. Ye Que's return at this time definitely courted suspicions. Even an illegitimate son was a son. Who could guarantee that General Ye wouldn't think of his affection back then when he was at the end of his life? People tend to act out of character whenever they were about to die. Ye Yunhai would inherit the entirety of the massive family business if not for Ye Que. Naturally, anyone in his position would be nervous over the possibility of half of the fortune going to a son who had popped out of thin air.

"I have no purpose but to fulfill an elder's wish."

After a pause, Ye Que continued, "Since you're the young master of the General's Manor, you should be careful with your manner of speaking. To insult me is to insult yourself."

"I'm older than you. From the strict point of view of Father's generation, I should be calling you Younger Brother. Since you're still young, I won't lower myself to your level and ignore your words earlier."

When Ye Que spoke, his posture and facial expression were all of a young master's. He didn't look inferior even though he was dressed simply and was shorter by half than Ye Yunhai, who was riding a horse.

Ye Yunhai stared at Ye Que, nearly bursting into laughter. He was bemused that a poor boy from the countryside would unexpectedly want to be his older brother. This boy's intention was as clear as day. However, he was simply an evil seed born out of an intoxicated night who had no foundation whatsoever in the family. It was ridiculous to think that this boy would try to gain half the family fortune with a shabby jade pendant.

"Kid, what qualifications do you have not to lower yourself to my level? Do you have any sense? Have you ever been to the Golden Palace of Violet Nets? Do you know what the names of the sixteen prefectures and nine towns of the capital are? Do you know how many tribes there are in Great Yan or how many sects there are in Qingqiu? Do you know how tall Mount Shu is or how many floors there are in the Demon Imprisonment Tower?" Ye Yunhai's mocking expression gradually turned vicious and domineering. It was as if he was heaven looking down upon an ant.

"Look carefully. This is Luoyang, the capital Luoyang. In front of you is General Ye's Manor and I'm the only young master and heir here. Put away the jade pendant in your hands and forget the delusion of returning to your ancestral roots. Return to the countryside and be your poor young master. I can pretend as if nothing has happened today."

Ye Yunhai leaned close to Ye Que as he spoke. Finally, he whispered, "Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless. It's not easy to make someone disappear for no reason in Luoyang but it's not difficult either."

"Since you're clever, I believe you'll make a wise choice."

"Stop using the name Ye Que in the future."

"You don't deserve to use the surname Ye."

This was blatant humiliation. Ye Que didn't think he would once again suffer humiliation in the General's Manor after meeting the second lady in his previous life, but here he was again. This time, it was even worse. This time, he didn't even step beyond the entrance of the General's Manor. It was as if everything was predestined.

It was quiet all around.

It was as if there was a storm brewing.

Ye Yunhai was prepared. The moment Ye Que made the slightest movement, the soldiers behind him would be able to subdue him in an instant. What awaited him would be an endless prison career.

However, what happened next was out of everyone's expectations.

Ye Que wasn't angered. Neither did he try to argue or curse Ye Yunhai. He calmly bent down to arrange his luggage before paying the bearers who were standing in a corner. He then left the place without even looking back, leaving behind only one sentence.

"It's my parents who gave me my name. It's not something you can take away as you wish. You don't have the right."

After leaving the General's Manor, Ye Que walked aimlessly on the streets of Luoyang City.

It wasn't that he didn't want to teach Ye Yunhai a lesson earlier. However, he had returned to his youth. Though he didn't lose his memories, all of his magic powers, supernatural abilities, precious treasures, and weapons had disappeared without a trace. His body was now the body of his teenage self, so weak that he didn't have the strength to truss a chicken. Never mind Ye Yunhai's soldiers behind him, even the two sedan chair bearers could suppress him.

Even though he had lost the divine power he had accumulated over a hundred years, Ye Que wasn't dejected. He could slowly cultivate all things as long as he maintained his state of mind. Moreover, he had risen from the lowest level when he was in Qingqiu Sword Sect using the most rudimentary cultivation techniques. His foundation wasn't solid back then. Were it not for his talent and constant fortuitous encounters, he might not be able to obtain his subsequent achievements.

Well, he would have to start from scratch now and take one step at a time.

Ye Que was confident he would experience a different kind of journey on his second road to immortality.

Whether one was cultivating to be a Perfected Immortal, Immortal, Demon, or Devil across the three worlds, the realms were strictly divided into seven realms and forty-nine stars.

The first was Psychic Realm, the second level was Glorious Star Realm, the third level was Non-materialization Realm, the fourth level was Dawn of Heaven Realm, the fifth level was Void Metamorphosis Realm, the sixth level was Immortality Realm, the seventh level was Supreme Sage Realm. Each level was further divided into seven stars.

Those in the Psychic Realm were called martial artists. They were further divided into nine ranks.

Those above the Supreme Sage Realm were called deities. The realm of deities was unspeakable.

In the current Human World, 99% of the cultivators were cultivating the Truth. Only a select few who had experienced fortuitous encounters were able to cultivate to be an Immortal. Those who cultivate the Truth were cultivating True Energy while those who cultivate Immortality were cultivating Divine Energy. Under the True Energy was the Internal Force, the foundation of cultivating martial arts. Above the Divine Energy was the Celestial Force. This force seemed to exist only in the legends.

Truth cultivation was divided into the Pre-heaven Realm and Post-heaven Realm. Once one broke through the peak of the Post-heaven Realm, he could enter the Psychic Realm. Meanwhile, the cultivation of martial artists was even slower. In terms of realms alone, a first-rate martial artist at the peak of his level had barely reached the doorstep of Pre-heaven Realm.

By the time Ye Que dominated the Celestial World a hundred years later, his cultivation had reached the peak of the Void Metamorphosis Realm and he was about to enter the Immortality Realm. He could be considered one of the top cultivators in the three worlds. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been praised as the future of the Celestial World and the genius with the most potential to enter the Supreme Sage Realm.

General Ye's Manor was located on Yong'an Street. If one walked west along the street, one would cross the Bridge of Long Life over Luo River. The Bridge of Long Life was like a boundary, separating the east bank where high officials and noble persons mostly inhabited. Meanwhile, civilians, merchants, peddlers, carriers, as well as a large number of brothels, casinos, and wine shops occupied the west bank.

Hundreds of sky lanterns rose from the west of the Bridge of Long Life, forming a long yellow river in the air. In the night market, dancing lions and dragons became a string of unextinguishable flames. The crowd frolicked and revelled. Luoyang City had become a sea of joy.

Ye Que walked across the Bridge of Long Life and stopped in front of a tavern called Peony Pavilion. "Waiter, a pot of apricot blossom wine and two taels of spiced beef."

"Of course."

"One pot of apricot blossom wine and two taels of spiced beef."

"Please be seated."

Before Ye Que entered the tavern, he heard the waiter's answer coming from the inside. The food and drink were ready within minutes. The Peony Pavilion had three floors. The lobby on the ground floor accommodated eating and drinking guests, while the hotel on the first and second floors accommodated overnight guests. From their decorations, he assumed the rooms would be rather pricey.

Of course, Ye Que didn't care about these worldly things now. Money wasn't essential for cultivation and they couldn't pay for real treasures. However, his body was still the body of a child. Eating and sleeping were unavoidable. If he became hungry or drowsy, he would still be dizzy.

He had no idea how to calculate the price to spend a night here. Believing he would be able to start cultivating after tonight, he had already considered how to start his own path of cultivating to be an Immortal. For an Immortal cultivator, money was basically something at his fingertips.

He had seen bankrupt merchants jumping off buildings but had never heard of Immortals starved to death for lack of money.

Besides, he estimated the Demon World should have begun invading the Human World.

Demon slayer would eventually be the most popular occupation.

To Ye Que, becoming a demon slayer was most suitable.

In his previous life, Ye Que chose to leave Luoyang City and walked all the way south after experiencing humiliation at the General's Manor. He met the disciples of Qingqiu Sword Sect who had come out for experience en route and barely left the sect in the next thirty years. The only thing he knew to do was cultivating behind closed doors. Even though his cultivation improved rapidly, he also lacked the experience of entering other worlds and his mental state was imperfect. This time, Ye Que wasn't prepared to take his previous path. What he could learn in Qingqiu was long engraved in his heart. He didn't need his Master to take him into the sect either. It suited him fine that he could get a good experience in the world of mortals.

"The east wind at night calls to bloom blossoms of a thousand trees; as if the drifting stars were like the drizzling rain. Precious horses and lavish carriages leave behind a scented trail. The tunes of phoenix flute resound as the timekeeper witnesses the turning of hours throughout the night; the fish and dragons dance all through the night..."

With a bard's crooning and zither tunes in the background, Ye Que drank two cups of apricot blossom wine and ate three pieces of spiced beef. Then he waved to the waiter. "I want a room."

When Ye Que disappeared up the staircase between the ground floor and first floor, a green-clothed page hidden in an inconspicuous shadow near the door of the Peony Pavilion moved. He returned to the east the Bridge of Long Life along the same path Ye Que had come in and finally entered the cold, detached General's Manor.

In the General's Manor.

Ye Yunhai sat on a gold-rimmed bench carved out of the Phoebe Zhennan tree in the reception room with his legs crossed. Standing opposite him was a woman in a silk gown. It was the Second Madam of the General's Manor and Ye Yunhai's biological mother, Xiao Huating. Not far from them was the green-clothed page kneeling on the floor.

"Reporting to Young Master: The youngster named Ye Que walked east along Yong'an Street after leaving the General's Manor. Just now, he had just stayed in the Peony Pavilion. During that time, he didn't enter other places or have close contact with anyone," the green-clothed page said. His train of thought was exceptionally clear.

"Looks like this person doesn't wish to leave Luoyang City easily." Ye Yunhai knocked on the arm of the bench.

"There must be something strange when things go wrong. His timing is suspect, only coming after the old man is about to die. Do you think this is possibly a coincidence?" Xiao Huating said placidly. "He took out a jade pendant wanting to return to his ancestral roots as soon as he met us. Who would dare to do something like that? Did he think it's that easy to enter the main doors of the General's Manor?"

"Xiaohai, you should consider the cause and effect when things happen. Don't let emotions affect your judgment," Xiao Huating continued. "If Mother is gone, you'll have to support the entire General's Manor. You must learn to grow up. You can't rely on others for everything or you'll suffer serious setbacks."

"I heard you, Mom!" Ye Yunhai raised his voice ever so slightly.

Ye Yunhai immediately put down his leg and asked anxiously, "Mother, do you think someone is backing up this Ye Que?"

"Whether or not someone's backing him up, everything must be settled. We can let it slide if Ye Que leaves Luoyang tonight but if he stays behind, he'll forever be a concealed danger to us," Xiao Huating replied coolly.

"Then should we strike first and gain the upper hand?" Ye Yunhai tried to sound out his mother's intentions.

"Spring rain has been frequent in the capital these days, turning Luo River fast-flowing. A person who walks by the bank will inevitably slip into the waters," Xiao Huating said neutrally and narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.

Ye Yunhai's mouth formed a vicious smile. There wasn't a need to make things plainly clear with words. The hint was all he needed.

"By the way, I'll decide on your marriage in these few days. The only daughter of the Heights Lord of the Extinction Sword Heights, Lin Mei'er, is said to have incredible beauty on tops of excellent martial arts. She's worthy of you, Xiao Hai. I'll arrange for you two to meet tomorrow," Xiao Huating added, speaking as if she had just recalled the matter.

"Marriage? Lin Mei'er!" Ye Yunhai jumped up from the bench in surprise. "You've decided on the marriage when I don't even know what this person looks like?"

"I disagree! I absolutely disagree! I want to decide on my own marriage!"

"Lin Mei'er's father has just broken through the Pre-heaven Realm a month ago," Xiao Huating abruptly said.

Pre-heaven Realm!

The next realm would be Post-heaven Realm, and then realm after would be the Psychic Realm.

Regardless of whether Lin Mei'er's father was in the Post-heaven Realm or Psychic Realm, Ye Que had reached the top floor of the Peony Pavilion. He was ready to start cultivating.

Ye Que's chosen path wasn't an ordinary cultivation path. Most people would need to find a place where the Spiritual Force was concentrated in order to get twice the result with half the effort but not him. He also wasn't setting out using the cultivation technique of the Qingqiu Sword Sect as it was nevertheless the cultivation technique of the Human World. Since his ultimate goal was Immortality, he must form a solid foundation. In his previous life, he found a secret land of death at the junction of the three worlds and accidentally acquired the Treasure of Living Beings. Recorded inside was half the contents of the Divine Book.

Based on the Divine Book, the cultivation method he was using was born at the same time as the three worlds. Cultivating using the Divine Book could lead him down any path. It enveloped all energies, including the Spiritual Force of the Human World, the Immortal Qi of the Celestial World, Demonic Qi of the Demon World, even the Devil Qi and the boundless Astral Force in the night sky. It was basically open to the absorption of all energies and forces for its own use.

When cultivating using the Divine Book, one would begin with the primary chapter and immediately begin with Divine Energy. This was the most domineering cultivation technique Ye Que had ever seen. Were it not because Ye Que was close to the Immortality Realm at that time and because one would have to abolish his previous cultivation to cultivate the Divine Book, he would surely fail to resist the temptation.

Now, Ye Que was back in his teens and he had to start from scratch. The Divine Book was just right.

Sitting on the top of the Peony Pavilion, Ye Que calmed down and recalled the information in the one-half segment of the Divine Book.

"The gate to the enlightenment of the three worlds begin in heaven."

The words on the first page of the primary chapter of the Divine Book abruptly appeared in Ye Que's mind.

Most cultivation techniques today emphasized the defiance of the natural order and practices that contradicted nature. The outcome was the method to oppose heaven and earth. However, the Divine Book did the exact opposite. Right from the get-go, the book helped the reader analyze the structure of the whole heaven and earth. It emphasized learning about heaven, understanding heaven, and finally, winning over heaven. Since the Divine Book was born at the same time as heaven and earth, it naturally understood heaven and earth best.

Moreover, the Divine Book wasn't merely about refining Qi but also strengthening one's physique. Without a strong body, how could one know heaven and earth, come close to heaven and earth, and finally prevail over heaven and earth?

The merriment continued in Luoyang while the air around the roof of the Peony Pavilion seemed to have frozen in an instant. A transparent ripple began to slowly form around Ye Que. First, the Spiritual Force in the air poured into his body from all directions. Then, the Luck of the Imperial City turned into an illusory dragon dancing atop his head. Soon after, the stars in the night sky abruptly brightened and the full moon even started emitting a silvery fluorescence.

It was as if the entire heaven and earth had begun assisting Ye Que from the moment he started cultivating using the Divine Book. The milky-white Spiritual Force, the pale yellow Luck of the imperial family, and the silver Astral Force hovered and fluttered in a circle around him. Incredibly, the stars in the night sky also began moving. The seven brightest stars converged with the full moon in a very short period of time. The string of stars illuminated the top of Ye Que's head.

It was such a strange phenomenon, yet the people seemed to have not detected it at all and continued their business.

Right then.

Heaven and earth had opened a back door for Ye Que.

The sun rose and set with the turn of the Big Dipper.

Ye Que cultivated without moving on top of the Peony Pavilion for twenty-four hours.

Integrating with heaven and earth, he learned about heaven and earth as well as himself and the law of life. No one disturbed him.

The golden sunset glow enveloped Luoyang and cast its radiance on Ye Que's face. When the sun disappeared into the mountains, Ye Que opened his eyes. The air around him froze in that split second before fiercely disintegrating. The rapidly spinning Spiritual Force, Imperial Qi, and Astral Force dissipated in the air. Ye Que's silhouette slowly became clear, only this time his skin was clearer and his eyes were brighter. Even the curves of his body seemed to be imbued with a natural explosive force.

The mountains were still the same mountains, water was still the same water, and heaven and earth were still the same heaven and earth.

However, everything had changed to Ye Que.

"This Divine Book undoubtedly deserves its title as a treasure that was born alongside heaven and earth, to be able to send me straight into the Pre-heaven Realm on the first day I'm cultivating. I've even surpassed the threshold of being a martial artist. This is at least a hundredfold faster than the cultivation technique of Qingqiu Sword Sect. Back when I first cultivated the Qingqiu Sword Art, I spent a whopping hundred days to enter the Pre-heaven Realm. If I improve at this current speed, I'll be able to enter the Psychic Realm in three months at most." Ye Que was pleased to know he would be truly stepping on the road to immortality after entering the Psychic Realm. Everything had gone much smoother than he had imagined.

He stood up, closed his eyes, and carefully examined his internal state.

"What is this?"

"I didn't see wrongly, did I?"

"Primordial Heaven Realm!"

When he saw the fine gold thread on the snowy mountain in his heart, he couldn't help exclaiming aloud regardless of how calm he was. In fact, it was no wonder he was so surprised. One could only condense the Primordial Heaven Energy in the Celestial World. It would only appear after one passed the Heaven-bridging Path and had the Immortal Qi of the Celestial World purify one's body.

In the Human World, if the conversion of the Spiritual Force into the True Energy was considered electrical power, then the conversion of Divine Energy would be akin to nuclear power.

One could imagine just how great the gap between electricity and nuclear power was.

Even though there was only a tiny wisp of the Divine Energy, many little things would add up to something great. He would eventually achieve the Milky Way.

Clenching his fists, he suddenly exerted his strength. Suddenly, he heard a series of crackling sounds coming from all over his body. "It's such a feeling to have power!"

If the present Ye Que was placed in front of the General's Manor yesterday, he would surely react differently to Ye Yunhai's threat and provocation. He would now make easy work out of those tall and big soldiers, even if they had been to the battlefield and had tasted blood. Strictly speaking, he had just entered the Pre-heaven Realm. However, one mustn't forget that Ye Yue wasn't a newbie whose cultivation soared overnight. He was the Demon-slaughtering Asura whose combat experience was madly off the charts.

Perhaps due to the fact that Ye Que comprehended heaven and earth in Luoyang City, it was yet another full moon night after sunset descended. Stars twinkled all over the cloudless night sky.

Instead of going to the lobby on the ground floor, Ye Que asked the waiter to send his meal to his room. On the one hand, he needed to stabilize his state and mull over the mnemonic chant of the Divine Book. On the other hand, he was also sorting out the large collection of fighting skills in his mind. Some of the sword arts, spirit-summoning techniques, formations, and the like were suitable for his use at his present stage while others weren't. This was the process of selecting the essence of the matter to master the subject.

Ye Que knew better than anyone what the world was like.

The law of the jungle was that the weak were prey to the strong.

The one with the stronger fist would survive.

The resources of the three worlds were limited and everyone, regardless of human or demons, wanted the best. That was why humans would advocate slaying demons in the name of justice. However, if demons were slaughtered to the point of oppression, the Demon World would be cut off from its roots and would experience the danger of genocide. Even a panicked dog would jump over the wall, never mind demons.

"Invade the Human World, save our people, and recapture the homeland of demons." This had become the slogan of the Demon World that all the demons responded to. If he remembered correctly, the first batch of demons had arrived in the Human World when Ye Que left Luoyang to enter the Qingqiu Sword Sect in his previous life. After a careful calculation of the timing, he determined it would be these few days.

After a simple meal, Ye Que sat cross-legged on the bed and continued to cultivate. The strange phenomenon last night didn't appear again. He assumed it was the reward for comprehending the Divine Book for the first time. It was reasonable as well. If it was so powerful every step of the way, the Divine Book would become too great an existence to stay in the three worlds.

It was getting dark. More and more diners filled the lobby of the Peony Pavilion. The 19 tables on the ground floor were occupied. In the innermost corner, one man and one woman occupied a table meant for eight. The table was covered in all sorts of exotic delicacies.

The man wore a silk gown, with a jade pendant and spice sachet tied at his waist. In his hand was a folding fan painted with green bamboo stalks and plum blossoms. The woman had an enchanting figure. On her oval face were red lips, white teeth, a tall nose, sculpted eyebrows that were vaguely knitted, as well as phoenix eyes that looked vaguely annoyed. She was a beautiful woman with a full face. Both of them could be called a beautiful pair. However, upon careful observation, one could see that the woman's beauty was haunting. Unexpectedly, she was able to coquettishly provoke the man seven times in the time it took to finish two cups of wine.

They didn't touch the dishes much even after 15 minutes later. The two pots of West Phoenix wine all entered the man's mouth.

The man drew close to the woman's ear and exhaled. "Miss Lin, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand pounds of gold. Let's not waste our time," he whispered.

"Young Master Qian, you must think it over. There are some things you must take responsibility for." The woman reached out her slender finger and tapped the man on the forehead.

"I won't disappoint your expectations."

The man surnamed Qian narrowed his eyes as he replied in a solemn manner. He abruptly stood up, grabbed the woman's waist, and walked up to the first floor. "Waiter, give me the VIP room. Lead the way and put the drinks and food on my bill."

The short wooden stairs took them no more than a dozen steps and several minutes. The man's hand constantly wandered on the woman's body while the woman's beautiful eyes never once left the man as she leaned on his shoulder amorously. The sight of them both invoked lustful feelings in the diners below. To their surprise, Qian Shuxiao shook his head and recited poetry as he walked. "May I ask the pipe is played amid the purple smoke? I once learned to dance in my most beautiful years. Why do you hope to die when you have succeeded in your goal? I'd rather be a pair of mandarin ducks than an immortal."

"There Qian Shuxiao that perverted swine goes, ruining yet another an innocent woman."

"He's clearly a hooligan."

"Well, he's filthy rich. Where would he find the guts to call himself one of the four young masters of Luoyang otherwise?"

"The woman earlier looks really familiar."

"I heard she has just arrived in Luoyang today to visit her relatives."

"Sigh! Public morals are declining with each passing day!"

When the diners gathered, what they coveted wasn't wine but gossip. Qian Shuxiao's behavior was precisely what they wanted and in a flash, he became their object of discussion.

Qian Shuxiao was born in the Qian family of Luoyang. His family had been engaged in trade, shipping, medicine, tea, silk, weapons, and the like for generations. They were involved in basically any business that would make them money. It was said their golds and silvers were so numerous they could be piled to form mountains. While they were far from having wealth that equal the royal coffers, they were still rich enough to rival a city's coffers. Qian Shuxiao was the only son of this generation of the Qian family. It was apparent a noble son born with a silver spoon in his mouth was free to do whatever he wanted in Luoyang. He could basically dominate Luoyang as long as he didn't provoke the powerful.

Just as Qian Shuxiao took Miss Lin to the first floor, Ye Que who was on the same floor abruptly opened his eyes.

"Demonic Qi?"

Ye Que's Divine Energy was still weak and the area he could envelop was still small, no more than 10 meters at most. However, Divine Energy was nevertheless Divine Energy; it wasn't something cheap like True Energy. Even a wisp of Divine Energy could be converted into a tenfold psychic force. Without the use of skills, it wouldn't cause significant damage. However, it wouldn't pose a problem for it to be used to snoop on others within a short distance.

With a turn of his mind, the invisible psychic force quietly flowed out of the door. Soon, the force detected the charming woman next to Qian Shuxiao.

"She's a little fox that has recently gained human form?" Ye Que smirked. His piqued interest died in an instant. For him, she was the lowest form of the demon race and had negligible offensive power. He didn't want to waste his strength to subdue her. Besides, small demons like her typically wouldn't dare to really hurt people. She would absorb men's Yang Qi at most before wisely leaving.

Ye Que thought there was no need to waste his energy on slaying a demon that wouldn't truly harm people.

Heaven's laws were capricious. When things reach an extreme, they could only move in the opposite direction.

There must be a bottom line in the pursuit of cultivation. The greater one's ability, the more one mustn't run amok.

Only one wall divided the VIP room and Ye Que's room.

The moment Qian Shuxiao entered the room with the little fox, he immediately began to undress. If one were to carefully observe Qian Shuxiao's eyes, one could see wisps of purple Qi in his pupils. Evidently, the little fox had charmed him. They didn't even close the door before throwing themselves onto the bed in a few steps.

The waiter who followed after them watched with a smirk. He cleverly closed the door for them. However, he had just stepped out of the room when he spat on the floor. In a low voice, he said, "Beast!"

After thinking about it, he was still puzzled. He then added, "Prostitute!"

Even Ye Que next door shook his head helplessly. "Little demons these days are really impatient. They've entered your house and climbed onto your bed. Do you think they'll still run away? So unromantic."

In the time it took for Ye Que to deliver his lines, Qian Shuxiao had already waged war against the woman. It was incredibly erotic but the process was brief. In no time at all, Qian Shuxiao's eyes lost focus and his limbs slowly drifted into the air.

The little fox lying under him stuck out her tongue to lick his lips. A snow-white tail brushed his skin and swirled around his body. Then, pure-white Yang Qi slowly flowed out of Qian Shuxiao's seven apertures. In the blink of an eye, the little fox absorbed them all.

"Young Master Qian, I've already told you there are some things you must take responsibility for. A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pounds of gold. I've given you a spring night. This is a debt of gratitude, and it must be repaid," the little fox said softly, her fingers sliding on Qian Shuxiao's body bit by bit.

"I'll refuse the thousand pounds of gold. I'll just ask for your body as payment."

After finishing her words, the little fox sealed dozens of acupuncture points on Qian Shuxiao's body as quick as lightning. Finally, her index finger struck the space between his eyebrows. Qian Shuxiao's complexion turned bloody red and he had also awakened. However, he couldn't move at all. He widened his eyes and cried out in horror, "You're, you're a demon!"

"Save, save me. Save me." Even though Qian Shuxiao tried his best to yell, his voice seemed to be stuck in his throat and couldn't be heard at all.

In the blink of an eye, a scalding drop of blood converged between his eyebrows. It was the Blood Essence that humans depended on for survival.

"Evil creature! Isn't it enough for you to absorb someone's Yang Qi? You still want to absorb his Blood Essence!"

"Don't you know the rules?!"