Jing Yu became visibly dispirited upon learning that the ruler, Ji Xia, had entered closed-door cultivation.
Previously, she had waited eagerly each day on Nanqing Street, hoping that the ruler might visit the area during his leisure time. If he could stop by her house, sit for a while, and exchange a few words, it would have been ideal.
Now that she had tea leaves at home, she even fantasized about brewing a pot of tea for him herself.
In Tai Cang, Ji Xia had become the idol of many young women.
Under his leadership, the kingdom's days had grown increasingly prosperous. Not only had he recovered the remains of heroic martyrs, but he had also executed the oppressive Jiujue royal family. Their lime-covered, dried heads now hung on the palace walls, a sight that brought catharsis to the citizens of Tai Cang.
Rumors also circulated about the neighboring Zhou Qing kingdom, which had reportedly suffered divine retribution. Tens of thousands of Zhou Qing people were said to have perished in a cataclysm, throwing their kingdom into chaos.
"Indeed," they thought, "our ruler embodies the will of the Great Wind in this vast wilderness. Zhou Qing offended this divine will, so it's only fitting they were punished."
Beyond these feats, Ji Xia was also strikingly young and handsome. For teenage girls, who were just at the tender age of daydreams, it was inevitable that they harbored admiration for the ruler.
"But none of them have spoken to him," Jing Yu thought, her mood lifting again. "And he gave me several outfits, which probably means he thinks I look good in them!"
Nearby, her antelope-like companion, Huai Shuang, lounged on the bed with drooping ears. Watching Jing Yu's delight, the creature let out a sigh and muttered, "Spineless."
Jing Yu ignored her, hopping out of bed to carefully take out a few neatly folded outfits from a simple wooden box.
Huai Shuang covered her eyes with her hooves, groaning, "Here we go again. You look at those clothes five or six times a day. Don't you ever get tired of it?"
Jing Yu's twin braids swayed as she replied with a bright smile, "How could I? These are gifts from the ruler himself!"
Huai Shuang was incensed. "And I was also a gift from the ruler! Why don't you appreciate me?"
Jing Yu cast a sidelong glance at her companion, deliberately teasing, "From what my brother said, these clothes were personally designated by the ruler for me. But you? The ruler doesn't even know you exist. You were merely a reward from Lord Rong Lou of Tai City."
Huai Shuang opened her mouth to retort but was interrupted by a loud grumble from Jing Yu's stomach.
She frowned, sighing, "Ever since I started cultivating the Celestial Phenomenon Devouring Spirit Sutra, my appetite has grown exponentially. Even with the abundant grain provided by the royal court and my brother's rations—enough to feed ten people—it's still not enough for both of us."
Huai Shuang tilted her small head thoughtfully. "I haven't regained my power to the Spirit Command Realm yet. Once I do, I'll take you out to find food. Why stay cooped up in such a tiny, weak place?"
Her eyes gleamed as she added with a hint of longing, "I know of a demon kingdom where the demon king is in a deep slumber. Without their leader, the weaker demons are defenseless…"
Thud!
Jing Yu smacked Huai Shuang on the head, scolding, "I've told you countless times! Those weaker demons haven't provoked you or harmed anyone. Why would you eat them? Can't we stick to a vegetarian diet?"
Huai Shuang awkwardly rubbed her head with her hooves, hesitating before replying, "Vegetarian? Well, I do have another lead—about 430,000 miles from here, there's a towering tree with countless plant-based spirits. These plant demons are absolutely delicious, crisp and…"
Thud!
"Are those plants causing trouble?" Jing Yu asked, hands on her hips and her eyes blazing with righteous indignation. Her expression, though stern, was irresistibly adorable.
Huai Shuang stood upright, using her hooves to rub both sore spots on her head. Frustrated, she exclaimed, "I'm a fearsome demon of great renown! Do I really need to verify whether my prey has committed crimes before I eat them?"
Jing Yu quipped with a smirk, "Oh, fearsome demon? Yet here you are, scrounging food off me."
Rendered speechless, Huai Shuang flopped back down with a resigned sigh.
"You're really unsuited for the Celestial Phenomenon Devouring Spirit Sutra," she lamented. "This technique is coveted by countless powerful beings. It requires constant devouring to rapidly amass immense power. But you? You're just using it to gather and refine spiritual energy like any ordinary cultivation method. What a waste!"
Jing Yu, undeterred, replied softly, "I used to be unable to sense spiritual energy at all. Now, not only can I cultivate, but I've also progressed so quickly. In just over a month, I've reached the Four Heavens realm. That's more than enough for me."
"Four Heavens?!" Huai Shuang exclaimed, visibly exasperated. "With sufficient resources, you could've touched the Heavenly Barrier by now! Countless great demons have begged me on their knees to teach them this technique. You're content with such mediocrity?"
Jing Yu, feeling a twinge of guilt, murmured, "But there's no food around here. The only ones to devour would be the Cang Guardians or the Silver Guards of Tai Cang, and they're my kin. I couldn't possibly harm them."
After a moment's thought, her eyes lit up. "I've heard there are man-eating monsters in the Southern Forbidden Forest. Perhaps…"
Huai Shuang shook her head, looking dejected. "A young demon rules that forest now. If I were at full strength, they wouldn't even be worth a bite. But now…" She looked skyward, letting out a deep sigh. "Heavens, send me a demon I can eat!"
As if in answer, a blue True Spirit the size of a human head descended from the sky. Within the True Spirit, the faint visage of a horned demon king emerged.
The True Spirit landed in Jing Yu's courtyard, transforming into a massive demon over three meters tall.
This demon had four horns on its head, a dark purple face, and a human-like nose and mouth. It had a bifurcated tail and hooves like a goat, exuding an intimidating presence.
Scanning his surroundings, the demon muttered, "After consuming so many remnant souls from the west, I've finally restored some of my strength."
The demon king's mind drifted back to the day he arrived in this world, when he had encountered a colossal mountain-like entity.
A shiver ran down his spine as he recalled the soul-deep terror that encounter had instilled in him.
"During that clash between two titans, the space rift allowed me to enter this realm. Who could've known I'd encounter such a terrifying existence… Luckily, I protected this fragment of my True Spirit with all my power. Otherwise, I would've been obliterated."
Relieved at his survival, the demon king surveyed the weak land around him. "This place is frail. I'll start here, devouring these feeble beings to gradually regain my strength. Once I've consumed them all, I'll leave this dangerous world without delay."
Just as he was plotting his next move, the door of a small house creaked open. Two heads—one human and one sheep—peeked out.
The demon king prepared to pounce but hesitated when he saw the sheep's eyes glimmering with an unsettling delight.