Translator’s note

I initially intended to translate from chapter 21.2, as imo the 1^st translator did a good job. But Novelupdates did not allow it, so I have to start from the beginning of the novel. I kept the same names for clarity

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Hua Che coughed twice, breaking the silence in the empty grand hall.

The Protector, who had been kneeling for a while, trembled slightly. His face was pale, sweat beading on his forehead. With a pained expression, he said, "My lord, while they haven't yet reached us, please, escape quickly!"

Hua Che, bothered by the bright light, extinguished the candle wick with his bare hands. Due to the slow movement and the lack of channeling his true energy, the flame scorched his fingertips, tinting them red. Unconcerned, he casually rested his hand on his knee, saying, "Where to escape?"

"Anywhere but the Fen Qing Palace Hall (NT: Hall of Passion Palace), my lord."

This time, various factions in the immortal path joined forces, led by the Yuntian Shuijing Sect (NT: Cloud, Sky, and Water Mirror Sect sect), with the Fend Ming (NT: Phoenix cry) Valley and the Shang Qing (NT: Upper Purity) Immortal Sect as support, aiming to defeat the Demon Lord.

Starting from Kunlun, they moved south, slaughtering all the demonic cultivators along the way without leaving a single survivor. It was only a matter of time before they attacked the Fen Qing Palace Hall.

Even the Protector knew the slim chances of survival, but couldn't help but make one last feeble attempt: "As long as there's life, my lord, escape to the demon realm, the Ghost valley, or even hide in the diverse mortal world. I will protect you at all costs!"

Hua Che reclined on the beauty's couch as if boneless, showing no sense of urgency in the face of impending disaster. He looked at the Protector wearily, "The Fen Qing Palace Hall disbanded yesterday. Thousands of demon cultivators scattered in all directions. Why haven't you left?"

The Protector replied firmly, "I swear allegiance to you, my lord!"

Despite the unwavering determination in the Protector's eyes and tone, Hua Che remained unmoved by his subordinate's undying loyalty.

In the world of cultivating immortality, the Yuntian Shuijing Sect was the leader. All sects responded to the call, launching a massive attack on the demon realm with the goal of annihilating the Fen Qing Palace Hall and rescuing their leader, Chu Binghuan.

Since ancient times, the realms of immortals and demons had been at odds. The demon realm kept a watchful eye on the immortal path, while the immortals harbored fear and apprehension towards the demon realm, desiring to eliminate it entirely. For tens of thousands of years, despite continuous minor and major battles, for the sake of the world's inhabitants, they refrained from turning the lands into rivers of blood. However, this relentless assault on the demon realm was solely because the revered immortal figure had been kidnapped.

More accurately,, it was a forced marriage.

The notorious Demon Lord Hua Che, known for his ruthless killings, had, through despicable and vile means, ambushed, causing the loss of cultivation, forcibly captured, and coerced his victim into becoming his Dao partner. Once this news spread, the public outcry was immense. Supporters of the Yuntian Shuijing Sect were furious, demanding Hua Che's complete destruction. Even the head of the Shang Qing Immortal Sect, who was Chu Binghuan's mentor, burst into anger on the spot, repeatedly cursing Hua Che as "shameless" three times!

"Who was Chu Binghuan?

He came from an illustrious family, made a name for himself at a young age, exuded an elegant immortal charm, and stood aloof from the world. With a sword like the 'Listening Spring Sword’, how many scoundrels and villains had he executed? With a heart as cold as ice, how many lives had he saved under the heavens!

On the other hand, what about Hua Che?

His mother was a courtesan for thousands, and his father a demon deserving of a thousand executions. He was born in humble circumstances, fortunate to receive guidance from a renowned master yet failed to show gratitude. Instead, he engaged in despicable acts of betraying his teacher and ancestors, abandoning the path of immortality to enter the hellish realm, ruthlessly slaughtering whenever a dispute arose. His appearance might be deceptive, but within him lied decay, filth, darkness, and an unbearable impurity!

Despite being universally condemned, he still refused to be honest, akin to a toad desiring swan meat, coveting the praised leader Chu. He even engaged in unspeakable activities, completely disregarding moral principles!

So, Hua Che incurred the anger of the masses, becoming the first demon lord in the history of the Fen Qing Palace Hall to face condemnation from all sides.

Demons are known for their warfare and bloodshed. Even when the immortal path collectively attacked, they usually showed no fear. However, in a critical moment, Hua Che ordered the dissolution of the Fen Qing Palace Hall. Even if the demon cultivators had high spirits, without the exceptional cultivation of Hua Che as their backbone, they were destined to be defeated.

That's why they all chose to escape while they could.

The demon cultivators were perplexed. Despite Hua Che's dark history and humble origins, frequently criticized, his strength was unquestionably formidable.

At that time, the demon realm was divided, chaos rampant as various factions vied for dominance. Hua Che, single-handedly took control of the faltering Fen Qing Palace Hall and unified the factions, becoming the supreme demon lord.

Up until today, he remained the foremost figure in the demonic path, unparalleled and incomparable.

Why would a leader of such a demonic realm surrender without a fight?

Others couldn't wrap their heads around it, but the Protector had a faint guess in his heart. A few days ago, Hua Che was injured somewhere, and though it was hard to gauge who could have harmed Hua Che in the current world.

Hua Che's face was pale, his internal energy unstable, the flow of his true essence fluctuating intermittently. Were it not for his extraordinary cultivation, he might have succumbed long ago.

Surrender without a fight, disbanding the Fen Qing Palace Hall early to prevent further casualties.

Severely wounded, on the brink of death.

Those words ignited a flame within the Protector, swiftly growing. He carefully concealed the eager glint in his eyes, slowly raising his gaze to meet Hua Che's eyes.

Demon cultivators were fierce and treacherous, devoid of genuine emotions. If he could seize Hua Che's soul at this opportune moment...

"I have something for you to do," Hua Che suddenly spoke. The Protector, admonishing himself not to rush, quickly bowed, and a small pouch drifted towards him.

"Take it to Master Chu and tell him to wait for me at the Bamboo Pavilion." Hua Che appeared fatigued, yet his mesmerizing phoenix-like eyes remained bright. He glanced ambiguously at the Protector, "Obey orders, be obedient, don't meddle where you shouldn't, or else..."

The Protector's heart skipped a beat, an invisible pressure crashing down on him. He immediately prostrated, trembling.

Hua Che's lips curved into a bloodthirsty smirk, "My soul isn't something just anyone can covet."

The Protector was drenched in sweat, never expecting that it would come to this, yet Hua Che seemed to be at ease!

His fleeting presumptuousness was immediately quashed, the Protector repeatedly acknowledging his obedience, legs trembling as he quickly set off to handle the task.

Hua Che reclined on the beauty's couch for a moment, barely enduring the wrenching pain in his insides. Without a mirror at hand, the atrocious state of his complexion was beyond imagination.

He was indeed close to death.

It wasn't a sneak attack, nor was it a clandestine plot.

Ever since the moment he betrayed his teacher and ancestors, he knew his life was in constant peril, uncertain when someone might come to take it away.

Summoning his remaining strength, Hua Che made his way toward the Bamboo Pavilion.

Passing through the vibrant maple forest, Hua Che halted and sneered, "Elder Gan Yang is leading the charge?"

As the words fell, Elder Gan Yang, who had been shadowing him for some time, emerged from hiding. He was Chu Binghuan's master. His beloved disciple was living a life worse than death under the reign of the demon lord, making Gan Yang, as the master, take the initiative to lead the charge.

However, due to Hua Che's notorious reputation, Elder Gan Yang had refrained from acting recklessly. But upon observation, Hua Che was undeniably severely wounded, greatly delighting Elder Gan Yang, as it added to his certainty in his quest to slay demons and eradicate evil.

"You've fallen into the demonic path, betrayed your teacher and ancestors; with a bloodthirsty nature, massacring wantonly; holding Master Chu as a hostage; and killing our Sect Leader." Elder Gan Yang briefly outlined the major charges, yet before he could list the minor accusations, Hua Che's lips curled into a cold smile, "You say I killed Lu Yao?"

"To root out the weed, what's wrong with that?" Elder Gan Yang's eyes bore a stern look. "The Demon Lord has always acted boldly. How is it that you can't admit to it?"

Lu Yao, Hua Che's junior martial brother.

During their youth, Hua Che and Chu Binghuan had both become disciples of the prestigious Shang Qing Immortal Sect. At that time, the sect was extremely influential, as the foremost sect in the realm of cultivation, boasting eight thousand disciples, all outstanding. Added to that, the rare talents of Hua Che and Chu Binghuan made for a splendid sight, a period of great glory.

Chu Binghuan was under the tutelage of Elder Gan Yang, while Hua Che was favored by the Sect Leader and taken as a direct disciple. The Sect Leader had a sole son, Lu Yao, who later, due to his aptitude in cultivation and martial arts, became Hua Che's junior martial brother.

Later, Hua Che murdered his teacher and wiped out the entire lineage of Lu, the Sect Leader. Of the eight thousand disciples in the Shang Qing Immortal Sect, he only left three thousand alive. Following this catastrophe, the vitality of the Shang Qing Immortal Sect was severely injured and it never fully recovered. The title of the world's top immortal sect was then replaced by the rising star, Yuntian Shuijing.

The grudge of patricide, the hatred of his sect, and Lu Yao taking over the position of the Sect Leader naturally made him and Hua Che sworn enemies.

In a critical moment, Hua Che's master, in order to avoid Hua Che's anger turning against his own son, used his soul as a sacrifice, casting a spell of mutual existence between Hua Che and Lu Yao.

This was called a spell of mutual existence, but it was, in reality, one-sided. If Lu Yao died, Hua Che would die; if Hua Che died, Lu Yao could live.

Thus, if Hua Che wanted to survive, not only should he not harm Lu Yao in any way, but he also had to protect Lu Yao's safety at all times.

Hua Che had long known that once Lu Yao discovered the "mutual existence" spell, he would drag Hua Che down with him.

Therefore, with a self-deprecating smile and a calm expression, Hua Che replied indifferently, "If Lu Yao committed suicide, that has nothing to do with me."

Elder Gan Yang seemed to have heard the biggest joke of the century. "He would commit suicide for his father's vengeance!?"

Hua Che responded, "Ask him yourself. The seven days of mourning for Lu Yao haven't passed yet. Ask when he returns to the mortal realm, or hang yourself now and go to the ghost realm to ask him face to face."

Being teased at such a moment, Elder Gan Yang, who had a bad temper, was infuriated. Combining old and new grudges, he drew his sword and charged at Hua Che.

Luckily, it was only Elder Gan Yang. Hua Che sent out his lifebound spiritual tool, "Ji Feng," (NT: Gentle Breeze) which had a spirit of its own. It actively faced Elder Gan Yang's blade, engaging in a fight that was difficult to separate.

Hua Che couldn't afford to delay time. While the spiritual tool kept Elder Gan Yang occupied, he made his way deep into the maple forest to enter the Bamboo Pavilion by the mountainside.

This Bamboo Pavilion, both inside and out, was the same as Chu Binghuan's residence in Yuntian Shuijing. It was specially constructed by Hua Che out of concern for Chu Binghuan's homesickness.

No one was inside the Bamboo Pavilion yet, Chu Binghuan hadn't arrived.

But it didn't matter, as Hua Che was going to die here anyway. Whether Chu Binghuan came early or late, when the immortal forces attacked from below, they would only see the deceased Demon Lord in the Bamboo Pavilion and Chu Binghuan standing in front of the Demon Lord's body.

‘Chu Binghuan killed the Demon Lord, accomplishing an extraordinary feat’. What a remarkable contribution to the world!

Thousands would praise his name, and his legacy was to endure for eternity.

He didn't nullify Chu Binghuan's cultivation; he merely sealed it temporarily. The method to release his Golden Core was contained within a small silk pouch.

From this day on, Chu Binghuan would be the esteemed Chu Sect Leader, still the Cloud Vast Immortal Monarch whose prowess rivaled the Six Realms.

Supporting himself against the table's edge, Hua Che's strain from resisting the mutual existence curse and the depletion of his cultivation finally culminated in a dramatic release, like a collapsing mountain range. He couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed, coughing up blood.

Ultimately, he was going to die. Better to attribute all the credit to Chu Binghuan, a modest compensation for keeping him confined for all those years.

Their engagement was arranged by their families even before they were born, bonding them together.

Later, when they met as youths, he was enamored by Chu Binghuan's elegance and countenance, instantly smitten with him. He adored Chu Binghuan's virtuous character and compassionate accomplishments.

But Chu Binghuan was solely devoted to his path, ignorant of romantic pursuits, ignoring Hua Che's admiration.

At this point, Hua Che didn't regret his actions. He was an incomparable Demon Lord, the sovereign of the realms of spirits and demons. Whatever he desired, he would forcefully claim.

However, if given the chance to start over, he believed he wouldn't act in the same way. Forcing Chu Binghuan, ruining his path to enlightenment, and interfering with his celestial ascension – why? Everyone has their aspirations, and Chu Binghuan was destined to transcend the mortal world, aloof from its temptations.

His vision gradually blurred, and a figure approached. Words were spoken, but Hua Che, whose five senses had already departed, didn't understand.

"Apologies!" At the brink of passing away, he released the last attachment in his dissolving consciousness. "I've delayed you for a lifetime."

Hua Che's death was quite serene, without any regrets or reluctance, only a sense of liberation.

It's a pity that a death like his is a permanent end, or he would have loved to return as a wandering soul to the "Fen Qing Hall" and observe Chu Binghuan's reaction in the Bamboo Pavilion.

A lifetime of wrestling with the Demon Lord had finally ended. He died, and it was a grisly death. Must be extra satisfying and enjoyable, right?

Hua Che could almost envision Chu Binghuan laughing uncontrollably with unbridled joy.

*

"Young Master, Young Master."

Hua Che hesitated, who was speaking?

"Young Master, wake up. We've arrived at the Yuntian Shuijing Immortal Palace."

Startled, Hua Che sat up. The intense light made him squint. After adjusting, he looked incredulously at the old woman who had dropped the stool outside the carriage.

"Is this the Young Master's first visit to Master Chu? The Chu family has many rules, and the Yuntian Shuijing Immortal Palace is highly esteemed in the world of cultivation. There are strict rules; Young Master, you must curb your mischief and naughtiness, not allowing anyone to ridicule you." The old woman spoke with seriousness and smoothed Hua Che's messy hair and attire. After she seemed content, she handed him an item from a small box.

"It's the marriage certificate by arrangement; please do not lose it."

Seeing two attendants approaching, the old woman urged, "Hurry on; I'll be waiting here."

 

Translator : DarNan