In the eastern Celestial Realm, Bai Qingsong stared at the now-dim communicator stone, his expression growing grave.
“Big Brother doesn’t love me anymore?”
Wasn’t he supposed to help me ascend as Demon Lord? Why at this moment did he go to the Underworld?
Could it be...
Big Brother has more than one little brother?
Even in the Underworld he has subordinates—so this trip must be to help his Underworld little brother become Underworld Lord?
Realizing this, Bai Qingsong’s eyes widened.
Of course that must be it! If Big Brother can support someone to become Demon Lord, he can surely back someone for Underworld Lord as well.
Truly admirable—he probably intends to unify and govern the Celestial Realm, Demon Realm, Underworld, and Monster Realm under one plan.
Nothing is impossible for someone who defeated a Usurper God.
And the reason he left Nie Wang to me could be twofold:
One: this is a test—trash doesn’t deserve his support.
Two: his Underworld subordinate is far more important than I am.
If it’s the second, that’s dangerous!
I am the most obedient hound under Big Brother; how can another dog outrank me?
No—it’s imperative I eliminate Nie Wang quickly, become Demon Lord, and prove my worth to Big Brother, or else this leg I cling to will slip away forever!
Just as Bai Qingsong prepared to call his men, the new ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Grand Steward Jiao Tian’ao hurried over.
He immediately said, “Go contact Nie Wang. Tell him I invite him to discuss the rebellion against Heaven. Then have someone gather all recent acquisitions from the Celestial Realm—poison pills, toxic incense, everything. Finally, summon every demon above half-Emperor Realm!”
Jiao Tian’ao froze. “Demon Lord, do you intend to make Nie Wang the Demon Lord?”
Bai Qingsong did not deny it. Hands clasped behind his back, he replied resolutely, “There can be only one head in the Demon Realm! I will kill him and become Demon Lord. He must die—no price is too great!”
Jiao Tian’ao’s face twisted. “But...—”
“No buts! Do as I command!” Bai Qingsong’s resolve was ironclad.
“Demon Lord, hear me out!” Jiao Tian’ao pleaded.
“I won’t listen!” Bai Qingsong kicked him to the ground. “Anyone who defies me dies!”
Jiao Tian’ao lay there, wronged. Finally he gasped, “I’m not trying to stop you! I just...” He hesitated, then continued, “Half an incense stick ago, Nirvana Province’s Demon Lord Nie Wang already returned to the Demon Realm with his demons. He’s not in the Celestial Realm! I came to ask if we should return to the Demon Realm ourselves.”
Bai Qingsong’s head pounded.
Ah!!!
That bastard Nie Wang ran off without so much as a word, leaving me alone in the Celestial Realm to hold the line.
He must want me dead so he can claim Demon Lord—right?
Damn him—I will kill him!
...
That afternoon, Ye Yu had already arrived in the Underworld.
But by the lakeside there was no sign of Shen Fuxin.
Puzzled, Ye Yu expanded his search but still found no trace of her.
In Hua Jiuming’s memories, Shen Fuxin had said she’d collected the refining materials and would return to the lakeside at Nian’an Lake to wait.
So why wasn’t she there? Had something happened?
Concern gripped Ye Yu’s face as he began searching the Underworld diligently.
Two days passed with no success. Ye Yu grew anxious.
Damn it—if only I’d brought that blue ox from Bansha.
He exhaled heavily—and felt his storage ring vibrate.
He drew out his communicator stone, infused it with immortal power, and heard an unfamiliar voice:
“Is this Big Brother? I’m Grand Steward Jiao Tian’ao of Demon Lord Bai Qingsong of East Yao Province. My lord sent me to call for your help—he’s at his limit! He offers full sincerity and begs you to save him again! I’m waiting at the Underworld–Demon Realm gateway.”
Ye Yu frowned, then vanished in an instant from his spot.
At the Underworld–Demon Realm gateway, Jiao Tian’ao stood nervously, taking in his surroundings.
Because of range limits, a communicator stone in the Demon Realm cannot reach the Underworld—hence Bai Qingsong had sent Jiao Tian’ao to beg for help in person.
Jiao Tian’ao was tense. He’d just learned his Demon Lord had a Big Brother—but who was this Big Brother that even his lord bowed so low?
A Ghost Emperor?
As he pondered, Ye Yu appeared before him.
“Ah—Immortal!”
Demon and Immortal are sworn enemies, so Jiao Tian’ao’s first instinct was to attack.
Before he could cast a spell, Ye Yu struck him with a crushing palm strike that nearly killed him on the spot. Dazed, he barely stayed standing.
“You are Jiao Tian’ao, right? Lead me to your lord—I have no time to waste.”
Ye Yu’s voice was ice-cold, still angry at Shen Fuxin’s absence.
Jiao Tian’ao recognized the voice from the call. He dared only whisper, “Big Brother?”
Ye Yu nodded and strode into the gateway to the Demon Realm.
Jiao Tian’ao slapped himself in disbelief.
The Demon Lord’s Big Brother is an Immortal?
How could that be? Demon and Immortal working together defied all ancient mandates!
But if this Immortal truly was Bai Qingsong’s Big Brother, then the recent failed rebellion was fated from the start.
The Demon Lord himself must be a traitor!
A chill ran through Jiao Tian’ao’s body. He shook his head firmly. Impossible—absolutely impossible!
His Demon Lord would never betray them; he must have his reasons. He would ask him later.
For now he must first bring Big Brother back—otherwise East Yao Province would be lost forever.
With that resolve, Jiao Tian’ao followed Ye Yu through the gateway.
When they emerged back in the Demon Realm, Jiao Tian’ao was stunned to see Ye Yu surrounded by demon qi. Aside from his lack of horns, he looked more demonic than any demon.
No—his graceful looks and lack of horns made him the perfect image of a succubus in the Demon Realm!
“B-Big Brother, are you demon or immortal?” Jiao Tian’ao stammered.
Ye Yu rolled his eyes and softly said, “Just remember: I am your lord’s Big Brother’s Big Brother.”
