In fact, Bai Miaoxiang also sensed that something was amiss.
She flew into a rage and confronted A Rui to demand an explanation. He hastily assured her that the sudden obesity was perfectly normal—if she doubted him, she could send someone to investigate. After all, when Mo Geilian had first cultivated Mo Lintian, his body had likewise ballooned; once he perfected the technique, he would revert to his original form.
Hearing this, Bai Miaoxiang was skeptical but sent agents to verify. Their report matched A Rui’s claims exactly, dispelling all her doubts.
She immediately handed over the reins of the Demon Lord’s Hall to him and returned to seclusion, declaring, “I will not emerge until I succeed.”
That very day, A Rui began to put his revenge plan into motion. He knew that confronting Bai Miaoxiang directly was a fool’s errand—nobody in Lotus State could match her, or she would never have become the Demon Lord. Recruiting outside help was equally unthinkable; bringing in a stranger might invite an even greater threat.
So after much thought, he chose poison.
But to kill a Demon Sovereign–level powerhouse required an extraordinary toxin. He needed the most potent poison imaginable. To avoid suspicion, A Rui resumed selling Mo Lintian openly—by now, all of Lotus State knew that his title of Deputy Demon Lord had been bought with the realm’s most «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» formidable body-refining art.
Demand soared. Many clamored to obtain the technique, but to maximize his gains, A Rui dealt only with elite demons, trading the manuscript for top-tier goods—rare demon-stone artifacts, supreme cultivation robes, advanced cultivation manuals, and first-grade elixirs. Because he managed contacts one-on-one, every buyer believed they possessed the sole copy apart from Bai Miaoxiang. They paid handsomely, unaware that A Rui had already sold dozens of tampered copies. By his estimate, over a hundred demons acquired the altered Mo Lintian.
At last, his efforts bore fruit: he secured the deadliest known toxin, Ming Shui Zang Hua. This poison was colorless and tasteless, and within three breaths would evaporate all the victim’s blood and water, using their dissolved essence to sprout ethereal underworld flowers.
Having obtained the poison, A Rui prepared for every contingency. He penned a letter to be delivered to his trusted aide: if he did not return within half an hour, the letter was to be given to Mo Geilian. It explained all his actions and begged for forgiveness, revealing a hidden compartment containing every resource he had amassed—none of it used for himself but all saved for Big Brother and Mo Geilian. A Rui dreamed of seeing their faces when they discovered his stash.
If he returned within the allotted time, he would personally explain everything.
The letter ended abruptly there. As expected, it was delivered—accompanied by news of A Rui’s death. It seemed Ming Shui Zang Hua had failed to claim Bai Miaoxiang’s life.
Ye Yu’s eyes filled with tears. He envisioned A Rui’s frail figure once more—the timid shadow who had stayed at their side. A Rui had given his life to protect Mo Geilian and the Flame Demon Hall for five months.
Clenching his fists, Ye Yu hauled the still-weeping Mo Geilian to his feet and struck him across the face. “Stop crying! A Rui is gone—how long do you plan to weep? Now I’m going to kill Bai Miaoxiang. Are you coming or not? Decide!”
With that, Ye Yu flung Mo Geilian back to the ground and strode for the exit. Mo Geilian scrambled up, tears still streaking his face, and followed without hesitation.
That day, the gates of the Demon Lord’s Hall in Lotus State were smashed open by relentless blows. Countless demon guards fled in panic. Behind them, a tear-stained War Demon barreled through the main gate, ignoring every treasure and spell hurled at him—he simply charged forward, using raw physical might to shatter obstacles, attacking without defense.
Inside the grand hall, two trembling demon officials began to confess everything, but they were slain before they could finish. Ye Yu marched straight to the throne and saw Bai Miaoxiang perched like an oversized meatball—proof that A Rui’s tampered Mo Lintian had worked spectacularly.
“Your Flame Demon Hall certainly produces talent,” she sneered. “A mere mind demon nearly killed me. You’ve come to avenge him?”
“Now you know,” Ye Yu replied.
He drew his weapon—only to be interrupted by a figure crashing through the roof like a cannonball. It was Mo Geilian, tears still in his eyes.
“Big Brother, please—I want to avenge A Rui with my own hands. You must let me!”
Ye Yu said nothing and took a step back.
Enraged, Bai Miaoxiang roared, “How arrogant! Since when does killing me require stealing someone else’s chance?”
Half an hour later, Mo Geilian proved his resolve—and his power. Though grievously wounded, he pummeled Bai Miaoxiang to death, personally avenging A Rui.
That same day, Ye Yu was installed as Demon Lord of Lotus State—Mo Geilian’s adamant request, for he refused the position himself. Ye Yu accepted without hesitation; it was not the first time he had taken such a mantle. From Bai Miaoxiang’s lingering spirit, he also gleaned the outlines of the Heaven-Conquering Plan.
Three days later, a witch traveled from afar to the gates of the Demon Lord’s Hall, requesting an audience with Lotus State’s Demon Lord, Ye Yu.
