The whole family went mad, but the junior sister turned the tables and her luck soared.

Chapter 496 Dual Realm Peace Talks

Gu Ruo would make up any nonsense to survive, but little did he know that his imagination was still too shallow.

The Emperor decreed that the entire clan should live a life of luxury in the divine realm. To say that they need the help of the demon race to dominate the demon realm is to look down on whom?

Besides, the descent of the gods to the mortal realm is a calamity that leads to the extermination of entire clans; the Divine Turtle serves as a cautionary tale.

After listening to Gu Ruo's rambling for a while, the Emperor became impatient and directly ignited the remaining two clones.

The screams of the clone mingled with the flames burning on its body, and Gu Ruo watched as another version of herself was burned alive.

Gu Ruo, who had been speaking eloquently just moments before, couldn't help but shudder.

He became completely obedient, shrinking into a corner and remaining as quiet as a chicken.

After a while, he said cautiously, "Sir, you captured me but did not burn me to death. It seems that you have other plans for me."

"What does Your Excellency wish me to do?"

The emperor leaped down from the fire cage and said to Gu Ruo inside, "Sign a master-servant contract with me, and I will spare your life."

Gu Ruo's eyelids twitched, and a fawning smile appeared on his face: "Your strength is unmatched in the world. Even without signing a master-servant contract, I would still sincerely serve under you."

"Does my lord fear that I will betray him?"

Yun Yici, carrying Jiu Meng, leaped down from the light bird.

Hearing Gu Ruo arguing, Yun Yici laughed and said, "Since he's unwilling, then let's kill him."

“There will always be a clever demon who will agree to sign a contract with you, and we will support a new demon king.”

"I think Jiu Meng is quite good."

"Keeping him around would only get in the way."

The matter of the master-servant contract was originally brought up by Yun Yici, and the emperor didn't think much of her sudden change of heart.

Well, they still have one city; they can always find a few who know how to be virtuous.

The emperor nodded in agreement with her words: "That works too."

He stretched out his hand, and a spark at his fingertip was as red as blood.

Just as the spark was about to fly into the fiery cage, Gu Ruo let out a sharp scream: "I'll sign! I'll sign! I'll sign anything!"

Yun Yici: "That's more like it."

To be honest, she didn't want to spare Gu Ruo's life, but Jiu Meng had personally witnessed and proved that blind benevolence was useless against demons.

Perhaps only violence can change the current state of the demon race, but the newly established demon king will find it difficult to suppress the various factions in the demon realm, and is prone to riots that could endanger the human world.

In comparison, controlling the isolated case is the optimal solution.

The wicked will be punished by the wicked; let Gu Ruo be the one to be punished.

With a solemn expression, Gu Ruo raised his right hand and pointed to the sky, solemnly swearing an oath to the heavens.

"I, Gu Ruo, hereby swear that I will be loyal to the Emperor for the rest of my life and will never betray him! If I break this oath, may I be punished by the heavens and have my soul scattered!"

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.

He extended his index finger, and a dazzling flame instantly burst forth from his fingertip.

This flame was different from the previous one; it streaked across the void like a shooting star, heading straight for Gu Ruo's brow.

Gu Ruo was unable to dodge in time and felt an extremely hot force rushing towards him, and he had to withstand the attack.

In an instant, the flame entered his brow, like a burning ember.

Gu Ruo's body trembled uncontrollably, and she screamed, "My lord! I have sworn an oath!!"

The emperor waved his hand to remove the fire cage and coldly snorted, "I haven't taken your life yet, why are you making such a creepy noise?"

Gu Ruo screamed in terror: "Ah???"

He quickly reached up and touched his hair, then looked down at his entire body, and sure enough, he hadn't caught fire.

But the next moment, that excruciating pain was reignited from the depths of his soul.

Gu Ruo, who had paused her screams, let out another one: "Ah!!!"

Jiu Meng, watching from the side, was also somewhat terrified. She lowered her eyes and obediently followed behind Yun Yici.

In her view, this was an absolutely safe location.

As the heat from the fire within Gu Ruo's body gradually subsided, he was drenched in cold sweat, as if he had just climbed out of the water.

Combined with the wounds that Jiu Meng had slashed on his body, he looked as miserable as a demon.

Gu Ruo's hatred was hard to quell, and whenever he had the will, the embers that had been extinguished would reignite.

He stared wide-eyed in horror, looking at the imperial edict in disbelief: "What exactly did you do to me?"

"What kind of master-servant contract is this?"

The emperor glanced at him and said, "Naturally, it is a master-servant contract recognized by the Heavenly Dao."

"If you behave well from now on, I will ensure your safety. If you dare to have even the slightest thought of rebellion, you have already experienced the pain of being burned alive."

"Let's go into town."

The demon army in the city, swarming like locusts, was suppressed by Shen Huaichuan.

Yun Yici broke through the wind formation, creating a gap that would allow the four of them to enter the city.

After the four of them entered the city, the gap behind them was filled and repaired by the wind again.

The once arrogant Gu Ruo watched helplessly as his former subordinate was suppressed to the ground. At this moment, he dared not say a word, for fear of angering the emperor.

Shen Huaichuan's figure appeared on the horizon.

He said to Gu Ruo, "Select your key subordinates and city lords, and have them sign contracts with the Emperor."

With his life in the Emperor's hands right now, Gu Ruo is capable of betraying his teammates, or even handing over his own parents.

The demons in the city had already been suppressed by Shen Huaichuan, and the high-ranking demons who were specifically named by Gu Ruo and brought into the Demon Palace were all filled with despair.

A powerful demon mustered his courage and said to Shen Huaichuan, "You are also a demon, and you are very powerful. I am willing to follow you. Why do you insist that we sign a contract with this demon cultivator?"

The emperor was furious upon hearing this. How could these damned demons think that Shen Huaichuan was better than him?

Before Shen Huaichuan could speak, the emperor sneered, "Today, you have no right to nitpick here."

"Sign a contract with me or die. Choose."

Seeing that the Emperor was about to get angry, Gu Ruo quickly rebuked the ungrateful demon: "Emperor Emperor's strength is extraordinary. It is your blessing to be able to follow him!"

"This is such a small matter, no need for adults to get their hands dirty, I'll do it."

Despite being wounded both internally and externally, Gu Ruo mustered his last breath and summoned the Demon Halberd, pointing it at his previously loyal subordinate.

This wasn't because he was a sycophant, but because he had already signed a contract with the Emperor and couldn't disobey the Emperor's orders.

If the Emperor's decree contradicts the interests of the demon race in the future, these high-ranking demons will absolutely not submit to him.

It would be better to take this opportunity to have these high-ranking demons sign a contract with him, just like he did.

It's better for everyone to be dogs than for one person to be a dog.

Faced with a three-way attack, the high-ranking demons, unwilling to die, endured the humiliation and signed a master-servant contract with the Emperor.

With all the high-ranking members of the Demon Clan becoming servants of the Imperial Edict, the rest became much easier.

The emperor decreed that these high-ranking demons should lead the demon army that had stormed into the city out of Heavenly Punishment City, leaving only Gu Ruo in the city.

After the city was cleared, Jiu Meng bowed deeply to everyone and said, "Thank you all for saving us."

Previously, when she discussed the matter with Yun Yici and others, Yun Yici suggested that she show weakness to see how many demons were truly on her side.

Jiu Meng did as instructed.

However, the result she received was very disappointing.

The demons who were willing to stand by her side were mostly the old, weak, sick, and disabled.

They didn't genuinely admire her, but rather because her code of conduct better aligned with the survival interests of lower-level demons.

When the demons who were willing to follow her realized that she could no longer protect them, the title "Lord Jiu Meng" seemed utterly ridiculous.

Jiu Meng remained silent and followed all the demons, thus creating the empty Heavenly Punishment City.

Very few demons were still willing to follow her; they were all placed in her demon palace.

Yun Yici helped her up: "There's no need for that. Helping you is also helping ourselves."

"Once the matter in the Demon Realm is settled, you can leave with us."

Jiu Meng took a deep breath: "Alright."

"I also want to see if the situation of the demon race will change after I leave."

"But where are you going next?"

Yun Yici said, "Let's go back to the human realm first and settle the matter of the conflict between humans and demons."

"And incidentally, collect some interest on doing good deeds."

"Then go to the Heavenly Spirit Realm."

"I have already asked my friends in the other two domains to help me find the other two light cores using a communication talisman."

"I just don't know if those two light cores have developed spiritual apertures like you."

Yun Yici thought it was unlikely. They had lived in the Xuanling Domain for many years and had just come from the Huangling Domain. They had never heard of the magical light core.

She felt at ease entrusting Huang Lingyu's light core to Wuwang.

Originally, Yun Yici of the Xuanling Domain wanted Changyu to find the light core, but after careful consideration, he decided that it would be safer to entrust it to Yueniang.

Jiu Meng seemed to suddenly realize something.

She said, "In fact, in the past, some people have been drawn by the light core and come to the demon realm to find me."

"They all died on the way; you are the first to arrive here."

"Who gave you the light core?"

The emperor exclaimed in surprise, "We won the bid at an auction, which caused quite a stir. How could you not know?"

Jiu Meng said, "Over the years, news between humans and demons has not been shared, and the border between humans and demons has always been guarded."

"Ordinary people cannot pass this test."

"Even when demons captured humans, those cultivators from major sects were very courageous and self-destructed instead of living to be humiliated by the demons."

Jiu Meng expressed great admiration for those cultivators in her words.

Yun Yici sighed, recalling the tragic state of the human cultivators who had been attacked when they arrived.

"Then let's set off as soon as possible. You and Gu Ruo previously divided the Demon Realm equally, so there shouldn't be any stronger three forces now."

"I have come to deliver a message: the two of you should go forward and negotiate with the human race."

......

Xi Huan, far away on the border between humans and demons, still hasn't forgotten the scene of the Sunbirds blotting out the sky.

However, after that day, there was no trace of Yun Yici and the others.

Xi Huan couldn't help but sigh.

She somewhat regretted letting Yun Yici and her group go to the Demon Realm.

As the demon realm thrives and grows stronger, human cultivators need a hundred years to enter the Dao and a thousand years to mature.

Those outsiders were their only hope.

"Elder Xi!"

A disciple came to report. Xi Huan immediately perked up.

"What's the matter?"

“In the past, demons have always come to harass us, but in recent days, there have been fewer and fewer traces of demons. Today, we have not even detected a trace of demonic energy. Please make a decision, Elder.”

Xi Huan's heart skipped a beat: "This is bad. When has the Demon Realm ever been so peaceful?"

"The last time this happened was when I ascended the throne, and the very next day I led a large number of demon troops to attack the border."

"Summon the third squad and immediately return to the rear for reinforcements!"

"Also, inform the fellow Daoists of each sect that, if necessary, you should report back to the sect leader and let them make a decision."

Xi Huan had just finished giving the instructions when she hurriedly added, "Never mind, I'll fly there myself, it'll be faster."

She hurried past her disciples, but the communication talisman she carried suddenly lit up.

Xi Huan was extremely surprised; this was what Yun Yici and the others left for her when they left that day.

Why did this message symbol light up at this time?

Although Xi Huan was anxious, she had no choice but to connect the communication talisman first.

"Fellow Daoist Yun?"

As expected, Yun Yici's voice came from the other end of the communication talisman: "Fellow Daoist Xi."

Xi Huan was still skeptical when she heard Yun Yici's voice: "Fellow Daoist Yun, you went to the Demon Realm before saying you wanted to avenge your junior brother, did you get your wish?"

Yun Yici laughed after hearing this: "You don't need to test me. It's me personally. I don't have any junior brothers."

"We are all fine."

Xi Huan said, "I guessed it was you when I saw that luminous bird that day."

How are things going on your end?

Xi Huan wanted to ask more about the situation in the Demon Realm, but she knew that was asking too much, so she asked in a more tactful way.

Yun Yici said, "Everything is fine."

"However, I have said before that our Xuanling Domain is willing to form an alliance with the Diling Domain. When we return from the Demon Realm, we hope Elder Xi can introduce us to each other."

"After our journey through the Demon Realm, we have persuaded the two Demon Kings, Gu Ruo and Jiu Meng, to agree to negotiate peace with the Human Realm, and from now on, neither side will invade the other's territory."

"If possible, please ask Elder Xi to notify the person in charge in the human realm to come here."

Xi Huan almost thought she had misheard, and the junior disciple beside her couldn't contain her emotions any longer.

"Elder, don't believe her. No one has ever survived a cultivation journey from the Demon Realm."

"They might have become accomplices to evil, deliberately sending messages in an attempt to ambush the leaders and elders of our various sects."

"Moreover, the two kings of the Demon Realm never meet, and their personalities are quite different. How could they possibly be swayed by her!"

"Elder, you must consider this carefully!"

"The border has been acting strangely these past few days. It's possible that the two demon kings have reached an agreement. They must be plotting something!"

The young disciple's words greatly shocked Xi Huan. She hesitated again when she thought of Yun Yici and the others' outstanding strength.

What if it's true?

Yun Yici's stern rebuke, delivered through a communication talisman, reached the ears of everyone in the Demon Palace of Nine Dreams in Heavenly Punishment City.

Jiu Meng spoke up: "I am Jiu Meng, and I am willing to negotiate with the human race. Gu Ruo is by my side."

"If you believe me, we can arrange to meet at the border between humans and demons."

"The fact that the demons have not attacked you these days is a testament to our sincerity."

"We owe all of this to Sect Leader Yun."

As soon as Jiu Meng spoke, Xi Huan felt a cold sweat break out on her back. She gritted her teeth and said, "This matter is of great importance. I cannot make a decision. Please give me half a day, no! Half an hour!"

Half an hour is enough for her to gather the elders of each sect to discuss the matter.

Jiu Meng's calm voice came from the other end: "Alright, I'll wait for you for half an hour."

The communication talisman went out, but Xi Huan suddenly pulled out a handful of communication talismans and answered them simultaneously: "Come to my sect's camp immediately!"

"I've received word that the demons want to negotiate peace with us!"

Simultaneously, each communication talisman emitted a surprised voice: "Fellow Daoist Xi, what are you saying?"

"Elder Xi, what triggered this?"

"The demons want to negotiate with us? That's impossible."