Chapter 105: Baili Qingxi, the Great Demon General

“Then I’ll go gather the Ten-Thousand-Year Blazing Red Lotus right away!” Chiyan, the youngest among the eight trees, shouted eagerly.

“Not so fast, not so fast.”

Zigui quickly waved his hand to stop him. “Right now, the most urgent matter is to find a way to preserve Brother Jianli’s physical body.”

“The spiritual energy of the Myriad Imperial Divine Flute combined with the essence of Waterlike Kindness is penetrating his body; the residual power will continue to erode Brother Jianli’s flesh. So the immediate priority is to protect his body, and only then can we plan to use the Ten-Thousand-Year Blazing Red Lotus to revive him.”

“Furthermore!”

Zigui shifted his tone and smiled gently at the youngest, Chiyan. “You can rest easy for now. The task of finding the Red Lotus is undoubtedly yours alone.”

“You are the world’s first Fire Tree Silver Blossom to take human form, and since you and the Ten-Thousand-Year Blazing Red Lotus both belong to the fire-element plants, with your involvement, it will surely be a swift success!”

“So, how do we protect Brother Jianli’s body now?” Chiyan, whose features were somewhat handsome, asked curiously.

“Head to the Southern Border Mountains and seek the Death Spirit Herb!”

Zigui’s eyes gleamed with a distant haze as he spoke, then he instructed the others to help Jianli up. The group of several set off swiftly toward the Southern Border Mountains of the Eastern Wilderness.

In the Western Wilderness, beside the Flowing Sand River, lay Pimu Earth Mound.

This place was the heart of the demons’ centralized power in the frigid lands of the Western Wilderness.

However, since the Divine-Demon War seven thousand years ago, the demon strongholds— including Hanbi—were all sealed within Pimu Earth Mound by the Celestial Emperor and Baize.

The remaining scattered demon forces were hiding and dispersed across the myriad fertile plains along the Flowing Sand River.

The Wuliang Shrine, the largest palace of the demon race, stood here.

At midnight, outside the hall, a middle-aged man clad in armor paced back and forth before the gate, his rugged face etched with anxiety, as if burdened by heavy thoughts.

“General Baili Qingxi, may I ask what urgent matter brings the Star of Veil and Nightfire here?” a young, vibrant voice called from the dragon-shaped couch inside. Though full of vigor, the tone lacked the solemnity befitting the grandeur of the Wuliang Shrine.

“Prince Nalan, I have urgent news to report!” General Baili Qingxi responded hastily, stepping inside with the lightness of a breeze.

Though his appearance was rugged and his build imposing, his movements were nimble and unencumbered.

“What urgent matter brings you at this late hour, General?” The figure atop the dragon couch leapt down gracefully, dressing smoothly as he fixed a curious gaze on the general.

“Prince Nalan, just now I received orders from the Demon Sage Sovereign within the demon caves. He requires someone to be sent out soon to retrieve several treasures to replenish his spiritual energy, so the gate sustaining the earth’s transmission between realms can endure long-term.”

“Is Father’s spiritual energy nearly depleted?” Nalan’s expression shifted sharply, his tone urgent.

“Yes…” General Baili Qingxi sighed and shook his head gravely. “Since the Demon Sage Sovereign developed this transmission gate, every time a group of demons passes through from Pimu Earth Mound, it drains a portion of his mind and spirit.”

“If not for his cultivation spanning tens of thousands of years, he would have long ago been consumed by the Celestial Emperor’s sealing force!”

“Hmm.”

Nalan nodded anxiously, then helplessly inquired, “General, as the most renowned demon general in our race, you should be thinking of ways to ease Father’s burden!”

“Naturally.”

Without hesitation, Baili Qingxi nodded in agreement. “After conferring with the Demon Sage Sovereign yesterday, I plan to send someone to the Southern Wilderness to seek a supreme treasure to restore the Demon Sage’s power, so that we can continually dispatch more demons to carry out tasks.”

“What is this treasure?”

“Could it truly replenish Father’s spiritual energy?” Nalan asked with keen interest, a hint of excitement flickering across his face.

“The Ten-Thousand-Year Blazing Red Lotus. Prince, have you heard of it?” Baili Qingxi answered solemnly, casting several sideways glances at Nalan.

“The Blazing Red Lotus?”

“Is this not the material the Celestial Emperor used long ago to forge the Demon Transformation Vessel?”

Nalan frowned in puzzlement. “Besides forging the Demon Vessel, does the Ten-Thousand-Year Blazing Red Lotus have other miraculous uses?”

“It does.”

Baili Qingxi paused briefly, gathering his thoughts before cautiously explaining, “The Ten-Thousand-Year Blazing Red Lotus is a product born alongside the creation of heaven and earth, growing since the dawn of time within the ancient Crimson Flame Cave of the Southern Wilderness.”

“This lotus not only contains the innate fire of primordial karma but also harbors the earth’s energy accumulated over ten thousand years. It is truly a unique and supreme spiritual herb in this world.”

“However…”

Baili Qingxi suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his face overtaken by an unprecedented fear.

“But what? Speak freely!” Nalan straightened his expression and urged generously.

Shrugging, Baili Qingxi forced a bitter smile. “The Crimson Flame Cave is extremely perilous. In all these millennia, only the Ancestral God and the Celestial Emperor have ever ventured inside.”

“Besides the Blazing Red Lotus, the cave is guarded by fierce firebirds. It’s essentially a one-way journey—those who enter rarely return!”

“That dangerous?”

Nalan muttered skeptically, standing aside. “Aren’t they just a few foul birds guarding it?”

“Surely, our demon race’s Cold Crow Monsters can handle a few birds?”

“Heh heh.”

Hearing Nalan’s boast, Baili Qingxi chuckled. “Cold Crow Monsters might be effective against ordinary mountain birds, but against creatures like the firebirds, it’s like a mere trifle against a great power.”

“That’s precisely why I came to you at midnight to discuss this, instead of simply dispatching a few demon spirits to the Southern Wilderness to seek the treasure.”

“So, General Qingxi, are there truly no others available in our race?” Nalan asked with suspicion, glancing around the hall with a hint of disappointment.

“Regarding the gathering of the Blazing Lotus, I’m afraid there really is no one else qualified.”

Baili Qingxi sighed helplessly and replied expressionlessly, “Since the Divine-Demon War seven thousand years ago, our demon forces have lost over half their strength. Among the survivors, including myself and General Fuyao, there are fewer than ten formidable warriors.”

“Your father, the Demon Sage, is currently occupied constructing the transmission gate and cannot spare himself. General Fuyao has been sent out on other missions. At present, only I, Baili Qingxi, am available to go to the Southern Wilderness.”

“That won’t do.”

Nalan quickly waved his hand to stop him. “General Qingxi, you are the highest authority in our race besides Father. If you leave rashly, it will surely destabilize the morale of the demon army!”

“Perhaps we should investigate further to see if there are any other potential candidates within our race?”