The demoness was born with breathtaking beauty, her lips like ripe cherries, her nose a delicate jade, and her eyes softly enchanting. Her form was as supple as wisps of smoke, lithe as if utterly without bone.

Only that smile, perfectly curved, seemed etched upon her features, a fixed expression. Beautiful it was, yet it lacked a certain spark of life. This was the smile of one greeting guests, of a hall attendant, a politeness born of custom, not genuine joy.

Her demonic nature manifested on the surface of her skin – incredibly intricate and luxurious red snake patterns that flowed from her neck downwards, covering her snowy flesh, and extending beneath her clothes, suggesting they adorned her entire body. Such patterns, though they should have instilled a sense of peril, possessed a fatal allure upon closer inspection. From entering the chamber to slithering beneath the bed, her movements were swift and silent, taking less than a single breath.

Her body’s motion was impeccable, not even disturbing a single mote of dust in the room. Immediately, she entered a state akin to dormancy, her body and soul leaving no trace, not the slightest hint of her presence leaking forth. Had Jiang Wang not observed her throughout, it would have been near impossible to detect the presence of this demoness within the room. At this juncture, he could, of course, surmise her identity.

Such power, coupled with such a need for concealment, and her serpentine lineage – who else could it be but the infamous Red Moon King, She Gu Yu, currently being pursued relentlessly by Lu Qi Lang?

And as she entered her dormant state, the snake patterns upon her body rapidly receded, finally gathering on the left side of her collarbone to form a small, crescent moon…

A jade bowl holding a Red Moon – truly a striking image.

The ancient god concealed within the mirror could fully grasp the logic behind this demoness’s actions. Lu Qi Lang had personally searched this inn; it was unlikely anyone else would come looking again within a short period. Wasn’t that precisely the reason the great ancient god remained hidden and motionless here? Their thoughts aligned, their choices intersected – one could even say it was destiny. Playing a lamp under the black cloth, a feigned retreat!

There were no further issues.

Yet, why couldn’t she have chosen another room? Had she paid for this one? To simply barge in? Did she not feel crowded?

The great ancient god harbored the thought of cruelly destroying this beautiful blossom, taking advantage of her dormancy to send her into eternal slumber. But then, he worried he might not be able to defeat her. He knew his own limitations. His injuries were not yet healed, while She Gu Yu was a rising star on the Heavenly List, a potent new king. Lu Qi Lang, also a new king and ranked seventh on the Heavenly List, had been pursuing her for months, yet she remained hale and hearty.

Furthermore, though she appeared dormant, even in that state, her curled form maintained immense tension, ready to spring into action at any moment. Her dormancy was clearly not mere sleep, but a profound technique that combined breath concealment, self-sealing, and physical recovery, all while maintaining an extremely high level of alertness.

This filled the great ancient god with envy.

The ancient god in the mirror firmly believed that the moment he stepped out of the mirror world, this beautiful snake clan demoness would instantly ‘awaken.’ And he would have absolutely no possibility of silently eliminating her.

But to simply ignore the situation… the title of Inspiration King was not an empty boast. When Lu Qi Lang caught up, what then? Could this inn survive the battle between two powerful demon kings? Could the Red Makeup Mirror continue to feign ordinariness?

What if She Gu Yu remained in this room for an extended period, and with the vision and vigilance of a Heavenly List new king, discovered the secret of the Red Makeup Mirror? Regardless of whether they were righteous or evil demons, none would bring good fortune to the human race.

Jiang Wang felt as though the ripples of the River of Fate had transformed into a colossal ghost face, its malicious gaze fixed upon him, observing his predicament within the mirror world.

He raised his eyes to the vast expanse, finding only a sheet of paper filled with clues and a sword that had accompanied him through countless battles. Where lay the path forward? His original body was trapped within the mirror, unable to move. He dared not even cultivate, lest his breath leak out. Facing the dilemma of sharing a room with the Red Moon King, how could he break free?

The Peaceful Ghost Officer, who had sealed his blade for a month?

The Faceless God Cult, who had been recently lying low and developing?

Or Chai A Si, who had arduously entered the top hundred in Mo Yun City after rounds of intense competition?

“I’ve thought of a brilliant plan!”

Within a sealed room, Yu Xin’s handsome face was flushed with excitement. “We have an opportunity to benefit from She Gu Yu’s situation!”

“Wait a moment,” a rough voice echoed from the corner of the room. The voice was like stones grinding against each other, grating on the ears. It emanated from a being seated in a grand master’s chair, legs crossed, fingers interlocked and resting on his knee. He wore a mask as black as ink, devoid of any patterns, and his entire body was wrapped in a loose, long robe.

He asked, “You just said you leaked the news at the Fei Yun Building banquet that She Gu Yu’s body harbors a shocking secret… using a strategy to drive a tiger to devour a wolf?”

Yu Xin calmed his slightly agitated emotions and smiled as he sat down. “This is also a feint, striking east from the west. In short, it’s to divert attention, to make them fight amongst themselves… but then I thought, since I’ve pointed out this matter, to simply watch and do nothing would arouse suspicion. It’s better to truly contend for She Gu Yu, to reveal my sincerity. Let Lu Qi Lang also know who truly holds sway in Mo Yun City.”

“First, there’s no need to rush into discussing how to snatch She Gu Yu. You still haven’t told me…” The monster wrapped in the long robe spoke with difficulty, “She Gu Yu’s body harbors a secret – this needs you to point it out? She exterminated her own kin; there must be a special reason behind it. Is this not something all demons know?”

Yu Xin was momentarily stunned, then replied, “Brother Bear, you don’t know that Lu Qi Lang’s inexplicable spiritual awareness tells him he has an opportunity in Mo Yun City! Doesn’t this correspond to our Shen Xiao secret treasury? At that time, the situation was urgent. I had to immediately link this inspiration to She Gu Yu’s body, lest he think east and west and cause us trouble!”

“Brother Bear” took a deep breath.

Yu Xin, somewhat self-satisfied, continued: “We’ve known each other for ten years; you still don’t understand me? Such a big matter, could I not have considered it thoroughly?”

He lifted a hand, as if to command the very rivers and mountains. “According to common sense, She Gu Yu’s body at most contains the inheritance of a powerful demon king, and perhaps the resources are already exhausted. But Lu Qi Lang’s spiritual awareness responded to it; that is extraordinary. They definitely believe that at least one true demon treasure is hidden within She Gu Yu’s body. Did you not see Yuan Meng Ji swallowing wine repeatedly, and Zhu Ying’s eyes turning green at that moment!”

“Yu Xin, ah Yu Xin,” the demon in the long robe said, “Considering our ten-year friendship, I, Bear San Si, will give you a piece of good advice.”

If Zhu Ying were here at this moment and heard this conversation, his confidence in obtaining riches would surely be shaken. For the demon wrapped in the long robe was indeed named Bear San Si. He was the “Tattooed Face Demon” Bear San Si, a subordinate of Tiger Tai Sui of Zi Wu Hills! In the past decade, he had been the most prestigious and powerful young demon king in Zi Wu Hills. In the latest Heavenly List of new kings, he was ranked eighth, precisely between the recently deceased King Tian Hai, Shi Shan Wen, and the Inspiration King, Lu Qi Lang, who had just arrived in Mo Yun City.

Yu Xin casually remarked, “What advice, Brother Bear? Just say it.”

Bear San Si lowered his voice, then suddenly roared, “Sew up your broken mouth!” Yu Xin jumped in surprise, momentarily struck dumb.

“You also know that the Inspiration King’s spiritual awareness is very powerful, allowing him to seize many opportunities, making you restless with anxiety. Pray tell, does he himself know whether his spiritual awareness is very powerful?”

Bear San Si stared at Yu Xin. “His spiritual awareness is so precious. Pray tell, why would he actively tell you about his opportunity in Mo Yun City?”

“Linking Lu Qi Lang’s inspiration this time to She Gu Yu – you think that’s quite clever. The problem is, what do you count as? You link it up with a single word? Lu Qi Lang has been pursuing She Gu Yu for so long; how could he not know the value of her body? Could he still be misled by a single sentence from you, Yu Xin? Yu Xin, ah Yu Xin, have you or have you not considered why he still acquiesced to your seemingly clever link at the Fei Yun Building?”

These successive questions, like a blow to the head, awakened Yu Xin from his confusion. His face fluctuated between shades of light and dark. “You mean he is certain he has an opportunity in Mo Yun City, but is unfamiliar with the city and doesn’t know where to start, so he deliberately threw out a stone to test the waters, and I not only didn’t expose him, but also admitted everything?”

Lu Qi Lang’s acquiescence at the Fei Yun Building made it even clearer. He was already observing Yu Xin’s secrets and was also avoiding competitors, even using his pursuit of She Gu Yu as a target… truly skilled and daring!

“The news of the Shen Xiao secret treasury was something I obtained first,” Bear San Si said slowly. “Because it requires the bloodline of the Feather clan to open, and you and Feather Zhen Venerable share similar demonic characteristics, I believed you possessed extraordinary talent and that in the darkness, you shared some kind of fate with this Venerable. I even believed you were destined for this secret treasury and never considered any other Feather clan member. Only after befriending you and confirming your character did I share this secret treasury with you.”

“For this Shen Xiao secret treasury, I prepared for five years and then waited with you to accommodate your cultivation.”

Even the suppressed, ink-black mask could not conceal the fierce light in his eyes at this moment. “I found you not to watch you mess everything up!”

“I’m sorry!”

It was evident that there was genuine friendship between Yu Xin and Bear San Si, not just a cooperative relationship. At this moment, despite Bear San Si’s anger, Yu Xin showed no fear or resentment, only sincere guilt.

“I was both anxious about the gains and losses of the Shen Xiao secret treasury and timid when facing Lu Qi Lang, allowing my innate self-pride to surface. This led to my cleverness being exposed and my ignorance revealed!” He looked earnestly at Bear San Si. “Brother Bear, is there any way to salvage the situation now? Can the opening time of the Shen Xiao secret treasury be delayed? I can wait another ten years!”

“The Shen Xiao secret treasury won’t wait for you for ten years! You call yourself Little Feather Zhen so many times; do you really think Feather Zhen Venerable’s inheritance is yours for the taking?” Bear San Si spoke with a hateful, exasperated voice, hating iron for not becoming steel. “Lu Qi Lang has already reacted; can this matter still be stopped by you and I? If he searches everywhere and finds no clues, do you believe the Shen Xiang Deer clan won’t visit Mo Yun City tomorrow?”

Yu Xin mumbled, “The Shen Xiang Deer clan wants to come, but the Spider family won’t agree.”

“Empress Tian Zhu is seriously injured on the front lines and is now recuperating somewhere unknown. The Spider family’s authority in Tian Xi Wasteland has already been shaken. What can they use to block the Shen Xiang Deer clan?” Bear San Si said coldly. “Furthermore, how kind and trustworthy is the Spider family? Will they recognize your legitimacy to inherit the Shen Xiao secret treasury, Yu Xin? Or are you suggesting that this matter also needs to be governed by who arrived first, by courtesy and humility, so that because you discovered it first, they will obediently allow you a share?”

Yu Xin was rendered speechless, remaining silent for a long time before saying, “Brother Bear, those words truly shame me. I always considered myself to be clever, claiming to have more cunning than Yuan Meng Ji and Quan Xi Zai. Now, looking at it this way, I truly am a foolish chicken pecking at another, pecking myself into a well-bottom frog.”

Bear San Si looked at him, both amused and angry. “You are quite adept at learning and using these phrases from the human race.”

“Brother Bear, you read human classics; I learned from you,” Yu Xin said seriously. “No matter how glorious our ancestors were, no matter how history is propagated above us, the reality is that we were driven here by the human race. The fact is that the human race has already established a foothold in the Five Evil Basin… they surely have many things worth learning.”

“Forget it for now,” Bear San Si sighed, seeing his current humble and self-reflective appearance. “This matter cannot be entirely blamed on you. I’ve thought it through these past few days. What kind of existence is Feather Zhen Venerable? How far-reaching is her influence? The matter of the Shen Xiao secret treasury is impossible to completely conceal. As the opening time approaches, more monsters are receiving news from various channels…”

His voice had softened, but it was still very unpleasant.

“Impossible, right?” Yu Xin said in astonishment. “Now, isn’t it just Lu Qi Lang who knows? He only has a spiritual awareness response; he doesn’t know the specifics. If worst comes to worst, we can grudgingly give him a share of a treasure, or even try to trick him away.”

“Do you think there was only one clever monster in the Fei Yun Building?” Bear San Si countered. “The things you and I can think of, they can all think of.”

Yu Xin wanted to say yes, Yuan Meng Ji was manic, Zhu Ying was violent, Quan Xi Zai was gloomy, and none of them were clever. The little princess Lan Ruo was naive, lovely, and pure, with no complex thoughts. But facing Bear San Si’s eyes, he ultimately dared not respond.

Bear San Si sighed again and said, “Perhaps you know that Shu Jia Lan of the Black Lotus Temple has also arrived in Mo Yun City?”

“Of course I know this,” Yu Xin said dismissively, waving his hand. “Their branch altar here was leveled by a guy called the Peaceful Ghost Officer. This fellow came to investigate! It’s normal for the Black Lotus Temple to have many enemies, given the evil they’ve done.”

“You don’t even care about the things happening in Mo Yun City! You haven’t even figured out the specifics; I still have to go check!” Bear San Si’s eyes flared with anger again. “Although Shu Jia Lan hasn’t received the seal of the Tai Gu Imperial City, he absolutely possesses the strength of a Heavenly List new king. Do you really think a mere Ghost Sub Luo Han is worth him coming to investigate?”

Yu Xin was surprised and uncertain. “You mean he also knows about the Shen Xiao secret treasury?”

“I only know that his arrival this time is absolutely not simple,” Bear San Si said. “Regarding the matter of the Ghost Sub Luo Han, the Black Lotus Temple has already sent a true disciple specifically to investigate. Shu Jia Lan’s arrival, following so closely, is completely unnecessary if it’s for the same matter. Furthermore… the true disciple from the Black Lotus Temple who came to investigate earlier was also killed.”

Yu Xin had just learned this news and was surprised. “Is that Peaceful Ghost Officer that strong? Brother, do you know his background?”

“The Peaceful Ghost Officer hadn’t been heard of before, but he should belong to a secret organization,” Bear San Si said. “I pulled some strings at both scenes of the Black Lotus Temple incidents and went to see them myself. The first scene left behind the words ‘Peaceful Ghost Officer,’ but the second scene had no marks at all. The perpetrator in the second incident was definitely not the same monster, although the one who acted at the second scene deliberately concealed his strength and suppressed his power level. But within that power level, he not only easily abused and killed a Black Lotus Temple true disciple, but also took into account the control of the battlefield environment – something that cannot be achieved by anyone below the demon king level. At the very least, he is an expert of the Heavenly List new king level!”

Yu Xin was silent for a while, truly feeling immense pressure. His confidence in smoothly inheriting the Shen Xiao secret treasury had been severely shaken. The Heavenly List, compiled by the Absolute World Heaven Demon Mi Zhi Ben, was the most credible ranking list of powerful beings in the demon world. The Heavenly List of young demon kings was also regarded as a selection of demonic prodigies.

When did these Heavenly List new kings become so common? In this small Mo Yun City, there were now the Shen Xiang Deer clan’s Lu Qi Lang, the kin-exterminating She Gu Yu, the Black Lotus Temple’s Shu Jia Lan, Tiger Tai Sui’s Tattooed Face Demon, and a mysterious and unfathomable Peaceful demon king!

How could his Mo Yun Three Talents compete with this?

From the Deep Space Other Shore Essence Book Pavilion… Second update, expert!