Chapter 31: Demonic Heart and Demonic Bones
Although she saw nothing, Ying Li clearly observed everything.
“This girl is…”
As the origin was restored, the memories of her childhood became increasingly clear in Ying Li’s mind.
In order to prevent Ying Li from developing unnecessary illusions about familial affection due to being lost since childhood, Ying Tong had Ye Ying reveal the truth to her.
Though this was a cruel decision, it was better than investing emotions only to be backstabbed later.
Ying Li looked at the girl below. Master Ye Ying told her that the girl’s name was Ying Li, which had the same pronunciation but different characters from her own name.
After her disappearance, her father brought Ying Li back to the Ying family, falsely claiming she was Ying Li, and later changed her name from Li (黎/Dark) to Li (梨/Pear), citing the character “Li” as inauspicious.
At the same time, she learned a lot about Ying Li and the actions of her three elder brothers.
Having not been influenced by those so-called relatives, Ying Li was able to view the situation from the perspective of an observer.
Her three elder brothers’ protection of Ying Li had reached a crazy level; one could only wonder, if she were truly found and returned, would she really be treated well?
Ying Li’s ability to become the Empress indicated that she was not foolish; on the contrary, she was very clever.
One was a cherished child raised with care, while the other was a beggar daughter, neglected and lacking basic needs; after returning, she might even be scorned.
“Fortunately, the ones who found me were Master Yunhuang and Master Ye Ying.”
…
“Greetings, Venerable Yunhuang!”
“Greetings, Young Master!”
“Greetings, Young Master Xuan!”
After Ying Tong and the others returned to the Ying family, a group of Ying family members had been waiting respectfully at the mountain gate for quite some time.
Ying Tong nodded slightly.
The place where the main branch of the Ying family was located was called the Endless Domain.
First, what caught the eye was an endless expanse of white, a world that anyone wishing to enter the Ying family had to cross.
Surrounded by this icy world, the Ying family was brilliant with divine light and full of vitality. The protective mountain formation operated invisibly, consuming an extraordinarily terrifying amount of energy every second.
However, even what was visible now did not represent the full extent of the Ying family.
The reason the Ying family could stand firm in the Cangqiong Realm without collapsing was not without cause.
“Is this the true Ying family?”
Ying Ming, Ying Xin, Ying Li, and those who were visiting for the first time stood frozen in place after witnessing the scene, unable to regain their senses for a long time.
No wonder their father had insisted that they return to the main family to cultivate.
Although they had become somewhat numb from the shocks along the way, seeing such a sight still made it difficult for their hearts to settle.
While struggling to calm themselves, an indescribable excitement and pride arose within them because they knew they would spend a long time here.
“Let’s go in,” Ying Tong said.
The Ying family had long established a series of mature processes for how to arrange these people, so there was no need for Ying Tong to worry.
However, among them, Ying Li was an exception.
Although she had already begun her cultivation journey, her years of wandering had left her ignorant about everything, even unable to recognize characters.
Thus, Ying Li’s first task on her first day here was to learn to read and write; there was no rush for her to cultivate.
After all, as long as Ying Li ate, she could continuously enhance her cultivation level. In comparison, understanding knowledge and reason through reading was much more important.
Once everyone was taken away, Ying Tong transformed into a beam of light and directly returned to her residence.
As soon as she landed, Ying Tong sensed the unusual fluctuations of aura emanating from within the cave.
However, there was no change in her expression; she simply lifted her foot and walked inside.
Inside the cave, a woman in green sat at a table, a cup of tea that had gone cold beside her, clearly having waited for a long time.
“You’re back,” she said.
The woman’s voice was cold yet gentle, her green eyes looking at Ying Tong.
“Mm,” Ying Tong replied with a slight nod, then naturally took a seat at the other side of the table.
This time, the harvest from the ruins was significant. “These are what I specifically brought for you.”
As she spoke, Ying Tong placed a storage device on the table.
The woman, Lu Yi, merely glanced at the items on the table, surprise flashing in her green eyes.
Withdrawing her gaze, Lu Yi looked back at Ying Tong. “I need an explanation.”
She did not understand why, when they were so close to ascending, Ying Tong chose to give up.
“Why give up on ascension? Have you forgotten what you promised us?”
Seeing Lu Yi’s agitation, Ying Tong comforted her. “First of all, I have not forgotten my promise to you.”
Initially, Ying Tong had signed contracts with eight phoenixes, becoming the Phoenix Lord, and had promised to lead them away from the Cangqiong Realm to ascend to the Heavenly Realm.
This promise had never left her mind.
“I haven’t given up on ascension; I’ve merely postponed it. Moreover, what I’m doing now is not without significance. This matter is extremely important and concerns our survival in the future.”
Ying Tong’s expression was serious. If they did not resolve this issue, ascending would only lead to waiting for death.
If she died, Lu Yi and the others would not have a good outcome either.
Hearing this, Lu Yi paused, her rationality gradually returning. “Are you really telling the truth?”
Ying Tong nodded. “When have I ever lied to you? I can’t disclose the specific circumstances, but all you need to do is cooperate with me and help me locate those individuals one by one.”
“Okay, I trust you.”
After saying this, Lu Yi put away the storage ring on the table and placed a document in front of Ying Tong.
“This is something I stumbled upon in the lower realm. Although their appearance is somewhat different, they should be the people you are looking for.”
“Lower realm?”
Ying Tong was taken aback for a moment as she picked up the document and began to read.
When she saw the name, she couldn’t help but gasp. How could it be this person? So he came from the lower realm?
Ying Xuejian, different from others who had demonic hearts and Daoist bones, who could at least suppress one another; she was born with both demonic heart and demonic bones, inherently suited to become a demon lord.
However, it made sense; such a terrifying and evil talent could only have a glimmer of survival in the lower realm.
Whether it was a demonic heart or demonic bones, having just one of them was already explosive, yet Ying Xuejian possessed both.
Throughout the long years, there were at most twenty individuals who had both demonic hearts and bones alive, but those people only possessed one of them.
Even so, regardless of their origins or experiences, they ultimately all became demon lords who wreaked havoc upon the world, pursued by countless forces.
Those around them met tragic ends as well.
Lu Yi understood what it meant to have both a demonic heart and demonic bones, saying, “Why not just kill them directly to prevent them from becoming a menace in the future?”
