19: Chapter 19 Heavenly Demon City

The three walked in the wilderness for seven days. Niu Dali's injuries recovered quickly; the Yao Race Physique was inherently powerful, and with the healing Medicinal Pills Chen Yuanji provided, the wounds on Niu Dali's body had already scabbed and healed in just a few days.

"Your Human Race's Medicinal Pills are truly good things." Niu Dali moved his shoulders; his broken bones had already set. "In our tribe, when we get injured, we can only grit our teeth and endure it."

Chen Yuanji didn't respond. He was looking at the map. According to the route marked by Shen Wuchang, Heavenly Demon City should be within a hundred miles ahead. It was the largest gathering place for the Yao Race in the Eastern Desolate Region, and it was said that millions of Yao lived there, ruled by the Demon Emperor Palace.

"Brother Chen, there seems to be someone ahead." Su Xiaohu's ears twitched.

Chen Yuanji felt it too. Over ten miles ahead, a large amount of life force was gathered—at least a thousand people, no, not people, but Yao! The three quickened their pace and climbed over a hill. The scene before them made Chen Yuanji pause slightly; it was a city. It wasn't a city of brick and stone like those of the Human Race, but a massive mountain stronghold built against the mountain. The fortress walls were constructed from whole logs, standing several zhang high, with a watchtower every hundred zhang. The gate was made from the skull of some giant Yao Beast, bleached white and emitting a faint pressure. A long queue stood at the city gate, mostly Yao, with a few humans. The Yao took various forms; some had animal ears, some trailed tails, some were covered in scales, and some were over a zhang tall. They were either carrying loads, riding Yao Beasts, or walking, waiting to enter the city in an orderly fashion.

"Is this Heavenly Demon City?" Su Xiaohu's eyes widened. "It's so big!"

Niu Dali also showed a shocked expression. He had grown up in the Heavenly Bull Tribe, and the largest "city" he had seen was a settlement of only a few hundred people. This Heavenly Demon City, which could accommodate millions of Yao, was completely beyond his imagination.

"Let's go, get inside." Chen Yuanji put away the map and led the way toward the city gate.

There were Yao Race guards at the city gate, all with tiger heads and human bodies, standing over eight feet tall with large sabers hanging from their waists. They emitted the aura of the Peak Ningyuan Realm. The lead guard was even more extraordinary, at the Middle Stage of the Guiyuan Realm, with a pair of piercing tiger eyes scanning everyone entering the city.

"Entry fee, ten taels of silver per person." The guard stopped Chen Yuanji and looked him up and down. "Human?"

"Yes." Chen Yuanji did not hide it.

The guard frowned, seemingly not very fond of the Human Race, but he didn't make things difficult. He took the silver and let them pass. The interior of Heavenly Demon City was even more spectacular than it looked from the outside; the streets were wide and level, lined with shops on both sides. Selling weapons, Medicinal Pills, Yao Beast Materials, human goods... everything was available. The streets were crowded with people, and various Yao languages rose and fell, mixed with the common tongue of the Human Race, making it incredibly bustling.

Su Xiaohu was like a bird out of a cage, looking all around with eyes full of curiosity. She had grown up in the Qingqiu Tribe and had never seen so many Yao gathered together. Chen Yuanji kept his eyes on his surroundings. Although Heavenly Demon City was lively, it was not a peaceful place.

"Let's find a place to stay first," Chen Yuanji said.

The three found a cheap inn in the east of the city and took two rooms. One for Su Xiaohu, and one for Chen Yuanji and Niu Dali. After settling in, Chen Yuanji took out the token given by Shen Wuchang and turned it over in his hands.

"Brother Chen, are we really going to the Demon Emperor Palace?" Su Xiaohu asked.

"Elder Shen told us to go, so there must be a reason."

He stood up and tucked the token into his robes. "You and Niu Dali wait at the inn. I'll go alone."

"Why?" Su Xiaohu immediately jumped up. "I want to go with you!"

"I don't know what the situation is at the Demon Emperor Palace. It might be dangerous to bring you along."

"Then you shouldn't go alone even more!" Su Xiaohu looked at him stubbornly. "An extra person means extra strength. Besides, I'm of the Yao Race. If the people at the Demon Emperor Palace see me, they might be more polite."

Chen Yuanji thought about it and nodded.

"Niu Dali, stay and watch our things. The two of us will go."

The Demon Emperor Palace was located in the very center of Heavenly Demon City, a magnificent palace built of giant black stones. The palace covered hundreds of acres, with the tallest main hall reaching dozens of zhang high. A huge flagpole stood atop the hall, flying a flag embroidered with the pattern of a Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox. Two rows of guards stood at the entrance, all at the Peak of the Guiyuan Realm, led by a Yao powerhouse at the Early Stage of the Shentong Realm.

"Who are you?" A middle-aged man stopped the two, his gaze lingering on Chen Yuanji for a moment before landing on Su Xiaohu, where he paused slightly.

"An orphan of the Qingqiu Tribe seeks an audience with the person in charge of the Demon Emperor Palace." Chen Yuanji took out the token and handed it over.

The middle-aged man took the token and examined it closely, his expression changing slightly. "Qingqiu Tribe? Wasn't the Qingqiu Tribe already wiped out?"

"Yes. Of the one hundred and thirty-seven members, only she survived." Chen Yuanji pointed at Su Xiaohu.

The middle-aged man was silent for a moment before turning around. "Follow me."

The two followed the middle-aged man into the Demon Emperor Palace, through a long corridor, to a side hall. An old woman sat in the side hall, her hair white and her face kind, but the aura she emitted was unfathomable—at least at the Faxiang Realm or above.

When the old woman saw Su Xiaohu, her cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.

"The Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Bloodline?" She stood up and walked quickly to Su Xiaohu, looking her up and down, her voice trembling. "Child, what is your name?"

Su Xiaohu.

"Su Xiaohu..." the old woman murmured, repeating the name, and suddenly tears began to stream down her face. "So similar, so very similar. Was your mother named Su Waner?"

Su Xiaohu's eyes widened. "You knew my mother?"

The old woman didn't answer but turned to the middle-aged man. "You, leave us."

The middle-aged man respectfully withdrew and closed the door.

The old woman pulled Su Xiaohu to sit down and glanced at Chen Yuanji. "A human? What are you to her?"

"A friend," Chen Yuanji said calmly. "Entrusted by someone to bring her to Heavenly Demon City."

The old woman nodded and didn't ask further, her attention returning to Su Xiaohu. "Child, your mother, Su Waner, was the daughter of the Previous Palace Master of the Demon Emperor Palace. Thirty years ago, she left Heavenly Demon City for the edge of the Eastern Desolate Region, and there has been no news of her since."

Su Xiaohu was stunned. She had always thought her mother was just an ordinary member of the Qingqiu Tribe; she had never imagined her mother had such a significant background.

"Then... what about my grandfather?" she asked.

The old woman's expression darkened. "The Old Palace Master passed away twenty years ago. Before he died, he was constantly murmuring your mother's name."

Su Xiaohu's tears welled up again. Chen Yuanji stood to the side, silent. He knew that from this day on, Su Xiaohu's fate would change.