Yun’e Tribe, headquarters of the Demon Clan Alliance.
Madam Heisha and Gutu were kneeling before the Rakshasa King!
However, Madam Heisha knelt defiantly, while Gutu knelt upright, his eyes fixed on Princess Shayan with an aggressive gaze.
Neither of them was particularly respectful, especially Madam Heisha.
Even though she was the Rakshasa King’s younger sister, she should not have behaved this way, as if she had something to rely on.
The Rakshasa King said coldly, “Heisha, you used Shayan’s trust in you to give her a mind altering drug, didn’t you?”
“Yes!” Madam Heisha admitted directly.
The Rakshasa King said, “Gutu, you tried to assault Shayan, didn’t you?”
“Half yes, half no!” Gutu said. “If I had really wanted to force myself on Shayan, her innocence would have been lost long ago, and Lanling would have arrived too late. I wanted to become intimate with Shayan in front of Lanling, so that he would know Shayan was my woman.”
The Rakshasa King said coldly, “Gutu, you certainly have courage. Have you forgotten that Shayan is my daughter? And did you try to kill Lanling?”
Gutu said, “I did not kill him. I only wanted to castrate him. His martial arts were too weak to resist me. In order to preserve his dignity, he self destructed and died. Therefore, you could say that he died in a duel with me.”
Princess Shayan said coldly, “My husband is not dead.”
Gutu’s eyes trembled. “He is not dead?”
Princess Shayan said, “Of course he is not dead. How could my husband, who is so powerful, possibly die?”
Gutu stared seriously at Princess Shayan. He was truly shocked. He had clearly seen Lanling reduced to nothing, so Lanling should unquestionably have been dead.
Why was Princess Shayan saying that he was alive, and why was she so serious, showing no sign of lying? Furthermore, Shayan had previously hated Lanling to the bone. Why had she suddenly become so deeply devoted to him?
What exactly was happening?
Princess Shayan then knelt before the Rakshasa King and said, “Father, please give me justice. Give my husband Lanling justice and punish the criminal Gutu.”
Madam Heisha gave a cold laugh. “Shayan, you previously kept saying that you hated Lanling to the bone and regarded him as an enemy. Otherwise, why would I have tried to bring you and my son Gutu together? With Gutu’s status, wisdom and abilities, would he really be unable to find a good wife? Yet now you are saying that you and that bastard Lanling are deeply in love. You really are too changeable.”
Even before the Rakshasa King, Madam Heisha showed little respect and instead spoke sarcastically.
Gutu immediately bowed his head and said, “Your Majesty, Shayan and I grew up together and have always loved each other. Please grant our marriage and allow me to marry Shayan.”
Princess Shayan angrily said, “Who says we love each other? My husband Lanling and I are the ones who truly love each other. I hate you deeply.”
Madam Heisha said coldly from the side, “You used to love Naitu as well, yet you personally killed him. Your affection is rather cheap.”
At this moment, she completely abandoned her previous loving appearance towards Shayan. Her mocking words made Shayan tremble with anger.
She seemed to have absolutely no fear of the Rakshasa King, openly mocking Princess Shayan in front of him.
“Enough! Enough!” the Rakshasa King roared furiously. “Do you still have me, the Rakshasa King, in your eyes? Do you really think I cannot kill you?”
Madam Heisha stood up, walked before the Rakshasa King and raised her delicate neck. “You want to kill me? Fine. Go ahead. Kill me. A few years ago, you already killed me once…”
The Rakshasa King’s expression changed slightly.
Then he said, “Get out…”
Gutu stood up and walked straight out.
Princess Shayan cried out, “Father, please give me justice!”
The Rakshasa King said, “Shayan, you leave first.”
Shayan left angrily as well.
Outside, she immediately encountered a piercing gaze.
Gutu stared fixedly at Princess Shayan and said with a laugh, “Cousin, you really are different after being with men. Thanks to Naitu and Lanling, your body has become so mature and attractive. It is like soup, it needs to be cooked long enough before it develops its best flavour. And now you are at your best, which just happens to benefit me.”
Princess Shayan said with extreme hatred, “Do not get complacent. My father will not let you off.”
“Hahaha…” Gutu laughed. “Do not worry. You are my woman. No one can change that.”
Inside the palace, only Madam Heisha and the Rakshasa King remained.
“I told you to leave. Why are you still here?” the Rakshasa King pointed at Madam Heisha and said. “Heisha, you raised Shayan yourself. She is practically your daughter. How could you do something like this?”
Madam Heisha sneered. “Rakshasa King, you and I are half siblings, are we not? You were able to do something like that to me. What is there that I cannot do?”
“Shut up! Shut up!” the Rakshasa King roared. “It was an accident. I was confused. I was overwhelmed with anger and lost my reason…”
“Whatever you say. You already did it.” Madam Heisha stood up and looked at the Rakshasa King. “Yes, I drugged Shayan. I also intended for Gutu to take advantage of the situation. Do whatever you want to me.”
With that, she left directly.
……
The Rakshasa King fell into deep conflict, unsure what to do.
His son, the Rakshasa Crown Prince, had directly castrated the fourth heir to the throne, the Beileng Heir. Even as the Rakshasa King, he greatly admired such courage.
Previously, he could have stripped Gutu of his title, imprisoned him, or even punished him physically for offending Princess Shayan.
But now…
The great war was imminent. Of the more than eight million troops stationed at the Rakshasa border, the Rakshasa Clan had deployed two million, one third of whom came from the Heavenly Demon Banner.
The Heavenly Demon Lord was also serving as a vanguard commander.
If Gutu were punished too severely, serious consequences might follow.
Furthermore, Gutu’s attack on Lanling was also retaliation for the Crown Prince and Lanling conspiring to kill the Beileng Heir.
Therefore, severe punishment for Gutu was impossible.
There was an even greater problem. The Rakshasa King had personally given Princess Shayan to Gutu. Elder Mokan had even announced the marriage before several Demon Kings, more than a dozen Banner Lords and dozens of Demon Clan generals.
The entire upper ranks of the Demon Clan Alliance now knew that the Rakshasa King had promised Shayan to Gutu of the Heavenly Demon Banner.
If he withdrew his decree, it would not only damage the Rakshasa King’s authority, but would also slap the Heavenly Demon Clan in the face.
The Rakshasa King trembled with anger. Elder Mokan had deceived him.
Lanling was clearly still alive, yet Gutu had said that he was dead, and Elder Mokan had also said that he was dead.
Because of this, the Rakshasa King had hurriedly promised Shayan to Gutu, intending to pressure the disobedient Crown Prince.
Yet he had never expected Lanling to survive.
Judging from Gutu’s reaction just now, he also seemed genuinely shocked. It appeared that he had not deliberately deceived the king. He too had believed Lanling was dead.
“Someone…” the Rakshasa King called.
A black shadow immediately entered.
“Ride a ghost ray back to Rakshasa City and determine whether Lanling, Lord of the Flame Demon Banner, is actually dead,” the Rakshasa King ordered.
“Yes!”
……
The Rakshasa King continued weighing his options, still unable to decide how to deal with Gutu.
Night fell.
Military Advisor Xiting landed before the main hall and hurried inside to meet the Rakshasa King.
“How is it? Did the Crown Prince accept my decree?” the Rakshasa King asked.
Military Advisor Xiting shook his head. “The Crown Prince did not accept it. He refuses to withdraw his decision and still intends to send the army to the Earth Fiend Clan defensive line.”
The already furious Rakshasa King could endure no more. He suddenly struck down with his palm.
With a tremendous explosion, a huge and extremely sturdy crystal table was smashed to pieces.
“That rebellious son! How dare he disobey my decree?” the Rakshasa King shouted. “Did you not tell him that he would bear the consequences if he dared to disobey?”
Military Advisor Xiting said, “I did. I even told him about the words you later withdrew, that he might be stripped of his position as Crown Prince if he disobeyed.”
The Rakshasa King said, “What did he say?”
Military Advisor Xiting said, “He said that the Crown Prince’s forces are his direct troops, while the allied Demon Clan armies do not belong to the Rakshasa Clan, so they do not have to obey your orders. He said that even if he were stripped of his position as Crown Prince, he would rather accept that than sit by while the situation deteriorated. Therefore, he refused to accept your decree and absolutely would not withdraw his decision.”
“Roar…”
The Rakshasa King suddenly released a terrifying roar.
An immense energy aura erupted. Every piece of furniture and every vessel inside the great hall was shattered.
The extremely sturdy walls cracked in countless places.
“Rebellion! Rebellion!” the furious Rakshasa King shouted. “Someone is rebelling!”
He was more furious than ever before, overwhelming all his previous anger towards the Netherworld Prince, Elder Mokan, Madam Heisha and Gutu.
He could endure no more!
The Crown Prince had dared to show such utter disregard for him and trample on his decree!
“I will strip him of his position! I will strip him of his position!” the Rakshasa King roared.
Military Advisor Xiting simply knelt to the side without moving.
At that moment, Princess Shayan rushed in.
“Father, what happened? What did Crown Prince Brother do to make you so angry? He is only acting for the greater good. Please do not take offence at him!”
Hearing this made the Rakshasa King even more furious. His own daughter was actually speaking for the Crown Prince instead of standing on his side.
Originally, he had wanted to punish Gutu and seek justice for Shayan.
Now, all his anger was directed towards the Rakshasa Crown Prince, including Princess Shayan, who stood on his side.
“Someone, bring Gutu here!” the Rakshasa King ordered.
A short while later, Gutu and Madam Heisha arrived and knelt before the Rakshasa King.
The Rakshasa King looked coldly at Princess Shayan and ordered, “I do not care whether Lanling is dead or alive. Shayan, you will immediately divorce him and marry Gutu instead. My decision is final and cannot be changed!”
Shayan was completely stunned.
She had never expected that her father would not punish Gutu and Madam Heisha. Instead, he wanted to force her to divorce Lanling and marry the criminal Gutu.
This was completely unreasonable.
“No, no…” Princess Shayan shouted. “I would rather die than divorce my husband. I would rather die than marry Gutu.”
“Then go and die!” the furious Rakshasa King blurted out.
Princess Shayan suddenly stood up and coldly stared at the Rakshasa King, Gutu and Madam Heisha.
“Father, if we cannot obtain justice from you, then do not blame my husband for turning against you and seeking justice in his own way!”
Gutu laughed loudly. “My beloved wife, Lanling wants justice? He wants revenge against me? Tell him that I am waiting for him in Rakshasa City. If he wants to kill me or challenge me to a duel, I will face him at any time!”
“Remember this. My husband will make you witness his fury.” Princess Shayan turned and walked away.
Gutu laughed loudly. “Lanling’s fury? The fury of a lowly Near-Human? If the Crown Prince did not need a dog, he would be nothing. His fury, hahaha…”
……
Lanling and Guli rode the three headed Chimera Beast, flying continuously towards the southeastern sea.
They flew for two days and two nights, covering forty to fifty thousand li, searching for the legendary edge of the world, the Sea of Hell.
Along the way, there may have been raging waves and perhaps demonic tides.
But there was not a single person, nor a single ship.
Only the boundless sea.
It seemed to have no end.
No…
There really was an edge to the world.
Suddenly, they reached it.
Lanling had arrived at the edge of the world.
An energy barrier stretched between heaven and earth. It was boundless, immeasurably high and immensely wide, instantly cutting off the entire sea.
It was a barrier of empty energy. When they collided with it, there was no sensation at all. It did not hurt, yet they could not move forward.
He had never expected that this world truly had an end.
But where was the Sea of Hell?
Where was the legendary Immortality Curse?
Where was the million strong undead Imperial Guards of the Ghost King Empire?
Lanling flew along the energy barrier. The entire world seemed to be blocked by this empty energy wall.
He stopped flying, floated above the sea and sat down to wait.
One day, two days, three days passed.
The days became shorter and the nights became longer.
Finally, one day, daylight disappeared completely, and there was only darkness.
The sun should have risen, but it did not.
It was the long polar night.
Lanling continued waiting. The darkness lasted for a full thirty six hours.
Just as Lanling was becoming increasingly anxious, a green gate suddenly appeared in the endless darkness.
This green gate looked somewhat similar to the Aurora Gate in the northern polar region of the human kingdom, but it was different.
The Aurora Gate was colourful and brilliant.
The green energy gate before him was cold, terrifying and filled with the aura of death.
“Master, this should be the entrance to the Sea of Hell. If that million strong Immortal Army exists, they should be beyond this Gate of Light and Shadow,” Guli said.
Lanling nodded.
Then he and Guli walked through the enormous Gate of Light and Shadow, entering an unfamiliar world.
The world of the Immortality Curse.