Yaohua reported, "It's extremely difficult to break this contract seal, which is why it's taken so long..."
The God - Lord tapped on the table, interrupting her, "But I've heard that Chongming has found a way to break the contract seal. Yet you've been reluctant to agree. Could it be that you've truly developed feelings for that Demon Lord?"
As he said this, spiritual energy suddenly rippled around him, and an extremely powerful pressure swept through the entire hall.
Yaohua let out a muffled groan and knelt on the ground, bowing deeply, "Yaohua wouldn't dare! Please, God - Lord, discern the truth."
The God - Lord said coldly and mercilessly, "You just say you 'dare not', not that you 'won't'. That means there are still wild thoughts in your heart! Someone has been watching your every move. Don't even think about deceiving the Immortal Realm. For example—"
He enunciated each word, "Someone saw that Demon Lord appear in the Phoenix Clan."
"That Demon Lord has indeed been pestering me, but I've never been attracted to him. In fact, I wish I could get rid of him quickly. I just haven't taken action because of the contract seal!" Yaohua said in a hurry.
If the God - Lord suspected that the Phoenix Clan was colluding with the Demons because of this, she'd never be able to clear her name.
The God - Lord's expression softened a bit, "Fine. Then kill Zhaowu with your own hands to prove your innocence!"
Kill Zhaowu?
Yaohua was shocked and showed a hesitant look, "But our lives are connected..."
"Don't worry about that," the God - Lord said confidently, "As long as you kill Zhaowu, the contract seal will be broken automatically."
Kill... Zhaowu?
Yaohua should have been happy to learn the method of breaking the contract seal. But when she thought of those purple eyes, she felt a bit reluctant.
How many people in the world had treated her sincerely? Although the relationship between her and Zhaowu was a curse, there was also a bit of kindness. He'd never really harmed her. Instead, he'd protected her when she was in danger.
However, in front of the God - Lord, she didn't hesitate at all. She kowtowed heavily on the ground, "Yaohua obeys the order. I will surely exterminate the Demon Lord to prove my innocence!"
After walking out of the God - Lord's palace, Yaohua felt her back soaked in cold sweat.
Colluding with the Demons was a capital crime.
Her intuition told her that if she'd hesitated even a little bit just now, the God - Lord would have convicted her immediately.
At that time, he'd order the whole world, and the Phoenix Clan would be hunted down by all the other clans.
She closed her eyes. Beside the Jade Lake, the white - robed Immortal Venerable stood quietly, as if he'd anticipated her arrival.
"What's the way to break the contract seal?" She looked up at him. There were many other things she wanted to ask, like whether he'd contacted the God - Lord earlier and whether the God - Lord was forcing her to kill Zhaowu.
But the God - Lord's palace was nearby, so it wasn't convenient for her to ask.
Chongming's eyes were as calm as an ancient well, "Kill him, and the contract seal will be broken naturally."
"Will it endanger my safety?" She asked.
Chongming shook his head. After a pause, he asked, "If you don't want to kill him..."
"I've been feigning compliance with him for all these years. I've wanted to kill him for a long time!" Yaohua's eyes were full of hatred. She sneered, "He's a Demon Lord, and he even wanted to forcefully possess me. I feel disgusted just thinking about him! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been expelled from the Immortal Realm, nor would I have been captured and taken to the Demon Realm. He's made me suffer so much. Now that I'm powerful, I can finally kill him to avenge myself!"
Chongming was stunned and carefully observed her.
She hooked her lips and smiled, "Please, Master, testify for me. Use the memory - recording stone to record my killing of this Demon!"
Then, she closed her eyes and tried to contact Zhaowu through the contract seal in her mind, "Brother Zhaowu, shall we meet at the Heavenly River?"
"This is the first time you've taken the initiative to contact me, isn't it?" Zhaowu's voice was full of smiles, "Why, do you miss me?"
Yaohua said softly, "Yes. They've all bullied me. Only you're good to me."
Zhaowu was first flattered, and then his face darkened, "What? Have you been bullied again?"
Yaohua only left four words, "We'll talk when we meet."
In the boundless yellow sand, Zhaowu cursed in a low voice, "How dare someone bully my wife!"
The water of the Heavenly River roared against the shore, bone - chillingly cold.
The red - dressed girl stood quietly by the river. The red mark between her eyebrows glowed brightly. Just standing there, she was irresistibly associated with the phrase 'peerless beauty'.
The cold water splashed against the shore, and a few drops wet her clothes.
Yaohua couldn't help but hug her shoulders. She felt a bit cold.
She sensed the fluctuation of demonic energy and turned around with a bright smile, "Brother Zhaowu, you're here!"
Zhaowu deliberately walked forward with his hands behind his back. His purple eyes were like glass, with a hint of pride and indulgence, "Tell me. Who do you want me to teach a lesson this time?"
Yaohua's heart skipped a beat. She smiled, "Will you teach a lesson to whoever I ask you to?"
Zhaowu thought that if she'd smile like this every day and be care - free under his care, he'd be willing to be an enemy of the whole world and never be accepted by the Demon Clan again.
On the surface, he snorted, "When have I not helped you?"
"I'm sorry," Yaohua said softly, "I've thought about it for a long time. I really feel sorry for you. You've been so good to me, but I've always resisted you."
Zhaowu's heart melted, "As long as you know—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Yaohua suddenly made a move. The Fuji Qin appeared in the air.
"Zheng"
The strings sounded, and the head fell.
Zhaowu closed his eyes in disbelief. The smile froze on his face. The glass - like pupils reflected Yaohua's smiling face.
Yaohua wiped off the warm blood on the qin, calmly put it away, and took off the jade pendant symbolizing Zhaowu's identity to report back.
Chongming followed silently behind her. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't.
He could no longer understand this disciple of his.
In front of the God - Lord's palace, Yaohua turned to look at him and couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Master, why do you have such an expression? Aren't you happy for me?"
Chongming looked at her quietly, "Naturally, I'm happy."
But somehow, he felt a more intense pain in his heart, as if they were no longer familiar with each other and were drifting further and further apart.
In the palace, the God - Lord was also a bit surprised, "So soon?"
Yaohua took out the memory - recording crystal and the jade pendant. She said proudly, "That Demon Lord lusted after my beauty. I just used a little trick to lure him out. With my current strength, it's easy for me to kill him!"
After saying that, she bowed and smiled, "I also want to thank the God - Lord for telling me the method of breaking the contract seal. Otherwise, how could I have gotten rid of this great trouble?"
The God - Lord smiled, "I was also watching through the water mirror just now. I saw your heroic performance. I will announce your act of killing the Demon Lord to the Three Realms. From now on, if anyone dares to say that you colluded with the Demons, they will be punished by having their mouths slapped."
Yaohua was overjoyed, "Thank you, God - Lord!"
The God - Lord waved his hand, signaling Chongming to step back. He said to her with satisfaction, "Actually, I've already decided to reuse you. What happened just now was just a test for you."
Yaohua immediately showed her loyalty, "My Phoenix Clan is willing to serve the God - Lord whole - heartedly!"
The God - Lord said with relief, "Do you know that in the past, the true body of the Demon Lord of the Demon Clan was sealed separately? The four divine beings jointly sealed the Demon Lord's head. Back then, the Demons went to great lengths to get the Dragon Pearl because they wanted to use it to shake the seal?"
Yaohua was shocked, "So that's what happened! No wonder they wanted to harm the Dragon Clan!"