Tu Yang, who was usually calm and gentle, was now trembling slightly with anger. "Even now, you're still so stubborn! Do you really think it's all our fault? I regret that I misjudged you. How could I have served a scoundrel like you!"
Amid their argument, Chong Ming had regained a bit of his strength. The image of Yaohua having her heart torn out kept replaying in his mind, causing him unbearable pain. He wished he could just die with her.
He hated himself for his stupidity and weakness. He hated that he couldn't even protect the life of the woman he loved.
Staggering out of the palace, he pulled out the jade hairpin from his head. His long hair cascaded down, and his fair face was streaked with tears.
The jade hairpin in his hand transformed back into a parasol tree branch and a phoenix feather. A faint laugh seemed to come from it. "Chong Ming, when will you marry me openly and make me your wife?"
He suddenly looked up, but there was no sign of Yaohua. Not paying attention, he stumbled over a sharp rock. The item in his hand touched the ground and took root.
"Once a parasol tree is infused with the aura of a phoenix, it will take root as soon as it touches the ground. So you have to keep this token of love I gave you with you all the time. Don't take it off, or you'll never find it again."
The parasol tree took root and grew rapidly, soon becoming a lush and large tree.
He half - cried and half - laughed, curling up under the tree. The tears of the god fell on the ground, spurring the growth of the parasol tree.
The phoenix tail feather turned into a tiny spark, rising among the branches and disappearing.
It was like the bright smile of a young girl and the carefree memories, fleeting in an instant.
Suddenly, the ground shook, and the celestial restriction on the horizon began to tremble.
Zhao Yue's arrogant and mocking voice rang out. "I just went out for a while, and someone dared to occupy my Demon Lord's residence. Soldiers, break this restriction for me!"
Hearing this voice, fury blazed in Chong Ming's eyes. He rushed towards the Heavenly Gate and saw Zhao Yue leading the demons standing in front of it.
Chong Ming stared fixedly at the figure beside her and blurted out, "Yaohua, you're not dead?"
Seeing his reaction, Zhao Yue smiled satisfactorily. "My lord god, you must be mistaken. This is not your precious disciple Yaohua, but my subordinate, Feng Chong!"
Only then did Chong Ming notice that although Yaohua was alive, she was now filled with demonic qi and looked like a member of the Heavenly Demon Clan.
He gritted his teeth and asked, "What did you do to her?"
Zhao Yue scoffed. "She watched you publicly break your oath and leave with another woman while she barely managed to escape. Naturally, she was heartbroken. Now she's completely controlled by my Heavenly Demon Seed and full of hatred for you."
"No, you're lying to me." Chong Ming watched the unconscious Yaohua, feeling as if his heart was bleeding.
"Am I lying?" Zhao Yue laughed mockingly. "Let's see if she'll listen to me or to you, her lover. Feng Chong, attack!"
With a wave of her hand, the True Fire of the Phoenix immediately poured out from Yaohua's body.
The pain Chong Ming was suffering now was a hundred times worse than when he was seriously injured before. "Only the master can use the True Fire of the Phoenix. Yaohua, do you really hate me? Or are you being manipulated?"
But Yaohua remained silent, her eyes filled with only a fierce killing intent.
The True Fire of the Phoenix burned layer upon layer, transforming into a huge fire phoenix. The surging flames rushed towards Chong Ming.
He didn't dodge. His divine body wasn't restricted like the demons', and he remained unharmed in the flames.
Zhao Yue frowned in confusion. How could this be?
She shouted, "Feng Chong, don't hold back. Strike him with your sword!"
The sword on her body was the one he had given her before.
Chong Ming blocked the incoming attack. The two swords clashed with a shrill sound.
He called out affectionately, "Yaohua, wake up. I'll save you."
He gently grabbed Yaohua's hand. She didn't resist, but when he pulled her into his arms, she suddenly drew her sword.
The tip of the sword pierced through his back. Feeling the intense pain in his body, Chong Ming let out a bitter laugh. "Yaohua, I regret so much. I'd rather die with you than live on alone."
Yaohua pulled out the sword and saw that the wound on Chong Ming's chest healed quickly. She tilted her head slightly and continued to attack.
At this moment, the God - Lord and Tu Yang finally rushed over.
Tu Yang wanted to step forward to rescue Chong Ming. She said in shock, "What's wrong with Lord Chong Ming? Since he became the God of War a thousand years ago, he's never been so reckless. It seems that his will to live has completely disappeared. Could it be that the demons have done something to him?"
But the God - Lord tightly grabbed her wrist. "It's not that the demons have done something to him. It's just that the delusions in his heart have been exposed."
"Even now, you still slander him." Tu Yang tried hard to shake off his hand but couldn't break free.
The God - Lord turned her shoulders. The demonic qi mark on his wrist was getting darker.
His eyes were filled with jealousy. "For so many years, you've only had eyes for him. I've tried my best to imitate him, becoming colder, more mature, more powerful, and more steady than him. But why won't you ever look back at me? Chong Ming has now fallen into the demonic path. His improper desires are the evidence of his demonic qi."
He used to be a free - spirited person. From the day he became the God - Lord, he had been infatuated with this purple - robed figure and couldn't sleep at night.
At the funeral of the previous God - Lord, Tu Yang shed tears for the first time. She looked at Chong Ming with trust in her eyes, but when facing his affection, she only said coldly, "Please, God - Lord, put the overall situation first."
He knew then that she liked someone like Chong Ming. At that time, he had just ascended to the throne, and his prestige was naturally not as high as Lord Chong Ming's. But later, even though he ruled the four seas, her attitude towards him was still cold and distant, always resisting his closeness.
Although Tu Yang didn't have the body of an ancient god, she was a natural celestial body formed by the spiritual qi of heaven and earth. Since childhood, she had been pure - minded, loving all living beings, and ignorant of the seven emotions and six desires.
Looking at the excited God - Lord, her eyes were only filled with surprise and disgust. "God - Lord, please respect yourself. I don't believe that Lord Chong Ming would fall into a complete demon because of mere desires. Even if he falls into the demonic path, it must be for a noble cause. As long as we can wake him up, as long as..."
The God - Lord couldn't bear it anymore. "Mere desires? Love can make people live, die, and even go crazy. He's beyond saving. Now, I'm the one who can lead the Three Realms and defeat the demons. Only me. When will you understand?"
Unable to break free, Tu Yang could only watch as Chong Ming was beaten back step by step because he didn't want to hurt Yaohua. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Just then, two streaks of light flew from the horizon and suddenly joined the battle.
It was Gu Songyue and Fairy Yuanzhi. They saved Chong Ming.
The three of them returned to the celestial restriction together.
Gu Songyue looked at the wounds on Chong Ming's body. He was both disgusted and couldn't bear to look. "Why are you so stupid? Yaohua is already dead. Now she's just a puppet."