LRAB Chapter 60 Passionate Motion
Chapter 60 Passionate Motion
Chapter 60 Passionate Motion
The news of Huan Du Qingtian's fall and the destruction of the Southern Kingdom swept across the world like a raging hurricane, shocking every corner of the human and demon races.
No one could have predicted that this tug-of-war, which was originally expected to be a close contest with both sides winning and losing, would end in such a thorough and decisive way—one side's demon emperor died, and the other side's ancient kingdom was wiped out!
He had initially thought that even if the Southern Kingdom suffered losses in this battle, incur heavy casualties, and even lose some territory, its millennia-old foundation and the presence of the Demon Emperor would prevent its collapse. After all, that was the Demon Emperor Huan Du Qing Tian! If it had happened outside the Southern Kingdom's territory, and a few of the most powerful humans had managed to ambush and kill them, it would have been understandable. But this was in the Southern Kingdom! In the heart of the Southern Kingdom, which he had cultivated for countless years, empowered by the power of heaven and earth, making it practically his home turf!
"The Demon Emperor is almost invincible within his own territory"—this is a universally acknowledged truth within the industry.
However, Zhou Yi single-handedly overcame the protection of the Southern Kingdom's power of heaven and earth, and killed the demon emperor who was fighting on his home turf!
The world fell silent, then erupted into a tremendous uproar and uproar. Both human clans and demon forces were reassessing this new leader of the Dao Alliance, who had appeared out of nowhere and whose methods were more domineering than anyone could have imagined.
Meanwhile, another piece of news, quietly spread by certain forces, stirred up ripples of vigilance in the northern border and the territory of royal families, like a stone thrown into a calm lake. Fan Yunfei, the number one expert in the Western Regions and the Sand Fox Prince, who had been missing for a thousand years, suddenly appeared in the territory of the Northern Mountains and was suspected of secretly meeting with the demon emperor "Shi Kuan" who ruled the Northern Mountains with absolute power.
The two demon emperors secretly met at this opportune moment!
Upon hearing this news, the human forces in the Northern Territory and the Wangquan Manor, which held sway over the central command, immediately tensed up. A thousand-year-old incident was brought to the forefront once more—it was this very Fan Yunfei who had single-handedly stormed into Wangquan Manor and, in full view of everyone, killed the then-powerful head of the Wangquan family! That battle had drastically escalated the already fragile peace between humans and demons, serving as the direct trigger for the current irreconcilable conflict between them.
A thousand years later, this malevolent star reappeared and made contact with another powerful demon emperor, whose intentions demanded careful investigation and vigilance. The northern sky seemed to be shrouded in a heavy shadow as a result.
However, none of this is currently relevant to Zhou Yi, who is located in the southern capital.
The newly conquered territory is in dire need of rebuilding, with countless interests to be clarified and numerous hidden dangers to be eliminated. As the ruler who single-handedly conquered this land, there are too many pressing matters that require his personal decision-making and oversight.
The capital of the Southern Kingdom, once the abyss of ten thousand poisons, now has a new master. The imperial palace is empty and desolate. The Huan Du clan had fled in panic before the city fell, leaving behind only the magnificent palace that exudes an air of decay.
The heads of various families who followed Zhou Yi into the city were all beaming and exuding high spirits. Their bodies were bulging with various storage treasures, clearly indicating an astonishing harvest. Those from the relatively resource-poor Southern Territory and some smaller families from the Central Plains, in particular, had made a fortune, exclaiming that this southern expedition was a truly incredible gamble!
Who could have imagined? What was originally thought to be a war of annihilation, a bloodbath with mountains of corpses and countless lives lost, turned out to be so "easy"? They practically just followed behind their leader, waving flags and shouting encouragement, occasionally gathering together to unleash magical artifacts for remote support, and this Southern Kingdom, with its millennia-long heritage, was taken over!
The Demon Emperor was killed by the Alliance Leader in a single blow, and the top Demon Kings scattered like birds and beasts when they saw the situation was not good. As for the seemingly huge army of hundreds of thousands of demons? Under the Alliance Leader's supernatural powers that were like a natural disaster, they were instantly routed and there was no chance for them to fight to the death.
Zero casualties, even near-zero losses, but the rewards are overwhelmingly generous!
The alliance leader decreed: "Battlefield spoils shall be distributed according to individual skill; whoever obtains them first shall be the master!"
Thus, the Huandu clan's nearly ten thousand years of treasures—mountains of rare spiritual herbs, ancient natural treasures, exotic poisons and minerals from the South, and those strangely styled yet powerful demonic artifacts—like a flood of treasure bursting its banks, instantly overwhelmed these bloodthirsty aristocratic cultivators.
And those great demons, demon kings, and even demon kings who fled in panic—weren't they all ancient monsters? In their haste to escape, how could they have taken all their possessions with them? The accumulations in countless caves and nests all became ownerless, available for anyone to take.
This single trip has likely resulted in the Southern Territory, which was originally considered a remote and impoverished force within the Dao Alliance, now possessing more resources than the combined resources of the Central Plains and the Northern Territory, which have been operating for a long time!
Even seasoned figures like Steward Fei and Yang Yifang could never have imagined that Zhou Yi could single-handedly accomplish, in less than three months, the feat that the Dao Alliance had dreamed of for thousands of years but no one dared to dream of—striking straight to the heart of the enemy and establishing his rule in the Southern Kingdom!
With the capital secured, Zhou Yi immediately summoned all the heads of the noble families who had participated in the war to a meeting in the former Southern Kingdom Demon Emperor's Palace.
"Without rules, there can be no order." He sat upright in the main seat, his voice not loud, but carrying an unquestionable authority. "The territory of the Southern Kingdom has been incorporated into the territory of my Dao Alliance. The living beings here must abide by the laws and regulations of my Dao Alliance."
He first issued a strict order: all members of the Dao Alliance were forbidden from harassing or plundering the human villages and towns that originally inhabited the Southern Kingdom. Although the Southern Kingdom was predominantly inhabited by demons, a small number of humans also lived there, mostly descendants of those who had been abducted or migrated there over the centuries, and their situation was difficult. Secondly, those demon races with clear records, or those verified to have never actively harmed humans, and even those inclined to peaceful coexistence, such as the Moon Crying Clan, were also to be protected and were not to be attacked or killed without cause. Naturally, for those demon races that had harmed humans and had a long history of evil deeds, hunting them down was not restricted, and they were even encouraged to exterminate them.
No one dared to object. Firstly, Zhou Yi's prestige was at its peak, and his decisive and ruthless image was deeply ingrained in people's minds; secondly, everyone had just swallowed a huge amount of resources that could last for hundreds of years, and while they were satisfied, they really did not want to disobey the alliance leader on such a "troublesome task" and cause trouble.
Next came an even bigger issue—how to manage this new territory, which was even larger than the southern borders plus the Central Plains.
Zhou Yi immediately ordered that each aristocratic family must first eliminate the remaining demon resistance forces within their respective areas of responsibility to ensure basic safety. At the same time, he sent messages to the Central Plains and the rear of the Southern Territory, mobilizing a large number of ordinary people and low-level cultivators skilled in construction, farming, and management, in preparation for a long period of development and assimilation.
At present, they have only occupied "points"—major cities and resource points—while vast "areas"—countries, mountains, forests, and undeveloped areas—await for development. This will be a massive project that will last for generations, enough to keep the various forces of the Dao Alliance, and even the affiliated secular dynasties, busy for hundreds of years.
Based on each family's strength, contribution in the battle, and subsequent development capabilities, Zhou Yi directly issued a clear "Reclamation Order," stipulating the basic construction tasks that each family must complete, including immigration, land reclamation, road construction, and fortification. For a time, the palace was filled with both excitement and headaches—excitement at acquiring vast fiefdoms or jurisdictions that could be managed for generations, and headaches over the enormous manpower shortage. Even including three-year-old children in the families, it was still a drop in the ocean when faced with the reclamation tasks that often stretched thousands of miles.
However, the shockwaves from the fall of the Southern Kingdom had not yet subsided, and the families were filled with mixed feelings of joy and worry about the reclamation order on the third day.
An urgent message, sent from the southern border across a vast distance, flew to the capital of the Southern Kingdom and was presented to Zhou Yi.
The message came from the Dao Alliance troops stationed outside Tushan Pass.
The message, in short, stated that the troops had been ambushed by elite fox demons from Tushan. Fortunately, they had taken precautions and were stationed near the "Inscribed Rock." At a critical moment, the powerful sword intent remaining on the rock wall was activated, forcing back the attacking fox demons. The situation is currently tense, and they are requesting support from within the alliance.
The news spread, and the clan heads, who had just experienced the victory of destroying their kingdom and were riding high on their morale, were immediately filled with indignation: "As expected! Those who are not of our kind are bound to have different hearts! The Tushan fox demons have never given up their desire to destroy us!"
"Alliance Leader! The Southern Kingdom has been pacified. Why not seize the opportunity to launch a northern expedition and wipe out Tushan in one fell swoop, thus eliminating future troubles!"
"That's right! Wherever the Alliance Leader's sword points, we will follow to the death! We've already destroyed one kingdom, so what's one more Tushan!"
The hall was filled with shouts of soldiers clamoring for battle, and the atmosphere was thick with murderous intent.
Zhou Yi remained calm, picked up the battle report, and his gaze fell on the lines "The sword intent of the inscribed rock forced back the fox demon" and "We were on guard in advance," a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.
He specifically ordered the border troops to be stationed near the inscribed rock, in order to prevent any human or demon from being unable to restrain themselves from engaging in such provocative and divisive acts.
"quiet."
The two simple words seemed to contain immense power, instantly suppressing the boiling clamor and murderous aura within the hall.
All eyes were on the person in the main seat.
Zhou Yi remained calm, showing no sign of anger at being provoked, but rather an air of detached understanding. He casually unfastened the Alliance Leader's Token, a symbol of the Dao Alliance's supreme authority, from his waist and placed it on the table.
"Send the order," he said calmly, "to send a reply with the Ten Thousand Mile Sword, summoning the King of Tushan to come to the Southern Capital to see me."
???
The people in the hall looked at each other, all puzzled, almost doubting that they had heard correctly.
Alliance Leader, you are the leader of the Human Dao Alliance, not the leader of the Ten Thousand Demon Alliance! Tu Shan Hong Hong is a powerful demon king who reigns supreme in her region. She has a prestigious status and formidable strength. Why should she obediently come to see you just because you issue a decree? Moreover, there was just a report from the border that her fox demons attacked. If she comes at this juncture, wouldn't she be walking into a trap and courting death?
"Alliance Leader, this move is probably—" an impatient clan leader couldn't help but speak up, "The King of Tushan certainly wouldn't..."
"idiot!"
Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yi uttered a cold rebuke, his gaze sweeping over the man like lightning, silencing him instantly and sending cold sweat down his back.
"Such a crude and clumsy scheme to sow discord, and you're all so easily fooled and caught up in it?" Zhou Yi's voice was filled with undisguised sarcasm and disappointment. "Use your brains!"
He stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and his gaze swept over every face, whether they were puzzled or unconvinced.
"If Tu Shan wanted to launch a sneak attack, why didn't they do it sooner or later? Why did they choose to strike when our Dao Alliance had already destroyed the Southern Kingdom, the situation was settled, and our momentum was at its peak? Hmm?"
"For months, our army was locked in a life-or-death stalemate with the main force of the Southern Kingdom at Danfeng Ridge, leaving our rear vulnerable. If Tushan truly intended to take advantage of the situation, that would have been the perfect opportunity! Why haven't they moved? Are they dead, or blind?"
"They chose this exact moment to launch a massive attack with little real impact"—ha, their intention is nothing more than someone unwilling to see our Dao Alliance stabilize after annexing the Southern Kingdom, eager to sow discord, hoping to reignite the war between us and Tushan, destroy Tushan, and then profit from it!
"Such an obvious attempt to frame and sow discord, yet you can't see it? Instead, you're clamoring for a northern expedition against Tushan? What are you if not idiots!"
A series of questions, like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, gradually calmed many of the family heads who had been blinded by victory and profit. Upon reflection, sweat beaded on their foreheads.
Zhou Yi stopped looking at them, turned back to his desk, and lightly tapped the Alliance Leader's token with his fingers. His tone was resolute and brooked no argument: "Summon the King of Tushan to see me immediately!"
"I want to hear her explanation for this with my own ears."
One day later.
When that figure, which was both expected and unexpected, actually appeared outside the capital of the Southern Kingdom, the entire Dao Alliance leadership, who were temporarily stationed there, fell into an eerie silence and disbelief.
She really came.
Alone.
There were no vast demonic clouds accompanying them, nor were there elite Silver Moon guards clearing the way.
Only one figure, as red as blood and proudly solitary, descended from the northern sky, landing lightly yet steadily on the specially cleared square outside the former capital of the Southern Kingdom, now the central army camp of the Dao Alliance.
Sunlight streamed down, illuminating her bare, pale feet and the long red dress that seemed to burn with silent flames. A blood-red demonic power calmly enveloped her, and her exquisite face betrayed no emotion, only an icy indifference and disdain.
The King of Tushan, Tushan Honghong.
He actually obeyed the alliance leader's order and went to the meeting alone, stepping into the human race's stronghold, which had just destroyed a country and whose murderous aura had not yet dissipated.
The Southern Kingdom's Imperial Palace, formerly the Demon Emperor's Palace, is no longer as imposing and eerie as it once was. The palace is now empty, with only an extremely long sandalwood table in the center. On the table and on the surrounding floor, numerous scrolls and documents are scattered and piled up, the ink still wet and covered with annotations, resembling a temporary but bustling military and political center.
When Tu Shan Honghong entered the main hall, this was the scene that greeted her.
Seated at the head of the table, the familiar figure in black robes leaned casually, his posture almost languid. He held a scroll in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed, his gaze intently scanning the lines. Sunlight streamed in through the high window, casting a soft halo around him, contrasting with the dim background of the hall, making him appear both real and imbued with a certain aloof authority.
On either side of the long table stood dozens of dignified and imposing elders, all heads of their respective families. Their hair and beards were all white, yet each possessed an inner strength, like a silent rock or an ancient sword half-drawn from its sheath. Though they did not utter a sound, they naturally created an invisible pressure, as if the most loyal guards and the most solemn ceremonial guards were protecting the person in the main seat, and silently demonstrating the illustrious power of the Human Alliance at this moment.
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; the only sound was the occasional soft rustling of Zhou Yi's fingertips across the pages.
"You've arrived."
Zhou Yi didn't look up; his gaze remained fixed on the dossier. He simply uttered three words, breaking the silence. With his free left hand, he casually pointed to an empty seat that had already been prepared at the other end of the long table.
"sit."
Tu Shan Honghong followed the instructions and walked to the designated spot, her steps steady, the hem of her bright red skirt brushing against the smooth ground without making a sound. She had just sat down when Zhou Yi's slightly displeased voice rang out: "Where's the tea?"
The heads of the families standing on either side showed a hint of embarrassment and annoyance. They had intended to give the other party a hard time and had only prepared seats, but they never expected that the leader of the alliance would also serve tea according to the "guest etiquette". Now that they were called out, they were at a loss for what to do.
"Coming right now! Coming right now!"
A quick-witted patriarch responded in a low voice and immediately gestured to the attendants outside the hall. Soon, a cup of tea was carefully brought in and placed on the white jade table in front of Tu Shan Honghong. The tea was warm and fragrant, which seemed somewhat out of place in the tense atmosphere of the hall.
Tu Shan Honghong glanced at the cup of tea, then at Zhou Yi, who was still engrossed in his writings across from her, and was momentarily at a loss for what to do. Drinking it seemed inappropriate for the tense situation; not drinking it, on the other hand, would seem to offend her host (although the host was casual in his manner).
She sat at the far end of the long table, seemingly a great distance away from Zhou Yi at the head of the table. Composing herself, her clear, cool voice rang out, preparing to explain: "I—"
"So," Zhou Yi suddenly looked up from the scroll, his gaze fixed on her, cutting her off and going straight to the point, "who exactly attacked the troops stationed outside Tushan Pass?"
"I know it wasn't done by Tushan. Who's trying to frame you? Do you have a target in mind?"
Tu Shan Honghong's heart jolted. The anxiety she'd felt along the way, the prepared explanations, even the worry about potential doubt and hostility—all melted away in that instant, like thin ice exposed to direct sunlight. She hadn't expected that the other party wouldn't need her explanation at all, already certain it wasn't her doing. This unconditional trust, like a warm current, unexpectedly surged into her heart, washing away the coldness and tension within the hall.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions within her, and stared directly at Zhou Yi with her emerald green eyes, clearly uttering two words: "It is Feng Qi."
"Phoenix Perch?" Zhou Yi frowned slightly.
Seeing this, Steward Fei, who was standing by his side, quickly leaned down slightly and whispered in his ear, "Alliance Leader, Feng Qi was the previous Demon King of Tushan, and he hasn't shown his face for hundreds of years."
Upon hearing Steward Fei's explanation, Tu Shan Hong Hong immediately added, her tone resolute: "She was expelled by me hundreds of years ago and is no longer a member of Tu Shan. I—I haven't seen her for hundreds of years either, and I don't know why she would suddenly attack your alliance's garrison and frame you like this."
"Oh?" A clan head nearby seized on the inconsistency in the conversation and asked, "Since the King of Tushan hasn't seen this demon for hundreds of years, how can you be so sure that the attacker was her?"
Tu Shan Honghong looked at the questioner: "It's a black fox. The residual aura and traces of demonic power at the scene point to a special kind of black fox demon. In addition, the strange methods of manipulating minds and confusing perceptions revealed during the attack are unique to Feng Qi. I have never seen them on any other human or demon before."
Upon hearing this, the people in the hall reacted with varying expressions and began to whisper among themselves.
Zhou Yi tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and the discussion abruptly stopped.
"Now that we've found the culprit, things are much easier." His tone was calm, yet carried a decisive force. "Issue my order: effective immediately, issue the highest execution order of the Dao Alliance to the traitorous demon Feng Qi. Anyone belonging to or allied with the Dao Alliance who encounters him shall be killed on sight, and those who perform meritorious service shall be richly rewarded."
He looked at Tushan Honghong: "I would like to trouble the King of Tushan to compile a booklet detailing Feng Qi's physical characteristics and possible magical abilities, and send it to the alliance for identification and capture."
"As for the border raids," Zhou Yi's gaze swept over the heads of the two families, "that's enough for now, no need to discuss it further. Order the troops stationed outside Tushan Pass to immediately lift their guard, disband on the spot, and return to their respective units."
Clean and efficient, without any hesitation or fuss.
Tu Shan Honghong was stunned. The thorny issue she had anticipated, which might require repeated explanations and even some price to resolve, was swiftly resolved with just a few words, its tone set lightly. It was so fast that she could hardly react.
She couldn't help but look again at the other end of the long table.
The man had lowered his head again, picked up another file, and his profile appeared exceptionally focused in the light and shadow, as if he had just dealt with a trivial matter. Yet it was he who, with absolute trust, had caught the dirty water that could have been splashed on Tushan; and with the authority of the alliance leader, had easily resolved a misunderstanding that could have triggered a major war.
Her gaze lingered on him, his dark robes, his tall and straight figure, his casual yet disciplined demeanor—and suddenly, she felt an urge to imprint this scene deep into her memory.
"The King of Tushan? The King of Tushan?"
A few calls pulled her back to reality. She looked up and saw that it was Butler Fei gently reminding her.
"Hmm?" Tu Shan Honghong responded subconsciously. Her sensitive fox ears twitched slightly when she was called because she was distracted, and they stood up unconsciously, revealing a look of surprise that did not match her cold and beautiful face.
"The Alliance Leader is asking if there's anything else?" Butler Fei repeated in a low voice, a knowing smile in his eyes.
Zhou Yi also raised his head, tilting it slightly in confusion as he looked at her, seemingly puzzled as to why she was still lost in thought.
A faint, almost imperceptible blush suddenly appeared on Tu Shan Hong Hong's face, but she immediately regained her cool and aloof expression and stood up: "No—nothing else. Now that this matter is settled, I should take my leave."
Zhou Yi nodded, his gaze returning to the dossier. He waved casually, his tone still nonchalant: "Well, I won't see you out."
Tu Shan Honghong nodded slightly, turned and walked out of the hall. Her steps were still steady, but her mood was different from when she came.
However, just as she was about to step out of the palace gate, a voice cried out, "9527! Give my sister back to me!"
A clear, sharp shout, tinged with anxiety and anger, rang out clearly from outside the hall, accompanied by the sudden commotion.
The voice was so familiar that everyone in the hall was taken aback.
Zhou Yi, who was sitting in the main seat and reading documents, paused for a moment. Then, a clear smile slowly appeared on his lips, reaching his eyes. The smile dispelled the calm he had been maintaining while handling official business and brought with it a genuine, almost helpless, wry smile.
He shook his head slightly and chuckled softly, his tone filled with a indulgence he himself didn't realize: "That stupid fox—"
At the palace gate, light and shadow flickered, and a petite, angry blue figure seemed to be trying to break in, ignoring the guards' attempts to stop her.
Tu Shan Honghong stopped at the threshold and looked back. She happened to see a rare, vibrant smile on Zhou Yi's face, and something in her heart seemed to be gently touched.
Fox Demon Stage 1, complete.
I will write side stories or start the main story later.
Next up, Under One Person.
The land is shattered, dragons and snakes rise from the land. I ask the heroes of the world, who can stand against them? When demons and monsters are slain, and immortality is achieved!
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