Chapter 358: The Ruthlessness of the God King

“Wretch! Still refusing to speak the truth!” Huan Tian, in a fit of rage, struck Huan Shi directly in the chest with his palm.

Huan Shi was sent flying and crashed heavily onto the ground. His once ethereal demeanor now bore traces of disarray.

“I truly do not understand what you are asking, Father!” He lowered his head slightly, his pale blue eyes as calm as stagnant water.

“Still pretending!” Huan Tian, furious, interrogated him as if he were a criminal. “I ask you—did you just visit the temple where the Flower King is imprisoned?”

“I did,” Huan Shi answered frankly.

“Good!” Seeing his admission, Huan Tian sneered. “Then who went with you?”

“Why do you ask, Father? I went alone!” Huan Shi feigned confusion.

“Alone?” Huan Tian laughed bitterly. “Do you take me for a fool?”

“I truly do not understand why you ask this, Father.” Huan Shi lowered his gaze.

“You won’t confess until faced with death! Huan Shi, do not think that just because you are the Child of God, you can test my patience or that I will indulge you!

One last chance—who else went to the temple?”

“Truly, I went alone to see the former Flower King. If you do not believe me, Father, you may ask her yourself in the temple!”

“Hmph!” Huan Tian scoffed. “You two have already conspired together. Do you think me a fool?”

With that, he struck Huan Shi’s chest again with his palm.

The tremendous force sent Huan Shi flying like a ragdoll before he crashed heavily into the dirt.

But Huan Tian was not done. With a flick of his finger, several thick bolts of purple lightning descended upon the fallen Huan Shi.

Had those bolts struck him fully, Huan Shi would have surely perished.

Huan Tian watched coldly, his demeanor toward his only son utterly merciless—as if he wished for Huan Shi’s death.

Huan Shi clutched his wound, seemingly accustomed to his father’s brutality. Facing the lethal attack, his azure eyes remained eerily calm.

Just as the lightning was about to strike, a radiant, multicolored light from the sky enveloped Huan Shi faster than the lightning could descend.

The bolts struck but were entirely blocked by the shimmering light.

“Wretched child! Never set foot in that temple again!” Huan Tian roared before turning away in fury.

Huan Shi’s gaze remained placid as he reached for the peony pendant around his neck.

He had long abandoned any illusions about his father.

He knew how much Huan Tian despised him, how much he wished for his death.

But alas—Huan Tian, as a god, could cast aside his demon-blooded brother, but he could not touch Huan Shi.

For he was the Child of Destiny, the heir to the throne of the gods. When Huan Tian eventually merged with the cosmos, the divine realm would fall to him.

Perhaps fate favored him. From birth, Huan Tian had wanted him dead, yet…

Some mysterious force always intervened at the brink of death to save him.

Meanwhile, Yun Qingxue knew nothing of what transpired after she left.

Pushed unceremoniously from the divine realm by Huan Shi, she found herself back at Luoyun Mountain in a daze.

Her companions, who had been anxiously awaiting her return, rushed to greet her.

“Are you alright?” Mo Changxing scrutinized her repeatedly, his voice tense.

“I’m fine,” Yun Qingxue reassured them with a smile.

But Jin Lin frowned. “Xuexue, you returned so quickly—was there an accident?”

“No.” She smiled and retrieved the medicinal herbs Huan Shi had given her from her storage bracelet.

“Wow! So many!” A’Dai marveled at the divine herbs. “Our master is truly amazing!”

“Indeed! Master is incredible!” Liuli chimed in eagerly.

“Of course!” A’Dai smirked at Liuli, brimming with pride. “Unlike some fools who fall back to Luoyun Mountain just picking a single herb!”

“A’Dai!!!” Jin Lin’s face flushed red as he lunged for him.

“He’s not wrong,” Mo Changxing remarked dryly, glancing at the fuming Jin Lin.

Jin Lin’s face turned even redder.

“Xuexue…”

Yun Qingxue laughed at their antics. “Enough, all of you. Stop teasing Jin Lin!”

“I’ll prepare the antidote now. Master, you should rest,” Mo Su said, selecting the three herbs she needed from the pile.

Yun Qingxue suddenly looked up at the azure sky. From now on, she would likely never set foot in the divine realm again.

Huan Shi—the man she had met only twice but who had helped her so much—would forever remain a cherished friend in her heart.

“Now that everything is resolved, once Mo Su finishes the antidote, I’ll take Sisi back to the demon realm,” Yun Ye said calmly, though inwardly relieved.

With all the ingredients gathered, seeing Qingxue take the antidote would finally put his mind at ease.

Yun Qingxue hesitated, glancing at Yun Ye. Should she tell him about seeing Lan Xuechen in the divine realm?

And what of Huan Shi, who looked so much like Changxing?

“Senior Yun…” she began uncertainly. “About…”

“Speak freely, Qingxue,” Yun Ye encouraged warmly.

“Never mind.” She shook her head, deciding against mentioning Lan Xuechen.

Yun Ye was a demon, and Lan Xuechen was imprisoned by the God-King. Gods and demons had never coexisted peacefully.

A thousand years ago, the God-King and the Demon King had both loved the previous Flower King. When she chose the Demon King and bore his child, the God-King struck her down with divine lightning, deepening the rift between the two realms irreparably.

If the Demon King learned his beloved wife’s soul still lingered, imprisoned by the God-King, he might wage war for her sake.

Countless lives would be lost because of her careless words.

No—it was better to stay silent. Let the Demon King believe his wife was truly gone.

“By the way, Senior Brother Changxing,” Yun Qingxue turned to Mo Changxing. “Do you know a young god named Huan Shi?”

“Huan Shi?”

Both Mo Changxing and Purple Melody Saint stiffened at the question.

“Qingxue, you’ve met Huan Shi?” Purple Melody Saint asked, visibly agitated.

“Master knows him?” Yun Qingxue was puzzled, especially when she noticed Mo Changxing’s reaction. “He looks so much like Senior Brother Changxing…”

“How… is he?” Mo Changxing asked quietly.