Chapter 129: Invitation!

The world has truly changed.

Not only in cities, but even in some areas Lu Yu passed through, places that were originally plains had transformed into continuous mountain ranges.

Some abandoned villages have been swallowed by primeval forests, and the plains, once open and vast, are now obscured by towering ancient trees, one after another, leaving no trace of their original appearance.

Lu Yu was walking along a highway with a map in his hand. Sometimes, he had to cross several mountains before he could find the other end of the road.

He became cautious as he passed through city after city, gradually learning to distinguish which were enchanted cities shrouded in illusions and which were ordinary cities. Lu Yu feared being drawn once again into the conflicts among the Demon Lords, and this time, his luck might not be so favorable.

He had passed through three ghost cities; although the mines were operated by magical apes, there was not a single living person to be found.

There are cities controlled by humans and ghost cities occupied by demons.

The forces were almost evenly divided.

In the past, Lu Yu couldn’t understand why, despite the Demon Lord’s immense power, he still allowed humans to grow stronger instead of wiping them out.

Only after experiencing the transformation within the realm of the魔族 did he realize that conflicts among the魔族 also exist, and they too were waiting.

They needed humans to activate a stronger Demon King Domain in order to survive the struggles among demon clans.

Humans are now merely a set of pieces on a gigantic chessboard.

One month later—

When the half-round silver moon hung right in the center of the sky, Lu Yu finally arrived at the expressway beside a city on the bank of the Yangtze River.

Here, he met Liu Xiaotian and Zhang Miaofeng.

Lu Yu had long heard that the two were heading north, so he was not surprised to see them here. In this city, a bridge spans the north and south banks of the Yangtze River, serving as a passageway.

When the two saw Lu Yu, a faint smile appeared on their faces as they nodded slightly.

Liu Xiaotian said, “It seems we’ve both had good luck.”

Zhang Fmiao looked at Lu Yu with confusion and asked, “I don’t quite understand—why did Fan Tian, who was chasing me, suddenly give up halfway? Was there any particular reason for that?”

“What’s wrong with just being alive? Why bother caring about anything else?” Lu Yu smiled.

Zhang Miaofeng also smiled and said, “Yes, it’s good to be alive.”

“You also want to go north, right?” Liu Xiaotian said seriously, “It seems that the only way through here is to fight our way past. This city may not have a Demon Lord, but the number of demons here seems countless!”

“If the three of us are together, maybe we can do it!” Liu Xiao Tian gripped a star-forged weapon in his hand and said, “Since we are all still alive, we must have all gained some benefit from this place. So, making our way through here shouldn’t be too difficult!”

“That’s right,” Zhang Fmiao said. “With three people, we should be able to make it work!”

Lu Yu sneered, “How many demons are there exactly? You haven’t even told me that yet. I don’t know anything about the situation—do you really think I’d take such a risk?”

“That’s right; we got too excited,” Liu Xiaotian said, slapping his forehead. “Let me explain. We’ve been observing for several days, and there are about a million魔族 in this city. However, these魔族 are scattered around the city’s perimeter, probably guarding this bridge. Also, during these past few days, there have been several skirmishes between humans and 魔族 on both sides of the bridge, with both sides trying to avoid damaging it.”

Zhang Fmiao continued, “As for the demon race, the strongest one we’ve encountered was a third-level peak demon. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that there might be hidden fourth-level or even higher-ranked demons existing as well.”

Liu Xiaotian took out a map and drew a route with his finger, saying, “If we can fight our way through from here, and if we move fast enough, we still have a chance to make it.”

“One million?!” Lu Yu was taken aback; this would be somewhat difficult. Looking at the route marked out by Liu Xiaotian, he frowned for a long time before asking, “How confident are we?”

Liu Xiaotian said, “About thirty percent!”

“Enough!” Lu Yu raised his head and said firmly, “Even if it’s just ten percent, it’s worth a try.”

Zhang Fmiao nodded and said, “That’s right! In today’s world, everyone is gambling with their lives. A thirty percent chance of survival is already quite good.”

Lu Yu continued, “When are you planning to take action?”

At the moment Lu Yu spoke, the air around them suddenly darkened. Zhang Fmiao and Liu Xiaotian froze instantly, as if time had come to a standstill. The wind and all surrounding sounds ceased abruptly.

At this moment, a figure gradually approached through the grass.

A figure draped in a black robe strode through the bushes. The lush green grass, reaching half a meter in height, automatically parted to either side as the figure passed, its blades bowing low, as if submitting in reverence before the approaching presence.

“Dark Lord!” Lu Yu’s heart suddenly tightened as he saw the figure in the black robe. He clenched his hands into fists and stood silently, staring at the black-robed figure.

“It’s truly not easy to encounter my loyal retainer here!” A voice from the man in the black robe sounded, accompanied by a soft, coquettish laugh. The delicate and pleasurable sound resonated gently in the air, carrying a touch of sensuality and charm.

The sound of the desolate shadow.

Lu Yu was certain, yet he never expected that Huang Ying would actually track him down to this place.

In the first few days after leaving Nanning, Lu Yu kept worrying that the remaining two Demon Lords would come after him.

However, he later did not spot any trace of the Demon Lord, so he felt reassured.

I didn’t expect the Shadow to catch up here.

This is preparing to strike far away from Brahma’s realm; could there be any hidden intentions?

“Heehee, don’t worry. I have no intention of opposing Brahma at the risk of being consumed by a blood curse,” Huangying said with a playful laugh. “With the two abilities of Huangquan Tremor and Bleaching, he is indeed more powerful than us ordinary魔lords. There’s no benefit in provoking him. However—”

The shadowy figure gently removed the hood from the black robe, revealing a delicate and charming face.

Lu Yu’s eyes, less mysterious now, revealed a charming beauty about twenty-two or twenty-three years old, standing around five feet seven inches tall. Her phoenix-like eyes brimmed with warmth, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, while a gentle smile played on her lips. Under the silvery moonlight, her peach-blossom cheeks seemed ready to blush, exuding an alluring charm and delicate shyness that made it impossible to look away.

“What, are you going to tell me who’s killing me before you do it?” Lu Yu’s gaze gradually turned colder as he said, “If you’re going to make a move, I’ll be happy to oblige!”

“Who said I was going to lay a hand on you?” Huang Ying blinked her big eyes, looking very innocent, and sighed softly, “I would never dare to kill you!”

While speaking, Huang Ying walked towards Lu Yu. The black robe on Huang Ying’s body gently slipped away, revealing a thin, purple long dress underneath. Silver moonlight filtered through the black veil, and what met Lu Yu’s eyes was a white sleeveless top and a skirt with intricate patterns that accentuated a pair of fair, slender legs. The graceful curves were completely outlined, exuding a delicate and alluring charm.

A faint fragrance spread through the air as the shadow moved across the desolate landscape.

“What exactly do you want?” Lu Yu frowned, his fingers slightly clenched, and his heart tightened anxiously.

The more the woman acted like this, the more Lu Yu suspected that she was up to something.

“Don’t you think I’m very beautiful?” Huagyng laughed coquettishly, approaching Lu Yu and gently hugging his arm. Leaning her body against him, she rubbed up against him lightly, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks as she whispered, “If you’d like, I can stay with you for the night. I only want a little secret from you in return!”

“I don’t want any relationship with you, so stop trying to sweet-talk me!”

Lu Yu was not a gentleman who could remain unmoved by a woman like her approaching him.

A surge of heat was slowly rising in his lower abdomen. He pushed Huang Ying away with a raised hand and coldly said, “Come any closer, and you’d better believe I’ll kill you!”

Lu Yu’s heart tightened further. After all, this was a devil monarch on the same level as Tu Xue, and with his abilities, he seemed to stand no chance at all.

But, between defeat in battle and surrender without a fight, he would choose the former!

The shadowy figure was pushed away and looked at Lu Yu with deep resentment, saying, “Are you really so heartless that you don’t even want someone like me?”

“Give it up. The less I have to do with you devils, the better,” Lu Yu said coldly. “If you want my secrets, you’ve come to the wrong person. If there’s nothing else, either leave or make your move. Don’t think you can play games with me or try to wear me down—I might just take everything and deny it all!”

Huāgyǐng’s face darkened. Stomping his foot and gritting his teeth, he cursed, “Damn it! What an insufferable, clueless fool!”

“I’m afraid that if I ever become too romantic, I’ll die too soon!”

The aura around Huang Ying suddenly turned icy as he coldly said, “Lu Yu, don’t get too confident! Even though you bear the blood curse, don’t think I won’t dare to kill you!”

“Kill me?” Lu Yu wasn’t someone easily intimidated. He laughed loudly and said, “Are you threatening me? If you want to kill me, go ahead and try. You’d better believe that if you kill me, you’ll pay the price too!”

Lu Yu’s tone turned extremely cold, and the killing intent around him began to spread. A fierce battle aura erupted from his body, sharp as a blade, piercing straight toward Huang Ying.

The desolate image resembled a sorrowful young widow, her eyes brimming with tears as she sobbed, “Do you know how difficult it is for a woman to hold up an entire demonic city? To prevent others from peering into my life, I’ve worked hard to disguise myself, forcing myself to become ruthless and cold. I’ve grown weary from striving to become stronger, from refusing to be seen as a mere plaything in others’s eyes. Now, I only want a secret from you—one that can make me even stronger, one that can make me feel safer. Is that really so wrong?”

“Abandon your demonic city; with your strength, you can barely survive. So, don’t come crying to me, thinking it will help,” Lu Yu said coldly. “I’ve lived this long precisely because I’m ruthless enough.”

“Then forget it. It seems you really are immune to both kindness and threats. I won’t waste my time anymore—” the gloomy and resentful expression on Huang Ying’s face instantly disappeared, replaced by cold elegance and pride, as she said, “I came here to discuss a cooperation with you. As for the benefits, I assure you, you won’t be at a loss!”