Chapter 253: When the Demon Emperor Replaces Golden Flash

In a northern border town of the Frost Kingdom, this area was managed by a sect called the Hanlan Sect.

The closer one approached the core of the Frozen Moon Cold River, the more intense the ice and spiritual energy became. However, this border region was a desolate place, cold and bereft of spiritual energy, making it beneath the notice of powerful sects and major factions. Any sect established here would be of very limited strength. The Hanlan Sect was a third-rank sect, roughly on par with the recently destroyed Lingyun Gate, and even weaker than the East River Gang.

Many years ago, the Hanlan Sect's resources came primarily from exploring the Frozen Moon Cold River. However, with the peripheral areas thoroughly exploited and the core region remaining inaccessible, the Hanlan Sect was now poorer than in its earlier days. The towns under its governance were also in a state of decline.

Nevertheless, the Hanlan Sect was still a regional power, holding a much better status than the Lingyun Gate had in Great Qian. This was a consequence of different political systems, though it was difficult to say which system was genuinely superior. For instance, Shen Tang had to secure all her connections within the prefecture before daring to move against the Lingyun Gate. In contrast, if a powerful sect or major faction here wished to eradicate the Hanlan Sect, they would only need to ascertain if the Hanlan Sect had a strong patron. Without one, the likelihood of its destruction would be significantly higher.

The Frost Kingdom's system was more conducive to the growth of demonic cultivation. Many sects, outwardly claiming to be righteous, frequently engaged in blatant acts of plunder and seizure. The Blissful Maiden Sect's stronghold, for example, lay between Great Qian and the Frost Kingdom, specifically because their influence spanned both nations.

Now, the influence of the Yama Hall had also reached this place.

The initial concept of the "Ten Yama Halls" wasn't ten equal allies. Instead, it envisioned the Yama Hall as the central entity, supported by nine subordinate sects, creating a network that spanned the entire realm. It was uncertain whether Yuan Muyu could achieve this now; it wouldn't be surprising if it evolved into ten allies secretly confederating for a common goal.

If he hadn't been so preoccupied, Lu Xingzhou would actually have enjoyed traveling through the Frost Kingdom. Its cultivation model was closer to the typical immortal cultivation setting, albeit a somewhat weaker version.

This was Lu Xingzhou’s first time setting foot in the Frost Kingdom.

The Frost Kingdom's far northeast bordered the Demon Realm, with powerful sects guarding that frontier. However, the national border adjacent to the Frozen Moon Cold River was entirely unguarded, allowing the three of them to easily enter Hanlan City.

Hanlan City was desolate, with few ordinary residents. Most inhabitants were cultivators of varying skill levels. There were virtually no street vendors; clothing had to be purchased from shops, and ordinary attire was rare. Most garments were "Dharma robes" that offered some practical benefit.

As they encountered passersby hurrying along the street, Lu Xingzhou observed that almost no one seemed to connect Long Qinghuang’s dazzling golden attire with the Demon Emperor. Perhaps places with a stronger cultivation atmosphere simply had more eccentrically dressed individuals? Some even showed signs of covetousness.

"Who goes out dressed in such glittering gold, with a head adorned with so many dazzling jewels?" Lu Xingzhou thought. What was amusing was that only a portion of these jewels were actual Dharma treasures; most were merely shiny and pretty decorations.

"Ma'am..." Someone chuckled as they approached from the front and side, surrounding them. "Is this your first time in Hanlan City?"

Long Qinghuang replied expressionlessly, "What if it is?"

"Outsiders aren't familiar with this place. Would you like a guide? Our brothers here have grown up in this city and know every nook and cranny."

"Then... which underworld entrance in the city are you familiar with?" Long Qinghuang asked with a faint smile, before suddenly reaching out and seizing the man's throat.

Lu Xingzhou hadn't even registered that she would make a lethal move so quickly. By the time he saw her hand move, the man's neck had already been snapped.

Lu Xingzhou was speechless.

The others nearby stared in disbelief for a long moment, unable to comprehend that someone had died within just two sentences. Someone instinctively recoiled, stammering, "Th-this is Hanlan Sect's territory! D-do you know who he was...?"

*Bang!*

With a flick of her sleeve, several of the speaker's teeth were knocked out.

Long Qinghuang said coldly, "Get out."

No one dared to utter another sound; they all scrambled away.

Lu Xingzhou and his disciple both closed their gaping mouths.

"What's wrong?" Long Qinghuang asked coldly. "Do you think I've wantonly killed a human and now you're going to avenge them?"

"No... you said you wouldn't provoke humans if they didn't provoke you first, and they certainly provoked us... but..."

"But what?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "My suggestion for you to change clothes was precisely to reduce conflict. Why did you just kill someone directly?"

"A praying mantis trying to stop a chariot. Just crush them; is there anything to consider?"

"Let me analyze this for you," Lu Xingzhou began. "Most people would assume that someone daring to parade so much gold through a busy street must have strong backing. So, even if some felt greedy, they wouldn't dare act on it. Anyone who *did* dare would either be an utter fool or have powerful connections. Based on what that guy said at the end, he was likely some second-generation figure from the Hanlan Sect."

"Hmm, your analysis is spot on. So, what now?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "...The Hanlan Sect will send people to retaliate."

"Then kill them too."

"But wasn't your original intention to reduce conflict by changing clothes?"

"If I kill everyone, there will be no conflict."

Lu Xingzhou, suppressing a multitude of unspoken words, exchanged a blank look with A'Nuo.

As if guessing their thoughts, Long Qinghuang walked towards a clothing store on the street. "I don't want to constantly get into conflicts because I have something important to do in the Frozen Moon Cold River, and endless fighting isn't practical," she explained. "However, Hanlan City isn't the Frozen Moon Cold River. Even if they wanted to transmit news of my presence here into the Frozen Moon Cold River, it would take a considerable amount of time. So, whoever provokes me, I'll kill them, including you."

Lu Xingzhou was speechless.

"A supreme being is truly domineering," Lu Xingzhou thought. "Not even Gu Zhanting is as overbearing as you."

Seeing the dazzling golden woman enter, the clothing store owner was already trembling. He stammered, "Th-this way, honored customer, are you b-buying ready-made clothes or fabric?"

The store owner was surprised she wasn't robbing him. These spirit stones were large and of excellent quality; they were more than enough to buy even the highest-grade clothes here, which wouldn't exceed fourth-rank.

The owner didn't dare say more and immediately bowed, "I'll wrap them up for you right away, honored customer."

"No need," Long Qinghuang said. With a casual wave of her hand, a surge of energy swept through the store, and all the finished garments vanished.

Just as she turned to leave, she paused, as if remembering something, and looked back at Lu Xingzhou and his disciple.

The master and disciple stood with their hands clasped, observing in perfect sync. When she looked at them, they both offered foolish grins.

Long Qinghuang was silent for a moment before turning to the owner and asking, "Where can I change clothes?"

She finally remembered that she wasn't there to shop, but to change.

The owner opened the fitting room with a fawning smile. "Th-this way, please..."

Long Qinghuang walked in and snapped her fingers again.

An invisible surge of energy enveloped the fitting room, preventing anyone from peering inside.

A'Nuo secretly whispered to Lu Xingzhou, "Should we run?"

Lu Xingzhou shook his head slightly. "We can't run. We can only wait... wait for Mr. Ye to notice our absence."

"Just so we can determine the plant's age? If I'd known, I wouldn't have told her you were an alchemist."

"In that case, we might not even be alive right now. This 'big sister' isn't the type to be reasoned with; she's incredibly autocratic."

As they were whispering, Long Qinghuang's voice came from inside: "The child, come in for a moment."

A'Nuo looked at Lu Xingzhou. Lu Xingzhou whispered, "It's fine to go in. Just be sweet-tongued; autocratic rulers like flattery, and 'children don't lie'..."

A'Nuo scurried into the fitting room, only to find that Long Qinghuang hadn't even taken off her outer garment. She cautiously asked, "Sister, what's wrong?"

"No one to help me dress. I'm not used to it."

A'Nuo said, "My master is more familiar with this sort of thing than I am."

Long Qinghuang looked puzzled.

A'Nuo, however, circled Long Qinghuang twice, her eyes filled with admiration. "Sister, you are so beautiful," she gushed. "You don't need to change your clothes at all."

Long Qinghuang, abandoning whatever she had intended to ask, instead said, "What, you also think this looks better, right?"

"What I mean is, Sister looks beautiful no matter what she wears, because you are just too beautiful," A'Nuo continued, deftly undoing Long Qinghuang's complicated adornments. "This outfit mainly attracts attention; switching to something more understated would be better. Even in the most modest clothes, Sister would be the most beautiful."

The golden dress slipped down, revealing only a *dudou* beneath.

A'Nuo was momentarily stunned, thinking, "Why are you wearing human undergarments...? Actually, you look much better just like this than before."

She truly was beautiful. A'Nuo had always thought demons were grotesque, hairy creatures with green faces and fangs, like the ones she'd seen before. It was strange to discover for the first time that even a dragon could possess such jade-like skin and icy beauty. If their aesthetics were different, why would they transform into the forms most appealing to humans?

Long Qinghuang, now trusting A'Nuo's judgment, asked, "Help me pick one?"

As she spoke, a large collection of clothes floated and spun around them.

A'Nuo scratched her head, thought for a moment, and chose a light yellow dress for her—a fresh and elegant style.

A'Nuo actually preferred this "innocent" style herself. She had found Pei Chuyun's light green maid's outfit very pretty, but green didn't suit A'Nuo.

Unfortunately, A'Nuo could help take clothes off but struggled to help put them on, being too short to reach. She held up the dress and hopped twice, her small face turning red with exertion, which made Long Qinghuang chuckle. "Never mind, never mind, I'll do it myself," she said.

Seeing Long Qinghuang take the dress and put it on herself, A'Nuo thought, "She clearly knows how to dress herself, so why insist on others helping?" A'Nuo imperceptibly pouted, but her face still wore an envious smile as she asked, "Sister, do you usually have many people attending to you?"

"At least three: one on each side, and one to hold my train."

A'Nuo was speechless.

"Should I take off your headpiece?"

"Yes, to be low-key," A'Nuo replied. "Honestly, so many treasures and excessive embellishments just make it look cluttered and detract from Sister's own ethereal beauty. Sister herself is the most brilliant crown."

Long Qinghuang knew perfectly well that the child was likely flattering her, yet she couldn't help but feel pleased. How many lies could a child tell, after all?

She removed her headpiece, and not knowing how to style her hair otherwise, simply let it fall loosely.

A'Nuo felt as if she was watching a waterfall descend before her, like black satin, lustrous and smooth.

She swore that even if she had entered with a mind full of flattering intentions, when it came down to it, not a single word was false; it was all from her heart. This sister truly was incredibly beautiful...

A strange thought even stirred in her heart: even her master greatly feared this Demon Emperor, and she herself had been terrified by her aura at first. Yet the more she interacted with her, the more inexplicably close she felt, even secretly believing this sister was more beautiful than all the other sisters she had ever seen.

A clamor erupted from outside: "Where is that demoness!"

Long Qinghuang, who had been smiling warmly with A'Nuo, suddenly turned cold.

The entire clothing store felt a bone-chilling pressure. It was as if a divine dragon had descended from the heavens, its massive claws pressing down on all of Hanlan City, threatening to crush the entire city into dust in the next instant.

The fitting room door opened, and Long Qinghuang slowly stepped out.

The clatter of many weapons falling to the ground echoed. Everyone, including Lu Xingzhou, stared dumbfounded at the woman who had emerged.

He knew she would be beautiful in normal attire, but even Lu Xingzhou hadn't expected her to be so stunningly gorgeous. It was a biologically instinctive, dimension-reducing impact from a "Dragon-Phoenix" type being upon ordinary species.

And yet, the simple, fresh pale yellow dress, worn on her, somehow carried the majesty of a dragon robe. A single glare from her phoenix eyes unleashed dragon might, making legs tremble and bodies yearn to kneel.

Yet, paradoxically, it only heightened the desire for conquest in men's hearts, making them wonder what it would be like to ruthlessly dominate such a noble and majestic woman. This natural charm was like the Blissful Maiden's Profound Art, capable of capturing the gaze and very soul of those of the opposite sex, causing them to briefly lose their train of thought.