The grass in the factory should be plucked

The Black Tiger King seemed to sense something and shouted sharply, "Who goes there?"

The tiny, rice-grain-sized stinger fell to the ground and instantly transformed into a tall, thin man in black, wearing a hooded robe that concealed his face, making it impossible to see clearly except for his eyes, which gleamed with a cold light.

The Black Tiger King immediately bowed and greeted, "Left Protector."

Taixu was taken aback. So this fellow was some kind of Left Protector?

Judging from the respectful manner of the demon general towards him, this Shadow Thief must hold a fairly high position among the demons.

Shadow Stalker snorted: "Open the barrier. I need to report back to His Majesty."

"Yes!"

The Black Tiger Dynasty's Xuanjia Demon Guards issued the order: "Open the barrier!"

"I obey my orders!"

The Xuanjia demon guards at the array's core each took out a token and placed it in the array's core. Instantly, a bright purple light shone, and two magnificent gates slowly appeared at the barrier.

The gate is over a hundred feet tall, reaching into the clouds. Nine lifelike dragons are coiled on the pillars on both sides, and three ancient and vigorous seal characters are carved above it: "Xuanjing Gate".

Shadow Zerg walked proudly toward the gate, the Xuanjia demon guards bowed in unison, and the dragons coiled around the gateposts seemed to be awakened, letting out roars.

With a loud "boom," the door slowly opened, emitting a muffled, thunderous sound that shook the surrounding ground slightly.

Behind the door was not an ordinary passage, but a surging purple mist. Countless demonic figures could be vaguely seen flitting through the mist, accompanied by low roars and howls, as if thousands of demonic beasts were lurking within.

Hearing that Shadow Zerg was about to enter the Demon Realm, Xie Chang'an hurriedly called out, "Tai Xu, come back quickly!"

If the Shadow Sting leaves him outside when it crosses the barrier, that would be troublesome.

Taixu returned to the Dragon Palace through the void, his face beaming with joy: "We're about to enter the Demon Realm!"

I wonder what kind of trouble the little fairy is planning? I can't wait!

Jiang Li took a deep breath: "Brother Chang'an, I need to go out for a bit. You and Taixu stay in the Dragon Palace."

She must face the Demon Emperor alone and cannot reveal the existence of the Dragon Palace, Egg, and Xie Chang'an.

They are her secret weapon, and she'll use them at the crucial moment!

Despite his anxiety, Xie Chang'an could only nod in agreement and said in a deep voice, "Alright. Take all the protective jade amulets your master left you."

The jade talismans that Mingxuan Zhenjun gave him included both offensive and defensive ones. One of the defensive jade talismans could withstand a full-force attack from a Nascent Soul Venerable.

Jiang Li gently gripped the defensive jade talisman with her fingertips. The cool jade texture pressed against her palm, and the tension and restlessness in her heart slowly calmed down.

She looked up, a hint of resolute courage in her eyes, "I'll be fine, I still have you and Taixu."

Taixu nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, don't worry, if anything changes, I'll immediately pull you into the void!"

Xie Chang'an's Adam's apple bobbed, a thousand words stuck in his throat, but in the end, they only turned into a low, hoarse admonition: "Put yourself first in everything."

He raised his hand to tidy the stray hairs at her temples and said softly, "I will always protect you."

"Ok!"

She nodded vigorously, and in the instant she turned around, her back view was resolute as she stepped out of the Dragon Palace and disappeared.

Jiang Li returned to her bedroom in the main courtyard, opened the door, and went outside.

She couldn't help but admire Shadow's ability to "steal" her home. Not only did it take her and her house, but it also left the flowers, trees, and furnishings in the garden completely unharmed. It even moved the hot spring pool in the pavilion on the west side.

Springtime is in full bloom in the garden. The bamboo is lush and green, and the wisteria hangs down like a curtain. A crabapple tree leans against the wall, its branches full of pink blossoms, attracting bees and butterflies to linger.

Inside the pavilion is a hot spring pool, with gushing spring water and rising white mist mixed with the fragrance of flowers. Several slender bamboos are reflected obliquely on the water, adding to the leisurely charm.

Jiang Li found a soft felt mat by the hot spring pool, took off her cloud-patterned embroidered shoes, and immersed her pair of snow-white and smooth little feet in the water. Warm mist curled around her temples, and her eyes and brows were full of lazy and leisurely comfort.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she looked out through the latticed window in the wall and saw the thick white fog gradually dissipating to both sides. A tall figure dressed in a black robe with dark gold patterns slowly walked out of the fog.

"Jiang Xianzi has such refined tastes!"

The man stood outside the garden gate, his face deep and handsome, with a strange red mark at the corner of his eye, and his eyes filled with undisguised possessiveness.

"Your Majesty, why did you go to such great lengths to abduct me?"

Jiang Li remained calm and continued playing in the water, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

The Demon Emperor revealed a seductive smile: "I have fallen in love with Fairy Jiang at first sight and intend to marry her as my clan's Demon Queen. I wonder what Fairy Jiang thinks?"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "I have a Daoist partner."

She added, "I don't plan to remarry at the moment."

Xie Chang'an listened to her conversation with the Demon Emperor through the Heart-to-Heart Pact and almost laughed out of anger.

You don't plan to remarry now, but do you want to remarry in the future?

The Demon Emperor laughed and said, "I will destroy your mere Pact of Unity for you."

He moved swiftly and instantly appeared outside the pavilion, reaching out to grab Jiang Li!

With a "hum," a bright light shone forth, and an invisible barrier firmly protected the pavilion!

When the Demon Emperor's finger touched the barrier, it was corroded with a "hiss" sound, leaving a charred, bloody hole!

The excruciating pain jerked him back, his eyes flashing with rage.

Golden light flowed across the barrier, and intricate runes were faintly engraved on it—a restriction specifically designed by the Beast Taming Sect to restrain the demon race!

The person in the pavilion was washing their feet and laughing softly. Ripples spread across the hot spring water, and pink petals clung to their fair toes, creating a breathtaking scene.

She looked up at the Demon Emperor, a smile playing on her lips: "This courtyard of mine is not a place where just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can trespass."

The Demon Emperor smiled slightly, and his demonic power surged forth, instantly restoring his fingers to their original state.

The restrictions of the Beast Taming Sect also require spiritual power to operate. After Shadow Snake moved Jiang Li out of his "domain", the Demon Emperor set up a spirit-locking maze outside the courtyard. In a few days, this place will become a spirit-locking place, and people inside will no longer be able to use their spiritual power!

Even if she hides in that small space again, she can't escape!

I wonder if the baby dragon is hiding inside. If so, it would be a perfect two birds with one stone!

The Demon Emperor smiled and said, "The Ten Thousand Demon Palace is currently preparing for the wedding, so Fairy Jiang can rest assured and wait for her marriage. I will personally come to fetch her in three days."

Jiang Li's eyes widened: "Where's the betrothal gift? Who gets married without giving a betrothal gift? The three letters and six rites, the matchmaker's inquiry and the betrothal, these procedures must be followed, right? Is the Demon Emperor's wedding so hasty and haphazard?"

The Demon Emperor was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "What the fairy says is quite right. Tomorrow I will send a matchmaker. As for the betrothal gifts, they will naturally be plentiful."

Jiang Li smiled and said, "Can I make a request?"

The Demon Emperor laughed, "Of course. What doesn't my Demon Queen want?"

Jiang Li snorted: "First, whoever betrayed me, I want their life! Second, for the betrothal gifts, I want the Nine-Turn Nirvana Lotus, the Primordial Chaos Fruit, the Profound Nether Ice Soul Crystal, and the Flowing Light Moon-Tracing Sand..."

What she described were all rare and precious treasures in the cultivation world, things that could only be encountered by chance.

This dowry is truly outrageous.