Chapter Sixty-Two: Dazzled by the Male Lead's Halo

The demon lords dared not fight.

In that great battle years ago, both the immortal and demon realms suffered grievous losses. Their strongest warriors were slain by Xuanyuan Tunhan as easily as slicing through vegetables. Both sides now faced a shortage of true experts, but the cultivation world still had Xuanyuan Tunhan—a pillar as steadfast as the sea’s anchor. As long as he stood here, the demon realm would not dare to wage war.

Their harsh words today were little more than posturing, an attempt to save face though they had already lost the upper hand. Now, seeing Xuanyuan Tunhan’s rage—and knowing they were in the wrong—the demon lords felt awkward. The atmosphere was tense; what should they do? If a fight broke out, they might all die here.

All the demon lords looked to Zhutiantian for a solution. He wanted to curse them. Normally, they ignored him as their demon king, but now that trouble loomed, they shoved him forward—what was the meaning of this? A bunch of old fools!

Yet he had no choice but to step forward and say, "But your people damaged the Blood Source Stone. How do you propose we settle this debt?"

Settle it? Ning Xianyu waited for Xuanyuan Tunhan’s instruction. The demon realm had abandoned all reason—how would the great demon respond?

After a moment’s silence, she received only four words: "Use your own judgment!"

What did that mean? Ning Xianyu nearly choked. What kind of instruction was that? At the very moment she was preparing to put on a show, he left her with this. How was she supposed to handle it? She wanted to glare back at him but didn’t dare. Instead, she turned her anger into strength and shot a fierce glare at Zhutiantian.

"Settle what? Either fight, or keep your people in line. If you send anyone else over, who knows what will be destroyed next time."

She held her head high, exuding an air of imperious arrogance.

Zhutiantian replied angrily, "Fine, you’re ruthless."

With that, he turned to leave with his followers. Unable to win by force or argument, what else could they do but withdraw?

In Ning Xianyu’s mind, a chorus of little imps was waving flags and cheering—go on, go on, goodbye and never return!

But just then, an unexpected development arose from the male lead.

Yi Tianling, who had been half-dead and should have been bedridden for a month, suddenly awoke at this crucial moment—and even spoke.

He struggled to his feet, facing the demon lords and Zhutiantian with calm dignity. "I was the one who broke the Blood Source Stone. I am willing to make amends."

Ning Xianyu almost kicked him out. You’re the male lead—can’t you stop showing off your heroic spirit at a time like this? Don’t act tough—acting tough invites disaster!

But Yi Tianling couldn’t hear her. He was lost in his own tragic sense of heroism.

He said, trembling, "I will find a way to resolve the demon realm’s miasma problem. Give me twenty years, and as long as you don’t force Akari to bear children in that time, I promise to find you a permanent solution."

The Violet Wheel King snapped, "Who do you think you are? Solve the miasma in twenty years?"

He laughed—a bitter, mocking sound. The demon realm’s miasma had existed for countless millennia. Over hundreds of thousands of years, how many great ones had tried and vanished? Who had ever succeeded? For a mere Golden Core cultivator to claim he’d solve it in twenty years was sheer lunacy.

The demon lords, of course, didn’t believe him. They cast him a contemptuous glance and turned away.

But Yi Tianling shouted, "Are you content to live like this for another hundred thousand years? If there’s the slightest hope, shouldn’t you be brave enough to try, to strive for change?"

"If I fail, I’ll be the one to die—what are you afraid of? Why not give me a chance?"

His voice was loud, nearly hoarse from the effort.

Ning Xianyu whispered to the system: "Did he find a solution?"

The system replied, "No idea. But he is the male lead, carrying the greatest destiny of all six realms. Perhaps he really does have a way."

That was true—after all, he was the protagonist. He’d survived such a fierce battle. Maybe he really could do it.

But the demon lords were not so easily swayed.

The system said, "Now he has to rely on the male lead’s silver tongue. A male lead who can’t talk his way out isn’t a good male lead."

Ning Xianyu was tempted to grab some sunflower seeds and watch the show.

Just as he finished shouting, Zhutiantian turned, fixed him with a cold gaze, and said bluntly, "Ten years. I’ll give you ten years."

What?

Even Yi Tianling was stunned. "Really?"

Zhutiantian confirmed, "If you fail to find a solution in ten years, you will be obliterated—erased from existence."

Yi Tianling considered. "Could you give me a few more years?"

Zhutiantian flatly refused. "Only ten years. Do you dare wager?"

As the protagonist, he could hardly refuse. He replied immediately, "Very well. We will swear an oath. The demon realm gives me and Akari ten years. If, in ten years, I have not found a way to dispel the miasma, I will end my life and vanish from the world."

"But in these ten years, none of you may touch Akari, nor force her to bear children, nor harm her in any way."

Zhutiantian actually agreed, sealing the pact with a formal ritual.

Ning Xianyu watched the whole process, then glanced at Xuanyuan Tunhan. The great demon showed no reaction—he simply observed as they forged their contract.

This agreement meant little to the demon realm—it would merely postpone the birth of the next Saintess. Even if they failed, they lost nothing.

Yet the male lead had only spoken a few words, and Zhutiantian had agreed so readily. Wasn’t that a bit too easy?

"Stupid system, do you think Zhutiantian was blinded by the male lead’s aura?"

Blinded by the protagonist’s light, he’d suffered a forced drop in intelligence and agreed without much thought.

The system replied, "That might be it. I think after spending too much time near him, even you’re suffering from aftereffects."

"Right? I keep saying the male lead—"

Ning Xianyu was about to go on, but suddenly realized something was wrong.

"You’re the one with lowered intelligence! Your whole family is!"

The damn system had actually started insulting her—it was infuriating.

The system snickered, muttering nonsense to itself, while the contract was being sealed. Yi Tianling asked to speak with Akari.

Zhutiantian agreed, allowing him to go over.

The contract was set—Yi Tianling would live only ten more years. After that, he was as good as dead. Solving the demon realm’s miasma? Sheer fantasy.

Meanwhile, Akari and Yi Tianling embraced, moving a short distance away to whisper privately.

Ning Xianyu sidled up to Xuanyuan Tunhan, pulling out her eavesdropping device. She wanted to listen in.

Before she could put it on, Xuanyuan Tunhan grabbed her.

"If you dare—!"

If this woman dared, he’d kill her.

Ning Xianyu protested, "I just want to hear what they’re saying."

She had grown bold—she wanted to listen, and if he refused, she’d ruin his character.

Under the gaze of her gossip-hungry eyes, Xuanyuan Tunhan slowly guided spiritual energy into her body.

What a troublesome woman.