Ch. 118 - Yan Ruyu

On the mountain, the vegetation was lush, green mist swirled, and the entire landscape shimmered with radiance, as if carved from emerald. Mists drifted through the air, suffused with a celestial aura.

Three years had passed. This mysterious woman had become even more ethereal and otherworldly, as pure and untouchable as a fairy. She seemed like she could ride the wind at any moment and ascend into the celestial palaces of the Ninth Heaven.

She stood in the pavilion, dressed in flowing white, black hair dancing in the breeze. Her eyes were like water, misty and dreamlike. As she looked down and saw Ye Fan, a trace of surprise appeared on her face.

"It’s you."

Qin Yao, the sensual and enchanting demoness, moved gracefully and smiled charmingly. Along with the others, she bowed respectfully to the woman standing on the mountain.

Ye Fan had to admit, this woman was truly flawless, no imperfections could be found. She was nearly perfect. Among all the women he had seen, only the Heavenly Jade Saintess from the Forbidden Ancient Realm could compare.

"It’s me. We meet again," he said.

Qin Yao and the others were surprised. They hadn't expected the two to know each other, and they glanced curiously at Ye Fan, then looked back up at the mysterious woman.

"Your Highness, this young man was brought here by Daoist Duan. Just as he said, he possesses a treasure-like physique, he’s an ideal vessel," Qin Yao reported.

Ye Fan was startled. From the way they addressed her, it was now clear, this perfect woman was indeed a descendant of the Demon Emperor. The word "vessel" also set off alarm bells in his mind. It felt wrong.

"What do you mean by that?"

Qin Yao, her figure slender and curves veiled in gauze, the red mole on her brow glowing faintly, smiled sweetly and said,

"Don’t worry. If you're chosen, it will be an incredible blessing for you."

The flawless woman in the pavilion stood like a snow-laden blossom tree, her jade-like body graceful, her skin glowing, her appearance unparalleled. Her voice was heavenly,

"How could it be him..."

"I didn’t expect to see you again like this. Please, Fairy, tell me, where is Pang Bo? What is his current condition? Let me see him," Ye Fan pleaded.

Below the mountain, the dozen or so demon women looked confused. They didn’t understand why Ye Fan would know Pang Bo and was asking to see him.

"I’m afraid that won’t be possible," the flawless woman said softly from the pavilion.

"Why not?"

"He’s in seclusion and won’t appear for at least two years."

Ye Fan felt uneasy. He raised his voice:

"What I truly care about is his safety. Please tell me, is he still the same Pang Bo?"

The woman on the pavilion looked like a divine goddess, her hair flowing, her robes fluttering, stunning enough to shame flowers and sink fish. She didn’t respond directly but first nodded, then shook her head.

"What do you mean by that?" Ye Fan asked, heart tightening.

Beside him, the seductive Qin Yao with her bright red lips, pearly white teeth, and arched brows smiled alluringly.

"You don’t need to worry. There are things Her Highness cannot say directly. But rest assured, we demons have our code. We don't harm without cause. You will see your friend again in time."

"My instincts tell me you're not telling the whole truth," Ye Fan said, locking eyes with her.

"No one can say for sure. We’ll only know when he finishes his seclusion." Then she turned and respectfully bowed to the flawless woman.

"Your Highness, this body is indeed extraordinarily strong, a true treasure physique, perfectly suited to serve as a vessel."

On the mountain, crystalline flower petals drifted through the air, filling the space with fragrance. The perfect woman bathed in the glowing flower rain frowned slightly.

"Why is it him...?"

"He’s not suitable?" Qin Yao asked, puzzled.

"His blood energy is vigorous, his life force strong. He is suitable to serve as a vessel... but if the one in seclusion senses him, it may cause unrest. More trouble could arise."

A vessel? For what purpose? Ye Fan was full of doubts.

The flawless woman looked at Ye Fan again and said, "Take him away for now."

Several enchanting demonesses, smiling mysteriously, walked over and escorted Ye Fan away from the valley.

Qin Yao stayed behind and asked, "Your Highness, are you overthinking it?"

"There are things you don’t understand. If something goes wrong, the consequences will be serious."

"If we ignore everything else, how do you judge his body?" Qin Yao asked.

"It’s certainly strong enough, a top-tier choice," the woman replied gently. "The one in seclusion once said that both Ye Fan and Pang Bo consumed divine medicine. If a demon monarch were to obtain their blood and body, they might someday attain a physical body worthy of emperors."

In the distance, Ye Fan’s heart trembled. Though he was far away, his divine sense was powerful enough to catch these words.

"So both of them..." Qin Yao was shocked.

"No wonder that mysterious Daoist Duan said this youth’s talent was monstrous, it all makes sense now." She then smiled brightly.

"Isn’t this perfect? The one in seclusion chose a vessel. And now this one fits the role exactly."

Having reached the outer gorge, Ye Fan’s mind was racing. He felt Pang Bo might be in grave danger, his fate uncertain.

The flawless woman shook her head. "The one in seclusion may not even know if he can survive. No one can say who will help whom in the end."

"And this Ye Fan..." She looked toward him. "His body is special. If he becomes a vessel, anything could happen. The one in seclusion once hinted he might be from before the desolate era..."

That was the last thing Ye Fan heard. He was taken away and brought into a valley. Here, peach trees filled the land, ancient trees, thousands of years old. In the center was a clear green pool, surrounded by thatched huts, natural and peaceful. This would be Ye Fan’s temporary residence.

It wasn’t until the fifth day that the flawless woman appeared again. Her real name, it turned out, was Yan Ruyu, "jade-like beauty," a name that symbolized ultimate beauty.

If anyone else had such a name, Ye Fan would have scoffed. But this woman was like a painting come to life, her eyes like autumn water, her bones like jade. She truly deserved the name.

Qin Yao followed beside her, along with two elderly women. They drifted silently to the green pool and entered the hut to examine Ye Fan’s body carefully. All three showed strange expressions.

"He can serve as the vessel," one of the old women said.

After they left, Qin Yao arrived. Peach blossoms bloomed around them, a sea of pink. But she, more radiant than the flowers, smiled and swayed as she approached.

"You must have many questions," she said lightly. "Don’t worry, we won’t harm you. In fact, your greatest opportunity has arrived."

"What exactly are you going to do?" Ye Fan asked coldly.

"You’ve seen the Imperial Demon Heart. How did it feel?"

"Terrifying." That was the truth. Even peak cultivators couldn’t approach the beating heart, it made them vomit blood from just the pulse. It was hard to imagine what kind of godpower it contained.

"Good that you understand." Qin Yao gave him a flirtatious glance, pinched his cheek, and giggled.

"What do you mean?"

"We’ll use your body as a vessel to nourish the heart, keep it alive. In turn, it will temper and refine your body. Tell me, is that not the chance of a lifetime?"

Ye Fan was completely shocked. He never expected they’d want to use his body to house the heart.

"There’s no need to worry. The sacred heart is sealed. You won’t be harmed. On the contrary, it will only benefit you." As she spoke, Qin Yao leaned in and blew softly into his ear, smiling sweetly.

"I don’t want to be some so-called sacred vessel!" Ye Fan refused to be subjected to such a fate.

"Do you know how many people dream of this? And you, " Qin Yao tapped his forehead with her finger.

To use his body to nourish the Imperial Demon Heart and then marry that flawless woman, it felt like a dream to Ye Fan.

"Having a peerless beauty by my side? That I’d love. But the heart, I’ll pass. Please find someone else."

"You’re really bold. Do you think Her Highness gives herself to just anyone?" Qin Yao rolled her eyes and pinched his cheek again.

Whether Ye Fan agreed or not, it didn’t matter.

Three days later, Yan Ruyu, Qin Yao, and a dozen old women arrived at the peach grove. They bound Ye Fan in front of the hut.

A divine iron pillar, as thick as a water tank and carved with images of beasts, rose from the green pool and was planted deep into the earth. Ye Fan was tied to it.

Yan Ruyu, appearing in her late teens, was stunning beyond belief. Her features were perfect, her body veiled in light gauze. She stood like heaven’s ultimate creation, pure and flawless, and looked silently at Ye Fan.

"Yan Ruyu, future wife, could you just..." Ye Fan started to speak, but his tongue was immediately sealed by her.

From the pool, waves surged into the sky. Nine golden koi, several meters long, dragged a crystal coffin out of the water. A sense of overwhelming vitality erupted, as if an entire sea was surging.

The crystal coffin was two meters long and one meter wide, clear as glass, radiating seven-colored godlight under the sun. Inside it lay a fist-sized heart, bright red and glowing like burning jade, dazzling beyond compare. That power, pure, vast, was coming from this heart.

The Imperial Demon Heart!

It was sealed, wrapped in crimson haze, surrounded by glowing mist. The crystal coffin shimmered red, reflecting the sacred light.

Ye Fan wanted to scream but couldn’t. He tried to struggle but was bound tightly to the divine iron. He couldn’t stop what was happening.

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