Chapter Seventy-Seven: Narod

Yuki’s residence lay in a secluded corner of Blue Star Island—a colossal castle of violet-gold. Around the castle flourished a profusion of flowers and grasses, blossoms in full bloom, creating a sea of color that was breathtakingly beautiful. Inside, the castle was exquisitely furnished, yet immense as it was, not a soul could be found within—not even a small animal—making its emptiness all the more striking.

“Come, Qiankun, taste our Mist Spirit Tea from the Star Mist Sea,” Yuki said, personally brewing the tea in the castle’s parlor. She smiled as she handed a cup to Qiankun.

“Thank you,” Qiankun replied with a faint smile, taking the cup. His brows arched in surprise as he glanced at Yuki; as she passed him the cup, her fingers softly traced his palm—was it an act of seduction? Or a blatant invitation?

Qiankun had been somewhat perplexed by Yuki’s initial warmth, and he had noticed earlier that the soldiers guarding the teleportation array looked at her with peculiar eyes—strange, yet tinged with a mysterious reverence. Now, with Yuki’s subtle gestures, Qiankun’s curiosity deepened. What exactly was this woman after?

As their conversation continued, Yuki’s teasing toward Qiankun grew ever bolder, her intentions unmistakable—she seemed determined not to rest until she had lured him into her bed. Qiankun, who hadn’t been with a woman in quite some time, could not deny his own stirring interest, and so, allowing events to unfold naturally, he became intimately involved with Yuki.

For more than ten days, Qiankun remained at Yuki’s residence, entangled with her day and night, indulging in pleasures unfit for children. Though he enjoyed himself, Qiankun’s confusion only grew. Yuki seemed to desire nothing more than their physical relationship, with no other motive, which gradually left Qiankun feeling bored.

She was, after all, merely a wanton woman—beautiful and alluring, but Qiankun cared little for that. Once the novelty faded, so too did his interest.

On the day Qiankun prepared to bid Yuki farewell, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

Boom… A deep, thunderous explosion of energy echoed, and an enraged voice resounded within the castle: “Yuki! Come out!”

“Hm?” Qiankun, who had been enjoying the exquisite food brought by the Star Army with Yuki, frowned in puzzlement. Who was this? An enemy of Yuki? Had her entanglement with him merely been an attempt to enlist his help?

Barefoot, clad in a sheer, pale-gold gown that revealed her fair and alluring figure, Yuki nestled in Qiankun’s embrace. Upon hearing the furious call, her beautiful eyes narrowed and her lips curved into a sly smile. She laughed and said to Qiankun, “Qiankun, my trouble has arrived. Will you help me deal with it?”

“How do you want me to deal with it? Should I kill him for you?” Qiankun asked with easy nonchalance.

Yuki giggled, covering her mouth, and answered without confirming or denying, “If you have the ability, by all means, kill him. Then I’ll never have trouble again. At that time, whatever you desire, I’ll do my best to oblige.”

“You said it,” Qiankun laughed, wrapping his arm around Yuki’s waist. With a flicker, he flew out of the castle.

The moment Qiankun emerged, he saw, floating before the castle, a tall, thin man in a purple robe, wrapped in lightning. Upon seeing Qiankun holding a nearly naked Yuki, the man’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot, his eyes sparking with electricity, his entire form brimming with violent energy. “Bastard! Let go of Yuki!”

“And who are you, exactly? What right do you have to demand I let her go?” Qiankun eyed the furious, lightning-clad man, sensing that the situation was not as he had imagined, and instinctively furrowed his brow.

The purple-robed man glared at Qiankun, his teeth clenched, then suppressed his rage and barked at Yuki, “Yuki! Must you torment me to feel happy? No matter what, I was once your husband. If you are my woman for a day, you are my woman forever. Dream of leaving me—unless I die, you’ll never escape. Any other man who touches you is courting death.”

“Wait, wait—you two are husband and wife?” Qiankun stared in shock, quickly releasing Yuki and stepping aside, waving his hands, “This is a misunderstanding—I didn’t know! Brother, whatever issues you two have, settle them yourselves. I’ll be on my way!”

“Want to leave? Too late!” the purple-robed man roared, transforming into a bolt of lightning to block Qiankun’s escape. His face twisted with rage as he glared at Qiankun, his entire being radiating wild, murderous intent. “Since you’ve touched my woman, you must be prepared to die!”

Qiankun cursed inwardly, realizing that curiosity truly did kill the cat. Though he knew he was in the wrong, faced with the man’s relentless hostility, a spark of killing intent rose within him. Damn it, though I’m at fault, if you keep pressing, don’t blame me for being ruthless. An upper god of lightning? Does he really think he’s invincible? Kill whoever he pleases?

Qiankun soon understood, however, that this man, Rod, truly was that formidable, possessing the confidence to kill as he wished.

Boom… In a storm of violent energy, Rod drew a lightning spear and, with a single move, sent Qiankun flying back in disarray.

“Damn! This guy’s power is incredible!” Qiankun’s eyes widened with shock. “He must have fused four or even five profundities of the lightning law. Such power—he’s definitely a top-tier seven-star demon, maybe even a Lord of Hell!”

Never in his wildest dreams did Qiankun expect, upon arriving in Hell, to encounter such a formidable opponent. Unbeknownst to him, the many islands of the Star Mist Sea were divided into over ten prefectures, and Rod was the lord of one such prefecture—a top powerhouse in Hell, unmatched in the lightning law.

Rod, too, had not anticipated that Qiankun was no ordinary upper god. Qiankun’s earth law had already embarked on the path of fusing six profundities, making him a cut above even the Lords of Hell. Unless confronted by a perfected upper god, Qiankun feared nothing. Even a perfected upper god would likely find him difficult to overcome.

After a brief exchange, both Qiankun and Rod recognized each other's strength, and immediately unleashed their full power.

Watching the two men locked in fierce battle, Yuki, her delicate hand covering her mouth, stared in stunned amazement. Clearly, she had never expected that the handsome upper god she had casually seduced would turn out to be such a formidable force, his strength rivalling Rod’s.

Ah… With a mad howl, Rod gathered an overwhelming surge of lightning energy around him, forming a vortex, and unleashed his most powerful attack. His lightning spear stabbed fiercely at Qiankun, accompanied by an illusory, larger spear phantom—a combination of physical and soul attacks. Rod had claimed his title as Lord of Hell's Prefecture with this very move.

Qiankun’s gaze turned cold as his black greatsword glowed earthen yellow, like a small mountain, striking out to meet Rod’s lightning spear.

Clang… The clear ring of steel was instantly drowned by the explosion of violent energy. A terrifying energy storm swept outward; caught within it, Rod’s body trembled, his eyes wide with unwilling rage, before he was utterly obliterated—reduced to dust in the raging storm. Only two divine sparks, the lightning spear, and a space ring remained, falling to the ground. Qiankun, with a thought, sheathed his greatsword and collected the spoils in his hand.