Jin Yao’s face darkened, his grip on his massive sword trembling. Meanwhile, the youth in red looked on with clear amusement, crossing his arms with a smirk. He had heard that Divine Lord Jin Yao of the Heavenly Palace had a daughter, though she was not born of Jin Yao’s deceased celestial partner but rather of a demon woman. Recently, this daughter had come to him alone, and Zhen Yu had discovered the powerful demon energy within her, though it was forcibly suppressed by a celestial power. Thus, after five thousand years, she had only managed to become a lower-ranked Celestial. Cold Spring Palace accepted any demon with strength, and despite Fu Ling’s unusual heritage, her potential was limitless. Accepting her into Cold Spring Palace would be a severe blow to both the celestial race and Jin Yao himself, making it an opportunity Zhen Yu couldn’t resist.
After a brief silence, Divine Lord Jin Yao looked at his daughter and said, “Fu Ling, stay with me in the Celestial Palace. I’ll train with you every day…”
“There’s no need!” Fu Ling coldly interrupted. “What would I gain by staying there? Watching the very people who killed my mother and calling them uncles and elders?” Her eyes blazed with resentment.
Fu Ling’s mother was known as the Blood Mist Demon Flower, titled Lady Zhao Hui. Thousands of years ago, Jin Yao, while undergoing mortal tribulation, had been captivated by Lady Zhao Hui’s charms. Unaware of his true identity, she fell in love with him, and they had a daughter together, Fu Ling. Once Jin Yao completed his tribulation and returned to the Heavenly Palace, he recalled the affair and learned that he had not only fallen for a demon but also fathered a child with her. By then, Jin Yao’s celestial consort had passed away, so there were no moral conflicts to hold him back. Nonetheless, as relations between celestials and demons were hostile, Jin Yao faced enormous pressure when he confessed the affair to the Celestial Emperor Twilight, offering to relinquish his position if only he could bring back Lady Zhao Hui and his daughter. Lady Zhao Hui, being a proud demon with a deep hatred for celestials who had slaughtered her kin, refused to accompany him to the Celestial Realm or allow him to see his daughter. Heartbroken, Jin Yao returned to the Celestial Palace alone.
Years later, a war erupted between celestials and demons along the border, resulting in heavy losses on both sides, with Lady Zhao Hui perishing at the hands of celestial warriors. Upon her death, Jin Yao ventured into the demon realm to find his young daughter. Fu Ling, who was then old enough to understand, had learned of her mother’s fate from her clan and fainted from the shock, only to be found by Jin Yao, who brought her back to the Celestial Realm. From then on, Fu Ling became the daughter of Divine Lord Jin Yao. Many in the Celestial Realm were aware of this situation, but Jin Yao’s virtue and high status, coupled with Fu Ling’s low celestial power and youthful innocence, led most to turn a blind eye. She was allowed to live quietly in the Heavenly Palace. Years ago, Fu Ling secluded herself alongside Jin Yao, only re-emerging into celestial society when Jin Yao resumed his position as Celestial Lord eight hundred years ago. Some who had fought her mother felt pangs of guilt, treating Fu Ling with deference that only intensified the envy and spite of younger celestials. As a half-demon, her strength was limited, and she endured much covert mistreatment over the years.
As Divine Lord of one realm, Jin Yao had neglected his youngest daughter. Once she matured and could no longer bear it, she left the Heavenly Palace and pledged allegiance to Cold Spring Palace in the demon realm.
“You think I left the Heavenly Palace for no reason?” Fu Ling’s voice was cold as she continued, seeing Jin Yao remain silent. “I’ve been scorned as a half-demon, half-celestial all these years, but that never bothered me. You know perfectly well what does! You want me to return to the Heavenly Palace? Fine, I’ll go, if you’re willing to kill the Four Lords of Wind and Flame to avenge my mother!”
Jin Yao’s voice was pained. “Fu Ling, thousands of years ago, celestials and demons were at war. Lives were lost on both sides; many celestials perished at the hands of demons. I cannot punish the Four Lords for what occurred during that battle.”
“Hypocrite! A sanctimonious coward!” Fu Ling’s words were filled with contempt. “Back then, you were only a Lord and couldn’t avenge her. I endured years of humiliation in the Celestial Realm because I was waiting to avenge my mother! Now you’re a demigod, holding life and death power in the Celestial Palace, yet you allow her killers to live freely. You’re no father to me! If you won’t kill them, then I will tear out my celestial bones and discard my inner core, becoming a pure blood demon flower instead!”
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