Situ Shuping had never felt entirely safe with merely betraying his fellow demons.

    Only by fully infiltrating human society and completely assimilating into it could he guarantee his security.

    A few years later, he targeted a disciple from a righteous sect—a man of clear background and decent bone structure. Situ Shuping killed him, paying a hefty price to use a secret art to claim the disciple’s physical form.

    From that point on, using this new identity, Situ Shuping successfully entered the human sect.

    Soon after, he exhibited astounding cultivation talent, catching the attention of the protector of the Northern Wilderness Continent, who personally selected him as a disciple. Coincidentally, this protector was also preparing to venture out to eradicate demons—a prospect that thrilled Situ Shuping.

    In the years that followed, Situ Shuping roamed from place to place with his master, hunting demons and seeking out demon heirs. Every time one of these heirs was killed, he felt exhilarated, knowing he was one step closer to his ultimate goal.

    When the eighth demon heir was gravely wounded and on the brink of death, Situ Shuping felt an unprecedented sense of triumph. He believed that only nine demon heirs had been left behind in the human world, and with all the others eliminated, he alone would remain to rule as the Demon King.

    But unexpectedly, as the eighth heir’s soul dissipated, they revealed a shocking secret: it wasn’t nine heirs left in the human realm but ten. The seventy-third princess of the Demon Clan was also among them. Even if all the demon heirs perished, the princess would be there to turn the tide and seize control.

    This revelation left Situ Shuping in utter shock. How had the original nine become ten? He still couldn’t figure it out.

    Now that his true form was revealed, there was no point in hiding his anger. Situ Shuping shouted loudly, “Why? Why did you have to appear and change everything? Why did the nine heirs become ten?”

    Bai Miao Leng replied calmly, “Because, at the last moment, I chose to stay behind voluntarily.”

    “Nine heirs of the Demon Clan?” she continued with a hint of scorn. “To put it simply, you were all just stepping stones for me to ascend as the strongest.”

    Situ Shuping paused, then burst into crazed laughter, tinged with tears. He had never imagined that he, as cunning as he was, would end up as someone else’s stepping stone. It was a disgrace like no other! He had always believed that they were meant to be his stepping stones, so how had it come to this?

    Ye Yu spoke calmly, “If I could kill you once, I can kill you a second time.”

    In the next moment, Ye Yu formed a seal with his free hand. Countless small wounds appeared across Situ Shuping’s body, which quickly grew larger as Ye Yu’s seal work sped up. Blood poured out, not downwards but rising into the air, collecting above Situ Shuping’s head to form a massive blood ax.

    With a sudden drop, the ax cleaved down, obliterating Situ Shuping’s soul.

    This was the forbidden technique known as Heaven’s Punishment, which used blood to summon a soul-slaying ax and annihilate the opponent’s spirit. Of course, Ye Yu had no intention of using his own blood, instead draining every last drop from Situ Shuping.

    Using his blood to slay his soul.

    With his soul destroyed, Situ Shuping collapsed to the ground, his body slowly disintegrating. Thus ended the Demon Realm’s greatest traitor.

    Ye Yu didn’t even glance at the corpse. All his attention was on the Soul-Capturing Spear in his hand.

    It truly lived up to its reputation as a treasure of the Demon Realm. Even he had almost fallen victim to it. Properly handled, it could be a devastating weapon against any enemy.

    Ye Yu was exhilarated but then noticed, to his surprise, that the spear in his hand was dissipating right before his eyes. Within mere moments, it vanished entirely.

    Puzzled, Ye Yu asked, “What... what just happened?”

    Bai Miao Leng walked over slowly, explaining softly, “When we were left behind in the human realm, all the treasures of the Demon Realm were crafted into our companion spirit artifacts. As long as we live, they remain; if we perish, they vanish. It’s a simple safeguard.”

    Ye Yu’s expression became indescribable. “Not even a hair left behind? Whose brilliant idea was that? It’s honestly revolting.”

    Shaking off his discomfort, Ye Yu was about to speak when Bai Miao Leng suddenly threw herself into his arms, her demonic allure re-emerging. With a seductive tone, she murmured, “From now on, don’t leave, alright? I know... you love me too.”