Two Realms Shuttle Gate: Don't Call Me a Demon!

Cui Wenhao quickly explained the situation and added at the end: "Additionally, the reward amount for Su Jie has yet to be determined. What do you think..."

"Offer a reward of ten million spirit stones."

Dong Yu stated a astronomical sum, but placing this reward amount on Su Jie was quite reasonable, even somewhat low.

Cui Wenhao understood and quickly departed.

The hall returned to silence. Dong Yu stood there, took out three sticks of Netherworld Light Incense, and inserted them into the incense burner.

"Master, what do you think I should do now."

Dong Yu sighed, seemingly speaking to himself.

Inside the incense burner, the three sticks of Netherworld Light Incense burned fiercely, instantly turned into ashes and collapsed.

The eyes of a divine image suddenly shone brightly, an inexplicable pressure permeated the air, and a breeze arose within the hall.

Dong Yu knelt, his ears twitched as if listening to something, and after a while, he raised his head again, his usually calm demeanor showing a bit of excitement.

"Yes, the royal family is actually seeking that... I know what to do. Master teaches rightly; Su Jie is merely a minor affliction. When Master returns to the world, he will surely sweep across the universe, eradicating all threats."

The light in the eyes of the divine image gradually dimmed in response to Dong Yu's words.

Crack!

The sculpture of the divine image shattered, and amidst the fragments, the shadow of a peculiar, terrifying creature dissipated.

If a knowledgeable cultivator were present, they would recognize it as a dharma manifestation, condensed by the Yang God, though generally, it would not be so small.

...…

Qing Province, Fire Cloud Hall.

If Guan Chao Pavilion relied on Firefly Sea for its construction, then Fire Cloud Hall was situated atop an active volcano.

Giant Peak Mountain, a perpetually active volcano, with a spirit vein running beneath it, causing the volcano to burn not with ordinary fire but a spiritual fire known as Earth Flame Fire. Within the volcano grew vast precious fire lotuses and various fire attribute ores.

On the mountain body of Giant Peak, numerous buildings were constructed like a constellation.

Within the volcano, many Fire Cloud Palace disciples sat cross-legged, wearing ice silk cold clothes to help resist the heat. Some were sitting further away, others had half their bodies submerged in the Earth Flame Fire, their skin being roasted red by the high temperature, like scalded shrimps; occasionally, some could not endure and fled looking like dehydrated corpses.

This was the mountain gate of Qing Province's leading righteous sect, Fire Cloud Hall.

The disciples practiced the Fire Cloud Palace's core technique, the Fire Devouring Pure Yang True Method, which allowed the devouring of flames to deepen cultivation speed, the effect improving with more extraordinary spiritual fire.

Giant Peak Mountain for Fire Cloud Hall was akin to Insect Valley for Ghost Ridge Palace, a dreaded place for outsiders but a treasure trove for them waiting to be tapped.

A thousand meters in the sky above the volcano mouth, a palace floated there.

The palace was made entirely of fire crystal and white jade, encompassing over a million square meters, magnificently imposing and sustained in suspension for a thousand years by the rising heat of the Earth Flame Fire.

This was the Red Shining Immortal Palace, built by the Fire Cloud Hall's first Sect Master who reportedly loved marvels, having constructed various spectacles, the largest being the Red Shining Immortal Palace.

To build this Red Shining Immortal Palace, it took over six hundred years, causing Fire Cloud Hall to go bankrupt eight times, and through five Sect Masters, it was finally completed as a landmark of Qing Province.

Rumor had it, each succeeding Fire Cloud Hall Sect Master, upon taking over, cursed the first Sect Master's incompetence for dragging the sect into a bottomless pit of expenditure.

Previous sect masters cursed because the sect had invested too much in the Red Shining Immortal Palace and could only continue investing to avoid leaving it unfinished, while later sect masters cursed because of the headache over the annual maintenance expenses, calling the palace a gold-swallowing beast.

From the Red Shining Immortal Palace, iron chains hung down like the drooping branches of a willow tree, occasionally with cultivators going up and down among them.

Only inner disciples and Secret Realm Elders could ascend to the Red Shining Immortal Palace; thus, these iron chains were arranged for the inner disciples who couldn't fly.

At this moment beneath the Red Shining Immortal Palace, a woman stood there, gazing up at the familiar mountain gate, her eyes filled with myriad thoughts.

This woman was none other than Qin Mengying, who had been abducted by Su Jie.

After being released by Su Jie, she returned to Fire Cloud Hall without delay.

Taking a deep breath, accompanied by several elders, Qin Mengying soared into the sky towards the Red Shining Immortal Palace to meet the waiting Fire Cloud Hall Sect Master, Chu Yangang.

Chu Yangang was a man two meters tall, robust like a grizzly bear, with a bald head and red sideburns. At first glance, he resembled those martial artists in Jianghu who honed their physical strength.

Seeing the Sect Master, Qin Mengying's eyes grew misty, reminiscing about her recent experiences which felt surreal and wonderful.

However, her demeanor made Chu Yangang misunderstand, his face showing anger: "Xiao Qin, did that devil humiliate you? Does he really think that as Qingzhou's devil, Fire Cloud Hall can't deal with him? Pass my order..."

It's no wonder Chu Yangang was angered. Qin Mengying was an Immortal Seed of Fire Cloud Hall, outstandingly talented, possessing the Xuan Yan Sacred Body, making her the best candidate for practicing the Fire Cloud Palace's core technique, and highly anticipated by the sect.

Upon learning that Qin Mengying had been abducted by Su Jie, Fire Cloud Hall immediately spread the word, willing to offer spirit stones to redeem her, very proactive.

But before Fire Cloud Hall could receive a response from Su Jie, Qin Mengying had returned to the sect, leading them to believe she had painstakingly found her way back.

Chu Yangang instinctively thought Qin Mengying had submitted to someone, endured humiliation, and finally found a chance to escape Su Jie's clutches.

"Wait, Sect Master, Su Jie didn't do anything to me. It's not like you think."

Qin Mengying blushed and quickly interrupted, explaining: "It was Su Jie who let me go."

"Su Jie let you go?"

Chu Yangang was shocked. Su Jie was notorious in Qingzhou for capturing numerous talented disciples to demand ransom, and not once was he known for releasing someone voluntarily.

"Su Jie asked me to convey a message; he wishes to cooperate with Fire Cloud Hall to jointly oppose Guan Chao Pavilion and Ten Thousand Sword Alliance, and requests the Sect Master's decision."

As she spoke, Qin Mengying took out a head from her storage bag.

"Pei Lanqing, a Secret Realm Elder of Guan Chao Pavilion, this was killed by Su Jie during his attack on Guan Chao Pavilion's Sun Flame Stone Mine Area. He says it's a gift for our cooperation."

Qin Mengying relayed her conversation with Su Jie thoroughly and placed the head on the ground.

Chu Yangang contemplated for a moment, then looked at Qin Mengying and asked: "You've spent time with this person. Tell me, what kind of character is he?"

"In my observation, this devil is domineering and ruthless in action, ambitious and unscrupulous in achieving his goals."

Qin Mengying shared her thoughts, although her direct contact with Su Jie was brief, he left her with a profound impression.

"Opposing Ten Thousand Sword Alliance and Guan Chao Pavilion, ha ha, indeed, a suitable cooperation partner."

Upon hearing Qin Mengying's assessment, Chu Yangang laughed heartily and spoke words that surprised Qin Mengying.

"A person with ambition, such a devil can indeed disregard Guan Chao Pavilion's fame."

Chu Yangang's eyes flashed, although Fire Cloud Hall remained the leading righteous sect in Qing Province, it faced direct confrontation from Guan Chao Pavilion in front and the Ten Thousand Sword Alliance eyeing the throne from behind. The actual circumstance was far less favorable than it appeared.

If they united with Su Jie, it might become an opportunity to strike and weaken the strength of Ten Thousand Sword Alliance and Guan Chao Pavilion.

As for potential risks of collaborating with the Demon Path, Chu Yangang paid no mind, as long as it's kept secret.

Or rather, if they win the final victory, even if it's revealed, Fire Cloud Hall wouldn't be afraid. They could just revise things a bit, find some excuses to mislead the world, for history is written by the victors.

"Su Jie, huh? I hope you can bring me a good cooperation plan."

Chu Yangang was already quite eager to meet Su Jie, this renowned Demon Path giant from Qingzhou, and experience his charisma.