Sorry but I only accept female disciples!

Long Xian suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around, a slow, unsettling smirk spreading across his lips.

His eyes gleamed with a crimson glint, sharp and cold, as he muttered...

"Now then, shall we harvest our seed?"

Eh?

Ming Yuelin and Long Yue were dumbfounded looking at the cold red glint in his eyes while Xue Hua's frown deepened in thought.

'Something's wrong, I sensed demonic energy within the castle earlier, but I dismissed it. I thought maybe they'd captured a demon, keeping it as a prisoner for information… but… did the demon take over the Emperor's body?'

"F-Father?" Long Yue whispered, her heart pounding as she took a cautious step closer. She wanted to reach out, to make sure it was truly him, but a creeping fear held her back.

Zhang Yuan grasped her arm and pulled her close to him "Yue, that is not your Father."

Long Xian laughed sinisterly "Kukukuku..."

Long Yue's knees went weak as the words sank in, her eyes darting between Zhang Yuan and the creature wearing her father's face.

Her lips trembled, but before she could muster another word, the air around them shifted, thickening with dark energy as the laughter grew louder, more menacing.

*woosh* Suddenly, the room rippled, and the veil of illusion shattered around them.

The elegant castle walls melted into dark, jagged stone, dimly lit by faint blue flames lining the walls.

Shadows danced ominously, revealing hundreds of demons emerging from every corner.

Ming Yuelin's breath hitched, her eyes widening as the ghastly demons materialized one by one-horned, fanged, and emanating an aura of pure malice.

Xue Hua, however, had already slipped her gauntlets on, her gaze unwavering as she surveyed the growing crowd of demons and mumbled "Seems like we were in an illusion till now.. this place is swarmed by all these demons."

Ming Yuelin gulped her saliva looking at the men in the room with horns, while some had horrendous faces that looked like they would give her nightmares for a few days.

The tension thickened as the demons closed in, their guttural growls filling the air.

Ming Yuelin clenched her jaw, trying to steady her trembling hands as she forced herself to face the oncoming horde and quickly took the bow from her storage ring.

Long Xian's mocking laughter filled the room, echoing off the walls as he watched them with twisted delight.

His gaze settled on them with a dark, predatory gleam, a chilling smile tugging at his lips. "Kukukuku… now, you all are trapped. It's time… to claim what is ours."

*woosh* The demons surged forward, their monstrous forms lunging toward them, claws and fangs bared.

Zhang Fumin clicked her tongue in annoyance "Just piss off."

As she muttered, every demon in the hall turned to ashes within seconds, and there was nothing but complete silence.

Zhang Yuan looked at his sister and shook his head helplessly "You are reckless."

Zhang Fumin scratched her neck "Their voices were getting on my nerves. Better to silence them than listen to any more of their mindless drivel."

"Besides Yuan'er, why are you not killing them?"

-_- Zhang Yuan stared at her blankly and spoke "I wanted my disciples to have some real combat experience like killing demons, but you ruined it."

Zhang Fumin understood and nodded her head "i see..."

Meanwhile, Ming Yuelin, Xue Hua, and Long Yue stood dumbfounded, struggling to process what had just happened.

One moment they'd been on the brink of a desperate battle, and the next… the threat had vanished as if it were nothing.

The three of them exchanged glances, still reeling from the swift turn of events.

"M-Master, my father."

Zhang Yuan glanced at her and muttered "Don't worry, that is not your father.. it is just a demon mimicking your father."

"Now, let's go and see your father."

They navigate their way through the palace making their way towards the prison.

They passed through the palace's grand halls, past rooms where guards stood at attention, seemingly undisturbed.

Each guard they passed appeared eerily normal, almost too normal, as if they were frozen in place, their eyes blank and unseeing.

Long Yue's gaze swept over them, searching for any hint of recognition, but she found only vacant stares that sent chills down her spine.

"Master…" she whispered, her voice tight with worry. "The guards… something's wrong with them. They're standing there like statues, like they don't even see us."

Zhang Yuan glanced at the guards, his brow furrowing as he observed their rigid postures. "They've likely fallen under a demon's influence," he replied quietly. "Illusions can distort their senses, making them act as though everything is normal."

"Let's continue.. seems like the whole castle is still under the demon's influence."

After what felt like an eternity, they approached a heavy iron door set into the wall, its surface scarred and worn.

Pushing open the door, they entered the prison.

As they reached the bottom, the faint glow of enchanted stones illuminated a long, narrow hallway lined with cells.

Each cell was shrouded in shadows, their bars slick with a layer of rust and grime.

Long Yue's heart beat faster, her gaze darting around the cells in search of her father. "Father?" she called out softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she scanned the shadowed faces that peered back at her, filled with confusion and fear.

But there was no response, only the echo of her voice in the darkened hall.

They continued down the corridor, stopping at each cell to peer through the bars.

But as they ventured deeper, the presence of demonic energy grew thicker, and an eerie mist began to curl along the floor, swirling around their ankles.

Xue Hua could feel the oppressive weight of dark energy pressing down on them, making the air feel heavy, almost suffocating.

Finally, they reached a cell at the very end of the corridor.

It was larger than the others, its bars reinforced with layers of ancient enchantments.

Inside, a figure sat motionless, his head bowed, his body slumped against the wall. His clothes were tattered, his hair disheveled, but there was no mistaking the aura that emanated from him.... a faint but undeniable energy that bore the remnants of strength and authority.

Long Yue's breath hitched as she took in the sight of the man in the cell. "Father…"

She stepped forward, her hand reaching out instinctively, but Zhang Yuan caught her wrist, holding her back.

Long Xian lifted his head slowly, his gaze unfocused and weary, but when his eyes met Long Yue's, there was a glimmer of hope that cut through the layers of fatigue and despair.

"Yue…" he rasped, his voice barely audible, yet filled with relief and longing.

"My… my daughter… is it really you?"

Long Yue's eyes filled with tears as she nodded, her hand reaching out to brush against the bars. "Yes, Father, it's me," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"We've come to help you."

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the shadows, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.

As if on cue, figures began to emerge from the darkness... shadowed forms, their eyes glowing with a sinister light.

Demons, their forms distorted and twisted, crept forward, surrounding the group, their mouths stretching into twisted smiles filled with jagged teeth.

Xue Hua surged forward, as demonic energy pulsed through her body, crackling with an electrifying aura that surrounded her form.

*thoom* She smashed into the demons with brutal force, her strikes exploding with dark energy as each demon disintegrated under the weight of her attacks.

Her gauntlets gleamed with a faint glow as she swung her fists in powerful arcs, breaking through the demonic ranks and leaving a trail of fallen creatures in her wake.

Ming Yuelin was also using her Crimson Phoienix flames to kill the demons that are surging towards them, with her bow.

Ming Yuelin threw a glance at Zhang Fumin, as she called out, "Not joining us this time, Sister Fumin? Leaving it all to us?"

Zhang Fumin's lips curled into a faint smile as she replied coolly, "Oh, believe me, if you can't handle a few demons, I might have to rethink my opinion of you both."

She gestured lazily toward a group of demons approaching from the left. "You missed a few."

Xue Hua concentrated a surge of demonic energy, slamming it into the remaining demons with a powerful shockwave.

*woosh* They disintegrated on impact, their forms collapsing into shadows that scattered across the stone floor.

Soon, they cleared all the remaining demons and Zhang Fumin easily broke the cell.

Entering the cell, Zhang Yuan helped Long Xian to get up as he used his energy to heal his body.

"How are you feeling now?

After getting healed, Long Xian got clarity in his eyes and he nodded his head "Good.."

"Father..."

Long Xian, weak but smiling, gave a nod looking at Long Yue "Sorry for causing this inconvenience... The demons caught me off guard."

"Let's leave this place first... we can talk later."

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