Chapter 240 - 210: Red Cloud’s Old Stories, Skill Breakthrough

Chapter 240: Chapter 210: Red Cloud’s Old Stories, Skill Breakthrough

"Little mouse, come walk with me!"

Yu Ruyan invited Xu Chang’an.

Xu Chang’an smiled faintly and readily agreed.

As the hegemon of the Red Cloud Mountain Range, Red Cloud Mountain was tall, massive, and incomparably vast.

Within it, grotto-heavens, pavilions, kiosks, and palaces were scattered about like stars in the sky.

The halo of the Mountain Protection Array flowed and shifted from time to time, emitting light of various colors.

Walking through the mountains felt like stepping into an Immortal Realm.

But this was no Immortal Realm!

It was a gathering place for throngs of Demons, occupied by a Demon King!

Yu Ruyan led Xu Chang’an along, introducing the sights as they went, and they gradually ventured deeper.

The two Demons walked into the depths of Red Cloud Mountain.

Before, Xu Chang’an would never have taken such a risk.

But now, he didn’t mind at all.

Flying was strictly forbidden within Red Cloud Mountain.

Along the way, Great Demons of Red Cloud Mountain would pass by from time to time.

When these Great Demons saw Yu Ruyan, they would almost always stop to greet her respectfully.

Even the top-tier Great Demons did the same!

This struck Xu Chang’an as rather odd.

Although Yu Ruyan had a Demon King Bloodline, she wasn’t a true Demon King herself.

Most who could become top-tier Great Demons possessed excellent talent, Bloodlines, and solid backing.

While they would be friendly toward Yu Ruyan, they would usually treat her as an equal, not with the level of reverence she was currently receiving.

In the process, Xu Chang’an also keenly sensed that many of the Great Demons were looking at him strangely.

Their gazes were mostly probing, but they also held a hint of gossip.

Gossip!?

Xu Chang’an was slightly surprised, but he understood the reason in an instant.

’With Yu Ruyan’s exceptional qualities, she surely has no shortage of suitors on Red Cloud Mountain.’

’I’m not a Demon of Red Cloud Mountain, yet she invited me here.’

’What’s more, I’m touring Red Cloud Mountain with her, enjoying the scenery. It’s obvious our relationship isn’t ordinary.’

’Given all that, it’s only natural for these Great Demons to size me up with gossipy looks!’

Yu Ruyan was very familiar with Red Cloud Mountain and gave Xu Chang’an all sorts of introductions to the area.

Xu Chang’an followed Yu Ruyan over several mountain peaks until they reached the core of Red Cloud Mountain.

Before them stood a magnificent and towering hall.

"The Demon King Hall!"

Yu Ruyan pointed at the magnificent, towering hall before them and looked at Xu Chang’an.

"This is where the memorial jade tablets of every Demon King who formed an Inner Core and ascended to their station are kept, from the very founding of Red Cloud Mountain!"

Xu Chang’an looked up.

The hall before him shimmered with a halo, enveloped by an Array Restriction.

The Demon King Hall!

It was truly the heart of Red Cloud Mountain!

It represented the spirit and legacy of Red Cloud Mountain!

"When I first joined Red Cloud Mountain, I received my first lesson from an Elder in the Law Enforcement Hall. The very first rule was to memorize the names of all the Demon Kings in Red Cloud Mountain’s history!"

"It has been 15,742 years since the first-generation Red Cloud Demon King established this mountain! In that time, no fewer than several dozen Demon Kings have risen!"

"..."

Yu Ruyan spoke of Red Cloud Mountain’s history, of its Demon Kings, and of many other things.

Xu Chang’an listened quietly, not interrupting.

"Little mouse, did you know? Aside from the Red Cloud Demon King, the most famous Demon King in Red Cloud Mountain’s history is the Silver Thorn Demon King from over six thousand years ago!

He isn’t famous for his peerless combat power that overshadowed all other Demon Kings! It’s because he once challenged a Demon King while he was still just a top-tier Great Demon!

Challenging a true Demon King!?"

"Oh!?"

Xu Chang’an’s interest was piqued.

"Over six thousand years ago, Red Cloud Mountain was a top power, but it couldn’t yet be called a hegemon. To maintain relations between factions and balance interests, the Silver Thorn Demon King’s beloved was married off to a Demon King from Leopard Ridge!"

"At the time, the Silver Thorn Demon King was still just a top-tier Great Demon. Although he strongly objected and appealed to the Red Cloud Demon King several times, he couldn’t change the outcome. So, the Silver Thorn Demon King went to confront the Demon King of Leopard Ridge!

As a top-tier Great Demon, he challenged a Demon King!"

"And then what!?"

Xu Chang’an pressed.

"He lost, of course! But the Silver Thorn Demon King earned the respect of the Leopard Ridge Demon King, who then took the initiative to reject the marriage arranged between Red Cloud Mountain and Leopard Ridge!"

"His beloved returned to his side. A few years later, the Silver Thorn Demon King formed his Inner Core and achieved the rank of Demon King! With Red Cloud Mountain’s support, the Silver Thorn Demon King and his beloved became Dao Companions."

As she spoke, Yu Ruyan looked at Xu Chang’an expectantly.

"Little mouse, if that were you, would you choose to challenge a Demon King!?"

"I’m not the Silver Thorn Demon King."

Xu Chang’an said vaguely, intending to brush her off.

"But what if you were!"

"If I really were him, then I wouldn’t!"

"Why?"

The expectation on Yu Ruyan’s face slowly faded.

"Challenging a Demon King is too risky, and the outcome is uncontrollable!"

Xu Chang’an said with a smile.

"But in the end, the Silver Thorn Demon King became a Demon King and married his beloved. Isn’t that a perfect ending!"

"That’s because the Demon King of Leopard Ridge respected him! What if he hadn’t? That whole process was the risk! The happy ending wasn’t decided by the Silver Thorn Demon King, but by his opponent!"

The smile on Xu Chang’an’s face didn’t waver as he slowly explained.

"But sometimes, to achieve your goals, you have to take some risks."

Yu Ruyan’s expression dimmed slightly, and she lowered her head.

Xu Chang’an was momentarily taken aback. ’When did Yu Ruyan become so sentimental?’

’It’s true that you have to take risks to achieve your goals.’

’But I can just bide my time and wait until there’s no risk at all before I make my move!’

’I have my panel; I have both the confidence and the capability to do so!’

’If I were the Silver Thorn Demon King, I would have formed my Inner Core first, achieved the rank of Demon King, and *then* gone to confront the Demon King of Leopard Ridge!’