Chapter 655: Great Demon 18

The Red Flame Tiger and Cang Long both gave chase, but Tan You ignored them, instead turning to the Human Clan Cultivators opposite her. "Since you refuse to cooperate, I won’t be holding back."

The moment her voice fell, a dense net of lightning enveloped the group of Cultivators. Meanwhile, the demon beasts within the Array were all completely unharmed.

The little mouse waved its tiny paws. "Huanhuan, you’re amazing! It seems your Array Dao has improved again."

Tan You gently squeezed its paw. "You’re too kind. It’s only because the old ancestor is here. If he weren’t backing us up, how could things have gone so smoothly?"

’She was also just flattering the old ancestor. Speaking of the Golden Ring Snake Emperor... how many years would I have to cultivate, and how many lightning strikes would I have to endure, to evolve into a Golden Ring Snake? The moment she thought about the gap between them, Tan You’s vision went dark.’

All in all, the future was bright, but the path was winding.

After enduring two waves of Heavenly Thunder, the Cultivators in the main hall were almost all sprawled on the ground. The few who remained standing were simply those who hadn’t taken many lives.

Tan You glanced at them, and they just averted their gazes, not daring to meet her eyes. Tan You looked away, utterly bored. Coincidentally, at that moment, Cang Long and the Red Flame Tiger returned, bringing a man in white with them.

Tan You looked at him, then sniffed the air. "Where’s the auspicious aura? Why can’t I sense any auspicious energy?"

The young man, who was none other than Bai Ze, gave a bitter smile. "It was drained away by the Tianyuan Sect’s Cultivators. They have a type of Array that can convert the auspicious aura around my body into the Tianyuan Sect’s fortune."

"I haven’t dared to die all these years. I was afraid that if I died, the newborn Little Bai Ze would be contracted by the Tianyuan Sect. I’ve been holding on until now."

"Fortune?" The Golden Ring Snake Emperor, who had been observing from the sidelines, was taken aback. After locking his Divine Sense onto Bai Ze, he suddenly said in a deep voice, "So it was a battle over fortune. I didn’t expect some people to stretch their hands all the way into the Lower Realm."

’Tan You’s mind was spinning wildly. Does this mean there’s someone behind the Tianyuan Sect? Quite possibly a Cultivator from the Upper Realm?’ She was just about to ask, but then she remembered she was only a rank-eight silver ring snake, not even a Golden Ring Snake. ’What right do I have to ask?’

’Some things weren’t for a small fry at her level to know.’ Therefore, Tan You didn’t ask anything. She just bowed toward the rift and said, "Does this mean we are to simply let it go, after my clan’s demon beasts have been driven and enslaved all these years?"

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor said, "Of course we can’t just let it go. A life for a life—that is something I approve of."

Tan You smiled too. "Yes, thank you, Ancestor. A life is a life. No one is more noble than another."

Just as this conversation ended, the Cultivators in the Tianyuan Sect’s main hall were nearly all dead or injured. Some had committed suicide, while others had been killed by vengeful demon beasts who activated the reverse effects of their master-servant contracts.

Among the remaining Cultivators, the one with the highest cultivation was now merely at the Golden Core realm; there wasn’t even a single Nascent Soul left. Outside the main hall, many other Cultivators were standing—these were the ones who had not contracted any demon beasts.

But after this battle, the Tianyuan Sect’s strength had been reduced by two-thirds. The Sect Leader and all the grand elders had perished. Now, only a single Body Integration Realm ancestor was left to manage the situation.

The man bowed toward the rift in the sky. "The Tianyuan Sect has suffered immense casualties, and we have repaid the debt we owed. I wonder if Your Excellency is satisfied?"

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor was in a good mood. "Whether I am satisfied is not important. What’s important is whether Little Silver is satisfied."

All eyes fell on Tan You. She smiled. "Every injustice has a perpetrator, and every debt a debtor. My Demon Clan doesn’t practice collective punishment. However, if your esteemed sect comes looking for trouble in the Shifang Mountains, then don’t blame my clan’s demon beasts for being ruthless."

"Furthermore, my clan’s demon beasts have been abused and enslaved by your sect for so many years, suffering immense physical and mental trauma. All the grievances they’ve endured can’t be for nothing. Your esteemed sect must provide appropriate compensation."

The surviving Cultivators all breathed a sigh of relief. ’Looking at it this way, this Little Silver demon beast seems rather fair, doesn’t she?’ But in the next second, their faces crumpled. ’Compensation... how much compensation?’

Tan You announced in a clear voice, "The wealth of the Cultivators who once contracted demon beasts shall belong to the demon beasts themselves. At the same time, the Tianyuan Sect must compensate the Demon Clan with ten million high-grade Spirit Stones. This is for everyone’s physical and mental suffering."

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor laughed. "Very fair."

The Tianyuan Sect’s Cultivators frowned. ’Fair? What’s fair about that? If we give away all those Spirit Stones, the sect will be plunged into poverty!’

Tan You bowed toward the rift again. "Thank you, Ancestor, for upholding justice. The Tianyuan Sect is just one example. I plan to rescue all the demon beasts who have been bullied and humiliated."

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor said leisurely, "Little Silver, not every Cultivator in this world is so cruel to demon beasts. There are also demon beasts who willingly follow Cultivators. If you encounter such a situation, what will you do?"

Tan You replied without hesitation, "That is their own choice. If a demon beast and a Cultivator truly get along well and are on equal footing, I will not interfere."

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor said teasingly, "The Demon Clan in the Shifang Mountains might not accept them. Even if they return to the Shifang Mountains, they might not have a good life."

Tan You pondered for a moment. "If they don’t mind, they can come live in my territory. Besides, it wasn’t their fault they were driven and enslaved. They are innocent victims. As a member of the same clan, I should care for them even more."

"Besides, I already live on the outskirts of the Shifang Mountains. If the others can’t accept them, we can leave the Shifang Mountains and find a new abode for ourselves. There’s always a way."

The Golden Ring Snake Emperor’s tone grew serious. "Little Silver, you are good. Truly very good. Since this is what you want to do, then do it well."

"After matters here are settled, focus on your cultivation. I will wait for you in the Upper Realm."

Tan You smiled. "Yes, I will follow the ancestor’s teachings."

The rift in the sky gradually closed. The tribulation thunder that had been hovering over the God Trapping Array also dispersed unwillingly. Tan You clutched her chest and coughed up a mouthful of blood. The little mouse squeaked twice and transformed into its true form, which was just the right size for Tan You to sit on and rest.

Tan You gently squeezed the little mouse’s ear. "Thanks, Mousie."

The little mouse squeaked. "You’re welcome, Huanhuan. You worked hard."

Bai Ze walked over to Tan You. "Would it be possible to make a place for a Bai Ze here? The newborn Bai Ze is still weak. If he could have your protection..."

Tan You glanced at him. "Sir, there are some things I probably shouldn’t say, but I feel that you’ve endured such difficult times already. Why not keep holding on?"

"It has always been harder to live. Dying is a final end to all troubles, but the living must always carry the burdens of the past."

"If you choose to take your own life now, you’ll only be giving those Cultivators more satisfaction. Besides, with you here, the rescued demon beasts will have a pillar of support to look up to."

Bai Ze chuckled. "Speaking of a pillar of support, aren’t you the one they look to? They’re all so close to you."

As he spoke, he glanced at the various demon beasts standing or lying around Tan You. Some of the flying-type demon beasts had even transformed into smaller forms, perching on Tan You’s shoulders and in her hair like little sparrows.