Jian Zhen hadn’t expected the Demon God to act so quickly.
Almost the very next day, the demon clan’s craftsmen arrived. After receiving the drawings, they studied them for a long time, pondering back and forth, before finally saying: “My lord, do you truly want a bed of this style?”
Jian Zhen nodded: “Yes.”
The craftsmen left.
Not long after, they delivered a bed made from the demon clan’s finest vine‑tree wood. But the tree was extremely oddly shaped, and because Jian Zhen’s drawing was perhaps too vague, the cradle couldn’t rock at all.
So Jian Zhen personally went to choose the wood.
After selecting for a long time, he finally chose an especially good piece.
The craftsman explained: “This is a very rare spruce tree from the hidden Spirit Clan. It rarely circulates in the world. We only have this one piece.”
Jian Zhen said in surprise: “It’s that expensive?”
The craftsman nodded.
Just as they were discussing, the Demon God learned of the matter. With a wave of his hand, he said: “Capture the Spirit Clan’s chief. Have their people deliver more.”
The craftsman looked excited.
The demon clan revered the law of the strong devouring the weak. In the Three Realms, strength had always ruled. No one thought this was wrong.
Jian Zhen: “…Forget it, forget it. I think this piece of wood is fine.”
The craftsman said: “This is redwood from the yao clan, also extremely rare.”
Ye Jisheng asked lightly: “Who is the current Yao King?”
Jian Zhen nearly collapsed. Last night the Demon God said he was spoiling the child, but now who was actually spoiling the child? It was just a rocking cradle. Kidnapping someone’s king for a piece of wood, how was that reasonable?
Jian Zhen had always wondered why the Three Realms gritted their teeth at the Demon God.
Now he was beginning to understand exactly how flamboyant this god’s personality was.
Jian Zhen quickly said: “Forget it, forget it. I think ordinary wood is fine too. He’s just a child, anything decent will do!”
The craftsman immediately knelt: “Anything the little prince uses must be the most noble. My lord, rest assured, we will spare no effort to create the most magnificent rocking cradle in the world for His Highness!!”
Jian Zhen: “…”
It’s just a baby bed.
Little Grass complained silently in his heart, but didn’t dare say it aloud.
Ye Jisheng waved his hand lightly: “Go.”
The craftsman accepted the order with the air of someone entrusted with a great mission and left.
Jian Zhen sat beside him and said: “Really, as long as the wood is good, it doesn’t have to be that expensive.”
Ye Jisheng stood at the front of the hall, his dark robe striking against the dim light. Hearing Jian Zhen’s words, he glanced sideways and curled his lips: “What, you pity those people?”
Jian Zhen: “Not exactly… I just think forcibly taking things doesn’t seem very good.”
“No need to worry about that.” Ye Jisheng said lightly. “The price for these things was already paid millions of years ago, during the countless years the demon clan was enslaved and exploited.”
Jian Zhen suddenly choked up.
Sometimes, because he didn’t understand the demon clan’s history, he couldn’t understand why they hated the other three clans so deeply. Outsiders said the demon clan was cruel and vicious but how could the weak survive the tides of history?
Thinking of this—
Jian Zhen said: “Then… then maybe we should order some redwood?”
Ye Jisheng seemed surprised he would say that.
Jian Zhen’s fair face seemed to glow in the sunlight. He pressed his lips together and smiled a little, sounding guilty and soft: “At most, let’s not kidnap their Yao King. Let’s just… buy it normally.”
Ye Jisheng raised an eyebrow, expression unreadable.
Jian Zhen immediately said: “It’s for the baby. Let’s consider it accumulating blessings for him!”
He didn’t know which sentence convinced the Demon God.
But Ye Jisheng finally didn’t argue. He only said indifferently: “You handle it with the craftsmen.”
Jian Zhen let out a sigh of relief.
Who understands having a Demon God at home who at the slightest provocation wants to kill people and set fires is also very stressful, okay!!
The people of the demon clan had very strong execution ability.
After Jian Zhen gave the order, the baby’s rocking cradle was delivered very quickly. It was made very exquisitely; the craftsman even specially carved some cute cloud patterns onto it, domineering yet not lacking playfulness.
Jian Zhen put the child into it to try it out, it fit perfectly.
The little milk baby seemed to feel novelty toward his own bed as well. His jet-black eyes turned lively, full of curiosity about the world.
Jian Zhen revealed a smile and teased his little cheeks, saying, “Little Red, do you like your new bed?”
The little milk baby broke into a smile as soon as he poked him.
Seeing that he liked it, Jian Zhen was also happy. He gently rocked the little wooden bed to coax the child to sleep while drawing his own design drafts on the blueprint, softly humming an out-of-tune little song: “I only want to fly, flying in my sky…”
His voice was gentle and lingering.
The softly hummed little tune was the best lullaby. The little Demon God in the cradle slowly and leisurely closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Jian Zhen himself was drawing a slide on the blueprint, and only came back to his senses when sounds came from outside. He put down the pen and said, “You’re back?”
Ye Jisheng nodded.
The night in the Demon Realm was deep and heavy with dew. The man stood outside, as if wrapped in a layer of cold air.
Jian Zhen said, “The baby quite likes this little bed.”
Ye Jisheng stepped in, glanced at the child, then sat on a chair not far from Jian Zhen. The wide hem of his black robe swept through the air with a somewhat desolate chill.
Jian Zhen lowered his head and softly hummed while continuing to draw.
Ye Jisheng said, “You like the outside world very much?”
Jian Zhen was stunned for a moment, not guessing why the big boss suddenly asked this. He thought seriously for a bit and said, “If there’s a chance, I can go take a look.”
After all, the outside world is very big.
And in the few years since he had just taken human form, after following Ye Jisheng to some places, he had come to understand the vastness outside even more.
Jian Zhen said, “When Little Red is a bit older, then we’ll go. He’s still too small now and can’t be away from people. When he’s a bit older, we can take him around everywhere together. We can also go back to Muyue Village once. The old man and the others will definitely be especially shocked when they see Little Red.”
Ye Jisheng’s red eyes looked at him. Seeing Jian Zhen enthusiastically planning, his face full of excitement, he curled his lips into a faint smile.
As Jian Zhen talked, he grew tired.
During the day he had been busy confirming styles with the craftsmen. Now that it was deep into the night, he was tired. After glancing at the baby on the bed, he lay back down on his own cloud bed and fell asleep. The candlelight in the room burned quietly. When he buried his head into the quilt, Ye Jisheng sat at the bedside, pulled the quilt up a little, and tucked it properly over the person beside him.
The night passed without words.
A few days later—
Jian Zhen discovered that a child with an innate divine body was indeed different from an ordinary cub. The child, just having reached his full month, was already very plump. His whole body was no longer red but fair and tender and adorable. He even no longer loved drinking milk as much and began gradually transitioning to eating food.
The wet nurses prepared meat soup.
The little fellow was somewhat picky and would often spit out the meat soup.
One day Jian Zhen suddenly had a whim and put some of the honey he added to jade dew into the meat soup. The little fellow liked it immensely. Rarely making a fuss, he finished all the meat soup.
Yan Ji sighed with emotion, “Little Highness’s appetite is truly exactly the same as Yours, Honored Lord.”
Jian Zhen smiled with narrowed eyes. “Children all love sweets. It’s very normal.”
Yan Ji helped take away the bowl of meat soup and said as she did, “Honored Lord, Little Highness has now reached his full month. All the elders of the demon clan have sent gifts over. Later, His Excellency will also prepare a gift to send to Little Highness.”
Jian Zhen had never heard of such a thing before. “Is this some kind of custom?”
Yan Ji nodded. “Yes. This is our demon clan’s custom. When a child reaches their full month, the elders must all give gifts to the child.”
Jian Zhen said somewhat enviously, “That’s so nice.”
Yan Ji smiled. “Little Highness is still so small. Aren’t these gifts being received on his behalf by you?”
Jian Zhen thought about it. “That’s true.”
He actually got to experience, for a moment, the feeling of receiving New Year’s money on behalf of a child!
Before long, sure enough, people delivered all the gifts sent by the various elders. Jian Zhen had originally been quite looking forward to it, but after looking through them one by one and seeing those big broadswords, peerless treasured swords, unparalleled divine weapons and the like, he was no longer that excited.
He had no interest in dominating the Three Realms!
In the afternoon, while Jian Zhen was preparing to put the gifts sent by the elders back into the storeroom, Ye Jisheng returned from outside.
Jian Zhen saw that he was holding a box and asked, “Is this also a gift for Little Red?”
Ye Jisheng said, “For you.”
Jian Zhen for a moment did not even react. “For me?”
Hadn’t Yan Ji said that according to the demon clan’s custom, they were for the child?
Ye Jisheng said, “As for his gift, all the carpentry blueprints you drew for him, I have already sent them to be made. When they are finished in the future, they will all be delivered.”
Jian Zhen did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Some of those can only be used when he’s older.”
Ye Jisheng said somewhat indifferently, “Sooner or later they’ll be used.”
Jian Zhen felt that made sense, so he did not argue further with him and only asked, “What’s in this box?”
Ye Jisheng opened the box and handed it to Jian Zhen. “Face-Changing Pearl.”
Jian Zhen lowered his head to look into the box and saw a white pearl placed in the center. It was very small and very delicate. Under the sunlight it emitted a dazzling glow, exceptionally beautiful.
Ye Jisheng said, “Wear this pearl and inject your blood into it. It will recognize you as its master. From then on, you can change your appearance into any form and walk freely within the Three Realms.”
Jian Zhen was somewhat astonished. He had not expected that this small little pearl would be so powerful.
Ye Jisheng said, “Put it on and try.”
But Jian Zhen held the box and said, “I can’t think right now of what I want to change into or where I want to go. I’ll wear it later when I do. That way, when you disguise yourself in the future, I can disguise together with you too, safer that way.”
Ye Jisheng raised his brows, did not refuse, and only said, “You decide yourself.”
Jian Zhen nodded. He asked curiously, “This should be very precious, right?”
“It’s alright.” Ye Jisheng said lightly, “A few years ago, when I passed by a secret realm, the giant python guarding the realm was too noisy, so I killed it conveniently and took the pearl.”
Jian Zhen: “……”
How did he feel that this “conveniently” was not the same as other people’s?
Little Grass tactfully chose silence.
But Jian Zhen was still happy. Before, he was always afraid his original form would be seen through. Now it was good, having this pearl, he would never have to worry about being caught and stewed into a pot of soup again.
Just as he was thinking—
Ye Jisheng lifted the babbling little Demon God, who was making a fuss on the bed and almost falling off, back onto the bed, and said, “Prepare yourself. Next month he’ll be able to go down to the ground. At that time the demon clan will hold a celebration for him, including a grabbing ceremony. Then, the various races of the Three Realms will also send envoys.”
Jian Zhen froze. “Grabbing ceremony?”
This term was a little unfamiliar to him, yet also somewhat familiar.
Ye Jisheng nodded. “Mm. Generally the items will follow clan regulations.”
Jian Zhen said worriedly, “So nervous…”
Ye Jisheng raised a brow. “What are you nervous about?”
Jian Zhen patted his little heart. “What if the baby grabs something bad during the grabbing ceremony? Won’t we be laughed at by the Three Realms?”
Ye Jisheng was quite indifferent. He sneered. “I thought what you were nervous about was showing your face before the envoys of the various races of the Three Realms and being recognized as this Venerable’s Queen.”
Jian Zhen: “Ah?”
Little Grass was dumbfounded.
Ye Jisheng lowered his eyes to look at him and said meaningfully, “Aren’t you nervous?”
Jian Zhen said frankly, “This isn’t our wedding ceremony. It’s just the child’s grabbing ceremony. What’s there to be nervous about?”
Ye Jisheng was silent for a moment, then laughed again. Jian Zhen always had this kind of magic. His excessive frankness and directness already surpassed all the sweet words in this world.
A few days later.
A maid came to deliver the clothes Jian Zhen would wear to attend the ceremony.
It was a black robe with light gold trimming. It had subtle differences from Ye Jisheng’s, but the style was extremely similar, as if displaying the two people’s status and relationship like a plaque. After Jian Zhen put on the clothes, the little milk baby grabbed onto the tassel on his robe and refused to let go. Jian Zhen simply picked the baby up and helped the maid dress him as well.
The maid sighed with emotion, “Little Highness’s brows and eyes really resemble the Demon Lord’s. He will surely accomplish great things in the future.”
Before, it wasn’t noticeable.
Now that he had grown a bit and was wearing a baby version of noble black robes, there was actually somewhat that handsome feeling between his brows and eyes. If he grew up in the future, he would probably also be someone who could enchant all living beings.
Jian Zhen said gently, “Whether he accomplishes great things or not, I don’t care. As long as he can grow up safely, that’s enough.”
The maid was somewhat surprised. There had never been someone who did not hope their child would become a dragon. This one who had given birth to the divine child of the world was actually the most laid-back.
As the two were speaking—
The sound of greetings came from outside. Ye Jisheng entered from outside. When he looked at Jian Zhen, his gaze paused on his clothes for a moment and he said, “Changed already?”
Jian Zhen responded with a sound. He asked, “Are we going over now?”
“Mm.” Ye Jisheng took the child into his arms with one hand and extended his hand toward Jian Zhen. “Come with me.”
Jian Zhen held his hand and walked step by step down the grand steps of the demon clan’s hall. The noon sunlight was bright, especially warm when it fell upon people, calm as if it were every single day of the past hundreds of years. And at that time, he had only been a small blade of grass standing on the windowsill, unable to leave here and walk freely.
This road he had watched for a hundred years—
Ye Jisheng held his hand and walked forward along it.
Passing through the long steps, they arrived at the main hall of the Demon Palace. Jian Zhen saw the great banners of the demon clan fluttering in the wind everywhere, as well as the elders of the demon clan standing below, and the envoys from the four races of the Three Realms wearing clothing of various colors.
At the moment Ye Jisheng appeared—
A unified voice rang out below the hall: “Greetings to the Demon Lord. Congratulations on Little Highness’s birth.”
Ye Jisheng raised his hand as if accustomed to it. “No need for excessive courtesy.”
Faced with such a scene, in the Demon God’s eyes there was only calmness and indifference, without any extra fluctuation.
The little cub in his arms was the same. Seeing so many people for the first time, he was not afraid. His jet-black eyes fell upon everyone, and even because he felt bored, he wanted to reach out toward Jian Zhen’s arms.
Jian Zhen secretly poked his little cheek.
The little cub then revealed a smile, treating everyone else as if they did not exist.
The High Priest stepped forward and said, “The grabbing ceremony begins!”
With that command—
A continuous line of attendants carried items out from inside in a single file. The objects in the trays were all different. There were peerless treasured swords, precious cultivation secret manuals, magical artifacts, and even ancient books, rows of books laid out.
The High Priest came forward to salute and said, “Everything is prepared.”
Ye Jisheng placed the cub in his arms onto the ground.
After leaving his father’s embrace, the little Demon God subconsciously crawled toward Jian Zhen’s arms. Jian Zhen hurried over to pull the little baby up, gesturing for him to go to the grabbing floor in front to take something, and said gently, “Those are gifts your uncles prepared for you. Go pick one you like, alright?”
The little Demon God never gave anyone face, but he especially listened to Jian Zhen’s words.
The baby who originally wanted to cuddle with Daddy, after hearing this, looked somewhat blankly toward the trays for the grabbing ceremony and, under Jian Zhen’s encouragement, slowly crawled forward.
Apart from Jian Zhen letting out a sigh of relief, everyone present held their breath.
The people of the demon clan were worried about Little Highness’s future.
As for the envoys of the Three Realms, it was different. This one was the future Demon God, the only god in the Three Realms at full peak power. Although his father Ye Jisheng was equally terrifying, at least the Demon Lord had half of his power sealed by Wanmie Mountain. But this little baby was different. Though young now and not to be feared, once grown, he would be a powerful god!
Everyone unconsciously held their breath, watching that baby who had only just passed his full month.
The baby in black little clothes crawled on the ground for a bit, finally sat down in the middle, and looked around at the various gifts. Just when everyone was extremely nervous—
The little baby crawled toward the edge of the grabbing carpet where dried meat was placed!
Jian Zhen’s heart rose to his throat. That piece of dried meat had probably been prepared by the maids in case Little Highness suddenly cried. But because someone had been careless, it was left in the far corner only to be discovered by their own greedy little treasure. If at the grabbing ceremony he grabbed a piece of dried meat, wouldn’t that become a laughingstock across the Three Realms?
Seeing the little baby about to go over—
Jian Zhen glanced at Ye Jisheng, only to find that the Ye Jisheng sitting beside him was watching the baby’s movements below with interest, even with a smile curling at the corner of his lips, utterly unconcerned.
Big boss, your heart is really big.
Among those below, there were not a few envoys hoping to watch the fun, secretly anticipating that this little Demon God would make a joke of himself and cause the demon clan to lose face.
Yet they saw—
The little milk baby who had crawled to the edge suddenly plopped his bottom down onto an ancient book. His sitting posture was very casual, carrying quite a feeling of ruling the world with ease. Then, using the ancient book as a cushion, he picked up the dried meat biscuit and babbled while gnawing on it.
The High Priest came out trembling from the side and said, “Your Highness, Little Highness chose the ancient book that is our demon clan’s complete map of the Three Realms, passed down since ancient times!”
With one sentence spoken, silence fell everywhere.
What did the complete map of the Three Realms represent? It represented the entire Three Realms, the territories of the four races!
And yet this little ancestor didn’t just grab it, he directly sat on it with his butt as a stool, effortlessly, not even taking it seriously, as if it were just done casually!!!
In an instant, almost everyone in the entire hall focused their attention on the little baby.
Only a light chuckle broke the silence.
Everyone looked up and saw that Ye Jisheng, seated upon the highest throne, was smiling. The Demon God’s aura was powerful. His red eyes fell upon the baby below as he said, “Is it tasty?”
The little baby only responded to his father and Daddy’s voices.
Hearing his father speak from above, his jet-black eyes blinked, and he took another bite.
The smile in Ye Jisheng’s eyes deepened. He said lightly, “Carry His Highness back. Prepare some more meat cakes for him at dinner.”
The maids and wet nurses quickly accepted the order.
Jian Zhen was also somewhat between laughter and tears. His gaze swept across the expressions of the envoys below, and he softly said to Ye Jisheng, “I’ll go check on the baby too. I’m afraid he might not get used to it in a while.”
Ye Jisheng nodded. “Mm.”
The atmosphere here was harmonious, but the envoys of the Three Realms below could not laugh at all. Some were even already sweating profusely. Only several demon clan elders were beaming, as if they had vented a long-held grievance.
After Jian Zhen and the maids exited the Demon Hall, he glanced at the meat cake in Little Red’s hand and said, “Take His Highness to wash up. It’s time for his midday nap.”
The maids and wet nurses obeyed and did not dare delay.
In the blazing hot afternoon—
Jian Zhen stood in the garden. The sunlight stretched his shadow long. His fair and tender face bore a calm expression, as if someone’s helpless sigh had fallen in the wind. He turned and looked behind him.
Fu Changhuan stood only a few inches away.
The man dressed in snow-white robes stood upright. His black hair shone like silk under the sunlight. His cold and aloof appearance made the rear garden of the Demon Palace seem as if it had instantly been covered in an unmelting mountain of eternal frost.
Jian Zhen said, “Immortal Venerable.”
Fu Changhuan said, “That was your child? Why not leave him for this Venerable to have a look.”
Jian Zhen explained, “The wet nurses have been following closely. They would become suspicious. This is very close to the Demon Palace hall.”
Fu Changhuan sensed his sincerity and concern. His frost-like brows and eyes seemed to soften somewhat, yet he still calmly said, “Since when do you and I need to avoid others when meeting?”
If it was said that during the two hundred years as grass, Jian Zhen had stayed in the Demon Realm for one hundred years, then at Spirit Mountain he had likewise stayed for one hundred years.
Jian Zhen pressed his lips together. His brows gently furrowed as he obediently explained, “It’s not like that. I just don’t want you… I don’t want you and him to fight.”
Fu Changhuan smiled faintly. He said, “You recognized me in the hall, didn’t you?”
Jian Zhen nodded. “Mm. I could tell. Although Immortal Venerable you were wearing an envoy’s clothes and had concealed your aura, I wouldn’t mistake you.”
A hundred years of companionship had already been engraved in his heart.
Fu Changhuan’s brows and eyes grew much gentler. He said, “It has been a long time since we last met. Have you been well?”
Jian Zhen thought about it and honestly said, “It has been very good.”
Ye Jisheng treated him well, and treated the baby well too, so he had to speak the truth.
Fu Changhuan’s expression was calm, yet his pair of eyes were deep and heavy, like a profound pool of water. He said, “During the days you were not at Spirit Mountain, this Venerable was very worried about you.”
Being looked at by him like that, Jian Zhen suddenly felt somewhat guilty in his heart.
The Immortal Venerable had treated him very well.
And now he really seemed like a child who, after leaving home, was not obedient at all and made his elder worry.
Little Grass felt somewhat guilty. Jian Zhen said, “I’m sorry, Immortal Venerable. I made you worry.”
Fu Changhuan shook his head. “Worrying about you is this Venerable’s own matter. You need not feel guilty for it.”
Jian Zhen felt even more ashamed.
Fu Changhuan looked at his rosy and fair face and parted his lips. “Knowing that you are doing well, this Venerable is at ease. If one day you are in danger, this Venerable will come to take you back to Spirit Mountain.”
Jian Zhen raised his eyes somewhat in surprise. He might be a little slow, but he was not stupid. He asked, “What do you mean?”
Fu Changhuan remained silent.
Jian Zhen’s heart instantly grew flustered. After going through all this, he was no longer that little grass who understood nothing. Subconsciously he said, “Is something going to happen to the demon clan?”
Fu Changhuan said calmly, “There have been frequent disturbances at Wanmie Mountain. Ye Jisheng’s heavenly tribulation is approaching.”
Jian Zhen had thought about Ye Jisheng’s heavenly tribulation, but he had not expected it to be so near. He said, “His heavenly tribulation…”
“Ye Jisheng is the most powerful god in the world. Even when Grandmaster was the God of Vegetation in his prime, he could not do anything to him.” Fu Changhuan said, “Although he now has only half his power, he still has a great chance of winning against the heavenly tribulation.”
Jian Zhen had just been about to breathe a sigh of relief—
But Fu Changhuan’s calm gaze fell upon him as he said, “Yet before his own heavenly tribulation arrived, he blocked one for you and the child.”
Jian Zhen abruptly lifted his head, his eyes trembling.
Fu Changhuan said, “A heavenly tribulation is not that simple. It is not something one can withstand as many times as one wishes. Even if he is a god, he is no exception.”
Jian Zhen suddenly recalled that night, the soaring flames and Ye Jisheng covered in blood. But at that time he had just given birth to the baby, and coupled with Ye Jisheng’s light tone, he had never thought much about it. He had believed it was truly fine, that as long as he continued to recuperate well, he would recover, that everything would definitely be alright.
Almost in an instant—
Jian Zhen’s mind was in complete turmoil. He remembered Ye Jisheng giving him the Face-Changing Pearl. He remembered Ye Jisheng arranging toys for the baby that would last decades. He remembered that Ye Jisheng had never once promised him any of the plans about the future they had talked about.
While he was still planning for the future—
Ye Jisheng was making a long farewell. He had arranged everything for him and the baby, yet had arranged nothing for himself.
Jian Zhen looked up and said, “Then he…”
Before he could finish, Fu Changhuan seemed to already know what he wanted to ask and said, “This is a god’s tribulation. No one can stop it.”
All the people of the Three Realms had exhausted every means to take the Demon God’s life and failed.
And the one who could truly take his life was himself or rather, Ye Jisheng had chosen an ending for himself.
He was a madman.
The divine throne that the world dreamed of, he did not care for. The position of Supreme of the Three Realms that people fought desperately to obtain, he sneered at. All people cherished their lives, only he had never cared about his own, as if he no longer had the slightest attachment to this world.
For a long time—
Fu Changhuan had felt that the world racked its brains wanting the Demon God to fall, yet perhaps millions of years ago, the person who had emerged from Wanmie Mountain, having lost his memory, had already died.
The one alive was not Ye Jisheng, it was the Demon God.
He suffered, so he made the entire Three Realms suffer with him. He suffered, so he vented his rage, preferring to endure heavenly punishment just to throw the whole Three Realms into chaos.
Ye Jisheng was a complete and utter madman.
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