The Final Trial! Chapter Forty-Eight: Child of Gods and Demons

"Sorry, you've got the wrong person. I'm not the Xuanyuan Haoyu you're looking for," Luo Chen said as he withdrew his spiritual power, deciding not to continue his confrontation with the man. Although he sensed the man's lack of hostility and suspected that the Xuanyuan Haoyu the man mentioned might indeed be his true identity, Luo Chen knew that this world was far from simple. The people of the Demon Clan had always been enemies of the continent—not only in the Mortal Domain but even in the Upper Realms and beyond, where they were universally despised.

He did not know what truly distinguished demon from god, nor the origins of the Demon Clan, but Luo Chen understood this: even if he was indeed from their race, his current strength was so meager that, within this Mortal Domain alone, there were countless who could kill him without a trace.

"Haha... It seems, Your Highness, that after these millions of years, you have long forgotten your glory as the Demon Prince?"

Hearing these words, Luo Chen became even more certain that he was indeed of demon blood. If nothing else, the presence of Shi Ling alone was enough to convince him; why else would the former Silver King of the royal race from millions of years ago willingly attach himself to someone whose origins were shrouded in mystery? Luo Chen had long suspected the truth about himself, but now...

"May I ask, what makes you so sure I am the one you seek? I am only here searching for someone," Luo Chen replied, glancing in the direction where Qing Xuanyu's aura had vanished. At the same time, he noticed that when he mentioned searching for someone, the other black-clad figures betrayed a hint of fear in their eyes—a reaction that puzzled him, for with their cultivation at the late Heavenly Spirit Stage, there should be nothing within this secret realm capable of inspiring such dread.

"Enough. Judging by your current state, you probably have no memory of who you are, am I right, Your Highness Shi Ling?"

The man's words startled Luo Chen; he had not expected that this person not only knew of Shi Ling but seemed even to be acquainted with her. As Luo Chen glanced at the mark on his hand in confusion, a terrifying killing intent suddenly erupted from it. In that instant, a frigid aura, sharp as countless blades, enveloped him.

He recognized that chill—it was identical to the one he had felt in the desert long ago. Gradually, a golden stream of light shot from the mark, hovering above his head, followed by a silver brilliance that illuminated the heavens. Upon a towering silver throne, tens of meters tall and half-veiled in mist, Shi Ling appeared, clad in a silver gown and crowned with silver, a cross-shaped mark glowing on her forehead.

The world seemed to fall silent. Luo Chen gazed at Shi Ling, who now resembled a deity gazing down upon the earth with supreme majesty. The moment she appeared, the black-clad men fell to their knees, their trembling forms betraying unguarded terror.

"Xuanyuan Beifeng, you tell me: according to the clan's laws, what is the punishment for attempting to attack our young master?" Shi Ling's icy voice cut through the stillness. Luo Chen watched as Xuanyuan Beifeng, the man who had just fought him, staggered back two steps, trembling as he removed his black cloak to reveal a face contorted with panic. His lips moved, but no sound escaped. As Shi Ling's killing intent surged anew, Xuanyuan Beifeng dropped to his knees.

"Your Highness Shi Ling, I beg forgiveness! I only..."

"Silence!"

With a flick of her delicate wrist, an overwhelming force sent Xuanyuan Beifeng flying several meters. When he struggled back to his feet, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his face had grown deathly pale. Witnessing this, Luo Chen choked up and glanced at Shi Ling.

Was this the power of Shi Ling? With a mere gesture, she had injured Xuanyuan Beifeng, a cultivator at the late Heavenly Spirit Stage. Although he had always known Shi Ling was terrifyingly strong, and that she was under orders from someone to protect him, he now suspected that person, too, was of the Demon Clan.

"I have no patience for your excuses. Tell me: left hand or right?"

Luo Chen did not fully understand her meaning, but seeing the terror in Xuanyuan Beifeng's eyes, he soon realized. After a moment's hesitation, Xuanyuan Beifeng gritted his teeth, drew a dagger, and glanced at his hands. The implication became clear to Luo Chen.

"Stop!" he called out, having grasped Shi Ling's intent as he saw Xuanyuan Beifeng prepare to sever his own left hand. Luo Chen could not allow things to escalate; after all, Xuanyuan Beifeng had never truly meant him harm.

"Shi Ling, listen to me—let him go. After all, I'm unharmed," Luo Chen pleaded.

Shi Ling hesitated for a moment but said nothing. Xuanyuan Beifeng, meanwhile, looked even more ashamed.

"Since the young master has spoken, I will spare your life this time. But though you escape death, you cannot escape punishment. Go to the Heavenly Firmament Realm and endure a month in the Infernal Fire Prison," Shi Ling declared, waving her hand. A golden flash shot into Xuanyuan Beifeng's brow. Then she withdrew her aura, the silver throne vanished, and her petite form alighted on Luo Chen's shoulder. He had intended to ask her more, but when she stuck out her tongue playfully, he could only give a helpless smile.

"Brother Beifeng, could you tell me everything you know about my origins?" Luo Chen asked. Xuanyuan Beifeng glanced at Shi Ling, then nodded with resignation and gestured for Luo Chen to follow. At the mouth of the canyon, Luo Chen finally learned the truth of his lineage.

It was said that the first Creator God between heaven and earth was not human, but two primordial beasts: one was the Eight-Gate Scarlet Cicada, the other the Six-Yin Dark Earth Qilin.

The insect commanded the supreme yang force of creation, the beast the supreme yin. In other words, the Scarlet Cicada ruled over the eight elemental forces of life, while the Dark Qilin governed six elements of darkness.

Originally, these two beings dwelled among the stars, but after endless years, their only diversion became sparring with one another. Eventually, they struck a wager: each would create the deity that most pleased them, to determine whose power was greater.

After ten thousand years, the insect transformed itself into the Eight Wilderness Mountains, within which it nurtured the first generation of gods, called the Taiyuan Gods. After another ten thousand years of love, the two Taiyuan gave birth to four ancient deities: Donghuang Taiyi, Skyless Infinity, Northsea Deathbringer, and Azure Mist Song.

But after the Scarlet Cicada had divided all its divine power between the two Taiyuan gods, it could no longer create new deities. In despair, after another ten thousand years, it commanded the Taiyuan gods to become the world itself, thus forming the First Firmament. Donghuang Taiyi was appointed guardian of this new world, founding the Taiyuan Palace to protect the Scarlet Cicada’s last divine consciousness.

Meanwhile, the Dark Qilin discovered a place of perpetual night among the stars. With its horn, it tore open the void, creating a scar of darkness, and from this wound opened a new world: Mount Calamity.

Thereafter, it transformed itself into the Ancient Void Clan, taking the name Xuanyuan.

In the 1.7 millionth year of the Taiyuan Era:

Azure Mist Song and Xuanyuan Liang, the Void Demon God, fell in love. The following year, in the Void Demon Domain, they had a son: Xuanyuan Haoyu.

At this, the Spirit of Chaos was enraged!

It commanded Donghuang Taiyi to enter the scar of darkness, journey to Mount Calamity, and retrieve Xuanyuan Haoyu. In the aftermath, Xuanyuan Liang, driven by the loss of his child, led the Ancient Void Clan to attack the Eight Wilderness Mountains in an attempt to reclaim his son. Thus began the First God-Demon War.

The war raged for a century. As the Eight Wilderness Mountains were about to fall, the Spirit of Chaos ordered the two Taiyuan gods to transform themselves into the world and their souls into the heavens. Thus ended the Taiyuan Era. Xuanyuan Haoyu’s whereabouts became unknown.

Xuanyuan Beifeng's account left Luo Chen astounded. He had never imagined that his origins would be so extraordinary—he was truly of demon blood, and moreover, the child of both god and demon.

"Shi Ling, is what he said true?" Luo Chen asked in disbelief. Shi Ling could only nod, her face full of helplessness. In that moment, Luo Chen did not know how to face himself. The God and Demon Clans had always been mortal enemies, and yet he was the child of both.

To both races, he was an enemy. In such chaotic times, there was no place in the world for him. What should he do now? If no one ever learned his secret, things might be fine; but if the truth ever came to light, he would become the common enemy of both clans.

"Shi Ling, what should I do next?" Luo Chen asked, looking at her after glancing around at the others. He hoped for an answer, especially since his mother had perished, and his father’s whereabouts were unknown.

"Master, you need not worry. In truth, your mother did not truly die—she was sealed away," Shi Ling replied.

"Truly?" There was a glimmer of hope in Luo Chen’s heart. Perhaps this could become his motivation to carry on. Though he knew his mother had once surrendered herself to the demon path...

"The seal—who cast it? How can I break it?" Luo Chen asked two questions in quick succession. The answers brought him disappointment: the one who sealed his mother was none other than his father. Back then, it was his father who quelled the bloodshed of the primordial chaos. Unable to bear the slaughter, Xuanyuan Liang, unable to find a way to free her from the demon’s grasp, sealed Azure Mist Song within the void and departed into the endless emptiness, seeking a cure. Since then, no word had been heard of him.

"Actually, Master, there is no need to despair. It is said that if you can attain the Divine Throne, the seal can be broken. After all, you are the first child of both god and demon, bearing the blood of both clans. Perhaps, through you, the hatred of millions of years might finally be resolved."