Chapter 571: Leaving Heavenly Demon City!
Chapter 571: Leaving Heavenly Demon City!
With a flash of light, Ling Feng brought the Qiongqi Demon Emperor, together with the little Qiongqi still munching on its eggshell, as well as the despicable donkey, into the Wood Elemental Realm of the Five Elements Heavenly Palace.
The Wood Elemental Realm, filled with the energy of life, could provide some help in treating the Qiongqi Demon Emperor.
Ling Feng carefully laid the Qiongqi Demon Emperor's body on the ground and took out a row of golden needles. Even before starting the acupuncture, sweat was already beginning to form on his forehead.
He could treat simple external injuries on beasts, but dealing with the eight extraordinary meridians of a beast was far beyond his expertise.
After all, The Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion was a medical text written based on the structure of human meridians. The positions for acupuncture and the dosage of medicine would be no different from a blind man feeling an elephant when applied to a beast.
After hesitating for a while, Ling Feng finally inserted the first needle. Following that, he quickly placed ten more needles, and soon, the Qiongqi Demon Emperor's chest was covered like a porcupine.
Ling Feng didn't miss a single acupuncture point that could help restore vitality. Keeping even a single breath alive was better than nothing.
"You brat, with the way you're poking him, I suspect you might end up being this little one's archenemy!"
The despicable donkey pointed at the little Qiongqi still gnawing on its eggshell nearby. The little one seemed completely oblivious to what was happening, occasionally glancing around with its big eyes before contentedly returning to eating its shell. Its body was gradually growing to the size of a puppy.
"Stop with the sarcastic comments! If you have a better idea, you do it!"
Ling Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had never been this flustered while performing acupuncture before.
"Not a chance."
The despicable donkey backed off a few steps, instead focusing on the little beast. He seemed quite interested in the newly born creature. Nôv(el)B\\jnn
After finishing the eggshell, the little Qiongqi slowly stood up. It fell several times before finally steadying itself. It stared at the despicable donkey as if assessing what this dark and hulking big guy in front of it could be.
The despicable donkey squatted down, leaned closer to the little beast, pointed at his own nose, and grinned. "Little thing, are you stunned by the heroic presence of your granddaddy divine donkey?"
The little beast blinked and tentatively approached the despicable donkey. After realizing there was no danger, it climbed up his leg and onto his shoulder before licking his cheek a few times with its tongue.
"Is this little thing mistaking me for its dad?"
The despicable donkey scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit at a loss.
He was great at causing trouble, but taking care of a little beast like this? He had no idea where to start!
Meanwhile, Ling Feng was stimulating the Qiongqi Demon Emperor's vitality with acupuncture and giving him life-extending precious herbs. After a long while, the Qiongqi Demon Emperor coughed lightly and slowly opened his eyes.
"I... I'm not dead?"
The Qiongqi Demon Emperor was surprised. He had clearly exhausted his last bit of strength. By all rights, with his vitality spent, he shouldn't have been able to wake up again.
"I've only stimulated your vitality to keep you hanging by a thread. It's just a temporary reprieve."
Ling Feng sighed, his expression somewhat grim. "I'm sorry, Senior. I really can't do any more."
The Qiongqi Demon Emperor looked at the golden needles covering his body, and then glanced at Ling Feng before saying weakly, "Young one, you... are human, aren't you?"
"I... am Junior Ling Feng!"
Ling Feng met the Qiongqi Demon Emperor's gaze and finally nodded. "I am human, but please be assured, Senior, I have no ill intentions toward the demon race."
"The Profound Golden Needles, and the Profound Art of Acupuncture and Moxibustion..." The Qiongqi Demon Emperor smiled as he looked at Ling Feng. "I should have known earlier—you are his descendant."
"Senior, do you really know my grandfather, Ling Hanyang?" Ling Feng blurted out.
"That was about thirty years ago," the Qiongqi Demon Emperor said slowly. "Your grandfather was an extraordinary man. He... He... Pfft!"
Before he could finish his sentence, the Qiongqi Demon Emperor spat out a mouthful of blood. His injuries were too severe, and despite Ling Feng's best efforts, he couldn't keep his vitality from fading.
"Senior!"
Ling Feng quickly retrieved a porcelain bottle and began pouring its precious medicinal pills into Qiongqi Demon Emperor's mouth, as if they were free.
"It's no use. My body is like a bottomless bottle; no matter how much water is poured in, it can't hold it..."
The Qiongqi Demon Emperor smiled faintly. "Ling... Ling Feng, in honor of my past friendship with your grandfather, I entrust... my child to you..."
The Qiongqi Demon Emperor's breath grew weaker and weaker as he clung tightly to Ling Feng's collar, barely able to speak.
"I understand, I understand!" Ling Feng clenched his fists tightly, his voice choked with emotion. "From now on, I will treat little Qiongqi as my own brother!"
"If so... I can rest in peace..."
The Qiongqi Demon Emperor's gaze remained fixed on little Qiongqi until his final breath left him, his vitality dissipating as his body became a cold and lifeless corpse.
Little Qiongqi seemed to notice the Qiongqi Demon Emperor's passing. It blinked its eyes, looking somewhat sad, and let out a pitiful woo that tugged at the heartstrings.
"Sigh..."
The despicable donkey held little Qiongqi in his arms, shielding its view of the scene and softly comforting it. "Little one, don't be sad. Once I regain some of my strength, I'll make sure to kill that ice wolf and avenge old Qiongqi!"
"Rest in peace, Senior!"
Ling Feng gently closed the Qiongqi Demon Emperor's eyes. His body soon reverted to its original form—a giant golden Qiongqi demonic beast.
For the first time, even after seeing the corpse of a demonic beast, Ling Feng felt no urge to extract its demonic core. Instead, his heart was filled with sadness and a sense of remembrance.
Even though he didn't manage to uncover any valuable information in the end, at least the Qiongqi Demon Emperor departed from the world with a smile on his face.
...
In the following days, the shocking events at the Demon Emperor's Palace stirred up a great commotion in Heavenly Demon City. However, none of it had anything to do with Ling Feng and his companions anymore.
Ling Feng buried the Qiongqi Demon Emperor's body in a beautiful spot just outside Heavenly Demon City.
He was a demon emperor of Heavenly Demon City, so his body should remain here, continuing to watch over his people.
After that, Ling Feng left Heavenly Demon City. He didn't return to the Three-Headed Demonic Jiao Clan, nor did he go back to find Hai Lingxiang.
He left quietly, without leaving a trace...
Well, except for a cute little Qiongqi.
Of course, there was also a black donkey by his side.
Little Qiongqi laid on the despicable donkey's head, its eyes curiously observing everything around them.
"I say, kid, are you just going to leave like this? Your little bride from the Lin Demon Clan is still waiting for you," the despicable donkey said, wagging its tail and following Ling Feng with a carefree attitude.
Ling Feng rolled his eyes, not bothering to respond.
"Well, I guess there’s no issue with that. You've got only one bride in Heavenly Demon City, but there are plenty of little brides waiting for you in the Tianbai Empire. Kid, can your body handle it all?" The despicable donkey chuckled wickedly.
"Shameless!" Ling Feng glared at him, reaching out to hold little Qiongqi and covering its ears. He snorted, "I can't let little Qiongqi stay with you, or you'll corrupt him sooner or later!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
With a flash of purple light, Zifeng jumped out and nodded in agreement.
"Nonsense! Under the guidance of this divine beast, Little Donkey's future will be bright!"
"Little Donkey..." Ling Feng was speechless. "If we name little Qiongqi that, when he grows up, he might just crash headfirst into something out of shame!"
And so, after much bickering between Ling Feng and the despicable donkey, they finally settled on a grand name for little Qiongqi: Tianqi!
Tianqi, a name that combined the Blood of the Emperor and the Qiongqi bloodline.