After traveling through the book, I conquered the male protagonist Long Aotian!

"I heard that when he was in a good mood, he would kill a few monsters to add some interest. When he was in a bad mood, he would kill a few monsters to vent his depression. When he was in a dull mood, he would kill a few monsters to see the blood."

As Song Jinnian spoke, he gestured in an exaggerated manner: "It is said that when the demon king kills, he likes to break the neck from the neck, and the blood splatters everywhere in a horrible scene."

As much as I want to deny it, this...is indeed true.

Chu Lingxiao had no idea about the Demon King's mentality, and he was simply unable to understand it. Wantonly killing innocent people and regarding killing as fun was really... too cruel.

That was why he was unwilling to accept the Demon King's memories (more than half of the Demon King's memories were about slaughter, filled with the screams of the killed, endless fear, and dripping blood...). Fortunately, he had a strong will, otherwise his spirit would have been polluted long ago.

Song Jinnian paused for a moment. It seemed that he had reached the turning point of the story. After everyone's attention was focused on him, he continued to narrate:

"Originally, everyone had gradually gotten used to and adapted to the current Demon King's style of doing things. After all, as a Demon King... it was normal for him to kill a few demons at will on weekdays. However, one day, the Demon King suddenly became furious and slaughtered all the demons in the city."

He knew that city was where his mother had lived a long time ago.

He also knew the reason for the Demon King's rage. It was she (Chu Lingxiao's mother) who carried the Demon King on her back and quietly left the demon world.

So, after she (Chu Lingxiao's mother) left, the Demon King killed all the demons in the place where she had lived in order to vent his anger.

Chu Lingxiao was not willing to comment on this. Now that his bloodline had awakened and he had gained the same ability as his mother, he knew how powerful this ability was.

So when his mother...left the demon world, it was impossible for her not to know that after she left, the demon king would kill more demons to vent his anger.

But to appease the Demon King and prevent his mother from pursuing freedom, trapping her in the demon world for her entire life, seemed... not right.

Chu Lingxiao just felt a headache. It would be better not to let him know about this. What the hell is going on.

Song Jinnian went on to say, "No demon knows why the demon king was so furious and massacred the city."

"But some demons speculated that it might be because of his sister's passing. After all, the Demon King always loved to show off his sister. Since that incident, the Demon King never mentioned her again. The word 'sister' became a taboo in front of the Demon King. Anyone who mentioned her would die."

Gu Qingze was a little surprised when he heard this. He looked at Chu Lingxiao with an inquiring look, wanting to ask him if his guess was true.

Chu Lingxiao lowered his eyes, and even though he noticed his gaze, he didn't look at him, but just remained silent.

Although he didn't answer, Gu Qingze already knew the answer when he saw his reaction.

"Ling Xiao, what's wrong with you? Aren't you in a good mood?" Gu Qingze asked him quietly using his spiritual power.

"...Maybe. I'm not sure."

After a long time, Chu Lingxiao used his spiritual power to transmit a message, but he still kept his head down and didn't look at him.

"Not very clear? Ling Xiao looks like he is in a bad mood."

Just as Gu Qingze was about to continue using his spiritual power to transmit something, or to comfort Ling Xiao, he felt a strong gaze staring at him.

"Brother Qingze, and Brother Lingxiao, are you guys listening?"

Song Jinnian frowned slightly, curled his lips in dissatisfaction, and said, "I was talking so seriously, but my two brothers were distracted. Isn't this a complete waste of my efforts?"

Hearing this, Gu Qingze looked at him, smiled, and blinked innocently: "I'm not daydreaming, I'm just listening. After all, listening depends on the ears. Lower your head, so you can listen more immersively."

Song Jinnian looked thoughtful: "Is that so..."

Gu Qingze and Chu Lingxiao nodded.

"Then Brother Qingze, can you tell me what I was talking about just now?" Song Jinnian suddenly asked.

Gu Qingze recalled it briefly in his mind and almost blurted out: "After the demon king slaughtered a city with blood, he explained it to the other people there."

Song Jinnian was very satisfied when he heard this: "It seems that I misunderstood. The two brothers are indeed listening carefully. Then I will continue."

After that, what Song Jinnian told was basically the same. It was nothing more than how many monsters the Demon King killed on that day, and whether he killed them when he was slightly, moderately, or severely angry.

Then, after who knows how many days, the Demon King's anger gradually subsided. He no longer killed out of anger, but instead killed for fun out of boredom. Perhaps killing had become a habit for him.

In about half an hour, Song Jinnian told them all the rumors he had heard, thus successfully proving that the demon king was moody, capricious, and fond of slaughter.

After Song Jinnian finished speaking, Gu Qingze and Chu Lingxiao praised him tacitly, and when his mouth was dry due to his story, they handed him a glass of water to moisten his throat.

"You said that the final result was satisfactory, proving that the Demon King gave you a way to enter Xuanyin."

Su Han looked at them with his deep blue eyes, and after Song Jinnian finished speaking, he openly showed his desire to speed up the process.

Chu Lingxiao also looked at him with his bright golden eyes, smiled slightly, and continued:

"That's right. The demon king gave Qingze and I a mark each, right in the middle of our foreheads. But for some reason, it can't be revealed now."

Hearing this, He Lanzhi asked curiously, "What kind of mark is it?"

Chu Lingxiao pretended to recall it before answering, "Hmm... It's shaped like a leaf. Even the edge of the mark is green, which makes it look more like a leaf."

He answered this point truthfully.

Gu Qingze also nodded in agreement and added, "Yes, but after the mark appeared, it disappeared in less than a moment, as if it had never existed... Or, the word 'hidden' is more appropriate."

He Lanzhi thought about what they said for a moment, then pulled out a somewhat worn book from the bookshelf behind him (they were now in the study of Helan's house), and quickly turned to a certain page. On that page there was a hand-painted pattern, also in the shape of a leaf.

He turned the book to that page, handed it to Gu Qingze and Chu Lingxiao, and pointed at the pattern: "Does the mark you are talking about look like this?"

Gu Qingze took a closer look and found that it looked exactly like the mark in his memory. He was secretly surprised but did not show it on his face. He subconsciously glanced at Ling Xiao again.

Chu Lingxiao nodded: "Exactly the same, Senior Brother Helan, is there any explanation for this mark?"

Although there are annotations below the pattern, since they cannot understand the demon language (the language of the demon race), it would be more convenient and quicker to ask Senior Brother Helan.

He Lanzhi seemed to be thinking: "I didn't expect that the magic formation at Xuanyin is an eighth-level defense formation - Qingmu Yuxie Formation."

"Qingmu Yuxie Formation?! As far as I know, isn't Qingmu Yuxie Formation only able to resist demonic cultivators?"

"Didn't Senior Brother Helan say before that in order to prevent other creatures from mistakenly entering Xuanyin and getting into danger, wouldn't the magic array at Xuanyin be able to prevent any creatures from entering?"

He Lanzhi nodded: "You remember correctly, the Qingmu Yuxie Formation can only resist demon cultivators in theory, so I find it strange."

"Is it an improvement based on the original magic circle?"

Gu Qingze guessed that although he didn't know much about this subject, he had seen examples of successful improvements in books before.

He Lanzhi was silent for a while, then said, "...It's possible."

"But since the mark is still the same as before, without any change, it means that no major changes have been made. In this case, other things related to the Qingmu Yuxie Formation should still be effective..."

He Lanzhi took out two leaves emitting golden light from her storage bag and handed them to Gu Qingze and Chu Lingxiao respectively.

"Two junior brothers, put the leaves into your storage bag. Don't eat them now. Eat them when you enter the magic circle."

Gu Qingze looked at the leaf. Apart from emitting magical golden light, it was no different from an ordinary leaf.

He asked curiously: "Brother Helan, what is this? Why do we have to eat it before entering the magic circle?"

He Lanzhi explained seriously: "Although you have the mark given to you by the Demon King, you can enter the Qingmu Yuxie Formation."

"But there is a layer of gas similar to marsh gas inside the Qingmu Yuxie Formation... This special leaf can help you resist the marsh gas and see the scene inside the formation clearly."

Gu Qingze was flattered when he heard this, and for a moment he felt that the light leaf in his hand became heavy. He carefully wrapped a handkerchief around the leaf and then put it into his storage bag.

"Thank you, Brother Helan!"

"Thank you for your help, Senior Brother Helan!"

Gu Qingze and Chu Lingxiao said in unison.

He Lanzhi waved her hand, indicating that they didn't need to thank her: "We are brothers, this is what we should do."

After saying that, he seemed to remember something and turned to look at Song Jinnian and Su Han.

"I almost forgot to ask, Song Jinnian, and this... Su Han, do you want to go with them? If you want to go too, I'll get you two more leaves."

Hearing this, Song Jinnian pointed at himself in surprise: "Me? And Brother Su Han?!"

He Lanzhi didn't understand his excitement, but nodded: "Yes, just the two of you."

Song Jinnian scratched the back of his neck and glanced around casually:

"Ah, no way. I remember that only Brother Qingze and Brother Lingxiao have obtained the Demon King's Mark. In other words, only they can enter the Xuanyin Place. Brother Su Han and I have no way to go there even if we want to."

He Lanzhi seemed to understand: "So this is why you are worried. Don't worry. The formation has existed for so many years, and as far as I know, it has not been charged, so there must be a loophole to exploit."

"Hmm... Let me give you an example. For example, after Junior Brother Chu uses the mark to enter, there will be a gap in the formation for less than a second. You can take advantage of the opportunity and follow him in."

"Although only one person can pass through each vacancy in the formation, Junior Brother Gu and Junior Brother Chu each have the mark of the Demon King, which is just enough for you and Su Han to pass through."

Song Jinnian looked at He Lanzhi and gave a bright smile, but he was cursing in his heart.

The damn Helan obviously wanted to make fun of him. He fanned the flames and insisted that he speak clearly.

"Then Helan, why don't you take advantage of this opportunity to go in? As your fellow apprentices, with the protection of a senior brother like you who has higher cultivation, I'm sure it will be smoother. I am willing to give you this precious opportunity."

Song Jinnian took the opportunity to divert attention and directed the topic's focus to He Lanzhi.

He Lanzhi's fox eyes slightly curved, and she said with a look of regret:

"I also want to protect my fellow apprentices, but unfortunately, I am tied up with important tasks and cannot accompany them. After becoming the head of the family, the Helan family cannot do without me."

When Song Jinnian heard his refusal, his already bright smile became even brighter, and he looked at Chu Lingxiao and Gu Qingze.

"Brothers, to be honest, I really want to go with you, but I'm worried that I'll hold you back, so I'll stay here and silently cheer you on and pray that everything goes well for you."

What a joke, that's Xuanyin! If it was Brother Su Han who wanted to go alone, he might still consider it, but Brother Qingze and Brother Lingxiao... are just friends, and he is not willing to take risks for them.

Chu Lingxiao listened to what Song Jinnian and He Lanzhi said, and at the same time took in the undercurrents in their hearts, and inexplicably developed an indescribable feeling.

How should I put it? He knew that their inner thoughts were completely reasonable, and if he were in his place, he would probably do the same.

But... it's one thing to think about it, and it's another to really know it. After learning about their feelings, I still feel a little... sad? Lost? Helpless?

He didn't know what this extremely negative emotion was, but he just felt depressed and didn't want to think too much.

It seems that in the future, when communicating with others or watching others communicate as a bystander, I should try to keep my head down and not look at them, otherwise it would be quite hurtful to hear such voices all the time...

Maybe it will be better if I adapt more in the future... Well, maybe.

Although Gu Qingze did not have the same ability as Chu Lingxiao, he could sense from their words that they were trying to shirk their responsibilities, and he accepted it well.

He had never thought of asking others to accompany them on the adventure, and if someone suggested going with them, he would have to find a way to persuade them.

Now is the perfect time. I don’t have to waste time trying to persuade her, nor do I have to waste brain cells making up excuses.