Chapter 835: Exempt from Bowing

As Shi Pokong and Shi Chuankong knelt, Blood Drop Marquis also hastily prostrated himself, loudly singing praises.

Han Li's eyes flickered slightly; he merely bowed slightly toward the main seat but did not kneel.

Shi Chuankong, kneeling on the ground, saw this and was greatly alarmed.

The Demon Lord placed great importance on etiquette; failing to kneel in his presence was a grave offense.

He deeply regretted that he had forgotten to mention this matter to Han Li beforehand.

Before he could react, a stern rebuke came from the side:

"How dare you, a reckless fool, not kneel before the Holy Emperor!"

Rows of seats were arranged on the left side of the hall, and two people were already seated there.

Han Li's mind trembled slightly; since entering the hall, his attention had been entirely captured by the Demon Lord, and he had completely failed to notice the surroundings.

There were thirteen seats in the first row, all dark gold in color, distinctly different from the vermilion seats behind.

On the fifth seat of the first row sat a young woman in a purple palace robe, wearing a purple-gold phoenix crown. Her features were like a painting, her beauty unparalleled—enough to captivate a city or a nation.

On the sixth seat beside the palace-robed woman sat a round-faced young man in a purple robe, short and stout, looking like a dwarf gourd. It was he who had shouted.

Behind each of them sat a tall demon in blue armor, appearing to be guards like Han Li and Blood Drop Marquis.

Han Li ignored the round-faced youth and looked at the palace-robed woman, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

This palace-robed woman was the same white-dressed woman who had previously prevented him from contacting the Great Prince.

The palace-robed woman's clear eyes also looked over, without any resentment, and she smiled radiantly at Han Li.

Her beauty was already extreme, and with that smile, her charm bloomed like a hundred flowers. Even Han Li was momentarily dazed, but he quickly recovered and averted his gaze.

"I, Li Feiyu, am not from the Holy Domain. I came to Yeyang City only to protect the Thirteenth Prince. His Majesty rules the Holy Domain, and though I admire him greatly, to me he is but a senior. Naturally, I need not perform the kneeling bow," Han Li said after a moment's deliberation.

Though unwilling to kneel, he did not wish to offend the Demon Lord, for the matter of the Soul-Devouring Beast depended on him.

"Presumptuous! How dare you argue!" the round-faced youth said, his expression darkening.

"Enough, Mingzhen. These are trivial matters; do not argue here," the Demon Lord said blandly.

"Yes, Father." The round-faced youth was greatly surprised but immediately complied, glaring fiercely at Han Li before saying no more.

Shi Chuankong, still kneeling, was also startled, his eyes showing surprise. Shi Pokong's expression seemed unchanged, but his brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

"So you are Li Feiyu? Since you are not from the Holy Domain, you are exempt from the kneeling bow. Pokong, Chuankong, you may rise as well," the Demon Lord said, his expression calm, neither happy nor angry.

"Thank you, Father." Shi Pokong, Shi Chuankong, and Blood Drop Marquis rose upon hearing this.

Han Li again bowed slightly to express his thanks.

"Chuankong, you have been away from the Holy Domain for quite some time. How was your journey to the True Immortal Realm?" the Demon Lord asked, looking at Shi Chuankong with a faint smile.

"Reporting to Father, I saw many exotic sights in the True Immortal Realm and gained much," Shi Chuankong quickly replied.

"Your cultivation has improved considerably; it seems the journey was worthwhile. We cultivators should indeed broaden our horizons and endure hardships to advance," the Demon Lord said approvingly, his last words directed at everyone in the hall.

"Father speaks wisely," Shi Chuankong agreed. The palace-robed woman and the round-faced youth also nodded in assent.

"Father, while advancing cultivation is important, we royals bear the responsibility for the billions of subjects in the Holy Domain and cannot focus solely on our own training. Recently, the Heavenly Court's garrisons near our domain have been frequently redeployed, suggesting major movements. I implore you to investigate thoroughly to prevent another invasion," Shi Pokong said with a cupped-fist salute.

"I understand. I will arrange it myself," the Demon Lord said noncommittally.

At that moment, a servant hurried in from outside the hall, knelt with a thud, and said, "Reporting to the Holy Emperor, the First Prince, Eighth Prince, and Tenth Prince request an audience outside."

"Let them all enter," the Demon Lord said, then waved at Shi Pokong and the others.

Seeing this, they stepped aside.

Shi Pokong sat in the third seat, with Blood Drop Marquis standing behind him, while Shi Chuankong went to the last seat, and Han Li naturally followed.

"Brother Li, Father is stubborn and unpredictable. I don't know why he forgave your rudeness, but it's extremely fortunate. You must not conflict with him again, or not only will saving the Soul-Devouring Beast be impossible, but your own safety will be at risk," Shi Chuankong's low voice echoed in Han Li's mind.

Han Li was silent for a moment, then nodded silently.

He knew well that his actions had been somewhat inappropriate, but there were things he would and would not do; kneeling to others was something he could never bring himself to do.

Seeing Han Li nod, Shi Chuankong relaxed slightly.

"Brother Shi, who are those two?" Han Li glanced at the palace-robed woman and the round-faced youth, transmitting his voice.

"That is Fifth Sister Shi Jingyan and Sixth Brother Shi Mingzhen," Shi Chuankong replied via transmission.

"Are they connected to the Great Prince?" Han Li's brows moved as he asked again.

"Fifth Sister is highly cultivated and ambitious, one of the most outstanding among us, comparable to First Brother and Third Brother. She commands considerable power. Sixth Brother and Twelfth Brother are her supporters," Shi Chuankong transmitted quietly.

Han Li was secretly shocked by this, and his mind recalled how she had once prevented him from conversing with the Great Prince, pondering whether there was some conspiracy.

Just then, footsteps sounded as the Great Prince and the others entered.

"We pay homage to Father, wishing you advancement in cultivation, early attainment of the Dao Ancestor position, eternal freedom, and everlasting youth!" The Great Prince and the others prostrated themselves and said in unison.

"Good, good. Rise," the Demon Lord said with a faint smile, seemingly pleased by the Great Prince's flattery.

The Great Prince and the others rose as instructed and went to sit in the first seat, while the Eighth and Tenth Princes took their respective seats.

After sitting, the Great Prince glanced around the hall, nodding slightly to Third Prince Shi Pokong and Fifth Princess Shi Jingyan, and finally turned to smile at Han Li.

Han Li acted as if he hadn't noticed, and the Great Prince seemed unperturbed, shifting his gaze.

In the following time, people kept arriving to congratulate the Demon Lord on emerging from seclusion.

All those who came held noble titles and managed affairs in Yeyang City and even across the demon domain.

This celebration was somewhat like a morning court in the mortal world.

Shi Chuankong continuously introduced these people to Han Li, giving him a general impression of the various factions in the demon domain.

Soon, most of the seats in the hall were filled.

However, only seven people, including Shi Pokong, occupied the first row; no other princes or princesses came.

"Brother Shi, isn't the Holy Emperor's emergence a major event for the entire Holy Domain? Why aren't the other princes and princesses coming?" Han Li asked via transmission, looking at the nearly half-empty seats.

"Seventh Brother is currently stationed at Heiya City, closely monitoring the Heavenly Court's movements and cannot leave. Twelfth Brother loves to travel and is rarely in Yeyang City; even Father can't do anything about him. As for Second Sister, Fourth Sister, Ninth Sister, and Eleventh Sister, they have become disciples of a Dao Ancestor in our domain and have been in cultivation for many years. I haven't seen them in a long time, so they certainly won't come this time," Shi Chuankong explained.

"I see," Han Li said with an 'oh.'

After a while, no one else appeared outside.

"Since everyone is here, let us begin. During my seclusion, what important events occurred in the Holy Domain? Report them in order," the Demon Lord said, tapping the table before him.

The Great Prince, Shi Zhanfeng, rose first upon hearing this.

"Reporting to Father, during your seclusion, I inspected the four regions of Mohe, Yongliang, Hanyun, and Guxing. Here is a brief report I have written for your perusal," Shi Zhanfeng said, producing a jade booklet.

A gray shadow flew out from behind the Demon Lord, appeared before the Great Prince in a flash, took the jade booklet, then flickered to the Demon Lord's side and respectfully presented it.

Han Li's expression changed slightly; only now did he see the true form of the gray figure—a gray-clad man.

The man's face was shrouded in black mist, making his features unclear. His body drifted ethereally, not like a flesh-and-blood body but rather a ghostly soul.

"That man is called Shadow, Father's personal guard. No one knows his identity or origin, and no one has seen his face, but his strength is immense," Shi Chuankong transmitted, noticing Han Li's gaze.

"Very good. You have done well in clearing out the bandits in these four regions," the Demon Lord said, quickly flipping through the jade booklet and nodding.

"It is my duty to share your burdens, Father. I do not find it hard. But you have labored in seclusion. I happened to obtain a 'Void Sky Grass' a few years ago and present it to you, hoping it may be of some help," Shi Zhanfeng said, producing a white wooden box. Opening the lid, inside was a several-inch-long grass.

The grass was entirely silver-white, with nine leaves of different shapes, each covered with clusters of silver Dao patterns, emitting a powerful spatial law fluctuation.

Shadow flickered, took the box, and placed it before the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord's eyes brightened slightly as he examined the Void Sky Grass in the box, then nodded and put it away.

"Your filial piety is commendable. Reward: three Azure Sky Spirit Pills, ten suits of Primordial Sacred Armor, and ten Dragon-Elephant Prison-Suppressing Swords," the Demon Lord said with a faint smile to Shadow.

Shadow vanished in a flash and reappeared instantly, holding a white jade tray. On it were three palm-sized, translucent crystals, each sealing a sky-blue pill, ten white suits of armor, and ten golden longswords.

A faint medicinal fragrance emanated from the three sky-blue pills. As Han Li smelled it, the thirty-six acupoints opened within his body immediately churned, as if wanting to devour the three pills in one gulp.