With half a game of chess, I vanquish all demons!

Barren Rock Mountain, Mountain Demon Village.

In the courtyard of a villager's house.

Four small bowls filled with water are placed in four directions to form a square.

Zhao Yao sat barefoot and bare-chested, eyes closed, cross-legged, palms facing upwards, obediently in the square.

Outside the grid, Yan Rouyun, holding a dagger, swiftly slashed at Zhao Yao.

Sigh~

Sigh~

Sigh~

Zhao Yao had a long, narrow gash cut open on the soles of his feet, palms, chest, dantian, and between his eyebrows, with blood seeping out, making it look like he had grown blood-red eyes.

Yan Rouyun then used a dagger to cut open the tips of her two index fingers, and the dragon's blood dripped into the four small bowls.

She took out the Fire Tiger's inner core and placed it on the wound in Zhao Yao's dantian, saying in a deep voice:

"My lord, you may begin to practice the magic on the parchment."

Sigh~

Having said that, she slashed open her palm with a knife, then placed her hand on Zhao Yao's head, sensing his condition. At a certain moment, she suddenly transformed into a demon, her dragon eyes widening, scales appearing on her skin, and she activated the "Mystic Art: Dragon's Roar," opening her mouth to speak:

"I command you in the name of the true dragon: Answer me!"

"I command you in the name of the true dragon: Answer me!"

As her strange voice, conveying her will, echoed, Zhao Yao's method of absorbing the Fire Tiger's inner core reached a crucial moment. His blood surged in the most subtle places, becoming extremely active.

Outside Zhao Yao's body, at the wounds on his forehead, chest, dantian, palms, and soles, which resembled vertical blood pupils, fresh blood was steaming and leaping, as if some substance or life was slowly awakening and gathering its will.

In Zhao Yao's perception, he felt his hair stand on end and his whole body burning hot. He could vaguely sense something, yet it was truly elusive.

He seems to be stuck at this stage, unable to move forward or backward.

Yan Rouyun had obviously noticed this situation as well.

She decisively slit her wrist with a dagger, letting a large amount of demonic blood drip onto Zhao Yao's head, and continued to chant using the strange technique, Dragon's Roar:

"I command you all to answer me!"

Zhao Yao closed his eyes, smelled the strong stench of blood, guessed her actions, and frowned, stopping the method of fusing the inner core of the Fire Tiger.

He never intended to fuse with this inner core; he merely wanted to use it to awaken his demon blood. Naturally, he couldn't possibly integrate it into his body.

As soon as he stopped the technique, the blood that had just become active due to the surge of Yan Rouyun's demonic blood began to recede.

No!

This can't go on.

Zhao Yao believed that he would eventually awaken his demon blood, but if that happened, Yan Rouyun would have to bleed an unknown amount of blood. Moreover, her Dragon Roar Technique had a limited number of uses, and she would have to consume her essence to activate it afterward.

He couldn't wait any longer! A thought struck him, and a vortex appeared out of thin air within the jade chess piece, with surging primordial energy flowing around him.

At the same time, he practiced the Hercules breathing technique:

"When the Qi flows, it accumulates when deep, expands when accumulated, descends when expanded, settles when descended, solidifies when settled, sprouts when solidified, grows when sprouting, recedes when it grows, and returns to the heavens. The heavens are above; the earth is below. Following the natural order brings life; going against it brings death."

As his blood began to flow again, he activated the "Mystic Arts and Enchanting Power" within the Jade Beauty Chess set, casting a spell on himself:

"I command you to follow the dragon's voice and undergo the changes she desires!"

"OK."

He completed a series of self-questions and answers in his mind.

Then, his physical body was instantly captivated by the "demonic charm," responding to Yan Rouyun's voice with unprecedented activity.

Just a few breaths later, as Yan Rouyun cut another wound on her arm, before the blood could even drip, she suddenly saw Zhao Yao open his eyes, looking at her with vertical pupils, and say in an unusually gentle tone:

"Yun'er, you can stop now."

He stood up, snatched the dagger from Yan Rouyun's hand, cut open his own finger to reveal his blood essence, and without saying a word, stuffed it into Yan Rouyun's mouth. He then quickly pressed on the wound on her wrist, waiting for the blood essence to take effect and heal it.

"You should have made it clear earlier. If you had known that the price for helping me awaken the demon blood was that you would lose the demon blood in your body again and again, I would never have agreed."

Looking at Yan Rouyun's unusually pale face, Zhao Yao felt a strange emotion rising in his heart.

Losing too much demon blood is not only life-threatening, but can also lead to the "demon dying inside the body," making it an extremely dangerous situation.

"It's alright, I'm happy to help you, my lord, you don't need to be heartbroken for me."

Besides, I acquired this bloodline easily, so it wouldn't be a pity even if it were ruined.

"Even if the dragon blood is ruined, I still have my lord to help me awaken the phoenix blood. The phoenix is ​​very powerful too."

Yan Rouyun spoke softly, appearing nonchalant, yet revealing her vulnerability.

"It's not about violence, doesn't it hurt?"

Seeing that the wound on her wrist had begun to heal, Zhao Yao breathed a sigh of relief, then asked curiously:

"I've never asked you before, but aren't dragons of royal blood?"

Could it be that Yun'er is a member of the royal family who has been separated from her family? Didn't Yuan Chen Sect try to help you recognize your royal relatives?

Moreover, how could dragon blood be obtained so easily?

"My lord, you may not know this, but while it is true that all members of the royal family can transform into dragons, the number of people with dragon blood among the common people is also exceptionally large, and I am not the only one."

The reason for this is, frankly, despicable.

Firstly, dragons are lustful by nature and often commit adultery.

Secondly...

Yan Rouyun pursed her lips and continued:

"A true dragon is powerful; it can create five hundred miscellaneous dragons with a single piss."

Ah~ In such a situation, who in the countryside, possessing dragon blood, would dare to claim kinship? Those who can clearly explain how they acquired their dragon blood are ultimately a minority.

Even if I went, I'd just be called shameless and humiliated for no reason.

After Yan Rouyun finished speaking, she fell silent, her mood even more depressed than before.

Zhao Yao looked at her, and had some guesses about her situation.

He thought for a moment, then suddenly a slight smile appeared on his lips, and he said bluntly:

"So Yun'er is a wild princess with dragon blood in her body."

Yan Rouyun felt ashamed at his blunt words, her face turned pale, and she looked at him with some surprise, not understanding why he would suddenly say such a thing without considering her feelings.

Zhao Yao reached out and embraced Yan Rouyun's stiff waist, gazing gently into her eyes at close range, and said in a soft voice:

"My dear Yun'er may be a princess in disguise, but she also possesses phoenix blood, is the daughter of the Lord of Tianming Tower, a member of the Yuanchen Sect, and a diligent constable... Most importantly, she's mine!"

After he finished speaking, he quickly lowered his head and pecked Yan Rouyun's lips, saying exaggeratedly:

"Let the rumors spread by petty people be as evil and as crazy as they want, why bother with them?"

We made a fortune! We really made a killing!

I got such a great deal by beating her up and getting this wonderful Yun'er to go on a blind date with me!

As he spoke, he reached out and scooped Yan Rouyun up in his arms, quickly heading into the house.

"ah--

"Put me down! We've been fooling around for too long, we can't continue like this..."

Yan Rouyun leaned against him, cried out in surprise, and hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"Haha~ Just kidding, it's not what you think. I just wanted to hug you, just like this is fine."

Zhao Yao laughed heartily, hugged her and kissed her again and again, wandering around the yard aimlessly, spinning in circles.

For some reason, after his outburst, Yan Rouyun's previous frustration suddenly vanished, and she disappeared without a trace.

She leaned her head against Zhao Yao's chest, gazing at the clear sky, recalling his words just now. For the first time, her heart trembled because of him, and she felt a strange sense of relief, comfort, and security.

Yes, I am me, I have many identities, and I am loved.

……

The two waited a few more days.

Still no one from the Heavenly Dao Division arrived, so Yan Rouyun decided to leave to investigate the reason behind the Heavenly Destiny Tower's bounty on her.

Before leaving, she instructed Zhao Yao:

"Young master, you must be vigilant. Su Shangtao went to great lengths to offer a reward for your capture, and then failed to kill you on several occasions, thus forging a deadly feud. He will certainly not let you off easily. Do not become complacent just because he has withdrawn the reward."

Who knows, there might be an even greater malice lurking behind this for my lord.

"Don't worry, I know this person has malicious intentions."

On the contrary, you are investigating the bounty offered by the Heavenly Destiny Tower alone. Please be cautious and prioritize your own safety.

I don't really care about the truth...

Zhao Yao paused, looked into Yan Rouyun's eyes, and continued:

"...After today, if you look for me and can't find me, don't overthink it."

The situation must have been critical, so I fled overseas.

If it really comes to that, I don't know where the future will lead. Yun'er, you don't need to feel any burden. You can forget me and start a new life.

At this point, Zhao Yao looked at her gently and said sincerely:

"I have been very happy and have no regrets about spending these days with you, and I hope you feel the same way."

Yan Rouyun gazed at him intently, nodded emphatically, said nothing, and strode away from the spot.

Zhao Yao watched her leave silently.

After a long while, he sat cross-legged on the ground, with many bottles of pills he had acquired over the past few days in front of him.

Before taking these pills, his pupils dilated, his body underwent changes, and he began to examine the details of the demon blood within his body.