The Hehuan Sect cultivates alchemy; my senior sister helps me refine alchemy throughout the world.

Shen Yifei's head was buzzing after hearing the Demon King's words.

He recalled what Yun Zhonghe had said back then, about the "regeneration blood pill" and the "life for a life," but it all amounted to nothing.

The true purpose of the Red Sleeve is to refine the essence of blood.

For a cultivator, essence and blood are of paramount importance. They are the foundation of cultivation and the source of one's bloodline.

The purer the essence and blood, the faster the cultivation level will improve, and the greater the power of the cultivation technique.

But Hongxiu's demonic root has been destroyed, and it's unknown whether her constitution still exists.

The Demon King seemed to see the question in his mind, "The physique of the Xuanpin lineage is not maintained by the demonic root; it is something engraved in the bloodline. Even if the demonic root is destroyed and all cultivation is lost, her ability to refine essence blood is not lost at all."

Shen Yifei's eyes lit up: "That's great! As long as Sister Hongxiu's demonic root is repaired, her cultivation level will return, and she'll be able to refine essence blood again!"

The Demon King looked at him, who was rubbing his hands together in anticipation, and a rare smile appeared on his face: "I stored two drops of the Demon Emperor's essence blood in the underground palace, originally for Lan'er as a precaution. Now that Lan'er's whereabouts are unknown, and you are both his son and my grandson, those two drops of essence blood should be passed on to you."

Shen Yifei was secretly delighted, but said politely, "Grandpa, since this essence blood is for my mother, you should keep it..."

"What are you keeping?" The Demon King waved his hand. "Your mother doesn't know when she'll be back, and I don't know how many more days I can hold on with my current health. If you can repair Hongxiu's demonic root, it will fulfill one of my wishes. Those two drops of essence blood are just gathering dust in the underground palace; I might as well give them to you."

As the Demon King spoke, he struggled to get up, but Shen Yifei quickly pressed him down: "Grandpa, don't move. Tell me where the underground palace is, and I'll go get it myself."

The Demon King shook his head: "The underground palace is protected by a seal; only I can open it. Support me, and I will take you to retrieve it."

At the very back of the sleeping quarters, there was a wall that looked completely ordinary. The Demon King reached out and pressed his hand against the wall, a drop of dark red blood seeping from his fingertip and merging into the stone.

The stone wall silently cracked open, revealing a deep passage.

Shen Yifei helped the Demon King down the path for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and then the view ahead suddenly opened up.

The room was a small stone chamber. In the center of the chamber was a stone platform, on which sat two small jade boxes. The jade boxes were sealed with strips of paper bearing runes that Shen Yifei could not understand.

The Demon King walked to the stone platform, reached out and took a jade box, gently brushing away the dust on it.

"These are the two drops of the Demon Emperor's essence blood that I have preserved."

The Demon King opened the jade box, inside which lay a thumb-sized, shiny black bead with dark red liquid flowing inside.

"Demon Emperor's essence blood. Although your bloodline is inherited from Lan'er's lineage, it is mixed with the aura of humans and the Five Elements Demon Gods, so it is not pure. With these two drops of essence blood, you can refine your bloodline, which will at least greatly improve your cultivation."

After the Demon King closed the jade box, he handed both of them to Shen Yifei.

"The Demon Clan is now in your hands! From this day forward, you are the new Demon King!"

As Shen Yifei held the two jade boxes, he suddenly felt immense pressure on his body.

He wasn't unfamiliar with taking on heavy responsibilities, but this time was different. This was blood ties, a responsibility, and a root he had never met yet was connected to by blood.

"Grandpa, you're putting so much pressure on me." Shen Yifei tried to lighten the mood. "Besides, I'm not a native of the Demon Realm. Do you think those old guys there will respect me?"

The Demon King leaned against the stone wall, catching his breath. "Anyone who doesn't submit to you, beat them until they do! We demons have always believed that strength is paramount!"

"Grandpa, if that's the case, I like it." Shen Yifei grinned. "But let me make this clear first, I hate trouble. If the Demon Clan can stay peaceful, I'll keep an eye on them for you. If anyone misbehaves, I'll let them know what I, Shen Yifei, can do."

"Go ahead and do it boldly, I'll back you up." The Demon King patted his shoulder, his tone revealing the arrogance of a tyrant. "I have a good eye for people. Your mother is too soft-hearted and can't bring herself to be ruthless. You're different; you have a wild streak."

Shen Yifei chuckled and helped the Demon King slowly walk back.

Back in his bedchamber, the Demon King was so exhausted he could barely lift his eyelids. Shen Yifei settled him in before leaving the bedchamber.

Hongxiu was standing outside the hall. Seeing Shen Yifei come out, she quickly bowed and asked, "Young Master, is His Majesty alright?"

"She's asleep." Shen Yifei took Hongxiu's hand. "Sister Hongxiu, come with me, I have something to tell you."

The two walked to a quiet room in a side hall. Shen Yifei closed the door, sat down at the table, and gestured for Hongxiu to sit down as well.

"Sister Hongxiu, I want to ask you something, and you have to tell me the truth."

Hongxiu was a little nervous because of his serious demeanor: "Young Master, please ask whatever you want, I will answer everything I know."

"Is your bloodline different from that of ordinary demons?"

Hongxiu's expression changed slightly: "Young Master, how...how did you know?"

"My maternal grandfather told me," Shen Yifei said without hiding anything. "He said you come from the Xuanpin lineage..."

Hongxiu lowered her head and remained silent for a long while before speaking softly: "His Majesty has raised me with kindness. The Xuanpin lineage... is indeed special among the demons, and now I am the only one left. I have always kept this secret in my heart. Young Master, please don't blame me for hiding it from you. His Majesty instructed me that I must not tell anyone except him and me."

"You don't need to hide it from me." Shen Yifei looked at her. "Sister Hongxiu, I have a question for you, and you have to tell me the truth. Can your Xuanpin bloodline refine essence blood?"

Hongxiu nodded. "Young Master, do you want me to help you refine your essence blood?"

"Yes, Grandpa gave me two drops of Demon Emperor's essence blood. One drop is for you to restore your demonic root, and the other drop is for you to help me refine the essence blood in my body."

"Young Master, you...you want to give me the Demon Emperor's essence blood to restore my demonic root?" Hongxiu's voice trembled. "Those two drops of essence blood are the Demon Clan's most precious treasure!"

Hongxiu lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, and two tears fell silently onto the back of her hand.

"Sister Hongxiu, why are you crying? Besides my grandfather, you are my closest relative right now. If one drop of essence blood isn't enough, I'll give you both. Restoring your demonic root is the most important thing!"

Upon hearing this, Hongxiu threw herself into Shen Yifei's arms and burst into tears.

All her long-held hopes and pent-up grievances were finally released at this moment.

Shen Yifei held Hongxiu and let her cry.

This girl was corrupted by her own desires, which destroyed her demonic roots. She wandered in human territory for hundreds of years, living in fear and trembling for far too long. The grievances and despair that had been bottled up in her heart could not be resolved in just a few words.

As Hongxiu's sobs gradually subsided, Shen Yifei gently patted her and said, "Sister Hongxiu, once you've finished crying, let's go find Xinghe and get your medicine!"

Hongxiu broke free from his embrace, her face flushed as she hurriedly wiped away her tears: "Young Master, I lost my composure... but there's something I need to tell you beforehand."

"What is it?"

"Refining the essence blood requires..." Hongxiu's face instantly turned red, and she stammered, unable to finish her sentence.

Liu Mengli jumped out.

"Master, we need you to merge! Not your spiritual consciousness, haha... You don't need to rub against my clothes anymore."