Ch 128: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

Lu Yao was puzzled. The Celestial-Demon Conference hadn’t officially ended, yet the ultimate mission had suddenly begun.

Sealing the Evil God—this mission carried a strong air of the impossible.

Lu Yao no longer bothered to poke at the proxy bot to ask if there had been an error in the task.

She knew there would be no answer.

Back when the Dream Fulfillment System was still around, she could at least have a chat with it.

Now she had figured it out—at the beginning of the year, when the system left, it was likely paving the way for this very moment.

The only question was whether the system had known or if it had been manipulated as well.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Yao stood up and headed for the door, giving a casual order as she walked: “Xiao Zhong, notify the disciples to inform all influential seniors from every realm to meet in the lounge in half an hour.”

Xue Li rose from his seat and pushed his chair aside, walking over. “What’s going on?”

Lu Yao was prepared to go outside first to assess the situation.

If the Evil God had truly been resurrected, it would be a matter of life and death for all six realms.

She had no intention of facing such a task alone as the mission demanded.

It might sound odd, but after running her internet café for over a year, Lu Yao had encountered many bizarre people and events and gained some peculiar powers. Yet she had never considered shouldering such responsibilities by herself.

One person’s strength was ultimately limited.

“I sense something is wrong. I’ll take a look first. Please notify the ghost clan as well, Your Majesty.”

Xue Li was the Ghost King of the Tenth Palace of the Underworld.

There was no need to pass a message elsewhere. Among all the ghosts present at the café, he held the highest rank.

Lu Yao took out the Revolution Rod and walked out of the internet café.

Above Baixian Mountain, a massive vortex of malevolent energy had formed at some point.

Along the mountain path, mortals and demons who had been waiting with small stalls for the conference to end, as well as patrolling cultivator squads, lay collapsed on the roadside, dazed and lifeless. The air reeked of blood.

Trees had been snapped in half, boulders flew through the air, and small animals that had lived peacefully in the mountain were swept up by fierce winds, crashing around violently, their blood and flesh splattering everywhere.

Lu Yao stood at the entrance of the café, gazing up at the sky. Within the vortex of malevolent energy, a godlike statue seemed to flicker in and out of view.

Xue Li didn’t go to alert his clan but instead followed Lu Yao out. Seeing the chaos outside the café, his expression darkened slightly. “How did it come to this?”

At the vortex’s center, a few broken scarlet petals broke free, fleeing frantically before drifting down to the entrance of the internet café and coalescing into a human form.

Lu Yao stepped forward to catch the peach blossom demon, a bit surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Wuling’s robe was in tatters, his once-delicate pink garment stained with blood. He looked utterly disheveled. Upon realizing it was Lu Yao in front of him, he tried to push her away. “Run, quickly—”

That woman has already fallen into demonhood and become an evil god. The first person she’ll come for is the café owner.

WulLing felt a complex tangle of emotions. Initially, he had only taken pity on Jizhuang for being tormented by unrequited love and brought him to the Demon Realm to rescue the Immortal Yu Yao. He hadn’t expected it to unleash such a calamity.

At that moment, Qiuyu suddenly dashed out of the café. Her pupils were bright red, like blood, as she looked up at the godlike figure above Baixian Mountain and murmured softly, “She is calling me.”

Lu Yao was momentarily distracted and didn’t catch what Qiuyu said. Instinctively, she raised the Regulation Rod and shielded her behind. “It’s dangerous out here. Go back inside and find An‘An and Little Ginseng.”

Qiuyu clenched her fists tightly and didn’t move.

Lu Yao called her again. “Qiuyu?”

Qiuyu seemed to snap out of her daze. She cast a deep glance at Lu Yao before turning and heading back into the café.

Xue Li propped a hand against his forehead, staring for a long moment. “There’s someone else up there.”

Wuling coughed up another mouthful of blood, his voice weak. “It’s Jizhuang and the Demon Sovereign… It’s too late… the Evil God… has already… resurrected…”

Zeyuan is here too?

Lu Yao recalled her last conversation with Zeyuan about the peculiarities surrounding Yu Yao. He had been investigating what lay behind her mysterious background.

The situation seemed more severe than she had expected. Before the Celestial-Demon Conference started, Zeyuan hadn’t returned to the Demon Domain. They had only spoken briefly through a voice-transmission talisman the day before the conference began.

He hadn’t mentioned where he was at the time. Instead, their conversation drifted to a few trivial matters, ending with just four words:

“I’m fond of you.”

Since their visit to Zhongdu City, the two had officially started dating.

However, Lu Yao had been busy preparing for the conference and wasn’t the type to openly dwell on romantic matters. They didn’t see each other often, and Zeyuan had never said anything so straightforward before.

At the time, Lu Yao had found it odd and asked him about it. Zeyuan didn’t answer.

Now, just a few days later, Zeyuan was here, along with Jizhuang and Wuling. Could Yu Yao also be involved?

Lu Yao’s heart skipped a beat. She casually pushed Wuling toward Xue Li and pulled out Harold’s dragon-scale hairpin, brushing her fingers over its scales.

In an instant, a spatial portal materialized out of thin air.

Both Wuling and Xue Li looked mildly startled.

The sound of a doorknob turning came from beyond the portal. The door creaked open, and a young man with a high ponytail, dressed in a black robe, stepped out.

Harold’s cheeks were puffed out, and he held a meat bone in one hand, his eyebrows furrowed tightly. “I’m eating. Don’t tell me you’re making me deliver invitations again.”

Lu Yao had been so busy lately that she hadn’t returned to the nail salon for several days. Calling Harold over usually meant asking him to run errands.

Besides, there was a dragon at the café now, and Harold wasn’t happy about it. He was still sulking.

Lu Yao stepped forward and pointed to the sky. “Harold, take me up there.”

Harold tilted his head back, his expression turning grim. He tossed the meat bone aside, transformed into his dragon form, and lowered his head to scoop Lu Yao onto his back. Once she was seated securely, he flapped his wings and flew toward the vortex of malevolent energy.

It was Xue Li and Wuling’s first time seeing Harold’s true form. Their serious expressions took on a hint of astonishment.

So the café’s enforcer was a dragon.

But they had never seen a dragon with such a peculiar form.

Wuling stared blankly for a moment before snapping out of it. Watching Lu Yao approach the godlike figure, he urged Xue Li, “The Celestial Maiden Lotus Fairy has sacrificed the fate of the Six Realms to fall into demonhood and ascend to godhood. Jizhuang, the Demon Sovereign, and the café owner cannot stop her. Notify the Celestials at once!”

Xue Li shook his head. “It’s too late. She’s already attained godhood. Even if the Celestials arrive, they won’t be able to change anything.”

Wuling grew anxious. “Then what can we do?”

Xue Li replied, “Such overpowering malevolence can’t be dealt with by ordinary means. An Evil God, like a demon, is born from the heart, desires, and emotions. It cannot be killed—only sealed.”

Thousands of years ago, an Evil God had descended upon the world.

But that was during ancient times, when many powerful gods still roamed the earth. A mere Evil God could be crushed to dust with a flick of their fingers.

Now, millennia later, the gods had fallen, and there likely wasn’t anyone left capable of contending with an Evil God.

Xue Li had already reached his conclusion. He recalled Lu Yao’s instructions before she left and roughly guessed her intentions.

But it was all futile.

…

Riding on the little black dragon, Lu Yao soared into the sky in just a few breaths.

A strange red net, as thin as mist and as delicate as silk, had descended around Baixian Mountain, enveloping the entire peak.

Zeyuan stood with his long hair tied up, clad in pitch-black battle armor. The golden lotus branches entwining his weapon dripped blood from the blade’s tip.

Jizhuang stood across from Zeyuan, guarding the godlike figure. His crimson robes were soaked with dark stains, his sword broken at the hilt. The blood-red camellia on the sword had withered, its vibrant petals gradually fading to a pale white.

Zeyuan spotted Lu Yao and furrowed his brows with faint irritation. Raising the golden lotus branches, he pressed the blade to Jizhuang’s throat. “You’re not my match. Step aside.”

Jizhuang leaned on his broken sword, spat a mouthful of blood, and cast a fleeting glance at Lu Yao before focusing on Zeyuan. “If she falls into demonhood today, and you and I switch places, what would you do?”

Zeyuan’s expression remained cold. “I’m not you, and Lu Yao won’t become her.”

Lu Yao finally saw clearly that the “god” was merely a massive, translucent phantom.

Within the phantom was a person—Yu Yao.

Whether it was Lu Yao’s sudden appearance that agitated her, or something Zeyuan said, the once-sleeping Yu Yao within the phantom slowly opened her eyes, and the phantom itself followed suit.

The conscious Yu Yao inside the phantom let out a cold laugh toward Zeyuan before bursting into a maniacal cackle. “Lu Mingxiao, you cannot protect her. No matter how many times, you can only watch helplessly as she dies a tragic death before your eyes. You’re no Jizhuang, but you’re even more useless and pathetic than he is.”

Zeyuan frowned deeply.

Lu Yao’s expression darkened as well. Her gaze fell on the pendant around the phantom Lu Yao’s neck—the same one she had seen in Jizhuang’s recording talisman.

It was identical to the earrings Lu Mingxiao had gifted her.

Yu Yao had stolen his memories.

A heavy feeling settled in Lu Yao’s heart. She raised the Regulation Rod, and several jet-black nails shot toward the evil god’s phantom.

The nails sank into the phantom as though into a swamp, disappearing slowly.

With a flick of her finger, Yu Yao redirected the six nails, sending them hurtling back toward Lu Yao.

Before they could reach her, Zeyuan darted forward, deflecting them.

Yu Yao inside the phantom remained unbothered. She raised her hand and made a seal.

Following her gesture, the phantom summoned spiritual energy into countless blades and swords, encircling Zeyuan and Lu Yao.

Turning her gaze disdainfully from Zeyuan to Lu Yao, the phantom Yu Yao sneered, “You seem utterly clueless about your predicament. Like the Demon Sovereign, you’re useless and pathetic. How laughable that I once truly yearned to be like you.”

Harold couldn’t stand to hear it anymore. With a flap of his wings, he sent sharp black wind blades slicing through the phantom.

The evil god’s phantom was severed at the waist but rejoined almost instantly, completely unscathed.

The phantom Yu Yao cackled with unrestrained arrogance. “Futile, utterly futile. I am now a god. You ants cannot harm me in the slightest.”

Lu Yao was stunned by the drastic change in her counterpart. Restraining the furious little black dragon beneath her, her thoughts lingered on the earlier words. “Why would you want to be like me?”

The phantom Yu Yao let out a mocking chuckle. “Naivety of youth, that’s all.”

She had no interest in further conversation. Raising her hand, she brought it down heavily. Countless blades and weapons descended, all aimed at Lu Yao.

The little black dragon and Zeyuan shielded her as best they could.

Though Lu Yao remained unharmed, the falling blades struck Baixian Mountain below, threatening innocent lives.

Hovering in mid-air, Lu Yao quickly formed a barrier over the mountain path, intercepting the descending weapons.

The phantom Yu Yao scoffed, ignoring the mortals and cultivators below. With a wave of her hand, she sent a blast of black flames outward.

The sacred Bodhi tree, which had long shielded the internet café, was split apart, its branches scattering.

Inside the café, both competitors and spectators finally noticed the disturbance and descended into chaos.

In the lounge, the café staff had just gathered the key figures from the Six Realms when news came of the unrest among the six-thousand-strong audience. The staff immediately commandeered the livestream screens to calm the crowd, urging them to remain seated and avoid leaving their spots.

But few heeded the warning. Demon, ghosts, devils, celestials, and humans rushed downstairs, only to find Baixian Mountain completely engulfed in malevolent energy, with the phantom of the evil god looming in mid-air.

Humans moved slower, getting stuck and jostling each other at the third-floor stairwell.

At that moment, the livestream screens on the third floor synchronized, revealing Immortal Lingxiao.

Though the Celestial-Demon Conference had yet to declare a winner, and the celestials had lost points in the small-team competitions on the shopping street, their position in the Six Realms remained largely unshaken, especially in the eyes of mortals.

The moment Immortal Lingxiao appeared, the human audience, who had been noisy and pushing each other, gradually quieted.

In the lounge, key representatives from the Six Realms sat together. Seeing that the six-thousand-strong audience had been pacified by the celestials, they resumed their discussion.

The celestials: “Why did the Evil God resurrect on Baixian Mountain?”

The Cultivators: “It’s likely because demons and devils have frequented the internet café for too long, causing the buildup of malevolent energy over Baixian Mountain, creating an opening for the evil forces.”

The Demons: “Nonsense! The one who fell into demonhood is clearly a celestial. Don’t pin every blame on us demons and devils!”

…

Wuling had already been brought into the café by the Ghost King for treatment.

He shared all the information he had about the Evil God.

The Devil representative for the meeting was Mo Bao.

With Zeyuan absent, he was effectively the ruler of the Demon Realm.

The young Mo Bao had been happily watching the competition until he learned that Yu Yao had been rescued from the dark prison, throwing him into distress.

Now, hearing that she had fallen into demonhood and ascended to godhood filled him with guilt and frustration, leaving him in no mood for arguments.

Standing behind Mo Bao, Xuanfeng grew agitated. Watching these people argue endlessly while the Demon Sovereign and others were battling the Evil God outside infuriated him. He slammed the table but spoke in a remarkably calm tone:

“The priority right now is to eliminate the Evil God. Pointing fingers won’t help.”

The celestials sneered: “Eliminate the Evil God? Easier said than done. No one in the Six Realms has the power to suppress an Evil God anymore.”

Another celestial added: “If anyone’s to blame, it’s the devils for hiding that celestial in the Demon realm. Otherwise, how could she have fallen into demonhood?”
Xuanfeng clenched his fists. “Blame the devils? We haven’t even pursued the matter of celestials infiltrating the Demon realm and sneaking into the Demon Palace, yet you’re the ones making accusations first?”

…

The Ghost representatives remained silent in a corner.

“Living beings are always troublesome,” one of them muttered.

Xue Li, however, stayed patient for a few more minutes. Growing tired of the argument, he rose and headed toward the door.

The café staff were upstairs on the third floor, trying to calm the audience. Shi Yan and his team was still in the lounge, maintaining the game programs and inadvertently witnessing the high-level leaders of the Six Realms bickering.

No one noticed that the little bear demon, little ginseng demon, Qiuyu, and the small piglet had quietly slipped out, following behind the Ghost King.

For some reason, the doors connecting the café to the Underworld and Demon Realm were no longer functional, but the café’s main entrance, which had previously restricted demons, was now open.

Devils, demons, and cultivators crowded outside. Soon, the Ghost officials also followed the Ghost King out, gathering at the entrance and gazing at the Evil God’s phantom in mid-air.

Gradually, they realized that the figures fighting the Evil God were none other than the Demon Sovereign and the café’s owner.

Setting aside the Demon Sovereign, how could the café owner—a mere Golden Core-stage cultivator—be holding her own against the Evil God?

The sharp-minded among the demons and devils began to wonder: Could they join the fight too?

Xue Li watched the battle for a while before whispering something to his advisor.

The advisor counted the number of Ghost officials present—not many.

Being ghost officials, they couldn’t appear too ostentatiously in the mortal realm. Furthermore, since this was the third day of the conference, many participants had returned to the Underworld after being eliminated, leaving fewer than two hundred Ghost officials present.

Xue Li waved his hand decisively. “With you and me, plus some recruited demons, devils, and cultivators, we’ll take on the Evil God ourselves.”

The advisor couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. You make it sound so easy. The meeting room is in chaos, and the people outside won’t follow orders. Besides, against the Evil God, we’d be no more than cannon fodder.

Suddenly, a childish voice rang out in the crowd:

“Let’s form a team! Team up to fight the Evil God! I’m a ginseng demon, and I can use my roots to restore my teammates’ spiritual energy!”

The noisy crowd fell silent, as if someone had pressed a pause button.

In the middle of the group stood an adorable little girl, like a figure from a New Year’s painting. Tears welled in her large eyes as she raised her hand resolutely.

After a moment, a demon woman with elaborate makeup walked over to the girl. “Demon Zhu Ying.”

Two burly men followed suit. “Demon Wen Rong.”

“Devil Guan Zhong.”

A woman from the Devil Clan with a princess-cut hairstyle stepped forward as well. “Devil Dan Xi.”

The little piglet struggled to squeeze through the crowd, grunting as he registered for the team.

The Ghost King patted his advisor on the shoulder, raised his hand, and walked over. “Ghost King Xue Li.”

Some people glanced over, surprised.

Zhu Qingyun and Xiao Yi exchanged a look before stepping forward and stating their names.

“Kunlun Sect, Zhu Qingyun.”

“Kunlun Sect, Xiao Yi.”

“Beast Taming Sect, Jin Huaichen.”

“Jiujue Sect, Jian Buyi.”

“Qin Cultivator, Xue Qiaohua.”

…

The little ginseng demon’s team quickly grew to over twenty members.

The group formed a circle and had a brief discussion, deciding to organize into smaller squads based on configurations used in games to fight gatekeeper bosses, taking turns in the battle.

While they were still discussing strategy, the Ghost advisor began shouting as well.

“Form a team! We’re forming a team too!”

The watching demons, devils, and cultivators couldn’t help but get excited.

Though it seemed somewhat inappropriate, the idea of assembling teams on the spot and treating the Evil God like a gatekeeper boss was undeniably intriguing.

Up in the air, Lu Yao noticed the growing commotion below and lightly patted the little black dragon’s back. “What’s going on down there?”

Harold replied, “…They’re forming teams to take on the Evil God.”

Lu Yao was a bit taken aback.

So, they were preparing for a raid.

A massive raid involving over a thousand people—it really did feel like tackling an event boss.

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