Chapter 494 495: It Must Be You

Murong Qing rushed forward, but the aftershock of the explosion forced her to use the Desolate Wave Water Technique to defend herself.

A flash of sword light cut through the air, breaking the Heaven-locking Array that sealed the world. Amid the pillar of explosive light that shot into the sky, Zisang Jin arrived, flying on her Peach Blossom Divine Sword, her embroidered slippers resting lightly on its surface.

"To think it was the Demon Race!" Zisang Jin's brow furrowed.

Murong Qing frantically searched through the remains of the Sakun Celestial King while saying anxiously, "Peak Master Zisang, Chen Dong was swallowed by the Sakun Celestial King! Quick, help me look! I have a feeling he's still alive!"

Zisang Jin's expression grew darker. "Don't waste your energy. The one that self-destructed was just its clone. Anything it swallows ends up in its main body's stomach. Right now, there's nothing I can do. The Sakun Celestial King's stomach is a special dimension; even with the Walking Token, I can't sense Chen Dong's location!"

Hearing this, Murong Qing's eyes instantly went hollow, and she fell into that quiet stillness that precedes a total breakdown...

'This place is so far from the Demon Realm. Forget finding the Sakun Celestial King—even if we could get there in time, Chen Dong would have been digested long ago!'

Zisang Jin's eyes filled with killing intent, but seeing Murong Qing's state, she suppressed her rage and tried to comfort her. "Being swallowed by the Sakun Celestial King doesn't necessarily mean he's dead. The Demon Race went to such great lengths to capture him, so they must want him for something. The Walking Token is undamaged, so I'm sure he's still alive."

The moment Zisang Jin finished speaking, a look of surprise flashed across her face. She quickly took out a token, from which Chen Dong's voice emerged.

"Don't worry, I'm fine for now!"

Zisang Jin and Murong Qing asked in unison, "Where are you right now?"

The voice from the token went silent for a moment before replying, "The Beast Realm!"

Zisang Jin and Murong Qing exchanged a look of utter confusion. 'He was swallowed by the Sakun Celestial King... how did he end up in the Beast Realm?'

Chen Dong continued, "The Demon Race and the Beast Race may have found a way into the Guardian Array. The Sakun Celestial King's appearance might not be what he claimed..."

Zisang Jin quickly interrupted, "Let's not talk about that right now. First, find a safe place to hide. I'll come and get you!"

Chen Dong replied, "There's no need. I won't be back for some time. Just listen to me. The Demon Race is already planning to ally with the Beast Race through a marriage. I need to sabotage this alliance. If they truly have a way into the Guardian Array *and* they join forces, the Human Race will be in grave danger!"

Zisang Jin immediately countered, "Even if the alliance must be broken, you don't have to be the one to do it! If you show your face in the Beast Realm, those of the Beast Race will be baying for your blood!"

A wry laugh came from Chen Dong through the token. "It seems I'm the only one for the job. Don't worry, I'll be fine. By the way, what about Yu An...?"

Zisang Jin replied, "She's fine. I spoke with her using a Communication Talisman on my way here. She's still in Ningxian City; they only stole one of her dreams. You were the Demon Race's target from the start. They wouldn't dare make a move on a True Disciple like Yu An; it would have immediately alerted the entire sect."

Chen Dong's relieved voice came from the token. "That's a relief. That's what I figured, too..."

His words suddenly cut off, and the token went silent.

Zisang Jin was baffled. She couldn't sense the Walking Token's location at all. 'Chen Dong said he's safe, which means the token must be tens of thousands of miles away. But if that's the case, how is he communicating? Even I can't send a message over that distance.'

Meanwhile, Chen Dong found himself in a veritable paradise. It resembled an isolated hamlet with a few thatched cottages. Not far off, a water wheel turned slowly in an aqueduct. The spring breeze was warm, the air was rich with the scent of flowers, and the surrounding greenery was lush and vibrant.

Though it should have been night in the outside world, this place was bathed in daylight. Chen Dong stood before a few thatched cottages, facing the phantoms of ten thousand members of the Beast Race.

Standing before the phantoms was Liu Ling, dressed in a pale blue gown.

Liu Ling withdrew the Beast Power that had been helping Chen Dong communicate and said coldly, "Choose."

A moment earlier, after being swallowed by the Sakun Celestial King, Chen Dong had been pulled directly from the Guardian Array into the pocket dimension of the creature's stomach. Mu Qingzhu had stopped her tantrum and was using her Great Divination Art with all her might, but Chen Dong still felt an immense pressure bearing down on him. Just as he was about to activate the Saint's Dao Light Pillar, the runes of the shattered Beast Taming Contract suddenly pieced themselves back together. Their pattern had completely changed, now resembling the mark that had first appeared between Liu Ling's brows.

A summoning power erupted from the runes, pulling Chen Dong directly from the stomach's pocket dimension to this very place.

Liu Ling had then said to him, "The Beast Race and the Demon Race are arranging a marriage alliance. You must go and sabotage it!"

After Liu Ling's explanation, Chen Dong finally understood. Liu Ling had used the power of a Hongmeng Dao Artifact to reforge the Celestial Dao-level Beast Taming Contract. Not only that, but she had also reversed the roles of master and servant, making Chen Dong her contracted beast.

She had used the connection from the Beast Taming Contract to summon him here, to this space inside the Hongmeng Dao Artifact: the Demon Refining Pot.

With Liu Ling's help, Chen Dong had managed to use the Walking Token to report that he was safe. But because of the Beast Taming Contract, he was powerless to refuse her mission.

Liu Ling urged him again. "I let you send your message. Now, which one do you like? Choose!"

Although he couldn't refuse, Chen Dong still asked, "Why does it have to be me?"

Liu Ling said faintly, "I thought long and hard, and when it comes to seducing women, no one is better suited for the job than you. That's why I brought you here. All you have to do is go and win the heart of the Frost Fox Demon King. That will be enough to ruin this marriage alliance."