Chapter 526 527: Doubts in the Heart

A day later, Yun Misha returned to the City Lord's Mansion and directly confronted Yun Mengshang.

"Mengshang, what in the world is going on? Everyone who should know in the entire Fox Demon Race—no, the entire Demon Race—is aware of the marriage alliance. The Demon Race is already massing its troops, and you're still preparing for a wedding? Who are you even planning to marry?!"

"I've already scaled things down. We'll likely be at war in a month, so everything will be kept simple. It won't consume many of the clan's resources."

Yun Misha felt like she was going crazy. 'Is this really about resources?'

"Mengshang, you're the Demon King of the Fox Demon Race! You can take as many Dao Companions as you please, but becoming husband and wife is a pact that binds your fates! You haven't reached the Realm of Emotionlessness yet—you absolutely cannot be so reckless!"

Yun Mengshang shook her head solemnly. "I'm not being reckless. Isn't the point of cultivation to be able to act as I wish, without restraint? If I can't even decide my own affairs, then I've wasted over a hundred years of cultivation!"

Yun Misha grew even more anxious. "Your innate spiritual talent is something my Fox Race hasn't seen in millennia! If circumstances hadn't forced our hand, there would never have been any marriage alliance with the Demon Race. We agreed from the start it was just a stalling tactic! Now Chi Yuan is dead, and you still insist on a marriage? I don't care—I will not allow it until you have reached the Realm of Emotionlessness! If you get stuck because of this for the rest of your life, it will become my Heart Demon!"

Yun Mengshang said reassuringly, "Aunt Xia, you're overthinking things. It's not that serious. Besides, my current understanding of emotion is far more profound than you imagine!"

Yun Misha's expression hardened, and her voice became cold. "No means no. Once you have comprehended the Divine Techniques of the Frost Dream Realm and reached the Realm of Emotionlessness, I won't stop you."

Yun Mengshang sighed softly. "Sigh… I didn't intend to let you know this early, Aunt Xia. But since you're so intent on stopping me, I suppose I have no choice but to tell you."

As she spoke, Yun Mengshang called out sharply, "Bring him in!"

The Maid outside answered, "Yes!"

Soon, Chen Dong was brought in, dressed in a silver-white long robe trimmed with snow-white fox fur at the collar and waist.

The Maid bowed. "My King, he has been bathed and groomed."

"Very good. You may leave."

Yun Misha swept her Divine Sense over him. It was undoubtedly Li Xu, yet something felt off.

'So, the one Mengshang wants to marry is Li Xu.' The very fact that it was him made Yun Misha even more worried.

"Mengshang, don't tell me a few dual cultivation sessions were enough to bewitch you. This Li Xu might be mysterious, but he's only at the Golden Core Stage. If you like him, just keep him as a Dao Companion. There's no need to take the vow of marriage!"

Just then, Yun Misha saw the reflection of Yun Mengshang in Chen Dong's pupils.

She blurted out, "A Charm Divine Technique!?"

She was inwardly shocked. 'Yun Mengshang actually cultivated the Charm Technique into a Divine Technique! That's something even I haven't managed to do.'

In the next instant, all the pieces clicked into place. "You used Joyful Fragrance on him to make your charm work! That stuff is insidious! Use too much of it, and a person will be completely driven by carnal desire!"

The Joyful Fragrance of the Floating Shadow Realm's Fox Demon Race was a notoriously potent aphrodisiac. Even a Cultivator with a Dao Heart of iron would be overcome with lust under its influence; not even those at the Divinity Transformation Stage were completely immune. Because of its powerful effects, it was typically only used when creating puppets or refining cultivation 'cauldrons.'

"Rest assured, Aunt Xia. Once he was under my control, I stopped using the Joyful Fragrance."

Yun Misha's brow furrowed upon hearing this. 'He's already under her control, so why does she still want to marry him? She wouldn't be doing this unless she had truly fallen. Besides, Mengshang always disliked the Charm Technique; she never even practiced it. Now, just to control this Li Xu, she's gone and mastered it as a Divine Technique!'

To cultivate a regular technique into a Divine Technique required not only a vast amount of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures but also an exceptionally profound level of comprehension, a mastery of the highest Realm.

Yun Mengshang's talent was undeniable; her ability to comprehend techniques was in a different league compared to other Demon Cultivators. Mastering something like the Charm Technique wouldn't have taken her long. 'But the Heart-Devouring Dew and Heart Stone, the materials needed to elevate it into a Divine Technique, haven't been used. How in the world did she do it?'

However, in the world of cultivation, even the closest of family or masters and disciples kept secrets from one another. Yun Misha had no desire to pry too deeply into Yun Mengshang's affairs.

What worried Yun Misha was that Yun Mengshang was acting just like Yun Mixue had a century ago, insisting on a formal marriage when she could have simply kept him as a Dao Companion. The only difference was that Yun Mengshang's methods were more extreme—she had directly resorted to charming and controlling Li Xu.

A sense of foreboding intensified in Yun Misha's heart.

So, Yun Misha probed, "Mengshang, after the wedding, will you choose to sever your emotions?"

No trace of emotion could be seen in Yun Mengshang's azure eyes. Her slender, jade-like fingers casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she said, "Of course. My insight into the path of emotion is already profound. As soon as I comprehend the Divine Techniques of the Frost Fox Illusion Realm, I will cast off emotion completely."

Yun Misha's heart sank. 'It's over.' She knew Yun Mengshang was lying. For over a hundred years, Yun Mengshang had a tell: she would unconsciously play with her hair whenever she lied. Thinking of Yun Mengshang's personality—outwardly calm but inwardly stubborn and willful—Yun Misha knew that any further attempts at persuasion would be futile.

And so, Yun Misha feigned a nod. "That's good to hear. Aunt Qiu and I will deal with the Demon Race. For now, you should just focus on your comprehension."