Chapter 23: The Moonlit Palace’s Secret Indulgence

The Moonlit Palace, a significant part of the Holy Royal Palace, was once the residence of the Holy Queen.

However, since Her Royal Highness the Holy Queen passed away ten years ago, Holy King Superion had ordered the Moonlit Palace sealed to avoid painful memories.

A decade later, the Moonlit Palace had lost its former splendor, transforming into a desolate, rarely visited area.

Yet, this very place was now being utilized once more by Youka.

Unwilling to let the Calamity Demons get too close to her Demonic Goddess, and to prevent Xiamiya from being exposed, Youka had settled many of the Starfall Palace’s subordinates within the Moonlit Palace.

No one would visit this place anyway, so there was no fear of exposure.

With few passersby nearby, there was also no concern about the Calamity Demons losing control.

It was an ideal hiding spot.

‘Hmm, if anyone *did* pass by, they’d simply be considered self-serving fodder…’

****

At this very moment, within and around the dilapidated, abandoned courtyard of the Moonlit Palace, a horde of Calamity Demons of various forms lay coiled.

They lurked inside the palace, beneath the shade of trees, their figures flickering in and out of sight in the dim light.

These Calamity Demons displayed a terrifying diversity: some were entirely covered in thick scales, others boasted multiple grotesque tentacles, while still others wore tattered cloaks, revealing decaying flesh and glinting bones.

Their eyes glowed with disparate lights – some blood-red like fire, others emerald-green like venom – yet without exception, each pair radiated a chilling aura of malevolence.

Though these terrifying creatures were scattered and coiled in every corner of the Moonlit Palace, their gazes were uniformly fixed in a single direction: upon the steps on one side of the palace.

There, Xianming, one of the Five Star Gods, sat elegantly on the steps.

In her hand, Xianming clutched a delicate bottle containing a precious substance: Ghost Crystal Liquid, ‘personally’ crafted by Xiamiya.

The liquid shimmered gently within the bottle, emitting a faint luminescence that cast a soft glow upon Xianming’s fair complexion.

A hint of pride and contentment gleamed in her eyes, as if this single bottle of liquid represented her sole reliance and hope.

This very bottle of liquid was also being intensely scrutinized by the Calamity Demons.

The Calamity Demons’ gazes were filled with envy and longing. Though most were emotionless monsters, they seemed to harbor an instinctive pursuit and desire for this mysterious liquid.

Their eyes, ravenous and parched, were glued to the bottle in Xianming’s hand, as if they might surge forward to snatch it at any moment.

On the other side, seemingly sensing those covetous eyes, Xianming unconsciously tightened her grip on the bottle, even cradling it protectively against her chest.

“Hey! This is a reward bestowed upon me by the Demonic God! You won’t get any of it!”

As she spoke, an ominous, cerulean power of the Dark Abyss surged from Xianming, striking out like a tidal wave against the Calamity Demons in every direction.

Under the guidance of their primal instincts, the demons recoiled repeatedly from the impact.

Although they desperately craved the liquid, it was clear they lacked the courage to defy a Star God.

Thus, they could only ‘piteously’ retreat back into the shadows.

“Hmph, you little wretches. Tremble under my boundless might~”

After a moment of smug satisfaction, Xianming refocused her entire attention on the bottle in her hand.

‘Finally,’ she thought, ‘I can begin to truly savor this moment~’

Licking her lips, Xianming slowly twisted open the cap.

The light within the bottle intensified, becoming even more brilliant, as if this tiny vial of liquid illuminated the entire world.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she slowly brought the bottle’s opening closer to her lips.

Then, the white-haired maiden extended her tongue, cautiously licking a small amount of the liquid from the bottle.

The instant the liquid touched her tongue, it felt as though an electric current surged through her entire body.

Xianming’s face flushed crimson, and a wave of heat erupted from deep within her, rapidly spreading to every inch of her skin.

“Mmmh~ so, so comfortable~ Yes, yes~ This is exactly the feeling~”

In that moment, an indescribably intense pleasure swept through her entire being.

Every cell rejoiced, every nerve ignited.

Xianming felt her body float among the clouds, all her senses amplified.

The boundless euphoria made her emit soft, involuntary moans.

Immediately after, as the power within the liquid rapidly diffused, Xianming’s legs gave way, and she slumped weakly onto the steps.

Her breathing quickened, her chest heaving violently.

With her eyes half-closed and her gaze hazy, Xianming seemed to be lost in an endless dream.

Her body trembled faintly, a blush rising on her cheeks, and the corners of her lips curved upwards, revealing immense pleasure and satisfaction.

The liquid’s power not only alleviated her hunger but also granted her an unprecedented ecstasy – a complete release and profound joy.

The surrounding Calamity Demons watched this scene, their eyes brimming with jealousy and yearning.

They stirred restlessly, appearing as if ready to pounce at any moment and seize the liquid from Xianming’s grasp.

However, even amidst her blissful indulgence, Xianming did not forget to cast a subtle, warning glance at these lower-tier Calamity Demons.

After being swept by the Star God’s gaze, the surging impulses within the Calamity Demons were utterly shattered.

****

‘Mmmh~ As expected of the Demonic God’s spirit liquid. This feeling is just… too, too wonderful~’

Gazing at the bottle in her hand, Xianming, having just indulged, couldn’t help but sigh with emotion internally.

‘Even a liquid infused with only a fraction of the Demonic God’s power possesses such miraculous effects~’

‘Not only has the emptiness in my body been sated, but my strength has also seen a considerable boost.’

‘If I could obtain more of this liquid, imbued with even purer power… for instance, the Demonic God’s essence blood, saliva, or even milk?’

‘What an exquisite experience that would be!’

At this thought, Xianming’s lips curled into a faint, alluringly sinister smile.

Just then, a magnetic voice, tinged with exasperation, reached Xianming’s ears.

—”What are you doing?”—

“Huh?!” Hearing this, Xianming instantly snapped back to full awareness, the world in her eyes abruptly sharpening into focus.

Immediately after, a blue-haired man in a crisp suit appeared in Xianming’s line of sight, looking down at her.

“What exactly are you doing lying here?”

“Anchinot?” In an instant, Xianming leaped up from the steps, hastily clutching the Ghost Crystal Liquid ‘bestowed’ by Xiamiya tightly to her chest, glaring at Anchinot with utmost vigilance.

“Hey! I’m warning you! This is a supreme treasure granted to me by the Demonic God! I absolutely will not share it with you!”

“Ugh…” Watching his colleague, who was guarding her food like a puppy, Anchinot helplessly raised a hand to his forehead.

While he was indeed very interested in the liquid Xianming held—no, rather, every being from Starfall Palace would be interested—Anchinot had no intention of seizing it by force.

In Anchinot’s view, a gift not earned through one’s own efforts from the Demonic God was utterly meaningless.

After suppressing the desire in his heart, Anchinot couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Xianming.

“Don’t flatter yourself. I have no interest in your belongings. I’m just curious, didn’t the Grand Steward send you to deal with a group of people? Why are you still slacking off here? Aren’t you afraid of making the Grand Steward angry?”

Hearing this, Xianming instantly shivered, and unmistakable fear flashed in her cerulean eyes.

After all, as members of Starfall Palace, there was no one who didn’t fear the cold and ruthless Grand Steward… and her cooking.

Therefore, after stowing the Ghost Crystal Liquid into her spatial ring, Xianming hurriedly began to explain.

“You, you, you mustn’t misunderstand! I am a noble Star God, how could I possibly be slacking off? I was merely replenishing my stamina to better execute my mission!”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Please! Stop looking so doubtful!”

Observing Xianming’s antics, Anchinot spoke with weariness in his voice.

“Alright, if that’s the case, then just perform well. Don’t disappoint the Demonic God and the Grand Steward. Whatever happens, you can’t perform worse than *those* guys.”

“Those guys? You mean the Holy Sanctuary’s fanatics?”

As she spoke, Xianming’s gaze instantly darkened.

“How could I possibly be worse than them?! They are merely expendable tools used by the Demonic God! I, on the other hand, am an elite who has followed the Demonic God through thousands of cycles! How could this Star God be inferior to those wretched humans?!”

“The problem is, the Grand Steward’s private assessment of those Holy Sanctuary individuals seemed quite high earlier.”

“Ugh. Hmph, then I’ll show the Grand Steward during this operation who the Demonic God’s most reliable right-hand is!”

Saying this, Xianming, her eyes brimming with defiance, clenched her fists and spoke with fervent enthusiasm.

Seeing her, Anchinot sighed, his emotions complex.

“Let’s hope so. We must demonstrate our worth, too… otherwise, the Grand Steward might ‘optimize’ us at any moment. Once our powers are revoked, you know what the outcome will be.”

“I, I know…”

The face of the doll-like maiden flashed in her mind, and Xianming nervously swallowed.

“I won’t repeat the same mistakes.”