Outside, however, the phantoms of the Late-stage Nascent Soul Demon Monarchs, led by Fan Luming, merely smiled faintly without saying a word.

Corpse Aura billowed around Sunx Youhai. He remained silent, but the formless pressure he exuded made the early and middle-stage Nascent Soul Demon Monarchs, such as Ji Boyan and Wei Jieyue, feel their hearts tremble.

They knew perfectly well what was going on.

Sunx Miao had obviously cheated, but no one was willing to be the one to expose it and face the wrath of a veteran Demon Monarch.

The shameless Sunx Youhai broke the silence, chuckling. "Everyone, what do you think of this grandson of mine?"

Ma Miaoyin’s tone was evasive. "Senior Brother Sunx’s grandson is certainly... persistent."

Her gaze shifted to the host, Ming Zhan, her implication clear.

The golden bells on Wei Jieyue’s ankles chimed softly. "The Illusion Heart Prison assessment must be fair above all else," she stated coolly. "This situation requires an explanation that the masses will accept."

She too looked at Ming Zhan.

The Demon Flame around Ji Boyan flared as he said in a heavy tone, "Junior Brother Ming Zhan, you are the host. You must make a decision."

Ji Boyan and Fan Luming also turned their gazes to Ming Zhan.

Sunx Youhai snorted coldly, his smile turning sinister. The look on his face seemed to say, ’You’d better behave, boy.’

Being stared at by five Demon Monarchs at once, even a Golden Core Peak cultivator like Ming Zhan felt the pressure surge.

’Damn it all! Every single one of these cunning old foxes refuses to be the bad guy, so you’re just going to make me take the blame, is that it?!’

All the pressure was now on Ming Zhan.

It was obvious they wanted him to be their cannon fodder.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Ming Zhan’s forehead.

On one side was Sunx Miao, a cheater with a powerful background, backed by Sunx Youhai.

On the other was the astonishingly talented but poorly-connected Qin Xuan, along with several other Demon Monarchs watching like hungry tigers.

Gritting his teeth, Ming Zhan made his decision. He bowed deeply toward the void in the deepest part of the Reincarnation Tower, his voice trembling but exceptionally clear.

"This humble one, Ming Zhan, is bound by my duties and dare not decide this alone... As the results of the Demon Child trial are in doubt, I implore the Sect Leader to pass a sacred judgment and determine the final three candidates!"

His voice echoed through the tower, triggering some kind of Restriction.

BOOM!

Inside the Illusion Heart Prison, time seemed to freeze.

A dead silence fell.

The Demon Monarchs waited for a long time, but Sect Leader Dugu Hong never appeared. Instead, the ancient, weathered voice of an old woman echoed from the void.

"Everyone, the Sect Leader is in seclusion. You may cast your own votes."

"This old one casts a vote for Liu Mobai on the Sect Leader’s behalf. The rest is in your hands."

Upon hearing this, Ming Zhan let out a long sigh of relief.

The other Demon Monarchs, however, frowned slightly. The expressions on Wei Jieyue and Sunx Youhai’s faces, in particular, grew complicated.

Liu Mobai had unquestionably secured one spot with his Tier Three Middle Grade Ten Thousand Souls Bone-Eating Banner and his status as a reincarnated Venerable.

Ji Boying’s refinement had failed, disqualifying him.

The other Demon Child candidates, who had neither powerful backgrounds nor notable skills, weren’t even considered.

The crux of the matter now rested on the cheater, Sunx Miao!

Below the stage, Jiang Cheng, who had already emerged from the Illusion Heart Prison, whispered to Luo Li and Bai Lingwei beside him.

"This is going to be a good show. If the Demon Monarchs rule that Sunx Miao broke the rules, then both Qin Xuan and Wei Qingyi could be selected, thanks to their skills in either pill refinement and artifact crafting or pill refinement and talisman creation."

"But if those Demon Monarchs rule that Sunx Miao’s actions were valid..."

Luo Li gave a savage grin and licked his lips. "Then there are only three spots! Liu Mobai has one. If Sunx Miao takes another, then the last one must be chosen from between Qin Xuan and Wei Qingyi!"

Bai Lingwei’s cold gaze swept over Qin Xuan in the Illusion Heart Prison, then to the pale-faced Wei Qingyi in the distance. She chuckled lightly.

"Wei Qingyi is of the Green Snake Primordial Evil Demon Monarch Bloodline; her background is formidable. If they can only choose one of the two, it’s obvious who the Demon Monarchs will pick."

Their voices weren’t loud, but their words were like icy daggers stabbing straight into Qin Xuan’s ears.

In that instant, Qin Xuan understood everything.

’If Sunx Miao is considered legitimate, then I’ll be the one they vote out!’

And just as he thought...

The next moment, the golden sphere of light in his mind began to flicker.

Two blood-red bamboo slips flew out.

[The Worst Draw: Choose to concede. You will fail the Demon Child trial, earn the enmity of a Demon Monarch, and die without a proper burial. Omen: Greatly Inauspicious!]

[The Worst Draw: Choose to demand justice and question the rules. You will be suppressed on the spot, refined into a Corpse Puppet, and beheaded. Omen: Greatly Inauspicious!]

???

’So I die no matter what I do?’

Qin Xuan’s head snapped up.

An indescribable wave of indignation and stifled anger surged through him.

’Damn it all, I’ve hidden my true strength and pretended to be weak in the Demon Sect for this long.’

’From the Demon Disciple Dormitory to the Plague Poison Altar, the Thousand Mechanisms Ancient Tomb, the Bone-Eroding Demon Sea, Thousand Lakes Island, the Star Ruins, and the Vermilion Bird Star Domain...’

’I’ve climbed my way here step by step, only to be defeated by someone’s connections?’

’Is this what Demon Cultivation is? After all this, I’m still expected to grovel like a dog?’

’No, I won’t accept this!’

Just as the Demon Monarchs’ phantoms began to flicker, seemingly about to cast their votes and deliver a verdict...

WHOOSH! 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

A figure shot forward like a phantom.

It was Qin Xuan.

He hadn’t chosen to back down, nor had he chosen to question the rules.

Instead, moving like a bolt of lightning, he took a great leap, broke through the zone barrier, and brazenly charged into the Magic Domain where Sunx Miao was located!

His target was none other than Sunx Miao, who was weakened and struggling to maintain his Corpse Refining Technique.

"Qin Xuan, what are you doing?!" Sunx Miao cried out in alarm.

"Heh, killing you, of course!" Qin Xuan’s voice was ice-cold, laced with absolute killing intent.

"I’m going to kill you and vent this frustration!"

Since he was going to die either way, Qin Xuan couldn’t be bothered with pointless talk.

What was the point of arguing about justice?

Rather than wait for a judgment that was destined to be against him, it was better to strike first and take one down with him!

This sudden turn of events stunned everyone.

Ming Zhan’s eyes widened in disbelief. ’This kid... in front of everyone, with the Demon Monarchs watching personally... how does he dare?’

"Qin Xuan, you’re courting death!" Sunx Miao, shocked at first, roared in fury.

Although he was completely spent, his Golden Armor Silver Corpse was nearly complete. It only needed one final infusion of Corpse Aura to be fully activated.