Xu Xiaoxiao's Immortal Cultivation Life (Transmigration)

Chapter 172 Demon Clan Imperial City

Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji inquired everywhere in this unfamiliar city, but they made no substantial progress in finding out how to obtain the invitation to the wedding of the demon prince.

Each rejection, each helpless shake of the head, felt like a heavy stone pressing down on their already weary hearts. But even so, their belief never wavered, and they continued to tirelessly search throughout the city.

As the last rays of the setting sun gradually disappeared into the horizon, twilight enveloped the entire city, shops closed one after another, and the number of pedestrians on the streets became increasingly scarce.

Lan Ji and Xu Xiaoxiao walked side by side on the empty street, their shadows stretched long by the dim yellow light. Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, Lan Ji's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

She suddenly stopped and grabbed Xu Xiaoxiao's arm, excitedly saying, "Xu Xiaoxiao, I've got it! Our mermaid clan is an ancient family in the demon realm, and has always had considerable influence. Grandpa Turtle might have already received an invitation to the demon prince's wedding!"

Xu Xiaoxiao was taken aback at first, then her eyes lit up and a long-lost smile appeared on her face. She said excitedly, "Lan Ji, you're absolutely right! How come we didn't think of that at first! This might be our chance!"

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with joy and anticipation. Without hesitation, they decided to return to the territory of the deep-sea mermaids immediately.

They hurried toward the sea, the moonlight shining on them and illuminating their path.

Upon arriving at the seaside, Lan Ji's body once again glowed with a faint blue light, and her beautiful legs transformed back into a magnificent fishtail. She then plunged into the deep sea with Xu Xiaoxiao in tow.

The seawater was icy cold, but the flame of hope in their hearts burned brightly, dispelling all the chill.

In the deep blue sea, they darted about quickly, startling the surrounding fish, which scattered in all directions. The colorful coral reefs flashed past behind them, but the beautiful scenery that used to amaze Xu Xiaoxiao was now completely ignored.

After an unknown amount of time, they finally returned to the territory of the deep-sea mermaids. The familiar, huge coral reef came into view, and the cave was still filled with soft blue light. Lan Ji and Xu Xiaoxiao couldn't wait to swim into the cave and head straight for Grandpa Turtle's residence.

At this moment, Grandpa Turtle was sitting on a stone chair, holding the invitation that had just been delivered by the shrimp soldiers, and slowly flipping through it.

A hint of emotion flickered in his eyes as he murmured to himself, "Alas, time waits for no one. I'm getting on in years; I should leave such lively events as weddings to the younger generation." With that, he prepared to have someone deliver the invitation to Lan Ji.

Just then, Lan Ji and Xu Xiaoxiao swam in, panting. Grandpa Turtle looked up, saw the two return, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, then he smiled kindly and said, "You two little ones, why did you suddenly come back? Did you encounter some difficulties?"

Lan Ji quickly swam to Grandpa Turtle's side and said anxiously, "Grandpa Turtle, we heard that the Demon Prince is getting married, and we were wondering if we could attend and see if we could find any clues about Senior Brother Xu Xiaoxiao. But we can't get an invitation. Suddenly we remembered that our mermaid clan is an ancient family. Maybe you've received an invitation!"

Grandpa Turtle chuckled at their eager expressions. He nodded and said, "You guessed right. I did receive the invitation. I was just about to have someone pass it on to you when you returned. What a coincidence!" With that, he handed the invitation to Lan Ji.

Lan Ji and Xu Xiaoxiao accepted the invitations, their eyes sparkling with excitement. Xu Xiaoxiao quickly thanked Grandpa Turtle, "Grandpa Turtle, thank you so much! You've really helped us a lot!"

Grandpa Turtle waved his hand and said earnestly, "You must be very careful on your trip to the capital. The wedding of the demon prince will be a very complicated affair, with all sorts of forces mixed together. Remember, safety is the most important thing, and you must not act rashly."

The two nodded solemnly and said in unison, "Grandpa Turtle, we'll remember!"

Clutching the precious invitation given to them by Grandpa Turtle, Lan Ji and Xu Xiaoxiao bid farewell to the territory of the deep-sea mermaids once again and embarked on their journey to the capital of the demon race.

In order to reach the capital as quickly as possible, Lan Ji decided to take Xu Xiaoxiao by water. Taking advantage of her agility in the water, she would swim directly to the sea area closest to the capital, which would greatly shorten the journey time.

The two plunged into the vast and boundless deep sea. Lan Ji's fish tail swung rapidly, like a nimble fish, carrying Xu Xiaoxiao as they sped through the water.

Along the way, they passed through a mysterious underwater canyon. The deep canyon seemed to hide endless secrets. The rock walls on both sides were covered with strangely shaped corals and seaweed, swaying gracefully in the gentle caress of the water. They also passed through a huge underwater forest. The tall sea trees blocked out the sun, and all kinds of strange marine creatures swam and played among them, occasionally letting out a few clear calls.

However, at this moment, Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji had no heart to appreciate the beautiful scenery; they only had one thought in their minds—to get to the imperial city as soon as possible.

As they continued their journey, the temperature and pressure of the seawater changed. Sometimes, they would encounter a bone-chilling cold current that made Xu Xiaoxiao shiver. Other times, they would encounter a powerful undercurrent that tried to sweep them away.

But with her rich experience and skillful techniques, Lan Ji cleverly avoided danger time and time again, and continued to move forward with Xu Xiaoxiao.

After an unknown amount of time spent traveling, Lan Ji finally sensed that the sea ahead was nearing their destination. She quickened her pace and swam swiftly towards the shore with Xu Xiaoxiao in tow.

When their figures finally appeared on the shore, Xu Xiaoxiao felt dizzy. The long time she had been tossed and turned in the water had taken its toll on her body, and her head was spinning. Her vision was blurry.

She stood unsteadily on the shore, the sea breeze gently brushing her face, trying to clear her mind. Xu Xiaoxiao blinked hard, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, and asked with a confused expression, "Lan Ji, where are we?" Her voice was weak and tired, and her legs were so weak that she almost couldn't stand up.

Lan Ji quickly helped Xu Xiaoxiao up and said gently, "Xu Xiaoxiao, don't worry, we've reached the sea area closest to the imperial city. If we walk a little further, we'll reach the demon royal city. You should rest for a bit and catch your breath."

As she spoke, she helped Xu Xiaoxiao sit down on the beach and took out some dry food and water from her bag and handed them to her.

Xu Xiaoxiao took the dry food and water and ate and drank in small bites. Nourished by the food and water, her body gradually regained some strength and her mind became much clearer.

She looked up at the boundless sea before her, her heart filled with emotion. The hardships and dangers she had faced along the way only strengthened her resolve to find her senior brother and repair the barrier.

After resting for a while, Xu Xiaoxiao stood up, took a deep breath, and said to Lan Ji, "Lan Ji, I'm fine now. Thank you. Let's continue on our way."

Looking at Xu Xiaoxiao's determined eyes, Lan Ji nodded and said, "Alright, let's go then. Hopefully, we can find your senior brothers in the imperial city."

So the two packed their bags and walked with firm steps toward the demon royal city. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, gilding their figures with a golden light.

The avenue is flanked by dense forests, their intertwined branches cutting the sunlight into countless tiny spots that fall onto the ground. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves, as if whispering the mysterious stories of this land.

The two walked side by side. Lan Ji's fishtail had once again transformed into long, beautiful legs. She wore a blue dress that swayed gently in the wind, like a blooming blue flower. Xu Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, wore a simple pink dress and stared firmly ahead. Along the way, they encountered more and more demons heading towards the imperial city.

These demons come in various forms. Some have completely transformed into human form, possessing an extraordinary temperament and exuding a powerful aura with every move they make; others retain some animal characteristics, such as sharp horns on their heads or long tails trailing behind them, walking with a majestic and imposing manner.

Some rode on strange and grotesque beasts, while others rode the wind at great speed, creating a gust of wind as they passed by.

Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji mingled in the bustling crowd, making their way while listening to the conversations of the surrounding demons. Suddenly, the conversation of several demons not far ahead caught their attention.

"Have you heard? Why is the demon prince suddenly getting married? It's too sudden!" A burly demon man with tiger stripes on his face said with a frown.

A woman with fox ears chimed in softly, "Isn't it all to bring good luck to the Demon King? We heard that the Demon King is seriously ill and hasn't shown his face for quite some time. The entire demon race is in a state of panic. The Crown Prince's wedding at this time can be seen as a way to put everyone's minds at ease."

"Sigh, no wonder! I was wondering why he was in such a hurry. I wonder how the Demon King's condition is. If the Demon King..." The tiger-striped man hesitated, a worried look on his face.

"Shh, keep your voice down! You can't say things like that. The person presiding over the wedding is the Demon King's younger brother, King Tai. He's ruthless. If he hears you, you'll be in big trouble." The woman with fox ears looked around warily and said in a low voice.

Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes. They had thought it was just an ordinary wedding of the Crown Prince, but they hadn't expected so many secrets to be hidden behind it.

Xu Xiaoxiao leaned closer to Lan Ji and asked softly, "Lan Ji, do you think this will affect our search for our senior brother and the clues to repair the barrier?"

Lan Ji frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said, "It's hard to say right now, but this will definitely make the situation in the capital more complicated. We must be more careful and cautious then, and not easily reveal our identities and purposes."

Xu Xiaoxiao nodded, keeping Lan Ji's words in mind. They continued walking with the crowd, surrounded by a constant stream of chatter, with more and more speculations about the Demon King's illness and the Crown Prince's wedding.

Some say the demon king is terminally ill and doesn't have much time left; others say it's a conspiracy by the Thai king to consolidate his power. The various rumors are hard to distinguish between true and false, making the whole atmosphere tense.

As the sun gradually set in the west, the afterglow dyed the sky orange-red. In the distance, the outline of the demon royal city appeared and disappeared in the twilight. The tall city walls and majestic palaces looked particularly solemn and mysterious under the glow of the setting sun.

Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji quickened their pace, feeling both excited and nervous. They knew that the imperial city they were about to enter would be a place full of challenges and opportunities.

Following the bustling crowd, Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji finally arrived at the city gate of the demon royal city. The tall and heavy city gate slowly opened, and a lively and joyous atmosphere rushed towards them.

The demon soldiers guarding the gate stood tall and imposing, exuding a powerful demonic aura that commanded respect. Yet, at this moment, a hint of joy lingered on their faces, clearly infected by the festive atmosphere of the wedding.

As the two entered the city, the sight before them amazed them. The wide streets were covered with bright red silk, embroidered with auspicious patterns in gold thread, which shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.

The buildings lining both sides of the street were ornately decorated, with every detail showcasing the unique style and formidable strength of the demon race.

The streets were bustling with people, and demons of all shapes and sizes were dressed in their finest attire, their faces beaming with joy. Some carried exquisite gifts, presumably wedding presents for the prince; others were with their families, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way and soaking in the festive atmosphere.

In the square not far away, a grand song and dance performance was taking place. A group of graceful fairy girls, dressed in colorful dance costumes, danced gracefully to the melodious music.

Their dance was light and graceful, exuding a captivating charm with every gesture. Sweet smiles graced their faces, and their eyes sparkled with excitement, as if offering the best wishes for the wedding.

Nearby, musicians played cheerful tunes, the sounds of various instruments intertwining to form a beautiful melody that captivated the listener.

Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji were also infected by the lively atmosphere. They slowed down and enjoyed the beautiful scenery around them while listening to the conversations of the demons around them.

"This grand wedding of the Crown Prince is truly a joyous occasion for our demon race!" An elderly demon stroked his beard, a happy smile spreading across his face.

A young demon woman standing nearby nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, the Demon King is always very caring towards us common people. We hope that the Crown Prince's wedding will bring him good fortune and help him recover his health soon."

“That’s right, that’s right. The Demon King is the backbone of our demon race. If he can recover, our demon race will definitely become more prosperous.” Another demon man added.

Hearing these words, Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji's impression of the Demon King also subtly changed. They originally thought that the ruler of the demon realm would be a fierce and cruel character, but they did not expect that in the hearts of the demon people, the Demon King was so kind and beloved.

Lan Ji leaned closer to Xu Xiaoxiao and whispered, "I've never seen our Demon King before. It seems he holds a very special place in the hearts of the demon people."

Xu Xiaoxiao nodded and said, "Yes, I hope he can recover soon. However, this makes our search for clues more complicated. With so many eyes watching, we must be more careful."

As they talked, the two continued their stroll through the city, weaving through the crowds and carefully observing their surroundings, trying to find clues related to their purpose beneath the bustling surface.

Xu Xiaoxiao wondered if her two senior brothers had come to the capital. She couldn't open her Jiezi bracelet, and she didn't know if Lan Xing, who had been sleeping, had woken up. Now she and Lan Ji could only rely on each other to explore this unfamiliar capital.