Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’
Chapter 276: She Has No Demon in Her Heart, But He Fancies Humans

The chaotic natural forces of the Five Elements Realm grew calm as they reached the lone peak at the center, as if some harmony had been achieved.

"Fifty..."

"Seventy-two..."

"Eighty..."

Li Mo descended the lone peak while counting the various essence blood rewards the system had just granted him. He had helped so many demons earlier that he hadn’t had time to tally them all. Now, after counting, he realized the number exceeded seventy-two—reaching over a hundred varieties. He could even afford to be picky, discarding those with overlapping bloodline powers.

Unfortunately, time was short. He would have to wait until leaving to refine the essence blood properly. For now, his priority was securing the Jade Phoenix Divine Jade...

"Hmm?"

Li Mo snapped out of his thoughts and noticed the crowd of demons gathered below the peak, standing motionless. His expression turned puzzled.

Thanks to the peerless Heavenly Serpent’s heroic rescues and the Qingluan Goddess’s demon-slaying exploits, an unusually large number of demons had gathered at the base of the peak. Yet, not a single one dared to take a step upward. Instead, they huddled in familiar groups, whispering about their recent ordeals.

After comparing notes, they realized many had arrived here for... the same reason?

All eyes turned toward a certain "just-passing-by" serpent demon who had just arrived.

"The moment Wu Mo descended from the sky, he was like a legendary hero to me."

"He even crossed two realms to save me—he must care about me."

"Not only did he rescue me, but he also thoughtfully told me, ‘Get out of the way!’ He even knows our Mudboar Clan loves rolling in the mud. He truly understands me."

"I hope he doesn’t get hurt fighting the Qingluan Goddess..."

Li Mo: "?"

He vaguely recalled his past life, when he had saved a girl, and she vowed to repay him in the next life as an ox or horse.

So why were they all trying to pledge themselves to him now?

Amid this, the Qingluan Goddess stood out like a sore thumb.

Behind her, the radiant glow of the Jade Phoenix Divine Jade cast shimmering hues over her cyan dress and tassels. Her cool gaze swept over the murmuring crowd before lingering faintly in one direction.

Dinglingling—

Bilibili—

The Qingluan clansmen communicated among themselves.

"Why does everyone want Wu Mo to win? Ugh, we can’t even speak up—these uncultured demons don’t understand musical language."

"The Goddess can speak—why hasn’t she said a word?"

"Wait... If she can speak now, does that mean she’s found her destined one?"

"That night, I got up to use the latrine—guess what I saw?"

"The Goddess went to the Matchmaking Tree alone!"

The Qingluan Clan and other avian demons who understood musical gossip collectively leaned back in shock.

Her?

The Matchmaking Tree?

Were those two things even compatible?

"So... our Qingluan Goddess has a demon she’s pining for?"

"I have no beloved demon."

Slender fingers plucked the strings of a zither, producing a gentle, flowing melody—though the sound seemed to come from the girl’s embrace rather than the instrument. Along with the music came a faintly displeased side-eye.

Across the way, Little Li the Heavenly Serpent watched as a certain big-headed doll’s head was rubbed with increasing vigor. His scalp tingled, and his mouth moved on its own:

"Stop! Everyone, look at me!"

"Actually... I don’t like demons!"

His declaration was firm, his gaze as resolute as demons staring at divine jade from the heavens.

The base of the peak erupted in uproar. Many lovestruck demonesses felt as though lightning had struck them, their hearts shattering into pieces.

The peerless Heavenly Serpent... wasn’t interested in demons?

Then did that mean...?

The statement quickly sparked heated discussions across demon society. Even the demon kings and elders watching from outside couldn’t help but weigh in.

"If he’s not interested in demons... does that mean he prefers humans?" muttered the Whale Clan’s demon king, dumbfounded.

"Then the True Dragon bloodline won’t stay in the demon realm?! What about our bloodline diversity?!" wailed a senior demon in despair.

"This can’t be allowed! It’s too perverse!" Manbo cried indignantly.

Wu Qing: "?"

"Elders, say something! Whenever human-demon romances pop up in the human realm, don’t monks always show up to ‘punish evil’?"

This was a cultured demon, somewhat familiar with human affairs.

But not that familiar.

The monks of Xuankong Temple: "......"

Hengyuan: "......"

"Master, why is your face red?" Murong Xiao asked worriedly—his master seemed to be struggling.

Divine Monk Huaikong blinked, vaguely recalling something. He tore open space and pulled out a book.

"Hmm, I believe I’ve read about this before. I even bought a copy."

"This story is purely fictional. Do not take it as reality."

Murong Xiao read the words on the cover.

Then Huaikong added with a frown:

"Ah, yes. The bald monks in this book are terrible. Our temple’s disciples must learn from their mistakes—we must never commit such virtue-destroying acts."

Instantly, old monk Hengyuan’s face turned even redder.

No beloved demon...

Not interested in demons...

Shang Qinqing held a bag of sunflower seeds, her eyes sparkling as she watched the young man and woman on the celestial screen. Her snacking speed increased.

So engrossed was she that she didn’t notice the Xuankong Temple’s sweeping monk glaring at her.

A demon nearby asked:

"The Qingluan Clan is seen as a symbol of love among humans—you’re experts in romance. Clan Leader Shang, what’s your take on this?"

"I’ll watch and snack."

"???"

Ahem. "Wu Mo came from the human realm. He’s never interacted with other demons before. It’s understandable if he prefers human women."

Meanwhile, inside the Five Elements Realm...

Zhi Duoluo and the half-demons exchanged glances, deep in thought.

This wasn’t right.

What were they even here for again?

Was no one going to talk about the divine jade?!

"You think... if Wu Mo likes humans but not demons, how does he feel about half-demons?" murmured a three-tailed fox half-demon.

Zhi Duoluo and the others raised their brows at her, and she quickly lowered her head.

This was supposed to be the fiercest stage of the divine jade competition—the foot of the lone peak, where battles should be breaking out.

Yet, not a single demon seemed interested in fighting!

"If the other demons won’t fight, how are the True Phoenix and True Dragon bloodlines supposed to clash?"

Zhi Duoluo decided this couldn’t continue.

He narrowed his eyes and strode into the open space between the peerless Heavenly Serpent and the Qingluan Goddess.

"Hah—"

"Scram."

He barely got a syllable out before Ying Bingqing’s icy voice cut him off.

How dare he block her line of sight?

"..."

Zhi Duoluo, revered as a divine scion, had never been treated this way. Gritting his teeth, he roared:

"Fine! I’ll scram!"

He had only rolled halfway when—

The divine jade atop the lone peak erupted in a dazzling display of light, painting the sky with visions of mythical beasts and fantastical races, all vividly alive within the radiance.

The Celestial Jade from Beyond the Heavens was about to determine its own destiny.