《When the Villain is Bound to the Female Lead System》


 Chapter 1

    February 15th, market day.


    The sky was just beginning to brighten as dawn approached. The county gates were still closed, with a long queue forming outside. Most people in line were pushing carts or carrying goods on shoulder poles - small vendorsing to sell their wares in town.


    On the empty spaces nking the city gates, a few breakfast stalls had been set up, wisps of steam rising from their hot food.


    Those entering the city had traveled from nearby viges, walking half the night. They were hungry now, and knew that once inside the gates, food prices would be a copper or two higher than outside. So many waiting in line chose to grab a quick bite from the stalls to tide them over.


    Yu Yi was no exception. As soon as she reached the county gates, she went straight to a familiar breakfast stall and spent ten copper coins on tenrge meat buns.


    She ate two herself and gave the other eight to the red-crowned crane following behind her.


    This crane was tall and stately, standing as high as a person. Its white feathers were like fresh snow, its ck feathers like an ink stone, and the ssh of red on its crown as vivid as cinnabar. It was clearly no ordinary bird.


    The young woman beside it wore a flowing white dress, with snow-white skin and jet-ck hair. Her bright, lively eyes were dark and gleaming, filled with an otherworldly light. The girl and crane standing together truly looked like an immortal maiden and her celestialpanion straight out of an ancient painting.


    ...If one ignored therge meat bun she was holding, that is.


    To ordinary folk, cranes were considered mounts of immortals, typically only seen in celestial realms. asionally one might hear a crane''s call and catch a fleeting glimpse of its majestic form soaring overhead, but it was rare for a crane to descend to an unremarkable county town like this.


    However, this crane was an exception.


    No one quite remembered when this crane and the young immortal who kept it first appeared in Rounan County, but it had been several years at least.


    People were curious about them at first, but had grown used to their presence by now. After all, every market day on the 1st and 15th of the month, they could be seen at the city gates.


    On market days, the young immortal would bring her crane into town to set up a stall. She sold talismans for warding off evil and protecting homes, and helped local people deal with supernatural troubles that ordinary folk couldn''t handle.


    Her prices were reasonable. If someone didn''t have enough silver, she would ept payment in fruits, grains or meat instead. Everything was clearly priced, and she never took anything for free. She was nothing like other cultivators who seemed to look down on mortals from on high.


    The people of Rounan County were quite fond of this young immortal. Whenever she came, the market grew livelier. Some came specifically to catch a glimpse of her, while others sought her help with various matters.


    After the city gates opened and Yu Yi entered, those going in with her greeted her warmly, calling her "little immortal" and asking where she would set up her stall that day.


    "I''ll wander around with Senior Crane first and set up wherever we end up. It''s up to him," Yu Yi replied with a smile. Her dark eyes were filled with the warm glow of the morning sun, as sweet as melted caramel.


    She was naturally beautiful, with a rosyplexion, red lips and white teeth. Cultivators always had an otherworldly air that set them apart from ordinary people. But when she smiled, that distance melted away, filling people''s hearts with joy just to look at her.


    The red-crowned crane beside her nodded its head solemnly, truly giving off the air of a "senior" disciple.


    Everyone knew her routine by now, so they didn''t press further. After entering the city, they dispersed to different streets to go about their business.


    Yu Yi and Senior Crane meandered through town, buying some household necessities.


    Rounan County was just a small county seat, not veryrge. After five years of wandering its streets, Yu Yi knew the location of every shop by heart. She quickly finished her shopping and tucked everything into her storage pouch.


    This lifestyle was certainly leisurely, but it had grown rather dull.


    Yu Yi tilted her head back to gaze at the vast sky above, sighing listlessly. Life without smartphones or inte, where even market days held no new excitement, was truly hard to endure!


    If she had known that leaving a singlement would cause her to transmigrate, she would have tied her hands up while reading that web novel.


    Every time Yu Yi thought about it, she couldn''t help but smack her own hands. Serves you right for being so impulsive, she scolded herself. You should have just read quietly. Why did you have to leave thatment saying "The female lead has it so rough! And we even share the same name - I wonder if I''ll transmigrate too?"


    As if summoning fate, right after posting thatment, she was struck by a jolt of electricity and truly transmigrated into this dog-blood tragic romance novel, bing its ill-fated female protagonist.


    The entire book, including extras, was only 800,000 characters long. Yet for 700,000 of those characters, she was tormented physically and emotionally by the male lead and various other characters! In the remaining 100,000 characters, the female lead reconciled with her past, found true love, and got a happy ending with the male lead.


    A happy ending...


    The male lead was named Pei Jingchao, and the book was titled "Jingchao" (Tidal Wave). From the title alone, she should have guessed the author didn''t truly care for her character!


    Yu Yi still vividly remembered the ending described in ck and white: "She turned back with a smile, but her eyes no longer held that clear, dazzling light that had captivated him when they first met."


    That scoundrel had hurt the female lead the deepest, yet in the end he stillined that the light had gone from her eyes.


    When Yu Yi transmigrated into the book, it was right at the moment the naive female lead encountered the gravely injured, unconscious male lead. She had woven a small raft from vines toy him on and was exhaustively dragging him back home.


    She had nearly reached her doorstep!


    Yu Yi shuddered violently at the thought of the 700,000 characters worth of physical and emotional torment that would follow if she rescued the male lead.


    Even though Pei Jingchao, as the author''s favorite character, was described as handsome and refined - with sharp brows and starry eyes that retained a certain allure even when he was disheveled, blood-stained and unconscious - Yu Yi couldn''t muster an ounce of goodwill towards him.


    After pondering for a moment, she found a hatchet in the yard and spent quite some time wavering over whether to use it on his neck. In the end, she couldn''t bring herself to do it. Instead, she dragged the small raft into the nearby woods, dug a hole, and buried him.


    Afterwards, she even stomped on the freshly packed dirt mound a couple times for good measure.


    Yu Yi rushed back to the original owner''s home, hastily packed some essentials, then set the small wooden cabin aze that very day before fleeing.


    Before entering the world of cultivation, the female lead had lived alone with her grandfather, a hunter who had taught her some martial arts for self-defense before he passed away. When Yu Yi took over this body, she inherited those skills, which gave her some confidence in avoiding bandits on the road.


    Determined to leave the territory of the male lead''s sect and avoid any interaction with him, she traveled as quickly as she could for over a month before reaching the Rounan County area. There, by chance, she stumbled into the cave dwelling of a rogue cultivator.


    This cultivator was nearing the end of his lifespan and regretted never taking on a disciple to inherit his legacy. Even his pet crane would be left without a caretaker. When the disoriented Yu Yi stumbled in, he was overjoyed and immediately pressured her into bing his disciple.


    Having transmigrated into a world of immortal cultivation, Yu Yi was quite eager to learn supernatural arts. She hadn''t seen any mention of this rogue cultivator in the original novel, so she assumed he was an insignificant background character unrted to the main plot. Thus, she readily agreed to be his disciple.


    After epting her, the cultivator performed a ritual to cleanse her body and establish her spiritual foundation, infusing her with his lifetime of cultivation. He then entrusted her with all the cultivation manuals, talismans, magical artifacts, and even his pet crane that he had umted in his cave dwelling.


    Before Yu Yi had a chance to truly get to know her new master, the rogue cultivator, having fulfilled his final wish, exhausted thest of his lifespan and passed away peacefully the very next day.


    Afterwards, Yu Yi settled down in the cave dwelling. She spent her days caring for the crane and studying the cultivation techniques left behind by her master.


    To avoid identally getting involved in the original plot, Yu Yi rarely ventured out during those five years of seclusion. She only left twice a month, using the swordsmanship and mystical arts she had taught herself to earn money for food and necessities. She also took those opportunities to gather news about the outside world, especially regarding Pei Jingchao''s whereabouts.


    Of course, she didn''t actually believe that burying Pei Jingchao alive back then would have killed him. He was the male protagonist after all - his plot armor was too thick.


    Sure enough, Pei Jingchao had indeed survived. As the head disciple of the Mount Li Sword Sect''s leader - one of the Twelve Great Immortal Sects - he was renowned not only among cultivators but even among ordinary people.


    Even in a small county town like Rounan, Yu Yi frequently heard news about him.


    Even without the female lead by his side, it didn''t affect Pei Jingchao''s progression through the plot at all. He still followed the original story as written, first making a name for himself in the sect''s grandpetition, and then obtaining a divine weapon in a secret realm.


    At the Nine Provinces Dharma Assembly, he outshone all others, iming the top spot and bing the leader among the younger generation of cultivators in the immortal sects.


    Pei Jingchao''s reputation grew higher and higher, and naturally, as in the original story, waves of female cultivators admired him one after another.


    In the original plot, the female lead was the only woman who would receive special treatment from Pei Jingchao. She was like a living target, tormented openly and secretly by his admirers.


    The female supporting characters adored Pei Jingchao and envied the female lead, while the male supporting characters pursued Pei Jingchao and felt that the ordinary, pure female lead wasn''t worthy of their big brother.


    Even the female lead herself, constantly targeted and belittled, began to doubt herself, bing insecure and timid, humbled to the dust.


    Now, with Yu Yi gone, the position of the female lead by Pei Jingchao''s side was vacant. The female supporting characters used every trick in the book to be hispanion. Every time Yu Yi emerged, she would hear rumors about him with different female confidantes.


    However, these were all ambiguous rumors, with none being confirmed.


    This also led to Yu Yi continuing to hide in this small ce, not daring to venture far, fearing that the female lead''s halo was still hanging over her head. She worried that if she went out, she might encounter some character from the plot and start "the life of a despised pure female lead."


    "Gaga." The crane senior brother''s call brought Yu Yi back from her thoughts. She looked in the direction the red-crowned crane was pointing with its stretched neck and saw the familiar small tavern.


    The crane senior brother loved eating the steamed fish from this tavern, so Yu Yi followed its wish and led it into the tavern.


    They were regrs at this tavern. Yu Yi didn''t even need to order; the waiter already called out skillfully to the kitchen: "Crane senior brother is here, five tes of steamed fish, half-cooked with less salt."


    The red-crowned crane happily called out "gaga" twice, and Yu Yi burst intoughter, "Thank you, brother."


    The human and the crane sat by the window under the gaze of other diners, but the attention on them quickly shifted away.


    Yu Yi slowly sipped her tea, overhearing a group of traveling merchants at another table discussing: "With your spirit horses'' speed, how many days will it take to reach the foot of Mount Li from here?"


    "Just two or three days, no more than three at most. You can rest assured. These two horses of mine are no ordinary steeds. I guarantee they can get you to Mount Li before the Dao Lord''s wedding."


    Hearing the words "Mount Li," Yu Yi''s ears perked up.


    She looked out the window and indeed saw two ck horses tied up in the empty space behind the tavern. The two ck horses wererge and sturdy, with robust muscles and bones, spiritual energy flowing around them. One look was enough to tell they were raised on spirit grass and pills,pletely different from ordinary horses.


    Along with the ck horses, there were also tworge carts of goods parked in the empty space, packed in sealed, redcquered wooden boxes.


    "The sooner the better. We small businessmen just want to take advantage of the crowds and bustle to make a few more deals. If we''re anyter, we''ll miss the best opportunity."


    "Of course, of course, I understand." The speaker was the owner of the spirit horses, making a living by transporting goods for people with his horses. He opened onerge palm and said, "There are still five days until Dao Lord Pei and Yuxiu Fairy''s wedding. By the time we reach Mount Li City, the peopleing to join the festivities should have mostly arrived. Your two carts of goods are sure to sell out, sir."


    "If you ask me, for such a grand event with cultivators from all over the four seas and nine provinces gathering in Mount Li City, bringing only two carts of goods is too little."


    The merchant replied, "You don''t know how many traders are rushing there, all wanting a piece of the pie. We small businessmen are just picking up crumbs from the Xue Family Trading Company''s fingers. If we''re too greedy and can''t sell all our goods, we''ll end up losing more than we gain."


    Yu Yi''s hand holding the cup trembled, and her breathing became heavy with excitement.


    What did she just hear? Dao Lord Pei and Yuxiu Fairy''s wedding?


    Wasn''t Yuxiu Fairy that vicious female supporting character in the original story who, out of love for Pei Jingchao, crazily envied and hated the female lead? Congrattions to her for finally getting what she wanted.


    Pei Jingchao marrying someone else, doesn''t that mean their ill-fated rtionship hase to an end? Yu Yi felt as if she could almost hear the sound of the female lead''s halo shattering above her head, and it was particrly pleasing to the ear.


    Only five days! After Pei Jingchao''s wedding, when everything is settled, she can go wherever she wants!

 Chapter 2

    Yu Yi excitedly pounced on the crane, hugging it tightly and patting its back feathers. She said cheerfully, "That''s wonderful, Crane Senior Brother! The world is so big, we can finally go out and see it!"


    Crane Senior Brother was in the middle of swallowing a fish, its head tilted back. Yu Yi''s sudden embrace caused the fish to get stuck halfway down its long neck, nearly choking it.


    Yu Yi quickly let go and grasped its neck with both hands, helping to push the stuck fish down.


    After swallowing the fish, Crane Senior Brother angrily pecked her once, then snatched up thest fish on the table. With a light leap of its slender legs, it jumped out the window. After a few running steps, it spread its wings and flew away.


    Yu Yi reached out her hand, futilely trying to call back its retreating figure. "Oh, Crane Senior Brother, I''m sorry! Don''t be angry..."


    Though Crane Senior Brother flew off in a huff, Yu Yi wasn''t in a hurry to go look for it. She stayed in town to gather more information about Pei Jingchao''s wedding.


    The news of the Lishan Sword Sect leader''s daughter marrying his top disciple had already spread throughout the cultivation world. However, Rounan County was remote, so news traveled a bit slower there. If not for the group of merchants passing through, it might have taken a few more days for the news to reach them.


    Yu Yi was in high spirits. After helping a merchant in town deal with a small ghost stealing money, she packed up early and left the city. She nned to return home to take inventory of her belongings in the cave dwelling and prepare for her journey into the wider world.


    The cave dwelling left to her by her wandering cultivator master was called the Bamboo Pavilion, a secret realm deep in a mountain valley surrounded by bamboo.


    Amidst the green bamboo stood a two-story bamboo building. In front of the building was a deep, tranquilke with a wooden bridge spanning it, fishing equipment left on the bridge.


    The courtyard in front of the building was nted with many flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Behind the yard, there was a pen with chickens, ducks, and two plump little piglets.


    This ce didn''t look like a cultivator''s cave dwelling, but rather like an ordinary rural household, full of the atmosphere of mortal life.


    Yu Yi had lived in this secret realm for five years, umting quite a few possessions. It took her a full three days to take inventory of everything.


    She packed the things she wanted to take into her storage bag and sealed the rest in the secret realm. Before her master passed away, he had specifically taught her how to seal the secret realm. Once sealed, time would stand still here until it was opened again in the future.


    Yu Yi finished packing and waited another two days, but Crane Senior Brother still hadn''t returned.


    Crane Senior Brother was used to roaming freely and often stayed away for three to five days at a time. Yu Yi didn''t usually restrict it much.


    But this time was different. From the moment she heard about Pei Jingchao''s wedding, Yu Yi''s heart had already flown to the outside world. She was practically counting down the days, waiting for Pei Jingchao''s wedding day.


    ...


    The auspicious hour had passed. Outside, the sun was setting in the west and the moon climbing in the east. By now, Pei Jingchao should be enjoying his wedding night.


    Yu Yi finally couldn''t sit still in the secret realm anymore. She sealed the realm and went out to look for Crane Senior Brother.


    With freedom just within reach, Yu Yi''s mood was unprecedentedly rxed. Her sword-riding posture in the air was even more graceful and carefree than usual. The green sword made from the secret realm''s thousand-year-old bamboo carried her, cutting a streak of green light as they flew into the depths of the forest.


    Yu Yi searched the ces where Crane Senior Brother might go, one by one.


    As she was walking out from the cave where Crane Senior Brother hid fish, she suddenly glimpsed dozens of streaks of light falling from the sky, heading straight for the shallow waters in front of her.


    Yu Yi''s spirit tensed immediately. She quickly shrank back into the bushes concealing the cave entrance. Her hands swiftly formed a seal, and her body''s spiritual energy fluctuated, perfectly blending her form with the bushes.


    The next moment, the streaks of light plummeted into the shallow waters, sshing loudly. A dark figure fell into the water, followed immediately by more than ten cultivators whonded, surrounding him on all sides. Someone shouted, "Form the sword formation!"


    Dozens of long swords flew into the air, forming an array. The sword lights interwove densely, trapping the dark figure in the middle.


    The dark figure nced around and let out an inhuman roar of rage. Suddenly, it reached back into its own chest and forcefully tore open both sides, peeling off a bloody human skin from its body.


    Inside the human skin was a terrifyingly strange demon. The demon was blood-red all over, seeming human but not quite human. Its four limbs were sprawled on the ground, and without the human skin covering its face, its eyes and teeth were exposed ferociously. Its eyeballs rolled about, and its fangs were sharp.


    Its body suddenly shook and swelled to several times its original size. At the same time, twenty-four ribs pierced through its back from under its armpits, suddenly elongating and transforming into bone des that stabbed towards the sword formation on all sides.


    ng! ng! ng! ng!


    The collision of bone and spirit swords produced a sharp metallic sound that made Yu Yi''s ears ring. She heard someone outside cry out in terror, "It''s a Bone Demon!"


    Before the words faded, the sword formation was broken. The Bone Demon''s ribs were as agile as spider legs, its bone des piercing through the bodies of several cultivators, hoisting them into the air before slicing them to pieces.


    Something fell in front of the bushes where Yu Yi was hiding, sttered with fresh blood. She looked closely and saw it was a cultivator whose legs had been cut off, but who was still barely alive. In the bright moonlight, the silver bamboo leaf pattern on the cultivator''s sleeve was particrly eye-catching.


    Silver thread bamboo leaf pattern.


    Yu Yi recognized the emblem and thought to herself, "How unfortunate." This group of cultivators turned out to be Mount Li disciples.


    Today was supposed to be a joyous day for the Lishan Sword Sect, yet they still had people out subduing demons and ying monsters. Truly worthy of being one of the world''s top twelve righteous sects.


    In the brief moment Yu Yi was distracted, the battle in the shallows had already been decided. The Bone Demon was a high-level demon, and even though most of these Mount Li disciples were at the Golden Core stage, they were no match for it.


    The shallows were littered with severed limbs, blood flowing in rivulets. Now, only two Mount Li disciples remained intact.


    One of them looked older and had a higher cultivation level. The other was a young man with the lowest cultivation among the group of Mount Li disciples, barely at the Foundation Establishment stage, a full major realm lower than everyone else present. Yet miraculously, he had survived until now.


    The older cultivator pushed the young man behind him and stood alone with his sword in front of the Bone Demon, shouting, "Junior Brother, I''ll hold it off. You go quickly and inform Senior Brother Pei..."


    A long sword pierced through his heart from behind, cutting off his unfinished words.


    The cultivator instinctively grabbed the de protruding from his chest, his expression nk for a moment before his eyes slowly widened in disbelief.


    The sword was swiftly pulled out from behind him, its sharp edge cleanly severing his fingers. He spat out a mouthful of blood and turned with difficulty to look at the young man he had been protecting. "Junior Brother, why... you..."


    The young man stared at him coldly, his pupils devoid of any human emotion. He raised his hand and swung his sword, stabbing the older cultivator several more times. Fresh blood sttered onto his snow-white clothes, blooming like red plum blossoms.


    The male cultivator copsed to the ground, his rigid eyes forever frozen in shocked anger at the betrayal.


    The young man reached into his abdomen and dug out the blood-soaked golden core.


    His fingers were long, slender, and white, with prominent knuckles. They were covered in dripping blood. As he gripped the golden core, his five finger joints bizarrely softened, resembling the tentacles of some soft-bodied creature. Tiny suction cups even appeared on his fingertips, writhing and adhering to the surface of the golden core.


    The moon had temporarily hidden behind wisps of clouds, preventing Yu Yi from seeing these details. She only saw the golden core growing smaller and smaller in the young man''s hand until it finally disappeared.


    After the clouds dispersed and moonlight shone down again, he licked his lips and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.


    The Bone Demon, which had been fierce and brutal earlier, now behaved as docile as a dog. It retracted all its bones and crouched at the young man''s feet.


    The young man raised his foot and stepped on its head, grinding down hard enough to make the Bone Demon''s skull crackle. He said, "To be discovered even like this, you''re truly useless."


    The Bone Demon''s teeth shed together, producing a series of rhythmic clicking sounds.


    "You dare argue?" As he spoke, the young man pressed down harder with his foot, crushing half of its skull into the gravel of the shallow waters.


    Yu Yi heard intense breathing from the legless cultivator beside her. He was staring at the scene unfolding in the shallows, his eyes bulging, clearly about to explode with anger.


    Disregarding the need to hold his breath for self-preservation, he propped himself up on his arms and cursed furiously, "Xue Chenjing, you son of a bitch! You dare collude with demons and betray Mount Li?!"


    Xue Chenjing.


    Yu Yi''s heart skipped a beat when she heard this name. She was all too familiar with it.


    After all, he was also a significant male character in the original novel, being both the gentle and caring second male lead and the cold-blooded, cruel mastermind behind the scenes.


    Before his descent into darkness, he almost lured the female lead away from Pei Jingchao. After turning evil, he nearly sent Pei Jingchao to meet the King of Hell.


    Of course, a supporting male character remains just that - no matter what he tried to do, he always fell short by a little. In the end, under the leadership of the Lishan Sword Sect, he was surrounded and killed by the twelve great immortal sects in the Demon Sealing Formation, cementing Pei Jingchao''s reputation as the "Number One in the World."


    In the moonlight, the white-robed youth turned his head at the sound, removing his foot from the Bone Demon. He kicked aside a nearby corpse and walked towards her, treading through the shallow, blood-stained stream.


    He wore the same sect uniform as the Mount Li disciples, except for a soft fleece lining at the cor, making him appear more warmly dressed than others. The silver bamboo leaf embroidery on his white robe shimmered like water in the moonlight as he moved.


    The young man was tall and slender, not yet of age to don the formal cap. His long hair was tied high with a crimson-gold ribbon, the ends curling like seaweed, fluttering in the night breeze. The moonlight illuminated his face, revealing delicate features and a straight, noble nose.


    If not for the blood stters on his white robe, he would have been a truly pleasing sight to behold.


    Xue Chenjing approached, stopping a step away from the cursing Lishan Sword Sect cultivator. He called out in a rather obedient tone, "So it''s Senior Brother Li."


    The crippled sword cultivator spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and formed a sword seal with his hands, intending to summon his spirit sword to cleanse the sect. In response to his call, the whistling spirit sword, before it could reach Xue Chenjing, was cleaved in two by a bone de that shot out from the Bone Demon''s back.


    The sword cultivator vomited a mouthful of fresh blood and cursed in anger, "You''re nothing but the son of a lowly merchant! If it weren''t for your father''s groveling and bribery, you''d never have entered the Lishan Sword Sect. How dare you..."


    Xue Chenjing bent down and gripped his jaw. "Of course I wouldn''t dare," he said.


    The night breeze swept by, gently swaying the loose strands of hair on his forehead. A drop of blood clinging to the tips of his hair slid down to the corner of his upturned eye, tearing away his gentle facade and revealing his true, ferocious nature.


    He blinked and said matter-of-factly, "So, if you all die tonight, no one will know, right?"


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers tightened, and the skull beneath his palm exploded. Red and white matter sttered onto his robe, staining the white cloth with a jarring crimson.


    Yu Yi covered her mouth, barely managing to suppress a retch.


    After killing the man and extracting his core, Xue Chenjing turned and walked upstream to wash his hands. The Bone Demon remained motionless where ity, its head half-buried in the shallow pebbles of the stream, its grotesque and terrifying body not daring to move.


    The shallow stream fellpletely silent, save for the gentle flow of water. Dismembered body parts were scattered everywhere, making it almost impossible to piece together aplete corpse. Human blood had dyed this entire section of the stream red.


    Yu Yi, crouching in the bushes, stared at a section of intestines caught between the rocks in the stream. The nausea in her stomach grew increasingly intense.


    Xue Chenjing''s method of killing was excessively brutal. Coupled with the self-satisfied smile on his face as he killed, it was truly spine-chilling.


    Could it be that because she, the female lead, had run away, Xue Chenjing had lost his role as the second male lead and thus turned evil prematurely?


    Momentarily too shocked, her concealment technique wavered slightly. Yu Yi immediately noticed and hurriedly formed hand seals to recast the spell.


    Her figure only briefly appeared in the bushes for an instant before perfectly blending back into the surrounding foliage.


    Yu Yi anxiously looked towards the shallow stream. She was pressed against the cliff wall here, with nting tree branches blocking the moonlight. The patch of bushes where she was hiding was pitch ck, surely she wouldn''t be discovered, right?


    She clung to a glimmer of hope, but just then, in the dead silence, a sudden chattering voice rang out.


    "Oh my goodness, Master, look, look! It''s your wife! She''s finally online, aww. She looks so cute curled up hiding in the bushes!"


    This voice interjected so abruptly, its tone so cheerful and excited,pletely at odds with the current scene. Yu Yi''s heart, which had just settled, leapt into her throat again. She thought with trepidation, what bushes? Oh no, surely it couldn''t be talking about her?


    It wasn''t just Yu Yi; even Xue Chenjing was startled by this sudden voice. He paused in washing his fingers, momentarily confused. "Whose wife?"


    "Yours, of course! Master, she''s the wife you''ve been searching for these past five years!" The voice grew even more shrill, sounding almost piercing in its excitement. "Look, she''s even wearing a red dress. You''re matching!"


    Yu Yi clutched her pomegranate-red skirt tightly. Now she could be certain that the voice was indeed referring to her.


    She nced at the hem of Xue Chenjing''s robe. What matching outfit? Wasn''t that just stained red with blood?


    The blood-soaked hem of Xue Chenjing''s robe was a horrifying sight. She kept her eyes fixed on him, nervously watching his every move, her hand reaching into her sleeve to touch the teleportation talisman.


    Whatever nonsense about being someone''s wife, she had absolutely no desire to be the wife of a viin.


    Just as she was about to activate the teleportation talisman to escape, she suddenly noticed a hazy glow materializing in the void, condensing into the form of a book.


    Above the book, a ball of light appeared, from which a paw extended, patting the book cover forcefully. The voice spoke with conviction.


    "Master, after triple-checking, this system confirms that she is indeed the female lead of this book, your one and only true wife. Indeed, your fate is heaven-ordained. No matter how many times you miss each other, you''re destined to meet in the end."


    Yu Yi paused in activating her teleportation talisman, shocked as she looked at the book floating in the hazy light. On its exquisitely designed cover, a line of dazzling golden characters was embossed¡ª"After Transmigrating into a Book, I Got a Happy Ending with the Viin"


    What on earth? What kind of book was this? Hadn''t she transmigrated into a novel called "Tidal Shock"?


    And that ball of light imed to be a system. How could the viin be bound to a system?


    Wasn''t a system supposed to be the standard equipment for transmigrators like herself? If a viin had a system, wouldn''t he go on an unstoppable killing spree?


    Yu Yi''s mind was filled with question marks. She had a feeling that her previous understanding might have been seriously wed, which made her hesitate in her attempt to escape.


    Xue Chenjing flicked the blood from his fingertips, his gaze casually sweeping towards the bushes. As if finally remembering something, he said with sudden realization, "Ah, it''s her."


    The book hovering in mid-air disappeared. The system made a ''ding'' sound and its tone suddenly became formal.


    [Ding¡ª Congrattions, host. The mission target has appeared, and the main storyline mission is now officiallyunched. Please pursue Yu Yi, heal her deeply wounded heart with your love and tenderness, increase her favorability, and achieve a 100% happy ending. To save the world, we''re in this together. This system will wholeheartedly provide guidance and assistance.]


    Yu Yi: "???"


    Whose love and tenderness? This demon spawn, who in the original bookmitted every evil deed from killing to robbing corpses, and was explicitly written to want to destroy the world - did he really possess such qualities?


    And when did her heart be deeply wounded? Howe she herself didn''t know about it?!

 Chapter 3

    System 073 knew how absurd its mission briefing had just sounded, but it had no choice.


    Five years ago, when the mission was initiated, something went wrong. Instead of binding to the female protagonist at the moment of her transmigration as intended, it was erroneously bound to the viin.


    It had tried to report the error to the main system for correction, but the main system''s response was:


    "The mission has already begun and cannot be rectified. System 073, you are the ace auxiliary system of the multiverse. You should know how to adapt to circumstances. This is just a minor issue - do your best to ovee it. For us systems, this is also a form of cultivation."


    After that, the main system ignored all furthermunication.


    System 073 had no choice but to adapt and improvise. It decided to issue all the tasks meant for the female lead to the viin instead.


    After all, as long as they achieved the final Happy Ending and allowed this world to operate independently of the plot, did it really matter who carried out the romance missions?


    However, it felt the need to disguise its wording a bit: "This mission uses the standard system temte. I haven''t had time to modify it yet. Master, please don''t mind the phrasing. In essence, the main quest can be summarized as: romance Yu Yi and achieve a Happy Ending."


    Faced with such an outrageous mission, the great demon of destruction seemed to have no reaction.


    The young man crouched by the water''s edge, his hair unbound. With a calm expression, he leaned down to scoop up water and wash the blood stains from his hair, giving no indication of his thoughts.


    Yu Yi clutched the teleportation talisman tightly in her hand, quickly processing the information she had just heard.


    At first, she thought she had transmigrated into a novel called "Tidal Shock," but it turned out she had actually transmigrated into a book within a book.


    ording to the system, she was the female protagonist of this novel called "After Transmigrating, I Got a Happy Ending with the Viin." From the title alone, it wasn''t hard to deduce that what she had assumed was an electric shock followed by transmigration into a book was actually just part of the plot of this novel "After Transmigrating, I Got a Happy Ending with the Viin."


    As it turned out, she herself was also just a fictional character.


    If Yu Yi had learned this truth when she first transmigrated, she probably would have had a breakdown.


    However, she had now lived in this world for five years. During those five years, everyone she had met - whether it was Crane Senior Brother, the merchants in the small county town, or even nameless passersby in the book - were all flesh and blood people.


    In her eyes, this world was the real world.


    So, Yu Yi epted the fact that she was originally a fictional female protagonist in an instant.


    From what the system was saying, she had be Xue Chenjing''s romance target, and they were supposed to end up with a Happy Ending. That meant her life should be safe, at least.


    Yu Yi wanted to glean more information from the noisy system voiceing from the other party, so she didn''t rush to escape just yet. After all, Xue Chenjing didn''t seem to be making any moves either. If the enemy doesn''t move, I won''t move - she decided to wait and observe for now.


    Having made up her mind, Yu Yi remained crouched in the bushes, clutching the teleportation talisman, and continued to listen quietly.


    Seeing that Xue Chenjing wasn''t moving, the system couldn''t help but anxiously urge: "Master, the female lead has been missing for five years. Your romance progress is a full five years behind. Now that you''ve finally encountered the female lead, before she gets scared away, quickly take a billion steps forward and start your sweet romance storyline!"


    Yu Yi''s tightly furrowed brows rxed slightly. So this book was a sweet romance? If it was a sweet romance...


    She nced at the gruesome corpse nearby, and her momentary relief instantly vanished.


    No matter how handsome Xue Chenjing might be, even if this book was a sweet romance, she could never have a Happy Ending with someone so cruel. A man''s love couldn''t be relied upon. If they ever got into an argument in the future, wouldn''t he crush her skull in a fit of rage?


    [System: Ding¡ª Main quest now issued. Pleaseplete the "First Encounter with You" quest within 30 days, raising the romance target''s favorability to 10%. If the main quest is notpleted, side quests will be temporarily frozen.]


    Xue Chenjing, who had just finished washing the blood from his hair and was gathering it up to tie, paused upon hearing this and asked, "What does it mean for side quests to be frozen?"


    The system hesitantly exined, "Master, if you don''tplete the main quest, you won''t be able to open the Sword-Sealing Stone of Lishan Town. Also, the next divine artifact won''t appear."


    In the book, the plot and romance storylines were meant toplement and advance each other. Over these five years, because the romance between the male and female leads had been at a standstill, the plot had also progressed with great difficulty.


    Just obtaining this one Sword-Sealing Stone had cost Xue Chenjing a great deal of effort.


    Only now did he frown, crushing a stone by the river in frustration. "Why didn''t you say so earlier!"


    No wonder in all these years of searching, he had only found the Sword-Sealing Stone of Lishan Town and couldn''t find any trace of the other divine artifacts.


    Xue Chenjing suddenly stood up. Yu Yi''s heart leapt in rm. As he turned his head in her direction, she channeled her spiritual energy into her fingertips, activating the teleportation talisman she had been holding.


    The talisman''s light enveloped her. In the moment before the teleportation talisman whisked her away, she saw Xue Chenjing''s figure instantly moving towards her.


    The young man''s handsome features suddenly loomed close, appearing to Yu Yi like a life-stealing demon. His hand, still damp from the stream, reached into the light of her teleportation talisman, tearing open a gap in the teleportation runes.


    Yu Yi looked up, her gaze colliding with his at close range.


    Xue Chenjing''s dark eyes fixed on her, his pupils elongating into sharp needles before her eyes. The iris surrounding them was pitch ck, but that vertical pupil was silvery-white, exuding a suffocating inhuman aura.


    Yu Yi found herself unable to look away from his gaze. It was as if countless transparent, viscous threads extended from those vertical silver-white pupils, crawling into her eyes. The cold, slippery sensation lingered at the corners of her eyes, seeping in through them and firmly gripping her nerves.


    Yu Yi heard a voice emerge in her mind, coaxing: "Be good, don''t run."


    This voice multiplied in her mind, splitting and proliferating. One became two, two became three, more and more until it seemed like tens of thousands of people were chanting in her mind. The whispers ovepped, wave after wave, threatening to drown her.


    Be good don''t run listen listen listen listen, like me like me like me like me¡ª


    Yu Yi maintained her upward gaze, eyes wide open, her expression gradually bing nk.


    Just then, another sharp voice suddenly pierced her ears, crying out in anguish: "Ahhh! You can''t do this to her! She''s the female lead, not some magical beast you want to tame!"


    That sensation of having every nerve ending gripped by someone suddenly vanished. The voices in Yu Yi''s mind receded like a tide. She shuddered violently and struck out at Xue Chenjing with her palm.


    Xue Chenjing dodged to the side, but was still grazed by the sword qi in her palm wind, cutting his neck. A line of red seeped out, soaking into his cor.


    The teleportation talisman finally took effect, whisking Yu Yi''s figure away from the bushes.


    "Tch." Xue Chenjing covered his neck, clicking his tongue in annoyance. His vertical pupils shrank back into round dots, returning to normal human eyes.


    The system wailed in despair: "We finally encountered the female lead, and you scared her away again. Now it''s like finding a needle in a haystack - where are we supposed to look for her?"


    After being erroneously bound to the male lead, the system had urged Xue Chenjing to find Yu Yi, but Xue Chenjing wasn''t interested in this suddenly appeared entity and ignored its suggestions.


    It wasn''t until the system gave him a spoiler, predicting when the Sword-Sealing Stone of Lishan Town would appear, and the prediction came true, that Xue Chenjing started to pay it some attention.


    However, by the time Xue Chenjing followed its directions to that mountain cabin, the ce was long deserted. Even the house had been burned to the ground, leaving no clues for them to track the female lead''s whereabouts.


    Xue Chenjing was, after all, the big viin of the book. His movements could still be traced. If the system had been bound to Yu Yi, it could have issued quests to her based on Xue Chenjing''s movements, pointing her in the right direction.


    But now that it was bound to Xue Chenjing, and Yu Yi had no system constraints, her movements became unpredictable. For five years, not even Pei Jingchao had the slightest clue about her.


    A perfectly good female lead hadpletely vanished after transmigrating, without making the slightest ripple.


    Now that they had finally run into her, only to let her escape again, the system couldn''t help but burst into tears.


    Even if it was a system, it was still a system created by the ancestors of the myriad worlds to maintain world stability. It was a top-tier divine artifact spirit, and it had feelings too!


    Xue Chenjing, annoyed by its wailing, impatiently said, "Shut up! I tore her teleportation talisman to pieces. She couldn''t have teleported far and is still on this mountain."


    The wound on his neck had healed, but he picked up a broken sword from the ground, lifted his sleeve, and cut off a palm-sized piece of flesh from his arm.


    System 073: "Ouch, Master should be a bit more frugal. This body isn''t yours alone¡ª"


    No matter how many times it had seen it, it couldn''t get used to its host casually cutting off his own flesh to feed demons. Although hisbat power was indeed a bit low now, and he seemingly couldn''t defeat anyone without relying on demons.


    But if he kept cutting away so recklessly, wouldn''t there be nothing but a skeleton left for the female lead in the end? How could that work?


    Xue Chenjing hissed in pain, too preupied to pay attention to it.


    The bone demon, which had been lying face down with its bottom up, caught the scent of Xue Chenjing''s flesh and blood. Its skull suddenly lifted from the ground, its eyeballs bulging on its blood-red cheeks, staring at him unblinkingly, with saliva dripping from between its teeth.


    The clicking sound of its teeth expressed its urgent desire to have a bite too.


    "Useless at everything but causing trouble. What do you think you''re eating? Get lost." Xue Chenjing nced at it sideways, dipped his finger in blood, and drew an array on the ground. The edges of the wound on his arm began to writhe like a living thing, growing flesh tendrils that connected and fused together, quickly healing the wound.


    The array on the ground pulsed, and a viscous white fluid crawled out from its center.


    The white fluid was like a soft mass of pus, asionally bubbling and releasing some white mist when the bubbles burst.


    After emerging, it excitedly wriggled to Xue Chenjing''s front, extending two tentacles from its body to wrap around his right hand, which was holding the piece of flesh.


    The white fluid enveloped his hand, dangling stickily from his wrist for a moment, then consumed the flesh in his hand. Satisfied, it slid to the ground, bubbling like boiling water.


    The mist released from the bubbles quickly merged with the cold fog in the forest,pletely enveloping this shallow beach.


    Xue Chenjing gazed at the pitch-ck sky and said, "Go."


    The white fluid sank into the ground. In less than half an hour, the mist in the mountains grew thicker and thicker, obscuring the sky and earth, swallowing the entire massive mountain range into dense fog.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Yu Yi tumbled out of the teleportation talisman''s light. This talisman was supposed to be a directional teleportation talisman, meant to transport her back to the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm. Even if the secret realm was closed, she should have appeared at its entrance.


    However, when the talisman took effect, it was torn by Xue Chenjing. The talisman''s effect was greatly reduced, and Yu Yi fell into a dense forest, unsure of where she had been teleported.


    Her head was still throbbing with pain. Xue Chenjing''s vertical pupils were truly creepy.


    The repeated "like me" in her mind made her scalp tingle, it was practically mental pollution.


    Fortunately, she hadn''t been brainwashed.


    Yu Yi took out a processed mint leaf and put it on her tongue. As the cool, stimting sensation rushed to her head, she sat cross-legged and meditated, circting a mind-clearing technique through her body for one cycle. Only then did she thoroughly cleanse the pollution from her mind, and her thoughts became clear.


    The night mist in the forest grew heavier and heavier, until it was almost impossible to see one''s hand in front of their face. Yet the forest wasn''t dark, as if moonlight could prate the mist and shine into the mountain forest.


    The milky white mist clung to her clothes, hair, and skin. Tiny, glittering particles separated from the mist and adhered to her skin. Yu Yi waspletely unaware of this. She took out another directional teleportation talisman.


    Yu Yi''s wandering cultivator master was skilled in both sword and talisman techniques, and she had inherited her master''s will, cultivating both paths. However,pared to talisman techniques, she seemed to have more talent in swordsmanship. The teleportation talisman in her hand was one of the few sessful intermediate-level talismans she had, and using one meant one less. Yu Yi''s heart ached at the thought.


    After a moment of hesitation, she still activated the talisman in her hand, attempting to teleport back to the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm.


    After all, life and freedom were more important, and talismans could be made again in the future.


    The talisman''s light enveloped her figure, disappearing for an instant, only to reappear in the same spot a momentter.


    Yu Yi looked around in confusion, feeling numb inside. The teleportation talisman had failed to work.


    She tried stepping onto her green bamboo sword and flying up into the sky. She flew for a long time, but all around her was just a sea of white.


    "A maze barrier?" Yu Yi guessed inwardly, carefully lowering her sword andnding back on the ground. She had clearly flown upwards for a long time, but it took less than half a quarter hour to fall back to the treetops on the ground. It was evident that there was indeed something strange about this mist.


    The maze barrier obscured vision and confused spiritual sense. Flying through the forest on a sword could easily lead to idents, so Yu Yi had no choice but to feel her way through the undergrowth.


    She hadn''t gone far when she found a dpidated mountain god temple in the forest. Seeing this temple, Yu Yi finally figured out her location. She was still on this mountain, not far from the shallow beach from earlier.


    Not long ago, when she was bored, she hade to y at this mountain god temple with Crane Senior Brother. They had specially bought some paints from town to repaint the weathered and dim stone statues in the temple.


    Yu Yi hadn''t even approached the mountain god temple when she heard the sound of fighting from inside.


    The surrounding mountains in this area were all poor and treacherous. Apart from the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm built on a small spirit vein, there were no spirit veins for thousands of miles around, and cultivators were rarely seen. She hadn''t expected it to be so lively tonight.


    Having just experienced the drama at the shallow beach, Yu Yi didn''t care who was fighting in the mountain god temple. She had no desire to get involved and turned to leave, intending to find another ce.


    At that moment, there was a sudden loud boom from inside the mountain god temple, followed by an explosion. The st wave dispersed the thick fog, instantly rushing towards Yu Yi''s back.


    She reacted extremely quickly, turning back with her sword. A screen of blue-green sword light formed a barrier, shredding the flying bricks and stones.


    Behind the debris, a figure was blown back by the st wave, about to crash into her sword light barrier. Yu Yi hurriedly withdrew her sword and reached out to support the person''s waist, gliding backward with the horizontal rush of the st wave.


    The waist under her hand was soft and slender, the body light. It was a young woman wearing a pink dress.


    The young woman appeared to be severely injured, her face pale, her willow-like eyebrows tightly knitted, with a red flower mark between her brows. She weakly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, about to copse softly into her arms.


    Yu Yi quickly supported her and was about to inquire when a familiar and noisy voice suddenly rang out, "Yes, Master, that''s right. You should faint now. The female lead is kind-hearted andpassionate, with a bodhisattva''s heart. She definitely won''t abandon you, and this way, you''ll have a chance to spend time together."


    Yu Yi: "???"


    She looked incredulously at the seemingly frail woman in her arms, suddenly withdrew her hand, and kicked her flying away. Then she quickly disappeared into the mist without a trace.


    Xue Chenjing sat up from the ground, covered in dirt, pressing a hand against his waist where he had been kicked hard. Heughed bitterly, "Kind-hearted andpassionate, with a bodhisattva''s heart?"


    System 073: "..."


    This shouldn''t be happening! How could its lovable, kind, universally adored little sweetheart of a female lead do such a thing?! It must be that Xue Chenjing had corrupted her!


    In the five years without itspanionship, she must have suffered greatly to be so vignt and unwilling to trust others. Wuwuwu, it was all its and the male lead''s fault!

 Chapter 4

    To make Yu Yi ept him more quickly, Xue Chenjing deliberately dressed up as a woman.


    From his observations, people tended to lower their guard more easily around beautiful girls, especially since he intentionally pretended to be severely injured, appearing weak and pitiful, posing no threat to her.


    As a result, she actually kicked him flying with one foot!


    Xue Chenjing stood up from the ground, his face gloomy. He nced in the direction Yu Yi had fled, then slowly disappeared into the mist barrier.


    Several more groups of people subsequently came to this mountain, all following clues about the Sword Stone of Mount Li Town. The mist barrier of Earth Impurity enveloped the entire forest, causing those who entered to lose their sense of direction.


    Every scene and object within the mist barrier was under Xue Chenjing''s control. He knew Yu Yi''s whereabouts and could easily find her again.


    In fact, he didn''t even need to go look for her. He only needed to manipte the Earth Impurity to shift the mist barrier slightly, and it would guide her back to him.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Yu Yi ran out of the mountain god temple in a frenzy, soon finding herself surrounded once again by the all-epassing mist barrier. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but vast white fog in all directions. Within the white fog, only faint, indistinct tree shadows were visible, with sparse sounds of insects and birds.


    When Yu Yi ran out, she wasn''t running aimlessly. The mountain god temple had given her a sense of her current position.


    Where there was a temple, there must have once been human activity. And where there was human activity, there would be a path. Although the path, like the mountain god temple, had been abandoned for many years and was now overgrown with weeds, rarely trodden, it still retained traces of man-made excavation.


    Following the stone mountain path at least gave her a sense of her location, which was better than running around aimlessly in the mist.


    When she kicked Xue Chenjing away and fled, she had intentionally looked for the mountain path to the right of the temple. The dense fog blurred space and distance, so Yu Yi could only count her steps in her mind, stopping at the ce where the mountain path should appear in her memory.


    Sure enough, she discovered stone steps beneath a tangle of bushes and weeds.


    She walked down the steps for a while, when suddenly she heard a faint groan. Yu Yi gripped her Green Bamboo Sword tightly, then heard two more painful "ouch, ouch" soundsing from beneath a tree shadow ahead.


    An old man with graying hair was leaning against arge tree beside the mountain steps, with a small basket full of medicinal herbs ced to his right.


    Was he an herb gatherer?


    Although Cloud Mountain had no spiritual veins and wasn''t a celestial mountain, it was rich in resources for ordinary people. Local vigers often came up to hunt or gather herbs.


    After her recent experience, Yu Yi was somewhat suspicious of this old herb gatherer. But after a moment''s consideration, she still took the initiative to approach him.


    After all, if he really was an injured old herb gatherer, leaving him here overnight could be dangerous. If he encountered that demon, the old man might not survive.


    Hearing her approach, the old man grabbed the sickle beside him and looked up, startled and afraid.


    Yu Yi quickly spoke up: "Old sir, don''t be afraid. I''m the Crane Fairy, the youngdy who often wanders around here with a red-crowned crane."


    Her crane senior brother was quite famous in this area. As a result, she had also gained the beautiful title of "Crane Fairy."


    Hearing her words, the old man indeed put down his sickle and gratefully said, "Crane Fairy, thank goodness I met you. Otherwise, these old bones of mine might have been left here for good."


    Yu Yi walked up, observing him while inquiring about his situation.


    The old man hunched his back, tilting his face up slightly. His thin face was full of wrinkles, and his coarse linen clothes were soaked by the cold mist, causing him to shiver and hug his arms tightly.


    He suppressed a cough, then caught his breath and said, "I had already finished gathering herbs and was nning to rest for the night in the shed halfway up the mountain, then go down the mountain the next day. But halfway there, the fog got thicker and thicker. I identally fell and broke my leg. I can''t move; it hurts whenever I try."


    Halfway down this mountain path, there was a small cabin on the mountainside of Cloud Mountain where hunters or herb gatherers asionally spent the night.


    Yu Yi nced at the old man''s right leg, which had been crudely splinted with tree branches. The wound was covered with ayer of crushed herbs. Most of her suspicions dissipated.


    "This fog is a bit strange and easy to get lost in. Old sir, I''ll take you to the shed first. If the fog clears by morning, I''ll take you to the county town''s medical clinic."


    The old man nodded, expressing his gratitude repeatedly.


    Seeing this scene, the system was immensely gratified and said cheerfully, "See, I told you the female lead is kind-hearted and eager to help others! She would never ignore someone in need! That previous incident must have been a misunderstanding."


    Yu Yi''s movement to help the old man up paused subtly.


    The system''s voice! It was the system''s voice again!


    So the herb-gathering old man in front of her must be Xue Chenjing in disguise. This demon was truly relentless.


    Yu Yi steadied herself, pretending to be unaware. She helped the old man onto her Green Bamboo Sword, using it to gently lift him, then began to descend the mountain steps with him.


    The hilt of the Green Bamboo Sword emitted a bright green me, radiating warmth and illuminating the rugged steps of the mountain path.


    The system chattered in Xue Chenjing''s ear, fretting, "Master, although this method has allowed you to sessfully approach the female lead, look at your current state ¨C you look like you''ve got one foot in the grave! How are you going to raise her favorability like this? Are you going for a May-December romance?"


    The system sighed deeply. Ah, if only they hadn''t scared the female lead during their first encounter, he wouldn''t have had to change his appearance just to approach her.


    How unlucky they were to meet the female lead in such circumstances.


    Xue Chenjing silently curled his lips. He had no intention of raising any favorability.


    "Youngdy, my leg hurts so much," Xue Chenjing wailed, turning his head to look directly at the woman beside him.


    In the flickering green me, those wrinkle-filled eyes gradually became clear, with a silvery-white light overflowing from his pupils. Invisible tendrils extended from his eyes, their tips swaying as they attached to her smooth cheeks, eager to devour her consciousness and turn her into his puppet.


    If only Yu Yi would turn to look at him.


    Bang¡ª


    A tremendous noise exploded next to his ear. Xue Chenjing felt a sharp pain in his head, the impact making his entire brain rattle. Before Yu Yi could turn to look at him, he received a heavy blow to his head.


    Xue Chenjing tumbled off the Green Bamboo Sword, rolling uncontrobly down the steep mountain steps.


    Yu Yi touched the corner of her eye apprehensively, still feeling a lingering wet sensation as if something had crawled over it, giving her goosebumps all over her body.


    She nced at the figure rolling down the mountain steps, now obscured by the dense fog. Grabbing her Green Bamboo Sword, she used its power to sprint back up the mountain path in the opposite direction.


    The system cried out in rm, "Master!"


    The Bone Demon quickly darted down from the treetops, blocking the mountain steps. Xue Chenjing rolled into the Bone Demon''s arms, finallying to a stop.


    The illusory disguise on his body dissipated. His wrinkled skin returned to smooth and fair, his features once again became three-dimensional and handsome, and his coarse linen clothes transformed in the blink of an eye, changing into a white brocade robe.


    Xue Chenjing clutched his still-throbbing head. His chin had been gashed to the bone from hitting the stone steps. He turned his head to spit out a mouthful of bloody saliva, his face contorted with rage as he shouted viciously, "Earth Impurity!"


    In response, white fluid condensed from the dense fog, shooting towards Xue Chenjing like falling rain, enveloping himpletely. Momentster, the white fluid turned to mist, and Xue Chenjing''s figure vanished from the spot.


    The mist on the mountain steps dissipated considerably. Morning light filtered through the branches overhead ¨C day had broken.


    The Bone Demon, left behind,y on the ground, meticulously licking up the blood Xue Chenjing had spilled on the steps. It joyfully picked up a tooth that its master had lost, immediately bing so excited that it danced about, its bones rattling. It raised its hand to toss the tooth into its mouth, crunching it with glee.


    ...


    Yu Yi also noticed that the dense fog had thinned. Morning light poured down, tinting the mountain forest mist a golden honey color.


    She gripped her Green Bamboo Sword tightly. The light on the sword suddenly zed intensely, like a burning me. Within the fire, snake-like streams of light intertwined. With one swing, the air filled with faint popping explosions. The green me sword energy, carrying the momentum to split mountains and seas, tore through the mist.


    The mist barrier violently churned, like a curtain ripped apart, opening a rift.


    Behind the rift was a clear, bright sky.


    Yu Yi leapt onto her Green Bamboo Sword, flying towards the rift in an attempt to break through the mist barrier.


    At that moment, the space above her head rippled. Something writhed out of the air,yer uponyer, blocking the rift. Even the sunlight became distorted within this thing''s body.


    Yu Yi had no time to react before she crashed into a soft and slippery object, as if falling into some animal''s cavity lined with tender flesh. Things quickly coiled around her body, tightly gripping her waist and limbs, with an icy, wet sensation crawling across her skin.


    She opened her eyes wide, channeling her spiritual power to activate her spirit vision, yet she still couldn''t clearly see what was binding her.


    The torn mist slowly closed before her eyes, and the thick fog engulfed her once again.


    Yu Yi was pulled back down, and through the swaying mist, she caught a glimpse of a vague outline.


    The thing looked like countless intertwined vines, no, not vines, but rather transparent tentacles would be more urate. They were soft and slippery, writhing wetly in the air.


    Yu Yi felt a chill on her neck as a tendril climbed up, attaching itself to her jaw and cradling her chin, twisting her head backward. From the corner of her eye, she saw a figure standing on the stone steps behind her.


    The young man wore white robes with his hair tied up, looking up at her. His jet-ck hair clung to his pale skin, his entire body exuding a damp moisture from the mist, like a freshly painted ink wash painting. The only spot of color was the bright red blood on his lips.


    Yu Yi, bound by invisible tentacles, was twisted around and pulled down from midair, getting closer and closer to him until their noses touched and their breaths intermingled.


    Xue Chenjing raised his hands to cup her face, his palms as cold and wet as the tendrils wrapped around her neck. Even his breath on her face was damp and cold, his features seemingly frosted over, devoid of any human warmth.


    Looking up at her from below, his ck eyes were like two deep wells, and she was falling into them.


    Yu Yi bit her tongue, the pain jolting her back to awareness. She immediately closed her eyes, refusing to meet his gaze.


    She heard Xue Chenjing''sughter beside her ear. He didn''t force her to open her eyes, but Yu Yi still saw those eerie pupils floating before her: jet-ck irises encasing sharp, silvery-white vertical pupils that held an irresistible magical power.


    Even though she kept her eyes tightly shut, those eyes still appeared before her, staring at her unblinkingly.


    Yu Yi''s mind began to fill with countless fragmented noises again, creeping up and trying to engulf her entire consciousness.


    ¡ª Don''t run, you want to stay by my side, you don''t want to go anywhere else, just stay by my side and love me


    ¡ª Love me love me love me love me love me


    Yu Yi''s mind waspletely filled with these forcefully injected thoughts, every nerve wrapped in his cold tendrils, holding a megaphone and shouting: Love me love me you must love me right now immediately...


    Her head was about to explode. Unable to bear it any longer, she opened her eyes and red at him furiously: "Will you stop it?!"


    The voice in her mind paused, and Xue Chenjing seemed stunned by her shout, his expression momentarily bewildered.


    However, he was only dazed for a moment before the silver light in his eyes grew stronger, drawing even closer to her face.


    The tidal wave of voices in Yu Yi''s mind surged again, more turbulent than before, attempting to alter her perception and make her submit like the other magical beasts, bing a captive at his feet.


    Yu Yi gradually realized that this demon only knew how to shout with a megaphone in her mind, but he had no idea what "love" actually meant.


    It was as if he was frantically writing "solve" in her mind with a pen, without knowing the correct answer to the problem. So, despite his efforts, he could only score zero.


    Yu Yi was terribly annoyed by the noise, but she wasn''t brainwashed by him. She impatiently spat in Xue Chenjing''s face, "Pah, I''ll never love you."


    Unless she went mad, she would never love such a monster! What did it matter if she was the female protagonist in a novel? What did it matter if the book said she should have a happy ending with the viin? She wouldn''t let someone else''s pen dictate her fate.


    She could dump Pei Jingchao, and of course, she could dump Xue Chenjing too. Why should she have to choose a boyfriend from the trash can?


    Xue Chenjing blinked, his vertical silvery-white pupils contracting into a dot. The confusion in his eyes gave him a somewhat human appearance.


    He didn''t understand why this method was ineffective on her.


    But Xue Chenjing wasn''t a demon who gave up easily. Compared to the effort of trying to win her favor, it seemed simpler and quicker to just brainwash her into falling deeply in love with him toplete the system''s task.


    He gripped her face with one hand, while his other hand''s thumb wiped away the water on his face. His fingertip hooked up a silver thread, smearing all the saliva she had spat on his face back onto hers.


    Yu Yi: "......"


    A cold, slippery tendril pressed against her lips, worming its way into her mouth.


    Yu Yi''s eyes widened as she struggled with muffled sounds. Although she couldn''t see the transparent tentacle, she could clearly feel its presence.


    It clung to her neck and jaw, prying open her teeth, writhing on her tongue, its tip almost reaching her throat. The thick tendril stretched her mouth open and then sealed it shut.


    Xue Chenjing lowered his eyes slightly, seeing through the transparent flesh of the tendril how the depths of her mouth instinctively convulsed and gagged at the intrusion of the foreign object.


    The system was already dumbfounded, advising in disbelief: "Master, this is only your third meeting. Isn''t this a bit too hasty and impolite?"


    What it really wanted to say was that it was a bit too perverse.


    Xue Chenjing ignored it. He raised his eyes again, staring intently at Yu Yi''s eyes. Invisible fments extended from his pupils like mushroom spores, seeping into her through her seven orifices, then taking root in the depths of her consciousness, enveloping every nerve.


    The megaphone in Yu Yi''s mind started shouting again. Xue Chenjing seemed determined not to give up until he sessfully brainwashed her. In the end, even Yu Yi almost forgot what the word "love" meant.


    The Green Bamboo Sword kept ringing within the embrace of the tentacles, its green me tinting the crowded tentacles with a gradient of green. Fine electric currents darted about, outlining the shape of the tendrils coiled in the air.


    Xue Chenjing felt his flesh and bones go numb from the flowing light on her sword. A strange sensation built up higher and higher in his body, pushing him to the crest of an invisible wave. Every hair on his body stood on end, each tentacle trembling in the coursing electricity.


    His expression went nk for a moment, his eyes widening, pupils dting. Tears welled up at the corners of his upturned eyes, a red flush spreading from his eye corners to his ears. Blue veins bulged on his neck, and his breathing suddenly became rapid.


    The system was shocked. How could this arouse him? Its master was truly a bit too perverse.


    Xue Chenjing''s momentary distraction allowed Yu Yi to break free from the brainwashingpletely. She gave an odd nce at the suddenly panting man and, taking advantage of Xue Chenjing''s daze, plunged her hand deep into the transparent tentacle flesh, struggling to form a sword seal.


    The Green Bamboo Sword''s energy suddenly surged, transforming into a winged red-crowned crane. Each of its feathers carried a sharp sword light wrapped in raging fire, cutting through the tentacles tightly binding Yu Yi''s body.


    The crane sword shadow spread its wings wide, letting out a long cry. It raised its ws and forcefully stomped on Xue Chenjing''s face. Its sharp nails directly tore through the flesh of his face, even piercing through the facial bones, producing a crackling sound of bone fractures.


    A series of "pop pop pop" sounds echoed in the air, like the sound of bubbles bursting. The invisible tentacles exploded, and a small salty rain fell on the mountain steps, showering Yu Yi''s face and body.


    Yu Yi broke free from her restraints, and the tendril was pulled out of her mouth, drawing out a silver thread. The tip of the tentacle, warmed by her body temperature, had turned a faint rosy color and was hanging with glistening saliva, looking like a delicious crystal jelly.


    But she knew how tough it was and that she couldn''t possibly bite through it. In fact, she was a bit afraid to bite it. Xue Chenjing looked like some kind of jellyfish monster, and she remembered that most jellyfish are poisonous!


    The sword seal had exhausted all of Yu Yi''s spiritual power, and she fell backward, her bodypletely limp.


    At that moment, Crane Senior rushed out from the forest, caught her on his back, and dashed back into the woods, disappearing without a trace.


    Xue Chenjing''s entire body trembled as he knelt weakly on the ground. The tingling sensation flowing through his bones was cut off by intense pain, as if he had suddenly fallen from the crest of a wave into the deep sea. He covered his face with both hands, curling up on the stone steps in agony, whimpering softly as copious blood seeped through his fingers and dripped down in streams.


    "M-Master, are you alright?" the system anxiously inquired.


    Xue Chenjing''s voice was muffled in his palm, each word seemingly squeezed through clenched teeth, filled with a viciousness that suggested he wanted to devour someone alive. "Despicable, shameless, and underhanded."


    The system was bewildered: "???"


    After a long while, Xue Chenjing finally stopped trembling. He straightened up and lowered his hand. The w marks on his face had already healed, and the remaining blood was licked clean by the Earth Impurity that surged to his side.


    The system was as quiet as a cicada in winter, not daring to utter a word.


    Xue Chenjing sat motionless for a moment, then stood up and slowly walked up the mountain path, returning to the copsed mountain god temple.


    The rubble on the ground rolled and reassembled with his footsteps, fitting back together like pieces of a puzzle. The copsed temple gradually restored itself as if time was flowing backward.


    But upon closer inspection, one could see viscous, gel-like fments between the bricks and stones. This wasn''t time reversal; rather, the fallen bricks and beams were being pulled back together by these fments.


    Inside the temple, the mountain god statue had been smashed to pieces, with colorful stone fragments scattered all over the ground.


    Xue Chenjing stood before the shrine. Transparent fleshy tendrils emerged from the shadows at his feet, picking up the statue fragments one by one, cing them back on the shrine, and binding them together with fine threads.


    In the blink of an eye, the statue took shape. A rotund body, intertwined limbs, with arge chunk missing from the head.


    But there were no more painted stone pieces left on the ground.


    The system cautiously said, "Master, I don''t think you''ve assembled it correctly."


    It wasn''t just incorrect; it waspletely unrecognizable. Judging from the bizarre monsters Xue Chenjing kept, the system seriously doubted its host''s tastes.


    His preferences seemed to have nothing to do with humans at all.


    Thinking this, the system became even more worried.


    Xue Chenjing stared at the statue, lost in thought for a moment. A howling wind sound echoed in the void, and the tentacles moved rapidly. The mountain god statue on the shrine was quickly disassembled into fragments, then reassembled momentster.


    This time it looked a bit more human-like, but no deity statue would have a gaping hole in its belly. Its colors were a chaotic mess, clearly out of harmony.


    "It really didn''t look like this originally," the system said, materializing an image of the statue before it was destroyed for its host to see. "It was heavily weathered, with blurred contours, but the colors were still vivid. Master, you can reassemble it based on the color blocks on its body."


    Xue Chenjing epted its suggestion, disassembling the statue once again. He sorted the fragments ording to the painted colors, then reassembled them following the painted lines.


    "Yes, yes, yes, that piece is correct there," the system cheerfully observed for a while before btedly realizing, "No, no, no, we should be chasing after the female lead now, trying to increase her favorability towards you, not ying some puzzle game here."


    "Master, please don''t give up, Master!"

 Chapter 5

    Xue Chenjing crouched on the ground with his head lowered, holding a painted stone in each hand. He appeared to be carefully examining the remaining paint on the stone fragments, intently piecing together a deity statue.


    But the system heard him sniffling.


    The system: "..." Although it was anxious and impatient, after a moment''s hesitation, it ultimately refrained from urging him again.


    Its host had truly been beaten badly by the female lead. His face had been wed up by her sword spirit, and it looked very painful¡ªthough the host deserved to be beaten.


    But having witnessed the whole thing, the system was starting to doubt who the real viin was.


    Damn it, what on earth had happened to its sweet, adorable female lead to make her like this?


    The bone demon peeked in through the broken wall of the mountain god temple, craning its neck. Its protruding eyeballs rolled back and forth as it looked quizzically at Xue Chenjing, who was crouched on the ground with his head down.


    It twitched its copsed nostrils, sniffing the air repeatedly, as saliva began to drip from between its teeth again.


    Unable to resist temptation, the bone demon slowly moved its limbs, approaching its master.


    It crawled on all fours to Xue Chenjing''s side, lowering its body and twisting its head 180 degrees. It stretched its head underneath him to look up, seeing the glistening teardrops on his eyshes. Excited, it stuck out its tongue, wanting to lick his face.


    Xue Chenjing grabbed a stone and smacked it on the demon''s forehead with a thud. He roughly wiped his face with his sleeve and said irritably, "Get away from me."


    The bone demon''s neck retracted quickly from the blow. It swiftly bit onto the sleeve he had used to wipe his tears, ripping it off with a swoosh. Then it scurried back to the tangled grass in the courtyard on all fours, hugging the torn sleeve and inhaling it obsessively.


    Xue Chenjing was greatly annoyed by this dog-like creature. He picked up stones and hurled them at the bone demon to vent his frustration.


    The bone demon''s body resounded with thuds as it was pelted, but it didn''t dodge at all. This level of pain was nothing more than a tickle to it.


    After finishing his assault, Xue Chenjing ordered it to fetch the stones back to the base of the shrine so he could continue assembling the unfinished mountain god statue.


    Because of his barrage, the stones were even more shattered now, significantly increasing the difficulty of reassembly. Fortunately, the mountain god statue gradually took shape on the shrine, with fine threads firmly bonding the pieces together, leaving no trace that it had ever been broken.


    The timing was perfect. Just as Xue Chenjing finished assembling the mountain god statue, the sound of footsteps came from outside the temple¡ªvery faint and cautious.


    Xue Chenjing took a final admiring look at the mountain god statue, then circled around the shrine and climbed out through the broken wall at the back of the temple, disappearing into the thick fog.


    ...


    At the front entrance of the mountain god temple arrived three cultivators¡ªtwo men and one woman, all disciples of the Ten Thousand Joys Sect.


    Leading the way was a middle-aged male cultivator with a broad-backed saber strapped to his back. His name was Zhao Tinghe, the senior disciple of the Ten Thousand Joys Sect, a saber cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Behind him followed his younger brother Zhao Chengfeng, at mid Core Formation stage, and their junior sister Ruan Qiutang, at Qi Condensation stage.


    Nowadays, most cultivation resources were controlled by the Twelve Great Immortal Sects, and other sects could only survive by attaching themselves to them. Cultivators who could reach the Foundation Establishment stage were already considered rare, and almost all of them came from the Great Immortal Sects.


    Cultivators like Zhao Tinghe, who could form their Golden Core through their own efforts, were as scarce as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. However, by the time he formed his core, he was already past his prime, so naturally, he couldn''t bepared to those young Foundation Establishment disciples from the immortal sects.


    The world of cultivators was led by the Twelve Great Immortal Sects, while the rest were scattered sects of little renown that could all be ssified as second-rate sects.


    This time, the Lishan Sword Sect was celebrating a joyous asion. Small sects like the Ten Thousand Joys Sect, which didn''t even rank among the second-rate sects, were naturally not on the guest list. But that didn''t stop them froming to Lishan City to join in the festivities.


    And as it turned out, they hade at just the right time.


    Taking advantage of the Lishan banquet, demons and monsters had invaded the forbidden area of the back mountain and stolen the Lishan Sword Sect''s treasure, the Sword-Sealing Stone.


    The Lishan Sect Leader, Juechen Zi, had publicly sent out a message to all directions, promising that whoever found the Sword-Sealing Stone could choose one divine weapon from within it. Or, they could send their own magical weapon into the stone for tempering.


    It was said that inside the Lishan Sword-Sealing Stone was a weapon-tempering tform imbued with the power of ancient gods. It was the forging tform used by the Ji n, the number one immortal n of Mount Qi two thousand years ago, to temper weapons and refine tools. The Ji n had ruled the cultivation world for five thousand years, and even after theirplete downfall, the things they left behind were still divine artifacts and immortal treasures beyond the reach of modern cultivators.


    Even the revered elders of today''s Twelve Great Immortal Sects, if one traced their origins, mostly came from under the Ji n. The three great families of Jiang, Yao, and Yun, who are now at the height of their power, were merely household servants under the Ji n back then.


    Thus, when Juechen Zi made this announcement, cultivators all over the world couldn''t help but be tempted.


    The three from the Ten Thousand Joys Sect naturally couldn''t resist such temptation either. They had followed the trail of a Lishan Sword Sect disciple to get here.


    That Lishan disciple had taken a liking to Ruan Qiutang''s beauty, and the Ten Thousand Joys Sect also wanted to establish a connection with him. The two parties had exchanged some personal items, which were perfect for performing tracking spells.


    After tracking to this location, they encountered the mountain fog barrier and couldn''t find the Lishan Sword Sect person. However, they were lucky enough to find a Fluorite Stone belonging to the Lishan Sword Sect.


    This Fluorite Stone could sense the Sword-Sealing Stone and would glow when within a certain distance of it.


    Zhao Chengfeng muttered, "There''s actually a temple in this godforsaken ce? Cloud Mountain God?"


    Zhao Tinghe nced at the faintly glowing Fluorite Stone in his hand. "Be careful, we''re very close to the Sword-Sealing Stone now. It might be inside this temple. You two wait here while I go in to check the situation. Onlye in if there''s no danger."


    Ruan Qiutang clung tightly to Zhao Tinghe, saying anxiously, "Senior Brother, let''s go in together. This thick fog is very strange. We''d better not separate."


    Zhao Tinghe thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Junior Sister speaks wisely."


    Worried that monsters might be lurking in the temple, the three were very cautious, each gripping their magical weapons tightly. First, they used spying talismans folded into paper cranes to scout the mountain god temple several times. Only after confirming there was no unusual activity inside did they take action.


    Zhao Tinghe pushed open the crooked gate of the mountain god temple and cautiously stepped into the courtyard amid the creaking of the door.


    The fog barrier inside the temple was much thinner than outside, making the surroundings clearer and brighter.


    The temple was in ruins, with weeds growing all over the courtyard, appearing to have been abandoned for a long time. The roof of the temple was full of holes, with sunlight streaming through, illuminating the mountain god statue in the center of the hall.


    Many of the fine details of the mountain god statue had been eroded smooth by the wind, but the overall shape remained. However, the painted colors were incredibly vibrant, in stark contrast to the dpidated state of the entire temple.


    All three were drawn to the eerily vibrant statue in the center, their expressions gradually bing dazed. They unconsciously walked to the front of the shrine, simultaneously looking up at the colorful deity statue standing on the pedestal.


    The facial features of this statue were blurred, but its eyes were painted so vividly that they seemed lifelike. In the dim light, they were clearly reflected in everyone''s eyes.


    The statue''s eyes were long and narrow, half-closed, with an eerie silver light gradually brightening in the depths of the painted ck pupils. They gazed down at them from above with a holypassion that seemed to pity the mortal world.


    The three people maintained identical postures, their heads tilted high, expressions entranced, staring unblinkingly at the statue like the most devout believers of the mountain god.


    This eerie scenested for nearly a quarter of an hour before the three frozen individuals suddenly averted their gaze and moved at the same time.


    Zhao Tinghe, holding his saber in one arm and the Fluorite Stone in the other hand, walked around the temple, detecting the location of the Sword-Sealing Stone.


    Zhao Chengfeng took out a water pouch from his storage bag and handed it to Ruan Qiutang. She reached out to take it, her gaze scanning the deity statue up and down as she said puzzledly, "The paint on this mountain god statue looks like it was applied not too long ago."


    The three spoke naturally, as if they had no memory of what had just happened.


    "It might have been done by nearby mountain vigers. People in these poor, remote areas like to do these things," Zhao Chengfeng said, his attention shifting to the Fluorite Stone in Zhao Tinghe''s hand.


    He frowned, "Is this broken stone even urate? It''s been glowing constantly since we found it. Surely the Sword-Sealing Stone can''t be all over this entire mountain?"


    Zhao Tinghe held the Fluorite Stone and searched around the temple, also feeling confused. He asked Ruan Qiutang, "Junior Sister, can this Fluorite Stone really sense the Sword-Sealing Stone?"


    "That''s what Li Xinhai said at the time, and this fluorite stone is the same as the one he secretly brought out to show me before," said Ruan Qiutang. "The fluorite stone was pried off from the path leading to the Sword-Sealing Stone. It doesn''t sense the Sword-Sealing Stone itself, but rather the sword energy within it."


    The Li Xinhai she mentioned was the Lishan Sword Sect disciple who admired her, one of the disciples guarding the stone at the back of the mountain.


    "The fluorite stone has been glowing continuously, which means we''ve always been close to the Sword-Sealing Stone. If we hurry, we can definitely find it before the others," a young man''s voice naturally chimed in. In the dpidated temple hall, a fourth person''s figure had appeared at some point.


    This additional fourth person stood right next to Zhao Chengfeng, yet didn''t arouse any of his suspicion. Instead, he raised his hand and patted the young man''s shoulder, regaining his spirits as he said, "Junior brother is right!"


    Ruan Qiutang finished drinking her water and turned her head to ask the silently appeared fourth person, "Junior brother, would you like some water?"


    "I''m not thirsty," Xue Chenjing shook his head, his gaze slowly sweeping across their faces.


    The three people''s gazes all focused on him, affectionately calling him "junior brother" one after another, as if this young man had been there from the beginning, one of theirpanions.


    Xue Chenjing stared at them and asked, "Do you like me?"


    His question came out of nowhere, causing Zhao Tinghe and Zhao Chengfeng to be stunned for a moment. They put their hands on his shoulders, one on each side, and joked, "Is there really something wrong with this mist? Why is little junior brother suddenly asking such a question? It''s too strange for men to ask each other if they like one another."


    Xue Chenjing said, "Answer me."


    Seeing his serious expression, Zhao Tinghe and the other dropped their yful smiles and nodded, "Of course we like you."


    "What about Senior Sister Ruan?" Xue Chenjing looked towards Ruan Qiutang.


    Being a young woman, Ruan Qiutang blushed when asked so directly, stammering, "You''re our junior brother, of course I like you too."


    Having received the desired response, Xue Chenjing showed no signs of happiness. His brows furrowed slightly as he raised his hand to touch his eyes, his fingertips directly contacting the ck eyeballs.


    ¡ª So, his function wasn''t impaired. Why was it ineffective on her?


    While the other three were discussing continuing their search for the Sword-Sealing Stone, Xue Chenjing kept pondering this question. Hearing Ruan Qiutang call him "junior brother," he suddenly understood.


    Ruan Qiutang said he was their junior brother, so they naturally liked him.


    However, when he had previously tried to "tame" Yu Yi, he had forgotten to add an identity for himself.


    Xue Chenjing abruptly stood up from the ground and strode out of the temple hall, walking into the mist without looking back. Startled by his sudden action, Zhao Tinghe and the other two hurriedly chased after him, but how could they find any trace of him?


    Seeing its host finally pull himself together, the system quickly asked, "Master, are you going to find the female lead now?"


    Xue Chenjing nodded, "Mm."


    The system rejoiced, "That''s great! But I suggest that when trying to increase the favorability of your conquest target, you still need to proceed step by step. We should go from meeting, to getting acquainted, to understanding each other, and then to falling in love. We can''t rush things."


    Xue Chenjing tilted his head back, his gaze seeming to pierce through the mist to see the cranes flying in the sky above. He confidently said, "I understand."


    The system praised him approvingly, "Master is so smart."


    ...


    The clouds and mist on the mountain had formed a barrier, trapping all living things inside, allowing entry but no exit.


    Whether it was Pei Jingchao or Xue Chenjing, Yu Yi didn''t want to get involved in their storylines. She now only wanted to find a ce to hide with Crane Senior Brother, wait for the mist to clear, and then run to a ce where the viins couldn''t find her to continue lying low.


    Lying low until the second female lead halo above her head shattered.


    Damn it, why couldn''t she have transmigrated into a carefree background character? Even if she had to be the female lead, couldn''t her arranged marriage candidates be a bit more normal?


    Yu Yiy on Crane Senior Brother to recover her spiritual energy, resignedly saying, "Crane Senior Brother, tell me, you''re clearly a celestial crane, so why can''t you cultivate a human form? If you could turn into a human, I''d just be with you and be done with it."


    Hearing this, Crane Senior Brother hurriedly let out a series of urgent cries, dering that its preferred mate would have snow-white beautiful feathers like its own, a bright red crown, long legs, and a resounding call - the crane spirit in Yu Yi''s Green Bamboo Sword.


    Cranes are faithful birds. Whether it was the sword spirit''s previous master, the Qingxuan Daoist Priest, or the current master Yu Yi, Crane Senior Brother wasn''t interested in either of them. It only loved their sword spirit.


    The crane''s call echoed through the mountains, showing how eager Crane Senior Brother was to preserve its pure bird status.


    Yu Yi, fearing that its cries would attract that pervert, quickly reached out to mp its beak shut, soothing it, "Yes, yes, I know, I was just joking. This junior sister is too ugly to be worthy of you."


    Crane Senior Brother flew around these nearby mountains every day and had a much better sense of direction than Yu Yi. Even with Cloud Mountain shrouded in mist, it could still find its usual resting ce by instinct.


    The human and cranended in an extremely secluded mountain hollow. Two mountain ranges formed a very deep valley ravine, where the trees grew exceptionally well, their canopies like clouds, appearing as a vast dark mass in the mist.


    Crane Senior Brother carried her down into the forest. Beneath the dense canopy, there was actually a deep, smallke hidden away. A faint smell of sulfur permeated the air - this was actually a hot springke, with many tiny flowers blooming around its edges.


    This was Crane Senior Brother''s secret bathing spot, which even Yu Yi had never visited before.


    Unable to leave the misty barrier, they could only stay here temporarily. Crane Senior Brother jumped into the water to preen its feathers, while Yu Yi only scooped up some water to wash her face before sitting cross-legged under a tree, wanting to recover her spiritual energy as quickly as possible.


    With her current cultivation at the newly formed Golden Core stage, forcibly summoning the Nascent Soul realm sword spirit left by her master was still a bit too much for her. Just calling out the sword spirit for that brief moment hadpletely drained her dantian.


    At times like these, Yu Yi would deeply doubt her female protagonist halo. Why could other protagonists reach Qi Condensation in one year, Foundation Establishment in two years, Golden Core in three years, and rush straight to Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation in four or five years?


    While she, with the spiritual foundationid by her master''s lifelong cultivation, starting directly from the Foundation Establishment realm, had painstakingly cultivated for five years in the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm, swinging her sword ten thousand times every day, nearly draining the small spirit spring in the secret realm dry, only to barely crawl up to the Golden Core stage.


    Could it be that her female protagonist halo was all spent on those bizarre romantic entanglements?


    Little did she know that reaching Golden Core in five years was already an unimaginable feat for countless cultivators.


    Yu Yi was inwardly indignant but had no choice but to cast aside distracting thoughts and meditate quietly, circting her energy. However, after meditating for half a day, not a trace of spiritual energy had recovered in her body. Her meridians were as dry as a desert.


    Spiritual energy flowed throughout the world. Although Cloud Mountain had no spirit veins, it was still connected to heaven and earth. While drawing in spiritual energy was more difficult, it shouldn''t have been impossible to draw in even a little.


    Just as Yu Yi was at her wits'' end, she suddenly felt a spiritual shock, sensing an extremely powerful pressure bearing down from above.


    The surrounding tree canopies rustled as if swept by a fierce wind, and Crane Senior Brother suddenly let out a shrill cry.


    Yu Yi opened her eyes to see a blood-red shadow descending from above. The thing was enormous, seemingly human but not human. Its chest cavity was split open into two halves, with ribs stretching out the blood-red sinews of its body like sturdy pce pirs, deeply embedded in the ground on either side of her, enveloping her within its abdomen.


    It was the Bone Demon, Xue Chenjing''s Bone Demon!


    The instant Yu Yi opened her eyes and saw it, she instinctively wanted to swing her sword and attack. But her spiritual energy was depleted, and she couldn''t unleash the Green Bamboo Sword''s energy. The bamboo sword alone shing against the bones inside the Bone Demon couldn''t cause it any harm.


    Crane Senior Brother, anxious, flew onto the Bone Demon''s body and pecked forcefully at its back again and again. The beak of a red-crowned crane was as sharp as any sword, and dazzling sword light burst forth from its beak, making the Bone Demon''s back resound with loud thuds.


    The vibrations transmitted into its abdominal cavity, exploding like muffled thunder next to Yu Yi''s ears.


    Given that it had wiped out dozens of Golden Core disciples from the Lishan Sword Sect, it was obvious that neither Yu Yi nor Crane Senior Brother were a match for it.


    Her entire body was swallowed into the bone demon''s abdominal cavity, once again sinking into that crowded mass of soft flesh. At first, she thought it was the bone demon''s internal organs, until the familiar tentacles crawled up her neck, cold and sticky, clinging to her skin.


    Hands as cold and damp as the tentacles cupped her face. In the darkness, a pair of familiar eyes emerged, glowing with an eerie light like cat''s eyes in the night.


    Yu Yi''s gaze was immediately captivated. Xue Chenjing''s gentle voice resonated in her ears and echoed in her mind.


    He said, "From now on, I am your husband."


    The System: "............"


    What happened to the gradual progression?! Host, didn''t you say you understood? You don''t understand a damn thing!

 Chapter 6

    Under the mountain shrouded in thick fog, Cloud Mountain''s geography became treacherous and unpredictable. This ordinary mortal mountain had somehow managed to trap many cultivators.


    Numerous practitioners entered the mountain, only to wander in circles for days without even being able to exit a small patch of forest.


    Even Pei Jingchao, whose cultivation had reached mid-stage Nascent Soul, stumbled in this misty trap.


    Their group of six were all disciples from the twelve major immortal sects, the cream of the crop among the new generation of cultivators. Four were direct disciples of the Lishan Sword Sect, while the other two were from the zing Sun Sect and Shanyin Illuminating Flower Pce respectively. These two sects were on good terms with Lishan and had specially sent disciples to assist in finding the Sword-Sealing Stone.


    However, after entering this bewildering barrier for a full seven days and exhausting every method they knew, they still couldn''t break through.


    "I''ve read about this kind of barrier in an ancient text," said Shen Qingzhi. He was from Shanyin Illuminating Flower Pce, which specialized in talisman arrays, so he naturally understood maze formations better than the others. "The book mentioned something called the Ten Demon Formation. As the name suggests, it''s an absolute formation created by ten great demons. One of the demon arrays is exactly this kind of maze."


    "The demon capable ofying such a maze is called ''Earth Impurity''. It''s a demonic entity born from the world''s impurities gathering in deep ravines and chasms. Therefore, Earth Impurity inherently contains the power of thousands of mountains and waters. Under its bewildering barrier, it can transform sand into mountains and water into seas."


    As Shen Qingzhi spoke, he bent down to scoop up a handful of soil, crumbling it between his fingers. "We''ve been rushing about in these mountains for so many days, but we might just be circling around a few small mounds of dirt."


    "I remember the book stating that this barrier cuts off spiritual energy. The mist is full of filth and impurities. If trapped here for too long, our spiritual roots will degrade, and we''ll gradually turn into ordinary mortals incapable of cultivation, then die of premature aging."


    Zhang Kuang, the body cultivator from the zing Sun Sect, irritably flexed the muscles on his arm and said gruffly, "Damn it! No wonder I''ve been feeling my meridians bing more and more congested these past couple of days!"


    The others nodded in agreement. During the few days they had been trapped in this barrier, they all felt their spiritual energy bing sluggish and their cultivation dissipating. It turns out it wasn''t just their imagination.


    "I also sensed my cultivation regressing, which suddenly reminded me of what I read in that book," Shen Qingzhi said. As he spoke, he continued to rub the sand between his fingers. Far from looking worried, his face revealed a hint of barely concealed excitement as he surveyed the surrounding vegetation.


    Earth Impurity was such a rare demonic creature that one might not even be born in a thousand years. So Shen Qingzhi had only ever read about it in books. When they first entered this misty barrier, he hadn''t thought of Earth Impurity at all.


    It wasn''t until now, when everyone clearly felt their cultivation regressing, that he came up with this guess.


    Seeing his enthusiastic expression, as if he had encountered some rare treasure, Yao Yuxiu angrily said, "You''ve said so much, but can you break through this barrier or not?"


    Pei Jingchao reached out to grasp her wrist, frowning as he said, "Yuxiu, don''t be impatient. Don''t be rude to Senior Brother Shen."


    "Senior Brother..." Yao Yuxiu turned to nce at him, her eyes filled with resentment and grievance.


    These cursed demons had invaded Lishan on her and Pei Jingchao''s wedding day, stealing the Sword-Sealing Stone and using despicable means to injure her father. How could she not be anxious?


    The wedding banquet she had looked forward to for so long, which she had personally prepared for several months, staying up countless nights to embroider her wedding dress stitch by stitch ¨C she hadn''t even had the chance to wear it or step into the wedding hall before this cmity ruined everything. Who knows how many people wereughing at her behind her back.


    How could she not be anxious?


    Yao Yuxiu''s eyes reddened, brimming with tears. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to devour these cursed demons alive and tear these sewer rats to pieces.


    "Yuxiu." Pei Jingchao called her name again softly, gently rubbing her wrist with his fingertips as he shook his head in disapproval.


    His gaze was gentle and understanding, exuding a convincing calmness as he said firmly, "We will definitely find the Sword-Sealing Stone and eliminate these demons that are wreaking havoc on the world."


    Under his gaze, Yao Yuxiu took several deep breaths, suppressing the tumultuous emotions in her heart. Reluctantly, she said, "I''m sorry, Senior Brother Shen."


    Shen Qingzhi waved his hand, not taking it to heart, and continued, "To break this maze formation, we must first find the location of Earth Impurity''s true form."


    "There''s dense fog everywhere, obscuring the sun and moon. Even ourpasses aren''t working. We don''t even know where we are, so how can we find its true form?" another sword cultivator from the Lishan Sword Sect asked urgently.


    His cultivation wasn''t as stable as the others. After staying here for a few days, his Nascent Soul realm was already beginning to waver. He could barely suppress the chaotic sword energy within him. If they continued to stay in this barrier, he feared he might fall from the Nascent Soul realm.


    With the thick fog obscuring their vision and preventing them from observing the surrounding mountain terrain, Shen Qingzhi could only rely on identifying the types and growth patterns of nearby vegetation. He bent down to examine the soil, rocks, and nts on the ground, while the others followed closely behind him.


    Shen Qingzhi said, "Earth Impurity is a demon of the abyss. Like water, it loves to flow to low ces. We just need to find the lowest point in this area, and its true form will definitely be there."


    Hearing this, Pei Jingchao pondered, "Thendscape here is illusory and uncertain. It''s hard to tell what''s real and what''s fake, and with the thick fog obscuring everything, it won''t be easy to find."


    "Indeed," Shen Qingzhi sighed. "But this is the only way to break the formation. We have no choice but to try."


    ...


    In a valley nestled between two peaks, this area was unusually free of white mist. The warm early spring sunlight poured down, casting shimmering reflections on the steaming hot springke.


    Theke wasn''trge, but it was extremely deep. Its blue-green waters turned pitch ck in the center where light couldn''t prate the depths.


    A red-crowned crane with bright plumage stood in the shallow water, preening its feathers. Yu Yi rolled up her pant legs and stepped into the warm spring, scooping up water to pour over the crane. She watched as Senior Brother Crane spread his wings, sshing water everywhere.


    Yu Yi raised her hand to block the flying droplets, her eyes curving into crescents, her smile more radiant than the sun above.


    The young woman''s silveryughter drifted into the small wooden cabin by the hot springke. A tall figure stood at the window facing theke, the shadow of the window frame casting his eyes into darkness, but a strange silver light flickered deep within his pupils.


    Xue Chenjing held a kitchen knife in his right hand, his long fingers of his left hand pressing down on a piece of marbled pork belly. Early that morning, he had sent the Bone Demon to fetch a small wild boar from the mountain, and this was freshly cut from its body.


    ¡ª All because Yu Yi said she wanted to eat twice-cooked pork today.


    His gloomy gaze fixed intently on the person frolicking with the crane in theke, as he sliced the pork belly into even, thin pieces. He imagined the de cutting into Yu Yi instead, peeling off her fair skin and flesh slice by slice.


    "Ahh! Master, you should watch the cutting board when you''re chopping vegetables! You''ve cut your own hand!" the system suddenly shouted in his ear.


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers throbbed with pain. Looking down, he saw a deep gash on the knuckles of his index and middle fingers, cut to the bone. He let out a whimper of pain in his throat, then forcefully swallowed it back, pressing his lips tightly together.


    The Bone Demon, catching the scent of his blood, suddenly leapt in through the window at the back of the cabin, crashing into the furniture inside with a series of bangs, and rushed to Xue Chenjing''s side.


    But a wisp of white mist moved faster, floating in from outside the window like a small white cloud. Itpletely covered the cutting board, licking up all the fresh blood, then instantly bounced onto Xue Chenjing''s hand. It rapidly condensed into a soft, flowing white ball, wrapping around his injured fingers.


    The Bone Demon didn''t even get a drop of blood. Its eyeballs nearly popped out of its face as it stared in disbelief, scratching at the ground in frustration, its teeth chattering angrily.


    Yu Yi''s voice called from thekeshore, "A''Qiu, what''s wrong? I thought I heard something."


    Xue Chenjing gritted his teeth and squeezed out two words between them, "It''s nothing."


    He waved his hand, shaking off the Earth Impurity wrapped around his fingertips. Tender flesh grew from the wound, quickly knitting it closed.


    The Bone Demon stared longingly at his healed fingers, then raised its head to look into his eyes.


    Xue Chenjing could tell what it was hoping for just by looking at its stupid expression. He stepped on its face and said, "Both of you, get out. Don''t let her see you."


    The Bone Demon, with a fresh footprint on its face, hung its head dejectedly as it climbed back out through the rear window and shrank back into the forest.


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze returned to the half-cut meat slices on the chopping board. He raised his hand and brought the knife down on the board, his voice as cold as if it contained crushed ice: "Twice-cooked pork? Why should I be making twice-cooked pork for her here?"


    The system hurriedly tried to cate him: "Master, Master, the female protagonist''s favorability towards you has already increased to 6%, please endure a little longer, you''ll be able toplete the system task soon."


    "Six percent." Xue Chenjing repeated each word slowly. The system''s words not only failed to soothe him but made him even angrier.


    A thin flush of annoyance rose on his jade-white cheeks. The corners of his eyes, as if drawn with a single brush stroke, showed traces of red. His eyshes were damp as he sarcastically remarked with heavy breath: "Hah, her favorability towards her husband is only six percent."


    No, not even six percent.


    That day, when Yu Yi woke up in his arms, her jet-ck eyes stared at him for a long time. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned in close, and gently nuzzled his cheek. The young girl''s voice was soft and coquettish as she sweetly called him, "Husband."


    Xue Chenjing''s heart blossomed with joy at that moment. Immediately after, the system chimed in his head, informing him that the female protagonist''s favorability towards him was four percent.


    As soon as the system finished speaking, with a ng, the favorability immediately dropped to three percent.


    Three percent.


    How dare she call him husband!


    The current six percent was only achieved after days of fulfilling her every request and working tirelessly.


    The system was speechless: "..." Don''t you have any idea how you became her "husband" in the first ce?


    True affection can''t be gained through trickery and deception!


    By the hot springke, Yu Yi had alreadye out of the water, but she was still crouching by the water''s edge, craning her neck to peer into the water. The crane had gone to the center of the water and was now sticking its bottom up, head plunged into the water, exploring the depths of theke.


    Just moments ago, they had seen arge white shadow flicker past the ck hole in the center of theke. Bubbles gurgled up from the water, carrying wisps of mist that shrouded theke''s surface.


    The crane master lingered in the center of theke for a long time but didn''t discover anything unusual. Instead, it began to feel dizzy and lightheaded, perhaps from soaking for too long. It floated back to shore in a daze, copsing onto a rock by the shore like a puddle of mud, weakly squawking twice.


    Yu Yi hurriedly examined it closely, only breathing a sigh of relief after confirming it was unharmed.


    She nced towards the center of theke once more before anxiously returning to the wooden cabin. She said to Xue Chenjing, "Achu, I think there''s something at the bottom of the hot springke in front of our cabin."


    Xue Chenjing paused for a moment before vaguely replying, "You must have seen wrong. What could possibly be in the water? Don''t let your imagination run wild."


    [System: Ding - A temporary strategy task has been triggered. Please note, host, that the target of your strategy got her clothes wet while ying in the water. Please seize this opportunity to kneel before her, gently lift the hem of her skirt, and dry her clothes for her.]


    Hearing the system''s voice, Xue Chenjing nced at Yu Yi out of the corner of his eye. Sure enough, he saw that her clothes were half-wet, the pale green skirt clinging to her legs, outlining the slender, straight lines of her limbs.


    With his back to Yu Yi, he viciously tugged at the corner of his mouth before turning to walk towards her. Following the system''s instructions, he half-knelt down, cupping her dripping skirt in both hands and using his spiritual energy to dry the soaked fabric.


    Yu Yi looked down at the young man kneeling before her, reaching out to pat his head. She smiled sweetly and said, "Achu, you''re so good to me. I like you so much."


    Xue Chenjing raised his head, his dark eyes staring directly at her as he asked, "Is that so? How much do you like me?"


    "I like you very, very much. In this world, I like you the most," Yu Yi said with a beaming smile. Her fingers slid down to his face, gently caressing the upturned corners of his eyes.


    The young man''s skin was slightly cool, his eyebrows and eyes dark as if painted with ink. The corners of his eyes were tinged with a hint of lingering red, as if he had been crying. Looking up at her like this from below, he exuded an air of pitiful vulnerability that was particrly endearing.


    This appearance was truly very beautiful.


    Xue Chenjing, half-closing one eye at her touch, asked in his heart, "Favorability?"


    The system: "..."


    After a good while, it finally answered tremblingly: "Fi-five percent."


    Very well. Despite her sweet words, the favorability had actually decreased!


    Xue Chenjing''s chest heaved with anger, the corners of his eyes growing even redder, as if tears might fall at any moment.


    In the empty space of the wooden cabin, ripples began to form. Transparent and sticky tentacles squeezed out of the air, enveloping Yu Yi from behind. The thick appendages swayed, longing to wrap around her body, tighten, writhe, and entangle, crushing her bones inch by inch, then devouring her flesh and blood, consuming her until nothing remained.


    The system screamed, "Master, calm down! Think about the Sword-Sealing Stone, you''ll be able to open it soon!"


    Yu Yi blinked innocently, asking in confusion, "Husband, why aren''t you happy? Don''t you like hearing me say I like you?"


    Xue Chenjing replied with a forced smile that didn''t reach his eyes, "I like it. I absolutely love hearing it."

 Chapter 7

    The transparent tentacles writhed frantically behind her, making squelching sounds in the air.


    "I think I heard something. Qiu, did you hear that?" Yu Yi asked. She turned her head in confusion, her eyes meeting a tentacle dangling right in front of her.


    The tip of the tentacle hovered just an inch from her face. A bead of viscous fluid gathered at its end, growing heavier until it stretched into a silver thread and dripped onto her cheek.


    Yu Yi wiped the sticky liquid from her cheek and said curiously, "Where did this watere from? It feels so gross. Qiu, is our roof leaking? But it''s not even raining outside."


    She couldn''t see the tentacles - those agitated, grasping, transparent appendages that wanted to envelop and crush her.


    Xue Chenjing stood up, grasped the edge of his sleeve, and gently wiped the fluid from her cheek. A smile curved his lips, but his eyes remained cold as he said, "It might be water that collected in the roof tiles afterst night''s rain. After lunch, I''ll take a good look at the roof."


    Yu Yi nodded and immediately moved away from his touch, sitting to the side and waiting obediently for Xue Chenjing to cook. She praised him, "In the south, there''s a dragon in the mountain pool. Qiu is like that dragon in the pool, capable of anything."


    Xue Chenjing''s hand, still suspended in the air, paused briefly before he lowered it and returned to the stove. He picked up the cleaver again to cut the pork belly, saying casually, "My father did indeed choose my courtesy name based on that."


    "Courtesy name?" Yu Yi looked surprised. She had always thought it was his given name. "Then what''s Qiu''s formal name? How strange, we''re married and I don''t know your full name?"


    Xue Chenjing: "..."


    The system coughed violently. His full name was not to be spoken. Yu Yi, as a transmigrator, held the script for "Tidal Shock" in her hands. In her mind, "Xue Chenjing" was an utterly viinous antagonist.


    If she knew, this y could not go on.


    Xue Chenjing understood its warning and said smoothly, "Xue Qiu, that''s my full name."


    After all, "Qiu" was just one of the courtesy names Xue Xingzhi had chosen for him. He hadn''te of age yet and had never used this name publicly.


    Yu Yi was immediately convinced. She folded her hands in front of her and leaned on the table, watching him cook.


    Born into a wealthy merchant family, Xue Chenjing had been waited on hand and foot his entire life. He had never had to lift a finger in the kitchen. Yet the system''s mission required him to cook personally for it to count. The young master was furious enough to smash pots and pans, but he had no choice but to swallow his pride.


    These past few days, he had relied entirely on the system''s guidance, practicing in secret several times before bing somewhat proficient.


    This small cabin in the mountains was formed from earth essence, but the food they ate couldn''t rely on that essence. If they ate two bites of such food, they would both perish in this godforsaken mountain valley.


    The cooking oil, seasonings, and rice in the kitchen had all been bought by him. He had disguised himself as a human and gone to town overnight to purchase them.


    However, Yu Yi''s food requests were bing increasingly difficult to prepare with each passing day. Xue Chenjing suffered no small amount of torment trying to make the dishes she wanted, and the frustration in his heart was beyond words.


    Today''s twice-cooked pork was even worse. Under the system''s frantic instructions, Xue Chenjing had hot oil sttering everywhere, burning several blisters on his hands. The tentacles behind him tried multiple times to tear the house down, only calming after the system''s patient persuasion.


    He had to open the Sword-Sealing Stone and retrieve the Weapon Tempering tform inside.


    As Xue Chenjing was about to flip the wok in frustration after another ssh of hot oil on his hand, the system shouted, "Master, stay calm! Calm down! It''s almost done! You''re doing great, it looks exactly like the recipe picture. It''s sure to be delicious!"


    Xue Chenjing''s furrowed brow could kill a fly. With a face full of long-suffering, he managed to restrain himself.


    Yu Yi rested her chin on her hand, watching him at the stove. He was clearly flustered, yet still trying to maintain an air of ease. She listened to the system''s desperate shouting, which sounded like a battle cry. She pressed her lips tightly together, barely managing not tough out loud.


    Xue Qiu, how had she stumbled upon such an adorable husband? No, she shouldn''t say she found him - he had actively sought her out, after all. He even had a romance system, and she was his target.


    When Yu Yi first opened her eyes and saw his face, she was a bit dazed.


    But soon, the information in her mind told her that after transmigrating into this novel called "Tidal Shock," she had burned down the original owner''s wooden cabin to avoid crossing paths with the male lead, Pei Jingchao. She had then fled to this remote mortal town.


    While in seclusion here, she encountered the son of a local merchant. To thoroughly shatter her female lead halo, Yu Yi had married him and sessfully coaxed the young master into hiding in these deep mountains with her.


    They had been living in seclusion here for three years.


    Yu Yi rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Based on the information she had gleaned from the system over the past few days, she felt this experience was somewhat strange.


    First, they had been living here for three years, and Xue Qiu had been cooking for her for three years, yet he was still so clumsy and needed the system''s guidance to know how to cook.


    Second, they had been together for three years, and Xue Qiu had been trying to win her over for three years, yet she remainedpletely unmoved. Even knowing he had approached her with ulterior motives, given her personality, she would likely have intentionally controlled herself to avoid falling for him.


    But Xue Qiu''s appearance was exactly her type. Yu Yi knew herself well - it was impossible for her to remain so steadfast. Even if she didn''t fall in love with him, her favorability towards him couldn''t possibly be this low.


    Finally, and most importantly to Yu Yi, when Xue Qiu had just wiped the water from her face and his hand touched her cheek, her body''s first reaction was not a desire to be close to him, but a sense of danger.


    A chill had run down her spine, raising goosebumps all over her body. Every muscle had tensed involuntarily, screaming at her to get away from him. She had barely restrained herself from kicking him.


    All of this made Yu Yi feel strange. Yet the knowledge in her mind insisted that the man before her was indeed herwfully wedded husband.


    Married and bound by vows? Yu Yi''s gaze unconsciously followed Xue Qiu''s movements as she pondered.


    ...


    Although Xue Chenjing had struggled to prepare this meal, thanks to the system''s step-by-step guidance, the final product turned out quite well. Seeing Yu Yi''s eyes crinkle with happiness as she ate with satisfaction, the system finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "See, I told you the master did a great job," the system encouraged its host. "To capture a woman''s heart, you must first capture her stomach. Master, you''re already halfway there!"


    Xue Chenjing picked up some food with his chopsticks for Yu Yi, smiling gently while coldly asking in his heart, "Favorability?"


    System: "..."


    The system fell silent immediately.


    After Yu Yi finished eating, Xue Chenjing ate all the leftovers on the tes. Although he had been badly burned while cooking, the final product did taste quite good.


    Moreover, this dish was made by his own hands - how could he waste it?


    After clearing away the bowls and chopsticks, Xue Chenjing still had to steam fish for her crane. It was less like a crane and more like a pig, able to eat eight fish in one meal. It disliked raw fish, but also disliked overcooked fish. Too salty was no good, but neither was too nd.


    Furthermore, Crane Senior Brother strongly disliked Xue Chenjing and would seize any opportunity to peck at him. The beast was cunning enough to avoid attacking when they were alone, only pecking him sneakily when Yu Yi was present.


    Every day, from the moment Xue Chenjing opened his eyes until he fell asleep at night, he might have eight hundred thoughts about killing Yu Yi, but he definitely had eight hundred and one thoughts about killing that feathered beast, Crane Senior Brother.


    But he couldn''t kill it. The system said that if he killed Crane Senior Brother, Yu Yi''s pitiful bit of goodwill towards him would instantly drop to zero and be difficult to recover.


    So, toplete that damned system task and open the Sword-Sealing Stone, Xue Chenjing could only continue to endure this humiliation.


    Xue Chenjing brought fish to the crane and was pecked twice by the beast, which had seized the opportunity. He turned his head and, sure enough, saw Yu Yiing out of the house and walking towards them.


    Crane Senior Brother knew he wouldn''t dare retaliate in front of Yu Yi.


    Even a mere beast dared to bully him so openly!


    "Master! Master! The favorability has reached six percent! You must cherish it!" the system cried out in panic.


    Xue Chenjing''s murderous intent faltered slightly. He resisted the urge to wring the crane''s neck and, under the system''s nagging, suppressed his homicidal thoughts as he walked back.


    "Qiu, I noticed your hand seems to be burned. Let me help you apply some medicine," Yu Yi approached him, holding a burn ointment in her hand, and looked up at him with a gentle smile.


    Xue Chenjing was stunned for a moment, immediately hiding his hand behind his back. Something writhed frantically beneath the skin on the back of his hand. Momentster, two bright red blisters emerged on his previously smooth skin.


    Yu Yi urged, "Give me your hand. Don''t hide it, I saw it earlier."


    Xue Chenjing obediently extended his hand to her. The youth''s palm was long and slender, with distinct bones. His palm was as cold as ever, like winter morning mist, exuding a damp chill from deep within. Blue veins were visible beneath the reddened, scalded skin.


    Yu Yi cupped his hand and gently blew on it. She looked up at him, her expression both reproachful and concerned, saying, "In the future, don''t hide and endure when you''re hurt. Applying some medicine will make it better quickly."


    Her eyes were as alluring as peach blossoms, with long, curledshes. They reflected the bright sunlight, like pools of warm spring water, warm and sweet.


    Xue Chenjing was momentarily lost in her sweet gaze beforeing to his senses. He asked inwardly, "Favorability?"


    The system: "..." Favorability, favorability, you ask about it eight hundred times a day! Each time you ask, you get angry, and it has tofort you. Will this ever end?


    The atmosphere was so good now that the system didn''t want to ruin it, so it ignored him.


    Without the system''s response, Xue Chenjing could guess. This woman was always just saying nice things, with her soft and sweet features. When she looked at him, it seemed as if her whole heart and mind were focused on him, appearing to like him very much, but in reality, her heart was harder than anyone else''s.


    Hmph, she was the very definition of a stone-cold heart.


    Xue Chenjing had always felt that although people were very intelligent, they were also easily fooled. He only needed to imnt an unshakeable perception in their minds, and their brains would automatically rationalize and perfect its existence.


    Just like the stone-guarding disciples on the back mountain of the Lishan Sword Sect, and those three people from the Ten Thousand Joys Sect.


    When he imnted the perception of "he is her husband" into Yu Yi''s mind, she automatically fabricated a usible background for him, which even sounded quite good.


    However, her favorability towards her husband was only three percent.


    Xue Chenjing stared at the whorl on top of her head, his eyes growing increasingly gloomy, his heart beginning to stir once more.


    Yu Yi remained oblivious, her head bowed before him as she carefully applied the burn ointment to his reddened hand. As she applied it, she gently blew on it, whispering, "It doesn''t hurt anymore, it doesn''t hurt."


    Crane Senior Brother finished eating his fish and strode over on his long legs, giving a disdainful "caw" at him.


    Xue Chenjing turned his gloomy gaze towards it, looking at it with murderous intent. The crane shuddered at his look, its feathers all puffing up as it pped its wings and ran behind Yu Yi, cawing loudly inint.


    Yu Yi pushed its head away, lightly scolding, "Don''t cause trouble. How could Qiu possibly be mean to you?"


    Xue Chenjing narrowed his eyes. The evil bird dared toin first, it was simply too much. This could not be tolerated.


    He casually raised his hand a bit, and something writhed within his sleeve. The ink-ck cuff slid down his arm a few inches, revealing two bright red welts on his wrist. The edges of the welts showed marks of serrated teeth, clearly the handiwork of the crane.


    Yu Yi was shocked and pushed his sleeve up further, revealing more welts. "How did you get so many injuries on your arm?"


    Xue Chenjing quickly pulled down his sleeve to cover the wounds, withdrew his hand behind his back, and lowered his eyes, saying softly, "I''m fine. It doesn''t hurt at all. I know Crane Senior Brother didn''t mean it."


    Behind Yu Yi, the crane''s beak gaped open, its small bird eyes filled with disbelief. "Caw?"


    It had clearly pecked his left hand, and hadn''t even used much force! How could the wounds have moved to his right hand?


    Yu Yi turned around, grabbed Crane Senior Brother''s beak, and scolded it, punishing it by not allowing it to eat dinner that night.


    The corners of Xue Chenjing''s mouth turned up, and suddenly, his mood greatly improved.

 Chapter 8

    Spring days were often rainy, with short daylight hours, especially in these deep mountain valleys. Before dusk, darkness had already descended, and an orange light glowed from inside the small wooden cabin.


    A light drizzle fell outside the eaves, and the oilmp''s me flickered, suddenly extinguished by a gust of wind with a soft hiss.


    Yu Yi, wrapped in a fuzzy nket, unconsciously dozed off while sitting on a round cushion. This ce was devoid of spiritual energy, and the spiritual power in her meridians had not fully recovered. Still, she hadn''t given up, meditating and practicing for long hours every day.


    Any recovery, no matter how small, was worthwhile.


    Xue Chenjing approached Yu Yi, his footsteps inaudible. The only lit oilmp behind him cast his shadow on the ground. As he drew closer, the shadow gradually crept up the hem of her dress spread on the floor.


    Something writhed continually at the edges of the shadow, distorting his silhouette into something inhuman. The shadow suddenly expanded, unfurling several grotesque tentacles that coiled around Yu Yi.


    The person sitting cross-legged on the cushion nodded off slightly, her body swaying. The shadow projected on the ground seemed to startle, abruptly retracting its tentacles and resuming a human shape.


    Yu Yi, half-asleep, lifted her eyelids slightly and called out with a soft, nasal voice, "Xue Qiu?"


    Xue Chenjing remained silent for a moment, then crouched beside her and said quietly, "If you''re tired, go sleep on the bed."


    "No, I''m waiting for you, and I haven''t finished this cycle of cultivation yet," Yu Yi murmured, her eyes narrowed and body swaying, clearly on the verge of sleep. She mumbled, "Why did we settle here? We should have found a ce with spiritual veins..."


    Her voice grew fainter, and she nodded off again.


    Xue Chenjing took out a Spirit Pill from his storage pouch. He forcefully divided the pill, norger than a fingernail, into three equal parts, and fed one small piece into her mouth.


    If Yu Yi''s spiritual power didn''t recover, she definitely wouldn''t be able to stay here. But if it recovered too quickly... Xue Chenjing winced, recalling how her sword spirit had mangled his face.


    ording to his initial n, he had wanted to feed Yu Yi Earth Impurity every day, letting the filth and evil within it devour her Golden Core and corrode her Spirit Rootpletely. He wanted to turn her into a cripple incapable of cultivation. This way, she would have to rely on him, obediently stay by his side, and be a puppet solely devoted to loving him and helping himplete his tasks.


    But the system was annoyingly persistent. Whenever he considered doing this, it would scream in his head, warning him of mission failure.


    It hadn''t been so protective of him when Yu Yi was beating him up.


    So, Xue Chenjing had no choice but to feed her a small amount of Spirit Pill every day, allowing her to recover just a little bit. This way, she wouldn''t have enough spiritual power to attack him again.


    After feeding her the pill, he cradled her face, pressing his forehead against hers. Invisible tentacles slowly writhed in the air, embracing them both.


    In her light sleep, Yu Yi seemed to fall into a viscous, cold pond. Sticky, damp air seeped through every pore of her skin. The sound of murmuring waves and voices began to echo in her mind again, as if every nerve was being grasped, transmitting an irrefutable message.


    ¡ªI am your husband, you should like me, like me like me like me like me


    Yu Yi mumbled in her sleep, "Mm, I like you, I like you very much..."


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes brightened with excitement. He eagerly asked the system, "What''s the favorability now?"


    The system replied, "...Six percent."


    The joy in Xue Chenjing''s eyes vanished, his expression turning gloomy again as he lowered his gaze, staring intently at the sleeping person.


    ¡ªNo, you don''t like me enough, what kind of liking is six percent? You should like me one hundred percent, like me like me like me


    Yu Yi''s mind felt swollen, and she groaned ufortably. Xue Chenjing still didn''t let go of her. In his pitch-ck eyes, the silvery-white vertical pupils dted, almost upying half of his irises. Invisible fine threads, like floating fungal hyphae, extended from within, adhering to Yu Yi''s face.


    Xue Chenjing''s fingertips unconsciously caressed her smooth cheeks. In the dim glow of the oilmp, the writhing tentacles in the air crowded around them, their appendages wrapping around Yu Yi''s wrists, waist, and neck.


    The rounded tip of one tentacle pressed against her lower lip, feeling her warm breath as she mumbled, gently rubbing her bottom lip.


    ¡ªNot enough not enough not enough not enough, you can like me even more, please like me a little more, okay?


    "Mm, okay, I like like you..." Yu Yi murmured.


    Xue Chenjing asked again, "Favorability?"


    The system was speechless. Every night was like this, every single night! The host never tired of it, but the system was growing weary of answering. Nheless, it reluctantly replied truthfully, "Six percent."


    Xue Chenjing''s chest heaved as he took a deep breath. In that moment, the tentacles filling the room expanded in fury, causing the small wooden cabin to implode from within. The four walls and roof shattered and flew outward, dissipating into mist in the light rain.


    Raindrops fell directly, sshing visible ripples on the massive cluster of tentacles.


    Surrounded by the tentacles, not a single raindrop touched Yu Yi. The voice in her mind continued uninterrupted, pleading with her.


    ¡ªWill you like me? Please like me a little more, I beg you to like me a little more please please please like me a little more okay?


    In the quiet valley, Senior Crane stood obliviously on one leg in the hot spring, its long neck twisted back and tucked into its wings as it slept.


    Suddenly, the light rain in the valley began to behave strangely. The drizzle trembled in mid-air, as if under the impact of extremely strong sound waves, yet no sound could be heard upon careful listening.


    Yu Yi''s lips moved slightly, finally unable to bear it, and she whispered almost inaudibly, "It hurts..."


    The system panicked and screamed, "Master, Master, stop quickly, the female protagonist says she''s in pain¡ª"


    Xue Chenjing''s snow-white pupils suddenly contracted, the surrounding iris enveloping them once more, concealing those eerie vertical pupils deep within his eyes. He regained human-like eyes, his expression somewhat dazed.


    The trembling raindrops in mid-air returned to normal, falling once again.


    Mist from the Earth Impurity drifted out of the rain, restoring the shattered wooden cabin. The small oilmp on the table flickered, its me reigniting.


    Xue Chenjing lowered his gaze to the person in his arms and said dejectedly, "Still no change?"


    The system remained silent.


    Damn it, he had gone to such lengths, couldn''t she like him a little more? Nothing but a smooth-talking liar!


    Xue Chenjing, frustrated and exasperated, shoved Yu Yi away, letting her fall to the ground, and stood up to leave.


    Suddenly, a blood-red monster rushed out of the rain curtain, charging towards him on all fours. Its teeth chattered excitedly, its chin dripping with what could have been either rainwater or saliva.


    "So annoying," Xue Chenjing growled, kicking it back into the rain curtain. He wiped his face roughly with his sleeve, then tore off the cuff, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it out.


    The Bone Demon leapt up instantly, caught the sleeve in its mouth, and carefully protected it from the rain. It ran happily into the night, disappearing from sight.


    Xue Chenjing crouched under the eaves, hugging his knees, his shoulders trembling slightly as he asionally sniffled, trying hard to hold back tears. Otherwise, the Bone Demon would charge over excitedly like a dog smelling excrement, the tactless thing.


    He opened his palm, revealing an ancient, grayish-white stone. The stone was irregrly shaped, like a miniature mountain range resting in his palm. In the center, the character for "seal" was inscribed in wild cursive script.


    Xue Chenjing attempted to open it again, but to no avail.


    The night in the valley grew deep, with only a small flicker of candlelight from the wooden cabin. Xue Chenjing leaned dejectedly against the doorframe, curled up with his knees hugged to his chest in the cold spring night wind, staring nkly at the Sword-Sealing Stone in his hand, looking utterly miserable.


    After a long while, the system finally gave a weak chime in his ear, issuing a temporary task urging him to carry the female protagonist to bed and tuck her in before leaving.


    The system cautiously said, "If the female protagonist sleeps on the ground like this, she''ll get sick."


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers closed around the Sword-Sealing Stone as he let out a contemptuous snort, his voice thick with nasal congestion, "Let her die of illness then."


    "Master, if the female protagonist dies, you''ll never be able to open the Sword-Sealing Stone..."


    Before the system could finish speaking, Xue Chenjing had already stood up and walked back into the room. He bent down to pick her up and carried her to the bed in the inner chamber. The system called in his ear, "Gently, gently, you need to be more tender."


    Xue Chenjing impatiently said, "Shut up."


    Under the system''s nagging, he resisted the urge to simply throw her onto the bed. He eased his grip slightly, bending down toy her t on the bed, then shook out the nket to cover her before turning to leave.


    The system, like a fussy old nanny, said disapprovingly, "You should remove the hairpins from her head, otherwise she''ll be ufortable sleeping like that."


    "What does herfort have to do with me?" Xue Chenjing said coldly.


    The system sighed. Its host was truly a hopeless case. "It''s because you''re so inconsiderate that the female lead doesn''t like you. That''s why your favorability never increases."


    Xue Chenjing angrily retorted, "If you say one more word, I''ll kill her!"


    The system: "......"


    For the sake of favorability, he had endured so much. What was removing a few hairpins inparison? Xue Chenjing sat back down on the edge of the bed, leaning over to carefully remove all the ornaments from her hair, cing them on the bedside table.


    "Is this satisfactory now?" Xue Chenjing snorted.


    The system: "......"


    Xue Chenjing: "Speak."


    "Yes, absolutely, master is amazing." The system replied wearily. You''re truly difficult to please.


    What a predicament, why did it have to be bound to the male lead? It wanted to be bound to the adorable female lead, it wanted to be close to the female lead. If it were bound to the female lead, it would surely be very happy right now.


    Just as Xue Chenjing was about to stand up and leave, his neck was suddenly encircled by someone''s arms.


    Yu Yi had struggled awake. Her slender arms reached out from under the covers, wrapping around his neck and pulling him down closer to her. Her voice was soft with sleepiness as she murmured, "Husband, did I fall asleep alone again?"


    Xue Chenjing propped himself up on his elbow, his body stiff as he tried to pull back. He turned his head to see Yu Yi''s slightly opened eyes, adjusted his tone, and said gently, "It''s veryte, go back to sleep."


    Yu Yi rubbed her eyes, forcing herself to be more alert. She shook her head, "No, I don''t want to sleep now. Didn''t I say I was waiting for you?"


    In the past, she would always be asleep while Xue Qiu was still busy, though she didn''t know what he was busy with. By the time Yu Yi woke up, he would have already risen. As a result, Yu Yi had no memory of sharing a bed with him while awake.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t understand her hint. He lightly patted her forehead, coaxing, "You sleep, why wait for me? I haven''t finished cleaning up the kitchen yet."


    "Don''t clean up, it can wait until tomorrow," Yu Yi said, not releasing her arms from around his neck. One of her legs emerged from under the covers, hooking around his waist. Her dark eyes shimmered in the candlelight, and she said somewhat shyly, "Of course I''m waiting for my husband to do what married couples do."


    Xue Chenjing froze. "Hm?"


    Yu Yi narrowed her eyes. In the dim light, she saw pure bewilderment in Xue Qiu''s slightly swollen peach blossom eyes. He seemed to have no understanding of what married couples did.


    They had been married for three years, living alone as man and wife in this remote mountain forest. Could it be that they had never consummated their marriage?


    No wonder she had no memory of such things. It was too unreasonable.


    The system reacted faster than Xue Chenjing, quickly reminding him, "Master, in the female lead''s mind, you''ve been married for three years. You can''t act like you''ve never done anything. Be more experienced!"


    Xue Chenjing: "......"


    Yu Yi: "......"


    The system had deliberately emphasized "in the female lead''s mind," which sounded odd no matter how you interpreted it.


    As Yu Yi pondered this, she suddenly heard Xue Qiu say softly, "Alright then."


    She looked at him in surprise, only to see the young man lowering his eyes, gazing deeply at her. The bewilderment in his eyes had vanished. He reached out to tuck a strand of her ck hair behind her ear, his fingers sliding to the nape of her neck, cradling her head.


    The cool touch of his fingertips made her shiver slightly, a tingling sensation spreading across the back of her neck, raising goosebumps.


    This looked like the prelude to a kiss.


    They were extremely close, their noses almost touching, their breaths mingling. Even across that tiny distance, Yu Yi could feel the cool, moist air from his lips.


    Her eyes widened involuntarily, her heart skipping a beat.


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers at the back of her head applied slight pressure, and Yu Yi''s eyshes fluttered violently before she fainted.


    The arms around his neck fell limply, and Xue Chenjing sat up, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.


    But merely making her faint wouldn''t be enough toplete the task. She would surely be suspicious when she woke up tomorrow. Xue Chenjing furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then leaned down close to her again.


    Beneath the shadow of his eyshes, his ck pupils gradually elongated, transforming into silver needles. A bewitching whisper once again entered Yu Yi''s subconscious.


    -- Your husband is very skilled, extremely skilled. We cultivated together until dawn, and you finally fainted from exhaustion!


    The system had originally nned to politely shut down, but upon seeing its host''s bizarre actions, it fell silent for a while before asking uncertainly, "Master, could it be that you don''t know how?"


    Xue Chenjing paused, recalling how he had lost hisposure when electrocuted by her sword, helplessly having several of his tentacles severed and his facial bones crushed. He felt nothing but aversion towards such acts.


    He lowered his eyes, ncing contemptuously at Yu Yi, and said coldly, "Only humans would indulge in such base physical coupling."

 Chapter 9

    The young woman''s body was soft and warm, trulyfortable to hold, especially now that her clothes were loosened.


    More alluring than her beauty was the cozy warmth radiating from her body. Xue Chenjing ced his hand on her soft abdomen, feeling her soothing warmth. It was like being given a perfectly-sized hand warmer after being numbed by freezing cold for too long.


    His fingertips felt as if they were burning.


    Xue Chenjing contentedly narrowed his eyes, unconsciously tightening his arms around her, wishing he could press herpletely against himself. He hadpletely forgotten how disgusted he had acted at first.


    The system was speechless: "..." It had never seen a male lead use the female lead as a hot water bottle before!


    He might befortable, but the female lead clearly wasn''t.


    The system said sympathetically: "Master, don''t use your ice-cold hands to chill the female lead''s stomach. A girl''s lower abdomen getting cold can cause stomachaches."


    Xue Chenjing, only concerned with his own pleasure andpletely disregarding others'' wellbeing, said carelessly: "If she''s in pain, that''s her problem. What does it have to do with me?"


    After all, Yu Yi couldn''t actually feel what he was doing.


    The system: "..." Despicable scoundrel!


    Having been with Xue Chenjing for five years, the system knew well that its host wouldn''t listen to advice unless he suffered some hardship himself.


    As the female lead''s support system, it had already made a huge mistake by initially binding to the wrong person, leaving the female lead to wander alone in a strange world for five years. Now, of course, it couldn''t stand to see the female lead bullied carelessly.


    [System: Ding - Warning! The system has determined that the host''s current behavior is detrimental to the target''s physical and mental health and unfavorable for the smoothpletion of the conquest mission. Please cease this behavior immediately and maintain a distance of at least half a foot from the conquest target. Otherwise, the system will activate an automatic defense mechanism for the female lead.]


    Xue Chenjing: "???"


    As if to challenge the system, he hugged his warm cushion even tighter. Transparent, sticky tentacles filled the space around the bed, wrapping around Yu Yi''s back in circles, physically expressing his refusal. He said irritably: "Are you seeking death?"


    [System: Warning ineffective. Automatic defense mechanism activated. Duration: six hours.]


    As soon as the system''s voice faded, Xue Chenjing felt a sudden sharp pain in his palm, as if thousands of steel needles were piercing through Yu Yi''s stomach into his hand. Not just his palm, but anywhere his skin touched Yu Yi''s, he felt the stabbing pain of needles.


    This acute, piercing pain was unbearable to him.


    The tentacles crowding the bed quickly retracted, causing the bed curtains to flutter. The oilmp''s me wavered in the wind, casting flickering shadows in the room. Xue Chenjing abruptly released her and moved back, looking down at his palm.


    There was no visible wound on his hand, and as soon as he let go of Yu Yi, the pain in his palm immediately disappeared. Xue Chenjing cautiously reached out to touch Yu Yi''s face, but as soon as his fingertip made contact, he quickly withdrew it, stung.


    Though there was nothing visible on Yu Yi''s body, it was as if she was covered in invisible thorns that stung at the slightest touch.


    Xue Chenjing said irritably: "What did you do?"


    Although the system had acted tough, it was actually quite cowardly. It exined weakly: "I-I used points to exchange for a Five-colored Cloud Robe for the female lead. As long as she wears it, anyone who touches her will feel pain."


    Xue Chenjing: "..."


    He fell silent for a moment, trulyughing from anger, and said through gritted teeth: "You used the points I earned frompleting tasks to exchange for some ghostly thing to guard against me?"


    The system remained silent.


    Xue Chenjing sat alone at the edge of the bed, seething. Faced with this intangible and biased system, he truly had no recourse at the moment.


    But it didn''t matter. Once he got what he wanted, he would personally send this broken system and its so-called female lead to their doom.


    Xue Chenjing sat on the floor by the bed, ring darkly at the sleeping figure on the bed.


    The human body has three fires: the sovereign fire of the heart, the ministerial fire of the kidneys, and the people''s fire of the dantian. Xue Chenjing had lost all three fires, making him as cold as an ice cave, frigid from the inside out. The little warmth he had felt in his arms earlier quickly cooled after leaving Yu Yi, making him even colder than before.


    Xue Chenjing turned back, pulled the quilt from the bed, and wrapped himself in it, savoring Yu Yi''s lingering body heat.


    To ensure absolute certainty, Xue Chenjing sat up in the middle of the night and, from a distance, sent tendrils from his pupils flying out to prate Yu Yi''s spiritual tform, deepening the impression that "your husband is truly impressive."


    As dawn approached, he reinforced this notion once more.


    Xue Chenjing only needed to nt this idea in her mind; her brain would automatically fill in the rest.


    In her hazy state, Yu Yi had many indescribable dreams. In her entire life, before and after transmigrating into the book, she had lived for twenty-four years ¨C over eight thousand days and nights ¨C and had never had so many erotic dreamsbined.


    When she finally woke from her deep slumber, she felt as if she were still floating on clouds, her entire body light and airy, her limbs weak and sore. Both her body and soul feltpletely drained.


    Yu Yiy on her back, not wanting to move at all, staring nkly at the dark canopy above. The first thought that popped into her still-foggy mind was "my husband is very impressive," though heaven knows her mind hadn''t fully awakened yet.


    After a long while, she turned her head slightly and was surprised to see the person sleeping on the side of the bed.


    Xue Qiu was facing her, lying on his side at the edge of the bed, still asleep. A pillowy between them like a dividing line, separating them, with most of the quilt wrapped around him.


    Yu Yi''s hands and feet were ice-cold; no wonder she had felt cold while sleeping. Knowing Xue Qiu''s aversion to cold, she didn''t hold it against him for hogging the nket.


    Outside, daylight had long since broken, sunlight filtering through the thin gauze and falling on his face. A few strands of hairy across his forehead, his long eyebrows pressed beneath his ck hair.


    His eyshes were long and thick, as if drawn with an ink brush. Yu Yi noticed a tiny red mole in the middle of his right eyelid, which would be hidden in the crease of his eyelid when his eyes were open.


    She couldn''t resist reaching out to touch that little mole, her fingertip sliding down the bridge of his straight nose.


    Xue Chenjing''s skin was very fair, making his lips appear somewhat rosy red in contrast. She traced his face, mesmerized, wondering if they had really done itst night.


    Yu Yi wriggled closer to him, pressing her fingertip against his lips, carefully feeling the contours and texture of his mouth.


    Then she pulled his hand out from under the quilt, first measuring the size of his palm against her chest, then gently kneading his knuckles, carefully examining the shape of each finger.


    Xue Chenjing couldn''t keep up the act any longer and finally opened his eyes, unable to bear it anymore.


    To make everything seem authentic, he had stayed in the room all night, listening to Yu Yi''s moans in her sleep, and this morning he had deliberatelyin here, waiting to wake up with her.


    He hadn''t expected her to start fondling him as soon as she woke up, like a starving color demon. He had been awakened by the stinging sensation as soon as she touched him.


    "What are you touching?" Xue Chenjing separated her hand under the quilt.


    Yu Yi grabbed his hand back, continuing to knead his knuckles. Her delicate brows furrowed in confusion as she said, "I just feel like my husband''s touch is different fromst night?"


    Hearing this, Xue Chenjing immediately averted his eyes, his thickshes hiding his flickering gaze. He pulled his hand away from hers, turned over, and threw off the quilt, getting up to dress with his back to her.


    As the stinging sensation disappeared, he silently let out a breath. "What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting there''s someone else here besides you and me?"


    "Of course I''m not suspecting there''s someone else," Yu Yi said, stretching out her arm to firmly grab his buttocks, feeling the texture beneath her palm.


    Xue Chenjing felt as if his backside had been hit with a spiked club. The pain made his whole body shudder, and he jumped forward two steps, half-dressed, moving away from the bed. He turned back to re at her, at a loss for words.


    Yu Yi was startled by his extreme reaction. "What''s wrong?"


    Xue Chenjing couldn''t exin his predicament. He said hoarsely, "Don''t touch me casually." Realizing his tone was too rigid and fearing Yu Yi might be suspicious, he added, "I''m afraid I won''t be able to control myself."


    Fortunately, he had read some erotic novels from the mortal realm.


    Yu Yi let out a smallugh. She obediently withdrew her hand and stared at it, opening and closing her fist as she pondered the sensation she had just felt. Thoughtfully, she said, "I just feel that touching you now seems much more real thanst night."


    Xue Chenjing: "..."


    The system sighed, "See? I told you the female lead is very clever. You can''t fool her!"


    Hearing the system''s voice, Yu Yi''s eyebrows twitched slightly. It seemed Xue Qiu was indeed deceiving her.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t know how to smooth things over. He quickly wrapped his robe around himself and hastily said, "Don''t overthink things," before turning and leaving the room, saying he would go make porridge for her breakfast.


    Once he crouched down in the kitchen, the first thing he asked was, "Check the favorability rating."


    The system happily replied, "It''s at 9 percent, Master. We''re about to seed!"


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes widened slowly, joy blossoming on his face like a flower. The gloom of days spentpromising dissipated, and his whole demeanor became bright and cheerful. He asked incredulously, "Really?"


    He had tried so hard before, but the favorability had always hovered around 6 percent. He never expected it to suddenly jump to 9 percent overnight.


    Xue Chenjing pondered for a moment, then understood.


    Toplete this damned system task as soon as possible, he didn''t mind sacrificing a bit more of his dignity.


    Xue Chenjing asked, "When will your Five-colored Cloud Robe lose its effect?"


    System: "In about half an hour."


    ...


    Inside the room, Yu Yi had also gotten up and was sitting at the dressing table,bing her hair in front of the mirror.


    The snow-white nightgown wrapped around the young girl''s slender frame, vaguely revealing the flesh-colored skin underneath. She gently pulled open the cor, letting the smooth silk slide off her shoulders, exposing arge expanse of fair skin.


    Yu Yi examined herself in the mirror, turning from side to side, but found no traces ofst night''s passion on her body.


    They clearly hadn''t done anything. But in her mind, she remembered her husband being very skilled, and they had battled until dawn, until she finally passed out from exhaustion.


    Yu Yi stared at her reflection in the mirror, slowly and methodically dressing herself. After a while, her eyes gradually grew calm as she figured it out.


    She didn''t mind that Xue Qiu hade to pursue her with a system task, but she did mind him arbitrarily altering her memories and perceptions.


    The three years they had spent in seclusion here were probably just three years "in her perception." She had no idea how many days they had actually been together, or whether Xue Qiu was really Xue Qiu at all.


    She couldn''t distinguish which memories of him were real and which were fake. Since she couldn''t tell them apart, she might as well treat them all as fake.


    Yu Yi wasn''t particrly worried about her safety. After all, as the target of his pursuit, she should be quite important to Xue Qiu.


    She finished dressing and arranging her hair, then reached out to open the makeup drawer. Her fair fingers slid over the neatly arranged vermilion hairpins, selecting a pomegranate-shaped hairpin to insert into her bun. She smiled sweetly at herself in the mirror.


    The hairpin was strung with bright red beads, which stood out vividly against her dark hair,plementing the sweet smile on her face beautifully.


    Suddenly, there was a loud crash outside. Yu Yi''s fingers paused as she was adjusting her hairpin. She lifted her skirts and hurried out, asking anxiously, "Xue Qiu, what happened? What''s going on?"


    The kitchen at the front of the wooden cabin was in disarray, half-copsed. Sunlight pierced through the thin mist, illuminating the dust floating in the air.


    "Don''te any closer," Xue Qiu said harshly, his back to her. The undisguised disgust in his tone made Yu Yi pause in surprise.


    Xue Qiu''s whole body was tense, his head lowered. His shoulders trembled in the golden dust, and it was clear he was desperately trying to suppress his emotions.


    From behind, Yu Yi could see his hands gripping the stove tightly, his knuckles white with effort, veins bulging on the backs of his hands. The brick surface of the stove was cracking under his fingers.


    The sand pot boiling over the fire had split in two, and scalding white porridge had spilled out, most of it pouring over the hands gripping the stove.


    Yu Yi gasped, raising a hand to cover her mouth. Her gaze fell on the backs of his hands, reddened by the hot porridge, and she eximed in surprise, "Xue Qiu, what''s wrong with you?"


    Her voice was full of concern, but she didn''t step forward at all. In fact, she even took a few steps back, towards the hot springke. Hearing themotion, the crane master pped its wings and flew from theke tond behind her.


    Yu Yi once again felt that chilling sensation, every cell in her body screaming warnings of danger. She heeded her body''s instinctive warning and maintained a distance from him.


    "M-Master..." the system called out tentatively to its host, at a loss for how tofort him.


    Just half an hour ago, it had happily reported to its host that the female lead''s favorability towards him had risen to 9 percent, just a hair''s breadth away frompleting the main quest and unlocking the side storylines.


    But in that half hour, the favorability had begun to slowly decline, finally settling back at 6 percent.


    Anyone who had just received good news only to be knocked back to square one would be unhappy. Especially when its host was someone not particrly skilled at controlling his emotions.


    The system looked at its female lead with great exasperation, truly unable to fathom why Yu Yi was so difficult to win over.


    ...


    The white porridge, simmered to a soft consistency, was still bubbling even as it leaked out of the sand pot. The hot steam wafted into Xue Chenjing''s nose, soft and sweet-smelling, but where it scalded the back of his hand, it was excruciatingly painful.


    Due to gripping too tightly, the blisters on the back of Xue Chenjing''s hand had burst open, and the blood seeping out quickly stained the white porridge red.


    The agitated Bone Demon rushed out from the forest but was forcibly held back by its master''smand. It paced restlessly, pawing at the ground, drool pooling beneath it.


    The sound of teeth chattering carried faintly from afar. Yu Yi heard this strange noise and looked curiously towards the forest.


    Sensing danger, the crane master opened its beak and tugged at her sleeve, trying to pull her onto its back to leave this ce, to get away from that unpredictable, strange fellow.


    Just as Yu Yi was about to jump onto the crane''s back and flee, something suddenly tightened around her waist. Like a snake, it quickly coiled around her waist and violently yanked her away from the crane''s side.


    The entire wooden cabin was crushed and copsed by an invisible force. The crane master was blocked outside, unable to break through. It could only frantically peck at the invisible barrier in front of it with its sharp beak. Each peck caused its long beak to sink into something slippery and sticky, though it couldn''t tell what it was.


    It spread its wings wide, calling out anxiously.


    Yu Yi''s entire body was tightly bound by those snake-like things. The cold, slippery sensation pressed against her skin felt oddly familiar.


    shes of memory flickered through her mind: a mountain path shrouded in thick fog, tentacles writhing and crowding the air, slipping into her mouth, their tips gradually turning pink.


    Now, just like in those resurfacing memory fragments, she was being dragged before Xue Chenjing by tentacles.


    Xue Chenjing turned around, enduring the thorns of the Five-colored Cloud Robe on her body, and reached out both hands to her. "Yu Yi, my hands are scalded and it hurts a lot. Can you help me apply some medicine?"


    The young man''s face was pale, his eyes red-rimmed. Tears pooled beneath his thickshes, covering his dark pupils. The slightest blink would send teardrops rolling down his cheeks.


    His lips were even redder now, almost bleeding, with teeth marks visible on his lower lip.


    Yu Yi hung suspended in midair by the tentacles, looking down at him from above. His tear-filled image was deeply imprinted in her eyes. She swallowed hard twice, her voice hoarse as she said, "Y-you put me down first."


    No sooner had she finished speaking than her feet touched solid ground. However, the tight grip around her waist didn''t disappear; invisible tentacles still firmly held her waist.


    Yu Yi''s altered perceptions began to recover, and her mind was in chaos. One moment, she saw images of herself and Xue Qiu living in this mountain cabin, her smiling as she watched him fumble about cooking, or crouching on the roof to repair tiles.


    The next moment, she saw a blood-soaked shallow shore, with him stabbing someone through the heart from behind.


    Yu Yi''s temples throbbed painfully as she struggled to sort through the memories in her mind. She took out a burn ointment from the pouch at her waist and began applying it to his scalded hands.


    Every time her fingertips touched the back of his hand, needle-like pain shot into his bones. Xue Chenjing gritted his teeth and endured, asking in a hoarse voice, "Can you like me a little more?"


    Yu Yi looked up in surprise. "What?"


    Xue Chenjing stared intently at her, his eyes brimming with tumultuous emotions. Tears he couldn''t control slid down his cheeks as he fixed her with an intense gaze.


    "Your feelings for me are too weak, not enough, far from enough. I want you to like me, to like me even more. Please, please like me a little more."


    The man before her looked utterly frantic. Yu Yi instinctively stepped back, but her gaze remained locked on him. For the first time, she realized she could be so captivated by a man''s tearful face.


    Xue Chenjing''s repeated pleas reached her ears. Yu Yi found them oddly familiar, as if she had heard them countless times before - constantly saying it wasn''t enough, begging her to like him more.


    She took a step back, and he took one forward. His entire figure loomed over her, approaching with an overwhelming presence. Yu Yi even felt a few tears drop from his chin onto her cheeks.


    She blinked, wiping away the tears that had fallen on her face, and stared at him nkly, saying, "Your tears are so big, like pearls."


    If only they were real pearls.


    Xue Chenjing was stunned for a moment, his emotions interrupted and caught in his throat.


    He stared at her silently for a moment, then persistently reached to undo his belt. He tossed aside his waistband, shed his outer robe, and pulled open his cor.


    He took her hand and pressed it against his body. The sensation made him tremble, his skin flushing pink. With a thick nasal tone, he said, "You like how I look, don''t you? You like my body? You can look, you can touch, you can do whatever you want. Just like me a little more, just a tiny bit more, okay?"


    Yu Yi was forced to lean back onto the fleshy bed formed by invisible tentacles behind her. She opened her eyes wide, her dark pupils reflecting his image - pitifully beseeching yet overwhelmingly dominant, begging for her mercy. She waspletely dumbfounded.


    Wait, brother, are all of you this dedicated when carrying out your seduction missions?

 Chapter 10

    Yu Yi raised her other hand to push away his face, and Xue Chenjing instinctively flinched. Yu Yi''s hand paused, and she immediately wanted to withdraw it.


    For some reason, every time she touched him, he looked as if he was in pain.


    Xue Chenjing instead gripped her hand tightly, tilting his head to press his cheek into her soft palm, nuzzling it ingratiatingly. His wet eyshes pressed against her fingertips, and warm tears flowed along her fingers into the crevices, moistening her palm.


    His eyes, red from crying, were full of pleading, like a dog trying its utmost to please its master.


    "My wife, I won''t hurt you. I''ll make you porridge, cook the dishes you like, make you desserts, watch the sunrise with you, listen to the rain with you, dry your clothes for you, and even mend them if they tear."


    "Can you like me?"


    All these things Xue Chenjing mentioned were what he had done for her in the past few days¡ªtemporary tasks issued by the system.


    If Yu Yi couldn''t hear the system''s voice, she would have been certain that she was being deceived by his appearance, truly believing that he loved her to the point of madness, to the point of no return.


    Even though Yu Yi was very clear in her mind, Xue Chenjing''s tearful pleading was still hard to resist.


    She heard a ding, like the sound effect ofpleting a game level.


    [System: Ding¡ªThe favorability peak of the target character has broken through 10%, congrattions to the host forpleting the first stage of the main quest: Initial Encounter with the Lord. The host''s loving and tender care has sessfully left a deep impression on the target character, leaving an indelible mark in her heart, warming that cold, broken heart.]


    Yu Yi: "???" No, he just suddenly cried in a somewhat attractive way, that''s all.


    [Main questpleted, side quest "Sword-Sealing Stone of Mount Li" has been unlocked.]


    The person lying on top of her immediately got up, released her hand, quickly retracted the fawning and pleading expression on his face, and exhaled deeply, saying: "Finally!"


    Tears still hung from Xue Chenjing''s eyshes as heughed out loud in wild joy, not even ncing at Yu Yi as he turned and walked away without a second thought.


    The writhing tentacles quickly withdrew from behind Yu Yi, picking up the scattered clothes on the ground and putting them back on him.


    Yu Yi fell from midair to the ground, blinking her eyes, unable to react.


    ¡ªThis scoundrel, did he have to change his face so quickly?!


    Xue Chenjing rolled up his sleeves, his fingers forming ws, forcefully scratching his own arm. While wincing in pain, he dipped his fingers in the flowing fresh blood and drew a blood-red magic array on the open ground.


    Every line of the array he traced was stained with the crimson of fresh blood, and the smell of blood quickly spread, making one want to cover their nose and hold their breath.


    But as thest line fell and the array took shape, the blood aura in the array suddenly converged. The entire array became clear and transparent in an instant, like a mountain spring, even exuding a hint of pure and wless fragrance.


    Xue Chenjing stepped forward, walking into the magic array.


    His footsteps rippled in the array, like water droplets falling into ake. From beneath those ripples, Yu Yi suddenly glimpsed a huge ck shadow.


    The shadow shed by, until Xue Chenjing took another step, and the ripples spread from under his feet again.


    This time, Yu Yi saw countless writhing tentacles in the ck shadow beneath the array. Besides the tentacles, she seemed to see something else.


    Some roaring beast shadows, intertwining pythons, ppingrge birds, and even human faces distorted beyond recognition. There were many things she couldn''t identify at all, tangled into a jumbled mass of shadows.


    Xue Chenjing finally stood still at the center of the array, the shadow under his feet seeping into the array, seeming to coexist with the jumbled ck shadow hidden at the bottom of the array.


    When Yu Yi thought about how the tentacles that had just bound her and once entered her mouth might havee from there, she felt acid rising in her stomach and wanted to vomit.


    Xue Chenjing hadpletely forgotten her existence by now. He spread his hands to take out the Sword-Sealing Stone, covered it with his own blood, and threw it into the air.


    The originally calm magic array suddenly boiled up, countless shadows rushed out from under the array, like fish leaping out of water, crashing towards the Sword-Sealing Stone floating in midair.


    The barrier on the Sword-Sealing Stone was triggered, bursting out ayer of golden screen enveloping the stone. As the ck shadows collided with the screen, a series of shrill beast howls suddenly echoed through the valley.


    The endless ck shadows were repeatedly blocked by the barrier of the Sword-Sealing Stone, falling back into the array below, only to rush out of the array again and again, continuing to crash into the Sword-Sealing Stone, as if in a frenzy.


    Even the bone demon couldn''t resist the temptation of fresh blood, leaping up from the ground, its bone des opening from its body, shing towards the barrier of the Sword-Sealing Stone.


    Xue Chenjing stood in the magic array, submerged by the constantly surging ck shadows around him. Only in the intervals between the ovepping shadows could one see the figure of his fluttering clothes. The bright golden hair tie intertwined with the flying ck hair strands was particrly eye-catching.


    He gazed intently at the Sword-Sealing Stone above his head, his face showing unrestrained ecstasy and joy, no longer bearing any resemnce to the dog-like appearance of earlier when he was crying and begging for her affection. He now exuded a very viinous aura.


    The barrier of the Sword-Sealing Stone was constantly shaken by the impacts, emitting a bell-like ringing sound.


    Yu Yi coldly observed for a while. Her altered perception had now returned to normal, and remembering everything that had happened before, she had no desire to be Xue Chenjing''s tool for unlocking plot points. She only wanted to stay away from the viin and be beautiful on her own.


    Taking advantage of this opportunity, she retreated into the forest with Crane Senior Brother, nning to escape.


    A ck shadow crashed into the golden barrier, falling from midair, and suddenlynded in front of Yu Yi.


    The ck shadow abruptly expanded, turning into a three-headed evil dog, pinning her under its paw, baring its teeth at her and barking madly.


    The foul-smelling saliva sttered on the ground, immediately turning into spreading ck mist. The surrounding vegetation withered over arge area in an instant.


    Demonic aura?


    Yu Yi was shocked. She grabbed the green bamboo sword, channeling the remaining spiritual energy in her meridians into the de, and violently stabbed it into the blood-filled mouth of the center head that was lunging at her.


    The three-headed dog let out a miserable "awooo" howl, twisting its other head to bite her arm.


    The green bamboo sword was stuck in the evil dog''s throat. Yu Yi couldn''t pull it out and had to let go and retreat. She rolled back twice, avoiding the gnawing of the three-headed dog, and hurriedly formed a sword seal to summon her spirit sword.


    The spirit sword hummed in the evil dog''s throat, its green mes causing the three-headed dog to roll and howl in agony.


    Xue Chenjing frowned and stroked his own throat, finally noticing itsmotion. Two tentacles shot out from the magic array, wrapping around the snarling three-headed dog, suddenly dragging it back into the array.


    "Stupid thing! I told you to break the Sword-Sealing Stone, what are you biting?" Xue Chenjing scolded, stepping on the middle dog head, stomping the whimpering three-headed dog back into the ck shadows at the bottom of the array.


    In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Yu Yi had fallen from "dear wife" to "what thing," but she had no time to be angry. Her hands moved in a blur as she once again formed the sword seal to recall the green bamboo sword.


    However, as the three-headed dog was stomped into the bottom of the array, Yu Yi''s connection with the green bamboo sword was instantly severed. She formed the recall sword seal several times in session, but the spirit sword showed no response.


    The crane paced anxiously beside her. Seeing that she couldn''t recall the spirit sword, it spread its wings without a second thought and turned its head to charge towards the magic array under Xue Chenjing''s feet.


    "Crane Senior Brother!" Yu Yi called out, lowering her body and nimbly jumping up,nding on the crane''s back, charging into the magic array together with Crane Senior Brother.


    At the same time, the ringing of the Sword-Sealing Stone stopped, and the wind in the valley suddenly ceased, the shadows dissipating. The golden barrier of the Sword-Sealing Stone cracked, like breaking ice, quickly spreading to the surroundings. In the blink of an eye, the barrier shatteredpletely.


    The Sword-Sealing Stone turned into a beam of golden light, shooting into the sky. Then came a thunderous boom as the sky was split open, and a massive ck mountain suddenly appeared in the clouds.


    A rumbling sound like thunder rolled continuously from the sky into the earth below, causing Cloud Mountain to tremble incessantly.


    With the Sword-Sealing Stone opened, Xue Chenjing was overjoyed. His attention waspletely upied by the great mountain in the sky, and he didn''t even hear the system shouting in his ear, "The female protagonist has run into your magic array!"


    Xue Chenjing waved his sleeve to retract the magic array under his feet. A fierce wind howled through the forest, sweeping away the mist covering Cloud Mountain. The scattered ck shadows, the bone demon, and the earth impurities from the bottom of the hot springke all entered the magic array together.


    The array lines converged into Xue Chenjing''s body. He lightly tapped his toes, leaving only a giant roc shadow to spread its wings and carry him, flying into the cloud-shrouded mountain and disappearing into the pitch-ck mountain ranges.


    As Xue Chenjing departed, the miasma dissipated, and the verdant beauty of Cloud Mountain reappeared. The cultivators trapped in the mist finally saw their surroundings clearly, only to realize that despite all their trekking, they had been circling the outskirts of Cloud Mountain all along.


    A massive, pitch-ck mountain loomed in the clouds, blocking out the sunlight and leaving the forests below in darkness.


    "What is that?" a cultivator shouted. "Is it a mountain?"


    "How can there be another mountain above the clouds? Is it another illusion? Or a secret realm?"


    "This cecks spiritual energy. How could it produce such arge secret realm?"


    The three members of the Ten Thousand Joys Sect were in a dense forest, still searching for their lost junior brother. When the mountain appeared in the clouds, the luminous stones in their hands burst with blinding light.


    The Sword-Sealing Stone was Mount Li''s greatest treasure. Only the most talented inner disciples of the Lishan Sword Sect had the privilege to enter it and seek their destined swords. Ordinary cultivators had never seen its true form, only hearing rumors about it.


    Everyone looked up at the sky until they saw the faint red character for "seal" at the center of the cloud-shrouded mountain. Someone finally realized, "It''s the Sword-Sealing Stone! Mount Li''s Sword-Sealing Stone has opened!"


    Pei Jingchao''s group had navigated through several illusory mountains and seas, finally reaching this valley bottom. When the mist disappeared, they were less than ten miles from the hot springke.


    The resonating sound of the Sword-Sealing Stone''s barrier being struck also reached Pei Jingchao and hispanions. They rushed towards the sound into the valley, but they were still a step toote.


    As the Sword-Sealing Stone''s barrier broke, Pei Jingchao gazed at the towering mountain in the clouds, barely believing his eyes. "How is this possible?"


    "It''s impossible. No one except my father can open the Sword-Sealing Stone''s seal," Yao Yuxiu cried out, wiping her eyes and using her spirit sight to look at the mountain in the sky.


    When Lishan Sword Sect disciples entered the Sword-Sealing Stone to seek their swords, they used an entry token to open a mountain gate. She had only seen the Sword-Sealing Stone enshrined on the altar in the back mountain, never witnessing what it looked like after its seal was broken.


    "This is indeed the Sword-Sealing Stone," Pei Jingchao said. He also knew that the barrier around the Sword-Sealing Stone was an ancient seal left from the time of the Ji n of Immortals, which no one could break.


    Even the entry token only opened a small entrance. No one could break the ancient seal on the Sword-Sealing Stone, not even Juechen Zi, the leader of the Lishan Sword Sect.


    This was why the Lishan Sword Sect wasn''t afraid to announce its theft and ask cultivators worldwide to help search for it.


    Now, someone had torn open this ancient seal by brute force, which shocked Pei Jingchao.


    However, now wasn''t the time to wonder who had the ability to open the Sword-Sealing Stone. Countless cultivators were already flying out of Cloud Mountain and entering the Sword-Sealing Stone above. They couldn''t afford to fall behind.


    The majestic mountain covered the sky for hundreds of miles around. Not only did cultivators near Cloud Mountain see it, but those in other regions also noticed this mountain suddenly appearing in the sky. In an instant, countless streaks of light rushed towards this celestial mountain.


    ...


    Yu Yi waspletely unaware of what was happening outside. She and Crane Senior Brother plunged into the formation and immediately found themselves in a boundless void of darkness. The light above quickly faded, leaving only infinite ckness.


    She held tightly onto Crane Senior Brother as they continued to sink in the darkness.


    Thump, thump.


    A rhythmic sound, like a heartbeat, echoed in Yu Yi''s ears. At first, she thought it was her own heartbeat or Crane Senior Brother''s, butter realized it wasn''t.


    Something was gathering around them. She thought it might be the strange ck shadows she had seen outside the formation.


    Had they fallen into the interior of those odd, indescribable ck shadows? How could this thing have a heartbeat?

 Chapter 11

    Apart from the sound of heartbeats, some rustling noises gradually arose around them. Yu Yi felt an eerie gaze upon her. It was as if countless "beings" were surrounding them, observing her, sniffing her, discussing her.


    Crane Senior Brother''s feathers stood on end.


    Suddenly, something heavily licked the back of Yu Yi''s hand. The wet tongue, covered in coarse barbs, wrapped around her wrist and tried to burrow into her sleeve. Yu Yi''s skin crawled from the sensation. She reflexively grabbed Crane Senior Brother''s beak and thrust it forcefully towards the unseen entity.


    There was no other choice; her spiritual power hadn''t recovered since entering the misty mountains. Moreover, it seemed spiritual power couldn''t be used in this strange ce at all.


    Crane Senior Brother had practiced with her in the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm for five years, and the human and crane had developed quite a rapport. The crane unhesitatingly offered its neck to Yu Yi, allowing her to wield it like a sword.


    With Crane Senior Brother''s steel-like sharp beak, they managed to temporarily drive back whatever was surrounding them.


    Taking advantage of this brief respite, Yu Yi silently recited a sword incantation. Momentster, a faint green light flickered in the dark space, sinking deep into the darkness.


    Both human and crane''s spirits were immediately lifted. Yu Yi, lying t on the crane''s back, pointed at the green light and said, "Crane Senior Brother, it''s over there."


    The crane immediately spread its wings and flew towards the source of the green light. The rustling sounds continued to pursue them, like waves surging in the darkness - damp, sticky, and incessant.


    This dark space seemed infinitely vast. The light of the Green Bamboo Sword was clearly visible ahead, yet they never seemed to get any closer to it. After what felt like an eternity, they finally neared the green light.


    Yu Yi reached out and grasped the Green Bamboo Sword, finally feeling its solid form in her hand. She sighed in relief, "Got it!"


    Now they needed to find a way out of this hellish ce.


    But in this realm of darkness, there was no up or down, left or right - just an endless void. Apart from the rhythmic thumping of heartbeats, there was only the persistent rustling that followed in their wake. It was impossible to discern any sense of direction.


    Yu Yi brandished her sword to ward off the unknown entities that were once again closing in around them. A glimmer of spiritual light shed in her eyes, and under her spiritual vision, she faintly glimpsed a weak, firefly-like white haze deep in the profound darkness.


    She used the light from the Green Bamboo Sword to guide the crane, saying, "Crane Senior Brother, there''s light over there. It might be the exit. Follow the sword''s light and fly."


    The crane spread its wings and swiftly pursued the sword''s light. The white haze that had seemed so distant turned out to be much closer than the Green Bamboo Sword had been earlier.


    The white light ahead suddenly expanded, engulfing both human and crane in an instant.


    The entities pursuing them suddenly became agitated. The white light illuminated dense shadows of people and beasts around them, along with writhing tentacle-like shapes. They surrounded the patch of white light, twisting and howling violently, but not daring to approach.


    As they entered the white light, Yu Yi instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. When the dazzling light dissipated, she was shocked to find herself in front of a tall gate tower.


    The tower was embedded in a mountainside, predominantly painted in vermilion with ck tiles and red pirs. Inside the tower was a heavy ck door.


    Carved on the door was a strange totem of a divine official. The official sat cross-legged in the center, with a sacred andpassionate expression. To the left and right of his shoulders were sessive rows of ovepping faces, as if they were shadowy incarnations of the official. The carving became increasingly blurred towards the edges.


    Beneath the official''s seat wereyers uponyers of stacked furrows and wrinkles. These wrinkles were polished to an exceptionally smooth and delicate finish, resemblingyers of stacked fat. The sacred official sat atop this mound of flesh, his lower body almost merging with it, creating a jarring and unsettling juxtaposition that was quite ufortable to look at.


    Suddenly, music began to y behind her. Yu Yi turned around and was surprised to find a hundred or so people standing in neat rows just a few steps away.


    They were all dressed in luxurious white robes, with the hem embroidered in gold thread with patterns simr to the flesh mountain beneath the official on the door. Regardless of gender, they were all young and beautiful, with an extraordinary air about them.


    With hands sped and raised before them, they chanted blessing scriptures, bowing and kneeling towards the divine official on the door. It appeared to be some sort of ceremonial ritual.


    Yu Yi and Crane Senior Brother happened to be standing right in front of them, inadvertently receiving their prostrations, though the people seemedpletely unaware of their presence.


    After the ceremony, the man who had been leading the ritual entered the heavy ck door alone, while the rest remained kneeling and chanting scriptures.


    At the back of the crowd, two young people with childlike faces took advantage of the family head''s departure to rx their solemn postures and whisper to each other.


    Yu Yi brazenly walked over to eavesdrop.


    "I hope the White Taisui produces more this year, so we can refine more White Spirit Pills. This is my year to form my golden core, and if I only get one pill, it won''t be enough."


    White Taisui? Come to think of it, the flesh mountain beneath the official on the door did resemble Taisui.


    She seemed to have heard somewhere that thousands of years ago, the Ji n of Immortals was rumored to worship White Taisui as a deity. Had they traveled thousands of years into the past? That didn''t seem likely.


    Perhaps they had entered some kind of illusion? If so, they would need to find the formation''s eye to escape.


    Yu Yi nced at the young man speaking again. He looked even younger than her, probably only thirteen or fourteen, yet he was already preparing to form his golden core. The talent of the Ji n was indeed enviable.


    The person next to him spoke during a pause in the chanting: "Father has already made arrangements for you, requesting an extra spirit pill. If the request isn''t granted," she paused, pursing her lips slightly before continuing, "he''ll find other means to obtain one for you."


    Yu Yi bent down, looking at each person''s face, trying to find anyone who resembled Xue Chenjing.


    Before long, the family head who had entered the ck door earlier emerged again. He had gone in alone, but now he was followed by a group of white-robed child-sized attendants, each carrying a ck jade box.


    Crane Senior Brother craned its neck, following behind the small attendants, trying to peck at the boxes they were carrying. Of course, it couldn''t actually touch them - the people here couldn''t see them, and they couldn''t affect anything in this ce either.


    Yu Yi stepped forward, trying to get a closer look at the White Spirit Pills to see what made them so special. However, the ck jade boxes were tightly sealed, preventing her from seeing or even smelling their contents.


    She nced at the eyes of one of the child attendants and realized that they were all y puppets, not living beings.


    Under everyone''s watchful gaze, the family head directed these puppet children to ce their ck boxes into a refining furnace taller than a person. He then activated the furnace''s formation and ignited the true fire within, beginning the pill refinement process.


    Scorching heat immediately engulfed the area, even causing the air to ripple with waves of heat.


    After delivering the boxes, the child attendants lined up and returned to the heavy ck door.


    Yu Yi wiped the fine sweat from her brow and looked around. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Crane Senior Brother lingering by the ck door. Just before it closed, the crane''s snow-white body flickered, and it actually slipped inside with the group of attendants.


    "Crane Senior Brother, don''t wander off!" Yu Yi called out urgently. Seeing the door about to close, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and squeeze through the gap in three quick steps.


    Unexpectedly, the space behind the door was not dark. What met her eyes was a long corridor with intricatendscape murals and totems carved on both walls. Every ten steps, there was an ever-burningmp embedded in the wall, its pearly light reminiscent of moonlight, casting a silvery frost on the ground.


    Although inside the mountain, this corridor looked far more exquisite and luxurious than even the most carefully crafted entrance halls of wealthy families.


    Yu Yi grabbed Crane Senior Brother by its long neck, pulling it to her side, and warned, "Crane Senior Brother, why do you always have to dive into every cave you see? This isn''t one of your fish-hiding caves. Now that we''re in here, we might not be able to get out."


    The crane tilted its head, letting out two innocent squawks.


    Yu Yi sighed. The door behind them had already closed. Made of heavy iron and over ten feet tall, it was impossible to budge even slightly. Since they couldn''t go back, their only option was to follow the child attendants deeper inside, hoping to find another exit.


    After walking along the corridor for about fifteen minutes, a hollow courtyard appeared at the end, where an imposing temple stood. The ground was covered with eternalmps, illuminating this temple buried deep within the mountain, without a trace of darkness.


    "How strange that the temple is built inside the mountain," Yu Yi muttered to herself. Was this meant to worship or imprison the gods? Could the deities inside a temple built within a mountain still receive offerings?


    She surveyed her surroundings while stepping over the temple threshold, following the footsteps of the young acolytes.


    Though the temple appeared grand from the outside, it contained only one main hall. As such, the space inside was quite spacious, with a total of twelve round pirs on the left and right. In the center of the great hall, on the altar, was enshrined the strange divine official carved on the main gate earlier.


    The statue was enormous, almost like a small hill. Now in three dimensions rather than t, theyers of fleshy taisui piled under the divine official''s seat looked even more realistic. When light shone on them, those folds of fat seemed to writhe, making it even more unsettling.


    The white-robed acolytes entered the hall and lined up on both sides, serving at the feet of the divine official, appearing incredibly small inparison.


    Yu Yi was stunned by the central statue and only noticed after a while that someone was sitting on a rush mat in the middle of the great hall.


    That person had his back to the hall entrance. Judging by his figure, he was a young man, dressed in the same white robes as the surrounding acolytes. His long hair was bound in a simple headdress, with the ends cascading down to his waist in seaweed-like waves.


    Suddenly, the youth in the hall turned his head, his gaze piercing through the empty hall and directly meeting Yu Yi''s eyes.


    Well, well, it was that fellow Xue Chenjing.


    Yu Yi gripped her Green Bamboo Sword tightly and strode into the hall, calling out, "Xue Chenjing, let us out."


    Her voice echoed in the empty hall as Xue Chenjing slowly stood up and walked towards her.


    Yu Yi watched him warily. The young man was tall and slender, with an extremely paleplexion that entuated his ink-ck eyebrows and eyes as deep as pools. His originally sharp features now seemed softer and more gentle. The silvery frost of the eternalmps coated his form, giving him an almost transparent, fragile aura.


    Somehow, Yu Yi felt that the Xue Chenjing before her seemed different from before.


    Staring at him like this, Yu Yi''s tone involuntarily softened as she spoke again, "Xue Chenjing, I didn''t mean to run into your formation. I just wanted to retrieve my sword..."


    The soft, pleading voice that reached her ears was at first unrecognizable as her own. It wasn''t until she finished speaking that she suddenly realized with a start.


    What was going on? Was that her speaking? Had her state of mind been influenced by him again? What was he trying to act out this time?


    Yu Yi immediately tore her gaze away from him, but from the corner of her eye, she saw Xue Chenjing walk straight past her,pletely ignoring her words, and exit the hall.


    The puppet acolytes serving in the great hall followed behind him as he walked out.


    One of the young acolytes, following his footsteps, asked, "Young Master, do you want to bathe and rest now?"


    Xue Chenjing paused, gently patting the acolyte''s head, and said softly, "I don''t want to rest yet. You can go y by yourselves. I''ll call you if I need anything."


    The acolyte nodded, but when Xue Chenjing turned to continue walking, they still followed him step by step. It seemed that here, they had nothing to do except serve him.


    Xue Chenjing, trailed by this group of little followers, walked twops around the courtyard before saying resignedly, "Alright, go prepare hot water for me."


    Only then did the white-robed acolytes stop following him, turning towards the back of the temple to obediently prepare his bath.


    Yu Yi, having adjusted her mindset, quickly walked up to Xue Chenjing''s side again and waved her hand in front of his eyes. Xue Chenjing had no reaction.


    "Strange, I could have sworn he saw me when he turned his head," Yu Yi said to Crane Senior Brother, who tilted his head with a foolish bird-like expression.


    She thought for a moment, then raised her Green Bamboo Sword and thrust it directly towards Xue Chenjing''s eyes.


    The sword tip was less than a hair''s breadth from his eyeball, barely touching his long eyshes, yet Xue Chenjing remainedpletely oblivious, his pupils not even dting.


    Yu Yi turned the sword tip aside, letting it brush past his cheek. The breeze from the de stirred the strands of hair by his ear.


    Xue Chenjing''s movements suddenly halted. He looked around puzzled and said softly, "Who''s there?"


    Yu Yi observed his reaction while reminding herself not to be influenced by him. She responded, "It''s me, your dear wife. I don''t know what kind of strange ce this is, and I didn''t mean to intrude. Could you please let us out?"


    Xue Chenjing furrowed his brow slightly, seemingly unable to hear her voice or see her presence. He stood in ce for a moment, then lowered his eyes and shook his head self-mockingly, "I must be imagining things. How could he possibly let anyone in here?"


    As he spoke, Xue Chenjing started walking towards the back of the temple, apparently intending to rest.


    Yu Yi, growing anxious, reached out to grab him but grasped only air, her hand passing right through Xue Chenjing''s body. Yu Yi frowned at her hand. So, like the people outside, he couldn''t perceive their existence either?


    She suddenly remembered that since seeing him here, she hadn''t heard that annoying system voice from him either.


    Xue Chenjing rounded the corridor outside the temple, heading towards the living quarters at the back. His figure was about to disappear around the corner.


    After a moment''s thought, Yu Yi chased after him again. Holding her Green Bamboo Sword, she pointed the tip at Xue Chenjing''s back and thrust it directly at him.


    The Green Bamboo Sword pierced through Xue Chenjing''s right shoulder without causing him any harm, but Xue Chenjing still sensed something amiss. He lowered his head slightly, raising his hand to press on his right shoulder, and suddenly turned around, asking again, "Who''s there? How did you get in here?"


    The confusion and surprise on his face didn''t seem feigned. Yu Yi studied his expression, withdrew her sword, and moved even closer to him, though she cautiously avoided looking into those beguiling eyes.


    She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted near his ear, "I''m inclined to believe that you really can''t see me, but you can sense me a little, right? What kind of strange ce is this? How can I get out?"


    Xue Chenjing stood quietly, his eyes slightly lowered, concentrating on sensing the presence of another person.


    After a long while, he faintly heard a weak female voice intermittently reaching his ears. Catching bits and pieces, he asked, "You want to get out?"


    He shook his head, indicating his helplessness: "This is the deepest part of his Purple Pce of the Heart Sea. Unless he personallyes in to lead you out, you can''t leave."


    Yu Yi pursued him, asking, "Who is ''he''? Isn''t this your heart sea? Xue Chenjing, what trick are you ying now?"


    Xue Chenjing maintained his listening posture for a good while before saying softly, "I''m sorry, I can''t really hear what you''re saying."


    He then started walking again, slowly heading into the living quarters. Yu Yi raised her sword and poked him several times, finally leaving the sword embedded in his body as she shouted angrily, "Can you hear me now?"


    Xue Chenjing seemed to sense her anger and tried to reassure her, "Don''t worry. He won''t allow outsiders to stay here for too long. He shoulde to lead you out soon."


    "I''m quite surprised that he managed to let someone intrude this far."

 Chapter 12

    Before the Sword-Sealing Stone of Lishan Town was privatized as a forbidden relic, it was a natural mineral mountain, devoid of any greenery, with only bare, craggy rocks exposed.


    When the Sword-Sealing Stone''s restrictions were lifted, countless cultivators rushed to this treasure mountain, hoping to obtain a magical weapon or two.


    By now, the differences in cultivation levels had be clear. Most cultivators could barely withstand the sword aura at the foot of the mountain.


    Another group of cultivators managed to reach the mountainside, where there was a sword grave. It contained masterless swords whose owners had long since passed away.


    These abandoned swords included ancient des from the time of the Ji n of Immortals, as well as new swords with gleaming edges that had yet to experience much of the world.


    Many spirit swords still bore traces of their former owners ¨C congealed blood on the de, sword tassels with only half the jade remaining, cracked scabbards, and tattered red silk. Everything spoke to the destion of this ce.


    As humans have their burial grounds, swords too have a ce for their spirits to return. The sword grave was filled with the mournful cries of spirit swords. Even sunlight entering this area seemed to lose its warmth, leaving only cold reflections.


    Cultivators gradually made their way to the sword grave, standing on the stone tform at its edge, stunned by the scattered and dpidated spirit swords within.


    Of course, some couldn''t help but feel greedy at the sight of the famous swords in the grave.


    "Look! Isn''t that the Lonely Arrogance Sword? Liuying Taoist once used it to cleave Cangya Mountain in half, and sword echoes can still be heard in that crevice to this day. I never imagined that after Liuying Taoist''s death, this sword would be buried here."


    The man spoke with a frenzied expression and was about to jump into the sword grave to retrieve the once-renowned de.


    His words prompted other cultivators to recognize several other legendary swords within the grave.


    Just as the crowd was growing restless, a voice suddenly came from behind. It was clear and gentle, like a cool spring striking jade, and it advised: "These are all sorrowful swords that have lost their masters. I urge my fellow Daoists to think thrice before acting."


    The crowd turned to look and saw a group of people emerging from the mountain path. The speaker was Pei Jingchao, the top disciple of the Lishan Sword Sect. He wore a narrow-sleeved, moon-white robe with silver bamboo leaf patterns on the cor that reflected a faint moonlight.


    Beside him was Yao Yuxiu, the only daughter of Juechen Taoist, the master of Lishan. She wore a dress of the same color, with bright eyes, white teeth, and fluttering ck hair. Standing together, they truly made a perfect couple.


    Behind them, apart from two Lishan disciples, were Shen Qingzhi from Zhaohua Pce and Zhang Kuang from the zing Sun Sect.


    These six were all well-known figures, especially Pei Jingchao. He had recently made a ssh at the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference, and Lishan had thrown a grand wedding banquet for the couple. As such, everyone present recognized him.


    Yao Yuxiu looked around and noticed that among the cultivators trying to steal swords from the grave were several disciples from the Twelve Great Immortal Sects who were attempting to hide their identities. This infuriated her.


    She ced her hand on the sword at her waist and said sternly, "This Sword-Sealing Stone is the foundational treasure of our Lishan Sword Sect. It has always been restricted to Lishan''s inner disciples only. Those who are not Lishan disciples, please leave immediately, or don''t me me for being impolite."


    The group of cultivators by the sword grave looked at each other. Yao Yuxiu was right ¨C this was indeed the Lishan Sword Sect''s treasure. If it hadn''t suddenly appeared in the clouds, they would never have had the chance to enter, let alone see that so many famous swords were buried in this Sword-Sealing Stone.


    These people didn''t dare offend the Lishan Sword Sect, but with superior spirit swords right before them, how could they leave empty-handed?


    So, a quick-witted cultivator in the crowd racked his brains and found a loophole. Hiding behind the crowd with his head lowered, he said in a voice that was neither loud nor soft, "Juechen Zi publicly announced that anyone who could help the Lishan Sword Sect find the Sword-Sealing Stone would be allowed to enter and choose a divine weapon."


    "The Sword-Sealing Stone appeared in the clouds, and we who witnessed it can all be considered to have found it. Of course, we cane in here and find a weapon ording to the agreement."


    As soon as the cultivator''s words spread, everyone chimed in, suddenly bing righteous.


    Even the few disciples from the Great Immortal Sects who were about to leave out of respect for their sect''s reputation stopped in their tracks.


    "I think what he says makes sense. We all found the Sword-Sealing Stone, so of course we have the right to be here."


    "That''s right, it was your father who made the public announcement. We traveled thousands of miles to help Lishan find the Sword-Sealing Stone. Now that it''s been found, don''t tell me your great immortal sect is going back on its word?"


    Yao Yuxiu''s face flushed red with anger, and she shouted, "The Sword-Sealing Stone broke through its own restrictions and appeared in the clouds by itself. How can you im you found it?"


    Before she could finish speaking, someone immediately retorted, "We all came here to find the Sword-Sealing Stone, and we saw it here. How does that not count as finding it?"


    Yao Yuxiu''s fingertips twitched slightly, and her spirit sword at her waist hummed, emitting a sh of bright sword light. Angrily, she was about to draw her sword to teach a lesson to the disrespectful cultivator. However, just as her sword was an inch out of its sheath, a slender hand pressed it back.


    Pei Jingchao didn''t look at her, his gaze fixed on the crowd before him. He spoke calmly, "What you all say is quite right. Our Lishan Sword Sect is certainly not one to break promises. If you wish to take a spirit sword, you may do so at your convenience."


    "Senior Brother!" Yao Yuxiu couldn''t believe he would say such a thing and interrupted him in disbelief.


    Pei Jingchao patted her hand reassuringly and continued, "I advised you all earlier not to enter the sword grave only because the swords within are all sorrowful des that have lost their masters. Sorrowful swords are fierce and can easily harm people. Those who fall in might not be able to escape unscathed."


    With famous swords before them, his words couldn''t dissuade them. The crowd was unmoved and sneered, "Hmph, that sounds nice, but I think you''re just afraid we''ll take the famous swords from here."


    Among the group, a cultivator with narrow eyes and a short beard had been lingering at the edge of the sword grave. He finally confirmed that one of the spirit swords in the grave looked familiar.


    Pointing at that long sword, he said angrily, "I''d like to ask Fellow Daoist Pei, if this Sword-Sealing Stone is from Lishan, why is the sword of our sect''s elder in this sword grave? After the old man passed away, his sword vanished without a trace. I never expected that you Lishan people had hidden it away!"


    "That''s right, Liuying Taoist wasn''t from your Lishan either. Why is her Lonely Arrogance Sword in the Sword-Sealing Stone?"


    "You''ve hidden all the spirit swords of the world in your own sect and only allow your disciples to choose from them. Isn''t that a bit too greedy?"


    Pei Jingchao stood tall before the crowd. Under their questioning, he exined calmly and confidently, "The Sword-Sealing Stone contains the essence of sword spirits. Many spirit swords that have lost their masters are drawn by the sword aura within the Sword-Sealing Stone and automaticallye to this mountain to rest."


    "It is for this reason that our sect created this sword grave here to house these spirit swords. Unless a masterless spirit sword actively chooses one of our disciples, Lishan disciples never enter the sword grave to select swords."


    At this point, both sides were at an impasse. The crowd naturally didn''t believe his words. Even if what he said was true, those who hade this far wouldn''t easily give up the chance to enter the sword grave and choose a famous sword.


    "The Sword-Sealing Stone has always been hidden deep within your Lishan, inessible to outsiders. Who knows if what you''re saying is true or false? If I hadn''te in here today, I wouldn''t have known that Elder Tao''s sword was here."


    As he spoke, the narrow-eyed cultivator resolutely jumped into the sword grave, running towards what he imed was Elder Tao''s sword.


    For a moment, all eyes were on him, watching as he made his way unobstructed to apletely ck long sword stuck diagonally in the ground. He cupped his hands and bowed, performing a disciple''s salute to the spirit sword. The entire sword grave remained undisturbed.


    This made the crowd even more convinced that Pei Jingchao had been trying to scare them. As a result, more and more cultivators jumped into the sword grave, running towards the famous swords they had set their eyes on. When two or three people wanted the same sword, they began fighting on the spot.


    As soon as someone made a move, spiritual energy spread throughout the sword grave, immediately stirring up the sword aura throughout the grave. The mournful sword sounds intensified, sweeping across the entire sword grave like a chaotic current. Blood sttered amidst the sword light, and some unfortunate souls perished on the spot.


    "It''s hard to talk sense into those destined to die," Shen Qingzhi observed this spectacle, holding a jade brush for talisman-making against his lips,menting with schadenfreude.


    Pei Jingchao, the man who had been constantly questioned despite his good advice, now disregarded past grievances and swiftly darted into the sword grave.


    He drew out the Bone Destiny Sword, its scarlet de glowing like burning mes, deflecting the chaotic sword energy as he swiftly maneuvered through the sword grave, grabbing people and tossing them out.


    In no time, he had rescued several individuals.


    Yao Yuxiu stood at the edge of the sword grave, stomping her foot impatiently, "Senior brother, why are you still saving them? They deserve to die here."


    Zhang Kuang remarked with great approval, "Brother Jingchao is truly a person of great kindness and righteousness."


    ...


    Themotion in the sword grave on the mountainside was intense, with the humming of sorrowful sword sounds drowning out the activity on the path leading to the Weapon Tempering tform.


    Xue Chenjing was climbing a deep, narrow stairway between two walls, aiming to reach the Weapon Tempering tform at the mountain''s central peak.


    This mountain path was the most coveted sword-iming route for disciples of the Lishan Sword Sect. The higher one climbed, the closer to the Weapon Tempering tform, the higher the grade of spirit sword one could obtain. However, ascending was no easy feat.


    The spirit swords embedded in the walls of the path seemed to sense his intention to reach the Weapon Tempering tform, letting out a chorus of sword hums. The surging sword energy converged in this deep, narrow stairway, like waves of a flood growing stronger, attempting to expel this reckless intruder who dared to challenge the Weapon Tempering tform.


    Xue Chenjing was engulfed by sword lights of various colors, each step bearing the weight of a thousand jun. Amidst the flickering sword lights, the writhing tentacles of air around him were clearly outlined.


    Those transparent tentacles formed a thick cocoon, enveloping Xue Chenjing, their tips wriggling menacingly. When the sword light entered the tentacles, it seemed to slow for a moment, as if sinking into a gel.


    This brief moment provided an opportunity for the demonic creatures, led by the Bone Demon, to counterattack.


    Crackling sounds asionally rang out - the noise of spirit swords on the walls being shattered by the demonic creatures.


    Despite this, as they drew closer to the Weapon Tempering tform, the sword currents grew denser and more powerful. A fineyer of sweat appeared on Xue Chenjing''s forehead, his pupils flickering with light. One careless move, and he would be swept by the sword lights as dense as a sudden downpour.


    Although protected by demonic creatures, his physical body was extremely fragile. With cultivation barely at the Foundation Building stage, if he were truly struck by a sword, he would perish instantly on this long stairway.


    Thus, even though the female protagonist''s favorability towards the host kept dropping after entering the formation, almost reaching zero, the system didn''t dare make a sound, fearing it might distract him.


    It could only silently pray that the female protagonist could hold out a bit longer in that formation, and not bepletely devoured by the remnant fierce demonic energies.

 Chapter 13

    Within this mountain cave temple, there was no distinction between day and night. The light from the eternalmps filled every corner of the cavern, enveloping this eerie shrine in ayer of holy frost.


    Yu Yi had been here for three days and could now discern the time.


    Because the group from the Ji Family, revered as immortals by future cultivators, would punctually chant sutras and make offerings outside at dawn, even more precisely than the elderly folks doing their morning square dancing.


    After the ceremony, the Ji Family Head would enter the mountain cave alone,ing to the inner sanctum. The severalyers of doors and windows of the sanctum would be sealed shut, all the eternalmps within lit, reflecting off the goldencquered totems to create a dazzling array of light.


    Yu Yi couldn''t clearly see what they did within the light array, but after about fifteen minutes, the Ji Family Head would lead the group of young Taoist acolytes out.


    The acolytes all carried ck jade boxes identical to the previous day''s, which they would ce in the alchemy furnace outside at noon.


    Yu Yi watched as the group exited the temple and entered the long, dark corridor. Each little Taoist acolyte was about the same height, and in fact, they looked quite simr, moving mechanically and only following orders.


    The only people who couldmand them were the Ji Family Head and Xue Chenjing.


    The acolytes all respectfully called him "Young Master," but from Yu Yi''s observation, it seemed less like Xue Chenjing was ordering them and more like these acolytes were regting Xue Chenjing''s every word and action.


    When it was time to do something, the acolytes would go to ask for instructions. If they didn''t receive the correct answer after asking, they would circle around Xue Chenjing like malfunctioning dolls, only knowing how to surround him.


    Only when he gave the correctmand would they happily go to execute it.


    The Puppet Children weren''t really living beings after all, and most people wouldn''t be constrained by such things.


    But the Young Master''s heart was especially soft, even caring for these y figures, unwilling to see them troubled.


    Yu Yi turned back to look at the youth sitting with his back to her in the inner sanctum. Xue Chenjing sat in the center of the sanctum, looking up at the statue of the holy and merciful deity, his hair trailing to the floor, forming winding curls on the marble tiles.


    Today''s scene was identical to yesterday''s, and the day before that. She had even gone out to listen to the pair of siblings whispering at the end of the Ji Family procession.


    Even their conversation was exactly the same.


    Yu Yi tugged at the neck feathers of the crane and sighed, "They repeat the same day every day."


    She had searched the entire surroundings and, as Xue Chenjing had said, she couldn''t leave this ce. The only one she couldmunicate with intermittently was him.


    Yu Yi walked into the inner sanctum, crouched in front of him, looked at the youth''s particrly pale face, and skillfully inserted the Green Bamboo Sword into his body.


    The signal between them was really poor, but after trying many times, Yu Yi firmly believed that stabbing him with the sword could increase the chances of their "phone call" connecting.


    See, this time, Xue Chenjing felt it.


    He lowered his brows and eyes, touched his chest, and his pitch-ck pupils reflected the eternalmp at the base of the deity''s statue. There was no additional human reflection, but he seemed to see her and spoke to the empty space: "You haven''t left yet? He must be very busy outside."


    The youth smiled gently as he spoke. His smile was different from before, the corners of his lips slightly raised, a clean smile spreading in his eyes, like a clear spring rippling with sparkling waves touched by the spring breeze.


    Over these three days, Yu Yi often saw him smile, at those dull-witted Puppet Children, at her, this stranger of unknown origin.


    His entire being exuded a gentle and pure quality from the inside out, something very difficult to fake.


    Previously, when Xue Chenjing was trying to curry favor with her, he would pretend to smile gently, but the smile never reached his eyes, clearly reluctant and unwilling.


    He was truly like a different person from before. Either his acting skills were incredibly good, or they were indeed twopletely different people.


    But Yu Yi couldn''t be entirely certain, after all, their time together had been very short, too short to see through appearances to the essence.


    Yu Yi pondered, ncing at the crane beside her, and said, "Crane Senior Brother, why didn''t you peck him this time? Do you also think they''re different?"


    Crane Senior Brother let out a "ga" sound and nodded.


    Yu Yi gripped the sword with both hands, speaking along the de, trying to transmit her sound waves through the Green Bamboo Sword, "Who is he outside? Is he another Xue Chenjing? Did he imprison you here and then upy your body?"


    The youth listened carefully for a moment, though it wasn''t clear how many words he actually heard, and murmured, "Xue Chenjing?"


    He opened his mouth, repeating this name on the tip of his tongue a couple of times, his eyes actually showing a trace of envy, "He has a name now."


    Yu Yi found this utterly perplexing and wanted to ask more, but suddenly saw a figure rush into the inner sanctum from outside like a violent storm.


    The neer had beautiful, slightly curled ck hair that flew as he moved rapidly, with two vibrant golden-red ribbons intertwined in his hair strands, instantly approaching her.


    Two identical faces entered Yu Yi''s vision, but one face was calm and gentle, eyes reflecting the silver frost of the eternalmps.


    The other face was full of murderous intent, his pupils reflecting her image, his gaze fierce, as if he might bite at any moment.


    Such a stark contrast made their differences immediately apparent.


    "Xue Chenjing!" Yu Yi pulled out her sword and chopped down at his head.


    Having suffered several surprise attacks before, Xue Chenjing was now on guard. He twisted his body to avoid the strike, and simultaneously, something emerged from the shiny marble tiles beneath, skillfully wrapping around Yu Yi''s body.


    This was his inner world, how could he possibly be injured at will again?


    A cold, slippery sensation enveloped Yu Yi''s hands and feet like a cocoon. The crane was also caught up in the tentacles, its cries bing muffled.


    "Are you a rat? Sneaking into any ce you can!" Xue Chenjing said irritably, his face gloomy as he reached out towards her. His eyes shed with murderous intent, clearly intending to kill her at that moment.


    But in the end, he gritted his teeth and held back, only covering her eyes with his hand.


    The cold, damp palm firmly adhered to her face, and Yu Yi''s vision instantly plunged into darkness. She heard the Young Master''s question, "Who is she to you?"


    Yu Yi felt herself being forcefully pulled, her back pressed tightly against the cold body behind her.


    Xue Chenjing''s moving Adam''s apple was close to her ear as he spoke with extreme disgust, snorting augh, "You''ll never know."


    Then, a gust of wind rushed past her ears.


    When the hand covering her face rxed, she had already left that eerie mountain cave temple and arrived at an unfamiliar concave tform.


    This tform wasn''trge, like a round basin with walls on all sides and a smelting furnace in the center.


    The furnace was zing bright, flowing with molten iron likeva, resembling a volcano about to erupt. Just a nce could burn one''s retina.


    Endless waves of heat emanated from the furnace, sealed within this concave basin by the arrays carved on the surrounding walls, making it unbearably hot, even the air was distorted.


    Every breath Yu Yi took felt like swallowing burning coals, making it difficult to breathe. She struggled to ask, "Where is this ce?"


    Xue Chenjing, however, seemedpletely unaffected by the heat. He stood very close to the furnace, the boiling heat distorting his figure as if he might melt.


    "The Weapon Tempering tform within the Sword-Sealing Stone," Xue Chenjing replied casually, his attention focused on the central furnace.


    The air around Yu Yi began to smoke, the vapor from the evaporating tentacles wrapped around her body.


    The scorching temperature quickly prated the tentacles, and those transparent limbs turned red-hot, finally revealing their true appearance to Yu Yi.


    Her eyes widened in shock, pupils reflecting arge mass of writhing tentacles.


    These tentacles extended from Xue Chenjing''s feet, spreading to every corner of this ce, turning this concave basin into a nest of intertwined tentacles.


    Wet, sticky fluid hung everywhere, even the boiling heat from the furnace couldn''t evaporate all that transparent, viscous liquid.


    The air was filled with the squelching sounds of the tentacles moving, a sound Yu Yi had heard before.


    They looked simr to octopus tentacles, with the thickest parts wider than her waist, and suction cups on the underside that opened and closed as they writhed. The semi-transparent backs, steamed by the furnace''s heat, were adorned with golden wave-like patterns.


    Yu Yi raised her Green Bamboo Sword and thrust it at one of the tentacles wrapped around Crane Senior Brother. The sword tip slid off the golden pattern on the tentacle''s back.


    The sh of metal rang out as the sword struck sparks off the tentacle. The golden wave patterns on the tentacle bristled angrily, and as it swept across the ground, it effortlessly carved a deep groove.


    Only then did Yu Yi realize that those weren''t patterns at all, but rather ayer of hard scales.


    Xue Chenjing heard the sound of the sword and turned to look at her, a smug expression on his face. He sneered, "This time, you won''t be able to cut through it so easily."


    Yu Yi: "..." Good grief, she thought. She distinctly remembered that these tentacles didn''t have these snake-like scales when shest encountered them up close.


    Could it be that Xue Chenjing was capable of evolving?


    What kind of bizarre novel was this? What sort of monster was she supposed to have a happy ending with?


    "You''d better not move, or I''ll y that stupid bird alive right here," Xue Chenjing threatened in a low voice.


    Crane Senior Brother let out a shrill cry of rm and, wisely choosing discretion over valor, didn''t dare to move an inch.


    Yu Yi withdrew her Green Bamboo Sword and sat in this strange fleshy nest, her entire body entwined by these snake-like octopus tentacles, covered in cold, slimy fluid.


    With utter disgust, she asked, "What on earth are you? Do you think you''re a Pok¨¦mon or a Digimon?"


    Xue Chenjing didn''t understand what she was saying, but the system immediately chimed in with an exnation: "Master, Pok¨¦mon and Digimon are cartoon animations, equivalent to children''s picture books in the human world. The little creatures in them can evolve into stronger forms, just like how you added defensive snake scales to your tentacles."


    Although the female protagonist''s fondness for the host had plummeted to new lows, the system still tried its best to cheer up its host, exaggerating, "They''re all super cute, Master! When the female protagonistpares you to them, she''splimenting you on being adorable!"


    Yu Yi: "???" She wasn''t, she didn''t! She was just trying to probe whether Xue Chenjing was also a transmigrator.


    Could this damned system please stop over-interpreting everything?


    Xue Chenjing scoffed disdainfully, muttering, "Who needs herpliments?"


    After all, her goodwill towards him was now only at two percent.


    He raised his hand and stroked one of the thick tentacles beside him. All the tentacles on the tform writhed in response, forming two tight cocoons that separated and imprisoned the crane and Yu Yi.


    "Stay put," Xue Chenjing said, then turned towards the central Weapon Tempering tform. The intense heat distorted his form.


    As he approached the furnace, his hair spontaneouslybusted, bursting into sparks like scattered stars. mes licked at the hem of his robe and sleeves.


    With each step Xue Chenjing took, a sizzling sound erupted beneath his feet, like the sound of raw meat being ced on a grill.


    He finally reached the center of the Weapon Tempering tform, standing at one end of the furnace. He looked down at the dazzling mes below, where molten iron, heated to a bright yellow, churned in the furnace.


    Then, without warning, he dove in.


    Throughyers of semi-transparent tentacles, Yu Yi watched in shock as sparks flew up from the furnace, mes engulfing his figure in an instant.


    She found it difficult toprehend. Xue Chenjing had gone to such lengths to curry favor with her, trying to unlock the plot and enter the Sword-Sealing Stone. Surely he hadn''te all this way just to jump into a fiery pit? Even if he was extremely cold-natured, this seemed excessive.


    Perhaps he intended to forge a sword? This was the first time she''d seen someone jump into a furnace to consecrate a de.


    Yu Yi thought with relief that at least he hadn''t dragged her in with him when he jumped.

 Chapter 14

    As Xue Chenjing leaped into the furnace, the tentacles covering the ground grew increasingly red.


    Through her clothes, Yu Yi could feel the tentacles wrapped around her body changing from initially cold and slimy to warm, and gradually bing hotter than her own body temperature.


    These tentacles didn''t seem to be faring well either. They writhed restlessly, continuously secreting slippery mucus from within to lower their own temperature.


    The mucus slowly evaporated in the heat, and eventually, some of the smaller tentacle tips even began to curl up from the burning, emitting a constant sizzling sound. The rising steam almost engulfed the entire concave tform.


    The continuously rising temperature within the tentacles soon became unbearable for Yu Yi as well. If she didn''t want to be roasted alive while wrapped in the tentacles, she had to find a way to escape.


    Fortunately, as the heat scorched these tentacles from the inside out, they rapidly lost moisture and shrank, feeling as if they were about to be cooked through.


    Their grip around her body also loosened significantly.


    Yu Yi waspletely enveloped by the tentacles. With her eyes closed, she managed to draw in some spiritual energy from the sweltering air, channeling it into her depleted meridians.


    As her internal spiritual power slightly recovered, she silently recited a sword incantation. The Green Bamboo Sword lit up with a sword glow, breaking free from the fleshy cocoon.


    Then, Yu Yi used her mental power to control the Green Bamboo Sword, prying open the half-cooked tentacles wrapped around her body one by one.


    By the time she crawled out from the tentacle wrappings, she was nearly exhausted. The scorching steam made it difficult for her to breathe.


    The surrounding tentacles still tried to slither over and entangle her, but she kicked them away forcefully. Yu Yi swung her sword to part the mist and ran towards the crane.


    "Crane Senior Brother? Are you still alive?" Yu Yi prodded the crane''s drooping head.


    The Crane Senior Brother opened and closed his sharp beak, having been burned to the point where he couldn''t even make a sound.


    Seeing that he was still alive, Yu Yi breathed a slight sigh of relief. She quickly took out a talisman from her storage bag and stuck it onto the crane''s body.


    Under the talisman''s light, the crane shrank to the size of a palm-sized bird, which she then tucked into her pouch.


    After safely storing away Crane Senior Brother, she trudged through the sea of soft, writhing tentacles on the ground, making her way towards the edge of the forging tform.


    There was no way out from above; both the heat and the mist were contained within this concave basin by the spell formation.


    The basin was like a pressure cooker. If she wasn''t a Golden Core stage cultivator with both thunder and fire spiritual roots, she would have likely been steamed to death already.


    Yu Yi''s entire body was flushed red, her hair wet and clinging to her face, her skin marked with circr imprints from where the tentacles had bound her.


    Finally reaching the wall carved with spell formations, she leaned against it to rest for a moment before starting to feel for an exit.


    After walking along the wall for a short distance, she finally found a crack.


    Cold air from outside seeped in through this crack. She pressed herself against the opening, cupped her hands around her nose and mouth, and took several deep breaths, finally regaining someposure.


    If cold air could seep in from outside, the heat inside could certainly escape through here as well.


    The spell formation should have been airtight, and if this trap formation was meant to contain the heat within the forging tform, it shouldn''t have left such a fine crack.


    This opening had clearly been artificially damaged, and it was likely that Xue Chenjing had entered the forging tform through here earlier.


    Yu Yi felt along the crack for a long time before finally finding a broken spell symbol about the size of a mosquito.


    She concentrated sword energy at her fingertip and pressed hard against the broken spell symbol.


    The wall suddenly shook, and a beam of white light shot out from this symbol, quickly outlining a square door shape on the wall.


    Then, the bricks inside the door rapidly retreated to both sides, opening up a doorway.


    The cool air of early spring rushed in, giving Yu Yi afortable shiver. She quickly stepped out along with the surging mist behind her.


    Amidst the swirling mist, her ankle was suddenly gripped tight. Several bright red tentacles squeezed out from the mist, attempting to ensnare her once more.


    Yu Yi quickly retreated two steps, swinging her sword to cut through the approaching tentacles. She twisted the long sword in her hand at a tricky angle, avoiding the hard snake scales on the tentacle''s back. The sword tip burst forth with a sharp sword light, diagonally pinning a tentacle to the wall from its belly upwards.


    The tentacle convulsed violently, transparent mucus flowing from its wound, sliding down the Green Bamboo Sword''s de and pooling on the ground.


    Yu Yi watched its trembling tip in mid-air. The tentacle''s end was curled, and the originally semi-transparent flesh had turned white. The tip, about a finger''s length, wasn''t covered in snake scales and gave off a scent of grilled squid.


    Yu Yi''s stomach growled, her empty belly whining with hunger.


    She firmly held the sword, keeping it pinned there, and moved closer to bite the tentacle''s tip. She bit down hard, and to her surprise, she actually managed to tear off a piece.


    "Pah, the meat is too tough, can''t even chew it, tastes awful," Yu Yi spat it out in disgust. She flew back several steps before summoning back her Green Bamboo Sword, then turned and fled quickly.


    Therge tentacle fell to the ground, shuddered once, wrapped around the small piece of meat spat on the ground, and suddenly retracted back through the door.


    After escaping from the forging tform, Yu Yi discovered that this ce was actually at the peak of a majestic mountain, with the sunken forging tform truly resembling the crater of a volcano.


    The mountain echoed with incessant sword hums, and chaotic sword lights formed aurora-like bands in the sky above.


    Unable to fly on her sword, Yu Yi could only run down the sole mountain path.


    Because she had broken open a door in the originally sealed mountain mouth, all the heat that had been contained within the forging tform now poured out through that opening.


    The collision of hot and cold air quickly formed a ring of clouds around the mountain peak.


    Yu Yi took out two soft tbreads stuffed with meat from her storage bag, gave one to Crane Senior Brother, and ate while running down the mountain.


    She had no desire to know what would happen to Xue Chenjing, nor did she want to know who the young man in the depths of his heart, who looked exactly like him, was. Whether he was a body snatcher or a transmigrator with a system, it had nothing to do with her.


    The fate of protagonists was always fraught with difficulties. She neither wanted to be the despised innocent female lead nor did she want a happy ending with such a monstrous viin.


    She just wanted to be a free and carefree background character, cultivating and enjoying the scenery in this world of immortal cultivation.


    In the past, when Yu Yi yed games, she was always a solo yer who enjoyed the scenery, with no interest in grinding for levels or forming couples.


    The heat flowed down the mountain steps, and the spirit swords on both walls vibrated with a hum. As she ran down quickly, her fluttering skirt was caught by a spirit sword on the wall. Yu Yi casually grabbed the spirit sword and gave it a pull.


    She had acted on impulse, not expecting to be able to pull out the spirit sword. After all, such high-level spirit swords were known for their pride and wouldn''t let anyone pull them out easily without a struggle.


    Back then, she had suffered quite a bit to forge her Green Bamboo Sword.


    However, to her surprise, when she gripped the spirit sword and gave it a light pull, it came loose with a ng, separating from the cliff wall.


    Yu Yi paused, looking at the spirit sword in her hand with astonishment.


    This spirit sword was about two feet long and two fingers wide, a short sword.


    It was snow-white all over, with a frost-covered de. After leaving the wall, frost quickly covered the bright de, forming an icy scabbard that contained all the cold energy within the sword body.


    This was undoubtedly a high-level spirit sword.


    Yu Yi hugged the Frost Snow Sword, her dark eyes slightly moving as she looked up at another spirit sword a bit higher.


    She measured the height with her eyes, half-bent her knees, and suddenly jumped up. Her lithe body leaped nimbly into the air, her hand grasping the hilt of that sword.


    ng¡ª¡ª


    The sword tilted with the force of her descent, once again easily pulled out by her.


    Yu Yi looked at the two high-level spirit swords in her hands, which had been surprisingly obedient, and her eyes instantly brightened.


    Although the spirit swords embedded diagonally in the walls of this mountain path weren''t very dense, in just the distance she had run down, there were about a dozen or so, all high-level spirit swords.


    If she could take them all back, even if she couldn''t use them herself, she could sell them. She wouldn''t have to worry about travel expenses for a long time.


    Yu Yi patted the pouch containing the still recovering crane and excitedly said, "Crane Senior Brother, we''ve struck it rich!"


    She immediately took out a storage bag, emptied it of less important items, and dedicated it to storing spirit swords.


    Jumping up and down between the two walls to pull out swords slowed her descent, but with so many high-level spirit swords in hand, she was willing to endure being scorched by the heat flow a bit longer.


    Yu Yi climbed up the cliff face. As she pulled out the highest sword, she nced down and suddenly saw two cultivators racing up the straight mountain path below.


    The approaching pair, a man and a woman, didn''t even spare a nce at the humming spirit swords on either side. They were rushing upwards, clearly aiming for the weapon-forging tform at the summit.


    In the brief moment Yu Yi squinted to observe them, the two had already nearly reached her.


    The female cultivatorgged slightly behind, panting as she clutched her chest. Reluctantly, she said, "Senior Brother, the sword pressure on the Sword Retrieval Path has disappeared. Those cultivators below will surely take this chance to retrieve the spirit swords. Are we really going to let them do as they please?"


    "I''ve already sent a message to Mount Li. Our disciples will arrive shortly," the male cultivator in front turned back and extended his hand to her. "Yuxiu, the weapon-forging tform is shaking, which is why these spirit swords no longer wish to remain here. Right now, the tform is our top priority. Nothing else matters."


    Yao Yuxiu nced sideways at the spirit swords nearby, biting her lip. She ced her hand in his, and Pei Jingchao supported her waist as they continued to sprint upwards.


    The narrow mountain path carried their voices to Yu Yi''s ears. At the same time, she could clearly see the silver bamboo leaf patterns glinting on their clothes.


    There was only one person who could be called "Senior Brother" by Mount Li''s Fairy Yuxiu and act so intimately with her.


    Yu Yi cursed her bad luck silently. If she continued downwards, she would inevitably encounter Pei Jingchao.


    Not to mention whether he still remembered that she had once buried him alive, just the fact that the weapon-forging tform was in trouble and she happened to be descending from this only mountain path...


    Even an idiot could figure out that those two wouldn''t let her leave easily.


    Above her head, the sword energy was in chaos. Flying would likely result in being cut to death by the wild swords. If she turned back, the only destination was the weapon-forging tform at the summit.


    Where a giant squid was still being roasted.


    As Yu Yi was caught between a rock and a hard ce, Pei Jingchao suddenly looked up. His sharp gaze prated the clouds surrounding the mountain, precisely capturing the figure leaning against a sword on the cliff face.


    "Who goes there!" His thin lips parted, his voice rolling like thunder to Yu Yi''s ears, imbued with spiritual might.


    Yu Yi''s ears rang from the impact, her chest aching violently. She nearly coughed up blood. In one swift motion, she pulled out the spirit sword from the cliff face, twisted her body as she fell, and used all her strength to sprint upwards.


    To hell with it. Since there was no escape anyway, it was better to bring those two together. It would be easier to muddy the waters that way.


    She hoped Xue Chenjing could still hold on and not end uppletely roasted.


    ...


    Inside the weapon-forging tform.


    Xue Chenjing finally entered the core of the furnace and saw the motionless white me at its center.


    Although the flesh of his body was burned red-hot, he hadn''t actually sustained much damage. After all, this true fire had been taken from his body, and now he was merely here to reim it.


    "Three thousand years have passed, yet divine power still remains," Xue Chenjing approached the white me. As he drew near, the me began to dance vigorously, as if eagerly wanting to return to his body.


    However, Xue Chenjing seemed somewhat disgusted. He despised the divine power lingering in this me, saying irritably, "If I simply take you back as you are, it would only strengthen his power."


    He had gone to great lengths to imprison that fool and gain control of this body. He absolutely couldn''t give him a chance to turn the tables.


    Unable to even protect the three fires within, causing this body to be so weak ¨C utterly useless.


    Xue Chenjing took a deep breath, cut open his wrist, and let the fresh blood flow from the wound, dripping down in a vertical line to his feet. The blood line moved, coalescing into a formation.


    As soon as the formation took shape, he immediately covered the wound on his wrist. When he removed his hand, the wound had already healed.


    With the pain gone, Xue Chenjing''s tightly pressed lips finally rxed.


    ck mist surged out of the formation, guided by his fingers towards the me.


    The white me wavered even more violently, refusing to be tainted by the demonic energy.


    Xue Chenjing paid no heed to its struggle, summoning more ck mist to emerge. Likeyer uponyer of curtains, it shrouded the me''s light, dimming it.


    The demonic energy and the divine power within the white me wrestled, wearing each other down.


    This true fire had been sealed in the weapon-forging tform for three thousand years, used to forge countless weapons. The divine power remaining in the fire now was merely one ten-thousandth of what it had been.


    Even the master of this divine power had been imprisoned by him, let alone this tiny, struggling remnant of divine power.


    The endless demonic energy soon devoured all the divine power remaining in the white me. Only then did Xue Chenjing extend his hand, satisfied. He collected the now "cleansed" true fire into his palm and pressed it into the sea of qi below his navel.


    With the sea of qi''s natal fire back in ce, a warm current flowed from his lower abdomen into his four limbs and hundred bones, melting his ice-sealed blood and bones.


    Xue Chenjing savored this long-lost warmth, letting out afortable sigh. Even the corners of his eyes flushed red.


    With the true fire reimed, the fire energy in the furnace dissipated rapidly. The flowingva and molten iron gradually solidified.


    A thick tentacle extended from above, wrapping around Xue Chenjing and lifting him out of the furnace.


    All the tentacles on the ground came back to life, gradually cooling and returning to their semi-transparent state, asionally shing with serpentine golden light as they writhed.


    The tentacles crowded around him, and Xue Chenjing narrowed his eyes as hey down in the fleshy bed they constructed, slowly feeling his body warm up.


    A tentacle wriggled to his front, continuously coiling and uncoiling around the back of Xue Chenjing''s hand.


    He finally grew a bit annoyed. His long eyshes lifted slightly, revealing a narrow slit of his eyes as he nced at the restless tentacle. "What''s wrong?"


    The tentacle suddenly stood upright, moving closer to show him the teeth marks on its head. The sticky fluid secreted from the wound dripped down wetly, like tears covering its face.


    ¡ª It had been bitten, arge chunk of flesh torn away, and the person who bit it evenined that it didn''t taste good!


    Xue Chenjing had been in the furnace earlier and hadn''t paid attention to these tentacles. Now that this tentacle was tattling, he received the information it conveyed and saw the scene from earlier.


    Very well, biting him was one thing, but to insult his flesh as tough and unptable!


    Xue Chenjingzily reached out his hand, pulling the tentacle into his embrace. His fingertips repeatedly caressed the teeth marks, covering his hand in shiny, sticky fluid. He said resentfully, "I''ll bite back sooner orter."


    He would devour her bit by bit until nothing remained. Surely her flesh would be tender and juicy.


    The system helplessly reminded him: "Master, this is a sweet romantic novel, not a culinary one."

 Chapter 15

    Yu Yi climbed back to the mountaintop, panting heavily, and burst into the forging tform. What she saw was this scene:


    Xue Chenjing''s clothes had been burned to ashes when he jumped into the furnace. His hair tie had also burned off, leaving himpletely naked as hey in the semi-transparent tentacle nest.


    When clothed, he looked slender, but in reality his muscles were taut, with defined contours visible on his chest and abdomen.


    Due to the lingering heat, his entire body was flushed a rosy red, covered in glistening fluid. His long ck hair was strewn messily over the writhing tentacles.


    The asional sh of snake-like golden scales on the tentacles'' backs reflected in his eyes, creating a startling glimmer in those weary orbs.


    Yu Yi never imagined she would witness such a vividly sensual scene.


    Every aspect exuded an inhuman strangeness, yet it was pleasing to the eye. Her pupils trembled slightly as her gaze honestly traveled downward, causing her to draw in a soft breath.


    She thought she might not forget this for a long time.


    If the book ended with her having a happy ending with this little monster, it would likely be because she was seduced by his body.


    After all, food and sex are human nature.


    "You daree back," Xue Chenjing said, somehow producing a set of robes from nowhere.


    In the blink of an eye, he was fully dressed, his eye-catching body now tightly wrapped in indigo robes. He pulled out a hair tie and bound his long hair again.


    The system''s delighted voice suddenly interjected, "Master, the female lead''s favorability towards you has returned! It''s back! It''s finally crawled back up to 6%!! Quick, put in some effort - don''t put your clothes back on!"


    Yu Yi''s spirits lifted as she came back to her senses.


    Just then, a tentacle suddenly shot out swiftly, wrapping around her waist and skillfully dragging her into the fleshy nest.


    Yu Yi was forcefully restrained, falling uncontrobly into his embrace. A slender hand slid between her fingers, gripping her delicate wrist.


    That palm, originally cold and mmy, now held a hint of warmth.


    Xue Chenjing''s lips curled into a smile. At close range, his face, beautiful to the extreme, was fully reflected in Yu Yi''s pupils.


    Seeing this, the system felt deeply gratified.


    However, in the next moment, the curve of Xue Chenjing''s smile continued to widen from both corners of his mouth, eventually stretching to his ears.


    In an instant, this face that had been alluring turned grotesquely terrifying.


    Like the slit-mouthed woman from a horror movie.


    He opened that mouth that had almost split his entire face, the neat teeth inside making a clicking sound.


    Under Yu Yi''s surprised gaze, they rapidly transformed into sharp fangs like those of a wild beast, dripping with silvery saliva, bing a veritable bloody maw as he fiercely bit down towards her right hand.


    This bite would immediately cripple her.


    The system, watching its host who was still trying to add insult to injury, cried out, "Master, what are you doing?!"


    Xue Chenjing inwardly sneered. Six percent - who cared about such a miserly bit of goodwill?


    He had had enough of her repeated taunting!


    The system was about to go crazy. Given the host''s actions, the fact that there was still 6% favorability was already a blessing from the female lead that should be gratefully epted. Yet the host didn''t know to cherish it.


    Have you forgotten how pathetically you begged for favorability before?


    "Do you still want toplete the conquest or not? Favorability is something that umtes through moments of heartfelt connection, like piling stones to build a mountain or small streams converging into rivers and seas. Every emotional fluctuation of the female lead is immediately torn apart by you - how can favorability umte like this?!"


    If it had hands, it would have beat the host''s dog head in frustration by now.


    Amidst the system''s morous screaming, Yu Yi''s heart raced wildly as her fingers blurred into motion, forming a sword seal.


    Just as Xue Chenjing''s fangs closed, a green sword light burst from her fingertips.


    The sword light shed with the sharp fangs, sending out sparks and a piercing sound.


    Both of them let out muffled groans of pain simultaneously. Yu Yi was violently flung out by the tentacle wrapped around her waist, clutching her hand which now bore a bloody red bite mark.


    Xue Chenjing covered his mouth with both hands, hunched over and trembling. He turned his head to spit out a mouthful of blood, in whichy several knocked-out teeth.


    Seeing him with a jaw full of blood, Yu Yi felt a sense of bnce in her heart. Serves him right.


    Immediately, a mass of ck mist rose from the ground. From within the mist, a pair of ws emerged, scrabbling at the blood Xue Chenjing had spat out. The finger bones transformed into sharp daggers, scooping up both the blood and bits of stone, cradling them preciously as they retreated back into the ck mist.


    Yu Yi: "..."


    Xue Chenjing ignored the bone demon''s actions. He was so angry that tears welled up in his eyes as he red at Yu Yi.


    Only after a new set of teeth had grown from his tightly pressed lips did he viciously wipe the corner of his mouth and spit, "Pah, tastes awful."


    And it broke his teeth too.


    Yu Yi''s gaze moved from the hole in the ground back to Xue Chenjing.


    She keenly noticed the tentacles wrapped around his waist, poking their heads out curiously. The tentacle was semi-transparent with a faint pink hue, and its tip was clearly missing a piece - the part she had bitten off.


    After all that, it turned out Xue Chenjing was just getting revenge on her.


    "I bit your tentacle, so even if you want revenge, you should bite my foot," Yu Yi said, provocatively raising her foot at him.


    Xue Chenjing nced at her mud-covered shoe sole with disgust.


    After this interruption, Yu Yi momentarily forgot to remind him that two cultivators from the Lishan Sword Sect were heading this way.


    By the time she remembered to say something, Pei Jingchao and hispanion had already arrived outside the forging tform.


    Their silhouettes shed behind the open door, and Pei Jingchao''s sword energy, red as fire, swept in first, shing towards the interior of the forging tform.


    "Those who trespass in the Mount Li Forbidden Area shall die!" Pei Jingchao''s cold, sharp voice rolled in along with the sword energy.


    The sword pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator condensed into a giant de pressing down on the forging tform. The energy bursting from the de transformed into countless small swords, shing down with a whoosh.


    Yu Yi was immobilized by the sword pressure, the Green Bamboo Sword''s light barely managing to protect her body, contending with the red small swords shing down.


    The impact made her chest resonate again, and the mouthful of blood she had been holding back in her throat could no longer be contained, dripping from the corner of her mouth.


    Xue Chenjing''s situation was not much better. He had shed his previouszy, pleasure-seeking demeanor, his eyes narrowed slightly, his aura tense.


    The two cultivators outside were at the Nascent Soul level. This first sword strike alone was almost too much for the two inside to handle.


    Xue Chenjing''s physical body was weak, his own strength even less than Yu Yi''s, far from being able to face off directly against Nascent Soul sword cultivators.


    The tentacles quickly writhed to form a wall, blocking the giant sword shadow overhead. The snake-like scales on the tentacles'' backs rippled withyers of golden light under the sword pressure.


    Xue Chenjing was forced by the sword pressure to bend his knees inch by inch, almost kneeling on the ground.


    He pinched his fingertip, letting a drop of blood fall. The blood droplet quickly formed a palm-sized formation on the ground.


    The formation lines flickered, and a ck shadow struggled to squeeze out of the palm-sized formation, rapidly expanding into a huge, muscr wild bull.


    As soon as it appeared, it upied nearly half the space of the forging tform. When it raised its head to charge upwards, its hooves shattered the ground of the forging tform.


    The tentacles piled overhead quickly retracted, and the sword shadow instantly pressed down, colliding with the curved bull horns.


    Yu Yi heard a cracking sound, like porcin shattering, and the sword pressure enveloping her suddenly lightened.


    The wild bull scattered the red sword energy, pawed at the ground with its hooves, and charged out with a rumble, directly smashing down the narrow doorway in the surrounding wall.


    The man and woman outside were revealed. Yao Yuxiu eximed in surprise, "How could the forging tform be broken so easily?"


    Pei Jingchao''s sword shadow had been shattered, and he had already estimated the unusual strength of this demonic creature. He readied another sword stance, his expression solemn as he said, "Junior Sister, let''s coordinate."


    Yao Yuxiu nodded, raising her sword in unison with him. They held their swords, one red and one white, using the Mount Li Dual Sword Technique.


    The two sword des crossed, their red and white sword lights intersecting to form a cross, erging into a shadow that pressed against the wild bull''s massive horns.


    The two people and the bull were temporarily locked in a stalemate.


    The entire forging tform was shaking violently, deep cracks appearing in the ground, on the verge of copse.


    Amidst the earth-shaking tremors and chaotic sword energy, Yu Yi stumbled towards a gap that had been shaken open in the right wall, hoping to escape in the chaos.


    Little did she know that someone else had the same idea.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t want to directly confront Pei Jingchao and hispanion at the moment, exposing his identity. He nned to use the wild bull to keep them upied while he circled around to the back of the forging tform, seeking a path to leave through the back of the mountain.


    They collided at the breach simultaneously. Xue Chenjing''s lips were still stained with blood as he coldly nced at her. He pressed his hand on her shoulder, forcefully pushing her back while grunting three words: "Don''t block me." He then vaulted over the gap ahead of her.


    The system shouted indignantly in Xue Chenjing''s ear: "Master, can''t you show some gentlemanly manners?! You should protect the female lead and let her escape first!"


    The wild bull, unable to break through the cross-shaped sword energy pressing on its horns, let out an angry bellow and stomped its hooves forcefully.


    The quenching tform, having already lost its true fire, couldn''t withstand such turmoil and copsed even more severely.


    Xue Chenjing was struck on the head by a falling brick, letting out a pained groan and cursing, "Stupid bull."


    Yu Yi burst intoughter with a "pfft," taking pleasure in his misfortune. The system also chimed in with a sarcastic remark, "See? That''s karma for you."


    Xue Chenjing: "..."


    Pei Jingchao noticed themotion from the corner of his eye. Through the cracked wall, he saw a familiar face, or more precisely, a pair of familiar eyes.


    At that time, he had been gravely injured and near death, drifting in and out of consciousness. His eyes were filled with blood - both his enemies'' and his own.


    His vision wasn''t clear then; he could only vaguely make out the contours of a woman''s face. She bent down, weaving nearby vines into a raft, using all her strength to lift him onto it.


    How could a slender young woman possibly lift a grown man? She pushed and shoved, taking quite some time and identally bumping his wounds. He had already passed out but was awakened by the pain.


    Pei Jingchao, breathing heavily, struggled to prop himself up and managed to say, "Thank you, miss. I can manage from here."


    He crawled onto the raft on his own, and as the young woman reached out to help him, she identally slipped and fell to the ground. The strength in his arm suddenly gave way, and he copsed powerlessly on top of her.


    In that fleeting moment of closeness, he clearly saw her eyes - bright and clear, like the purest spring in the world. His reflection fell into her eyes, as if even his blood-stained body could be cleansed in that gaze.


    He was in such a wretched state then, yet she still looked up at him with admiration and timidly called him, "Immortal Lord."


    At that moment, his heart pounded violently, but before he could say anything, his vision went ck, and he fainted.


    When he regained consciousness, his nose and mouth were filled with the fishy smell of wet soil - he had been buried in a grave.


    It was Pei Jingchao''s contracted spirit beast that found him by following the scent of blood, dug him out of the grave, and carried him back to the sect, saving his life.


    After recovering from his injuries, Pei Jingchao went back to search the area, only to find the remains of a long-burned mountain vige dwelling.


    As Pei Jingchao climbed to his current position, he had encountered many outstanding women of various styles.


    Some were cold and otherworldly, some gentle and graceful, or even slightly spoiled and willful like his junior sister - all of them exquisitely beautiful.


    Such an ordinary mortal girl shouldn''t have been worth his remembrance.


    Yet Pei Jingchao couldn''t forget those eyes, often recalling that moment of heart-fluttering without warning.


    He had never experienced such a feeling before.


    So he remembered that fleeting surge of emotion for a long time, and he remembered those eyes that stirred his heart for just as long.


    If he had found her then, he probably wouldn''t have remembered for so long, but he couldn''t find her.


    The unattainable made him yearn even more, almost to the point of lovesickness.


    Pei Jingchao never expected to see her again in this day and age.


    He was distracted by those eyes, causing his sword momentum to weaken. The bull demon''s magical energy immediately surged, instantly suppressing the twoyers of sword light.


    The magical beast roared angrily, stomping its hooves forcefully, causing another round of rumbling copse in the quenching tform.


    Yao Yuxiu noticed his distraction and, struggling to hold her sword, followed his slightly stunned gaze to see the female figure revealed through the cracked bricks and stones.


    Jealousy immediately surged in her heart, and she called out to him angrily, "Senior Brother!"


    At the same time, she unexpectedly twisted her wrist, causing her de to scrape against Pei Jingchao''s Fierce Rainbow Sword, creating a clear, resonant sword chime.


    A sword light like a white silk ribbon vertically cleaved through the crack in the wall, shing directly towards Yu Yi.


    Pei Jingchao hurriedly regained his senses, running his fingers along his sword. Fresh blood stained a red line on the sharp de, and the crimson sword light suddenly brightened, hastily chasing after the white light.


    Yu Yi had already gripped her Green Bamboo Sword, holding it in front of her for defense. As she watched the white and red sword lights howling towards her, the sharp sword wind of the Nascent Soul cultivators shattered her defense before the sword light even reached her.


    However, just as the two sword lights were about to strike her, they suddenly intertwined. The fierce white light was shredded by the red sword energy and abruptly dissipated.


    A remnant of the red sword energy brushed across her cheek like a gentle spring breeze, sweeping past the corner of her eye and stirring her sideburns. It was so tender it bordered on affectionate, not harming her in the slightest.


    Yu Yi looked up in surprise through the dissipating red sword energy, her gaze meeting Pei Jingchao''s from across the space.


    The system was nearly driven mad. Damn it, look at the original male lead, and then look at this useless current male lead!


    What sin had itmitted to be mistakenly bound to him?


    It felt that in the novel "After Transmigrating, I Got a Happy Ending with the Viin," if the female lead hadn''t been bound to a system and forced to pursue the viin, Xue Chenjing would really have a hard time finding a wife.


    Moreover, the original male lead wasn''t just an ordinary supporting character. If one were to delve deeper, the content of "Jingchao" was actually the most fundamental and underlying plot of this world!


    And in the plot of "Jingchao," Yu Yi and Pei Jingchao were the real couple, the original main characters. Its master could only be considered a third wheel who cut in.


    The system developed a strong sense of crisis and reminded, "Master, please turn back and look at your wife. Someone is trying to steal her away."


    Xue Chenjing turned his head back from outside the wall, his gaze quickly sweeping over Pei Jingchao and Yu Yi.


    The corner of his mouth curved up slightly. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he squeezed out a drop of blood and flicked it in front of the wild bull.


    The bull''s straight pupils were immediately filled with that drop of blood, its eyes turningpletely red. Its magical power surged violently as it charged forward.


    As it bit the blood drop, it also rammed into the distracted Nascent Soul sword cultivator and the enraged one, sending them both flying back into the chaotic sword energy aurora in mid-air, temporarily disappearing from sight.


    Xue Chenjing leaned against the wall, reaching in from outside to grip Yu Yi''s chin and turn her face towards him. His gaze swept over her up and down as he praised, "I didn''t expect you could use your feminine charms."


    The system: ...


    It''s hopeless, this male lead is beyond saving. Just destroy everything.

 Chapter 16

    The Brute Ox, a type of demonic creature, was considered a high-level monster ten thousand years ago. Its pair of horns could split mountains and crack the earth. However, after the War of Gods and Demons, the God n fell, and demonic creatures ceased to exist.


    The world fell into a long period of primitive silence. Later, the Ji n of Immortals rose to prominence with divine blessings, and the Human Race began to flourish, achieving today''s prosperous state of Human Cultivators.


    The Brute Ox before them was not the actual great demon, but merely a remnant of its demonic breath, temporarily manifested through Xue Chenjing''s blood array. Its magical power was no longer what it once was.


    After Pei Jingchao and Yao Yuxiu were both knocked flying, the Brute Ox approached Xue Chenjing''s hand, begging for another drop of his blood before obediently transforming into a ck shadow and being retrieved by him.


    Yu Yi recalled the strange four-legged ck shadow she had seen earlier under that clear array, with countless beast and human shadows within its enormous form, symbiotic with Xue Chenjing.


    The Spiritual tform and Heart Sea is the most important ce for a cultivator, yet he kept so many dangerous demonic shadows nurtured there, turning himself into a monster that was neither human nor demon. It was clear he had gone mad beyond measure. Was he truly not afraid of being consumed by the demons and ultimately bing a mere vessel for them?


    Thinking of this, Yu Yi increasingly wanted to distance herself from him. She had no desire to be with him in the future, constantly guessing whether the body before her contained the Brute Ox from earlier, the blood-red bone demon, or a writhing mass of tentacles.


    It was quite possible that the shell of Xue Chenjing now housed a demon. The true soul of Xue Chenjing might be imprisoned in the mountain temple deep within his Heart Sea, repeating the same day over and over.


    As Xue Chenjing finished retrieving the Brute Ox and turned around, he saw the talisman paper in her hand turn to ash. The talisman''s light swiftly enveloped her entire body from her fingertips, causing her figure to vanish from the spot.


    A Teleportation Talisman.


    She always seemed ready to run.


    This time, however, Xue Chenjing didn''t stop her. He even smiled at her, with a look of confidence that she couldn''t escape his grasp.


    Yu Yi''s Teleportation Talisman was of her own making. Her talent in talisman crafting wasn''t as strong as her swordsmanship, and this talisman was quite ordinary. During the teleportation process, it could easily be affected by external interference. Earlier, with chaotic sword energies everywhere, she hadn''t dared to use it.


    The battle between the Brute Ox and Pei Jingchao had dispersed much of the rampant sword energy in the vicinity, so she no longer had to worry about being caught in the sword currents. Only then did she dare to use the Teleportation Talisman.


    As the light of the Teleportation Talisman faded, a sea of green bamboo appeared before her eyes. This time, the talisman had safely transported her to her destination, just outside a secret realm within a bamboo forest.


    The ck mountains in the clouds stretched for hundreds of miles, shrouding the surrounding area in dark clouds. The forest was dim and lightless. Just as Yu Yi emerged from the Sword-Sealing Stone, she heard a tremendous rumbling from the mountains above.


    A circr array appeared above the Sword-Sealing Stone. The spiritual energy from the array flowed into the red "seal" character on the ck mountains. The character glowed brightly, and the massive mountains began to shrink rapidly, inch by inch.


    Only when the dark shadow overhead moved away could Yu Yi see the Lishan Sword Sect disciples standing on their flying swords around the Sword-Sealing Stone. The cultivators still in the mountains began to fly out, and the Lishan Sword Sect disciples didn''t stop them, truly keeping their Sect Leader''s promise to let them take swords and leave.


    Yu Yi''s storage bag was full of high-grade spirit swords she had "harvested," making her one of the most sessful among this army of "wool-gatherers."


    Now that Lishan Sword Sect disciples were everywhere, she didn''t want to get involved with Pei Jingchao and was also worried that Xue Chenjing mighte looking for her. So she left immediately without lingering.


    Previously, to avoid the plot, Yu Yi had lived in seclusion here for five years, and the ce she visited most often was just the small Rounan County. However, this didn''t prevent her from wanting to tour the heart of the four seas.


    She had collected several versions of maps of the Nine Provinces and Four Seas alone, including mundane maps of provinces and prefectures that only circted among ordinary people, as well as celestial realm maps bought at high prices from cultivators. In addition, she had read countless geography books, travelogues, and anecdotes about immortal sects. She had long nned her route.


    Yu Yi left the Rounan County area and headed east, intending to go to Yinzhou City.


    Yinzhou City is arge city where immortals and mortals coexist, belonging to the territory of Zhaohua Pce, one of the twelve great immortal sects. It is most famous for its market.


    There are two major markets in the cultivation world. One is the Sea Market, held annually on Peni Immortal Ind. The other is the Land Market, located in Yinzhou City.


    Sitting on the back of her crane senior brother, Yu Yi took out the spirit swords from her storage bag andid them out in a row. She had harvested a total of sixteen spirit swords from the Sword-Sealing Stone. She took each one in hand and swung it a few times, feeling the sword energy, intending to select those ipatible with her spirit root attributes to sell first and use them to exchange for some travel funds.


    She originally had an innate Single Lightning Spirit Root, but because Juechen Zi primarily cultivated fire-based swordsmanship, he had passed on his lifelong cultivation to her before his death, inducing a secondary Spirit Root in her body¡ªa Fire Spirit Root.


    Over these five years, Yu Yi had been practicing the same sword technique to refine the spiritual energy her master had infused into her body.


    Her sword energy was intense, sprouting from wooden swords, with both lightning and fire attributes. It was most consumptive of spirit swords. Earlier, when dealing with Xue Chenjing, forcibly summoning the Red-crowned Crane Sword Spirit left by her master had already caused two cracks to appear on this bamboo sword.


    During the five years of cultivation in the secret realm, she had swept through arge area of thousand-year-old bamboo in the realm, using it all to craft bamboo swords.


    Now, among the sixteen high-grade spirit swords in her hand, after excluding the nine ipatible with her attributes, the remaining spirit swords could be reforged and integrated into her bamboo sword, elevating its grade.


    As a sword cultivator, one is destined to spend a lifetime journeying to practice swordsmanship, forge swords, and search for sword-forging materials. Being able to obtain so many sword-forging materials at once made Yu Yi unable to suppress the smile on her face.


    Now, whether in small towns of the mortal world or among cultivators encountered on the way, everyone''s topic of conversation was the Lishan Sword Sect.


    Cultivators who had obtained spirit swords were full of praise for the Lishan Sword Sect, which had kept its promise.


    Ordinary people viewed that huge mountain in the clouds as a cmity sent by heaven. With the mountain looming overhead, potentially falling at any moment, people were filled with fear. From the day the mountain appeared, the people living under its shadow began to flee with their families.


    When the disciples of the Lishan Sword Sect arrived, re-sealed the Sword-Sealing Stone, and retrieved it, then went aboutforting the affected viges and towns, the disced people gradually began to return.


    The people were immensely grateful to the immortals who had saved their homes. The first thing they did upon returning was to organize rituals, burning incense and bowing towards the direction of Mount Li. Wisps of smoke rose into the air, and the wind carried the scent of sandalwood.


    Both in the cultivation world and among mortals, the reputation of the Lishan Sword Sect had soared. And as the main person responsible for handling this Sword-Sealing Stone incident, Pei Jingchao had also gained a good reputation.


    In the Xiangfu Inn on the main street of Rounan County.


    Pei Jingchao stood by the window, flipping to thest page of the document in his hand. After quickly scanning it, he gently closed it and asked, "Have all the people affected by the Sword-Sealing Stone been sent back?"


    "Yes," the disciple behind him replied. "We have followed Senior Brother''s instructions and sent all the disced people back, repaired their damaged houses, andpensated for the crops and gardens affected by the sword energy. The people are all grateful to us."


    Pei Jingchao nodded, "That''s good. Now that matters here are settled, you lead the remaining disciples along with your Senior Sister Yuxiu back to Mount Li first."


    "Then, Senior Brother, you..."


    Before the disciple could finish his question, Pei Jingchao had already exined, "The Weapon Tempering tform has copsed, and we still haven''t found the person who controlled the demons. I need to stay here to continue investigating, otherwise I won''t be able to give a proper ount to the Master when we return to the mountain."


    The disciple said, "We could also stay here to investigate with Senior Brother."


    Pei Jingchao shook his head and turned to ce the document in his hand into the disciple''s, "You''re all too conspicuous here. How would those evil spirits dare to show themselves? Lianqing, your Senior Sister Yuxiu is severely injured and needs to return to the mountain to recuperate in the Spirit Pool. I can''t spare the time, so I need you to escort her back."


    Qi Lianqing followed his gaze to the woman lying on the bed. Yao Yuxiu''s eyes were tightly shut, her face pale, brows furrowed. Even in her unconscious state, she looked to be in great pain.


    It was the first time he had seen his senior sister so weak, like the rose outside his window after being battered by a storm¡ªher beautiful face in ruins, evoking a deep sense of pity.


    Feeling Pei Jingchao''s gaze upon her, Qi Lianqing quickly lowered her head, concealing her eyes beneath loweredshes, and nodded obediently, "Yes, Lianqing will surely escort Senior Sister safely back to Lishan Sword Sect."


    Pei Jingchao patted his shoulder approvingly, "Go prepare for the journey back. I''ll tend to Yuxiu''s meridians once more. You''ll set off early tomorrow morning."


    Qi Lianqing obediently withdrew from the room. Pei Jingchao sat on the edge of the bed, helping Yao Yuxiu into a cross-legged position. He grasped her wrists, channeling spiritual energy to dispel the chaotic sword qi within her body.


    The day they were struck by the Brute Ox and flung from the Weapon Tempering tform, Pei Jingchao had also sustained internal injuries, though not as severe as Yao Yuxiu''s.


    This junior sister of his had an arrogant temperament, impulsive and quick to anger, with a heart heavy with jealousy. If not for her birth into the Yao family, with such a disposition, she wouldn''t have reached her current stage on the path of cultivation. Her Nascent Soul cultivation was mostly built up through precious spiritual materials.


    The master had only this one daughter. The usually stern and humorless Sword Venerable became a man without principles before Yao Yuxiu, giving her whatever she wanted and spoiling her beyond measure.


    Yao Yuxiu had admired him since childhood, always trying to keep pace with him, yet she was naturally indolent and couldn''t endure the hardships of cultivation. When she wanted to build her foundation, Juechen Zi sacrificed a hundred years of his own cultivation to forge her sword foundation.


    After he reached the Core Formation stage, Yao Yuxiu also wanted to form her golden core. Juechen Zi personally went to Medicine King Valley to request pills, and joined with the sect elders to assist her in forming her core over three months of seclusion.


    Now that Pei Jingchao had reached the Nascent Soul stage, Yao Yuxiu naturally wanted to follow closely behind. Juechen Zi even procured the White Spirit Pill left behind by the Ji n of Immortals, feeding her one pill a day for thirty days to help her sessfully form her Nascent Soul.


    However, cultivation hastened in this manner was ultimately superficial. Yao Yuxiu''s sword foundation wasn''t built solidly enough, her sword qi was unstable, and after being struck by the Brute Ox, the sword qi immediately reversed course, injuring her meridians and internal organs.


    As Pei Jingchao circted his spiritual energy to clear the sword qi in her body, Yao Yuxiu''s pained expression finally eased somewhat. She copsed softly against his shoulder, muttering resentfully even in her sleep, "Senior Brother, you''re not allowed to look at anyone else. I forbid you to look at her..."


    The woman''s heavy scent of cosmetics assailed his nostrils, and Pei Jingchao''s eyes revealed unconcealed irritation.


    He had heard such words far too many times. Yao Yuxiu couldn''t stand any female cultivatoring near him, whether within the sect or outside. She always acted as if he were her personal possession.


    She wanted him, so he could only be hers.


    Pei Jingchao''s expression was cold, but his hands were exceedingly gentle as he supported her shoulders,ying her back down on the bed. His voice remained as warm and soft as ever, "Sleep peacefully. With you by my side, how could I look at anyone else?"


    Yao Yuxiu''s brow smoothed out. She mumbled a few more words, then pulled his hand to her bosom, embracing it possessively before falling into deep sleep.


    Pei Jingchao sat on the edge of the bed, looking at their interlocked fingers. He slowly adjusted the position of his wrist, shifting from being tightly pinned beneath to resting on top.


    From this angle, it appeared as if he were the one holding her hand of his own volition, rather than being forcibly possessed by her.


    Having endured for so many years, he wasn''t in a hurry now. His master''s cultivation had stagnated, and in recent years he had be increasingly obsessed with worldly desires, his state of mind deteriorating day by day.


    This could be seen from how he had been trapped in an illusion cast by demonic creatures this time, suffering severe mental damage before barely breaking free.


    Before long, control of Lishan Sword Sect would fall into his hands. Then he could decide for himself whose hand he truly wished to hold.


    Outside the window, the setting sun sank towards the west, and twilight quickly enveloped the small county town.


    On the roof of a tavern opposite Xiangfu Inn, Xue Chenjing perched with his toes touching a moss-covered blue tile.


    Between his fingers, he held a plump little ck bug. The bug squirmed as if unable to bear his grip, struggling to release a bubble.


    Inside the bubble appeared an elm woodttice window, beyond which was the scene of Pei Jingchao tenderly watching over Yao Yuxiu''s bedside.


    Watching their intimately sped hands, Xue Chenjing''s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Are you sure this ''original wife'' truly has lingering feelings for her and can threaten my position?"


    The system paused before countering, "Is the master referring to your position with only 6% favorability?"


    Xue Chenjing: "..."

 Chapter 17

    Xue Chenjing ignored the system''s sarcastic jabs. He had secretly observed Pei Jingchao for several days and was unimpressed by this potential rival, not wanting to waste time on him.


    Transparent tentacles emerged from behind him, resting on his shoulders. The tips of the tentacles burst open like blooming flowers, transforming into countless writhing, soft fments. These fments swayed in the air, capturing information left on Yu Yi''s body.


    Xue Chenjing followed the direction of the swaying fments, eventually tracking them to a ghost city where he lost Yu Yi''s trail.


    The outskirts of this ghost city were covered in ashes from burned joss paper. A rope circle formed by talismans surrounded the perimeter of the ruins. The talismans were of varying ages, showing they had beenyered year after year.


    When Xue Chenjing arrived, nearby vigers were conducting a sacrificial ceremony, with several cultivators from Zhaohua Pce present.


    These cultivators wore light purple Taoist robes and jade crowns, untouched by dust. Among the coarse-clothed country folk, they stood out like cranes among chickens.


    After a series of ritualistic procedures, the Zhaohua Pce cultivators handed a stack of talismans to the Vige Head.


    "Tie these talismans to the rope circle every ten zhang. Before the Ghost Festival, Zhaohua Pce will reinforce the barrier here. You should prepare as usual for that time."


    The Vige Head quickly called over the young, strong men of the vige to distribute the talismans, instructing them to follow the immortal''s directions.


    However, it was only the third month, with quite some time before the Ghost Festival.


    He asked worriedly, "Immortal sir, we saw that crane circling above the ghost city for three whole days, crying incessantly. Has something changed inside the ghost city? If so, can this year''s ritual be held earlier?"


    The cultivator frowned slightly, lowering his gaze to sweep over the mortal bowing eagerly before him. "Is the Vige Head questioning Zhaohua Pce''s abilities?"


    The Vige Head nervously wiped his sweat, bowing even lower, and hurriedly said, "How dare this old one! If not for the immortals of Zhaohua Pceing every year to suppress the evil spirits in the city, how could our nearby viges live in peace? This old one misspoke, please forgive me."


    The cultivator hummed in acknowledgment and said coolly, "We have taken that crane away."


    With that, the group made hand seals and flew away.


    Xue Chenjing followed the Zhaohua Pce cultivators and found Crane Senior Brother tied up in a teahouse. Upon seeing him, Crane Senior Brother became agitated, pping about. With its beak bound, it could only make guttural sounds.


    Crane Senior Brother''s perception had been altered by him earlier. Although Yu Yi had awakened, this stupid bird hadn''te to its senses and still saw him as its master''s troublesome husband.


    It usually disliked Xue Chenjing, but in crucial moments, it had to set aside its prejudices and seek his help.


    The Zhaohua Pce cultivators immediately looked over. Xue Chenjing approached them, bowing with sped hands, and said, "Greetings, fellow Daoists. Is this the crane you captured?"


    They looked him up and down, stood up, and returned the greeting, "It broke our barrier, so we were about to take it back to Zhaohua Pce for punishment."


    "I see. To be honest, this crane is my mount. We got separated a few days ago, and I''ve been searching for it for a long time."


    Xue Chenjing red reproachfully at the red-crowned crane, and the pping Crane Senior Brother immediately settled down. He then took out a heavy bag of spirit stones from his storage pouch and handed it over, saying apologetically, "It''s my fault for not managing my mount properly and causing trouble for you all. Please ept this smallpensation."


    Seeing the crane''s reaction, the group realized they must know each other. These Zhaohua Pce cultivators weren''t particrly interested in a foolish crane, so they weighed the spirit stones and immediately untied the ropes.


    Finally, they warned him, "We hope you will properly restrain your mount and not let it break through others'' barriers again. If something serious happens, it won''t be resolved with just a bag of spirit stones."


    "Thank you for the reminder. I will certainly teach it a good lesson," Xue Chenjing said, eyeing Crane Senior Brother narrowly as he led it out of the teahouse.


    Crane Senior Brother carried him away from the area,nding in a small grove. Xue Chenjing asked, "Where''s your master?"


    The red-crowned crane circled Xue Chenjing, making a series of cawing sounds worse than crying. Its pping wings emitted a foul odor that even overpowered its natural bird smell.


    Xue Chenjing held his breath, unable to understand birdnguage and finding the noise irritating to his ears.


    He grabbed the crane''s long, slender neck, and transparent tentacles emerged from his sleeves, wrapping around its beak. The tip of a tentacle extended into a long, thin spike that suddenly pierced into the back of the crane''s head.


    Crane Senior Brother''s pping wings went limp and fell still.


    Xue Chenjing extracted the desired information from its brain, which was smaller than a walnut kernel.


    After emerging from the Sword-Sealing Stone, Yu Yi had swiftly left the Cloud Mountain area. She wanted to attend a fair in Yinzhou Prefecture. Three days ago, while riding the crane past this area, both she and the bird were pulled down from mid-air by an invisible force, crashing into the ghost city.


    The bird had been dazed by the fall. When it awoke, it found its master missing. It had searched the area for three days, exploring every corner of the ghost city without finding her. Instead, it triggered the barrier sealing the ghost city, attracting the Zhaohua Pce cultivators who captured it.


    "Wuwuwu, the female lead is missing again! I told you to chase after her quickly!" the system wailed.


    Xue Chenjing released his grip, and Crane Senior Brother fell limply to the ground, its small eyes rolling back, looking as if its soul was about to leave its body.


    He picked up the crane and returned to the outskirts of the ghost city. The vigers had already left, and a string of fresh talismans had been added to the rope circle to suppress the yin energy of the ce.


    Xue Chenjing tossed Crane Senior Brother aside and drew a magic array with his fingers to release the Earth Impurity. The misty Earth Impurity quickly prated the barrier, covering the entire ghost city.


    Momentster, the dense fog coalesced back into his hand, forming a three-dimensional miniature of the scene, replicating every tiny detail within the ghost city.


    Xue Chenjing manipted the Earth Impurity, examining the local terrain. "Hidden Yin Land," he muttered.


    No wonder it felt so gloomy upon entering. The vegetation here grew lush, but there were no birds or beasts, and even insect sounds were scarce. Crane Senior Brother had lingered here for three days, bing covered in a chilling corpse energy.


    The miniature scene created by the Earth Impurity expanded between his five fingers, revealing local details. Xue Chenjing thoroughly examined the ruins inside and out, discovering some battle traces that time had not erased and uncovering remnant text within the ruins.


    This appeared to be the site of a sect that had been destroyed thousands of years ago. A great battle had overturned the underground spiritual veins, leading to the sect''s downfall.


    The umtion of massive resentment had transformed this spiritualnd into a ce of evil, and the passing of time had altered the surroundingndscape, intensifying the situation and creating the ghost city that exists today.


    When Yu Yi passed through here, it was midnight when yin energy was at its peak. She was likely pulled in by earth-bound spirits in the ghost realm to serve as a substitute.


    "Is this what you call the female lead''s luck? Getting into trouble just by walking around," Xue Chenjing clicked his tongue. He disliked unnecessaryplications and didn''t want to get involved in anything unrted to his goals. "What would happen if she just died like this?"


    The system was shocked. "The female lead can''t die! Master, she''s your future wife, not your enemy. If you approach her with such a resistant, hateful attitude, you won''t be able to win her over."


    Xue Chenjing''s face remained expressionless as he sneered, "I''ve always coexisted with demonic beings of hatred and resentment. Did you really think my body would contain things like love and tenderness that could warm her?"


    System: "..." Of course I know you don''t have those things, that''s what''s worrying, wuwuwu.


    It turned out the host had actually listened seriously to its mission briefings? The system suddenly felt a bit guilty.


    Of course, Xue Chenjing was just saying this. After the Sword-Sealing Stone incident, he had finallypromised with reality and had to seriously consider how to win her over and increase her favorability.


    He sat down beside the unconscious crane, ncing at the setting sun on the western mountain peak, waiting for nightfall.


    Unhurriedly, he took out a food box from his storage pouch and opened it. The box was divided into eightpartments, each containing an exquisite dessert.


    Xue Chenjing popped a piece of peach blossom cake into his mouth, rubbing the sugar powder off his fingertips. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly asked, "Tell me, why would her heart be riddled with wounds? Could it be that her entire family was murdered, with the killer humiliating her parents before her eyes? Or perhaps she was once imprisoned, abused, her flesh cut and blood drained, treated like livestock..."


    After all, the tragedies of the human world are more or less the same.


    The system, unable to bear it any longer, interrupted him, "No, no, no, nothing like that. The female lead hasn''t suffered that badly."


    "Oh," Xue Chenjing calmly fell silent, then continued to ask, "Then tell me, what trauma has she actually experienced for her heart to be so riddled with wounds, cold and shattered?"


    Heavens, he not only listened attentively to the system''s task but remembered every word of it so clearly!


    The system paused for a moment, then asked softly, "Why is the host asking these questions?"


    "Didn''t you tell me to win her over?" Xue Chenjing licked the sugar powder from the corner of his lips and said, "I need to know how her heart is riddled with wounds so that I can use my love and tenderness to fill each and every wound, healing her heart."


    His smile was extremely malicious, and he deliberately emphasized "love and tenderness," sounding quite sarcastic.


    System: "..." This was the most difficult host it had ever been assigned to.


    "Mortals are such fragile, sensitive, and troublesome creatures," Xue Chenjing said disdainfully. After waiting for a long time without a response from the system, he impatiently snorted through his nose and urged, "Speak."


    The system racked its brains, hemming and hawing for a long time.


    How could it know what trauma the female lead had experienced? In the book''s setting, the female lead was just a sweet girl born in peacetime, raised under the red g, gentle, kind, and morally upright.


    She hadn''t experienced any dark side of life, let alone carried the burden of a blood feud from a family massacre. No one had bullied her either; she was a person who grew up properly, surrounded by love.


    It wasn''t until she was neen that, ording to the book''s plot, she transmigrated into this world and began to experience the cruelties of life she had never encountered before.


    The system was supposed to bind to the female lead, apany her, and assist her in winning over the viin, but it had bound to the wrong person.


    In the system task it had issued, all the descriptions of the target to be won over were not meant to describe the female lead, but to describe him, the viin.


    So, the one with a heart riddled with wounds in the original novel was him, the cold and shattered one was also him. The fragile, sensitive, irritable, and particrly cry-prone troublesome creature was all him.


    And here he was, looking so disdainful.


    But the system couldn''t say any of this outright.


    Under Xue Chenjing''s pressuring gaze, the system''s core was about to burn up.


    Finally, it stammered out a response: "The female lead hase from another world to this unfamiliar world of the book. She knows that she''s destined for a difficult fate, to be physically and emotionally tormented. She must feel very lonely, confused, helpless, and want to escape this life. You are her only salvation!"

 Chapter 18

    From Yu Yi''s appearance, Xue Chenjing couldn''t tell at all that she was very lonely, lost, and helpless.


    She had always wanted to escape, but only to flee from him, her "sole salvation".


    The system was terribly afraid that its host truly intended to just sit and wait for the female lead to perish, and was anxiously fretting.


    Just then, a leaf on the task tree within the system suddenly lit up, indicating a temporary task.


    [System: Ding¡ª A temporary courtship task has been triggered. Research shows that appropriate physical contact can promote emotional warmth between two parties and elerate courtship progress. Please entice the target to touch you of their own ord within twelve hours.]


    [Holding hands earns 5 points, touching the cheek earns 10 points, touching other body parts under clothing earns 15 points, and initiating a kiss earns 20 points.]


    Xue Chenjing coldlyughed without concern, "Hah."


    [System: When the host umtes 100 points, a plot clue will be unlocked.]


    The words "plot clue" perfectly struck Xue Chenjing''s weak spot.


    The casual smile at his lips faded as his expression turned serious. He angrily said, "If points can unlock plot clues, why didn''t you say so earlier?"


    The system replied very innocently: "Host''s points were far too low. Even if I had told you earlier, it wouldn''t have made a difference."


    Xue Chenjing pondered briefly, then began to haggle with the system: "Only 20 points for a kiss? What do you take me for, some cheap male courtesan from a brothel?"


    The system said sourly: "The male courtesans in brothels are far better at pleasing people than you."


    To think the host was seriously haggling over points with it. Did he really believe that with such little affection, he could actually manage a kiss?


    After careful analysis, the system concluded that the chances of its host kissing the female lead were essentially zero, but it ultimately refrained from saying so to avoid dampening the host''s enthusiasm forpleting tasks.


    It exined: "Master, these point values are set by the main system. I can''t change them either. Moreover, the point values for this temporary task are already quite high, higher than those you''ve earned from previous tasks."


    The system was telling the truth. The points Xue Chenjing had earned from previous tasks were all just scattered values.


    At that time, he didn''t know points could be exchanged for plot clues, so he hadn''t paid much attention. This allowed the system to take advantage and arbitrarily waste the points he had worked hard to earn, exchanging them for some ridiculous Ghost Cloud Robe meant to guard against him.


    The more Xue Chenjing thought about it, the angrier he became. Grinding his back teeth, heughed in exasperation: "Don''t humans have even more intimate acts? How many points would those be worth?"


    System: "..." Aren''t you getting a bit ahead of yourself! Why was its host always so overly ambitious?


    The system fell silent for a moment, then emphasized: "Master, the temporary task issued by the system requires the target to touch you of their own ord to earn the corresponding points. You can''t force her!"


    Xue Chenjing snorted coldly, displeased: "Of course I know that."


    The system breathed a sigh of relief. "It''s good that you understand. If the host can get the target to willingly perform more intimate acts with you, naturally the points earned will be correspondingly higher."


    At this moment, the red-crowned crane beside them woke up. Xue Chenjing stopped arguing with the system and gave some instructions to his crane senior. Watching its head tilt back and forth with a foolish expression, he wasn''t sure how much it understood.


    ...


    At midnight, Xue Chenjing''s figure dissipated into mist in the earthly realm, silently seeping into the ruins of the Ghost City.


    The night in this gloomy ghostly ce wasn''t particrly dark. Ayer of eerie red light shrouded the wilderness, silent and still. asionally, ghostly fires would float by, shing momentarily before vanishing behind broken walls.


    The shadows of nts swayed in the night, resembling writhing snakes. Faint rustling sounds came from within the ruins, as if the entire Ghost City hade alive in the night.


    A ck shadow shed in the corner of Xue Chenjing''s eye. He whipped his head around, but at the edge of his vision was only a lush locust tree. Somehow, the tree had be full of flower buds, with snow-white blossoms linked in clusters hanging from the branches, glowing faintly like piles of ice and snow.


    During the day, there hadn''t been such a flowering tree here.


    Xue Chenjing stood in ce, tilting his head slightly to examine the out-of-ce locust tree,pletely unaware of the changes urring in the muddy ground beneath his feet.


    Countless ck shadows emerged from the damp soil, with distorted human faces and grasping fingers materializing from the shadows. More and more such shadows appeared, popping up from copsed walls and from among the roots of lush vegetation, sizing up this rare intruder.


    "He''s mine, he''s mine, this person is mine."


    "Let him rece me, I want to leave this ce..."


    "Rece me, rece me, rece me, please let me go, I don''t want to experience those things again..."


    Xue Chenjing made a gesture of listening intently, and the rustling ghostly cries suddenly fell silent, making one think it was just the wind whimpering as it passed through the ruins.


    He deliberately walked towards the flowering tree. With each step he took, countless dark shadows grasped at the hem of his robe, like drowning people trying to grab onto a final lifeline. All the ghost shadows urgently tried to grab him, to drag him into this sunless ghost realm in exchange for their own freedom.


    But for some reason, after grasping him, these ghostly hands suddenly let go. As a result, Xue Chenjing walked brazenly through this ghost city for quite some time without a single ghost shadow managing to drag him away.


    As time passed, the ghost shadows lurking around him actually grew fewer and fewer.


    The system sighed: "Master, it''s bad enough that you have poor rtionships with people, but how is it that even ghosts reject you?"


    Xue Chenjing frowned. Just as another ghostly hand released his ankle, he suddenly crouched down, lifted his hem with his left hand, and swiftly reached out with his right, plunging it into theyers of ghost shadows at his feet. In a sh, he tightly grasped a withered ghostly hand.


    Shrill ghost screams erupted around him. All the ghost shadows instantly retreated into the ground like receding ck water, leaving only the one Xue Chenjing had grabbed.


    He gripped the ghost hand forcefully, his fingers sinking into the spaces between its fingers. He said in a friendly tone: "A scapegoat has delivered himself to your door, and you don''t want him?"


    The ghost hand was unable to break free from his grip. After a moment of silence, ck shadows seeped out from the ground, rose up rapidly, and quickly enveloped his entire body.


    Xue Chenjing remained motionless as the ghost shadows swallowed him. After a moment of disorientation, he sensed that his surroundings had changed, presumably having been dragged into the Ghost Realm by that earth-bound spirit.


    As soon as he entered the Ghost Realm, the system spoke up to remind him: "Master, time flows differently herepared to the outside world. One day outside is equivalent to a year here. The female lead entered three days before you, which means she''s been trapped here for over three years already."


    The earth-bound spirit harbored extremely deep resentment and would be bound to its ce of death, constantly repeating its past experiences.


    Those pulled in as substitutes could only act like puppets on strings, following the spirit''s actions until their own consciousness was devoured and they fellpletely into the role of the earth-bound spirit, trapped here in its ce.


    Three years¡ªcould her consciousness truly endure for three years?


    But then he remembered how hard-hearted Yu Yi was. Even he couldn''t easily tame her, so it seemed unlikely that she wouldpletely lose herself.


    The system asked hopefully: "Master, if the female lead appears before you, you''ll surely be able to recognize her immediately, right?"


    "Of course," Xue Chenjing replied with absolute certainty and full confidence. Just as the system was feeling reassured, it heard him continue, "She bears my mark."


    System: "..." This implied that without the mark, he wouldn''t be able to recognize her.


    How frustrating. In other novels, the male lead could always recognize his wife at a nce.


    Even Pei Jingchao could immediately recognize Yu Yi after five years, and he had only seen her once while severely injured and unconscious! Yet Xue Chenjing, who had spent so many days with Yu Yi, still relied on a mark to identify her.


    Its host truly was the most useless male lead under the heavens.


    Xue Chenjing remainedpletely oblivious to the system''s grief and disparagement. After entering the Ghost Realm, his vision remained dark, with a cloth covering his face and his hands tied tightly behind his back with hemp rope.


    The rope was imbued with magical power, preventing him from breaking free.


    Uncertain of his current situation, he refrained from rash actions. The shadow beneath him rippled as transparent tentacles lifted the hem of his robe, emerging from underneath him. In an instant, the tentacles filled the surrounding space, dancing mboyantly in the air.


    The information gathered by the tentacles quickly fed back into Xue Chenjing''s mind.


    The room was brightly lit, with two candlesticks ced on the table by the window. Festive red candles were inserted in the candlesticks, already burned halfway down. The melted wax had formed small pools of red liquid on the golden candlesticks, as red as drops of blood.


    Red wedding decorations were pasted on the windows, and red silk hangings adorned the room everywhere. Clearly, this was a wedding chamber.


    The bride, dressed in a big red wedding gown with a red veil covering her head, sat on the edge of the bed with her hands behind her back.


    There was only one person in the room. No, to be precise, there was only me in the room.


    Xue Chenjing thought this way, as one of his tentacles curled back and wrapped around his body, its tip brushing from his waist up to his t chest¡ªhe was a man.


    A man wearing a woman''s wedding dress, face covered by a veil, waiting in the bridal chamber - this scene was abnormal no matter how you looked at it.


    The system asked in confusion: "Bridal chamber? Why a bridal chamber?"


    Xue Chenjing replied calmly: "It''s a past memory of that earth-bound spirit."


    The system anxiously said: "No, no, how can you consummate a marriage with someone else? Master, you don''t have many good qualities left, you must preserve your chastity for the female lead."


    Xue Chenjing scoffed, only ignorant humans would obsess over such things.


    The emperor wasn''t worried, but the eunuch was anxious. The system frantically searched through its inventory and finally found something. It happily said: "Master, I have the Five-colored Cloud Robe that I exchanged for the female leadst time. It still has six hours of effect left, which trantes to about half a year in this Ghost Realm. Let me put it on you!"


    If the system had a physical form, Xue Chenjing would have torn it to pieces right now. He sneered and said in an increasingly gentle tone: "You can try."


    The system''s excited voice cut off abruptly, intimidated by him.


    Xue Chenjing still retained his own consciousness at the moment and wasn''tpletely controlled by the earth-bound spirit.


    A tentacle wrapped around his waist, its tip hooking onto the veil on his head and pulling it off. Xue Chenjing opened his eyes, but his vision remained pitch ck, with no light entering his pupils.


    This earth-bound spirit that had dragged him in as a substitute was actually a blind person who couldn''t see.


    Xue Chenjing controlled a tentacle to crawl up his cheek. The rounded tip pried open his eyelid, and transparent soft flesh directly covered his eyeball. Countless fine threads seeped from the tentacle into his pupil. After a moment, the fine threads withdrew, and the tentacle retreated from his face.


    These eyes werepletely dead. Not only were the eyes dead, but his meridians were also in tatters, and the bones throughout his body were shattered beyond recognition. If it weren''t for a spirit wood supporting his spine, he wouldn''t have been able to sit up at all.


    His face was heavily made up, with white powder applied like a wall, and rouge thickly smeared on his eyelids and cheeks. His lips were dyed as red as blood, even redder than the candle wax on the windowsill.


    Heavy jeweled earrings hung from both of Xue Chenjing''s earlobes, with blood scabs congealed at the stretched piercing holes.


    Judging from this ridiculous attire and makeup, this earth-bound spirit had not lived a good life. It must have been because of this that its resentment was difficult to dispel, binding it here, unable to transcend.


    Being bound as a substitute by such a crippled earth-bound spirit, Xue Chenjing could only me his bad luck. Unable to move his body, he had to rely on the information transmitted back through his tentacles to observe his surroundings.


    Transparent tentacles extended from beneath him, sweeping around the room, pushing the door open a crack, and creeping outside.


    Rednterns hung from the corridors on all four sides of the courtyard. Every building, tile, de of grass, and tree here was bathed in a festive red glow. Even the moon in the sky was tinged with ayer of red.


    Beyond the many courtyard walls, sounds ofughter drifted from the front courtyard, and the wind carried the rich aroma of food and wine.


    The tentacle that had stretched out of the room stood erect in the middle of the courtyard. Suddenly, the inside of the thick tentacle began to gurgle and move. After a moment, fist-sized fleshy bulbs grew out of it. These bulbs separated from the tentacle, and under the fist-sized umbre-like caps hung countless tiny fleshy tendrils.


    Small and light transparent jellyfish rode the flowing air, scattering like flowers from heaven. Their tails were attached to threads as fine as spider silk, connecting them to the main body.


    The scattered jellyfish floated in the air, and soon Xue Chenjing''s mind had a clear picture of theyout of this area. The Hidden Yin Land of the future was still a spiritnd a thousand years ago.


    Locust trees grew everywhere here, their flowers absorbing abundant spiritual energy and glowing faintly in the night. At the very center was arge locust tree with lush branches and leaves, its flowers hanging down white as piled snow. This was the tree Xue Chenjing had seen earlier.


    Semi-transparent tree spirits fluttered among the treetops; the locust tree had developed a spirit form.


    Xue Chenjing''s tentacles were also spirit forms, but of the demonic kind. To avoid being detected by the possible sensing between spirit forms, he directed the jellyfish to bypass thatrge locust tree and float towards the most lively area.


    There, the lights were as bright as day. Banquet tables stretched from the majestic great hall all the way to the square outside. People clinked sses, musicians yed, dancers twirled - it was a grand scene indeed.


    The demonic jellyfish in mid-air divided again, bing even smaller, like floating dandelion seeds, silently falling into the crowd. The fleshy tendrils hanging from the spirits brushed over every person they passed, sniffing everywhere for Yu Yi''s aura.


    A group of maids hurriedly carried trays of food into the hall, the slight breeze from their steps carrying a group of transparent little things into the great hall unnoticed.


    Inside the great hall, many figures moved about. It was the height of the drinking, with many drunk people sprawled on their seats.


    To call them people wasn''t entirely urate. Some had animal tails swaying behind them, some had animal horns growing on their heads, and some who hadpletely passed out had transformed entirely into their original forms.


    In the center of the great hally a writhing python, a wine cup held in its mouth, clearly having drunk itself unconscious.


    Another crimson snake tail slithered out from under a nearby table. This red snake still maintained a human upper body - a voluptuous man draped in red gauze. Only his lower half had transformed into a snake tail, tightly entwined with the tail of the unconscious python, openly mating in front of everyone.


    Small snakes slithered everywhere in the hall. The overwhelming demonic aura in the hall had almost solidified, feeding back to Xue Chenjing''s consciousness through the jellyfish''s tentacles.


    "I didn''t expect it to be a demon city," Xue Chenjing narrowed his sightless eyes, unconsciously licking his lips, then spitting in disgust at the taste of the sweet lip rouge.


    At the banquet, the red snake demon raised his wine cup towards the person in the main seat, swaying his head as he said, "Although the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord forcibly abducted Ji Hanyi to humiliate him, Ji Hanyi has lost all his cultivation and his meridians are ruined. Mountain Lord, you''re actually at a disadvantage to form a contract with such a useless person."


    The Mountain Lord at the main seat drained a cup, spilling wine from the corner of their mouth onto their chest, revealing alluring curves under the wedding robe.


    They stood up unsteadily, turned the cup upside down on the table, andughed loudly, "Tell me, when you saw Ji Hanyi stripped of his white robes today, forced to let down his hair, painted with rouge, adorned with hairpins and earrings, dressed in a big red wedding gown, pressed to the ground to bow and marry me - didn''t it feel satisfying?"


    The red snake demon flicked out his long forked tongue to lick the wine in his cup. His bewitching eyes narrowed slightly as he uttered two words from his throat, "Satisfying!"


    Not just satisfying - merely recalling the humiliation on that white-robed immortal lord''s face was enough to serve as a drinking snack for another jar of wine.


    Following him, cries of "Satisfying!" resounded throughout the great hall one after another.


    The crowd of demons was utterly drunk, crying andughing. Some poured wine to mourn their dead n members and friends, while others drunkenly pointed at the air, cursing and swearing.


    "Ji Wangye, Ji Yunwu, Ji Liuyan... these Ji n people, it''s good that they''re dead, it''s so good that they''re dead! I think even the heavens couldn''t stand the atrocities of the Ji n, that''s why they were made to fall into demonic cultivation and kill each other."


    The Ji n despised all non-human races, viewing them as lowly creatures unworthy of being mentioned in the same breath as humans. Under the Ji n''s leadership, human cultivators would kill any demon on sight.


    The Ji n, which had long oppressed them, had fallen. These once lofty immortal lords of the Ji n, who had terrified countless demons and spirits to the point where they dared not even mention their names, were now being cursed at will.


    They had endured in fear for too long and needed to vent this long-held terror.


    As the name "Ji Hanyi" kept reaching his ears, countless images shed through Xue Chenjing''s mind - the past memories of this earth-bound spirit that had dragged him into the Ghost Realm as a substitute.


    Xue Chenjing''s mind throbbed with pain, his body uncontrobly trembling. He heard his own rapid breathing, his heartbeat so strong it made his broken bones ache, his chest churning with intense disgust.


    He was forced to feel the surging emotions of another soul, but momentster, these emotions gradually settled, leaving only the desire for death.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t die now. His powers were gone, his limbs bound, unable even to take his own life. Even if he were to dieter, his soul would be imprisoned here, reliving these past events over and over.


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes, struggling to separate these numb and cold suicidal emotions from his true self, not letting himself fall into them. When he sessfully suppressed the emotions of the earth-bound spirit and came back to his senses, his demon spirits had already scattered everywhere.


    Among the chaotic and fragmented information transmitted back by the demon spirits, Xue Chenjing caught a familiar aura. He immediately traced it, and in a corner of the smoky and hazy demon hall, he discovered a small figure hunched over, eating.


    The demon spiritnded on her shoulder, its jellyfish-like tentacles sticking to her neck, detecting the mark he had ced on her.


    "Found her," Xue Chenjing said with pleasure.


    ...


    The demon spirits in the great hall instantly converged on that corner, surrounding her, sniffing her scent, "watching" her from all directions.


    Yu Yi was oblivious to this. She was focused on peeling a handful of sunflower seeds. After peeling a small bunch, she stuffed them all into her mouth at once, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed with contentment, her eyes narrowed.


    She wore a deep cyan-colored dress with silver-embroidered locust flowers in full bloom. On her brow were five-colored demon markings, and her hair was adorned with bright feathers. Her round, lively eyes moved about, taking in every bit of excitement among the demons in the hall.


    Xue Chenjing found the five-colored demon markings on her brow somewhat familiar; he seemed to have seen her appearance in Ji Hanyi''s memories of his past life. He closed his eyes, guarding his own soul, and scanned through the earth-bound spirit''s memories again.


    Finally, he found that ssh of five-colored demon markings.


    In Ji Hanyi''s memories, three years ago, out of a moment ofpassion, he had spared a five-colored bird. This bird demon would, three yearster, on the night of his grand wedding with the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord - which was tonight - betray the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord and try to sneak into the bridal chamber to rescue him.


    Unfortunately, her rescue attempt failed. While carrying Ji Hanyi on her back, fleeing from Dark Cinnabar Mountain, they were surrounded by the mountain''s demon guards.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord, enraged at being cuckolded on her wedding night, threw this five-colored bird demon into a fire pit in front of Ji Hanyi, roasted it, and forced Ji Hanyi to eat it, bones and all.


    Yu Yi had been dragged in as a substitute by such a useless little bird demon, and had been trapped here for three years, unable to escape.


    Xue Chenjing said in an displeased tone, "It seems she used all her energy to deal with me, her ''only salvation''."


    The system remained silent, feeling guilty.


    Xue Chenjing sat calmly in the bridal chamber, waiting for the little bird demon to sneak in to rescue him, so he could then take her out.


    However, he waited and waited, but Yu Yi remained steadily seated in the corner of the demon hall.


    She finished a te of sunflower seeds on the table, drank a pot of floral dew, emptied all the vegetables and pastries from the bowls and tes, without touching the meat dishes. Finally, she stretchedzily, her eyes scanning the demons sprawled drunk all over the hall, and crouched up to stand.


    Xue Chenjing perked up, thinking she had finally remembered toe rescue him.


    Unexpectedly, Yu Yi crouched and sneaked around the hall, pilfering a te of fruits and pastries from each table. Half an hourter, she returned to her original spot with her full harvest.


    This newly filled table of dishes was enough for her to eat untilte afternoon. Where would she find time to rescue him, a fallen immortal lord trapped in the bridal chamber?


    Xue Chenjing, as a substitute pulled into this ghost realm, though retaining his own consciousness, was still controlled by the earth-bound spirit''s every move, repeating its experiences and encounters from its past life, unable to act freely.


    But judging from Yu Yi''s behavior, she had clearly broken free from the earth-bound spirit''s constraints and could act freely.


    With the little bird demon noting to rescue him, Xue Chenjing began to feel restless in the bridal chamber. Two tentacles wrapped around to his back, their mucus covering the hemp ropes binding him. The demonic aura quickly eroded the magical charms on the ropes, and with a gentle tug of the tentacles, the ropes loosened.


    But although he had undone the ropes, this body still couldn''t move an inch, hands behind his back, maintaining the bound posture. This earth-bound spirit was so deeply mired in the past that it didn''t even realize the ropes on his body hade loose.


    After many attempts, Xue Chenjing still couldn''t break free from the earth-bound spirit''s constraints. He had no choice but to turn his attention back to the demon hall.


    Over there, the great hall was in chaos, the demons indulging in debauchery, too obscene to look at, various demonic auras intertwining.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord, satiated with food and drink, finally remembered there was an immortal lord in the bridal chamber eagerly awaiting her favor. The legs under her long dress transformed into a snake tail, suddenly coiling around a maid who was pouring wine for her, lifting her high into the air before mming her down hard.


    The maid couldn''t even let out a scream before all the bones in her body were crushed, dying on the spot. Her blood slowly spread along the cracks in the floor.


    The great hall suddenly fell silent. Yu Yi was so startled she dropped her sunflower seeds, craning her neck to look towards the front of the hall.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord''s snake tail retracted under her skirt. Her bewitching eyes nced at the trembling maids in the hall, her crimson lips parting to scold, "Useless things, what time is it now? Why didn''t you remind me? If I had missed the auspicious time for my wedding night, I would have yed you all alive."


    The maids in the hall all knelt down at once, prostrating themselves on the ground, begging for mercy.


    They were all humans abducted to the demon mountain. If they didn''t serve well, they would truly be skinned and have their bones picked clean, made into dishes on the table to be eaten by these demons.


    Now that the Ji n had fallen, the world was in chaos, and all the dormant demons and monsters had emerged. The righteous immortals were struggling to protect themselves, with no one to spare a thought for these pitiful mortals.


    The Ji n had once led cultivators to kill countless demons. Now that the demon race had turned the tables, they wanted to eat as many humans. The enmity between humans and demons was as deep as the sea, irreconcble.


    The human blood meandering across the floor was still steaming, its scent stirring the surrounding demons. The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord rose, her snake waist twisting as if boneless, smiling as she said, "This lord is going to enter the bridal chamber now. Everyone, please enjoy yourselves."


    With that, she beckoned two maids to support her as she walked towards the inner hall.


    Once the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord had spoken, the demons went wild. Screams erupted throughout the hall. A maid, chased by a cat demon, stumbled and crawled to Yu Yi''s feet, grabbing her skirt in panic, begging for help.


    The cat demon leaped up, its six long tails flying in the air, its agile body pouncing down from above, pinning both of them under it. It extended its barbed tongue, licking from the maid''s neck all the way to the five-colored bird''s face.


    Yu Yi felt half her face burning with pain. The maid in her arms had already been frightened stiff, her full weight pressing down on Yu Yi, hot tears soaking her shoulder.


    The cat demon transformed into a human face, with golden eyes nting upwards at the corners. It nced at the sunflower seed shells scattered on the ground and said disdainfully, "Huai Li, is this all you know how to eat?"


    The little bird demon looked up at him, her eyes quickly filling with tears, and said timidly, "We birds all eat these things."


    "Nonsense. Golden Hook is also a bird demon, and he''s already eaten several people," the cat demon said, materializing a human hand to grasp the back of her head, pressing her face towards the maid''s neck. "Eat her."


    The little bird demon shook her head desperately. "I don''t eat people. I... I only eat insects."


    "If you don''t eat her, I''ll eat you!" the cat demon youth bared a mouthful of fangs, threatening.


    Under his intimidation, the little bird demon cried, snot and tears streaming down her face as she begged, "Li Su, if you bully me again, I''ll go tell Grandma..."


    Her appearance reflected in the cat demon''s clear golden eyes, causing him to freeze.


    He stared at her tear-stained face without blinking. After a long while, he suddenly came to his senses, angrily raking a w through her hair bun, grabbing a feather in his hand, and cursed, "Tattletale, when the old woman dies, I''ll definitely catch you and eat you."


    As he spoke, he lowered his head, baring his teeth to bite her neck. He didn''t notice the hand seal the bird demon quickly formed beneath him.


    Suddenly, the sunflower seed shells on the ground moved without wind, pelting the cat demon''s face. As he wed and swatted away the shells attacking his face, a tremendous boom erupted in front of him, as ifpressed air had suddenly exploded. The force sted him flying backwards, leaving only a shrill cat''s cry.


    Yu Yi grabbed the nearby maid and fled from the great hall.


    Only after they had run far from the bustling area to a quiet corner did the two stop. The maid, dragged along the whole way, copsed to the ground panting as soon as they stopped, looking at Yu Yi with some fear.


    Yu Yi said, "I only eat insects, I won''t eat you. Go find a ce to hide yourself."


    Hearing this, hope flickered in the maid''s eyes, but before she could speak, Yu Yi had already vanished from the spot. She knew what the other wanted to say - she was just a small bird demon, unable to protect anyone.


    Moreover, these people were already dead long ago.


    As Yu Yi walked, she couldn''t help but sniffle, her eyes like opened faucets that couldn''t be shut off. She always seemed to encounter crybabies.


    "There, there, don''t cry anymore." Yu Yi wiped her face with her sleeve, patting her chest tofort herself.


    Another voice inside her body sobbed, "Wuwuwu, I was so scared, I almost got eaten!"


    Yu Yi burst outughing, her face a twisted mix ofughter and tears. Sheforted the little bird demon, "Don''t worry, Li Su won''t eat you."


    "How is that possible? His teeth are so sharp, I almost got eaten by him just now!" Huai Li said fearfully, recalling his mouthful of sharp teeth. Tears welled up again, "He''ll eat me sooner orter, wuwuwu."


    Yu Yi could only let her cry. She re-tied her loosened hair bun, and after some thought, decided to tell the little bird demon, "Li Su likes you, so he won''t eat you."


    When that cat pounced on her earlier, the purring in his throat was unmistakably loud.


    The little bird demon hupped from crying, fallingpletely silent in shock at her words.


    It wasn''t until quite a whileter that she noticed Yu Yi was not heading towards the courtyard where the Immortal Lord was trapped. She hurriedly called out, "Weren''t you going to save the Immortal Lord? Hurry and go, or it''ll be toote!"


    "I''m not going," Yu Yi tly refused.


    Huai Li was an earth-bound spirit here, trapped in the past. She only knew the present and didn''t realize that if she went, not only would she fail to save the Immortal Lord, but she would end up as roasted little bird.


    That cat demon called Li Su who leapt into the furnace trying to save her would have six of his tails cut off, burning to death together in the raging fire.


    When Yu Yi fell into this ce, she had seen Huai Li''s memories from when she was alive. She knew Huai Li couldn''t go. Rather than repeating the tragedy of trying to save that Immortal Lord, she had more important things to do.


    She was skilled in both swordsmanship and talisman arts. Although she didn''t have much talent in talisman arts, she had finished reading the talisman books her master left behind.


    Talismans and arrays go hand in hand. She had investigated the terrain of Dark Cinnabar Mountain. At this time, Dark Cinnabar Mountain had not yet formed into the Hidden Yin Land ofter generations. To trap so many ghosts here, unable to transcend even after thousands of years, there must be something supporting the formation of this Ghost Realm.


    Only by finding that thing and releasing all the earth-bound spirits on the mountain could they be freed from reliving these painful past events over and over again.


    Huai Li didn''t know her n and just kept insisting on going to save people. "You promised me you''d go save the Immortal Lord! You said you were a cultivator, how can you stand by and watch someone die?"


    "You''re a demon, aren''t you? There''s a deep blood feud between humans and demons. Why do you want to save a demon-ying cultivator?" Yu Yi countered.


    Huai Li fell silent for a moment, then stubbornly said, "He''s different. He only kills evil demons. He lets go of demons who haven''tmitted any atrocities."


    "Then earlier today, when he was stripped naked and tormented by the demons, why didn''t you jump out and tell everyone he was different? Huai Li, you know too that he''s just an Immortal Lord who has in countless demons. Whether he killed good demons or evil demons, his hands are stained with the blood of many demon souls. Compared to him, weren''t those maids in the great hall just now more innocent?"


    Huai Li was left speechless by her questions, torn as she said, "But, but I can''t save so many people."


    Yu Yi covered her mouth and lowered her voice, "Do you know what would happen if other demons found out about your thoughts? You''d be treated as a traitor to demonkind. Not only would you end up as a roasted little bird, your grandmother would also be implicated because of you."


    The timid bird demon fell silent again, frightened by her words. This bird was easily scared. When she was first pulled into the Ghost Realm, just a couple of simple threats had her crying and confessing, saying she didn''t mean to grab Yu Yi as a substitute.


    Having lived with her for three years, Yu Yi understood her temperament all too well. She sighed softly and rubbed her forehead. "I promised you I''d find a way to save him, but not now."


    After a long while, Huai Li finally gave a low "chirp" and said, "Okay, I''ll listen to you."


    "Good girl." Having cated the little bird, Yu Yi immediately gave instructions, "Change into your bird form. Let''s fly to the highest point and take a look."


    Though confused, Huai Li obediently transformed into her original form. The palm-sized little bird shook out her wings, her five-colored feathers shimmering faintly, as she flew towards the highest point of Dark Cinnabar Mountain.


    Tonight was the busiest time on Dark Cinnabar Mountain, when all the earth-bound spirits would likelye out. She had altered Huai Li''s behavioral trajectory, making her deviate from her experiences when alive. The Ghost Realm here must have fluctuations, so they should be able to discover something.


    As for that Immortal Lord, he would just have to fend for himself.


    ...


    When Yu Yi ran out from the demon hall, the magical jellyfish had clung to her skirts and escaped with her.


    However, Xue Chenjing could no longer focus his attention on her side, because the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord was already being escorted into the courtyard, walking step by step towards the bridal chamber.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord was supported as she stumbled drunkenly, forcing out the alcohol in her body with each step. Her gait gradually steadied, and the drunken look in her eyes disappeared.


    Before the door was even pushed open, tentacles had already sniffed out the fishy scent of snake demon on her body. In terms of physical cultivation, this snake demon far surpassed him. Xue Chenjing was also restricted by the earth-bound spirits, unable to do anything or summon any magical beasts.


    As the maids pushed open the doors, the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord entered. The transparent tentacles silently writhed, parting like the sea to make way, only able to cling to the walls and ceiling, watching helplessly as she drew closer.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord''s footsteps suddenly paused as she stepped into the inner chamber. She raised her eyes to look at the rafters. The tentacles crawling on the rafters carefully retracted, hiding behind the cover of the beams.


    The snake demon opened her mouth, flicking out a bright red forked tongue. The split tongue swept back and forth through the air several times. After this, she seemed unable to detect anything unusual, and resumed her steps into the room.


    Xue Chenjing''s back was propped up by a spirit wood, a veil covering his head as he sat upright on the edge of the bed. He had retied the loosened hemp ropes.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord stood before him and called out one word at a time: "Ji Hanyi."


    This single call elicited a violent reaction from the earth-bound spirit. If not for his current state of lost cultivation and shattered spirit bones, he would have surely leapt up and drawn his sword to y her.


    The more intense Ji Hanyi''s reaction, the more delighted the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord became.


    She reached out to stroke the tassels hanging from the veil, deliberately provoking him: "You should know who you''re marrying today, right? It''s me, Xuan Dan, the most cunning, treacherous, cold-blooded and cruel of the snake n. I''m in the top three of your Wild Hunt Ranking, to be killed on sight."


    The Ji n would lead their disciples on a "Wild Hunt" every five years to y demons and monsters disrupting the mortal world. They would rank talents based on the number and grade of demons killed.


    Under the Ji n''s leadership, other cultivators followed suit. Each "Wild Hunt" became a grand event for righteous cultivators. At the same time, it was also a great disaster for demons and spirits every five years.


    The snake demons ranked in the top three of the Wild Hunt Ranking, bing the target that all righteous cultivatorspeted to hunt down.


    "What''s wrong with us eating humans? Don''t you eat snakes too? Why can you eat whatever you want, but it''s an unforgivable sin when we eat humans? Ah, that''s right, the Immortal Lord also ate human flesh today. The Immortal Lord is now just as unforgivably sinful as us."


    Ji Hanyi''s body began to tremble violently, his stomach cramping. This earth-bound spirit''s emotions were on the verge of copse.


    Xue Chenjing''s head throbbed from its intense emotions. He once again reflected on himself, thinking that when he had reached for the ghost hands earlier, he really should have grabbed a few more to choose from carefully.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord was amused by his reaction and giggled for a while.


    Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed his neck through the veil, tightening her grip forcefully. She said hatefully, "My father, mother, brother, and all my siblings who hadn''t yet cultivated to take human form, they all died at your hands. You lords of the Ji n, sitting high above, killing us was like stomping on a nest of ants to you. Did you ever think that one day the Ji family would also fall from the clouds into the dirt, bing a nest of ants for others to trample?"


    "The Ji family, favored by the gods, your pure ancestors, in the end you all became demons through your cultivation, even worse than us evil spirits. Hahaha, how ridiculous!"


    Xue Chenjing''s throat bones crackled, crumbling under her grip.


    As he listened to the piercingughter in his ears, he also had to suppress the out-of-control emotions of the earth-binding spirit, guarding against being swept up in its feelings and losing himself.


    Xue Chenjing was extremely agitated. A breath of demonic energy leaked from his mouth, wanting to devour all the ghosts and demons on the ground, regardless of whether it was Yu Yi or not.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord tensed, keenly sensing danger. She abruptly let go and stepped back. Her slender nails hooked the silk ties of the veil, causing it to gently fall and slide off the man''s head.


    Under the falling red silk, a face with white skin and red cheeks was revealed. His once pure and noble countenance was now covered in rouge and powder. His hair was styled in a woman''s bun, full of pearls and jades, with heavy earrings hanging from his earlobes.


    The immortal lord had never pierced his ears, so these jeweled earrings had been forcibly inserted. The slightest touch would tear open the wounds again, causing blood to seep out.


    The rouge on his face and the jewels in his hair all came from the civilians he had once protected. Xuan Dan controlled his broken body, killing one person and taking an item from them to add to his dowry.


    Humans value propriety, so as demons wanting to marry an immortal lord, they of course had to observe all the proper customs.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord admired his resentful expression, a sense of triumph surging to her head, causing her to overlook the fleeting sense of crisis from earlier. Until he raised his head.


    Ji Hanyi originally had a pair of clear, dark eyes, but now those eyes only contained dullness, with red threads crawling across the whites, being slowly eaten away by venomous insects. He had long since lost the ability to see light.


    But when those eyes looked up at her, the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord still felt a pang of fear. The feeling of being watched that she had when first entering the room returned,ing from all directions, as if countless eyes were staring at her.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord saw his disheveled state and recalled how he had been helplessly toyed with by the demons. She regained someposure and shrieked, "You''re already a useless wreck, don''t tell me you still want to resist?"


    She didn''t like his eyes. A sharp knife materialized in her hand, and she stabbed fiercely towards his eyes. The moment the knife tip pierced his left eye, her hand suddenly stopped.


    Fresh blood trickled down from Xue Chenjing''s left eye, carving a shocking red trail on his pale cheek. His other eye had somehow transformed into a snow-white vertical pupil.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord''s gaze was captured by that sharp, snow-white pupil. In an instant, something pierced into her mind. She stood rigid by the bed, her eyes fixed on that vertical pupil.


    The snow-white pupil grewrger andrger in her eyes, almostpletely engulfing her. In a daze, she saw countless eyes opening within that pupil. They weren''t human eyes, but snake eyes. A coiled nine-headed demon snake looked down at this audacious little snake.


    With just one nce, the bloodline pressure crashed down on Xuan Dan''s shoulders like a mountain. Under this instinctive fear, her knees bent inch by inch until she finally knelt at the feet of the person before her.


    The knife tip was finally pulled out of Xue Chenjing''s left eye. Blood flowed from his left eye, tears from his right. Looking at the snake demon kneeling on the ground, he curled his lips in a smile and twisted his throat bones, forcing out a hoarse, unpleasant sentence:


    "Of course I thought about it, because the Ji family''s ancestor fell into demonic ways due to my temptation."


    The system wailed in distress: "Master, you''re crying in pain, please don''t force yourself to speak!"


    Xue Chenjing: "..." Shut up!

 Chapter 19

    Dark Cinnabar Mountain was not originally called Dark Cinnabar. It used to be a spiritualnd belonging to a branch of the Ji n. When those venerable old ancestors of the Ji family sumbed to demonic possession one after another, the immortal n fell into internal turmoil. The great family that had dominated the world of cultivation for thousands of years copsed as swiftly as an anthill washed away by a flood.


    In just over a hundred years, even the Demon n was able to im a piece of the pie from the Ji family''s hands.


    This spiritualnd was upied by Xuan Dan and renamed Dark Cinnabar Mountain. The highest point of Dark Cinnabar Mountain was where the branch family used to make offerings to the main family. After being upied by demons, it had long been abandoned.


    But today, in order to humiliate that immortal lord, Xuan Dan reopened the altar, forcing Ji Hanyi to stain her hands with the blood of innocent people, wear a wedding dress, and perform the ceremony of bowing to heaven and earth with her at this altar.


    Colorful silks were hung all around the altar, along with rednterns that hadn''t been taken down. The ground was covered in firecracker debris, and in some ces, dried blood had seeped into the stone bricks.


    The lingering smell of gunpowder inevitably reminded one of the demons'' wild celebration during the day. Huai Li was reluctant to step into the altar, feeling guilty that she couldn''t save the immortal lord.


    So Yu Yi told her to stay on top of a locust tree outside the altar. The five-colored birdnded on a branch and transformed into a young girl wearing a ru skirt. On the deep green hem of her skirt, golden embroidery reflected a faint light,plementing the locust flowers around her.


    From here, one could see the entireyout of Dark Cinnabar Mountain.


    The deep night shrouded the foot of the mountain, with the red glow ofnterns floating in the darkness. Most of the courtyards had quieted down, with only a few ces still brightly lit where demons continued their all-night celebrations.


    Huai Li asked puzzledly, "What are we looking at here?"


    "Just enjoying the night scenery," Yu Yi replied casually, turning her neck to carefully survey every part of Dark Cinnabar Mountain, noting the differences between tonight and usual nights.


    Huai Li obediently began to appreciate the night view, thinking that Yu Yi must like this ce because she often asked her to transform into a bird and fly around Dark Cinnabar Mountain, wanting to look at this and that.


    The night on Dark Cinnabar Mountain was indeed beautiful. The air was rich with spiritual energy, and the locust flowers bloomed all year round. The drooping flower clusters emitted a soft glow, like natural crystalmps adorning the green waves of branches and leaves.


    When the night wind rose, flower petals would be tossed into the air, like stars scattered across the sky.


    "The stars are so bright," Huai Li said, sitting on a tree fork and swinging her feet back and forth. She plucked a cluster of locust flowers from the branch and ate them one by one.


    There were no stars in the sky. Yu Yi knew she was talking about the flowers. Tonight, the locust flowers were indeed brighter than usual, not overshadowed by thentern light.


    Under the glow of rednterns all over the mountain, those spots of snow-white starlight stood out even more prominently.


    Yu Yi savored the sweet taste of flower juice in her mouth, her gaze following the flying locust petals. When the night wind first rose, these petals flew out sparsely, scattering on treetops and roofs. As time passed, the spiritual energy in the flower petals would dissipate, and their glow would gradually dim.


    But tonight, the locust flowers'' glow was brighter than usual, and after the petals fell to the ground, their light faded more slowly. Layer uponyer of flower petals umted, vaguely forming a pattern.


    Yu Yi suddenly jumped up, startling the other soul in her body.


    Huai Li eximed, "What''s wrong?"


    "Look at the falling locust flower petals," Yu Yi pointed downward. The pattern formed by the locust flowers was still iplete, with only a blurry outline, but it was clear that this should be an array.


    Huai Li said puzzledly, "It seems to be some kind of diagram. Strange, we''ve never seen this before."


    "Because tonight the glow of the flower petalssts longer than usual," Yu Yi said, standing still holding onto the tree trunk, wanting to wait for the outline of the array below to be clearer so she could make out what kind of array it was.


    Just then, the crown of a tree not far away suddenly began to shake violently, making a rustling sound. Yu Yi turned her head, alertly looking in that direction.


    A lithe figure suddenly sprang into the air, his curved back in the moonlight like a flexible bow, with six long tails ring behind him, revealing the identity of the neer.


    Yu Yi bent her knees, intending to use the springiness of the branch to jump to another tree.


    But Huai Li, who had been startled by this cat for years, already had a psychological shadow of him. Li Su''s sudden and shocking appearance made her feet go weak. Her foot slipped, and she fell from the branch with a scream.


    The cat demon swooped down, grabbed her shoulder, and forcefully pressed her into the grass at the base of the tree.


    With the back of her head hitting the hard tree trunk, both Yu Yi and Huai Li were stunned. Before they could recover, someone grabbed her chin and lifted her head. Li Su had his back to the light, his face hidden in darkness, only a pair of cat eyes glowing green, staring at her with intense pressure.


    "What magic did you use to knock me away in the demon pce? Who taught you?"


    "It... it was taught by grandmother," Huai Li choked out. Just seeing those cat eyes made her want to cry. Yu Yi had said Li Su liked her, but if he really liked her, how could he be so fierce?


    He clearly just wanted to eat her.


    Li Su applied more force with his hand, his fingertips sinking into her smooth cheeks. He lowered his voice sternly, "You''re lying. Do you think I don''t know what magic you''ve learned? What you used clearly wasn''t demon magic. Have you met that human cultivator? The way you looked at him earlier today was very suspicious."


    "I haven''t," Huai Li raised her hands to pry at his fingers, trying to remove them.


    Li Su didn''t believe her at all. His fingers remained as immovable as iron pliers as he continued to re at her. "When that guy was performing the ceremony with the Mountain Lord, you were almost crying. Now you''vee here in the middle of the night. You still say you haven''t?"


    "I just came to see the night view..."


    Yu Yi saw that the little bird demon really couldn''t withstand Li Su''s onught. She said to Huai Li in her mind, "Step aside, let me take over."


    Huai Li''s soul immediately shrank into a corner.


    Yu Yi raised her eyes to look at the young man pressing down on her. His mouth was opening and closing, still speaking, saying she was a cowardly,zy, and useless bird who even felt sympathy for human cultivators, saying she smelled of humans, saying she was shameless.


    Yu Yi heard these words and could feel Huai Li''s sadness at these harsh words. She flexed her fingers and raised her hand to p him hard across the face.


    Stupid thing, the trope of bullying the one you like went out of fashion long ago. If it weren''t for the fact that he eventually sacrificed himself in a sea of fire to save Huai Li, Yu Yi wouldn''t even bother dealing with him.


    p¡ª


    The crisp sound of the p echoed in the forest. Li Su''s words cut off, stunned by this p. He said in shock, "You dare to hit me?"


    The little bird demon was already dumbfounded by Yu Yi''s action.


    Yu Yi raised her hand and gave him another hard p, turning his head to the side. "I''m not some useless bird. I''m the most precious five-colored bird."


    The cat demon''s cheeks burned as if on fire. He bared his fangs, about to get angry, but when he looked down, he saw the young girl beneath him looking up at him timidly yet stubbornly. The scattered light from the locust flowers above fell into her tear-filled eyes, more beautiful than any crystal jewel.


    Her gaze was also as cold as crystal as she said, "Li Su, you always scold me, belittle me, bully me. If you keep doing this, you''ll only make me despise you."


    Li Su wanted tough. What was the big deal about being despised by a useless bird demon? But looking at the serious expression of the girl beneath him, his heart inexplicably clenched, realizing that she really woulde to despise him.


    Yu Yi didn''t try to pry his fingers off anymore. She just looked up at him like this, not avoiding his gaze as she usually did.


    With his excellent night vision, Li Su could clearly see the red marks his grip had left on her fair face. Her brows were furrowed, the five-colored demon markings shimmering, truly showing an expression of disgust.


    Li Su''s wrist trembled, and he unconsciously loosened his grip.


    Yu Yi raised her foot to kick him off her, massaging her sore jaw where he had grabbed her.


    The cat demon looked down at his own hand. The delicate feeling of the girl''s cheek still lingered on his fingertips. Half of his face throbbed with pain, and he could feel his skin swelling up.


    This was the first time anyone had pped him, and it was Huai Li who did it.


    How dare she?!


    And he had actually been cowed by her.


    Li Su couldn''t quite discern what he was feeling at that moment. Anger churned in his throat, his golden cat eyes nearly igniting in the dark night. Demonic energy swirled around him as he turned to re irritably, only to see her raised hand once again.


    The demonic aura around Li Su instantly congealed. With agile movements, he flipped backwards through the air,nding lightly on bent knees, cautiously putting distance between them.


    However, Yu Yi had no intention of hitting him. Her raised palm held a warm white light - a healing spell. Sobbing, she said, "Li Su, you''re too fierce. I hit my head on the tree, and my dress was torn by branches. I was just so angry earlier, that''s why I hit you."


    Li Su crouched on the ground, hands nted, not moving an inch. He only let out a suppressed low growl from his throat.


    The little bird demon trembled in fear, but still maintained the healing spell in her hands. Timidly, she asked, "Did I hurt you?"


    Through the white light, she looked at him cautiously, tears teetering on the edge of her eyes. Though he was the one who had been struck, she looked even more pitiful than him.


    Li Su''s lips moved, and immediately a stinging pain shot through his cheek. Her two ps had been truly vicious - he could even taste blood in his mouth. But such superficial wounds were nothing to him; the insult was far worse.


    For a moment, neither of them moved. After a long while, the eyes behind the white light gradually dimmed. She lowered her gaze, and the tears that had been welling up finally spilled over, sliding down her cheeks to her chin, forming a glistening droplet.


    Seeing her about to withdraw her hand, Li Su finally couldn''t help but leap forward, grabbing her hand and pressing it to his swollen face.


    In his heart, he berated himself for being so weak. But when her soft palm touched his face, the healing white light covering half his visage, he felt happier than he had in a long time.


    Yu Yi sniffled and smiled at him.


    Li Su''s gaze flickered. The swelling on his cheek had already subsided, but his face still felt hot. He said fiercely, "Stop smiling. Your face is all snot and tears. Ugly..."


    Seeing the look in her eyes, containing that cold light - as if one more harsh word, one more cruel syble from him would shatter their rtionship like fragile ss, never to be restored - just as she had said.


    Li Su''s voice halted. He pressed his lips together, swallowing back the hurtful words.


    Yu Yi smiled at him again, the dimple in her cheek faintly indenting, her eyes shining with joy.


    Suddenly, Li Su seemed to find the right way to treat her. His Adam''s apple bobbed several times before he finally, rather awkwardly, managed to utter a concerned question: "Your head... is it hurt?"


    "It doesn''t hurt anymore." Yu Yi smiled at him again, gently wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes. With a pleading tone, she said, "Li Su, from now on, can you always speak to me gently like just now? Don''t be fierce with me, and I won''t be scared and want to hide when I see you."


    Li Su opened his mouth, but faced with her expectant gaze, the caustic words that usually sprang to his lips seemed stuck in his throat. After a long while, he finally gave a muffled "Mm."


    Yu Yi''s smile grew even sweeter, her eyes sparkling like stars. She deliberately leaned closer to his face. "Why is your face still so red? Let me heal you again."


    Her breath brushed his face, carrying the sweet scent of locust flowers. Li Su''s heart pounded like a drum. He suddenly leaned back, the heat in his cheeks intensifying.


    He cast a hasty nce at her torn skirt hem, then turned and plunged into the forest. "Your dress... I''llpensate you for it."


    Yu Yi watched his retreating back as he fled in disarray. The smile faded from her face as she spoke to another soul within her body: "Did you see? You don''t need to fear him at all. Next time he''s fierce with you, just deal with him like this - give him a taste of the stick, then feed him a sweet date."


    Huai Li was full of admiration, asking nervously, "Can I do that too?"


    "It''s precisely because it''s you that you can," Yu Yi said, leaping back to the treetop. As she looked down, she patiently exined, "He likes you, so between the two of you, he''s at a disadvantage. You can use his feelings for you to put a bridle around his neck, and train him into the shape you like."


    Huai Li listened, half-understanding. Her heart began to race, filled with eager anticipation.


    Yu Yi tapped her own chest. "But, you mustn''t fall for him, okay? Otherwise, you''ll be the one with the bridle around your neck."


    The night wind swept through the forest, rustling the leaves with a soft susurration. A few transparent magic jellyfish floated away from the deep green skirt, rising and falling with the breeze. A momentter, theynded in a slender hand.


    Xue Chenjing sat atop a pure white giant snake, which carried him through the dense forest. Though massive in size, it moved silently, not even disturbing the surrounding branches.


    Its body of white scales should have been dazzling in the night, yet when the cat demon brushed past them, he failed to notice the great snake or the man sitting upon it.


    The system murmured longingly, "The female lead is so good at training dogs~" If only it had been bound to the female lead, how smoothly the tasks would have gone.


    Xue Chenjing let out a derisive snort through his nose, correcting, "That''s a cat demon."


    The system sighed.


    ...


    Because of Li Su''s interruption, by the time Yu Yi climbed back up to look down, the pattern formed by the falling locust flowers hadpletely changed shape. But still, noplete form could be discerned.


    The time the locust flowers spent away from the trees varied, so the time it took for their light to dissipate also differed. This caused the pattern formed by the fallen flowers to always be iplete. If not for the flowers glowing longer today, they would never have noticed this situation.


    "These locust trees have been here since the Mountain Lord led us to settle here," Huai Li exined. "This ce is rich in spiritual energy, so the locust flowers are saturated with it. Their nectar is sweeter than honey. I love to pick them and steam them to eat, or make them into locust honey, locust cakes, or cook them with rice."


    As she spoke, her mouth watered. She popped another locust flower into her mouth, then pointed at therge locust tree in the center, continuing, "Locust trees have heavy yin energy. Some demons don''t like locust trees, so when we first came here, many were uprooted. At first, there were several trees as big as that one, but now only one remains."


    "So, you don''t need to worry needlessly. If there was an array set up with the locust trees, it should have been destroyed long ago."


    "But what if the array was formed after the trees were dug up?" Yu Yi asked.


    The little bird demon''s mouth gaped open, stumped by her question. After a long while, she squeezed out a worried response, "Maybe I should still report this to the Mountain Lord. She''s the most powerful demon on Dark Cinnabar Mountain. She''d definitely notice if something was amiss."


    Yu Yi shook her head. For all they knew, this could be an array set up by the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord herself. Besides, this array was unlikely to be so simple. Using locust trees to form an array would be too obvious. She had been investigating Dark Cinnabar Mountain for so long and hadn''t noticed anything strange about the distribution of these locust trees.


    But regardless, there must be something peculiar about this pattern formed by the falling locust flowers.


    She rummaged through the treasure pouch hanging at Huai Li''s waist, pulling out a charcoal pencil and a small string-bound notebook. Based on her previous explorations of Dark Cinnabar Mountain, she roughly sketched theyout of this area on paper, then drew the pattern formed by the falling locust flowers on top of it.


    She then instructed the five-colored bird to fly up high and investigate if there was anything strange about the night wind.


    All the while, she remainedpletely unaware that someone was approaching them.


    When still some distance from the mountaintop altar, Xue Chenjing reached out and patted the white snake beneath him. The snake immediately stopped, lowering its head to set him on the ground.


    During their time in the bridal chamber, Xue Chenjing had subjugated the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord, reducing this snake demon to a servant at hismand.


    This development deviated from Ji Hanyi''s experiences in life, plunging this earth-bound spirit into confusion and loosening its restraints on Xue Chenjing.


    This allowed him tomand the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord to bring him to the altar at the back of the mountain.


    The spine of this body was already shattered, unable to stand upright on its own. Xue Chenjing could only rely on his own tentacles, firmly attached to his back, using their support to gain some mobility.


    He still wore that vibrantly red wedding attire. The voluminous outer robe draped over him concealed any oddities from view.


    Xue Chenjing lowered his gaze to the snake demon prostrated on the ground. He extended his hand, a hand ustomed to wielding swords, with long and powerful fingers, yet the nails were painted with gaudy blood-red polish. His lips moved slightly as hemanded, "Go back and do as I instructed earlier."


    The white snake raised its head slightly, obediently touching its forehead to his fingertips in reverence three times, then turned and swiftly slithered down the mountain.


    Not long after, a burst of fireworks shot out from the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord''s chamber with a shrill whistle, the explosive sound awakening all the demons.


    As the fireworks scattered, the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord''s decree reached the ears of all demons¡ªJi Hanyi had been rescued by someone, Xuan Dan was furious, and ordered the entire mountain to be on high alert, searching for Ji Hanyi and the traitor.


    Lights were lit in all the halls, demons mobilized, and Dark Cinnabar Mountain once again boiled with activity.


    The flitting shadows of demons disturbed the night breeze and scattered the locust blossoms fallen on the ground, quickly erasing the outline of the magic formation.


    The little bird demon jumped up from the tree branch, the golden threads on her skirt shing like rippling water, transforming into a five-colored bird with a long, slender tail as it dove towards the foot of the mountain.


    Huai Li chirped excitedly, "The immortal lord has been rescued! Someone else besides me wanted to save him."


    Yu Yi tried to restrain Huai Li''s actions, wanting her to stay out of it for now.


    Huai Li hadn''t gone to rescue anyone tonight, yet the immortal lord had still been saved. Yu Yi couldn''t be certain if this was all still following the pattern of their past life experiences.


    If that were the case, this little bird demon rushing down now would be walking right into a trap.


    The two disagreed, and the five-colored bird alternated between folding its wings to dive down and pping them to return to the locust tree, frantically spinning in mid-air.


    As the two were chirping and arguing, a sudden gust of wind blew up from the forest. The five-colored bird''s feathers fluttered wildly, its round body spinning in the wind, just in time to catch sight of a crimson silk flower carried by the breeze.


    It grasped the silk flower with its w and looked in the direction from which it hade, seeing a scarlet figure beneath the swaying branches and leaves.


    In the dark night, the figure concealed among the branches shouldn''t have been so noticeable, but birds have exceptionally keen dynamic vision. Moreover, the person had just approached a locust tree, and the glow of the locust blossoms fell upon him, causing a golden glint to reflect off a vermilion hairpin on his head.


    "It''s the immortal lord!" Huai Li eximed joyfully, rushing over without hesitation, unstoppable even by nine oxen.


    Yu Yi: "..." Is that really the immortal lord? That''s clearly your roasting rack.


    When the bird demonnded on the ground, it clearly startled the immortal lord. Ji Hanyi, using his sword as a crutch to support his severely injured body, tried to flee uphill. Sensing a demon approaching, he immediately gripped his sword tightly, pointing the tip directly at the neer.


    Though his eyes couldn''t see, his other senses were extremely acute. His face, smeared beyond recognition, was filled with wariness.


    Perhaps to facilitate his escape, he had torn the skirt of his wedding gown and discarded cumbersome ornaments, leaving only a single vermilion hairpin in his disheveled ck hair.


    The night wind tousled his long hair, and beneath the flying strands were a pair of dull, defeated eyes. His left eye was injured, the socket swollen and bloodshot, the eyeball itself invisible. A trail of bloody tears had congealed on his face, making him look particrly pitiful.


    Without the five-colored bird entering the chamber to rescue him, it was unclear how this immortal lord had managed to escape from right under the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord''s nose.


    "Dark Cinnabar Mountain is full of demons. Your demonic power is mediocre, and you''re burdened with someone whose cultivation ispletely ruined. You won''t be able to escape," Yu Yi was still trying to prevent her from throwing her life away. "If you capture him now and return him to the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord, you could earn great merit. Otherwise, if you''re caught together, you''ll have only death awaiting you."


    With the immortal lord right before her, in such a miserable state, it was hard not to feelpassion, especially for such an innocent and soft-hearted bird who admired this immortal lord.


    Huai Li couldn''t heed Yu Yi''s persuasion anymore. She carefully approached, speaking in a voice so soft it seemed she feared startling him, "Immortal lord, it''s me, the five-colored bird you spared three years ago. Do you remember?"


    Ji Hanyi gripped his long sword, struggling to straighten his back. As one who had practiced swordsmanship for years, even with his cultivationpletely ruined, he still exuded an aura of invible dignity when pointing his sword at someone.


    But Yu Yi could see that he was at the end of his rope, barely able to stand against a gust of wind.


    Seeing that he remained unmoved, still defensively holding his sword against her, Huai Li anxiously said, "Immortal lord, I won''t harm you. I had intended toe rescue you tonight..."


    Unable to stop Huai Li, Yu Yi could only think of ways to prolong the bird''s life a little longer, as she had no desire to experience being burned to death.


    Seeing that some demons were already searching up the mountain, following Ji Hanyi''s aura, Yu Yi directly interrupted Huai Li''s reminiscing and said, "If you want to save him, stop wasting time. He can''t fight you now, just pick him up and run."


    With that, she took control, pushing aside Huai Li''s soul and taking charge of the body to rush forward. Huai Li was stunned for a moment but obediently went along with her intent this time.


    In the void, magical spirit jellyfish floating like dandelion seeds dispersed with the wind stirred by her footsteps, then quickly regathered, densely surrounding the little bird demon.


    The magical spirit jellyfish transmitted her every move into Xue Chenjing''s mind, even more detailed than if he were watching with his own eyes.


    The golden patterns on her skirt, the arc of her flying hair, the rise and fall of her breath, and the subtle changes in her facial expressions¡ªnot a single detail was missed.


    Thus, Xue Chenjing easily recognized who was running towards him from the look in the young girl''s eyes. At this moment, her eyes held no pity for the fallen immortal lord, only finding him troublesome.


    It was that cold-hearted Yu Yi.


    "Don''te any closer..." He mimicked Ji Hanyi''s personality, trying to drive away the person running towards him with a harsh, hoarse shout. The effort caused his shattered throat bones to shift, and he couldn''t help but turn his head and spit out a mouthful of fresh blood.


    Xue Chenjing bent his knees, pretending to be unable to support himself as he half-knelt on the ground, reversing his grip on the long sword to thrust it into the ground for support.


    Yu Yi ignored his warning, a sh of light passing through her hand as she first took away the weapon in his hand, then slid under him before he could fall, using her shoulder to support his body.


    Warm blood dripped onto her neck as Yu Yi warned in a low voice, "If the immortal lord doesn''t want to be captured and taken back to the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord''s chamber, you''d better behave."


    This immortal lord was clearly a person who knew when topromise. Although his breathing was heavy and he seemed quite unwilling to let a demon get so close, he truly didn''t resist any further.


    Or perhaps this severely injured and crippled body of his simply couldn''t resist even if he wanted to.


    The sounds of pursuit from behind grew closer. Transforming into a bird and flying away would make them too obvious a target. Yu Yi could only carry him on her back and plunge into the dense forest. Fortunately, although the little bird demon''s cultivation was mediocre, carrying a person was still manageable.


    Five-colored demonic energy entwined around the immortal lord''s body, supporting most of his weight. Yu Yi grasped his hands over her shoulders and sprinted forward.


    "Does the immortal lord want to go to the altar? Is there a ce to hide there?" Yu Yi asked.


    Xue Chenjing lowered his eyshes. Invisible magical spirit jellyfish surged around them, asionally seizing the opportunity to silently attach themselves to Yu Yi''s body, their fleshy tentacles exploring beneath her hair, into her cor, skirt hem, and boot tops.


    The more magical spirits thatnded on her, the clearer she became in Xue Chenjing''s mind. Enduring the pain in his throat, he breathed with difficulty and said, "Yes... just take me there..."


    Yu Yi said no more and carried him into the highest altar. Standing at the edge of the altar covered in firecracker debris, she turned her head and asked, "Immortal lord, what should we do next?"


    Xue Chenjing took a couple ofbored breaths before squeezing out another sentence from his throat: "Do you know how to perform the Yu Step?"


    How could a cultivator skilled in both talismans and swordsmanship not know the Yu Step? But this little bird demon shouldn''t know it. Yu Yi hesitated briefly, feeling the demonic energy gradually closing in from below. With no other escape route avable, she could only say, "I do."


    "Mm." The person on her back gave a low acknowledgment, seemingly not very surprised, and instructed her to enter the altar and stand on a specific stone, saying hoarsely, "There''s still... a trace of my spiritual power... left on my sword."


    Yu Yi took out the sword she had seized from her storage bag and thrust it into the ground as he had instructed. A translucent, water-like glow flowed down the de, spreading ayer of spiritual waves on the ground.


    Under the lingering spiritual power of the sword, she performed the steps of the Big Dipper. With each step, the spiritual energy on the ground would surge violently, seeping into the bricks below.


    As shepleted the final step, the ground beneath her feet shook violently. With a rumbling sound, the bricks shifted, revealing a staircase leading downward.


    Just then, Yu Yi caught sight of demons climbing up the outer edge of the altar from the corner of her eye. One lithe and agile figure leaped onto the outermost stone pir of the altar. When its cat eyes looked at her, they widened slightly in surprise, then narrowed in fury as if about to spit fire.


    "Huai¡ª" He swallowed his shout,pressing his voice into a thin line as he rushed towards the little bird demon inside the altar, angrily shouting, "Huai Li, you liar! You said you didn''t have one! Come back here right now!"


    Yu Yi sensed Huai Li''s emotional turmoil but had no time tofort her. She nced at the cat demon, not hesitating for a moment as she grabbed Ji Hanyi''s arms, hoisting him onto her shoulders, and plunged into the downward tunnel with him on her back.


    Li Su looked back at the horde of demons pursuing them, condensed a ball of demonic energy in his hand, and forcefully sted it towards the altar.


    The explosive gust of wind and fierce mes dispersed the lingering aura of the immortal lord and Huai Li. He leaped forward, jumping into the billowing smoke rising from the altar.


    As Yu Yi entered the underground passage, the bricks overhead quickly sealed shut, blocking out the surging demonic energy from outside and cutting off all the mor.


    They entered a quiet stone chamber. Two dim oilmps hung on the inner walls, and in the center stood a table with an incense burner on top and a rush mat beneath.


    Opposite the incense burner, on the wall, hung an image of a divine official¡ªthe Taisui God Statue worshipped by the Ji n.


    After ensuring their safety, Yu Yi set down the person on her back and asked, "What is this ce?"


    Xue Chenjing turned his head towards the divine official image on the wall, only turning towards her when he heard her question.


    Yu Yi waved her hand in front of his eyes, but seeing how they were corroded by demon poison and his left eye was bloodshot from injury, she figured he probably couldn''t see at all.


    "Confinement room... for punishing... errant n members and disciples..." Xue Chenjing''s throat made a rasping sound, speaking with great difficulty.


    Yu Yi looked down at the purple finger marks on his neck, understanding that his throat was damaged and speaking must be painful for him. She interrupted, saying, "I understand."


    This ce was well-sealed; no sound from the outside could be heard. It required an immortal lord''s spiritual power and the steps of the Big Dipper to open, so the demon n probably couldn''t break in.


    The other soul stirred restlessly, so Yu Yi willingly relinquished control of the body.


    Huai Li immediately knelt in front of the immortal lord, dumped out a pile of items from her treasure bag, found the healing tools, and began treating his horrific wounds while reciting healing spells.


    Xue Chenjing listened as the little bird demon stuttered about when and where they had met before. At that time, she was being chased by a cultivator, and Ji Hanyi, seeing no bloodshed on her, interfered and let her go. He even fed her a pill that healed her injured wing.


    The little bird demon had secretly followed Ji Hanyi for several days. In the life-and-death struggle between humans and demons, he still adhered to his principles, only killing evil demons and not indiscriminately ughtering like other cultivators.


    It wasn''t until the immortal lord returned to one of the Ji n''s immortal residences that the little bird demon could no longer follow him and reluctantly left.


    Little did she expect that when she saw the immortal lord again, he would be a prisoner of the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord, suffering such torture.


    The chirping and crying bird sounds in his ears were truly soporific. Combined with the constant healing spells the little bird demon was casting on him, Xue Chenjing felt warm all over. His mind unconsciously rxed, and he drifted off to sleep without realizing it.


    When he woke up again, he was alone in the stone chamber. He suddenly propped himself up, received information transmitted back by the demon spirits, and then rxed again.


    While he was asleep, Yu Yi had searched the stone chamber thoroughly and managed to open the connecting doors between the confinement rooms. She was now exploring the other chambers.


    The little bird demon had been somewhat useful. Although she hadn''tpletely healed his injuries, Xue Chenjing''s throat and eyes felt much better, not as painful as before.


    He rubbed his brow and asked inwardly, "How many points do we have now?"


    The system, like an ever-ready customer service representative, immediately responded, "If you''re asking about the points for this temporary mission, it''s still zero, Master."


    "She touched me," Xue Chenjing said, dissatisfied.


    The system replied matter-of-factly, "Master, it was the five-colored bird who healed you, not the female protagonist."


    "Fine," Xue Chenjing gritted his teeth. If they wanted to be so pedantic, he wasn''t afraid to argue with this broken system. "Initially, it was Yu Yi who rushed over to carry me on her back. She supported my shoulder once, held both my hands continuously, her ear touched my face three times while running, and she held my waist once when setting me down in the confinement room."


    While others were busy saving him, he was calcting mission points in his mind.


    The system silently listened to him finish, then replied, "Master, this temporary mission aims to increase your favorability through necessary physical contact, but the prerequisite is that you both need to know each other''s true identities. If you don''t recognize each other, there won''t be any point rewards."


    In other words, from Yu Yi''s perspective, the person she had been touching was Ji Hanyi, not Xue Chenjing, so there were no points.


    Very well, very rigorous.


    Xue Chenjing took a deep breath and angrily knocked over the incense burner on the table.


    The bronze incense burner crashed to the ground with a loud thud, spilling ashes everywhere. The rising smoke enveloped a group of demon spirits floating in the room, the ash outlining their silhouettes.


    The jellyfish-like demon spirits shook theirrge heads, their tentacles rising as they tried to shake off the ash clinging to them.


    Xue Chenjing pressed his lips together as he called the demon spirits back, wiping them with his sleeve. Suddenly, he smiled and said unhurriedly, "Fine, anyway, it''s just the two of us in this secret chamber, and we have plenty of time."


    A year in this ghost realm was only a day in the outside world. This temporary mission had a time limit of twelve hours. When he entered the ghost realm, there were still eight hours left, which tranted to about half a year in ghost realm time.


    He didn''t mind being trapped here with her for that long.


    The system, hearing his mental calctions, btedly realized, "You nned from the beginning to lure her here just to make it easier to earn points?"


    Xue Chenjing curved his lips in pleasure.

 Chapter 20

    The confinement chambers beneath the altar were used to imprison errant members of the Ji n. Each room was simrly sparse and austere.


    Some desks held a few family precepts or scriptures. Besides these, there were only writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones for copying texts.


    After Dark Cinnabar Mountain was upied by demon tribes, this branch of the Ji family was scattered or killed, leaving these chambers empty.


    The chambers were extremely quiet. Themp bowls contained mermaid oil, which burned silently and steadily for thousands of years without extinguishing.


    Staying here for long, one would gradually forget the passage of time.


    Yu Yi searched around thoroughly but found nothing.


    Suddenly, a loud noise came from behind. Before she could react, Huai Li had already transformed into a five-colored bird with a poof and frantically flew back to the original stone chamber, terribly afraid that something had happened to her immortal lord.


    Before the five-colored bird returned to the stone chamber, Xue Chenjing raised his sleeve, gathering the demon jellyfish that were lined up waiting for him to wipe their heads into his sleeve.


    At the same time, a transparent tentacle extended from the hem of his robe. It twisted in the air, changing positions two or three times before finding a suitable angle. Its tip curled slightly and slowly pressed against the incense ash on the ground.


    He gently tugged, and the tentacle lifted with ayer of ash clinging to it, leaving a winding trace on the ground, ensuring that the distinctive features on the tentacle were imprinted in the ash.


    Xue Chenjing moved the tentacle elsewhere, shook it vigorously to remove the excess ash, and then retracted it.


    The sound of the little bird demon''s pping wings grew closer. A momentter, a five-colored blur rushed in,nding and transforming into a girl wearing a short jacket and skirt.


    She nced at the incense ash scattered on the ground and asked worriedly, "My lord, are you alright?"


    Xue Chenjing shook his head, "I''m sorry, I identally knocked something over just now."


    "It''s alright, it''s just an incense burner." Huai Li,pletely oblivious, wanted to go over and help her immortal lord to a clean ce to rest. However, as she lifted her foot, she didn''t move. Instead, she abruptly turned her head back to look at the incense ash on the ground.


    Huai Li asked inwardly, puzzled, "What''s wrong?"


    Yu Yi stared at the winding trace in the ash. The floor of the stone chamber was paved with dark stone, and the grayish-white incense ash spread on it made the trail left by something dragging across it particrly obvious.


    At first, she suspected a snake had crawled by, but upon closer inspection, she realized something was off. There were some blurry circr outlines in the ash, and the entire drag mark went from thick to thin, curling at the end.


    This clearly looked like the imprint of a tentacle!


    She followed the trail with her eyes and saw the hem of Ji Hanyi''s wedding dress spread on the ground. He sat cross-legged on a rush cushion, his back against a desk, with crimson trousers visible beneath his torn skirt.


    Yu Yi looked up at his face. The rouge and powder had been washed clean by the little bird demon, revealing his handsome features. His left eye was covered with medicinal herbs and bandages, while his right eye pupil was dull gray, showing no signs of vitality.


    But when he tilted his head up towards her, for a moment, Yu Yi had the feeling of being observed.


    A-Qiu?


    No. Yu Yi shook her head, correcting her instinctive internal address for him.


    There was no Xue Qiu, only Xue Chenjing, a persistent demon.


    Even when she identally fell into the Ghost Realm, he could track her down, like a stubborn ster that couldn''t be shaken off.


    Did he deliberately leave a clue for her to recognize him, or did he unintentionally leave this tentacle mark because he couldn''t see now?


    Yu Yi pensively examined his expression but could discern nothing from his face.


    The immortal lord sitting on the rush cushion tilted his head slightly. Although he couldn''t see, the omnipresent demon spirits in the room transmitted Huai Li''s reactions to Xue Chenjing''s mind.


    With such minute observations of her breathing rate, eye movements, and even pulse, almost a 360-degree surveince without blind spots, Xue Chenjing could easily distinguish between the two of them.


    Clearly, Yu Yi had discovered the mark in the incense ash, and moreover, she had recognized him.


    What should he do next to make her willingly touch him when her affection for him was only at six percent?


    At this point, Xue Chenjing felt a bit fortunate that there was still six percent affection.


    If she was willing to marry someone with only three percent affection, then surely she wouldn''t mind touching him, right?


    Xue Chenjing pondered, tilting his head in a listening posture. Because he hadn''t heard her speak for a while, he took the initiative to call out, "Miss Huai Li?"


    "I''m here, I''m here." Huai Li immediately responded. She didn''t understand what had just happened to Yu Yi, but she didn''t dwell on her unusual behavior. She said caringly, "My lord, please don''t move. The ground is covered in incense ash. Let me clean it up first, otherwise it might get into your wounds."


    "I''m sorry for troubling you and forcing you to hide here with me," Xue Chenjing''s face showed a trace of apology. "You really don''t need to look after me."


    Huai Li vehemently objected, "My lord once saved me from that stinky cultivator and fed me medicine to heal my wounds. You practically saved my life. It''s only right that I repay you now."


    Xue Chenjing let out a light, self-deprecatingugh, "I''ve lost all my powers now. I''m no longer any kind of immortal lord. You can just call me by my name."


    Huai Li shook her head vigorously, causing a small hairpin on her head to jingle, "That''s not true. In my heart, you will always be the noble and virtuous immortal lord."


    Huai Li''s cultivation level was low, and she needed external objects to assist in her spellcasting. She took out a Water Spirit Pearl from her treasure pouch, formed a water-gathering seal to summon a stream of clear spring water, and carefully wet the incense ash on the ground before washing it out of the stone chamber.


    During this process, she would asionally turn her head to check on the injured immortal lord with concern.


    Yu Yi took advantage of these moments when she turned back to vigntly examine Xue Chenjing, guarding against any unusual movements from him.


    Although Xue Chenjing had freed himself from the shackles of the Earth-bound Spirit, this body was still trapped in Ji Hanyi''s role. With his powers nullified, he had be a mortal, even less capable than an ordinary person.


    After a night of turmoil, coupled with injuries and illness, and having gone without food or water for a long time, his stomach was now so empty it was practically caving in, growling twice audibly.


    The sound wasn''t loud, but in the quiet stone chamber, it was extraordinarily clear.


    The little bird demon reacted quickly. She washed her hands and took out some rice cakes wrapped in lotus leaves from her treasure pouch. The cakes were made by steaming locust tree flowers with pounded glutinous rice. As soon as she opened the package, a sweet fragrance wafted out.


    After warming them with her magic, Huai Li pushed a cake into Xue Chenjing''s hand, "I only have some snacks like this in my bag. Please make do with these for now, my lord."


    "Thank you, Miss Huai Li," Xue Chenjing nodded gently in gratitude.


    Huai Li smiled so widely her eyes nearly disappeared, and she happily began eating a cake herself.


    This silly bird was carefree and empty-headed, only concerned with watching her lord eat, without a worry about their current predicament or any thought of leaving.


    Yu Yi also began to give up.


    Firstly, the outside was surely crawling with demon tribes searching for them, so going out would only be walking into a trap. Secondly, she needed to think carefully about how to deal with Xue Chenjing, this demon.


    Yu Yi had no intention of waiting on Xue Chenjing. Huai Li was busy with everything. Yu Yi wanted to advise the little bird demon not to bother with him, but clearly, Huai Li wouldn''t listen to her.


    Seeing Xue Chenjing finish one rice cake, Huai Li immediately eagerly offered another, thoughtfully pouring him a cup of flower dew as well.


    After feeding the immortal lord, Huai Li busied herself changing his wound dressings.


    Xue Chenjing''s left eye was severely injured, and demon poison was constantly eroding his eyeball.


    To help him expel the demon poison, Huai Li had nearly exhausted her pitiful amount of demon power, but she could only temporarily suppress the poisonous insects, barely maintaining hisfort for an hour or two.


    After suppressing the poisonous insects, Huai Li reapplied pain-relieving medicine to his left eye. When she turned to look at his raised right eye, she suddenly felt dizzy for some reason and abruptly pitched forward.


    Yu Yi was startled and quickly took control of this body, straightening her back before falling into Xue Chenjing''s arms.


    She called out internally, "Huai Li? Huai Li!"


    The other soul remained silent, having fallen into a deep sleep.


    Huai Li''s unusual deep sleep was clearly Xue Chenjing''s handiwork. Even though his eyes were blind, he could still harm others. Yu Yi didn''t even know when he had acted.


    The two sat face to face. Without any hesitation, Yu Yi reached out and pped his left eye hard.


    Xue Chenjing hadn''t even had time to open his mouth before she struck!


    He covered his eye, angrily saying, "What are you doing?"


    "Stop pretending, Xue Chenjing," Yu Yi said as she pulled out a strip of gauze. With one swift move, she pped his hand away and quickly wrapped the gauze around both his eyes.


    She then grabbed a writing brush from the table, its tip long dried and hardened. Using her spiritual power to revive it, she pulled up his sleeve, cut through the previously wrapped bandage with her fingers, and jabbed the brush into the wound on his arm.


    The not-yet-healed wound was forcefully reopened by the brush, and fresh blood seeped out, quickly staining the brush tip. Yu Yi enveloped the blood with her spiritual power and swiftly drew a sealing talisman on the gauze.


    This talisman was a Demon Sealing Talisman, which she had learned from her master''s inherited books on talismans. Yu Yi had only used it before to deal with small demons and spirits hiding in gutters to steal things. She wasn''t sure if it would work on a monster like Xue Chenjing, but it was worth a try.


    After finishing all this, Yu Yi leaped away from him, as if she couldn''t bear to be near him for a moment longer.


    Yu Yi wanted to leave this stone chamber, but suddenly her back touched something soft and cold. She immediately realized what it was and twisted her body tond elsewhere.


    But this stone chamber was filled with slimy tentacles everywhere. Although Yu Yi couldn''t see them, she could feel their cold, damp breath and hear the wet, squishy sounds they made as they moved.


    The tentacles blocked the exit of the stone chamber, not allowing her to leave.


    Xue Chenjing, dressed in a scarlet robe, propped his elbow on the table and reached out with his fingers to touch the gauze over his eyes. However, before his fingertips could make contact, they were repelled by the power of the talisman.


    The blood-red talisman flickered with spiritual light. The seal had taken effect.


    "You used my blood to draw a talisman to seal my eyes?" Xue Chenjing calmed himself down, his lips curling slightly, seemingly unconcerned as the wound on his arm continued to bleed.


    This body was truly in a state of decay, filled with both demonic poison and insect venom. His five senses had long since dulled, and even pain wasn''t so intense anymore. He could tolerate minor injuries.


    Yu Yi threw the brush to the ground with a loud tter. "To be precise, it''s Ji Hanyi''s blood. Although the Immortal Lord has lost his powers, he was once a spiritual being after all. It''s most effective against demons and monsters like you."


    "Demons and monsters." Xue Chenjing mumbled these words, tasting them in his mouth. Then, in a particrly aggrieved tone, he said, "Have I ever done anything to hurt you? Why are you always so cruel to me?"


    "Invading my consciousness, altering my perceptions, trying to turn me into a tool for you to manipte - doesn''t that count as harm?" Yu Yi remained unmoved, a faint sword light appearing at her fingertips. She said coldly, "I have no interest in being anyone''s dog."


    Xue Chenjing remained silent for a good while. He lowered his head slightly, his loose hair falling against his pale face. "I just liked you too much, so I used the wrong methods. I was wrong."


    His tone was deste, his voice even trembling slightly with regret, making it sound as if these words truly came from the bottom of his heart.


    Yu Yi, of course, couldn''t be deceived by his flowery words. She opened her mouth and only uttered a short, mocking syble: "Heh."


    Xue Chenjing pressed his lips together. Even with the gauze covering his eyes, it was clear his expression was not pleasant.


    His jaw was clenched tightly, the lines sharp. After a long moment, he finally rxed a bit, raised his head again to face her, and asked in a humble tone, "Then would you like to keep a dog?"


    Yu Yi didn''t react immediately. "What?"


    Xue Chenjing said, "Take advantage of my feelings for you, put a leash around my neck, train me into the shape you like."


    System: Oh my, its host is really going all out!


    Yu Yi: "..."


    Well, well, as expected of someone who could be a viin. For the sake ofpleting a task, he really could stoop so low, truly abandoning all dignity.

 Chapter 21

    He was truly adept at learning and applying, so confidently using her own words from not long ago against her. It seemed he had been hiding in the shadows, eavesdropping on their conversation all along.


    The silk flower carried away by the wind was likely not a coincidence either, but rather his deliberate attempt to attract the little bird spirit''s attention. He knew well that once the little bird spirit saw Ji Hanyi, there was no way it would abandon him.


    Yu Yi stared at Xue Chenjing with aplex expression, unable to understand how things had suddenly taken such a strange turn.


    In any case, she now found herself sitting in the stone chamber where the Ji family imprisoned their errant disciples, negotiating with the novel''s main viin about whether or not to keep a dog.


    Xue Chenjing sat obediently on the rush mat, his eyes wrapped in gauze painted with demon-sealing blood symbols. Beneath the gauze, his face was as pale as jade, with a straight nose bridge. A hint of unwashed lip rouge left a hazy red mark on his thin lips.


    His scarlet wedding robes embroidered with golden dragons and phoenixes were now inplete disarray after all themotion. His topknot hade loose, with strands of jet-ck hair falling over his shoulders and trailing onto the red hem of his wedding dress.


    If not for the wildly dancing tentacles filling the room, he would have looked like a beautiful bride abducted by bandits on her wedding night - lovely and vulnerable, his entire being exuding an aesthetic of helplessness ripe for vition.


    Even if Yu Yi''s heart was made of iron and stone, unmovable as a mountain, she couldn''t help but feel a flutter in her chest at this moment. Jokes aside, even if Liu Xiahui were here, he wouldn''t be able to remain unmoved.


    Especially since Xue Chenjing was so pitifully "offering himself", wanting to be her dog.


    Yu Yi certainly didn''t believe that Xue Chenjing could have any true feelings for her - it was just a system task after all. But she truly hadn''t expected that such a ruthless viin would be coerced to this extent by a system task.


    Xue Chenjing was now truly like a persistent mange-ridden dog, able to follow her scent and find her wherever she went, wagging his tail and begging for affection, impossible to shake off or drive away.


    She now had a firsthand experience of what it meant to be in a situation where "she flees, he pursues, both unable to escape even with wings."


    Yu Yi withdrew her Green Bamboo Sword and slowly walked towards Xue Chenjing. The tentacles filling the room writhed and hissed, making way for her steps.


    She stopped in front of Xue Chenjing and grabbed his disheveled topknot, deliberately using some force to pull it back, forcing him to lift his head. "But, I only like obedient dogs."


    Xue Chenjing was forced to tilt his head back, the lone vermilion hairpin in his hair teetering on the verge of falling. His Adam''s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his posture almost humble to the point of groveling in the dust. He said, "I''ll be obedient. I''ll be even more obedient than that cat spirit, as long as you let me stay by your side."


    Yu Yi frowned, releasing his long hair from her fingers. She deliberately pinched his earlobe, which still bore traces of blood, then slid her hand along his jaw to the corner of his lips, smearing the remnants of lip rouge on his lips.


    "You are not allowed to use any of your hypnotic or bewitching tricks on me anymore. You cannot do things I don''t like, and you certainly cannot force me to do things I don''t want to do."


    Yu Yi pinched his cheek again, and Xue Chenjing btedly understood, obediently opening his mouth. Her slender fingers slipped past his lips, the pad of her finger pressing against his slightly pointed canine tooth.


    "Most importantly, good dogs don''t bite their masters. So, you can never bare your fangs at me again. You can never harm me. If you can do this, make a solemn vow, and I might agree to your request."


    Xue Chenjing''s breathing gradually became heavier. He had never been touched so frivolously before. Yu Yi looked down at him from above, indeed as if she were petting a dog, caressing a ything.


    If it were anyone else, that hand would have be food for demonic creatures before it even touched him.


    Yu Yi''s gaze flickered as she observed his instantly reddening face. She inwardly sneered - he was indeed angry. Unable to endure even this little humiliation, yet still wanting to be her dog. Did he really think she could be fooled by mere words?


    "If you can''t do it, then forget it. Don''t bother me in the future." She tried to withdraw her hand, but her wrist was quickly grasped.


    Xue Chenjing''s heavy breathing wafted over the inside of her wrist. He obediently kept his mouth open, his soft tongue licking her fingertips. He even tilted his head to nuzzle her wrist, nodding as he said, "Alright, I''m willing. I''m willing to do all of it."


    He had actually agreed.


    Yu Yi was stunned for a moment. She forcefully pulled her hand back, wiping her fingers on her skirt to remove the wetness. She could hardly believe it.


    ¡ª To agree even to this, had he truly abandoned all his self-respect?


    Xue Chenjing''s submission, so utterly without bottom line, did not reassure her. Instead, it made her feel afraid. Yu Yi felt the urge to retreat, wanting to take back her words: "Never mind, we don''t really need to do this..."


    There was no need to go this far, no need to form a binding contract, no need to be so deeply entangled.


    But before she could finish speaking, the enraged tentacles behind her pushed her into Xue Chenjing''s embrace.


    Xue Chenjing clung to her like a blood-red water ghost, his arms encircling her back, tightly gripping her waist.


    One hand moved up to threateningly grasp the nape of her neck, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, his hennaed nails nearly digging into her flesh. His breath was rapid and heavy against her ear as he gritted out, "You can''t take it back. Why do you want to take it back? I can agree to everything you said. What else are you unsure about?"


    It was precisely because he had no bottom line that she felt unsure. If not for the system''s constraints, Yu Yi had no doubt that Xue Chenjing would be the first to kill her.


    Being with him was like dancing on the edge of a knife.


    Almost instinctively, Yu Yi had already conjured a sharp sword of light in her hand, threateningly pressing it against his back, right over his heart. She said, "Xue Chenjing, let me go."


    Xue Chenjing still held her tightly, refusing to let go. He even wrapped his tentacles around them, binding them tightly together.


    He buried his face in Yu Yi''s shoulder, his lips pressed against her ear as he pleaded softly, "Do you despise me so much? Am I not even qualified to be a dog by your side? Then tell me, what should I do for you to agree? What should I do for you to like me?"


    Yu Yi almostughed from anger at his act. "Xue Chenjing, don''t you find yourself ridiculous? Do you truly like me? What right do you have to demand that I like you?"


    Xue Chenjing was silent for a moment before dering firmly, "I like you. I truly like you."


    Yu Yi: "..." I don''t believe you one bit! You lying scoundrel, not a single word of truthes out of your mouth.


    Yu Yi''s gaze grew colder. The sword of light in her hand burned through his clothes, pressing into his back over his heart. She warned him once more, "Let me go, or I''ll run you through with my sword."


    Xue Chenjing could already feel the sword energy piercing into his heart. Her sword energy was scorching, like magma flowing into his body, melting flesh and blood. The sword light also contained a terrifying electric current - Xue Chenjing had experienced her prowess before.


    Without the protection of his demon spirit, a sword cultivator at the Golden Core Stage could kill him as easily as turning over their palm.


    Xue Chenjing''s entire body was trembling, yet he still didn''t let go. Dense demonic energy seeped out from his back, constantly eroding Yu Yi''s sword energy.


    "I won''t let go," he suddenlyughed, his tone finally shedding the facade of obedience and humility. He said sinisterly, "Master, you have no other way out. Either agree, or die."


    He had finally revealed his true face, the surging malice in his heart nowid bare before Yu Yi without any reservation, almost solidifying into tangible form.


    Yu Yi heard the system''s out-of-control screech, judging that his threat to the target of his pursuit was too high. If he didn''t restrain himself, he would be punished.


    Amidst the system''s countdown warning, Xue Chenjing burst into uncontrobleughter. Damn system, damn task, damn Yu Yi.


    He didn''t want to y this boring game of redemption with them anymore. He had already died many times and didn''t mind dying once more.


    If he could just diepletely this time and never wake up again, it would be a release for him.


    As the system''s countdown ended, Xue Chenjing''s body suddenly convulsed, and a suppressed groan of pain escaped his throat.


    Yu Yi didn''t know what punishment the system was inflicting on him. She could only hear his rapid breathing and pained groans by her ear. Tears quickly seeped through the gauze over his eyes, dampening her neck.


    But his arms around her only tightened, nearly crushing her bones. Heughed brokenly in her ear.


    Xue Chenjing nuzzled her ear affectionately, genuinely feeling joyful, and said with a trembling voice: "Just holding you like this, dying together in this sealed room until our flesh rots and bones turn to ash, inseparable - it''s not so bad, don''t you think, Master?"


    He really was insane, truly insane!


    The demonic aura emanating from Xue Chenjing grew stronger, seeping into the other soul within him. Ji Hanyi screamed in agony amidst the demonic energy. He had been trapped as an Earth-bound Spirit in these painful memories for thousands of years, enduring repeated torture and devastation without sumbing to demonic influence.


    Now, however, he was about to lose himself to the corrupting demonic energy.


    Dense ck shadows spread from around him, shing with some grotesque shapes - the demonic entities Yu Yi had seen in his heart sea before. The weaker Xue Chenjing became, the more wildly these things writhed, nearly bursting out from his body.


    Even if she killed him, she couldn''t escape these out-of-control demonic creatures.


    Yu Yi had no doubt that he would truly die together with her.


    "I agree," Yu Yi said, crushing the sword energy in her hand. She was being strangled so tightly she could barely breathe, gasping like a fish out of water as she uttered herpromise.


    She certainly didn''t want to die here with him.


    The tentacles binding her from behind didn''t loosen, but continued to tighten. Not just around her - even Xue Chenjing''s bones began to creak and crack. His shoulders were nearly crushed by his own tendrils, veins bulging in his neck.


    They were pressed tightly together. Yu Yi smelled a strong scent of blood, possibly from Xue Chenjing, or maybe from herself.


    Her chest ached from the pressure, every breath painful. She struggled to turn her head and shouted: "I agree! I agree! Xue Chenjing, I agree, stop going crazy..."


    Yu Yi''s vision began to darken, speckled with golden stars. The blood rushing made her heart race, every inch of her flesh throbbing with pain, her entire body feeling like it was about to fall apart.


    Xue Chenjing pressed against her ear, saying happily: "Good, I''ll obey. I''ve agreed to so many of Master''s requests, so can Master make one heart oath for me?"


    Yu Yi didn''t even hear what heart oath he wanted before tly refusing: "No. No dog would turn around and make demands of its master."


    Xue Chenjing''s expression instantly turned cold, but a momentter, he smiled again and said softly: "Mm, Master is right. I really shouldn''t make demands of Master. Since I''m being so obedient, Master won''t try to run away from me again, right?"


    He waited a while, but when Yu Yi didn''t respond, he continued: "It''s alright. If Master tries to escape again in the future, I''ll still find you. No matter how far, I''ll find you."


    A strand of spiritual consciousness flew out from Xue Chenjing''s brow, forming into words in midair, coalescing into an oath document that detailed all of Yu Yi''s demands without missing a single word.


    Xue Chenjing pressed against her ear, reciting each word clearly to establish the oath, then prompted: "Master."


    Yu Yi tilted her head to carefully examine the contents, then released her spiritual consciousness to imprint her mark on the oath document.


    The floating text dissipated, reforming into a ball of spiritual light that sank into Xue Chenjing''s brow. Yu Yi closed her eyes briefly, watching that strand of consciousness descend into his Purple Pce Heart Sea, forming into an oath stele that would eternally reside there.


    The tentacles loosened from their bodies. As thepressed air rushed back, Yu Yi greedily took several deep breaths, her mind somewhat hazy.


    In her semi-conscious state, she heard Xue Chenjing''s conversation with the system.


    The system cautiously spoke up: "Host, the punishment for you was issued by the main system."


    Xue Chenjing didn''t respond or get angry. He slowly suppressed the wildly dancing demonic shadows back into his heart sea.


    After a long silence, the system tentatively asked: "Did you really want to kill the female lead just now?"


    Xue Chenjingy t on the ground, blood flowing from his nose and mouth, his face very red with many capiries burst under his skin. Lying among the shattered wooden splinters of the desk, he was still chuckling softly.


    He didn''t answer the system''s question, instead asking: "Do you think she''lle to like her little dog?"


    The system immediately replied: "Based on analysis of the female lead''s description in the book, yes. The female lead is very fond of cute little creatures like kittens and puppies. She''s especially indulgent and doting towards things that clearly belong to her."


    Yu Yi was indeed very indulgent towards Senior Crane.


    Xue Chenjingy sprawled on the ground with arms outstretched, his lips curving slightly in satisfaction as he said: "That''s good enough then."


    He didn''t mind being her dog, as long as she stayed by his side properly, helping himplete his mission and obtain everything he wanted. That was enough.


    Yu Yi wanted to sit up and ask him what exactly he was - if he was really some kind of jellyfish monstere to life, to be so brainless.


    But despite thinking she had exerted great effort, she had barely managed to twitch a finger before losing consciousnesspletely.


    When she woke again, it was to a sharp, angry roar.


    Yu Yi raised her head to see an agile figure pouncing through the doorway, golden cat eyes zing with boiling fury, his face a picture of "catching adulterers in bed".


    When those cat eyes met her gaze, they nearly melted into pools of aggrieved tears. "Huai Li, Huai Li, how could you do this to me..."


    Yu Yi quickly nced down at her and Xue Chenjing''s current state. They were lying together, clothes disheveled, skin covered in blue and purple marks from the tentacles'' constriction. Scattered wooden splinters and damp traces from the writhing tentacles covered the ground.


    It was indeed easy to misunderstand.


    Li Su was so enraged he seemed about to burst into mes, his demonic aura surging as sharp ws extended from his fingers. With a roar, he shed towards Xue Chenjing.


    He collided with tentacles that blocked him midair, demonic energy and snake-scaled tentacles shing with a sharp ringing that made the invisible tentacles briefly visible in the air.


    Li Su''s cat eyes contracted as another tentacle whipped him, sending him flying backwards. While still in the air, a hard, snake-scaled tentacle from behind pierced through his shoulder.


    As blood dripped steadily, Yu Yi pressed a hand to Xue Chenjing''s stomach and urgently said: "Don''t kill him."


    Xue Chenjing grunted in pain, clutching his stomach as he sat up, and obediently replied: "Alright."


    As he spoke, the tentacles withdrew. The cat demon fell to the ground, staggering as he coughed up blood. His form flickered as he pounced at Xue Chenjing again, baring ws and fangs, only to be blocked once more by a transparent wall of interwoven tentacles.


    Li Su spread his hands, sharp demon ws shing crosswise at the tentacles. Golden light rippled like waves across the snake scales on the tentacles'' backs.


    "Huai Li,e here,e to me!" Li Su''s eyes were blood-red, fangs protruding from the corners of his mouth as his face took on feline features.


    He continued shing at the tentacles, heedless of the blood gushing from his shoulder wound. His cat eyes fixed on her as he called out again and again: "Huai Li, Huai Li, I won''t scold you anymore, I won''t bully you anymore,e back, okay? He''s a human cultivator, and the Sect Leader''s man - you two can''t be together!"


    Yu Yi exined with a slight headache: "It''s not what you think between us. We didn''t do anything."


    The soul of Huai Li within her showed signs of awakening. Yu Yi stood up, intending to walk towards Li Su to calm his current frenzied state, but her wrist was tightly gripped by Xue Chenjing.


    He raised his head, bandages covering his eyes. The sealing runes on them had faded, losing their spiritual power, blurred into mottled red streaks by tears.


    "You promised me," Xue Chenjing said.

 Chapter 22

    Yu Yi turned her head to look at him, her brow slightly furrowed, and said, "I don''t like clingy dogs."


    Xue Chenjing once again put on his pretend pitiful expression. Yu Yi couldn''t be bothered to y along with him. As soon as Huai Li fully regained consciousness, she relinquished control of the body.


    The young girl blinked, her expression bing confused. She heard the cat demon''s roar and instinctively trembled, but when she turned her head and saw the blood-covered Li Su, she unconsciously stepped towards him,pletely unaware of the immortal lord beside her.


    "Li Su, you''re injured?!"


    The demon spirit transmitted her change in expression into Xue Chenjing''s mind. He released his fingers, his tentacles silently writhing, allowing the little bird demon to run to Li Su''s side.


    "Huai Li." Li Su''s cat eyes lit up, all the anger in his heart dissipating as Huai Li ran towards him.


    Thank goodness, she chose me.


    Huai Li ran to his side and urgently said, "Your wound, you''re bleeding!"


    "It''s nothing." The cat demon smiled at her. The joy of regaining what was lost filled his heart, and he couldn''t even feel the pain in his shoulder.


    Li Su grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, transforming into a beam of light intending to escape from the stone chamber.


    But Xue Chenjing''s tentacles had already sealed the door of the stone chamber. His appendages quickly skittered across the stone bricks, and the walls of the chamber shook. The stone door closed in an instant, with the bricks fitting tightly together.


    The beam of light crashed into the wall and fell back to the ground. Li Su held Huai Li tightly, warily looking back at the human cultivator sitting on the ground. This person had deceived the master of Dark Cinnabar Mountain and all of them demons, yet he still possessed cultivation power.


    The human and the cat faced off silently. Demonic energy and the tentacles in the air shed, bringing the atmosphere in the room to an extreme tension.


    The little bird demon looked back and forth between them, not knowing what to do.


    Yu Yi finally found an opportunity to draw Huai Li''s attention and exined to her, "Ji Hanyi''s current situation is the same as ours. The soul in his body is not the immortal lord, but another person."


    Huai Li looked at the immortal lord in surprise, "Then where is the immortal lord?"


    "His soul should just be suppressed." Yu Yi had heard Ji Hanyi''s screams earlier; his soul had not yet been freed from being an Earth-bound Spirit. "I''m sorry, this person is here for me."


    "Will he hurt you?" Huai Li said, immediately bing alert and standing together with Li Su, ring warily at the human cultivator on the ground.


    Xue Chenjing frowned in displeasure, his tentacles crawling on all four walls, eyeing the two of them menacingly. The cat demon stretched out his arm to shield Huai Li behind him, wishing he could hide her entirely with his body, a threatening growl rolling in his throat.


    Yu Yi said to Huai Li, "He won''t threaten us for now. You should calm your cat down first."


    Huai Li had always trusted her, so hearing this, she refocused her attention on Li Su. However, she had been frightened by the cat demon so often before that she always wanted to run when she saw him. How would she know how to soothe him?


    Even now, she only dared to pull at a bit of his clothing from behind.


    She hesitated and said, "Yu Yi, should I give him a stick and then a sweet date?"


    Yu Yi said helplessly, "Don''t give him the stick. Look how agitated he is now. If you give him the stick, he''ll go berserk. Just hug him from behind, that''s all you need to do."


    Huai Li swallowed, her heart starting to pound. Even Yu Yi could feel her blushing.


    She bit her lip and finally, before Li Su could pounce, she hugged his waist from behind and timidly called out, "Li Su, don''t... don''t be impulsive. Can I treat your wound first?"


    The fierce cat demon instantly quieted down. His whole body stiffened as he felt Huai Li''s hands carefully rise from his waist and gently cover his bleeding shoulder. A healing white light glowed from her palms.


    He had once mocked her for studying medical arts instead of other techniques. They were demons, not medical cultivators from an apothecary. Demons should learn how to attack, how to upy territory, how to bully others rather than be bullied.


    But now, as Huai Li''s hands eased the pain in his shoulder, he realized how warm these hands were.


    Li Su was calmed by Huai Li, and an irrepressible low purr sounded in his throat. But his cat eyes still red vigntly at Xue Chenjing. If he made the slightest move, he would bare his ws and fangs again.


    Xue Chenjing sat on the ground, leaning against the soft flesh of his tentacles, perfectly still.


    After Huai Li stopped the bleeding on the cat demon''s shoulder, sprinkled medicine powder on it, and finished bandaging it, Xue Chenjing tilted his head slightly and asked rather obediently, "I''m injured too and have been bleeding all along. Won''t the mistresse to treat me as well?"


    Before he finished speaking, the cat demon had already bared his fangs, fiercely saying, "In your dreams!"


    Huai Li was held possessively in Li Su''s arms, unable to move at all. She turned her head to look at Xue Chenjing.


    He was indeed bleeding profusely, with obviously more wounds on his body than before. Blood soaked through his clothes, visible even on the bright red wedding attire. Yu Yi hadin on top of him for such a long time that even her clothes were stained with mottled bloodstains.


    The soft-hearted little bird demon asked worriedly in her heart, "Yu Yi, what should we do? Should we help him?"


    Yu Yi didn''t have the same soft heart as the little bird demon. She only found it troublesome and said, "Don''t bother with him. He won''t die."


    The little bird demon was still concerned: "But that''s the immortal lord''s body. The immortal lord''s cultivation has already been crippled. If he keeps bleeding like this, won''t he die?"


    Yu Yi became troubled. She had almost forgotten that although she knew they were already dead, these Earth-bound Spirits immersed in the past believed they were still alive.


    "Yu Yi, he really has lost a lot of blood," Huai Li said. But since Yu Yi didn''t speak, the little bird demon obediently remained still, showing no intention of getting up to treat the immortal lord.


    Li Su''s expression became even more smug. He wished he could wrap all six of his tails around the person in his arms, marking her with his scent.


    Xue Chenjing sat on the ground with tightly pressed lips, his tentacles adhering to the walls of the stone chamber writhing violently, causing the bricks to crack.


    Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed in the room. This sound rose and fell like the tide, reverberating around them like murmurs.


    Gradually, this sound coalesced into a kind of indistinct human voice, pitiful and whining.


    "You lied to me you lied to me you lied to me you liar¡ª"


    "You promised you wouldn''t abandon me, mistress. I''m in pain too, I''m in so much pain. You won''t abandon your dog, will you¡ª"


    Huai Li rubbed her ears, "What''s that sound? I think I heard something."


    Li Su had also heard this voice. His cat eyes looked around vigntly, finally locking onto Xue Chenjing.


    But the red-d human cultivator remained sitting there, quietly facing them, not moving at all.


    The surrounding sounds persisted, echoing in the room, as if weeping and pleading, more unpleasant than ghost cries, causing headaches. Yu Yi was extremely annoyed and sighed, "Alright, Huai Li, I..."


    Before she could finish, Huai Li immediately moved aside, urging in shock and fear, "You go quickly, go quickly and pacify your cat. How is he even more frightening than Li Su?"


    After all, apart from the immortal lord, she didn''t dare approach that person.


    Yu Yi: "..." Xue Chenjing was just a brainless tentacle monster.


    As soon as the person in his arms moved, Li Su''s arms immediately tensed, alertly asking, "What are you trying to do?"


    Huai Li quickly straightened up again, grabbing Li Su''s sleeve and persuading, "Li Su, I''m just going to check his wounds. The immortal lord once saved me. I can''t let him die here."


    Li Su wouldn''t listen. "No, I won''t let go of you. I won''t let you go over there."


    Unable to persuade him, Huai Li lowered her head and thought for a while. Her hand secretly reached into the pouch at her waist, fumbled for a moment, and pulled out a dry grass stem. She crushed it and sprinkled it on Li Su''s face.


    Li Su twitched his nose, his pupils suddenly contracting and then rapidly dting, his entire expression bing dazed. His body went limp and he suddenly reverted to his original form, lying on the ground and rolling in the crushed grass, unable to stop meowing.


    Huai Li pped her hands, "There, this really works!"


    Yu Yi regained control of the body and looked at the constantly meowing cat on the ground. The small cat had a slender, supple body covered in spots - it was a leopard cat. She rubbed her fingertips, unable to resist saying, "I want to pet it."


    Huai Li felt the same itch, "I... I want to as well."


    It was the first time she had seen Li Supletely transformed into his original form. He was so tiny, much cuter than when he deliberately erged himself to look imposing.


    The two agreed, and the girl in the ruqun dress crouched down without hesitation, extending her wicked hands towards the little kitten intoxicated by catnip.


    The system let out an anguished wail: "Master, you''ve lost, you''ve lost so terribly!"


    Xue Chenjing was so angry that his tentacles were trembling. He coldly snorted in his heart: "Huh, it''s just a low-level stupid cat spirit."


    He reached out to pull a quivering tentacle into his arms and knead it. The tentacle''s surface was smooth, and its flesh was both supple and stic. Wasn''t this texture morefortable than that furry thing?


    To be bewitched by a low-level cat spirit, it seems Yu Yi''s taste is equally low-grade.


    The system''s howls reached her ears. Yu Yi turned back to look at Xue Chenjing sitting quietly to the side. His face was pale white, his long hair disheveled and ck, his eyes covered with a gauze inscribed with runes. Beneath his vibrant bridal robes, a faint ck aura floated, making him look like a resentful ghost bride.


    Even Huai Li could feel the gloomy resentment emanating from his body. She shuddered, her soul shrinking into a corner, and urged with a trembling voice: "Yi, you should go quickly."


    Yu Yi reluctantly withdrew her hand and stood up, walking towards Xue Chenjing.


    As she approached step by step, the tentacles in the air also converged following her footsteps, connecting behind her and surrounding her in a fleshy cocoon, "watching" her from all directions.


    ¡ªMaster, master, master, I''m in so much pain, so much pain¡ª


    "Shut up, stop calling out!" Yu Yi stopped a step away from Xue Chenjing, looking down at his blood-stained wedding clothes. "I''m not as good at treating wounds as Huai Li."


    The room-filling whimpering finally ceased. Xue Chenjing raised his hand to pinch her sleeve, revealing a pleasing smile, "It''s alright, as long as it''s master helping me, it''s fine."


    Yu Yi shook off his hand and crouched down, directly pulling open his loose cor. She nced at the burst wounds on his body and frowned, "When Huai Li helped you earlier, you didn''t have so many injuries."


    "It was injured by the cat spirit''s demonic energy. When he scratched my pseudopods, it was reflected on my body," Xue Chenjing lied without changing his expression. He certainly wouldn''t admit that these wounds were all self-inflicted.


    Because touching here earned more points.


    Yu Yi suspiciously examined the wounds closely. Three bloody gashes stretched diagonally from his left chest to his lower right abdomen, indeed looking like beast w marks.


    "Pseudopods?" Yu Yi asked in confusion, and immediately a cold sensation crept into her palm.


    Yu Yi was startled and instinctively waved her hand to shake it off. A blue sword light sparked at her fingertips, almost piercing through. But from the corner of her eye, she caught Xue Chenjing''s face suddenly darkening, and she immediately realized what he meant by pseudopods.


    The sword energy at her fingertips dissipated, and she reproached, "Without my permission, don''t touch me with your pseudopods. I can''t see them, and when they suddenly touch me like that, anyone would be startled."


    Moreover, she had almost been strangled by these tentacles just moments ago.


    Xue Chenjing grumbled sullenly, withdrawing his tentacle and wrapping it around the wound on his abdomen. The transparent soft flesh was tinged with fresh blood, revealing a slender and rounded tip, looking like jelly drizzled with a spoonful of honey-sweetened fruit juice. He thrust it back in front of Yu Yi.


    Yu Yi stared at the blood-stained tentacle tip with aplex expression, noticing a familiar bite mark on it. "... You don''t actually want me to touch it, do you?"


    Xue Chenjing nodded expectantly. Seeing her not moving for a long time, the anticipation on his face subsided, and even the blood-stained tentacle drooped its tip, asking intively, "You were so happy to pet someone else''s cat just now, but you''re unwilling to pet your own dog?"


    Brother, do you look anything like a dog?


    Yu Yi''s eyes held undisguised disgust: "It''s too dirty, I don''t want to touch it."


    Xue Chenjing''s breath sank heavily, and he suddenly retracted his tentacle.


    A series of cracking sounds resonated from the stone chamber walls, and rocks of various sizes fell with a tter. The once-smooth walls had already been scratched into a pockmarked state by the tentacles.


    Perhaps he was truly angered; his blood surged, and another stream of blood seeped from his wounds.


    Yu Yi performed a simple healing spell to stop his bleeding, then began rummaging through Huai Li''s treasure bag for various jars and bottles of medicine. "Tell me, how did you find me?"


    Xue Chenjing was in a sullen mood, his voice cold, "I met Crane Senior Brother outside who was looking for you. Knowing you had fallen into this ghost realm, I came in to take you out."


    Yu Yi moistened a handkerchief, cleaned his wounds thoroughly, sprinkled on medicinal powder, and nced up at him, "Really just ''met''?"


    Xue Chenjing was silent for a moment, then admitted, "I came looking for you on purpose."


    "How did you know which way I went? What trick have you yed on me again?" Yu Yi''s voice rose, clearly angered. She deliberately pressed harder on the wound on his abdomen, "Take it back."


    With this body''s meridians severed and senses dulled, Xue Chenjing felt no pain,pletely unaware of Yu Yi''s secret retaliation. He reached out towards Yu Yi''s neck.


    Yu Yi immediately raised her hand to block, without a moment''s hesitation.


    Xue Chenjing''s hand stopped midair, and he said sadly, "Master, the Heart Sea Oath Stone has been formed. If I vite the oath, my Purple Pce will be torn apart. You don''t need to be so guarded against me."

 Chapter 23

    Yu Yi and he remained at a stalemate for a moment before she lowered her hand. The corner of Xue Chenjing''s mouth curved slightly as he reached out again towards her neck. His cool fingertips lightly brushed against her skin, like being tickled by a feather, causing a tingling sensation and making her neck hair stand on end.


    Xue Chenjing withdrew his hand, now holding a ball of milky-white mist in his palm, resembling a palm-sized cotton candy.


    "What is that?" Yu Yi touched her own neck.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t hide it from her, "Earth Impurity. It''s what you saw at the bottom of the hot spring when we were in Cloud Mountain Valley."


    As he spoke, the ball of mist suddenly floated down from his palm, rolled on the ground, and transformed into a small, delicate cat.


    The kitten tilted its head and rubbed against Yu Yi''s feet, then rolled over and changed into a snow-white rabbit. As it leaped into the air, the rabbit''s form scattered and reassembled into a plump little mountain bird.


    In the blink of an eye, the Earth Impurity had transformed into dozens of different animals.


    Because there wasn''t much mist left outside, the creatures it transformed into were all small. When it changed into fierce beasts, it could only choose infant forms - round and fluffy, surrounding Yu Yi and acting cute and coquettish.


    Transparent tentacles surrounded them, meticulously collecting Yu Yi''s reactions. Xue Chenjing could feel her quickened heartbeat, her unconsciously softened expression, and even her brightened eyes.


    Her heart rate peaked when the Earth Impurity transformed into a baby snow leopard. Xue Chenjing directed the little snow leopard to climb onto Yu Yi, its long, thick tail standing up, with its fluffy tail tip tickling her chin.


    Yu Yi''s eyes widened, her fingers clenched within her sleeves. She bit her lip, finally controlling herself, and asked warily, "What trick are you trying to y now?"


    He had alreadypromised to this extent, yet her guard was still so high. Xue Chenjing felt irritated, but he still put on an obedient face, only shaking his head dejectedly, "I''m not trying to y any tricks. I just want to please my master."


    As he spoke, the little snow leopard mewed softly twice and nuzzled her fingers with its nose.


    The system offered advice from the side, praising happily, "I underestimated you, host. Master, quickly have the Earth Impurity turn into a panda, the ck and white iron-eating beast. The female lead definitely won''t be able to resist that animal."


    The mist on the ground transformed, truly bing a doll-sized baby panda. The panda''s fur was fluffy, its white parts extremely white and ck parts jet ck. Its body was round, with bright, round eyes looking at her innocently and purely.


    Yu Yi''s self-controlpletely crumbled, unable to stop the panda from crawling into her arms.


    Xue Chenjing smiled triumphantly.


    Yu Yi had seen Xue Chenjing act cute and clever for the sake of missions before. While she wasn''t moved in her heart, with the baby panda in her arms, she at least didn''t openly reject him anymore.


    If Xue Chenjing liked to pretend and curry favor, she''d let him act. After all, she had nothing to lose.


    This panda created by the Earth Impurity was exactly like a real one. Yu Yi reached out to pet it and found herself unable to let go for a while.


    Xue Chenjing took the opportunity to move his face closer, shortening the distance between them. With a slight nasal tone, he pleaded pitifully, "Master, my wounds haven''t been fully treated yet. It hurts so much."


    Yu Yi''s attitude towards him indeed softened considerably. She put down the panda in her arms and focused on treating the wounds on his body.


    Xue Chenjing finally found the right way to deal with her, feeling quite pleased with himself. Looking at the cat demon again, he no longer felt any threat from it. How could a low-level cat demonpare to him?


    Once he got out of here, the Earth Impurity could transform into any creature in the world for her to choose from.


    Xue Chenjing watched the continuously rising points, his mood changing from cloudy to sunny. A smile involuntarily appeared on his lips, and even the ghostly bride''s resentment that had been lingering around him dissipated.


    When he was in a good mood, his tentacles also became jubnt, swaying their tips.


    asionally, when Yu Yi moved, she would identally touch the transparent tentacles crowding around them. Xue Chenjing quickly said, "I didn''t move, you touched me."


    Yu Yi nced at him, and the next time she touched the cool tentacles, her fingertips lightly stroked the tip of one.


    The tentacles not armored with snake scales were smooth and soft, especially delicate at the tips, like transparent crystal jelly. The tips were covered with dense sensory organs, and when touched by Yu Yi, they involuntarily curled up, wrapping around her fingers.


    This body''s five senses were dulled, and the eyes were blind and unable to see. Xue Chenjing distributed his full attention to his pseudopods, making the sensations on the tentacles much more sensitive than usual.


    As such, the unexpected light stroke on the tentacle made him unable to control the shudder of his shoulders. He trembled violently, letting out a low moan from his throat.


    Yu Yi withdrew her fingers and couldn''t help but look at him sideways, thinking, "Such a big reaction from just one touch, you''re truly a pervert."


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes, covered by bandages, first widened in a daze, then narrowed in pleasure, his face unable to hide his delight.


    Having tasted sweetness, his tentacles became increasingly presumptuous, secretly exploring towards her hands, hoping for more caresses.


    However, Yu Yi ignored him again. Even when a tentacle rested on the back of her hand, she couldpletely disregard its existence.


    Xue Chenjing became irritated by her fickleness, his breathing bing heavier. Just as his dissatisfaction was about to reach its peak, Yu Yi suddenly opened her fingers and grasped the tentacle that was causing trouble near her hand.


    Her warm palmpletely enveloped the soft tip of the tentacle, her scorching body temperature instantly transmitting into Xue Chenjing''s senses.


    Caught off guard, Xue Chenjing''s body trembled again, a tingling sensation spreading across his scalp. But before he could react further, Yu Yi released him again and said, "Put away all your pseudopods, stop causing trouble."


    Xue Chenjing''s Adam''s apple bobbed as he swallowed. Though feeling somewhat frustrated, he obediently and silently retracted the tentacles surrounding them back into the void.


    Extremely docile.


    After treating the wounds on his chest, Xue Chenjing twisted his body to reveal the sword wound on his back. The wound was raw red, deep enough to see bone, with traces of electricity snaking across his entire back.


    It was clear that when she had attacked, she had shown no mercy. Even though this body''s senses were dulled, Xue Chenjing had still been brought to tears by the pain at the time. He whimpered pitifully, "You''re so cruel to me."


    Yu Yi ced her palm over the wound, slowly infusing spiritual energy to eliminate the residual sword energy in his body. "You attacked first, intending to kill me."


    Xue Chenjing lowered his head and admitted his mistake. He did lose control at that time.


    Sometimes he couldn''t control himself, acting on impulse before reason. Unlike humans who think thrice before acting, he mostly acted on likes and dislikes, just like the demons in his sea of consciousness who act purely on desire.


    So when the system asked him to please her like a human would, Xue Chenjing really couldn''t find the right approach.


    While treating the wounds on his back, Yu Yi felt the tentacles deeply attached to his spine, almost fused into the flesh. She asked curiously, "What''s this?"


    Xue Chenjing replied, "His meridians arepletely severed, with multiple fractures. His spine is also broken into several pieces. Without my pseudopods supporting him, he wouldn''t be able to sit up at all."


    Yu Yi hadn''t expected that Ji Hanyi had been tortured so brutally by the demons in the end.


    During the altar wedding, the little bird demon couldn''t bear to see the immortal lord humiliated and didn''t watch till the end. Now suddenly hearing this, its heart was filled with sadness.


    Its intense emotions infected Yu Yi, and she felt a lump in her throat as tears began to stream down her face.


    The warm tears fell on Xue Chenjing''s back, with a few dropsnding on the tentacles attached to his spine. He was surprised and extended several tentacles towards her face, catching more falling teardrops.


    "You''re crying for him?" Xue Chenjing lowered his head, his tentacles wriggling, savoring the tears that had fallen on them.


    So she could cry after all, and for someone who had long been dead. It seemed Yu Yi was only this ruthless and cruel to him alone.


    Was it because he was a demon, a monster, an anomaly?


    Seeing his thoughts going in the wrong direction, the system anxiously said, "Master, that''s not it. The female lead is definitely different from others. She just doesn''t like you yet. Once she falls for you, she won''t care whether you''re human or demon, or if you''re an anomaly."


    Yu Yi had initially wanted to exin that those weren''t her tears, but after hearing the system''s words, she silently closed her mouth again.


    Let Xue Chenjing think what he wants, she thought. It would be best if he could understand that she was no different from others, and perhaps even less knowledgeable than the cultivators born and raised in this world.


    She wasn''t interested in non-humans; she just wanted to be with an ordinary person like herself.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t let the unbnced emotions in his heart affect him for long. He quickly threw himself back into his n to umte points.


    After treating the wounds on his back, he made several w marks on his legs and begged Yu Yi to bandage them for him.


    In the end, even Huai Li couldn''t help but cry and curse Li Su, ming him for being too harsh¡ªshe attributed all the additional wounds on the Immortal Lord''s body to Li Su.


    As the points increased, Xue Chenjing''s mood improved once again. When he carefully calcted the system''s point situation, he found that it differed greatly from the score he had calcted, so he began to argue with the system: "Do you even know how to count? I don''t think you''ve calcted correctly."


    Questioned about its professionalism, the system naturally refused to back down and went through the points with him item by item.


    "The system starts calcting points after the female lead recognizes the host. The female lead touching the host''s head and face area earns ten points. When treating wounds, touching the chest and abdomen area earns fifteen points, the back area fifteen points, and the leg area fifteen points. The female lead actively holding a tentacle once, which we''ll count as hand-holding, earns five points. A total of sixty points, no miscalction."


    Yu Yi''s movements paused subtly: "???"


    Xue Chenjing was still haggling with the system: "She just hugged me voluntarily, how many points should that add?"


    The system was speechless, "Master, that was just wrapping bandages for you, not a hug."


    Xue Chenjing snorted coldly, "Isn''t a hug between humans just putting two hands around the waist? What''s the difference from her actions just now?"


    The system couldn''t exin clearly to his already dehumanized mind and said helplessly: "The difference is that the female lead just now put her hands around your waist to wrap bandages for you, not to hug you."


    "Master, you''ve already hurt yourself to make the female lead treat your wounds and touch you to gain points. This is already exploiting a loophole in the task. Please stop here and don''t be unreasonable."


    Yu Yi could only hear the system''s one-sided voice, not Xue Chenjing''s thoughts when he was talking to the system.


    However, from what the system said, she could roughly guess what Xue Chenjing was being "unreasonable" about.


    She knew that Xue Chenjing''s sudden humility must have had other motives, and sure enough, it did.


    Xue Chenjingughed lightly in anger at the system and asked threateningly: "Are you deliberately ying with me?"


    After experiencing the shock of his threat to perish together with the female lead, how could the system dare!


    It hurriedly exined: "Hugs between humans represent friendliness and intimacy. Master, you were also hugged by your father and mother when you were young. I believe you should be able to understand the difference."


    Xue Chenjing fell silent at its words, and after a long while, he slowly said: "I don''t remember."


    Now that he was living symbiotically with demons, his thoughts had long been assimted by them. How could he remember what it felt like to be "human"? Xue Chenjing had long forgotten how it felt when his parents hugged him.


    After the system''s words, Yu Yi clearly felt Xue Chenjing''s mood sink. She tied a knot in the bandage around his waist and looked up at Xue Chenjing.


    Did such a monster actually have parents? Who were the people in that mountain temple? Was that his human side?


    Seeing her staring at him, Xue Chenjing immediately brought his head closer, pretending to be obedient: "Master, I''m still in a lot of pain. Can you stroke me, please?"


    Yu Yi''s eyes narrowed slightly, and she suddenly lifted her skirt and straddled him.


    Huai Li hurriedly buried her head in her wings, her small bird-like soul curled up in the corner, shouting: "Yi, I-I''m still here! Why don''t you knock me out first! Chirp¡ª"


    Xue Chenjing was also startled by her unexpected action and leaned backwards, his eyebrows raised almost to his hairline. One could imagine that the eyes hidden under the bandages must also be wide open.


    But it was only for a moment. He quicklyposed his surprised expression, the corners of his mouth curling up uncontrobly. He actively opened his arms towards her, wanting to ask for another hug, "Master..."


    Yu Yi heard the system''s report: "Congrattions to the host for achieving a further intimate contact, rewarded with twenty points. The current total umted points are eighty, only one step away from one hundred points. Please keep up the good work, host."


    Xue Chenjing was overjoyed, but as he was about to close his arms, Yu Yi blocked him with her sleeve.


    Yu Yi''s eyes, which had just been crying, were ck and moist, like ss beads washed with water. She gave him a gentle smile and raised her hand to lightly stroke his cheek.


    As the system happily congratted the host for umting ny points, Yu Yi''s fingertips left Xue Chenjing''s face. She actively hooked her fingers with his, her slender knuckles fitting into the gaps between his fingers, and gripped his hand tightly for a moment.


    System: "Current points: ny-five!"


    Xue Chenjing was ted, his face flushing with excitement. The rosy color seeped through his pale skin, as if a long-ill person had suddenly experienced a final burst of vitality, his face glowing.


    Just as they were at the final step, Yu Yi smiled and stood up, her fingers slipping from his hand as she said, "Alright, I''m done touching you."


    Xue Chenjing: "..."


    System: "..."


    Xue Chenjing''s heart was once again left hanging, neither up nor down, like a fish bone stuck in his throat. He hurriedly reached out to grab her retreating fingers, "Touch me one more time, just once more."


    Yu Yi smiled at him again, her smile as sweet as honey, but Xue Chenjing felt a sinking feeling in his heart, sensing something was amiss.


    Sure enough, Yu Yi slowly but firmly pulled her hand away, leaving no room for argument: "I don''t want to touch you anymore." She had no intention of being an obedient tool.


    Xue Chenjing couldn''t force her, so he tried his best to make his tentacles wriggle into her hands, rubbing back and forth on the back of her hand.


    But Yu Yi was determined, her fingers remaining motionless, not responding to him.


    At this moment, Li Su, who had been indulging in catnip, was about to regain consciousness.


    Although he had been dizzy from the catnip, he had been able to see the interactions between Huai Li and that human cultivator the whole time. Their figures appeared sometimes near, sometimes far, sometimes clear, sometimes distorted.


    The scarlet wedding dress ovepped with her dark green robe, like a brilliantly blooming spring flower, deeply etched into his vision.


    Aliali: 6720f54c2bffb2b7bc4c0e56


    The sound of their voices was intermittent and vague.


    But Li Su saw it. She had lied to him again! She wasn''t just looking at his wounds, she was sitting on hisp, she was touching his face, she even held his hand, their fingers intertwined! They were being intimate and flirting right in front of him!


    She even cried for him.


    She cried for him again!


    The cat demon''s limbs were weak from the stimtion of the crushed grass and powder beneath him, but his heart felt like it was being cut by a knife, repeatedly wounded by the scenes reflected in his pupils.


    The ground was covered with w marks from his loss of control, with specks of dark red mixed in the crisscrossing furrows¡ªblood from his ws being ground against the floor.


    When Huai Li regained control of her body and saw the mess on the ground, she was so shocked she covered her mouth. "Li Su, what are you doing?"


    Under her gaze, Li Su changed back into his human form. He reached out to grab the hem of her skirt, trying to smear his bloody fingertips on her dress to cover up the bloodstains she had picked up from that human cultivator.


    Li Su''s eyes were bloodshot as he looked up at her. His golden cat eyes were covered with ayer of mist as he pleaded with a panicked expression: "Huai Li, I know I did wrong before, but I can change. I can please you too. Choose me, okay?"


    "Be my master."

 Chapter 24

    The cat demon, who had always been arrogant in front of her and loved to mock and bully her, was now prostrating himself at the hem of her skirt, frantically confessing his feelings.


    He liked her. He had always liked her.


    But he didn''t know how to express these feelings. Huai Li''s temperament was too gentle and soft-hearted. She was so kind to everyone, always showing that warm smile to all.


    When Li Su realized that he wasn''t special in her eyespared to others, he became both angry and jealous, almost gnashing his teeth in hatred.


    He began to bully her, scare her, belittle her, deliberately making her out to be worthless. When he saw that her gaze towards him contained more fear and trepidation than when she looked at others, Li Su would secretly feel pleased.


    In her eyes, he was finally different from others, right?


    But when she actually said out loud that she would despise him, he still became afraid. When she walked towards that human cultivator, he still felt jealous hatred.


    That was a human cultivator, a celestial lord who had once in countless demons. He wasn''t like those demons who could be scared away with a few intimidating words. If Huai Li chose Ji Hanyi, she would absolutely not be epted by the demon race.


    The fear of losing her made the cat demon bend his proud back, kneeling at her feet, begging her to choose him.


    Huai Li stood stunned in ce, hands covering her lips. She had never seen Li Su like this before, nor had she ever looked down at him from this angle. Every time he appeared before her, he was always high and mighty, his golden cat eyes filled with mockery and derision.


    Now, it was as if their positions had been reversed, with Li Su looking up at her pleadingly.


    The little bird demon''s heart began to race. She believed it now. Yu Yi was right, Li Su did like her, which was why he had lowered himself like this.


    So what should she do now? How should she answer him?


    Huai Li wanted to find Yu Yi to give her some advice, but at this moment, Yu Yi had be like before, no longer interfering in the entanglement between her and Li Su, telling her to decide for herself.


    The little bird demon was so anxious that sweat broke out on her forehead. She remembered what Yu Yi had once said, that she could use Li Su''s feelings for her to manipte him, to shape him into what she liked. At that time, she had listened with longing, wanting to try it out on him.


    But now, seeing Li Su begging her so humbly, her heart softened.


    How could she use Li Su''s feelings for her to bully him?


    Huai Li hesitated for a long time, but eventually crouched down, cupping his bleeding fingertips in both hands, lighting up a white healing glow. Behind the white light were her gentle eyes. She smiled and said, "Li Su, how can a bird be a cat''s master? I don''t want to be your master. Let''s just be like before."


    She paused, then corrected herself, "No, not like before. You said you wouldn''t bully me anymore."


    Li Su wished he could swear to the heavens, "I''ll change, I won''t bully you anymore, and I won''t let anyone else bully you either."


    The little bird demon was easily satisfied. Without holding grudges, she patted his shoulder and said happily, "Alright then, I''ll like you too."


    Li Su''s eyes widened, his cat eyes shining so brightly they almost glowed. He excitedly pounced forward to hug Huai Li, feeling happier in this moment than if he had inhaled catnip.


    Yu Yi wasn''t surprised at all by Huai Li''s reaction. If she had really been able to harden her heart, she would have kicked this annoying cat demon far away long ago. How could she have let him keep bouncing around her all this time?


    She also knew that the "like" in Huai Li''s mouth was far different from what Li Su understood it to be. This little bird demon was very loving, liking cats, liking celestial lords, and liking her too.


    On the other side, Xue Chenjing, who was silently "observing" this scene, felt a mixture of emotions.


    Why was that little bird demon so easy to coax? Why was Yu Yi so hard-hearted? Such a stark contrast and disparity made him feel resentful.


    Xue Chenjing had been in a state of agitation, "wanting to be touched again," and now stimted by those two cats and birds, his tentacles kept curling and uncurling, itching to grab his own tentacles and gnaw on them in frustration.


    The system routinely defended Yu Yi, arguing, "The female lead isn''t hard-hearted. She''s also a very warm and kind girl. As long as you treat her sincerely, she will definitely be moved by you. Master, only true sincerity can be exchanged for true sincerity."


    Xue Chenjingughed coldly in anger, withdrawing his tentacles and demon spirits from the void, sealing himself in darkness, choosing to turn a blind eye.


    He sank into his own sea of consciousness, where a twisted shadow immediately enveloped him. They craved him, wanting to devour him. He was born like a ma, attracting these dark creatures to worship him. If he didn''t want to be swallowed by them, he could only swallow them.


    Without realizing it, he had already be a dark thing like them.


    Xue Chenjing stirred up his sea of consciousness, not knowing where to find the so-called love and gentleness to heal her.


    He stirred around in his cesspool-like sea of consciousness, but ultimately stood before a faint white light deep within. Inside was locked another version of himself, another him who was pure in both body and mind.


    It was him, yet not him. If he were to release that version, how would it be any different from killing himself? Xue Chenjing didn''t think Yu Yi was worth going to such lengths for.


    He buried that ball of light deep in his sea of consciousness again, lettingyers of demonic shadows obscure its radiance.


    Xue Chenjing had deliberately led Yu Yi to this secret chamber under the altar, intending to spend time alone with her, undisturbed by others, to gain points.


    Now that a cat had burrowed in as well, whenever the little bird demon stayed by his side for even a moment, he would start howling, which was extremely annoying.


    Xue Chenjing used his injury to gain sympathy, causing Yu Yi toe bandage him. Seeing this, the cat deliberately reopened the wound on his shoulder, leaning weakly against the wall, pretending to be on the verge of death.


    Xue Chenjing lostpletely, because his master wouldn''t show him any extra pity. He couldn''t evenpare to Ji Hanyi; at least the little bird demon always kept her celestial lord in mind.


    For most of the day, the little bird demon was in control of the body. Xue Chenjing watched her cuddling with the cat demon, asionally receiving hostile and gloating looks from Li Su, who put on the air of a primary consort.


    Xue Chenjing wanted to skin that cat and use his fur as a cushion.


    The system sighed, "A world of three people... no, four people. Actually, to be precise, a world of five souls is still too crowded. The unloved one is really pitiful."


    Xue Chenjing bit through something, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Looking sinister as if he were the lingering ghost unable to let go of his grudges, he questioned inwardly, "You said she would be especially partial to things that belong to her."


    Where was the love? Where was the partiality?!


    System: "..." It had made a mistake. It shouldn''t have rashly provoked him.


    As the point gain was unsatisfactory, Xue Chenjing didn''t want to stay here anymore. Coincidentally, Yu Yi had no intention of lingering here either. She still needed to investigate that Phoenix Tree Formation, wanting to quickly end this Ghost Realm that had persisted for a thousand years.


    For the first time, their intentions aligned, although Yu Yi was thinking about getting out of this secret chamber, while Xue Chenjing was thinking about getting out of this Ghost Realm.


    Without Yu Yi''s permission, Xue Chenjing had never removed the demon-sealing charm on his eyes, even though the charm''s inscriptions had blurred into indistinct red marks, long since losing their effect.


    He turned his head slightly, ck hair falling on both sides of his face, and said to her, "To get out, we just need to find the seam between reality and this ce. It should be on the big phoenix tree at the center."


    "I''ve already instructed Senior Crane to call from the tree. Once we hear its call, we can follow the sound to get out of here."


    Li Su heard something amiss in these words and became very alert. "What seam to reality? Where are you nning to go?"


    He grabbed Yu Yi''s wrist tightly and said urgently, "I can help you send him out of Dark Cinnabar Mountain, but you can''t go with him. Huai Li, he''s a human cultivator, and we''re demons. Humans and demons walk different paths. There''s no ce in this world where humans and demons can live together."


    "I''m not leaving," Yu Yi said soothingly, patting his hand to indicate he should let go. "Right now, Dark Cinnabar Mountain is at its most vignt. It would be very difficult to send the celestial lord away at this time. We''ll have to trouble the celestial lord to continue hiding in this secret chamber. Once the mountain lord rxes his guard, we''ll find a way to send the celestial lord out."


    Li Su''s bristling fur settled back down. He reluctantly caressed the slender wrist twice before letting go, saying, "I think so too."


    Xue Chenjing lowered his head, and Li Su immediately looked over. If his eyes weren''t covered by gauze, Li Su would have thought he could see their movements.


    Of course, it would be even better if he could see, preferably enough to kill any thoughts of abducting Huai Li.


    What Li Su wanted most was to tie up Ji Hanyi and bring him before the master of Dark Cinnabar Mountain. Not only would it clear his name, but it would also earn him merit.


    But Huai Li was unwilling. She still remembered the immortal lord''s life-saving grace and was determined to help him escape from here.


    Li Su couldn''t persuade Huai Li otherwise, so he could only try to help her.


    Xue Chenjing raised his head again and asked in confusion, "Why? If you''re not leaving, do you intend to stay here forever?"


    "If I leave, I''m taking them with me, understand?" Yu Yi said. Of course she wanted to leave this ce, but after she left, the little bird spirit would still be trapped here, repeatedly dying in the zing fire.


    She had spent so much time with the little bird spirit, drinking her fermented flower nectar and eating her steamed flower cakes. How could she just leave without a second thought? She had to do something for her.


    Xue Chenjing once again experienced that stark disparity. Well, it seemed she was indeed as kind-hearted andpassionate as the system had said, with the heart of a bodhisattva.


    However, her bodhisattva''s heart was only generous to others, while being stingy towards him.


    Li Su listened to their cryptic conversation, his mind nearly in knots, and pressed further, "Huai Li, speak more clearly. Are we leaving or not?"


    Yu Yi said, "We''re leaving, but first we need to get out of this stone chamber."


    "If you want to leave, you must take me with you," Xue Chenjing took a deep breath, trying to soften his tone. "Only I know how to get out."


    He couldn''t possibly agree to stay here alone. By staying close to Yu Yi, he could still find opportunities to make her touch him. If they were separated, there would be no chance at all.


    The cat spirit immediately retorted, "Does the immortal lord have a choice right now? The master of Dark Cinnabar Mountain must be ordering people to search for you everywhere. As soon as you show your face, you''ll be captured by the mountain master. It doesn''t matter if you get caught, but don''t drag us down with you!"


    Xue Chenjing ignored him and only spoke to Yu Yi, "Whatever you want to do, I can help you. This used to be Ji Family territory. I definitely know more about this ce than you do."


    After suppressing the earth-bound spirit, he had searched Ji Hanyi''s soul and learned about the origins of this Ghost Realm from his memories.


    After the master of Dark Cinnabar Mountain married Ji Hanyi, their peace didn''tst long. When the Ji Family fell, most of the resources under their control flowed into the hands of the Ji Family''s former non-blood-rted retainers.


    The people of the Jiang, Yao, and Yun families quickly became the new powers in the cultivation world. They still had to keep up appearances for the surviving members of the Ji Family. Upon learning that Ji Hanyi was imprisoned on Dark Cinnabar Mountain, they quickly gathered a group of cultivators to attack the mountain.


    The master of Dark Cinnabar Mountain was a vicious snake. She sacrificed herself, extracting the spirit vein beneath Dark Cinnabar Mountain and causing it to self-destruct, burying all the humans and spirits here.


    Xue Chenjing quite admired that snake.


    Hearing him speak this way, Yu Yi pondered briefly and understood the meaning behind his words.


    Xue Chenjing must have also read Ji Hanyi''s memories. Ji Hanyi naturally knew more about Ji Family territory than outsiders. The master of Dark Cinnabar Mountain had upied this ce for so many years but didn''t know there was a secret chamber beneath this altar.


    Moreover, Huai Li had died too early, and she was just a clueless little bird. Yu Yi couldn''t get much useful information from her.


    After considering this, Yu Yi took out a small thread-bound notebook from her treasure pouch. Inside were drawings of the locust tree flower pattern she had seen a few nights ago.


    She handed the notebook to Xue Chenjing and said, "Take a look at this pattern. It might be some kind of formation, but what I saw was iplete, so I couldn''t tell what kind of formation it was."


    Xue Chenjing took the notebook and opened it. Inside was an iplete pattern sketched with charcoal.


    Though Xue Chenjing''s cultivation wasn''t great, he was much more knowledgeable about formations than Yu Yi. After all, he relied on formation symbols to transform the demonic energy in his body, making demonic creatures manifest and serve him.


    He stared at the pattern for a moment, then asked Yu Yi for some charcoal. Using the known array lines to deduce, he crouched down and began drawingyer uponyer of formations on the ground.


    Yu Yi quietly watched him work. Some of the formations he drew were familiar to her, but most were ones she had never seen or known, exuding an evil aura.


    The cat spirit paced anxiously nearby. Unable to help with this matter, he felt he had lost a point to that detestable human cultivator.


    After about half an hour, the charcoal in Xue Chenjing''s hand was almost used up. His fingertips were stained ck. He waved his hand to erase the marks on the ground, then used the remaining bit of charcoal to sketch a few lines in the notebook before turning it over to show her.


    "It''s a Soul Settling Formation, to settle the souls of the deceased and preserve their primordial spirits," Xue Chenjing exined while rubbing the charcoal from his fingertips.


    Yu Yi wouldn''t have produced an iplete formation pattern for no reason. He could easily guess, "There''s a Soul Settling Formation beneath this ghost city?"


    Yu Yi nced at thepleted formation diagram in the notebook, her eyes showing admiration.


    Xue Chenjing''s lips curled up. He immediately stepped forward, lowering his head close to her face, his expression clearly saying "pet me," as he said cheerfully, "Master, I told you I''m very useful."


    A threatening cat''s yowl erupted beside them, and Li Su''s fur stood on end.


    Before Yu Yi could move, he squeezed between them, baring his fangs. "What master? She''s not your master and has nothing to do with you. For a noble immortal lord to acknowledge a spirit as master, you truly have no shame left."


    This scolding was quite urate. Toplete his mission, Xue Chenjing indeed had no shame left.


    Yu Yi took the opportunity to retreat behind Li Su, keeping her distance from Xue Chenjing and refusing to give him any points.


    Xue Chenjing''s expression darkened, his jaw clenched tight, nearly grinding his back teeth to dust as he coldly snorted, "Useless cat, only knows how to yowl."


    Li Su was so angry that he raised his paws to fight with Xue Chenjing''s snake scale-covered tentacles.


    Yu Yi walked away from them with the notebook, carefully studying the Soul Settling Formation. Judging from the scale of the locust tree flower pattern she had seen, the Soul Settling Formation beneath Dark Cinnabar Mountain must be quiterge.


    Could it be that this Soul Settling Formation was binding Huai Li and the other souls here?


    Xue Chenjing had beaten Li Su quite badly, with cat yowls asionally ringing out. Huai Li''s soul called out worriedly from within Yu Yi''s body, "Yi Yi, Yi Yi, please control that person of yours."


    Yu Yi''s thoughts were still immersed in the Soul Settling Formation diagram. Hearing the voice, she raised her head and instinctively opened her mouth to call out, "A Qiu..."


    As soon as the words left her mouth, she quickly pressed her lips together.


    The perception Xue Chenjing had imnted in her mind had not yet faded.


    Even though she now knew the truth behind everything, knew that the experience of marriage and seclusion was all fabricated, these formed perceptions were still imprinted in her mind.


    Like an imprint etched into her brain, she would be influenced by this imprint if she wasn''t careful.


    Although Yu Yi closed her mouth quickly, Xue Chenjing still heard her call. He immediately turned and came to her side, saying obediently, "Did you call me?"


    The demonic spirit floated beside Yu Yi, seeing that her expression was very unpleasant. Xue Chenjing thought she wanted to shield the cat spirit and felt quite indignant. He clicked his tongue and said, "I didn''t use too much force on him. He even scratched me."


    The cat spirit shouted nearby, his spirit energy shing with the tentacles, "Get away from her! I''ll kill you!"


    Xue Chenjing lowered his head dejectedly, mumbling, "See? He''s the one who wants a fight to the death."


    "Stop pretending," Yu Yi said, somewhat annoyed. She turned her head to look directly at him. "Erase the perception you nted in my mind."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 25

    Xue Chenjing hadn''t expected her to suddenly bring this up. He paused for a moment before saying, "Aren''t you clear-headed now? As long as you''re clear-headed, you won''t be deceived anymore."


    Unless he imnted new cognition in her again, but he couldn''t do that now. He had made a vow, and doing so again would only tear apart his spiritual core.


    Yu Yi looked at him and said, "I don''t want those fabricated things to remain in my mind."


    Xue Chenjing pursed his lips, feeling displeased by the obvious disdain in her eyes. But this time, he hid his emotions well, putting on a troubled expression as he said, "I can''t erase it. I don''t know how to erase it. I can only imnt another cognition to cover the previous one, but I''m bound by an oath now."


    Yu Yi didn''t believe his words and asked, "What about those people whose cognition you''ve altered before?"


    "Either kill them, or kill the ''me'' in their cognition."


    That''s how he used to resolve it in the past. For example, with the group of disciples guarding the back mountain of the Lishan Sword Sect, when he wanted to shed his identity as a "Lishan disciple," he just had to kill everyone he had imnted with that cognition.


    Of course, he could also choose to overwrite the previously imnted cognition, changing his identity to that of an insignificant person, but most of the time, killing them was simpler.


    Xue Chenjing "observed" Yu Yi''s expression and said ingratiatingly, "The name ''Aqiu'' is real. It''s the courtesy name my father had prepared for me. It''s not made up."


    However, he had left home before that and never returned, so he never had the formaling-of-age ceremony.


    "You can call me Aqiu. I like hearing you call me that."


    What a beautiful dream, Yu Yi thought. She had no intention of calling him that. They weren''t close enough for that. Or rather, she didn''t want to actively step into the sweet trap Xue Chenjing had fabricated and y into his hands.


    The casual way Xue Chenjing spoke about killing people was so nonchnt, as if he was simply plucking a de of grass from the roadside. Human life was so cheap in his heart, it was terrifying. How could he possibly understand how to cherish anything else?


    Yu Yi still remembered that blood-stained shallow beach, and the scene of him unhesitatingly piercing the heart of his senior brother who was protecting him. Just recalling it, no matter how he pretended or acted now, she could remain indifferent.


    Before she could speak, Li Su, full of jealousy, shouted from the side, "No way! You can''t call him that. Huai Li, I''ve known you for a hundred years, and you''ve never called me ''A Su.'' Why should you call him that? Unless you call me that first."


    That was the little bird spirit''s cat. Yu Yi naturally wouldn''t call him that.


    Xue Chenjing truly didn''t care how she addressed him. After all, whether she called him or not wouldn''t increase his points. He just wanted to find a chance for Yu Yi to touch him again voluntarily, just once would be enough.


    He said understandingly, "It''s alright. If you don''t want to call me that, then don''t. I won''t force you like others might. You can address me however you like. I''ll do whatever you say."


    The other "person" was angered into meowing.


    Before leaving the confinement room, Xue Chenjing took off his eye-catching bridal clothes and reluctantly put on the spare clothes of the cat spirit.


    Although Li Su had lived for over a hundred years, he still looked like a young man, while Ji Hanyi had the build and physique of an adult man.


    The clothes were a bit tight on him, stretching tightly across his shoulders.


    Xue Chenjing was constantly striving for his mission points, so he pleaded, "Master, could you help me adjust my clothes?"


    The troublemaking cat spirit once again stepped forward first, cracking his knuckles with a forced smile, "Immortal Lord is quite delicate, needing someone to help him dress. Let me help you instead, after all, these are my clothes. I''m more familiar with how to wear them than Huai Li."


    Xue Chenjing forcefully pulled the clothes up to his shoulders, causing the fabric to tear with a ripping sound. He said in a low voice, "Get lost."


    Li Su immediately turned to tattle, "Huai Li, did you see that? He changes face faster than turning a page. This kind of man is the most unreliable!"


    The little bird spirit''s soul was made very nervous by their asional confrontations, yet Yu Yi still wanted to add fuel to the fire, saying, "The Mountain Lord has several wolf spirit guards with keen noses. Li Su, you should hug the Immortal Lord or rub against him to transfer more of your scent onto him, to cover up the human cultivator''s scent."


    After she said this, both men showed disgusted expressions and said in unison, "Impossible."


    But the cat spirit''s eyes rolled, and he quickly changed his tune, "Well, it''s not entirely impossible, but the Immortal Lord''s immortal aura is too strong. Just hugging or rubbing won''t be enough to suppress it. I''m afraid only a ssh of urine would do the trick."


    Xue Chenjing was so disgusted he stepped back, his tentacles forming a barrier in front of him. Golden snake scales crawled up to the tips, armoring them into sharp spears that glinted golden in the light of the shark oilmp. "You dare!"


    He turned his head towards Yu Yi and said through gritted teeth, "Master, please rest assured. I won''t let anyone detect my aura."


    As Xue Chenjing said this, the aura around him indeed began to fade.


    Whether it was the lingering bloody smell, the powder fragrance that Ji Hanyi had been forced to wear, or even the cat spirit''s scent left on his clothes, everything was thoroughly cleansed.


    Even the wind would carry different scents from its surroundings, but he could achieve a state of having no scent at all.


    Li Su sniffed towards him a couple of times, asking in surprise, "How did you do that?"


    Xue Chenjing replied impatiently, "It''s none of your business."


    Yu Yi remembered that the book had mentioned something about the viin indeed having some methods to conceal his aura, which was how he could frequently infiltrate the righteous immortal sects to cause trouble.


    She exined to Xue Chenjing in advance, "Alright, but if we''re discovered by the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord after we leave, I''ll hand you over to her directly."


    Only this way would Huai Li not immediately turn into a roasted little bird.


    Hearing this, Li Su felt a surge of joy in his heart, but then sensed something odd. This wasn''t like something Huai Li would do. From what he knew of her, she would never sacrifice others for her own safety.


    But before he could think it through, he saw that cunning human cultivator nodding obediently, lowering his head to try and get close to Huai Li. He deliberately lowered his voice, saying softly, "I''ll do whatever Master says."


    Li Su no longer had the mind to think about anything else, focusing only on guarding against this human cultivator who was trying to seduce Huai Li at every opportunity.


    Besides the entrance on the altar, this confinement room had another door located on the mountainside, which was a security door for patrol personnel to enter and exit.


    When they came out from the mountainside, it was the middle of the night. Dark Cinnabar Mountain was still brightly lit, as the Mountain Lord hadn''t given up on searching for Ji Hanyi. The spirits were gathered at the top of the altar, trying to break open that damned confinement room from the outside.


    Xue Chenjing secretly sent an order to the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord,manding her to remove all the spirits from their original positions at the foot of the mountain.


    The three of them returned to the pceplex at the foot of the mountain almost unimpeded. Yu Yi, holding theplete Soul Settling Formation diagram, deduced the location of the formation gate and headed there.


    The gate of the Soul Settling Formation happened to be under therge locust tree in the central area, where there was a shrine called Huai''an Hall, the ancestral shrine of this branch of the Ji family.


    The location was gloomy, with the locust tree''s leafy canopy covering the entire shrine. When the Ji n was still around, this locust tree had developed a tree spirit that had been guarding the shrine ever since.


    When Xuan Dan originally upied this ce, she led a group of spirits to destroy the shrine out of anger. She had initially wanted to kill the Pagoda Tree Spirit that had been used by humans, but then thought that someone should witness the state of the Ji family shrine, so she left it alive until now.


    The gate of the Soul Settling Formation was set there, so the Pagoda Tree Spirit must know the inside story.


    Yu Yi told Li Su to support Xue Chenjing, half-carrying him as they walked forward. The three stumbled into Huai''an Hall.


    The shrine still maintained the appearance it had when it was destroyed. The que was shattered into pieces lying under the porch, with stains prating the nanmu wood, making the inscriptions illegible.


    The beams and pirs had also copsed for the most part, with broken tiles scattered all over the ground. Especially the tablets inside, it was almost impossible to find a clean and intact piece. Every remaining fragment bore some cursing and insulting characters, with traces of fire burning visible on every inch ofnd here.


    The ancestral hall reeked to high heaven. ording to Li Su, it had been doused with feces and urine for forty-nine days straight. Back then, these demons had specifically stolen nightsoil from the viges at the foot of the mountain to offer as tribute to the deceased ancestors of the Ji n.


    Li Su gripped the immortal lord''s arm tightly, supporting half his weight on his shoulder, and said maliciously, "Anyway, every tablet here has been drenched in excrement and trampled by countless demons."


    "Shut up," Xue Chenjing reprimanded in a low voice. Feeling the turbulent emotions of the other soul within him, he rubbed his brow and suppressed Ji Hanyi''s resistance once again.


    Yu Yi turned her head to scan the four walls of the ancestral hall, then looked up at therge pagoda tree overhead.


    She had naturally investigated this ancestral hall before, but hadn''t discovered anything unusual. She had even been inexplicably cursed at by the tree spirit of this lush pagoda tree that shaded the entire hall.


    At that time, the scolding had made Huai Li cry.


    Now, that pagoda tree spirit was lying back on its branches, its semi-transparent spiritual form emitting a faint glow. Hearing themotion of intruders, it immediately started cursing: "You bunch of savage ruffians, there''s nothing left here for you to vent your anger on. What are you doing here?"


    The pagoda tree began to shake violently, its trunk bending down as its massive seed pods swung like hammers towards the intruders. Branchesshed out, sending bricks and stones flying as it roared, "Get out! Get out now!"


    A shower of pagoda tree flowers scattered through the air like stars, creating a surprisingly beautiful scene for just a moment.


    "Huai Li, be careful," Li Su shed in front of Yu Yi, shielding her behind him. At the same time, he pushed Xue Chenjing out with one hand, saying, "Look carefully, you old tree. If you kill your immortal lord, you''ll be the one crying."


    Xue Chenjing coughed up a mouthful of blood at the push. He was half-conscious and weakly falling towards the filthy ground. Fortunately, the tree spirit reacted quickly, extending a branch to catch the immortal lord in its lush foliage.


    The pagoda tree spirit suddenly sat up on its branch. With its white beard and hair, it was only half the height of a person. It flew lightly onto a leaf, which shook to turn the immortal lord over so it could examine him closely.


    After a long while, it finally recognized this immortal lord of the Ji Family and reached out to support him, saying, "It really is the immortal lord. My lord, you..."


    The tree spirit choked up. Seeing the blood-stained gauze over his eyes, it wiped the corners of its own eyes with its sleeve and wept, "This old one was useless, unable to protect the ancestral hall or save the immortal lord. I could only watch as a group of evil spirits bullied you."


    Xue Chenjing shook his head gently. "It''s not your fault. My own abilities werecking, which is why I ended up in this state."


    Li Su interrupted their master-servant exchange: "Old tree, you should thank us properly. If it weren''t for Huai Li and me rescuing your immortal lord, he would have died long ago in the Mountain Lord''s bed."


    At this point, Li Su''s cat eyes lit up, as if he had thought of something. He turned his head to wink at Yu Yi, not missing any chance to nder that human cultivator. He leaned in close and whispered, "That''s right, it took him so long to escape from the bridal chamber, he must have been defiled long ago."


    Xue Chenjing was still lying on the pagoda tree branch, pretending to be severely injured. The system chattered in his ear: "He''s ndering you! I suggest you must find a chance to exin clearly to the female lead that the snake demon never touched you."


    Xue Chenjing waspletely unconcerned. "He''s ndering Ji Hanyi. What does that have to do with me, Xue Chenjing?"


    The system said helplessly, "But you and Ji Hanyi are one and the same now. The female lead doesn''t know when you entered the Ghost Realm. What if she misunderstands you?"


    Hearing this, Xue Chenjing observed Yu Yi and saw that she clearly didn''t care at all.


    Meanwhile, Li Su was looking smug. He raised his tail to Yu Yi''s hand, curling it around her fingers. The tips of his ears turned red as he said, "Huai Li, stay away from him in the future. Don''t let him touch you again. If you want to touch someone, touch me. I''ll only let you touch me."


    The little bird demon''s soul squeezed past Yu Yi and raised a hand to cover his cat mouth, saying urgently, "Don''t talk nonsense. If the immortal lord hears you, he''ll be upset."


    Is that the point? Is there nothing in her head except concern for that despicable human cultivator?


    Li Su''s expression instantly darkened, the blush disappearing from his face. He turned away and red fiercely at the despicable human cultivator, then said nothing more.


    Huai Li timidly lowered his hand, gripping the lingering sensation of Li Su in his palm, and asked in confusion, "Yu Yi, did I do something wrong? Why is Li Su angry again?"


    Yu Yiughed inwardly. "No, you did very well."


    The pagoda tree spirit shook its branches, carefully sheltering the severely injured immortal lord under its leaves. It looked at the two small demons whispering to each other with hostility, wanting to confirm if its immortal lord was being coerced by them.


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes. Ji Hanyi''s soul was resisting fiercely, so he had to focus on suppressing him to avoid being affected by his agitated emotions.


    Feeling the tree spirit''s gaze, he ced a hand on his chest and struggled to sit up. "I once had some friendly rtions with that little bird demon. They did indeed save me. We have nowhere else to go now, so we can onlye to the ancestral hall for temporary shelter."


    Only then did the tree spirit withdraw its hostility, though its gaze towards Huai Li and Li Su still held wariness. It sighed, "The ancestral hall has already been destroyed to this state. Where is there left to hide?"


    Li Su opened his mouth to curse, but was stopped by Yu Yi raising her hand. "Grandfather Tree Spirit, there are demon guards searching for the immortal lord everywhere. We could only bring him here to ask for your help. No matter what, we''ll leave the immortal lord in your care. We''ll go draw away the searching demon guards first."


    She gave Xue Chenjing onest look, then grabbed the cat demon''s sleeve and pulled him quickly out of the ancestral hall.


    Xue Chenjing pretended to pass out. The tree spirit examined him carefully once more, saw the Ji Family emblem connected to the meridians on the inside of his elbow, and finally dispelled all doubts in its heart.


    The pagoda tree''s dense branches intertwined, lifting the immortal lord and carrying him into the half-copsed ancestral hall.


    The tree spirit grasped Xue Chenjing''s hand, its fingers turning into sharp twigs. It cut open a wound on his palm, then reached into its own chest and dug out a green bud, cing it in the wound on his palm.


    The bud entered with the blood, and a green light crawled up Xue Chenjing''s arm along his meridians. All the spiritual power from the thousand-year-old pagoda tree flowed into his body with this green light.


    As the broken meridians in this body began to repair along with the entering roots, Xue Chenjing woke up at the right moment. The veins on his neck bulged as he gritted his teeth and asked, "What are you doing?"


    The spiritual form before him said shamefully, "When this old one was still a seedling, I received the careful cultivation of the Ji Family ancestors, which allowed me to grow and gain sentience. Now I have no other way to repay them except to offer all my spiritual power to reconnect the immortal lord''s meridians, hoping to help you escape the demons'' torment."


    "No, I don''t need you to do this," Xue Chenjing took a deep breath and reached out to try to dig out the bud that had burrowed into his palm.


    "My lord, if you want to open the underground pce to hide, you must use spiritual power. There''s no need to refuse, this is what this old one is willing to do." The tree spirit revealed a relieved smile. Having lost its core, its physical form began to wither and decay at a visible rate, with dry leaves and crushed flowers drifting down.


    Its spiritual form also began to gradually dissipate. In its final moment, the tree spirit pushed the filthy altar inside the ancestral hall and said, "My lord, once you recover your spiritual power, please leave this ce through the underground passage as soon as possible."


    Half of Xue Chenjing''s body was enveloped by the green light crawling along his blood vessels. The tree spirit''s core was like a seed, taking root in his body and beginning to grow wildly.


    Branches reconnected his broken bones, stems and leaves formed new meridians to rece the ruined ones. As sensation returned to this body, Xue Chenjing was wracked with pain, fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.


    He gripped a nearby pagoda tree branch tightly until it lost its vitality in his palm, bing a withered branch that broke easily.


    When the tree spirit''s core had fully merged with his body and all his meridians were reconnected, Xue Chenjing was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, as if he had just been pulled out of water.


    He threw away the dry branch in his hand and, still not satisfied, turned back to stamp on the withered pagoda tree trunk, cursing loudly, "Who the hell asked you to reconnect my meridians and mend my broken bones! It hurt like hell."


    When Yu Yi and Li Su returned, rmed by the rapidly withering pagoda tree, this was the scene they witnessed.


    The cat demon immediately shouted, "Weren''t you supposed to ask it about the Soul Settling Formation? Why did you kill it?"


    Xue Chenjing turned his back, rubbing the soaked bandage over his eyes. His voice was a bit hoarse as he said coldly, "I didn''t even get a chance to ask before it died."

 Chapter 26

    The cat demon finally caught his weak spot and wasn''t about to let it go easily. She raised her voice and questioned, "This old man''s life was so tough that even being set on fire couldn''t kill him. How did he just die out of nowhere when you arrived? Did you..."


    Xue Chenjing took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and irritably interrupted, "It transferred all its spiritual power to me, repairing my meridians and mending my broken bones."


    He clenched his fist tightly, gripping the wound in his palm. Lowering his head as if looking at the withered branches and leaves on the ground, he muttered with a displeased expression, "I never asked for it to do this. I don''t want its sentimental self-sacrifice to save me."


    Yu Yi surprisingly sensed a hint of sadness from him, though she figured it must being from the other soul within his body.


    She bent down to pick up a strand of withered locust flowers. Before she could straighten up, the petals scattered from the dried stem. She had to let it go and asked, "Did it leave any message?"


    "There''s an underground pce beneath here," Xue Chenjing said,posing himself. He walked to where the locust tree spirit had disappeared and ced his hand on the spot it hadst touched. "Now that it mentions it, I do recall there is indeed an underground pce here."


    Xue Chenjing had only skimmed through Ji Hanyi''s memories before, focusing mainly on the battle scene between the little bird demon and the human demon, without paying much attention to other details.


    Now that the locust tree spirit brought it up, he remembered seeing something about this underground pce in Ji Hanyi''s memories.


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes, carefully tracing back through his memories. His palm moved along the broken altar, feeling from left to right. Blue spiritual light flowed from his fingertips, lighting up the eyes of several carvings on the altar in sequence.


    Finally, he gathered spiritual power in his palm and pushed forcefully against a brick on the altar. Spiritual threads shot out rapidly from under his hand, cutting through the bricks of the altar. These bricks disassembled at an extremely fast pace, then reassembled, eventually stacking up to form a white stone memorial archway with three spans and four pirs.


    A que hung under the eaves in the center of the archway, with golden characters on a ck background that read "Soul Settling Hall". On the two central pirs were couplets that read "Evil spirits shall not invade" and "Demons and monsters shall not disturb".


    "The Ji Family''s true ancestral hall is actually behind this archway," Xue Chenjing said.


    Li Su stretched his neck to examine the suddenly appeared archway up and down, eximing angrily, "Your Ji Family actually used a fake ancestral hall to deceive us. Human cultivators are truly insidious and cunning!"


    Xue Chenjing ignored the foolish cat and closed his eyes briefly, attempting to dig out more information from Ji Hanyi''s memories.


    However, the Soul Settling Hall was a restricted area of the Ji Family. Whether it was because he didn''t know much about it himself or because this part of the memory was too well-guarded, Xue Chenjing couldn''t extract more information from his memories at the moment. Thus, he didn''t know exactly what the situation inside the Soul Settling Hall was like.


    His tendrils carefully scanned the couplets on the door from a distance across the archway. He asked Yu Yi, "Do you want to go in?"


    Yu Yi nodded, of course she wanted to enter. The core of the soul-settling formation must be within this underground pce. If she wanted to break the formation and release all the earth-bound spirits in the city, she would have to venture inside.


    Huai Li''s soul timidly said, "Yi, do we really have to go in?"


    Yu Yi reassured her, "Don''t be afraid, I''ll protect you."


    Huai Li hesitated for a moment, then the little bird soul nodded its head, choosing to trust her as always.


    The withering of therge locust tree in the ancestral hall also attracted the attention of the demons from Dark Cinnabar Mountain, and some began to gather here. Yu Yi didn''t dy, concentrating as she stepped towards the archway.


    However, Li Su suddenly reached out to stop her. His expression was determined, his golden eyes filled with the reflection of the young woman. He deliberately softened his voice, though somewhat awkwardly, and said, "I''ll go in first. If there''s no danger, you can follow behind me."


    Without waiting for a response, Li Su turned around and walked cautiously into the archway.


    The cat demon youth had a tall, slender figure and a straight back. Beneath his clothes, one could see the taut muscle lines of his back. His cat ears stood upright on his head, the ear cups turning back and forth, alert to sounds from all directions.


    Below his lithe waist, six fluffy tails fanned out. The silhouette of his back, resolutely shielding her, looked steady and reliable.


    The little bird demon chirped softly, and suddenly the tiny bird soul grew warm. Her emotions infected Yu Yi, causing the heart of this body to pound wildly.


    Yu Yi''s face and ears flushed red for a moment. She pressed her hand against her frantically beating heart in surprise and asked confusedly, "Huai Li?"


    The little bird demon pped her wings to fan herself, her soul blushing bright red as she stammered in panic, "W-what? I don''t know what''s happening either."


    Yu Yi took a deep breath and inwardly scared the little bird demon, "Don''t distract me. If we encounter any traps inside and I don''t react in time, you''ll end up as a dead little bird."


    Frightened by her words, Huai Li stopped fluttering about and buried her head in her wings, trying hard to suppress her fluttering heart.


    Yu Yi couldn''t help but smile.


    A disappointed sigh came from the system behind her: "Master, please try to show some initiative! At times like this, you should rush forward to protect the female lead, shielding her behind you! Not let a cat demon steal this perfect opportunity to gain favor."


    Xue Chenjing was stunned for a moment. After processing the system''s reminder in his mind, he btedly realized why her heart had been beating so fast earlier.


    He thought to himself in frustration, "Why didn''t you remind me earlier?"


    The system: "..." Do I need to spoon-feed you everything? Can''t you have some awareness on your own?


    But by now, it was toote for Xue Chenjing to try to show off. Li Su had already stepped into the archway, with Yu Yi following behind him. He could only click his tongue in annoyance and hurry to catch up.


    Suddenly, a water-like white light rippled inside the doorway of the white stone archway, and the inscriptions on both door pirs lit up simultaneously. At the same time, Li Su, who had already disappeared behind the archway, let out a warning cat''s cry, followed immediately by a powerful force that violently threw him back out.


    Yu Yi reacted extremely quickly, dodging to the side. Half of her body was immersed in the white light of the archway when she suddenly felt an enormous suction force. There was a strange sensation of being split apart, and she heard Huai Li''s surprised cry: "Yi?"


    Yu Yi turned her head and saw Huai Li staring at her with wide eyes.


    She quickly nced down at herself and realized that the two of them had separated. Huai Li, seeing her face, joyfully stretched out her arms, wanting to touch her. "Yi, I can finally see you, Yi."


    But the barrier stood between them, and Huai Li ultimately couldn''t touch her.


    Yu Yi was sucked into the archway doorway by the great force, while the little bird demon was repelled by the barrier on the door.


    "Yi! Yi!"


    Yu Yi only heard Huai Li''sst two calls before the scene before her eyespletely changed, and she stepped into the underground pce of the Soul Settling Hall.


    On the other side of the archway, Li Su and Huai Li were thrown out by the barrier one after another. The cat demon''s reaction was extremely fast; his body twisted flexibly in mid-air, and as soon as his toes touched the ground, he dashed over to catch the ejected Huai Li.


    Xue Chenjing''s demon spirits, which had been closely following Yu Yi, were now all blocked by the barrier.


    He opened his arms to catch therge group of transparent demon spirits that bounced back. Turning his head, despite the gauze covering his eyes, he urately located the direction of the little bird demon and asked, "Did Yu Yi go in?"


    At that moment, Huai Li felt gazes from all directions, as if countless eyes were staring and examining her.


    She couldn''t help but shiver, goosebumps rising all over her body. Ignoring Li Su''s anxious inquiries, she nodded dazedly, "Y-yes, she went in."


    "Yu Yi? Who''s Yu Yi?" the cat demon was utterly confused.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t bother with them anymore. He turned and plunged into the doorway of the white stone archway. The inscriptions on both sides of the door pirs lit up again, and a water-like barrier appeared in front of him. His figure was trapped in the white light of the barrier, locked in a stalemate with these two decrees.


    Evil spirits shall not invade, demons and monsters shall not disturb.


    "Heh, I''ll invade and disturb as I please," Xue Chenjing sneered. Demonic energy exuded from his body, enveloping his hands. He spread his fingers and inserted them into the barrier in front of him, forcefully tearing it apart.


    The veins on the back of his hands bulged prominently, his joints turning white from the exertion. The barrier fluctuated violently, and the decrees on the door pirs shone even brighter. Sword lights and de shadows that exorcise demons and repel evil shot out from within the barrier, shing down towards him.


    The chaotic sword light swept towards the ancestral hall behind them. Li Su hurriedly embraced Huai Li and leapt towards the outside of Huai''an Hall.


    Huai Li clutched Li Su''s shoulders and anxiously asked, "What about the Immortal Lord? And Yi?"


    "Forget about them!" Li Su said jealously, "You''re always concerned about so many people, everyone can find a ce in your heart. Can''t you focus solely on me? Look only at me!"


    Li Su''s emotions were running high, and he failed to dodge in time. His back and legs were struck by a sword, causing him to fall to his knees with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.


    The demon-ying sword light attacked from above, surrounding them. Li Su raised his hand to protect Huai Li''s head, burying her beneath him.


    "Li Su!" As the dense sword light descended, Huai Li looked up at him nervously. At such close range, her wide eyes were filled with nothing but his image.


    "That''s right, just keep your eyes on me," Li Su smiled with satisfaction, but his smile quickly froze on his face.


    The five-colored bird''s wings spread wide, embracing him from below and covering the cat demon''s head. Li Su''s heart leapt into his throat, his voice almost tearing as he shouted, "You stupid bird! What are you doing? Do you have a death wish? Quickly fold your wings back!"


    Huai Li hugged his neck tightly, shutting her eyes andpletely ignoring his roars.


    The sword rain fell, shing with sharp metallic ngs.


    The expected pain didn''te. Huai Li opened her eyes and looked up, peering over Li Su''s shoulder through the parted feathers to see a graceful, enchanting figure standing above them.


    The master of Dark Cinnabar Mountain, her white dress fluttering, held a snow-white parasol. The canopy was thin and translucent, covered with ayer of hard snake scales made from her own shed skin. As the parasol collided with the falling sword rain, it deflected all the des amidst ringing shes.


    Xuan Dan nced back at the two small demons behind her. "Hurry up and leave."


    "Thank you, Mountain Master," Huai Li said tearfully. She quickly retracted her wings and supported the cat demon as they headed out of the ancestral hall,forting him, "Li Su, it''s alright. We''re not dead. The Mountain Master came to save us."


    Li Su''s heart was still constricting, as if someone was squeezing it tightly. He hadn''t yet recovered, his limbs felt weak, but his fingers gripped Huai Li firmly. His voice trembled with anger as he said, "Who asked you to protect me? If you had died, I would definitely eat you, I definitely would eat you!"


    Huai Li''s eyes widened, and she shrank her neck in fear, whispering, "Didn''t we already agree? Why do you want to eat me again?"


    "So, you''d better not die. Don''t die for anyone," Li Su squeezed these words out through gritted teeth, then tightened his arms around her and pleaded softly into her shoulder, "Huai Li, I''m begging you."


    Huai Li raised her hand to pat his head. "Don''t worry, I won''t."


    Outside the ancestral hall, demon n members had gathered, but they were blocked by the sudden outburst of sword energy and dared not enter.


    After the sword light dissipated, the long-dpidated ancestral hall finally copsedpletely. Even the dead locust tree beside it toppled to the ground, chopped into wood chips.


    The surroundings had been razed to the ground, leaving only the central three-bay, four-pir white stone memorial archway standing in ce.


    Xuan Dan fearfully nced at the figure beneath the archway, then folded her snow-white parasol and stepped out of the ruins. She ordered someone to capture the two small demons and questioned, "What happened?"


    Li Su was covered in blood but straightened his back to shield Huai Li. Without mentioning how they had arrived here or why they were with Ji Hanyi, he loudly dered, "Huai''an Hall is fake! All the Ji family ancestral tablets enshrined inside are fake! The real Ji family ancestral hall is behind that memorial archway!"


    The demon crowd grew restless, their emotions stirred. Many drew their weapons, wanting to charge forward, but were restrained by Xuan Dan''s raised hand.


    "You should know well what happens to those who betray me," Xuan Dan''s slender, demonic eyes swept over Li Su and Huai Li. She ordered them to be detained forter punishment.


    Her attention returned to the white stone archway as shemanded, "Surround this ce first and await my orders."


    The demon n members dispersed to encircle the archway.


    Beneath the archway, dark demonic energy intertwined with the barrier. The decree on this gate incorporated the cultivation of more than one Ji family member. The cultivation of dozens of generations was condensed into this barrier, making it difficult for Xue Chenjing to break through for the moment.


    The light of the ancestral decree containing the Ji family ancestors'' magical power on the gate pirs stirred Ji Hanyi''s soul into momentary rity.


    Ji Hanyi could no longer endure the heavy demonic energy surrounding Xue Chenjing. Even though the Immortal Lord''s cultivation had been destroyed and he hadnguished in the Ghost Realm for thousands of years, his soul eroded by demonic energy, he still retained a fraction of his own steadfast heart of dao, not havingpletely fallen.


    Without any hesitation, he quickly began reciting an exorcism incantation with his firm dao heart.


    Caught off guard, Xue Chenjing''s soul was directly struck by the exorcism spell.


    His spirit severely damaged, under attack from both inside and out, his footsteps faltered and he was forced to stumble backward. At the same time, he felt a sense of separation within his body.


    Xue Chenjing was sted out of the barrier, the blindfold covering his eyesing loose and falling away. He opened his eyes, his pupils ck and bright, squinting as he watched Ji Hanyi''s form fall into the barrier.


    The two werepletely separated, with Ji Hanyi entering the barrier while he, like the little bird demon, was repelled by the decree on the gate pirs.


    The person who tumbled out of the barrier had beautiful long ck curly hair, with a golden hairband intertwined with the dark locks, fluttering in the air.


    The cat demon narrowed his eyes, his rapidly vibrating pupils capturing the other''s facial features. He lowered his head to ask the person in his arms, "Who is he now? What else are you hiding from me?"


    Afraid of being overheard by Xuan Dan in front, he kept his voice very low, with a kind of helpless exasperation.


    Huai Li covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide as she looked ahead. "They''ve separated too."


    The Immortal Lord had entered behind the archway, so he should be safe now.


    At the foot of the archway, Xue Chenjing pressed his hand to his chest. Ji Hanyi''s exorcism incantation seemed to still linger in his body, the demonic entity in his heart''s sea writhing in pain.


    Xue Chenjing paced before the white stone archway, his face dark as that damned exorcism spell churned in his mind. He shook his head forcefully, "Shut up! Shut up!"


    He couldn''t help but bend over and retch, as if trying to vomit out the buzzing exorcism spell from his throat.


    Xue Chenjing''s entire face turned red, his eyes nearly bloodshot. He copsed to the ground, raising both hands to cover his mouth and nose, desperately trying to stifle the useless convulsions in his throat.


    After a long while, the sound of the exorcism spell finally began to fade in his mind.


    Xue Chenjing removed his hands and gasped for air. He wiped the moisture from his face with his sleeve and turned his head to look at the white stone archway standing beside him.


    Being separated from Yu Yi again made him extremely agitated.


    Only five parts left, there were clearly only five parts left.


    After his breathing steadied, Xue Chenjing closed his eyes and sank into his heart''s sea.


    He passed through the chaotic demonic shadows in his heart''s sea, walked past the oath stele, and entered directly into that ray of white light deep within.


    The familiar mountain cave temple appeared before his eyes. Xue Chenjing stepped into the main hall and said to the person sitting quietly on a rush mat, "Go out and help me find someone. Find her and bring her out of that ghost city."


    The person on the rush mat stood up and turned to face him.


    Standing together, they looked like a pair of twin brothers. Their build and facial features were identical, even down to the long hair hanging behind their heads and the curve of the curls at the ends.


    However, one had a gloomy expression, while the other had a gentle demeanor, as if they were two extremes.


    "Is it the youngdy who once came to visit me here?" the other person asked in a mild tone.


    Xue Chenjing nodded, leaning in close to warn him in a low voice, "Don''t do anything unnecessary. You should know that I can sense your every move now and can seal you back in here at any time, my dear elder brother."


    The other person smiled helplessly, not angered by his malicious tone, and said, "Alright, I''ll do as you say."


    The person in front of the white stone archway opened his eyes again. The bloodshot hadn''tpletely faded from his eyes, leaving his eye sockets red, but those eyes looked as clear and bright as ake surface under sunlight.


    It was now the time when night retreated and dawn broke. Even in the Ghost Realm, the sunlight was pale and devoid of warmth, but for someone who hadn''t seen sunlight in so long, suddenly seeing daylight again was immensely joyful.


    He tilted his head back, his pupils filled with sunlight, and took a deep breath. A nostalgic smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.


    It was clearly the same person, yet in the blink of an eye, their whole demeanor had undergone a dramatic transformation.


    The system immediately sensed his change and eximed excitedly, "Master? You''ve finally emerged, Master."

 Chapter 27

    The sudden voice in his mind startled him, but he quickly recovered and asked, "Are you the System he mentioned?"


    The System cheerfully replied, "Yes, it''s me. Master, we''ve finally met."


    Amused by the System''s enthusiasm, he adapted quickly to this intangible entity that existed only as a voice in his mind. Curiously, he asked, "You sound like you''ve known about my existence for a while. Did he tell you about me?"


    "He never mentioned you, but I''ve indeed known about your existence for a long time," the System responded.


    Xue Chenjing would have loved to obliterate this aspect of his personality, never to appear again, and would never have mentioned him to others. But the System, holding the original script, naturally knew everything.


    It even knew about their childhood bedwetting incident, where the older brother pinched himself, his eyes red and brimming with tears, pretending it was his younger brother who had wet the bed.


    The younger brother would just stare nkly at the sheets, protesting too much: "It was my brother who wet the bed, not me."


    However, before anyone else could speak, he would burst into tears from shame. So in their parents'' eyes, only the younger brother was seen as a crybaby who frequently wet the bed.


    "Known for a long time, huh." The man standing before the white stone memorial arch lowered his eyshes, not dwelling on the thought. After all, with such an entity residing in his mind, all his thoughts could probably be seen by others, which he didn''t like.


    He stood up from the ground, rubbing his sore eyes. His voice was warm and tinged with a smile as he said, "You don''t need to call me Master. Just call me Mingyuan."


    The System, ustomed to being ordered around by Xue Chenjing, was hearing such a gentle tone from its host for the first time.


    He was so different from Xue Chenjing. The System remembered how Xue Chenjing, upon first hearing its voice, immediately closed his eyes and searched frantically within his own body to find it.


    He had scoured every corner of his chaotic mental sea, probed his meridians and flesh, nearly counting each hair on his body, trying to find and destroy it. He had even attempted mental control over it.


    Of course, none of these attempts seeded.


    It took a long time for Xue Chenjing to ept being bound to such a useless and troublesome System.


    While conversing with the System, Xue Mingyuan turned his gaze to look at the demon n surrounding him with hostile intent, then back to the white stone memorial arch with its three sections and four pirs before him. His eyes fell on the imperial edict inscribed on the two central door pirs.


    "Evil spirits shall not invade, demons and monsters shall not disturb." Xue Mingyuan reached out to feel the magical power in these two edicts and realized, "No wonder he couldn''t enter."


    He closed his eyes. In his mental sea, the surging demons had already been sealed away along with Xue Chenjing. Now, only an oath stele remained in the empty mental sea, covered by a ck mist that obscured its contents.


    Xue Chenjing had hidden the contents of the oath stele, not wanting him to see it.


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord stood a hundred paces away from the memorial arch. Her slender phoenix eyes revealed a hint of confusion. Her red lips parted slightly, and a forked snake tongue flicked out, tasting the air.


    Just now, when that man reopened his eyes, the feeling he gave off had changed. Even the blood-suppressing power he had over her earlier had vanished. Instead, he now emanated an aura simr to Ji Hanyi''s, which she despised.


    Xuan Dan retracted her long tongue, its forked tip brushing across her crimson lips. A dangerous glint appeared in the corner of her eye. She wasn''t one to willingly submit to others. As the coldest and most heartless of snakes, she certainly wouldn''t pass up an opportunity for revenge.


    As Xue Mingyuan reached out to touch the edict on the door pir, the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord''s alluring figure flickered. She transformed into a sinuous white beam of light, passing through the ruins and reaching the white stone memorial arch in an instant.


    At that moment, Xue Mingyuan was touching the edict, listening to the System in his mind saying, "Master, the female lead has been inside for a long time. We should hurry in too."


    Xue Mingyuan nodded in agreement, "Alright. But can you tell me about her first?"


    The System had high expectations for this personality of its host. Compared to Xue Chenjing, who had made no progress on the romance mission, he seemed more likely to achieve a happy ending with the female lead. It immediately replied, "Of course I can."


    Just then, the massive snake demon rose from the ground. Its body, covered in scales as hard as armor, reflected a blinding white light in the sunlight.


    The white light grazed the corner of Xue Mingyuan''s eye. He turned to look and saw a huge, gaping maw with sharp fangs lunging towards him. The demon''s bright red tongueshed out like a whip, and even the saliva droplets from its tongue tip sizzled on the ground, releasing toxic fumes.


    Xue Mingyuan twisted his waist to dodge the iing snake tongue, stepping back into the doorway of the white stone memorial arch.


    The barrier on the doorway rippled slightly, swallowing his figure without any resistance.


    The snake demon crashed into the white stone memorial arch, triggering the sword formation barrier once again. Countless beams of sword light shot out. Xuan Dan coiled up on the ruins, raising her long tail to fend off the rain of swords. It took quite a while for the sword rain to subside.


    The coiled white snake disappeared, and as the dust settled, her alluring figure was revealed. Xuan Dan''s white dress was somewhat disheveled, with a few bloodstains, but her injuries weren''t severe.


    The snake scales on the side of her face hadn''t fully receded. Her vertical pupils gazed at the unyielding white stone memorial arch, and she said in disbelief, "He actually went in..."


    The barrier that repelled demons, evil spirits, and monsters had epted him without any resistance. Wasn''t he a demon?


    ...


    Behind the white stone memorial arch was the hidden underground pce of the Ji family. This underground pce was vast, like a spacious underground za, supported only by encircling pirs.


    In the center stood a three-tiered Circr Mound Altar, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. Each level was enclosed by white jade stone railings, with staircases on all four sides leading upwards.


    On the ground of this underground pce were tens of thousands ofmps, one at each step, extending from the base of the altar all the way to its top. Eachmp held a me the size of a fingertip, illuminating the entire underground pce brightly.


    Half an hour ago, when Yu Yi passed through the white stone memorial arch and entered this ce, she was initially awestruck by thesemps that resembled a gxy of stars on the ground.


    But it didn''t take long for her to notice something strange about thesemps. The pattern formed by their arrangement was exactly the same as the Soul Settling Formation that Xue Chenjing hadpleted in his notebook.


    The cracks between the stone tiles on the floor of this underground pce were filled with nt roots, and the surrounding pirs were also entwined with nt tendrils.


    However, these nts seemed to be under some kind of restraint, only extending their roots through the cracks without damaging any of the stone tiles or creating even a single fissure.


    Yu Yi reached out and pinched a slender root with her fingernail, guessing it might be from a locust tree.


    She had originally thought that the locust tree absorbed the spiritual energy of this ce, causing its flowers to glow. Now it seemed that the tree must have absorbed the power from the Soul Settling Lamps underground, which was why when the locust flowers fell, they were guided by the Soul Settling Formation, forming theyout of the underground formation on the ground.


    Yu Yi walked to the outermostmp and made a grasping motion in the air, summoning her Green Bamboo Sword. Blue mes erupted from the sword tip. She gripped the hilt with both hands and thrust downward forcefully at the oilmp.


    When the sword tip was an inch away from themp, it suddenly stopped. The sound of the sword''s cry echoed repeatedly in this vast underground space.


    Yu Yi was forced back two steps. She swung her sword to disperse the reverberating sword energy. Frowning, she intensified the sword light on her Green Bamboo Sword and struck three more times in quick session. The sword light howled towards the groundmps but was once again deflected by the light from themps.


    The blue sword light, weakened by a third, veered off to the right.


    Yu Yi followed the path of her sword light and suddenly saw a figure appear where it was heading. He raised the long sword in his hand and brought it down vertically, splitting Yu Yi''s remaining sword intent with one strike.


    Behind the dissipating blue mes, a familiar face was revealed.


    At first, Yu Yi thought it was Xue Chenjing who had followed her in again, but upon second nce, she noticed the differences and asked in confusion, "Are you Ji Hanyi?"


    Ji Hanyi sheathed his sword on his back. His eyes were still gray and lifeless, his sight not yet recovered, but because the locust tree spirit had sacrificed itself to reconnect his broken meridians and bones, half of his immortal lord cultivation had been restored. He could now rely on a cultivator''s keen senses to perceive his surroundings.


    He faced Yu Yi''s direction, cupped his hands in a salute, and said with a neither humble nor arrogant attitude: "Miss, this ce is where my n''s ancestors rest. I hope you will show mercy and not disturb the spirits of the departed."


    The immortal lord''s demeanor was cool and dignified, proper and elegant. His eyes seemed to be covered with a thinyer of ice and snow, yet he was not overbearing. He was like a winter plum blooming alone on a snowy branch,pletely devoid of the gloomy demonic aura that Xue Chenjing had when he upied this body.


    Yu Yi couldn''t help but look at Ji Hanyi a few more times before replying: "This spiritual ce has been upied by evil spirits, even its name changed to Dark Cinnabar Mountain. Demons revel wildly overhead. Does the immortal lord truly believe your ancestors can rest peacefully here?"


    This could truly be called dancing on graves.


    Ji Hanyi''s brow furrowed slightly, a fleeting look of pain crossing his face. He said guiltily: "It is our generation''s ipetence that we couldn''t protect our home. But the Soul Settling Hall is thest ce of peace. I cannot stand by and watch you act recklessly here."


    Yu Yi withdrew her Green Bamboo Sword and tried to exin, "I''m not acting recklessly. I''m trying to release the earth-bound spirits trapped above and restore peace to your n''s ancestors."


    "Where does this ideae from, Miss?" Seeing her sheathe her sword, Ji Hanyi politely put away his own long sword. His attitude towards this intruder in his ancestral shrine was not aggressive.


    Yu Yi said: "Doesn''t the immortal lord find it strange? Someone suddenly entered your body without reason and suppressed your soul."


    "That was a demon. It was myck of firm resolve that allowed the heart demon to take advantage." As Ji Hanyi finished speaking, there was a hint of doubt in his expression, as if he couldn''t quite convince himself with his own words.


    When earth-bound spirits are deeply trapped in the past, they only regain rity when they reach the moment of death again.


    But that ritysts only for a moment before they sink back into the past, continuing the next cycle, repeatedly experiencing what they endured in life.


    Yu Yi had experimented on Huai Li before. After exining it clearly, the little bird demon cried until she fainted. When she woke up, she had forgotten everything. Yu Yi wondered how the immortal lord would react.


    She observed Ji Hanyi''s expression and tried to speak frankly: "The immortal lord must have sensed it too, that it wasn''t some heart demon. His name is Xue Chenjing, and like me, he identally fell into this Ghost Realm."


    "Ghost Realm?" Ji Hanyi''s dull gray eyes widened slightly, making the immortal lord''s expression seem somewhat bewildered.


    Yu Yi said: "Yes, Ghost Realm. You were forced to marry Xuan Dan, but that''s an event from a thousand years ago. Afterwards, the Jiang, Yao, and Yun families led cultivators to attack Dark Cinnabar Mountain to save you, resulting in a great battle between humans and demons."


    "All the demons on Dark Cinnabar Mountain, including you, immortal lord, have been dead for a thousand years," Yu Yi observed his reaction. "Since entering this ce, I''ve been investigating what''s binding so many souls here, preventing them from transcending. I''ve recently found some clues suggesting it might be the Soul Settling Formation in this underground pce."


    Ji Hanyi turned to face the direction of the circr altar, the furrow between his brows deepening.


    He wasn''t convinced by the few words of the female cultivator before him, but during the time his soul was suppressed, he had vaguely sensed something was amiss.


    When things first deviated from their original course in the bridal chamber, his soul had been disturbed, hovering on the edge of consciousness and unconsciousness, which led to his confusion.


    What Yu Yi was saying now was like a gust of wind, blowing away thestyer of mist obscuring the truth he had already begun to glimpse.


    "Earth-bound spirits..." Ji Hanyi murmured, his expression changing several times. A thousand years of repeated humiliation caused his expression to twist in pain for a moment, but he closed his eyes and quickly suppressed this pain. Finally, he said with eptance, "Very well, I am willing to work with you to break the formation here."


    Yu Yi admired his ability to see through the illusion and stabilize his state of mind so quickly.


    "This formation is operating at full capacity. It''s nearly impossible to shake it from the outside. We can only go to the circr altar at the center and see what we can do," Yu Yi said.


    Ji Hanyi nodded, and the two walked together towards the center of the formation. With Ji Hanyi leading the way, their progress was much smoother. After all, he was of the Ji n bloodline, and while the ancestral grave might guard against others, it would never guard against its own descendants.


    Yu Yi followed behind Ji Hanyi as they ascended the circr altar, turning to look around.


    Litmps were also ced on this circr altar, but at the center of themps was an exquisitely carved crystal lotus tform. The lotus tform was as white as jade, with each petal flowing with dense spiritual energy. It appeared to be made from arge piece of natural spirit stone.


    At the center of each lotus tform floated a soul me. Just on this first level of the circr mound, she could count seven or eight lotus tforms with soul mes within her sight.


    Yu Yi''s fingers moved slightly within her sleeve as she turned her head to look at Ji Hanyi. She felt a bit wary but asked with a puzzled expression, "Why did your ancestors leave these soul mes here?"


    During her five years in the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm, she had read all the books left by her master. Her understanding of this world was no longer limited to the 800,000 or so words in the novel.


    She now knew many things that those 800,000 words had never mentioned.


    The Way of Heaven has its rules, life and death have their order. The human body has three fires, and the soul also has a soul fire. The soul fire is the foundation of the soul''s existence. After death, the soul dissipates, but the soul fire doesn''t extinguish. It enters reincarnation to reshape the three hun and seven po, to be reborn.


    The Ji family leaving their ancestors'' soul mes on lotus tforms, surrounded by a Soul Settling Formation - could it be that they wanted their ancestors to never be reborn? This defiedmon sense and human nature.


    Ji Hanyi frowned, equally confused, "I only knew the location of the ancestral shrine. I''ve never been allowed to enter here before."


    As they were speaking, the ground suddenly shook beneath their feet. The surface of the circr altar began to rotate, with Yu Yi and Ji Hanyi on different levels. She stood on the bottom level of the altar, while Ji Hanyi was on the second level.


    They were carried in opposite directions. Yu Yi acted quickly, leaping backwards into the air, trying to fly away from the altar.


    However, the circr mound rotated rapidly, the positions of themps changing with it, causing the formation they created to change as well. It suddenly locked into a strange formation pattern.


    Yu Yi had clearly jumped backwards to retreat, but when shended on the ground, she found herself standing on the topmost level of the circr mound. Her gaze was quickly drawn to a lotus tform in front of her.


    This was the only lotus tform on the top level, with the light of the formation flowing into it from all directions.


    The white stone lotus tform gradually became translucent, as ifing to life. From the center of the half-closed petals emerged a light golden soul me. The light of the soul me reflected in Yu Yi''s eyes. She stared fixedly at the me, as if entranced, her expression gradually softening. Unconsciously, she raised her hands to cup the lotus tform.


    As she touched it, the lotus petals closed one by one, enveloping the central soul me, finally transforming into a white pill about the size of an egg yolk. Yu Yi grasped the white pill and raised her hand to feed it into her mouth.


    Just as the white pill was about to enter her mouth, her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly.


    An overly familiar face appeared before Yu Yi''s eyes. He blinked, and a tiny red mole on his right eyelid shed for a moment before being hidden in the fold of his double eyelid. His gaze was clear as he looked at her and said, "Don''t swallow it. If you do, you''ll be pregnant."

 Chapter 28

    The words "pregnant" hit Yu Yi like a thunderbolt, jolting her fully awake. She hurled the white pill from her hand as if it were a hot potato.


    The pill rolled across the ground, shattering into several pieces. A golden soul fire leapt out, and within its mes appeared a semi-transparent spirit.


    This spirit was over seven feet tall, wearing a jade crown and wide robes - the form of a full-grown man. His narrow eyes looked down with an imposing air, clearly indicating his high status in the Ji family.


    His cold gaze swept towards Yu Yi as he sternly rebuked, "How insolent! Who dares to carelessly discard my embryo essence?"


    "Embryo essence? You look more like a centa to me!" Yu Yi had nearly be an unwitting mother, and her anger was at its peak. Blue mes and lightning intertwined on the bamboo sword in her hand as she shed fiercely at the shattered white pill.


    "You think you can trick me into being your mother? This olddy will teach you a good lesson!" Yu Yi raged. The sword light whistled from her hand, and within the blue mes, the faint outline of a celestial crane appeared, wrapped in sparks of lightning as it charged straight at the floating spirit.


    Yu Yi hadn''t fully summoned the celestial crane sword spirit left by her master, but she had borrowed some of its power. This sword strike was nearly at the Nascent Soul level.


    The man in the golden soul fire frowned. If he were still alive, he certainly wouldn''t fear a single sh from a small Golden Core sword cultivator. But s, his physical body was dead, leaving only his spirit. Without the protection of the lotus formation, he dared not directly receive this strike.


    "Where are the members of the Ji n? How can you allow this woman to act so brazenly here?" he shouted sternly, quickly ncing around before a look of astonishment crossed his face.


    The Ji family had dominated the cultivation world for thousands of years and naturally had countless methods to preserve their elite descendants. The Nine-Transformation Lotus Rebirth Formation on this Circr Mound Altar was one such method, capable of reforming the soul fire of the deceased into an embryo essence, to be ced in a suitable mother''s body for gestation and rebirth.


    Because they hadn''t gone through reincarnation, the three hun and seven po souls hadn''t been cleansed anew. Children born through this method could fully retain the memories of their previous life. Their innate qualities and aptitudes would be identical to their previous life, and as they grew, their previous cultivation would gradually recover, without needing to start from scratch.


    The soul fires ced on this Circr Mound Altar were naturally no ordinary beings. Selecting a maternal body for their rebirth should have involved a series of prudent rituals, including burning incense and chanting.


    While the ritual wouldn''t be as grand as a major sacrifice, it certainly shouldn''t have been this rudimentary. There wasn''t even a single person guarding the formation.


    However, it wasn''t entirely deserted - there was still one descendant of the Ji family present.


    As the Nine-Transformation Lotus Rebirth Formation halted, Ji Hanyi rushed up from the second level, arriving just in time to block in front of the spirit. He raised his sword to intercept Yu Yi''s sword light.


    The blue mes shed against his snow-white sword, emitting a sharp ring. Even Ji Hanyi was forced to retreat three quick steps from her all-out strike, barely managing to stop in front of the spirit.


    At that moment, three snake-like lightning bolts suddenly burst forth from the mes. Two streaked out along the circr tform, while one curved around Ji Hanyi and directly pierced through the spirit behind him.


    The electric current entered the spirit, branching out into several offshoots. The lightning spread throughout the semi-transparent spirit body, causing the golden soul fire within to violently shake. The spirit body in the mes also convulsed violently, its three hun and seven po souls nearly scattered apart.


    The entire top level of the Circr Mound Altar was filled with sparks and lightning. Xue Mingyuan, merely at the Foundation Establishment level and without the protection of magical beasts, was nearly blown away just by the sword wind sweeping past.


    He retreated to the edge, his right hand tightly gripping the white stone railing. From behind, he looked at the lightning aura surrounding Yu Yi''s body and rubbed his nose.


    ¡ª Her cultivation level was clearly much higher than theirs.


    Yu Yi''s sword strike thoroughly angered the deceased Ji family ancestor. He must have employed some other trick, as the ground began to shake again. The three levels of the Circr Mound Altar rotated and interlocked, forming a new formation.


    Thenterns on the Circr Mound Altar zed brightly, transforming into countless arrows of light that shot up into the sky before targeting Yu Yi and raining down. Yu Yi looked up at the shower of arrows rapidly falling from all directions and gripped her bamboo sword tightly.


    Suddenly, a clear voice came from behind: "Extinguish the threemps in the northeast Gen position on the right to break this formation."


    Hearing the words "break the formation" and catching a glimpse of the spirit''s momentary change in expression, Yu Yi didn''t hesitate. She raised her sword and swept it towards the threemps in the Gen position as instructed.


    Just as the sword light extinguished the threemps in one sweep, the whistling rain of arrows had already pressed down to her head. Yu Yi wanted to raise her sword to defend but it was toote. She looked up, her pupils reflecting nothing but flickering golden light.


    At thest moment, the arrow rain disintegrated into ash mere inches from her, leaving only gusts of wind to whip her clothes and hair about.


    With one formation failing, the Ji family ancestor rotated the Circr Mound Altar again to form another. Xue Mingyuan''s gaze quickly swept over themps forming the array, and he said, "Split your sword qi into three, extinguishing in turn the secondmp in the Li position, the firstmp in the Kan position, and the threemps in the Qian position."


    With the experience from the first time, Yu Yi barely paused. As soon as his words fell, her sword light pursued, snuffing out the oilmps he had indicated.


    This time, the formation was broken before it could even activate. The Ji family ancestor was furious, his face dark as water, as if frost could form on his spirit. He demanded loudly, "Who are you? How do you know the inner workings of my Ji family''s formations so clearly?"


    Xue Mingyuan replied modestly, "Your formations are simply too simple."


    The Ji family had dominated the cultivation world for thousands of years, possessing divine methods and supreme techniques. Even the texts and cultivation methods stored by their lesser branches were sought after by other cultivators. How could the formations within this Circr Mound Altar be simple?


    The spirit said coldly, "This underground pce can only be entered by members of the Ji n and the chosen maternal bodies waiting to nurture embryo essences. Are you from the Ji family? Which generation? To be so arrogant and disregard the rules, are you a descendant of Ji Liuyan from Zhaoyang Mountain?"


    Xue Mingyuan''s eyes flickered slightly, like a light breeze rippling across ake surface, but quickly returned to calmness. He smiled and said, "My surname is Xue."


    The spirit gave three coldughs. His refusal to admit his identity suited him just fine. "Good. Since you''re not from the Ji family, killing you for trespassing in our forbidden grounds is only natural."


    He looked down at Ji Hanyi, recognizing this Ji family descendant with whom he shared a rtively close blood rtion. He said, "You''re the youngest son of Ji Zhongheng''s family?"


    Ji Hanyi''s movements faltered slightly. Just as he was about to inquire, the other party continued, "I am your grand-uncle. Go, kill that Xue boy for your grand-uncle."


    Ji Hanyi gripped the sword in his hand but didn''t immediately act. There was hesitation on his face. He too had sensed that the existence of this underground pce seemed different from what he had imagined - it clearly wasn''t for ancestral worship.


    Yu Yi nced at the lotus tforms on the Circr Mound Altar. Here, each soul fire meant that a woman would be brought to this ce, forced to swallow the so-called embryo essence, then be pregnant and give birth, bringing forth an old being unwilling to die.


    In the words of this Ji family ancestor, were they only fit to be called "chosen maternal bodies waiting to nurture embryo essences"? What did they take women for?


    She retreated to Xue Mingyuan''s side and nced at him. The Xue Mingyuan before her now felt different from before, one could say vastly different. But now wasn''t the time to delve into his changes. Just his two previous hints on how to break the formations were enough for Yu Yi to choose to trust him.


    Xue Mingyuan''s attainments in formations indeed far surpassed hers.


    Yu Yi gestured towards the clusters of soul fires on the Circr Mound Altar''s lotus tforms, still vainly hoping for rebirth, and asked in a low voice, "How can wepletely destroy this ce? Send all these ghosts who refuse to die into the Yellow Springs."


    The two of them stood close together. Xue Mingyuan''s gaze fell on her face, carefully taking in her delicate brows and eyes, her small straight nose, and then her full lips below.


    His gaze was excessively lingering, as if wanting to engrave her features into his heart with this one look.


    Before Yu Yi could be ufortable under his gaze, Xue Mingyuan blinked, his eyes once again bing gentle. He spoke quickly and clearly, "The formations on this Circr Mound Altar belong to a multiyered changeable formation system, including the Soul Settling Formation below. To interlock these formations, allowing them to change without interfering with each other, there must be a mainmp."


    "No matter how the formations change, thismp will not move." Xue Mingyuan''s lips curved in a slightly apologetic smile. "I''m sorry, there are simply too manymps here. I still need a bit more time to find that mainmp."


    The souls of Ji family ancestors vaguely heard his words and urged Ji Hanyi, "Boy, what are you hesitating for? Do you really want to watch these two outsiders destroy our ancestral shrine?"


    Ji Hanyi closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, his expression became determined. He turned to face the souls behind him and asked, "Uncle, your nephew wants to know what exactly this ancestral shrine is for. Are the soul fires on the Circr Mound Altar lotus tform all from our deceased Ji family ancestors?"


    The soul hadn''t expected him to question rather than act, and scolded, "I told you to protect the ancestral shrine, not to question me."


    Ji Hanyi shook his head, "Our Ji family''s motto is to y demons and uphold justice. If our ancestors left their soul fires to defy the natural order and cling to life through unorthodox means, I''m afraid I cannot obey."


    Yu Yi gripped her sword, looking admiringly at Ji Hanyi''s righteous bearing. His family''s ancestors were nearly driven to despair by his words.


    Seeing this younger generation as useless, the soul cursed him as an unfilial son and once again set the Circr Mound Altar spinning rapidly.


    Yu Yi lowered her center of gravity, standing firmly in ce. She turned her head to speak to the person behind her, "This time, don''t rush to break it. Let him change the formation a few more times, then you can look for the mainmp."


    Xue Mingyuan replied, "Alright, be careful, miss."


    Miss? The gentle voice entering her ears suddenly reminded Yu Yi of the young man imprisoned in the mountain temple deep within Xue Chenjing''s sea of consciousness.


    But before she could think further, the changing formation brought new waves of attacks. Suddenly, the mes of all the oilmps in the hall shot up, turning into a sea of fire in the blink of an eye. The raging mes swept towards them. Ji Hanyi quickly retreated to Yu Yi''s side, standing shoulder to shoulder with her.


    Their intersecting sword lights sliced through the mes. Xue Mingyuan peered through the gaps they created, his gaze quickly scanning themps on the ground.


    The Ji family elder also realized that Xue Mingyuan, who knew how to break the formation, posed the greatest threat. He waved his sleeve, stirring the mes into several fire dragons that lunged at Xue Mingyuan.


    Chased by the fire dragons and unable to stand steadily on the rotating ground, Xue Mingyuan stumbled and rolled about awkwardly.


    Yu Yi caught sight of this from the corner of her eye. She flew over to help him sh apart a fire dragon that was closing in, and asked in confusion, "Why don''t you summon your tentacles to grip the ground?"


    Wasn''t the giant octopus best at gripping things? When he was in the confined room, he had practically coated the surrounding walls.


    Xue Mingyuan, his face stung by scattered sparks, hissed in pain. He looked up at her and said, "I can''t. I''m unable to do that."


    He was inherently ipatible with demonic creatures; those beings couldn''t be used by him.


    As he spoke, his eyes suddenly widened, his gaze passing over her shoulder to the back. He cried out, "Watch out!"


    In the reflection of his eyes, Yu Yi saw the raging fire pressing down from above, the mes turning his pupils golden. She immediately turned around, her fingertips sliding along the sword de, sword incantations lighting up in their wake.


    The fire dragon pounced, its fierce light almost engulfing them in an instant.


    Xue Mingyuan felt only the scorching heat on his face. His vision blurred by the mes, he watched the slender figure shielding him disappear, consumed by the fire.


    What if I can''t get her out of here? The thought shed through Xue Mingyuan''s mind, but he quickly suppressed it, letting the nascent idea dissipate without a trace.


    Suddenly, a green light appeared amidst the surging mes. The green glow grew stronger, eventually forming the outline of a sword, its de inscribed with a string of sword incantations.


    Wrapped in the sword''s energy, the mes were like a flood drawn into a vortex, disappearing into the Green Bamboo Sword.


    The girl who had been swallowed by the mes reappeared, her long hair flying, her clothes fluttering, like a phoenix reborn from the fire. As the mespletely dissipated, she executed a beautiful sword flourish, sparks still clinging to the de.


    Yu Yi nced back at the person behind her, her longshes curling upwards, her eyes reflecting the lingering sparks, and asked, "Did you find it?"


    Xue Mingyuan, gazing up at her profile, replied, "I found it. It''s the twenty-thirdmp to the south, counting from outside the Circr Mound Altar."


    Yu Yi immediately turned and rushed in the direction he indicated. The Ji family soul was greatly rmed and tried to raise the formation to block her, but as he lifted his hand, a long sword suddenly pierced through his soul form from behind.


    The de directly impaled the golden soul fire at the center of the soul''s chest, instantly freezing it with frost.


    The Ji ancestor''s movements abruptly halted. He slowly turned his head to look at Ji Hanyi, who stood behind him holding the sword. Through gritted teeth, he spat out, "Well, well, you''ve really outdone yourself."


    Taking advantage of this moment, Yu Yi flew to the outside of the Circr Mound Altar. She quickly counted over and saw the oilmp standing motionless amidst the sea of lights.


    Compared to the othermps, it had no special features. Yu Yi didn''t dare blink, fearing that in the moment of closing her eyes, it would blend in with the othermps, forcing her to start counting all over again.


    She truly couldn''t fathom how Xue Chenjing had managed to find it among this starry sea ofmps.


    She stepped firmly in front of the mainmp, gripping her sword hilt with both hands. Channeling all her spiritual power into the de, she thrust downward with all her might.


    Lightning crackled along the Green Bamboo Sword, splitting open a crack in themp''s halo. At the same time, the old crack on Yu Yi''s sword de began to spread once more.


    She noticed the fracturing of her sword but didn''t hesitate. Green mes erupted from the de, mixed with the fire she had absorbed earlier, rushing down along the crack and into themp''s wick.


    The entire underground pce seemed to freeze for a moment. Then, with a "crack," several fissures burst open from the center of the oilmp.


    Themp shattered into pieces, its oil depleted, and its me gradually extinguished. As this me died out, the surroundingmps followed suit, as if swept by a fierce wind, vast swathes of mes darkening across the ground.


    Soon, the once-bright underground pce grew dim. Finally, even themps on the Circr Mound Altar went out. Seeing that all was lost, the Ji family ancestor sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and his soul began to dissipate.


    "I remember your name now, Ji Hanyi. You were born on a snowy winter day. Your father brought you to me for a name, and I casually picked two characters from a poem about a fierce tiger I was reading," the soul chuckled lightly before his me dispersed, reciting, "Cold yet not fearing snow, hungry yet not eating men."


    "But you''ve done well, turning around to bite the flesh of your own kin."


    As themps went out, the soul fires within the Circr Mound Altar''s lotus tform began to violently tremble, withering and vanishing one by one. Agonizing screams suddenly filled the dark underground pce.


    Ji Hanyi listened to these cries piercing his ears, his brow furrowing in pain.


    The entire underground pce began to shake violently, with deafening rumbles. The Circr Mound Altar cracked, and spiritual energy surged out from beneath, whipping up howling gales in the chamber. This soul-settling hall was about to copse.


    Yu Yi saw Xue Chenjing stumbling as he tried to fly through the air. The next moment, he was struck by a gust of wind, falling towards a ground fissure like a butterfly with broken wings.


    His eyes met hers from beneath his wildly flying hair, the corners of his eyes curving slightly in a faint smile. Then he closed his eyes, pulled into the chasm by the chaotic winds.


    Yu Yi''s fingers tightened, finally gripping her spiritual sword. She cleaved through the gale, chasing after the falling figure.


    She knew this could very well be another of Xue Chenjing''s ploys to gain points, but it was also possible that he truly couldn''t escape. If he really couldn''t summon those demonic creatures, his Foundation Building realm cultivation would indeed be insufficient to resist such rampant spiritual winds.


    Yu Yi had broken the underground pce''s formation with his help, so naturally, she couldn''t abandon him.


    She guided her sword with her fingers, the Green Bamboo Sword''s light cutting through the gale. Her figure, like a streak of light, closed in on him. She reached out and grabbed his belt, pulling him into her arms. The Green Bamboo Sword''s light traced a beautiful arc, guiding them through the fierce winds and out of the chasm.


    Outside, the underground pcepletely copsed, all formations destroyed. Sunlight poured down from above, warm and brilliantly golden.


    Xue Mingyuan''s entire body was bathed in this real, warm sunlight. He looked down at the girl holding him and said softly, "My name is Mingyuan, Xue Mingyuan. I''m very d to see you again."

 Chapter 29

    Yu Yi flew with him andnded on a stable broken wall. When she turned her head to look at him curiously, she only saw an extremely gloomy face.


    Xue Chenjing lowered his eyes, his thick eyshes pressing down on eyes as ck as an abyss. That abyss seemed to be churning with a violent storm. His whole body exuded an uncontroble anger, causing an unusual flush to appear on his face.


    His chest heaved violently, his breathing heavy. His right hand gripped his own neck, the base of his thumb pressing against his Adam''s apple, his five fingers distorting his throat. For a moment, Yu Yi felt that he truly wanted to strangle himself to death.


    Yu Yi released his waist and stepped back in shock.


    Xue Chenjing turned to look at her, slowly rxing the fingers that were gripping his neck. Tears of physical pain welled up in the corners of his eyes. He opened his mouth and then closed it, giving her aplex look that was difficult to describe. Without saying anything, he jumped down from the broken wall and quickly ran away, disappearing behind a tree.


    Yu Yi was utterly bewildered, having already given up on trying to analyze Xue Chenjing''s mental state.


    She raised her hand to touch her ear, where that voice seemed to still be echoing.


    He said his name was Xue Mingyuan? Could the person just now be the young master from the mountain temple deep in Xue Chenjing''s heart? Then the one who helped her break the formation in the underground pce just now was him?


    No wonder he felt so different from Xue Chenjing.


    So he could actuallye out and control this body. What was going on with the two of them? Multiple personalities? Or were they like her and the little bird spirit before, two souls in one body due to some reason?


    Thinking about it this way, it actually matched the plot of "Tidal Shock". In the story of "Tidal Shock", Xue Chenjing was indeed portrayed as a gentle and considerate secondary male character in the early stages, only to start going madter on.


    She had thought that the secondary male character turned into a viin because he couldn''t get what he wanted, but it turns out they were actually two different personalities from the beginning?


    Yu Yi looked again towards the tree where Xue Chenjing had hidden, but couldn''t find any trace of him.


    The formation at the bottom of Dark Cinnabar Mountain waspletely destroyed, including the soul-settling formation.


    All the past illusions of the Ghost Realm disappeared along with it. Pces copsed, the ground cracked, and the carved beams and painted pirs faded and were eaten by insects over the years. Rampant grass and vines covered all traces of the past.


    This Ghost Realm returned to reality overnight. The demons scattered throughout the ghost city all became confused, and then gradually came to their senses.


    It turned out they were already dead. They had been dead for a long time.


    Some remained silent, some became hysterical, while others happily opened their arms, finally gaining liberation. They allowed their souls to slowly dissipate, their soul fires falling like stars, descending into the Yellow Springs to await the next reincarnation.


    "Hahahahaha!" The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord threw back her head andughed loudly. She supported her snow-white parasol and spun around on tiptoe on a protruding broken wall. The white light of her dissipating soul flew out from her skirt. "In the end, I still killed so many cultivators to apany me in death. I, Xuan Dan, have not lived in vain!"


    From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a figure standing behind the group of demons. The immortal lord''s eyes, which had been corrupted by demonic poison, had regained their rity. His jet-ck eyes looked at her through the scattering soul lights.


    There was neither hatred nor resentment on his face, but even a hint of pity.


    "Ji Hanyi!" The remnant soul of Xuan Dan twisted in pain.


    That look again. She remembered this look. She would never forget this look until her death.


    Like the little bird spirit, Xuan Dan had also once been fortunate enough to receive the immortal lord''s kindness. At that time, her cultivation was still shallow, and she was being chased by hunting cultivators, hiding here and there in constant fear. She was eventually caught by a human cultivator who wanted to dig out her snake galldder. It was Ji Hanyi who stood up and asked that person to let her go.


    He said that she had no blood debt on her and wasn''t an unforgivable demon, so she shouldn''t be their hunting target.


    The other cultivators burst intoughter, mocking him for being an idiot who had cultivated himself stupid. They said, "She''s a demon. Demons are inherently evil. She will eventually kill people, eat people, and be stained with blood debt."


    Ji Hanyi fought with that cultivator, snatched her away and set her free, coldly saying, "If she ever incurs a blood debt, I will kill her with my own hands."


    When they met again, the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord was no longer the helpless little snake at others'' mercy. She had killed people and was stained with blood debt. On that day, Ji Hanyi pointed his sword at her with the same disappointed and pitying look.


    At that moment, Xuan Dan suddenly understood. He really was an idiot who had cultivated himself stupid, stubbornly adhering to what he believed was justice.


    These demons and ghosts, chased by human cultivators until their homes were destroyed and they had nowhere to go, how could they possibly keep their hands clean and nevermit killing? Her father and mother, who could once protect her, were dead. If she didn''t kill, she would only be killed by human cultivators, along with her younger siblings.


    In that world, how could there be any good demons untainted by bloodshed?


    The Xuan Dan Mountain Lord''s cool parasol suddenly transformed into a snow-white curved bow. She drew the bow and nocked an arrow. The long arrow whistled as it shot out, piercing through Ji Hanyi''s soul.


    "If I''m reborn as a demon in the next life, kill me or y me as you wish. But don''t use your hypocritical words again. It''s sickening."


    Ji Hanyi didn''t resist the arrow. His soul shattered under the arrow, and his clean and bright soul fire fell down, sinking into the ground. The remnant soul of the Xuan Dan Mountain Lord also disappearedpletely, her soul fire falling to the ground and vanishing in the ruins.


    "Yi''er," a voice called out.


    Yu Yi turned her head at the sound. A small bird with a five-colored long tail fluttered its wings and flew over, calling "Yi''er, Yi''er" as it circled around her. The soul of the little bird spirit was dissipating, the scattering soul light looked like its falling feathers, or like ashes after burning.


    Yu Yi reached out to catch it, but the soul light disappeared before it couldnd on her hand, like extinguished fireworks.


    "Yi''er, being burned really hurts," the little bird spiritnded on her shoulder and stretched its head to nuzzle her cheek. "Yi''er, thank you. If it weren''t for you, I would have been burned many, many more times."


    "In the next life, I don''t want to be a bird anymore. I want to be a fish, living in water."


    Yu Yi said, "Fish can be grilled too."


    The little bird spirit was startled into silence. Yu Yi burst outughing, "You should be reborn in the deep sea then, growing into a big fish that people can''t catch or dare not catch. As big as a kun, then you won''t be caught and grilled."


    The little bird spirit nodded vigorously, happily saying, "Alright, I''ll listen to you. In my next life, I''ll be reborn as that kun you mentioned."


    A spotted wildcat emerged from the bushes, nimbly jumping over the broken walls and ruins to the foot of this ruined wall. He transformed into human form, crouched under the wall, looked up and called out, "Huai Li."


    Huai Li nuzzled Yu Yi''s cheek once more, saying sadly, "Yi''er, I have to go now."


    Yu Yi gently stroked her, "Okay."


    Huai Li flew up from her shoulder. Her five-colored tail feathers had already fallen awaypletely. She fluttered her iplete wings, stumbling as she circled around Li Su, "Li Su, goodbye."


    Li Su rushed over to hug her, but then feared that his action would make her soul dissipate faster. He could only carefully cup the five-colored bird, watching her beautiful soul irreversibly fade away. He cried out in anguish, "Don''t go. I know how to treat you well now. Don''t go, Huai Li, I love you..."


    He thought he had finally learned how to love her, how to treat her well. They surely could have had a better future together. Who knew that they actually had no future at all?


    Until death, he was still expressing his love in his clumsy and foolish way, smugly mistaking her fear and dread for something "special".


    His heart was full of regret, but heaven didn''t give him a chance to make amends.


    "I shouldn''t have treated you like that. I shouldn''t have scolded you, shouldn''t have bullied you, shouldn''t have..." Li Su''s voice choked up, unable to continue.


    Huai Li smiled and made chirping bird sounds. She gently nibbled his fingertip with her beak. "I don''t me you, Li Su. You should remember, in the next life, don''t die for anyone again."


    The little bird spirit closed her eyes in his palm, her three hun and seven po soulspletely dissipating. A soul fire the size of a fingertip fell from his palm. No matter how he tried to cup it, no matter what he used to catch it, he couldn''t stop the descent of that soul fire.


    Li Su watched helplessly as she left, crawling on the ground andmenting, "If you don''t me me, why can''t you stay for me? I just wanted you to see me. How can you be so heartless? How can you leave without any attachment?"


    "Where should I go to find you?"


    The soul lights fading in the ghost city were bing scarce, as the souls that needed to leave had departed.


    Yu Yi crouched on the wall, looking down at the cat demon weeping on the ground, and asked, "Are you going to sit here forever? Turning into an earth-bound spirit again because you can''t let go, trapping yourself here?"


    The cat demon didn''t respond, only digging at the ground, seemingly still desperately trying to dig out the little bird demon''s soul fire.


    "If you keep guarding this ce, you''ll never see her again," Yu Yi said. "She said she doesn''t want to be a bird anymore. In her next life, she wants to be reborn in the sea, as the biggest fish that no one dares to mess with."


    The cat demon finally stopped moving. After a long while, it let out a mournful cry, and its soul began to dissipate.


    Yu Yi quietly waited for the cat''s cry to cease and Li Su''s soul fire to sink into the ground before jumping down from the broken wall.


    Three years in the Ghost Realm had passed like a dream. She had always been prepared that once the Ghost Realm was broken, the little bird demon would leave.


    But after all, this was the first close friend she had made sinceing to this world. They had eaten together, slept together, and spent so much time in the same body. Parting like this inevitably left her feeling a bit lost.


    Suddenly, a crane''s call came from under the fallen locust tree. The crane senior brother squeezed out from under the tree full of withered yellow leaves and flowers, and as soon as it saw Yu Yi, it opened its wings and rushed towards her, calling out.


    "Crane senior brother, long time no see." Yu Yi hurriedly reached out to catch it, the sense of loss in her heart easing considerably at the sight of the crane senior brother.


    The red-crowned crane finally reunited with its little junior sister, opening its wings to hug Yu Yi, resting its bird head on her shoulder and crying "ga ga".


    To save her, the crane senior brother had obediently followed Xue Chenjing''s instructions, perching on the locust tree and calling out.


    However, not long after Xue Chenjing went in, this locust tree suddenly withered, scaring the crane senior brother so much it almost lost its bird soul. It was terrified that Yu Yi would nevere out again, and it would never see its sword spirit again.


    Fortunately, it finally waited for her return.


    Yu Yi soothingly patted the crane''s head and took out the green bamboo sword to give to it,forting its longing.


    The crane senior brother hugged the bamboo sword with both wings, its crane call lingering, as if crying andining, as if they had been separated for thousands of years - truly a deeply affectionate bird.


    Halfway through pouring out its feelings, the crane senior brother lowered its head and saw the cracks on the bamboo sword. Its call stopped abruptly.


    It angrily raised its long beak and pecked Yu Yi without mercy, pping its wings against the sword body, its small eyes usingly ring at her, as if she were a sinner of all ages who had mistreated its wife.


    Yu Yi''s gaze shifted guiltily back and forth, not daring to meet the crane senior brother''s small eyes. "Ah, well..."


    She let out a dryugh and patted the crane senior brother''s back. "I''ve now reached the middle stage of the Golden Core, my cultivation has increased by one level, and this sword couldn''t withstand my spiritual power for a moment, so it cracked a tiny bit."


    The crane senior brother let out a long cry - who cares about your cultivation? It only cared about its sword spirit.


    Yu Yi patted her storage bag again and promised, "Don''t worry, before I left the secret realm, I stored over a hundred green bamboo swords in my storage bag, as well as more than a dozen high-grade spirit swords plucked from the Sword-Sealing Stone. When we get to Yinzhou City, I''ll find a ce to melt down the spirit swords and reforge the green bamboo sword, ensuring that the sword spirit will livefortably in my green bamboo sword."


    Only then was the crane senior brother satisfied, no longer raising its long beak in an attempt to peck her to death.


    After the bird''s cries subsided, Yu Yi heard the system''s voiceing from the vine-covered ruins. She looked over in that direction but couldn''t find Xue Chenjing''s shadow.


    The system sighed and asked helplessly, "Master, what are you hiding here for? At this time, you should gofort the female lead and find a way to make her happy!"


    Xue Chenjing let out a coldugh in his heart that made the system''s hair stand on end. "Master? Who is your master? Isn''t your master Xue Mingyuan?"


    System: "..." We''re all on the same side, why do we have to distinguish between you and me?


    The system was silent for a moment, then made a "ding" sound.


    [System: Ding ¡ª Congrattions to the host for sessfullypleting this temporary mission. You have obtained a total of 110 reward points. You can now exchange for one plot clue. Does the host want to exchange immediately?]


    Xue Chenjing frowned, "Where did the additional fifteen pointse from?"


    The system replied, "When the female lead rescued the host who was swept into the ground fissure by the gale, she held the host''s waist while bringing you out of the fissure, thus earning a fifteen-point reward."


    Xue Chenjing looked through the lush vines and leaves at the person hugging the crane senior brother not far away, and said ominously, "She didn''t save me, she saved Xue Mingyuan."


    If it were him, he thought, Yu Yi would probably abandon him without hesitation and coldly watch him fall, wouldn''t she?


    Why? Why am I not good enough? They''ve only met twice, and haven''t even had a proper conversation, so why can Yu Yi trust him so easily? Why? Why? Why am I the only one who''s not eptable?


    Xue Chenjing stared coldly at her through the gaps in the vines, biting down on a dangling vine flower in front of him, grinding his teeth fiercely.


    The fresh scent of the nt and a hint of sweetness from the nectar spread on his tongue, very simr to her scent. She must taste just like this.


    Yu Yi keenly felt the intense gaze on her body. She turned her head to look towards the area submerged in vines.


    The vines there had broad leaves, piled up inyers, with clusters of small white flowers blooming among the green leaves, looking very lovely in the golden light of the morning sun.


    They covered the broken walls and ruined earth below under a veil of spring.


    She heard the system''s voice ask again, "Then does the master want to voluntarily give up these fifteen points?"


    Xue Chenjing licked off the white petals sticking to his lips, watching as Yu Yi''s gaze scanned back and forth across this patch of vines, yet never managing to find him.


    "Give up? What a joke," he said righteously, no longer quibbling about you and me at this moment. "Exchange for the plot clue right now, immediately."


    [System: Ding ¡ª Exchange sessful, points have been deducted. The cluees from the lotus pond below the Circr Mound Altar. There is something there that the host has been searching for. This item is rted to the next stage of the side plot.]


    Xue Chenjing''s expression became solemn. The Earth Impurity floated out from his sleeve, quickly enveloping him, turning his form into mist, and flowing into the underground pce along the ground crevices.


    In just a few breaths, his figure appeared on the copsed Circr Mound Altar in the underground pce of the Ji Family Ancestral Hall, and he jumped down into the deep crevice in the center without hesitation.


    As he fell, Xue Chenjing asked with a coldugh, "Will you also exchange this clue for Xue Mingyuan?"


    The system said weakly, "You are both my masters."


    Xue Chenjing''sughter echoed in this deep crevice, and he said through gritted teeth, "A good horse doesn''t wear two saddles, a good dog doesn''t serve two masters. You''re worse than pigs and dogs."


    The system listened to his angry nonsense, feeling very innocent. As far as this system is concerned, you''re not really two masters either.


    On top of the Circr Mound Altar in the underground pce, another figurended. Yu Yi looked down and could faintly hearughtering from below. This sound echoed between the walls, changing its tone by the time it reached her ears.


    "So happy? What good thing is it?" Yu Yi thought to herself as she leaped down.


    Since she couldn''t shake off Xue Chenjing, it meant she couldn''t escape those troublesome plots to some extent. Since she had a part in unlocking the plot, of course she should also reap the fruits after unlocking the plot.


    Unexpectedly, there was another hidden space deep beneath the Circr Mound Altar.


    To maintain the formation on the Circr Mound Altar, the Ji family had set up a hidden spiritual eye here to capture the spiritual energy of the surrounding mountains and rivers. Now that the Circr Mound Altar had copsed, the spiritual energy in the spiritual eye had leaked out, returning to this world.


    But in this defunct spiritual eye, there was still a pool, a pool filled with lotus flowers.


    In the pool, one lotus flower had lost its petals and withered, four were still half-open, and there were two newly emerged flower buds.


    The lotus flowers floating on the water''s surface were crystal clear and white as jade, identical to the lotus flowers on the Circr Mound Altar that enveloped the golden soul fire petal by petal, ultimately transforming it into an embryonic element.


    Xue Chenjing plucked a petal from a half-open lotus flower at the edge of the pool. As soon as it detached, it immediately dissipated in his hand.


    He leaned over, took a deep breath, and with a slightly dazed expression on his face, murmured, "Primordial chaos energy."


    No wonder those old ghosts of the Ji family could bypass reincarnation and directly transform into newborns. These lotus flowers were the crucial element that allowed the Ji family ancestors to be reborn through the Nine-Transformation Lotus Rebirth Formation.


    Yu Yi was quite unfortunate. When they opened the Ji Family Ancestral Hall, a lotus flower in this pool had just matured, capable of allowing a soul to be reborn through the Nine-Transformation Lotus Rebirth Formation. That''s why she was dragged into the underground pce, nearly bing the vessel to nurture the Ji family''s embryonic element.


    Xue Chenjing had already guessed what was at the bottom of the pool. With a gloomy expression, he reached out and tore away all the lotus flowers in the pool, watching them dissipate into primordial chaos energy.


    He then reached into the water and, after a moment, pulled something out from the bottom.


    Just as his hand emerged from the water, he saw a white blur sh before his eyes, and whatever was in his palm was suddenly snatched away by something.


    Xue Chenjing immediately looked up. Countless tentacles surged from the void, chasing after the white blur. But when he saw the white figure crash into someone''s arms, the tentacles writhing in mid-air instantly froze.


    Yu Yi hugged her crane senior brother, who had been shrunk by a talisman, and took from its beak an object that looked like jade but wasn''t quite jade, resembling a lotus root segment. "What is this?" she asked.


    Xue Chenjing stood up from the edge of the pool, his pitch-ck eyes fixed on her, and asked, "Why did youe down?"


    "I saw youe down, so I followed," Yu Yi replied, stroking the lotus root-like object in her hand, examining it with curiosity.


    Xue Chenjing pressed his lips together, his body tense, with invisible tentacles rigid around her, their tips quivering anxiously. His breathing was heavy, his pupils trembling slightly. He clenched and unclenched his fists several times before finally managing to suppress the violent impulse in his heart.


    He said softly, "It''s a tailbone, an infant''s tailbone."


    Yu Yi''s motion of stroking the object froze. She instinctively wanted to throw away the thing in her hand but ultimately resisted the urge and asked, "How do you know this is an infant''s tailbone?"


    The object in her hand was exquisite and lustrous, not even as long as a finger, with four pieces nested together,rger at the top and smaller at the bottom, looking more like a piece of fine white jade.


    Xue Chenjing stared at her unblinkingly, focusing on the tailbone between her fingers. "Because it was once cut from my body."


    This bone was clean, neither tainted by demonic energy nor containing any divine power. It was a bone of primordial chaos from when they were first born.


    Yu Yi lowered her eyes to look at the bone in her hand. Xue Chenjing had lied to her too many times; there wasn''t a single truth in his mouth, so she didn''t believe his words at all. But after what he said, holding this bone still felt like holding a hot potato.


    Xue Chenjing slowly walked towards her, his face pleading, and asked, "If the master doesn''t believe me, would you like to feel for yourself? Feel if I have a tailbone or not."

 Chapter 30

    "If you don''t believe me, would you like to feel for yourself? Feel if I have a tailbone or not."


    Yu Yi examined his expression, pondering seriously for a moment before nodding, "Alright then."


    If she was going to feel, she would. If it really was his bone, she''d return it.


    Xue Chenjing was visibly startled, apparently not expecting her to actually want to touch his tailbone to believe him. His eyshes fluttered quickly twice, like a startled butterfly, a sh of embarrassment passing through his eyes before he could hide it.


    "You really don''t believe me?" Xue Chenjing asked. Seeing her nod in affirmation, he inhaled deeply in frustration, ultimately choosing topromise.


    He moved closer to Yu Yi''s side, turning slightly, and reached out to grasp her wrist, pressing it to his lower back. Through gritted teeth, he squeezed out four words, "Feel for yourself."


    Yu Yi''s fingertips slid down along his concave spine, feeling for the position of his tailbone through the no-longer-thick spring clothing.


    Xue Chenjing turned his head away, facing her with the back of his head. His ck ponytail nearly whipped her face, revealing a stretch of snow-white neck and gradually reddening ears beneath the hair strands.


    Yu Yi pressed down with a bit of force, and Xue Chenjing''s fingers within his sleeves clenched tightly. His shoulders and back tensed, revealing clear muscle contours. It was as if a spark had ignited from his tailbone, spreading a indescribable heat throughout his body.


    Xue Chenjing''s breathing almost stopped. His tentacles, invisible to others, drooped to the ground like soft noodles, their tips curling and uncurling uncontrobly, twisting into spirals in the empty air.


    Yu Yi was oblivious to this, focusing on feeling his tailbone. The sensation under her fingertips was soft, and indeed, in the ce where humans should have a tailbone, she couldn''t feel the corresponding bone structure on his body.


    "Are you the same as humans?" Yu Yi asked reasonably. For a monster like him, it should be easy to hide his tailbone, right?


    The heat in Xue Chenjing''s body suddenly cooled. His misty eyes regained their rity. He turned around, stepping away from her hand, and stared coldly at the tentacles in the air that others couldn''t see. He said, "If you don''t believe me, then forget it."


    Yu Yi''s gaze swept over his paling face, and she held out the tailbone in her palm to him. "Alright, I''ll trust you this once. After all, you helped me break open this ce."


    When Xue Chenjing heard her mention Xue Mingyuan, his expression became even more unpleasant, almost gritting his teeth. "Such a simple formation, I could have broken it too."


    Before Yu Yi could respond, his tentacles shot out from the side, quickly snatching the tailbone from her palm. His form turned to mist before her eyes, disappearing into a nearby crack.


    Sure enough, this bastard changed his attitude as soon as he achieved his goal.


    Yu Yi frustratedly clenched her now-empty palm, lowering her head to ask Crane Senior Brother, "Did I get tricked by him again?"


    Crane Senior Brother tilted his bird head, making two "ga ga" sounds.


    Yu Yi eximed in surprise, "You''re actually speaking up for him?"


    Crane Senior Brother: After all, he was the one who rescued it from those fierce cultivators of Zhaohua Pce.


    Yu Yi looked around this empty spiritual eye. After the spiritual energy had drained away, nothing was left here, even the water in the pool had dried up. She searched around but found nothing of value, so she summoned her sword and flew out of there.


    ...


    Themotion in the Ghost City naturally rmed the nearby vigers. Since thetter half ofst night, they had been feeling intermittent tremorsing from the direction of the Ghost City, and once again heard the continuous, shrill cries of cranes.


    The nearby viges were so frightened that they lit torches, illuminating their viges inside and out as bright as day, not daring to let the fire go out for a moment. They feared that something from the Ghost City might break through the barrier and drag them away as scapegoats.


    The surrounding vigers were anxious for most of the night. They didn''t dare toe and investigate the Ghost City in the dark, only daring to gather a group of strong men to observe from afar when the sun rose.


    Outside the Ghost City, the ashes of incense and talismans burned during yesterday''s ritual remained. On the talisman rope encircling the Ghost City, newly added talismans were still fresh, their vermilion runes bright and eye-catching.


    But everyone could sense the disturbance within the Ghost City, seeing the shadows of evil spirits darting about inside.


    This unprecedented scene frightened everyone. People kept looking towards the Vige Head, asking when the immortal cultivators from Zhaohua Pce would arrive.


    The Vige Head''s face was full of bitterness as he tried to reassure the vigers, "Soon, soon. Last night, I already burned themunication talisman left by the immortal cultivators to report the disturbance in the Ghost City."


    The vigers were somewhatforted by his words, but the Vige Head''s heart was pounding. As mere mountain vigers, how could they always summon immortal cultivators at will? Themunication talisman burnedst night had yet to receive a response, and he couldn''t guarantee that the immortal cultivators woulde.


    If it weren''t for that immortal crane breaking through their barrier yesterday, the immortal cultivators from Zhaohua Pce wouldn''t havee so quickly.


    The Vige Head stared at the newly added talismans on the rope, wondering if he should tear one off to test. If the barrier weakened, the immortal cultivators would surelye to check. With disturbances two days in a row, they could use this opportunity to request the immortal cultivators to reinforce the barrier ahead of schedule.


    But hearing the miserable wails from within the Ghost City, he worried that if he destroyed one talisman, these lingering evil spirits would immediately rush out and devour them.


    Just as everyone was in a dilemma, specks of white light suddenly began to drift out from within the Ghost City. At first nce, they looked like skynterns floating out from the ghost realm, rising higher and higher until they finally dissolved in the sunlight.


    Within that light, asional remnant scenes could be seen reflected, showing the shadows of people and beastsughing, arguing, and in various states ¨C as if a stage y had been moved to the sky.


    The vigers below were both frightened and curious, all craning their necks to watch the sky. After some time, the sky stage came to an end, the ghostly wails gradually ceased, and the cold yin energy within the Ghost City melted awaypletely, like snow under the sun.


    The talisman rope surrounding the Ghost City spontaneously burst into mes, burning away thest traces of yin energy from the Ghost City.


    Feeling this change, the gathered vigers rejoiced, "Vige Head, it seems the ghosts and monsters in this Ghost City have been pacified! Did the immortal cultivators from Zhaohua Pce already enter?"


    "That''s wonderful, we can finally sleep soundly at night!"


    "Without the Ghost City''s yin energy affecting thend, our vige crops will have a good harvest this year."


    The vigers cheered jubntly, taking out yellow paper and incense from their baskets to kneel and kowtow towards the Ghost City. Amidst the flying incense ash, suddenly, a crisscrossing sword light shot out from behind the half-copsed city gate of the Ghost City.


    The vines climbing on the gate creaked and copsed with a rumble. A slender figure slowly walked out from among the fluttering green leaves and white flowers, followed by a tall immortal crane.


    As soon as Yu Yi walked out, she saw a group of people burning incense and paper money, kneeling and bowing to her, which startled her quite a bit.


    Fortunately, a white-haired old man took the initiative to approach her, his face bearing a respectful smile as he repeatedly expressed gratitude: "This old man didn''t receive a reply from the immortal cultivatorsst night, and thought they might have been dyed by other matters. We didn''t expect you had already entered the Ghost City."


    As the Vige Head spoke, he wept with joy, hurriedly wiping his tears with his sleeve. He eximed excitedly, "Thank you, immortal cultivator, for ridding us of the evil spirits in this city. The people from several nearby viges have lived in fear of this Ghost City for generations. Now we can finally be at ease, and from now on, our children can y without worry."


    Other vigers gathered around, thanking her in a mor of voices. Some even knelt down, wanting to kowtow to her.


    Yu Yi could hardly stop them from bowing, and quickly said, "There''s no need to thank me, everyone. As a cultivator, exorcising ghosts and capturing monsters are part of my duties. This was also a form of cultivation for me."


    The Vige Head nodded repeatedly through his tears, agreeing with whatever she said, "The immortal cultivator is right. You must be tired after pacifying a whole city of ghosts. If you don''t mind, please invite your other fellow disciples to rest in our vige for a while. I''ll arrange for people to prepare a feast to celebrate right away."


    Yu Yi was just a rogue cultivator, with only Crane Senior Brother beside her. How could she have any fellow disciples? She waved her hand, saying, "No need, no need. I''m just a rogue cultivator passing by, lending a hand. There''s no need for such courtesy."


    The Vige Head asked in surprise, "A rogue cultivator? Aren''t you from Zhaohua Pce?"


    Yu Yi blinked in surprise, then exined with a smile that she was a disciple of the Qingxuan Daoist Priest, without any formal sect affiliation, and could hardly aspire to join a great immortal sect like Zhaohua Pce.


    The people around exchanged nces, and after their initial shock, someone called out, "That''s true! Those Zhaohua Pce folks onlye to tie some paper talismans every time, iming they can suppress evil spirits. We''ve never seen them actually solve the problem of this Ghost City. Immortal Lady, with your great abilities, it''s Zhaohua Pce that can''t measure up to you!"


    "Exactly! The Qingxuan Daoist Priest who could train such a formidable disciple like you must be a great immortal himself."


    "Immortal Lady, you''ve solved the Ghost City''s curse for us. When we return, we''ll surely build statues and temples for the great immortal Qingxuan and you, offering three incense sticks every day. We won''t worship that so-called Zhaohua Pce anymore."


    Seeing that the crowd was getting carried away, the Vige Head quickly reprimanded them, "Silence! What nonsense are you all spouting?" He pointed to the sky sternly, "Are immortal sects something you can casually specte about?"


    The Vige Headmanded considerable respect among the vigers from the surrounding area, and his words immediately silenced everyone.


    Yu Yi also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming, and besides, she hadn''t done anything particrly extraordinary. Statues, temples, and daily incense offerings - she could hardly ept such honors.


    Unexpectedly, after silencing the crowd, the Vige Head turned to her and said, "However, making a statue to worship the Immortal Lady is indeed appropriate. May I ask what your Daoist title is? We''d like to inscribe it on a que for you."


    Yu Yi was torn betweenughter and tears. Seeing that it would be impolite to refuse outright, she thought for a moment and said, "If you truly insist, perhaps you could make a statue for my master instead. Without him, I wouldn''t be who I am today. My cultivation is still shallow, and I''m not worthy of being ced on an altar."


    With this suggestion, the crowd finally relented.


    Yu Yi took out a portrait from her storage pouch. The figure in the painting held a sword in one hand and formed a mystical gesture with the other. Dressed in a blue Daoist robe with a flowing long beard, he truly looked like an otherworldly sage. This was a self-portrait left by the Qingxuan Daoist Priest.


    In the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm, there was a room dedicated to her master''s paintings and calligraphy. The old man had left many self-portraits, from his youthful years full of vigor to his prime years as depicted in this painting. Each stage of his life was represented by dozens or even hundreds of portraits.


    Before leaving the secret realm, Yu Yi had taken one with her.


    The Vige Head epted the painting with utmost reverence, promising to ensure that people from nearby viges would sincerely worship it. They wanted to invite Yu Yi to a banquet in the vige, but unable to bear their enthusiasm any longer, she quickly made an excuse and left.


    Xue Chenjing, hiding in the underground of the Ghost City, reintegrated his tailbone into his body. Only then did this frail form regain some strength. He clenched his fist, his eyebrows rising in delight, his eyes full of joy.


    Countless transparent tentacles emerged from the shadows at his feet, carrying him up the broken rock walls. He quickly emerged from the crevice of the underground pce.


    When he reached the surface and returned to the ruins of the Ghost City, he happened to hear a long cry from Crane Senior Brother.


    Xue Chenjing looked up, the joyful expression on his face suddenly fading, turning gloomy once again.


    The crane pped its wings and flew into the distance. On its back, a figure could be seen. Yu Yi, hugging her green bamboo sword, was bathed in brilliant sunlight. Her robes fluttered, the red pomegranate bead string in her hair shone brightly, and her ck tresses danced in the wind.


    She left swiftly and decisively,pletely forgetting that she still had a little dog.


    No sooner had Yu Yi left the Ghost City than another group of cultivators arrived.


    Talisman lights fell rapidly like daytime meteors into the Ghost City - it was the cultivators from Zhaohua Pce.


    This time, many cultivators hade, including an elder of Zhaohua Pce. Behind the elder followed Shen Qingzhi, the head disciple of Zhaohua Pce. Just looking at this lineup showed how seriously they took this matter.


    Before the Zhaohua Pce cultivators evennded, they saw the talisman ropes surrounding the Ghost City had burned to ashes. This barrier that had been restraining ghosts wasn''t forcibly broken by someone; rather, as the spirits in the city dissipated, the barrier naturally copsed.


    That''s why the Zhaohua Pce people couldn''t detect it immediately and arrivedte.


    The elder acted decisively. Uponnding, he sensed that all the yin energy and ghostly aura in the Ghost City hadpletely dissipated. His gaze swept around, and he immediatelymanded, "Lin Fang, take a few people to intercept the vigers who haven''t gone far. Ask them about what happened here."


    "Liu Yin, lead the rest to thoroughly investigate inside and outside the Ghost City for any anomalies."


    As everyone carried out their orders, the elder turned to Shen Qingzhi and said, "Qingzhi,e with me."


    Shen Qingzhi responded, "Yes, Elder Yan."


    The two came to the withered locust tree in the center. Elder Yan''s expression was grave as he bent down to pick up a yellow leaf. With just a light touch, the leaf crumbled to dust in his hand.


    This locust tree was thoroughly dead.


    He brushed off the leaf fragments and looked down into therge pit that had copsed next to the locust tree. Without dy, he jumped down into the hole, stepping on bricks and stones. Shen Qingzhi instinctively followed behind him.


    Elder Yan waved his sleeve, and several talismans flew out, shooting towards the copsed bricks and stones ahead. Under the talisman light, the huge end walls and stones seemed as light as falling leaves, moving aside with a rumble at the elder''s gesture.


    The two proceeded deeper underground, soon reaching the half-copsed underground pce.


    Shen Qingzhi turned his head to survey the surroundings, a hint of surprise in his eyes. He had visited this Ghost City several times but never knew there was such a space underground.


    Elder Yan didn''t turn around, but seemed to guess his thoughts and voluntarily exined, "This was once the ancestral hall of the Ji family, originally hidden by a barrier."


    He seemed quite familiar with this ce. After just a nce at the extinguishedmps scattered on the ground, he quickened his pace and headed straight for the circr mound. When he saw the deep fissure under the mound, he clicked his tongue and said, "Not good."


    As he spoke, his form turned into a blur, swiftly diving into the fissure. Shen Qingzhi put down themp he had just picked up and followed him down.


    A momentter, the two emerged from the ground fissure one after another. Elder Yan''s expression was stern, while Shen Qingzhi seemed rather puzzled. He asked uncertainly, "Elder, is there something down there?"


    "Zhaohua Pce has long been merely suppressing but not eliminating the evil spirits in this city, all to hide what''s in the underground pce." He nced back at Shen Qingzhi. "Never mind, you''ll know when we return to the pce."


    As they came out of the underground pce, a disciple came to report that they had learned from the vigers about a rogue cultivator who had been here. She had guided all the ghosts in the city to transcendence, but had left half an hour ago.


    Elder Yan immediately strode out, ordering, "Bring those vigers here. I want to question them personally."


    As the Zhaohua Pce group left the ruins of the Ghost City, under the dense foliage and vines in the city, more than a dozen plump little ck worms slowly wriggled out. The little ck worms had recorded all the scenes that urred in the Ghost City in their eyes, and their figures silently disappeared.

 Chapter 31

    Despite some twists and turns along the way, Yu Yi still managed to arrive safely at Yinzhou Prefecture after a day''s journey.


    This grand city, where immortals and mortals coexisted, was farrger than Rounan County. Nestled among green mountains and clear waters, it emerged gradually on the horizon with a kind of magnificent and prosperous beauty.


    Just from the densely packed buildings with their zed tile roofs and the colorful banners of various merchants, one could sense the bustling energy of the city''s inhabitants.


    Yinzhou Prefecture also had air traffic control. Before Yu Yi could even approach the city gates, two golden beams shot up from below, forming a barrier right in front of her. The beams transformed into the ethereal figures of two imposing armored generals, their long halberds crossed. A voice came from behind the apparitions, "Flying is prohibited above the prefecture. Pleasend."


    Yu Yi apologetically sped her hands in greeting, and Crane Senior Brother folded his wings to descend.


    Another cultivator riding a flying carpet was intercepted along with her. He appeared to be about her age, dressed casually with his hair tied back with a cloth strip. His eyes were dark and bright, with two thick, long eyebrows, and his skin was tanned dark. He exuded a vigorous youthful spirit.


    If not for the mismatched setting, he would have looked just like ddin from "One Thousand and One Nights" riding his magic carpet.


    The two country bumpkins who had been forced tond caught each other''s eye and shared an awkwardugh. "It''s my first time here, ah, I don''t know the rules," he said.


    Yu Yi replied, "It''s my first time too, I''m not very familiar either."


    Theynded one after the other. The young man jumped off his flying carpet and ran over to Crane Senior Brother in a few quick steps.


    Circling around the crane, he eximed in admiration, "A celestial crane, wow! Its feathers are so white, and the feathers on its wings and tail are so ck. The cinnabar on its head is so bright. This is the first time I''ve seen such a tall and beautiful celestial crane up close."


    Crane Senior Brother was delighted by his praise, spreading its wings and letting out a long, proud cry.


    "ddin" joined in with his own series of "wow" sounds. "That''s amazing! Its call is so powerful too. I saw you from far away! Fellow Daoist, with your flowing robes and extraordinary appearance, riding such a beautiful celestial crane, you''re simply overflowing with immortal energy. You look just like a divine consort or immortal maiden descending to the mortal realm."


    Yu Yi was at a loss for how to respond to this barrage of ttery. Then she heard him ask, "It must be expensive to raise such a celestial crane, right, Immortal Maiden?"


    Yu Yi nodded. It was indeed not cheap.


    She treated Crane Senior Brother better than herself. Back in Rounan County, most of the money she earned from selling talismans and catching ghosts and monsters was spent on him.


    The item Yu Yi carried the most of in her storage pouch was Crane Senior Brother''s food. She would starve herself before letting him go hungry.


    Now, seeing someone praise Crane Senior Brother so highly, Yu Yi felt a sense of pride by association.


    Of course, it would be impolite not to return the gesture, so she tilted her head to look at "ddin''s" flying carpet, intending to return thepliment. Only then did she realize it was actually a talisman woven from cotton yarn and wool ¨C a reusable flying talisman.


    "Did you weave the flying talisman directly into the carpet? I never thought talismans could be made this way," Yu Yi said in surprise.


    Seeing the curiosity in her eyes, ddin exined with a hint of pride, "This is a method I came up with. When the spiritual energy in the talisman runs low, you can just inject more spiritual power with cinnabar and trace over the talisman lines. One of these talisman carpets can be reused for several years. Isn''t that much more cost-effective than burning a paper talisman each time?"


    Yu Yi nodded and gave him a thumbs up in appreciation. "Fellow Daoist, you indeed have quite the creative mind."


    He chuckled and grabbed the storage pouch at his waist, showing it to Yu Yi. "I have many more talisman carpets made using this method. Besides flying carpets, there are also spirit-gathering mats for meditation, healing mats that can speed up wound recovery when you sit on them, all sorts of talisman carpets. Would you like to buy some, Fellow Daoist?"


    Oh, so that''s why he was so talkative ¨C he was trying to make a sale.


    However, Yu Yi was genuinely interested in his talisman carpets. She asked, "So how much do you sell these for?"


    ddin held up five fingers. "Five spirit stones each. Very cheap!"


    Before Yu Yi could respond, a voice suddenly interjected between them, saying, "I''ll take all the flying carpets you have."


    They both turned their heads towards the voice and saw a handsome young man approaching slowly. He wore a eye-catching light yellow spring robe embroidered with a hundred flower patterns, covered with a thin gauze. His long hair was styled high and tied with a matching yellow ribbon.


    His attire harmonized perfectly with the brilliant spring colors, giving the impression at first nce that he was some noble young master out on a spring outing.


    Yu Yi blinked once, then twice, before confirming it was indeed that fellow Xue Chenjing.


    But then she immediately remembered that it might not be Xue Chenjing? Judging by his demeanor, it could also be Xue Mingyuan?


    As she silently observed him, the neer had already walked up to them. He curved his lips in a smile at her and said, "I''m very pleased to see you again, my master."


    Yu Yi was taken aback for a moment and asked, "Are you Xue Chenjing?"


    Xue Chenjing noticed her hesitation, and the smile on his lips seemed to freeze, not reaching his pitch-ck eyes. His tone was innocent, yet somehow tinged with sarcasm: "Of course it''s me. Who else could it be?"


    Yu Yi: "..." Don''t you know about your own multiple personality disorder?


    The "ddin" beside them enthusiastically approached Xue Chenjing, promoting his talisman carpets: "I have twenty flying carpets here, absolutely guaranteed for speed. Fellow Daoist, do you really want them all?"


    Xue Chenjing finally shifted his gaze from Yu Yi''s face to look at the talisman carpets in the other man''s hands. He dered generously, "Mm, I''ll take them all."


    Demons were ultimately not epted by the general public, and Xue Chenjing couldn''t alwaysmand demonic creatures, especially when heading to this city teeming with cultivators.


    His current cultivation level wascking, and just to keep up with the speed of the red-crowned crane, he had rushed non-stop from the Ghost City to here, nearly depleting all the spiritual energy in his dantian.


    Xue Chenjing had chased after them relentlessly, barely managing not to be left behindpletely. When he finally caught up at the city gates, he had to hide in the bushes and consume a spirit pill, recovering for quite a while before he had the strength to walk out presentably like this.


    However, now he hadposed himself to appearpletely at ease. He reached out to take a flying carpet and turned to ask Yu Yi, "Master, what kind of talisman carpet would you like? I''ll pay for it along with these."


    Yu Yi caught a glimpse of ddin''s eyes darting back and forth between them, his face clearly expressing thoughts like "Wow, master" and "ying it big."


    The tips of her ears began to burn secretly, and her toes curled tight, but she feigned calmness and said, "If you''re so rich, why don''t you just buy them all?"


    As it turned out, Xue Chenjing really was that wealthy.


    He actually listened and bought the entire bag of talisman carpets, useful or not!


    ddin, having encountered such a rich and foolish big customer before even entering the city, was immediately overjoyed. His face lit up with a toothy grin as he swiftly brought out all his woolen carpets, continuously praising Xue Chenjing for being beautiful, kind-hearted, and discerning.


    The ttery flowed endlessly, without a single repetition.


    Yu Yi watched as Xue Chenjing took out a heavy bag of spirit stones and handed it over. The only words that could express her feelings were "utterly speechless." She rolled her eyes and turned her head, leading Crane Senior Brother towards the city gate, intending to enter.


    Xue Chenjingpleted the transaction with ddin, stuffing the pile of woolen carpets into his storage pouch. He quickly caught up with Yu Yi, calling out loudly, "Master, wait for me¡ª"


    People around them turned to look. Yu Yi stopped in her tracks, unable to bear it any longer. "Don''t call me that." You might not care about face, but I do!


    Xue Chenjing asked in confusion, "Then what should I call you?" He had always called her that before, and she hadn''t reacted so strongly. Now he couldn''t use it anymore. She was really fickle.


    Yu Yi said, "If you have something to say, just call me by my name. If not, then don''t call out for no reason."


    "Alright," Xue Chenjing nodded obediently and immediately tried it out, "Yu Yi."


    Yu Yi nced up at him, then turned and continued walking.


    The system let out a sigh: "Master, at times like this, you should take the initiative to change how you address her, like calling her ''A-Yi'' or ''Yi-yi''. Using her full name sounds so distant."


    Xue Chenjing still had no patience for this system that had betrayed him. He asked, pretending not to know, "Is that so? Don''t tell me Xue Mingyuan called her ''A-Yi'' or ''Yi-yi''?"


    System: "..." Your brother isn''t as brazen as you. He wouldn''t be like you, shoving your tentacles into someone''s mouth on only your third meeting!


    Not far ahead, Yu Yi could clearly hear the system''s sickly sweet voice. She chose to ignore such pointless chatter.


    The city gate of Yinzhou Prefecture was far more magnificent than that of Rounan County. The gate itself was several zhang taller, with two enormous stone statues nking each side. These statues, d in armor and wielding weapons, exuded an awe-inspiring presence. Red silk draped over their arms, reminiscent of the martial figures that had earlier obstructed her path in the sky.


    Yu Yi''s astonished gaze was drawn to these two stone statues. As her eyes traveled downward, she noticed the words "Gate Guardian" carved into the base at the warriors'' feet.


    Before each Gate Guardian stood an incense burner, wisps of fragrant smoke curling upwards.


    In front of this city gate, ordinary people and cultivators followed different paths. Common folk had their travel documents checked by gate guards before being allowed to pass.


    Cultivators didn''t need such paperwork, but they had to undergo scrutiny from these two Gate Guardians. Only those without suspicion were permitted to enter the city. Furthermore, demons and monsters were strictly forbidden from setting foot in Yinzhou.


    Yu Yi stood at the foot of the right Gate Guardian. A beam of light, like an X-ray, shot out from the red pearl on its forehead, scanning her and Crane Senior Brother from head to toe. The spirit beast contract on Crane Senior Brother''s ankle glowed briefly, confirming his identity.


    The Gate Guardian raised its halberd, granting them passage. Yu Yi led Crane Senior Brother through the towering archway. Ten zhang beyond, at the end of the passage, dazzling sunlight awaited them. The mor of a bustling city already reached their ears.


    Crane Senior Brother caught the scent of delicious food wafting from the city and eagerly bounded forward on his slender legs.


    Yu Yi quickened her pace, chasing after him as they both ran into the brilliant sunlight.


    Behind her, Xue Chenjing had employed some method to evade the Gate Guardians'' gaze. Just as Yu Yi''s silhouette melted into the sunlight, he stepped into the shadow of the gate tower.


    Suddenly, a familiar "ding" sounded in his ears.


    [System: Ding¡ª Main quest phase two "Love Knows No Beginning" has been activated. Please raise the favorability of the target to 50%. The side quests and main quest are interconnected and mutually beneficial. Please proceed with caution.]


    Xue Chenjing paused briefly before continuing forward as if nothing had happened.


    He no longer found these tedious quests so objectionable. The activation of the main quest meant progress in the side quests as well. Everything he desired would soone to light.


    "Love Knows No Beginning." Xue Chenjing rolled these words on his tongue, chuckling softly. He was more concerned about another question, "Is there no time limit?"


    The system replied, "Correct, there is no time limit for this phase of the quest." It paused for a moment before continuing, "Master, you should be grateful there''s no time limit for this phase."


    Given the current gravity of the situation, the system''s analysis concluded that this phase of the quest would be a long-term campaign.


    Xue Chenjing, however, was far more optimistic than the system. With inexplicable blind confidence, he inquired inwardly, "What is her current favorability towards me?"


    The system answered truthfully, "The current favorability of the target towards the host is 12%."


    Xue Chenjing halted his steps. He stood at the threshold of the gate tower, where light met shadow. Raising his gloomy eyes, he precisely located the figure nearly lost in the crowd ahead.


    That figure was bright and lively, dressed in a sky-blue upper garment and a hibiscus-colored skirt. The strings of pearls in her hair swayed and collided as she eagerly looked around, and Xue Chenjing could almost imagine the cheerful tinkling they made¡ªa sound more jubnt than ever before.


    Twelve percent? It had increased so much. The favorability that he couldn''t raise despite his painstaking efforts and humble pandering had suddenly doubled.


    Did she like Xue Mingyuan? Did she prefer that kind of person? She actually liked someone like Xue Mingyuan!


    Xue Chenjing felt a nauseating sensation, as if he had swallowed a fly. The color drained from his face at a visible rate. Though his eyes were fixed on the brightest spot, they seemed to absorb no light at all, as dark and bottomless as two sunless wells. His features remained motionless, yet they exuded an indescribable twisted ferocity.


    Yu Yi, Yu Yi, Yu Yi¡ª


    She could like anyone, but not Xue Mingyuan.


    Passersby at the city gate noticed his strange behavior. A kind-hearted person approached, concernedly asking if he was alright or feeling unwell.


    Xue Chenjing brusquely swatted away the handkerchief offered to him, retreating a step into the shadows of the gate. He leaned against the corner wall, one hand digging deeply into the bricks of the tower, the other covering his mouth.


    It was truly sickening enough to induce vomiting.

 Chapter 32

    Yu Yi waspletely captivated by the dazzling sights of Yinzhou City, forgetting all about her shadow trailing behind.


    The streets were bustling with people, crowded with passersby. Unlike in Rounan County, there was no clear divide between ordinary folks and cultivators here. Though one could still discern some obvious differences in their auras, the overall scene of them standing together was unexpectedly harmonious.


    Yu Yi and Crane Senior Brother, who had been quite eye-catching in Rounan County, were nothing out of the ordinary here, as there were many cultivators with spirit beasts in the city.


    To prevent Crane Senior Brother from getting separated, Yu Yi plucked one of his feathers. The spiritual energy in the feather connected with the spirit beast contract on the crane''s foot, allowing them to know each other''s location.


    They wandered from one end of the main street to the other, like country bumpkins indulging in revenge spending after being cooped up for too long.


    Yu Yi bought herself some fashionable essories and clothes, as well as some cosmetics. For Crane Senior Brother, she purchased fragrant soap and pills for feather care. Afterward, the pair went on an eating spree.


    Only when their bellies were round and full did they sit down to rest on a stone bench under a willow tree by the river.


    By then, the sun was setting, and today''s sunset was particrly brilliant. The golden light reflected off the water''s surface, shimmering and dancing, then cast upon Yu Yi''s eyes. It made her smiling eyes even more radiant than spring sunshine, with a beauty that was hard to look away from.


    Xue Chenjing noticed a group of young men at the end of the bridge frequently ncing her way. He overheard them jokingly pushing one of theirpanions, urging, "Go on, go on! The beauty is right there, how can you hesitate? If you miss this chance, who knows when you''ll get another?"


    "That''s right, if you don''t dare, Brother Liang, then I''ll go myself."


    As the blushing young man gathered his courage and stepped off the bridge, Xue Chenjing deliberately bumped his shoulder, pushing past him to quickly walk up to Yu Yi,ing to a stop in front of her.


    From the corner of his eye, he saw the young man hesitate and stop in his tracks, and he couldn''t help but curl his lips in a smug smile.


    Yu Yi was busy sorting through her day''s spoils, reorganizing and repacking them. When she came across some useless items bought in the heat of the moment, she would slightly furrow her brow and mutter about wasting money.


    However, the joy in her eyes would quickly overshadow this momentary regret. She''d turn to Crane Senior Brother, wink, and say, "Oh well, I was happy when I bought them anyway."


    The crane beside her was bobbing its head, a squid tentacle in its beak, clearly also very content.


    Xue Chenjing watched the stupid bird gobbling down the squid and felt a phantom pain.


    When Yu Yi was in a good mood, even the ever-present Xue Chenjing seemed more tolerable to her.


    Before he could speak, she stuffed a candied haw stick in his mouth and said, "Here, go eat this with Crane Senior Brother over there. I need to do some ounting now, don''t disturb me."


    Xue Chenjing froze with the candied haw stick in his mouth, his expression changing several times. He nced at the group of dejected young men returning to the bridge, then finally took the stick and sat down to eat it.


    He bit into one of the haws, crunching through the sugar coating. The sour fruit inside made him hiss, his eyelid twitching. He red angrily at the person engrossed in her calctions.


    Damn it, he should have known something was up when Yu Yi only ate one haw after carrying this stick around all day. So this was why - it tasted awful!


    He should have known she wouldn''t be so nice to him!


    Xue Chenjing raised his hand, about to fling away the tooth-achingly sour thing, when the system spoke in his ear: "Master! This is the first thing the female lead has ever given you. She''ll be hurt if you throw it away."


    Xue Chenjing''s motion halted, his grip on the candied haw stick tightening. After an intense internal struggle, he reluctantly lowered his hand.


    He stared at the candied haws for a moment before raising them to his mouth again.


    When Yu Yi finished her calctions and looked up from her deted purse, she saw Xue Chenjing staring at the candied haw stick with a deeply aggrieved expression, as if the confection hadmitted some terrible offense against him.


    To be fair, she wasn''t wrong in her interpretation of his expression. At that moment, Xue Chenjing was recalling the vendor who sold the candied haws, nning to track him down and finish off the wretched swindler after nightfall.


    He had never eaten such sour candied haws before.


    Yu Yi''s gaze fell on the stick in his hand. Each haw had been bitten into, leaving only the sour fruit inside. Those haws were truly acidic; Yu Yi''s mouth watered just remembering the taste.


    "If you don''t want to eat it, just throw it away," Yu Yi said.


    Xue Chenjing looked up, his eyes bright as if he''d received a great blessing. He asked excitedly, "I can really throw it away? You won''t be upset?"


    Yu Yi was baffled. "...It''s just a stick of unpleasant candied haws. Why would I be upset?"


    Before she finished speaking, Xue Chenjing had already stood up eagerly. A sh of white light appeared in his hand, pulverizing the remaining haws into powder, which he scattered on the riverbank. He acted as if afraid she might change her mind.


    Even a dog wouldn''t eat that awful stuff.


    Yinzhou City was bustling and prosperous, with far too many novel things to see. The prices were also much higher than in the remote Rounan County. After their extravagant spending spree, Yu Yi and Crane Senior Brother found their purses significantly lighter. The money they had left was barely enough for a night''s stay at an inn.


    As for Xue Chenjing, that fellow had plenty of money. He eagerly followed behind Yu Yi, beating her to it and paying for three upper-ss rooms - that''s right, he even got a separate room for Crane Senior Brother.


    Yu Yi clutched her empty purse, thought for a moment, then epted his eager offer. After all, she couldn''t y the role of plot-unlocking tool for nothing.


    The upper-ss rooms in the city inn were far morefortable than those in Rounan County, with impable service. After a long journey, Yu Yi could finally rest properly.


    She enjoyed a rxing bath filled with flower petals, dried her hair with spiritual energy, then sat at the dressing table and took out the facial mask she had bought earlier that day.


    The peach-colored mask was beautiful, with a faint rose fragrance. It melted into a fine essence when rubbed between her palms.


    Yu Yi applied it evenly to her face and body, thenbed her hair smooth with scented water and tied it back with a ribbon. Fragrant all over, she crawled into the soft bed and soon drifted off to sleep.


    In the room next door, separated by just a wall, a candle still burned.


    With the new stage of his mission beginning, Xue Chenjing sat at the table with a furrowed brow, pondering how to quickly improve Yu Yi''s opinion of him.


    The system consoled its host: "Master, there''s no need to worry so much. The female lead has already epted you. Spending time together day and night, you''re bound to develop feelings eventually. Her current fondness for you has already increased to 12% - that''s a good sign!"


    Snap-


    The veins on the back of Xue Chenjing''s hand bulged as he snapped the writing brush in half with one hand. The broken end of the brush, with its sharp splinters, pierced deep into his palm. "That''s for Xue Mingyuan, not for me."


    System: "..." But what difference does that make? Aren''t you the same person?


    However, the system didn''t dare voice this thought. If it did, its host would surely fly into a rage.


    Xue Chenjing tossed aside the broken brush and pulled the oilmp closer. He bent over the me, opening his palm to pick out the splinters embedded in his flesh.


    These splinters were like Yu Yi''s growing fondness for Xue Mingyuan, lodged in his flesh. They might not be fatal, but they caused him pain, making his whole body ache.


    He had to pluck them out one by one.


    Unable to sleep, Xue Chenjing dipped his fingertip in tea and drew a small magical array on the table, about the size of a palm. He let the blood from his splintered palm drip into the array, which lit up with a faint glow. Several fist-sized demon spirits bubbled up from within, like tiny transparent jellyfish.


    The demon spirits frolicked around his fingers as Xue Chenjing absently yed with them.


    Perhaps because his mind was full of thoughts about the person next door, one of the demon spirits, following his subconscious desire, squeezed out through a crack in the window and then in through another.


    The demon spirit drifted into the dim room, undting through the air as if swimming in water, its slender tendrils waving softly.


    It pushed aside the hanging bed curtains and floated into the bed.


    Xue Chenjing was caught off guard by the sudden sweet fragrance that assaulted his senses, causing him to sneeze repeatedly. Only then did he realize that a small creature had escaped from his palm.


    He immediately wanted to call the spirit back, but when he saw Yu Yi''s sleeping face through the spirit''s eyes, he hesitated.


    While he was here with a head full of worries, tossing and turning, she was sleeping soundly.


    Xue Chenjing lightly tapped his fingertip downward, and the spirit obediently descended inside Yu Yi''s bed curtains,nding directly on her forehead. The warm temperature transmitted through the spirit to Xue Chenjing''s senses, making him narrow his eyes infort.


    He sneezed again.


    She smelled so good, truly so fragrant.


    Perhaps stirred by the cool touch on her forehead, Yu Yi let out a soft groan from her nose, mumbling a few sleepy words before giggling foolishly and falling back into deep slumber.


    Was she dreaming? Smiling so happily, what kind of dream was it? He desperately wanted to know, wanted to know, wanted to know¡ª


    Xue Chenjing restlessly rubbed his fingertips, causing the spirit to roll around on her face. Its slender feelers rose and fell, wanting to invade her consciousness to see. Due to his uncontroble desire, the oath stele in his mind sea lit up, causing his soul to tremble.


    Xue Chenjing let out a muffled groan, raising his hand to press against his temple in difort.


    Damn it. He irritably nced at the oath stele in his mind sea. This thing was truly like a dog cor around his neck, but he also knew clearly that if not for this oath stele, Yu Yi would never allow him to stay by her side.


    Her defenses were as thick as the walls of Yinzhou City. How could he possibly chip away at them to create an opening?


    As the oath stele tore at him, causing turmoil in his mind sea and agitating the magical beasts within, Xue Chenjing became dizzy and lightheaded. He finally gave up on the idea of peeking into her dreams, sneezed again, and rubbed his nose.


    Without realizing it, the spirit had rolled into the crook of her neck. The warm, fragrant sensation transmitted to him made Xue Chenjing''s fingertips heat up, his mind growing hazier.


    He recalled that rainy night in the Cloud Mountain Cabin, the feeling of holding her in his arms¡ªso fragrant and warm.


    Xue Chenjing raised his hand to extinguish themp, identally making toorge a gesture. His sleeve knocked over the oilmp, causing it to fall from the table. Before the tiny me on the wick could ignite, a tentacle emerged from the void and snuffed it out.


    He copsed onto the bed, pulling up the covers to wrap himself in a bundle. The spirits in the room disappeared one by one. In the other room, that spirit expanded in size until it was as big as a kitten, curling up tightly against her neck.


    Xue Chenjing slept morefortably than ever before, so warm that his face flushed a rosy pink.


    After a peaceful night''s sleep, Yu Yi woke up early the next day. The sky had not yet brightened, and the interior of the bed curtains was still dim, so she didn''t notice the small bundle nestled in the bedding.


    She raised her hand to touch her shoulder, unable to clearly remember what strange dream she hadst night. She vaguely recalled falling into some kind of infinite survival game, with a monster constantly choking her neck.


    That monster looked a lot like Xue Chenjing, haunting her even in her dreams.


    Yu Yi shook her head, erasing the monster''s image from her mind. Instead of lingering in bed, she got up promptly, washed up, and went out to ask the innkeeper about the cultivation market in Yinzhou City.


    She was very interested in this market that she often read about in casual stories and books. It felt simr to the excitement she had as a child, waiting to go to the big market with her mother the next day. Full of anticipation, she woke up very early.


    Before dawn, she enthusiastically set out, nning to sell a few spirit swords she didn''t need.


    When Xue Chenjing finally woke upte in the morning,zed about in bed for quite a while, and eventually got up to wash and went next door to look for her, she was long gone without a trace.


    Even the bed was already cold.


    Xue Chenjing lifted the covers to find his spirit curled up in a ball. The lingering sleepiness instantly vanished, leaving him wide awake with anger.


    She actually ran off and left me behind again?!

 Chapter 33

    Xue Chenjing sat on the edge of the bed, his nostrils filled with Yu Yi''s lingering scent on the bedding.


    This time, Yu Yi''s departure without notice angered him even more than her previous attempts to escape from him. The fury made his head throb.


    He didn''t understand.


    Hadn''t Yu Yi already agreed to stay with him? Hadn''t her favorability rating increased to twelve percent? Although that damn Xue Mingyuan deserved some credit for that. But yesterday, they had seemed to get along well.


    Xue Chenjing reflected on their journey so far, trying to recall if he had done anything to upset her. In the end, he could only think of that string of candied haw fruits. But she had clearly agreed to let him throw it away.


    He sat bewildered in Yu Yi''s room for a while, then suddenly remembered the bird in another room. He abruptly stood up, his face dark as an approaching storm, and rushed out, kicking open Crane Senior Brother''s door.


    When he saw the crested crane sprawled on the bed with its wings spread, snoring with drool, the anger in his heart finally subsided. The chaotic thoughts in his mind dissipated, and he let out a huge sigh of relief.


    Thank goodness, Crane Senior Brother was still here. Yu Yi hadn''t run away.


    Even if she wanted to abandon him, she wouldn''t abandon Crane Senior Brother.


    Themotion of kicking the door open brought the inn''s waiter, but it still didn''t wake Crane Senior Brother. Xue Chenjing calmed down and tossed two silver pieces into the waiter''s palm - one topensate for repairing the door, and one to have some food sent up.


    After instructing the waiter, Xue Chenjing strode into the room, grabbed the crane''s long neck and shook it. "Stupid bird, wake up. Where did your master go?"


    Crane Senior Brother mumbled groggily, still cuddling its sword spirit affectionately in its sleep.


    Unable to wake it, Xue Chenjing reached out to grab its chest feathers, intending to pluck them. But then he remembered how Yu Yi had specially bought so many feather care products for it yesterday. If she found out he had plucked its feathers, her favorability towards him would surely drop again.


    He gritted his teeth and resisted the urge. He got up and called the waiter, then took out another silver piece and gave some instructions.


    About the time it takes to drink a cup of teater, two waiters came up, each carrying arge tray. The trays wereden with four or five tes of freshly steamedke fish.


    Xue Chenjing took his own breakfast from the other tray and told the waiters to pull the table next to the bed and arrange the steamed fish dishes on it. He fanned the aroma towards the bird on the bed.


    He sat down at the table by the window, slowly spooning a bowl of white fungus and pear sweet soup.


    Before he could take his second spoonful, the crested crane on the bed woke up.


    Crane Senior Brother opened its eyes to see so many tes of steamed fish in front of it, thinking it was still dreaming. It groggily stretched out its neck to peck at the fish, swallowing two in quick session before finally bing fully awake.


    Crane Senior Brother happily jumped off the bed andnded directly on the dining table.


    The two waiters, havingpleted their task, came to ask the crane''s master for a tip. Xue Chenjing generously took out some silver and instructed them: "Make another set of the desserts I ordered, pack them in a food box for me to take away."


    The waiters agreed profusely. Just as they were about to leave, they were called back. Xue Chenjing put down his soup bowl with distaste. "This sweet soup is too nd. Add more honey to the new batch, a lot more. If it''s not sweet enough, I''ll smash your inn."


    The waiter, not daring to offend such a generous customer, hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, yes, I''ll tell the kitchen to add more honey, definitely more!"


    Soon after, the waiter came back upstairs, bringing the prepared food box and an extra bowl of the newly cooked white fungus and pear sweet soup for Xue Chenjing to taste, saying they could make it again if he wasn''t satisfied.


    The sweet soup had been added with ample honey, the broth golden and glistening. Xue Chenjing took a sip and nodded.


    The waiter finally retreated with relief.


    By this time, Crane Senior Brother had finished devouring all the steamed fish on the table with full fighting spirit. It tilted its bird head, looking towards the person by the window, and called out obediently a couple of times.


    Ever since Xue Chenjing had rescued it from the cultivators of Zhaohua Pce and then entered the Ghost Realm without hesitation to find Yu Yi, Crane Senior Brother had epted this oddly appearing master-husband.


    Its attitude towards Xue Chenjing had improved greatly, and it no longer secretly wanted to peck at him.


    "Are you full?" Xue Chenjing put down his soup bowl and said, "Find where your master is."


    Crane Senior Brother quietly sensed for a moment, the spirit beast contract mark on its slender legs glowing faintly. It let out a honk and took the lead.


    Xue Chenjing picked up the prepared food box on the table and put it into his storage pouch, then followed Crane Senior Brother out the door.


    Once out of the inn, the crested crane immediately spread its wings and took flight. Xue Chenjing swiftly took out his flying carpet and followed. Although Yinzhou City forbade aerial entry, low-altitude flight was allowed within the city limits.


    Crane Senior Brother led him towards the very center of Yinzhou City, asionally encountering other cultivators heading in the same direction.


    That was thergest market in Yinzhou City, divided into three areas. The outermost area was the mortalmercial district, filled with shops and restaurants from all over the world. Not only did it attract mortals, but also many cultivators interested in the mortal realm.


    Half a street further in was a fusion zone, where both mortal and immortal goods were sold. However, it mostly dealt in low-grade pills and magical tools that mortals could also use, albeit at exorbitant prices. This area was frequented by the rich and powerful of the mortal world.


    At the very center stood a single building called the Unmasked Tower. Inside was purely for transactions between cultivators, and mortals could hardly enter.


    Crane Senior Brothernded outside the Unmasked Tower. The tower was surrounded by twenty screen walls, all passages for entering and exiting the Unmasked Tower.


    The screen walls were in and unadorned, looking utterly ordinary. Antern hung from each wall.


    Xue Chenjing knew the rules of the Unmasked Tower. He jumped off his flying carpet, waved his sleeve to put away the rug, and took out two spirit stones from his bosom, cing them under thentern. The spirit stones immediately dissolved into spiritual energy and flowed into thentern.


    A red light lit up inside thentern. Xue Chenjing reached back to grab the crested crane as it poked its head under thentern to look, grasping its neck and dragging it through the screen wall.


    Behind the screen wall was a dim room, equipped with tools for concealing one''s true appearance - masks, magical robes, or Shape-Shifting Pills. There was a wide array to choose from.


    Of course, if one was confident in their abilities and not worried about being targeted, they could also boldly enter with their true appearance.


    Xue Chenjing nced at the crested crane and picked out a Shape-Shifting Pill from the many options. When Crane Senior Brother refused to eat it, honking loudly in protest, he flicked it with lightning speed. The pill flew in an arc, precisely shooting into the crane''s throat.


    With a poof, the human-sized crested crane shrank, falling to the ground. Now its calls were unmistakably those of a duck.


    Hearing its own voice, Crane Senior Brother abruptly shut its beak. Tears welled up in its small eyes - it had be ugly and its voice unpleasant. It was no longer worthy of the noble and beautiful sword spirit, boo hoo hoo.


    Xue Chenjing pulled a ck robe from the rack and draped it over himself, then picked up the sulking duck and strode out the door.


    The Unmasked Tower was named "Unmasked," but in reality, almost all cultivators who entered were disguised. It was called a "tower," but inside was an independent small world, with ornate buildings and flowing eaves.


    All sorts of strange creatures moved about on the streets. There was even a scarecrow with candied haw skewers stuck in its body, hawking its wares along the street.


    Of course, what was coated in the sugar syrup was not ordinary hawthorn, but spirit fruits.


    But now when Xue Chenjing saw candied haws, his mouth still puckered. He reached out and pinched Crane Senior Brother''s bottom, asking, "Where is she?"


    Crane Senior Brother was too angry to respond. Xue Chenjing threatened it, "I spent quite a few spirit stones to redeem you back then. If you don''t cooperate, I might as well sell you off right here."


    Submitting to his tyranny, Crane Senior Brother reluctantly stretched out its ugly t beak to point the way.


    Following Crane Senior Brother''s directions, Xue Chenjing weaved through the crowds and finally found Yu Yi outside a shop specializing in various magical tools. She was also in disguise, wearing a fox mask.


    Now she had a pair of fluffy fox ears on her head and arge, fluffy white tail hanging behind her.


    The fox mask fit softly against her face, changing her originally round eyes to narrow and upturned. The corners of her eyes were painted with golden demonic markings, and her cheeks were dotted with crimson rouge, creating an alluring appearance.


    Fluffy balls of fur had even grown on her temples, making her look like a fluffy white fox spirit.


    When Xue Chenjing saw her, Yu Yi was stroking her fox tail.


    His gaze lingered on the fox tail for a moment, pondering. It seemed she truly loved such fluffy things - his own slippery tentacles held no appeal for her at all.


    As soon as Crane Senior Brother saw her, he immediately burst out of Xue Chenjing''s arms, honking all the way as he flew into her embrace, startling Yu Yi.


    If she hadn''t sensed the spiritual beast contract on Crane Senior Brother, Yu Yi would have mistaken him for some wild duck.


    "How did you end up like this?" Yu Yi held Crane Senior Brother up, examining him from all angles and ying with his t beak. "I guess I''ll have to call you Duck Senior Brother now."


    Crane Senior Brother angrily pecked her finger and stretched out his wing to usingly point at the culprit.


    Yu Yi followed the direction of his wing and finally noticed the ck-robed figure. Her eyes darted about, and she refrained from using his real name here, simply asking, "Why are you here?"


    Xue Chenjing sat down beside her, lifting the hood on his head to reveal a metal mask concealing his true face, with only a pair of jet-ck eyes and the lower half of his face visible. He said in a muffled voice, "I thought you had abandoned me and run off again."


    Yu Yi: "..." He made it sound as if she was some kind of heartbreaker.


    Yu Yi knew he was deliberately acting pitiful again. Her heart remained unmoved, and she didn''t respond to his words, only saying, "I came here to sell some swords."


    Xue Chenjing asked, "Have you sold them all yet?"


    "Not yet, I suppose." Yu Yi gestured with her chin towards the weapon shop across the way. "I''m not too clear on market prices, and it''s too conspicuous for one person to sell so many high-grade spirit swords. So I''ve entrusted them to this shop to sell on my behalf, with an 80-20 split of the proceeds."


    "Aren''t you worried it might be a scam and they''ll target you?" Xue Chenjing turned to scrutinize the shop, his eyes full of suspicion. He always assumed the worst of everyone except himself.


    Because in this world, there were few good people, but evil ones each had their own wicked ways, far beyond what he could imagine.


    "Of course I did my research," Yu Yi patted Duck Senior Brother''s head. "I used several different identities to consign swords to different shops. This one specializes in weapons, so I left three swords with them."


    Yu Yi had it all nned out in her mind. She had a total of nine unused spirit swords, which she had distributed among five different shops using different identities. She would collect the spirit stones when the market closed.


    Then she would use the spirit stones to rent a furnace at the forging hall to reforge her Green Bamboo Sword.


    Due to the recent opening of the Sword-Sealing Stone, many spirit swords had entered the market. Her swords weren''t particrly eye-catching, but since they were all high-grade, Yu Yi had taken the precaution of consigning them to several shops for safety.


    Although the sword market wasn''t particrly goodtely due to the influx of swords, Yu Yi didn''t mind since these swords were all obtained for free anyway.


    The spirit stones from selling these few swords would be enough for her and Crane Senior Brother to livefortably for a while.


    Although Yu Yi hade out early, she had only browsed the first floor of the Unmasked Tower. Even if she saw something she wanted to buy, she had no spirit stones on hand at the moment. Feeling frustrated at not being able to make purchases, she simply found a random ce to sit and rest, waiting for the market to close so she could collect the money from selling the swords.


    Many cultivators passed by on the street, each disguised in strange and bizarre ways. The sky in the Unmasked Tower was always dark, with no distinction between day and night. Countless colorfulnterns hung from tree branches and eaves, illuminating everything brightly.


    Layers uponyers of magnificent pavilions rose up, appearing as if built from gold bricks and jade in themplight. When the colorful lights of the Unmasked Tower went out, it signaled the end of the market.


    Xue Chenjing stared at the crystalmp hanging at the entrance of the weapons shop across the street for a while, then slowly shifted his gaze to the person beside him. Since leaving the Xue family, he had rarely had such an opportunity to sit side by side with someone like this.


    He was always fleeing, always on the move, always deceiving, approaching others with countless fabricated identities to achieve his goals.


    From the very beginning, the people he deliberately approached only saw a false version of him, and he never truly cared for anyone. That''s why he could betray them without any burden on his conscience.


    But Yu Yi knew his true face, and her defenses were as thick as city walls, imprable, leaving him no way to manipte her.


    This was the first time they sat together so idly and peacefully.


    Both lost in their own thoughts, neither spoke for a while. But perhaps because the surroundingmplight was so dazzling and the atmosphere so enchanting, it didn''t feel awkward.


    As Xue Chenjing''s mind began to wander, he suddenly heard a familiar nagging voice in his ear.


    For him, the system was like a fussy old mother, constantly worrying. It reminded him, "Master, are you just going to sit there in such a nice atmosphere? Didn''t you bring some snacks for the female lead? Take them out!"


    The system''s sudden outburst startled both of them. Yu Yi reacted quickly, identally pinching Duck Senior Brother''s bottom, eliciting a dissatisfied quack from him. The two started to yfully wrestle, covering up their unnatural reactions from the sudden fright.


    Xue Chenjing also looked stunned, angrily scolding the system in his mind: "Can''t you be quiet? Stop startling me like that."


    System: "..." Fine, no good deed goes unpunished. Even a mighty divine tool like itself had its dignity, okay?


    The system fell silent, and Xue Chenjing nced at Yu Yi, taking out a food box from his storage pouch. "You left so early, I thought you probably hadn''t eaten a proper breakfast, so I brought you some food."


    Yu Yi feigned surprise, her eyes darting between the food box and Xue Chenjing''s half-masked face. She reached out to take the box, saying, "Thank you."


    She opened the food box to find twoyers. The topyer contained a bowl of snow pear and white fungus soup, while the bottomyer held three tes of pastries and snacks. When she touched the small bowl containing the white fungus soup, it was still warm.


    Yu Yi had actually ordered white fungus soup and steamed buns for breakfast at the inn before leaving in the morning, but after wandering around all morning, she was indeed feeling a bit hungry now.


    She shared some of the pastries with the drooling Crane Senior Brother, then picked up the white fungus soup and took a sip, squinting her eyes at the sweetness.


    This bowl of white fungus soup was much sweeter than what she had eaten in the morning, with extra honey added.


    The sweet taste of honey spread across her tongue. Yu Yi didn''t dislike the excessive sweetness; on the contrary, she loved sweet foods. So, this soup actually suited her taste perfectly.


    Those days spent in the Cloud Mountain cabin hadn''t been wasted after all. Xue Chenjing had at least figured out some of her taste preferences. He had pondered long and hardst night, and unable toe up with any other ideas for the time being, he could only try to win her favor with food.


    Seeing that Yu Yi seemed satisfied with the food, Xue Chenjing''s lips curved slightly upward. He asked the system in his mind, "Is there any change in her favorability?"


    The system remained silent.


    Offering a box of ready-made food from an inn and expecting to increase favorability - what kind of pipe dream was the host having?


    After asking, Xue Chenjing also realized how foolish his question was. If Yu Yi''s favorability was so easy to increase, he wouldn''t have been lying awake worrying about itst night.


    But then he remembered how quickly her favorability towards Xue Mingyuan had increased, and the slight curve of his lips drooped back down, his mood souring once again.


    His emotional fluctuations were so obvious that even with the ck robe covering him, Yu Yi could sense the alternating happy and gloomy aura from the person beside her.


    As she continued eating the white fungus soup, Yu Yi found herself intrigued by Xue Chenjing''s changing expressions, specting about what kind of temporary mission he was on to win her over this time, and what kind of response he was desperately trying to elicit from her.


    To her surprise, even after she finished the pastries and soup, and led them around to walk off the meal, Xue Chenjing remained remarkably well-behaved without causing any trouble.


    Even his system was exceptionally quiet.


    When dinnertime came, Xue Chenjing invited her and Crane Senior Brother to dine at a famous restaurant in the Unmasked Tower, making Yu Yi wonder if the system''s temporary mission this time was to award Xue Chenjing one point of reward for every coin he spent on her.


    Just like before, when he could earn points simply by her touching him.


    Xue Chenjing enthusiastically ordered dishes, and most of the food that arrived suited both her and Crane Senior Brother''s tastes perfectly.


    Thinking about it carefully, they had only spent a few short days together in Cloud Mountain, yet he had already figured out her tastes so precisely.


    Yu Yi became inwardly vignt, calmly reminding herself that the man before her was a fiend who could change his attitude at the drop of a hat. She needed to be on guard against his sugar-coated bullets at all times.


    Xue Chenjing waspletely oblivious to this, and was quite satisfied with his performance today.


    As the market dispersed, Yu Yi changed her identity several times to settle ounts with spirit stones in the shops. She left the Unmasked Tower with her pockets heavy with spirit stones from selling swords, and they both removed their disguises.


    Yu Yi was quite fond of the mask that could conjure fox ears and a tail, but buying such a mask specifically would cost quite a few spirit stones.


    She thought about her Green Bamboo Sword that urgently needed upgrading, and resisted the urge to splurge on spirit stones.


    Xue Chenjing noticed her expression and initially wanted to buy her a few masks, but suddenly seemed to think of something and retracted the step he was about to take.


    The two of them, along with the crane, left the Unmasked Tower and walked through Yinzhou city as thenterns were just being lit.


    While the cultivators'' market in the Unmasked Tower was closing, the night market for ordinary people outside was just opening. The streets were crowded with people, and the goods for sale were far more varied than the practical spiritual tools and objects sold in the Unmasked Tower.


    Yu Yi had only nced twice at a velvet flower hairpin on a vendor''s stall when Xue Chenjing, quick as lightning, had already paid and picked up an exquisitely crafted iris velvet flower hairpin from the stall.


    It was the one her gaze had lingered on the longest just now.


    Xue Chenjing raised his hand and held the hairpin up to her hair, making a gesture as if to insert it. The indigo iris velvet flower entuated her jet-ck hair and snow-white skin, its vibrant color perfectlyplementing her beautiful features.


    Xue Chenjing sincerely praised, "It looks very beautiful."


    His eyes were bright in the surroundingmplight, and he looked down at her due to their height difference. At such close range, Yu Yi could see her own reflection in his eyes.


    "It looks very beautiful," Xue Chenjing unconsciously repeated, softly saying, "Master, may I put it on for you?"


    For a moment, Yu Yi was also infected by the look of amazement in his eyes and was about to nod instinctively.


    Just then, a shout suddenly interjected between them. The voice was clear and pleasing, with a hint of joy: "Miss Yu Yi, is that you?"


    Yu Yi turned her head towards the sound, and Crane Senior Brother also poked his head out from beside Yu Yi to look in the direction of the voice.


    They saw three people parting the crowd and walking towards them.


    The one in the lead wore white robes and a crown, with a dignified bearing. His features were deep and handsome in themplight, with a spiritual sword at his waist. Just from the aura around him, he was clearly different from the ordinary people around.


    It was Pei Jingchao.


    He quickly walked up to them, his affectionate eyes fixed on her face, smiling warmly as he said, "I am Pei Jingchao. I wonder if you remember, Miss, that you saved my life five years ago. After I recovered, I immediately went to that mountain cabin to find you, but you had already left."


    "Since then, I''ve been searching everywhere for you, hoping to find an opportunity to repay you for saving my life."


    The system, which had been quiet for a long time, suddenly sprang to life, rming in Xue Chenjing''s mind, "Here ites, here ites, the original male lead has arrived with his ''life-saving debt''! Master, if you don''t make an effort now, he''s going to offer himself in marriage!"


    Xue Chenjing''s temples throbbed with pain from its noise. He lowered his eyshes slightly, scanning Pei Jingchao up and down, not feeling that he posed much of a threat.


    However, Pei Jingchao''s sudden appearance still made him feel annoyed.


    Without waiting for Yu Yi to speak, he raised his hand to grasp her chin, turning her face back towards himself. He leaned in closer, saying, "Master, don''t listen to the stray dogs barking outside. If you keep moving around, my hairpin will end up crooked."


    Yu Yi: "..." Could you sound any more gritted teeth? Xue Chenjing''s tone didn''t sound like he wanted to pin a flower in her hair, but rather like he wanted to stab her in the ribs.


    Xue Chenjing smiled, focusing intently on her as he carefully inserted the iris velvet flower hairpin into her topknot, adjusting the flower petals and pressing down on the pearl-adorned center of the flower.


    "There," Xue Chenjing said with satisfaction, picking up a small mirror from the stall to show her. "Master, I told you it looks beautiful, didn''t I?"


    In the mirror''s reflection, Yu Yi caught a glimpse of Pei Jingchao''s expression instantly turning cold, but it was only for a moment before he put on a smile again. His gaze moved from the mirror to Yu Yi as he said, "Miss Yu is naturally beautiful, with a face like flowers and the moon. She doesn''t need such a gaudy hairpin to adorn her; she is already of unparalleled beauty."


    Xue Chenjing turned his head to re at him, slightly turning his wrist to shift the angle of the mirror. He snorted, "That sounds so nice, I wonder how many people you''ve yapped at like this before. Master, it''s too noisy here, let''s hurry back."


    Yu Yi could no longer see Pei Jingchao in the mirror, but she could feel the surging undercurrent between them. She was caught between two male leads ¨C one, the previous male lead who had flitted through countless romances, and the other, the current male lead who was not quite right in the head.


    At this moment, she only had four words in her mind: What rotten luck.

 Chapter 34

    Pei Jingchao did not mention their encounter at the Sword-Sealing Stone, so Yu Yi also pretended not to know. She turned to look at Pei Jingchao, feigning surprise as she covered her mouth, as if just realizing who he was, and said, "Oh, it''s you! You''re quite fortunate, young sir. I didn''t expect you to still be alive?"


    Pei Jingchao smiled and said, "Thanks to your kindness, miss."


    Yu Yi quickly waved her hand, "You''re too kind, sir. I didn''t really do anything remarkable. At the time, I saw you by the roadside and thought you had already breathed yourst. Worried that your corpse rotting there would frighten others and pollute the flowers and grass, I dug a hole to bury you."


    She lowered her eyes, putting on an ashamed expression, and sighed, "I didn''t expect that I had misjudged the situation and buried you alive, nearly causing your demise. I truly don''t deserve your gratitude for saving your life."


    As she spoke, the smile on Pei Jingchao''s lips became somewhat stiff, almost falling off his face.


    When he had awakened underground, the soil covering his body had indeed been packed very tightly. The mud was damp,pletely blocking his nose and mouth. If his spirit beast hadn''t arrived in time, he truly would have suffocated beneath the earth.


    However, he had been severely injured at the time. If he hadn''t used some breathing techniques to slow his respiration and heartbeat, reducing blood loss, he probably wouldn''t havested long anyway.


    The youngdy before him had been an ordinary person without cultivation at the time, so it was normal for her to have misjudged the situation.


    Pei Jingchao only needed to recall the look in her eyes when she saw him then to know that she certainly hadn''t done it intentionally.


    "There''s no need for you to me yourself, miss. If anyone is to me, it''s me for using breathing techniques to suppress my injuries, causing you to misjudge the situation."


    To alleviate her feelings of guilt, Pei Jingchao wracked his brains and said very sincerely, "By burying me, Miss Yu actually helped me evade my pursuing enemies, allowing me to wait for rescue. In the end, it was your kind act that saved me."


    Could it be interpreted this way?


    Yu Yi blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.


    Seeing that they had started chatting in the middle of the street and Yu Yi''s attention hadpletely shifted away from him, Xue Chenjing''s expression darkened slightly. He took half a step back, extended a finger from his sleeve to poke Crane Senior Brother, and gave it a meaningful look.


    The crane turned its head to look at him in confusion. Xue Chenjing lowered his voice to a whisper and transmitted into its ear, "Tell your master to return to the inn. I''ll steam some fish for you to eat."


    Crane Senior Brother''s small eyes immediately lit up. It nuzzled its head against Yu Yi''s shoulder with two "ga ga" sounds and tugged at her sleeve with its beak.


    Yu Yi soothingly patted Crane Senior Brother''s head, also taking the opportunity to say goodbye.


    Pei Jingchao didn''t try to stop her, saying, "I will always remember Miss Yu''s kindness. If there''s ever anything I can do for you, I will certainly repay you. This is mymunication token. Please, I insist you take it no matter what."


    As he spoke, he took out a jade pendant from his sleeve. The pendant was pure white, with threads of vermilion running through it - a fine blood jade. It was carved in the shape of a flood dragon biting its own tail. The dragon''s scales were iid with runes, clearly a high-grade magical artifact.


    Yu Yi pondered for a moment, ncing at Xue Chenjing out of the corner of her eye. Now that she was already involved, having an extra option wasn''t a bad thing.


    Although she didn''t know exactly how the plot of this book would unfold, in the story of "Tidal Shock," Pei Jingchao and Xue Chenjing were evenly matched opponents. The two books'' plots were bound to have somemonalities, and these two were perfect for setting against each other.


    So Yu Yi didn''t refuse, reaching out to take the jade pendant. "In that case, I graciously ept."


    Xue Chenjing stood silently to the side, frowning as he stared at her hand holding the jade.


    Seeing her ept it, Pei Jingchao felt relieved. The smile on his face grew even gentler as he said, "If you ever need to find me, just channel some spiritual energy into the jade and call my name. My surname is Pei, given name Jingchao, courtesy name Siguei."


    Yu Yi smiled politely, "You''ve already introduced yourself earlier, Sir Pei."


    The young woman''s curved eyes were filled with the dazzlingmplight, bright as the moon reflected in water. Her voice, mixed with the mor of the mortal world, was as sweet as morning dew dripping from flower petals.


    Ripples spread across theke of Pei Jingchao''s heart. He smiled bashfully and said, "I''ve finally found you, and for a moment I forgot myself..."


    Yu Yi let out a small exmation, interrupting his words. As if suddenly remembering something, she offered her congrattions, "Oh, that''s right! There was a joyous asion at Mount Li recently. Sir Pei and Yuxiu Fairy got married. As a mere rogue cultivator, I couldn''t go to Mount Li to offer my congrattions, so I can only wish you both a harmonious union and many children here."


    Pei Jingchao was stunned for a moment. Coming back to his senses, he swallowed the unfinished words, the smile on his face fading by three degrees.


    Xue Chenjing finally seized the opportunity, letting out a snort ofughter from the side before chiming in, "Indeed! This was quite the grand event in the cultivation world. Everyone says that Sir Pei and Yuxiu Fairy are childhood sweethearts, a talented schr and a beautifuldy, a perfect match, as close as glue. They have a love as steadfast as mountain and sea, with hearts as true as heaven and earth can witness. On the day of the wedding, even phoenixes came to sing in harmony, auspicious omens bringing blessings. Truly a couple made in heaven, unparalleled in the world!"


    Xue Chenjing took a light breath, then changed his tone, his face full of confusion as he said, "Sir Pei has just gotten married, yet he''s ''forgetting himself'' on this crowded street. Does Yuxiu Fairy know about this?"


    Yu Yi: "..." If you say you haven''t practiced crosstalk in private, I won''t believe it.


    Pei Jingchao: "..." I didn''t even know I was this in love.


    The two cultivators from the Lishan Sword Sect following behind Pei Jingchao exchanged nces, keeping their eyes down and their minds nk, tacitly pretending they hadn''t heard anything.


    Regardless of what the people present were thinking, they all had the same thought: your tongue is quite glib, isn''t it?


    With everyone staring at him, Xue Chenjing''s eyebrows flew up. He turned to look at Yu Yi, his eyes curving into a smile, the depths of his gaze twinkling like stars, filled with undisguised pride, as if asking: Master, did I do well?


    Yu Yi wasughing inwardly, lowering her head to stroke Crane Senior Brother''s head, hiding the corners of her mouth that were twitching from trying not tough.


    The smile hadpletely fallen from Pei Jingchao''s face. He weakly exined, "The wedding ceremony was interrupted, so Yuxiu and I haven''t actually formallypleted our union yet."


    But such an exnation sounded feeble no matter how one heard it. Pei Jingchao knew that no matter what he said now, it would only make things worse, making people think he truly was a fickle scoundrel.


    The real bitterness in his heart was difficult to express. He could only smile helplessly and excuse himself, saying he had other matters to attend to.


    After turning a street corner, he suddenly stopped and looked back the way he hade.


    The two people and the crane had already left the stall selling velvet flower hairpins. The pair walked side by side in the crowd, surrounded by the brilliantmplight. The ponytailed youth tilted his head to say something to her, and Yu Yi asionally turned to look at him in response. The iris velvet flower hairpin in her hair was particrly eye-catching.


    The crane bustled about beside them, stretching its long neck from behind to ce its head between them and let out a loud cry. The two were startled by the crane''s call and covered one ear each in annoyance, giving the crane''s head a pat.


    Pei Jingchao couldn''t hear what they were saying - perhaps they were discussing him - but he did hear the crane''s resounding call carrying over the morous voices.


    He also raised his hand to press against his own ear.


    If only she had appeared earlier, even if it was just a month earlier for him to see her, there wouldn''t have been that grand banquet at Mount Li.


    When Pei Jingchao had lingered in Rounan County, he had thoroughly investigated everything about her.


    Yu Yi had appeared in that small town more than four years ago. Based on the timing, it should have been after she saved him. She had left her original residence and soon after arrived in the vicinity of Rounan County.


    It must have been because his blood-soaked appearance had frightened her when he appeared there. Worried that his enemies mighte looking for him and implicate her, she had buried him and then swiftly erased all traces before leaving so decisively.


    Looking at it this way, she was actually a very clever and cautious young woman who knew how to seek advantages and avoid harm.


    The "Crane Fairy" was quite well-known in Rounan County. When Pei Jingchao was there, he had visited all the families Yu Yi had helped to exorcise demons and monsters. In such a remote ce, the troublemakers were all just minor demons and spirits stealing chickens and dogs.


    He had even specifically captured a few small demons that she had released back into the mountains to interrogate them, and gone to great lengths to collect all the talismans she had sold over the past five years that hadn''t been consumed yet.


    From the grade and power of her talismans, one could roughly deduce when she began her cultivation journey and how her abilities had progressed.


    For someone to form a Golden Core in just five years was exceedingly rare in the entire cultivation world. Her talent for cultivation truly delighted him.


    It was like discovering a gold nugget among gravel. He had thought she was just a slightly brighter piece of sand, but upon closer inspection, he realized she was a pearl that could shine as brilliantly as himself.


    Pei Jingchao''s desire to find her grew stronger. Following various clues, he finally located the secret realm hidden deep in the mountains.


    Unfortunately, he was once again toote. The owner of the secret realm had already sealed it and left.


    Pei Jingchao tried to forcibly break open the secret realm, but the person who created the sealing talisman was more powerful than him. It must have been her master, the Qingxuan Daoist Priest. Unable to break the seal, Pei Jingchao had no choice but to leave in frustration.


    The person he had been searching for so earnestly for five years, whose clear bright eyes once looked at him with admiration, now gazed at another. How could he ept this?


    Pei Jingchao watched intently as their figures disappeared into the crowd. He turned to instruct the cultivator behind him, "Keep a close eye on them, especially the man. The destruction of the Weapon Tempering tform must be connected to these two."


    Pei Jingchao had carefully examined the copsed Weapon Tempering tform. From the moment he struck it with his first sword attack, he sensed that besides Yu Yi, there was another person resisting his sword light.


    If it was proven that this man was the one who repelled the demonic energy, his life wouldn''tst much longer.


    The two cultivators bowed and responded with a "Yes," before vanishing into the neon lights like fleeting shadows.


    Meanwhile, after bidding farewell to Pei Jingchao, the pair returned directly to their inn.


    Although Yu Yi had epted hismunication talisman, she didn''t give this person much thought. Upon returning, she apanied Crane Senior Brother for a meal of steamed fish, then had the inn prepare a tub of hot water to wash his feathers and clean his beak.


    Usually, Yu Yi used cleaning spells to groom the crane, but every so often, she would wash him with water and carefully tend to his feathers.


    Xue Chenjing followed her like a tail. When Crane Senior Brother ate fish, he sat nearby. When Crane Senior Brother bathed, he still watched. When Yu Yi brushed Crane Senior Brother''s teeth, he peered into the bird''s beak and muttered, "What teeth does it even have?"


    Is this really treating it as a mount? It seems more like she''s raising an ancestor!


    Xue Chenjing rubbed his chin in contemtion. If he were to be her mount, wouldn''t it save him the trouble of trying to win her over? Yu Yi would bathe and brush his teeth too, treating him with patience and gentleness. Her favorability would increase rapidly, and the side quest storyline could progress quickly.


    For a moment, he once again harbored murderous thoughts towards Crane Senior Brother.


    The system was exasperated and scolded disappointedly, "Host, can''t you have some self-respect? Please, just try to act like a human being."


    Xue Chenjing was unfazed. As long as Yu Yi could like him, he was willing to be anything.


    The system mercilessly shattered his fantasy, saying, "Moreover, you can''t even fly as fast as Crane Senior Brother right now. Even if you wanted to be the female lead''s mount, she might not ept you."


    Xue Chenjing was furious with embarrassment and angrily thought, "Shut up."


    Yu Yi heard the system''s voice and discreetly nced at Xue Chenjing''s gloomy expression.


    As expected of someone who could be a viin, he kept pushing the boundaries of her perception of his moral limits for the sake ofpleting tasks.


    After tending to Crane Senior Brother, Yu Yi turned to enter her own room. Just as she was about to close the door, Xue Chenjing finally raised his hand to stop it.


    Had he finally reached his limit after following her for so long?


    Yu Yi calmly looked up at him. Xue Chenjing frowned and asked puzzledly, "Aren''t you going to throw away that jade?"


    Yu Yi was even more confused, "Why would I throw it away?"


    If she had wanted to discard it, she wouldn''t have epted it in the first ce. He had followed her all this time just to ask about this?


    Xue Chenjing was silent for a moment, then changed his approach, "If you don''t like it, I can help you get rid of it. He won''t notice."


    Yu Yi yawned, pushing his hand away, "No need. I quite like it. I''m going to sleep now, good night."


    The door closed with a creak. Xue Chenjing red at the door that nearly hit his face, his brows furrowed tightly. He raised his fist, wanting to punch her door, but after holding it in mid-air for a long while, he finally lowered it in frustration.


    Xue Chenjing returned to his own room, seething with anger. He mmed the door shut with a loud bang, causing the hinges to squeal pitifully and shower dust, drawing curses from other guests on the same floor.


    Ignoring themotion, he flopped onto the bed like a puddle of mud and asked, "System, what''s the favorability?"


    The system replied, "Twelve percent."


    After a busy day, there wasn''t even a slight increase. Yu Yi even said she quite liked Pei Jingchao''s jade. What did that mean? He had thought that someone like Pei Jingchao wouldn''t pose any threat to him.


    Unexpectedly, her taste was so poor, liking all these two-faced characters.


    Xue Chenjingy there conflicted for a while, then suddenly sat up. With a wave of his hand, a tentacle extended from his sleeve, deftly grabbing the mirror on the table and bringing it to him.


    The bright surface reflected his appearance: ink-ck long eyebrows, a straight nose, well-shaped lips, and eyes that were often praised by others.


    Xue Chenjing had always known that in others'' eyes, he was considered good-looking. Many people would be especially amodating towards him upon first meeting due to his appearance, thus lowering their guard.


    But now, Xue Chenjing began to doubt if he was attractive enough.


    Xue Chenjing raised his hand, rubbing his face with his fingers. Which part wasn''t good-looking enough?


    The system said, "No, master, you''repletely wrong about this. You can doubt anything about yourself, but you don''t need to doubt your looks. Your face has already earned you a lot of points."


    Xue Chenjing scoffed dismissively, tossing aside the mirror and falling back onto the bed. He closed his eyes and sank into his sea of consciousness. Immediately, waves of demonic shadows surged forth, engulfing him.


    She likes foxes, so he could be a fox.


    The system sensed his intention and cried out in rm, "Master, don''t be rash! Your Heart Monarch''s fire is missing, you can''t subdue it now! Once you awaken it, the one who''ll be devoured will be you!"


    The ancient great demon Nine-Tailed Fox has a violent nature and won''t be as obedient as Earth Impurity. At that time, forget about winning over the female lead, it might just eat her in one bite.


    "We can use pills to turn you into a fox too. It doesn''t matter if you have a few less tails. There''s no need to take such a dangerous path, master," the system frantically circled around. "You still haven''t opened your newbie gift package. There are many strategies for winning her over in there!"


    However, to its surprise, its host calmly asked, "What newbie gift package?"


    System: "???"

 Chapter 35

    The system was actually reluctant to offer this neer''s gift package, as it was a universal package distributed by the main system, often containing some strange items. It was meant for those entering various alternate worlds, giving them some rewards to help stabilize their mood and adapt quickly to the new world.


    However, this package was not suitable for the viins being pursued!


    When the system first bonded with its host, it should have immediately distributed the neer''s gift package. But at that time, Xue Chenjing had sneered at it. Even if the system had tried to tempt him with the neer''s package, he would have disdained it. So the system had simply shoved the package into its storage to gather dust.


    Now, in a moment of urgency, it had revealed its existence and could no longer cover it up.


    The neer''s package was divided into two parts: first, physical rewards, and second, a beginner''s guidepiled by the main system based on experiences from various worlds, for the host''s reference.


    Xue Chenjing flipped through the physical rewards. "Beauty pills, skin-perfecting tablets, eysh growth serum? What''s this ''Passionate Love Potion''?"


    The system hurriedly said, "You don''t need that, it''s not useful now."


    Before the system could finish speaking, Xue Chenjing had already unscrewed the cap and taken a sniff. A thin tendril slipped into the bottle''s mouth and dipped into the liquid.


    The crimson liquid clung to the transparent tentacle, its alcoholic aroma transmitted to his consciousness through countless sensory organs at the tip.


    The system drew in a sharp breath.


    Xue Chenjing shook his tentacle, sneering, "So it''s an aphrodisiac. I wouldn''t stoop to using such a thing."


    Seeing that he didn''t seem affected, the system breathed a sigh of relief.


    But then Xue Chenjing tossed aside the Passionate Love Potion and picked up another item, curiously turning it over, "Secondary sexual characteristic development hormone?"


    Why was it that he recognized every word individually, but put together, he couldn''t understand what this strange thing was?


    The system: "..." It knew that the more it said not to do something, the more its host would want to try it, so this time it simply remained silent.


    Xue Chenjing held the box, not knowing how to open it. Finally losing patience, he irritably tossed it aside.


    His hand reached for the beauty pills again, taking one out and popping it into his mouth. He then picked up a nearby mirror to look, but after a long while, his appearance in the mirror hadn''t changed at all. He mmed down the mirror, angry, "Are you trying to fool me with fake goods?"


    The system: "Master, I told you, your looks are already more than sufficient. You should have confidence in yourself and not doubt yourself because of a small setback."


    Xue Chenjing cast a disdainful look at the pile of strange, useless junk, and finally opened the experience package guide. A sh of white light appeared in the void, and a line of text emerged:


    [Host''s current world detected. Now automatically matching appropriate beginner''s guide for the host. This guide is for reference only. Please adapt ording to actual situations and do not overly rely on the guide.


    Loading beginner''s tutorial, please wait...]


    The system had already given up struggling.


    Xue Chenjing shed his outer robe and loosened his clothes, sitting cross-legged on the bed, watching with interest as the circle spun in front of him. After a while, the white light shed, and with a ding, another line of text appeared:


    [Beginner''s tutorial start. "100-Day Conquest n" officially begins. Please confirm daily conquest tasks promptly. Afterpletion, please check the box on the right. If notpleted, please mark an X in the box.]


    [100-Day Conquest n Day 1: Find an opportunity to appear before the conquest target in a unique way, making asting impression.


    Best entrance method reference: When the conquest target faces a major crisis or life-threatening situation, the host descends from the sky, rescuing them from danger.


    Best dialogue reference: "I''m here to help you! Don''t worry, with me here, nothing will happen to you." Note: Please be sure to say this before they try to kill you.]


    "What is this?" Xue Chenjing squinted in confusion, grabbing the light screen and pulling it close to his face, reading word by word. He frowned, "Major crisis? She''s perfectly fine now, when would there be a life-threatening situation?"


    Of course, the female lead wouldn''t have such moments, but if you were the conquest target, there would be plenty of such times.


    The system thought silently, trying to exin, "This was originally a suggestion for your first meeting, but since you''ve already met for the first time, it''s not really relevant anymore."


    Moreover, their first meeting had obviously failed. It had scared the female lead so much that she had been running away for so long.


    "Let''s mark this with an X and move on to the next day."


    The system finished speaking and waited for a while without seeing any reaction from its host. It then btedly realized that something was off with its host.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes were red at the corners, his gaze unfocused. His clothes were in disarray, having been pulled apart by himself. Several tentacles slid down from the bed, writhing on the floor like snakes.


    Normally, these tendrils should have been transparent and barely noticeable, but now they had a faint redness inside, making them visible in the air.


    The system eximed in shock, "Master? Master, are you still conscious?"


    Xue Chenjing was still staring nkly at the light screen, furrowing his brow as he fumbled with the glowing text, reading word by word: "Don''t worry, with me here, nothing will happen to you..."


    The system: "..." Oh my goodness, I told you not to mess with that bottle!


    "Why... is it a bit hot?" Xue Chenjing mumbled dully. The text on the light screen had turned into glowing tadpoles swimming back and forth in his eyes. He rubbed his eyes hard, trying to see them clearly.


    But the more he rubbed, the blurrier his vision became. Finally, the light screen scattered into countless sparks and disappeared.


    Xue Chenjing gasped for air. His body wasn''t actually that hot, but his pseudopods were burning, causing him to extrude more tentacles from the void.


    The flushed tentacles crowded together, thrashing wildly, knocking over the furniture in the room and pressing against the walls, which creaked as if about to burst.


    The system anxiously said, "Master, drink some water, drink lots of cold water."


    Hearing its words, Xue Chenjing''s tendrils wriggled over, finding the shattered teapot on the ground, and rolling in the spilled cold tea. The cold tea on the floor did make him feel a bit better, but only slightly.


    This small amount of tea was far from enough to cool so many tentacles. In their struggle to roll in the tea, his tentacles were almost fighting each other.


    Xue Chenjingy confused at the edge of the bed, half propping himself up. He pointed at the mass of tentacles fighting over the tea and angrily said, "Don''t fight!"


    The system: "..."


    Even more tentacles that couldn''t get to the tea and were unbearably hot began to climb up the doors and windows, trying to get out.


    The system shouted in Xue Chenjing''s mind, "Master! Control yourself! If you go out like this, you''ll be discovered. You can''t go out! Don''t let your pseudopods crawl out!"


    Xue Chenjing nodded obediently, frantically trying to grab his pseudopods and drag them back onto the bed.


    But these tendrils, usually as responsive as his own limbs, nowpletely ignored hismands. He''d grab one, only for another to slip down. When he lunged to pull that one back, another would crawl up the window, desperately trying to poke outside.


    The unrelenting heat surging through the tentacles burned into his consciousness through countless sensory organs. Xue Chenjing''s mind felt like it was on fire, as if engulfed in a wildfire, burning away all reason.


    Yet he had no way to release this burning sensation.


    Looking at the frenzied tentacles all over the room, Xue Chenjing felt a surge of rage. He drew a sigil in the air with his fingers. The sigil formed an array, from which several streaks of light shot out, transforming into sharp ice spikes. With a series of thuds, they pinned down all the wildly crawling tentacles.


    The system: "!!!" What are you doing?!


    Intense pain suddenly flooded his senses. Xue Chenjing doubled over in agony, curling up on the bed and trembling. Demonic energy continuously leaked from the wounds in his tendrils.


    In the middle of the night, the night market in Yinzhou City had long since closed. The neon lights had dimmed significantly, with only scattered lights remaining in the shadows of the city''s buildings.


    On the two door god statues that stood day and night at the city gate, a strange light suddenly flickered. The statues seemed to sense something, their third eyes lighting up. Two shadows detached from the stone statues, transforming into enormous spectral images of the gods, asrge as small mountains.


    The door gods stood guard in the sky above Yinzhou City, holding long halberds. Their golden outlines depicted their imposing figures, with armor reflecting the city lights. They opened their eyes, slowly scanning the urban areas, searching for that faint trace of demonic aura they had sensed earlier.


    Inside the inn, Yu Yi suddenly awoke from her sleep. The system''s screams had prated the walls, faintly reaching her ears.


    She sat up in bed and walked towards the wall between her room and Xue Chenjing''s, wanting to listen carefully to what mischief was happening next door.


    What scheme was he plotting with the system in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?


    The wall vibrated, actually cracking in several ces. The system''s voice became clearer, calling out urgently: "Master,e to your senses! Quickly suppress your demonic aura! If the door gods discover you, you''ll be executed."


    After these words, there was more rustling from next door. The cracks in the wall widened, allowing Yu Yi to glimpse part of the scene through them.


    In the dim light, Xue Chenjing was curled up on the bed, tears at the corners of his eyes and blood dripping from his mouth onto arge red stain on the sheets. His expression seemed off, indeed not quite lucid.


    Yu Yi took another step forward, trying to see more through the crack. Suddenly the wall before her shook violently, copsing to form a hole.


    The falling section of wall was caught by tentacles and crushed to powder.


    Yu Yi''s eyes widened in surprise through the rising dust.


    She saw the room on the other side filled with writhing tentacles on the floor. The tentacles were reddish, each one pierced by icicles of varying sizes that gave off light, bathing the entire room in a glow so it wasn''tpletely dark.


    The system was still trying to rouse Xue Chenjing''s reason, warning: "Host, the door gods have detected your leaking demonic aura. If you don''t suppress it, you''ll be discovered."


    Yu Yi turned her head to look out the half-open window of her own room, seeing the ethereal figures of the gods hovering above Yinzhou City. She immediately summoned her Green Bamboo Sword, forming a barrier of sword light to contain the roomful of tentacles and his leaking demonic aura.


    "What madness are you up to in the middle of the night?" Yu Yi asked in confusion.


    Xue Chenjing raised his head slightly. Seeing her, his eyes seemed to clear a little. He said pitifully, "Master, they... won''t listen."


    Yu Yi was speechless. Are you tattling to me?


    Those are your tentacles. If they won''t listen, what good doesining to me do?


    "It hurts so much, Master. They won''t listen, so I can only pin them down, but it hurts so much, Master, it hurts so much..." Xue Chenjing rambled weakly from the bed.


    Yu Yi nced again at the patrolling door gods outside, realizing her sword light barrier wouldn''t conceal things for long.


    Seeing Xue Chenjing''s pained expression, she hesitated for a moment before stepping through the hole in the wall into his room. Looking at the tentacles pinned to the floor, she found herself at a loss for where to step.


    Xue Chenjingy on the edge of the bed, looking at her with unfocused eyes. He asked, "Is it disgusting? Do you find me repulsive? They''re usually well-behaved, just like a tail, only without fur. I can make them grow fur too, would you like that?"


    Yu Yi couldn''t help but imagine it as he spoke, feeling her skin crawl. Furry tentacles, what kind of monstrosity was that?!


    "You still find me disgusting after all." Xue Chenjing''s gaze passed over her to the golden glow of the gods shing outside the window, then back to her. In an enticing tone, he said, "Will you abandon me then? You just need to open that window and the door gods will find me. Then you can be rid of me. Master, do you want to open the window?"


    "You can open it. I won''t me you, because you''re my master. You can do anything to me. So, will you open it? Will you abandon me?"


    System: I think she will. She really will! You don''t need to be in such a rush to die.


    Indeed, Yu Yi took two steps towards the window. "Fine, keep rambling and I''ll withdraw my sword and open the window to throw you out."


    Xue Chenjing finally fell silent. Though his words had sounded agreeable, when he saw her actually intending to do it, his expression instantly darkened. Those hazy eyes clouded over as he stared at her usingly.


    As if the moment she dared to touch that window, he would be utterly heartbroken and grief-stricken for her to see.


    Yu Yi felt her heart skip a beat under that gaze. She forced herself to tear her eyes away from him, looking down at the tentacles covering the floor. She asked, "If I help you remove the icicles and free one tentacle at a time, can you retract them one by one?"


    Xue Chenjing kept staring at her, the darkness in his eyes seeming to dissipate somewhat. His pupils trembled as he struggled to focus. "Alright."


    Yu Yi crouched by one of the writhing appendages and shattered the icicles pinning it down. The tentacle tip immediately rose up, twining around her fingertips and up her wrist to coil around her shoulder, squirming intimately.


    Xue Chenjing sniffled as the tentacle slithered wetly across her neck. His gaze grew unfocused again as he murmured, "You smell so good, Master. So good."


    Yu Yi: "???" You''re so perverted! Even at a time like this, you can still be a pervert. Seems it doesn''t hurt that much after all.


    Yu Yi caught a whiff of alcohol from the tentacle on her shoulder. She grabbed hold of it, turning to give the man on the bed an exasperated look. "Xue Chenjing, stop this drunken nonsense. Focus and retract it."


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes and shook his head before sitting up, concentrating intently on that tentacle.


    After a while, the constricting sensation on her shoulder finally vanished.


    Yu Yi wiped her neck with her sleeve before moving to another tentacle and shattering its icicles. This one tried to wrap around her too, but she mercilessly stepped on it.


    In her haste, she hadn''t put on shoes. Her bare foot pressed directly onto the tentacle, feeling the suckers on her sole as it curled and writhed beneath her.


    A tingling sensation shot from her foot up to her scalp like electricity. Yu Yi''s toes instantly curled as she turned to re at Xue Chenjing. "Do you want a beating?"


    Xue Chenjing looked bewildered at being scolded, blinking innocently. He shook his head, "No, it hurts when you hit me."


    "Then hurry up and retract all of these."


    Xue Chenjing furrowed his brow, struggling for a moment before finally retracting another tentacle. They repeated this process until the floor was cleared.


    The demonic aura permeating the room was drawn back in. Yu Yi peered through the window at the patrolling door gods in the sky.


    The two divine apparitions circled for a long while, unable to find any trace. Atst, they transformed into streaks of light and returned to the stone statues at the city gate.


    Yu Yi let out a soft sigh of relief, then turned to find a pair of eyes staring directly at her. With the icicles gone, the room had grown dim again, but those eyes seemed to glow as they gazed at her unblinkingly, as if lucid yet not quite clear-headed.


    His eyes were truly beautiful, like stars twinkling in the night sky. But Yu Yi had developed something of a psychological aversion to those beautiful eyes. She reflexively turned away, avoiding his gaze.


    Then she remembered that Xue Chenjing had sworn an oath not to hypnotize her again. She frowned slightly and looked back at him.


    Xue Chenjing sat dazed on the edge of the bed. He swayed once, then suddenly copsed with a thud.


    Yu Yi waited a moment, but he didn''t respond. She flicked her finger to produce a wisp of sword qi me. The small, ethereal fire floated in midair, illuminating the surroundings.


    "Xue Chenjing?" she called out, stepping towards the bed to check on him.


    The man on the bed suddenly opened his eyes again. He rubbed the corners of his eyes and sat up.


    In the ghostly light of the me, Yu Yi saw him give her an apologetic smile and say, "He injured himself too severely and lost consciousness."

 Chapter 36

    Xue Mingyuan?


    Yu Yi examined his expression and hesitantly asked, "Are you... Xue Mingyuan?"


    The man''s eyes flickered slightly, and his face blossomed like a flower opening in the spring breeze as he smiled radiantly, "You still remember me."


    His smile was beautiful, making one feel as if basking in the warmth of spring. Although he spoke without excessive excitement, his calm and gentle voice seemed to convey his happiness and delight in every word.


    It was clearly the same person, with the same facial features, yet at this moment, he appearedpletely different to Yu Yi''s eyes.


    Strangely, there were still traces of Xue Chenjing''s tears on his face, and blood stains on his cheek and chin. When he looked up at her, there was still a hint of pitiful vulnerability lingering in the corners of his eyes and brows.


    The blue me suddenly flickered, causing the light and shadows to dance across his face.


    Yu Yi abruptly closed her eyes, her gaze drifting away from his face to her unsteady sword me. She struggled to regain herposure, and only then did the blue me stabilize once more.


    Xue Mingyuan''s eyes twinkled with a smile, and he tactfully refrained from mentioning the fluctuation in her sword me. He lowered his eyshes slightly, ncing at her neck, and said, "I''m sorry, did Chenjing hurt you?"


    Feeling somewhat awkward in Xue Mingyuan''s presence, Yu Yi stepped back a few paces before replying, "No."


    "That''s good." Xue Mingyuan let out a small sigh of relief. Just as he was about to speak again, there was a sudden, violent knocking at the door, causing the sword light barrier Yu Yi had ced in the room to tremble.


    Both of them tensed, looking towards the door. Xue Mingyuan stood up and took two steps forward, intentionally or unintentionally shielding Yu Yi behind him, and asked, "Who''s knocking?"


    The person outside replied gruffly, "Yinzhou City patrol. A demon has infiltrated the city, and we''re conducting a search of this area. Please open the door immediately."


    Upon hearing this, Yu Yi walked to the window and pushed it half open. Outside, the lights in this area had all brightened again, and beneath the night sky, she could see the flickering light of a barrier enclosing several nearby blocks.


    This area was precisely where the Door God had been searching for demonic aura earlier.


    Yu Yi knew the situation was dire and turned back to ask, "Do you want to find a ce to hide?"


    Xue Mingyuan shook his head, using magic to summon amp from her room and light it, cing it on the barely intact table by the wall. He then called out loudly, "Just a moment, please."


    Afterwards, he came over and bent down to ce a pair of shoes by her feet. They were white satin shoes embroidered with light pink peach blossoms - Yu Yi''s embroidered shoes that she had left on the footstool in her room.


    He straightened up and casually pulled an outer robe from a clothes hanger, draping it over her shoulders. He adjusted the cor to cover the marks on her neck left by the tentacles, and said softly, "It''s alright. Put on your shoes and go back to your room to get dressed properly. Withdraw your Green Bamboo Sword, and I''ll go open the door."


    Watching his series of calm and collected actions, Yu Yi btedly realized that when she had gotten out of bed, she was only wearing a thin undergarment. The tips of her ears began to burn slightly.


    He seemed confident in his ability to deceive them, so Yu Yi nodded and grasped the cor of the outer robe. As he was about to turn to open the door, she quickly reminded him, "Wipe your face."


    The room was inplete disarray from Xue Chenjing''s tentacles, and Xue Mingyuan looked around but couldn''t find a towel or anything to wipe his face with. Yu Yi had no choice but to extend her fingers from beneath the robe, performing a small cleaning spell and gently touching his face.


    The spiritual energy flowed over his face like a clear stream. Xue Mingyuan cooperatively closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curling up in a smile filled withplete trust.


    The cleaning spell removed all traces of tears and blood from his face. When Xue Mingyuan reopened his eyes, they were as clear and clean as ake. He said, "Thank you." After a pause, he tentatively called out, "Master? Should I address you this way as well?"


    Yu Yi''s heart pounded violently twice, almost leaping out of her throat. For some reason, when the word "Master" came from Xue Mingyuan''s lips, it made her feel incredibly embarrassed.


    With a flushed face and red ears, she waved her hand and said, "No, no! Don''t call me that."


    Xue Mingyuan chuckled and was about to say something more when another, heavier knock came from outside, apanied by a warning, "There are cultivators guarding both inside and outside the inn. Don''t try any tricks. If you don''t open the door, we''ll have to break it down."


    Yu Yi frowned slightly, ncing at therge hole in the wall. With the people outside being so urgent, she didn''t have time to go back and change clothes. She simply grabbed the sash from beside the bed and tied it, making do with wearing his outer robe.


    Seeing that she looked presentable enough in his robe, Xue Mingyuan turned around, quickly retying his hair and adjusting his clothes as he walked. He opened the door just before the people outside could force their way in.


    Bright light flooded into the room, and Xue Mingyuan stepped back to Yu Yi''s side, allowing the patrol to enter. Among those who came in were not only guards and officers, but also cultivators.


    Yu Yi looked out from behind Xue Mingyuan''s shoulder and was surprised to see Pei Jingchao behind the officers. They both froze for a moment.


    Yinzhou was under the jurisdiction of Zhaohua Pce, so the cultivators who came to inspect should have been from Zhaohua Pce. Yu Yi hadn''t expected Pei Jingchao to be in charge of Yinzhou City''s patrol duties.


    As for Pei Jingchao, he was stunned because they were staying in the same room. The outer robe Yu Yi was wearing was clearly a man''s style, and the other person was only wearing an inner garment.


    The fact that they had taken so long to open the door made it hard not to imagine what they might have been doing inside.


    Pei Jingchao''s hands, hidden in his sleeves, suddenly clenched tight. His gaze remained fixed on Yu Yi, seeing only her with her hair loose, wrapped in another man''s robe. For a moment, he didn''t even notice the mess in the room.


    It wasn''t until the patrol officer asked suspiciously, "What happened in this room?" that attention was drawn to the state of the ce.


    All the furniture in the room was scattered chaotically in the corners, and the floor was riddled with five or six cracks that looked like they had been pierced by sharp objects.


    The most severe damage was to the right wall, which had copsed into arge hole, almost connecting to another room.


    Xue Mingyuan also sensed Pei Jingchao''s offensive gaze. He moved a step to the right, his tall figurepletely shielding Yu Yi behind him. He replied ording to the prepared exnation, "While I was meditating and cultivating, my energy flow went awry for a moment. I couldn''t control the spiritual energy and damaged the room. I willpensate the innkeeper for all the damaged itemster."


    Cultivation?


    The two patrol officers exchanged a knowing look, both understanding the insinuation in each other''s eyes. Could it be that they were engaging in dual cultivation, given how intense it seemed?


    Of course, since they were facing cultivators, they didn''t dare to be disrespectful. They turned back to consult the cultivator who hade with them, asking respectfully, "Daoist Shen, please check if there are any traces of demons in this room."


    The cultivator who hade with the patrol officers was indeed from Zhaohua Pce, and his status was not low - he was none other than Shen Qingzhi, the senior disciple of Zhaohua Pce.


    The Lishan Sword Sect was on good terms with Zhaohua Pce, so naturally, Pei Jingchao also had a good rtionship with Shen Qingzhi. Beforeing here, he had been a guest at Shen Qingzhi''s private residence.


    When the Door God was patrolling the skies above Yinzhou City, Pei Jingchao had also received reports from the two cultivators he had sent to keep watch, informing him of the disturbance in this room. That was why he hade along.


    Shen Qingzhi nodded and stepped into the room. "I am Shen Qingzhi, a cultivator from Zhaohua Pce. Pardon the intrusion."


    After speaking, he took out a round, box-shaped crystal instrument from his sleeve. Inside the instrument, tiny star-like points of light flickered.


    Shen Qingzhi drew a symbol on the lid of the box with two fingers, and the lid opened. A swarm of ice-blue butterflies flew out, scattering to various parts of the room.


    Yu Yi saw a butterflynd in front of her and asked curiously, "What kind of butterflies are these?"


    "Demon-Eating Butterflies," Xue Mingyuan tilted his head slightly and answered her in a low voice. "They feed on demonic aura and can sense even the faintest traces of it. Don''t worry, they won''t harm cultivators."


    Yu Yi watched as the butterfly that hadnded on her flew away after a moment. Her brow twitched slightly, and she discreetly shifted her gaze towards the bloodstains Xue Chenjing had left on the bed.


    However, the bedding that had been soaked with blood earlier was now clean and spotless, without a trace of evidence.


    The glowing butterflies fluttered around the bed but couldn''t find any residual demonic aura.


    Shen Qingzhi, overhearing their conversation, nced over and said with a smile, "These Demon-Eating Butterflies are rare and not well-known to most people. I''m surprised that you''re aware of them, fellow Daoist."


    Xue Mingyuan spoke calmly, "I''ve only read about it in books. This is the first time I''ve seen the real thing, and it''s truly eye-opening."


    A butterfly fluttered down in front of him. Xue Mingyuan casually raised his hand, allowing it tond on his fingertip.


    He lowered his gaze to look at the tiny creature on his finger and said with a smile, "I remember the books saying that this type of butterfly is extremely difficult to raise. It appears fragile, but once it encounters a demonic creature, it immediately burrows into its body and doesn''t stop until it haspletely drained all the blood and flesh."


    "That''s correct. It took a great deal of effort to cultivate these few," Shen Qingzhi said, his gaze fixed on Xue Mingyuan''s hand. He continued conversationally, "It''s said that quite a few powerful demons have died at the hands of these butterflies. However, with the world at peace now and no great demons emerging, I haven''t been able to verify if it''s true."


    These butterflies were indeed delicate. Shen Qingzhi couldn''t bear to bring them when he left Lishan Sword Sect, missing the opportunity when demonic creatures invaded.


    When he heard Pei Jingchao say that the demonic aura in Yinzhou City might be rted to the person who destroyed the Weapon Tempering tform, he excitedly brought the Demon-Eating Butterflies with him.


    If he could feed his little butterflies with demonic essence, they would surely grow even more beautiful.


    Shen Qingzhi''s eyes gleamed with anticipation as he watched his beautiful blue butterfly slowly p its wings, its long proboscis extending towards the fingertip beneath it.


    Everyone''s eyes were fixed on Xue Mingyuan''s slender fingers. Pei Jingchao secretly gripped the sword at his waist, eagerly waiting for the butterfly''s reaction. At the slightest abnormal movement, he was ready to strike Xue Mingyuan down on the spot.


    Unfortunately, to everyone''s disappointment, the butterfly lingered on Xue Mingyuan''s fingertip for a while, sensing nothing, before fluttering away.


    It wasn''t until the butterfly flew away from his finger that Yu Yi finally released the breath she had been holding.


    The veins on the back of Pei Jingchao''s hand, which was gripping his spiritual sword, were bulging as he barely suppressed the sword energy within its sheath. But since the Demon-Eating Butterfly hadn''t detected any demonic aura, he had no reason to act.


    The butterflies toured both rooms thoroughly, ultimately returning to the ss instrument without finding anything.


    Shen Qingzhi waved his sleeve to retrieve the ss instrument. He swept his gaze around the room, still seeming suspicious, and asked, "Fellow cultivator, is your spiritual energy fluctuating this severely?"


    Xue Mingyuan nodded, "I was about to break through to the next level in my cultivation when I encountered a bottleneck, so it''s a bit out of control."


    Shen Qingzhi walked up to him and said, "Please release a bit of your spiritual energy."


    Xue Mingyuan raised his hand, about toply and release his spiritual energy, when Yu Yi stepped forward and blocked him with her hand.


    She took two steps forward, standing in front of Xue Mingyuan, and asked, "You just released arge swarm of those formidable Demon-Eating Butterflies to investigate both of us separately, and they searched every corner of the room. Did they find any trace of demons or monsters on us?"


    Shen Qingzhi looked at her and replied, "No, they didn''t."


    Yu Yi continued, "If that''s the case, why do you still need to probe his spiritual energy? A cultivator''s cultivation level and spiritual energy are not things to be casually examined by others. Are you demanding that every cultivator you investigate release their spiritual energy for your inspection?"


    It was obvious that this would be impossible. If they dared to make such an unreasonable demand of everyone, the ce would have erupted into chaos long ago.


    Shen Qingzhi looked somewhat troubled and said, "I... I was being presumptuous."


    He gave up on the idea of probing Xue Mingyuan''s spiritual energy, but then asked, "By the way, I heard from the innkeeper that the youngdy has a crane spirit beast."


    Yu Yi was willing to cooperate and said, "Yes, if you want to check, I can summon it immediately."


    Shen Qingzhi quickly waved his hand, "No need. Since we haven''t found any traces of demons or monsters, we won''t disturb you further. Farewell."


    At his word, everyone in the room followed him out the door. However, Pei Jingchao lingered for a moment, not leaving, but instead taking a few steps towards Yu Yi.


    "Miss Yu, Qingzhi and I are close friends. I happened to be visiting his residence tonight, so I came along. I didn''t expect to run into you here. We''ve disturbed you tonight, but if you don''t mind, tomorrow I could..."


    Before he could finish, Xue Mingyuan cut him off with a smile, "Investigating for demons and monsters is necessary. This is official business, so it''s not a disturbance."


    "But it''ste now, and it''s not appropriate for casual conversation. If you continue to stay here, sir, that would be a disturbance." He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind Yu Yi''s ear. "Yi''er, don''t you agree?"


    His tone was excessively gentle and intimate. Yu Yi nced at Xue Mingyuan and replied, "Mr. Pei, please take your leave. We need to rest now."


    Pei Jingchao looked back and forth between them several times before finally cupping his hands and saying, "Then I won''t disturb you further."


    As he left the inn, Shen Qingzhi was still waiting outside and curiously asked, "Sigui, why are you onlying out now? From your behavior, it seems you know them?"


    Pei Jingchao was in a foul mood and didn''t want to say much. He only said, "We''ve met two or three times before."


    "Is that so?" Shen Qingzhi gave him a sidelong nce, his expression unclear as to whether he believed it or not. However, the day hadn''t been entirely wasted. That female cultivator did resemble the immortaldy described by the vigers of Ghost City.


    He put his hand on Pei Jingchao''s shoulder and said, "The Demon-Eating Butterflies couldn''t sense any demonic aura from either of them. He''s probably not the demon controller you suspected."


    Pei Jingchao remained silent. Shen Qingzhi sighed twice and said, "This poor soul still has to go investigate other ces. Brother Sigui, do you want toe with me?"


    "No, you can busy yourself on your own," Pei Jingchao shook off his hand and vanished in a sh.


    Shen Qingzhi tried to grab him but missed. He looked back at the inn, then in the direction Pei Jingchao had left, and smiled slyly.


    Back in the inn, Xue Mingyuan closed the door again and exined, "Earlier, when I saw that you didn''t seem to like him much, I called you that way to get rid of him quickly. I hope you don''t mind."


    Yu Yi was nonchnt, "It''s fine. It''s just a name, you can call me whatever you like."


    After all themotion, she was truly tired and prepared to crawl through the hole back to her own room to rest.


    Xue Mingyuan called out to stop her, saying, "Last time, when we were still in Ghost City, thank you for saving me. I thought I''d never have the chance to thank you in person."


    Yu Yi looked back at him from the other side of the hole. The mncholy expression on Xue Mingyuan''s face quickly disappeared when their eyes met, reced by a gentle smile.


    But the more he tried to appear calm and indifferent, the more it made one curious. When he said he "thought he''d never have the chance," did he mean he couldn''te out freely?


    Was it because Xue Chenjing had lost consciousness that he was able to appear this time?


    As Yu Yi pondered this, she heard him ask, "I wonder how much time has passed since that day in Ghost City. Is my thanks still consideredte?"


    "It''s only been three or four days," Yu Yi replied. She thought to herself, does this mean that when Xue Chenjing is in control of the body, he can''t sense changes in the outside world? Is he constantly trapped in that mountain temple, reliving the same day over and over again?


    Yu Yi understood this feeling of confinement all too well. At least during her five years in the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm, she had some freedom. She could see the sky and had Crane Senior Brother forpany.


    She felt a surge of sympathy for Xue Mingyuan and continued, "You don''t need to thank me. If we really calcte it, I should be the one thanking you. It was with your help that I was able to break through the formation. Otherwise, I might have fallen for that old ghost of the Ji family''s trick and be a tool for breeding ghost fetuses."


    Xue Mingyuan blinked, his eyes twinkling, "Then do you have any ns for tomorrow?"


    Yu Yi was caught off guard by his sudden change of topic. After a brief pause, she answered honestly, "I n to go shopping for some materials for weapon forging, rent a furnace, and temper my spirit sword."


    Xue Mingyuan asked hopefully, "If I wake up tomorrow and can still see you, would you allow me to apany you? Consider it my thanks for helping you break the formation."


    The way he put it made it impossible to refuse.


    Yu Yi nodded, "Alright."

 Chapter 37

    The two people gazed at each other through a copsed hole in the wall, with Yu Yi''s questioning words already on the tip of her tongue.


    She wanted to ask: What''s the situation between you and Xue Chenjing? Are you two a dual personality with one body and two souls, or is this body yours, and you were possessed by an evil spirit and imprisoned in the depths of your heart, allowing Xue Chenjing to upy your physical form?


    She actually had many questions about the two of them in her heart. But Yu Yi hesitated for a moment and ultimately didn''t ask.


    She remembered when Xue Mingyuan woke up, he asked her, "Did Chenjing hurt you?"


    This question showed concern for her, but judging from Xue Mingyuan''s tone, he and Xue Chenjing didn''t seem to be mortal enemies fighting over possession and rebirth. Otherwise, how could he call him "Chenjing" so calmly, even though Xue Chenjing seemed to quite dislike him?


    Yu Yi didn''t want to get involved between them; she didn''t want to know so much.


    The more deeply you understand someone, the more three-dimensional their image bes in front of you. You''ll develop many unnecessary extra feelings towards them, and you can no longer view them as just a "viin" on paper.


    Just like moments ago, when Xue Mingyuan was speaking, she couldn''t help but be drawn into his words, pondering his situation, and then feeling a bit of sympathy for him.


    A person''s emotional defenses are very fragile. Once you start to pity someone, it''s like a crack forming in a dam, giving others a chance to exploit your vulnerability. Sooner orter, it will burst.


    This viin hade to pursue her with a purpose. Yu Yi didn''t want to let herself fall into it. Whether it was Xue Chenjing or Xue Mingyuan, the person standing in front of her was the same. They both knew of each other''s existence, so she''d better treat them equally.


    She hadn''t asked Xue Chenjing why his tailbone was removed as an infant, and now she shouldn''t ask Xue Mingyuan why he was imprisoned in the mountain temple. In any case, it was their internal conflict, and as long as it didn''t affect her, it was fine.


    The two of them stared at each other for quite a while. Under Xue Mingyuan''s gentle gaze, Yu Yi gave him a faint smile, then averted her eyes. "It''ste, I''m going to sleep."


    Xue Mingyuan took the hint and turned his head away, saying considerately, "Alright. This hole being open like this might be a bit inconvenient for you, miss. I''ll go open another room. Please rest easy."


    Yu Yi went back into the room, took off his outer robe, changed into her own clothes, and used her spiritual power to float his robe and belt back to him. "Thank you for your trouble then."


    Xue Mingyuan was momentarily stunned, then smiled helplessly as he took back his clothes.


    He had thought Yu Yi would ask about his rtionship with Xue Chenjing. Wouldn''t most people be curious and inquire? But unexpectedly, she seemedpletely unconcerned.


    He had prepared many things to say, but now these words could only rot in his own belly. No wonder every time at the moment of exchange, he could feel Xue Chenjing''s emotions like a trapped beast, frantically charging about but unable to find a breakthrough.


    Xue Mingyuan nced again at the oath stele in their shared inner sea. Without the heavy demonic shadows obscuring it, it stood so conspicuously in the center of their inner sea, its text glowing faintly, containing binding power.


    This time Xue Chenjing had lost consciousness without having time to conceal the contents of the oath stele, allowing him to see how he had bowed and scraped, begging pitifully.


    His poor little brother, could he really sessfully pursue her?


    Just as this schadenfreude-filled thought was about to surface in Xue Mingyuan''s mind, he heard another voice ring out in his ear.


    The system enthusiastically encouraged: "Master, you can do it! If it''s you, you can definitely win over the female lead!"


    Xue Mingyuan: "..." He gently closed his eyes, dispersing the thoughts in his mind. He put on his outer robe and walked downstairs with an empty head, closing the door behind him.


    Little did he know, as soon as he closed the door and left, the person who had alreadyin down on the bed suddenly opened her eyes.


    System voice? Xue Mingyuan also had a system voice!


    Yu Yi stared at the bed canopy above, the surprise in her eyes slowly fading. Well, this system voice did thoroughly confirm for her that he and Xue Chenjing were indeed different personalities of the same person, both carrying the same purpose.


    She was very d that she had reined in her emotions earlier and hadn''t continued to delve deeper into understanding them out of sympathy for Xue Mingyuan.


    Yu Yi turned over, ncing at therge copsed hole in the wall. She took out her Green Bamboo Sword and hugged it, stroking it gently. This sword had been worn down severely, with crisscrossing cracks meandering up and down from the middle section.


    Due to the cracks in the de, the sword spirit inside was notfortable. Sword qi was leaking from the fissures. If she didn''t hurry up and re-temper the Green Bamboo Sword soon, the sword spirit might jump out and peck her head to bits.


    There was still much to do tomorrow, so she needed to rest and conserve her energy. Yu Yi hugged the sword, closed her eyes, and silently recited the Heart Purification Technique, clearing her mind of distractions before falling back into sleep.


    Xue Mingyuan walked slowly along the main street of Yinzhou City. After the city patrol had finished inspecting this area, they had removed the barrier sealing off this ce. The streetmps that had been lit dimmed once more, and the city settled back into slumber.


    The night market had long since closed, leaving the streets empty and deste, with at most some uncleaned garbage still lingering. There wasn''t really much to see.


    His solitary figure cast a particrly lonely silhouette on the long, quiet street.


    The system asked, "Master, it''s almost the fourth watch of the night now, and there''s nothing much to see on the streets. Won''t you go back to rest?"


    Xue Mingyuan shook his head and walked towards the river that ran through the city. "I have plenty of time to rest, but opportunities toe out for a walk like this are rare. I haven''t seen such empty street scenes for many years. Before he wakes up, I want to explore as much as I can, feel the breeze for as long as I can."


    Hearing him speak like this, the system couldn''t help but sigh. To it, although they were both its hosts and should be treated as one, Xue Mingyuan and Xue Chenjing were truly different, like two extremes.


    Xue Chenjing was domineering and arbitrary, and also self-righteous. When he did things, he often didn''t consider the consequences. It was only after he suffered setbacks and frustrations that he would reluctantly calm down and listen to its advice, which gave the system quite a headache.


    If it were Xue Mingyuan, the progress in pursuing the female lead certainly wouldn''t be so difficult. Unfortunately, he waspletely suppressed by Xue Chenjing, to the point where even seeing such a deste night scene was a luxury.


    The system asked sympathetically, "Master, would you like to see some fireworks? You still have ten points left from thest time you came out. You can exchange them for a bundle of fireworks."


    Xue Mingyuan was somewhat tempted, but then remembered that it waste at night, and the sound of fireworks would be too loud and disturb the city''s residents'' sleep. So he shook his head.


    The system sensed his concern and said, "Don''t worry, Master. The system can exchange for silent fireworks. There won''t be any sound at all."


    Xue Mingyuan slowly walked onto the stone bridge spanning the river. The willows on both banks swayed in the wind, and the river flowed gently. There were no stars or moon reflected in the water tonight, and the lights on both banks had been extinguished. The river surface was dark and deep, with no scenery to speak of.


    It had been too long since he had seen starlight.


    Xue Mingyuan raised his head to look at the deep night sky, hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."


    Shortly after he spoke, a burst of white light suddenly appeared not far ahead, shooting straight into the sky. It exploded high up, and the intense light fell as countless lines, blooming silently in the sky like a brilliant flower.


    Xue Mingyuan''s eyes widened as the fireworks blossomed and gradually faded in his gaze. Just as the sparks were about to dissipatepletely, another beam of white light shot into the sky, exploding into silent fireworks.


    The deep water surface was illuminated, with brilliant burning starfire both above and below. Xue Mingyuan stared unblinkingly at the quietly blooming fireworks until thest spark extinguished. Only then did he lower his head and say with a smile, "Thank you. It was beautiful."


    The system was delighted.


    In the shadow of the willows on the riverbank, two cultivators leaned against a tree, holding their swords and speaking in low voices. "These fireworks were quite pretty, and they didn''t make a sound at all."


    The other person said, "They look good, but without the whistling explosion sound, it feels like something''s missing. It''s not quiteplete."


    The first speaker, harboring some resentment about not being able to sleep in the middle of the night and having to follow a Foundation Establishment cultivator around, clicked his tongue and said, "Taoist Priest Shen has already tested him. I don''t know why Senior Brother Pei still wants us to keep watching him."


    The other person was much more focused. "It''s very suspicious that he''s not sleeping in the middle of the night and wandering around the city alone. Now he''s setting off fireworks for no reason. It''s very likely he''s signaling to his aplices."


    The cultivator thought for a moment, "If Senior Brother is still suspicious of him, why not just capture and interrogate him directly?" It seemed like overkill to have two Golden Core cultivators tailing a Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    "Perhaps it''s out of consideration for the girl by his side," he paused, then added, fearing he might be presuming too much about his senior brother''s thoughts, "Maybe the n is to follow the trail and catch all his aplices in one fell swoop."


    "Let''s not overthink it. We''ll just do as Senior Brother instructs."


    The person on the stone bridge started walking down towards a street, and the two cultivators ceased their chatter and continued tailing him.


    It wasn''t until dawn broke that Xue Mingyuan returned to the inn where he was staying, sitting quietly in the lobby to wait.


    Suddenly, the system popped up a tutorial for the 100-day conquest n. A light screen appeared in front of him, startling Xue Mingyuan. He nced at the words on the screen, then turned to look at the attendant in the hall, realizing that others couldn''t see the anomaly in front of him.


    The system said, "Master, this is the newbie conquest tutorial. Although I think you might not need it, you might as well take a look. It could be useful for reference."


    Xue Mingyuan nodded and looked closely.


    [100-day Conquest n, Days 2-30: Building on your initial acquaintance, seize every opportunity for close interaction with your conquest target. Demonstrate your meticulous care to strengthen your rtionship.


    Rmended interaction methods: Please refer to the following sub-items. Markpleted items with a tick and upleted items with a cross.


    Drink together, dine together, travel together, ride together, tour together, share a room, face adversity together, enjoy a view together, choose a gift together, wear matching outfits, share stories from the past, make decisions together, study a cultivation technique together, practice sword techniques together...]


    Xue Mingyuan''s gaze slid to the bottom of the long list of items on the light screen.


    [...cultivate together, sleep together, share life''s joys and sorrows, face life and death together.]


    Xue Mingyuan''s right hand rested on the table, his finger precisely on thest item "face life and death together." He asked with slight surprise, "Is it possible to aplish so much in just thirty days?"


    The system exined, "This tutorial is just for the host''s reference. Of course, not every item needs to bepleted. However, the items listed here are all conquest achievements that some people have managed to aplish within thirty days. So, anything is possible, and we should strive for it too."


    Xue Mingyuan almost forgot how to read the character for "together," his eyes finally going nk as he nodded.


    The system encouraged, "Master has alreadypleted several itemsst night. You can tick those off."


    Xue Mingyuan raised his hand, like a diligent studentpleting homework, and carefully ticked off the items he had aplished.


    After he finished, the system withdrew the light screen, and the morning light outside grew brighter.


    When Yu Yi came downstairs early in the morning, carrying Crane Senior Brother who had been shrunk by a talisman, she immediately spotted the person sitting by the window.


    Xue Mingyuan had been watching the street outside graduallye to life. Hearing the system''s reminder, he turned his head, stood up, and smiled at her, saying, "Good morning."


    Yu Yi could easily distinguish between the two of them just by his smile, and she smiled back.


    The crane, still half-asleep, poked its small head out from her arms, tilting back and forth as it examined Xue Mingyuan, seeming to notice his difference as well.


    Xue Mingyuan smiled at Crane Senior Brother too, saying, "I asked the innkeeper to prepare some breakfast based on what we ordered before. Is that alright? Or would you like something else?"


    As Yu Yi came downstairs, these breakfast items were just being served, still steaming hot. There was a basket of xiaolongbao, sugar-coated tbread, walnut cake, noodles, rice noodles, and of course, steamed fish for Crane Senior Brother. Arge table was set with a variety of dishes.


    Besides rice porridge, there was also a snow pear and white fungus sweet soup, its golden broth clearly enriched with ample honey.


    Yu Yi expressed her thanks and sat down with Crane Senior Brother in her arms. Watching the bowls and tes being served like flowing water, she asked in surprise, "Why did you order so much?"


    Xue Mingyuan coughed lightly behind his hand, his cheeks flushing slightly in the morning light. "I really wanted to try everything, and I identally ordered too much. Please eat whatever you like, and I''ll do my best to finish the rest."


    Hearing this, Yu Yi realized that he had been imprisoned in that mountain temple for so long, unable to frequently control the body. He must have wanted to eat as much as he desired before Xue Chenjing woke up.


    She nodded understandingly and removed the talisman from Crane Senior Brother. "It''s alright if you can''t finish it all. We have Crane Senior Brother here, and he can eat a lot."


    The crane returned to its original size as itnded on the ground, proudly raising its neck and letting out a cry. No problem, leave it to me, I can eat a lot!


    Xue Mingyuan smiled and first bowed to the crane in thanks, "Then I''ll trouble Crane Senior Brother."


    The crane''s small eyes sparkled as it approached, twisting its long neck back and forth to examine him closely. Xue Mingyuan indulgently allowed it to look.


    Now Crane Senior Brother could be certain that this person was indeed different. If it had been Xue Chenjing, it would have been grabbed by the neck and shaken dizzy long ago for staring at him like this.


    The two people and one crane enjoyed their breakfast happily. After leaving the inn, they prepared to go to the Unmasked Tower to purchase the refining materials Yu Yi needed.


    Xue Mingyuan was holding Xue Chenjing''s storage pouch, but he didn''t know how to unlock the spiritual lock on it. Unable to open the storage pouch, he had no other magical tools to help him fly, so he could only rely on his spiritual power to fly, which was far slower than Crane Senior Brother''s speed.


    Yu Yi had promised himst night, so she couldn''t leave him behind and go ahead on her own. Her Green Bamboo Sword was severely cracked and couldn''t be used for sword flight, so she had to make room for him on Crane Senior Brother''s back, with the two of them squeezed onto one crane.


    Xue Mingyuan sat behind her and said apologetically, "I''m sorry, it seems I''m causing you trouble."


    As he spoke, his breath stirred the wisps of hair by her ear, making Yu Yi''s ear tickle. She couldn''t help but shrink her neck a bit. "It''s alright. Crane Senior Brother is very capable. He once carried a big brown bear, so carrying an extra person is nothing for him."


    "A brown bear?" Xue Mingyuan chuckled. "Why did he carry a bear?"


    Crane Senior Brother proudly cawed, urging Yu Yi to proim its glorious deed.


    Unable to resist its calls, Yu Yi said, "When we were still at Cloud Mountain, Crane Senior Brother had his eye on a beehive full of honey. He was nning to wait until it was full before bringing it back for me, but a brown bear beat him to it."


    The crane let out a loud cry.


    Yu Yi stroked its neck and chuckled, "Crane Senior Brother was very angry, and the consequences were severe. It decided to exile that bear, so it pecked the bear unconscious, carried it on its back for hundreds of miles, and dropped it in a remote mountain valley. I had to give it several baths when it came back."


    "Crane Senior Brother is indeed very impressive," Xue Mingyuan said, barely containing hisughter as he listened to the story.


    Hearing his suppressedughter, Yu Yi turned her head slightly. From the corner of her eye, she could see his eyes crinkled in a smile, with a hint of tears fromughter at the base of his eyshes.


    She quickly turned her gaze back to the front, focusing intently on what was ahead.


    Crane Senior Brother, ttered by the praise, pped its wings even faster. To demonstrate its prowess, it arrived at the Unmasked Tower earlier than expected.


    The two dismounted from the crane''s back. This time, Crane Senior Brother didn''t transform into a duck. Yu Yi shrunk it and put it in her purse. They dropped spirit stones into thentern and entered the Unmasked Tower.


    This time, Yu Yi chose a cat mask. Xue Mingyuan turned to see her happily stroking the illusory cat tail she had sprouted. After a moment of hesitation, he picked up a rabbit mask and put it on his face.


    As the mask adhered to his face, it covered part of his features, while the exposed parts changed slightly to match the mask. Xue Mingyuan''s eyes turned red, two soft rabbit ears hung down from either side of his hair, and a fluffy white rabbit tail sprouted from his lower back.


    When Yu Yi turned her head, she first saw the rabbit tail on his bottom, then looked up to see the two rabbit ears. She gripped her restless fingers and said, "It''s rare for people to choose the rabbit mask."


    Xue Mingyuan was surprised. "Why is that?"


    Yu Yi thought to herself, "If you looked in a mirror, you''d know why."


    Out loud, she said, "This mask makes one appear too vulnerable. Others might be tempted to bully you when they see it."


    For instance, she herself was now fighting the urge to pinch his ears and tail.

 Chapter 38

    Xue Mingyuan raised his hand to touch the mask on his face, frowning as he said, "If I change masks, won''t that cost more spirit stones?"


    He couldn''t open Xue Chenjing''s storage pouch, and all the spirit stones they had brought in were paid for by Yu Yi.


    Yu Yi was taking out spirit stones as she said, "If you want to change..."


    Before she could finish, Xue Mingyuan waved his hand and said, "You''ll probably need a lot of money for the sword tempering materials. Don''t waste spirit stones on trivial things like this."


    He took a ck robe from the wall and put it on, then pulled up the hood to cover his rabbit ears. "Is this better?"


    The hood covered almost half of his face, even shielding his eyes. Yu Yi asked, "The view inside the Unmasked Tower is beautiful. Won''t it be difficult for you to see like that?"


    Xue Mingyuan lifted the brim of his hood slightly and blinked, saying, "It''s fine, I''ll peek secretly."


    When he lowered his head, the tips of his rabbit ears peeked out a bit from under the hood. Yu Yi''s gaze couldn''t help but drift to the long, snow-white ears hanging by his cheeks.


    Xue Mingyuan''s eyes were filled with mirth as he obediently lowered his head further. "If you want to touch them, do it quickly. You probably won''t have the chance once we go out."


    Yu Yi was tempted by his words and reached out to carefully touch the tips of the rabbit ears peeking out.


    The gentle caress on the ear tips transformed into an unbearable tickling sensation that burrowed into his ear. Xue Mingyuan''s scalp tingled, and he half-closed one eye from her touch. His breathing quickened involuntarily, and Yu Yi, feeling his breath on her wrist, hurriedly withdrew her hand.


    Embarrassed by his unexpected reaction, Xue Mingyuan''s red eyes seemed to grow even redder as he said softly, "I didn''t expect these illusory ears to have sensation. I''m sorry."


    "Rabbit ears are naturally sensitive," Yu Yi said, rubbing her wrist and chuckling. "Why do you keep apologizing?"


    Xue Mingyuan tucked his rabbit ears back into the hood, realizing that he did seem to apologize often. He smiled wryly and said politely, "I''m afraid of offending you, miss."


    He was so different from Xue Chenjing. Even if Xue Chenjing stepped on your face, he might not apologize unless he saw some benefit in it. Then he''d be quick to kneel, without an ounce of integrity.


    If it were Xue Chenjing, for the sake of gaining favor, he would probably shamelessly push his ears into her palm by now. He might even blush and whimper deliberately, trying to tempt her by asking, "Master, do you want to touch my tail too? My tail feels nice to touch, do you want to?"


    It was amazing how twopletely opposite personalities could exist in one body.


    Yu Yi stared at Xue Mingyuan''s face, suddenly reminded of Xue Chenjing. She shook her head, banishing thoughts of that scoundrel from her mind. She turned and put on a ck robe as well, and the two of them stepped into the Unmasked Tower.


    The small dark room behind them disappeared, and they found themselves on a bustling main street. Xue Mingyuan looked at the dazzling lights that resembled swimming dragons and asked in surprise, "Is it night here?"


    "There''s no daytime in the Unmasked Tower, only night. That''s why every market here is a night market," Yu Yi exined, looking up at the tiered pavilions built against the mountain.


    Lanterns hung from the eaves and treetops as densely as stars. A litntern represented an open stall.


    Xue Mingyuan gently pulled his robe closer, murmuring thoughtfully, "Eternal night, huh?"


    Yu Yi didn''t catch what he said and turned her head, asking curiously, "Hmm? What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing," Xue Mingyuan said, a smile tugging at his lips. "The lights here are beautiful."


    "They really are. I''ve heard that many cultivatorse here just to see the lights, not to trade."


    When Yu Yi first came here, she too was captivated by the magnificent y of light and shadow. It reminded her of the light shows in the city before she transmigrated into this book.


    This unexpected pang of homesickness was sharp, like a needle stirring up suppressed emotions in her heart.


    But she was also very clear-headed, knowing that her chances of returning were extremely slim. So she deliberately buried those memories, not allowing herself to be trapped in the past, in order to live well in the present.


    Especially after Yu Yi learned that she was the female protagonist of a transmigration novel, everything from before seemed as intangible as flowers in a mirror or the moon''s reflection in water, even more out of reach.


    Xue Mingyuan noticed the silence of the person beside him and took the initiative to ask, "Where should we go now?"


    Yu Yi came back to her senses, once again burying her emotions, and said, "I need to find materials for tempering swords. You don''t have to follow me, you can walk around and enjoy the lights here."


    Xue Mingyuan hesitated and said, "But I want to stay with you. Will that cause you trouble?"


    Yu Yi didn''t seem to mind and said, "It''s no trouble, but I''m afraid you''ll be bored."


    Xue Mingyuan let out a sigh of relief and smiled, saying, "I don''t think I could ever be bored when I''m with you."


    This statement sounded somewhat ambiguous, and Yu Yi turned back to look at him in surprise. But under the slightly lifted hood, she saw only sincerity and openness in his eyes as he met her gaze, without a trace of impropriety.


    It made her feel as if she had overthought things.


    Yu Yi turned her head, looked left and right, and started walking to the right. "Let''s go then."


    Every market in the Unmasked Tower was incredibly lively, with crowds surging from the moment it opened until it closed.


    Thend market was different from the sea market. The sea market only opened for one month at the end of each year, while thend market was open year-round. Cultivators from all over came here, whether to buy or sell.


    The Unmasked Tower had permanent shops, but there were even more temporary stalls that came and went like flowing water.


    The items in the shops were certainly more standardized and had clearer pricing, but if one knew how to bargain, they could find good quality items from the temporary stalls on the street. Some were even better than what was in the shops and at lower prices.


    Yu Yi nned to spend the entire day here collecting materials needed for sword tempering, so she wasn''t in a hurry to enter the shops. She decided to start by looking through the stalls that were gradually setting up along the street.


    She scanned the stalls as she walked, with Xue Mingyuan obediently following behind her, asionally lifting his head to peek from under his hood at the interesting things along the way.


    When Yu Yi squatted in front of a stall to haggle with the vendor, Xue Mingyuan stood quietly to the side.


    At these times, he didn''t look at the scenery but focused intently on watching Yu Yi go back and forth with the vendor.


    "This white rock doesn''t look very pure. It might look like a big piece, but after refining, there won''t be much left, right?" Yu Yi said, pointing at a piece of white rock needed for sword melting and examining it repeatedly.


    The vendor snorted, "What are you talking about? This is top-grade white rock. You can check it yourself with some spiritual energy. It has a fire core inside. If you buy this kind of white rock with a fire core from a shop, it would cost you at least a thousand spirit stones. I''m only asking for eight hundred, which is very cheap."


    He sure could boast. Did he think she hadn''t been to the shops before?


    Yu Yi did as he suggested and infused a bit of spiritual energy, carefully examining the white rock. She said, "Judging by the size of the fire core, this white rock can barely be considered top-grade. It''s worth three hundred spirit stones at most."


    The vendor stood his ground, "Three hundred spirit stones? You might as well rob me. I won''t sell for less than five hundred."


    Yu Yi withdrew her hand and stood up decisively. "Fine, there are plenty of people selling rocks today. I''m sure I can find better quality than yours."


    Seeing that she was really about to leave, the vendor hurriedly waved to call her back, "Wait, cultivator! It''s the start of business today, let''s consider this a lucky first sale. Four hundred spirit stones!"


    Yu Yi paused slightly, "Three hundred and twenty."


    The vendor stroked his chin, conflicted for a moment before painfully conceding, as if cutting his own flesh, "Three hundred and eighty."


    Yu Yi smiled, "Going back and forth like this is just wasting time. Why don''t we bothpromise? Final offer, three hundred and fifty. I won''t buy it for even one spirit stone more."


    "You really don''t let me make any extra profit, do you?" The vendor sighed and waved his hand. "Alright, alright. Since you''re my first customer today, I''ll sell it to you."


    Yu Yi immediately beamed with joy, her lively eyes curved like crescent moons, the light in them even more beautiful than the crystalmps hanging from the treetops. Xue Mingyuan quietly observed her expression, unconsciously infected by her happy mood, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    When she sessfully haggled for something she wanted, joy would visibly color her eyes and brows. Sometimes, when the vendor was craftier than her and she realized she had overpaid, she would show a hint of frustration.


    Xue Mingyuan followed behind her past many stalls. In the end, the person in front of him became more captivating to his gaze than the lights along the street.


    The next time she spotted something she liked, Xue Mingyuan took the initiative: "May I try bargaining for you?"


    "Of course," Yu Yi nodded towards the ice spirit water at the stall opposite them. It was used for cooling during sword tempering. The water was crystal clear, with ayer of frost condensed on the container, looking to be of good quality. "First, set a price range for it in your mind."


    Xue Mingyuan carefully observed the bottle of ice spirit water and pondered, "Between 800 and 1000?"


    Yu Yi gave him an appreciative look, "You''re quite good. Not bad at all. Then please go ahead and bring it back for me."


    Xue Mingyuan hesitated, "I can''t do it alone."


    Yu Yi looked at the bottle of ice spirit water again. To ensure they secured it, she went along with him. The two cooperated seamlessly, ying off each other until the vendor was bewildered. In the end, they managed to get the bottle for even less than 800.


    After the transaction wasplete, Yu Yi took the ice spirit water. Before the vendor coulde to his senses, she grabbed Xue Mingyuan''s wrist and quickly ran into the crowd. When they heard the vendor''s bted shout, they ran even faster, disappearing in the blink of an eye, leaving the vendor to sit back down and pound his head in regret.


    They ran into the next street, hiding in the shadow of a green tree. They looked at each other and burst outughing.


    Crane Senior Brother had been sleeping soundly in the pouch, but was jostled awake. He poked out his little head andined with a squawk. Yu Yi had to go buy some dried meat to stuff his mouth.


    Xue Mingyuan sat on a bench under the tree waiting. The system happily popped up a strategy tutorial, and he cooperatively raised his hand, his fingertips dancing on the light screen, ticking off a series of checkmarks.


    The system retracted the panel, praised Xue Mingyuan a few times, then fell silent again.


    When it came topleting strategy tasks, Xue Mingyuan didn''t need the system''s worry at all. Moreover, unlike Xue Chenjing, the system could hardly capture any of his thoughts, so it couldn''t find topics to chatter about frequently.


    System: For some reason, it really feels a bit lonely.


    Xue Mingyuan tilted his head back, looking from the brilliant lights to the night sky above. Because the ground lights were so bright, the sky appeared deep and starless.


    This small world was an eternal night secret realm.


    Xue Mingyuan lowered his head, his vision beginning to blur. The brilliant lights blended into fuzzy spots in his eyes. A figure walked through the halo of light, saying, "While buying dried meat for the little bird, I also bought some other snacks. Try some."


    Xue Mingyuan tried hard to raise his hand, but his fingertips only twitched slightly. His body was starting to slip from his control.


    He blinked onest time, wanting to see her face once more, but the light in his vision was already growing weaker.


    ¡ª I''m sorry, I won''t be able to taste them.


    Yu Yi waited for a moment, seeing no response from him. She stepped closer, holding out the snacks in her hands. "Do you want to eat?"


    The seated person suddenly raised his hand, gripping her wrist. He abruptly lifted his head, the hood sliding off to reveal an alert and frightened face.


    Yu Yi was stunned for a moment, the snacks in her hand scattering on the ground.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes were filled with deep terror. He quickly scanned the surroundings, finally returning to the face before him.


    After confirming there was no threat on all sides, that he wasn''t in a desperate situation, and that the person in front of him was Yu Yi, the fear and vignce overflowing in Xue Chenjing''s eyes dissipated. He blinked, his tense body rxing.


    A rich milky fragrance wafted to his nose. He lowered his gaze to the single ice milk cake left in Yu Yi''s hand - ice shavings frozen with milk, drizzled with flower honey. He leaned forward and licked it from her hand, happily narrowing his eyes. "So cold, so sweet."


    After speaking, he took two more bites from her hand.


    Yu Yi only reacted when his tongue touched her fingertips. She stuffed the milk cake into his hand and withdrew her own.


    Xue Chenjing held the milk cake, licking his lips. Suddenly, he realized something. He looked at the ice milk cake in his hand, then at Yu Yi, then back at the cake. His fingers suddenly tightened, crushing the cake box in his hand.


    "Was this for him? Were you feeding it to him? You didn''t mean to give it to me?" Xue Chenjing raged, standing up abruptly.


    Yu Yi stepped back warily, ncing at the people around them. She warned him, "Don''t go crazy here."


    The ice milk cake in Xue Chenjing''s hand had melted. Milk and flower honey flowed over the bulging veins on the back of his hand, dripping down. He was breathing heavily and urgently, turning in circles on the spot before looking up at her.


    The young man''s jawline was tense, the two rabbit ears on his head almost standing up in anger. His eyes were red from holding back, and with those red irises, he was purely an agitated rabbit ready to jump up and bite.


    He pressed her repeatedly, "You''ve never fed me before, but you fed him! Do you like him? Do you like him too?"


    Yu Yi corrected him, "I wasn''t trying to feed him, I was just handing it to him."


    Who could have expected Xue Chenjing to appear at this moment, grab her hand, and lean in to eat a few bites himself?


    Xue Chenjing stomped on the snacks on the ground. "You''ve never bought these for me before, but now you bought them for him."


    "I just bought them while getting dried meat for Crane Senior Brother," Yu Yi frowned as she watched him jumping around. He seemed so lively, his injuries must have fully healed. "Now that you''re here, they''re for you."


    Crane Senior Brother poked his little head out of the pouch, a piece of dried meat still in his beak, curiously looking them over.


    Xue Chenjing paused in his stomping, asking suspiciously, "Really? If it were me, would you buy them for me too?"


    Yu Yi cated him, gesturing to the trampled snacks on the ground, "Yes, those were all for you."


    Xue Chenjing silently looked at the ground for a long while before finally letting out a sigh, deting like a punctured balloon. He said softly, "Master, will you go buy another set? I still want to eat."


    Yu Yi stuffed Crane Senior Brother''s head back into the pouch. "I''m out of money. I don''t want to buy more."


    "I have money, I''ll give you money," Xue Chenjing said, reaching to take out his spirit stones. He first pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve. When unfolded, it contained information left by Xue Mingyuan.


    It detailed thepensation fee for damaging the inn room and the breakfast bill owed, as well as the spirit stones Yu Yi had helped pay when they entered this ce. Everything was recorded in detail, reminding him to repayter.


    Xue Chenjing scanned it quickly, his fingertips twitching slightly as he ground the paper to dust.


    ¡ª Xue Mingyuan, he''ll nevere out again in this lifetime!


    He licked the remnants of milk cake from his fingers, crouched down to pick up a broken piece of chestnut pastry, and said pitifully, "Master, are you really not buying for me anymore?"


    Yu Yi: "..." I don''t believe you''ll actually eat off the ground.


    A momentter, Yu Yi surrendered, "I''ll buy for you."


    At this time, in the highest building of the Unmasked Tower, Shen Qingzhi and Pei Jingchao were sitting together, drinking.


    On the right side of this building was a garden room surrounded by a barrier.


    Inside bloomed brilliant red flowers. Among the red flowers, ice-blue butterflies adorned with dewdrop-like tails danced gracefully. These were the Demon-Eating Butterflies used to search for demons the night before. Because they couldn''t stand sunlight and only lived at night, they had another more beautiful name - Eternal Night Butterflies.


    Shen Qingzhi looked at his beautiful little butterflies, his face full of smiles. Then he turned to see his friend''s worried expression and sighed, "Sigui, I''ve set aside official business to drink with you here, and you give me such a sour face?"


    Pei Jingchao had been gazing at the prosperous market street below. Hearing this, he withdrew his gaze and frowned, "Those two entered here today."


    "Who?" Shen Qingzhi asked, then understood who he meant. He said helplessly, "You''re still suspicious of that person?"


    "Xue Chenjing." Pei Jingchao nodded. "He''s very strange. I saw him twicest night - first at the mortal night market, then again at the inn just two or three hourster."


    Shen Qingzhi took a small sip of wine and nodded for him to continue.


    "Having seen him twice in a short period, he gave mepletely different impressions. Whether it was his demeanor, tone, or bodynguage, it was as if he had be an entirely different person," Pei Jingchao turned to look at the butterfly beside him. "He must have used some method of deception to evade detectionst night."


    Shen Qingzhi feigned anger and said, "It seems Sigui has been eyeing my butterfly all along, rather than wanting to drink with me."


    Pei Jingchao lowered his head in apology, picked up his wine cup and drank three cups as self-punishment before saying, "I''m sure Senior Brother Shen, like me, doesn''t want to see any demonic creatures infiltrating the Unmasked Tower."


    The Unmasked Tower was located in Yinzhou City, which was under the jurisdiction of Zhaohua Pce. Thergest stakeholder behind this Unmasked Tower was Zhaohua Pce, and the other twelve immortal sects also had shops established within the tower.


    Pei Jingchao hadn''t returned to Mount Li for two reasons: first, to investigate who destroyed the Weapon Tempering tform, and second, to retrieve the part of the spirit swords that had leaked from the Sword-Sealing Stone.


    Although he knew that Yu Yi and herpanion had entered this ce, he didn''t know what form they had taken after entering. The Unmasked Tower had survived until now and attracted many cultivators toe and trade, all because of the twenty screen walls outside the tower that could conceal one''s appearance.


    The contract inscriptions on the screen walls had been verified by heaven and earth. Even they, the immortal sects behind the scenes, couldn''t vite them.


    But once inside the Unmasked Tower, after conducting trades and transactions, if they wanted to investigate closely, they could still find some clues.


    Pei Jingchao had earlier sent people to keep an eye on Xue Chenjing, while he personally watched Yu Yi. He knew she had entered the Unmasked Tower today to purchase sword tempering materials, so he had ced lookouts on several streets.


    Finding them might be a bit difficult, but not impossible.


    "Does Senior Brother Shen want to test them again?" Pei Jingchao pulled out amunication talisman from his sleeve. This was information sent back by the lookouts he had deployed earlier; they had already found the people.


    Shen Qingzhi nced at themunication talisman between his fingers and asked with great interest, "How do you propose to test? If he had a way to avoid the Eternal Night Butterfly once, he naturally can avoid it a second time."


    "Force him to take action," Pei Jingchao said casually. "He''s just a Foundation Establishment cultivator. If he identally gets caught up in a conflict, it would be difficult for him to protect himself without using demonic creatures."


    Shen Qingzhi pondered, "Don''t make too big amotion."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Shen." Pei Jingchao nodded in agreement, pulling out another preparedmunication talisman from his sleeve and tossing it out. The talisman turned into a streak of light and disappeared into the mountain below.


    Momentster, amotion arose from a long street at the foot of the mountain.


    When the conflict suddenly erupted on themercial street, Xue Chenjing was holding an ice cream that Yu Yi had just bought for him again.


    Many people on the street didn''t know what was happening, but suddenly people started fighting. The light of talismans and sword shadows exploded on the long street. Merchant cultivators all scattered to avoid it, with light and sword shadows interweaving.


    The ice cream fell to the ground. Yu Yi reacted extremely quickly, wanting to escape, but dense sword shadows blocked her retreat. She drew her green bamboo sword, sweeping it in an arc of light.


    She vaguely felt something was wrong. Looking at thework of sword shadows, the center of the encirclement was clearly right where they were. Evidently, they weren''t just innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire, but the targets someone had meticulously nned to capture.


    The sword shadows pressing down were of no low cultivation, at least at the Golden Core realm. Yu Yi, wielding a sword with cracks, found it hard to fend off so many opponents. Her sword intent was suppressed.


    As the interwoven sword shadows pressed down from above, Yu Yi felt a cold, damp sensation brush past her cheek. Transparent tentacles emerged from the void, forming a solid umbre-like cover above their heads.


    The sword shadows struck, shing with the snake scales on the tentacles and producing rippling golden light, finally revealing its outline in the air.


    Xue Chenjing turned around, opening his arms and pulling Yu Yi entirely into his embrace. Dense fog enveloped their figures, and in just an instant, the fog dispersed, and the sword shadows that had been held back in mid-air fell in a rustle.


    But among the sword shadows, the two had already vanished without a trace.


    In the pavilion atop the mountain, Shen Qingzhi watched the situation on themercial street through the reflection pearl of the attacking cultivators. He narrowed his eyes at the fleeting white mist, licking his lips, "Ah, Earth Impurity. I hope I didn''t see wrong."


    He reached out and picked up a drop of wine from his cup, flicking it towards the flower room barrier. The wine coalesced into a droplet, with runes of light rotating inside, instantly piercing through the flower room barrier.


    As the barrier shattered, the butterflies inside rose up in a flurry, swarming towards the foot of the mountain. The scales shed from their wings were like scattered stars, resembling an icy blue Milky Way.


    Shen Qingzhi leaned on the window, his gaze following them, and said with a smile, "This is the first time I''ve seen them so excited."


    Pei Jingchao leapt out the window, following behind the butterflies.


    The light, thin mist of Earth Impurity swiftly traversed through thentern shadows, passing directly through buildings, almost undetectable.


    Yu Yi was held tightly in Xue Chenjing''s arms, only able to see the rapidly passing light shadows from the corner of her eye. After a long while, they finallynded in a secluded alley between pavilions.


    Xue Chenjing''s hands were still gripping her waist. He lowered his head to rest on her shoulder, saying resentfully, "Damn it, I didn''t even get a single bite."


    Yu Yi rolled her eyes, saying exasperatedly, "Is this really the time to be worrying about that?"


    "Yes," Xue Chenjing nuzzled against her neck, his nose close to the side of her neck, deeply inhaling her pleasant scent. "Master, will you buy it for me again in the future?"


    Yu Yi''s neck tingled from his breath, her hair standing on end. She shrank her neck a bit, raising her hand to grab his ponytail, trying to pull him away from her body. She said with disgust, "Let go of me..."


    As she looked up, she saw twinkling ice-blue lights through the sliver of sky visible between the alley walls. The points of light danced gracefully, shedding sparkling scales, looking incredibly beautiful.


    Yu Yi remembered what those things might be, and in her urgency, blurted out, "Ah-choo!"


    Xue Chenjing also sensed something, abruptly raising his head and turning to look up. The dots of blue light reflected in his widened pupils, a hint of undisguisable fear seeping into his eyes.


    Yu Yi saw his fingers trembling for an instant and suggested, "Why don''t you let Xue Mingyuane out? He''s not afraid of these butterflies."


    Xue Chenjing tightened his fingers forcefully, clenching his fists. He turned back, his eyes, reddened by the rabbit mask, staring straight at her. He said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word, "Then I''d rather die."


    Yu Yi didn''t understand why he harbored such intense hatred towards Xue Mingyuan. Looking at the butterflies getting closer and closer overhead, she frowned slightly, "So what are you going to do now?"


    "Don''t worry, I won''t die from the same thing twice." Xue Chenjing pushed her out of the alley. "Master, you should go. Change your disguise; you look better as a fox. Go buy what you want to buy. Don''t worry about me, I''lle back to find you."


    He retreated step by step into the shadows of the alley, his figure gradually blurring. Only his eyes remained bright, pupils vaguely elongating. He said finally, "A dog on a leash won''t get lost."

 Chapter 39

    He said he wouldn''t die under the same thing again.


    Had he died under these butterflies before?


    Suddenly, ice-blue butterflies in the sky plummeted down like meteors. The blue light from their wings illuminated the dark alley before them, and the scattered scales outlined transparent tentacles clustered tightly around Xue Chenjing.


    These scales had a corrosive effect on magical creatures.


    Yu Yi watched as a butterfly attached itself to Xue Chenjing''s tentacle like a leech. In less than the blink of an eye, it broke through the snake-scale defense on the surface of the tentacle and burrowed into the flesh beneath.


    As soon as the butterfly entered the tentacle, it transformed into countless blue threads, growing wildly like vines, rapidly spreading throughout the entire appendage. All the fine threads seemed to be the butterfly''s mouthparts, piercing through the inside of the tentacle, dissolving and consuming its flesh and blood.


    The glow of the Demon-Eating Butterfly shone through from inside the tentacle, outlining the originally transparent appendage. That tentacle twisted in agony, its plump flesh visibly shriveling at an rming rate.


    A sh of light passed over Xue Chenjing''s hand. Using his hand as a de, he gritted his teeth and severed that tentacle with one swift cut.


    He trembled in pain, took a deep breath, and raised his head. With slightly curved eyes, he gave her a tearful smile amidst the rapidly falling blue light.


    "Run," his lips mouthed.


    Yu Yi looked at the curling, writhing tentacle on the ground, watching it turn into a puddle of water under the Demon-Eating Butterfly. With so many butterflies falling from the sky, how many tentacles could he cut off like this?


    Reason told her that at this moment, she should indeed turn and leave without hesitation. If Xue Chenjing died under the Demon-Eating Butterflies, it would suit her purposes perfectly, allowing her to be rid of him once and for all.


    However, before reason could prevail, she had already gripped her Green Bamboo Sword tightly, channeling her sword energy to its limit, and swung a sh towards the falling butterflies.


    She heard the crisp cracking sound from the Green Bamboo Sword. The cracks on the de grew denser, and the erupting green mes coalesced into a winged red-crowned crane. Snake-like lightning flowed between the crane''s feathers as it whistled into the alley.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes widened as he watched the sword spirit, woven from lightning and fire, rush towards him. The scorching heat swept over his body, incinerating the butterfly scales clinging to his tentacles.


    The red-crowned crane raised its slender neck, its wings whipping up a frenzied wind, passing so close it almost grazed his face before soaring upward. This crane, which had once unhesitatingly wounded him, was now protecting him.


    The falling butterflies were momentarily blocked by the sword spirit''s wings, causing them to flutter back up like leaves scattered in a gale, swept out of the alley.


    Xue Chenjing lowered the hand covering his face and took onest look at the person standing outside the alley, holding the sword. Her eyes were bright and determined, sword energy swirling around her body, her clothes and hair fluttering in the air, with a backdrop of hazy, brilliantmplight.


    This image was imprinted in his eyes and etched into his heart.


    Taking advantage of the moment when the butterflies were swept away by the sword wind, the mist carried Xue Chenjing''s figure away from the alley. Seeing him leave, Yu Yi deftly sheathed her sword back into her sleeve, tightened her ck robe to wrap herself once more, and turned to flee as well.


    Pei Jingchao, who had been following the Demon-Eating Butterflies to this ce, was struck by the residual sword fire bursting from the alley. This sword spirit had the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and he dared not underestimate it, so he had to draw his sword to defend himself.


    When the sword fire dissipated, he descended into the alley, only to see a ck-robed figure swiftly disappearing.


    Pei Jingchao instinctively took a few steps to give chase, but suddenly stopped. Compared to pursuing the person who might be Yu Yi, it was clearly more important to take this opportunity to eliminate the demon controller.


    Although the Demon-Eating Butterflies that had fallen into the alley were scattered by the red-crowned crane''s sword wind, they were not damaged by it. Demon-Eating Butterflies had the ability to devour great demons, and aside from their one fatal weakness, they could not be easily killed.


    The ice-blue butterflies fell back into the alley, dancing gracefully. They quickly consumed the remaining demonic aura in the alley, then fluttered their wings to pursue in a certain direction.


    Pei Jingchao followed on his flying sword.


    After leaving the alley, Yu Yi immediately went to the exit of the Unmasked Tower. The exit of the Unmasked Tower still consisted of twenty screen walls distributed across different street districts, with antern hanging in front of each screen wall.


    Entering through a screen wall would randomly ce one on a street within the Unmasked Tower, and exiting through a screen wall would randomly ce one in a market outside the Unmasked Tower. As long as two people didn''t step into the screen wall together at the same time, it was impossible for them to appear in the same ce.


    This was done to prevent tailing.


    By exiting and re-entering through a screen wall, one could change into a different disguise. When Yu Yi arrived at the screen wall, she saw a familiar ice-blue butterfly perched on thentern hanging in front of it.


    This indicated that there must be one butterfly stationed at thentern in front of each of the other screen walls as well. It seemed they intended to trap Xue Chenjing inside the Unmasked Tower and deal with him there.


    From the moment the Demon-Eating Butterflies appeared, Yu Yi understood that this attack was not aimed at her. However, to be on the safe side, Yu Yi still decided to change her disguise.


    She looked around and, as she exited through the screen wall, flicked a wisp of sword fire from her fingertips towards the Demon-Eating Butterfly. The butterfly was instantly engulfed in sword fire, but it fluttered its wings and shook off the mes that had enveloped it.


    Even sword fire couldn''t kill it ¨C how could it be fragile?


    Seeing that she couldn''t burn it to death, Yu Yi didn''t linger there any longer. She plunged into the screen wall. Momentster, she reappeared on a bustling street of the Unmasked Tower in a new disguise.


    Yu Yi lifted the hood from her head. Under long, thick eyshesy amber-colored eyes. Vivid vermilion nted upwards from the corners of her eyes, outlining a pair of alluring fox-like eyes. A me-shaped design adorned the space between her brows.


    She moved with the flow of people along the street, her eyes darting about alertly, scanning her surroundings. She no longer saw any of those ice-blue Demon-Eating Butterflies.


    She wondered if Xue Chenjing had managed to escape or not. That sword strike of hers had worsened the cracks on the Green Bamboo Sword, bringing it to the brink of shattering. It could no longer withstand her sword energy.


    Moreover, that sword strike had activated the Nascent Soul sword spirit left by her master, nearly depleting her dantian of spiritual energy. Even if she were to go looking for him now, she wouldn''t be able to offer much help.


    That one sword strike to help him could be considered her fulfilling her moral duty.


    Yu Yi took a spirit pill and unfolded her list to take a look. Finally, she turned into a shop to first purchase materials for tempering her sword.


    The earlier skirmish on thismercial street hade and gone quickly. Many people didn''t know what had actually happened, but most assumed it was just a dispute over an unsessful transaction.


    The Unmasked Tower did not refuse any cultivator froming to do business, and the people who came here were a mixed bunch. Such conflicts weremon, and everyone was used to them, as long as they weren''t personally affected.


    The merchants who had retreated during themotion immediately returned to reim their stall positions once things had settled down,ying out their goods for sale once again. The flow of people on the street soon became dense once more.


    At this time, Xue Chenjing was concealed within the earthly turbidity, moving like a shadow through the brilliantmplight of the Unmasked Tower. The Demon-Eating Butterflies followed closely behind him. When he sensed the butterflies drawing near, he unhesitatingly severed a section of his tentacle and cast it down, luring the swarm of butterflies to pounce upon it.


    Taking advantage of the moment when the Demon-Eating Butterflies were distracted by the demonic aura dispersing from the tentacle, Xue Chenjing waved his hand to expand the range of the earthly turbidity mist, conjuringyer uponyer of illusorymp-lit scenes.


    These illusions blended with the real scenes inside the Unmasked Tower, appearing both real and fake, confusing the cultivators who were trying to corner him.


    By the time the blue light of the Demon-Eating Butterflies burst into the illusions, Xue Chenjing had already withdrawn the earthly turbidity with a wave of his sleeve, his whereabouts once again concealed.


    The orthodox sect cultivators pursuing him, although able to roughly track his movements thanks to the guidance of the Demon-Eating Butterflies, were consistently unable topletely intercept him, or even catch a glimpse of his true appearance.


    Many cultivators followed orders to pursue, without even knowing whom they were chasing.


    Shen Qingzhi leaned against an intricately carved wooden railing, stroking his chin pensively. "What''s going on here? The cat-and-mouse game is interesting, but it''s quite troublesome if he keeps running like this."


    Due to the pursuit, several more disturbances urred on themercial street. It was evident that the demon creature was trying to incite chaos, probably hoping to escape in the confusion. However, each outbreak of disorder was quickly suppressed, so Shen Qingzhi wasn''t too concerned.


    It seemed his little butterflies were having a hard time getting their meal.


    On themercial street, Pei Jingchao had failed repeatedly, his frustration mounting inch by inch. His once handsome face was now so gloomy it seemed ready to devour people. Once again, he chased into an opulent building, plunging headlong into a sea of flickering lights and boiling mor.


    Pei Jingchao coldly pushed away the people crowding around him. One of the pushed individuals red at him fiercely, "What''s the rush? Eager to eat shit?"


    A girl''s coquettish voice scolded from his right, "Oh my, young master, your sword hilt is poking me."


    "What''s wrong with you people? Have you no manners? Can''t you queue properly?"


    "Move aside! Don''t touch my precious items. If they break, none of you could afford topensate me!"


    The mor poured into his ears, making the veins on his temples throb. Pei Jingchao suppressed his irritation, his gaze sweeping across their faces one by one, struggling to discern whether the people and objects before him were real or illusory.


    "Pei Jingchao."


    A sudden call reached his ears. Pei Jingchao was stunned for a moment. His hand slid to his waist, fingering themunication talisman there. He responded with surprise and joy, "Miss Yu? What can I do for you?"


    The jade pendant with the Dragon Tail-in-Mouth design lit up with a faint glow in his palm. Suddenly, the voice inside changed its tone, sharply questioning him, "Who is Miss Yu? Pei Jingchao, are you out there investigating the Weapon Tempering tform incident, or are you looking for your Miss Yu? Senior Brother,e back! I want you to return to Mount Li immediately!"


    Pei Jingchao abruptly gripped the jade pendant tightly. Amidst the curious sidelong nces of those around him, he quickly ducked into a corner. Frowning, he exined, "Yuxiu, don''t be ridiculous. I''m currently pursuing the demon that destroyed the Weapon Tempering tform. I''ll exin everything to youter."


    Yao Yuxiu persisted, "No, Senior Brother, tell me right now who this Miss Yu is. I think she''s the one who..."


    The irritation in Pei Jingchao''s eyes intensified. He raised his hand to wipe away the spiritual light on the jade pendant, cutting off Yao Yuxiu''s voice. But suddenly, another voice emerged from themunication talisman, speaking softly and calmly, "I wish Daoist Lord Pei and Immortal Maiden Yuxiu a hundred years of happiness and an early birth of noble children."


    "No, I don''t want to hear your blessings. Yours least of all..." Pei Jingchao''s mind was in turmoil. He raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, and the people and lights around him began to seem strange.


    The noisy mor quieted for a moment, then surged again. This time, however, what reached his ears were no longer irrelevant vendor calls, but one usation after another directed at him.


    "Senior Brother, why? I like you so much! Why are there always so many women around you? Are they seducing you? Why do you let them get close to you?"


    Pei Jingchao wanted to say no, that his rtionships with them were pure, that they were just friends. He wanted to reprimand Yao Yuxiu for always interpreting things with such dirty thoughts.


    But immediately, another authoritative voice stifled the rebuke about to leave his mouth.


    Juechen Zi, the sect leader of Mount Li, said, "Sigui, Xiu''er has loved you since childhood. You must treat her well and never disappoint her, or I will not let you off."


    "I''m old now, and it''s time for me to step down. As long as you marry Xiu''er, the position of Mount Li''s sect leader will be yours."


    After Juechen Zi, that soul-stirring sweet voice spoke again, but this time with utterly distant words, "Oh yes, there was a grand celebration at Mount Li recently. Daoist Friend Pei and Immortal Maiden Yuxiu got married. As a mere wandering cultivator, I couldn''t go to Mount Li to offer my congrattions, so I can only wish the two of you a hundred years of happiness and an early birth of noble children here."


    Pei Jingchao saw her eyes in his mind, clear and cold. She shouldn''t look at him with such eyes.


    The gaze he had always remembered, always longed for, was not like this.


    Following that, another mocking voice arose: "Daoist Lord Pei has just gotten married, yet he''s already ''losing himself'' on this crowded street. Does Immortal Maiden Yuxiu know about this?"


    Right, it was him! It was because of him!


    The lights and figures before him made Pei Jingchao dizzy. The voices pouring into his ears one after another made his blood boil. Pei Jingchao''s fingers gripped the jade pendant so tightly they turned white. Finally, he heard a "crack" sound.


    Themunication talisman shattered between his fingers.


    Pei Jingchao suddenly heard a pleased chuckle. All other sounds abruptly receded. He awoke with a start. Another illusion?


    He swiftly drew his sword. A crimson sword light shot into the sky as he shed towards the intertwining figures before him. The magnificent pavilions crumbled under his sword light. The unsuspecting crowd screamed and fled in all directions.


    A Mount Li disciple eximed in shock near his ear, "Senior Brother Pei, what''s wrong with you?!"


    Pei Jingchao closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again. He saw the pavilions destroyed by his sword, and quite a few cultivators who hadn''t managed to escape were injured by his de.


    He looked down at the shatteredmunication talisman on the ground and realized in a daze, "It wasn''t an illusion?"


    The sudden burst of crimson sword light in themercial street at the foot of the mountain finally alerted Shen Qingzhi that something was amiss. He leapt into action, transforming into a streak of light andnding inside the copsing pavilion. He swept his gaze over the groaning cultivators on the ground, then looked at the dazed Pei Jingchao, and quickly produced a Mind-Clearing Talisman to press against his forehead.


    Pei Jingchao closed his eyes and concentrated for a good while before finallying to his senses under the talisman''s effect.


    But his one out-of-control sword strike had nearly destroyed half the street. Countless cultivators who hadn''t managed to escape were injured by his sword. The surrounding area was filled with a cursing crowd. The situation had spiraled out of control after his sword strike and could no longer be calmed down.


    Even Shen Qingzhi''s habitual smile couldn''t be maintained. With a grave expression, he patted Pei Jingchao''s shoulder. "With things in such a mess, if we don''t catch that demon, we won''t be able to exin this to our masters."


    "You stay here and deal with this. I''ll go after him."


    After speaking, Shen Qingzhi''s figure flickered and vanished from the spot.


    The entire Unmasked Tower was in chaos. When Yu Yi emerged from the neighboringmercial street, the stalls on the street had been evacuated in disarray. Some were hurrying away to avoid trouble, while others were rushing towards the site of the incident to spectate.


    She sensed something and pressed her hand against her storage pouch, taking out a shattered jade pendant. It was themunication talisman that Pei Jingchao had given her.


    With the jade shattered, the inscriptions on it had also failed. It was useless now.


    Yu Yi nced at it and casually tossed it into the grass by the roadside. She wrapped her ck robe tightly around herself and followed behind other cultivators to see what themotion was about.


    However, before she could see anything, a magical line suddenly shed across the ground, rapidly spreading in all directions. Yu Yi''s entire body tensed, and she quickly retreated. But no matter where she retreated to, she could see the rapidly expanding magical lines.


    This formation wasrger than she could have imagined.


    Exmations of surprise echoed throughout the street. "What is that?"


    "It''s a formation! Run!"


    "What kind of formation is this? When was it set up? What on earth is the Unmasked Tower up to?"


    "This is bad, my spirit stones! What kind of cursed formation is this? The spiritual energy in my spirit stones has been drained!"


    Hearing this, Yu Yi immediately felt for the storage pouch containing her spirit stones in her bosom. When she reached inside, she only touched a handful of lime powder.


    Damn it! Her spirit stones!


    All around the Unmasked Tower, cultivators were cursing as their spirit stones were drained. Countless streaks of light shot up from the street as cultivators took to the air like startled birds. Yu Yi summoned Crane Senior Brother and sat on its back, flying up into the air.


    Looking down from above, she saw a massive formation taking shape on the ground. Surging spiritual energy flowed into the formation, and the entire space trembled under its influence.


    Suddenly, the eternal night sky of the Unmasked Tower was torn open, revealing a crack. The fissure grewrger andrger, and dazzling sunlight poured through the gap. The beams of light easily overshadowed the brilliantntern lights below.


    This small secret realm copsed, the eternal night retreated, and the sun hung high in the sky.


    Shen Qingzhi alighted on top of a pavilion, unfurling his fan to shield himself from the zing sun. Only one thought remained in his mind.


    The Demon-Eating Butterflies he had painstakingly nurtured were now all gone.


    In a corner of themercial street, Xue Chenjing stood in the intense sunlight, his face as pale as if it were transparent. He cut open one of his wrists, smiling as he watched the swarm of butterflies being attracted by his demonic aura, rushing towards him, then struggling and dissolving one by one in the sunlight.


    How beautiful they looked in their death throes.


    They were so beautiful after all.


    Xue Chenjing smiled happily, disappearing into the sunlight before the butterflies'' owner could track him down.


    He blended in with the cultivators in the sky, stumbling through the air using spiritual energy, looking around and bumping into quite a few cultivators, getting cursed at vehemently.


    The cursing cultivators turned to see his face, looking as if he was about to breathe hisst, yet smiling so eerily. The harsh words got stuck in their throats.


    Never mind, no point in arguing with someone on death''s door.


    Xue Chenjing searched for a while before finally spotting Crane Senior Brother among the chaotic crowd of cultivators. He flew towards it, calling out, "Master, I''m back."


    Sensing someone approaching, Yu Yi had her sword''s me ready at her fingertips. Hearing his shout, she hesitated for a moment before recognizing the face of the neer.


    Xue Chenjing''s face was as white as a ghost''s. He still wore his rabbit mask, with his pupils tinged red and the corners of his eyes flushed. The rabbit ears hanging on both sides of his head were dirty, disheveled, and damp.


    During her moment of hesitation, Xue Chenjing had already climbed onto Crane Senior Brother''s back of his own ord. He rested his chin on her shoulder, attempting to nuzzle her with his filthy rabbit ears. Yu Yi raised her palm in disgust, pushing him away.


    Xue Chenjing then seized her hand, rubbing his rabbit ears against her palm. Heughed arrogantly and smugly, "Hehe, they''re just a bunch of butterflies. I''m not afraid of butterflies at all."

 Chapter 40

    Yu Yi, unable to bear the constant nudging any longer, found an opportunity to cast a cleaning spell and throw it at his head.


    Xue Chenjing was caught off guard as spiritual energy drenched his face, especially enveloping his rabbit ears, mercilessly soaking into the fur and scrubbing it thoroughly.


    "Mmm..." Xue Chenjing''s body shuddered violently, his Adam''s apple bobbing as he whimpered. His pale cheeks flushed an unusual red, and his wide eyes became misty with tears.


    Yu Yi was shocked by his reaction and quickly covered his mouth with her hand, stifling his unfinished gasps. Just washing your ears, for heaven''s sake, and you''re getting aroused in public?? Even if rabbit ears are sensitive, this is going too far!


    Xue Chenjing, his mouth and nose tightly covered, was nearly suffocating with tears about to spill, yet he didn''t resist. He just stared at her pitifully.


    It was Yu Yi who couldn''t bear his gaze. She warned, "I''ll let go, but don''t make any more strange noises, okay?"


    Xue Chenjing obediently nodded.


    Yu Yi slowly released her hand.


    Xue Chenjing took a deep breath, thankfully not making any more odd sounds. The dirt on his rabbit ear fur had been cleansed, leaving it soft and snow-white again. He tilted his head, deliberately bringing his rabbit ears close to her face, saying happily, "Master, it''s clean now. You can pet it again, please pet it."


    Indeed, his reaction was just as she had predicted.


    Yu Yi wore an expression of cold indifference. I''d be a dog if I pet you again.


    Unusual activity outside the Unmasked Tower soon caught her attention. Yu Yi furrowed her brow as she looked over, seeing the formation on the ground of the Unmasked Tower growing brighter under the scorching sun.


    The Unmasked Tower was in themercial district, so its spirit stone reserves were considerable. The spirit stones carried by cultivators were just a drop in the bucketpared to what the merchants stored.


    The formation could absorb the spiritual energy contained within the spirit stones. As vast amounts of spiritual energy poured into the formation, fully activating it, the space of this secret realm was torn apart. Enormous cracks climbing through the void grew increasingly severe.


    Xue Chenjing curled his lips in excitement, saying, "Master, just watch. The show is about to begin."


    Yu Yi turned back to him upon hearing this. "Did you create that formation?"


    Xue Chenjing nodded proudly. His frantic running around inside the Unmasked Tower wasn''t aimless at all. "The Demon-Eating Butterflies fear sunlight and die upon exposure. As long as we tear apart this eternal night space, they won''t survive."


    Of course, severing three of his pseudo-legs had nearly made him faint from the pain again. Simply tearing apart the space to kill a swarm of butterflies wasn''t enough. He wanted to destroy the Unmasked Tower, to let those cultivators who wanted to kill him know that he wasn''t to be trifled with.


    Xue Chenjing curved his lips in pleasure. Though his face was covered by the most innocent of rabbit masks, at this moment, the malice shining in his eyes couldn''t be concealed even by such an innocent facade.


    For a split second, Yu Yi was almost instinctively provoked by the malevolence emanating from him, tempted to strike him off the back of Senior Brother He with a palm.


    Xue Chenjing keenly sensed the change in her gaze, even feeling the sword intent that wanted to push him away. His heart tightened, and he quickly reined in the aura overflowing from his body. Lowering his eyes to conceal the emotions within, he reverted to his harmless demeanor and said softly, "If I don''t tear apart this eternal night space, I''ll be killed by them."


    He carefully observed Yu Yi''s reaction, his voice condensing to a thread as he transmitted directly into her ear, exining repeatedly, "They were born specifically to eat demons. The stronger the demon, the more they''re attracted. They would burrow under my skin and hide inside my body, ceaselessly dissolving my flesh, drinking my body like nectar from flowers."


    As Xue Chenjing spoke, he seemed to recall the experience, his body beginning to tremble.


    "I wouldn''t die immediately. Even if I knew where they were, even if I wed open my skin or cut open my organs, I couldn''t catch them. I could only see the blue glow of butterfly wings darting around inside me. They would build nests andy eggs, then produce more butterflies like themselves, sucking away all the flesh before burrowing into the bones, until nothing was left in the end."


    "This process wouldst a very long time. Days, months, or years? I can''t remember clearly. I only remember that it hurt, it hurt so much. I don''t want to hurt like that again."


    Yu Yi''s back crawled at his words, goosebumps rising all over her body. She averted her gaze, saying, "Stop talking. I don''t want to hear any more."


    "Alright." Xue Chenjing sniffled, gently nuzzling her shoulder. "Master, please don''t hate me, okay?"


    Yu Yi closed her eyes for a moment, neither responding to him nor turning to look at him.


    She reminded herself inwardly not to sympathize with him. Everything he said had an ulterior motive, deliberately trying to evoke her sympathy. If not for the system task, when they first met, she probably would have died at the hands of his demonic creatures.


    The tearing of the Unmasked Tower''s secret realm caused no small disturbance. It was originally an independent space constructed above the city district, connected by twenty screen walls outside the tower.


    Now that the independent space was torn open, the mountains and pavilions inside the Unmasked Tower began to expand outward, encroaching upon Yinzhou City''s territory.


    To those outside, it appeared as if the Unmasked Tower suddenly shook and copsed, with several lightning-like cracks emerging from the crumbling pavilions. These cracks hung in midair, so enormous they almost connected heaven and earth.


    The citizens of Yinzhou City, attracted by themotion, looked up at the continuously spreading cracks in the sky, puzzled. "What is that? Look! Has the sky split open?"


    But soon, people realized what was happening, saying angrily, "It''sing from the direction of the Unmasked Tower. What have those cultivators done now?"


    Shortly after the cracks appeared in the sky, the ground of Yinzhou City began to shake as well. The surrounding buildings swayed in the earthquake, and the citizens who had been captivated by the strange cracks in the sky finally came to their senses, calling out to friends and family in panic as they fled.


    "Earthquake! It''s an earthquake, run! Everyone, quick, head to the outskirts of the city, find open spaces!"


    The city was in chaos, especially in the market district near the Unmasked Tower. That area was always crowded with merchants and densely popted. Once pandemonium broke out, even the city patrol soldiers couldn''t control the situation.


    The cracks in the sky continued to spread rapidly. Through the rifts, one could vaguely see an enormous mountain, with clusters of magnificent buildings and colorfulntern-lit streets atop it.


    More and more of the mountain emerged from the fractured sky, crowding out the market district below. Countless fissures appeared on the ground, spreading outward from the Unmasked Tower. The citizens throughout Yinzhou City could feel the tremors beneath their feet.


    Shen Qingzhi no longer had the energy to pursue any demonic creatures. If the Unmasked Tower wasn''t sealed back into the secret realm, half of Yinzhou City would be destroyed. At that point, it wouldn''t just be a matter of failing to ount to his seniors; even dying ten thousand deaths wouldn''t be enough to atone for his guilt.


    He hurriedly flew into the air, surveying theplete formation on the ground. Spiritual threads flickered between his outstretched hands as he attempted to dismantle the space-rending formation inside the Unmasked Tower.


    Although the cultivators outside the Unmasked Tower didn''t know the cause of this cmity¡ªthey came from all corners of the world, disguised and unacquainted with each other¡ªthey showed rare unity in this matter: the troubles of cultivators must not involve innocent civilians.


    In an instant, countless streams of light converged on the Unmasked Tower. Cultivators gathered outside, summoning their magical tools and forming arrays with spiritual power, using spiritual pressure to push the expanding mountain back into the rift.


    Some cultivators descended into the market district below, sweeping up civilians who hadn''t managed to evacuate and helping them escape.


    So this was the "good show" he spoke of.


    Yu Yi''s gaze gradually cooled. She no longer had the luxury of focusing on Xue Chenjing. Sitting cross-legged on the back of the crane, she formed hand seals and poured all her strength into releasing spiritual power.


    The spiritual energy consumed by her earlier sword strike had not yet fully recovered, and now exerting herself to suppress the expanding mountain left her face drained of all color in an instant.


    Xue Chenjing had been reveling in the satisfaction of revenge, but as he watched the spiritual shield formed by the cultivators gradually contain the spatial copse, his expression darkened slightly, and his fingertips twitched.


    A wisp of sword fire quickly coiled around his fingers, and Yu Yi''s cold warning reached his ears: "Don''t try anything, or I''ll cut off your hand."


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers froze, and he looked up at her in disbelief.


    Yu Yi didn''t turn around. The lines of her profile were cold and sharp as she said, "The butterflies that threatened you are gone now. Even if you want revenge, don''t drag innocent people into it."


    Xue Chenjing felt the sword fire scorching his fingers, sensing the tangible threat in its flow. She really would cut off his hand.


    A conflicted look flickered in his eyes. He desperately wanted to be true to his inner desires - to recklessly continue activating the magic array, tear open this space, destroy this city, and make those who hurt him suffer even more than he had.


    What innocent people? There were no innocent people in this world.


    But as he looked at Yu Yi''s pale face, he remembered how she had protected him with this very sword earlier, how warm the sword''s mes had felt sweeping over him. Now, wrapped around his hand, it had be a cold threat.


    He should obey. Otherwise, she really would cut off his hand.


    Xue Chenjing pondered, two conflicting desires pulling at his heart, making him waver. Should he be true to his own desires, or should he be loyal to her?


    Even as the magic array inside the Unmasked Tower was shattered by thebined spiritual pressure of the cultivators, the scales in his heart still hadn''t tipped decisively one way or the other.


    With the array destroyed, the spatial rifts in the Unmasked Tower slowed their expansion and finally stopped. Under thebined efforts of the cultivators to suppress it, the mountains and pavilions within the tower began to retract.


    When this small secret realm fully returned to its original position, a beam of white light shot out simultaneously from the twenty screen walls. The light coalesced into a boundary, and the copsed bricks and tiles of the Unmasked Tower were rebuilt. It was as if time flowed backwards, restoring everything to its original state.


    However, after such a major disturbance, many of the pavilions within the Unmasked Tower''s secret realm had copsed, and the ground was covered in cracks. It would likely be impossible to reopen for business anytime soon.


    With the crisis averted, everyone was exhausted. They fell from the sky in twos and threes.


    Senior Crane folded his wings and descended onto a market street outside. The ordinary people hadpletely evacuated, leaving only some copsed houses that had been affected by the disaster. The bricks and stones on the ground were cracked and upturned, with an array of goods scattered all over.


    When Yu Yinded, she nearly lost her footing. Xue Chenjing reached out to steady her, but she warily avoided his touch.


    Xue Chenjing''s arm froze in mid-air. He said sadly, "Master, I obeyed you."


    Yu Yi said nothing, merely gesturing to retract the threatening sword mes.


    Xue Chenjing gently rubbed his fingers, staring at her unblinkingly. "Do you think I did wrong? Do you also believe I should have obediently epted death? Because I''m a demon, I shouldn''t be allowed to exist in this world?"


    "I don''t think that," Yu Yi said, feeling tired - not just physically, but mentally as well. "Xue Chenjing, whether you live or die isn''t that important to me. I don''t really care. You should understand that if you hadn''t shamelessly attached yourself to me, I wouldn''t have even spared you a nce."


    In the sunlight, amidst the dancing dust motes, a single teardrop suddenly fell,nding among the cracked stones on the ground. Yu Yi froze for a moment, raising her eyes to look at his face.


    Xue Chenjing quickly turned his back, furiously wiping his face with his sleeve. He snarled, "I understand."


    Yu Yi stared at his back, furrowing her brow slightly. She said nothing, instead pulling out a talisman from her sleeve and attaching it to Senior Crane, who had been turning his bird head back and forth, looking between them in confusion.


    The crane shrank to the size of a small bird and flew into her arms. Holding Senior Crane, Yu Yi turned and walked towards the Unmasked Tower. She needed to check on the tower''s condition and investigate whether Xue Chenjing''s identity had been exposed.


    Before leaving, she said onest thing to Xue Chenjing, "I fed the remaining twenty thousand spirit stones to your magic array. Remember to pay me back."


    Xue Chenjing listened as her footsteps grew fainter and fainter, until he could no longer hear them.


    He hadn''t moved at all. The system hesitated for a long time before finally reminding him, "Master, the female lead has left. Aren''t you going to follow her?"


    Xue Chenjing covered his face with his hand, letting out a soft, coldugh. He asked through gritted teeth, "What, do you really think I''m her dog, that I must follow wherever she goes?"


    The system: "...For the sake of the mission, Master, please endure it."


    "Mission?" Xue Chenjing burst intoughter,ughing so hard he had to bend over.


    The system, not knowing how it had triggered him again, quickly fell silent. Host, please don''t cry andugh at the same time. It''s scary.


    Xue Chenjing crouched down, smashing the ground''s bricks with one powerful punch. "Her heart is harder than stone."


    He picked up a piece of stone, watching it crumble to dust in his hand and fall through his fingers. He murmured, "No, maybe I should cut open her chest first to see if she even has a heart?"


    The system detected his strong urge to act on this thought and nearly cried out in rm.


    "Master, the female lead does have a heart! She does! The favorability of the romance target has already increased to twenty-six percent!"


    Xue Chenjing''s movements froze.


    Twenty-six percent. Her favorability had increased again.


    The system waited for a long time, but there was no reaction from the host. At this moment, it couldn''t detect any thoughts from him either. Anxiously, it called out, "Host?"


    Xue Chenjing stared expressionlessly at a pile of hairpins lying on the ground not far away. The beautiful fluffy flower hairpins were covered in dust, their shape distorted by the copsed stall that had fallen on them.


    Full of confusion, he asked, "Did I fall unconscious for a long time? Was I out for a year?"


    The system didn''t understand where this question came from, but still honestly replied, "No, if we calcte, you were only unconscious for seven or eight hours at most."


    Xue Chenjing remained silent for a good while, then said in an unnervingly calm tone, "So she likes Xue Mingyuan that much."


    It seems that her willingness to save him, to protect him, was all for Xue Mingyuan''s sake.

 Chapter 41

    "What did Xue Mingyuan do during those seven or eight hours?"


    The system faithfully replied, "Hepleted some tasks ording to the guidance of the new user tutorial."


    The ground cracked with a "ka¡ª" sound as Xue Chenjing crushed another brick. Heughed in extreme anger, "You gave him tasks too?"


    Sensing his surging anger, the system trembled and said, "You are both my hosts."


    What''s going on? Didn''t you used to be very reluctant to do tasks? So what exactly are you angry about now?


    Although the system had always determined that Xue Mingyuan and Xue Chenjing were the same person, these two drastically different personalities, with their own independent thoughts and characteristics, made it feel like working for two bosses. Especially since one boss utterly despised the other.


    The system was miserable, exhausted, and felt like crying every day. It constantly reflected on why it had bound to the wrong person initially, otherwise it wouldn''t have to endure such torment.


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers rested on the tilted, copsed bricks beside him. Though he didn''t appear to be exerting force, he scratched deep finger marks into the stone block, with stone powder falling off in a shower. Maintaining a twisted smile at the corner of his mouth, he asked again in a soft voice.


    "What did he do during those seven or eight hours?"


    Not daring to be negligent, the system immediately brought up the panel for the Hundred-Day Conquest n and disyed it for him to see.


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze fell on the dense rows of glowing text.


    [Hundred-Day Conquest n Days 2-30: Based on your initial acquaintance, seize every opportunity to interact closely with the target, demonstrate your meticulous care, and bring your rtionship closer.]


    "...Checked off afterpletion." Xue Chenjing''s gaze slid downward, seeing the long list of subdivided items below, interspersed with numerous red checkmarks that were like thorns piercing his eyes. "Drinking together, eating together, traveling together, riding together, touring together..."


    There was a row of red checkmarks right at the top.


    Drinking and eating together was one thing, they had a meal together, and he even had to pay for it!


    Xue Chenjing frowned, "Riding together? Did he also ride on Senior Crane''s back?" He even got on before him.


    The system exined, "He couldn''t open your storage bag to get the talisman carpet. Since Yu Yi was in a hurry, she let him ride together with Senior Crane to the Unmasked Tower."


    However, Xue Chenjing''s attention caught on another point, asking discontentedly, "What did you call her?"


    The system replied cheerfully, "Because Yu Yi said it''s just a name, and we can call her whatever we like."


    Xue Chenjing said coldly, "You''re not allowed to call her that."


    You don''t call her that, and you won''t let other systems call her that either! The system reluctantly said, "Alright, Master."


    Xue Chenjing thought for a moment, barely epting the reason it gave, and continued to ask, "What about traveling together and touring together?"


    Are you really going to ask about each item one by one? The system felt helpless but had to continue exining, "Traveling together means going out together, and touring together means exploring the Unmasked Tower together."


    Xue Chenjing snorted coldly, his gaze moving to the next line. His tone was calm, but his fingers began to scratch the wall again, "What''s this about sharing a room?"


    "Master, when you were drunk at the inn, didn''t you smash a big hole in the wall? The two rooms were connected, and the female lead even crossed through the hole into your room. Isn''t that sharing a room?" The system tried to pacify him, "Strictly speaking, you actuallypleted this item first."


    "Then by what right does he check it off on my behalf? I''ll chop off his hand sooner orter."


    System: "..." Don''t talk nonsense, it''s your hand too.


    Xue Chenjing saw another row of red checkmarks further down. Before he could ask, the system had learned to answer preemptively, "Last night, after you lost consciousness, righteous cultivators were alerted by the door gods and came to investigate for demons and monsters. Shen Qingzhi from Zhaohua Pce tested you with the Demon-Eating Butterfly. The female lead stood by your side the whole time, facing the outside world with you!"


    Xue Chenjing''s expression turned ugly, and he stubbornly corrected, "That wasn''t me."


    Xue Mingyuan wasn''t a demon, so of course he wasn''t afraid of the Demon-Eating Butterfly. On the contrary, he probably liked this kind of butterfly very much. After all, without his contribution, there wouldn''t be such butterflies that specifically feed on demonic creatures in this world.


    In this world, no one wanted to kill him more than himself.


    Therefore,pletely losing consciousness and letting Xue Mingyuan control the body while being entirely unaware of his actions was far too dangerous for him.


    He thought he would wake up in some dangerous predicament like many times before. So, being able to see Yu Yi''s face when he opened his eyes, finding himself in a lively and safe ce with the sweet fragrance of milk cakes wafting through the air, he thought he was dreaming.


    Until he tasted a bite of the milk cake, which was both cold and sweet.


    The system added, "Oh right, Pei Jingchao also camest night, but you... he drove him away with just a few words."


    "Useless thing." Xue Chenjing snorted coldly. Judging from his tone, he seemed to have chosen to empathize with Pei Jingchao, which left the system utterly baffled.


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze slid downward, his expression slightly stunned. He said in disbelief, "They even shared a robe? Hm? Shared a robe? Why? How did they share it? Why did they need to wear it? Yu Yi actually agreed to share clothes with him? What did they do that required sharing clothes?"


    "Stop, stop, stop." The system interrupted him, "Master, let me exin!"


    Xue Chenjing closed his mouth, staring at the finger marks he had scratched out, and said coldly, "Exin!"


    System: "..." What''s with that tone? It hadn''t done anything, so why did it feel guilty? If you have the ability, go ask the female lead for an exnation!


    Although the system felt resentful, it still sumbed to his tyranny and exined obediently, "Master, when the female lead was awakened by your noisest night and crawled through the hole to find you, she was only wearing a very thin undershirt and petticoat. Did you notice?"


    Xue Chenjing tried hard to recall for a moment, digging out a blurry image from his hazy, drunken memories of that time. She had climbed over the wall hole and stood amidst the sprawling tentacles.


    Ice crystals piercing through the tendrils cast a moonlight-like glow in the room, outlining her slender figure.


    She was indeed dressed very lightly at the time, with snow-white silk clinging tightly to her body curves, vaguely revealing the color of her skin underneath. When she crouched down, her long hair meandered over her skirt, and the thin skirt hem faintly revealed the contours of her legs.


    She smelled very fragrant, truly very fragrant.


    Just recalling it, he seemed to still be able to smell that pleasant scent in his nostrils.


    Xue Chenjing rubbed his nose. Now he remembered, but at that time he hadn''t noticed any of this at all. "So what?" he asked.


    The system sighed, "At that time, outsiders came to inspect the rooms again, so he lent his outer robe to the female lead to cover up. That''s why they shared a piece of clothing. However, that outer robe was the one you took off. Before giving it to the female lead, your brother hadn''t worn it yet."


    Xue Chenjing''s eyshes trembled slightly, his expression softening a bit. But then he realized another issue and asked, "Then what about after she put it on?"


    "After the female lead went back to her room and changed into her own clothes, she returned it," the system replied, exasperated by his detailed questioning.


    Xue Chenjing pursued further, "Did he wear it again after it was returned? Is it the one I''m wearing now?"


    System: "...Yes, he did."


    Xue Chenjing pulled up his cor and sniffed, no wonder he could smell Yu Yi''s fragrance. He sneered, his face full of contempt: "What a pervert."


    System: "..." Wait, can you rify who''s more perverted here?


    Xue Chenjing carefully examined each task Xue Mingyuan hadpleted, demanding detailed exnations from the system for each item before he was satisfied. He even discovered the missing ten points and, upon hearing from the system that Xue Mingyuan had exchanged these ten points for fireworks, he remained silent for a moment, unusually not flying into a rage.


    The system secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    The glowing text on the panel in front of him faded and disappeared into thin air. Suddenly, Xue Chenjing said, "Bring out that wine of yours."


    It took the system a moment to understand he was referring to the Passionate Love Wine. Its host often had such sudden whims, and although the system didn''t know what he was nning this time, it still obediently exchanged it for him.


    A sh of white light appeared in the void, and a bottle of grape wine fell out of it. Xue Chenjing grabbed the wine bottle and viciously smashed it against a protruding brick nearby.


    The system said painfully, "Master, that bottle of wine was very precious!"


    The items in this beginner''s gift pack may seem ordinary, but because it''s a universal package suitable for all alternate worlds - from divine realms to post-apocalyptic survival scenarios - it can be effective no matter where it''s used.


    The host''s performancest night proved this point.


    The items in the beginner''s pack are one-time use only and can''t be replenished from the system store. He just smashed that bottle of wine - if he needs itter, he won''t be able to find it again!


    Xue Chenjing waspletely oblivious to the system''s feelings. As the red liquid sshed out, he crushed the bottle and swiftly retreated, not letting a single drop touch him.


    Before the rich, sweet scent of wine could reach his nostrils, he cautiously hurried away, disappearing into the market area.


    The red liquid pooled in the depressions on the ground, but didn''t seep into the soil. Instead, under the sunlight, it quickly evaporated and dissipated into the air.


    Meanwhile, Yu Yi returned to the front of the Unmasked Tower, where many cultivators had gathered to demand an exnation from the management.


    Although everyone was curious about the cause of this incident, more importantly, they wanted to reim their lost spirit stones.


    Yu Yi hid among the crowd, listening to the cultivators'' discussions nearby. "...It was Pei Jingchao from the Lishan Sword Sect. I saw his sword at the Nine Provinces Dharma Assembly. His one strike split half the street and injured quite a few people."


    "I heard he was chasing a demonic cultivator?" Some cultivators expressed understanding. "If it was to capture a demonic cultivator, causing such amotion is somewhat understandable."


    Another person added, "I didn''t see any demonic cultivator, but I saw those Lishan Sword Sect cultivators running around everywhere. Wherever they appeared, chaos would suddenly break out."


    "Regardless, I must find someone to get back the spirit stones I lost. It took me a long time to save those up."


    "Who isn''t in the same boat? I was nning to use those spirit stones to upgrade my talisman brush."


    All the cultivators who suffered losses gathered outside the Unmasked Tower, demanding an exnation.


    Shen Qingzhi was at his wit''s end. Of course, he wouldn''t be foolish enough to take all the responsibility upon himself. After all, this incident was ultimately caused by Pei Jingchao. Pei Jingchao also understood that he couldn''t shirk his responsibility; if he tried to avoid it now, he would offend Shen Qingzhi instead.


    The two sat together, discussing countermeasures with grave expressions.


    Shen Qingzhi said, "Fortunately, the secret realm was sealed in the end, preventing irreparable consequences. We can negotiate with the various sects'' managerster regarding the damages to the shops inside the tower. But for today, we need topensate these independent cultivators for some of their lost spirit stones."


    After all, if it weren''t for all the cultivators'' joint efforts, today''s disaster couldn''t have been resolved so smoothly.


    Pei Jingchao nodded, "This incident indeed urred due to myck of caution. I acted rashly without thoroughly investigating the opponent''s strength, causing such turmoil. Lishan Sword Sect is willing to bear the losses of the Unmasked Tower this time."


    However, the Demon-Eating Butterfly''s reaction also made Pei Jingchao certain that Xue Chenjing was indeed the demon controller. He had faced off against him twice now. During their encounter at the weapon forging tform, he had attributed his defeat to his own emotional instability upon suddenly seeing Yu Yi.


    But this time, it made him realize that his opponent''s strength was not to be underestimated. Although he knew Xue Chenjing was the demon controller, he had failed to find any solid evidence and had lost the Demon-Eating Butterfly. For now, he didn''t dare to act rashly again.


    Seeing that he was so cooperative, Shen Qingzhi''s eyes showed a hint of satisfaction. However, since the Unmasked Tower was ultimately backed by the Zhaohua Pce, it wouldn''t be appropriate to let the Lishan Sword Sect bear all the responsibility.


    Moreover, Pei Jingchao was set to be the next head of the Lishan Sword Sect in the future. What harm was there in earning his goodwill?


    Shen Qingzhi patted his shoulder, "Sigui, don''t me yourself too much. I also bear responsibility for this matter. The Unmasked Tower suffered significant losses today. If Lishan were to bear it all, you might have trouble exining it to Sect Leader Juechen Zi when you return. How about this: let''s each take on half the responsibility."


    Pei Jingchao raised his hands in a salute, bowing deeply in gratitude, "Thank you, Senior Brother Shen."


    Shen Qingzhi reached out, using his folding fan to lift Pei Jingchao''s elbow, "We''ve been good friends for many years. If you continue to be so formal, Sigui, I might get angry."


    The two then discussed in detail how topensate the independent cultivators outside. Of course, they couldn''t allow the cultivators to name their own price for their losses, otherwise, if someone were to make exorbitant demands, wouldn''t they be at a disadvantage?


    After lengthy deliberation, they finally agreed topensate each independent cultivator with three thousand spirit stones.


    When this decision was announced, it naturally caused dissatisfaction among many. However, the Unmasked Tower''s stance was firm: regardless of actual losses, each person would only receive three thousand spirit stones. They also suggested that all cultivators should seek out the true culprit who set up the formation.


    But when people asked for clues about the formation setter, they couldn''t provide any substantial information. It was unclear whether they truly knew nothing or if there were other hidden factors at y.


    Yu Yi listened silently, guessing that they probably couldn''t produce any concrete evidence. Otherwise, they would have seized this opportunity to hunt down the demonic cultivator.


    Most of the independent cultivators outside were well aware that the Zhaohua Pce backed the Unmasked Tower, and all twelve major sects had shops within it. The Unmasked Tower was jointly controlled by the twelve major sects.


    People didn''t dare to sh head-on with the major sects, so in the end, they epted this resolution.


    Everyone lined up outside the Unmasked Tower, waiting for the distribution of spirit stones. The sun was setting, painting the sky with a rich, crimson glow. The evening breeze carried a faint, sweet scent.


    It was the season of blooming flowers, so no one paid much attention to the fragrance in the wind.


    Cultivators have far better self-control than ordinary people. It wasn''t until everyone had received their spirit stones and dispersed that they noticed something odd about the atmosphere in Yinzhou City.


    The flowers along the roadside were blooming extraordinarily vibrantly, clustering thickly on every branch. Even plum blossoms, which shouldn''t bloom in this season, had burst into full bloom on entire trees. It seemed as if flowers from all seasons had decided to bloom on this day, filling the city with a riot of falling petals.


    The sounds of cats in heat echoed through every corner of the city. Brightly feathered birds performed strange mating dances. Every three steps, one could see a pair of dogs on top of each other, and every five steps, a pair of embracing mortals.


    Of course, there were also groups of four or five hugging each other.


    When did Yinzhou City''s atmosphere be so open? Yu Yi marveled all the way. The citizens of Yinzhou City had just experienced such chaos, yet they still had the mood for such intimacy?


    Seeing couples, trios, and quartets all over the streets, with the air seemingly permeated by the sour smell of love, all the cultivators wore dumbfounded expressions.


    Some people sensed something was amiss and went to the city gates to burn incense and summon the two door god generals to investigate the situation. Golden light shot out from the city gate, condensing into two majestic warrior deities in mid-air.


    The ethereal images of the warrior deities hovered above Yinzhou City for a long time. In the end, they too embraced each other.


    Yu Yi: "???" She looked down and saw a pair of cultivators unconsciously embracing nearby, frightening her into taking a step back.


    The two seemed to have been infected by the city''s atmosphere and were now confessing their feelings to each other. The female cultivator''s face was flushed red, her eyes brimming with emotion as she timidly said, "Se-senior brother, I''ve actually admired you for a long time."


    The senior brother''s eyes widened, his face instantly turning red, with veins bulging on his neck. He was so excited that his tongue got tied, "I-I-I-I-I feel the same way."


    Then the two embraced and disappeared between the buildings in a streak of intertwining light.


    Yu Yi''s mind vaguely echoed with a voice ¡ª Spring has arrived, all things are awakening. The great grasnds have once again entered the mating season for animals...


    No, this is really strange!


    She looked around quickly, then swiftly averted her gaze, focusing on keeping her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart as she ran towards the inn. When Senior Crane tried to poke his head out, she forcefully pushed him back into her pouch.


    Outside Yinzhou City, Xue Chenjing found a ce where he had previously buried treasure in the area. He broke the seal and collected the items into his storage bag. The formation set by the Unmasked Tower had drained his own spirit stones, so to repay Yu Yi, he had toe and retrieve these.


    When he returned to Yinzhou City, the two door god generals guarding the city were somehow at odds and fighting each other, too preupied to verify his identity.


    Xue Chenjing passed through the gate tower and walked for a while before quickly noticing the abnormalities in the city. It was truly an eyesore. "What''s going on? Why is everyone acting so strangely?"


    The system replied: "They''re just being a bit more intimate, what''s strange about that?"


    "They''re practically mating in the streets. Isn''t that strange?" Xue Chenjing was both disgusted and bewildered. Do humans really enjoy clinging to each other and nuzzling so much?


    The system finally sensed something was amiss and carefully scanned the air in Yinzhou City. It cried out in rm, "Oh no, it''s the scent of the Passionate Love Potion. Master, the liquid from the bottle you shattered has evaporated!"


    Xue Chenjing froze for a moment, then his form blurred into a shadow as he sprinted towards the inn. The main hall waspletely empty, with neither waiters nor the innkeeper in sight. Even before entering, Xue Chenjing could hear his crane senior''s cries from outside.


    He leapt up to the second floor and kicked open the door to his crane senior''s room. Inside, he saw the red-crowned crane with its wings spread wide, neck arched, beak constantly opening and closing with a tapping sound, asionally throwing its head back to let out a loud cry. It was fluttering around and circling a bamboo sword standing upright on the table.


    When the door was kicked open, Yu Yi alertly stood up, a talisman already between her fingers. Seeing it was him, she sat back down, continuing to rest her chin on her hand while watching the crane senior with resignation.


    Xue Chenjing entered the room and asked in confusion, "What is it doing?"


    Yu Yi sighed, "Mating dance."


    Xue Chenjing was forced to press himself against the door by the crane senior''s wild dance, only able to look at Yu Yi through the gaps in its fluttering feathers, assessing her condition.


    After sitting down, Yu Yi''s whole body rxed in a way she had never done before in his presence. Her clear eyes were slightly unfocused, as if covered by a morning mist.


    When the crane senior folded its wings for a moment, her gaze fell on his face and remained fixed there.


    Xue Chenjing touched his face in confusion, wondering if he had gotten dirty while digging for spirit stones. He immediately wanted to go to the inner room''s dressing table to look in the mirror.


    However, Yu Yi suddenly beckoned to him, "Ah Qiu,e here."


    Xue Chenjing looked at the dressing table, then back at Yu Yi, hesitating. Seeing Yu Yi frown impatiently, he immediately said, "Alright," and quickly walked around the crane senior to her side. "Master, what is it?"


    He was very tall and slender. Standing in front of her, Yu Yi had to look up at him, which made her ufortable.


    She reached out and grabbed his sleeve, pulling him down. Xue Chenjing didn''t understand but bent over following her force.


    As he bent down, Yu Yi put her hand on his shoulder, pressing him until he was almost kneeling on the ground. Only when this beautiful face was slightly looking up at her did she finally smile with satisfaction.


    Yu Yi raised her hand, her fingertips sliding from his shoulder to the side of his face, barely touching his skin, slowly moving upwards, gently caressing the upturned corners of his eyes. She praised, "This angle is the best. I like you looking at me like this, and I like looking at you like this."


    Xue Chenjing was half-kneeling on the ground, trembling slightly at her feather-light caress, but the expression on his face gradually lost its docility, revealing an irrepressible anger between his brows.


    His fingers were tightly clenched inside his sleeve, his whole body tense, like a beast crouching low, waiting for the moment to pounce on its prey. He took two deep, heavy breaths.


    But he didn''t like this humiliating and submissive posture.

 Chapter 42

    Little did Xue Chenjing know that this was merely the beginning, and there were many more humiliations awaiting him tonight.


    Yu Yi''s fingertips lightly touched his cheek, not fully pressed against his skin. Only the slightest heat from her fingertips, like being tickled by the softest feather, spread a tingling sensation that quickly turned into an undeniable burning.


    The fine hairs on Xue Chenjing''s cheeks all stood on end, and goosebumps rose from his face down to his neck. A rosy color seeped through his porcin-white skin, especially in his eyes, which were misty and pitifully red at the corners.


    Such a sensitive reaction greatly diminished his normally unyielding demeanor. He was like a dog forced to expose its belly for petting, snarling and growling on one hand, yet unable to control its tail wagging in pleasure on the other.


    Xue Chenjing deeply hated his own reaction. He raised his hand to grip Yu Yi''s wrist tightly, his knuckles turning white. After a moment of struggle between pushing her away and pressing her palm to his face, he finally chose to forcefully press her hand against his cheek.


    As her palm finally made full contact, the warm body heat instantly permeated his senses. Xue Chenjing closed his eyes contentedly, nuzzling into her palm twice to relieve the skin''s craving, before immediately pushing her hand away.


    He stood up and stepped back, wariness hidden in his gaze. "Are you sober now?"


    Could she have gone into heat like the people outside?


    Xue Chenjing nced at Crane Senior Brother, who was still enthusiastically performing a mating dance nearby, then looked back at Yu Yi. He recalled the scenes he had witnessed since entering the city and imagined if she were to embrace him intimately like that. It wouldn''t be so bad, as long as she didn''t deliberately torment him like before.


    Just thinking about it made his breathing quicken and his heart race with excitement.


    "Master," Xue Chenjing called out ingratiatingly, moving closer and offering his face to her hand. "Go ahead and touch me. Touch me some more."


    He now somewhat regretted destroying that rabbit mask.


    However, to his surprise, when he offered himself, Yu Yi retreated in disgust. She rubbed her wrist, slowly furrowing her brow, and looked up at him, seeming to be deep in thought.


    His face was very handsome, and his reactions were quite pleasing to her, but he was disobedient and had hurt her wrist.


    Her gaze wavered between rity and haziness, very different from usual. The unfocused look in her eyes made her appear much softer, with a hint of annoyance from the pain in her wrist.


    Xue Chenjing felt increasingly agitated under her appraising gaze, as if she were evaluating merchandise. He tried to lower his stance and exined, "Master, I didn''t mean to. Did it really hurt? You can hit me if you want."


    Yu Yi stared at him for a long time before finally making a decision. She didn''t want a disobedient dog, so she said, "You can go now."


    Her cold tone was like a needle piercing through all the agitation Xue Chenjing had been suppressing. He sprang to his feet and lunged at her angrily, his fingers nearly touching her shoulder.


    His figurepletely overshadowed her. With just a light push, he could pin her to the bed, trapping her between his arms.


    But Xue Chenjing saw Yu Yi''s eyes suddenly clear as she faced the threat, filled with the same wariness towards him as always.


    The Green Bamboo Sword on the table hummed softly, sword energy leaking from its cracks and suddenly surging, nearly burning Crane Senior Brother''s wings.


    Xue Chenjing abruptly withdrew his hand and quickly retreated, as agitated as a vicious dog forced back into its cage, colliding everywhere, unable to find an outlet for his emotions.


    He growled in a low voice, "What exactly do you want? What do I have to do? After evaluating me, you still think it''s better to throw me away, is that it? Why can you ept Xue Mingyuan? Is he really that good? Am I really that detestable?"


    "You just called out for Ah Qiu, you clearly called for me."


    "Ah Qiu, Qiu." Xue Chenjingughed, his eyes bloodshot. "My courtesy name doesn''te from some ''dragon in the southern mountain pool.'' It''s just because his name is Mingyuan, and they missed him so much, so they gave me the courtesy name Qiu."


    "Do you miss him too? Do you also want me to turn back into him? Is that the only way you''d like me a little more?"


    "I won''t let you see him again. Even if you all like him, even if you miss him and want to see him so badly, I won''t let hime out again!"


    Yu Yi raised her hands to press against her buzzing ears. She knew she wasn''t entirely clear-headed right now.


    She had also been affected by the unusual atmosphere in the city. The dopamine in her body must be overproducing, making her heart race and her mind clouded with love, to the point where even watching Xue Chenjing throw a tantrum in front of her seemed somewhat cute.


    She heard what he said, but her sluggish brain couldn''t analyze the meaning behind his words. Her gaze kept being drawn to his constantly moving lips and his reddened eyes.


    He was just too noisy. Why was he so noisy?


    Yu Yi couldn''t help but scold, "Xue Chenjing, shut up."


    Xue Chenjing froze for a moment, pressing his lips tightly together. But after less than a moment of silence, he defiantly opened his mouth again, "I''m not leaving. I don''t want to go. You''re not normal right now, neither is Crane Senior Brother. I can stay here to protect you both."


    "You''re so noisy. You''re giving me a headache," Yu Yi said with disdain as she sat on the edge of the bed with her knees drawn up, both hands covering her ears.


    Xue Chenjing suddenly closed his mouth and didn''t speak again. He stared at her with his pitch-ck eyes, like deep wells, feeling both resentful and angry.


    He was noisy? Could he possibly be noisier than that stupid bird cackling next to them?


    She just didn''t like him, that''s all. So everything he did was wrong.


    Yu Yi kept her ears covered as she stared back at him, watching him breathe angrily, wanting to speak but unable to. He paced back and forth in the room like Crane Senior Brother, except Crane Senior Brother was strutting with his tail feathers raised, trying hard to show off, while Xue Chenjing was just angry.


    But Yu Yi wouldn''tfort him. She didn''t have the same indulgence and patience for him as she did for Crane Senior Brother.


    The system felt truly sorry for its host and advised him in an extremely gentle voice, "Master, the female lead must also be affected by the Passionate Love Wine. Why don''t you just go along with her a bit? She even called you over and touched you on her own initiative earlier. That''s so rare."


    "If she touches you more and has more physical contact with you, her favorability will surely increase."


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes briefly, trying his best to calm his breathing. That''s right, he was only trying to win her over. There was really no need to get so angry because of her. Whatever Xue Mingyuan could do, he could do too. He could please her as well.


    After a long while, he finally managed to calm himself down. He cautiously walked over and sat down on the floor by her bed, his back against the edge of the bed. He said in a muffled voice, "Alright, I won''t make noise anymore. You go to sleep. I''ll keep an eye on Crane Senior Brother for you."


    Yu Yi tilted her head in thought, then hugged her pillow andy down facing outward. Him sitting like this must be deliberately inviting her to touch him, right? It''s fine, she was in a good mood today and willing to grant him some extra points.


    She remembered that touching his face was worth ten points, which she had already done.


    What about other ces? Fifteen points? Yu Yi reached out to brush back his hair, her fingertipsnding on the nape of his neck.


    Xue Chenjing''s whole body trembled. He instinctively wanted to turn his head to look at her, but then remembered her evaluating gaze, as if appraising merchandise. He didn''t want to see that look again, so he turned his head to the other side, presenting the back of his head to her.


    Yu Yi didn''t mind. She stroked his neck for a while, watching as his neck and ears turnedpletely red. Then she pulled out his ponytail, spread his hair out on the bed to y with, braiding it into various sizes of its and inserting her favorite vermilion hairpins into his hair.


    Xue Chenjing remained still and didn''t turn to look at her, allowing her to do as she pleased, as if sulking.


    A soft voice came from behind his ear, warm breath brushing against it, saying, "Ah Qiu, stretch out your pseudo-feet."


    Xue Chenjing hunched his shoulders and remained silent for a long time before finally speaking up, "Didn''t you find them disgusting?"


    A drawn-out nasal sound came from behind, "Mmm..."


    Xue Chenjingughed coldly, "If they''re so disgusting, why ask me to bring them out?"


    "Mmm, after looking at them for a while, they''re actually not that disgusting," Yu Yi said slowly.


    Xue Chenjing raised his eyes, ncing sideways, catching sight of her fingertips ying with a strand of hair in his peripheral vision. After hesitating for a long time, he slowly extended a tentacle and gently touched her hand.


    Yu Yi felt the cool, damp sensation on the back of her hand and reflexively grasped the invisible tentacle. Its icy coolness was just right to soothe the ufortable heat in her heart.


    Xue Chenjing narrowed his eyes, feeling her embrace his tentacle with both hands, kneading it like dough, before finally pulling it into her arms.


    The scent of her body washed over his senses like ocean waves. Xue Chenjing controlled his breathing, his fingers clenched tightly, nearly tearing his clothes. She always had so many ways to torment him.


    Yu Yi held it for a while, warming it up until the transparent flesh took on a reddish tinge. She then pushed it away, saying, "Give me another one."


    Xue Chenjing: "..." That tentacle was suddenly abandoned, still trying to cling on, but Xue Chenjing forcibly retracted it and reced it with another.


    Throughout the night, Yu Yi took turns hugging all of his tentacles, even attempting to braid them, nearly tying them into knots.


    Crane Senior Brother finally tired of dancing and copsed on the table, hugging the Green Bamboo Sword with his wings as he fell asleep. The two people by the bed also grew still.


    The system was left speechless. Such a good opportunity, and the host just let Yu Yi sleep while hugging his tentacles. The bottle of passion wine had been wasted.


    Xue Chenjing slept veryfortably that night. The warmth constantly transmitted through his tentacles to his senses, a familiar softness and fragrance. Midway through the night, he lost his bnce and fell to the ground, but didn''t wake up.


    The next day, as dawn broke.


    Noise filtered in through the window, and Yu Yi''s eyes snapped open. She exhaled a long breath, feeling the confusion of a hangover. It took a while for her mind to clear, and she became aware of a strange constricting sensation on her body.


    Startled, she tried to sit up by pushing with her hands, but failed. Looking down at herself, she vaguely saw something semi-transparent coiled tightly around her body like snakes in the dim morning light.


    Seeing such a sight first thing in the morning was truly like a horror story.


    She struggled to free her hand, pulling away the tentacle wrapped around her chest, then kicking off the one across her legs. She red angrily at the person on the floor beside the bed, now understanding why she had slept so ufortably.


    "Xue Chenjing!"


    Yu Yi kicked a pillow down at him. Xue Chenjing woke with a start, first seeing Crane Senior Brother''s sharp beak nearly poking his face - it had rolled off the table onto the floor in its sleep.


    Xue Chenjing sat up, his eyes still clouded with sleep, his mind not yet clear.


    "Xue Chenjing, retract all of these things!"


    Hearing Yu Yi''s angry voice, he turned his head in confusion. The disheveled figure on the bed caught his eye, and Xue Chenjing rubbed his eyes before opening them wide to look again.


    Yu Yi forcefully pulled at her clothes to cover the marks on her body, her cheeks flushed red. She grabbed one of the tentacles and bit down on it.


    Xue Chenjing let out a pained "Ow!" as he jumped up from the ground. The tentacles all over the bed quickly retracted, disappearing into thin air.


    Yu Yi wiped her mouth. "Awake now?"


    Being bitten first thing in the morning certainly woke Xue Chenjing up, and put him in a foul mood. He put his hands behind his back, secretly rubbing the tentacle she had bitten.


    Last night she had yed with him, calling him "A-Qiu" and saying his tentacles were cute. Now, after waking up, she coldly called him Xue Chenjing again and even bit him.


    Seeing him standing there like a resentful spirit early in the morning, Yu Yi gestured to lower the bed curtains and shooed him away, "Get out, I need to change clothes."


    Xue Chenjing let out an exasperated huff and turned to leave, but heard her say, "Take Crane Senior Brother with you too."


    He paused for a moment, heaved a deep sigh, and stooped down to pick up the drooling crane, swallowing his pride.


    Behind the bed curtains, Yu Yi propped her head on one hand, trying hard to recall what ridiculous things she had donest night. In the end, she realized that apart from actively hugging Xue Chenjing''s tentacles, they hadn''t done anything too outrageous.


    She btedly remembered Xue Chenjing''s angry confessionst night and muttered quietly, "A-Qiu, Qiu."


    He had clearly said before that his father had chosen his name from that poem, but now he said it wasn''t true. It was hard to know which of his words were true.


    Not knowing what was true or false, she decided to treat it all as false. When it came to Xue Chenjing, it was best to view him with the worst perspective possible.


    Yu Yi shook her head, pushing these stray thoughts out of her mind, refusing to delve deeper.


    She cast a cleaning spell on herself, put on her clothes, wrote a note and ced it in the small basket by the door, then rang the bell to call for an attendant.


    Half an hourter, the attendant brought the hot water she had requested.


    Yu Yi stayed in the room and thoroughly washed herself before applying fragrant ointment and getting dressed to go downstairs.


    In the main hall, Crane Senior Brother had already finished eight tes of fish. Xue Chenjing had been waiting impatiently for her toe down for breakfast, but thinking of the tasks she hadpleted with Xue Mingyuan, he restrained himself.


    Afterst night, Yu Yi''s favorability had indeed increased, now reaching thirty percent. Thinking that this increase in favorability must be because of him, Xue Chenjing''s mood improved significantly, and he no longer dwelled on her biting him.


    He asked the system to bring up the hundred-day conquest n, proudly wanting to check off the "sleeping together" item. But no matter how he tapped, the light screen didn''t respond.


    He asked inwardly, "What''s going on? Why can''t I check it off?"


    The system had to remind him, "Master, you slept on the floor beside the female lead''s bedst night. At most, you shared the floor with Crane Senior Brother."


    Xue Chenjing nced at the crane tilting its head back to swallow fish, and said angrily, "My tentacles were on the bed, and they''re a part of me."


    The system considered this and felt it made some sense. It reassessed the task and allowed him to check it off.


    The panel suddenly lit up, showering him with a handful of flowers. It praised him for setting a record on the third day of the hundred-day conquest n, calling him a natural at conquest.


    The system quickly closed the panel because its host would indeed be very proud!


    Xue Chenjing stroked Crane Senior Brother, unable to stop the corners of his mouth from turning up.


    Crane Senior Brother, confused by the petting: "Gah?"


    When Yu Yi sat down at the table, she gave a strange look at Xue Chenjing''s once again cheerful expression. The morning light nted in through the window, enveloping him. His face was half in light, half in shadow, making his nose look even straighter.


    Those pitch-ck eyes, under the sun''s illumination, finally shed their darkness, revealing a transparent amber color.


    "These have all gotten a bit cold. I''ll ask them to bring fresh ones," Xue Chenjing said, pushing the cooled breakfast items towards Crane Senior Brother, who pecked at them without hesitation.


    Xue Chenjing ordered some new dishes for her, all things she liked to eat.


    Finally, the waiter brought over a bowl of egg custard, steamed with milk and eggs, with an extrayer of caramelized sugar on top, emanating a sweet fragrance. Yu Yi took a spoonful and tasted it, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes showed a hint of pride. Adding extra sugar had indeed been the right choice. He waited for Yu Yi to finish the custard, then took out a storage pouch and ced it on the table. "Two hundred thousand spirit stones, to pay you back."


    Yu Yi licked her lips. "The Unmasked Tower has alreadypensated me three thousand."


    Xue Chenjing waved it off dismissively, putting on an air of generosity. "Theirpensation is theirs, mine is mine."


    Since he put it that way, Yu Yi naturally didn''t stand on ceremony with him. After all, she had many uses for spirit stones.


    Looking out the window, there weren''t many passersby on the street. Yinzhou City was much quieter today, with many shops still closed. The atmosphere was somewhat strange; just during the time it took to eat breakfast, Yu Yi saw several pairs of entangled pedestrians walk by.


    Last night''s blooming of a hundred flowers and stirring of spring emotions had brought joy to some and sorrow to others. Everyone was still trying toe to terms with it.


    However, the mortals here were clearly more resilient and worldly-wise. After all, with so many cultivatorsing and going through Yinzhou City, strange urrences were not umon. Take yesterday''s rift above the Unmasked Tower - it looked frightening at the time, but once it was over, it became just another topic of daily conversation.


    At another table in the hall, diners were discussing the damage to the city''s buildings, nning to report their losses to the city patrol and seekpensation from the Unmasked Tower.


    Yu Yi nced at Xue Chenjing, not wanting to mention the events of the previous night. She silently finished her breakfast and returned to her room to organize the materials for tempering her sword. Fortunately, before the Unmasked Tower was destroyed yesterday, she had already purchased all the necessary materials.


    Carrying Crane Senior Brother, she left for the forge in the southern part of the city. Yinzhou City saw many cultivatorsing and going, and numerous sects had established facilities there.


    This particr forge was a branch of the me Splendor Sect, which specialized in artifact refinement, called the Pure me Pavilion. The southern part of the city had fewer residents, mostly consisting of workshops. The forge''s location there meant that even if a furnace exploded, it would affect fewer people.


    The Pure me Pavilion upied a vast area, with cylindrical buildings reminiscent of Hakka earth buildings. Each building housed a forging furnace, rented at a rate of 300 spirit stones per day for standard furnaces and 500 spirit stones for premium ones.


    Besides furnaces, the Pure me Pavilion also provided spiritual fire for artifact refinement, which required additional spirit stones to purchase.


    Upon arriving at the forge and dismounting from Crane Senior Brother, Yu Yi noticed Xue Chenjing following her. She said resignedly, "I''m going to the forge to temper my sword. It might take over ten days. Do you intend to follow me inside as well?"


    Even if he wanted to, Yu Yi was reluctant to allow it. The presence of others during sword tempering could affect the purity of her de. Even Crane Senior Brother had to be sealed in a pouch with talismans.


    Of course, she could entrust Crane Senior Brother to Xue Chenjing, but Yu Yi didn''t trust him enough yet.


    Xue Chenjing pondered for a moment before pressing, "Ten days or so?"


    "It depends on my progress. If things go smoothly, it might take about ten days. If not, it could take up to a month."


    Xue Chenjing reluctantly conceded, "Alright, I''ll wait for you outside then."


    Despite saying this, he still followed Yu Yi, watching her pay the spirit stones and rent a premium furnace before entering one of the open-air earth buildings.


    As her figure disappeared behind the door, the formation activated, sealing off the building.


    Xue Chenjing lingered outside for a while. With nothing else to do, he decided to return and cause some trouble for Pei Jingchao and Shen Qingzhi.


    He came to the Pure me Pavilion every day, circling Yu Yi''s furnace building to sense the familiar sword fire inside before leaving reassured.


    Observing his daily back-and-forth, the system kindly suggested, "Master, the female protagonist said she''d be out in over ten days. You don''t need toe check every day."


    Xue Chenjing remained cautious, "What if she finishes tempering early and runs off? Are you nning to scream inside my head again?"


    The system replied, "Master, why don''t you just leave a surveince bug here?"


    Xue Chenjing: "..."

 Chapter 43

    Xue Chenjing pondered for a moment, then surprisingly agreed, "You have a point."


    He turned back to the main hall of the Pure me Pavilion, took out some spirit stones to rent a forging tower very close to Yu Yi''s, and obtained the token to enter the tower before returning.


    Using the token, Xue Chenjing entered the tower. As soon as he walked in, he saw a massive forging furnace made of heavy iron standing in the center of the courtyard. The furnace was almost as tall as the surrounding high walls. Since it hadn''t been lit yet, the furnace body felt cold to the touch, and there was no trace of heat in the tower.


    The top of the furnace was built like a small pavilion, with openings on all four sides for adding tempering materials. The dome on top resembled a regr pavilion roof, but with an even gentler slope.


    Xue Chenjing leaped onto the furnace and leaned against the highest point. From here, he could see the fluctuating mes above Yu Yi''s furnace.


    Hey down on the spot, hands behind his head, one foot bent and the other resting on his knee, casually wiggling his toes. "This spot is perfect."


    Judging by his posture, he had essentially turned himself into a surveince bug, intending to keep watch personally.


    Compared to before, when he wouldn''t have cared if the female lead ran away, his current behavior was truly gratifying to the system. However, in the system''s view, his actions didn''t actually provide any substantial help in progressing the courtship mission.


    More importantly, this ce cost 500 spirit stones a day! The host had rented a high-grade forging furnace just to lie on it and sleep. It would have been better to spend these spirit stones on the female lead, trying to win her favor.


    However, Xue Chenjing wasn''t solely renting the furnace to sleep on it. Although he had sessively retrieved the missing civilian fire and tailbone from his body, he had been busy with the task of pursuing Yu Yi and hadn''t had time to fully integrate them with himself.


    Taking advantage of this opportunity, he decided to seclude himself for cultivation and properly enhance his fragile body.


    Although Xue Chenjing had given Pei Jingchao and his group a warning at the Wuzhe Tower, preventing them from making any big moves in the short term as they couldn''t gauge his strength, they hadn''t given up on keeping tabs on him.


    To his knowledge, the me Splendor Sect, which the Pure me Pavilion belonged to, didn''t have a good rtionship with the Lishan Sword Sect. Although the Twelve Immortal Sects appeared harmonious on the surface, united in their mission to protect righteousness in the world, they were not actually a monolithic block.


    After the fall of the Ji Family, the resources of the cultivation world flowed into the hands of the three great families who were originally retainers of the Ji Family. Over time, this developed into the current structure of the Twelve Immortal Sects.


    Among the twelve major immortal sects, eight had intricate connections with those three great families. The remaining four sects wereter risers, and to resist the encroachment of the family forces, they had allied with each other.


    The me Splendor Sect was one of these, so there would absolutely be no spies from Lishan or Zhaohua Pce in the Pure me Pavilion. Xue Chenjing, staying within the barrier of this furnace, would be much safer and more peaceful.


    The zing heat made the sky above the Pure me Pavilion often clear and cloudless, with asional anomalies shing in the sky after cultivators opened their furnaces.


    In the forging tower, Yu Yi only saw the rotation of the sun and moon. asionally, when the mes in the furnace were too intense, she couldn''t distinguish between day and night, and had long lost track of the passage of time outside.


    When thirsty, she would drink some spirit spring water; when hungry, she would take a fasting pill. She had to control her sword fire at all times and had hardly closed her eyes to rest.


    The sword fire in the furnace finally melted the remaining seven high-grade spirit swords. The furnace in the courtyard was burned red-hot by the blue mes. In the center of the huge fire chamber, a green bamboo sword hovered.


    Lightning coiled around the green bamboo sword, surrounded by seven spirit swords of different shapes. Now, the forms of those spirit swords were gradually melting, transforming into flowing golden light and merging into the central green bamboo sword.


    The green bamboo sword began to take on a metallic luster. The sword body was tempered into a material that seemed both wooden and non-wooden, with sword chimes echoing inside the furnace.


    Suddenly, a line of white light shot out from the sword hilt, descending vertically along the center seam of the de inch by inch. The golden light flowing from the surrounding spirit swords converged into this white line in the center seam, like rivers flowing into the sea.


    Yu Yi sat next to the furnace, her hands forming seals, urging on the sword fire within. At the same time, a vertical white line appeared between her eyebrows.


    The sword intent around her body resonated with the green bamboo sword in the furnace, and the vertical mark between her eyebrows seemed to burn with me.


    The sword fire enveloping the de underwent a subtle change due to this white line. The blue sword light seemed to be purified, its color gradually lightening. The overflowing sharp aura was instantly drawn back, returning to the center seam of the de, its edge sheathed.


    For sword cultivators, the sword realm begins with cultivating sword energy, then building a sword foundation. When sword energy condenses into a sharp edge, it''s known as the unsheathed realm. Yu Yi had previously been stuck at the unsheathed sword realm, which is why her sword would be enveloped in blue mes and lightning when drawn.


    The next realm up is concealing the edge within the sword. When drawing the sword, one can either release sword fire or hide the sharp edge, returning to a state of primordial simplicity.


    It''s like how some great sword masters can make a seemingly ordinary strike, without any visible lightning or flowing light, yet cause the winds and clouds to change, splitting mountains and seas. This kind of edge-concealing sword technique allows for more precise control of one''s sword energy and is not easily seen through by opponents.


    Of course, Yu Yi had just entered this sword realm and was far from being able to split mountains and seas with a single strike.


    The newly transformed green bamboo sword hung in the furnace. Its body still had a in wooden color, but the de also had a metallic sheen, concealing its sharp edge within its rustic appearance. The white vertical line in the center seam was particrly eye-catching.


    The crane sword spirit emerged from the cracked old sword, spread its wings and flew up, plunging into the suspended long sword. The old sword scattered into dust, its flowing light adorning the crane''s tail feathers as it disappeared into the new sword.


    It seemed the sword spirit quite liked its new home.


    Yu Yi opened her eyes, about to withdraw the sword fire and open the furnace to summon the sword, when she saw the long sword in the furnace suddenly begin to tremble. The sword spirit emerged from the top of the long sword and spread its wings, perching on the sword hilt.


    The white line in the center seam of the de suddenly red brightly, spewing out mes so intense they were white. The white mes instantly licked up the sword spirit''s feathers, enveloping its entire body.


    Yu Yi was shocked and hurriedly formed a sword seal to try to suppress the sword fire, but it was already toote. Half of the crane''s body had dissolved in the fire. It raised its head and let out a long cry, its wings wrapped in burning sword fire as it flew out of the furnace.


    By the time it swooped down in front of Yu Yi, the sword spirit''s form hadpletely dissolved in the mes. She raised her hand to catch it, but only a fiery red feather fell from the mes.


    The feathernded on her forehead, and Yu Yi felt a pain between her eyebrows. Her consciousness blurred for a moment.


    A cold wind brushed against her face, suddenly sweeping in from the heat wave. The chill raised goosebumps on Yu Yi''s skin, and she abruptly opened her eyes, surprised to find that she had somehow left the forging tower.


    She was now sitting on the back of the crane, soaring through the sky. The immortal crane spread its wings, carrying her through a thinyer of clouds towards a towering green mountain in the distance.


    Yu Yi looked around, then down at the crane beneath her, calling out, "Senior Crane? Where are we going? Wasn''t I tempering my sword in the furnace?"


    But when her gaze fell on the crane''s long neck, she immediately recognized that it wasn''t Senior Crane, and eximed excitedly, "It''s the sword spirit! Sword spirit, you''re alright? That''s wonderful, I thought I had made a mistake while tempering and you had disappeared."


    The crane sword spirit turned its head back and cried out to her, suddenly folding its wings and diving towards the mist-shrouded mountains below.


    Yu Yi was buffeted by the fierce wind, unable to keep her eyes open, her sleeves fluttering loudly in the gale. The crane plunged into the mountain mists, emerging momentster from the other side of the clouds.


    The scene before her suddenly opened up, revealing a cliff. On the cliff stood a slender figure, poised against the wind, a long sword slung across their back. The figure raised their head to look at her.


    For a moment, Yu Yi thought she had returned to the bamboo grove secret realm, stumbling into the painting that hung in the center of her master''s studio.


    The woman in the painting also wore snow-white robes, her hair tied up high, holding a sword as she stood on the edge of a cliff. The mountain wind tugged at her clothes, but she remained motionless, as if she had been standing on the cliff edge for hundreds or thousands of years.


    What Yu Yi saw before her was identical to the painting by the Qingxuan Daoist Priest. It was the only portrait among her master''s many self-portraits that depicted someone else.


    However, the painting hadn''t clearly delineated the facial features, but now Yu Yi could see them clearly.


    Her eyes met those of the woman, and her heart skipped a beat. It was an extremely beautiful face, notcking in heroic spirit. Her eyebrows were thin and long, as if cut precisely. Her phoenix eyes tilted upwards, ncing with a spirited light. Her jade-like face was smooth and lustrous, with a sword mark shaped like a lotus between her eyebrows.


    Yu Yi was momentarily stunned by the sight, until the crane carrying hernded on the cliff and shook its body to remind her. She hurriedly jumped off the sword spirit''s back.


    The crane immediately strode happily towards the woman in white, resting its long neck on her and cooing affectionately, its cries filled with endless longing.


    The woman in white, however, ignored the crane''s affection and turned to look at Yu Yi with a gaze that held a hint of scrutiny.


    "This is the sword realm inherited from Great Green Mountain. I am a trace of consciousness left behind by Ming Zhaojun, the master of Green Mountain, waiting here to pass on her sword techniques. Since you were chosen by the crane spirit to be brought here, it means we are destined to meet. Are you willing to learn swordsmanship from me?"


    Yu Yi had not yet recovered from these sudden changes, but she understood the importance of seizing the opportunity. She nodded without hesitation, "I am willing."


    "Good," Ming Zhaojun nodded in satisfaction and immediately moved to draw her sword.


    Yu Yi quickly asked, "Senior, has my master... the Qingxuan Daoist Priest also been here before?"


    Ming Zhaojun, however, ignored her question just as she had ignored the crane spirit. She drew her sword and took a stance, saying, "This sword technique is called ''Chasing Spring.'' It is a sword of the heart, consisting of nine forms. Heart swords are difficult to learn, and very few can truly master all nine forms. How far you can progress depends entirely on your own aptitude."


    The Chasing Spring sword technique? So her master had indeed been here before.


    Yu Yi had seen the first four forms of Chasing Spring in the sword manual left behind by Qingxuan Daoist Priest, and she had practiced them. When she received the manual, the ink was still fresh, suggesting that her master had drawn it when he was nearing the end of his life and couldn''t find a sessor to teach in person.


    Yu Yi had practiced following the sword manual many times, but every time she reached the middle, the sword energy would reverse, and her mind would be unsettled, preventing her from even mastering the first form.


    Ming Zhaojun shook her head upon hearing this, "Chasing Spring is a sword of the heart. This technique cannot be learned without personal instruction. Following a sword manual alone will not suffice."


    "Senior, since you were my master''s master, that makes you my grand-master. I, disciple Yu Yi, pay my respects to grand-master." Yu Yi bent her knee in a salute, but was once again ignored by Ming Zhaojun.


    Yu Yi tried asking a few more questions, only to discover that Ming Zhaojun would only respond to inquiries rted to sword techniques, ignoring all unrted questions.


    It seemed that, just as she had said at the beginning, this trace of consciousness was waiting here solely to pass on Ming Zhaojun''s sword techniques.


    Yu Yi began learning the first form of Chasing Spring, "Breaking Heart''s Envement," under Ming Zhaojun''s guidance. Having practiced the sword moves countless times in the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm, she had no trouble keeping up with Ming Zhaojun''s movements at first.


    But gradually, as they reached the middle of the practice, a myriad of distracting thoughts began to flood her mind, and her sword energy started to stagnate.


    The tip of Ming Zhaojun''s sword tapped Yu Yi''s with a crisp "ding," and the energy vortex on her sword entwined around Yu Yi''s de, guiding her sword''s momentum. At the same time, Ming Zhaojun spoke in her ear, "Continue. Do not avoid what your heart dwells on. This first form requires you to face what enves your heart, so that you can break through and establish anew."


    As the sword moves progressed, cold sweat began to form on Yu Yi''s forehead. The things she had suppressed deep in her heart seemed to surge forth like a broken dam.


    She was alone, transported to this strange world. It wasn''t that she wasn''t afraid or lonely. She had been living a good life, loved by her parents, cared for by her sister. She had been the most ordinary and happiest girl in the world, but a bolt from the blue had severed all her familial and friendly ties, bringing her to this unfamiliar world to be a so-called protagonist.


    She was scared, anxious, and incredibly lonely. Every moment, she longed for everything from her past, yet she dared not indulge in those memories.


    By the end of the practice, Yu Yi felt as if her heart was about to be torn apart by these surging emotions. Her hands were shaking, unable to hold the sword steady, causing the green bamboo sword to slip from her grasp. She even felt a bit afraid to touch the sword again.


    Only then did Ming Zhaojun let her off, saying, "You may rest now. We''ll continue tomorrow."


    She turned and walked to the edge of the cliff, standing there facing the wind, gazing into some unknown point in the void.


    Yu Yi crouched down, covering her face as she silently wept. The sword spirit hopped over, gently nuzzling her cheek tofort her, before following Ming Zhaojun to stand with her at the cliff''s edge.


    After crying for a while, venting all the emotions in her heart, Yu Yi felt physically and mentally exhausted. She walked over to arge rock nearby and sat down, leaning against it.


    As she nced to the side, she realized that there were actually dwellings in this Green Mountain. Halfway up the mountain was a house, with a t area in front of it where more than a dozen disciples were practicing swordsmanship. Among them were both old and young, men and women, some in linen clothes and cotton skirts, others in fine silks and brocades.


    The person instructing them below was identical to Ming Zhaojun on the cliff, both dressed in in white, with long hair tightly bound by a jade crown.


    "Is that the real Ming Zhaojun?" Yu Yi wondered, rubbing her sore eyes from crying. She turned her head to find the rock covered in inscriptions, much like the "I was here" messages often seen at tourist spots.


    The handwriting on the rock varied, clearly written by different people. Judging from the names and dates left behind, they spanned over a thousand years.


    In earlier times, the Nine Swords of Chasing Spring must have been quite famous, as those who came to inherit this sword realm and obtain this opportunity seemed very excited. However, as time passed and the sword technique gradually fell into obscurity, fewer people knew about it.


    Most of the messages, though, werements about the difficulty of learning this sword technique.


    Yu Yi found traces of her master on the rock, hisints about the difficulty uniquely dramatic. He had left a message for each sword form he learned, describing how arduous it was, likening it to the difficulty of ascending to heaven. Hisints continued up to the fourth form of Chasing Spring, where he wrote: "Cannot progress any further. This humble one has lost heart."


    Her master hadn''t left his name, but he had carved a self-portrait on the rock. The carving depicted him as young and handsome, with such detail that even individual strands of hair were meticulously etched, showing great care in its creation. His handsome face stood out prominently on the rock.


    For he was the only one who had left a self-portrait.


    Yu Yi concentrated a thread of sword energy at her fingertip and carved her name beneath Qingxuan Daoist Priest''s self-portrait. After a moment''s thought, she also added a stick figure with the words "Paying respects to Master."


    She looked at her handiwork onest time and burst into a chuckle.


    The first form of Chasing Spring had churned up nearly all the negative emotions she had suppressed in her heart. Every day, she had to face everything she had lost, yet she hadn''t gained anything in return for losing so much.


    Yu Yi thought of Xue Chenjing and felt like crying again. She even harbored some resentment towards him; if not for him, she might not havee to this ce.


    The heart sword illuminated the darkness in her heart, leaving nowhere to hide, revealing every detail and making it impossible for her to put on a brave face any longer.


    In the initial period of learning the sword, Yu Yi cried almost every day. But after venting, her state of mind became incredibly clear, and her sword skills improved daily.


    When not practicing, she would explore the cliff, looking for traces left behind by her predecessors on the rocks. Some people had left behind their cultivation insights, while others analyzed when this sword realm might have been formed based on the information left by previous visitors and the behavior of the people in the house below the mountain.


    ording to one person''s analysis, this sword realm was established ten years before Ming Zhaojun''s death, and the scene in the house halfway up the mountain depicted thest ten years of Great Green Mountain.


    "The 103rd year of the Sacred Yuan Era," Yu Yi murmured, touching the era name. This era name was established at the beginning of the Immortal Alliance and was different from the era names used in the mortal world''s dynasties.


    She calcted briefly and realized it was over 1,300 years ago.


    Yu Yi looked back at the figure standing at the edge of the cliff. This trace of consciousness had been guarding this sword realm for over 1,300 years.


    As she explored deeper into the inner part of the cliff, she discovered a warning stone tablet with the words "Do Not Enter" clearly engraved on it. Looking past the tablet, Yu Yi could only see a few piled rocks and oddly shaped pine trees.


    Judging from the abrasion marks on the rocks and pine tree trunks, it was obvious that someone frequently moved around there.


    She walked a bit closer and, in the fading daylight, saw different handwritings on the warning tablet, cautioningter visitors never to step into that side of the cliff.


    The tablet said that on every night of the new moon, someone from below the mountain woulde here to harm themselves with a heart sword. What they cut off was extremely demonic in nature and could taint one''s heart.


    Yu Yi nced at the sky through the branches and leaves, thinking, "Tonight seems to be the night of the new moon."


    She consciously retreated a distance, moving away from that strange area, but driven by curiosity, she couldn''t help but keep ncing in that direction.


    Around midnight, she actually heard some faint soundsing from the other side of the cliff. Yu Yi held her breath and concentrated, focusing her spiritual energy on her hearing. She could hear clearer footsteps, followed by the fluttering sound of robes being blown by the wind.


    As a sword was drawn from its sheath, she heard someone crying, a very familiar cry, pleading: "Don''t kill me, brother, please don''t kill me..."


    Yu Yi''s eyes widened in the darkness, and she unconsciously took a few steps towards the sound, stopping abruptly when she saw the warning on the stone tablet.


    Looking past the stone tablet, Yu Yi saw a figure sitting under a pine tree. He had his back to her, with a sword light piercing through his chest. Something was forcibly separated from his body under the nting de.


    That thing looked like an extremely distorted human shadow. Seeing that its pleas were futile, it immediately revealed its true form, lunging at him with ws outstretched, screaming: "You can''t kill all of me! We were born as chaos embryos, with both divine and demonic natures at birth. You can never kill me."


    The person under the pine tree turned sideways, driving the long sword fiercely into the heart of the separated shadow. The shadow gripped the de at its chest with both hands, its head tilting back, its wide eyes staring directly at her.


    In the sword light, Yu Yi clearly saw the profile of the person holding the sword.


    Xue Chenjing. No, not quite, it should be Xue Mingyuan.


    ...


    In the weapon tower of the Pure me Pavilion, Xue Chenjing suddenly awoke, sitting up and looking towards the weapon tower where Yu Yi was. Under the brilliant sunlight, waves of heat rolled above her tower, the sword fire for tempering weapons creating a gorgeous flowing light on the barrier above. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.


    The system asked puzzled: "What''s wrong?"


    Xue Chenjing raised his hand to touch his brow, then rubbed his chest as he lowered it, "I think I dreamed about her."


    The system said joyfully: "Really? I''ve heard that you only dream of someone when they''re thinking of you. Master, the female lead must have been thinking of you, that''s why you dreamed of her!"


    Xue Chenjing''s mouth twitched, "Really?"


    "Really!" The system asked again, "What did you dream about?"


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes to recall for a moment, then said irritably: "I dreamed she stabbed me with a sword." In the dream, he saw her face, and then felt a sharp pain in his chest.


    The system: "..."


    After a long silence, the system consoled: "Master, it''s just a dream, don''t take it seriously."

 Chapter 44

    In the Inheritance Sword Realm.


    Xue Mingyuan sat cross-legged under the pine tree again, staring calmly at the shadow on the ground, and said quietly, "The heart sword cannot kill you, but it can weaken you. That''s enough."


    The heart sword was pinned in Xue Chenjing''s chest, eroding the demonic nature in his body. The shadow writhed violently, its fingers carving crisscrossing furrows in the rocky ground.


    He cried and begged, "Brother, I was wrong. I shouldn''t have summoned those demons. Please spare me this time, I beg you to forgive me. I don''t want to die. It hurts so much, brother. We are one, you will feel the pain too..."


    Xue Mingyuan remained unmoved. He knew his nature too well, or rather, he knew all too well how vile and despicable his other side was.


    The more pitiful and humble he cried now, the more vicious he would be once he gained the upper hand and turned against him.


    He was born a demon seed, able to attract demons toe and worship. If he were allowed to grow strong, the world would never know peace again.


    Xue Mingyuan would not show him the slightest mercy.


    "No, I didn''t summon them, they came on their own. If I didn''t devour them, they would have devoured me," Xue Chenjing struggled to raise his hand to grab Xue Mingyuan''s sleeve, crying, "I don''t want to kill people either. I can control myself. I won''t be influenced by them anymore. Please don''t kill me..."


    Xue Mingyuan pulled back his sleeve and patted it, as if it had been contaminated by something he couldn''t tolerate.


    Xue Chenjing''s features instantly contorted into a ghostly visage, his shadow almost losing human form,pletely transforming into evil spirits.


    He struggled desperately to break free from the heart sword, sneering, "What''s wrong with being a demon? Demons are the most lovable things in this world. At least they won''t be like the Ji family, imprisoning me in the mountain''s belly, worshipping me on one hand while cutting flesh and drawing blood from my body to satisfy their inted ambitions on the other."


    Xue Mingyuan''s calm expression showed a moment of emotion, before he forced himself to calm down again, not to be misled by his words.


    Xue Chenjing knew how to hit his sore spots. He knew that Xue Mingyuan had once been imprisoned in a mountain temple, repeatedly hurt by the people he wanted to protect.


    They enshrined him like a god, prayed to him, begged for his protection. At first, they only sought a little strength to survive, but in the end, their ambitions grew more and more inted.


    Prayers turned into demands, and the people who were supposed to be protected by the god ended up imprisoning him.


    "White Taisui, haha, you hate this name too, don''t you? You ended up hating those Ji family members who treated you like livestock, didn''t you? Otherwise, how could my power have grown so quickly, and finally taken control of this body?"


    "It was me, it was me who killed those depraved Ji family members and rescued you from there, yet you betrayed me in the end!"


    Xue Chenjing''s voice echoed on the cliff, crying andughing, mixed with the howling wind on the cliff, truly like the wailing of ghosts and wolves.


    "Do you really think you''re a god? Gods have long been extinct. You and I are nothing but remnant ashes left on the battlefield of gods and demons, born into such a chaotic ghostly thing, unable even to enter reincarnation, only to torment each other life after life."


    "Ah, you don''t think you can be a god by cutting me down, do you? Or do you really think you''re a god? Then open your eyes and look, this world is in a mess, the people you love are not even as good as demons, hahaha."


    Xue Chenjing''s voice grew weaker and weaker, his maniacalughter dissipating with the wind, and the twisted shadow under the heart sword gradually dissolved.


    Xue Mingyuan finally rxed, leaning back against the pine tree behind him, looking up at the boundless darkness in the distance. When the dawn broke on the horizon, he stood up, adjusted his clothes, brushed his sleeves, and headed down the mountain.


    The golden light of the morning sun nted across, falling on the crisscrossing finger marks on the ground. These finger marks wereyered heavily, indicating that what happened tonight had urred countless times in the past.


    In the gradually brightening morning sun, a few wisps of residual thoughts floated out from the finger marks like gossamer, disappearing into the forest with the wind.


    A streak of shadow shed across Yu Yi''s vision, and she vaguely heard a giggle by her ear, whispering, "Hehe, enjoying the view? Be careful, those who peep will be devoured by demons."


    Then she was overwhelmed by intense malice, which seeped under her skin and plunged into the depths of her heart sea.


    It nurtured all her negative emotions into hatred, enticing her to join him in hating this world.


    He discovered the deepest secret in her heart and excitedly said, "You want to go back, don''t you? Destroy this world, and you can go back. Come, let''s destroy it together, okay? This world has trapped you, so let''s destroy it. Whoever makes you sad, let''s kill them."


    That wisp of residual thought excitedly burrowed into her heart sea, nurturing a patch of dark moss in the depths of her heart.


    Yu Yi broke out in a cold sweat on her forehead, unable to help but kneel on the ground. At the end of her gaze was that warning stone monument, where many people had left cautionary tales: Don''t get close, beware of being bewitched, beware of being contaminated.


    Suddenly, Ming Zhaojun''s cold voice came from behind, "When the heart is upied, it bes vulnerable to intrusion. The first sword of Chasing Spring teaches you to face your inner self. Think carefully, those things you cherish in your heart, are they the source of your pain, or the foundation for building your sword heart."


    They are not the source of her pain, they shouldn''t be the source of her pain.


    Ming Zhaojun''s voice and Xue Chenjing''s enticement intertwined. Yu Yi closed her eyes, the sword mark on her forehead lit up with a glow, which finally condensed into the shape of a sword, piercing out from her heart.


    A wisp of ck shadow was entwined on the sword tip, which pinned into the ground with a thud. The ck shadow writhed for a moment before reluctantly dissipating.


    ...


    In the Instrument Tower of the Pure me Pavilion, Xue Chenjing woke up startled once again. His expression twisted to the extreme as he shouted angrily, "Why, why don''t you all choose me?"


    The system was startled and asked confusedly, "Master, what''s wrong? Did you have a nightmare again?"


    Hearing the system''s voice, Xue Chenjing suddenly calmed down, as if he had finally awakened from the nightmare. The pain disappeared from his eyes, and he rubbed his chest in confusion. The oath stone in his heart sea was trembling.


    ¡ª It seemed he had done something to hurt her again.


    Xue Chenjing instinctively turned his head towards the Instrument Tower where Yu Yi was, jumped off the instrument furnace, and rushed to the outside of Yu Yi''s tower, wanting to break through the barrier and rush in to check on her.


    What exactly is she doing? Where exactly is she?


    The system hurriedly said, "Master, you can''t! Calm down! If you break in now, you''ll interrupt the female protagonist''s sword tempering."


    Xue Chenjing clenched his fingers, pacing back and forth outside anxiously. He recalled the details of the dream again: the cliff, the pine and cypress trees, the huge rock, the eternally dark sky, and his heart being pierced over and over again.


    His footsteps suddenly halted. "That wasn''t a dream, it wasn''t a dream at all!"


    Was it a previous life, or the life before that? He had died too many times, and sometimes the residual thoughts would linger in the ce of death, unwilling to dissipate like earth-bound spirits.


    So, when his memories began to awaken in this life, it started with dreams, many repetitive dreams of death. He was still young then, waking up crying from nightmares every night. To avoid nightmares, he would hide away at night, letting his brother take control of the body.


    At that time, Xue Mingyuan was still his brother, and he was very indulgent. If he had nightmares while sleeping, he would let his brother sleep. If he didn''t like eating vegetables, he would let his brother eat. If he fell and got hurt, afraid of pain, he would let his brother feel the pain.


    After all, Xue Mingyuan was sensible and obedient, wouldn''t be scared by nightmares, and wasn''t afraid of pain.


    However, as more and more past memories resurfaced, he realized that those were not just nightmares. He was afraid of being killed again, so he no longer resisted the demons that were attracted to him, merging with them and imprisoning Xue Mingyuan first.


    He thought this way he could live on properly. But Xue Mingyuan disappeared, and his parents always asked, "Hasn''t your brother appeared today either? Brother hasn''te out for several days, Chenjing, did you bully your brother?"


    "Chenjing, did you two have a fight? Why hasn''t your brothere out yet?"


    "Mother hasn''t seen your brother for a month. Chenjing, let your brothere out for a while, will you?"


    Finally, his mother embraced him, yet she kept calling out Xue Mingyuan''s name, "How could Mingyuan have disappeared? How could he suddenly vanish? Are you ying some kind of game again? Mingyuan,e out quickly and let your father and mother see you."


    Xue Chenjing felt annoyed and said word by word: "He''s gone, and he''ll never appear again. He doesn''t want you anymore."


    His parents stared at him in disbelief, and Xue Chenjing asked innocently and hopefully, "Isn''t it good enough for me to be your only child?"


    He would forever remember the "No" that immediately fell from his mother''s lips.


    Now, just like then, he had already locked up Xue Mingyuan, so why could Yu Yi still find a ce where he existed?


    Xue Chenjing crouched at the entrance of the Instrument Tower, reying the dream over and over, searching through his chaotic memories of past lives.


    Finally, he found a clue.


    He remembered that in one life, they were born into a family of cultivators, learning the ways of Taoism from childhood. Xue Mingyuan was a prodigy in cultivation, the most promising future pir of the family, but he had one fatal weakness ¨C him.


    Xue Chenjing couldn''t remember what his name was in that life, or if he even had one. In many lives, he had no name of his own, existing only as Xue Mingyuan''s inner demon.


    That life seemed to be the same. Troubled by his inner demon, Xue Mingyuan specifically sought out the Great Green Mountain to learn the art of the mind sword from a famous sword master of the time, all to y him, the inner demon.


    That was all hundreds or thousands of years ago. The Great Green Mountain no longer existed, so how did Yu Yi go back to the past? Or did someone preserve the Great Green Mountain?


    If it weren''t for that lingering remnant of consciousness, he wouldn''t have known she went there.


    But now, with that remnant consciousness destroyed, he could no longer know what Yu Yi did there afterward. Perhaps she would talk with the past Xue Mingyuan, learn swordsmanship together, and surely have many topics inmon.


    She saw the ugly part of him that was cut away, and would probably hate him even more now.


    They might even discuss together how to kill himpletely.


    Xue Chenjing''s breathing grew heavy. He closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands, asking in a deep voice, "System, what''s the current favorability? Has it decreased?"


    Sensing the host''s anxiety, the system replied, "The current favorability of the target is thirty-five percent. Congrattions, host! Not only has it not decreased, but it has also increased!"


    Far from being happy, Xue Chenjing''s expression twisted into something that could eat people. His eyes, visible through his fingers, were frighteningly red as he cursed, "Congrattions my ass! She can''t even see me now, how could the favorability increase? Break it down for me."


    As expected, all this favorability was for Xue Mingyuan.


    The system, confused by his scolding, asked perplexedly, "Break down what?"


    "Calcte her favorability towards me and Xue Mingyuan separately," Xue Chenjing sneered. "Xue Mingyuan is Xue Mingyuan, and I am me. I don''t need to bask in his glory."


    The system was silent for a moment, then said, "Sorry, host, the system cannot fulfill this request."


    Xue Chenjing''s face darkened, and he gritted out, "You''re truly useless."


    System: "..."


    Xue Chenjing crouched there for a long time before suddenly standing up. Spiritual light flowed from his fingertips, drawing intersecting lines of spiritual energy.


    The flow of spiritual power was much richer than before. Xue Chenjing had fully integrated the people''s fire and tailbone, finally breaking through the Foundation Establishment stage and sessfully forming his Golden Core.


    He decided to ignore the useless system''s favorability calctions. He was going to break open the barrier of the Instrument Tower right now and see what Yu Yi was doing inside.


    Just then, the system suddenly chimed, "Ding¡ª"


    [System: Ding¡ª Side quest ''Emotion Flower Valley'' has been unlocked.]


    As the system''s voice faded, a beam of golden light shot into the sky from somewhere unknown, exploding into a burst of fireworks. The sparks from the fireworks transformed into golden characters suspended in mid-air.


    It was an invitation from Zhaohua Pce.


    Due to the incident at the Unmasked Tower, the master of Zhaohua Pce personally wrote this letter to apologize to the citizens of Yinzhou City and to thank the cultivators from various sects for their assistance in sealing the Unmasked Tower, preventing a catastrophe.


    Therefore, it was decided that from this day forward, the secret realm of Zhaohua Pce¡ªEmotion Flower Valley¡ªwould be opened, inviting all cultivators to enter the valley for trials. Any treasures obtained by cultivators in the valley would belong to them.


    Xue Chenjing''s movements halted, and the spiritual lines in his hand disappeared. He looked back at the surging sword fire above the Instrument Tower, hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked towards the exit of the Pure me Pavilion.

 Chapter 45

    He walked halfway, then turned back and reached into his sleeve to pull out a handful of small ck beans. He scattered them in a circle around the building where Yu Yi was.


    As the ck beans fell to the ground, they transformed into wriggling little ck insects. Some burrowed into the soil, others hid behind leaves and branches, quickly concealing themselves in the surroundings. The surveince bugs had captured almost every corner of the building in their sight, which finally satisfied Xue Chenjing.


    No matter how much Yu Yi''s affection for Xue Mingyuan might grow, even if she fell in love with him in the end, as long as his power remained stronger than Xue Mingyuan''s, he could keep her locked in his heart''s sea forever.


    From now on, the only one who would appear before her would be him, Xue Chenjing.


    She would look at this face, and even if she was thinking of Xue Mingyuan, even if she missed him terribly and loved being with him, in reality, she could only face Xue Chenjing.


    Just like his parents, she might cry and beg him, plead with him to let his brother out for a while, to let them see his brother.


    Ah, her face was so beautiful - fair skin, pretty eyes and brows, long thick eyshes, lips naturally tinted as if with rouge, with a small lovely beauty mark on her upper lip. Her smile was so sweet, and even her crying must be beautiful.


    Especially if she were to cry and beg him, that would be even more beautiful. But unfortunately, no matter how she pleaded, he would never agree. Eventually, she would be like his parents, desperately searching for traces of Xue Mingyuan in him as if gone mad.


    "Hehe." Xue Chenjing imagined that scene and became so excited that his face flushed red. His wrist trembled as he scattered the insect beans, unable to suppress hisughter.


    He wasn''t angry at all now, not worried at all about how happily they might be together at the moment. Even if they were nning how to kill him, it didn''t matter.


    As long as he was powerful enough, he would never let Xue Mingyuan have the chance to kill him, nor would he let Yu Yi have the chance to kill him. He wouldn''t let anyone who wanted to kill him have the opportunity.


    Xue Chenjing took a few quick breaths, narrowing his eyes as he gazed at the building. With a flushed face, he murmured, "Yi, my dear Yi, hurry up and fall in love with my brother."


    With that, he turned and walked away satisfied, this time without looking back.


    The System: "???" The System detected the change in his series of thoughts and felt at a loss.


    Host, you are truly strange!


    Nowadays, the Twelve Great Immortals had almost monopolized the resources in the cultivation world. Secret realms like Zhaohua Pce and Emotion Flower Valley werepletely out of reach for ordinary cultivators.


    Therefore, the invitation released by the Master of Zhaohua Pce in the sky above Yinzhou City was very tempting. It attracted countless cultivators to rush towards Zhaohua Pce, causing the usually bustling Yinzhou City to be quite deserted.


    Cultivators hurrying out of the city could be seen everywhere on the streets. Cultivators, after all, were moreposed than ordinary people, moving urgently but not chaotically.


    As they flew past on the street or over rooftops, people could only see their fluttering robes and a fleeting glimpse of their upright figures. In the blink of an eye, they had flown far away, leaving behind only a gust of fresh wind from their passage.


    The citizens of Yinzhou City craned their necks to watch, with some sighing, "It''s good that they''re leaving, now we can finally have some peace and quiet for a few days."


    Others bit their sleeves in regret, saying, "Howe they all left at once? Now we won''t be able to see beautiful people on the streets anymore."


    The Unmasked Tower was temporarily closed for renovations, with all business inside suspended. The managers of shops stationed there by various sects had also withdrawn one after another.


    Two cultivators in brocade robes and jade ornaments came out of the Unmasked Tower together. Shen Qingzhi nced at the golden characters of the Zhaohua Pce invitation still lingering in the sky, opened his folding fan, and waved it gently twice before saying, "Sigui, I must answer my master''s summons and return to oversee the opening of the Emotion Flower Valley secret realm. Let us part ways here."


    Pei Jingchao cupped his hands in salute, "Safe travels, Senior Brother Shen."


    Shen Qingzhi boarded the carriage waiting in front, and after settling in, lifted the curtain of the window and said with a smile, "Will Sigui continue to stay in the city?"


    "I still have some other matters to attend to," Pei Jingchao replied vaguely, unwilling to say more.


    Although meeting Yu Yi again, she seemed to have changed a lotpared to the girl who had saved him before, Pei Jingchao was ultimately unwilling to give up. The more difficult Yu Yi was to approach, the more Pei Jingchao''s heart yearned for her. Now that Yu Yi had entered Pure me Pavilion to temper her sword, Pei Jingchao wanted to wait a few more days, at least to give her anothermunication token, not wanting to lose contact with her again and be unable to find her whereabouts for several years.


    Shen Qingzhi didn''t ask further, but showed a troubled expression and said in a joking tone, "I''ve received several messages from Junior Sister Yu Xiu, implying me that I''ve kept you tied up here, unable to return to Mount Li early."


    Pei Jingchao''s brows furrowed slightly, and he replied helplessly, "Yu Xiu has a childish nature, as you know, Senior Brother. Don''t take offense at her words."


    "Of course I know her temper, I won''t get angry with Junior Sister Yu Xiu." The smile in Shen Qingzhi''s eyes didn''t diminish, but he didn''t miss the fleeting look of annoyance on Pei Jingchao''s face at the mention of Yao Yuxiu.


    By the looks of it, this couple from Mount Li, celebrated throughout the cultivation world, might be a pair of resentful partners in private.


    There would surely be an interesting drama to unfold.


    Shen Qingzhi tapped his chin with his folding fan and advised, "However, since Junior Sister Yu Xiu has sent messages all the way to me, it''s clear she truly misses you. Sigui, if you have time, you should go back to see her. Otherwise, I''ll really be that annoying stick that ''breaks up the lovebirds'' in her eyes."


    Pei Jingchao became even more helpless andughed, "What are you saying, Senior Brother?" He paused for a moment, but eventuallypromised, "I was nning to go back for a while after finishing things here anyway."


    Shen Qingzhi nodded with satisfaction, "That''s good then. I''ll take my leave first."


    The two bid farewell, and Shen Qingzhi knocked on the carriage door. The carriage responded and sped towards the city gates, moving as swift as lightning. In a moment, it had passed through the gate tower of Yinzhou City.


    After leaving the city, the coachman raised his whip and struck the rumps of the two white horses at the front. A talisman was activated by spiritual power, and a fierce wind arose beneath the horses'' hooves. They rose into the air, and with each step, golden imprints bloomed beneath their feet, as if stepping on lotuses.


    The wheels of the carriage left the ground, and a circr golden imprint appeared beneath the carriage, steadily supporting it as it traveled through the air.


    Shen Qingzhi closed the window, shutting out the howling wind. The interior of the carriage was spacious andfortable, very quiet. Incense smoke curled upwards, and even the tea in the cup on the table didn''t ripple.


    He took out amunication talisman and let it hover in front of him, respectfully saying, "Master."


    An authoritative female voice came from behind the talisman, asking, "How is it?"


    Shen Qingzhi replied, "It''s only because Juechen Zi is still unconscious that Sigui dares to neglect Yu Xiu like this. But he''s not fully confident in controlling Mount Li yet, so he doesn''t dare to truly anger Yu Xiu. I estimate he will leave Yinzhou in a day or two and won''t interfere with our ns."


    The Master of Zhaohua Pce gave a faint "Mm" in response. She didn''t care about the affairs of a junior like Pei Jingchao and asked, "Are you certain that the lotus seed is on that demon you mentioned?"


    Shen Qingzhi affirmed confidently, "When the demon-eating butterfly entered his body, it indeed detected chaos energy on him."


    The Master of Zhaohua Pce let out a long breath, her voice revealing a kind of ruthless determination, "Good. For the sake of the Reincarnation Lotus at the bottom of the Ghost City, this pce has waited for so long, only to have two nobodies break in and cause damage. I will not forgive them."


    Zhaohua Pce had never removed the earth-bound spirits in the Ghost City, precisely to conceal the true Ji Family Ancestral Hall below. The barrier seemed to only suppress ghosts, but in reality, it was meant to keep outsiders out.


    Ordinary cultivators would instinctively avoid the barrier set up by Zhaohua Pce when they saw it, and even if they didn''t avoid it, it wouldn''t be easy to enter.


    Zhaohua Pce hadn''t set up heavy defenses around the Ghost City, deliberately treating that ghost city as just an ordinary yin area. This was partly to avoid drawing too much attention and inviting scrutiny from other sects, which might lead to the discovery of whaty beneath.


    Secondly, there was anotheryer of formations within the ghost city concealing the Ji Family Ancestral Hall. Back then, even the Master of Zhaohua Pce, who knew in advance about the existence of such an ancestral hall, had spent considerable effort to find it.


    How could they have anticipated that it would be damaged by two rogue cultivators?


    Shen Qingzhi said, "Only two people came out of Ghost City that day. Xue Chenjing is now on his way to Zhaohua Pce, while Yu Yi is still detained in Pure me Pavilion. However, I have arranged for people to wait outside Pure me Pavilion. As soon as she emerges, they will guide her to Zhaohua Pce with a reason she absolutely cannot refuse."


    "Good, Qingzhi. You should return quickly as well," said the Master of Zhaohua Pce, ending themunication. The floatingmunication talisman flickered and burned to ashes.


    Pei Jingchao acted just as Shen Qingzhi had predicted. He stayed in Yinzhou City for only two more days, unable to wait any longer for Yu Yi toe out. He reluctantlypromised and returned to Mount Li first.


    Over these two days, Yao Yuxiu sent a message talisman nearly every hour urging him to return. In the end, she even resorted to using the Mount Li Sect Leader''s summons.


    Even Juechen Zi himself rarely used the summons unless there was an urgent matter concerning the sect. The Sect Leader''s summons were divided into public summons and targeted summons. The former would be received by all Mount Li disciples outside the sect, while thetter was directed at only one specific person.


    However, this time, Yao Yuxiu not only used the Sect Leader''s summons for personal reasons but also chose to use a public summons.


    Now, all Mount Li disciples outside the sect could see how hysterically Yao Yuxiu questioned him: why was he lingering outside, why wouldn''t he return, why wasn''t he responding to her message talismans, was he looking for that benefactress of his again?


    Pei Jingchao had been searching for Yu Yi for five years, and Yao Yuxiu had noticed something. She had flown into a rage over this "life-saving benefactress" who had never appeared before her.


    Pei Jingchao looked at the unsightly words floating on the summons and shattered the table with a palm strike. But he had no choice but to ept the order. This was the Sect Leader''s summons; if he didn''t obey and return, it would be tantamount to betraying Mount Li.


    Pei Jingchao reached out and grabbed the summons, his knuckles cracking as he infused it with spiritual power to indicate his eptance and immediate departure for the sect.


    This life of being tied down like a dog was suffocating him.


    The two Mount Li disciples waiting outside the door had naturally also received the message in the Sect Leader''s summons. Hearing themotion inside, they exchanged a nce before silently lowering their eyes.


    A momentter, Pei Jingchao summoned the two into the room and said, "Lin Yao, Lin You, you two stay outside Pure me Pavilion and continue to keep watch for me. If there''s any movement, inform me immediately."


    The two epted the order and left. Pei Jingchao pushed open the door, gathered the remaining disciples, and instructed, "We''re returning to Mount Li."


    Yu Yi waspletely unaware of what was happening outside. She was still in that inheritance sword realm, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed. Every day, she learned swordsmanship from Ming Zhaojun until she was utterly exhausted.


    She had carved out a separate piece of rock, using her sword to create a smooth surface where she wrote down her insights on sword practice or some of her past experiences from before she transmigrated. She prayed that her parents wouldn''t be too sad about losing her. The past that she once dared not recall, she could now think about calmly and even smile at.


    These were not sources of her pain, but sources of power for her heart sword.


    Yu Yi used to not dare express her desire to "go back" because she always felt it was hopeless. But now she could calmly ept the possibility that she might not return, while still not giving up on any future opportunity to go back. If she coulde here, surely there might be a chance to return!


    After breaking through the Heart Servitude of the first sword of Chasing Spring, she learned the subsequent sword techniques very smoothly. Now she had already reached the fourth sword. ording to records left by previous practitioners, this sword was another hurdle, and very few people managed to break through the fourth sword and learn the fifth.


    Even her master, the Qingxuan Daoist Priest, had only learned four swords.


    Every night of the new moon, Xue Mingyuan would climb the mountain alone at midnight to use his heart sword to separate the demonic side of himself. On those nights, the wind on the cliff would howl particrly eerily.


    asionally, Xue Mingyuan wasn''t so resolute. Once his mental state showed cracks, Xue Chenjing would seize the opportunity to invade, tempting Xue Mingyuan to fall into depravity together, just as he had tempted her before. On such nights, when Xue Mingyuan tried to separate from him, it would be exceptionally painful.


    Sometimes Yu Yi could even deeply empathize with that pain.


    She had been stuck on the fourth sword for a long time, but on one such night, her stagnant bottleneck showed signs of loosening. The first four swords of Chasing Spring focused on self-cultivation, while thetter five contained implicit ideas about bringing order to the world. The fifth sword was called Heart Mirror, using one''s own heart as a mirror to reflect others'' hardships and learn from them to avoid falling into the same predicament.


    Yu Yi thought for a moment and concluded that, in simpler terms, it was probably about seeing things clearly as an outsider.


    She drew her sword, the sword mark on her brow lighting up as she activated the sword technique for the fifth sword of Chasing Spring. A stream of light flowed along the center of the de, and the wooden sword body gradually became snow-bright, like a mirror surface, reflecting the demonic shadow on the other side of the cliff.


    Xue Chenjing''s red eyes shed across the sword body, filled with pleading. He opened his still childish arms to embrace a demon attracted by him, innocently and expectantly asking, "You desire me so much, so you''ll love me, right?"


    He was seeking love from a demon.

 Chapter 46

    Xue Chenjing and Xue Mingyuan were products born from the lingering Chaos Energy on the ancient battlefield after the War of Gods and Demons. The two were born with the Dual Nature of God and Demon. The demons attracted by Xue Chenjing''s demonic nature were not benevolent beings.


    Demons are the most cowardly creatures in this world, worshipping those stronger than themselves and devouring those weaker. What could they give him besides evil desires like greed, anger, and delusion? How could they provide what he truly longed for?


    His brother loved humanity but not him. Only demons were willing toe to him, yet they would only drag him deeper into the abyss. He was trapped in this prison, unable to find a way out.


    Yu Yi saw Xue Chenjing''s yearning eyes in the depths of the demonic shadow reflected on her sword. For a moment, she did feel some pity for him.


    It must be said that Xue Chenjing perfectly fit the archetype of those viins in novels waiting to be redeemed.


    But she was not the type of person who would recklessly jump into the quagmire to save him.


    Perhaps in the novel "After Transmigrating, I Got a Happy Ending with the Viin," she would have been that kind of female protagonist who would unhesitatingly redeem him, which is why they could ultimately achieve a happy ending.


    But Yu Yi was not a character on paper to be manipted by words. She was a living, breathing person with her own thoughts, concerns, preferences, and principles. She lived only for herself, not to save anyone else.


    Before transmigrating into this world, in the neen years Yu Yi lived in reality, the most important thing she learned from her parents was that to love others, you must first love yourself.


    This might sound somewhat selfish, but Yu Yi had always agreed with this sentiment in her heart.


    She was truly just an ordinary girl who loved freedom andfort. She didn''t possess any particrly noble sentiments or desire to save others. She would only be willing to help others when she could ensure her own safety.


    Now that Yu Yi had witnessed the pain Xue Mingyuan experienced each time he tried to separate Xue Chenjing from himself, how could she dare to actively step into the quagmire and offer her true heart to cleanse the evil within him? The ending might be as beautiful as in the book, but the process would undoubtedly be far from harmless.


    Thanks to that cursed system, she had already beentched onto by Xue Chenjing. Even though she was involuntarily drawn into these muddy waters, she didn''t want to be the one who suffered and sacrificed.


    Yu Yi turned the de of her sword, and Xue Chenjing''s image was no longer reflected on its surface. The demonic shadow on the other side of the cliff was still raging, much like every other night of the new moon. As dawn approached, Xue Chenjing once again reluctantly dissipated before daybreak, leaving behind only a ground full of horrific w marks.


    Xue Mingyuan leaned tiredly against a pine tree, gazing towards the east until the golden light of the morning sun pierced through the clouds and mist, nting onto this cliff and enveloping him.


    He sat quietly in the sunlight for a moment, then stood up and headed down the mountain as usual.


    Yu Yi carved notches on a stone to keep track of the days. She had spent another year in this inherited sword realm, learning the Eight Swords of Pursuing Spring. However, when it came to the final sword, Ming Zhaojun shook her head and said, "Let''s stop here. You won''t be able to learn the ninth sword."


    "Why not?" Yu Yi asked, puzzled. She didn''t think she wascking in any way.


    Ming Zhaojun exined, "The Ninth Sword of Pursuing Spring is about havingpassion for the world."


    Yu Yi fell silent. If that was the case, she indeed wouldn''t be able to learn the ninth sword. Herpassion for herself ultimately outweighed herpassion for the world; she would not sacrifice herself for the sake of others.


    She nced towards the other side of the cliff and asked, "Did he learn it?"


    Ming Zhaojun''s gaze followed hers. This strand of divine consciousness had remained in the Great Green Mountain Sword Realm solely to pass on Ming Zhaojun''s sword techniques. It had always ignored questions unrted to swordsmanship, not even sparing a nce when the red-crowned crane fawned by her side.


    But at this moment, Ming Zhaojun''s eyes revealed deep regret, and she unusually answered Yu Yi''s question, shaking her head, "No, he was defeated by his own inner demons."


    Xue Mingyuan hadpassion for the world. For the sake of peace in the world, he didn''t hesitate to wound himself repeatedly with his heart sword, separating the demonic nature from his body to suppress Xue Chenjing''s power. But in the end, he still failed.


    Ming Zhaojun paused for a long while, sighing with disappointment, "He softened his heart."


    Yu Yi stood outside the warning stone monument, never having crossed it to the other side of the cliff since the beginning.


    She gently raised her eyshes, her gaze rippling like gentle waves. She took onest look at the nted pine tree and the crisscrossing w marks beneath it, imagining Xue Mingyuan leaning against the pine tree, waiting alone for the sun to rise.


    At that time, he might have already anticipated that one day in the future, he might no longer be able to wait for the sunrise.


    Yu Yi withdrew her gaze, closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again. She solemnly bowed to Ming Zhaojun.


    The cliff, the pine trees, and the rock carved with words all faded and disappeared before her eyes. The red-crowned crane flew away from Ming Zhaojun''s side, spreading its wings and flying towards Yu Yi.


    Its feathers began to burn again, the mes quickly licking away the crane''s form until only a fiery red feather remained.


    The feather fell onto Yu Yi''s brow, burning her consciousness into a blur.


    In the instrument tower of the Pure me Pavilion, Yu Yi suddenly opened her eyes. Her dark pupils reflected the fiery red feather floating above her brow. The feather burned into a ball of intense fire before her eyes, and from the heart of the me emerged a bird''s shadow. The shadow grewrger andrger, breaking through the mes and flying out with spread wings.


    It had the form of a red-crowned crane, but its wing and tail feathers were a deep crimson. Flowing mes adorned its tail, making it appear like a phoenix reborn from fire. It flew into the suspended sword within the instrument furnace.


    "Vermilion Crane?" On either side of the white mark on Yu Yi''s brow, two more sword marks resembling wings appeared. Connected in spirit with the sword soul, she sat cross-legged, formed a seal with her hands, circted her spiritual energy throughout her body, and steadied her mind before standing up to open the furnace and retrieve the sword. She called out, "Sword,e!"


    The suspended sword in the instrument furnace immediately transformed into a stream of light and shot into her hand. Yu Yi raised her hand, firmly grasping the sword, and performed a beautiful series of sword flourishes with a backhand move.


    She narrowed her eyes, looking up at the barrier overhead, and swung the sword with an upward stroke. The de cut through the air with a whistling sound. Yu Yi could feel the vibration of the sword qi tearing through space in her sword-wielding hand. This sword strike seemed to carry the cry of a crane.


    Although the once mboyant azure mes and lightning were no longer visible, one could see a line of white that seemed about to burst into mes at the moment the air was sliced open.


    When the sword qi collided with the barrier, its hidden sharpness finally explodedpletely. Lightning and fire spread across the entire barrier in an instant, shattering it to pieces.


    Yu Yi removed the seal on her pouch and tapped on Crane Senior Brother, letting it out to meet the newly upgraded sword spirit. Crane Senior Brother had been sleeping so deeply that it tumbled out in a daze, pping its wings as it stumbled forward, nearly falling t at the feet of the sword spirit.


    The Vermilion Crane took a step back, lowering its long, slender neck and casting a proud nce at Crane Senior Brother.


    Crane Senior Brother immediately straightened its wobbling legs and quickly preened its feathers, trying to sidle up to the sword spirit. The Vermilion Crane gave it a sidelong nce before transforming into a ball of sword fire and disappearing into the Green Bamboo Sword.


    Crane Senior Brother didn''t even get to touch a single feather. It drooped its head, wailing dejectedly.


    Yu Yi put away the Green Bamboo Sword and walked over to console it, patting its wings. "There, there. It''s alright. Next time, I''ll give you a good makeover before I summon the sword spirit out again for you two to meet."


    The red-crowned crane suddenly raised its head, letting out a confused cry.


    Yu Yi put her hands on her hips proudly and lifted her chin, saying, "Of course, I''m now spiritually connected with the Vermilion Crane. I can summon it anytime from now on."


    Crane Senior Brother spread its wings, excitedly jumping up and pouncing into Yu Yi''s arms.


    After ying with Crane Senior Brother for a while, Yu Yi sealed the instrument furnace and left the tower. As soon as she stepped out of the tower''s main entrance, she saw a plump little ck worm suddenly dangling down from above.


    Yu Yi''s pupils constricted, and she reflexively took a step back. A sword me shot from her fingertip, incinerating the ck worm.


    "What was that? How could there be worms in the instrument tower?" Yu Yi''s gaze swept around the tower''s entrance as she quickly ran out. However, as soon as her foot touched the ground, several ck shadows shed by her feet, and four or five more ck fleshy worms emerged from the earth.


    And that wasn''t all. The nearby flower bushes also rustled, and as the branches and leaves moved, countless ck worms that had been clinging to the undersides of leaves and petals were revealed. More ck worms were crawling out of the cracks in the walls outside the instrument tower.


    What was even more skin-crawling was that now all these worms were rapidly surging towards her. In the blink of an eye, Yu Yi was almost surrounded by the swarm of ck worms covering the ground.


    ck insects continued to fall from the trees in midair.


    One bug might not have scared her so much, but with these creatures everywhere in the sky and on the ground, it was truly terrifying. Yu Yi''s whole body was covered in goosebumps, and her scalp tingled with fear.


    These ck, wriggling maggots were more spine-chilling to her than any ghosts or monsters.


    She screamed and clung to the crane''s back, her fingertips shooting random sparks of sword fire as she cried out, "Crane Senior Brother! Crane Senior Brother!"


    The crane carried her on its back, pping its wings to fend off the swarming ck insects. Its long beak pecked at the ground with lightning speed, snatching up one bug after another and swallowing them whole.


    These ck insects, clearly lying in ambush here, were obviously not ordinary creatures. Yu Yi worried about her Crane Senior Brother getting a stomachache and tried to stop him, "Don''t just swallow everything! What if they''re poisonous?"


    Crane Senior Brother smacked his beak, savoring only the delicious taste of the insects,pletely ignoring Yu Yi''s warnings as he quickly swept through a whole patch of ck bugs.


    After digging out and swallowing thest little ck bug hiding underground, Crane Senior Brother let out a satisfied belch.


    Yu Yi: "..." Well, Crane Senior Brother seemed to be fine after all.


    She gratefully hugged the crane''s neck, praising him, "Crane Senior Brother, you look so cool when you eat bugs. You''re definitely the most handsome crane in the world."


    The crane raised its head and let out a cry. Of course it knew it was the most handsome crane in the world - how else could it be worthy of such a noble and beautiful sword spirit?


    Themotion outside the instrument tower also attracted people from the Pure me Pavilion. Yu Yi took the opportunity to settle the spirit stones for renting the instrument furnace.


    Yu Yi had been practicing the sword of the heart in the inheritance sword realm, where her consciousness was not bound by external time. She thought two years had passed in the sword realm, but in the outside world, it had only been a month.


    She led the crane out, looking left and right outside the Pure me Pavilion, surprised that Xue Chenjing wasn''t there. She had expected him to cling to her again as soon as she came out.


    However, it was just as well that he wasn''t there.


    Yu Yi stroked Crane Senior Brother''s feathers, nced at the sky, and considered taking this opportunity to leave Yinzhou City directly. After all, she had aplished everything she came to Yinzhou for. From now on, she could travel and train with Crane Senior Brother.


    Thinking this, she took a step towards the outskirts of Yinzhou City, reaching for her storage pouch to take out a map.


    Just then, a voice called out from behind, "Excuse me, miss, are you the disciple of Qingxuan Daoist Priest?"


    Hearing her master''s title, Yu Yi immediately turned to look.


    Three cultivators approached her, dressed in white robes and jade crowns, wearing the uniform of a celestial sect.


    The one in front said, "I am Zhang Zai, a cultivator from the Vermilion Bird Department of the Immortal Alliance." As he spoke, he took out a jade token about the size of a palm from his waist. The token was carved with the mythical beast Zhouyu in openwork, with the words "Immortal Alliance" engraved on its forehead, and the bearer''s name on the back.


    This token bore the seal of the Immortal Alliance, which ordinary people could neither forge nor dare to forge.


    Yu Yi raised her eyebrows and looked them over, wondering what business the Immortal Alliance had with her.


    Zhang Zai''s expression was cool but not discourteous. After putting away the Immortal Alliance token, he first cupped his hands in salute to her, then exined, "Miss, your master Qingxuan Daoist Priest once held a position in the Immortal Alliance as the Hall Master of the First Hall of Azure in the Vermilion Bird Department."


    Yu Yi was surprised but didn''t show it, lowering her gaze to see Crane Senior Brother nod slightly under her arm. It seemed that this person was telling the truth - Qingxuan Daoist Priest was indeed an Immortal Alliance cultivator. She had always thought her master was just a rogue cultivator.


    After this brief exnation, Zhang Zai waved his hand, and lines of golden text appeared in the air.


    Yu Yi carefully scanned the contents of the contract and nodded, asking, "So, what brings Zhang Daoist here?"


    Zhang Zai said, "Qingxuan Daoist Priest once signed this contract with the Immortal Alliance, agreeing to handle nine matters for the Alliance. There is still one task that remains unfinished. Since you have inherited Qingxuan Daoist Priest''s mantle, it is only right that youplete this unfinished business on behalf of your master."


    To think that her master had left her with such a debt.

 Chapter 47

    Yu Yi cautiously said, "My current cultivation is still shallow, and I fear I may not be able to fulfill Master''s task."


    Zhang Zaiughed, "Miss, you jest. With your cultivation nearing the perfection of the Golden Core, you have already surpassed the majority of practitioners in the Immortal Realm. Moreover, I witnessed from afar the way you broke the barrier of the Artifact Tower with that sword strike, the sword intent within it even surpassing Qing Xuan''s back in the day. It seems your Heart Sword is already well-developed."


    He actually understood the Heart Sword.


    Zhang Zai continued, "I once worked with your Master for a period and went on missions together, so we can be considered old friends. The task I wish to entrust to you this time can only be handled by you and your Master."


    Yu Yi hesitated and asked, "What task?"


    Seeing her high vignce, Zhang Zai knew that if he didn''t exin clearly, she wouldn''t easily follow them. So, he set up a barrier to prevent eavesdropping and spying, exining, "You must know that when the Immortal Alliance was first established, it was to guard the Demon Path exit above Wangye."


    "The sealing array at the exit has several stabilizing artifacts. These artifacts'' spiritual energy diminishes over time and needs to be reced regrly to ensure the barrier remains intact."


    Regarding the "Demon Path," Yu Yi did know some information, which should bemon knowledge in the Immortal Realm. Her Master had also left some records about it in the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm.


    The Demon Path formed during the several hundred years when the Ji Family disintegrated. At that time, several venerable elders of the Ji Family fell into demonic ways, leading to internal strife and fragmentation, as if the great structure was about to copse.


    The conflict spread from the Ji n of Immortals to the entire Immortal Realm, where the righteous factions were scattered and engaged in endless infighting. The demons, on the other hand, were strongly gathered under themand of the Ji Family members who had fallen into demonic ways, growing in strength.


    The once demon-ying Ji n of Immortals had suddenly be the umbre for demons, aiding the spread of demonic qi and swallowing thend. This was one of the reasons why the Ji Family became the target of public outrage and disintegrated within just a few hundred years.


    The Ji n of Immortals split into two factions, one bing demons and the other still upholding their original intentions. The two sides were irreconcble, engaging in relentless battles until the final conflict erupted.


    In the ultimate battle at Wangye, a dramatic turn urred. The demon lord who had been leading the demons suddenly betrayed them without warning during the final battle, sacrificing himself to seal all demonic cultivators in the Wangye battlefield.


    To this day, no one knows why the demon lord, who had been trying to destroy the world, did so.


    As a result, both the Immortal Realm and the mortal world are filled with countless legends about the Wangye battle. There are serious historical records, and the psychological theories about the demon lord''s betrayal are vast.


    There are also many poems, songs, and ys derived from this battle. One can find rted scripts in any bookstore in Yinzhou City.


    After the Wangye battle, the remaining demons were no longer a threat. The new ruling powers in the Immortal Realm restored order, and the world returned to peace.


    The righteous factions established the Immortal Alliance at Wangye, building the Moon-Touching Pce to guard the Demon Path seal and monitor any changes within the Demon Path.


    Zhang Zai said, "This time, what we need you to do is to retrieve one of the stabilizing artifacts from the depths of the Emotion Flower Valley''s submerged flower sea. The water there has a bewitching effect, and ordinary practitioners can easily get lost in it. However, with the protection of the Heart Sword, there is no fear. Thirty years ago, it was your Master who went down to retrieve it."


    He mentioned this task, which Yu Yi had seen in her Master''s notebook. He had indeed recorded an entry about going down to the submerged flower sea to retrieve an artifact.


    Yu Yi sighed, "You came at a very opportune moment. I just learned the Heart Sword, and you immediately came to find me. I don''t even know what excuse to give to refuse you."


    The contract in Zhang Zai''s hand was meant to bind Qing Xuan. If Yu Yi were more shameless, she could refuse. However, seeing Zhang Zai and the others'' demeanor, it seemed they had no intention of giving her a choice.


    "It was only a few days ago when I saw Qing Xuan''s portrait being worshipped that I knew he had an heir," Zhang Zai said with a look of nostalgia, but quickly regained hisposure. "The seal of the Demon Path concerns the safety of the world. I believe Qing Xuan''s disciple will also be as righteous as he was."


    Yu Yi didn''t take the high-minded rhetoric he threw at her. She stroked Crane Senior Brother''s head and said, "The Immortal Alliance is full of talented practitioners. Surely there are other practitioners who can be entrusted with this task?"


    Zhang Zai honestly replied, "There are, but the sacrifice would be great. However, with your Heart Sword protection, it would be different."


    Having said so much, it seemed she had no choice but to agree. Yu Yi nced at the floating boat docked not far away, pondered for a moment, and then nodded, following the Immortal Alliance practitioners onto the floating boat.


    Although Yinzhou City is under the jurisdiction of Zhaohua Pce, the distance between the immortal mountains and the mortal world is vast, hidden in ces unreachable by ordinary people. It takes two days to reach Zhaohua Pce by floating boat, crossing a vast sea of flowers that divides the immortal and mortal realms.


    Once on the floating boat, Zhang Zai handed her detailed information about the submerged flower sea, saying, "The submerged flower sea is located in the deepest part of Emotion Flower Valley, a secretke within the realm. Its water easily attracts spirits and demons, so there is a demon nest at the bottom."


    Attracting spirits and demons? Yu Yi''s eyebrows twitched slightly as she thought of someone.


    She unrolled the scroll in her hand, which was a map of the submerged flower sea. There was a deep crack in the sea bottom, filled with numerous rugged rocks and ravines.


    The scroll also recorded the mostmon spirits and demons in the sea bottom and their characteristics and weaknesses. The handwriting was her Master''s.


    Zhang Zai also said, "This scroll was drawn by your Master thirty years ago when he returned from the submerged flower sea. However, thirty years have passed, and the situation at the bottom may have changed."


    "Half a month ago, the Emotion Flower Valley secret realm opened, and the Zhaohua Pce issued public invitations to all practitioners, opening the realm to everyone. There are many practitioners in the Emotion Flower Valley now."


    "I will escort you into the submerged flower sea together with the Zhaohua Pce practitioners, but only you have the ability to reach the bottom."


    The Emotion Flower Valley secret realm of Zhaohua Pce is a natural heavy realm with a total of sevenyers, simr to concentric circles. Eachyer has natural barriers, either in the form of illusions or beasts. Only by oveing these barriers can one enter the deeperyers.


    The deeper the realm, the more precious the rare herbs.


    Zhaohua Pce is built at the entrance of the secret realm, guarding the entrance and exit, iming to suppress the beasts inside to prevent them from harming the world. In reality, they also upy the vast resources of this realm.


    Now, for the first time, they have opened it to the public, attracting arge number of practitioners, including independent cultivators and disciples from the Twelve Great Immortals on their trials.


    As promised by the Zhaohua Pce''s Pce Master Jiang Xi, there were no additional thresholds set, and anyone could enter. As for what treasures one could obtain in the secret realm and how deep one could venture, it all depended on individual abilities.


    The secret realm has been open for half a month, and most practitioners are still in the first to thirdyers, with no one yet entering the fourthyer. The value of the treasures they can obtain is limited.


    Zhaohua Pce''s generosity is precisely because they know this. Only practitioners from the Twelve Great Immortals have the ability to venture into the inneryers and take away treasures that would make Zhaohua Pce feel the pinch.


    However, those with such strength are prominent figures in their sects and would not lower their status to plunder someone else''s secret realm, thereby offending others.


    By opening the secret realm, Zhaohua Pce could disperse some insignificant materials, restore their reputation, and attract the people they wanted to their territory. It turned out that the demon indeed could not resist the temptation and entered the realm.


    The practitioners who came to the secret realm this time were a mixed crowd, and it was verymon for them to fight over the realm''s materials.


    At this moment, Xue Chenjing was in the thirdyer of the secret realm, chased into a mountain cave by a group of practitioners attacking him. As soon as he stepped into the cave, he was teleported to the deep belly of the mountain, where thebyrinthine tunnels amplified the breathing of the beasts hidden within.


    On this journey, he encountered such blockades frequently, which was quite annoying.


    Xue Chenjing clicked his tongue and held a plump photography worm in his hand, walking towards the direction of the panting. For half a month, this photography worm had been in his possession, its pitch-ck body polished to a glossy sheen, almost reaching the point of "bao jiang" (a term referring to the patina formed on objects through long-term handling).


    Whenever he had a moment, regardless of whether he was in a dangerous or safe situation, he would pinch the worm and nce at the bubbles it produced.


    As Xue Chenjing walked, he pinched the worm again. The soft, fleshy creature was deformed by his fingers, and it spat out a bubble. Inside the bubble was the scene of the Pure me Pavilion''s artifact building. There was no movement in the artifact building, and he was about to flick his finger to pop the bubble, but just then, a sword light shed through the barrier covering the artifact building.


    Xue Chenjing paused, his pitch-ck eyes fixed on the bubble. After a long wait, the door of the artifact building finally opened, and Yu Yi''s face, brimming with joy, appeared in the bubble.


    It seemed she was very happy, smiling so sweetly. She must have had a great time with Xue Mingyuan from that life.


    "System, affection level," Xue Chenjing asked.


    The system responded, "Current affection level of the target, forty percent."


    Xue Chenjing''s brows furrowed deeply, then slowly and deliberately rxed, as he smiled and said, "It''s risen again. That''s good. It was rising quite fast before, wasn''t it? It reached twenty-six percent in just seven or eight hours. Now, half a month has passed, and it''s only risen by this much."


    "Xue Mingyuan is just so-so," he leaned closer to the bubble, almost touching it, wanting to see her expression more clearly. He reached out and traced her face in the air, "Not enough, Master. You need to like him even more."


    The system remained silent. It couldn''t tell if the host was happy or unhappy this time.


    A zing me suddenly surged from the bubble, and Xue Chenjing''s pupils reflected the firelight. He instinctively leaned back, and the bubble burst, extinguishing the fire reflected in his eyes.


    Yu Yi hade out and burned his worm.


    Xue Chenjing''s smile faded, and he pinched the photography worm again. The worm curled up its body and spat out a series of bubbles, each reflecting Yu Yi''s figure.


    But soon, he saw Yu Yi shrieking and jumping onto Crane Senior Brother''s back, unleashing several more sword mes that burned his worm. The bubbles now only showed Crane Senior Brother''s sharp beak, which pecked down repeatedly, causing the bubbles to burst around him with a series of pops.


    In the end, he almost squeezed the photography worm t in his hand, but it couldn''t produce a single bubble anymore.


    Xue Chenjing was incredulous and annoyed: "She actually killed all my worms."


    The system was speechless: "Master, anyone would be scared if you sent all the worms swarming at them like that."


    Xue Chenjing looked down at the small ck worm in his hand. Ity obediently in his palm, its body almost drained: "What''s there to be afraid of? They don''t even bite."


    The system: "..."

 Chapter 48

    Seeing that he could not squeeze out any bubbles, Xue Chenjing had to give up. He put the limp photographic bug into his sleeve and extended his pseudopod to explore the dark path ahead.


    His tentacle crawled across the wall, and the tip touched something strange. He expressed his confusion with a hum, and the tip touched the object.


    Xue Chenjing turned a corner in the narrow corridor and bumped into a big ck head.


    Two long whiskers protruded from the big head, one of which was intimately entwined with his tentacle, both trying to identify what the other was.


    Xue Chenjing magnified the aura in his hand a bit, and the halopletely illuminated the big guy crawling in front. It turned out to be a giant ant, fiery red, almost half a person tall and as long as a person, with jaws as sharp as a sickle.


    Its open jaws were against the walls on both sides. When Xue Chenjing turned the corner, he just put his body into its jaws.


    Upon the sudden encounter, both the man and the ant were startled. Xue Chenjing quickly withdrew his pseudopod, and at the same time, the big ant quickly retracted its antennae, its jaws snapped shut, trying to cut him in half.


    Xue Chenjing''s figure wavered for a moment and disappeared under the jaws. He appeared on the other side of the corridor in a sh, but as soon as hended, another big head came into view.


    Xue Chenjing dodged and burst out a spiritual line from his fingertips. The aura divided into two, then three, spreading out like a litntern, illuminating the entire corridor.


    The white light illuminated the ants densely lying in the corridor, a sight that made one''s scalp tingle.


    Xue Chenjing said, "It seems I''ve stumbled into an ant nest."


    The ants werepletely startled by the light and rushed at him. Xue Chenjing pped out a seal, smashing the big head in front of him. His body turned into fog and escaped through the cracks.


    Xue Chenjing was chased around the cave by ants, his roars echoing around, "These biting bugs are the ones that should be feared!"


    If his pseudopod was caught, it would really hurt a lot.


    The system: "......"


    The journey from Yinzhou to Zhaohua Pce by boat took two days. At night, everyone went back to their rooms. Yu Yi was studying the map of the Sea of Chen Flowers.


    His senior brother Crane was standing by the table, resting his head on the table to sleep. Halfway through his sleep, his stomach started to rumble, and it was unclear if it was due to eating bugs.


    Yu Yi put down the scroll and was about to check on him when the half-asleep crane suddenly opened its beak and belched.


    A cloud of murky smoke emerged from its mouth, floated into the air, and turned into bubbles of various sizes. Inside the bubbles, vague scenes were visible.


    The picture was shaking severely and was asionally blocked. After a long time, Yu Yi recognized a familiar figure from the dim picture. This perspective might be inside his sleeve, and the pattern printed on his sleeve asionally shed in the picture.


    "Xue Chenjing?" Yu Yi called out in confusion.


    The figure in the bubble did not respond, and Yu Yi wanted to take a closer look, but the floating bubble popped and disappeared into thin air.


    Yu Yi waited in confusion for a while, tried to wake up her senior brother Crane, but failed to wake him. She had no choice but to pick up the scroll and start reading again.


    After a while, Senior Brother Crane twisted his head ufortably, his stomach rumbled again, and his beak spat out a puff of smoke, which turned into a bubble, revealing another scene.


    This time she could see clearly. Xue Chenjing was somewhere unknown, being chased by a group of terrifyinglyrge, fiery red ants.


    The mostmon sight in the image was his hands, swiftly forming seals, his fingers were white and slender, seemingly glowing in the dark, and his seal-forming movements were swift and decisive.


    The bubble seemed to be able to transmit images only in one direction, and it didn''tst long before it popped and disappeared.


    Senior Brother Crane seemed to be digesting those bugs, sliding off the table like a dead crane, his stomach gurgling, asionally spitting out a few bubbles, each bubble showing scenes of Xue Chenjing.


    The little ck bugs outside the Instrument Tower were indeed connected to him. Only he would be perverse enough to use these flesh bugs to spy!


    From the intermittent bubbles spat out by Senior Brother Crane, Yu Yi watched Xue Chenjing running around the ant nest, and he even ran into the queen ant''sir. The queen ant was lying in a huge pit, more than ten timesrger than the male ants, surrounded by ant eggs.


    Xue Chenjing leaped onto its head, his pupils glowing with a faint silver light in the dark nest.


    Yu Yi was distracted by the bubble image and failed to notice the faint, needle-like light that suddenly emerged from the scroll, from the vine painted as "beauty vine". It quickly swept over her fingertip.


    Yu Yi felt a prick of pain on her fingertip, and quickly raised her hand, but found no wound on her fingertip.


    The bubble burst, and when Senior Brother Crane burped again, the image in the bubble showed only the crisscrossing array lines on the queen ant. The huge ant queen, like a mountain of flesh, shrank inch by inch under the array, until it became the size of a fingernail and was put into a small porcin bottle by him.


    Then, Xue Chenjing jumped onto the back of an ant, leading arge group of ants out of the cave in a mighty procession.


    Yu Yi: "..." It looked like he had just recruited another army of poisonous insects.


    Senior Brother Crane turned over and finally digested the bugs in his stomach, falling into a peaceful sleep, no longer burping. Yu Yi could no longer see what happened afterwards. She returned her attention to the scroll in her hand and continued to read.


    She touched a bunch of sketchy vines with her fingertip, her gaze moved to the note left by her master next to it, "Beauty vine, after being pricked and blood is sucked by this vine, the vine can grow a clone of the blood donor. The root system must be burned..."


    In the room separated by a wall, Zhang Zai sealed a drop of blood into a ss bottle. He held the bottle hesitantly for a long time, and finally sighed, cing the bottle in a red gold-ted brocade box on the table.


    He closed the lid of the box, and a teleportation array emerged on the surface, causing the box to vanish from the table.


    Momentster, a vermilion, gold-ted brocade box appeared on the desk of the Zhaohua Pce''s master. A pair of slender jade hands reached out, utched the box, and retrieved a small ss bottle from within.


    A blood bead floated inside the bottle, bright red and round.


    "Qingzhi," Jiang Xi called, tossing the small ss bottle to him.


    Shen Qingzhi caught the bottle and walked to a green tree in the courtyard. The tree was well-rooted and lush, its crown resembling a splendid cloud, with a thin vine climbing up its trunk.


    Shen Qingzhi stood beneath the tree, dropping the blood from the bottle onto the withered leaves of the vine. The bright red blood bead immediately seeped into the leaf veins. In the short time it took for him to retreat a few steps, the withered vine suddenly grew wildly, quickly covering the entire tree trunk.


    The green tree rustled, and its wilted leaves fell like rain.


    As the green tree withered, the vine grew greener. Finally, a drooping white flower bloomed on the vine, forming a fruit that fell to the ground and gradually took on a human shape,plete with facial features.


    About the time it takes to brew a pot of teater, a graceful girl in white emerged from beneath the dead tree, shing a sweet smile at the two of them.


    Shen Qingzhi reached out and tapped her brow, transmitting a mission into her mind. "Your next target is Xue Chenjing. Go, find him."


    The girl nodded, turned, and leapt from the terrace.


    The windless sea of flowers below stirred upyers of petals, swallowing her figure.


    ...


    Yu Yi woke up from a nap to find that the floating boat had arrived above the sea of flowers that separated the mortal and immortal realms. Despite having been in this world for many years, she realized she had never properly visited any blessednds of immortality.


    She stood on the deck of the floating boat, looking down at the brilliant sea of flowers. It was endless, with fluttering petals rising into the sky, turning into a gorgeous cloud, or falling with the wind, transforming into graceful butterflies. Both the sky and the earth were bathed in a rosy glow.


    At the end of the sea of flowers, she could vaguely see floating mountains and waterfalls, with paths of flowers connecting the mountains. On them were jade towers and golden halls, reflecting specks of light like stars under the sunlight.


    The breeze blowing through the barrier of the floating boat lifted her hair, the ck strands brushing against her long eyshes.


    Yu Yi blinked, her pupils reflecting the scene of a hundred flowers before her. It was so beautiful that she found it hard to look away. Indeed, seeing such a beautiful scene in reality was much more stunning than in a game.


    She leaned on the railing of the ship, admiring the blooming flowers along the way, until the floating boat passed through the rainbow bridge outside Zhaohua Pce and entered its barrier.


    The sound of the waterfall suddenly filled her ears. Yu Yi took a breath of the moist air, the cool spiritual energy seeping into her lungs. She then realized that the gxy-like waterfall was not an ordinary one, but a spiritual spring.


    The spiritual mist from the waterfall floated between the mountains, enveloping the entire Zhaohua Pce. Just by walking, sitting, or lying down here, one could breathe in and out the spiritual energy. Even a casual breath was more effective than swallowing a spiritual pill.


    It must have been her limited experiences before. The small spiritual spring in the bamboo forest secret realm paled inparison to Zhaohua Pce.


    Yu Yi took a couple more deep breaths. Hearing the intermittent gasps from behind her, she turned around. On the deck of the floating boat, the monks from the Immortal Alliance were in simr positions, looking up to receive the spiritual mist, their eyes squinting in ecstasy.


    Zhang Zai walked out from inside, kicked a monk nearby, andined, "The people of Zhaohua Pce are waiting up ahead. Tidy up your pathetic selves."


    The monk who was kicked was the youngest of the group, Ling Yi. He stared at the hanging waterfall in the sky, his eyes turning green with envy. He was so envious that he could bite a handkerchief.


    "Uncle Master, this is spiritual mist! In the Moon-Touching Pce, only the injured and sick can enjoy the spiritual mist. Thest time I was injured on a mission, I wanted to bathe in the spiritual mist and had to queue for several days before it was my turn. They are just... just..."


    He couldn''t find the right words to describe his feelings, but Yu Yi could read two words from his expression¡ªarrogant.


    Zhaohua Pce was indeed rich and arrogant. It was as if while the people of the Immortal Alliance were still drawing lots to enter an air-conditioned room, Zhaohua Pce had already installed outdoor air conditioning.


    Yu Yi turned her eyes to look at the monks of the Immortal Alliance on the floating boat, thinking, the Immortal Alliance doesn''t seem to be doing so well.


    The floating boatnded on the broad white stone tform in front of Zhaohua Pce, and Yu Yi followed the monks of the Immortal Alliance off the boat.


    The monks of Zhaohua Pce had been waiting on the tform for a long time. The one who came to greet them was Shen Qingzhi, the eldest brother of Zhaohua Pce.


    After exchanging polite greetings, Shen Qingzhi said with a smile, "Master Zhang, long time no see."


    His eyes shifted to Yu Yi, and his smile deepened, "Miss Yu, we meet again."

 Chapter 49

    Shen Qingzhi had clearly anticipated her arrival, confirming Yu Yi''s suspicions.


    Zhang Zai imed he had seen a portrait of the Cyan Mystic being worshipped amongmon folk, which led him to find her. But Yu Yi had only given the vigers outside the Ghost City a single scroll with her master''s portrait.


    The Immortal Alliance''s Moon-Touching Pce was far away in Wangye, eighty thousand miles from Yinzhou. How could Zhang Zai have seen her master''s portrait so quickly and coincidentally? It must have been Zhaohua Pce that sent the message.


    They had lured her here with a contract, most likely targeting Xue Chenjing. No wonder she hadn''t seen Xue Chenjing after leaving the weapon tower - that demon had fled quickly, leaving her to deal with the mess.


    Yu Yi sighed silently. Indeed, whenever one gets involved with viins, peaceful days be impossible.


    After arriving at Zhaohua Pce, Shen Qingzhi hosted them for a sumptuous dinner filled with spiritual delicacies. They were then arranged to rest in the guest quarters for a day to recuperate before departing early the next morning.


    With Zhaohua Pce being rich in spiritual energy, Yu Yi could hardly afford the luxury of sleep. After returning to her room, she sat down to meditate and cultivate.


    Zhang Zai dismissed the Immortal Alliance disciples and caught up with Shen Qingzhi, asking, "Brother Qingzhi, I haven''t visited Zhaohua Pce in a long time. How is the young pce master''s health now? If possible, might I be allowed to visit?"


    Shen Qingzhi''s footsteps halted, and his gaze turned to Zhang Zai''s face, his eyes sharp enough to pierce.


    But in just a moment, the sharpness in his eyes was concealed by a faint smile as he replied, "I''m afraid that''s not possible. As you know, the poison in her body has no cure. Her condition only deteriorates; there''s no possibility of ''getting better.'' Ao''er spends most of her time in aatose state and really isn''t fit to receive visitors."


    Zhang Zai''s face showed disappointment, and he wanted to say more, but Shen Qingzhi had already cupped his hands in farewell and strode away, seemingly unwilling to hear another word on the subject.


    Unable to pursue the matter further, Zhang Zai could only sigh helplessly and raise his head to gaze at the pce halls perched at the top of the waterfall.


    Early the next morning, Shen Qingzhi returned to the cliff-side guest quarters and personally led them into the secret realm of Emotion Flower Valley.


    Having guarded the secret realm for so many years, Zhaohua Pce had thoroughly explored and developed the Emotion Flower Valley realm, establishing a shortcut that connected all sevenyers and led directly to the deepest part - the Sunken Flower Sea.


    While other cultivators were still struggling in the outeryers of Emotion Flower Valley, Yu Yi had already followed Zhang Zai and Shen Qingzhi''s group to the innermost realm, the Sunken Flower Sea.


    The Sunken Flower Sea was a vastke within the secret realm. Its waters were deep yetpletely transparent. From afar, the rippling surface reflected rainbow-colored light, like a natural diamond embedded in the earth''s surface.


    Zhaohua Pce had prepared special water-entering artifacts called Swimming Fish - robes made of high-grade spiritual silk with inscribed talismans, simr in principle to the talisman carpets Yu Yi had seen being sold by that "ddin" outside Yinzhou.


    However, these Swimming Fish robes were entirely woven from spiritual silk, glowing with ethereal light like celestial garments. They required no additional spiritual energy and were thus extremely valuable. Zhaohua Pce only had five of them, so only five people could enter the water.


    Yu Yi received one Swimming Fish robe, while the Immortal Alliance and Zhaohua Pce each provided two cultivators - their highest-ranked ones, including Zhang Zai and Shen Qingzhi.


    The remaining people stayed on shore to provide support.


    Yu Yi had initially thought they had brought her here to find leads about Xue Chenjing, using the Sunken Flower Sea mission as an irrefusable excuse. But she had misjudged them - they were genuinely focused onpleting the mission.


    Standing at the water''s edge, she had no reason to back out now, so she donned the robe and followed them into the water.


    The Swimming Fish silk robe felt weightless on her body. Upon entering the water, the talismans on the robe activated, releasing spiritual light that formed a glowing halo around each of the five people. The light condensed into fish-like shapes enveloping their bodies, resembling dolphins or whales more than ordinary fish.


    The fins and tail of the Swimming Fish responded to the wearer''s limbs, allowing even non-swimmers to move through the water.


    Within the spiritual light''s protection, Yu Yi could breathe freely. She curiously looked around herself, gently moving her hands and feet. The surrounding water rippled, and she immediately shot forward a considerable distance.


    Shen Qingzhi couldn''t help but smile, saying, "The Sunken Flower Sea is filled with evil spirits, and the water has hallucinogenic effects. The deeper we go, the more dangerous it bes. Everyone should first practice with the Swimming Fish robes in shallow water to avoid panic when we reach the bottom."


    The group tested their sword techniques and hand seals, finding that the fish-shaped aura didn''t hinderbat at all.


    After about fifteen minutes, the five set out toward the deep water. Yu Yi led the way with her heart sword, while Shen Qingzhi and Zhang Zai protected her nks, and the remaining two followed behind.


    The Sunken Flower Sea''s water was incredibly clear, allowing sunlight to prate to great depths. The light scattered in the water like drifting flower petals, exining the sea''s name.


    Halfway through their journey, the scattered light in the water grew more intense, forming a vast, shimmering expanse like a submerged gxy, beautiful yet eerie.


    Suddenly, a reflected light shard struck Yu Yi''s eyes. Her mind wavered, and her consciousness was violently pulled into that dazzling light, which overwhelmed her vision with blinding whiteness.


    The sound of rippling water had somehow transformed into howling wind, mixed with ghostly wails and wolf-like cries.


    As the white light faded, cliffs, pine trees, and stacked rocks reappeared in her vision. Yu Yi blinked in confusion at the warning-covered stone tablet now within arm''s reach, momentarily unsure whether she had left the sword realm or not.


    "Have I returned, or did I never leave?" Yu Yi wondered internally, trying to maintain herposure while attempting to distinguish reality from illusion.


    The familiar sound of a sword rang out from behind the stone tablet. Yu Yi followed the sound, looking past the tablet to see a scene she had grown ustomed to, except this time they were very close to her - too close forfort.


    Yu Yi instinctively wanted to retreat, but the shadow pinned under the heart sword suddenly elongated, like a manifested tentacle desperately reaching for her.


    From within the dark shadow, Xue Chenjing''s yearning eyes appeared as he pleaded, "Master, save me, I''ll be obedient. Take me with you, please, I beg you to take me away from here..."


    Yu Yi''s fingers twitched and she withdrew her hand into her sleeve, shaking her head at him.


    Xue Chenjing''s eager gaze gradually dimmed, tears rolling down his cheeks as he choked out, "Then when will you be willing to take my hand? Won''t you ept me even if I''m well-behaved? Your name is written on this rope, you know."


    He raised his hand, desperately tearing at his chest to reveal the oath tablet in his heart sea, saying angrily, "Look, your name is on this! If you don''t want me, then take back this oath tablet!"


    Very well, take it back - that''s all it would take. Yu Yi''s heart wavered, and she unconsciously stepped forward, reaching toward his chest.


    Xue Mingyuan called out, "No! He''s deceiving you!"


    Yu Yi''s movement froze, and she turned to look at Xue Mingyuan kneeling on the ground. He gripped his sword with one hand, forcefully driving it into the shadow''s heart, letting out a self-mockingugh, "Don''t believe him, not a single word. Look, he''s already prepared to catch you."


    Yu Yi followed his gaze and saw countless tentacles extending from the shadow.


    The tentacles hung dramatically in mid-air, forming a hunting, with all their tips aimed at her, trembling with excitement and anticipation, waiting for her toe closer so they could grab her, capture her, make her their own.


    Xue Chenjing''s reddened eyes stared intently at her, excitement barely hidden behind his tears as he urged, "Master, master, are you hesitating because you can''t bear to part with me? Then just grab hold of me, that''s all you need to do."


    "Or take back your oath tablet and abandon mepletely." He narrowed his eyes, so excited he forgot himself and revealed the thoughts hidden in his heart, "It''s fine, then I''ll catch you instead, yes, I''ll be the one to catch you, hehe."


    "Take up your heart sword and help me, help me y him." Xue Mingyuan''s gentle gaze fell upon her face, looking into her eyes withpassion and encouragement. "Kill him, and you''ll bepletely free of him. I can''t handle him alone; only you can help me. Will you help me?"


    Yu Yi stood motionless, gripping her sword tightly, with their voices echoing in her ears. Xue Chenjing begged her to save him, while Xue Mingyuan urged her to kill him.


    Another voice whispered in her ear, asking, "Whom do you pity more? Choose one. Follow your heart; you must choose."


    Yu Yi''s gaze moved between their faces before she suddenly smiled. "I hate being forced to make choices."


    With a graceful flourish of her sword, she swept the de in an arc, shattering both Xue Mingyuan and Xue Chenjing''s images. The sword light transformed into a crimson crane, spinning back to her side before striking at the direction of the mysterious voice.


    As the illusion dissolved, her eyes refocused on the ripplingke before her. A shadowy wraith fled quickly to theke''s depths, only to be split in two by the pursuing Green Bamboo Sword.


    She withdrew her de and nced around. During her momentary trance, their group of five had scattered. The two people nearest to her wore vacant expressions, clearly trapped in their own illusions.


    Looking down, she saw countless ghostly shadows had emerged from below, like murky silt turning the clearke water dark.


    A cultivator from the Immortal Alliance was already half-submerged in the shadowy silt, with wraith-like tendrils wrapping around him like underwater seaweed, forcing their way into his nose and mouth to drain his essence.


    Yu Yi quickly activated the Chasing Spring Sword Technique, flicking her finger against the Green Bamboo Sword. The de vibrated intensely, releasing a clear, resonant hum.


    The sword''s resonance created visible ripples through the water, sweeping outward. Shen Qingzhi and Zhang Zai both jolted as if shocked, their unfocused eyes regaining rity as they awakened.


    The wraiths that had been luring them suddenly receded like an ebbing tide, shrinking back toward theke bottom, where the two cultivators joined forces to destroy them.


    "Senior Brother!" The cultivator entangled by wraiths also regained consciousness, desperately calling to Zhang Zai while frantically swinging his sword to cut away the spirits.


    But for each wraith he managed to sh away, another would take its ce, endlessly trying to burrow into his body.


    Zhang Zai shouted,shing out with a silver whip to wrap around the man''s waist, attempting to pull him free.


    However, he was too deeply ensnared, with wraiths binding all his limbs in an inseparable tangle. As they struggled against each other, the cultivator''s soul began to separate from his body.


    The cultivator''s spirit was like the most delectable dessert, driving the water wraiths into a feeding frenzy as they rushed to devour his soul, nearly submerging himpletely. The cultivator screamed in agony.


    Seeing Zhang Zai hesitate, Yu Yi immediately called out, "Don''t let go, keep pulling!"


    After speaking, she swam down with her fish tail, breaking through the murky water into the wraith-filled depths. Her sword shed brilliantly, cutting away the wraiths binding the man. He gradually broke free from their grasp, and the whip suddenly yanked him back.


    Zhang Zai swiftly pressed the cultivator''s nearly-departed soul back into his body.


    Shen Qingzhi applied a soul-stabilizing talisman to the man''s forehead, helping the Immortal Alliance cultivator regain hisposure. He thoughtfully observed the dark wraith shadows in the water, his brow furrowing.


    When had the wraiths in this Sunken Flower Sea grown so powerful? And in such a short time, no less.


    Zhaohua Pce had always guarded this secret realm, never abandoning their harvesting of the Sunken Flower Sea. Though the waters were dangerous, the treasures at the bottom were abundant ¨C the fact that they could nurture divine instruments capable of sealing demons was proof enough. Zhaohua Pce had long since developed methods to tame the underwater wraiths.


    But now, the wraiths'' sudden increase in power clearly exceeded Shen Qingzhi''s expectations. Caught off guard, even he had nearly fallen for their trap earlier.


    Yu Yi cut through the entangling wraiths, attempting to swim upward with her tail, while Shen Qingzhi and Zhang Zai dove down to help her.


    But at that moment, a whirlpool suddenly formed in the water. Its tremendous suction force churned theke into chaos, mixing both people and wraith shadows into a confused maelstrom.


    After a long while, when the whirlpool finally settled, Yu Yi had vanished into the depths.


    Zhang Zai held his unconscious junior brother with one arm, his conscience wrestling within his chest as he asked again, "Can you truly guarantee she won''te to harm?"


    Shen Qingzhi''s eyes were deep and dark. The wraiths'' power had exceeded his expectations; while he could have guaranteed her safety before, now he had his doubts.


    However, his expression remained unchanged as he repeated his earlier assurance to Zhang Zai, "Of course. Our Pce Master spent years in seclusion in the Sunken Flower Sea and has tamed all the bottom-dwelling wraiths. How else could we have so easily retrieved the sealing artifacts needed by the Moon-Touching Pce?"


    Zhang Zai seemed about to speak but held back. Before they came to the Sunken Flower Sea, Zhaohua Pce had already delivered the sealing artifacts to the Immortal Alliance, but they had made one request: for him to bring that contract and use it to lure their disciple here.


    Though framed as a request, the Immortal Alliance had no room to refuse. When the Immortal Alliance was first established to guard Wangye, everyone had been united in purpose, and their word was absolute.


    But over a thousand years had passed, and while the Immortal Alliance remained, its members had changed several times, leaving only an empty name. The Moon-Touching Pcecked resources and relied entirely on supplies from the Twelve Great Immortals. Far from having any real authority, they were often at others'' mercy.


    Seeing his hesitation, Shen Qingzhi continued, "She possesses the heart sword; theke water cannot confuse her mind. Theke wraiths are under my master''s control, and my master has some friendship with Daoist Qingxuan ¨C there''s no reason to harm his disciple without cause. We brought her here for other purposes; she is not our main concern. My Lord need not worry so much, as if Zhaohua Pce were some kind of evil sect."


    Zhang Zai started, "You go too far ¨C I never thought that."


    Shen Qingzhi rxed into a smile and changed the subject: "Your junior brother''s spirit is damaged. We should send someone to take him out for healing."


    Zhang Zai nodded and turned to swim back to shore.


    At the same moment, the outer regions of the Emotion Flower Valley secret realm were inplete chaos. The spirit beasts and creatures within had suddenly gone berserk for unknown reasons, and even normally gentle flower spirits had be extremely aggressive.


    Treasure-seeking cultivators were suffering terribly, and even Zhaohua Pce members were being attacked by beast spirits. In this great chaos, finally no one had the leisure to pursue and block him anymore. Xue Chenjing entered the fifthyer of the secret realm, faintly sensing the call of his missing fire.


    He walked along a pitch-ck mountain path bordered by dense bamboo groves. It was nighttime, with neither stars nor moon in the sky, making the path nearly invisible in the darkness.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t use fire for illumination. His eyes emitted a faint ethereal glow, and with his demon spirit floating in mid-air, he moved through the night as easily as day. He preferred the night to day, enjoying the darkness and shadows, liking how others couldn''t see him while he could observe their every move.


    In an unusually good mood, he asked, "What''s the favorability rating now?"


    "Forty percent," the system replied wearily. How could the favorability increase when you''re not even together? These constant questions were driving the system crazy. "Master, why don''t you just focus on the tracking bug instead?"


    At the mention of the tracking bug, Xue Chenjing''s smile disappeared. Without the bug transmitting Yu Yi''s movements, he had once againpletely lost track of her whereabouts, not knowing where she had gone after leaving the Pure me Pavilion, what she was doing, or if she was with Pei Jingchao.


    "I should have killed Pei Jingchao before leaving Yinzhou," Xue Chenjing muttered.


    That sort of person actually caught her eye and became her original match ¨C whenever Xue Chenjing thought about it, he wanted to force Yu Yi''s eyes open and check carefully, to see if she had been blinded by excrement to have such terrible taste.


    His sudden non sequitur left the system confused. "What about Pei Jingchao? Master, why are you suddenly thinking about Pei Jingchao again?"


    Xue Chenjing''s heart felt like it was stuffed with burrs, his mood souring again. He licked his lips and murmured, "It doesn''t matter. Once I retrieve another fire, I can kill him. First kill Pei Jingchao, then find her... I''ll be able to find her again soon..."


    Suddenly, a piercing sound of suona horn interrupted his muttering. A red glow floated out from the depths of the bamboo forest, apanied by festive wedding music. As the red light drew closer, it revealed itself to be a bridal procession.


    Xue Chenjing''s thoughts were interrupted, and he stopped in his tracks with displeasure, watching as the wedding procession approached.


    Whether they were musicians or sedan chair bearers, beneath their trouser legs was nothing but empty space - the entire procession was as insubstantial as paper figures dancing in the wind.


    Only the decorated bridal sedan chair showed any real weight, bobbing up and down, making the carrying poles creak and groan. There was clearly someone inside - probably some unfortunate cultivator who had been taken to be a ghost bride.


    Before the light source reached him, Xue Chenjing retreated into the bamboo forest, clearing the path, having no intention of offering assistance.


    The bridal sedan chair swayed past him, its curtain lifting gently in the breeze, and a whiff of fragrance mixed with the scent of blood drifted to his nose.


    Xue Chenjing suddenly turned his gaze back, an strange gleam flowing through his eyes.


    Ah, it was his master''s fragrance, the scent of her blood.

 Chapter 50

    After leaving the Pure me Pavilion, she came to Emotion Flower Valley? It made sense that she would join the crowd, given how many cultivators were attracted to this natural sanctuary.


    In any case, she definitely wasn''t here looking for him.


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze fixed on the bridal sedan chair. When they passed by each other earlier, at the moment the curtain lifted, he not only caught her familiar scent but also glimpsed the person inside.


    She wore a bright red wedding dress, with golden phoenix feather patterns embroidered on her shoulders gleaming brilliantly. She demurely held a fan to cover her face, its tassels swaying with each movement of the sedan chair.


    He couldn''t see her face clearly, so he didn''t know what expression she wore as she went to marry someone else.


    Xue Chenjing turned around and followed the wedding procession, maintaining a small distance as he strolled along.


    He wanted to see who she nned to marry. She couldn''t even be fooled by him back then, so how could this ghostly thing deceive her? Or perhaps the groom was someone she genuinely wanted to marry, which was why even such basic illusion magic could fool her?


    Xue Chenjing followed the noisy celebratory music for quite a distance, watching the sedan chair bounce along the way. When other cultivators stumbled upon this scene and tried to drive away the ghosts to save people, he acted first to chase them away.


    He wouldn''t allow anyone to block the wedding procession''s path. He wanted to personally escort her to the wedding hall and see exactly who her groom was.


    Finally, the System ran out of patience and couldn''t help but urge: "Master, why are you just following? Hurry up and stop the wedding! You don''t really want to watch the female lead marry someone else, do you?"


    Xue Chenjing replied: "I do."


    System: "???" The System waspletely stunned by his single word "do," even wondering if its host had some special fetish. It was bad enough that he previously wanted the female lead to fall in love with Xue Mingyuan, though at least they were one and the same, and if the female lead had a happy ending with Xue Mingyuan, it would still count aspleting the mission.


    But what was happening now? The System was extremely worried - could such a host really achieve a happy ending with the female lead? If this mission failed, would it be destroyed?


    The bridal sedan chair continued to sway, its poles creaking. They walked for a long time, out of the bamboo forest and onto a deste path, heading increasingly into remote areas. Thenterns illuminated the night mist floating on the path, and dead leaves spun in the wind, looking at first nce like scattered spirit money.


    The person sitting in the sedan chair had been waiting for a long time. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed as she repeatedly wanted to lift the curtain to look back. He had clearly discovered her and followed the sedan chair, so why hadn''t he made his move?


    The Vine Demon lowered her fan and took out a small mirror from her bosom to check her appearance. The mirror reflected an exquisitely beautiful face - painted eyebrows and eyes, rouge-tinted lips, slender shoulders, and a narrow waist - a perfectly proportioned figure. She absolutely loved this body.


    This face would attract men, and these long legs would be perfect for wrapping around a man.


    And then, drain them dry.


    The Vine Demon thought this way, her body bing soft enough to almost transform back into vines. After waiting for so long without seeing Xue Chenjinge to stop the wedding, she decided to take the initiative herself.


    The sedan chair that had been swaying along suddenly began to shake violently. The creaking of the poles became increasingly shrill. From behind, Xue Chenjing saw the two sedan bearers in front appear to be attacked, causing the chair to tilt and crash heavily to the ground.


    A shout erupted from the procession: "The bride is trying to escape, quickly catch her!"


    The suona horns stopped abruptly, silencing the celebratory music. Whether it was the matchmaker or the musicians ying gongs and drums, they all rushed toward the sedan chair.


    The bride in her red wedding dress burst out from behind the curtain, sword in hand, cutting down two ghosts that lunged at her. She broke through the encirclement and fled backward, stumbling as she lifted her skirts.


    She raised her eyes and saw the person following behind, her eyes immediately brightening as she ran toward him joyfully, calling out: "Xue Chenjing, help me!"


    Invisible tentacles hovered in the air, their tips covered in hard snake scales, as sharp as spears, already aimed at all the ghosts on the mountain path. They only needed hismand to eliminate everything pursuing her.


    But Xue Chenjing hesitated, his gaze searchingly falling on the person running toward him. She had put her sword behind her back, not pointing it at him, running toward him withplete trust.


    When she got close, almost about to fallpletely into his embrace, Xue Chenjing suddenly raised his hand, forcefully gripped her throat, and violently mmed her to the ground.


    The bride''s eyes widened in surprise, her crimson wedding dress fluttering like beautiful butterfly wings as it lifted into the air, before crashing heavily to the ground under the force of his fingers.


    Xue Chenjing pinned her down, his fingertips pressing against the vital points of her neck, his gaze scanning her features inch by inch as he asked in a low voice: "Who are you, and why do you have my master''s scent?"


    The Vine Demon grabbed his wrist, tears seeping from the corners of her eyes as she gasped with difficulty: "Xue Chenjing, let me go! What''s wrong with you?"


    "That line does sound very much like her." Xue Chenjing smiled, showing some interest. "However, your sword stance is wrong. She would be more cautious, wouldn''t lower her sword just because it''s me. In fact, seeing me would make her grip her sword tighter, keeping the sharp edge of the de pointed at me."


    The System didn''t scream in his head; it too had recognized the truth. The oath tablet in his heart remained silent. How regrettable - this person was truly a fake.


    Only a fake would run toward him so unhesitatingly.


    Seeing that he wasn''t fooled by her at all, the Vine Demon''s fingers gripping his wrist suddenly transformed into vines, their thorns piercing his flesh, their fine tendrils prating his blood vessels and growing wildly along his meridians.


    Countless vines suddenly grew from around her body, shooting out from her sleeves and dress hem, wrapping around him.


    Xue Chenjing lowered his eyes to look at his wrist, then returned his gaze to her face. His round pupils gradually elongated, with silver light shing in their depths. "I''ll ask you one more time: why do you have her scent?"


    The Vine Demonughed, her vines pulling at his belt. "Do you want to know? If you want to know, then be one with me. I have her face, her scent, her body - I''ll make you feel good."


    The wildly growing vines and leaves almostpletely engulfed the two of them, spreading outyer uponyer like a green cocoon formed of vines. The Vine Demon''s clearughter echoed from within the cocoon.


    The cultivators hiding in the forest gathered around, setting up a containment formation. Through her mirror, Jiang Xi saw this scene and ordered: "Once the Vine Demon gets the item, kill him."


    The mirror-holding cultivator responded: "Yes, Pce Master."


    Inside the vine cocoon, Xue Chenjing frowned as he pulled out the rootlets that had prated his meridians, listening to the Vine Demon''s honest confession: "I am a spirit born from the vines at the bottom of the Sunken Flower Sea. With just a drop of blood essence, I can transform into the blood owner''s appearance. After being subdued by the Zhaohua Pce Master, she brought me out of the Sunken Flower Sea and raised me in her courtyard."


    The Vine Demon knelt nkly on the ground, revealing everything she knew: "Five days ago, the Zhaohua Pce Master took out a small porcin bottle from a jewelry box and gave it to her senior disciple Shen Qingzhi. Shen Qingzhi walked from the room to my side, crushed the bottle and fed me the blood, using a spirit tree as nourishment to make me bloom and bear fruit, transforming me into this appearance to seek you out. I was to take a lotus seed from you and then kill you."


    "Lotus seed." Xue Chenjingughed. So after all that searching in the underground ghost city, the Zhaohua Pce people were looking for the so-called lotus seed.


    He nced at the Vine Demon, seeing her submit before his feet while wearing Yu Yi''s appearance. At first he found it exciting, but after a few more looks, he found it utterly boring and coldly said, "No need to kneel."


    The Vine Demon, receiving hismand, obediently stood up.


    Xue Chenjing asked another question: "How did the Zhaohua Pce Master obtain her blood?"


    The Vine Demon shook her head, "I don''t know."


    Xue Chenjing changed his question, "Did the owner of the blood alsoe to Zhaohua Pce?"


    The Vine Demon said: "Three days ago, a group of Immortal Alliance cultivators arrived at Zhaohua Pce. The blood''s owner was with them, and they''ve now entered Emotion Flower Valley, heading for the Sunken Flower Sea in the innermostyer."


    Inside the vine cocoon, there had been no movement for a long time. The cultivators outside seemed to grow impatient, their encirclement growing tighter. Xue Chenjing smiled at the corner of his mouth and asked the Vine Demon a few more questions. Seeing that she couldn''t answer, he finally opened his palm andmanded, "Spit out her blood."


    The vines and leaves around him trembled, and though the Vine Demon seemed to want to resist his control, her mouth involuntarily replied, "The blood essence has already merged with the vines. I can''t spit it out unless..."


    She bit down hard on her teeth, and patches of her face and neck split open, sprouting fresh vine leaves in an attempt to seal her mouth. Xue Chenjing gave a contemptuous smile and asked in an enticing tone, "Unless what?"


    Fear shed in the Vine Demon''s eyes, her facial features almost distorting. Green tears streamed from her eye sockets, and her branches and leaves trembled. Her gaze was locked firmly in his eerie pupils as she answered against her will, "Unless... unless heavenly lightning burns my roots..."


    "Don''t cry with her face. It looks ugly," Xue Chenjing said with disgust. In his palm, he conjured a tailbone and carved lightning-summoning runes into it before her eyes. He handed it to her kindly and ordered, "Take this back, turn against the Pce Master of Zhaohua Pce. Wrap around her body, then activate it."


    The Vine Demon''s entire body began to shake, barely maintaining Yu Yi''s appearance.


    "This might be a bit difficult for you, but don''t worry," Xue Chenjing said as demonic energy leaked from his body, invading the surrounding vines and making her stems grow even more robust. "You just begged me for help with that face, how could I refuse?"


    The Vine Demon felt her power strengthening as endless demonic energy poured into her vines. In the past, she would have been overjoyed, but now she couldn''t smile at all. No matter how much her power increased, she still couldn''t refuse hismands.


    She opened her hand, trembling as she clutched the self-destructive rune in her palm.


    Xue Chenjing stepped back, tore off a leaf from the vine, and created a withered corpse in his image, pushing it into her arms. "Hold it well. You''ve sessfully drained my essence and obtained the lotus seed."


    The Vine Demon wrapped her hands around the corpse as Xue Chenjing''s figure turned to mist, seeping into the ground and disappearing from the vine cocoon.


    The cultivators surrounding them could see the vines growing stronger, with some branches even reaching past their barrier formations toward one of them. Frightened, that cultivator immediately activated a fire talisman to drive back the covetous vine.


    The strengthening of the vines meant she had consumed Xue Chenjing''s essence, and everyone knew what was happening inside the cocoon.


    As expected of a spirit from the Sinking Flower Sea, the n was proceeding smoothly. Perhaps they wouldn''t even need to act ¨C she could handle this person herself.


    The surrounding cultivators waited patiently for a moment longer. Finally, the vines that had nearly covered the entire path began to retract with a rustle, and the cocoon opened to reveal the scene inside.


    The Vine Demon adjusted her outer robe, her tongue sliding across her crimson lips as she squinted with satisfaction.


    A withered corpse was entangled in her vines, its disheveled clothes revealing something still writhing beneath the skin, with fine tendrils growing from the vines densely crawling over him and burrowing into his flesh.


    The Vine Demon nced at the barrier formation and sneered, "I''ve already drained him dry. You can remove the formation now."


    The lead cultivator cautiously approached, keeping watch for the demon while quickly examining the drained corpse. Finding nothing unusual, he turned his head and asked, "Did you get what the Pce Master wanted?"


    "Of course. Do you think I''m as useless as you lot?" The Vine Demon looked at him disdainfully, her branches moving restlessly toward his feet until he quickly retreated. She snorted, "I''ll deliver what the Pce Master wants personally."


    The cultivator made a gesture, and the people surrounding them deactivated the formation. No one noticed that at the moment the barrier dissolved, a thin mist seeped from the ground, flickering briefly before hiding in the dark undergrowth.


    The Zhaohua Pce cultivators quickly withdrew, leaving the forestpletely silent. Xue Chenjing walked out from behind the trees, murmuring, "The Sinking Flower Sea... she''s in the Sinking Flower Sea."


    So she really hade to Emotion Flower Valley, to the Sinking Flower Sea, just two secret realms away from him. He wouldn''t have to search for her everywhere after getting out ¨C he could see her right away.


    Xue Chenjing suddenly lost interest in wandering around the secret realm. Although he enjoyed watching those righteous cultivators being tormented by the violent spirit beasts and demons, his master was more important byparison.


    Yu Yi had entered the Sinking Flower Sea, surely to help him? She had already helped him retrieve his tailbone, so she would probably be willing to help him retrieve his spirit fire as well.


    Xue Chenjing smiled softly and without further dy, ran toward the inneryers of the secret realm.

 Chapter 51

    At the break of dawn, Zhaohua Pce weed not the rising sun, but a massive thunderbolt descending from the heavens. The lightning tore through the darkness before dawn, illuminating the entire pce as if it were daylight.


    The thunderbolt struck the pce atop the suspended waterfall, and serpentine lightning snaked along the vines entwining the structure. Deep within the vines, Jiang Xi broke free from the tendrils coiled around her, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    Her skin was pierced by the vine roots, and the lightning spread through them into her meridians, scorching her body with red lightning marks.


    "Bitch, how dare you betray me," Jiang Xi cursed, thrusting a talisman into the Vine Demon''s forehead, causing the spirit to lose its human form and copse into a writhing mass of vines on the ground.


    The activated Lightning-Attracting Talisman dissipated into the air, summoning thunderclouds that pressed heavily on the pce roof. One after another, lightning strikes tore through the dome.


    The lightning reached a withered spiritual tree, splitting its trunk in half, and a zing fire erupted from its core, quickly spreading to the vines wrapped around its base.


    The Vine Demon screamed in agony as the mes consumed it, and the entire pce''s vines writhed in pain. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the front hall in a sea of mes.


    Jiang Xi didn''t spare it a nce, turning and stumbling towards the back hall, leaving a trail of blood like crimson plum blossoms on the ground.


    The Vine Demon''s sudden surge of power had caught Jiang Xi off guard, and its bacsh had led to her own injury, causing her dantian to rupture.


    But she couldn''t afford to worry about her own wounds now. She continuously used talismans to dispel the lightning and mes until she reached the back hall, where she found it untouched by the Vine Demon and the thunderbolt. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.


    The thunder above had not yet subsided. She formed a seal with her fingers, and several talismans flew out from her sleeve, encircling the entire back hall and forming a barrier that enveloped the building.


    Her dantian ruptured, and using her spiritual energy made her stagger, causing her to spit out another mouthful of blood.


    Jiang Xi didn''t look back at the inferno behind her. She took a handkerchief, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and brushed away the bloodstains on her skirt, cleansing herself of the scent of blood before slowly entering the back hall.


    She gently closed the door, blocking out the lightning and mes, and lowered the heavy curtains,pletely shielding the flickering light. The room was silent, filled with a faint fragrance, and a graceful orchid bloomed on the table.


    Inside, the canopy bed''s gauzy curtains swayed slightly, revealing the serene figure of Jiang Rao sleeping peacefully within.


    Jiang Xi lifted the bed curtain and sat by the bed, gently stroking the sleeping girl''s stray hairs, murmuring, "Rao''er, I''m d you''re safe."


    Feeling her weakening breath, Jiang Xi''s eyes welled up with tears. She leaned down and infused another surge of spiritual energy into her, forcibly maintaining herst vestige of life.


    To care for Jiang Rao, Jiang Xi had not left Zhaohua Pce for ten years, rarely stepping out of Floating Flower Hall. Every seven days, she had to infuse spiritual energy to sustain her life. Once a half-step Unity-stage cultivator, Jiang Xi''s cultivation had steadily declined due to this, now barely maintaining the early Nascent Soul stage.


    After infusing spiritual energy, Jiang Xi''s face grew even paler. She suppressed the metallic taste in her throat and said, "Rao''er, hold on a little longer, just a few more days. Mother has everything prepared. Once I get the Reincarnation Lotus seed, it will bloom soon, and you can be my daughter again."


    She had been too muddled before. She should have brought the lotus seed back to Zhaohua Pce when she found it. If she had used her golden core to nurture it, the lotus would have bloomed faster, matured sooner. If so, her Rao''er would have already been reborn, and she might be holding her little hand, teaching her to recognize the flowers in Zhaohua Pce.


    But at that time, Jiang Xi was concerned that her golden core would contaminate the Reincarnation Lotus and feared that Jiang Rao would learn of the human life sacrificed for her rebirth. She knew her daughter''s nature; if she found out, Jiang Rao would surely develop a heart barrier, feeling guilty for life.


    Jiang Xi never imagined that such a mishap would ur just before the lotus matured.


    Jiang Rao''s body could no longer endure another ten years, even if Jiang Xi poured all her spiritual energy into her, it would not prolong her life much longer. She had no other options now.


    After confirming Jiang Rao''s condition, Jiang Xi lowered the bed curtain and stepped out.


    The thunder ceased, and the fire in the front hall was extinguished by Zhaohua Pce disciples who had arrived. A message talisman flew to her, and Jiang Xi waved it away. Shen Qingzhi''s voice came from the other end, asking, "Master, did something happen outside? Is Rao''er alright?"


    "She''s fine," Jiang Xi replied, not mentioning her own injuries. "The Vine Demon brought this upon herself, attracting the heavenly lightning and fire. She wasn''t a match for that demon, and Xue Chenjing escaped again."


    Shen Qingzhi said, "Master, should I go personally..."


    Jiang Xi interrupted him, "No need. He should be heading to the Sunken Flower Sea. Don''t stop him. Lead the Immortal Alliance out first, and seal the seventhyer of the secret realm after he enters. If the Vine Demon can''t kill him, let his master do it."


    Shen Qingzhi pondered, "Yu Yi possesses the Heart Sword, her will is firm; the Sunken Flower Sea water may not be able to confuse her."


    Jiang Xi chuckled softly, "Qingzhi, the Sunken Flower Sea water has the power to bewilder the mind and attracts so many spirits because of the Evil Desire Pearl sealed at the bottom. That pearl is said to be the evil desire fire cut down by a divine general of the Ji family, extremely impure. No one can resist that pearl."


    "Her Heart Sword may be formidable, but she''s still just a golden core cultivator. If theke water can''t confuse her, I''ll find a way to shove the Evil Desire Pearl into her mouth."


    After their discussion, Jiang Xi waved away the message talisman and sat cross-legged, sending a wisp of her consciousness into the depths of the Sunken Flower Sea.


    Though injured, she had once been a half-step Unity cultivator, her consciousness incredibly strong. This allowed her to suppress the spirits in the Sunken Flower Sea.


    Jiang Xi had left a fragment of her spirit in the Sunken Flower Sea, and with a single thought, she could return to the bottom.


    As for Yu Yi, after being sucked into the whirlpool at the bottom of theke, she fell into the deep fissure,nding in their of the spirits.


    The terrain here was simr to what her master had depicted in his scroll: a submerged cavern, deep and dark, with only the crack above letting in a faint light.


    The surrounding rocks were jagged, riddled with countless crevices and caves, teeming with unknown creatures.


    As soon as Yu Yinded, the creatures in the darkness were awakened. Red lights spread around her like lit candles, eventually covering the entire area, making one''s scalp tingle.


    A shadow cut through the water and rushed towards her. Yu Yi swung her sword to cut it down, only to realize that the red lights were the eyes of the spirits in the depths.


    The crack above was soon covered by the spirits'' shadows, and thest bit of light disappeared. The only remaining light source in this spiritir was the blood-red eyes and her own Swimming Fish Robe.


    The robe''s light was too conspicuous here, making her a clear target. Yu Yi darted into a cave, quickly removing the robe.


    The spirit lurking in the cave had just locked eyes with her when the robe was thrown over it, tying it up. The creature, illuminated by the light, revealed its true form: a human-faced, fanged monster with frog-like limbs and coral-like spikes on its back, quite deformed.


    Yu Yi tied the robe tightly around it and kicked it out of the cave with all her might.


    The monster, enraged, turned to bite the intruder, but as soon as it was kicked out, it was engulfed by the swarm of spirits.


    Unhuman screams echoed through the water. Yu Yi held her breath and crawled out of the other side of the cave. Though not a skilled swimmer, she could navigate the uneven rocks. As a cultivator, she could circte her spiritual energy to hold her breath for a long time.


    However, it would be best to finish this quickly. Yu Yi took advantage of the distraction caused by the Swimming Fish Robe to swiftly swim deeper into their of the wraiths.


    There were too many wraiths underwater, and she still encountered some of them. Yu Yi retracted the glow of her sword and silently dealt with them. She killed a creature resembling a seaweed, suppressing her disgust to wrap its corpse around her waist to mask her scent.


    This trick worked and deceived some of the wraiths. She mingled among them, fighting and moving forward.


    The underwater cave was vast andbyrinthine, with numerousyers of rock formations, resembling a maze. She had been sucked into this ce by a whirlpool and had not entered ording to the route on her master''s map, so she had no idea where she was.


    Yu Yi wandered aimlessly for an unknown amount of time before identally finding her way deeper into their.


    The item the Xian Alliance sought was a piece of Ten Thousand Year Sunken Yin Wood. In the depths of the Sunken Yin Wood Forest, there was a grove of Sunken Yin Wood, and all Yu Yi needed to do was enter the forest and dig out a piece.


    However, that ce was the main base of the wraiths. As the saying goes, where there are people, there is the jianghu (a metaphor for the world of martial arts and intrigue). These wraiths were even more so; they gathered together, fought each other, and devoured each other to establish a hierarchy.


    ording to the scroll drawn by her master, there was an underwater pce within the Sunken Yin Wood Forest, where the Ghost King resided.


    Beforeing, Zhang Zai had warned her that she only needed to dig out a piece of Sunken Yin Wood from the outermost part of the forest and not to venture into the wraith pce and disturb the Ghost King.


    Yu Yi saw the Sunken Yin Wood Forest. Here, it was not as dark as outside; a strange green light floated on the water, outlining the contours of the trees, making it look like the underworld, eerie and terrifying.


    The wraiths outside no longer dared to follow her in, but it was evident that the monsters inside were much stronger and had a strong sense of territory.


    Yu Yi was extremely cautious. She cut off the seaweed-like creature around her waist; its scent was no longer useful, and too weak a scent might attract wraiths that wanted to devour it.


    The closer she got to the Sunken Yin Wood Forest, the more enormous the trees appeared, standing like pce pirs in the water. She chose one on the outer edge that looked slightly smaller and slowly approached it.


    Something touched her in the water. Yu Yi paused and looked down to see a thin, blood-red rope-like object, like a writhing snake, just inches from her hand, which had already bled where it was touched.


    She retreated alertly, and the ripples in the water spread her blood. Another one lit up to her right, then a second, a third. In an instant, countless long, writhing blood-red tendrils lit up around Yu Yi, likenterns.


    These tendrils floated around her in all directions, their ends converging at one point, attached to the Sunken Yin Wood, like a blooming flower of the underworld, with her now at the center surrounded by its petals.


    Yu Yi gripped her sword tightly and shed at the blood-red tendrils, trying to break free.


    A pair of eyes lit up deep within the bud, and then, all the dense red tendrils around her surged towards her. Any slight touch would scrape a fresh wound on her skin.


    The scent of blood spread, and the tendrils became even more frenzied. Yu Yi enveloped herself in sword energy, cutting through several tendrils in a row, but they seemed endless. She was in a very passive position, almost trapped inside the bud of the flower of the underworld, which was closing in, twisting the tendrils together to devour herpletely.


    At that moment, a burst of talisman light shot in from outside, exploding with a loud boom upon contact with the tendrils. The shockwave caused the closing bud to reopen, and a hand reached through the water to grab her wrist, pulling her out.


    Yu Yi opened her eyes and, through the scattered tendrils, saw a familiar face.


    Xue Chenjing? Why was he here?


    "Follow me," Xue Chenjing transmitted his voice into her ear, gripping her wrist tightly and pulling her forward.


    Yu Yi nced at the direction he was swimming towards and immediately struck his wrist with a palm, breaking free from his grasp, alertly saying, "I''m not going in."


    Themotion here had already alerted the monsters in the Sunken Yin Wood Forest. The water around them suddenly became murky, and behind the eerie trees, there was a terrifying stir and low growls.


    Xue Chenjing turned back and smiled, "You have to go in whether you want to or not."


    With that, he pushed his hand forward, and the water ripples from his palm stretched into a circr arc, instantly condensing into a talisman array that shot straight towards Yu Yi.


    Yu Yi raised her sword to cut through it, but the water array did not break after being struck by her sword; instead, it grewrger and finally formed a whirlpool that sucked Yu Yi in.


    Before the water calmed, Yu Yi heard his voice from outside, saying, "Master, I''m sending you to a ce you''ll like."

 Chapter 52

    As before, after the vortex dissipated, Yu Yi''s figure vanished from the spot.


    Xue Chenjing floated in the water, his robes billowing around him, a faint smile ying on his lips. His features, distorted by the rippling waves, subtly transformed. His sharp eyebrows softened into delicate arcs, his eyes lost their gloom, and his entire visage seemed washed and redrawn, bing that of another person.


    His dark attire morphed into vibrant dresses, and a crimson scarf meandered through the water. The agitated Sunken Yin Wood Forest instantly quieted, sinking into a deathly silence.


    Jiang Xi bore the aura of a ghost king, which subdued the surrounding mischievous spirits, causing them to obediently bow down. She turned, ncing towards the direction of the Wraith Pce, murmuring, "This time, I hope you won''t disappoint me."


    The Wraith Pce was nestled deep within the Sunken Yin Wood Forest, where the trees had grown so thick and massive that they defied imagination. The pce was built by hollowing out the interiors of these colossal trees, resulting in a structure entirely ck, from its eaves to its walls and windows, and even its corridors. As Yu Yi walked through it, she felt as if she were traversing the underworld, a chilling sensation pervading her.


    Xue Chenjing had brought her here, to the Wraith Pce? He knew she didn''t want to enter this ce, yet he still disregarded her wishes and sent her in.


    Was there something he needed here? Was it another task from the system, something that required her cooperation to obtain?


    He hadn''t changed at all. For his own purposes, he never cared about others, not even a moment''s hesitation.


    Yu Yi clenched her Green Bamboo Sword so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The unbridled fury within her made it difficult to hold her breath, and a few bubbles escaped from her nose and mouth, the sound unusually clear in the silent pce.


    The water that entered her trachea caused a sharp pain in her throat, and her chest felt as if it were about to explode from suffocation.


    She quickly covered her mouth, retreating to lean against the wall, alert to her surroundings while circting her spiritual energy to suppress her instinct to breathe.


    Tears welled up in her eyes, blending with the surrounding water. After a long while, the suffocating sensation gradually subsided.


    She stood up again and continued forward, wanting to escape this oppressive ce. But the environment remained unchanged, the corridor seemingly endless. This dark and silent environment made it impossible to sense time, leaving only an increasingly agitated state of mind.


    Yu Yi suspected she was going in circles. She marked the walls and counted seconds in her mind to stabilize her focus. After about half an hour, the surroundings were still ck walls, ck windows, and ck corridors.


    She shed open a window with her sword and climbed out, only to find the same ck corridor. She tried breaking through several more windows, but the situation remained unchanged.


    It was as if she had entered some ovepping space, like a ghost wall, where no matter how long she walked or how many windows she broke through, she was forever trapped in this dark corridor, with no end and no way out.


    Even if a wraith or ghost appeared before her, it would be better than this current state.


    Yu Yi''s eyes reddened, whether from the water pressure or her current state of mind, making her look like a fragile, cracked ss.


    Xue Chenjing, damn Xue Chenjing, she was fed up with him! Fed up with his tasks! She wanted to kill him. Xue Mingyuan was right; only by killing him could she escape him.


    This thought screamed in her mind, gradually taking over her entire consciousness.


    Never before had she wanted to kill him so much.


    Yu Yi swung her sword to break open another window, not holding back the sharpness of her sword, as if this strike were aimed at Xue Chenjing.


    A crimson crane emerged from the de, its wings aze, screeching as it charged forward, setting the coldke water boiling, and instantly engulfing the surroundings in white bubbles.


    Yu Yi''s body was enveloped in protective spiritual energy, her red eyes fixed on the sword spirit as it pierced through the water with dazzling firelight, illuminating the ck walls on all sides.


    But the long corridor had no end. The crane''s light grew weaker until it was swallowed by the surrounding darkness.


    Though the light was extinguished, the crane''s cry still echoed throughout the pce, filled with anger, reverberating and ovepping, feeding back to Yu Yi''s ears and further stoking her rage.


    Yu Yi''s temples throbbed as she raised her sword to strike again. The sword mark on her forehead glowed faintly, like a gentle breeze entering her mind, causing her action to pause.


    No, something was wrong. It seemed that ever since she entered this ce, her emotions had be unusually irritable. From the moment Xue Chenjing teleported her here, the anger she felt then had been continuously expanding.


    Because Xue Chenjing disregarded her wishes, unhesitatingly throwing her into danger,pletely indifferent to her survival. So she was angry, annoyed, even feeling wronged and sad.


    But she had always known he was like this, always known he would go to any lengths to achieve his goals. She had always seen it clearly, warned herself not to have any expectations of him.


    Since she had no expectations, why was she so angry now?


    Yu Yi doubted herself. Had she been bewitched by theke water? Was this a hallucination that had ensnared her? When did she fall into this illusion?


    From the moment she fell into the man-eating flower, or when Xue Chenjing appeared? Was that really Xue Chenjing?


    Yu Yi pressed her hand to her forehead, running the Chasing Spring Sword Technique, struggling to pull a thread of reason from her anger-clouded mind.


    The Green Bamboo Sword hummed in her hand, the white mark on its de glowing brightly. The sword floated before her, its dull surface gradually transforming into a gleaming white.


    Yu Yi saw her reflection in the sword''s surface. Another her spread her arms, trapped on a formation. A crimson pearl hovered before her, seemingly burning with a me inside, casting light on her, drawing out her seven emotions and six desires.


    Which was real, and which was an illusion?


    "Quickly feed her the Evil Desire Pearl, or else before Xue Chenjing arrives, she''ll break free from its control herself!" A shrill and urgent female voice pierced her ears.


    Yu Yi''s heart steadied, her lifted gaze clear¡ªthat was the reality.


    She grasped the sword and shed towards the source of the voice. The ck corridor shattered under the sword''s light, the illusion imprisoning her consciousness disintegrated, and Yu Yi suddenly opened her eyes.


    The light of the Evil Desire Pearl reflected in her eyes. Yu Yi looked at the flickering me inside the pearl, her just-awakened consciousness wavering for a moment.


    In that split second of hesitation, a force pried open her mouth. A terrifying w reached from behind the pearl, lightly tapping it, causing it to roll into her mouth.


    The round pearl slid down her throat and into her stomach, causing a burning sensation.


    The human body naturally has three fires: the heart''s sovereign fire, which governs the spirit; the kidney''s subject fire, which governs desire, also known as the essence fire; and the qi sea''smon fire, which governs the body''s qi. Yu Yi''s three fires were originally in harmony, but the addition of this external desire instantly disrupted the bnce.


    Especially the desire fire in the pearl, umted over the years, impure and evil, when it entered her body and merged with her essence fire, it set her essence fire aze.


    Yu Yi''s eyes reddened with desire, and the string of reason snapped. Love or hate, everything was beyond her control,pletely out of her hands.


    After stuffing the Evil Desire Pearl into her mouth, Jiang Xi withdrew the restraining formation.


    Yu Yi drifted down to the ground, her expression nk. When she turned her head and saw the tall, dark wood pirs in the hall, her eyes suddenly lit up with a fierce light. She lunged forward, raising the Green Bamboo Sword and wildly shing at the pirs, each strike leaving a gash in the thick wood.


    The hall vibrated with a dull rumble. A half-rotten dragon emerged from the shadows, its throat emitting a murky sound, "Why is she chopping the pirs?"


    Jiang Xi didn''t care why she was chopping the pirs. She was satisfied with Yu Yi''s current frenzied chopping, brimming with killing intent.


    When the waters of the Sunken Yin Wood Forest began to surge, Shen Qingzhi found an excuse to withdraw the group from the Zhaohua Pce, and Zhang Zai hesitated for a moment before realizing there was no turning back, and had to follow suit.


    With the intentional facilitation and guidance of the Zhaohua Pce cultivators, Xue Chenjing quickly reached the finalyer of the secret realm. However, upon entering the Sunken Yin Wood Forest, his connection to his essence fire mysteriously broke.


    Thisyer of the secret realm was almost entirely upied by a singleke, with scattered inds faintly visible within it.


    As he stepped into the Sunken Yin Wood Forest, a fine drizzle was falling over theke. Under the dim light, shadowy figures swarmed the water, and the spirits within were reveling in their frenzy.


    Xue Chenjing walked along thekeshore, dispatching a few minor spirits that tried to crawl ashore to seduce him. He skirted around a forest at the edge and arrived at the other side of the Sunken Yin Wood Forest.


    Behind the misty rain curtain, a sizable pleasure boat had appeared out of nowhere. It featured two-story pavilions with upturned eaves, copper bells hanging below, and red silk drapes all around, exuding a festive atmosphere.


    Eerie wedding music drifted on the wind, and a distorted figure stood at the prow of the boat, his sharp voice calling out, "The Ghost King is taking a bride! All spirits, make way and do not obstruct the path."


    As that spine-chilling chant spread, the shadowy figures in theke dispersed, clearing a path to the central ind.


    Another wedding scenario, devoid of any novelty.


    No wonder it''s called Emotion Flower Valley.


    Xue Chenjing stood on the shore, his gaze following a beam of light from the boat, looking towards the window on the second floor of the pleasure boat. Within the warm, orange glow, a slender figure sat in front of a mirror, holding a vermilion brush, painting a floral design on her forehead.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes flickered, blinking away the water droplets on hisshes, and he waved away the annoying mist before looking again.


    Ah, his master was truly busy, about to get married again.


    The system chimed in his ear, "The female lead is getting married again!" It paused for a moment, adding, "This time for real!"


    "Hmm," Xue Chenjing responded perfunctorily through his nose, his gaze fixed on the figure behind the window. He moved a few steps to the right along thekeshore, finding a better angle to get a clearer view of the person on the pleasure boat.


    Yu Yi wore a bright red bridal gown, her head adorned with a phoenix crown, the dangling beads reflecting the light, making her face appear radiant and wless.


    Perhaps due to the soft rain mist, her features seemed softer, her expression unusually gentle and tender, a side of her he had never seen before.


    Xue Chenjing stared at her intently, his eyes seeming to be shrouded by the rain''s gloom, his voice low as he said, "Her bridal attire looks even better this time."


    The system responded indifferently, "Master, are you going to watch the female lead marry someone else again?"


    Xue Chenjing followed the boat''s movement, stepping into the muddy water by the shore, his eyes narrowing as he thought, thenughed in frustration, "No, I''ve changed my mind this time. I''m going to the central ind to kill that so-called Ghost King first, and wait for her to marry me."


    As he spoke, he grew excited, eagerly asking, "What do you think her reaction will be if she sees me as the groom at the wedding hall? Will she be happy or angry?"

 Chapter 53

    Xue Chenjing was itching with anticipation. His figure fogged under the murky water, sinking into theke and heading towards the center.


    Underwater, the eerie shadows were as plentiful as water fleas, but Xue Chenjing was neither afraid nor disgusted by them. Compared to walking on the bustling streets of Yinzhou City, filled with humans, he found thiske teeming with specters much more pleasant.


    Moreover, the water still retained a familiar scent, the lingering desire from the essence fire that had once been separated from him. Xue Mingyuan despised it immensely, viewing it as a vile desire, the root cause of attracting monsters and demons, so he did not hesitate to harm himself to discard this fire.


    But what he didn''t expect was that Xue Chenjing''s desire was so strong that even after cutting off this fire, he still couldn''t suppress his burgeoning desires. He was always yearning, desperately wanting to take, greedy and never satisfied, like a sponge that could never absorb enough water.


    Even without the essence fire, he could still draw nourishment from the evil desires of the demons.


    The specters in theke treated Xue Chenjing as one of their own. He had a terrifying demonic aura about him, and wherever he went, no specter dared to challenge him. They were only intimidated by his aura, bowing their heads in submission.


    Monsters and demons are such cruel yet simple creatures, respecting power, with the strong as masters and the weak as servants.


    When Xue Chenjing swam to the side of the painted boat, several demon spirits quietly emerged from the water. The spirits flew out of the water, shaking their heads to shake off the water droplets, their tentacles adhering to the boat, and climbing up.


    Soon, they rolled into the cabin. The people on this painted boat were all transformed from specters, some of whom did not even want to maintain their human formpletely, leaving sticky water marks everywhere on the deck after they passed.


    The demon spirits followed two maids up to the attic. The maids looked normal, but their walk was slightly odd. Their clean gauze dresses seemed damp, and although their faces were rigid, they were still pretty.


    Only their eyes were unnaturally eerie. Their pupils were deep and moist, emitting a swampy gas from theke bottom, and their gaze at people was also wet, as if they were licking her with their eyes, tasting the saltiness.


    As one of them, he knew too well their covetous gaze. Every monster here was coveting his master.


    Xue Chenjing gritted his teeth, uncontrobly shooting tentacles from his body, wrapping around several specters nearby, and crushed them with force. The ck blood spread in the water, staining theke murky.


    Yet, under such offensive gaze, Yu Yi showed no signs of difort. She even smiled at them, asking them, "Do you think this flower ornament is beautiful? It depicts a hibiscus."


    Through the demon spirit, Xue Chenjing''s gaze fell on her forehead, and he sneered in his heart, "These monsters don''t know a damn thing about beauty, they don''t even know what a hibiscus is."


    The two maids did not respond to her words, their minds could not focus on the floral ornaments she spoke of. They stepped forward, setting down their trays, one holding a veil embroidered with mandarin ducks, the other a pair of red embroidered shoes.


    They knelt beside her, each holding an embroidered shoe, whispering, "Miss, allow us to help you put on your shoes."


    They were too close to her, closer than normal. As they lowered their heads, their nostrils red wildly, inhaling her scent.


    Xue Chenjing heard the sound of them swallowing in their throats, a buzzing sound filled his mind, anger rushing to his head.


    He wanted to kill them, to kill them!


    His demonic spirit obeyed his thoughts, floating over andnding on the back of the two maids'' necks. Its soft tendrils burrowed into the hair at the back of their heads, extending a poisonous sting, and pierced in.


    Yu Yi leaned slightly, saying, "No need, I can do it myself, you may rise."


    What a gentle tone.


    Xue Chenjing suddenly didn''t want to kill them anymore. His stinger prated the brains of the two monsters, the demonic spirit fully adhered to the back of their heads, and Xue Chenjing easily took over their consciousness.


    These two monsters were not formidable at all.


    The bodies of the two maids stiffened for a moment, then immediately returned to normal.


    They both retracted their hands at the same time, clutching the embroidered shoes to their chest, looking up at Yu Yi. Under the control of the demonic spirit, they spoke, "No, let us help you put them on. We are here to serve you, Miss. Please, let us help you put them on, alright?"


    Both of them spoke at the same time, their tones and expressions identical, even their pleading looks were identical. It was so strange that Yu Yi leaned back in surprise, a struggle apparent in her eyes, a moment of rity.


    But it was only for a fleeting moment, she quickly fell back into the current bizarre situation, involuntarily nodding in agreement to their request.


    The maids'' cold fingers simultaneously grasped her ankles, through the thin sock, it felt so cold that she couldn''t help but retract her foot.


    But immediately, the grip on her ankles tightened, their fingers clutching her foot, forcibly pulling her jade feet back, not allowing her to retract them under her skirt.


    The two maids knelt beside Yu Yi''s feet, their heads bowed, their faces almost touching her leg.


    They were like twin sisters with a telepathic bond, their strength and movements identical. Their fingers moved from her toes to her calves, smoothing out her socks, tying theces, then gripping her heel, slipping the embroidered shoes onto her feet.


    Underwater, Xue Chenjing was anxiously rubbing his fingertips. This indirect, itching touch through another person did not quell his anger, but instead aroused an indescribable thirst in his heart. Although he was in the water, he felt incredibly thirsty, as if there was a fire burning in his throat.


    He had justmanded the two monsters to put shoes on her, but now he wanted to lift her skirt, pull off those shoes, remove the socks, and touch her skin directly.


    Without realizing it, Xue Chenjing''s hands opened and closed, wanting to grasp her foot in his palms, to caress her small and pearly white toes. But he couldn''t right now, all he could do was touch her through those two monstrous hands.


    As Xue Chenjing thought about this, he felt a bit angry. He didn''t want them to touch her. But he wanted to touch her now more than ever before.


    Inside the painted pleasure boat, the demon spirit once again obeyed his thoughts,manding two maidservants to grasp Yu Yi''s foot again, removing the embroidered shoe from her foot, hesitating for a moment, and then lifting her heel to put it back on.


    They were like a pair of jammed puppets, repeatedly taking off her shoes and putting them back on. Yu Yi''s heel was rubbed raw and slightly painful by the mouth of the embroidered shoe. When the maidservant attempted for the fifth time to remove her shoe, she jumped off the couch with a kick, puzzled and asked, "What are you doing?"


    The maidservants kneeled in their original ce, their hands still in the posture of holding her feet. Xue Chenjing was brought back to his senses by Yu Yi''s voice, clenched his fingers, and controlled the two maidservants to run out of the building, onto the deck, and jumped overboard into theke.


    The sshing sound of falling into the water attracted the attention of the monsters on the deck ying music, but they only nced over, turned their heads back indifferently, not caring about what had happened.


    The twisted figure standing at the bow of the ship was still singing loudly, "The Ghost King is getting married, all demons and monsters, must avoid, do not block the way."


    Yu Yi sat back in front of the window of the building, as before, looking at herself in the mirror.


    The two maidservants who fell into the water quickly lost their human forms, revealing their true appearance as catfish spirits with human faces and fish bodies. As soon as they entered the water, they were surrounded by monsters, torn apart and eaten without resistance.


    Only then was Xue Chenjing satisfied. He rubbed his fingertips again, looked at the light in the building through the misty rain curtain, and sank into the water.


    He was not arrogant enough to rush onto the ind in theke without knowing anything. Along the way, Xue Chenjing caught many monsters underwater, directly invaded their consciousness, and obtained information about the Ghost King.


    The Ghost King of this Chrysanthemum Sea was a dragon that was killed and sank to the bottom of the water. Its corpse turned into mud, and its soul lingered and became a water monster. It obtained a treasure pearl, and with the power of the pearl, it subdued the ghosts and monsters in theke and became the king.


    What surprised Xue Chenjing was that this Ghost King of the Chrysanthemum Sea already had a wife, and he was very afraid of that wife. The monsters in theke also all submitted to that wife.


    His master was to be married off to be the Ghost King''s concubine.


    How dare this ghost thing?!


    Xue Chenjing was so angry that he tore apart the monsters blocking his way and went straight to the ind in theke. He came ashore soaking wet, like a life-taking water ghost, stepping onto the flower-covered path for the bride.


    He paused in his steps, lowered his head to look at the petals on the ground. The fresh petals of various colors were piled up thickly, the winding flower path extended from the water''s edge into the depths of the ind. The trees on both sides of the flower path were hung with flowernterns. In the hazy rain, they glowed with a warm orange light. At a nce, the scene was incredibly beautiful.


    Xue Chenjing did not ruin the flower path. He slipped into the woods on the side, following the path to the courtyard deep within.


    Two festive rednterns hung on the courtyard''s main gate, red silk draped from the eaves, and inside the courtyard, there wasughter and joy. The atmosphere was as festive as a human wedding feast.


    The bride had not arrived, and the groom was nowhere to be seen in the hall. The painted boat was about to dock, and Xue Chenjing did not have the patience to search for the dragon among the demons and ghosts filling the courtyard. He also did not want to give it a chance to fight, so as not to ruin these wonderful arrangements.


    He could not let Yu Yi marry him in a ce beaten to ruins.


    Xue Chenjing wanted to fight quickly, but the power of the Ghost King was not something his current Golden Core stage cultivation could easily handle, so he had to take a risk.


    He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a tentacle coated in snake scales, turning the soft tip into a sharp cone.


    Xue Chenjing tore open half of his shirt, grabbed the tentacle, and cut open his chest skin, plunging the cone deep into his heart, blood dripping down the transparent tentacle. He took the blood from his heart and quickly drew a formation in the void.


    He pulled back the tentacle, and blood from the wound in his heart surged into the formation. A rich demonic aura emerged from within the formation, and a pair of long ears slowly protruded.


    The half-head that emerged from beneath the long ears resembled a rabbit, its body not muchrger than a rabbit, but its face was extremely ferocious. It had a gaping mouth, sharp fangs, and dark red eyes filled with bloodthirsty madness.


    The system eximed in shock, "Hou, you summoned Hou! Can you control it now? Oh my, Master, heal your wound quickly, or it will drain all your blood!"


    Xue Chenjing pressed down on his chest wound, but blood still seeped through his fingers, quickly flowing into the formation in front of him.


    He lowered his eyes, confronting Hou in the formation, both sides silently shing.


    The demonic aura surged around them, and the demons and ghosts in the courtyard were disturbed by the terrifying aura on the other side of the wall. The monsters in the sea of fallen flowers all headed towards this small ind, causing huge waves in theke as they moved, almost capsizing the painted boat.


    Fortunately, the boat was already near the shore. Yu Yi jumped off the deck amidst the sshing waves,nding on the flower path on shore. The flowers spread on the road were covered with a thinyer of rain, delicate and lovely, with a strong fragrance.


    She took a light sniff, and her clear eyes became hazy again, as if she was drunk on the floral scent.


    The strange surroundings could no longer distract her. Yu Yi didn''t even look at the monsters crawling out of the water. She lifted her skirt and walked along the flower path.


    Someone chased after her from behind, cing a veil over her head, and helped her to walk forward. She did not resist.


    Xue Chenjing heard themotion by theke. He stepped on Hou''s head and, amidst its angry roar, he said impatiently, "I don''t have time to y the eagle-torturing game with you. Remember now? You''re already dead on the battlefield of gods and demons, not even a trace left, only a mouthful of demonic aura coexisting with me."


    "Something that can only appear in the world when summoned by my blood array, dares to defy me?" Xue Chenjing released his hand from his chest, the bloody hole in his heart healed. He held his hand above its head, blood dripping from his fingertips onto the white fur of the beast, "You can try, see if you can still exist after killing me."


    The beast was drenched by the blood dripping from his fingertips, uncontrobly sticking out its tongue to lick the blood on its fur. Under such intimidation and temptation, it finally submitted at his feet.


    Xue Chenjing squatted down, wiped the blood from his hand onto its body, and tugged at its long ears, "Good boy, I''ll give you another little snack."


    He lifted his foot off it, and the beastpletely detached from the magic array. It sniffed twice, a white shadow shed, and it rushed into the high walls of the courtyard.


    Xue Chenjing wavered as he stood up, leaning on a tree trunk for support. He nced back at the faintly discernible crimson figure in the forest, and hurriedly walked into the courtyard.


    The crowd blocking the entrance stared at him silently. Some still maintained their human form, while others couldn''t, which made their shapes appear extremely distorted, their half-human, half-beast appearances particrly eerie.


    Xue Chenjing swaggered to the main gate, stepped onto the front steps, and the demons in front of the gate made way for him with a rustling sound.


    The trees in the courtyard were also adorned with colorfulnterns, and a giant "double happiness" character hung in the main hall. Wedding cakes and fruits were neatly arranged on the table.


    Xue Chenjing was very satisfied.


    A deafening roar came from the backyard, and a long shadow rushed into the sky, chased by something. Although the object was small, it was as fast as lightning, leaping around the long dragon, tearing off its rotten flesh.


    The dragon couldn''t shake it off, curled up its body, and plunged into theke, causing a huge ssh.


    By this time, the bride had arrived at the door. Xue Chenjing hurriedly ran out from the backyard, adjusting his groom''s wedding suit. Whether it was the suit''s contrast or because he ran too fast, his face, pale from excessive blood loss, was flushed again, as if carefully applied rouge.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes were startlingly bright, filled with uncontainable excitement. All he could see in his pupils was the figureing towards him, covered by a bridal veil.


    He was so looking forward to the expression on Yu Yi''s face when he lifted the veil.


    So, even if he knew that this was probably another trap set to lure him in, he didn''t care.


    The courtyard was filled with grotesque creatures that looked half-human, half-beast, standing still, silent. Only their sticky gazes followed the bride.


    The hem of Xue Chenjing''s wedding suit swayed, invisible tentacles emerged in the air, exuding a threatening demonic aura, and the demons in the courtyard bowed their heads in unison.


    The water beast helping Yu Yi didn''t dare to go forward, so Xue Chenjing reached out his hand.


    Yu Yi saw the palm stretching towards her from under the veil, she raised her hand to his, and his hand immediately gripped hers. At first, the grip was too tight, then deliberately loosened a bit, his wrist was subtly trembling.


    Even through the veil, Yu Yi could sense the unusual excitement from the person opposite her.


    For a fleeting moment, Yu Yi was filled with doubt. Why was she getting married? And to whom?


    But before she could ponder further, the chant calling for them to pay homage to the heaven and earth quickly dispelled her doubts.


    There was no joy, no human voices, and the surroundings were eerily quiet. All she could hear was the shrill voice that had been apanying her throughout, shouting, "First bow to heaven and earth."


    "Second bow to the high hall."


    "Husband and wife bow to each other."


    "The ceremony isplete."


    A pair of hands reached out to lift the veil from her head. As the veil was lifted, Yu Yi looked up and found herself staring into a pair of ck, bright eyes.


    Xue Chenjing was staring at her expectantly, his pupils trembling slightly, suppressing his excited breathing, and whispered, "Mydy, I am the groom. Are you happy?"


    The moment she saw him, something in Yu Yi''s mind seemed to shatter with a ''bang'', like apressed gas canister that had been sealed all the way, finally finding a vent when she saw him.


    A fire ignited within Yu Yi, plunging her into a hatred so profound that she herself didn''t understand. Her eyes turned red, and a sharp de slid out from her sleeve. Her spiritual power coated the de with mes, leaving a white mark in the middle.


    Xue Chenjing quickly grabbed her wrist, positioning the de just outside his heart. His gaze fell on her forehead, "Your flower ornament is beautiful, more beautiful than any hibiscus flower in this world."

 Chapter 54

    Xue Chenjing had anticipated that his master would be unhappy and might stab him, so he was prepared.


    However, when this prediction came true, when Yu Yi unhesitatingly thrust her dagger toward his heart, the emotions that surged through him in that moment made his eyes turn red. How disappointing - even with forty percent favorability, she didn''t hesitate for even a moment.


    If she had hesitated for just one breath, he would have been satisfied.


    But Yu Yi didn''t. The moment she saw him clearly, she immediately gripped the de and stabbed toward his vital point. Though the de''s tip was blocked from reaching his heart, he still felt the pain.


    Xue Chenjing held back her wrist with one hand to stop the de pressing toward his heart, while his other hand still lifted her bridal veil. Malice boiled in his heart. Since this was how it would be, he wanted to see more of her losing control, more of her showing her hatred for him.


    With a smile on his lips and barely restrained tears in his eyes, he deliberately said, "Master, does marrying me make you so angry? Angry enough to kill me? Too bad - no matter how angry you are, it''s useless. We''ve alreadypleted the ceremony, truly bowed to heaven and earth this time, bing husband and wife."


    "From now on, you''re my wife. Master- oh no, I should change how I address you. Should I call you mydy, or my beloved? My beloved, what will you do now?"


    Yu Yi looked up at him. The fire burning inside her body was already making her dizzy and barely able to think. Hearing Xue Chenjing''s deliberately provocative and sarcastic words was like pouring oil on the mes, making herpletely explode.


    She turned the de slightly, its face pointing upward.


    Fifth Sword of Pursuing Spring, Heart Mirror.


    The de transformed into a bright mirror surface, reflecting Xue Chenjing''s image from close range. He instinctively lowered his eyes and saw his own crying reflection in that bright surface, looking as pathetic as a stray dog.


    Xue Chenjing threw aside her veil and raised his hand to wipe his face, but felt no tears. He clearly hadn''t been crying or begging her!


    "You deceived-" Xue Chenjing''s angry words were suddenly cut off as an intense light shed below his eyes, and the sharp de swept upward from below, aiming straight for his throat.


    Xue Chenjing finally released her wrist and hurriedly dodged. He avoided the most fatal spot but was still cut by her de. A line of blood extended from his left jaw up to his cheek, slowly seeping red.


    With a ng.


    Yu Yi threw away the unwieldy short de, and light flickered in her hand as she switched to her Green Bamboo Sword. Her boiling fighting spirit caused the sword to emit continuous humming, and the white mark along its center gleamed blindingly bright.


    The blood on Xue Chenjing''s face had beaded up and was dripping from his chin. He whimpered in pain, his fingers hovering by his face, wanting to touch but not daring to.


    The wound wouldn''t heal - she had used the Heart Mirror to wound him.


    Memories of being killed again and again by the Heart Mirror surfaced in his mind. Xue Chenjing''s whole body trembled as he backed into a corner. He looked at her sword in fear and asked in disbelief, "Do you truly want to kill me?"


    Yu Yi''s answer was another merciless sword strike.


    Outside the room, evil spirits grew restless. They coveted the power within Xue Chenjing but also feared it, surrounding the building with predatory gazes, waiting for them to kill each other, watching and waiting for him to weaken so they could swarm in and devour him.


    A white figure shot out from the sea of flowers, lightning-fast through the ind''s forest, the wind it created stirring up flower petals from the ground. At some point, the rain over the flower sea had stopped, and the sun was peeking through the clouds.


    The demon beast bounded through the courtyard, its terrifying demonic aura making all the evil spirits in the yard bow their heads again in submission.


    It crashed through the window, opening its sharp fangs. Its spraying saliva instantly dissolved arge patch of the surrounding furnishings and burned several holes in the ground as it lunged ferociously at Yu Yi.


    Xue Chenjing quickly grabbed its ear and forcefully pulled it back into his arms.


    The demon beast wasn''t as obedient as the Earth Impurity or Bone Demon. Its fighting spirit was high, and being suddenly restrained, even by its master who had summoned it, made it show no mercy. It smelled blood and turned to bite Xue Chenjing''s shoulder.


    Xue Chenjing pressed a magic seal onto its body,pressing its form into dark demonic energy that was absorbed into the magic formation.


    As soon as the demon beast disappeared, Yu Yi''s sword came shing toward his face. Xue Chenjing scrambled to dodge, blood from his face dripping everywhere, while the mist of Earth Impurity surged out to lick up the blood from the ground behind him.


    Both in pain and anger, Xue Chenjing shouted loudly, "Yu Yi! If you don''t want to marry me, could it be that you''d rather be a concubine to that Ghost King?"


    Yu Yi could no longer hear what he was saying. Her abdomen burned unbearably, and even the slightest thought would cause that fire within her to grow into a raging inferno of desire, every spark amplified into a prairie fire.


    Her emotions were magnified countless times, every feeling of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness swelling beyond what she could bear.


    She was trapped in infinitely amplified hatred and rage, unable to escape.


    Now only one thought remained in her mind - she had to kill him. Only by killing him could she extinguish the fire in her heart.


    The howling sword energy shed out from the hall. The evil spirits in the courtyard, fearing the power of the Heart Mirror, quietly retreated from the courtyard into the surrounding forest to observe.


    Above the sea of flowers, though the rain had stopped, thick clouds still loomed. Behind the clouds lurked dozens of high-level cultivators from Zhaohua Pce, including six elders. Jiang Xi had originally not wanted to involve them, and had even nned not to act personally.


    But the younger generation of Zhaohua Pce had proved disappointingly useless, failing to capture that demon after several attempts.


    Moreover, even the Ghost King of the flower sea had suffered losses at his hands. Jiang Xi realized she had indeed underestimated Xue Chenjing. His Golden Core cultivation level was merely a facade - what made him truly troublesome were the demons he could summon.


    These powerful greater demons actually obeyed hismands.


    "Master, should we act now?" Shen Qingzhi asked quietly.


    Jiang Xi frowned in thought. "Wait longer."


    Wait until they had both wounded each other severely, and that demon had received fatal injuries.


    From inside the building came continuous sounds of beams being cut by the sword, roof tiles crashing down, and creaking noises everywhere. All four pirs of the hall had been cut through, the walls were covered in sword marks, and the structure was on the verge of copse.


    Xue Chenjing fled in a pathetic chase from the sword light. Suddenly, a force of spiritual energy approached, dragging him out of the Earth Impurity''s mist and mming him hard into the ground.


    He crashed into the cracked floor, raising a cloud of dust that choked his throat. He had several sword wounds that wouldn''t heal, and the wound on his face tore open again.


    Xue Chenjing blinked hard to squeeze away the tears in his eyes, and through the flying dust saw Yu Yi''s figure pressing down on him from above.


    Her knee pressed into his waist and abdomen, her sword suspended above him.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes widened, his pupils dting as he looked up at Yu Yi''s cold face through the rolling dust. The light of the Heart Mirror reflected in his eyes, just like the sword light that had pierced his heart countless times before.


    What should he do, what should he do, what should he do? If this continued, he would die by her sword.


    He didn''t want to die, he really didn''t want to die.


    Xue Chenjing breathed rapidly, his trembling pupils fixed on both the sharp sword suspended above him and the person behind it.


    As the sword light drew near, he finally gripped his fingers tightly and moved them. Behind Yu Yi, a dark red arc suddenly appeared in mid-air, with spirit lines crossing within the arc to form a summoning formation for demons.


    But the sword tip hovering above him suddenly stopped.


    Yu Yi looked down at him, her chest heaving, her eyshes trembling like startled butterflies, intense struggle visible in her eyes. Xue Chenjing''s blood-and-tear-stained face reflected in her eyes, and another emotion welled up in her heart, temporarily diluting her killing intent.


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers paused, the formation in mid-air stalled, and a glimmer of hope lit up in his eyes.


    The whole room was filled with the crackling sound of breaking beams, wood shavings and dust falling from the ceiling, but the two people on the ground seemed frozen in time.


    The demon summoning formation hanging in the air needed just one more spirit line toplete, while Yu Yi''s sword tip rested against his heart, needing just one more inch to pierce his skin.


    By this time, Xue Chenjing had noticed something was wrong with Yu Yi, though he found it hard to imagine that someone like her could be bewitched and controlled by others.


    Having already experienced Yu Yi''s terrifying anger, with the sword tip suspended at his heart, he dared not provoke her further with careless words.


    "Master, Master." Xue Chenjing carefully observed her expression, calling out to her softly, trying to wake her, "Master, I was wrong..."


    Seeing Yu Yi''s brows furrow and her grip tighten on the sword, he immediately fell silent, his pupils trembling with apprehension.


    What should he do? How should he handle this situation?


    The fire in Yu Yi''s belly hadn''t subsided, her emotions were infinitely amplified, and the passion and desire in her body were like a powder keg ready to explode. Earlier, anger had taken the high ground, and she had only wanted to kill him to vent her fury.


    Now another kind of desire was sprouting in her heart, rapidly catalyzed and expanding, transforming her rage into a different kind of fire coursing through her veins.


    A rosy blush spread across Yu Yi''s cheeks like clouds at sunset. Her vision seemed to have a soft filter over it, her mind nk except for the image of him looking at her so cautiously and helplessly.


    Whether it was the tears at the corners of his eyes or the blood on his cheeks, everything became fuel catalyzing the desire within her body. Yu Yi swallowed hard, her throat so parched that every breath felt like fire. Her rationality had long since burned to ashes, leaving only swelling desire to manipte her body.


    Xue Chenjing finally thought of a solution. He tried his best to soften his expression, attempting to show a gentle, reassuring smile, forcing himself to wear the expression of the person he despised most, and called out softly: "Ah Yi."


    Isn''t that how Xue Mingyuan called her?


    He opened his mouth, intending to pretend to be Xue Mingyuan, to tell her that he was now Xue Mingyuan, not Xue Chenjing, hoping that since she liked him so much, she wouldn''t want to kill him anymore.


    However, before he could speak, Yu Yi suddenly dropped her sword and bent down.


    The Green Bamboo Sword still threatened his neck, but simultaneously, soft lips fell upon his eyes, kissing away his tears, leaving a trail of pecks before finally capturing his lips.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes widened in shock, his entire body stiffening like a stone statue, until Yu Yi''s movements touched his wound, and he suddenly seemed toe back to life, his body violently trembling.


    Yu Yi immediately pressed him down, her thumb pressing on his chin, forcing his mouth open. Her soft tongue swept across his lips before exploring his mouth.


    Whether killing him or kissing him, the person before her was the best outlet for the overwhelming emotions in her body.


    The fire in her belly burned too intensely; she just wanted release.


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers were still gripping spirit threads, but this sudden kiss made his mind waver. The spirit threads slipped from his control, and the summoning array suddenly formed in mid-air. A wisp of ck smoke drifted out from the array, transforming into a slender poisonous snake that shot down, its mouth aimed at Yu Yi''s nape.


    Though Yu Yi was dizzy and disoriented, the threat behind her still triggered an instinctive response. As she tried to turn her head, the person beneath her wrapped his arms around her.Aliali: 673eb950c4f3f33ac4ee7f08


    Xue Chenjing pressed his open palm against the back of her head, preventing her from pulling away. The descending snake bit his hand instead, was deflected, and returned to ck smoke that was absorbed back into the array.


    The poison spread through his meridians, numbing Xue Chenjing''s entire arm, which slipped from Yu Yi''s shoulder, but his other hand still firmly held her, gripping the back of her neck.


    He could no longer feel the pain in his body or the numbness in his arm. All his senses were focused on the soft sensation covering his lips - her lips were so soft, her breath so hot, her body so fragrant.


    The tip of Yu Yi''s tongue had gone numb from his sucking, making it difficult to breathe. The fire in her belly seemed to be partially drawn away by him, and her inted emotions finally began to subside. Her mind cleared somewhat.


    Looking down at the person beneath her, his eyes half-closed in the kiss, Yu Yi''s pupils contracted, and she immediately tried to pull away.


    But Xue Chenjing persistently raised his head to follow her, his thick ck eyshes wet, his eyes unfocused. He even used his spirit threads to wrap around her body, refusing to let her retreat, as if he wanted to stay glued to her lips, not allowing them to part for even a moment.


    "Xue..." Yu Yi managed one syble before her lips were sealed again. Familiar rushing, rustling sounds echoed in her ears, "Master, Master, Master¡ª"


    These sounds resonated in her ears for a while before changing: "Ah Yi¡ª"


    "Ah Yi, Ah Yi¡ª"


    "Ah Yi, Ah Yi, Ah Yi, Ah Yi¡ª"

 Chapter 55

    Xue Chenjing waspletely lost in this kiss, unable to hear or see anything. Everything in his world disappeared except for the person on top of him.


    He insatiably chased her lips, greedily seeking her breath and saliva, entangling her soft tongue, desperately wrapping his tentacle-like appendages around her body with the tips pressed against her skin.


    Thousands upon thousands of sensory organs on his surface activated at once, capturing her subtle trembles, jumping pulse, burning body temperature, and the sweet scent emanating from her pores.


    He opened all his senses, letting this sweet fragrance seep into his body bit by bit, leaving its mark.


    Like a dying nt finally receiving rain.


    Xue Chenjing had clearly lost himself, letting out low whimpers from his nose, his rapid breaths hitting Yu Yi''s cheeks.


    Yu Yi looked down at him, feeling his urgent, chaotic kisses on her lips, her gaze fixed on his reddened eye corners and tear-filled eyes.


    Even though she had regained consciousness, even though rationality was gradually returning, she found herself pulled into his vortex, unable to resist sinking in with him.


    Ah...


    The pirs around the hall continued to crack with creaking sounds until they finally gave way with a thunderous crash,pletely copsing.


    The falling beams were held up by intertwined tentacles surrounding them, with even the dust kept out by this transparent barrier, but the tremendous noise still startled both of them awake.


    Yu Yi''s whole body trembled, her heart pounding like a drum. Amidst the continuous rumbling of the copsing building, she vaguely saw her own crumbling defenses. All the passion and tenderness cooled in an instant, transforming into panic at falling into a trap.


    Yes, a trap - Xue Chenjing was just a trap emanating an alluring scent.


    Her rxed nerves tensed again, reason sending sharp warnings. She despised this version of Xue Chenjing, and she despised herself for foolishly falling for his seduction despite knowing everything.


    Yu Yi raised her hand between them, forcefully covering Xue Chenjing''s mouth.


    Xue Chenjing was pushed hard back to the ground, thest trace of haziness shaken from his eyes. He looked up with wet eyes, letting out a low sound from his throat, still wanting to seek some lingering affection from his master, but was met only with a pair of cold, disgusted eyes.


    In that moment, the sweet rain turned to bitter ice, freezing him thoroughly from inside out.


    How could he have forgotten? Yu Yi had despised him from the very beginning, from start to finish, she had always despised him.


    In Yu Yi''s cold eyes, Xue Chenjing saw his own undisguised joy, and how that joy was crushed - looking even more pathetic and worthless than when reflected in her heart sword.


    He hated this appearance of himself.


    Xue Chenjing suddenly smiled, tears falling from his eyes, as he said in a muffled voice: "What a pity, Master, the person you kissed was me, not Xue Mingyuan."


    His breath fell on her palm, making Yu Yi ufortably withdraw her hand. She didn''t understand why he mentioned Xue Mingyuan, but she didn''t care about that question either. She just wanted to quickly escape the current situation. She turned away her gaze, refusing to look at him, and said coldly: "Let me go."


    Xue Chenjing, supported by his tentacle-like appendages behind his back, sat up while holding her and grabbed her chin, turning her face back to kiss her again, viciously biting her lips.


    Yu Yi frowned, anger surging up in her heart again, beginning to burn within her.


    She bit down hard on the tongue that had forced its way into her mouth, hearing Xue Chenjing''s heavy, pained groan. The taste of blood spread between their lips, but he didn''t retreat. Instead, he became more aggressive, sucking on her lips.


    The mes burning in Yu Yi''s abdomen suddenly separated from her own spirit fire, and the evil desire pearl that had been forcefully ced inside her flowed out through her throat. Her resistant movements suddenly paused, and she grew quiet.


    Xue Chenjing let out a mockingugh and finally released her. He withdrew his spirit fire, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said softly: "Thank you for the treat, Master. Thank you for helping me find my lost fire. Now, you''re of no use anymore."


    He had sensed the fire within Yu Yi''s body from the moment she kissed him.


    Yu Yi suddenly turned to look at him, only to see his malicious smile. Xue Chenjing''s fingertip pointed toward her forehead, quick as lightning, as a dazzling formation took shape from his fingertip,pletely enveloping her.


    A momentter, Yu Yi''s figure disappeared, leaving his arms suddenly empty.


    Indeed, this emptiness was better - he should never have reached out to embrace her, should never have embraced anyone.


    With his spirit fire returned, Xue Chenjing contentedly narrowed his eyes. The snake venom in his right hand was diluted and metabolized, and he flexed his hand as sensation returned to it, then stood up.


    The wildly dancing tentacles crashed down, pushing aside the roof beams above. Xue Chenjing walked to the top of the ruins and looked at the people outside.


    When the building copsed, the people from Zhaohua Pce were ready to act. Eight talismans of golden light shot down from the clouds, arranged ording to the Eight Trigrams formation, anchoring into eight positions around theke ind, forming a demon-suppressing formation.


    However, the spirits of the Sinking Flower Sea suddenly lost control. Countless ghostly shadows surged up from theke, sweeping across the small ind like a tide, colliding with the demon-suppressing formation. This prevented the Zhaohua Pce cultivators in the clouds from finding a gap to descend onto the ind.


    When the spirits dispersed, the power of the demon-suppressing formation had been greatly reduced, and the ind was covered with spirit corpses piled almost like mountains.


    Suddenly, wildughter erupted from the copsed building. Heavy demonic energy flowed out from the formation, ck demonic mist engulfing the ruins, flowing past the rednterns hanging at the courtyard entrance, and spreading over the flower path that had been trampled into mud by the spirits.


    Xue Chenjing stood on the fallen eaves, tearing off his new groom''s wedding clothes, making the sword wounds Yu Yi had left on his body tear open further. Blood dripped steadily into the formation below.


    Grotesque figures emerged from the demonic mist - savage beasts, blood-colored bone demons, three-headed dogs, nine-headed serpents, and more creatures whose forms were indistinguishable.


    The light of the demon-suppressing formation zed brightly, spiritual lines of light crisscrossing over the entire small ind.


    Xue Chenjing raised his head, squinting slightly at the sunlight leaking through the clouds, and said with a smile: "Jiang Xi, do you want the lotus seed?"


    The authoritative and stern voice of the Zhaohua Pce Master came from above the clouds, "If you willingly return the lotus seed, this pce master can spare you."


    Xue Chenjingughed loudly again, and after a while, barely managed to stop and said: "The lotus seed you want is a chaos bone, but unfortunately it has already merged with me and has been contaminated by my demonic energy."


    Upon hearing this, Jiang Xi parted the clouds in fury to look down, shouting: "You insolent creature! How dare you?!"


    Xue Chenjing replied: "Why wouldn''t I dare?"


    He paused briefly, then kindly informed her, "However, it''s not entirely hopeless. You can kill me with all your might, and in the moments after my death, both my demonic energy and his divine power will dissipate, returning to its primordial chaos form. You can seize that opportunity to extract it from my body."


    Beings of chaos like them couldn''t enter the cycle of reincarnation. Whether he controlled the body or Xue Mingyuan did, after death, they would return to their original state, then be born into some pitiful family, grow up, remember their past life, and repeat the cycle.


    So, no matter how many times they were reborn, the ending would be the same. How boring.


    This ability that he despised, yet others desperately sought to obtain. Like the Jiang family, like Jiang Xi.


    Xue Chenjing spread his arms and dered arrogantly: "Come on then,e kill me!"


    System: "..." Crazy, its host had truly gone crazy this time, wuwuwu.


    Shen Qingzhi looked in surprise at the surging demonic energy below, its terrifying deterrent force causing even the remaining spirits of the Sinking Flower Sea to submit, and even the dragon king who had ruled the Sinking Flower Sea for hundreds of years died under his demons.


    Compared to when he was at the Unmasked Tower, Xue Chenjing''s power had clearly increased significantly. If they didn''t eliminate him here, as his power continued to grow, he would definitely be a great cmity for the cultivation world.


    Shen Qingzhi asked with a grave expression: "Master?"


    However, Jiang Xi''s expression was veryplex, with obvious shock in her eyes, along with some wild joy that he couldn''t understand.


    Shen Qingzhi did not understand the meaning behind Xue Chenjing''s words, but Jiang Xi did.


    The Jiang family had originally been vassals to the Ji family. After the Ji family''s downfall, the Jiang family acquired most of the Ji n''s celestial resources and became privy to some of their lesser-known secrets.


    For her daughter''s sake, she had studied the Ji family''s Nine-Transformation Lotus Rebirth Formation for so long that she naturally knew the origin of the chaos bone that gave birth to the reincarnation lotus. ording to the Ji family''s own writings, the lotus seed came from the bone of the White Star God, who had blessed them for their sincere worship.


    However, she knew the true nature of how this supposed "blessing" was obtained. If what Xue Chenjing said was true, then he must be the White Star God whom the Ji family had once worshipped.


    Jiang Xi knew that regardless of whether it was true or false, any information concerning the White Star God should be reported to her family''s main house.


    But reporting it would mean losing her authority over Xue Chenjing''s fate, and her daughter might not survive long enough to extract the lotus seed from his body.Aliali: 673eb950c4f3f33ac4ee7f08


    Thinking of Jiang Rao lying in bed, Jiang Xi''s hesitant expression hardened. She raised her hand and brought it down sharply, her voice carrying spiritual power reached everyone''s ears: "Kill him."


    ...


    After the dazzling white light faded, Yu Yi found herself in a dark chamber. All windows were sealed shut, the walls were covered in spiritual runes that blocked magical energy, and there was only one seat inside. Around the seat lingered traces of spiritual threads that hadn''t fully dissipated, and the floor was thickly covered with stone powder.


    Yu Yi cautiously surveyed her surroundings and picked up a pinch of the stone powder.


    It was the residue of spirit stones that had beenpletely drained of power.


    In that final moment, what Xue Chenjing had pressed to her forehead was actually a directional teleportation formation. Judging by the amount of spirit stone powder consumed, she must have been transported very far away, possibly even outside the Emotion Flower Valley''s secret realm.


    Where had she been transported to?


    As Yu Yi pondered this while rising from her seat, trying to find an exit in the dimming spiritual light, there suddenly came a "click" from outside - the sound of a lock being opened. Then the thick wooden door was pushed ajar with a creaking sound, allowing the outside light to spill in.


    The orange-red light of the setting sun.


    The spirit stone dust danced in the sunset''s glow. A hunched figure leaned against the doorway, straining to peer inside with clouded eyes. After staring at her for a while, the figure asked in confusion: "Oh my, how did you turn into a youngdy?"

 Chapter 56

    When the door to the dark room opened, Yu Yi clearly saw a spiritual thread flowing from behind the door to both sides, activating the formation suspended on the door. Simultaneously, another spiritual thread flowed downward to the ground, shooting toward her seat.


    As this directional teleportation formation had already been used, the surrounding spirit stones had all turned to powder, and the formation on the door flickered once before dying out.


    It was a killing formation - if anyone had opened the door before this directional teleportation formation was activated, they would have been torn apart by the magical array on the door.


    Yu Yi watched alertly, her fingertips forming a sword incantation.


    With the creaking of door hinges, the visitorboriously pushed the door open a bit further, waving away the floating dust that came toward their face. They stared bewilderedly at the empty room, mumbling, "How did everything turn to ash? Where did everything go?"


    Yu Yi could now clearly see her appearance. The figure was hunched, with graying hair, dressed in coarse gray hemp clothing. The skin visible outside the clothing was as wrinkled as tree bark, withrge age spots on the backs of her hands - she was an elderly woman in her twilight years.


    Yu Yi couldn''t sense any spiritual power from her; she was an ordinary mortal.


    How strange that Xue Chenjing would set the endpoint of this directional teleportation formation in a mortal''s home?


    The old woman coughed from the floating dust and finally gathered her wits, beckoning to Yu Yi, "Oh my, this room hasn''t been opened for so many years, how did everything turn to ash? Youngdy,e out quickly before the dust gets in your nose."


    Yu Yi released a bit of spiritual power to suppress the spirit stone dust filling the room, quickly walked to the door, and asked, "Grandmother, may I ask where this is?"


    The old woman stepped back, leading her out of the room. She wiped clean a wooden bench in the courtyard with a cloth, then hurried into the kitchen. She retrieved a snow-white porcin bowl from among some earthenware dishes, washed it with mountain spring water drawn from bamboo pipes over arge vat, filled it with hot water she had boiled, and invited Yu Yi over to sit.


    Yu Yi quickly expressed her thanks and sat down at the table.


    After bustling about hospitably, the old woman finally tapped her forehead and said, "You asked where this ce is? We call this Liuya Vige, because threerge mountains form the shape of a ''Ya'' character, that''s why it''s called Liuya Vige."


    Yu Yi felt helpless - "Liuya Vige" was too small a name, and even knowing the vige name didn''t help her determine her location.


    This courtyard was a very ordinary farmhousepound, with earthen walls and blue tiles, though many tiles were missing and reced with thatch covered by banana leaves sealed with mud.


    Thepound was U-shaped with four rooms in total. The room Yu Yi had emerged from was hidden behind the woodshed, quite concealed.


    The house was built on a mountainside, with a fenced courtyard containing some chickens and ducks. Looking down from here, one could see a cluster of houses forming a vige below, and beyond that a rushing river.


    The remaining rays of the setting sun shone from the horizon, bathing the entire mountainside in dusky golden light. It was a scenic ce with beautiful mountains and waters. However, that was all - there was no spiritual energy here.


    While Yu Yi''s eyes roamed around taking in her surroundings, she continued asking, "Grandmother, do you know which county and prefecture Liuya Vige belongs to?"


    "Above us is Fengsheng County, but beyond that this old woman doesn''t know," the old woman said, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. Her originally clouded eyes became somewhat clearer with the light of animation in them.


    She couldn''t help but study Yu Yi curiously, though she seemed afraid her gaze might offend and showed some restraint, keeping a constant smile on her face.


    The youngdy had red lips and white teeth, with cheeks so tender they looked like they could be pinched to yield water. She wore a bright red dress that looked like wedding attire, with golden hairpins in her jet-ck hair bun, appearing too radiant to be of the mortal realm andpletely out of ce in this poor mountain dwelling with its dpidated earthen walls.


    The old woman watched as she extended fingers as white as spring onion roots to pick up the porcin bowl from the table and take small sips of water. Only then did the old woman''s constrained manner rx somewhat.


    The youngdy didn''t look down on her.


    When Yu Yi asked about the room behind the woodshed, Granny Li turned her head to gaze at the rushing river in the distance and said, "A young man came to work on it thirty years ago."


    The old woman''s surname was Li, so Yu Yi called her Granny Li. Granny Li narrated very slowly but very clearly - clearly, even after thirty years, she hadn''t forgotten anything that happened back then.


    Liuya Vige''s "Ya" character came from the river between the three mountains. Thirty years ago, that river''s waters had risen violently, washing in a snake demon. The snake demon settled in Liuya Vige, eating many vigers and carrying off young children to make nests,ying its snake eggs inside human bodies to incubate.


    Thirty years ago, Granny Li was nearly thirty years old, with a family of three. Her husband was eaten by the snake demon, and her daughter, who had just turned ten, was taken away by the snake demon to be made into a nest.


    Having lost both husband and daughter overnight, she went everywhere begging people to save her daughter. However, at that time, everyone was afraid of the snake demon. Those in Liuya Vige who hadn''t been harmed were busy fleeing, and no one dared to help her.


    This was a poor and remote area, far from any immortal sects. There was no way to seek help, and even if she could find an immortal sect, by the time help arrived, her daughter would likely have already be white bones.


    Granny Li had no choice but to shoulder a woodcutter''s knife and venture into the mountains to find the snake herself. Even if she couldn''t save her daughter, she wanted to die together with her.


    The snake demon moved about Liuya Vige unrestrained, leaving toppled trees everywhere. The whole mountain was covered in trails from its passage, so she didn''t have much trouble finding the snake''sir.


    Their was in a damp cave, filled with white bones spat out by the snake demon, bones still carrying bloody flesh. Deep in the cave was a nest built from human bodies, with the people at the bottom crushed t, blood flowing everywhere.


    Granny Li took advantage of the snake demon being out hunting to slip into the cave, jumping into the snake''s nest to search for her daughter. She searched through the pile of bodies for a long time before finally finding her daughter among theyers of pale white corpses.


    Unfortunately, she hade toote. Her daughter had already been imnted with a belly full of snake eggs, the snake venom had invaded her organs, and she was already dead.


    Even though her daughter was already dead, Granny Li didn''t want to leave her body to rot in the snake''s nest. She dragged out her daughter''s heavily pregnant body, bing covered in snake stench.


    She was so panicked and afraid at the time that she didn''t notice any of this. After leaving the snake''s nest, she tried to carry her daughter toward the county town.


    However, she hadn''t gone far before the snake demon caught up with her. In her panicked flight, she fell, tumbling with her daughter into a ravine where theynded in something white that looked like mud.


    Granny Li nearly suffocated in that substance, but a young man pulled them out of the mud.


    When Yu Yi heard about the "white mud," she could guess that it was probably Xue Chenjing''s earth impurity.


    Granny Li stroked a deep scar on her elbow and continued: "By this time, the snake demon had caught up, and they began fighting. In less than a moment, that formidable snake demon was cut into several pieces and died."


    After killing the demon, the young man kicked at some ckened fish on the ground and asked her if she knew how to cook, if she knew how to prepare fish.


    Granny Li looked at the two burnt fish lying beside the fire pit that had been extinguished by snake blood. The scales hadn''t been scraped off, the innards hadn''t been removed, the skin was burnt ck while the meat inside was still raw.


    She was terrified at the time, her mind nk, but she nodded.


    Then, the young man followed her home.


    "That young man caught several more big fish and asked me to make Jade White Fish Soup, Steamed Dragon Scale Fish, Golden Crispy Fish Slices, and Exquisite Four-Treasure Stew. I''d never even heard of these dish names, how could I make them? In the end, I just cooked a pot of fish soup the way I usually did, with pickled vegetables from the vat."


    The memory of that day was so vivid that even now, she could recall every detail, including those dish names she had never heard before.


    Granny Li said that when she brought out therge bowl of sour fish soup, the young man''s face was full of disdain, and she was so nervous she broke into a sweat. But in the end, he ate the whole bowl of fish with that same look of disdain on his face.


    Granny Li hugged herself, gesturing to show the size, "A bowl this big."


    Yu Yi looked at the size she was indicating - even bigger than a washbasin, no wonder she was so amazed.


    Granny Li cooked a meal for him but couldn''t eat anything herself. She washed a knife, intending to cut open her daughter''s belly to remove the snake eggs that filled it, so her daughter could be buried cleanly.


    However, she held the knife suspended for a long time, unable to bring herself to do it. Finally, the young man stepped in, pressing several points on her daughter''s abdomen, causing all the snake eggs to be expelled.


    The old woman was moved to tears with gratitude, kneeling on the ground and repeatedly bowing to him, swearing to serve him as a beast of burden in her next life.


    The young man stared at her with a smile and said, "No need to wait for the next life. I have some treasures that are inconvenient to carry with me. If you''re truly grateful, I''ll hide them here, and you can guard them for me."


    The old woman had already lost her will to live, nning to join her daughter and husband after the burial, but seeing he had only this one request, she reluctantly agreed.


    She raised her aged hand, pointing to the hidden room, saying, "It''s that room over there."


    Granny Li cleared out a room overnight, sealed all the windows, let him store his treasures inside, and gradually added a thickyer of mud on the outside, concealing it with a woodshed.


    "I saw him put many gold and silver treasures inside, and he hung a bell on the door corner. He told me to lock the door and said only when the bell rings would it mean he''s returned for his treasures. Only then could I open the room; if the bell doesn''t ring, I mustn''t open it."


    Over the years, Granny Li lived a difficult life alone, guarding a room full of treasure, unable to sleep well at night.


    Countless times when life became unbearable, she thought about abandoning her promise and ending it all. Later, when Liuya Vige became lively again, she emerged from her grief and met an elderlypanion who wanted to share his life with her.


    During their times of poverty, she had often lingered at the door of the treasure room, thinking of opening it to take some money to get through difficult times, nning to return it when things got better.


    Sometimes, she even had her key in the lock, but ultimately gritted her teeth and persevered.


    As Granny Li spoke, her shoulders slumped, as if finally unburdening a heavy load. "After more than thirty years, this old woman has finally heard the bell ring, and no longer needs to live in constant fear."


    When she first opened the door, she was shocked to see all the gold and silver had turned to ash, but now she realized the youngdy must have collected them, and with the bell ringing, her duty was fulfilled.Aliali: 673eb950c4f3f33ac4ee7f08


    Yu Yi thought of the deadly formation hanging over the door - if Granny Li had truly opened it, she would have been reduced to white bones by now. The room contained no gold or silver, only a transportation formation and spirit stones piled beside it.


    He had deliberately transformed the spirit stones to appear as gold and silver for Granny Li to see.


    Yu Yi could now somewhat guess his intentions back then - testing human nature probably amused him. However, at that time, this room had indeed be Granny Li''s only reason to live.


    As the sun set, Granny Li lit an oilmp and invited her to stay the night. She caught a fish from the water vat and butchered it in the dim light, saying she wanted her to taste her sour fish soup.


    Yu Yi couldn''t refuse and held up the oilmp to provide light for her.


    Granny Li probably hadn''t had such a pleasant conversation with anyone in a long time, and she kept chatting happily while working.


    She spoke of having another daughter with herterpanion, and how her younger daughter grew up and married, with the couple moving to the county town to do business. They had wanted to bring her along, but she had to guard the room.


    As a result, mother and daughter often went months without seeing each other, and she couldn''t even be there to care for her daughter during pregnancy and childbirth.


    Now, she finally didn''t need to stay here anymore and nned to pack her belongings tomorrow and head to the county town.


    Yu Yi sat by the stove tending the fire, and in the flickering light, looked up with a smile and said, "Granny, then I''ll go to the county town with you tomorrow."

 Chapter 57

    Granny Li''s cooking skills were excellent. Xue Chenjing could finish an entire pot of sour fish by himself - it was indeed delicious. Apanied by rice steamed in bamboo baskets, even though it was brown rice, Yu Yi ate tworge bowls.


    She removed the talisman from Crane Senior Brother and released him, feeding him some food as well. Since Crane Senior Brother wasn''t fully satisfied, she still had extra dried food in her storage pouch.


    Under the moonlight, Granny Li stared at the red-crowned crane whose feathers seemed to glow, her eyes widening so much that even her wrinkles smoothed out. She carefully reached out to touch it, circling around the crane repeatedly while expressing endless amazement.


    Crane Senior Brother thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention, holding his neck high and spreading his broad wings proudly. Even when he scared all the chickens and ducks in the courtyard into scattering everywhere, Granny Li didn''t mind - instead, she doubled over withughter.


    Since Granny Li nned to join her daughter tomorrow, she brought out all her stored delicacies tonight. After dinner, she produced a jar of her homemade fruit wine, wanting to share a few drinks with Yu Yi.


    Seeing how happy Granny Li was, Yu Yi dly drank with her.


    As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the moon in the sky wasrge and bright, already showing its full round shape. In the mountain vige, the scattered ground lights made the moonlight appear even more pristine, and the distant rushing river gleamed like the Milky Way.


    The mountain breeze was crisp, insects chirped incessantly, and thebination of moonlight and fine wine created an unprecedented sense of leisure.


    The troubles from Zhaohua Pce temporarily faded from her mind. Yu Yi identally drank a bit too much, and it wasn''t until nearly midnight that she stumbled into bed, feeling dizzy.


    Granny Li let her stay in her daughter''s room. Although her daughter rarely came back since getting married, she regrly maintained the room, keeping the bedding clean and frequently airing it out. The bedding was made of quality fabric.


    It was toote at night to heat water for bathing. Yu Yi remembered her earlier fierce battle with Xue Chenjing, so she cast several cleaning spells on herself before crawling into bed and snuggling into the warm nkets.


    Crane Senior Brother had also tired himself out from all the excitement and stood in the chicken coop with his head tucked under his wing.


    Perhaps due to the alcohol, or because the effects of the Desire Pearl hadn''tpletely dissipated from her body, Yu Yi fell into a dream as soon as she closed her eyes.


    The feeling of suffocation crept back into her consciousness, followed by a tingling sensation on her tongue as she was kissed. Her body was wrapped in soft yet firm tentacles. She kept trying to escape but couldn''t get away.


    Yu Yi struggled between consciousness and surrender, hearing a disappointed sigh near her ear, "Even in dreams, do you want to avoid me?"


    Her emotions softened - after all, this was just a dream, and she hadn''t dreamed in a long time.


    Her fingertips touched wet eyshes, and her lips were pressed against and caressed by another''s, passionately entangling. Yu Yipletely surrendered to this sticky, breathless dream.


    At the height of passion, she suddenly heard him whisper in her ear with satisfaction, "Now, you''re of no use anymore."


    Yu Yi jolted awake, and the intimate scenes from deep within her consciousness shattered like broken crystal, splitting into pieces. The gasps and whimpers from her dream vanished.


    The clear crow of a rooster pierced her ears. She dazedly turned to look out the window, and through the gaps, she saw the morning light pouring down. The crowing startled Crane Senior Brother, who pulled his head out from under his wing and viciously pecked the crowing rooster.


    The crowing abruptly stopped.


    Yu Yiy there nkly for a while before rubbing her brow and sitting up. She looked at her fingers with aplex expression - the feeling of tears wetting them seemed to linger in her palm.


    What hadn''t beenpleted in Zhaohua Pce, she had somehow finished in her dream.


    Back then, under the influence of the Desire Pearl, her consciousness had been hazy, but she could still remember everything she had done afterward. She remembered that moment of impulse, and she remembered the words she heard after the impulse cooled.


    Yu Yi vigorously rubbed her palm against the cotton nket, as if trying to erase the sensations from the dream. She fell back onto the bed, waiting for the heat in her cheeks to subside.


    Her initial guess had been correct - Zhaohua Pce had indeed nned to use her against Xue Chenjing. She didn''t know what had happened in Zhaohua Pce after she was teleported away, but none of that concerned her anymore.


    From the beginning, none of these messy affairs had anything to do with her.


    Yu Yi touched the Yin Wood in her storage pouch. Whether or not Zhang Zai''s talk about retrieving items from the formation was just an excuse to lure her there, the contract he held was real. As the inheritor of Daoist Qingxuan''s legacy, she shouldplete his unfinished business.


    After leaving, she would send it to Moon-Touching Pce through an immortal post station to fulfill that contract.


    Since Granny Li was leaving today, she got up early to pack, giving away perishables to neighbors down the mountain and only keeping important items to pack.


    Yu Yi sat in meditation for a while, and when she got up and came out, Granny Li had just returned from down the mountain, apanied by a young man from the vige.


    When the young man saw Yu Yi, his eyes grew round, clearly showing "amazement" in his gaze. His dark face turned red at a visible speed, bing as red as a zed braised egg.


    Granny Li gave the dazed young man a p and pointed to a box by the doorstep, saying, "Help me carry this down first."


    The young man finally picked up the box with his reddened face and headed down the mountain, unable to resist looking back several times along the way.


    Granny Li chuckled, "Our vige has never seen such a beautiful girl as you, don''t mind him."


    Yu Yiughed along, not taking it to heart. She had already prepared a storage pouch to help Granny Li pack and nned to ride Crane Senior Brother with her to the city.


    However, seeing that Granny Li had packed everything onto an ox cart, she decided to ride along in the cart instead. Swaying slowly along the vige path had its own charm.


    Herp was filled with boiled eggs and fresh corn buns that Granny Li had stuffed there for her to eat along the way.


    The ox cart driver was the young man who had helped Granny Li move her things. His name was Zhao Li, and he was sturdy and robust, with a broad face and round eyes, and particrly prone to blushing. Granny Li called him Da Lang, so Yu Yi followed suit and called him Da Lang once. Just that one time made his face flush red enough to be seen from two li away.


    Along the way, Crane Senior Brother ran wild in the countryside, sometimes flying up to catch birds, sometimes diving into the woods to chase rabbits. When tired, he would return to Yu Yi to have her peel an egg for him.


    Therge basket of eggs Granny Li had boiled in the morning was basically all eaten by this single bird.


    She watched the crane with heartyughter, "Let him eat, let him have them all."


    The journey from Liuya Vige to Fengsheng County took a day, and they didn''t enter the city until dusk. Fengsheng County was much more prosperous and bustling than Rounan County, with a major river flowing through it and many surrounding viges, making the county town more developed.


    Especially during this month of the Autumn Moon Festival, both inside and outside the city were filled with festive atmosphere.


    On the way, Yu Yi had heard Granny Li talk about the Autumn Moon Festival. Mid-Autumn was a major celebration like the New Year, with gardenntern festivals and ceremonies to worship the Moon Goddess, making it the most lively time.


    Mid-Autumn was also a festival for family reunions, and Granny Li''s hurry to enter the city was because she wanted to reunite with her daughter before the Mid-Autumn Festival.


    Granny Li''s daughter, named Zhao Zhi after the gardenia flower, had married into a carpenter''s family in the county town. From outside the gate, one could see wood and bamboo materials piled up in the courtyard.


    Under the eaves were stacks ofpletedntern frames. The Autumn Moon Festival includedntern disys to worship the moon, making this their busiest time.


    Yu Yi saw Granny Li off at the street corner and bid her farewell. Granny Li wanted to invite her to stay, but looking back at the messy courtyard, she had to give up the idea.


    Granny Li, missing her daughter terribly, had hurriedly packed up and rushed to the county town as soon as she could. Only when she reached the doorstep did she regretfully realize she should have sent word ahead.


    However, seeing the joy that bloomed on her daughter''s face upon seeing her, these concerns were instantly forgotten.


    As mother and daughter embraced happily, before they could exchange more than a few intimate words, Zhao Zhi suddenly let out a muffled groan, clutching her lower abdomen. Her forehead instantly broke out in a fine sweat, and her face turned pale.


    Granny Li quickly supported her, anxiously looking her daughter up and down, urgently asking, "What''s wrong?"


    When she looked closely, she discovered her daughter was terribly gaunt, with a haggard face so drawn that her cheeks had sunken in, and wrists as thin as kindling beneath her sleeves. Only her belly, which she was gently cradling, showed a slight swell.


    Zhao Zhi recovered herposure and smiled, taking her mother''s hand and cing it on her stomach. "Mother, I''m with child."


    Granny Li was initially overjoyed, but upon seeing her daughter''s wan appearance, she asked worriedly, "You''re pregnant, hasn''t Du Qian been taking good care of you? Why have you be so thin?"


    Zhao Zhi held her belly and exined, "I can''t keep food or drink down, my stomach always feels heavy. And Ruo Er has been sicktely - listless during the day and waking up crying at night."


    Only then did Granny Li notice her granddaughter hadn''te out to greet her. She asked anxiously, "How is she now? Let me see her."


    Zhao Zhi shook her head, her voice heavy with exhaustion, "A few days ago, when I wasn''t watching carefully, she cut her leg on a bamboo splinter. Du Qian took her to the medical clinic to change the dressing, they haven''t returned yet."


    Because of all their recent family matters, they hadn''t finished the customntern frames for their customers. Du Qian had been working through the nights to catch up, but there were still somenterns iplete, requiring another all-nighter tonight.


    Zhao Zhi sighed softly, "Mother, you and Brother Zhao Li shoulde inside first."


    After unloading the ox cart, Zhao Li stood by the courtyard gate, still gazing down the street. Only when called did he reluctantly lower his head and follow them inside.


    The person he''d been watching had already vanished into the early evening streets. Yu Yi had bid farewell to Granny Li and, carrying the drowsy little bird in her arms, went to find an inn.


    Having heard Granny Li speak of the Autumn Moon Festival during their journey, she was quite curious. Since she was here, she definitely wanted to experience the festival''s excitement and also inquire about which immortal sect governed this area.


    Though the Mid-Autumn Festival wasn''t until tomorrow, colorful festivalnterns already hung from the eaves of homes throughout Fengsheng County. Vendors had begun selling moonurel branches, moon paper, flowernterns, and other festival goods.


    Yu Yi spotted a mooncake stall where the vendor''s skilled hands had crafted many adorable shapes - flowers, animals, and even little plump birds.


    The drowsy crane in her arms caught the sweet scent of pastries and suddenly flipped over in her palm, fluttering its wings and jumping into the pastry box.


    Yu Yi quickly pulled it back. Finding the mooncakes utterly charming, she bought one of each kind, filling threerge boxes. The delighted vendor gave her an extra wishing slip made of thin wood with a red cord and silk tassel attached.


    It was said that if you wrote your wish on it and hung it on the moonurel tree, the Moon Goddess might choose to grant your blessing.


    The vendor pointed toward the outskirts of town, saying, "The Moon Goddess Temple outside the city is very efficacious. Whether you''re seeking marriage, children, or career advancement, you can try your luck there, miss."


    Yu Yi thanked him and packed away her purchases. She and her birdpanion enjoyed mooncakes as they strolled, finally finding an inn to stay at as night fell.


    Crane Senior Brother, his belly round and full, fell asleep immediately.


    The evil desire pearl''s influence hadn''t fully faded from her body. Whenever Yu Yi closed her eyes, she was gued by chaotic dreams. Instead, she sat cross-legged to meditate, sinking her consciousness into her sea of awareness and practicing from the First Sword of Spring Pursuit.


    At Liuya Vige, the night wind cut sharply through the mountain forest. In the bright moonlight, a dark shadow emerged from the silver disk of the moon, its vast wings nearly obscuring the moonlight.


    In the blink of an eye, the shadow descended from sky to earth,nding at a house halfway up the mountain. As the shadow dispersed, it revealed the form of a tall youth.


    Xue Chenjing was severely wounded and had traveled far, now nearly at his limit. His face was as pale as a ghost in the moonlight, and he almost copsed uponnding. His excellent night vision allowed him to spot chicken droppings in the dirt, causing him to barely maintain his bnce.


    With a look of disgust, he kicked down the fence, quickly walked out of the chicken coop, and vigorously scraped his shoes on the steps. His eyes rolled back, and he nearly fainted on the spot.


    Why had he set the directional transmission array''s endpoint here? In a farmer''s house in this remote mountain vige?


    Xue Chenjing wracked his brains but couldn''t remember when or why he had set up the transmission array here, in a farmer''s home. As a born demon species, none of his lives had been easy, and even when he had control over his body, he lived mostly as a wanderer.Aliali: 673ed013c4f3f33ac4efe0e5


    Even a crafty hare has three burrows, so naturally, he, a born demon species, had prepared countless escape routes for himself. Things like buried spirit stones and cultivation techniques, like directional transmission arrays.


    He knew he wouldn''t live just one life.


    If he hadn''t set this up, then it must have been his previous life, or the life before that. Xue Chenjing clicked his tongue, "...truly absurd."


    Xue Chenjing surveyed the empty farmhouse and found the hidden room behind the woodshed, discovering spirit stone powder scattered across the floor.


    His demon spirit drifted through the air, quickly searching the entire courtyard, and detected Yu Yi''s aura in the westernmost room. She had stayed in this room; her subtle fragrance still lingered in the air.


    Xue Chenjing was all too familiar with this scent - the sweet, intoxicating fragrance that had recently overwhelmed his senses.


    Just catching this scent caused fierce fire to course through his veins.


    Xue Chenjing''s blood surged, and he coughed up blood. He wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve, nced at the stripped bed frame with only ayer of dry straw remaining, swayed, and copsed onto the straw.


    In the darkness, mist from the ground licked away the blood. A blood-red skeletal hand reached out from under the bed, grabbed his bloodied sleeve with a ripping sound, and quickly retracted beneath the bed.


    Xue Chenjing, half-conscious, furrowed his brow, buried his face in the straw, and gradually rxed as he breathed in the familiar fragrance.

 Chapter 58

    [Ding - Favorability rating of the target has exceeded 50%. Congrattions, host, you havepleted the second phase of the main mission: Love''s Unknown Beginning. It was your persistent pursuit, your love and gentleness transformed into spring breeze, that melted the ice in the target''s heart, showering it with sunshine and dew, nting the seed of love within.]


    Xue Chenjing was suddenly awakened by the voice in his mind. Those fragmented, sweet-scented images in his consciousness instantly dispersed. He abruptly opened his eyes and said irritably, "You''re so noisy."


    The system innocently replied, "Master, you''ve been sleeping here for a day and night. Soon, dawn will break again."


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes; the ambiguous dream in his consciousness had been shattered by the system''s voice, scattered with nowhere to savor.


    He licked his lips, still annoyed, and asked, "What did you just say?"


    The system cheerfully repeated, "The target''s favorability rating has exceeded fifty percent. Congrattions onpleting the second phase of the main mission."


    Xue Chenjing stared at the old beams above. In this ancient farmhouse that had weathered many years, the beams had long since decayed, covered in holes from wood-boring insects. The "tap-tap" sound of insects gnawing at the wood could be heard from the darkness.


    For a moment, he felt as if these wood-boring insects were also gnawing at his brain, causing it to throb with pain. He uncertainly asked again, "What did you say?"


    The system said, "Master! You''ve sessfullypleted the second phase of the main mission, much faster than the system''s calcted predictions!"


    Xue Chenjing remained silent for a moment, then covered his face with his hand andughed in the darkness.


    Heughed for a long time, almost to the point of breathlessness. A metallic scent of blood spread through the darkness. The system nervously asked, "Master, are you not happy?"


    "Happy? I''m overjoyed," Xue Chenjing said betweenughs. "I barely did anything, yet her favorability increased. Why wouldn''t I be happy?"


    After a pause, he suddenly said, "Repeat what you just said."


    The system asked, confused, "Which part?"


    Having finishedughing, Xue Chenjing calmed down. His tone carried a patience he had never shown before as he said, "The part after the ''ding.'' I was asleep and didn''t hear it clearly."


    The system had no choice but to broadcast it again.


    [Ding - Favorability rating of the target has exceeded 50%. Congrattions, host, you havepleted the second phase of the main mission: Love''s Unknown Beginning. It was your persistent pursuit, your love and gentleness transformed into spring breeze, that melted the ice in the target''s heart, showering it with sunshine and dew, nting the seed of love within.]


    Love and gentleness.


    Love and gentleness.


    Xue Chenjingughed bitterly. He knew exactly what kind of person he was - someone without any love or gentleness, let alone capable of showering anyone''s heart with sunshine and dew. But while hecked these qualities, Xue Mingyuan had them in abundance - pure in both body and soul, overflowing with love.


    He should have realized it earlier - the one who would end up with Yu Yi wasn''t him, but Xue Mingyuan. That damned Xue Mingyuan!


    How could Yu Yi possibly like me? She could never like me.


    "Love''s unknown beginning..." Xue Chenjing murmured these words, tilting his head back and taking a deep breath of the room''s air, isting that lingering sweet fragrance. Heughed meaningfully and said, "Ah, I can''t wait to see what she looks like when she''spletely in love with me."


    After lying there for a while, Xue Chenjing sat up and said, "Show me that beginner''s guide tutorial of yours."


    The system, rarely seeing him so proactive, immediatelyplied and brought up the guide panel.


    The light screen floated in the darkness, automatically advancing to the next phase after hispletion of the second stage.


    [Hundred-Day Conquest n, Days 30-60: Building on the foundation of the second phase, press your advantage and strengthen your offensive to be an "indispensable" existence in the target''s heart.


    Rmended best approach: Carefully discover what the targetcks most in their heart, and use any means necessary to fill that void yourself, catering to the target''s preferences.]


    At dawn, the sound of roosters crowing echoed through the mountain vige as someone climbed up to the farmhouse halfway up the mountain. This was, after all, where Granny Li had lived her entire life, and after she moved away, many usable items remained.


    For instance, the piles of dry firewood in the woodshed, the pots and pans in the kitchen, farming tools like hoes and winnowing baskets, and a pig in the backyard that couldn''t be taken away.


    Granny Li had given all these things to Zhao Li as payment for helping her move to the city. Living in the same vige, the two families were distantly rted, and when he fattened up the pig and ughtered it at year''s end, he would send half of it to her in the city.


    Zhao Li had dark circles under his eyes and looked exhausted. Two days ago, he had escorted Granny Li and Miss Yu to the city, staying overnight at Zhao Zhi''s house, but hadn''t slept well because her eldest daughter had cried all night.


    The next day, after another full day of traveling back to Liuya Vige, he thought he could finally get a good night''s sleep, but lying in bed, his mind kept returning to the otherworldly Miss Yu, making sleep impossible.


    He heaved a heavy sigh, yawned, and continued bustling about with his tasks. Suddenly, he heard the door of the west wing open and turned to see a strange man walking out of the room.


    The man was very young, still in his teens, wearing a dark cyan robe. In the sunlight, the satin of his clothes looked smooth and delicate, withplex dark patterns printed on it - clearly not from an ordinary household.


    He was exceptionally handsome, more attractive than any young master Zhao Li had ever seen in the county town. However, his face was pale, with blood-red lips, making him look more like a demon who had just finished feasting on humans than a person.


    Zhao Li felt his scalp tingle when the man''s chilling gaze swept over him, and cold sweat immediately broke out on his back.


    "You... you..." Zhao Li trembled as he gripped his hoe tighter, his eyes filled with terror.


    Inparison, his physique appeared much stronger, with arms muscled from years of manualbor, but now, facing this demon-like youth, even though the other hadn''t done anything, he was already shaking with fear.


    Xue Chenjing hadn''t intentionally tried to intimidate him. He merely pointed at the room behind him and asked, "Have you seen her? The person who slept in this room?"


    Zhao Li immediately recalled the scene from two days ago - at this same time of sunrise, a young woman wearing a moon-white gauze dress as ethereal as the mountain mist, with skin like pear blossoms and hair like crow''s feathers. Her eyes were crystalline in the morning light, and though she wore no ornaments, she had appeared in his eyes like a celestial maiden.


    The youth before him now stood in the same spot as she had then, looking up at him in the same way.


    Zhao Li suddenly realized that whether it was the celestial maiden from before or the demon-like young master before him now, they were cut from the same cloth - worlds apart from a peasant farmer like himself.


    Xue Chenjing, growing impatient at theck of response, fixed his sharp gaze on Zhao Li''s eyes.


    Zhao Li immediately snapped out of his memories, fearfully stepping backward as he stammered, "She... she went to the county town, two days ago. She said she wanted to see the Autumn Moon Festival. The festivalsts three days, so she should still be in town."


    Xue Chenjing asked, "Which direction?"


    Zhao Li raised a trembling hand to point.


    Xue Chenjing looked in the indicated direction but didn''t immediately move. He turned back to scrutinize Zhao Li, his lips curling into a malicious smile as he said knowingly, "You like her, don''t you?"


    Zhao Li''s eyes widened, his darkplexion instantly turning red. "No, no, how could I dare..."


    Xue Chenjing gave a softugh, his eyes cold as his elongated pupils bore into Zhao Li''s eyes like awls, effortlessly extracting the memories he sought.


    The young woman in the moon-white gauze dress, wrapped in ayer of sacred light in the thin morning mist.


    So this was how she appeared from another''s perspective.


    Xue Chenjing savored Zhao Li''s memories bit by bit - from their first meeting in the morning mist, to her polite and gentle "Young Master," to her final "Take care" apanied by a smiling wave goodbye.


    Finally, her figure disappeared into the colorfulntern light.


    In Zhao Li''s eyes, she was too beautiful and radiant. Just one glimpse of her left him unable to forget, tossing and turning sleepless for two nights, yet he dared not harbor any improper thoughts.


    Even so, Xue Chenjing remained displeased. In the void, snake-scale-covered sharp appendages were already pressed against Zhao Li''s brow. He recalled Yu Yi''s final words of "take care."


    He paused his movements, ncing at the dark circles under Zhao Li''s eyes. He withdrew the appendages andmanded in an tone that brooked no refusal, "For the sake of your future good sleep, I think it''s better if you forget about her."


    The willpower of ordinary people is as fragile as window paper. Zhao Li''s pupils dted, and that figure standing before the west wing room in his memory dissipated like morning mist.


    Xue Chenjing turned his gaze away, took out a spirit carpet from his storage bag, and flew away.


    After a long while, the person standing woodenly in ce finally shuddered and snapped awake. Zhao Li touched his aching head, feeling as if he had forgotten something, but unable to recall exactly what it was.


    Right, someone hade out of the west wing room earlier. Zhao Li quickly walked to the west wing room, opened the door and looked inside, only to see wood shavings crushed all over the floor.


    The Autumn Moon Festival in Fengsheng County was at its liveliest. Last night''s colorednterns had illuminated the entire county in brilliant splendor, with jubnt street performancessting through the night.


    Today, after a full day of celebrations, by dusk, people gathered in groups, following the musical procession ahead, carrying lotusnterns and skynterns, holding wish cards as they headed out of the city to pray and make wishes.


    Yu Yi was among the crowd, holding a sprig of osmanthus flowers. Her crane senior brother''s original form was too eye-catching, so Yu Yi had transformed him into a small bird. He fluttered his wings, flying back and forth through the crowd, asionally drawingughter from the girls.


    Seeing how adorable and human-like it was, some people jumped up, wanting to catch and keep it as a pet.


    Crane senior brother weaved through countless grasping hands reaching for him, navigating through multiple challenges before finally managing to flutter back into Yu Yi''s arms with great difficulty.


    "You came back just in time." Yu Yi had just learned from a girl beside her how to weave a tiny wreath from osmanthus branches, which she ced around crane senior brother''s neck - a perfect fit.


    The girl admired it, saying, "Oh, so it''s your bird! I was wondering why you were making such a small wreath that wouldn''t even fit around a wrist - turns out it was for the little bird."


    Yu Yi lifted the small bird, asking, "Sister, does it look good?"


    The girl praised enthusiastically, "It looks wonderful! Now everyone will know this little bird has an owner."


    Crane senior brother immediately wriggled out of Yu Yi''s hands, pping his wings to take flight, showing off his new wreath everywhere. Sure enough, with the wreath on, fewer hands reached out to grab him, though some children still chased after him trying to catch him.


    Crane senior brother teased them, making them run in circles.


    Yu Yi plucked another osmanthus branch and wove a wreath sized for a wrist, offering it to the girl beside her: "Thank you for teaching me, sister. This wreath is for you."


    The girl giggled, "Oh, I can''t ept this! This kind of wreath is meant to be given to the young man you fancy."


    She reached out with her delicate finger, gently tapping Yu Yi''s wrist, giving her a meaningful wink: "When you put it on his wrist, just like how you marked your little bird, it means he belongs to someone."Aliali: 67409081c4f3f33ac40a029f


    Yu Yi regretfully withdrew the wreath - it seemed she wouldn''t be able to give this one away after all.


    Near the Moon Goddess Temple outside the city, there was arge grove of osmanthus trees, their branches already decorated with numerous red silk ribbons and wish cards, their rich fragrance wafting through the air.


    Yu Yi wandered through the osmanthus grove, then went to the Moon Goddess Temple. After queuing and paying two silver coins, she dipped a brush in the golden ink that was said to have been blessed by moonlight, and wrote "Peace and Joy" on her wish card.


    Holding the wish card, she found the sturdiest osmanthus tree and tried to hang it on a high branch.


    She was just a bit too short, but to show proper reverence, Yu Yi didn''t want to use magic. Her crane senior brother, now a small bird, had darted off somewhere at this crucial moment, so Yu Yi had to manage on her own, standing on tiptoe and stretching to reach the branch.


    Suddenly, a slender hand reached over from behind her, taking the wish card from her fingertips and hanging it on the osmanthus branch.


    Warm breath brushed over the top of her head. The person behind her had approached so silently that Yu Yi only now noticed someone hade so close. Her figure flickered as she quickly teleported away, reappearing on the other side of the osmanthus tree, watching vigntly.


    The person lowered his hand, fingers smoothing the silk ribbon hanging from the wish card. He turned to look at her with a gentle smile, apologizing, "I''m sorry, did I startle you?"


    Yu Yi met his clean, clear eyes and froze for a moment.


    Xue Mingyuan?

 Chapter 59

    Xue Mingyuan probably didn''t know about what had happened between himself and Xue Chenjing in the Sea of Sunken Flowers, so Yu Yi felt more at ease facing him.


    She nced at the wish slip hanging from the branch, gesturing to the sword fire she held between her fingers, and said coldly, "Next time, don''t appear so silently behind me. I might identally hurt you if I''m not careful."


    Xue Mingyuan apologized again: "I''m sorry for being abrupt. I saw you couldn''t quite reach it and only thought about helping you quickly, without considering anything else."


    His expression was innocent and his tone so sincere that Yu Yi couldn''t say anything more.


    She observed the person standing under the osmanthus tree. Xue Mingyuan wore a crimson wide-sleeved brocade robe with pale gold feather patterns adorning the cor, sleeves, and hem. Though not the wedding attire he wore in the Sea of Sunken Flowers, it was just as festive and quite mboyant.


    Just standing under the osmanthus tree for a moment, he had already attracted many gazing eyes. Yet he seemed oblivious to these nces, his eyes focused solely on her.


    Yu Yi knew clearly that the system task wasn''tpletely finished, and she still held value to them - they would catch up to her sooner orter. So seeing him now wasn''t particrly surprising.


    What had surprised her was that it was Xue Mingyuan who came.


    She remembered that thest time Xue Mingyuan appeared was because Xue Chenjing had fainted from severe injuries - was it the same reason this time? It made sense; if the people from Zhaohua Pce and the Immortal Alliance wanted to deal with Xue Chenjing, they wouldn''t let him escape easily.


    The silent staring between them became awkward, so Yu Yi took the initiative to ask, "How did you get out?"


    Xue Mingyuan thought for a moment, watching her expression, and said, "He was severely injured and fainted again."


    Just as she had guessed.


    Yu Yi had already suspected this, so she didn''t show any extra reaction, but shook her head, "That''s not what I meant."


    She walked closer to Xue Mingyuan, and when she was near enough, spoke in a low voice, "I mean, how did you get out of the Sea of Sunken Flowers? No one''s following you, right?"


    Yu Yi didn''t want him bringing more trouble to her doorstep.


    So that was all she was concerned about.


    Xue Mingyuan tilted his head slightly under Yu Yi''s gaze, carefully controlling his expression before responding, "I''m not quite sure how he got out either. When I woke up, he was already outside Fengsheng County. I happened to spot you in the crowd and came over."


    As he spoke, a hint of poorly concealed pride shed across his features, and he almost let out a contemptuous snicker, but managed to hold it back in time.


    "But don''t worry, Chenjing is very capable. If he wants to shake off pursuers, no one can track him."


    Yu Yi stared at Xue Mingyuan, realizing he was genuinely praising Xue Chenjing. She really couldn''t understand Xue Mingyuan''s current attitude - from their previous two encounters, he didn''t seem to harbor much hostility toward Xue Chenjing.


    In contrast, whenever Xue Chenjing mentioned him, it was always with gritted teeth.


    But what Yu Yi had witnessed in the Great Green Mountain Sword Realm left a deep impression - at that time, Xue Mingyuan had shown utter hatred toward Xue Chenjing, repeatedly dissecting and piercing through him.


    Ming Zhaojun had said he softened in the end. Had Xue Mingyuan finally been assimted by Xue Chenjing, epting him? Acknowledging his cruel and ruthless way of dealing with the world?


    Seeing her staring at him, Xue Mingyuan worried he had revealed something, his heart rate quickening slightly. His gaze wavered for a moment before forcefully steadying, struggling to maintain his gentle facade as he touched his face in confusion, "Why are you looking at me like that, Yi''er? Is there something strange on my face?"


    Yu Yi shook her head and looked back at the wish slip on the branch, "Help me take it down."


    Xue Mingyuan asked, puzzled, "Why?"


    Yu Yi exined, "The wish slip must be hung on the osmanthus tree by one''s own hands."


    Xue Mingyuan had no choice but to reach up and carefully remove the wish slip. He nced at the characters written in gold ink on the wooden tag, his eyebrows twitching slightly as he handed it back to her.


    Yu Yi stroked the silk ribbon hanging from the wooden tag, then found a shorter osmanthus tree and hung the wish slip on its branches.


    Xue Mingyuan followed at a moderate distance behind her. Once out of Yu Yi''s sight, he could no longer maintain his gentle facade, his eyes revealing deep gloom.


    Earlier when they first met, before he had even introduced himself, she had already distinguished between them. She would initiate conversation with Xue Mingyuan, worry about hurting him, walk toward him naturally, and speak to him with such ease.


    Yet with him, she was all thorns and full of wariness.


    Yu Yi didn''t care at all that he was severely injured.


    Xue Chenjing''s breathing grew heavier, suppressed grievance and resentment raging in his heart. Even forcing his lips into a smile, he couldn''t manage to produce Xue Mingyuan''s nauseating, hypocritical expression.


    Seeing Yu Yi about to turn around after hanging the wish slip, Xue Chenjing quickly ducked behind an osmanthus tree, hiding in the thick grass below.


    Damn that detestable Xue Mingyuan.


    Yu Yi turned and looked around but couldn''t find Xue Mingyuan, growing suspicious.


    She had clearly felt him following behind her just now, and for a moment, the gaze that fell on her had been cold and predatory,pletely different from Xue Mingyuan''s usual look. Upon closer examination, it felt more like being licked by Xue Chenjing''s cold tentacles - sticky, yet somehow familiar to her.


    It gave her goosebumps on her neck in an instant.


    She thought Xue Chenjing had woken up again.


    Not seeing anyone, Yu Yi stood puzzled for a moment but didn''t actively search for him. After all, as a plot-unlocking tool, her role wasn''t finished yet - he would find her again eventually.


    Sure enough, momentster, Yu Yi saw that striking floral red robe emerge from behind an osmanthus tree, with two bold youngdies following behind him.


    They held up their flower wreaths, giggling, "Young master, since you don''t have any flowers, please ept ours. We''re like sisters and willing to share - we don''t mind at all if you wear both our flowers."


    Xue Chenjing tried desperately to avoid them.


    He had been hiding well, but these two passing women had chased him out. Already frustrated enough to want to sh the heavens and split the earth, and with Yu Yi nearby, he had to suppress his temper while running, still having to humbly decline: "No, thank you for your kindness,dies, but I really can''t ept..."


    Being a hypocrite like Xue Mingyuan was truly exhausting.


    Seeing Yu Yi, his eyes immediately brightened, and he quickly ran toward her. The two youngdies finally stopped, looking back and forth between them, reluctant to leave.


    Xue Chenjing noticed the flower wreath hanging at Yu Yi''s waist, also made from osmanthus branches but particrly beautiful, and feigned delight, "Yi''er, is that flower wreath for me?"


    Yu Yi was somewhat surprised, "Do you know what this flower wreath means?"


    Unlike Xue Chenjing, who was thick-skinned and shameless, always taking a mile when given an inch, Xue Mingyuan was known for being more proper and measured. If he knew the meaning of giving a flower wreath, he probably wouldn''t have assumed so naturally that her wreath was meant for him.


    After all, they had only met twice, and there didn''t seem to be any romantic feelings between them.


    Was he saying this deliberately for those two youngdies to hear?


    Xue Chenjing was stunned by her question. Of course he knew what giving a flower wreath meant - he had actually been secretly following Yu Yi for quite some time, his spirit floating around her even while she was learning how to weave a beautiful wreath.


    But didn''t she like Xue Mingyuan? In just the two times Xue Mingyuan had appeared, during those seven or eight hours while he was unconscious, they had aplished so many achievements together, with their favorability continuously soaring to the current fifty percent.


    Heh, love trulyes from unknown origins.


    Xue Chenjing naturally assumed that if she were to give the wreath to anyone, it would definitely be to Xue Mingyuan. Especially since "Xue Mingyuan" was now standing before her.


    But seeing Yu Yi''s surprised expression, it seemed she had no intention of giving it to him.


    "Aren''t you going to give this to..." Just as the joyful word "him" was about to slip out, Xue Chenjing abruptly changed his words, "...to me?"


    Though he changed his words, the delight in his voice couldn''t bepletely concealed.


    This was truly strange. Yu Yi looked at him suspiciously, a flicker of emotion crossing her eyes. She untied the flower wreath hanging at her waist and ced it in his palm, knowingly ncing at the two youngdies watching from the side before saying softly, "Let''s just say I''m lending it to you."


    Xue Chenjing held the flower wreath, the smile freezing on his face.


    If you''re giving it, just give it! What''s this "lending it to you" supposed to mean!


    In that moment, the frustrated expression on his face was so obvious that even the corners of his eyes flushed red. Yu Yi quietly took note of his reaction, and suddenly seemed to understand something, feeling a hint of absurdity in her heart.Aliali: 6744814f3f33ac44271f6


    Was this really Xue Chenjing standing before her?


    What game was he ying now? Why was he pretending to be Xue Mingyuan to get close to her? Could this be a newly released system task?


    Xue Chenjing gritted his teeth as he adjusted his mood, then said with a smile, "Would Yi''er help me put it on?"


    Yu Yi gave him a charming smile, taking back the wreath from his palm and actively holding his hand, saying, "Of course, though the wreath I made is a bit small, so you''ll need to curl your palm inward a bit."


    The warm, soft palm pressed against the back of his hand, and Xue Chenjing''s fingertips trembled slightly. He obediently curled his palm inward, watching as she slipped the wreath onto his fingers.


    The wreath was woven from delicate osmanthus branches, with tiny flowers dotted among the green leaves, emanating a rich fragrance. As the flower branches brushed against his skin, they left their intense scent on him.


    The wreath was indeed a bit small, getting stuck at the middle of his palm. After all, Yu Yi had originally made it ording to a girl''s hand measurements. She said regretfully, "It seems it really is too small, it won''t fit..."


    Before she could finish speaking, the stuck portion suddenly loosened, and the wreath was pushed onto his wrist.


    Yu Yi even heard the sound of bones cracking under pressure.


    If worn by a youngdy, there would have been room for the wreath to move, but on his wrist, it fit so tightly it seemed to bind his skin, like a restraint around his wrist.

 Chapter 60

    After slipping on the flower ring, Xue Chenjing''spressed and disced hand bones instantly returned to their original position, as if nothing had happened. He didn''t mind the ring''s branches tightly binding his wrist; on the contrary, he rather enjoyed this feeling of constraint.


    It felt like being firmly held in someone''s grasp.


    He raised his hand, turning his wrist in the sunlight, carefully and meticulously admiring the flower ring on his wrist, finding it even more beautiful now.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyshes were gilded with fragments of the sunset''s gold, his eye corners curved into a beautiful arc, and joy spilled from his eyes. In this moment of happiness, he forgot to put on Xue Mingyuan''s mask.


    Yu Yi''s gaze wandered around the osmanthus tree before inevitably being drawn to him. Could someone really be this happy just from wearing a small, ill-fitting flower ring?


    Xue Chenjing, bathed in thest rays of the fading sunset, turned his gaze back and smiled, saying, "Now, I belong to you."


    Hearing these words, the warmth in Yu Yi''s eyes vanished along with the dissipating sunset glow.


    This person''s words could be as sweet as honey when using her, and as cold as ice after he was done. She had witnessed this once at Cloud Mountain, and again in the Sunken Flower Sea.


    For the sake of system tasks, he would try to brainwash her, would humbly beg to be her dog, would plead for her to like him more, would even pretend to be someone he despised just to get close to her. He would do anything.


    If Xue Chenjing wanted to act, then she would y along.


    The sunset hadpletely faded, and the stars and moon had yet to appear. Thenterns in the Moon Goddess Temple hadn''t been lit yet, leaving everything above and below shrouded in deep darkness. Skynterns floated up from the osmanthus grove, piercing through the thick darkness, carrying the burning and passionate wishes of the mortal realm skyward, like stars rising from the earth.


    Ribbons hung from thenterns with bells attached, creating tinkling sounds as the night breeze passed through.


    Yu Yi grabbed his sleeve, stood on tiptoe to reach his ear, gave a softugh, and whispered, "Very well, you''re mine now."


    Xue Chenjing''s lowered eyshes slowly lifted, his eyes widened, pupils reflecting the scattered ascending skynterns. His heart swelled lightly, and for a moment, his entire being seemed to transform into an illuminated skyntern, floating upward.


    But in the next moment, the words by his ear harshly pulled him back to earth. Yu Yi softly called out, "Xue Mingyuan, Mingyuan."


    Xue Chenjing felt as if he had fallen from a cliff, shattering into pieces, hurting more than ever before. He didn''t even know when the person before him had left, until her faint fragrancepletely disappeared, until the gongs and drums in the Moon Goddess Temple began to sound.


    The system sighed, "Master, why do you torment yourself like this?"


    Xue Chenjing caught sight of a group of people approaching from the corner of his eye. He swiftly retreated into the shadows of the osmanthus tree, his fingers digging deep into the rough bark. The tree bore his suppressed anger as its crown trembled, scattering delicate flowers all over the ground.


    "Torment? I''m not tormented," Xue Chenjing slowly and restrainedly withdrew his hand. "The faster she falls in love with him, the happier I''ll be."


    The system remained silent: "..." If you''re not tormented, then why are you sniffling?


    Xue Chenjing had grown ustomed to being the one abandoned when faced with choices. It was natural for Yu Yi to like Xue Mingyuan; it was natural for everyone to like Xue Mingyuan.


    When shepletely falls in love with Xue Mingyuan, he would tell her, "The person who has been by your side all along was me." Wouldn''t that be interesting? Just thinking about it made the current suffocation in his heart seem insignificant.


    Xue Chenjing gently stroked the finger marks on the tree bark, as if soothing the osmanthus tree he had damaged, and perhaps also soothing himself.


    Meanwhile, Yu Yi found Crane Senior Brother, who had been ying wildly, grabbed him into her arms, and joined the crowd exploring the Moon Goddess Temple.


    This Moon Goddess Temple wasn''t particrlyrge, with only one divine hall. The painted beams and pirs were still fresh and bright, as it was a temple built just five years ago, yet it enjoyed flourishing worship.


    The temple enshrined only one deity: the Moon Goddess.


    Fengsheng County belonged to Liang Province, under the jurisdiction of the Cloud Peak Sect, one of the twelve major immortal sects. It was said that many ces in Liang Province worshipped the Moon Goddess.


    In the hall, the Moon Goddess held a moon in her left hand and an osmanthus branch in her right, wearing gold-embroidered colored robes and a jade pearl crown, looking down benevolently at the worshippers kneeling before her.


    Legend had it that She would receive worshippers'' wishes hung on osmanthus trees every full moon night, then choose fortunate individuals and fulfill their wishes.


    The temple was brightly lit withnterns, wreathed in incense smoke. After a series of worship rituals, the temple fair finally concluded. People carried theirnterns and gradually returned to the city.


    When Yu Yi came out of the Moon Goddess Temple, she immediately spotted someone sitting at antern stall, holding a four-sided squarentern and drawing on it. As she approached, Xue Chenjing was just finishing his final stroke.


    He lifted thentern and asked the stall owner to add a candle inside. When the candle was lit, it illuminated the drawing on thentern shade. It was a dancing red-crowned crane with spread wings, its lifelike form captured in simple lines, its neck and tail tips painted in thick ck ink, and the cinnabar on its head glowing brilliantly in the transmitted light.


    Crane Senior Brother immediately fluttered his wings and flew over, perching on thentern pole, chirping excitedly, clearly pleased with his portrait.


    Xue Chenjing nced at the flower ring on Crane Senior Brother''s neck, then at the one on his own wrist, inwardly sneering.


    How dare Xue Mingyuan wear the same kind of flower ring as Crane Senior Brother.


    When Yu Yi came closer, he turned thentern to another side, revealing a portrait of a woman. Ink-wash techniques rendered cloud-like hair, carefully depicted eyebrows and eyes, with even long eyshes drawn with fine brushstrokes, and a crimson flower mark adorned the space between her brows.


    Xue Chenjing held up thentern, his eyebrows rising in excitement before he suppressed it, maintaining an appropriate smile as he asked softly, "Do you like it?"


    Before Yu Yi could answer, Crane Senior Brother chirped first - he liked it! He truly was the world''s most unparalleled red-crowned crane, even his courtship dance was so handsome and graceful.


    Yu Yi couldn''t help but burst outughing. She reached out to touch it but hesitated, worried the ink hadn''t dried. "That flower mark, it''s a hibiscus."


    Xue Chenjing paused subtly, only now btedly realizing that Xue Mingyuan shouldn''t have seen her with a hibiscus flower mark.


    His eyes flickered slightly as he tried to cover up, saying, "Yes, somehow I just felt you would look beautiful with a hibiscus flower mark, and indeed, it suits you perfectly."


    Yu Yi seemed convinced by his words and looked up at him with a smile, "You really drew it beautifully."


    Xue Chenjing stared at her smiling face and shook his head, "No, it''s the subject that''s beautiful."


    "Beautiful, both are beautiful!" the stall owner suddenly chimed in, raising one finger to point at thentern in the air, "Young master''s artistic skill is excellent." He raised another finger to point at Yu Yi, "And the youngdy is beautiful." Bringing his fingers together, he continued, "Whenbined, isn''t it just perfection upon perfection?"


    The stall owner''s honeyed words continued, "You two standing together are truly a perfect match, made for each other."


    Yu Yi was bing a bit embarrassed, while Xue Chenjing turned to the stall owner with wide eyes and asked earnestly, "Really?"


    Yu Yi: "..."


    The stall owner, apparently not expecting anyone to take such pleasantries seriously, hesitated before nodding, "Truly, truly. In front of the Moon Goddess Temple, I wouldn''t dare speak falsely."


    Xue Chenjing immediately pulled out a handful of silver from his robes and dropped it into the stall owner''s box, the clinking of silver pieces startling the vendor.


    Yu Yi couldn''t bear to watch anymore and grabbed his hand, hurriedly pulling him away from thentern stall. "Let''s go, don''t disturb the vendor''s business."


    The stall owner looked back at the box full of silver and called out, "Ah, no disturbance at all! Young master, please wait, you''ve given far too much silver!"


    Xue Chenjing let Yu Yi pull him forward, his eyes fixed on the hand holding his. Yu Yi''s palm was soft and warm, her fingers delicate - he could easily enclose them in his own hand with just a slight curl of his fingers.


    But unfortunately, the hand was holding onto Xue Mingyuan.


    However, upon second thought, he realized it didn''t matter. After all, the person she was really holding onto was him. After all, from now on, the person she would truly face would be him, and only him.


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers twitched, taking the initiative to intertwine with hers, slipping between her fingers and closing around them in a firm grip.


    Yu Yi halted her steps and tugged at her hand, but couldn''t pull it free. She wordlessly turned back to look at him. Xue Chenjing wore an impable smile, and in that moment, he truly looked no different from Xue Mingyuan, politely and gently asking, "May I hold your hand?"


    Yu Yi nced pointedly at their interlocked fingers, which she couldn''t even pull away from, and said, "You already are."


    Xue Chenjing lowered his head slightly, his eyes clear and bright in the glow of thenterns, reflecting her image within them. His tone was gentle and impossible to refuse as he said, "Then could you not pull away? Consider it a reward for me drawing thisntern. Look, even Crane Senior Brother likes it."


    Crane Senior Brother nodded vigorously from his perch on thentern pole.


    Yu Yi studied him carefully, feeling a wave of uncertainty. For a moment, she couldn''t tell whether the person before her was Xue Chenjing, or if he really was Xue Mingyuan.


    The street was filled with people carryingnterns on their way back, walking in groups and pairs, their cheerful voices andughter floating among the moving lights. It would indeed be lonely to walk alone.


    When Yu Yi started walking again with him holding her hand, she didn''t resist anymore.


    Xue Chenjing held thentern in one hand and her hand in the other. With both fires returned to his body, he was no longer as cold as before, and now had the warmth of a human.


    Their sped hands held tight together, the touching skin gradually warming to an even higher temperature.


    The Moon Goddess Temple wasn''t far from Fengsheng County, only about half an hour''s walk back, and that was with everyone strolling and enjoying the festival atmosphere.Aliali: 67467efbc4f3f33ac45e4cd7


    On festival days, the city gates closedter. The city was brilliantly lit, with shops and restaurants still open, street vendors lining the roads, and various performers showing their skills in the streets.


    He still wouldn''t let go even after they entered the city, so Yu Yi had to say, "My palm is sweating, it''s ufortable."


    Only then did Xue Chenjing lead her to the side of the street, set down thentern, and release her hand to examine it. He then used the edge of his sleeve to gently wipe away the slight dampness from her palm.


    Yu Yi watched his attentive and gentle expression, her uncertainty growing stronger. She called out hesitantly, "Xue Mingyuan?"


    Xue Chenjing''s movements paused subtly for an instant before continuing as if nothing had happened, responding softly, "Hmm?"


    Was it really Xue Mingyuan? Had she been mistaken earlier?


    Yu Yi was about to say something more when she caught a familiar figure in her peripheral vision. She turned slightly and saw an elderly figure pulling along someone who looked like a physician, hurriedly making their way through the crowd.


    That wrinkled face was filled with anxiety, and in thentern light, there were still traces of tears.


    "Granny Li?" Yu Yi eximed in surprise, pulling her hand away to rush in the direction Granny Li had gone.


    Crane Senior Brother immediately pped his wings to follow, and Xue Chenjing tucked thentern into his storage pouch with a wave of his sleeve before following as well.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 61

    Yu Yi quickly caught up with Granny Li and listened to her talk about the situation at home.


    Granny Li''s daughter, Zhao Zhi, had been pregnant for three months. This pregnancy was very unstable, often causing her lower abdomen to ache with a heavy feeling, and she couldn''t even eat soup. She had already be so thin that she was practically skin and bones.


    Tonight, she was againining about the heaviness in her stomach. Granny Li, heartbroken for her daughter, had rushed out to find a doctor.


    The doctor, dragged out in the middle of the night, stumbled along. Granny Li, despite her old age, had a rough strength from years of farming. The doctor, held in her grip, found it hard to break free.


    Out of breath, he said, "I''ve examined Mrs. Du''s pulse before. It''s quite stable. It''s normal to have a stronger reaction in the early stages of pregnancy. Ah, ah, slow down¡ª¡ª"


    But Granny Li wouldn''t listen. She had been a mother herself and knew the difficulties of childbirth. Even if the early stages of pregnancy were hard, her daughter''s reaction was too much. Besides, this wasn''t her first child, it was her second. It shouldn''t be harder than the first.


    As soon as they entered the Du''s courtyard, they heard a child''s heart-wrenching cry from a side room. Even through the closed doors and windows, it was piercing to the ears.


    Through the shadows cast on the window, they could vaguely see someone inside holding andforting the child, while another was feeding the child some soup.


    On the way to Fengsheng County, Yu Yi had heard Granny Li mention that she had a six-year-old granddaughter named Du Ruo. Like her daughter, she was named after a beautiful flower.


    Du Ruo, like her name, was a pretty and well-behaved little girl. Every time Granny Li came to the city, Ruo Ruo liked to sleep with her grandmother and listen to her stories at night.


    The crying from the room must be Du Ruo, her voice was hoarse from crying.


    The doctor sighed, "The child''s constant crying will also affect the pregnant woman''s mood. I told youst time to send the child to her grandfather''s house for a while until Mrs. Zhao stabilizes."


    The wood and half-finished products in the courtyard were left in a mess. The child''s cries had finally subsided a bit, but from one room came the moans of a woman in pain.


    The doctor, still out of breath, rushed into the room and was ushered to the bedside to take a pulse.


    Zhao Zhi was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her face as pale as gold paper, her brow furrowed, and a fineyer of sweat on her forehead. She looked very ufortable.


    There was another woman by her bed, Zhao Zhi''s mother-inw.


    She was stroking Zhao Zhi''s hand, whispering words offort, "Bear with it. All women have to go through this when they give birth. Your reaction this time is so strong, it must be a boy in your belly. Boys are naughty, of course, it''s harder than when you were carrying Ruo Ruo. Just bear with it and it''ll be fine."


    The doctor looked at Zhao Zhi''s face and felt a bit helpless. But after checking her pulse several times, he found it normal. He cautiously asked, "Have you consulted other doctors?"


    The mother-inw immediately said, "Of course, we have. My son has almost invited all the doctors in the city. They all say it''s normal."


    The doctor nodded, "Her pulse is indeed normal. Mrs. Zhao, you must eat even if you have no appetite due to your pregnancy. Even if you can''t eat, you must eat for the sake of the child."


    "I specially stewed chicken soup for her tonight, but she vomited it all out." The mother-inw turned to Granny Li, "See, I told you, she just isn''t eating enough. When she was pregnant with Du Ruo, I took care of her, you still don''t believe me."


    As she spoke, she paused and only then noticed that there was another person standing behind Granny Li. The girl was very beautiful, with her attire and her demeanor, she was clearly not an ordinary person.


    The mother-inw''s expression changed slightly, she nervously nced at her, then turned to Granny Li to ask, "Who is this youngdy?"


    Granny Li was preupied with her daughter, so Yu Yi smiled and took the initiative to say, "I am from the same vige as Granny Li, I came into the city with her this time, so I came to see Sister Zhao Zhi."


    Yu Yi turned her gaze to Zhao Zhi, releasing her spiritual power to scan her body. Unfortunately, as a sword cultivator, she was not a medical cultivator, and she couldn''t see what was wrong with Zhao Zhi.


    Human life is fragile, especially when pregnant, so Yu Yi didn''t dare to casually give her a spiritual pill.


    Under the watchful eyes of the mother-inw, she tactfully excused herself from the room.


    In the courtyard, Xue Chenjing had also entered the Du''s house following her, but he didn''t approach the main room, but stood sneakily outside the window of the side room where the child had just been crying.


    By now, Du Ruo''s crying had stopped.


    Yu Yi gracefully leaped over the scattered wood on the ground,nding lightly outside the room.


    Sensing her approach, Xue Chenjing casually stood up, with a wave of his sleeve, he patched up the hole he had made in the window paper, and looked up at the moon in the sky, as if he had just been admiring the moon under the eaves, not peeping through the window.


    Yu Yi walked over to him and asked, "What''s wrong? Is there something wrong in this room?"


    Xue Chenjing pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "When I came in, her crying was sharp, full of pain, I thought she was being haunted by something. But I just observed it, there''s no ghost causing trouble, the courtyard is very clean."


    If it''s not a ghost causing trouble, then it might be another situation.


    Hearing him say this, Yu Yi thought it might not be a monster causing trouble. Could it really be just because she has severe reactions in the early stages of pregnancy? The medical environment in ancient times was quite backward, and it was indeed hard for women to give birth.


    The two of them, one a sword cultivator and the other a spell cultivator, if it''s not a demon causing trouble, then they really can''t help much.


    At this moment, the door creaked open, and a young and an old man walked out of the side room. The two looked alike, a father and son, presumably Zhao Zhi''s husband and father-inw.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t want to interact with ordinary people, so he quickly cast a blinding spell to hide himself and Yu Yi. The Du''s father and son walked past them without noticing, heading towards the room where Zhao Zhi was, while conversing in low voices.


    Du Qian suggested, "Father, why don''t we follow the doctor''s advice and take Du Ruo to our room for a few days? Her nightly crying is really distressing mother."


    Du''s father seemed to disagree, "We''re only separated by a courtyard wall, won''t she still be able to hear if Du Ruo cries in our room? It''s easier to soothe her when she''s with her mother."


    Their conversation halted as they reached the outside of Zhao Zhi''s room, not continuing any further.


    Once everyone had entered the main room, Xue Chenjing grabbed Yu Yi''s wrist, gently pushed open a window slit, and slipped into the side room.


    The room was dimly lit, filled with a strong medicinal smell. Xue Chenjing sniffed andmented, "There should be a sedative in the soup."


    So, Du Ruo gradually stopped crying after drinking the soup.


    On the bed in the roomy a small figure. Yu Yi concentrated her spiritual power in her eyes and observed the girl on the bed using her spiritual vision. The tear stains on her face had been wiped away, and the corners of the bed were neatly arranged. It was clear that the adult who had cared for her had taken great pains to make herfortable before leaving.


    Xue Chenjing reached out to probe the girl''s condition, but halfway through, he remembered that he was not Xue Mingyuan. As a demon, if he were to probe her, it would directly end this human child''s life.


    He withdrew his hand and whispered, "Yu Yi, you check her soul."


    Yu Yi turned to look at him, and as instructed, she pointed her two middle fingers at Du Ruo''s forehead, carefully sending a strand of consciousness into her. After a moment, she withdrew her hand and frowned, "Her soul is iplete, missing a soul and two spirits."


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes darkened. Indeed, no one understood the pain of soul separation better than he did. No wonder this little girl cried so heart-wrenchingly.


    He stepped forward, his hand suspended over the bed, and quickly drew several spiritual lines. In the darkness, only the rustling sound of his robe could be heard as the spiritual lines flowed from his fingertips, forming a magic array.


    Fearful of being exposed, Xue Chenjing deliberately used spiritual power to form the array. Spiritual power is a force of righteousness, but the array he formed was an evil one. The two contradicted each other, weakening the power of this magic array considerably.


    But it was still capable of tracking a human girl''s lost soul and spirits.


    When the magic array was formed, Xue Chenjing said, "Yu Yi, open her mouth."


    Yu Yi looked at the magic array in mid-air. Although it was formed by spiritual power, for some reason, the runes in the array exuded an indescribable evil aura. She asked cautiously, "What are you going to do?"


    Xue Chenjing''s movements faltered slightly, and he couldn''t help but smile at the corners of his mouth. His pupils glowed faintly in the darkness. So, she didn''t fully trust Xue Mingyuan either.


    He swallowed lightly, controlling his tone to sound gentle and harmless, "I need to borrow her breath to track her lost soul and spirits. I won''t hurt her, Yu Yi. You trust me, right?"


    Yu Yi recognized a familiar tone in the tail of his sentence "Do you trust me?" When Xue Chenjing asks for help, he unconsciously adds a slight nasal sound, which makes his tone sound weak and more likely to sway people''s hearts.


    In such a dim environment, without having to look at him, her hearing was more sensitive to the nuances of his voice.


    Yu Yi couldn''t im to bepletely familiar with Xue Chenjing''s other tones, but she was all too familiar with his tone when he was asking for help.


    She almost fell for his ruse earlier.


    Seeing that she made no move, Xue Chenjing softly called out, "Yu Yi?"


    Yu Yi focused her mind, scrutinized the magic array for a moment, and with her half-baked knowledge of symbols, she examined several key points and spirit lines of the array. Eventually, she bent down and, as he instructed, pried open the little girl''s mouth.


    The girl, who had been fed with soup medicine, slept heavily, her breath weak due to theck of spirit. The magic array gathered three breaths from her mouth, and the light suddenly retracted, the spirit lines intertwined and condensed into a flying insect that flew out.


    Yu Yi watched as the mosquito, the size of a fingertip and glowing faintly, flew past her eyes and she almost couldn''t resist pping it away.


    She asked in surprise, "Why a mosquito?"


    Seeing her disgusted expression, Xue Chenjing secretly regretted and wished he had chosen something more appealing.


    He pretended to be nonchnt and said, "I couldn''t think of anything else at the moment, but mosquitoes are very convenient, they''re agile and fast. Don''t worry, others can''t see it."


    Yu Yi remembered the ck insects all over the outside of the Pure me Pavilion, and she seriously doubted his aesthetic taste. She said speechlessly, "As long as you like it."Aliali: 67467efbc4f3f33ac45e4cd7


    In the midst of their exchange, the glowing mosquito flew swiftly to the window and slipped through the gap in a blink of an eye.


    Yu Yi quickly followed, with Xue Chenjing trailing behind her, trying to exin, "Actually, I don''t really..."


    He stopped mid-sentence, remembering that he was currently Xue Mingyuan, and decided not to bother exining. Xue Mingyuan was known for liking these disgusting things.


    The two of them entered the courtyard to see the glowing mosquito lingering under the moonlight, flying straight towards the main house.


    At this moment, Du Qian and his son were escorting the doctor out. The doctor, holding his medicine box, shook his head in confusion, "Your wife''s pregnancy is indeed stable. In theory, she shouldn''t be feeling this ufortable. Well, let''s observe for a few more days."


    The father and son nodded repeatedly, and Du Qian paid the doctor for his visit.


    Yu Yi and Xue Chenjing stealthily entered the room where Granny Li and the midwife were at the bedside. Granny Li was holding Zhao Zhi, while the midwife was trying to feed her chicken soup.


    The quilt slid off Zhao Zhi, revealing her thin body underneath. Because of her thinness, her protruding belly was very noticeable.


    The glowing mosquito flew to them, circled around Zhao Zhi''s face, and finally settled on her belly.


    Yu Yi''s eyes widened in surprise, instinctively turning to look at Xue Chenjing, somewhat incredulous. How could her elder daughter''s lost soul be in her mother''s belly?

 Chapter 62

    After a night of turmoil, the sky began to lighten with the first signs of dawn, and the Du family finally settled down.


    Zhao Zhi managed to fall asleep, while Granny Li stayed by her daughter''s bedside, not paying any attention to Yu Yi. She didn''t even notice when the girl left.


    In reality, Yu Yi was now standing beside her, bending down slightly, and with utmost caution, she was using a strand of spiritual energy to examine Zhao Zhi''s abdomen once more.


    The child in Zhao Zhi''s womb was developing very well, even better than a normal fetus. At just three months, it had already fully developed human features, with slender limbs and distinct facial features, clearly a boy.


    However, while its body was well-developed, its soul was iplete, possessing only one soul and two spirits. This was the missing soul of Du Ruo.


    Yu Yi stepped back from the bed to stand beside Xue Chenjing and asked doubtfully, "Does this mean that when Zhao Zhi''s pregnancy reaches full term, Du Ruo''s soul will bepletely extracted, turning her back into a male fetus to be born again?"


    Xue Chenjing nodded, "It seems likely."


    Before transmigrating into the book, Yu Yi had seen some news reports about parents desperate for a boy, trying all sorts of methods. Some pregnant women would take dubious "gender-changing pills" to alter the fetus''s sex, often resulting in deformed babies.


    She never expected to encounter something simr in this fantastical world.


    But this case was even more extreme. Du Ruo had already been born, had grown to six years old, yet she was still being stripped of her identity as a girl, forced to have her soul disassembled and re-enter her mother''s womb to be born again as a boy.


    A six-year-old child would not willingly return to the womb to change her gender and start over. This could only be the doing of her own family.


    Would the boy born through this method still be her? Could such a perversion of nature and ethics truly lead to a good oue?


    Xue Chenjing sensed the uncontroble anger in the person beside him. He lowered his gaze to look at Yu Yi''s profile. She was clearly in a bad mood, her brows knitted with suppressed fury and sorrow.


    The system had said she lived in a world of light, where she probably rarely encountered such unjust and vile acts. He suddenly understood why her heart was so scarred. Just like ss, it was pure and clean, transparent enough to hold no darkness, and thus easily shattered.


    She pitied ordinary people, feltpassion for a little girl unrted to her, and was angered by the injustice others faced. She and Xue Mingyuan were alike.


    No wonder they were drawn to each other.


    But Xue Chenjing was not. He had seen many such injustices; he lived in such a vile abyss. So, he couldn''t empathize with her. He felt no sympathy for the soul-disassembled little girl, nor any anger towards the mastermind behind this.


    To him, this was just anothermonce drama. Even now, deep within, he couldn''t help but feel a secret sense of schadenfreude at others'' misfortune.


    If she noticed, Yu Yi would surely detest him again.


    Xue Chenjing struggled to suppress the pleasure he derived from others'' suffering, moving imperceptibly closer to Yu Yi, his chest almost touching her back.


    Leaning down to whisper in her ear, "A-Yi, if you ask, I can find a way to extract this soul and two spirits and return them to the little girl''s body."


    If it could please her, he was willing to get involved in this drama.


    Yu Yi shivered at his overly close presence, stepping aside. She frowned at the sleeping Zhao Zhi and Granny Li, who was holding her daughter''s hand, leaning over the bed.


    After pondering for a long time, she shook her head.


    Xue Chenjing blinked in surprise, "You don''t want to help her?"


    Yu Yi calmed down and said, "We don''t know anything yet. Intervening rashly might make things worse."


    Just extracting the soul and returning it wouldn''t solve anything. If this family was so desperate for a boy that they resorted to such extreme measures, stopping this time wouldn''t deter them from trying again or seeking other methods.


    Yu Yi remembered the wary look Zhao Zhi''s mother-inw gave her when they first met. She looked around and then left the main house.


    The Du family had been in turmoil all night, but Zhao Zhi finally settled down, and Du Ruo stopped crying. Zhao Zhi''s husband, Du Qian, came to check on her and then returned to the side room to rest with their daughter.


    Du''s parents also went back to their own house next door, but their room still had a faint light, indicating they hadn''t slept yet. Yu Yi came to the wall separating the two houses, lightly stepped on it, and gracefully leaped over, her figure as light as a camellia flower drifting in the wind.


    The fluttering hem of her skirt was reflected in the deep eyes of the person behind her. Xue Chenjing''s pupils trembled, and a strong impulse surged within him, uncontrobly wanting to knock the flower to the ground, to see it stained with mud, sullied.


    He wondered what expression she would have in such a situation, looking at him.


    Xue Chenjing''s breathing grew heavier, his fingers curling tightly in his sleeve.


    Yu Yi felt the ufortable, invasive gaze behind her. As shended, she stepped on the support frame in the vegetable patch and turned her head alertly.


    At the same time, the long-silent system suddenly sprang to life, shouting, "Host, please restrain your dangerous impulses..."


    Xue Chenjing immediately met Yu Yi''s gaze, tearing apart the images in his mind, and gave her an innocent smile. He tried to calm himself in his heart, not now, not now, not now. I haven''t had enough of her beauty yet, not now.


    Yu Yi withdrew her gaze and lightlynded on the ground from the vegetable frame.


    The system''s warning stopped abruptly halfway. It suddenly felt that Xue Chenjing pretending to be Xue Mingyuan was not so bad. At least on the surface, he seemed normal.


    Its host had finally learned to control his impulses and desires. Although his thoughts were still a bit dangerous, it was better than nothing. Compared to the beginning, the host had made some progress.


    Now, without its prompting, the host was already trying to find ways to please the female lead. This was a good sign.


    The task tree within the system suddenly lit up, extending a new branch.


    [Ding¡ªA temporary strategy task has been triggered. After observing countless love stories filled with suffering and deep affection, it is often due to ack of effectivemunication between the lovers that leads to such tragedies.


    This sweet-text system rejects "not speaking up," "saying one thing and meaning another," and "acting out of sync with words" style of suffering love. From now on, the system will activate the "Truthful Words Mode" for the host, encouraging them to express their love loudly!]


    Xue Chenjing''s action of jumping over the wall faltered, almost falling. He stumbled as hended, and it was Yu Yi who reached out to steady him.


    Hearing the system''s task, Yu Yi also turned her head reflexively, just in time to catch the stumbling Xue Chenjing in her arms.


    Truthful Words Mode, did she mean what she thought it meant? Only speaking the truth to her? This temporary task sounded quite promising.


    Yu Yi''s eyshes fluttered, her eyes gleaming with interest. She said nonchntly, "Be careful, don''t make any noise."


    "Mm, sorry," Xue Chenjing quickly withdrew from her embrace, putting some distance between them, and whispered his apology, immediately mping his mouth shut, afraid that he might spill his heart''s secrets. He even considered casting a silence spell on himself.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t notice Yu Yi''s curious, almost amused look. All his attention was on this sudden temporary task. He demanded unhappily, "What does Truthful Words Mode mean? Exin!"


    The system obediently exined, "Master, it means that during the Truthful Words Mode, you cannot lie to the female lead. If you say one thing and mean another, the system will forcibly correct the lie to your true thoughts."


    Xue Chenjing visibly panicked, shouting, "No! No! Turn it off!"


    His inner thoughts, those filthy and vile ideas, how could he let her hear them? She would immediately realize he wasn''t Xue Mingyuan, and she would hate him even more!


    The system replied, "I''m sorry, Master. Temporary tasks are randomly triggered, and the system has no permission to turn them off."


    Yu Yi silently nced at Xue Chenjing, pretending not to notice his abnormality, and led the way to the house where the Du couple lived. She stood by the window, listening intently to the rustling voices inside.


    Xue Chenjing deliberatelygged behind Yu Yi, standing in the middle of the courtyard. His hands were tightly clenched, and faint demonic energy seeped out from his sleeves, causing his robe to flutter slightly.


    Heughed in frustration, "So what use are you? A worthless creature, do you really think I can''t do anything about you? Hah, you think I''m bound and can''t break free, right? Fine, if I were to grind myself to ashes, you can go ahead and issue tasks to my ashes. Or, you can wait for my next reincarnation, for the next life when I am born again..."


    The system was frightened by him and quickly said, "Host, please calm down, don''t get excited. It''s not like all your thoughts are exposed. This temporary task has a condition¡ª''Love must be spoken aloud,'' so it only reveals your feelings of love for the female lead!"


    Xue Chenjing''s sleeves suddenly dropped, and the turbulent aura around him instantly subsided. He calmed down, his pitch-ck eyes looking at the person leaning against the window, sneering inwardly.


    Love? How could he possibly have such a thing?


    Since he didn''t, there was nothing to be afraid of.


    Yu Yi didn''t notice Xue Chenjing''s movements; her attention was entirely captured by the conversation inside the room.


    There was the sound of water, and Du''s Mother was washing Du''s Father''s feet while they chatted in low voices.


    Du''s Mother, who was also Zhao Zhi''s mother-inw, said, "Old man, I really think something''s not right with our daughter-inw. If she keeps this up, she might not be able to give us a grandson."


    Du''s Father stirred the water in the basin, causing it to slosh, "Didn''t the Moon Goddess appear in your dream and promise to fulfill your wish? What''s going on now? It''s causing chaos in the house."


    "Yes, I had that dream, and the next day I went to the temple. The Taoist priest there also said the Goddess had chosen my prayer slip," Du''s Mother affirmed, "Granny Li from the west got her grandson through the Moon Goddess''s blessing."


    There was a long silence inside, and after Du''s Mother wiped Du''s Father''s feet, she got up to open the door and pour the water into the vegetable patch by the wall.


    Returning, she seemed to hesitate for a long time before saying, "Maybe it''s because Ruo Ruo''s too stubborn and doesn''t want to go back. Or, should I go and pray to the Moon Goddess again? Let''s just forget it. Ruo Ruo is like my own child, and her nightly crying..."Aliali: 6747c480c4f3f33ac46fd021


    Du''s Father pped the bedboard with a dull thud, cutting off Du''s Mother''s words.


    "Are you trying to make our Du family end without an heir? If it weren''t for the Taoist priest calcting that Zhao Zhi can''t give birth to a son, why would we resort to this method?" Du''s Father fumed, "It''s toote to regret now. You go to the Moon Goddess Temple again tomorrow and make sure my grandson is born safely."


    Du''s Mother was intimidated by his authority and could only nod repeatedly.


    After theyy down on the bed, Du''s Father sighed deeply, his tone softening, "Once the child is born, it will still be Ruo Ruo, and we will still love her the same. We''re just giving her a new body, so that our and his father''s craft can be passed on. Otherwise, what use is a girl?"


    The conversation inside the room gradually ceased, and Yu Yi stepped out from under the eaves. Xue Chenjing had regained hisposure and put on the gentle mask of Xue Mingyuan as he walked towards her, asking, "What did you hear?"


    Yu Yi''s expression was not very good, "It''s a method they got from the Moon Goddess Temple."


    She wondered if, besides the Du couple, Du Qian and Zhao Zhi also knew the details of this and agreed to it.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t care about the Du family''s troubles at all. He observed Yu Yi''s expression and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, her attention was on the little girl''s lost soul, and she hadn''t noticed his abnormality.


    But thinking about it, he felt a bit sour, and couldn''t help but blurt out, "In your heart, is anything else more important than me?"


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 63

    As these words were spoken, both the speaker and listener froze simultaneously. Yu Yi''s thoughts finally detached from the Du family matters as she looked up at him, making a questioning sound through her nose, "Hmm? What did you say?"


    Xue Chenjing bit his back teeth and said, "No, I didn''t say..."


    But as the words left his mouth, they automatically transformed into an emphasized, loud deration, "In your heart, everything else is more important than me, isn''t it!"


    Yu Yi looked at him in disbelief. Was this his true feelings? Was this what he really thought? His tone was so jealous, as if he truly cared about his position in her heart.


    Someone who had always been manipting others actually had the nerve to be jealous.


    Xue Chenjing felt ufortable under her gaze. He suddenly covered his mouth with his hand, veins throbbing at his temples, as he furiously shouted in his mind: "System! System! Get out here, I''m going to kill you!"


    The system remained silent, deathly quiet, not daring to respond.


    Just as Xue Chenjing was angrily wishing he could bite off his own tongue, Yu Yi suddenly burst intoughter.


    Her eyes curved into beautiful arcs, her curled eyshes trembling slightly, her pupils reflecting the morning light. Her entire face glowed with this smile, making others dizzy with its radiance.


    Xue Chenjing''s irritation evaporated in her smile, like morning dew under the rising sun.


    Yu Yi smiled sweetly and responded in a soft voice: "Yes."


    Xue Chenjing''s annoyance, having just dissipated, was reced with new frustration. He couldn''t help but frown, his eyes welling up with tears. He was truly like a jellyfish that had gained consciousness - made entirely of water, the slightest poke would make his eyes red, giving him the appearance of being on the verge of tears.


    As if he had suffered some great injustice.


    Yu Yi stared at him unblinkingly, wanting to see his red eyes, wanting to see him cry, secretly feeling a hint of vengeful satisfaction. For a moment, she truly hoped her words would hurt him.


    But to her disappointment, Xue Chenjing''s furrowed brow smoothed out, and he calmly epted her answer, saying, "Alright, I understand."


    His expression even showed traces of poorly concealed joy.


    Yu Yi examined him puzzledly, suddenly losing all interest. She silently lowered her gaze and turned to walk out of the Du family residence.


    Around the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), there was movement in the Du elderly couple''s room. Du''s Mother put on her clothes and came out, went to the kitchen to cook a pot of porridge, and ced bamboo steamers above it to steam somerge white buns and yesterday''s leftover dishes.


    She herself quickly ate a few bites of a cold bun with hot water before hurriedly leaving. Just as Fengsheng County''s city gates opened, Du''s Mother had already set out with incense and candles, heading towards the Moon Goddess Temple.


    Yu Yi and Xue Chenjing followed Du''s Mother at a moderate distance. Yu Yi held a meat-filled baked bun in her hand, breaking off pieces to feed to the miniaturized Crane Senior Brother while eating herself. Xue Chenjing walked beside them, carrying a food box.


    Seeing that Yu Yi had finished feeding Crane Senior Brother, he pushed a piece of cake into her hand, saying, "This is sweet, the kind you like."


    Yu Yi turned to smile at him, "Thank you, Mingyuan."


    Xue Chenjing''s good mood vanishedpletely, but he could only respond with a forced smile, turning his head to take a fierce bite of the cake.


    By the time they reached the Moon Goddess Temple, Crane Senior Brother''s belly waspletely full, and he had crawled into Yu Yi''s pocket to take a nap.


    Outside the Moon Goddess Temple waspletely quiet. The area that had been bustling with activityst night was now filled with only post-celebration destion in the morning. Uncleared firecracker debrisy wet on the ground, stretching into the osmanthus forest, testament to how intense the firecracker disy had been the previous night.


    In the lingering morning mist, wooden prayer tablets hung thickly from the osmanthus branches. After a night''s exposure, the tablets had absorbed moisture, and the gold characters on many were now blurred beyond recognition. Through the dense foliage of the osmanthus trees, one could see the upturned eaves of the Moon Goddess Temple and its tightly closed vermillion doors.


    Du''s Mother skillfully made her way through the osmanthus forest, but instead of heading towards the temple''s main entrance, she circled around the outer perimeter, apparently intending to use the back door.


    The morning mist was thicker in the osmanthus forest, and Yu Yi quickened her pace to keep up with her. However, unexpectedly, the figure that had been just a few steps ahead suddenly disappeared around a corner. She immediately tried to run forward but was grabbed by the wrist by Xue Chenjing.


    "Don''t run around, theyout of this osmanthus forest has changed," Xue Chenjing said, turning his head to look around.


    Having studied charm arrays and possessing memories from multiple lifetimes, he knew many ancient and evil arrays unknown to ordinary people. He hadn''t expected to stumble at a small Moon Goddess Temple, only noticing the abnormality after they had alreadye this far.


    Xue Chenjing felt extremely embarrassed and didn''t want to look Yu Yi in the eyes, but fortunately, he was currently using Xue Mingyuan''s identity, which made him feel somewhat better. After all, Xue Mingyuan was useless anyway.


    Yu Yi stopped when he grabbed her, alertly following his gaze to look around. Her talenty in swordsmanship, and her knowledge of charm arrays was mediocre, so she couldn''t see anything unusual. She asked, "Is there an array?"


    Just as she finished speaking, there was a "drip¡ª" sound.


    Though this sound was as soft as falling dew, it immediately caught both their attention. Yu Yi watched as a drop of golden ink seeped from a prayer tablet hanging on a nearby osmanthus branch, forming a perfect sphere before suddenly dropping.


    Immediately after, she heard another "drip¡ª"


    Xue Chenjing suddenly understood and clicked his tongue in annoyance, "It''s human thoughts."


    No wonder he hadn''t detected any charm array. Every osmanthus tree in this forest was covered with prayer tablets, each one carefully written with sincere wishes by different people.


    Afterst night, this osmanthus forest had gathered the most fervent wishes of the mortal world. Though mortals were weak, their emotions were rich and easily generated thoughts. One person might not be threatening, but thebined wishes of hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands couldn''t be underestimated.


    Mortal faith could even create gods.


    In just one breath''s time, the dripping sounds suddenly merged into a continuous stream, like a summer night''s sudden downpour, falling throughout the osmanthus forest. The golden ink merged from streams into surging waves, rushing towards the two of them from all directions.


    A sh of green bamboo sword appeared from Yu Yi''s sleeve, moving to her feet. She grabbed Xue Chenjing and pulled him onto the sword de. The green bamboo sword tilted at a steep angle, grazing past a wave of golden ink as they shot upward.


    Xue Chenjing, caught off guard, fell backward and quickly lunged forward to tightly wrap his arms around Yu Yi''s waist.


    Yu Yi had no time to mind his hands now, focusing solely on dodging the golden ink surging up from below. The ink had transformed into ropes of water, continuously shooting out from the osmanthus forest, seemingly determined not to rest until they had dragged them into the vortex.


    Just as they were about to reach the edge of the osmanthus forest, a stream of golden ink suddenly rose into the air. The characters for "Peace and Joy" flickered within the ink, and behind these words of prayer appeared three familiar figures she hadn''t seen in a long time.


    Mom, Dad, Sister!


    They smiled and opened their arms to wee her, "Xiao Yi,e home quickly."


    The green bamboo sword''s speed suddenly faltered, caught by the golden ink surging up from the osmanthus forest. Xue Chenjing, watching the illusion from behind, quickly raised his hand to cover Yu Yi''s eyes, urgently saying in her ear, "Yi''er, wake up!"


    But it was toote. The golden ink waves surged up wildly, dragging them into the vortex.


    As they fell into darkness, Xue Chenjing only felt her trembling eyshes against his palm, wet with tears.


    After an unknown amount of time, the darkness receded, and Xue Chenjing found himself standing alone in a cold, deste street. He looked left and right, but everything was empty, and Yu Yi had fallen who knows where.


    His fingers curled inside his sleeve, his palm still clutching that warmth and wetness.


    It burned his palm, making it impossible to ignore.


    Xue Chenjing stood still for a moment, then raised his hand and slowly opened his fingers, staring at the wet traces on his palm for a moment. As if possessed, he lowered his head and lightly licked the tears from his palm.


    The tip of his tongue tasted salt, the vor of another person spreading through his taste buds.


    Xue Chenjing''s heart raced, his breathing bing heavier. His lowered eyshes trembled slightly, and through the gaps between hisshes, he caught sight of a figure appearing before him. He suddenly looked up, his gaze meeting a pair of shocked eyes.


    System: "...Master, I was just about to warn you."


    Xue Chenjing: "...Couldn''t you have warned me earlier?"


    Why are you always so useless!


    The System optimistically consoled him: "Don''t worry, Master. Licking tears isn''t that perverted, really."Aliali: 6747c480c4f3f33ac46fd021


    In that moment, countless thoughts raced through Xue Chenjing''s mind, but none could outpace his now truthful mouth.


    His hand still hovered near his lips, head slightly lowered, maintaining his upward gaze at Yu Yi as he withdrew his crimson tongue from between his fingers and said, "Your tears looked delicious, so I licked them."


    After speaking, Xue Chenjing pressed his lips tightly together, utterly resigned, having given up on making any futile exnations. Besides, he couldn''t exin himself now ¨C whatever he tried to say would only end up revealing more of the sensual thoughts in his heart.


    Yu Yi''s tears indeed tempted him. Just thinking about how the moisture on his palm came from these eyes that were now looking at him, Xue Chenjing could barely suppress certain urges within his body.


    He didn''t just want to taste her tears; he wanted to taste everything else, anything that belonged to her, anything that was hers. He wanted to wrap himself around her like a vine, to taste every inch of her from head to toe, to savor the sweet, intoxicating scent that seeped from her pores ¨C the same scent that had once driven him mad with desire.


    From the very beginning, when they met again under the osmanthus tree, he had felt this urge.


    He had stood then in the shadows cast by another tree, watching as she rose to her tiptoes, struggling to reach that osmanthus branch.


    Her slender fingers clutched the wish paper, her sleeves falling back to reveal fair wrists, her waist, tied with red silk sashes, appeared so delicate it could be epassed by one hand, and as her movements lifted her skirt, her fine ankles were barely visible beneath theyers of gauzy fabric.


    What he had wanted most at that moment wasn''t actually to help her hang the wish paper.


    That kiss on the sea of fallen flowers had taught him just how delectable she was.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 64

    As Xue Chenjing''s spiritual fire had just returned, various desires that had been suppressed within his body were boiling over. He tried to control these desires beneath Xue Mingyuan''s gentle facade, but it was incredibly difficult.


    He was never good at pretending, so it was natural that he would inadvertently reveal ws in his disguise.


    Xue Chenjing watched her with both anxiety and anticipation. She must have noticed by now that he wasn''t Xue Mingyuan, right?


    He both hoped she would recognize him and feared that recognition. He rarely experienced such contradictory feelings - the first time was at the Unmasked Tower, and now here was the second time. Both instances involved her.


    Yu Yi blinked at him and opened her mouth: "You..."


    Just then, a voice called out from nearby, "Yi, why are you standing there? Come help me carry these things!"


    Yu Yi''s words halted. She turned her gaze away from him and ran toward the voice, quickly catching up to a young woman dressed simrly to herself. She linked arms with her and said, "It''s nothing, I just saw a strange person. Very good-looking, but kind of creepy..."


    The woman whose arm she held immediately turned her head to look, but Yu Yi quickly turned it back, saying irritably, "Sister, can''t you be a little more subtle? If you whip your head around like that, they''ll notice. Let''s go!"


    Her sister still tried to turn around awkwardly, "What''s the big deal? I haven''t seen anything yet! Tell me, how good-looking was he?"


    "Stop trying to look! No matter how handsome he is, he''s still creepy. Let''s go!" Yu Yi nced back and saw that strange person had taken a few steps toward them, so she quickly pulled her sister into the crowd to hide.


    At that moment, a procession with gongs and drums came around the street corner. The street suddenly filled with a surge of people, like a crossing Milky Way, separating the two parties.


    Xue Chenjing stood on one side of the street, looking over the bobbing heads of the crowd, pursuing the figure on the other side. Amid the bustling noise, his gaze traced her features inch by inch, trying to find some clue in her expression. He wondered, "She doesn''t recognize me?"


    And she even called him a strange person.


    The system eximed, "That girl looks so much like Yu Yi, is she really her sister?"


    The protagonist''s family should be in another world, and the book barely mentioned her family members, just touching on them briefly. However, in the setting, she did indeed have an older sister.


    Xue Chenjing shifted his gaze from Yu Yi to examine the girl in her arms, then turned to survey the street scene.


    Theyout of this street was identical to Fengsheng County, and he even asionally spotted faces in the crowd that he had seen earlier that morning when buying breakfast in Fengsheng County.


    When they fell into the osmanthus grove, they were pulled in by the golden ink into a ce simr to Fengsheng County. But this wasn''t the real Fengsheng County - it was a virtual realm formed by the power of hundreds or thousands of wish slips hanging in the osmanthus grove.


    The people and events in this virtual realm were all manifestations of the wishes and desires of those who had hung their wish slips.


    "A realm formed by human thoughts," Xue Chenjing''s brows furrowed as he nced again at the person in Yu Yi''s arms, shaking his head. "It''s not real, just an illusion formed from her yearnings."


    The system sighed, "It seems the protagonist really misses her family."


    Xue Chenjing remained silent. With her heart sword and clear mind, she shouldn''t have been so easily deceived by illusions, unless she willingly immersed herself in them.


    The street that had been empty and quiet moments ago was now packed with people, all lining up to wee the procession with gongs and drums. At the front of the procession was a man wearing ceremonial red robes with arge red silk flower on his chest, mounted on a white horse, looking vigorous and impressive.


    The herald at the front called out, "The new Imperial Schr Yuan Zeng has returned to Fengsheng County to visit his family¡ª"


    The crowd buzzed with discussion, "Is that really the Yuan boy? My, he''s really made something of himself!"


    "Yuan''s eldest son never worked and never married, just buried his head in books all these years. He''s finally achieved something, now his father won''t dare scold him anymore."


    "It''s not that he didn''t want to marry! Nobody would have him before. He was already in his thirties, still chanting from books all day, and couldn''t even pass the provincial exam. Who would have thought he''d actually be the Imperial Schr? Now matchmakers will wear down their doorstep!"


    As the Imperial Schr on his tall horse approached, the crowd fell silent out of respect, all bowing and paying their respects to the honored schr.


    Xue Chenjing watched over the procession as Yu Yi pulled her sister along to watch the excitement of the Imperial Schr''s parade, and he quietly followed behind them.


    The Imperial Schr sat atop his white horse, head held high but eyes downcast, looking down at the vigers on both sides with an expression of triumphant satisfaction. The celebratory procession continued with its music and drums until they reached the Yuan family home on East Street, where Yuan''s father stumbled out to greet them, so excited he nearly fell to his knees before his son.


    Yuan Zeng finally jumped down from his horse and caught his father, saying, "Have I finally made you proud, Father?"


    Yuan''s father wiped his tears while saying, "How could I not be proud? My son has never brought me shame. You''re the first Imperial Schr our Yuan family has produced in generations..."


    After the father and son embraced and cried at the gate for a while, the entourage that had apanied the Imperial Schr began arranging tables and inviting the watching neighbors and vigers to join the celebration.


    Yu Yi and her sister received some reward money, which they used to buy two candied hawthorn skewers, eating as they walked.


    Xue Chenjing withdrew from the crowd, rubbing his ears that were ringing from the gongs and drums, and continued following behind them. He had never seen Yu Yi like this before - as if she had retracted all her thorns, bing soft, even wrapping her arms around her sister''s waist to act coquettish.


    Though her sister tried to push her away in disgust, saying, "Why are you suddenly being so clingy? You''re giving me goosebumps. Come on, what did you do wrong this time? Are you trying to get me to help cover for you with Mom and Dad?"


    Yu Yi''s lips turned down, "Is it wrong that I want to be closer to you? Would you rather I argued with you?"


    "No, no, no," her sister quickly waved her hands, "I can never win arguments with you anyway."


    Yu Yi raised her eyebrows proudly, but momentster, she lowered them again and leaned against her sister''s shoulder, saying softly, "I''ll never argue with you again."


    Her sister snorted withughter, "Yeah right, like I''d believe that."


    Xue Chenjing remained hidden in the crowd, silently watching her. The system had once said thating from another world to this strange book world, she must feel very lonely, lost, and helpless.


    He hadn''t thought much of it before, but now, watching her act coquettish with an illusion, he felt an inexplicable heaviness in his heart that made him suddenly ufortable.


    Yu Yi walked arm in arm with her sister from the Yuan family on East Street toward West Street. As they passed one household, she paused briefly, turning her head to look at it with confusion.


    Her sister asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Yu Yi looked at her sister''s face, and the confusion disappeared. She smiled and said, "Nothing, let''s go. Let''s hurry home, I want to see Mom and Dad."


    After the two walked away, Xue Chenjing stood before that household''s gate and looked inside.


    He remembered this family was in mourning. This morning when he followed Du''s Mother out of town to the Moon Goddess Temple, passing by this house, there had still been white mourning banners hanging on the door.


    The deceased was the man of the house, who had died in his prime after falling from a cliff while away on business, leaving behind a widow and orphaned children. The neighboring brother and his wife had their eyes on the family property and woulde to make trouble every few days.


    Their situation was widely discussed among the neighbors, impossible to ignore.


    But in this virtual realm, the white mourning banners were gone. Through the half-open gate came the sound of children''sughter, and in the courtyard, the supposedly deceased man was bent over, teaching a child in his arms how to spin a top.


    A woman emerged from the kitchen, her face full of smiles, calling out, "Stop ying now, wash your hands, it''s time to eat!"


    The man put away the top and hoisted up his still-yful son, carrying him to wash hands at the water vat by the kitchen.


    Not far from this household was the Du family home. Their courtyard gate was open, with the sound of sawing wooding from inside as Du''s Father and son were busy making a set of furniture. Du''s Mother was in the kitchen cooking soup, the aroma of chicken broth wafting out.


    Zhao Zhi sat outside the main hall wrapped in a soft nket, nursing a baby in her arms.


    The male child in her womb was born, and the side chamber was converted into a storage room for small wooden items. All traces of Du Ruo had been erased from the Du household.


    The family of five lived in perfect harmony. Du''s Father, who was working in the courtyard, straightened his back, massaged his waist, and said with a wrinkled smile, "When my grandson grows up a bit, I''ll have him help you with the work. These old bones of mine should get some rest."


    Du Qian hurriedly helped him to sit down and said, "No need to wait until he grows up. Father, if you want to rest, take a break now. I can handle the work."


    In this realm of human desires, there were those who achieved top honors in the imperial examinations, those who came back from death, those who rejoiced at bearing sons, those celebrating marriages, those receiving promotions and fortune. From the east came the sound of gongs and drums, from the west the crackling of firecrackers ¨C everywhere were such false scenes of happiness.


    Xue Chenjing followed Yu Yi all the way to what she called home, an ordinary residential house. Her sister entered through the door with a basket, while Yu Yi stood at the entrance, hesitating for some unknown reason.


    The system, seeing him trailing along without taking action, couldn''t help but urge, "Master, aren''t you going to wake up the female protagonist?"Aliali: 6748be4f3f33ac47d814c


    Xue Chenjing hesitated, knowing that if he broke Yu Yi''s beautiful dream, she would surely despise him again.


    While he was hesitating, the person at the door finally lifted her foot and stepped inside. Xue Chenjing nced around and swiftly leaped onto a nearby camphor tree, settling himself among the sturdy branches, peering inside through the leaves.


    Inside the house was a scene of harmony ¨C parents deeply in love, sisters asionally quarreling, even their arguments exuding happiness.


    Xue Chenjing remained perched in the camphor tree watching until nightfall when the lights in the house went out. He silently scaled the courtyard wall and entered Yu Yi''s room.


    The upant was already asleep, her steady breathinging from behind the bed curtains.


    Xue Chenjing quietly approached the bed in the darkness. He lifted the curtain, gazing down at the sleeping figure. She had smiled many times today, constantly beaming, and even in sleep, her expression remained gentle.


    What expression would she wear if he tore away her beautiful dream and she saw him?


    Xue Chenjing frowned deeply, gently rubbing his fingertips, and after a long while, seemingly having made up his mind, he extended his fingers toward her brow.


    However, the fingers reaching for her brow were suddenly caught in a soft palm. Xue Chenjing was startled, and before he could react, a foot hooked around his waist, and with a twist, he was pulled to the inner side of the bed.


    Yu Yi pinned him down beneath her, leaning close to his neck, and sighed softly, pleading gently, "Ah Qiu, don''t move. I''ll wake up on my own tomorrow."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 65

    Yu Yi''s voice was soft and sweet like sugar, reminiscent of how she had spoken to her sister earlier that day.


    But she had clearly just called him "A Qiu" - she knew it was him.


    Is she being coy with me?


    Xue Chenjingy wide-eyed in the darkness, seeing a sh of white light before his eyes as if fireworks had exploded, making his eardrums ache.


    After a long moment, he realized that the wild pounding that made his eardrums throb wasn''ting from anywhere else - it wasing from his own chest.


    Instinctively, Xue Chenjing raised his hands to cover Yu Yi''s ears, not wanting her to hear.


    But his reaction was too slow - Yu Yi had already heard his chaotic heartbeat. In the thick darkness, that passionate throbbing was so close to her, so clear, intense and honest.


    Yu Yi didn''t want to push him away anymore. After all, she had already allowed herself to indulge in this illusion of "peace and joy," so perhaps it wouldn''t hurt to indulge a little more.


    Tomorrow, she woulde back to her senses.


    Having Xue Chenjing here would also remind her that this was all fake.


    Yu Yi reached for his hands covering her ears and said with a hint of amusement, feigning innocence: "Did I startle you?"


    Xue Chenjing remained silent, holding his breath, trying to suppress his wild heartbeat. But the more he tried to control it, the more uncontroble it became, and his body grew hot from his frantically beating heart.


    A soft thud sounded in the darkness - something had been knocked over. Yu Yi couldn''t see, but Xue Chenjing knew that despite his efforts to hold his breath, his tentacles were still yearning for her scent.


    His out-of-control tentacles emerged from the void, instantly filling the room. In the darkness, two more objects were knocked over.


    Yu Yi tried to prop herself up in confusion, but her back met something soft and cool. The moment it touched her body, as if receiving some kind of permission, it immediately attached itself to her, writhing against her body.


    This sensation was all too familiar to Yu Yi.


    Tentacles.


    The space around her was already packed with tentacles.


    Yu Yi instantly got goosebumps, kicking away the tentacles trying to crawl under her skirt. She warned him in a low voice, "My parents and sister are next door. Even if this is in the Human Thought Boundary, if you wake them up, you''ll definitely get beaten up."


    The dancing tentacles in the darkness immediately became more restrained, carefully avoiding the furniture in the room, no longer making any noise.


    However, the tentacles causing mischief between the bed curtains showed no restraint. The cool appendages lingered around Yu Yi''s feet, their tips tickling her soles, trying to climb up from her ankles. Yu Yi kicked one away, only to have another wrap around her.


    Yu Yi couldn''t stand it anymore and called out with contained anger: "Xue Chenjing!"


    The tentacles that had wrapped around her knees instantly froze.


    Xue Chenjing''s hands slid from her ears, brushing away the interfering tentacles, and wrapped around her back, holding her tight. He called out in an excited but hushed voice, "Master, Master, Master..."


    He paused, then changed his address, "Yi''er, Yi''er, I knew you recognized me, I just knew it."


    Xue Chenjing''s arms wrapped tightly around her, even more clingy than his tentacles. He pressed his head against her temple, and as he spoke, his soft lips brushed against her earlobe, his excited yet restrained breath flowing into her ear.


    Yu Yi shuddered, a tingling sensation instantly shooting from her scalp down her spine. She hurriedly covered his mouth with her hand, "Don''t talk into my ear."


    She regretted it now - she should have kicked him off the bed without hesitation earlier.


    But now, the bed was full of tentacles, and they didn''t even have room to turn over.


    But the person beneath her didn''t settle down. Xue Chenjing licked her palm, then slipped his tongue between her fingers. Yu Yi''s wrist jerked, and she pinched his mouth, saying irritably, "Can''t you behave normally?"


    With his mouth pinched shut, Xue Chenjing could only grunt through his nose. He was behaving normally - he had always been normal. He had suppressed himself for so long, and he had wanted to do this for ages.


    Though his mouth couldn''t speak, the high-frequency vibrating tentacles in the air gradually produced a tide of whispers that flowed into Yu Yi''s ears: "Yi''er, Yi''er, I want to kiss you, let me kiss you."


    Yu Yi firmly refused, "No."


    The whispers in the darkness instantly fell silent, and all the excited tentacles in the room deted dejectedly. Xue Chenjing made two whimpering sounds of disappointment through his nose.


    Yu Yi remained unmoved. Even though she allowed herself some indulgence, it was limited. Being this close and intimate with Xue Chenjing had already broken the boundaries of normal human interaction - she shouldn''t have done this.


    Her rational mind knew she shouldn''t be doing this.


    But when Yu Yi heard his heartbeat, she still allowed herself to lean against him, saying, "If you keep causing trouble, get out."


    Xue Chenjing pulled her hand away and refused just as firmly, "No."


    As they were silently at an impasse, there was suddenly a light knock on the door, followed by the creaking sound of someone pushing it open from outside, "Yi''er, I''vee to sleep with you. Eh? Did you lock the door? Why won''t it open?"


    Yu Yi''s eyes suddenly widened as she pushed Xue Chenjing away, urging in a low voice, "Quickly retract all your tentacles."


    Xue Chenjing reluctantly withdrew all his tentacles from around the room. The blocked door suddenly swung wide open, and the person outside stumbled in, nearly falling t on the ground.


    But she quickly caught her bnce, turned to close the door, muttering "what''s wrong with this broken door" while walking in the dark, lifting the bed curtain to jump onto the bed.


    Before her sister could jump onto the bed, Yu Yi kicked Xue Chenjing to the innermost side, turned around and pulled her sister under the covers, pretending to have just woken up, mumbling, "Sis, why aren''t you asleep yet?"


    "I heard noise from your room and woke up," her sister said, "Then my sixth sense told me you might want me toe sleep with you, so I came. But it seems you don''t wee me? Should I leave?"


    "Of course not!" Yu Yi hugged her waist, "I want to sleep with you."


    "Don''t tickle me - hey, did I gain more weight on my stomach?"


    "I don''t think so, it feels just right."


    Xue Chenjing pressed his back against the wall, curled up in the innermost corner, sulkily listening to them quietly discuss where they had gained weight, how they would start dieting tomorrow, and gradually moving on to topics he couldn''t understand - celebrities, new TV dramas, trending gossip - he couldn''t understand a single word.


    Her sister said, "I got my paycheck, tomorrow I''ll treat you and mom and dad to a fancy dinner, we''ll watch a movie, and then I''ll take you to get pretty nails done."


    Yu Yiughed happily, "Sounds great, sis, you''re the best."


    So this was her previous life? It sounded lively and colorful.


    Xue Chenjing knew clearly that this so-called home, these so-called parents and sister, were all created from her desires.


    Yu Yi must have really wished she could sleep next to her sister like this, which was why in the Human Thought Boundary, this sister would fulfill her wish by pushing open her door in the middle of the night to keep herpany.


    The bed wasn''t very wide. Xue Chenjing was trapped against the innermost side, with barely half an arm''s length between him and Yu Yi. Her loose hairy across his wrist, and her scent filled his every breath.


    Yet he couldn''t do anything, couldn''t move at all, and had to carefully control even his breathing.


    It was absolute torture.


    Finally, their conversation gradually weakened as they were about to fall asleep. As Yu Yi was drifting off, she suddenly tensed - she seemed to have forgotten something, there seemed to be another person in this bed.


    Yu Yi carefully reached back, and immediately touched a solid body.


    Xue Chenjing quietly reminded her: "Master, it''s me."


    Yu Yi''s consciousness, which had been about to slip away, suddenly became clear. Right, it was Xue Chenjing - he was still here. She had almost forgotten he was still there, had almost forgotten that this home was just a fabricated illusion.


    He had been so quiet that she thought he had left long ago! At a time like this, anyone with a bit of tact should have left on their own, right? Yet he had stayed until now.


    Afraid of waking the person who had just fallen asleep, Yu Yi dared not speak again, keeping her movements extremely gentle. She found his waist and pinched a piece of flesh, urging him to leave since she no longer needed him.


    Xue Chenjing let out a hiss of pain, finally releasing his held breath very slowly. He grabbed her hand, patiently uncurling her fingers one by one, then pressed her palm against his body, guiding her hand to explore beneath his clothes.


    Yu Yi: "???"


    She immediately tried to withdraw her hand, but Xue Chenjing''s fingers tightened, refusing to let go. Even after being pinched multiple times, even as his whole body trembled, he wouldn''t release her. In the end, he seemed to find pleasure in it.


    She had never met someone so shamelessly brazen.


    Finally, Yu Yi found her hand pinned behind her back by him, her palm pressed against his chest. Listening to his barely contained rapid breathing, Yu Yi chose to stop resisting and ceased pinching him¡ªthis pervert only seemed to enjoy it more when she did.


    Yu Yi dozed off briefly while Xue Chenjing remained awake all night, enduring this sweet torment, never letting go of her hand.Aliali: 674843b7c4f3f33ac47659ac


    This way, surely she wouldn''t forget his existence again.


    Yu Yi slept half the night with her arm twisted behind her, and by the next day, that arm was so numb it felt nearly useless. Xue Chenjing gently massaged it for quite a while before sensation returned.


    In the dim light filtering through the window, she nced back at him sideways, gesturing for him to leave.


    Xue Chenjing stared into her eyes, asking once more for confirmation: "It''s dawn now. You said you would wake up when it''s light. You will wake up, won''t you?"


    Yu Yi looked back at her sister who was about to wake up, conflict visible in her eyes. There was indeed a voice in her heart urging her to dy a bit longer. She had already postponed from yesterday until today, and now she couldn''t help wanting to maybe share one more breakfast together¡ªit had been so long since she''d eaten her mother''s cooking.


    But this home wasn''t quite the same as her real one; only the people were those she longed for, their every movement and the surrounding environment felt out of ce.


    Today, they had nowhere to watch movies or get their nails done.


    Xue Chenjing noticed her reluctance and had to remind her: "The longer you dy, the deeper you''ll be drawn in, until finally you won''t be able to leave."


    Yu Yi closed her eyes briefly, her furrowed brows revealing the pain of pulling away from a beautiful dream. "I know."


    Xue Chenjing''s figure faded from the bed, and before disappearingpletely, he left these words: "If you don''te out by 7-9 AM, I''ll break in myself."

 Chapter 66

    Time flowed slowly as the morning sun grew increasingly brilliant on the horizon.


    Xue Chenjing waited outside the house, listening to the system report the time. "It''s almost Chen hour (7-9 AM), Master. Are you really going to burst in? And what do you n to do after that?"


    It would be one thing if the female lead was lost in delusion due to confusion, but she was clear-headed. She knew everything here was fake, yet she willingly immersed herself in it. To force her away, he would have to shatter the illusion she cherished and kill the people she was obsessed with.


    But they were her family, even if they were just illusions - the family she willingly lost herself in. The system couldn''t even imagine what would happen if the host actually killed her family.


    They would likely never achieve a happy ending after that.


    As Chen hour approached, the system detected its host''s increasingly agitated mental state and warned in advance: "Master, you can''t act rashly. You absolutely cannot use your previous brutal methods. If you dare harm even a hair on their heads, the female lead will never forgive you."


    Xue Chenjing paced outside the door, already irritated, with the system nagging incessantly in his head. He finally snapped and growled in a low voice, "Shut up! I''m not brainless!"


    System: "..." You''d better not be!


    Talk about ingratitude. If this were Xue Mingyuan, it wouldn''t bother with such reminders, because Xue Mingyuan would definitely think of a gentle and reliable way to help the female lead break free from this illusion.


    Only Xue Chenjing was always so brutal in his actions.


    At Chen hour exactly, Xue Chenjing stepped up to the courtyard gate, hesitantly raising his hand to touch the door. Just then, the door was suddenly pulled open before him, and Yu Yi''s reddened eyes appeared from behind it, brimming with tears - vulnerable yet determined as she decisively stepped forward through the doorway.


    That step brought her right into the range of his arms, one step into his embrace.


    Yu Yi lowered her head slightly, her forehead resting against his chest.


    Behind her, sword mes spread like wildfire, and a crimson-feathered crane spread its wings, its broad pinions enveloping the entire house beneath fiery plumage, burning away the obsessions that had entranced her.


    The sword mes burned for a long time, inch by inch consuming her attachments. From within the mes emerged a wish slip, its golden ink licked clean by tongues of fire,pletely destroyed.


    The door crumbled to ashes beneath his fingertips. Xue Chenjing curled back his arms, holding her tightly, his heart swelling with base and secret joy. It was as if he had glimpsed a bright pearl, and now that pearl was in his embrace, belonging to him - only to him!


    "Yi''er, Yi''er, Yi''er."


    Yu Yi listened to the repeated murmurs by her ear. He didn''t seem to intend to say anything tofort her, just meaninglessly calling her name, full of longing.


    The arms around her body tightened more and more, almost suffocating her. Although she was very reluctant to admit it, at this moment, this solid embrace did fill a small void in her heart.


    Warm droplets fell onto her temple, sliding down into her neck. Yu Yi btedly realized what they were and tried to raise her head in surprise, but a palm pressed against the back of her head, forcing it back against his solid chest.


    The pain waspletely diminished, leaving only confusion filling her heart. Why was he crying? Shouldn''t I be the one crying right now?


    The hand on the back of her head pressed down forcefully. Yu Yi, buried against his chest with her nose pressed against his rising and falling muscles, could clearly feel his strong heartbeat. She took a difficult breath and said in a muffled voice, "Why are you crying?"


    When he cried, his chest heaved rapidly up and down, making it even harder for her to breathe.


    Xue Chenjing furrowed his brows in frustration, his breathing heavy as his mouth answered involuntarily: "I''m too happy... no, I''m not happy because you only have me now... well, actually that is why I''m happy. I''m so excited I can''t help crying, I can''t control myself..."


    Damn! How he hated this truth-telling mode.


    Xue Chenjing bit down hard on his jaw, not wanting to continue revealing the base joy in his heart, and pleaded in a low voice, "I''m sorry, please don''t hate me."


    Yu Yi''s heart skipped a beat involuntarily - this must be his true feelings, right?


    She calmly probed, "Back at the Sinking Flower Sea, didn''t you say I was useless? Now you''re trying to please me again, is it because I''m useful to you again?"


    "No, not this time, there''s nothing here that I want." As soon as the words left his mouth, Xue Chenjing wanted to bite his tongue. Saying ''not this time'' implied that it was true before, and indeed, he had only wanted to use her before.


    No, he still wanted to now - only bypleting the main storyline tasks could he advance the plot and get everything back.


    "You''ve always been useful to me..." Xue Chenjing said this far and found himself somewhat confused. He couldn''t sort out his own thoughts. Before, when he was using Yu Yi, he didn''t care about her feelings or whether she would get hurt, so he would do anything to achieve his goals.


    But now, he found he couldn''t help but care about her. So every word he spoke made him afraid, afraid of pushing her further away.


    Xue Chenjing bit his lip until it bled, finally saying dejectedly, "I''m sorry, what I said at the Sinking Flower Sea wasn''t true, I just, I just..."


    He had just gotten used to hurting others with cruel words before they could hurt him.


    Xue Chenjing couldn''t help but analyze his entire emotional journey at the Sinking Flower Sea, from being intoxicated by her kiss, to the moment his blooming joy was suddenly extinguished by her cold gaze, to his final thoughtless words.


    Yu Yi listened in stunned amazement, trying several times to raise her head, only to be held down by him, preventing her from looking up.


    Such tearful confession was too embarrassing, and Xue Chenjing really couldn''t imagine how she would look at him.


    The tears falling onto her neck increased, and Xue Chenjing became too choked up to speak. Yu Yi was surprised as she processed his words - so she could still hurt him, a single look could cause him pain.


    She remained silent for a moment, then raised her arms to encircle his waist, patting his back gently.


    Xue Chenjing''s whole body trembled. After beingforted by this small gesture, he became even more unable to control himself, letting out a soft whimper as his chest heaved more violently.


    Yu Yi: "..." Who exactly neededforting here? Surely he wasn''t expecting her to console him? That seemed a bit too much.


    Yu Yi tried to push him away, but Xue Chenjing, feeling insecure, only held her tighter. Under the truth-telling mode, he couldn''t even make excuses, only whimpering apologies.


    Until a pained bird cry came from below - Crane Senior Brother, squeezed between the two of them with his internal organs nearly crushed, struggled to poke his bird head out from Yu Yi''s hanging pouch and let out a sharp cry.


    Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp¡ª


    The cursing was particrly vulgar.


    Xue Chenjing instinctively loosened his grip, and Yu Yi bounced away from his embrace, hurriedly pulling Crane Senior Brother from her pouch to check him over. "Senior Brother Crane, are you alright?"


    Crane Senior Brother stomped his feet in her palm - how could he be alright? He was almost squashed t!


    Xue Chenjing turned aside, using his sleeve to roughly wipe away the tears on his face, feeling relieved in his heart. Thank goodness for Crane Senior Brother, otherwise he didn''t know how many more disgusting things he would have said.


    The system, that damned system - one day he would definitely tear it out and cut it into pieces, grind it to powder and scatter it in thetrine!


    The system detected his intense murderous intent and feltpletely unsettled. It really wanted to quit this job! It hoped the main system had made their system-body insuranceprehensive enough - they absolutely couldn''t let the host find an opportunity. It really didn''t want to be ground into powder and scattered in atrine, wuwuwu.


    It tremblingly said, "Host, well, I can actually detect your thoughts, could you please control yourself a bit..."


    Xue Chenjing, having wiped away his tears, responded with a coldugh in his mind, "I know."


    System: "..." This was outright intimidation!


    When Yu Yi looked up afterforting Crane Senior Brother, Xue Chenjing had already wiped away his uncontrolled tears and even helped wipe the dampness from her neck and shoulders. Only his slightly swollen eye corners and wet eyshes revealed that he had been crying.


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze wandered, not daring to look at her, desperately wanting to change the subject. He frowned in thought and said, "We need to find a way to break through this situation."


    Yu Yi''s wishful thinking was burned away, but this realm of human desires remained. Everyone was still immersed in their false happiness, and even such a great fire failed to draw the attention of the people in Fengsheng County.


    This was a realm formed by human desires, not by magical formations. To break it, one must destroy the power of wishes that formed this illusory realm.


    Following Xue Chenjing''s previous methods, he would have burned and killed his way from one end of the city to the other, ughtering the entire city to break this realm of human desires. However, now, as he nced at the person beside him, he hesitated.


    Would she think this approach too bloody and brutal? Although these weren''t real people, they appeared indistinguishable from actual humans.


    The system, though under existential threat, still had to strive toplete its task, saying, "Master, it''s wonderful that you''re thinking this way. Your n is indeed too brutal and would frighten the female lead. You''d better think of a gentler way to break the realm."


    Xue Chenjing felt frustrated - if he could think of another way, he wouldn''t be so troubled!


    What a nuisance.


    Yu Yi turned to look at him, but Xue Chenjing immediately averted his gaze upon meeting her eyes. He seemed embarrassed about losing control and crying earlier, the redness of his ears still hadn''t faded.


    Yu Yi couldn''t help but look a few more times, forcing herself to tear her gaze away from his crimson earlobes and regain her focus.


    She was also contemting. This illusory realm was built upon the wish papers in the osmanthus grove. Only destroying the wish papers as they had done before would work, but destroying just one or two wouldn''t be enough. They needed to destroy many - at least half - to potentially destabilize this illusory realm.


    Yu Yi looked up at the vast Fengsheng County. After sunrise, the streets had be lively again, with people moving about in a way that seemed almost real.


    The only difference from the real Fengsheng County was that everyone here wore happy smiles of fulfilled wishes.


    This was a fantasy realm without suffering.


    As the two walked aimlessly through the streets, passing by the Du family''s house, Yu Yi saw a small boy about three or four years old run out, holding a wooden carved doll. Zhao Zhi followed behind him, while Du''s Mother watched from the side.


    Even the Du Family Father and Son working in the courtyard would asionally look up, their gazes following the little boy.


    Everyone was eager to watch him grow up.Aliali: 674843b7c4f3f33ac47659ac


    "Last night he was still an infant, but after one night he''s grown this big," Xue Chenjing said.


    This illusory realm wasn''t reality after all, but merely people''s collected wishes, so even such an absurd urrence didn''t seem strange to anyone.


    The little boy ran toward Yu Yi, and when he almost fell, she reached out to steady him, examining his features carefully. He looked very simr to Du Ruo, as if carved from the same mold, only male.


    Zhao Zhi hurriedly came forward to pick up the boy, thanking her.


    Yu Yi asked, "Do you remember Du Ruo? Your eldest daughter."


    "Du Ruo?" Zhao Zhi''s face showed confusion. Du''s Mother ran over from behind, pulling both Zhao Zhi and the little boy back, eyeing them warily.


    Zhao Zhi seemed to lose herself in thought, mumbling, "Du Ruo, Du Ruo, Ruo''er... Yes, I had a Ruo''er, didn''t I? Where is my Ruo''er?"


    This question seemed to create ripples of disturbance. All members of the Du family froze, and the harmonious picture of a family of five began to crack. A wish paper gradually appeared above the Du family''s doorway.


    On the front of the paper was written: "May the Moon Goddess bless the Du family with a son soon."


    On the back was an annotation: "Zhao and Du are destined to be childless. The Du family wishes to use Du Ruo''s soul to create a male heir."


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 67

    A sharp chisel flew towards Yu Yi, apanied by Du''s Father''s curse, "What kind of creatures are you? Stop spouting nonsense at my doorstep! Get out! Get out now!"


    Yu Yi shifted her gaze and reached out, effortlessly catching the chisel that had been aimed at her face.


    Xue Chenjing nced at the chisel, and rage instantly surged to his head. He rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward menacingly, demonic energy swirling in his hands as he roared, "You old fool, I''ll ughter your entire family today and end your Du bloodline forever!"


    System: "..." It knew that the host couldn''t maintain the facade for long before revealing their true nature. *weeps*


    Yu Yi grabbed Xue Chenjing, saying calmly, "They''re not real people, why are you getting worked up over them?"


    Her fingertips twirled the chisel, spinning it between her delicate fingers. The de erupted with intense sword fire as she flung it with a wave of her hand. With a thud, it pierced the Du family''s gate, prating the wish paper attached to it.


    The mes instantly licked at the golden ink on the wish paper, and the entire Du family courtyard along with the people inside began to distort, like a painting being consumed by heat waves.


    Du Qian held the dazed Zhao Zhi and their child in his arms, while Du''s Father and Du''s Mother cried out in terror, "No, my grandson, my grandson!"


    As the wish paper was consumed by sword fire, the Du family vanished from sight.


    Xue Chenjing, with nowhere to vent his anger, curled his fingers back around his demonic energy and snorted, "This is a realm formed by human desires, reflecting their truest wishes. So you see, if you interfere with the Du family''s wish for a male heir, they won''t be grateful¡ªthey''ll only resent you."


    Yu Yi responded indifferently, "What does their resentment matter to me? It means nothing. I only know that Zhao Zhi was kept in the dark, and her wishes weren''t on that paper."


    That was enough. As long as Zhao Zhi didn''t want to trade her daughter''s soul for a male heir, what others thought didn''t matter¡ªnot even Du Qian''s thoughts were important.


    Fengsheng County was toorge for them to go house by house burning wish papers. They needed a reason to gather all the wishers in one ce. The best reason would be the Moon Goddess.


    Yu Yi pondered, "I wonder if there''s a Moon Goddess Temple in this illusion. Since they worship the Moon Goddess so devoutly, wouldn''t the whole citye running if they saw the temple on fire?"


    Xue Chenjing followed her line of thought and nodded, "There must be one. The worship of the Moon Goddess is the nexus that concentrates everyone''s spiritual energy in this realm of human desires."


    Yu Yi smiled gently, "Then let''s give it a try."


    She removed the talisman from Crane Senior Brother, and a palm-sized bird rose from her hand, its talismanic light shing before condensing into a beam. When the light dissipated, arge crane with broad wings stood before them.


    Crane Senior Brother spread his wings and pped them, letting out a long cry and lowering his back, clearly happy to have work to do again.


    Yu Yi nimbly jumped onto Crane Senior Brother''s back and reached back toward Xue Chenjing, saying, "Let''s go."


    Xue Chenjing paused in reaching for his flying carpet, joy spreading through his heart. He quietly tucked the carpet back into his storage pouch and took Yu Yi''s hand. She pulled him up lightly, and he settled behind her on the crane''s back.


    Crane Senior Brother spread his wings and took a few running steps with his long legs before taking flight.


    The initial running steps were somewhat bumpy, like riding horseback. Xue Chenjing''s mind turned, and he pretended to stumble forward, conveniently wrapping his arm around Yu Yi''s waist.


    "What are you doing?" Yu Yi reflexively pped his hand. She was very wary of anyone suddenly touching crucial areas like her waist and dantian.


    Xue Chenjing''s hand stung red from the p. He withdrew it but stubbornly grabbed her sleeve instead,ining pitifully, "Crane Senior Brother took off too fast. I''m afraid of falling."


    Hearing this, Crane Senior Brother made two "ga ga" sounds and deliberately shook his body, getting revenge for being squeezed earlier.


    Xue Chenjing yed along, crying out dramatically and sliding backward. Yu Yi instinctively grabbed his wrist to pull him toward her, but catching sight of his outstretched arms and triumphant expression, she suddenly released her grip.


    Xue Chenjing opened his eyes wide in disbelief that she had actually let go. "Yi''er?"


    Crane Senior Brother was still ascending, his back tilted. When Yu Yi released her grip, the yacting became real¡ªXue Chenjing slid all the way to the crane''s tail and nearly got thrown off by Crane Senior Brother''s wildly swaying tail.


    His wish to embrace Yu Yi thoroughly dashed, he could only grab onto Crane Senior Brother''s tail with both hands and feet. Transparent tentacles shot out from both his sleeves to wrap around the crane''s body, barely preventing him from being thrown off.


    Crane Senior Brother felt the sudden constriction but didn''t know what ghostly thing had wrapped around him. He cried out in panic, wings pping chaotically as he plummeted, bouncing off rooftops throughout the city and heading straight for Fengsheng County''s city wall.


    Yu Yiy t on the crane''s back, feeling likest night''s dinner mighte up from the turbulence. She snapped irritably, "Xue Chenjing, withdraw your tentacles! You''re scaring Crane Senior Brother!"


    "Master." Xue Chenjing called out pitifully but obediently withdrew his tentacles. As soon as the constricting force released, Crane Senior Brother beat his wings furiously. A fierce wind formed beneath them, lifting his body back into the air, barely scraping over the top of the city wall.


    Before Xue Chenjing could fall from the crane''s tail, Yu Yi reached back and grabbed him.


    Xue Chenjing looked up, his eyes sparkling as he stared at her.


    Yu Yi warned, "If you dare act up again, I''ll throw you off."


    Xue Chenjing immediately apologized, saying docilely, "I won''t move around anymore."


    Only then did Yu Yi pull him back up onto the crane''s back.


    The crane''s cry echoed far across Fengsheng County, but it didn''t draw much attention from the townspeople. However, someone at the Yuan family residence in the western part of the city noticed the stumbling crane in the sky.


    The Yuan family''s eldest son had achieved the rank of top schr, and they were hosting a three-day feast to celebrate. While guests were drinking and offering congrattions, a young man in white martial attire stood out from the crowd.


    Wen Li looked up at the crane flying away in the distance. He gripped the sword at his waist and hurriedly pushed through the crowd into the house, shouting, "Senior He, something''s wrong! There are other cultivators in this realm."


    Inside the house, Yuan Zeng, Fengsheng County''s first top schr in a hundred years, was being held at swordpoint by a man forcing him topose poetry.


    He Yungeng nced at Wen Li, gesturing for him to be quiet, then turned back to continue his mockery: "You spent over a decade studying, yet you struggle topose a simple piece when given a topic. With skills like these, you dare call yourself a top schr? You''ll be theughingstock of schrs everywhere."


    Yuan Zeng clutched his brush, cowering behind the desk, his face red as he shouted, "I-I am the top schr appointed by His Majesty himself!"


    He Yungengughed loudly, "Oh? So has the emperor assigned you any official duties? Given you any rank? What gives you the right to call yourself ''this official''?"


    Confusion flickered across Yuan Zeng''s face, but he quickly became resolute again. "Once I return to court after visiting my family, His Majesty will assign me duties."


    He Yungeng shed through the paper on the desk, which barely had three or five lines written on it, showing slight impatience as he said, "Aren''t you awake yet? With your mediocre talents, forget about being top schr¡ªyou couldn''t even pass the provincial examinations, let alone be a basic schr."


    The words "couldn''t pass the provincial examinations" seemed to strike a nerve in Yuan Zeng. His eyes suddenly widened, and he furiously mmed his brush on the desk, screaming, "I am the top schr! I passed! No, impossible, I became top schr, how could I possibly fail the provincial examinations..."


    Seeing his words having an effect, He Yungeng pressed harder: "You relied on crooked methods to seek the title of top schr. If your wishes true, you''ll be stealing the position from someone truly talented. You''re nothing but a thief. Not only is your abilitycking, but your character is also despicable. Do you have any of the integrity a schr should possess?"


    "No, I didn''t steal anyone''s..."


    Each usation struck Yuan Zeng''s weak points, shattering his beautiful dream.


    Above Yuan Zeng''s head, a wish paper faintly appeared. The sharp-eyed man looked up and swiftly shed it in half with his sword, his sword energypletely destroying the golden ink upon it.


    The bustling courtyard fell silent in an instant. The banquet tables gradually disappeared, and the shadows of people toasting each other faded away, leaving only an empty courtyard.


    Yuan Zeng threw himself at the window, crying, "No, no, my banquet!"


    He Yungeng stepped forward and tapped Yuan Zeng''s forehead with his finger, scolding, "Still not awake?"


    Yuan Zeng slumped to the ground as his dream of bing a top schr shatteredpletely, his figure vanishing from the illusory realm.


    He Yungeng reached for the decree at his waist, checking his score for this autumn examination.


    Breaking someone''s delusion only earned him ten points, making him sigh. However, this realm of human delusions wasrge enough; if he could sweep through it and break this illusory realm, he should be able to umte a considerable score.


    In this gathering of disciples from the four sects, he must achieve a good ranking.


    He Yungeng sheathed his sword and stepped out, asking, "What were you shouting about earlier?"


    Wen Li hurriedly replied, "Senior Brother, I just saw a crane soaring through the sky. There are other cultivators in this realm."


    He Yungeng''s brows furrowed slightly, "Which sect are they from? Are they from the me Splendor Sect?"


    Wen Li shook his head, "It was too far away, I couldn''t see clearly, but they''re definitely not disciples from our Carefree Sect."


    After brief contemtion, He Yungeng said dismissively, "If we can enter this realm of human delusions, others naturally can too. Regardless of which sect they''re from, we need to move quickly and score as many points as we can."


    Wen Li said carelessly, "Well, we needn''t worry about that, they went outside the city."


    "Outside the city? What for?" He Yungeng asked, puzzled.


    Just then, amotion erupted outside. The two exchanged nces and quickly ran out of the Yuan residence, only to see many people, like themselves, rushing out of their homes and flooding the streets.


    He Yungeng looked in the direction where everyone was staring and saw thick ck smoke rising from outside the city, with sparks scattered within the smoke. Just from the density of the smoke, one could tell how massive the fire was¡ªit seemed even the forest was aze.


    Someone ran through the streets, shouting loudly, "Fire! The Moon Goddess Temple is on fire! Everyonee quickly to help put out the fire!"


    As the person ran and shouted, the people of Fengsheng County, who had been immersed in their own false delusions and indifferent to other matters, were all roused by his calls.


    "It''s the Moon Goddess Temple¡ªit can''t burn down! I''m counting on the Goddess''s blessing for my child''s marriage!"


    "If we don''t help put out the fire, the Moon Goddess will surely punish us!"


    "Hurry! Grab something to help fight the fire! We rely on the Moon Goddess''s protection; we can''t let her temple burn down!"


    The person shouting about the fire moved at an extraordinary speed, far beyond normal human capabilities, quickly covering the entire city and causing anxious citizens to rush toward the Moon Goddess Temple with buckets and basins.Aliali: 6748ba2dc4f3f33ac47d3f5c


    Afterpleting his task, he withdrew from the crowd, ducked into the bushes, and crawled on all fours like a wild beast heading toward the Moon Goddess Temple.


    Momentster, he passed through the burning osmanthus grove and charged into the depths of the Moon Goddess Temple. The human skin disguise burned away, revealing crimson bones underneath.


    The bone demon rushed to Xue Chenjing''s side, panting with its long tongue hanging out, nudging its master''s hand for a reward.


    Xue Chenjing wanted to avoid the pain and shirk his duty of feeding it blood, but the bone demon circled around him, its teeth clicking together noisily.


    Yu Yi''s voice drifted out from the main hall of the Moon Goddess Temple, asking vigntly, "What''s that sound?"


    Xue Chenjing nced at the bone demon''s ugly appearance and kicked it behind a stone statue in front of the temple to hide, then replied, "Nothing, the people of Fengsheng County must have discovered that the Moon Goddess Temple is on fire."


    He reached behind the statue, punched the bone demon''s head to shut it up, cursed under his breath, and drew his finger across his palm, making a fist above it.


    The bone demon tilted its head back and opened its mouth, catching the blood drops from his palm.


    As the wound on his palm healed, Xue Chenjing tore off a small piece of fabric from his hem, wiped the blood traces from his hand, and forcefully stuffed it into the bone demon''s mouth. "How annoying. Get lost now."


    The bone demon, content with its blood-soaked cloth, transformed into ck mist and vanished from the spot.


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 Chapter 68

    Two disciples of the Carefree Sect arrived at the Moon Goddess Temple, only to find the people there in a frenzy, desperately trying to extinguish the fire.


    The fire had engulfed the entire grove of cinnamon trees, and through the flickering mes, one could barely make out the distorted eaves of the Moon Goddess Temple, distorted by the heat waves within.


    Although many people were trying to extinguish the fire, passing buckets of water from hand to hand and sshing them onto the raging mes, the fire showed no sign of diminishing. This fire was no ordinary me but a spiritual fire conjured by a cultivator.


    The destruction of the Moon Goddess Temple shattered everyone''s hopes, and despair spread among the crowd. Many people''s heads began to float the wooden ques on which they had written their wishes. The raging mes seemed toe alive, with sparks transforming into sharp swords that shot out and pierced through the wooden ques, burning away the golden ink on them.


    In just a few breaths'' time, over a dozen wooden ques had been destroyed by the fiery swords, and the people who had made those wishes fell to their knees, awakened from their dreams, and vanished from the realm of illusions.


    Wen Li and He Yungeng were so shocked that their eyeballs almost popped out. They eximed in disbelief, "How can this be? This is too unfair!"


    When they helped people break free from delusions, they always carefully understood the reasons behind their wishes, using reason to help them see through their inner barriers, guiding them to recognize themselves and return from their misguided paths. They had never thought of such a crude method.


    Wen Li nced at the crowd still rushing towards the temple and said, "But, Brother, this crude method is indeed very efficient. It''s much faster than going door to door, painstakingly identifying who made the wishes, and then trying our best to persuade them."


    They had spent an entire night just to persuade a schr who had be a top candidate in the imperial examinations.


    He Yungeng grabbed a man who was carrying a bucket and rushing towards the inferno, trying to stop him. He shouted, "You can''t put out this fire. Don''t go any further."


    But the man seemed not to hear him, his expression nk, mumbling to himself, "I have to save the fire. The Moon Goddess promised me that Wang Er next door would die soon, and I want to marry his wife..."


    He Yungeng''s face twisted in disgust as he heard the man''s fragmented words. "What kind of filthy wish is this? How dare he pray to the gods for such a thing."


    The tradition of hanging wishes on cinnamon branches and making prayers had spread in this region, partly due to the influence of the sects. Cultivators secluded themselves from the mundane world, creating a natural barrier between them and themon people. When demons and evil spirits caused chaos, the local people often had no way to seek help.


    Only when the demons caused significant bloodshed and the demonic aura soared to the heavens would the sects be aware and take action, but by then, it was often toote.


    Since the Carefree Sect, me Splendor Sect, Jade Pendant School, and another sect all had adjacent territories and were not under the control of the three major noble families, their connections were rtively close.


    Therefore, the four sects jointly created the Suspended Moon Realm, where a divine cinnamon tree grew. The sects took ny-nine branches from this tree and nted them in various counties and prefectures within their territories. If there was any demonic activity, people could hang wooden ques on these cinnamon trees, and the main tree in the Suspended Moon Realm would receive the messages simultaneously.


    Disciples from the four sects could go to the main tree in the Suspended Moon Realm to ept tasks from the human world and go on adventures. Over time, the tradition of praying under the cinnamon trees became popr among the people, leading to the widespread nting of cinnamon trees, especially around temples.


    However, the cinnamon grove outside Fengsheng County was just an ordinary one. The nearest divine cinnamon tree branch was in Liangzhou Prefecture.


    The Moon Goddess was widely worshipped among the people and was considered a legitimate folk belief. How did it be so sinister here?


    He Yungeng''s grip loosened, and the man broke free from his hold, rushing fearlessly into the fire.


    Just as a wooden que appeared above his head, a long sword flew past He Yungeng and pierced through the que.


    He Yungeng suddenly turned around and saw Wen Li summoning his spiritual sword, looking at the points on his badge with joy. "Brother, this method works! Let''s hurry, we can get as many points as possible."


    As many wooden ques were destroyed, the residual spiritual power could no longer sustain the realm, and the realm of illusions began to copse.


    He Yungeng and Wen Li fell out of the illusionary realm andnded in the cinnamon grove in front of the Moon Goddess Temple.


    Outside, the night was deep, with a full moon hanging in the sky. The bright moonlight illuminated the scorched earth, revealing a grove of cinnamon trees that had been burned to ashes, leaving only charred branches scattered on the ground.


    Many of the wooden ques hanging on the cinnamon trees had also been burned, with only a few scattered remnants left among the ck ashes.


    The intersection of the realm of illusions and reality was at the Moon Goddess Temple. Therefore, the fiery swords that urred in the illusionary realm also burned the cinnamon grove in reality.


    Wen Li held his badge, stroking the rapidly increasing points with glee. "The cultivator inside is truly a genius. Such cleverness must not be from our sect. Could it be someone from the Jade Pendant School? I''ve heard they have many clever ideas."


    He Yungeng snorted. "Don''t inte their ego. It''s just a trick. By forcibly breaking the realm like this, these people''s delusions won''t disappear. They''ll just fall into the same trap again sooner orter."


    As they spoke, they saw many people carryingnterns and buckets rushing towards the Moon Goddess Temple under the moonlight.


    The people of Fengsheng County had dreamt of the temple catching fire in their sleep and were awakened. When they asked each other, they found they had all had the same dream, believing it was a message from the goddess. Many devout believers immediately got dressed and hurried out of the city towards the temple.


    Those who arrived quickly were shocked to see the burned cinnamon grove.


    He Yungeng and Wen Li were mistaken for the culprits who had burned the grove and were surrounded by the first to arrive. As more people arrived, they found it increasingly difficult to escape.


    Meanwhile, the real culprit was inside the Moon Goddess Temple.


    The temple was the boundary between reality and illusion. After the realm of illusions was broken, there was no significant change here, except that the fire outside had been extinguished, and the day had turned into night.


    The burned cinnamon grove allowed the bright moonlight to pour directly into the temple, reflecting on thepassionate statue of the Moon Goddess. The goddess''s eyes, which seemed to be made of y, seemed toe alive with a shimmering light.


    Yu Yi, sensitive to being watched, immediately looked up but only saw a pair of painted, lifeless eyes. The statue of the Moon Goddess didn''t seem to have anything unusual.


    But the feeling of being watched just now was too vivid to be a mere illusion.


    Yu Yi carefully examined the statue, then stepped back to face it and looked up.


    After pondering for a moment, she formed a hand seal and summoned the Green Bamboo Sword. The sword hovered above her, its de polished to a brilliant shine, reflecting the divine figure on the altar.


    The Moon Goddess held a silver moon disk in one hand and a cinnamon branch in the other, appearing sacred and majestic.


    But in the reflection of the Green Bamboo Sword, this holy statue was entangled with a blood-red, wriggling line, like veins covering the statue''s surface, embedded in every carved line of the statue.


    The red light emitted by the bloodline created a bloody shadow that ovepped with the statue.


    Unlike the statue, this bloody shadow exuded a strong demonic aura, yet it tried to imitate the statue''s dignified and holy appearance, making it appear extremely distorted and eerie.


    Yu Yi looked up and saw the statue''s face in the de''s reflection. The shadow ovepping the statue''s eyes seemed to move, as if it smiled at her and sighed, "Ah, you''ve discovered it. Then I can''t let you live."


    The silver moon disk in the Moon Goddess''s hand subtly shifted, absorbing the moonlight and suddenly glowing brightly, illuminating Yu Yi.


    Yu Yi grabbed the Green Bamboo Sword and shed at the moon disk.


    As Xue Chenjing stepped over the threshold of the temple, he saw the moon disk glowing brightly, swallowing the sword light that had shed towards it, and then absorbing Yu Yi''s figure.


    "A-Yi!" He barely had time to think before he dashed forward, trying to grab the sleeve of Yu Yi''s raised hand, but only caught air.


    The moonlight pierced his eyes, leaving him in a sea of white.


    The silver moonlight receded, leaving only Xue Chenjing''s figure in the temple.


    Yu Yi was sucked into the moonlight, her consciousness momentarily hazy. When she regained her senses, she found her limbs stiff and immobile, trapped inside a hard shell that confined herpletely, not even allowing her to turn her neck.


    Her senses were also blocked by something, rendering her unable to see, hear, or perceive anything outside.


    Yu Yi felt a moment of panic and tried various methods, such as summoning her sword and reciting incantations, but none worked.


    After an unknown amount of time in darkness, her initial anxiety subsided, and she gradually calmed down.


    Although she couldn''t perceive the external world, her consciousness remained clear and she could sense her own body. Yu Yi focused her awareness inward, examining her own body inch by inch, and gradually realized the familiar immobility she was experiencing.


    This was the same posture as the Moon Goddess holding the moon in one hand and pinching aurel branch with the other.


    She was trapped inside the statue.


    A softugh echoed in the darkness, "Oh, you''re quite clever."


    Yu Yi coldly asked, "Who are you?"


    "Who else could I be? I am, of course, the mistress of this temple, the Moon Goddess," the voice replied, seductive andcking any solemnity befitting a deity. It scolded, "You have the audacity to burn myurel grove, break my believers'' illusions, and ruin my faith. What crime do you deserve?"


    Yu Yi chuckled, "You''re nothing but a worm living off the incense offerings on the statue. Do you really think you''re the Moon Goddess?"


    The entity was startled by the revtion of its true form and momentarily lost itsposure, but quickly regained its calm, no longer disguising its voice.


    When it spoke again, its voice was much clearer and more childish, sounding like a five or six-year-old child from the mortal world, genderless.


    "Since you''re about to die, it doesn''t matter if you know my true form. My previous life was indeed just a lowly earthworm. When this Moon Goddess statue was being sculpted, a careless craftsman ground me into powder and mixed me into the y, embedding me within the statue."


    The voice, though childlike, carried a mature tone.


    The earthworm continued, "I enjoyed five years of incense offerings within this y and gained spiritual awareness. This statue was made from my body, and I can also partake in the Moon Goddess''s incense offerings. Naturally, I am the master of this temple, the Moon Goddess they worship."


    "The people of Fengsheng County helped me gain spiritual awareness, so of course, I must protect them and fulfill their wishes. What does it matter to you cultivators?"


    Yu Yi asked, "Is your way of protecting them to fulfill both good and evil wishes indiscriminately?"


    The earthworm immediately retorted, "Of course not, I select them."


    Yu Yi continued, "So, disregarding the mother''s will, extracting the soul of a six-year-old girl and reinserting it into her mother''s womb to produce a male child¡ªis that a good wish in your eyes?"


    The earthworm pondered for a moment, "Are you talking about the Du family?"


    It became excited and boasted, "That wish was difficult to fulfill. The old woman from the Du family came to pray every day, month after month. I finally found a way for them. I already warned them in a dream about the gravity of the situation, that we would need to extract the granddaughter''s soul, consume the daughter-inw''s essence, and use my power to create a y male fetus. They agreed."


    It turned out the male fetus was made of y. Even so, the Du family agreed.


    "Did Zhao Zhi agree?" Yu Yi pressed.


    The earthworm''s tone was defiantly unreasonable, "It''s not her who prays to me day after day."


    Yu Yi understood: only those who contributed enough incense offerings were its believers, deserving of its protection. As for others, it didn''t care.


    No wonder the Moon Goddess Temple was so popr, with a reputation for being efficacious. It was all thanks to these selfish prayers.


    Yu Yi was furious and wanted to dig out this earthworm and beat it up. Suddenly, she heard the earthworm cry out in pain, and at the same time, she felt a sharp pain in her arm.


    The earthworm screamed outside, "You dare to hit me! If you break me, your master will shatter with me. You can try it."


    Inside the temple, Xue Chenjing saw blood seeping from the statue''s arm. The oath tablet in his mind shook violently, causing his soul to tremble and cold sweat to break out on his forehead.


    This indicated that he had indeed hurt Yu Yi.


    Xue Chenjing cautiously retracted his hand, and his surging demonic energy subsided. With Yu Yi inside the statue, he couldn''t damage the statue or use his "pupil technique" to subdue it, leaving him at a loss.


    The self-proimed Moon Goddess, thinking she had him cornered, looked down at him and taunted, "If you light incense and kneel in earnest, praying for me to release your master..."Aliali: 67489351c4f3f33ac47ae5ed


    Before she finished, she saw him take three joss sticks without hesitation, light them, hold them t in front of his body, and face the deity, "You''d better keep your word."


    Seeing him about to kneel without hesitation, the earthworm felt no pleasure in teasing him and quickly retracted, "You have no backbone at all. Your heart isn''t sincere; I won''t allow it."


    Xue Chenjing straightened his half-bent knee and snapped the incense in his hand.


    He red at the statue with a sinister expression, seemingly unable to endure its taunting any longer. He took two steps forward, grabbed the altar with both hands, and with a sudden force, overturned it.


    The altar crashed to the side with a thunderous noise, and the offerings on it ttered to the ground, the fruits smashed into a mess by the overturned table.


    Before the earthworm could react, it felt the statue being wrapped by something, and the heavy lotus pedestal began to move, inch by inch, from the shrine.


    The two-man-tall Moon Goddess statue tilted forward, cutting through the air with a whooshing sound, and then plummeted downward.


    The earthworm realized what he intended and panicked, screaming, "He''s going to break me, he really is going to break me! He deceived me; he doesn''t care about your life at all."


    Yu Yi couldn''t see or hear anything outside, confined within the statue, only hearing the earthworm''s screams. She felt a strong sense of falling, about to shatter along with the statue.


    In thest moment, Yu Yi heard the system''s urgent plea, "Host, what are you doing? Don''t be impulsive!"


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 69

    The statue toppledpletely but didn''t crash to the ground. Instead, it fell into a mass of soft, writhing flesh-nest. Invisible tentacles wrapped around ityer byyer, adhering to the stone statue''s surface.


    Qu Chan''s screaming finally stopped, and it asked suspiciously, "What is this? What are you trying to do?"


    Xue Chenjing ignored it. His robes billowed without wind, his hair floating in the air, as if something was surging out from his sleeves and the hem of his robe.


    Qu Chan couldn''t see what those things were. It only knew that these things quickly filled the entire Moon God Temple, violently destroying all the furnishings inside, creating spider web-like cracks on the ground, and leaving terrifying constriction marks and disc-shaped holes on the thick pirs.


    The temple''s beams creaked under pressure, and tiles from the roof came ttering down.


    Its temple was about to burst from within.


    But it was just a temple - if destroyed, a new one could be built, evenrger and more magnificent. Qu Chan had long wanted a new temple anyway.


    It didn''t care at all. Though he was destroying everything in the temple, he dared not harm the statue in the slightest, proving that the leverage it held over him was indeed effective.


    "I almost fell for his trick," Qu Chan sighed in relief. It had nearly believed that he truly didn''t care about the cultivator inside the statue. It calmly said to Yu Yi inside the statue, "It''s quite entertaining to see him so helpless and furious. Let me show you too."


    As Qu Chan''s words fell, a white light pierced through the darkness before Yu Yi''s eyes, finally allowing her to see the outside world.


    However, her perspective was still limited to that of the statue, and unable to turn her neck, she could only see what was directly in front of the statue.


    The statue was suspended in mid-air, supported by invisible tentacles. Directly in front of it stood the enraged Xue Chenjing.


    His handsome face was terribly distorted with fury, veins bulging at his temples, his jaw set in a sharp line. His robes billowed as he destroyed everything within her field of vision.


    Yet the tentacles wrapping the statue remained gentle, not even allowing a speck of dust to fall upon it.


    Yu Yi could only watch him fixedly like this, watch as he raged, pacing back and forth in anxiety and agitation, his eyes turning red with anger amid Qu Chan''s mockery.


    Qu Chan, like a mischievous child, hadpletely abandoned its "Moon Goddess" facade, revealing its malicious nature. The more helplessly furious Xue Chenjing became, the more delighted it grew.


    "Go ahead, keep destroying things. The cost of demolishing this temple - I''ll collect it all from your master. A cultivator''s flesh must be delicious. Once I''ve corroded her bodypletely, turned her flesh and bones into pus, I can savor it slowly."


    Yu Yi felt a sudden burning pain all over her skin, and couldn''t help but let out a muffled groan.


    This painful groan transmitted from within the statue, causing Xue Chenjing to freeze. All the tentacles in the temple fell still with him as he looked up anxiously, "Master, Master..."


    Qu Chan deliberately let her groan be heard outside. Yu Yi watched the increasingly agitated man and tried hard to suppress her voice. She couldn''t count on Xue Chenjing; she had to find a way to save herself.


    Qu Chan cheerfully said inwardly, "It''s useless. Just be one with me. Wouldn''t it be nice if we enjoyed the mortal offerings together? Isn''t that easier than your arduous cultivation?"


    Yu Yi sneered coldly, "Such deviant methods - don''t dream of bing a god."


    Like its believers, Qu Chan was deeply trapped in delusion, beyond salvation. "I am already a god. I am the Moon God."


    Suddenly, Xue Chenjing''s coldugh came from outside. The man who had been anxious and restless moments ago had somehow suddenly calmed down. The wild energy around him was drawn back as he raised his head, his pitch-ck eyes gazing at the statue as his lips curved into a sinister smile.


    Qu Chan''s heart skipped a beat, filled with an ominous premonition.


    The next moment, its premonition came true. All the tentacles in the temple converged on the statue, lifting the massive Moon God statue upward. The statue broke through the temple''s roof, soaring into the sky.


    Outside the Moon Goddess Temple, many believers had gathered. The burning of the osmanthus grove had sparked public outrage. He Yungeng and Wen Li couldn''t exin themselves to the angry crowd, and being unable to use force against them, they felt quite frustrated.


    The violent disturbance from within the temple led the crowd to believe the Moon Goddess was angry, and they wanted to drag the two into the temple to atone for their sins.


    When the massive statue rose through the roof, themotion outside finally ceased. Everyone looked up at the ascending statue. The Moon Goddess, cradling the moon in one hand and holding an osmanthus branch in the other, gazed down benevolently at all living beings.


    The bright moon hung behind the statue, as if divine light was shining down upon the earth.


    "My Lady! The Moon Goddess has shown herself!"


    The crowd on the ground immediately fell to their knees, kowtowing to the statue in the sky.


    He Yungeng seized the opportunity to grab his junior fellow disciple, and with a sh, they escaped from the encirclement, retreating to one side to cautiously look upward.


    In mid-air, Xue Chenjing''s figure was concealed behind the statue. He raised his hand, fingers together, and drew an arc from top to bottom. Earthly impurities flowed from his fingertips, condensing into a long bow before the Moon God statue. The bow shared the color of frost and moon, emanating a luminous glow. His other hand made a gesture of drawing the bowstring.


    The bow suspended before the statue tensed ordingly, and a sharp arrow materialized on the bowstring.


    A devil-like voice drifted from behind the statue, "Below are your most devout believers, aren''t they? Care to guess - when they witness the Moon Goddess ughtering her own followers with her own hands, will they still faithfully worship you?"


    Qu Chan remainedposed, "As cultivators, you value the way of the heart. You cannot harm mortals."


    "Ha?" Xue Chenjing gave a lightugh and murmured, "I''m no cultivator. I''m a demon, and demons dare to kill anything. What''s more, these are mere mortals. They nurtured a thing like you - they can''t be good people either."


    His fingertip lifted slightly. Before the statue, the suspended bow hummed as the taut bowstring suddenly released. The arrow, carrying the frost of the silver moon, broke through the air, shooting toward one of the kneeling mortals below.


    Qu Chan finally panicked, trying to find a way to block it but found itself confined by an invisible barrier.


    The arrow whistled downward, trailing a brilliant silver tail. The mortal on the ground had no time to react. Just as the arrow gleaming with moonlight was about to pierce through that person, a figure suddenly shed in front of them, raising a sword in defense.


    The arrowhead shed with the sword de, producing a sharp ng that pierced everyone''s ears.


    He Yungeng''s sword-holding hand shook violently, the tiger''s mouth of his palm splitting instantly. Yet the arrow wasn''t blocked - it merely deflected at an angle, sliding off his sword de and piercing through another person''s body.


    That person was still maintaining their kowtowing posture when the arrow entered through their left shoulder and exited through their right waist, pinning them to the ground. The silver light on the arrow exploded from within their body, like rays of moonlight, cutting the person into pieces and sshing out a pool of blood.


    In the blink of an eye, a living person had be scattered chunks of bloody flesh.


    Heaven and earth fell silent for a moment. Finally, someone nearby who had been sttered with blood came to their senses and let out a terrible scream, copsing to the ground and scrambling backward.


    The kneeling believers below fell intoplete chaos. Some buried their heads and kowtowed, crying "Moon Goddess, please calm your anger!" while others got up and stumbled frantically toward the county town.


    He Yungeng angrily pointed his sword at the statue in the sky, "Harming your own mortal believers - how dare you call yourself a god! What kind of monster are you?"


    In the sky, the long bow before the Moon God statue had already drawn taut again, fully strung, its arrow pointing downward.


    Xue Chenjing ignored the two cultivators below and asked, "Moon Goddess, who would you like to shoot this time?"


    His fingertip slid, and the arrow on the bow split from one into two, then three. All three arrows were released at once. He Yungeng and Wen Li hurriedly chased after the arrows, swinging their swords to cut them down, but one arrow still pierced through a believer.


    Screams echoed through the mountains and wilderness.


    The two exchanged a nce. Wen Li thrust his sword into the ground, forming a barrier of sword energy to epass the people in the osmanthus grove. He Yungeng charged toward the sky with his sword but collided with an invisible force that pushed him back to the ground.


    Many people were so frightened they fled in panic, running out of the sword energy barrier.


    The long bow before the Moon God statue raised slightly, its arrowhead pointing toward the scattered people in the distance.


    Xue Chenjing, caught up in his frenzy,ughed mockingly just as Qu Chan had done earlier in the temple: "If your followers below worship you, I''ll ughter them all. If the people of Fengsheng County worship you, I''ll massacre the entire city. If Liang Province worships the Moon God, I''ll annihte the whole province. Let''s see how you can remain a god then."Aliali: 674b41cbc4f3f33ac49fe1a4


    Qu Chan, encountering such an unrestrained and maniacal person for the first time, panicked and said, "No, don''t! Your master is in my hands. If you continue this madness, I''ll kill her!"


    In its panic, Qu Chan failed to notice the thin wisps of ck mist seeping into the deity statue through its minute pores, searching for the essence that the person behind sought.


    Yu Yi felt an icy energy prate her body, and suddenly a mystical symbol formed within her. The burning sensation of corrosion on her body instantly subsided.


    She swept her spiritual consciousness over the symbol''s patterns within her body and recognized the talisman.


    It was a Substitute Talisman - Xue Chenjing had ced it on her.


    The moment the Substitute Talisman took form, Xue Chenjing felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand. He nced down at his corroded, festering skin, and thinking of the perfect, wless hand he had once held in his own now suffering such erosion, rage surged to his head.


    Xue Chenjingughed in fury, "Very well, let''s see what happens first - whether I kill all your followers, or you kill her."


    Before the Moon God statue, a longbow was raised, and an arrow shot into the air, exploding like fireworks. The scattered points of light elongated under the moonlight, condensing into new arrows that slowly stretched toward the horizon, spreading across the night sky, each arrow sharp and menacing.


    Though Qu Chan made fierce threats, it couldn''t actually kill Yu Yi - that''s why it had trapped her inside the statue to slowly corrode her instead. After all, she was a cultivator who had achieved perfect Golden Core stage.


    Realizing its threats were ineffective against Xue Chenjing, it turned to pleading internally, "Quick, tell him to stop! As a righteous cultivator, how can you stand by and watch him massacre innocent civilians!"

 Chapter 70

    Through the eyes of the divine statue, Yu Yi gazed at the light arrows arranged in the sky, reflecting moonlight like a Milky Way flowing through the night.


    By now, Qu Chan waspletely panicked. It wasn''t the real Moon God, but merely an earthworm that had infiltrated the Moon God statue, granting wishes to worshippers in a way that harmed others while benefiting itself, surviving on their offerings to maintain its existence.


    There was no need for Xue Chenjing to ughter everyone in Fengsheng County or overthrow Liang Province - just the most devout believers below could pose a threat to it.


    The overwhelming array of arrows in the sky continued to spread their formation but didn''t immediately rain down. From Yu Yi''s understanding of Xue Chenjing, if he truly intended to kill, he wouldn''t show any mercy to the civilians below.


    This was a psychological battle - he was trying to make Qu Chan break down first.


    If she stopped Xue Chenjing, they wouldpletely lose their advantage, falling entirely into Qu Chan''s grasp. But if she didn''t, Xue Chenjing might actually release the rain of arrows, massacring the people below indiscriminately.


    Many thoughts raced through her mind, but only for a moment - Yu Yi wasn''t one to hesitate, as the longer she dyed, the more disadvantageous it became for her.


    Surely Xue Chenjing knew she wasn''t someone who enjoyed needless killing.


    Could she trust him this once?


    With her heart in suspense, Yu Yiughed and said carelessly, "I can barely protect myself, how could I control him? He''s right about one thing - the people who could nurture a creature like you aren''t good folk anyway. They''re all selfish people like the Du family, not worth sparing."


    Qu Chan hadn''t expected her to say this and jumped in agitation: "You righteous cultivators are all hypocrites!"


    Under the night sky, just the threat of suspended arrows was enough to make many people weak in the knees. Seeing they couldn''t escape the arrows'' range, people stopped their futile running.


    They copsed in despair, going from kowtowing and begging the Moon God to spare them, to eventually cursing at the Moon God Temple, calling it a false deity and demon, saying a true god who loves humanity would never cruelly ughter their own believers.


    As the faith gathered around Qu Chan began to dissipate, and just as the rain of arrows was about to pour down, Qu Chan cried out, "I surrender! I''ll release your master, just don''t kill them!"


    The silver moon disc in the Moon God statue''s arms brightened intensely, and a figure tumbled out from the moonlight. As soon as Yu Yi appeared, a tentacle shot out and wrapped around her waist, dragging her behind the statue where someone embraced her tightly.


    Yu Yi said, "Withdraw the arrows..."


    "I know," Xue Chenjing held her tight, burying his head in her shoulder, his pupils transforming into silver spikes.


    The falling rain of arrows suddenly stopped, dispersing into ethereal white mist that covered the screaming crowds below. When the pain didn''te, people gradually looked up, only to meet an eerie pair of silver pupils floating in the mist.


    A realization was nted in the minds of all those under the white mist.


    The Moon God statue plummeted toward the temple below, nearly crashing before several tentacles caught and carefully ced it back on its altar.


    Qu Chan was overwhelmed with gratitude, immediately crying and trying to make amends, but the other two had already vanished from the temple. The tentacles quickly withdrew from the temple, retreating behind it.


    In the courtyard just behind the Moon God Temple, Yu Yi was pressed against a thick osmanthus tree, her chin lifted as passionate kisses fell upon her lips.


    Xue Chenjing cupped her face, kissing her roughly and without technique, grinding against her lips, his tongue invading her mouth like a snake, entwining with her tongue and drawing it into his mouth, drinking in her essence.


    Up close, Yu Yi could see his trembling eyshes and the small red mole on his lowered eyelid.


    She heard his urgent swallowing and beast-like whimpers. Yu Yi felt dazed from his kisses, having the absurd sensation that she wasn''t being kissed but rather being tasted and devoured by a wild beast.


    "Mmph, Xue..." They were pressed together without any space between them, and she couldn''t get a single word out, her tongue stinging from his excessive sucking. Cold sensations crept in through her sleeves and hem, advancing against her skin.


    Yu Yi''s mind grew hazy, tears forced out by his too-rough kisses, unconsciously beginning to respond to him.


    Feeling her weak response, Xue Chenjing lifted his eyelids to look at her excitedly, bing even more entranced.


    Yu Yi finally found a moment to catch her breath and said, "Gentler..."


    Her words were immediately sealed back into her mouth. The out-of-control tentacles around them climbed up the osmanthus branches, writhing around the thick trunk, making the crown of the tree shake unstably, scattering fine osmanthus flowers like snow.


    When that cold sensation crossed a boundary, touching ces it shouldn''t, Yu Yi shuddered and pressed her knees together tightly. Her foggy mind instantly cleared as she opened her eyes wide to re at him, raising her hand to grab his wrist.


    Her fingers touched the rotting skin on the back of his hand, making Xue Chenjing grunt in pain. Yu Yi loosened her grip and frowned, biting him.


    Only then did Xue Chenjing open his eyes, innocently backing away a little.


    He carefully studied her expression, afraid of making her angry, and hurriedly exined, "Yi''er, I wasn''t going to kill that person. I just wanted to frighten the Moon God - the person I chose was disguised as a bone demon. It''s all because that cultivator interfered that my first arrow missed. But I aimed correctly at the second person, who was also a disguised bone demon. Please don''t be angry."


    Yu Yi looked up in surprise, not expecting that Xue Chenjing would make such considerations for her sake.


    "You..." She had barely uttered a word when she stopped due to the movement under her skirt. She wiped her lips, facepletely red, and said angrily, "Withdraw your tentacles!"


    Xue Chenjing looked dejected, but the tentacles covering the tree obediently retreated, causing another shower of osmanthus flowers as the tree shook.


    Yu Yi''s sleeves and skirt billowed as the tentacles reluctantly withdrew from her body, the limbs that had been pressed against her still retained her body heat, showing vague outlines.


    Earlier, Xue Chenjing had been mostly focused on kissing, with the tentacles moving on instinct. Now, receiving feedback from the tentacles, different sensations flooded his senses.


    He frowned slightly, turning his head to look at that tentacle, carefully savoring the more intense scent of her that it transmitted.


    Yu Yi followed his gaze, her cheeks burning like fire. She grabbed the tentacle and used her sleeve to vigorously rub its soft tip.


    Xue Chenjing whimpered in pain, "Yi''er, it hurts, it hurts!"


    "You deserve it," Yu Yi finished wiping and kicked the tentacle away.


    The tentacle retreated dejectedly to Xue Chenjing''s side. He picked it up and held it close to his eyes to examine it, even sniffing it.


    Yu Yi was so embarrassed by his actions that her head nearly steamed. Her Green Bamboo Sword suddenly appeared at his face, its tip pressing against the tentacle''s end. She said with an angryugh, "Perhaps I should just cut it off for you."


    Xue Chenjing: "..." He released his fingers, and the tentacle instantly vanished.


    Seeing that she was still angry, Xue Chenjing tentatively raised one finger to gently push away her sword tip. His sleeve fell, revealing arge patch of corroded, festering skin from his hand to his elbow.


    Yu Yi''s attention was indeed drawn to his injury. She lowered her hand, withdrew her Green Bamboo Sword, and took his hand to examine it. "You transferred my injuries to yourself? Aren''t you very afraid of pain?"


    "Yes, master, it really hurts," Xue Chenjing''s voice was thick with a nasal tone, sounding pitiful and wronged.


    Yu Yi rummaged through her storage bag for medicine, carefully applying an ointment to the festering skin. "This is from that earthworm''s corrosive poison. I''m not sure if this ointment will work, but it should at least help with the pain."


    "It will work," Xue Chenjing said confidently. He could actually heal these injuries himself, but it had been so long since Yu Yi had applied medicine for him. He watched her carefully applying the medicine and asked, "Earthworm? What earthworm?"


    Yu Yi briefly exined her conversation with the earthworm inside the statue.


    Xue Chenjing clicked his tongue in disgust, "An earthworm? That thing is much uglier than my tentacles, yet it dared to dream of bing one with you."


    Yu Yi: "??" Is that really the point?


    As they were speaking, a suddenmotion erupted from the front hall. Xue Chenjing''s lips curled into a smile as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Master, let me show you something interesting."


    Yu Yi felt a chill run down her spine at his expression. She hadn''t forgotten how thest time he said he''d show her something interesting, he had nearly destroyed an entire city.


    Before she could say anything, Xue Chenjing eagerly pulled her up to the roof of the Moon God Temple. He cast a concealment spell, and theyy prone on the damaged roof, peering down through arge hole.


    The temple below was brightly lit as many people entered carrying torches. They hurled stones, mud, and even vile-smelling vomit at the Moon Goddess statue, cursing the Moon Goddess as an evil spirit, a demon, a monster.


    These people had just experienced such terror ¨C even if they no longer worshipped the Moon Goddess, they should still have felt fear. But now, the crowd below seemed unnaturally enraged.


    Xue Chenjing raised his eyebrows triumphantly, "I merely nted a small thought in their minds. They will never offer incense at this Moon Goddess Temple again."


    The once-sacred statue was now covered in filth. Qu Chan wept helplessly inside the statue as its faith rapidly drained away. Through her spirit mirror, Yu Yi could see the red lines wrapped around the Moon Goddess statue like blood vessels shrinking inch by inch.


    Finally, those red lines retracted into the silver moon disc held in the Moon Goddess''s arms. A crack appeared in the silver disc, and it fell from the goddess''s hands.


    Before the silver disc could hit the ground, a figure darted beneath the statue and caught it.


    He Yungeng quickly retreated from the angry crowd to the outside of the Moon God Temple. He performed a cleansing spell to wash away the dirt from the silver disc, then held it up to examine it in the light of the setting full moon.


    A distorted, crying face appeared on the silver disc ¨C the face of what appeared to be a child.


    Wen Li leaned in to look and sneered, "So you''re the little demon causing trouble behind the scenes. How could you be so cruel!"


    Qu Chan wept, "It wasn''t me! I was threatened! I''ve been enshrined in Fengsheng County for five years, and all my poweres from the people''s offerings. How could I possibly harm them?"


    He Yungeng asked, "Who threatened you?"


    "It was a demon, an evil demon! He hid behind me, shooting arrows at mortals with his bow. He said he would kill all my believers, ughter everyone in Fengsheng County, destroy Liang Province, kill everyone!"


    He Yungeng scoffed, "What kind of demon would make such outrageous ims?"


    Liang Province was under their Carefree Sect''s jurisdiction. Anyone wanting to destroy Liang Province would have to get their approval first.


    Qu Chan eagerly answered every question, embellishing the details: "A young man with long hair tied back, pale skin, blood-red lips, and sharp teeth ¨C he must have eaten people alive! His eyes were as dark as a ghost''s, and he was surrounded by demonic energy. There was also a female cultivator with him ¨C his master."Aliali: 6748bd42c4f3f33ac47d6fd0


    He Yungeng and Wen Li''s expressions grew serious. "A female cultivator who keeps demons?"


    Qu Chan continued, "Yes, the demon only obeys hermands. She looks terrifying too, with pale skin and red lips ¨C they must have eaten people together. Her eyes are dark holes..."


    Hearing this description, Wen Li curiously pointed at himself and interrupted, "Then how do I look to you?"


    Qu Chan looked at him and struggled to describe, "Long hair, pale skin, dark eyes, red lips."


    That''s how most people looked.


    Wen Li burst outughing, "So does that mean I''ve eaten people too?"


    Qu Chan fell silent. Having lost all its power and at their mercy, it wasn''t foolish enough to speak ill of them. "You are righteous cultivators from a prestigious sect. Of course you wouldn''t eat people."


    Seeing they could get nothing more from its mouth, the two gave up.


    He Yungeng said coldly, "The Moon Goddess has temples enshrined throughout Liang Province, yet only Fengsheng County has experienced these strange events. You little demon, using a deity''s name tomit evil acts ¨C this is unforgivable."


    He threw the silver disc to the ground and thrust his long sword down with force. The disc shattered under the sword''s light, and a twisted shadow escaped from within, only to turn to ash under the sword''s radiance.

 Chapter 71

    Yu Yi was surprised that Qu Chan had been killed so suddenly.


    Xue Chenjing, sensing her thoughts, leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Not dead yet."


    As he spoke, his breath tickled inside her cor, causing Yu Yi''s ear to tingle with a numbing sensation. The fine hairs at her temples stood on end, and she couldn''t help but shrink her neck.


    Before she could tell him to keep his distance while speaking, another development below captured her attention.


    Just as Xue Chenjing had said, Qu Chan wasn''t dead. He Yungeng had only destroyed the silver moon te where it resided. Before Qu Chan''s soul could dissipate, Wen Li suddenly pulled out a triangr banner with ck and gold patterns from his sleeve.


    Golden threads shot out from the banner, weaving into a that ensnared Qu Chan''s soul, forcefully dragging it into the Demon-Capturing Banner.


    After the golden light receded, the two examined the banner''s surface. The ck background with gold patterns was covered in strange designs, appearing rather gaudy. Among the numerous patterns, a new twisted dark red embroidery had appeared.


    Wen Li studied the embroidery for a while before remarking, "So it''s just a little earthworm."


    Upon entering the banner, Qu Chan sensed the eerily terrifying aura surrounding it and asked timidly, "Where am I? What are you going to do with me?"


    He Yungeng exined, "This is the Demon-Capturing Banner. Inside are creatures like yourself who have caused trouble and chaos. When we return to our sect, you''ll all be judged for your crimes."


    Terrified by the horrifying atmosphere, Qu Chan trembled and begged for mercy.


    He Yungeng continued, "As for the demons you mentioned, if you help us eliminate them, you may redeem yourself."


    Qu Chan immediately replied, "I can do that! Destroying evil and subduing demons is righteous work. I''m willing to assist you both."


    Wen Li chuckled and mercilessly shattered its delusions, "Little earthworm, you are a demon yourself. After stealing the Moon God''s incense for so long, you actually started believing you were divine?"


    At that moment, the demons that the two Carefree Sect members wanted to eliminate were lying on the roof of the Moon God Temple.


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze lingered on the profile of the person beside him, moving from her still-reddened eyes to her slightly swollen lips from his rough kisses. His eyes fixed on the small cut on her lower lip, and his throat grew dry again as he said hoarsely, "Master, I''m sorry, next time I''ll be gentler..."


    "What do you mean gentler?" Yu Yi found his words puzzling and finally spared him some attention. When she turned to look at him, she met Xue Chenjing''s mesmerized eyes. His cheeks were flushed, his breathing heavy, and he stared at her lips as if about to pounce and bite her again.


    Yu Yi pressed her palm against his increasingly close face, unconsciously running her tongue over her lower lip, and said irritably, "Don''t even think about it. There won''t be a next time."


    She had only allowed it earlier because his sudden action had caught her off guard, leaving her no time to refuse.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t understand. "Why not? Yi''er, I''ll learn to do better. Next time I won''t hurt you. Please don''t reject me? I was wrong, I''ll be gentle, I''ll kiss and suck softly, won''t bite you anymore. If you''re worried, you can even break my teeth - then I won''t be able to hurt you. Is that okay?"


    What on earth was he saying?!


    Yu Yi gave him an exasperated look, her ears burning from his shameless words, and snapped, "Do you just enjoy kissing people that much?"


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes sparkled as he nodded obediently, "I like it. It feels good."


    He loved tasting Yu Yi''s essence. Ever since that time in the Sinking Flower Sea when her aura hadpletely baptized him, his senses had constantly craved her nourishment, like withered grass that had tasted sweet rain and could no longer endure drought.


    Without rain, grass would die, and so would he.


    Yu Yi''s heart pounded wildly at his frank and direct gaze. She forced herself to look away from his yearning eyes and said coldly, "Well, I don''t want to. If you like it so much, there are plenty of people down there. You can find someone else."


    Xue Chenjing actually turned his head and looked back and forth at the crowd in the temple. Whatever he imagined made him suddenly cover his mouth and start retching uncontrobly.


    Yu Yi: "???"


    Xue Chenjing retched so violently his entire stomach began to cramp. His concealment technique wavered, and the two sword cultivators below immediately noticed, whipping their heads toward the temple roof and demanding, "Who''s there?"


    As their voices rang out, two figures leaped onto the roof one after another, their crossing sword lights nking both sides. Yu Yi reacted swiftly, sweeping her sword out to tear an opening in the of sword light, then grabbed the teary-eyed man and fled.


    The bamboo sword carried the two of them across the dawn sky like a shooting star, with two streams of sword light in close pursuit. Only after entering Fengsheng County and racing through the interweaving alleys for a while did they finally shake off their pursuers.


    Yu Yi threw Xue Chenjing off the bamboo sword, ignoring his pitiful cries as she flew away on her sword into the increasingly bright morning light.


    Xue Chenjing stood in the dark alley for quite a while before angrily kicking over a pile of nearby debris and snorting, "Who needs to kiss her anyway." His expression twisted for a moment before he grudgingly squeezed out through gritted teeth, "I want to kiss her, I only want to kiss her..."


    Xue Chenjing pressed his lips together and kicked the wall again, leaving a footprint half an inch deep as brick dust showered down. He stepped back, waving away the dust in his face, and said angrily, "How much longer is this truth-telling mode going tost?"


    The system perched on the task tree and studied for a moment before saying, "Master, there''s no time limit on this. If you want to turn it off, you''ll need to meet the deactivation conditions."


    Although Xue Chenjing was exhausted by its endless variety of tasks, he had somewhat adapted and was no longer as resistant as before. After cursing once, he resigned himself to asking, "What are the conditions?"


    The system replied, "When your rtionship develops smoothly without needing the truth-telling mode, this temporary task will automatically close. Specifically, the condition is that the target of your pursuit must say the words ''I believe you'' to you."


    After pondering for a moment, Xue Chenjing confidently went after Yu Yi.


    Getting her to say "I believe you" should be simple, right?


    Meanwhile, after leaving Xue Chenjing behind and confirming no one was following, Yu Yi flew her sword to the Du residence.


    To her surprise, when she arrived at the Du family home, Xue Chenjing was already waiting for her. As soon as she appeared on the street near the Du residence, familiar invisible tentacles pulled her into a dark alley at the corner.


    Xue Chenjing covered her mouth before she could ask questions and exined, "The earthworm and those two cultivators are waiting for us at the Du residence."


    Yu Yi blinked, immediately understanding the reason. When she was inside the Moon God statue, she had mentioned the Du family matter to Qu Chan, who must have realized her connection to the Du family.


    After Xue Chenjing released her mouth, Yu Yi asked, "How did you know?"


    "I left something at their house when we left," Xue Chenjing said, his eyebrows dancing with pride as his expression begged for praise. He pulled out a plump little ck bug from his sleeve.


    Yu Yi: "..." That thing looked familiar.


    Xue Chenjing skillfully kneaded the little ck bug for a moment, then gently pinched it. The bug made a gurgling sound and spat out a bubble.


    The scene floating in the bubble showed the Du family courtyard.


    With its false Moon God faith copsed, Qu Chan''s powers had severely diminished. Sealed within the Demon-Capturing Banner, it could no longer maintain the demon arts it once wielded.


    Zhao Zhi had been suffering from abdominal pain since the previous night. With themotion in the city and at the Moon Goddess Temple, many people fled the city at night. Du Qian had frantically visited several medical clinics but couldn''t find a doctor.


    To make matters worse, Du''s Father and Du''s Mother were causing trouble, acting like madmen wanting to rush to the Moon Goddess Temple outside the city. They couldn''t be stopped and kept shouting, "Finding a doctor is useless. To save our grandchild, we must go to the Moon Goddess Temple and pray to the Moon Goddess."


    They even tried to drag the bedridden Zhao Zhi along, wanting to take her and Du Ruo to kneel at the Moon Goddess Temple.


    At that time, Zhao Zhi was already unconscious from pain and bleeding. How could Granny Li allow them to torment her daughter further?


    She grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stood guard by Zhao Zhi''s bed, holding the crying Du Ruo with one hand while threatening to swing the knife at anyone who dared to drag her daughter away. Only then did the Du elderly couple back down in fear.


    The two of them couldn''t take Zhao Zhi and Du Ruo with them, so they had to leave the city alone.


    Du Qian was torn between choices. He followed his parents to the city gate, and seeing that he truly couldn''t persuade them to return, he hesitated for a moment before rushing back into the city to continue searching for a doctor for his wife.


    That night in Fengsheng County was incredibly chaotic. By the time he finally found a doctor and brought him home, Du Ruo had already cried herself into unconsciousness, and Zhao Zhi had arge pool of blood beneath her, mixed with an almost fully formed fetus.


    The doctor checked her pulse, shook his head helplessly, and bent down to examine the expelled fetus.


    The fetus quickly dissolved in the blood. Its partially formed arms crumbled at a touch, turning into something like mud. The doctor''s face suddenly changed as he eximed in shock, "How could she be carrying a mud fetus?"


    Du Qian and Granny Li hurried forward to look, while the doctor backed out of the room, fleeing in terror.


    It was at this moment that He Yungeng and Wen Li arrived at the Du household. Qu Chan, eager to atone for his crimes by helping them catch the demon, had meticulously recounted everything that had happened along the way.Aliali: 67488ec2c4f3f33ac47aa10e


    Having lost track of their quarry, the two decided to try their luck at the Du residence. Little did they expect to encounter such a bloody scene upon entering.


    In an alley not far from the Du residence, Yu Yi watched through a bubble as Granny Li helplessly bowed towards the courtyard, wiping tears while mumbling, "Miss Yu, this old woman knows you''re no ordinary person. If you can hear me, pleasee save my daughter."


    She turned her head to look at the Du family courtyard, but Xue Chenjing grabbed her wrist, saying softly, "The one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. That earthworm knows better than you how to resolve the trouble it caused."


    Yu Yi''s step faltered as his words convinced her.


    In the bubble, He Yungeng and hispanion had already introduced themselves. Since Fengsheng County was under the jurisdiction of the Carefree Sect, the locals had heard of the immortal sect''s reputation and tended to trust their cultivators more.


    He Yungeng entered the room and unfurled the Demon-Capturing Banner. Looking at the bloody mud, Qu Chan said sympathetically, "It''s all those two people''s fault. If it weren''t for them, this male fetus could have been born!"


    He Yungeng scolded, "That''s absurd! Even if born, it would still be a body made of mud. How could that be considered human?"


    Qu Chan was quite defiant, "I''m made of mud too, what''s wrong with that?"


    He Yungeng, quick-tempered, immediately raised his sword scabbard and struck the Demon-Capturing Banner, making Qu Chan cry out in pain and beg for mercy. "It''s better that the fetus was lost. It won''t absorb the mother''s vital energy anymore, and Zhao Zhi will recover. The mud fetus was only three months along, with just one hun soul and two po souls. We just need to return the souls from the mud fetus to Du Ruo."


    Wen Li bent down by the bedside and touched the bloody mud on the bed, saying, "It seems there are no souls in this mud fetus."

 Chapter 72

    He Yungeng immediately walked over and reached out to examine Du Ruo''s soul. With a troubled expression, he asked, "Her soul hasn''t returned. What happened?"


    His sharp question was directed at the earthworm in the demon-catching banner, frightening the worm so much that it trembled within the ck g surface, twisting anxiously as it replied, "The-the y vessel melted away, losing its human form. Without anyone to guide the three parts of her soul back to her body, they must have gotten lost."


    A child''s soul is naturally fragile; sometimes just being frightened can cause them to lose parts of their soul, let alone in a situation like this. If Du Ruo''s lost soul parts were still within the Du family home that would be manageable, but if they had wandered outside, it would be much more difficult to resolve.


    He Yungeng immediately took charge of Qu Chan, asking Granny Li and Du Qian to bring Du Ruo''s favorite things and call out loudly for her soul, attempting to summon back her lost soul parts.


    Outside the Du residence, Yu Yi withdrew her gaze from the bubble and turned to look at Xue Chenjing. Before she could speak, he seemed to guess her thoughts and stepped back two paces, spiritual threads flowing from his fingertips to form a familiar magical array.


    Xue Chenjing took the opportunity to ask, "Master, do you trust me?"


    Yu Yi was puzzled by the question. "Do you still need Du Ruo''s spiritual essence?"


    Xue Chenjing shook his head, the spiritual threads pausing at his fingertips as he stared at her intently. "No, I just need you to say ''I trust you.''"


    The System was exasperated. Was the host really being this blunt? Couldn''t he learn from Xue Mingyuan''s subtle approach topleting tasks? It really couldn''t understand what he was being so confident about.


    It sighed helplessly, "...Master, how is this coaxing? Saying something like this at such a crucial moment, the female protagonist will definitely think you''re threatening her! Coercing her! Using a little girl''s soul to force her hand!"


    Xue Chenjing didn''t care what happened to the little girl; he had no spare sympathy for other people or matters. He irritably retorted in his mind, "I''m not doing that at all. I just thought this was an opportunity, and I would help her even if she didn''t say it."


    When Yu Yi heard the System''s voice, she guessed he was probably trying toplete another system task.


    The System was right - when she heard Xue Chenjing demand such an irrelevant statement at this critical moment before he would continue, she did feel somewhat ufortable at being coerced.


    But finding Du Ruo''s soul was more important right now. The other two cultivators had already left the Du residence, clearly having failed to find the little girl''s lost soul parts in the courtyard. Away from Du Ruo''s familiar environment, the wandering soul would be more confused and more vulnerable to harm.


    Yu Yi didn''t want to engage in this back-and-forth testing at such a time, so she gave in to his wishes and said, "I trust you."


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes immediately lit up, happiness causing the corners of his eyes to crinkle as the trembling spiritual threads consolidated into an array.


    Some of Du Ruo''s spiritual essence that had been absorbed earlier still remained in the array. The array quickly activated, with spiritual threads weaving inward. Just as the outline of arge mosquito began to take shape, Xue Chenjing suddenly reached out to pull one of the spiritual threads, his fingers moving rapidly.


    Before Yu Yi could clearly see what he had done, the nearly-formed mosquito outline suddenly transformed into a palm-sized bird.


    "Do you like this form?" Xue Chenjing asked eagerly.


    This spiritual thread bird was even smaller than the miniaturized Crane Senior, about the size of a hummingbird. Glowing spiritual threads formed its delicate wings, with beautiful long feathered streamers adorning its tail. When it fluttered, its wing afterimages formed two golden fans.


    It was truly beautiful.


    Crane Senior had just woken up from a nap and poked its head out of the pouch, only to see such a shy little bird.


    It absolutely couldn''t allow a bird more beautiful than itself to appear near the Green Bamboo Sword. Unhappily chirping once, it was immediately provoked into battle mode and charged forward to peck at it.


    Yu Yi reached out to block it, "Crane Senior, that''s not a real bird!"


    Xue Chenjing blinked in surprise and quickly extended his hand in front of Yu Yi''s palm, getting pecked in the palm by Crane Senior''s sharp beak, making him hiss in pain.


    At that moment, the golden hummingbird formed by the array detected traces of Du Ruo''s soul and flew off with beating wings.


    "Are you alright?" Yu Yi grabbed Crane Senior back and stuffed it into the pouch, then took his hand and hurriedly massaged his palm a couple of times before turning to run after the hummingbird.


    Xue Chenjing touched his palm - the pain from the peck hadpletely vanished with her two gentle massages. "I''m fine."


    The System said, "...Hurry up, Master, the female protagonist has run far ahead."


    The golden hummingbird flew through several streets before diving into the back courtyard of a medical clinic. The clinic''s front door was tightly shut, not yet open for business. Yu Yi invisibly snuck in and saw the doctor lying in the back courtyard - it was the same doctor who had taken Zhao Zhi''s pulse the night before.


    The doctor, still shocked from the y vessel incident, seemed to haven''t recovered yet and was resting in the courtyard. It appeared that when he fled in panic, he had inadvertently taken Du Ruo''s soul parts with him.


    However, after the little hummingbird circled the doctor several times, it couldn''t find Du Ruo''s soul. After hovering around for a while, it flew out of the clinic and headed toward the city gates along the street.


    Xue Chenjing picked up a round spirit money with square holes from a corner of the street, which was dampened by morning dew. He frowned and said, "This is troublesome. Someone held a funeral procession this morning, and her soul might have followed the funeral procession."


    The two followed the hummingbird out of the city, seeing scattered spirit money along the entire way.


    While they were heading out of the city, He Yungeng and Wen Li had also found the medical clinic, but naturally failed to find Du Ruo''s soul there as well.


    As the two emerged from the clinic''s main entrance, they saw a white-robed cultivator standing by the street. They both froze for a moment before hurriedly running forward and bowing respectfully, nervously asking, "Elder Yi, why are you here? We haven''t broken any rules, have we?"


    During the autumn examination period, the elders of the four sects would closely observe the disciples'' conduct for evaluation. Seeing an elder appear before them at this time, both thought their opportunistic behavior in the Human Trial Realm had vited the rules.


    Yi Heng smiled and said, "No, not at all. I''m here because of the demon that the little earthworm spirit you captured mentioned."


    Both of them breathed huge sighs of relief. Fromst night''s battle, they clearly were no match for that demon, and after capturing Qu Chan, they had nned to bring it back to the sect after resolving Du Ruo''s lost soul situation.


    They immediately took out the demon-catching banner and handed it to Elder Yi.


    Yi Heng reached out to take it, waved his sleeve to release the small demon from the g surface, and then cast it into a round mirror.


    Qu Chan''s consciousness scattered into the mirror without resistance, disying its memory images.


    The mirror clearly showed a figure in the temple - a young woman in water-green gauze dress, with a long sword suspended in mid-air. A white streak crossed the middle of the de, making it as bright and reflective as a mirror, revealing the evil presence on the Moon Goddess statue.


    Yi Heng''s smiling eyes widened slightly as he eximed happily, "The fifth sword form, it really is the Spring-Pursuing Heart Sword. Not many people can master the fifth form."


    When he saw another figure appear in the great hallter, he suddenly pulled the mirror surface closer, his eyes almost falling into the mirror.


    After a long while, he withdrew the round mirror and said, "I''ll take this earthworm with me. Don''t worry about the demon - just help the Du family''s daughter find her lost soul, and your task here will beplete."


    Without waiting for their response, Yi Heng''s figure vanished from the street.


    Yi Heng didn''t return to the Suspended Moon Tower where the four sects'' autumn examination was being held, but went straight to the inner section of the Carefree Sect, crossing numerous treacherous peaks to reach the Floating Water Pavilion where the sect''s Supreme Elder lived in seclusion.


    The Floating Water Pavilion was built above rippling waters, like a nineyered lotus with crystal-clear petals protecting an exquisite tower in the center. In the pavilion''s gallery, a beautiful woman wearing lotus-white pce robes with flowing sleeves was brewing tea.


    Before Yi Heng''s figure couldnd in the pavilion, he heard her ask, "Why aren''t you at the Suspended Moon Tower overseeing the four sects'' autumn examination? What brings you back?"


    "Because this son has found the person Mother has always wanted to find but kept missing by chance."


    Hearing this, Lady Lotus''s hands paused, and the teacup fell onto the tray with a clear ding.


    Yi Heng quickly presented the round mirror to his mother, raised his sleeve to release the images within, and said, "I hear that both Mount Li and Zhaohua Pce have issued bounties for capturing him. Mother, if you want to get to him first, you''ll need to act quickly."


    Lady Lotus stared at the mirror''s surface, immediately recognizing the sword technique used by the woman in the reflection. "The Spring-Pursuing Heart Sword." She watched a bit longer, her delicately painted eyebrows furrowing in disappointment, "How pathetic, in this life he waspletely defeated by his inner demons."


    No wonder the soulmp''s connection to him was always so brief, extinguishing before she could locate him.


    Yi Heng, noticing the disappointment in Lady Lotus''s expression, was reminded of his own mother''s daily disapproval. He rubbed his nose and asked, "Will mother still go look for him?"


    Lady Lotus rose and went inside, retrieving a brocade box from a cab. "Let''s go."


    Yi Heng nced at the box curiously. "What''s that?"


    "The Xue couple''s wishing tablet."


    ...


    In Fengsheng County.


    Without Qu Chan''s guidance, He Yungeng and Wen Li had no choice but to return to the Du residence to collect some of Du Ruo''s hair and skin for soul-tracking.


    A child''s soul was naturally weak, and the longer Du Ruo''s soul remained lost, the greater the chance it would dissipate.


    Yu Yi and Xue Chenjing followed the hummingbird to the outskirts of the city. By this point, the bird''s flight had slowed considerably, hovering uncertainly several times, unable to locate Du Ruo''s soul.


    The city gates of Fengsheng County stood wide open as people streamed back from the Moon Goddess Temple, some in groups, others alone.


    These people, once Qu Chan''s most devout followers and those who had ced their deepest wishes with the Moon Goddess, now faced the copse of their faith. Having nearly died at the hands of the deity they worshipped, even destroying the temple couldn''t quell their resentment.


    Some were angry, some bitter, while others had lost all hope, their faces nk with numbness.


    The weather was poor that day, with only a sliver of morning sun. The sky was gloomy, as were the people. Morning mist floated between the mountains and fields as Yu Yi and Xue Chenjing moved against the flow of people, like swimming through a suffocating current.


    In the crowd, they spotted Du Ruo''s grandparents, looking disheveled. They had aged considerably overnight, presumably realizing that the grandson promised by the Moon Goddess would nevere. In their eyes, the Du family line would end.


    The elderly couple supported each other, numbly following the crowd back to the city when suddenly someone blocked their path. It took them a moment to raise their heads.


    Before them stood two beautiful young people. The young woman looked somewhat familiar to Du''s Mother, but she couldn''t summon the energy to care, and the couple tried to walk around them.


    Yu Yi spoke, "You asked the Moon Goddess to extract Du Ruo''s soul and return it to the womb, trying to defy fate by turning your granddaughter into a grandson. Now you''ve lost both the grandson and are about to lose your granddaughter as well."


    The elderly couple suddenly stopped, turning to stare at her in shock and fear. "How... how do you know about that?"


    Their actions had been known only to themselves, kept secret even from Du Qian and Zhao Zhi, let alone these strange young people.


    Yu Yi ignored their question and continued, "Zhao Zhi has miscarried, and Du Ruo''s soul is lost. If you still want your granddaughter,e with us to find her soul."


    "Who are you? Why are you interfering in our family matters?" Du''s Father asked suspiciously, hesitating, while Du''s Mother was already nodding frantically, "Yes, yes, I''ll search. How do we search? Where should we look?"


    Having lost her grandson, she couldn''t bear to lose her granddaughter as well, who she had raised since infancy. She had only been fooled by the temple priest in her confusion.


    Yu Yi said, "Follow us and call Du Ruo''s name. You''re her grandmother, connected by blood. You''ll have better luck calling back her scattered soul than we would."


    Du''s Mother nodded and moved to follow them, but Du''s Father held her back. "You foolish woman! You don''t even know who these people are, and you''re just going to follow them!"


    "I''ve seen this youngdy before, she came with my inw. She won''t harm Ruo''er."Aliali: 674bcfbfc4f3f33ac4a7573a


    Du''s Father, extremely wary, remained hostile toward these mysterious strangers and insisted on pulling his wife back.


    Xue Chenjing, irritated by their back-and-forth, clicked his tongue and swept his sleeve, breaking their joined hands. He grabbed Du''s Mother''s arm and with a sh, moved dozens of paces away, leaving Du''s Father behind.


    Yu Yi, startled by his sudden action, quickly followed. When Xue Chenjing looked at her, she nodded in approval of his actions.


    Xue Chenjing''s expression immediately softened, his lips curving into an involuntary smile.


    Yu Yi pointed to the spirit money by the roadside and told Du''s Mother, "Hurry and call out, as loud as you can. Her soul has been wandering too long and is nearly scattered. Du Ruo can''t find her way home, and if she follows the dead souls into theherworld, we won''t be able to call her back."


    Du''s Mother, who had been trembling from Xue Chenjing''s actions, quickly wiped her tears upon hearing these words and began calling out shakily.


    Her desperate cries echoed through the morning mist. The hovering hummingbird pped its wings, gradually finding direction again, and flew toward a hillside outside the city.


    The mist was thicker in the mountains, the sky even darker. They passed a newly built grave on the autumn-withered hillside and walked deeper into the woods until the hummingbird finally stopped at a pond.


    In the pond, Du Ruo, with only one hun and two po souls remaining, appeared as a hazy outline in the morning mist. Someone was holding her right hand, pulling her down into the water.


    Du Ruo''s young face showed confusion. As if hearing something, she tilted her head and said, "I think Grandmother is calling me."

 Chapter 73

    The little ghost dragging Du Ruo became anxious, gripping her hand tightly and forcefully pulling her down towards the bottom of the water. Du Ruo''s soul was instantly dragged down a great distance by this pull.


    She cried out loudly to the person pushing through the bushes towards her: "Grandma, Grandma, Ruo''er is here¡ª"


    The icy pond water rose past her chin, drowning out her voice.


    This mountain pool was on the shaded side, surrounded by lush trees that blocked out the sky. Above it grew a huge nting rock, almostpletely blocking out any daylight, making the pool extremely dark.


    These waters that never saw sunlight were connected to theherworld. The yin energy rose from the bottom of the pool, transforming into countless pale hands pulling Du Ruo down. In the blink of an eye, her soul was covered by the ghostly hands of yin energy climbing up, dragging her to the bottom.


    "Ruo''er!" Du''s Mother rushed to the edge of the pool, reaching out to grab into the water, but Yu Yi quickly stopped her. With such yin-filled water, they might not only fail to rescue Du Ruo, but her own soul might get pulled in as well.


    After stopping Du''s Mother, when Yu Yi looked back at the pool, she only saw a dark red robe embroidered with gold patterns being thrown towards her, and behind the red garment, a swift figure dove into the water.


    Yu Yi caught the water-sshed outer robe, stepped two paces toward the pool''s edge, and called out: "A Qiu."


    Xue Chenjing surfaced with his dripping wet head, shook off the water droplets from his hair, and looking up, said to her: "The path to theherworld has opened below. Don''te down; I''ll bring her back."


    Yu Yi paused for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, be careful."


    Xue Chenjing''s face, half-submerged in water, suddenly emerged again as he honestly blurted out the thought that had just urred to him, asking in amazement: "Are you actually worried about me? You''re worried about me? Me, Xue Chenjing, not anyone else?"


    Yu Yi hadn''t expected her casual "be careful" to elicit such an astonished response. She was somewhat bewildered and frowned, saying: "Do I look like someone who doesn''t know how to be grateful?"


    Xue Chenjing wanted to say "no," but his mouth honestly replied: "A little bit."


    Otherwise, how could her goodwill towards him be so minimal! And even that included some portion meant for Xue Mingyuan.


    Seeing Yu Yi''s surprised expression, Xue Chenjing pressed his lips together in frustration and forcefully dove into the water, furiously shouting in his heart: "System! Wasn''t the truth-telling mode turned off? What the hell did you turn off? Do you want to die?"


    The system hurriedly climbed onto the task tree to check, exining: "Master, the condition for turning off truth-telling requires the female lead to willingly say ''I trust you.'' The answer you got through coercion wasn''t approved by the system."


    Xue Chenjing burned with anger, "You piece of garbage, I''ll kill you someday."


    System: "..."


    Yu Yi stood stunned at the water''s edge, so those were his true feelings just now.


    Though the pool wasn''trge in area, it was extremely deep. With no light prating it, the water was as ck as a deep cave. When Xue Chenjing''s figure sank into the water, it was as if he had been swallowed by this deep pool, quickly disappearing from sight.


    The ripples on the pool''s surface grew smaller and smaller, finally settlingpletely, as quiet as if nothing had ever happened.


    Yu Yi used her spiritual power to dry his clothes, bundled them up in her arms, and frowned as she stared at the bottom of the pool, listening to Du''s Mother beside her calling Du Ruo''s name between sobs.


    Two hours passed, and the pool water remained motionless.


    "Could the bottom really be that deep? Surely Xue Chenjing hasn''t actually chased all the way into the underworld?" Yu Yi thought messily, moving from standing to crouching, reaching out to tentatively touch the pool water.


    A wave of cold energy instantly shot up through her fingertips into her meridians, making her shudder involuntarily.


    By now, Du''s Mother had cried herself out of tears in self-reproach, her voice hoarse from shouting, as she sat copsed five steps away from the pool''s edge among the bushes.


    She no longer believed Du Ruo''s soul could be retrieved, with only ast trace of hope remaining in her eyes as she asked: "Miss, Ruo''er has only been crying more fiercelytely, and bing a bit dull, if... if these souls are truly lost, surely she won''t..."


    Yu Yi nced over, her cold gaze stopping Du''s Mother''s unfinished words, and said: "When children lose one hun-soul, they easily be prone to convulsions and attract evil spirits and demons. How much worse is it for Du Ruo, who has lost one hun-soul and two po-souls? She was only crying and bing dull before because these lost souls were in her mother''s womb, and the Moon God''s power maintained the connection between them."


    "Now, if these one hun-soul and two po-souls truly cannot be found, you might as well prepare for her funeral."


    Thest glimmer of hope in Du''s Mother''s eyes shattered, and shepletely copsed to the ground.


    Time passed slowly by the mountain pool, creating an atmosphere of anxiety.


    After another long while, there was finally movement from the bottom of the water. A faint light floated up from below, and upon breaking the surface, it transformed into a bubble about the size of a bowl''s mouth.


    Golden spiritual threads were wrapped around the outside of the bubble, and inside was Du Ruo''s soul curled up in a ball. Her soul had been corroded by yin energy, covered in mottled wounds all over. If not for this bubble containing her, she would likely have scattered long ago.


    Du''s Mother sat up from the ground, eximing joyfully: "Is that Ruo''er? Have you found Ruo''er?"


    Yu Yi carefully cradled the bubble in her arms, her gaze returning to the bottom of the pool.


    But only this bubble had emerged from the water, which then fell back into silence, with no sign of Xue Chenjing. The soul of Du Ruo in the bubble was already very weak and needed to be returned to her body quickly.


    Yu Yi looked back and forth between the little girl in the bubble and the pool, waiting a while longer, but still saw no movement in the water. Under Du''s Mother''s urging, she finally bit her lip and stepped back from the pool''s edge.


    She waved her hand to hang the dried robe on a nearby branch, removed the seal from her crane senior, and helped Du''s Mother onto the crane.


    The crane took off with Du''s Mother''s startled cries, leaping out of the dense forest''s cover and flying towards Fusheng County.


    At her crane senior''s speed, the round trip from here to Fusheng County would take less than a quarter hour, and adding the time needed to return Du Ruo''s soul to her body, she could be back at the pool in just one hour.


    At the foot of the mountain, He Yungeng and Wen Li had also tracked to this location. They had used soul-tracking techniques to find this ce but had suddenly lost the trail and were searching through the mountains.


    Hearing movement overhead, they looked up to the sky and only saw the rapidly flying silhouette of a crane heading toward the county.


    The broken soul trail suddenly became effective again, pointing in the direction of the crane.


    "Du Ruo''s soul is on the crane''s back," said He Yungeng.


    Du Qian, panting heavily behind them, heard his words and excitedly asked, "Have the two immortal masters found my daughter''s soul?"


    Wen Li pointed at the crane''s silhouette in the sky, "Your daughter is up there." He circled his eyes, using spiritual vision to look, "The female cultivator sitting on the crane that I saw in the virtual realm, could she be the demon keeper that the earthworm mentioned?"


    The crane''s shadow grew smaller and smaller. Wen Li blinked his sore eyes and turned to ask, "Senior Brother, should we send a message to Elder Yi?"


    He Yungeng nodded, but just as Wen Li''smunication talisman was sent out, it crashed into a figure emerging from the void. Yi Heng appeared not far away, his joined fingers pinching themunication talisman.


    He nced at the message in the talisman and nodded with a smile: "The message is very timely, I''ve received it."


    He Yungeng and Wen Li: "..."


    Yi Heng gestured toward Fusheng County and said, "Go and take a look. If that female cultivator tries to return, find a way to dy her." He paused, then specifically reminded them, "Oh, and be friendly, don''t get into any conflicts with her."


    Though the two didn''t understandpletely, they naturally had toply with the elder''s instructions, and immediately set off back to the county with Du Qian.


    After they left, Yi Heng turned and walked into the mountains. Apass-like magical device flew out from his palm, with dense spiritual threads shooting out from it like a spider''s web, attaching to the surrounding grass, trees, and rocks.


    As Yi Heng walked past, the surrounding vegetation and mountain rocks changed their shape and position under the pull of the spiritual threads. Even the terrain became unrecognizable, withyers uponyers of branches concealing all traces in the mountain, making it impossible to discern directions.


    The crane flew over Fusheng County, folded its wings, and descended directly into the Du family courtyard.


    In the Du family courtyard, Granny Li was arguing with Du''s Father. Granny Li had learned the truth from the Carefree Sect cultivators and now knew who was responsible for her daughter''s suffering. She stood guard at the main house door, preventing him from seeing Zhao Zhi and Du Ruo.


    Du''s Father grumbled in the courtyard, ming Zhao Zhi''s uncooperative womb.


    "Everything we''ve done was for the children''s sake. After giving birth to Du Ruo, she hasn''t conceived for all these years. If Du Ruo were a boy, it would be fine - he could take care of them when he grows up," he said, growing more self-righteous as he pointed at the timber piled in the yard. "But Du Ruo is a girl. She can''t inherit my and Du Qian''s carpentry skills. After she marries and leaves, how will they survive in their old age?"


    Granny Li stood unmoved at the doorway, "I only have one daughter myself, and I''m living just fine. If Du Ruo can''t learn carpentry, she can learn weaving and sewing from her mother. Are you suggesting everyone who doesn''t have a son should just die?"


    Their argument was interrupted by an enormous cranending in the courtyard, startling them both.


    When Granny Li saw Yu Yi on the crane''s back, her furrowed brows rxed in disbelief. "Little Yu."


    Yu Yi leaped down from the crane, "Granny, I''ve brought back Du Ruo''s soul. Where is she?"


    Granny Li nced at what Yu Yi was carrying, tears of gratitude welling in her eyes. She immediately stepped aside, "Inside. Quick,e in."


    Yu Yi entered carrying the soul bubble. Du''s Mother also slid down from the crane, but her legs gave way and she copsed to the ground, unable to walk.


    Du''s Father, after cautiously eyeing the crane until it moved away, went to help Du''s Mother up, asking softly, "Did you really find Ruo''er''s soul?"


    Du''s Mother nodded, "We found it."


    Du''s Father craned his neck to peer into the main house, sighing, "That''s good, that''s good."


    At least it was better than losing everything.


    At the main house entrance, Senior Crane peered inside, its massive wings blocking the doorway.


    Inside, Zhao Zhi and Du Ruoy together, with fresh bedding. The bloody smell had mostly dissipated. After her miscarriage, Zhao Zhi had taken medicine to stop the bleeding and replenish her energy, making her look somewhat better than during her pregnancy.


    Du Ruoy quietly beside her mother, still unconscious.


    Yu Yi approached the bed. Before she could reach Du Ruo, the bubble in her arms floated up, hovering above Du Ruo. Spirit threads unwound from the bubble, wrapping around Du Ruo''s lost hun and po souls, guiding them back into her body.


    As the souls settled, the spirit threads withdrew and formed a magical seal in mid-air, which descended onto Du Ruo''s forehead, manifesting as a mung bean-sized cinnabar mark.


    "A soul-anchoring seal?" Yu Yi reached into her storage pouch, quickly pulled out a book of talismans, and flipped through it. Only after confirming it was indeed a soul-anchoring seal did she put the book away and tell Granny Li, "Du Ruo''s soul is somewhat damaged. It will take three to five years to fully heal. Once her soul stabilizes, this mark on her forehead will fade."


    Granny Li wiped her tears with her sleeve, repeatedly expressing her gratitude.


    Yu Yi shook her head with a smile, "Du Ruo was saved by the person who once ate your big bowl of fish. This seal is also his."


    Granny Li''s eyes widened as she looked around, "He came back too? Why didn''t hee with you? I''ll make fish for you all again."


    Xue Chenjing had likely forgotten about Granny Li; he hadn''t shown any reaction when they visited the Du house that day. Yu Yi declined politely, saying, "I need to go back to find him, so I can''t stay to chat. Please take good care of yourselves."


    Unable to persuade Yu Yi to stay, Granny Li could only escort her out.


    Just as Yu Yi stepped outside, Senior Crane let out a sharp cry and spread its wings, chasing two people from the Du family courtyard to the outside. The two were pecked repeatedly, crying out in pain, but they couldn''t draw their swords against it and could only defend themselves with their sword hilts against the sharp beak.


    These two were He Yungeng and Wen Li.


    On their way back, they had been discussing how to detain her without causing conflict, and finally decided to kidnap her mount first.


    They had rushed back to the Du house and attempted to ambush the crane while Yu Yi was inside returning the soul.


    But they never dreamed this wasn''t an ordinary crane, but one skilled in swordsmanship.


    Senior Crane had practiced diligently even when following Master Qingxuan, striving to be worthy of being a sword spirit. Later, it had spent five years practicing swordsmanship with Yu Yi in the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm. Its beak was as sharp as a sword de, its neck as flexible as a human wrist, and its swordsmanship was truly masterful, no less skilled than a proper sword cultivator.


    During this dy, the crane''s master came out to the courtyard. Yu Yi shed into the battle, coordinating perfectly with Senior Crane. With one sword stroke, she forced the two back, eyeing them warily.


    Wen Li hurriedly exined, "Miss, don''t misunderstand, we mean no harm. We just saw such a beautiful crane and wanted to pet it."


    Senior Crane called out repeatedly - they had ambushed it from behind, grabbed its wings, and tried to bind it with a restraining spell. How was that petting?


    Yu Yi frowned as the other party continued rambling: "Actually, we were also searching for Du Ruo''s soul. When we saw you had found it, we followed to check. We''re all fellow cultivators..."


    Yu Yi couldn''t be bothered to listen to his chatter. She jumped onto the crane''s back and said, "Senior Crane, let''s go."


    The crane spread its wings and soared skyward, with the two men hurriedly pursuing. Wen Li shouted, "Hey, how can you leave before letting someone finish speaking?"


    He Yungeng, who had been silent until now, finally snorted, "Seems your silver tongue isn''t winning over thisdy either."


    Wen Li: "..."


    Not only was the crane skilled in swordsmanship, but it also flew incredibly fast. The two men couldn''t keep up even on their flying swords. He Yungeng watched enviously and mused, "When we return to the Carefree Sect, I''ll suggest to the sect leader that we should teach our cranes swordsmanship too."


    Wen Li sighed helplessly, "Senior Brother, since we couldn''t stop her, you should think about how to exin this to Elder Yi instead."


    The hillside wasn''t far from Fengsheng County town, and they arrived shortly. The crane flew over the forest, and Yu Yi searched from above, circling the surrounding mountains, but surprisingly couldn''t find the forest they had entered earlier.


    "What''s going on?" Yu Yi urged Senior Crane to circle the surrounding forests again, "How has the terrain changed?"


    She retreated to the main road, hoping to use it as a reference point and retrace their previous route, but as soon as she stepped off the road into the forest, the surroundingndscape would change. She tried several times, entering from the same spot off the main road, but each time the scenery was different.


    Someone had set up a formation here.


    At the deep pool in the mountains, the long-still waters finally stirred again. A figure emerged from underwater, extending a hand turned pale from the water to grip a nearby rock, using it to pull their heavy body ashore.


    Xue Chenjing had walked the path of the dead with a living body, and cold yin energy seeped from his very bones. After climbing ashore, ice shells fell from his clothes, and frost covered all his hair.


    With his Chaos Constitution and soul that couldn''t enter reincarnation, it had been difficult enough for him to return. If it had been her, she probably would have been dragged into theherworld already.


    Fortunately, he hadn''t let her jump in.


    The poolside was empty; Yu Yi wasn''t there. He had guessed that after retrieving the little girl''s soul, Yu Yi would first return to restore it to her body. Though he had anticipated this, not seeing her upon emerging from the water still left him feeling somewhat disappointed.Aliali: 67334fd3b256fc3ba2c49


    The system chose this moment to offerfort: "Master, are you alright?"


    Xue Chenjing''s teeth chattered from cold, his tone harsh: "Are you blind? Do I look alright to you?"


    System: "..." Strictly speaking, it didn''t have eyes. The system swallowed its pride and said, "Master, you''re naturally deficient in fire energy, and now you''re covered in yin energy, so of course you''re feeling unwell."


    Shivering from cold, his breathing out as frost, Xue Chenjing understood rationally but still felt hurt: "Damn it, why isn''t she here? She actually didn''t wait for me. She should be waiting by the pool with clothes for me! Is that little girl''s soul more important than me?"


    He let out a whimper through his nose, his mouth moving uncontrobly as he answered his own question: "Yes, the little girl is more important than me, Senior Crane is more important than me, everyone is more important to her than me."


    System: "..." Under the influence of truth-telling, the host''s mncholy surprised even the system.


    Xue Chenjing stared straight up at the dim branches overhead, frost crystals on his eyshes casting shadows across his vision.


    He counted the slowly passing time, lying on the ground for half a quarter hour. During this time, Yu Yi still hadn''t returned.


    Did it need to take this long? Did returning to life need to take this long?


    Xue Chenjing suddenly seemed to think of something, abruptly sitting up. The ice shell on his body crackled, scattering across the ground as he asked with a trembling voice, "She wouldn''t have abandoned me and run away again, would she?"

 Chapter 74

    When this question left his lips, Xue Chenjing already knew the answer in his heart.


    She would.


    He could no longer sit still here, forcefully bending his frozen, creaking joints as he struggled to his feet.


    The System called out in his mind: "Master, I don''t think the female lead will run away. She''ll definitelye back to find you. Please slow down, rest a bit more. Don''t break your bones."


    Xue Chenjing wasn''tforted at all. "What do you know?"


    Useless System,pletely worthless.


    Xue Chenjing shook off the ice crystals covering his body, forcing his stiff legs to move. His face was frozen pale blue, and white mist emerged from his mouth when he spoke. The swirling cold air blurred his features and concealed the unease deep in his eyes.


    He knew what normal people would choose; in fact, he knew it all too well. Given the choice, they would only choose to stay away from him, not return for him.


    Yu Yi wasn''t stupid; on the contrary, she was very clever, always trying to seize every opportunity to escape from him. If he didn''t hold onto her tightly, she would definitely run away, she would definitely abandon him.


    Xue Chenjing raised his sleeve to rub his eyes hard, struggling to hold back the tears welling up. The lingering cold energy in his body would freeze even a single teardrop into ice crystals, stinging his eyes.


    He really hated how sensitive this body was.


    Xue Chenjing hissed in pain, irritably rubbing at the ice crystals in the corners of his eyes. He turned his stiff neck and struggled to open one eye to look around, spotting his outer robe on a nearby tree branch.


    She had even thrown down his clothes.


    Xue Chenjing walked over and pulled down the robe, wrapping it around himself. A faint fragrance still lingered in the fabric, not yetpletely dissipated. He grabbed the cor and took a deep breath, finally feeling his agitated emotions slightly soothed.


    As he was about to walk away, something suddenly fell from beneath the robe with a "pat" sound.


    Xue Chenjing stepped back half a pace and looked down in confusion. A wooden tablety face-down on the ground beneath the hem of his robe, with a red string tied at the top and golden silk tassels at the bottom¡ªit was a wish tablet.


    "She left me a wish tablet?" Xue Chenjing blinked in surprise, shaking off the frost from his eyshes as his heart began to race wildly. He was eager to see what Yu Yi had written on this wish tablet¡ªwas it a prayer for his safe return, or something else?


    Xue Chenjing crouched down, took a deep breath, and slowly reached out to pick up the wooden tablet, turning it over.


    To his disappointment, the handwriting on the tablet wasn''t Yu Yi''s. He had seen her wish tablet before and recognized her handwriting.


    However, this handwriting on the wooden tablet was also very familiar to him.


    Memories surged in Xue Chenjing''s mind of when he was young, when Xue Xingzhi would hold his hand from behind, teaching him how to write stroke by stroke.


    So he recognized this handwriting. Even though he had left home for so long and hadn''t seen his father''s writing in years, he recognized it immediately.


    The ink characters on the wooden tablet were written in an elegant, powerful style:


    "May my son Mingyuan be safe and prosperous. Awaiting your return."


    "My son Mingyuan... awaiting return." Xue Chenjing''s fingers traced these words, sliding down to the silk tassels below. The knots in the tassels were tied in a beautiful peach blossom pattern, his mother''s signature style.


    Xue Chenjing''s lips curved into a slight smile as he violently tore off the tassel. His fingers gradually tightened around the wooden tablet, listening to it make a "cracking" sound as it broke, splintered, and was crushed into sawdust in his palm.


    His eyes began to hurt again, and he roughly rubbed at their corners.


    Wind blew through the forest, stirring the tree canopy and creating tinkling sounds.


    Xue Chenjing looked up to see the dense canopy now hung with countless wish tablets. They swayed in the wind, clicking against each other, their golden tassels below dazzling to the eye, with various flower patterns woven into the knots.


    He knew in his heart that he shouldn''t look at them. But Xue Chenjing couldn''t resist. He stood up and began pulling down the wish tablets one by one, opening them to read the writing.


    "May my son Mingyuan be free from illness and harm. Awaiting your return."


    "May my son Mingyuan have clothes in cold weather and food for every meal. Awaiting your return."


    "May my son Mingyuan have a smooth path ahead, unbowed by hardship. Awaiting your return."


    "May my son Mingyuan findpanionship and never be lonely in the long nights. Awaiting your return."


    "May my son Mingyuan..."


    "May my son Mingyuan..."


    "Awaiting your return."


    "Awaiting your return."


    "Awaiting your return."


    ...


    Like a man possessed, Xue Chenjing tore down every wish tablet hanging from the tree canopy, opening each one to read. Every single tablet bore Xue Mingyuan''s name.


    Thirty-five wish tablets in total¡ªso he had been away from home for thirty-five years.


    After thirty-five years, they had never forgotten him. They only remembered him, writing only Xue Mingyuan''s name on every tablet.


    "Awaiting return, awaiting return, awaiting return..." Xue Chenjing murmured these words, looking at the wish tablets scattered everywhere. He beganughing uncontrobly, until finally covering his stinging eyes, saying bitterly, "Why? Am I not your child too?"


    Even just one tablet would have been enough. If just one tablet had his name on it, he wouldn''t feel so heartbroken.


    But why, why couldn''t they spare even one tablet for him?


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes stung terribly, as if filled with coarse sand, grinding painfully, yet he couldn''t control his tears. He hated this body of his.


    Blood seeped through his fingers, freezing into crystals as they fell to the ground.


    No one wouldfort him like they did when he was young anymore. They had long forgotten him.


    Xue Chenjing crawled on the ground, trembling, whimpering softly.


    The scattered wish tablets began to glow, their writing transforming into thread-like strands that shot toward him, wrapping around his body and limbs, binding him tightly.


    Xue Chenjing suddenly looked up, blood tears frozen at the corners of his eyes, fearfully looking around. He struggled frantically, trying to tear off the threads binding his body, but these threads were filled with his parents'' intense yearning, year after year, weighing heavily upon him, forming a cocoon that imprisoned him.


    "No, no, Yi Yi, Master, Master..."


    Xue Chenjing''s consciousness fell into darkness,pletely enveloped by the threads. The light in his eyes faded as he closed them, his body falling backward.


    Just before hitting the ground, his body suddenly jerked and his hand shot out to brace against the earth.


    When Xue Mingyuan opened his eyes, he immediately felt the stinging pain. He touched the corners of his eyes in confusion, wiping away bloody ice crystals. An unusually intense cold energy coursed through his body, freezing his bones and flesh.


    He saw the wish tablets on the ground, picked one up to look at it, and was momentarily stunned.


    The space in the forest rippled as two figures appeared out of thin air. Xue Mingyuan immediately looked over, and when his gaze met that of the woman in pce dress at the front, he gained some understanding of the current situation.


    Xue Mingyuan stood up and bowed his head toward her, saying, "Elder Sister."


    Yi Heng peeked out from behind Lady Lotus, examining the young man before them. After all, he was now an elder of the Carefree Sect, several hundred years old¡ªhe really couldn''t bring himself to call him "Uncle."


    Lady Lotus carefully examined his appearance and expression, her gaze sharp and scrutinizing. After a while, her elegant lips parted as she asked, "Should I address you as Mingyuan, as in this life, or as Lingwei, as in your previous life?"


    Xue Mingyuan''s gaze lingered on the wish tablets on the ground. "Elder Sister should still call me Mingyuan."


    Yi Heng silently let out a breath, thinking to himself that this meant he probably wouldn''t have to call him Uncle.


    Lady Lotus''s brows furrowed slightly, but she didn''t say much else, nodding, "Very well, it''s just a name after all." She produced a pearl the size of a chicken egg between her fingers, ncing at the bright soulmp within it, and smiled, "I''ve been looking for you for a long time."


    Xue Mingyuan touched the blood tears on his face and asked, "How did Elder Sister seal him away?"


    Lady Lotus gestured to the wish tablets on the ground, "Thanks to your parents in this life. Their yearning for your return created a powerful force."


    Xue Mingyuan bent down to pick up the wish tablets one by one, reading each wish and noting the finger marks forcefully pressed into the wooden tablet.


    No wonder his eyes hurt so much. Xue Chenjing must have cried terribly.


    "When we were little, I remember our parents would prepare everything in pairs ording to our preferences - food, clothes, everything," Xue Mingyuan said as he wiped clean the mud-stained wish paper, puzzled. "They couldn''t have written just my name. There must be another one with his wishes written on it."


    "That was when you were both just ordinary children," Lady Lotus exined. "After your soul awakened, because the soul pearl''s glow was so fleeting, it took me a very long time to locate the Xue family."


    "But by then, you had already..." she paused, correcting herself, "No, I should say that little demon had already fled from the Xue family. You don''t know how your parents begged that little demon to let them see you after you disappeared."


    "But no matter how much they pleaded and cried, he refused. They wouldn''t remember him fondly - they would only hate him, hate his cold-heartedness, hate him for taking you away from them. That''s why he couldn''t bear it anymore and ran away from the Xue family, isn''t it?"


    Xue Mingyuan gathered all the wish papers, carefully cleaning each one and holding them close to his chest, at a loss for words.


    Lady Lotus watched his actions and said, "In your previous life, your father sent you to Great Green Mountain to study the Heart Sword under Ming Zhaojun and suppress the heart demon. But you failed because of your soft heart, ending uppletely devoured by the heart demon. He assumed your identity, turned against your family and friends, gravely wounded Ming Zhaojun, destroyed Great Green Mountain, and killed indiscriminately."


    "This caused the Yi family to be condemned by everyone. When your father and mother were pressured by the three great families - the Jiang, Yao, and Yun families - and finally put on trial to take punishment in your ce, they were still defending you. They remembered you until their dying breath."


    "In this life, do you want to repeat the same mistakes?"


    Xue Mingyuan clutched the wish papers tightly, all his tumultuous thoughts eventually condensing into three heavy words weighing on his shoulders: "I''m sorry."


    Lady Lotus sighed softly, "Ah Wei, Mingyuan, I know you''re soft-hearted, but not everything deserves your pity."


    She walked over and ced her hand on his wrist, intending to use spiritual power to drive out the cold qi in his body. Just then, a sword light pierced through the dense forest, whistling as it struck the pond.Aliali: 67490d18c4f3f33ac4818900


    Amidst the sshing water, countless spiritual threads converged in Yi Heng''s hand. The surrounding trees rustled as the altered terrain began to restore itself. Yi Heng gripped the returningw disk and said worriedly, "That girl actually tore through myw disk with brute force. It seems I''ll have to meet her personally."


    "Wait," Xue Mingyuan recognized the familiar sword intent and immediately called out to Yi Heng, withdrawing his hand, "Sister, there''s no need to heal me. You should leave for now."


    Lady Lotus, unconcerned about the female cultivator about to break in, said, "Thanks to that little demon, two major immortal sects are now hunting you. Are you sure you don''t want toe back with me?"


    Xue Mingyuan nodded, promising, "I''lle find youter, Sister."


    "Very well." Lady Lotus finally agreed, giving him amunication token and an inner disciple token of the Carefree Sect before disappearing into the forest with Yi Heng.


    The next moment, a figure parted the branches and rushed in. Seeing the person leaning by the pond, Yu Yi felt slightly relieved. She sheathed her sword and walked to his side, asking, "Ah Qiu, when did youe out? Was someone setting up an array here to deal with you? Are you alright?"


    The seated person looked up at her, his wet, cold hair clinging to his forehead, his eyes red and swollen with bloody tears, and his pale face marked with rming bloodstains.


    Yu Yi''s heart sank heavily. She crouched down to wipe the blood from his face, her clear eyes showing unconcealed concern, "What happened to your eyes?"


    Xue Mingyuan stared at her expression, somewhat surprised.


    It seemed their rtionship was progressing faster than he had imagined.

 Chapter 75

    Xue Chenjing awakened from his initial confusion, this time finding himself imprisoned in the depths of the heart sea. Every word from the wish slip had transformed into threads, weaving into familiar tassels that bound him at its center.


    He turned to look at the dense threads entangled around his body, struggling to move his arms, but to no avail. They were so thin, yet so tenacious, like steel cables locking down his soul.


    His parents'' spiritual power had crafted him a beautiful prison.


    He was ustomed to being imprisoned. In many past lives, Xue Mingyuan had controlled the body while he existed as a dark shadow that couldn''t see the light, a heart demon that everyone would despise.


    But in this life, he had finally been treated as a person, given a name, experienced parental love. He had clearly gained control, yet in the end, he waspletely abandoned, returning to the same predicament.


    With his imprisonment, Xue Mingyuan regained control of the body. The demonic shadows in the heart sea were sealed along with him. Without theyers of dark shadows, this heart sea was unprecedentedly vast and quiet, making the oath monument standing in the heart sea visible at first nce.


    Through the interwoven threads, Xue Chenjing gazed at the distant oath monument, crying in despair, his tears falling like flowing water onto the threads that bound him.


    What could he do? Master, I''m really useless, perhaps I''ll never be able to touch you again.


    Just as Xue Chenjing was falling into despair, he suddenly heard a voice prate through, "Ah Qiu, when did youe out? Has someone set up a formation here to deal with you? Are you alright?"


    Master?


    Yi, Yi, Yi¡ª


    She''s back! She''s back! She called my name, she came back for me!


    Xue Chenjing suddenly raised his eyes, points of hope rekindling in his pitch-ck pupils as he struggled violently, like a moth caught in a spider''s web.


    He heard Yu Yi''s voice again, asking worriedly, "What happened to your eyes?"


    After a long silence, Xue Chenjing, unable to break free from the threads around him, forced himself to calm down. Though imprisoned, he could still sense the outside world like before, still perceive Xue Mingyuan''s every move.


    As long as he stayed calm.


    Xue Chenjing stopped struggling and closed his eyes. Gradually, Xue Mingyuan''s every action appeared in his mind.


    Xue Chenjing only needed one look before bing enraged again. At this moment, he wished he could kill Xue Mingyuan, wished he could perish together with him right away.


    That was his master! How dare that bastard Xue Mingyuan, how dare he?!


    Outside the heart sea, by a pond deep in the mountains.


    When Yu Yi first saw Xue Chenjing with blood-red eyes and a blood-stained face, she was too shocked to think and immediately crouched down to touch his eyes.


    Only when those blood-red eyes looked straight at her, revealing surprise, did she btedly realize her gesture was perhaps too intimate.


    She immediately wanted to withdraw her hand.


    Xue Mingyuan noticed her intention and, lowering his eyshes, actively leaned forward to press his cheek into her palm.


    Yu Yi''s palm''s warmth and the warmth radiating from her entire body were too tempting for him, who currently felt cold to his very bones.


    Even though his body was numbed by the cold, Xue Mingyuan could still feel this body''s joy arising from within at her proximity. The heart in his chest leaped with delight at her touch.


    Uncontrobly, he leaned against her wrist and buried his head in her shoulder.


    The damp hair pressed against Yu Yi''s neck, the cold spreading to her body. Yu Yi stood frozen in ce, internally hesitant.


    She should push him away, but he looked too miserable right now, like a fragile ice sculpture melting, his body trembling finely, as if any forceful movement might shatter him.


    "Xue Chenjing, I have a fire spirit root. The sword fire from the Green Bamboo Sword should be able to drive away the cold in your body," Yu Yi said, ultimately choosing not to push him away but trying to raise her arms to embrace him and channel spiritual power to dispel the cold.


    Hearing her address him, Xue Mingyuan fell silent briefly. For a moment, he considered epting her care under another''s identity.


    But along with this thought came an overwhelming sense of absurdity. In the past, it had always been Xue Chenjing who wanted to assume his identity to live, he never thought there woulde a day when he would harbor such self-deceptive thoughts.


    When Yu Yi received no response, assuming he was too unwell to speak, she took the initiative to wrap her arms around him.


    Feeling her warm embrace, Xue Mingyuan ultimately couldn''t ovee his inner barrier and said softly, "I''m sorry, it''s me."


    Yu Yi''s movements froze, and she instinctively backed away, asking puzzled, "Xue Mingyuan?"


    Xue Mingyuan raised his head, giving her an apologetic smile, nodding, "It''s me. I''m sorry for the misunderstanding."


    Yu Yi carefully examined his expression, trying to determine if this was another of Xue Chenjing''s role-ying games, but the person before her seemed to truly be the original.


    She really hadn''t expected to meet him again under such circumstances and didn''t know how to react, saying somewhat stiffly, "No, there''s no need to apologize."


    Thest time she saw Xue Mingyuan was at the Unmasked Tower. They had gotten along quite well then, and when he suddenly disappeared at thest moment, Yu Yi had felt somewhat regretful.


    After all,pared to the clingy and unreasonable Xue Chenjing, Xue Mingyuan clearly seemed more normal and easier to get along with. She had even thought then that if she couldn''t escape and the system insisted on having someoneplete tasks to pursue her, it would be better if that person were Xue Mingyuan.


    Normal people would choose the seemingly more normal Xue Mingyuan.


    But now, seeing Xue Mingyuan again, Yu Yi found she wasn''t actually that excited to see him, at least not at this moment. She wanted to know more about what had happened to the other person.


    "What happened to Xue Chenjing? Did he fall unconscious from severe injuries again?" Yu Yi asked.


    "No, he was trapped by our parents'' thoughts..." Xue Mingyuan''s expression changed slightly, immediately realizing something was wrong, and he forcefully cut off his words.


    He didn''t want to tell her the truth, but his lips seemed to move against his will, ready to spill out his true thoughts as soon as he opened his mouth.


    This situation was like being under a curse, but there were no traces of spells on him. Xue Mingyuan thought of another possibility and called out internally, "System, what''s going on?"


    The system immediately responded, "Master, the truth-telling mode is currently activated. Under truth-telling mode, you cannot lie to the female protagonist."


    Yu Yi heard the system''s voice and felt increasingly that something was wrong, pressing further, "What about his parents'' thoughts? Was it their spiritual power? What happened?"


    Xue Mingyuan''s mind raced. He couldn''t lie to Yu Yi, but he could choose not to answer her questions or respond in vague terms. He tried speaking, "I''m sorry, he probably won''t be able toe out for a while."


    Yu Yi''s confusion remained unresolved, but Xue Mingyuan didn''t give her a chance to ask more questions. He hugged his arms and began coughing suppressively. His face, pale from the cold, flushed with a sickly red from the violent coughing, and the tears that welled up in his eyes turned to ice crystals before they could fall.


    The ice crystals irritated his eyes, and when he raised his hand to rub them, it only made them bleed.


    Yu Yi quickly grabbed his wrist, "Don''t rub them, it''ll only make things worse." She finally understood why his eyes were so red and swollen - while others shed pearls for tears, he shed ice shards.


    "Let me transfer some fire-attribute spiritual power to you, to drive out the cold from within first."


    Only after Xue Mingyuan nodded did Yu Yi channel her spiritual power, releasing several sword mes to surround him while pressing on his pulse point to transfer energy.


    The warm spiritual power entered his body like a spring breeze, gradually dispersing the cold in his meridians and bones. Mist rose from Xue Mingyuan''s body as he gazed through the humid haze at the person concentrating on transferring spiritual power to him.Aliali: 674846c1c4f3f33ac476874f


    He didn''t know how long it had been since theirst meeting. Xue Mingyuan was imprisoned in a temple deep within the sea of consciousness, where Xue Chenjing kept him under strict surveince,pletely cutting off his ability to perceive the outside world.


    He could only stay in the temple, reliving day after day the moment when his flesh was cut and blood was drawn, unable to even sense the passage of time. He knew this was Xue Chenjing''s revenge, revenge for how he had repeatedly killed him in the past.


    When first sealed within the sea of consciousness, Xue Mingyuan had tried to resist, tried to escape, but as Xue Chenjing devoured more demons within the sea of consciousness, the suppression became heavier, until finally he could no longer resist at all.


    As time went by, one day, he suddenly felt this wasn''t so bad. He could just stay in the temple like this, not seeing anything, not hearing anything, knowing nothing as he passed through this life.


    However, just when he had decided to peacefully ept everything, Yu Yi appeared, bringing new variables into y.


    "At that time, I thought I would never see you again," said Xue Mingyuan. These were his true feelings; normally he might not have spoken them aloud, but now under the influence of the truthpelling effect, such thoughts easily slipped out.


    Since the words were already spoken, he might as well say everything. His gaze met Yu Yi''s upturned eyes as he continued, "After being locked back in the temple within the mountain, I kept thinking about what you had brought before me that day. I seemed to smell a milky fragrance, something very sweet, but unfortunately I didn''t get to taste it."


    Yu Yi recalled for a moment following his words, "It was ice milk cake, made from milk frozen into shaved ice, with flower syrup drizzled on top."


    Though that bowl of ice milk cake had been crushed to pieces by Xue Chenjing when he awoke, with all the shaved ice melting and flowing to the ground.


    "Ice milk cake." Xue Mingyuan repeated, his face showing a look of longing. "If I say I still want to receive it from your hands now, would I have that chance?"

 Chapter 76

    "No, no, don''t agree to him! Please, I beg you, don''t agree to him."


    Xue Chenjing stared at the oath stone, but no matter how he struggled or pleaded, those outside could no longer hear his voice. His situation with Xue Mingyuan hadpletely reversed - Yu Yi could now only see and hear Xue Mingyuan.


    She would be bewitched by Xue Mingyuan.


    The Unmasked Tower had temporarily closed for business. The ordinary merchants outside didn''t have the means to make shaved ice treats, unless one went to a prosperous big city. At any rate, there was no ce selling ice cream in Fengsheng County.


    Yu Yi possessed both thunder and fire spiritual roots, but had no aptitude for ice-based spells and couldn''t replicate it, so Xue Mingyuan wouldn''t be able to have any for now.


    "What a pity. If you had mentioned it earlier, I could have collected all the ice crystals that fell from your body and crushed them to make you a portion," Yu Yi said.


    Xue Mingyuan looked down at himself. As the cold qi was forced out of his body and warmth returned, the frost that had formed on his clothes melted awaypletely. He touched his sleeve hem and said with regret, "It really is a shame. There''s truly nothing left."


    Yu Yi was surprised that he had taken her seriously, giving him a puzzled nce. "I was just joking."


    Xue Mingyuan blinked, but the expectation in his expression only grew stronger. Though his eyes were bloodshot and filled with wounds, somehow his gaze still gave off a clear,ke-water transparency. His pupils reflected her image as he asked, "But if you had some, you would give it to me, right?"


    He spoke of such a trivial matter with such seriousness and devotion that Yu Yi also set aside her casual attitude and became solemn. She inexplicably felt that if she agreed, she wouldn''t just be agreeing to a bowl of ice cream, but making a promise that required careful consideration.


    Yu Yi didn''t like making promises to others - it made her feel shackled.


    But they were merely talking about a bowl of ice cream.


    Yu Yi hesitated before saying, "They should sell it in Liangzhou Prefecture City. I''ll take you there to buy some."


    Xue Mingyuan lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting disappointment in them, and replied docilely, "Alright, thank you for your trouble, Yi Yi."


    After Yu Yi hadpletely expelled the cold qi from his body, she took out a handkerchief from her storage pouch, applied some anti-inmmatory and pain-relieving ointment to his eyes, wrapped them with the handkerchief, and told him to rest his eyes for a while.


    She then immediately stood up and whistled upward, calling down Crane Senior Brother who had been circling above the forest keeping watch.


    Yu Yi still had many questions that needed answers, but it wasn''t appropriate to stay here any longer.


    Not to mention the illusion formation that had beenid in the forest earlier - that formation had altered the surrounding mountain terrain and its power had reached the Yuan Ying stage. If Yu Yi hadn''t possessed her heart sword, with sword intent already surpassing her own cultivation level, it would have been more than enough to stop her at the Golden Core stage.


    This indicated that there must have been a cultivator of at least Yuan Ying level present in the forest earlier. Moreover, the two cultivators who had intercepted her outside the Du Family were still lurking nearby, making this ce unsuitable for a prolonged stay.


    Yu Yi helped Xue Mingyuan onto Crane Senior Brother''s back, then mounted behind him. The crane bent its long legs slightly, sprung onto the treetops, and used them as aunching point to soar into the sky.


    Momentster, the space by the pond rippled, and two figures reappeared there.


    Yi Heng circled the spot where Xue Mingyuan and Yu Yi had been sitting, stroking his chin as he said, "Mother, it seems Little Uncle has found someone he likes, though... why do I feel that girl cares more about the little demon?"


    Lady Lotus maintained a cold expression, ring at him in displeasure as shemanded, "Follow them and keep watch. See what Mingyuan is nning."


    Yi Heng nodded in agreement and was about to leave when Lady Lotus called him back, "Be wary of those three families'' people. Don''t let him get captured again. Although those three families aren''t what they used to be, it would still be troublesome to confront them directly."


    "I understand, Mother." Yi Heng cupped his hands in respect. After seeing his mother off, he thought for a moment, then pulled out a paper figure from his sleeve, dripped blood onto it, and drew a talisman.


    The paper figure floated down from his fingertips,nding and transforming into an exact copy of himself. The duplicate emerged from the forest to catch He Yungeng and Wen Li, leading them back to the Suspended Moon Tower.


    As an elder of the Carefree Sect, he needed to be present to supervise the four sects'' autumn examination, and couldn''t leave his post. However, such matters could be handled by his duplicate - his mother''s instructions were more important and required his personal attention.


    After the Yi Family suffered great misfortune, their numbers dwindled until only Lady Lotus remained. To continue the Yi Family bloodline, she gave birth to Yi Heng.


    To this day, Yi Heng didn''t know who his father was. He suspected his mother might have disposed of his father after conception. As the sole surviving descendant of the Yi Family, one can imagine the pressure he was under.


    Now that they had finally found this reincarnated little uncle, resolving his mother''s long-standing regret required the utmost caution - they absolutely couldn''t let him disappear again.


    It was nearly nightfall when Yu Yi and Xue Mingyuan reached the borders of Liangzhou Prefecture. The weather around Liangzhou Prefecture City wasn''t good, with vast stretches of thunder clouds spanning the sky.


    Snake-like pirs of light asionally wandered through the thick clouds, and the air was filled with free-floating electricity. Even before they fully approached the area covered by thunder clouds, they could feel invisible currents on their bodies.


    Yu Yi''s hair that cascaded over her shoulders stood up like a hedgehog''s spines. She looked back at Xue Mingyuan, who also sported hedgehog-like hair.


    Though his eyes were covered with cloth, he could still sense the strange atmosphere. He lifted the handkerchief from his eyes to look. After the prolonged application of the spiritual medicine, the swelling around his eyes had subsided, leaving only some bloodshot traces within.


    Seeing her raised hair, Xue Mingyuan reached out to smooth down the hair at her shoulder, but before his fingers could make contact, he was zapped back with a "pop."


    Yu Yi told him to hold on tight, then reached back to pat Crane Senior Brother, shouting, "Senior Brother Crane, quick, descend!"


    The crane folded its wings and dove downward, but the electricity umted in the clouds had already taken form. Dazzling golden light tore through the thick clouds, and a terrifying snake-like pir of light struck down. The electrical light branching from the pir spread out like tree branches, with the tips seeming to grow eyes as they reached toward them.


    In the blink of an eye, the lightning was upon them.


    Yu Yi leaped from Crane Senior Brother''s back, formed hand seals, and shot her Green Bamboo Sword from her hands. The lightning was drawn to the Green Bamboo Sword, and all the electrical branches in the sky suddenly changed direction, pouring into the sword.


    The blinding lightning swallowed both the Green Bamboo Sword and Yu Yi''s figure.


    Momentster, as the lightning dispersed, Yu Yi fell from the sky. Crane Senior Brother pped over to catch her, but was shocked by the residual electricity coursing through her body. His feathers all stood on end, and he cried out in pain, dropping several feet and throwing Yu Yi off.


    Yu Yi recalled her Green Bamboo Sword, and seeing Xue Mingyuan reach out to pull her, quickly said, "Don''t touch me, you''ll get shocked!"


    Xue Mingyuan ignored her warning and grabbed her wrist, forcefully pulling her back onto the crane''s back. Visible electricity transferred from Yu Yi''s body, leaving winding red marks on the back of his hand.


    Crane Senior Brother, shocked by the current, squawked and stumbled into the forest with them, immediately throwing off his two passengers and hopping around pping his wings. All his feathers had been shocked into standing up, making the entire crane appear unusually fluffy and round.


    Xue Mingyuan anxiously examined Yu Yi up and down, asking, "Are you alright?"


    Yu Yi ran her fingers through her wild hair, with crackling electrical sounds still audible from her movements. She shook her head and said, "I''m fine. I have both thunder and fire spiritual roots. This was just ordinary lightning - for me, it''s like having a meal."


    Though this meal had been a bit too filling - her spiritual roots couldn''t fully absorb it, and her meridians were overflowing with lightning energy, giving her a sense of spiritual power excess. Her whole body was leaking electricity, with arcs of lightning flowing into the ground with each step she took.


    Crane Senior Brother had been frightened by her electricity and hopped far away, not daring toe near her.


    Yu Yi was also dizzy from the electricity flowing around her body, as if drunk - people and scenery appeared to sway before her eyes. Seeing her unusual state, Xue Mingyuan approached worriedly and asked, "Are you really alright?"


    Yu Yi stared at him for a while, her gaze dropping to his waist, and burst outughing, "Stop wiggling around like that."


    That waist really could wiggle - even more than Crane Senior Brother''s.


    Xue Mingyuan stood perfectly straight, observing her strange expression, which confirmed his suspicion that something was definitely off about her.


    By now, darkness hadpletely fallen, with only asional shes of lightning illuminating the earth. Fortunately, they had reached the outskirts of Liangzhou Prefecture City, and this area wasn''t particrly remote. Dim lights could be seen flickering in the distance, suggesting inhabited dwellings.


    "Yu Yi, the city gates are locked at this hour. Let''s follow this path forward. There are houses ahead where we can seek lodging for the night, and we''ll enter the city tomorrow."


    Yu Yi nodded and started walking, but she began drifting toward the side of the road,pletely unaware of her meandering. Seeing that she was about to collide with a tree, Xue Mingyuan quickened his pace and grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him.


    Bright electrical arcs leaped from her body, striking his hand with a stinging, burning sensation.


    Yu Yi immediately eximed, "Oh no, let go of me! My body is coursing with electricity right now."


    "It''s fine, doesn''t hurt," Xue Mingyuan obediently released her arm but held his hand open in front of her. Looking up at the sky, he said, "Let me hold your hand as we walk. It''ll be faster this way, or we''ll get caught in the thunderstorm."


    Just as he finished speaking, another sh of lightning illuminated the earth, striking some tree with a tremendous boom.


    Rolling thunder immediately followed overhead. Standing outside in this weather was extremely dangerous, especially surrounded by trees, with electricity still leaking from her body.


    If she attracted another lightning bolt, her thunder spirit root wouldn''t be able to handle it.Aliali: 6748ac5ec4f3f33ac47c6ad8


    Yu Yi shook her head and reluctantly ced her hand in his palm.


    The moment their fingers touched, small electrical arcs crackled between them. Before she could speak, Xue Mingyuan smiled and said, "It doesn''t hurt, just feels a bit tingly. Actually quite pleasant."


    Yu Yi understoodpletely, as she too felt her limbs growing numb from the wayward electrical currents, making her steps feel like she was walking on cotton.


    The two hurried along the mountain path toward the lights, with Crane Senior Brother hopping along behind them. Whenever lightning shed overhead, the two humans and the crane would tense up, afraid that a bolt might blindly strike them.


    Xue Mingyuan felt the tingling sensation in his fingertips while his heartbeat was masked by the rolling thunder.


    His heart was racing, all because of the hand he held in his.


    He and Xue Chenjing shared the same body and the same heart, and every touch with Yu Yi made this body rejoice with excitement, thirsting for more contact with her. He hadn''t felt this way thest time he had emerged.


    Xue Mingyuan closed his eyes briefly, hearing angry screams from deep within his heart''s ocean.


    Xue Chenjing was cursing him, pleading with him.


    His younger brother, it seemed, truly loved her deeply.

 Chapter 77

    Fortunately, the residence ahead wasn''t far. Just as they stepped under the eaves of the house, torrential rain began pouring down.


    The residence appeared grand with its imposing entrance and sprawling courtyard. One nce was enough to tell it wasn''t an ordinary household, but rather a summer vi belonging to some wealthy family.


    Xue Mingyuan knocked three times on the door. The doorkeeper quickly responded, opening a narrow gap in the side door. After hearing their situation, he asked them to wait a moment while he went to inform the estate''s steward.


    Ordinary people held great respect for cultivators. Upon learning that two practitioners sought lodging, the steward immediately led several servants to wee them, opening the main gate to usher them in. They were warmly shown to guest rooms, with everything arranged properly before the servants departed.


    They stayed in the same guest courtyard, one in the east wing and one in the west wing. Yu Yi, still containing unspent lightning energy within her body, sat down to meditate as soon as she entered.


    Senior Brother Crane sprawled on the soft couch by the window, resting his long neck on the windowsill while watching the heavy rain outside.


    The guest courtyard was beautifullyndscaped, with a small garden in the center featuring an ornamental rock garden surrounding a small pond. Several brightly-scaled carp in the pond had taken shelter beneath the artificial cave due to the rain. asional lightning shes illuminated the entire courtyard, making the fishes'' scales gleam.


    Senior Brother Crane''s ck button eyes stared fixedly at the fish, drool dripping from his sharp beak faster than the falling raindrops.


    Xue Mingyuan leaned against the window, able to see through the gap above Crane''s head into the opposite room where someone sat cross-legged in meditation.


    Electric arcs asionally flickered across her body, stirring loose strands of hair near her temples. Her profile, gilded by the wavering candlelight, showed soft and elegant contours. Her forehead, nose bridge, and lips - every line was perfectly proportioned. Even through the rain curtain, the beauty glimpsed through the window gap was impossible to conceal.


    Xue Mingyuan pressed a hand to his chest, once again feeling his stirring heartbeat beneath his palm, and curiously asked, "System, could you tell me what her favorability rating is now?"


    The system promptly replied, "Master, the current target''s favorability is at sixty-eight percent."


    Xue Mingyuan raised his eyebrows in surprise - it was already so high.


    Had he misjudged Yu Yi? He had thought she would be the type whose heart was difficult to move. During theirst meeting, she had clearly maintained strong wariness toward them, her entire being encased in a hard shell that rejected their attempts at closeness.


    At that time, Xue Chenjing had been like a caged beast, unable to find any breakthrough.


    What had Xue Chenjing done during this period to move her heart?


    Xue Mingyuan rested his chin on one hand, leaning against the windowsill, his eyshes dampened by the spraying rain mist. In his other hand, he held a cherry-colored handkerchief that still carried the fresh scent of medicinal ointment.


    His fingertips gently traced the embroidery on the handkerchief as he politely asked, "Could you tell me everything that happened between them after I left?"


    The system, which had been enduring Xue Chenjing''s death threats daily, finally encountered the master''s gentle side again. Hearing Xue Mingyuan''s soft inquiry, it cheerfully replied, "Of course, my master."


    The downpour drummed against the half-withered banana leaves in the courtyard, creating a crackling sound as the rain curtain enclosed this small square world.


    Xue Mingyuan gazed at the withered yellow edges of the leaves, formed a hand seal, and sent a bit of spiritual power into them. Under the nourishment of spiritual energy, the withered yellow edges gradually unfurled, returning to fresh green.


    The torrential rain continued unabated through half the night. Across the way, the crowned crane had grown tired of watching fish and fallen asleep with his head still on the windowsill. In the room, having dispersed the lightning energy within her body, she removed her hairpin, letting her smooth long hair fall loose as she prepared for bed.


    Xue Mingyuan listened to the system''s detailed report, and when it mentioned the tutorial, he asked it to bring up the tutorial panel.


    Thest time Xue Chenjing opened this tutorial, the task progress had reached the third phase, days thirty to sixty of the hundred-day n.


    "Be an ''indispensable'' existence in the target''s heart." Xue Mingyuan softly read the tutorial''s guidance, lost in thought.


    ording to the system''s report, during this period, his brother hadn''t done anything particrly earth-shattering that could move someone''s heart.


    Yu Yi had entered the Great Green Mountain Sword Realm and received Ming Zhaojun''s inheritance. In the realm, she had witnessed his previous life''s struggle with inner demons, repeatedly killing Xue Chenjing. Yet she hadn''t been frightened; instead, her favorability had increased.


    Could it be that she had developed feelings of pity for him?


    If so, such significant progress in their rtionship would make sense. Once she began to feel pity, her emotional defenses would naturally be easier to breach.


    However, was it really so easy for love to grow from pity? Was she the type to fall in love so easily?


    Xue Mingyuan pondered while continuing to flip through the tutorial.


    [Hundred-Day Conquest n, Days 60-80: Once you have sessfully be an "indispensable" existence in the target''s heart, the next step is to leave the target, letting them deeply experience the despair and pain of losing you.


    Best practice reference: Fake death, disappearing act.


    Note: This beginner''s package includes a fake death potion. Please use with caution at the appropriate time.]


    Xue Mingyuan smiled - this tutorial certainly knew how to manipte hearts.


    However, it seemed his brother hadn''t fully achieved the third phase''s goal. Comparatively, the one crying in despair in the depths of his heart right now showed more clearly who had truly fallen.


    Xue Mingyuan gazed intently at the window opposite, his thoughts appearing and vanishing like the strings of rain outside.


    The system asionally caught glimpses of his thoughts, and seeing him sink deeper into contemtion, suddenly called out, "Master."


    Xue Mingyuan''s thoughts were interrupted, but he quickly cleared his mind, letting the rainy scene before him upy his thoughts as he responded, "Hmm?"


    The system hesitated briefly before emphasizing, "The host has made significant progress in this period of conquest. They''ve already had very intimate moments."


    Xue Mingyuan wasn''t annoyed by the system''s interruption, responding mildly, "Yes, you mentioned that."


    Once in the Sinking Flower Sea, when she lost control after consuming his spirit fire. Once behind the Moon Goddess Temple, when Yu Yi didn''t immediately push him away. So, she must harbor feelings for him.


    Xue Mingyuan couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Can''t the favorability be split? Surely her feelings for me and Chenjing are different?"


    The system hadn''t expected Xue Mingyuan to raise the same request, and replied awkwardly, "Sorry, Master, but since you were born as one chaotic entity, the system considers you as one person, so the favorability calction cannot be split."


    Xue Mingyuan nodded, calmly epting this answer, unlike Xue Chenjing who would have flown into a rage and hurled insults at the system to vent his frustration.


    "So you''re saying that in the end, both of us will be with her?" Xue Mingyuan''s eyes narrowed slightly, and he gave a softugh, either finding it absurd or for some other reason. "How could Chenjing agree to that? Would he ept me for her sake?"


    Xue Mingyuan found it hard to imagine.


    The system couldn''t answer this question. It was originally just a female protagonist system, considering its missionplete once it helped the female lead conquer the antagonist.


    In the original story, they were simply two sides of the same person, and whether the female lead ended up with Xue Chenjing or Xue Mingyuan specifically, or both simultaneously, wasn''t important.


    In the east wing, Yu Yi walked to the window, gently lifted Senior Brother Crane''s head from the windowsill, and helped tuck it under his wing.


    Senior Brother Crane made a soft sound, sleeping deeply.


    As she reached to adjust the window, she suddenly sensed someone''s gaze. Looking through the gap, she gazed toward the west wing''s window, which was half-hidden behindrge banana leaves and also partially open, with a faint candlelight visible inside.


    Xue Mingyuan was still awake.


    Yu Yi sat beside Senior Brother Crane, stroking his feathers as she pulled out a piece of paper from the desk and picked up a brush to write. During her five years in the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm, she had practiced calligraphy by copying her master''s handwriting. Her characters now carried a sword-like stroke that she was quite proud of.


    Her earlier doubts remained unresolved, and since neither of them was asleep yet, she thought it better to get rity now.


    The person who set up the formation in the mountains was a Yuan Ying cultivator, and it wouldn''t be easy to dismiss or shake them off. If they were an enemy lurking in the shadows, it would be far too dangerous.


    Of course, it would have been best if Xue Mingyuan or Xue Chenjing had dealt with them on the spot, but judging from his appearance after she broke through the formation, it didn''t seem like he had resolved the situation.


    Yu Yi wrote down her question and initially wanted to fold it into a paper crane, but since that was tooplicated, she simply folded it into a simple paper airne and sent it flying out the window.


    The paper airne was wrapped in spiritual energy, dancing through the heavy rain. Raindrops struck the protective spiritual energy surrounding it, creating sparks of light, as it trailed across banana leaves before flying through the window behind them.


    The silhouette projected on the window raised a hand and caught the paper airne.


    Xue Mingyuan examined the paper airne carefully before gently unfolding it. The note asked about what had happened with the maze formation in the mountains of Fengsheng County, and if someone had specifically set up the formation to target him, why had they vanished after she broke through it.


    She didn''t pursue any further questions about Xue Chenjing''s situation.


    Xue Mingyuan picked up his brush and wrote: "Not an enemy, but an old acquaintance." He held his wrist suspended for quite a while before continuing, "Chenjing is fine, unharmed."


    This wasn''t exactly a lie - Xue Chenjing was only bound by spiritual force, his soul remained uninjured.


    After finishing, Xue Mingyuan set down his brush, refolded the paper along its creases, and tossed it back out the window.


    Yu Yi received the reply and opened it to read the answer, softly murmuring, "An old acquaintance?"


    Her eyes moved to thest line and lingered there for a moment. ording to the system, the truth-telling mode should also constrain Xue Mingyuan, so he shouldn''t be able to lie to her.


    Could these old acquaintances be their parents? Was Xue Chenjing unable toe out because he was under their spiritual restraint?


    Yu Yi recalled how Xue Chenjing had once irritably whispered in her ear that his courtesy name didn''te from "There is a dragon in the southern pools," but rather because of Xue Mingyuan.


    Their parents missed him so much that they gave him the character "jing" (pool) - while "yuan" meant a deep, vast abyss, "jing" meant a low-lying pool. His parents had always wanted him to return to being Mingyuan.


    He had seemingly once questioned her too, asking if she also wanted him to change back.


    At that time, Yu Yi had been affected by the strange atmosphere in Yinzhou City and wasn''t thinking clearly. She only remembered him pacing back and forth in front of her, ranting in frustration, looking as pitiful as a homeless stray dog.


    So she had patted him, teased him a little.


    Yu Yi turned to look out the window. Outside, the rain was lessening, its intensity diminishing. The light in the west wing was still on, and the silhouette by the window hadn''t moved.


    Her crane senior brother must have been having some dream, as it let out a muffled cry from under its wing. Yu Yi was startled, turned back, and reached out to pat it soothingly.


    As she stroked the crane''s feathers and looked back at the paper in her hand, she suddenly realized something - what right did she have to sympathize with others when she herself was even more homeless? In this strange alternate world, she had only a bird forpany.


    Yu Yi couldn''t deny thatpared to the beginning, she had indeed been "conquered" by Xue Chenjing. Her emotional defenses had developed cracks under his persistent erosion, allowing him to slip in and upy a ce in her heart.


    However, this wasn''t enough to make her want to actively involve herself in their disputes. Back at the Great Green Mountain, Xue Mingyuan and Xue Chenjing had been locked in conflict, and their centuries-long struggle had yet to reach a conclusion. This was, after all, their own matter - what ce did an outsider have in it?


    If she were to go up to Xue Mingyuan and ask him to let Xue Chenjing out, how would that be any different from when the Xue parents had begged Chenjing to let Mingyuan emerge?Aliali: 674939efc4f3f33ac483eddf


    It was enough just knowing he wasn''t hurt.


    Yu Yi sat for a while longer, then held the paper over the candlelight, letting the ashes scatter out the window where they quickly dissolved in the rain.


    She closed the window, extinguished the light, and went to bed.


    After the east wing''s lights went out, the west wing''s lights also dimmed. Xue Mingyuany fully clothed on his bed, sleepless through the night.


    Their parents'' spiritual force couldn''t restrain Xue Chenjing for long. He had already recovered his tail bone and two fires, and this body''s power had increased dramatically - even demon beasts like the Huan submitted to him.


    If he were to recover his heart fire, he would have no more restraints and could fully harness the power left behind by the ancient demon,manding the allegiance of all demons and once again ascending to the position of Demon Lord.


    That would lead to another upheaval.


    Xue Mingyuan sat up and took out a lotusmunication jade from his robes, infusing it with spiritual power to illuminate the inscriptions upon it.


    In just a moment, themunication talisman connected, and Lady Lotus''s cool voice came through, asking, "Mingyuan, what is it?"


    In the darkness, Xue Mingyuan spoke softly, "Sister, I need to ask for your help with something."

 Chapter 78

    Yu Yi woke up to find the room still shrouded in darkness.


    She got up and lit a candle, ncing at the water clock on the desk - it was already halfway through the Chen hour (7-9 AM).


    The windows of this household were covered with translucent tiles, made from shells ground as thin as paper and attached piece by piece to the window frames, giving off a pearl-like luster.


    Even when strong sunlight passed through these windows, it would transform into a soft, frost-like glow. Now, with just a single candle lit inside, the reflection from the translucent tiles on all four sides created a gentle radiance that illuminated the entire room.


    Yu Yi put on her clothes and pushed the window slightly open. Outside, the sky was dim, covered by thick clouds. With her Thunder Spirit Root, she was particrly sensitive to the electrical energy in the air - clearly,st night''s storm hadn''t exhausted all the thunder and lightning in the clouds.


    "Liang Province, Liang Province..." Yu Yi muttered, stroking her chin. Suddenly, her eyes lit up with excitement, "Ah, so this is where I am."


    She recalled reading about this ce in a geographic chronicle. The book mentioned that Liang Province was a coastal city, and thirty li away from it, there was an Immortal Ascension tform on a reef ind. Legend had it that a powerful cultivator had once achieved ascension there, causing the gates of heaven to open.


    The aftermath of that ascension lingered long afterward. Ever since then, around the anniversary of the cultivator''s ascension, Liang Province would experience thunderstorms. These weather patterns varied in duration - sometimessting mere moments, other times persisting for ten to fifteen days.


    During such weather, ordinary people mostly stayed indoors, afraid to venture out. However, for cultivators with Thunder Spirit Roots, it was an excellent opportunity to refine their abilities.


    Yu Yi had been struck by lightning the previous night, and her Thunder Spirit Root had absorbed plenty of electrical energy. After meditation to process it and a good night''s sleep, she now felt refreshed and energized - so much so that she felt she could transform into an electric pole and power an entire vige for a day.


    Unfortunately, this world didn''t have electric lights yet.


    It was said that during thunderstorms, those who climbed the Immortal Ascension tform could witness visions of that powerful cultivator''s ascension. For those destined to ascend, the gates of heaven would open slightly, allowing them to glimpse the immortal realm and gain enlightenment.


    Since she was already here, Yu Yi couldn''t pass up such an opportunity. She quickly dressed herself properly and headed out.


    Just then, Xue Mingyuan came in from the courtyard carrying arge tray of breakfast items, including the fish that Crane Senior Brother had been craving all night.


    As the aroma of fish wafted through the window crack, there was a loud ng from inside the room, followed by Crane Senior Brother pushing open the window with his wings and tumbling out.


    Xue Mingyuan couldn''t help but smile, his eyes crinkling, "Yi''er, let''s eat something first. Crane Senior Brother''s timing is perfect too."


    He carried the tray into the hall, and Yu Yi followed, helping to arrange the small dishes and pastries on the table.


    Xue Mingyuan ced a bowl of soft eight-treasure congee in front of her, saying, "When I got up this morning, Qi Steward sent someone to ask what we''d like to eat. I requested them to make eight-treasure congee. Try it - it should taste good."


    Yu Yi scooped up some congee with her spoon. The porridge was very thick, filled with red dates, longan, peanuts, lotus seeds, and other ingredients. The sweet fragrance wafting up with the steam made her mouth water before she even tasted it.


    "Thank you," Yu Yi said gratefully. After taking a bite, she smiled and added, "It''s delicious."


    Thest time she had eight-treasure congee was at Cloud Mountain, made by Xue Chenjing. She still wondered how he had gathered all the ingredients in that remote valley. He had added plenty of sugar, but the congee had been slightly burnt.


    The beans in the congee had been cooked to mush, making it impossible to distinguish what they originally were. When eaten, the sweetness barely masked the burnt taste.


    Back then, she had only taken one bite before spitting it out, putting down her spoon in disgust and dering that the burnt congee was inedible.


    Xue Chenjing had been furious enough to bite someone, surrounded by that gloomy aura that made her want to draw her sword. Yet he had forced himself to smile tolerantly and apologize, exining that he had dozed off while cooking it in the middle of the night and hadn''t paid attention to the heat.


    He had tried to coax her into taking just one more bite, insisting that if she would just eat and swallow that one bite, he would consider his taskplete.


    Yu Yi had stubbornly refused, even rinsing her mouth with water right in front of him. No matter how he pleaded, she wouldn''t touch the congee again.


    Out of options, Xue Chenjing had finally snatched the bowl away from her in frustration, his eyes red as he angrily finished the entire bowl of burnt congee himself. Not only did he finish what was in the bowl, but he also stormed into the kitchen and ate all the remaining congee in the pot, like a child throwing a tantrum.


    He ate so much he ended up crouching by the stove, feeling nauseous.


    Seeing him like that, Yu Yi had started feeling a bit guilty, wondering if she''d been too harsh. Then she heard the system shouting: "Master, please endure it a bit longer, this is all for the female lead''s favor points!"


    "Poison? No, no, no! You absolutely cannot think like that! You can''t even consider it! Master, she''s your wife!"


    "You''re about to be sick yourself, which proves the congee really wasn''t good, so you can''t me the female lead. Hey, hey, hey, don''t be angry - it''s my fault, I gave you the wrong cooking instructions. Let''s find a different recipe and make another pot of congee..."


    Yu Yi took another spoonful of congee, savoring the sweetness on her tongue. She noticed that when she was with Xue Mingyuan, she rarely heard the system''s voice, and it was also difficult to read his thoughts.


    Xue Mingyuan noticed her expression and asked curiously, "What''s wrong? Is there something wrong with the congee?"


    Yu Yi snapped back to reality, looked up at him, and replied, "No, it''s very good. It''s cooked perfectly - the rice is soft, and the peanuts and lotus seeds are tender enough to melt in your mouth."


    Xue Mingyuan swallowed his food, put down his chopsticks, and made to stand up, saying, "If you like it, I''ll go get you another bowl."


    Yu Yi quickly said, "No need, no need. I can''t eat that much - one bowl is enough."


    Only then did Xue Mingyuan sit back down. He ate his meal methodically, not only paying attention to Yu Yi and pushing her favorite dishes toward her but also taking care of Crane Senior Brother.


    Whenever he noticed the crane looking at certain dishes or pastries a bit longer, he would automatically put some onto the te with the steamed fish.


    Crane Senior Brother would nuzzle his hand in gratitude, seemingly quite fond of him.


    When they were almost finished eating, Yu Yi put down her chopsticks, and Xue Mingyuan said, "During these days, the area around Liang Province has been experiencing thunderstorms. To prevent citizens from getting hurt, the city gates are closed, so we''ll have to impose on our hosts for a few more days."


    Yu Yi nodded, "Then we should prepare some thank-you gifts."


    "Don''t worry about that," Xue Mingyuan poured her a cup of tea to cleanse her pte, speaking in an unhurried, melodious voice, "I heard from Qi Steward that the family believes in the Dao and wants their young children to pursue cultivation. So I n to transcribe some introductory scriptures as gifts for them."


    Indeed, such gifts would be more appreciated than money. After all, a family that could own such a magnificent vi probably didn''tck for wealth.


    Yu Yi naturally agreed, saying, "Then I''ll select some basic sword manuals as gifts too. If those children have the talent and fate to pursue cultivation, they might choose the path of the sword."


    Xue Mingyuan nodded, "That''s good."


    Today, Yu Yi wore a sleek dress with narrow sleeves - a white outer robe over a scarlet inner garment, with a red sash tightly cinching her waist, entuating its graceful curve. The white skirt had slits that revealed shes of the eye-catching red underneath as she moved, like rays of sunlight asionally breaking through dark clouds.


    Xue Mingyuan''s eyes caught that glimpse of red as he asked, "Are you going out?"


    "Yes, I heard there''s an Immortal Ascension tform outside Liang Province where one can see the gates of heaven during thunderstorms. I want to go take a look." Yu Yi tilted her head back, looking out from the square courtyard at the sky where thick clouds gathered and faint bolts of lightning danced between them. She estimated it wouldn''t be long before another thunderstorm broke out.


    Xue Mingyuan said somewhat enviously, "It''s a pity that only cultivators with Thunder Spirit Roots have the chance to climb that tform."


    Yu Yi turned back tofort him, "Don''t worry, if I see anything, I''ll tell you what the heavenly gates look like."


    Crane Senior Brother, still traumatized from being electrocuted by her the previous night, abandoned his meal at the mention of her going out in such weather and immediately slid off the table, hiding underneath it.


    Yu Yi felt both annoyed and amused. "I understand. I won''t let you take me there."


    Xue Mingyuan smiled and said, "I''ll look after Crane Senior Brother. Will you return soon?"


    Yu Yi''s gaze shifted from Crane Senior Brother back to Xue Mingyuan. He was gentle and attentive, considerate to the smallest detail, yet he knew his boundaries and wouldn''t cling to her inappropriately like a certain someone else.


    Yu Yi looked at him for a moment before nodding. "Alright, thank you for your help."


    With that, she summoned her Green Bamboo Sword with a wave of her hand, and her figure transformed into a dazzling rainbow, flying into the dark sky.


    Xue Mingyuan stared in the direction she had gone, frowning slightly as if in pain, and raised his hand to massage his brow. His brother was being unbearably noisy, constantly churning in their shared mindscape, giving him no peace.


    Xue Chenjing struggled violently against the silk threads binding him, even though they remained firmly wrapped around his soul, and shouted, "You useless thing! Scared of a little lightning? Why didn''t you go with her? If you won''t go, let me out! Let me follow her!"


    Xue Mingyuan hadn''t wanted to respond, but his brother was too loud. That anxious emotion rolling through their mindscape even affected him, making it difficult to maintain his peace of mind.


    He let out a soft breath and said gently, "Don''t worry, she''lle back."


    Xue Chenjing suddenly fell silent, his fingers gripping the threads in front of him. After a while, heughed bitterly and said through gritted teeth, "Yes, she''lle back. Crane Senior Brother is still here. She trusted you enough to leave him in your care."


    Xue Mingyuan turned to look at the crane emerging from under the table. His heart skipped a beat at those words, and he couldn''t suppress a feeling of joy as he murmured, "Yes, I''m honored."


    Xue Chenjing: "..."


    After a moment of silence, he suddenly became more frenzied, demanding, "Xue Mingyuan, do you love her? What right do you have to love her? Look at the oath stone in our mindscape¡ªshe''s mine! I went through countless efforts to win her!"


    Yu Yi''s favorability toward him had already reached sixty-eight percent. Even if some of that was thanks to Xue Mingyuan''s efforts, surely some of it belonged to him!


    He couldn''t tolerate Xue Mingyuan stealing his portion¡ªwhat right did he have?!


    Xue Mingyuan didn''t respond further. He cleaned up the bowls and dishes on the table, handed them to the servants waiting outside the courtyard, washed his hands, spread out rice paper, and began transcribing scriptures.Aliali: 6749083ac4f3f33ac4814cd4


    Crane Senior Brother wandered around the courtyard for a while, but when thunder and lightning began crackling overhead again, he quickly took shelter inside, watching Xue Mingyuan write with a bobbing head.


    After finishing one scripture, Xue Mingyuan hung it on a nearby rack to dry. Seeing him blow on the paper, Crane Senior Brother pped his wings to help fan the ink dry faster.


    Xue Mingyuan reached out to pat his head. "Thank you, Crane Senior Brother."


    The person in their mindscape seemed provoked by this scene, trembling all over. Xue Chenjing had always known how likable Xue Mingyuan was¡ªeveryone loved him, even Crane Senior Brother preferred him.


    Lying in the cage woven by their parents, each thread of thought-force represented how they had chosen Xue Mingyuan over him. If even their parents did this, what could he expect from others?


    The defiance and rebelliousness in Xue Chenjing gradually softened, like a moth finally epting its fate and ceasing to struggle. He lowered his head in submission and pleaded, "Brother, I was wrong. Please don''t love her. I''ll agree to anything you want, just please don''t love her."


    Xue Mingyuan''s hand froze, and ink dripped from his brush tip onto the paper, blotting the character he had just written. He was almost finished with this scripture, with only two or three characters remaining.


    He set down his brush and lifted the rice paper, regretfully scanning the dense characters before crumpling it into a ball and crushing it with spiritual power, scattering it outside the window.


    "I want you to destroy those demons that share your existence."


    "Would you agree to that?"

 Chapter 79

    The symbiotic demon was the source of Xue Chenjing''s power. The first demon he swallowed at age ten was a transparent, flower-like creature.


    That year was filled with natural disasters - first earthquakes, then torrential rains. Groundwater surged up through fissures in the earth, submerging vast stretches of farnd and homes. Famine and gue imed countless lives.


    However, Xue Chenjing remained unaware of the suffering outside. His parents were wealthy merchants with deep resources, unlikely to falter despite the year''s hardships.


    He and his brother apanied their parents to distribute porridge to the poor. At ten years old, they could already help their parents, having practiced martial arts since childhood that had built their strength.


    Xue Mingyuan rolled up his sleeves and stood by a cauldron, distributing steamed buns and porridge to the queuing refugees. Though Xue Chenjing initially disliked such tasks, hearing the asional words of gratitude and praise floating from outside made him want to participate.


    After much whining and begging to his brother, Xue Mingyuan finally relented and let him take control.


    Before letting him start, he instructed: "Stir the porridge before serving, don''t make it too thin or too thick. Try to keep the portions even for everyone - don''t show favoritism. If they finish and want more, have them queue up again. Don''t let anyone cut in line, or it''ll cause chaos."


    Xue Chenjing obediently listened and agreed, following his brother''s instructions when he took over - stirring before serving, maintaining the right consistency, giving everyone equal portions.


    But he soon grew bored, not understanding why these refugees were so grateful for in, vorless porridge. Looking around furtively, he secretly tossed some of the snacks his mother had given them into the porridge pot.


    His brother hadn''t forbidden adding ingredients, and surely it would taste better with some snacks mixed in.


    The snacks quickly dissolved in the pot. Hedled some into the bowl of the next person in line. The person walked to the side, took a small sip, and their eyes widened. Despite the heat, they gulped down several more mouthfuls, as if drinking not porridge but some rare delicacy.


    Xue Chenjing felt quite proud seeing their delight.


    The first few people ate quietly, but then someone who received a bowl cried out after taking a sip: "This porridge is sweet! There''s sugar in this pot!"


    That cry was like a drop of water hitting hot oil, causing an instantmotion. The orderly queues at the distribution shelters immediately descended into chaos as everyone rushed toward his station.


    Those already in line worried about losing their chance at the sweet porridge and abandoned all pretense of order, surging forward to scoop directly from the pot with their bowls. Some even lost their bowls in the crush and began grabbing at the porridge with bare hands, soon staining the white porridge with blood.


    Xue Chenjing was terrified. A guard snatched him up and carried him out of the crowd to safety.


    Sitting bewildered in the guard''s arms, he couldn''t understand how people could turn into rabid dogs fighting over porridge just because it had some sugar added.


    The pot was knocked over, many were injured, and crying filled the air. In less than a quarter hour, people''s gratitude toward the Xue family turned to curses. Their eyes filled with venom as they began charging past the guards to grab the remaining supplies in the shelters.


    Xue Chenjing watched his parents get swallowed by the mob, the two guards protecting them trampled underfoot while the outer guards couldn''t push through to help.


    His father''s head was split open by one of the y bowls he had kindly distributed to the refugees, his mother''s clothes were torn - Xue Chenjing finally broke down crying in terror.


    At that moment, something responded to his call.


    Those transparent, flower-like creatures rose from the ground like an inverted waterfall or ascending skynterns, more and more gathering together until they merged into something as tall as a tower gate that crashed to the ground with a boom.


    Rushing water sounds came from its soft belly as transparent ribbons extended outward, sweeping away the crowd surrounding his parents and killing those who had hurt them.


    The sound of rushing water startled everyone present. People cried out that a flood wasing and began fleeing in all directions.


    But to Xue Chenjing''s eyes, this was clearly no flood. It had a rounded head, with long tentacles floating like a fairy''s ribbons in the air - it was beautiful.


    The beautiful ribbons wrapped around him, but they wanted to devour him.


    The frightened guard threw him to the ground, where the ribbons wrapped around himyer byyer and dragged him into the creature''s body. The being crashed about with him like a real flood, destroying many ces before escaping outside the city.


    This was Xue Chenjing''s first brush with death. He instinctively knew that if he didn''t eat it, it would eat him. He opened his mouth and bit into it fiercely, tearing off pieces and swallowing whatever it was.


    The creature was poisonous. His consciousness began to blur until finally he could neither hear nor see anything. In his mind remained only one thought: he didn''t want to die.


    When he next awoke, something new resided in his body. Those transparent pseudopods extended from all over him, initially disobedient but gradually bing tamed.


    From then on, he began attracting more and more demons, began having dreams of past lives and lives before that, dreams of tragic deaths in each incarnation.


    His rtionship with Xue Mingyuan grew strained.


    Once, when Xue Mingyuan was in control of the body, he sought out a Daoist temple where cultivators lived in seclusion. He wanted to use the cultivator''s spiritual power to set up a demon-ying formation to kill him.


    Unfortunately, that cultivator''s resolve wasn''t as firm as he''d hoped. When the cultivator realized the formation might drain all his power, he grew hesitant.


    When the cultivator withdrew his spiritual power, the formation copsed. Xue Chenjing regained his vitality and finally truly understood the threat his brother posed. He imprisoned Xue Mingyuan in his sea of consciousness, never letting him out again.


    His power grew stronger with each demon he devoured, allowing him to suppress Xue Mingyuan, to survive each life-or-death moment, to recover what he had lost.


    Destroying the demons that lived symbiotically within him would be like cutting off his own arms, closing off his path forward.


    Xue Mingyuan spent an entire day writing scriptures, while everyone in the sea of consciousness remained quiet.


    He wasn''t surprised by Xue Chenjing''s choice - it seemed this master wasn''t so difficult for him to let go of after all.


    Xue Mingyuan finished copying the basic enlightenment scriptures, continuing until he reached the chapter on drawing qi into the body. These scriptures should be sufficient. If the child of this manor''s master sessfully drew in qi, immortal sects woulde to ept him as a disciple.


    The crane brother had grown tired of fanning the scriptures and was dozing off to the side, asionally startled awake by thunder, fluttering his wings before fanning a couple more times.


    Xue Mingyuan went over to stroke its wings, saying gently, "It''s alright, I''m finished. No need to fan anymore - you can sleep peacefully now."


    He carried the deeply sleeping red-crowned crane to a soft couch, then turned to take down the dried scriptures, carefully rolling them up and storing them in a brocade box.


    Suddenly, his brother, who had been quiet all day in the sea of consciousness, spoke: "Swear an oath - swear that in this life, the next life, for all lives toe, for all eternity, you will never like her, never love her."


    Xue Chenjing sat in his prison, looking through the crisscrossing threads at the oath stone.


    It didn''t matter - he could destroy his own demons, could let himself be ughtered, could die once more. They had been entangled for so many lives, and he had been killed more than once. In the next life he could start over again. Anything was better than watching her rush unhesitatingly toward Xue Mingyuan like everyone else.


    The system said this was supposed to be a sweet story, but he had never tasted sweetness. Even if he could enjoy a little warmth at first, it would ultimately be cruelly torn apart. He wasn''t the protagonist of this story, was he? His brother was.


    In the end, they would be together, but he absolutely refused to let that happen.


    If he couldn''t have her, Xue Mingyuan couldn''t have her either - not ever.


    ...


    At the reef ind.


    The lightning here was far more intense than in Liangzhou City. Yu Yi dared not fly, and could only approach the Immortal Ascension tform on the sea by crossing through the dense reef clusters. Lightning bolts struck down from the sky as electric currents coursed wildly through the seawater.


    Her hair stood on end from the electricity, and all her limbs had gone numb.


    On this reef beach, there were other cultivators. The lightning here wasn''t tribtion lightning, but rather ordinary lightning strikes. This natural lightning field was the best training ground for cultivators with lightning spiritual roots. As long as they could withstand the strikes without being killed, each lightning strike would serve to temper their spiritual roots.


    Moreover, this was a ce where a powerful immortal had ascended. The presence of such lightning phenomena suggested that the predecessor who ascended here must have also been a cultivator with lightning spiritual roots. If one were fortunate enough to witness the ascension of a powerful being, it would greatly benefit future generations.


    Therefore, during the lightning storm season, it wasn''t umon to see cultivatorsing to this reef ind to practice. Not far from Yu Yi, there was a cultivator who had been struck so badly that he was barely recognizable and had nearly fallen into the sea.


    Yu Yi touched her scorched hair ends, figuring she probably looked just as bad. She had reached her limit for lightning strikes today, as her spiritual root could no longer handle it. She had to retreat and wait until she had fully absorbed the lightning energy within her body before returning tomorrow for another round.


    She left the reef beach, initially nning to find a nearby spot to meditate through the night. After some consideration, however, she decided to ride her green bamboo sword, flying close to the ground, back to the courtyard residence.


    When Yu Yi returned to the residence, Xue Mingyuan''s room door was still open, and she could see Senior Crane sprawled asleep on the soft couch inside. She changed direction from her own room and headed toward the west wing instead.


    Xue Mingyuan came out to greet her, his eyes widening as he looked her up and down, his gaze lingering on her curled hair ends. "Was the lightning really that powerful?" he asked in surprise.


    Yu Yi gave a wry smile, "I was nearly struck senseless. The Immortal Ascension tform isn''t so easy to climb."


    Xue Mingyuan smiled and asked, "Would you like me to trim your hair ends?"


    Yu Yi picked up her hair and absently rubbed it between her fingers. "Never mind, I''m going back tomorrow anyway. If we trim it now, it''ll just curl up again tomorrow. Besides, I''m still charged with electricity and might shock you. I came to take Senior Crane back - thank you for looking after it."


    Xue Mingyuan replied, "I didn''t look after it - rather, it looked after me all day."


    Yu Yi looked surprised, curious about how Senior Crane had taken care of him.


    Xue Mingyuan invited her in and showed her the scriptures he had written, "It rained for half the day, and the air was too humid for the ink to dry. Senior Crane helped me fan the scriptures all day."


    Yu Yi examined the scriptures carefully, and naturally, many topics of conversation arose between them. After chatting for quite a while, Xue Mingyuan noticed her exhausted eyes and took the initiative to end the conversation, saying, "I asked the residence staff to prepare hot water in your room, keeping it warm with a spell. I thought you might need it when you returned."


    This gesture was incredibly thoughtful. Having returned from the reef beach, Yu Yi''s clothes had been soaked with seawater, dried, and soaked again repeatedly until the salt had thoroughly permeated them. Even after several cleaning spells, she still felt ufortable and indeed needed a good bath.


    Yu Yi gratefully said, "Thank you."


    Xue Mingyuan frowned, looking somewhat dejected, and sighed, "You don''t need to be so formal with me. Hearing you say ''thank you'' so many times somehow doesn''t make me happy."


    Yu Yi looked up at him, and Xue Mingyuan, caught in her gaze, asked awkwardly, "I''m sorry, am I making you ufortable?"Aliali: 67540bcaab2494648e000050


    "No," Yu Yi shook her head, and hearing his apology, sheughed, "Actually, you could also say ''sorry'' to me less often."


    Xue Mingyuan was stunned for a moment before breaking into a smile, "Alright. Since you''re still charged with electricity, shall I carry Senior Crane over for you?"


    "It''s fine, let it walk by itself." Yu Yi walked over and touched Senior Crane''s beak with one finger, sending an electric arc that jolted it awake with a snap.


    The crane tumbled off the couch and looked up drowsily. Upon seeing Yu Yi, its first instinct was to spread its wings to hug her, but catching sight of the faint electrical current still coursing over her body, it instantly became fully alert and fluttered backward eight zhang, hiding behind Xue Mingyuan.


    "Gawk gawk gawk gawk!" How could she still be covered in electricity? It had just finally groomed its feathers!


    Yu Yi chuckled, "Come on, stop lounging in other people''s rooms, let''s go back to sleep."


    Senior Crane poked its head out from behind Xue Mingyuan, following a few steps behind Yu Yi, waddling on its long legs as they left the room.


    As the east wing door closed, Xue Mingyuan''s smile faded. He sat by the window, gazing through the verdant banana leaves at another window.


    This life, the next life, life after life, for all eternity - he should have been able to vow never to like her, never to love her.


    Why couldn''t he make such a vow? Wasn''t this heart supposed to have stirred only for Xue Chenjing?

 Chapter 80

    Xue Mingyuan''s silence made Xue Chenjing very uneasy. He knew to what lengths his brother would go to prevent him from causing chaos in the world.


    He could kill him over and over again, weakening his power; he could split his own spiritual fire to contain his evil desires; and during the battle between good and evil at Wangye, he could recklessly seize control of their body and use self-sacrifice to seal away all the demons who followed him.


    They were one in chaos, sharing the same body and the same sea of consciousness. Every time Xue Mingyuan suppressed him, every time he killed him, he himself suffered the same injuries equally, yet he never showed any mercy.


    He always had various methods, stopping him at all costs. Whatever he wanted to destroy, Xue Mingyuan would insist on saving it.


    But now, when he had given Xue Mingyuan another chance topletely suppress him, he actually hesitated. What this meant made Xue Chenjing tremble in fear just thinking about it.


    Lying among the intertwined threads, he struggled to lift his head, trying hard not to cry pathetically.


    "I promised you, so why won''t you make the vow? As soon as you make the vow, I''ll immediately destroy all the demons living within me, not leaving a single one. I can do it - isn''t this what you''ve always wanted? Why are you hesitating?"


    "Xue Mingyuan, you''d better know that mere mortal willpower can only hold me because they were once my parents, because I still remember them, because I''m still unwilling to let go. They might be able to contain me for a day or two, ten days or half a month, but they can never hold me forever."


    "When I regain control of this body, I will once again seal you in the divine temple, letting you suffer the torture of lingchi every day from the people you protect, never to see daylight again in this lifetime."


    "Brother, you can even love those executioners who hurt you, so why can''t you love me? Why can''t you pity me? I have nothing - father and mother don''t want me, you only want to kill me, and now you want to take away the only person who might like me?"


    Listening to the incessant voice in his sea of consciousness, Xue Mingyuan closed his eyes and massaged his temples while supporting his forehead.


    He also wanted to know why he hesitated. After weighing the pros and cons, he thought this deal was worthwhile, but when he tried to make the vow, every word he uttered made him hesitate, his chest feeling like it was being pricked by needles.


    A vow broken at the moment of making it would not be recognized by heaven''sw.


    Xue Mingyuan could only think of one possibility - he and Xue Chenjing were one being, sharing the same beating heart in their chest. If he loved her, then he would also love her.


    This was absolutely terrible.


    Getting no response, Xue Chenjing became increasingly convinced of his suspicions and threatened in frustration:


    "Xue Mingyuan, don''t you love this world? All demons in this world will bow to me, I was born to be their lord. I will lead them to trample every inch ofnd and ughter every immortal mountain and spiritual ground, just like a thousand years ago. I''m sure you remember that period when righteousness was in chaos and demons ran wild."


    "Brother, I will make that day return, and I hope you won''t regret it then."


    After listening to him, Xue Mingyuan let out a deep breath and finally replied slowly: "I will also use every means to stop you."


    Xue Chenjing waited for a long time, only to receive such an unsatisfactory answer. Enraged, he bit at the threads before him and snarled, "Fine, just try!"


    In the west wing room, Yu Yi waspletely unaware of the dispute next door. She sat cross-legged on the couch, her five vital points facing heaven, circting her energy and processing the thunder energy overflowing within her body.


    She possessed both thunder and fire spirit roots, these two spirit roots were anchored in her dantian, embracing her golden core. The thunder energy flowed from her meridians into the spirit roots, then was refined through the spirit roots into her golden core, transforming into her own power.


    Yu Yi inherited the legacy of Qingxuan Daoist Priest and had always practiced her master''s fire-attribute sword techniques. With the help of the crane sword spirit, she had spent far more time refining her fire spirit root than her thunder spirit root over these five years. When wielding her sword, her sword energy was primarily fire-based, with thunder serving only as support.


    But in fact, the thunder spirit root was her innate spirit root.


    Now the thunder spirit root, saturated with thunder energy, was like a coral coated in golden light. From its initially low position, it had grown several inches taller, sprouting new branches that intertwined with the fire spirit root''s tendrils, adhering to the surface of the golden core.


    Yu Yi could feel her true essence within the golden core surge again, as the dual thunder and fire true essence, one gold and one red, circted within the golden core.


    She opened her eyes from her meditation and summoned the green bamboo sword. As she gripped the hilt, electric arcs crackled across the de. She immediately withdrew her spiritual power and sheathed the sword. This wasn''t a suitable ce to test the sword; she''d better try it at the reef beach tomorrow.


    Yu Yi refreshingly took a bath, carefully applied fragrant cream, and emerged from behind the screen to sit at her dressing table andb her hair.


    Her hair ends were damaged, and it took quite a while to smooth them out. Still, Yu Yi didn''t give up on saving her hair, applying a thickyer of nourishing fragrant balm and carefully wrapping the ends in soft satin. Only then did she rx, stretchzily, stroke Crane Senior Brother''s feathers, and walk into the inner chamber, pull back the covers, and lie down on the bed.


    A strand of spiritual energy darted out from behind the bed curtains and extinguished themp on the table.


    After the lights went out in the east wing, Xue Mingyuan also blew out the candle andy down on the bed.


    In the dark bed curtains, bits of light dust gradually appeared, gathering together to form a dancing silver butterfly.


    Xue Chenjing was particrly sensitive to butterfly-like creatures, and he almost immediately sensed the butterfly''s presence through Xue Mingyuan, asking fearfully, "What is that?"


    Xue Mingyuan gently reassured him, "Don''t be afraid, it''s not an Eternal Night Butterfly."


    The butterfly fluttered its wings, scattering silver scales that had a sleep-inducing effect. Xue Mingyuan''s eyshes slowly closed, his voice growing fainter, "This is just a Dream-guiding Butterfly I got from sister, we''ll meet in our dreams."


    The butterfly gracefullynded on Xue Mingyuan''s brow and sank into his skin.


    In the sea of consciousness, the silver butterfly came fluttering, and Xue Chenjing stared at it with wide, terrified eyes, struggling desperately, "Xue Mingyuan! Xue Mingyuan, what are you going to do now? Xue Mingyuan! No, don''t let ite near me, brother, I''m sorry, please spare me, brother¡ª"


    The silver butterfly elegantly passed through the crisscrossing threads and flew to the face of the struggling person, diving into his brow.


    Xue Chenjing''s pupils suddenly dted, his struggles ceased, and he lowered his eyelids, falling into deep sleep.


    At the same time, in the bed curtains of the east wing, another silver butterflynded on the brow of the person in bed. Yu Yi''s eyshes trembled slightly, showing signs of resistance, but finally sumbed to the butterfly''s hypnotic effect and fell into deep slumber.


    ...


    "We cultivators are willing to fight to the death against demons, never letting them cross Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain!"


    "Never let demons cross Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain!" "Never let demons cross Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain!"


    Yu Yi was sleeping soundly when she was suddenly awakened by the thunderous shouts. A silver-white light shed before her eyes, its shadow like a fluttering butterfly.


    She had no time to notice it, her attention drawn away by the deafening shouts. She looked toward the source of the sound in amazement. She saw rolling steps extending downward from before her, stretching all the way to the foot of the mountain, seemingly thousands of feet long at a nce.


    Every certain distance along the steps stood a majestic gate tower, counting nine towers from top to bottom. Formation stones appeared to be set up on the towers, each tower representing one barrier. The barriers'' light ovepped, creating gorgeous ripples in the sunlight.


    Yu Yi nced at the dense crowds above and below, everyone holding magical tools, ready for battle. The slogan "fight to the death against demons" rolled like continuous thunder from the first gate tower at the mountain''s foot up to the summit, reaching Yu Yi''s ears.


    Her ears buzzing from the noise, Yu Yi was still trying to process what was happening. Wasn''t she sleeping in her room? How did she end up here in the blink of an eye? And where was Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain?


    She tried to stand up, then heard the rustling of leaves and was horrified to discover that her body had be a tree. This tree was incredibly tall, its trunk as thick as a wide wall, probably requiring more than ten people joining hands to encircle it.


    The crown of the tree was also as massive as a small hill, with crimson leaves.


    Yu Yi tried moving her limbs, and the tree crown immediately rustled in response to her consciousness.


    Was she dreaming? How did she suddenly be a tree?


    This tree where she had be grew at the highest point of the nine-tiered gate tower, wedged between two towering cliffs that formed a "V" shape around her. A thousand steps before her stretched an endless deste desert, while behind hery the Ten Thousand Immortal Mountains shrouded in spiritual mist.


    Yu Yi pondered, Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain? She seemed to have read this name in a book before.


    Before she could make sense of it, a rumbling vibration came from underground, and suddenly the boundless desert ahead erupted in clouds of yellow sand, sweeping rapidly toward them.


    A young servant standing beneath the tree timidly said, "They''reing, the demon army is attacking."


    Another young servantforted him, "Don''t be afraid. The Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain hasyers of barriers, and cultivators from all sects are guarding the gate towers. They won''t be able to break through. Besides, we have the Divine Tree of the Emperor''s Dwelling that can ward off evil. We have nothing to fear!"


    Yu Yi noticed that as the young servant spoke, he looked up at her, his dark pupils reflecting the Divine Tree''s crimson crown, his eyes full of trust in the sacred tree.


    The Divine Tree of the Emperor''s Dwelling.


    Then she remembered.


    Wasn''t this the divine tree that was brutally uprooted by the Demon Lord during the great battle between good and evil, its branches stripped, roots severed, and split into countless pieces, ultimately made into the carriage of the Demon Lord?


    What was happening? Had she transmigrated again? And into a tree no less¡ªa tree that was about to be uprooted and torn to pieces.


    The yellow sand from the desert drew closer, but upon careful observation, it wasn''t sand at all, but a vast fog. The Earth Impurity spread its extensive mist, carrying the demon army, crossing Wangye in mere blinks of an eye, charging toward the foot of the Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain.


    Xue Chenjing was awakened by the jolting beneath him, and as he opened his eyes, he instinctively reached for his brow. When he touched his face, he paused, looking at his hand in surprise.


    The threads that had bound him were gone¡ªhe was free?


    Xue Chenjing sat up and surveyed his surroundings, immediately noticing something was wrong. Under the mist of Earth Impurity, countless demons and evil cultivators followed behind him, their battle cries shaking the heavens.Aliali: 6754a928bd5e46c308a3e2fc


    He lifted the bamboo curtain of his carriage and looked at the demon beast pulling it, gazing past its needle-covered head toward the narrow celestial gate ahead.


    Atop the majestic tower, a crimson divine tree burned like a fierce me between the mountains.


    "The Divine Tree of the Emperor''s Dwelling," Xue Chenjing murmured, remembering when this was. He held his forehead andughed, "A dream? Is this the dream you wanted me to enter? Brother, you still remember, don''t you? How a thousand years ago, I gathered all demons, crossed the Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain, and crushed the world of immortal cultivation."


    "Could it be that you feared I''d forget, so you''re making me relive it once more, to do it all again?"


    Xue Mingyuan spoke within his heart: "Yu Yi is also in this dream."


    Xue Chenjing''sughter ceased abruptly, his face instantly bing savage as he spat hatefully, "What did you say?!"


    "The Dream-guiding Butterfly will bring her into this dream as well, so she will witness firsthand how the Demon Lord tramples every inch ofnd and ughters every immortal mountain and sacred ground."


    Xue Chenjing''s pupils trembled, his eyes revealing uncontroble panic as Xue Mingyuan''s voice continued like a nightmare in his heart:


    "A thousand years ago, she didn''t exist, so the Dream-guiding Butterfly will only guide her to attach to other people or things in the dream. She might be a flower, a tree, a mountain, or one of the demons following at your side, or perhaps even one of the righteous cultivators you''re about to ughter."


    "Chenjing, what will you do if the person you kill turns out to be her?"

 Chapter 81

    The development of this dreamscape followed exactly what had happened over two thousand years ago - demon armies charging towards the Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain, engaging in closebat with righteous cultivators in a battle of life and death.


    Before this, during the thousands of years when the Ji n of Immortals ruled over both immortals and mortals, they had ruthlessly hunted down demons and monsters, forcing these supernatural creatures to hide in dark gutters and deep ravines, never to see daylight.


    This was the first time demons had the power to resist.


    Thousands of years of umted hatred exploded in this moment, like boiling oil being poured onto the first gate tower at the foot of Emperor''s Dwelling Mountain.


    Under such overwhelming circumstances, even as the Demon Lord, Xue Chenjing couldn''t forcibly stop this great battle. Moreover, he was now powerless to prevent it.


    Xue Chenjing couldn''t break free or resist; he could only helplessly follow the actions from two thousand years ago.


    He stood tall atop a demon beast, wearing dark robes with crimson trim that fluttered in the fierce wind. His ck garments were embroidered with golden dragon patterns, his high-bound hair dancing wildly in the wind. Beneath his disheveled bangs, his face wore a wild and venomous smile, his pupils silvery-white, transformed into sharp vertical slits like those of a beast.


    "The immortal lords have stayed up high for too long, believing their way is the only way, thinking those not of their kind deserve only to exist in gutters. Today, I, along with countless demons, invite you noble lords toe down and y with us."


    His voice, tinged with mockery and enhanced by demonic power, echoed throughout heaven and earth. From his ck and gold sleeves, he extended two fingers, drawing them through the air to form a longbow from condensed arc light.


    Xue Chenjing drew the bow and released an arrow. It flew with a piercing whistle, demonic energy rolling off its tip like a ck hawk taking flight, striking the first barrier.


    With a thunderous boom, the barrier shattered.


    Xue Chenjing raised his hand forward with a sweep,ughing, "Revenge for grievances, vengeance for hatred, and for those without either, we shall still leave none alive. From this day forward, I will ensure your ten thousand immortal mountains know no peace. Until the blood of the righteous path runs dry, the demons'' hatred shall not cease. Kill!"


    His bewitching voice spread across the battlefield, and the demons immediately responded, their eyes blood-red as they pounced toward the immortal gates, screaming "Kill!"


    In an instant, righteous and demonic energies shed, sword lights and de shadows obscuring the sky, and the scent of blood quickly spread from the mountain''s foot.


    Xue Chenjing stepped on blood-soaked stairs, breathing in the sweet metallic scent of blood. He used to love this smell; it intoxicated him.


    A figure fell not far ahead - he remembered that face, an immortal lord from the Ji family who had fallen to demons, ah yes, Ji Muyun. He had taken many White Spirit Pills, and after Xue Chenjing took control of his body, it was easy to break his mental state and drag the immortal lord into the abyss.


    Ji Muyun was pinned to the stairs by a sword through his heart. His eyes were wide open in death, and his lifeless pupils gazed upon a righteous cultivator in blood-stained white robes.


    His features were seven or eight parts simr to Ji Muyun''s. Tears streamed down his face as he crouched to brush Ji Muyun''s face, closing his eyes while saying sorrowfully, "May father rest in peace."


    Xue Chenjing pped his hands, stepping through the blood flowing from Ji Muyun''s heart as he walked upward. "What a touching scene of filial piety, sacrificing family for righteousness. Yet nothing disgusts me more than those who ''sacrifice family for righteousness''!"


    The cultivator turned to look at him, eyes bulging with rage as he drew his sword and shed at him, shouting, "You brutal and shameless demon!"


    Xue Chenjing dodged like a cat ying with a mouse, his form gathering and dispersing beneath the earthly turbidity.


    The cultivator formed a formation with his hands, his spiritual sword splitting from one into two, two into three, instantly bing countless sword shadows that formed a trapping formation, seamlessly imprisoning that ghostly figure within.


    Sword shadows fell like rain, and the final sword finally pierced through the earthly turbid mist, stabbing into the Demon Lord''s heart.


    Blood trickled from Xue Chenjing''s mouth, his pupils dted, and tears of pain rolled from his eyes.


    The cultivator''s face showed wild joy as he shouted, "The Demon Lord is in¡ª"


    Suddenly, the supposedly in Demon Lord blinked, wiped away his tears, and easily broke the spiritual sword stuck in his heart. His bleeding lips curled into a smile, as if he had just enjoyed an excellent performance, and he couldn''t help butugh out loud.


    "Hahahahaha, you fool, I was just pretending."


    The cultivator froze, then was consumed by hatred. Behind Xue Chenjing appeared a massive nine-tailed fox demon, its soft tails like giant pirs, striking the cultivator into the air before mming him down heavily.


    The cultivator''s body nearly broke in half, all his spiritual bones shattered. When he hit the ground, he had be nothing more than a boneless mass of flesh.


    Xue Chenjing walked to his side, stepping on his face from above, looking down at him saying, "When the Ji family was using the White Spirit Pills for cultivation, no one called me a brutal and shameless demon. You called me the Great God, a merciful deity who protected all living beings."


    He savored the cultivator''s despairing gaze as he slowly applied pressure, crushing his skull.


    Fresh blood stained his shoes.


    The sounds of killing surrounded them. At every moment, someone was dying, whether demon or cultivator. Xue Chenjing once loved this scene of blood raining from the sky and endless fighting. Killing once brought him immense joy, but now, only despair and fear remained in his heart.


    Yu Yi was here too.


    Xue Chenjing''s heart pounded wildly, fear gripping his heart like iron tongs.


    He dared not imagine if she had possessed the body of Ji Muyun who was pierced through the heart, or this cultivator whose skull he had just crushed, or any of those being ughtered or about to be ughtered around them.


    What could she do?


    What could he do?


    This dream had turned into aplete nightmare.


    "Xue Mingyuan, you can torture me however you want, but please spare her, don''t hurt her. Don''t you love her too? How could you let her experience these things!"


    Xue Mingyuan''s voice resonated within his heart, "Chenjing, I want you to remember this moment of fear and pain. Killing should only bring you pain, not joy. Because they too are living beings, and there are people who worry about their death and harm just as you do. You fear her seeing your past because you know she abhors killing."


    "Alright, I''ll remember, I will remember." Xue Chenjing wanted to weep bitterly. He was indeed in pain now, more than ever before. This awareness that he would lose her was slowly torturing his heart.


    But the him from a thousand years ago would not have stopped for anyone, nor would he have felt pain for anyone''s death, whether it was themon people his brother once protected or the demons who now followed behind him.


    He reveled in this ughter, feeling only that the battlefield wasn''trge enough, the smell of blood not thick enough.


    Xue Chenjing drew his bow again, shooting through the second barrier, the third barrier, the fourth...


    One by one the barriers broke, fresh blood staining the long stairs, flowing upward from below. Yu Yi was trapped within this divine tree, able only to shake its crown - she could only watch helplessly as the battle below gradually approached her.


    That Demon Lord passed through the shing swords and des, wearing a coat of fresh blood, finally stepping into her field of vision.


    Yu Yi saw his gradually clearing features, her heart skipping a beat - surprised, yet not entirely unexpected. She knew Xue Chenjing had died many times, reincarnated many times, knew that righteous and evil constantly struggled within his body.


    From reading records about that Demon Lord, seeing how in the final moment he turned against his own side and sacrificed himself to seal away the demons who followed him, Yu Yi had roughly guessed who that Demon Lord from a thousand years ago might be.


    She just hadn''t expected to personally confirm this guess, to witness firsthand his past brutality and bloodthirst.


    If this was a nightmare, she hoped she could wake up soon.


    Xue Chenjing broke through the final barrier, finally reaching the peak. He looked up at the majestic tree crown above - this divine tree looked like a burning me from afar, and standing beneath it, every leaf appeared like a tongue of fire.


    "The Emperor''s Dwelling Divine Tree, truly beautiful," Xue Chenjing sighed sincerely, his eyes showing wonder and covetousness.


    This gaze, in Yu Yi''s eyes, was like a venomous snake''s flickering tongue, sending a chill through her entire being, as if invisible tentacles were already wrapping around her body, wanting to possess herpletely.


    "The crimson leaves can ward off evil." Xue Chenjing raised his hand, his fingertips still stained with someone''s blood, and caressed her leaves. "Now, I am the most evil being under heaven, and I want to see how you will ward me off."


    He pinched a me-red leaf, his fingers exerting force to tear it from the branch.


    The Heart Sea Oath Stone suddenly trembled, startling both of them. Xue Chenjing''s eyes lit up, feeling a hint of post-disaster relief, "It''s Yu Yi, she''s in the Emperor''s Dwelling Divine Tree."


    Thankfully, she wasn''t on the battlefield below. She wasn''t dead, nor was she injured.


    But after this brief relief, he quickly became anxious, because he knew what he would do next.


    He would uproot this evil-warding Emperor''s Dwelling Divine Tree with his own hands, strip away its roots, break its branches, burn its me-like leaves, split it into hundreds of pieces, and have people drill holes and carve it into an ornate carriage.


    Thereafter, he would drive this carriage made from the evil-warding divine tree across the mountains and rivers of the cultivation world, and years of umted blood would seep into the divine wood, impossible to wash clean.


    Xue Chenjing''s resistance caused the dreamscape to fluctuate. "Brother, don''t make me do this to her, let me wake up..."


    The branches and leaves of the Emperor''s Dwelling Divine Tree rustled. Yu Yi realized it wasn''t her imagination - Xue Chenjing''s transparent tentacles were indeed wrapping around the tree trunk. He didn''t even fear the thorns on the branches as more and more tentacles tightly constricted the trunk, attempting to pull her from the earth.


    But she had clearly just heard Xue Chenjing''s tearful plea.


    Xue Mingyuan nced at the trembling leaves. He certainly knew Yu Yi was within this tree - this dream was constructed because of him, as he had used the dream butterfly to lure her here.


    Logic told him he should let this dream continue; their rtionship would be irreparable.


    His brother would never be able toplete the conquest mission.


    However, when the crown of the Emperor''s Dwelling Divine Tree quivered, Xue Mingyuan still backed down. He had overestimated his resolve - even seeing Xue Chenjing tear off one of her leaves made him feel distressed.


    The dream shattered. Silver butterflies descended from the sky''s canopy, their wings enveloping the dream, guiding their consciousness back to reality.


    Yu Yi suddenly awoke from the dream, still feeling the sensation of being bound by tentacles. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of silver scales falling between the bed curtains. She reached out to lift the curtains, just in time to see a silver butterfly shadow disappear through the window gap.


    She got out of bed and quickly walked out the door. The door of the west wing creaked open as well, and Xue Mingyuan emerged from his room. The two met in the garden between their quarters.


    The morning light was blocked by dark clouds; today was another stormy day. Everything was shrouded in darkness, with only asional rolling thunder illuminating the ground.


    Yu Yi looked up and asked, "Was it your doing?"


    Xue Mingyuan remained silent, giving a slight nod.


    Immediately following was a sharp crack as Yu Yi raised her hand and pped him across the face.

 Chapter 82

    The p was fierce - Xue Mingyuan''s left cheek visibly swelled and reddened, the skin burning with pain.


    After pping him, Yu Yi didn''t even spare him a nce before turning back into her room and firmly locking the door. The light from her Green Bamboo Sword rippled between the doors and windows, establishing a barrier that acted like a newly rebuilt fortress, once again full of defenses.


    All just to keep him out.


    When Xue Mingyuan tried to step forward, before his toe could even touch the ground, a sword light immediately swept out, cutting his neck and slicing off a strand of his hair.


    He lowered his gaze to watch that strand of hair flutter down to the ground, withdrawing his suspended foot and stepping back several paces.


    The System had never expected things to turn so drastically south, with Xue Mingyuan actually getting pped. It cried out tearfully, "Ahhh Master, quickly exin to the female lead! You didn''t really mean to hurt her, right?"


    The System hadn''t detected any malice in his heart, nor had it found any threat towards the female lead - he truly hadn''t intended to harm her!


    Yu Yi heard the System''s outcry outside, but she felt no need for his exnations.


    She hadn''t wanted to get involved in the brothers'' conflict, yet someone insisted on dragging her into it.


    Regardless of Xue Mingyuan''s intentions in drawing her into the dream - whether to use her against Xue Chenjing or to use her to wear down his demonic heart - was she just meant to be a tool to be used? Unworthy of respect or consultation?


    Whether or not Xue Mingyuan truly meant to harm her, she could not forgive his actions.


    Indeed, she had been too careless, too unguarded with them, forgetting they had approached her with ulterior motives.


    The sword light barrier remained tightly sealed around the room, unwavering.


    Xue Mingyuan stood outside for a moment. When he turned his head, a tear rolled from the corner of his eye. He raised his hand to touch the teartrack on his face, rubbing it gently between his fingers.


    These must be his brother''s tears - the fear of losing his master had already reduced him to tears in the depths of his heart. Their parents'' spiritual restraints were weakening, and Xue Chenjing''s emotions were now able to affect him.


    He was right - their parents'' spiritual bonds couldn''t hold him for long.


    Xue Mingyuan slowly exhaled, bent down to pick up the fallen strand of hair, and returned to his room.


    The System anxiously called in his ear, "Master, aren''t you going to exin? I suggest you quickly exin everything to the female lead, otherwise the misunderstanding between you will only deepen with time, until it bes impossible to remedy."


    Xue Mingyuan asked helplessly, "How can I exin when I can''t even get near her?"


    The System was momentarily speechless. He was right - now that the female lead had set up the sword light barrier outside her room, he couldn''t get anywhere near her, and she likely wouldn''t listen to his exnations anytime soon.


    Xue Mingyuan sat back down by the window, gazing through the banana leaves at the light in another window.


    His face stung, and the blood from his neck had soaked a patch of his clothes, but he didn''t want to do anything now. His mind was nk, temporarily void of other thoughts.


    Only Xue Chenjing''s suppressed sobbing asionally transmitted from the depths of his heart, and thanks to him, his own eyes were uncontrobly producing tears.


    After a long while, Xue Mingyuan finally stirred, raising his sleeve to wipe his endlessly crying eyes, and asked, "System, what''s the favorability rating now?"


    The System was silent for a moment before reluctantly responding, "Current target''s favorability is at seventy-two percent."


    After seeing such memories, the favorability had increased rather than decreased?


    Xue Mingyuan''s eyebrows twitched slightly, suddenly understanding something. But before the thought could fully form in his mind, he deliberately buried it beneath other thoughts.


    Had this shared dream been unnecessary? It could even be said to have backfired.


    Xue Mingyuan recalled the guidance from the tutorial.


    [When you''ve sessfully be an "indispensable" existence in your target''s heart, the next step is to leave them, letting them deeply experience the despair and pain of losing you.]


    He had inadvertently facilitated this step.


    Xue Mingyuan ced his hand over his heart, feeling the heartbeat beneath his palm. If this was the case, it would be very difficult to suppress the rise in favorability unless this heart stopped beating.


    But even that would be futile - they would still walk the same path in their next life.


    At least in this life, there was still her, still Yu Yi as a variable.


    Xue Mingyuan sat by the window, watching the opposite room until the thick clouds could no longer hide the dawn, and the courtyard gradually brightened.


    Finally, there was movement from the opposite room. Yu Yi removed the barrier and opened the door.


    Today she wore a water-green gauze dress, a fresh and elegant color, with scattered gold spots printed on the hem that made her look like a movingndscape painting with dancing golden light. Her hair was neatly arranged in a bun, with the back length half-loose, but she wore no ornaments or jewelry.


    She would be going to the Immortal Ascension tform today, where cumbersome essories would be a hindrance.


    Yu Yi''s expression was calm, showing no anger or resentment, and she didn''t even nce in his direction. She calmly closed the door behind her, holding her miniaturized crane senior in her arms as she walked out.


    The little bird hopped from her arm to her shoulder, and seeing her heading straight for the courtyard exit, raised its head to look at the western wing before turning back to chirp twice.


    Yu Yi shook her head and said softly, "You''reing with me."


    Xue Mingyuan knew that once she left, she would never return. But he still didn''t move, only watching her intently as she left the courtyard without looking back. Thest image in his vision was her gold-speckled dress hem.


    The System couldn''t detect his current thoughts at all, only sensing the suffocating sadness in his heart, as if this was truly a final farewell, hisst glimpse of her.


    The System couldn''t sit still, searching through its task tree hoping to issue him a suitable temporary task while urging, "Master, go after her! Exin everything clearly!"


    If this continued, its CP would truly end badly! Why? Xue Chenjing was one thing, but why was Xue Mingyuan like this too? This male lead was truly hopeless.


    Meanwhile, after leaving the guest courtyard, Yu Yi didn''t immediately leave the estate.


    She carefully selected three suitable sword manuals from her storage pouch and personally delivered them to the estate steward, asking him to pass them to the main family, along with some gold and silver currency and protective talismans to thank everyone in the estate for their hospitality these past few days.


    The steward couldn''t refuse and respectfully epted, asking in surprise, "Immortal Lady, are you leaving already? The thunderstorm hasn''t passed yet, and Liang Province''s gates are closed. Why not stay a few more days?"


    Yu Yi politely declined, "Something urgent came up, I''m not going to Liang Province anymore."


    The steward looked behind her, and seeing no sign of herpanion, hesitantly asked, "What about the immortal gentleman who came with you? Is he leaving today as well?"


    Yu Yi apologetically replied, "I''m not sure of his ns. Steward Qi can send someone to ask him."


    After brief pleasantries, Yu Yi took her leave. Steward Qi didn''t know what had happened between them - they had arrived together but were now parting ways, acting so distant.


    Just as he was about to go to the guest courtyard himself, he saw the other person walking towards him. Steward Qi quickly said, "Immortal Sir, you''vee at the right time. That Immortal Lady just bid farewell and left. Did something..."


    Xue Mingyuan smiled gently, sping his hands in greeting, "I''ve alsoe to bid farewell to Steward Qi. Thank you for your hospitality these past days."


    He took out a prepared introductory Daoist scripture to give him, and like Yu Yi, had also prepared some money to distribute among the estate staff.


    Steward Qi repeatedly waved his hands, "I just received money from the Immortal Lady, and her silver alone was more than enough to cover both your expenses these past days. I couldn''t possibly ept more from you, please keep it."


    Xue Mingyuan paused for a moment, and seeing his insistence, had no choice but to take back the money, leaving only the handwritten scripture.


    When he came out of the courtyard, Yu Yi was nowhere to be seen. A momentter, a figure appeared beside him out of thin air. Xue Mingyuan returned the bag of silver to him, saying, "Thank you, but it seems I won''t be needing it after all."


    Yi Heng stared at the bag of silver, unsure whether to take it or not. "I traveled quite far to exchange this silver for you."


    After all, he only had spirit stones on him and no regr silver currency that mortals used. He had to pawn a jade pendant at a loss to exchange for this bag of silver.


    Yi Heng had been sent by his mother to follow them, and he caught up with his reincarnated young uncle that very night. He had been hiding in the courtyard these past two days. He had personally delivered the Dream Butterfly as well.


    Xue Mingyuan apologetically said, "I''m sorry for making you waste your effort."


    "Ah, it wasn''t much trouble." Yi Heng didn''t dare say more. Though he couldn''t bring himself to address him as such, this was still his uncle. He reached out to take the silver and tossed it into his storage pouch. "Would you like me to have someone keep an eye on that female cultivator?"


    Xue Mingyuan frowned, a sh of displeasure crossing his features before quickly disappearing. He refused, "No need. She wouldn''t like being monitored."


    "Alright." Yi Heng nodded. Though Xue Mingyuan said this, he still thought it best to have someone watch over that female cultivator. He wasn''t sure what Xue Mingyuan had done with the Dream Butterfly, but it seemed he had truly developed feelings.


    Yi Heng stroked his chin, thinking to himself how wonderful youth was.


    Xue Mingyuan paid no attention to his scrutiny and said, "Please take me to the Carefree Sect. I want to see my elder sister."


    Yi Heng was overjoyed - this was excellent news. He nced at Xue Mingyuan''s still-swollen face and the sword wound on his neck. The illusion spell could only fool the mortal from earlier, preventing him from seeing the injuries, but it wouldn''t deceive Lady Lotus.


    Yi Heng said, "Before seeing my mother, we should treat your injuries first."


    Xue Mingyuan touched the sword wound on his neck. Compared to the handprint on his face, the neck wound was more severe, with thunder-fire sword energy still lingering in the wound, causing a burning pain.


    "No need to trouble yourself." Xue Mingyuan covered the wound with his palm. When he removed his hand momentster, the sword wound on his neck had healed, and the handprint on his face had faded. This body possessed remarkable self-healing abilities.


    The restraints in his sea of consciousness were growing weaker and weaker. He needed to hurry.

 Chapter 83

    Yu Yi first found an inn to settle her crane senior brother, then returned to the rocky beach by the sea.


    She rarely had opportunities to temper her lightning spiritual root before, and now with such a natural lightning field, she certainly couldn''t miss this chance.


    As for the matters concerning Xue Mingyuan and Xue Chenjing, they were merely external affairs, not worth her worry to the point of missing an opportunity to strengthen herself.


    Yu Yi closed her eyes, silently reciting the Heart Purification Technique to clear her mind ofplicated thoughts. She leaped into the crisscrossing lightning like a sharp sword, cutting through the fierce sea winds straight into the depths of the lightning.


    The lightning energy coursed through her meridians throughout her body, finally gathering in her lightning spiritual root in her dantian, before being refined and sent into her golden core. Her lightning spiritual root gradually grew stronger, progressing from initially only being able to absorb the power of one lightning strike to gradually being able to withstand two, then three strikes.


    This rocky beach was shrouded in lightning strikes; the closer one got to the Immortal Ascension tform on the reef ind in the sea, therger the lightning pirs became, and their might grew more terrifying. The thunderstorm had periods of intensity and times when the clouds dispersed and lightning ceased.


    During these times, one could rest and digest the lightning energy within before preparing for the next round. Yu Yi decided not to return at all, staying continuously in this lightning field, bing entranced by her growing spiritual root, the surge of spiritual power within her golden core, and her increasing strength.


    In the dense lightning, it became impossible to distinguish between day and night. When the lightning ceased, sometimes it was daylight, sometimes deep night. Yu Yi had lost track of how many days had passed.


    All cultivators who came here to temper their spiritual roots were the same, sharing an unspoken understanding not to interfere with each other, focusing solely on themselves.


    At the base of the Immortal Ascension tform, the lightning pirs were no longer ordinary lightning, containing hints of heavenly might. Thoughpared to true tribtion lightning, their power was naturally far inferior. But few people could make it this far.


    Climbing the Immortal Ascension tform on a clear day wasn''t particrly difficult, though on such days it was merely an ordinary stone tform. Only during thunderstorms did this stone tform truly be the Immortal Ascension tform.


    Dense clouds pressed overhead, with lightning illuminating all four sides, making it not dark at all, allowing clear visibility of the tform''s surroundings. Called a tform, it was actually a ratherrge reef ind, bare on top and no different from other reefs.


    When Yu Yi stepped onto the Immortal Ascension tform, the thunder suddenly quieted around her ears. She hadn''t expected this ce to be like the eye of a hurricane - lightning and thunder outside, but extraordinarily calm at the center.


    Though no lightning pirs struck here, the air waspressed with dense lightning energy, which surged toward her the moment she stepped onto the Immortal Ascension tform.


    Yu Yi summoned her green bamboo sword, forming hand seals behind it, epting all iing energy into her spiritual root without resistance.


    Having reached this point, she had no possibility of retreat - either she would consume all the lightning energy here and make it her own, or she would fail to absorb it and be struck down to charred bones, dying in both body and dao.


    She admitted there was an element of gambling in this. But as cultivators who defied heaven''s will, every step upward was a gamble.


    Yu Yi''s lightning spiritual root began rapidly growing again. Each time she felt her dantian was about to burst, her spiritual root would, in that desperate moment, struggle to sprout new branches to digest the lightning energy flooding into her body.


    Small electric arcs began appearing on the green bamboo sword, gradually growing stronger, developing from formless energy into vague outlines.


    Perhaps sensing something, the Vermillion Crane Sword Spirit within the green bamboo sword began to vibrate, emitting clear crane calls from within the de.


    The sword mark on Yu Yi''s brow resonated with the green bamboo sword. Her dark pupils reflected the shing arcs on the sword, where scales and ws emerged from the lightning, forming a golden dragon coiling around the green bamboo sword.


    The lightning dragon took shape, sprouted eyes, raised its head and roared like thunder, as all the lightning energy poured into its eyes. The surrounding lightning energy suddenly thinned, the lightning pirs on the rocky beach gradually decreased, the dense clouds dispersed, and a pir of heavenly light shone down, perfectly epassing the Immortal Ascension tform.


    The lightning dragon spirit emerged from the sword body, circled around Yu Yi once, then raised its head and shot straight up toward the sky, crashing into a white jade gate that had appeared in the clouds at some unknown time.


    Unexpectedly, that legend turned out to be true?


    Those with destiny could see the heavenly gates open a crack on the Immortal Ascension tform, glimpsing the wondrous sights of the immortal realm beyond.


    Yu Yi stood on the reef ind, looking up at theyered dense clouds overhead, her divine consciousness leaving her physical body to shoot skyward with the sword spirit.


    Passing through that magnificent white jade gate, Yu Yi beheld the scene beyond the heavenly gates. However, what she saw could hardly be equated with the legendary "ten thousand paths of golden light rolling with red rainbows, thousand streams of auspicious energy spurting purple mist" of the celestial pce.


    Yu Yi saw only dpidated pces, broken celestial pirs, shattered rainbow bridges, sparse auspicious clouds, dried-up heavenly pools, withered flowers, and sacred beasts reduced to bones.


    Not a single deity could be seen in the celestial pce.


    Yu Yi''s divine consciousness plummeted from the clouds with the sword spirit, unknowingly entering another realm where all she could see were grim skeletons - human forms, beast forms, half-human half-beast forms, and many things she couldn''t even identify.


    These skeletons were all enormously huge. Yu Yi''s consciousness weaved through them as if traveling through a forest of white bones.


    Where the wind passed, sand scraped across the scattered skeletons with a rustling sound. Looking closer, she realized the flowing sand was actually bone dust from weathered remains, with armor and weapons half-buried in the bone sand reflecting cold, sharp light.


    This was a battlefield, and an extremely brutal one at that. Residual demonic energy and divine power still entangled in this realm asionally formed mirages like heat haze, recreating that fierce battle between gods and demons from ten thousand years ago.


    Yu Yi''s consciousness passed through one such mirage,ing face-to-face with the nine-headed demon god Xiangliao.


    Its massive heads were like small mountains, opening huge mouths with fangs like celestial pirs, flicking out bright red snake tongues with forked tips thicker than her waist. And this was just one of its heads.


    Just before Yu Yi''s consciousness was about to crash into its mouth, a ji halberd suddenly thrust down from above, severing the snake head. Blood poured down like a waterfall, raising steaming bloody mist.


    Yu Yi''s consciousness was drenched by the snake blood, and for a moment, she seemed to feel its warmth.


    Through the blood waterfall, she looked up and saw the armored deity wielding the ji halberd, standing against the light, iparably tall. The struggling nine-headed demon snake coiled around the deity''s body as they fought until heaven and earth darkened, finally crashing into the ground together, bing bones on the battlefield.


    Countless such battles took ce on this battlefield, with Yu Yi''s consciousness moving through them, as tiny as a speck of dust.


    But in the depths of this battlefield, there emerged a jade-green pool. The light reflecting off the water caught Yu Yi''s eye, drawing her consciousness toward it, passing through wind and sand and bones, through the mirages of fierce battles, floating toward that pool as tiny as a speck of dust on the battlefield.


    Here, the energy of gods and demons was no longer so sharp, but rather intertwined and merged, settling to form a pool of primordial chaos.


    The small pool, only about the size of a bath, was like a dewdrop the size of a fingertip floating on a vast lotus leafpared to this battlefield of gods and demons.


    Yu Yi sat atop her newly formed sword spirit, scooping up a handful of clear water, which turned to mist in her hands before recondesning into droplets in mid-air and falling back into the pool.


    This was no mirage, but a real pool of water. The water was incredibly clear, without a trace of impurity, nor any sign of life within it.


    Whenever she tried to scoop up the water, it would immediately turn to mist in her palms before falling back into the pool. Unable to hold the water, Yu Yi straightened up and dipped her foot in to stir it, wanting to see if anything unusual would happen.


    At the Carefree Sect.


    Xue Mingyuan seemed to sense something, his soul suddenly rippling as if an invisible hand in the void had directly grabbed hold of his soul.


    In his sea of consciousness, Xue Chenjing also felt the same disturbance, which quickly intensified until it felt as if his soul had been violently kicked several times, leaving him dizzy and his ears ringing.


    Xue Mingyuan''s vision spun as he fell backward, but Yi Heng quickly caught him, eximing in surprise: "Hey, Uncle, what''s wrong with you?"


    "Lingwei!" Lady Lotus suddenly stood up and rushed to grab his wrist. A spiritual talisman quickly shot from her fingertips and crawled onto Xue Mingyuan''s body, attempting to bind his soul and physical form together.


    Although Xue Mingyuan came to see her hoping she wouldn''t interfere in their conflict, wishing that after his disappearance, she wouldn''t pursue Xue Chenjing to the death¡ªat least not until hepletely turned into a demon, not to judge him for crimes he mightmit in the future.


    He actually believed that the little demon would change because of a woman. How much righteousness could a woman who falls in love with a demon possess? Wouldn''t she be just as bad as the demon?


    To be honest, Lady Lotus was very disappointed in him. Even after reincarnation, her brother still showed such poor judgment and indecisiveness. In his previous life, he had shown the same weakness toward that little demon, ultimately being devoured by him and causing great catastrophe.


    In this life, he hadn''t improved at all.


    Xue Mingyuan, slightly recovering from his dizziness, shook his head and said, "Sister, it''s useless."


    Lady Lotus gritted her teeth and said, "I won''t agree to your request. Either you ept my help to suppress him like in your previous life, using the heart sword to weaken his power¡ªas long as he doesn''t emerge, I won''t harm him. But the moment he takes control of the body, I will kill him, even if it means killing you along with him."


    "My Yi family has declined to this state, and though he didn''t do it directly, it was all because of him. You''re asking me to forgive him? That''s impossible."


    Xue Mingyuan''s soul became increasingly unstable, feeling as if someone was stirring his mind with a rod, making it impossible to think clearly. Seeing this, Lady Lotus''s expression worsened, believing the demon was fighting for control of the body.


    She swept her sleeve, flying with Xue Mingyuan out of the Nine-Layered Lotus Tower into a mountain, arriving at its peak beneath a massive bronze bell. She brushed her hand over a talisman, causing light to flow from it and quickly climb up the Demon Suppressing Bell.


    Yi Heng followed in pursuit, and seeing Lady Lotus about to throw Xue Mingyuan under the bell, he hurriedly said, "Mother, don''t be rash. If you lock Uncle inside, he might nevere out."


    Lady Lotus''s expression remained cold, showing no signs of impulsiveness. She pushed Xue Mingyuan under the bell, and before the heavy bronze bell descended, she looked at him and said disappointedly, "Lingwei, a demon is a demon, and can never be our family."


    As the bronze bell fell, everything around them plunged into darkness.


    Xue Chenjing, curled up in the sea of consciousness, hugged his unstable soul andughed mockingly, "Xue Mingyuan, your sister is much more clear-headed than you."Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    The threads around his body had grown fainter and fewer; the prison formed by his parents'' thoughts could barely contain him anymore.


    "Brother, what should we do? If your sister wants to kill me, should I fight back?"


    Xue Mingyuany in the darkness and softly said, "You can''t."


    He didn''t answer whether he should or shouldn''t, but rather that he couldn''t. They both knew that as long as he existed in this body, Xue Chenjing couldn''t harm their blood rtives, even if that rtive didn''t acknowledge him.


    Xue Chenjing snorted coldly, grinding his teeth in anger, "Did you deliberatelye to the Carefree Sect, deliberately get imprisoned? Do you think this will separate me from Yu Yi? Xue Mingyuan, what a vicious heart you have."


    Even if he had to break through this cursed Demon Suppressing Bell, he would escape and find Yu Yi.


    Xue Mingyuan replied in a gentle tone, "I''m sorry."


    Xue Chenjing opened his mouth, ready to unleash the most venomous curses he could think of, when suddenly an electric current struck his soul, forcing back all his intended insults.


    His eyes widened, pupils contracting sharply before dting again, his soul trembling. After a long while, he finally squeezed out through gritted teeth, "Xue Mingyuan, what have you done now?"


    Xue Mingyuan pressed his forehead, his soul equally damaged and suffering, and frowned as he said, "It wasn''t me, it was the Return to Void, the ce where we were born."

 Chapter 84

    Xue Mingyuan and Xue Chenjing were born from chaos, their flesh and form shaped from chaos energy. They couldmunicate with all chaos energy in the world - in essence, they were chaos itself, and chaos was them.


    The world''s only Chaos Pool, which gave birth to them, existed only in that final battleground of gods and demons, the ce where deities and demons met their end - the Return to Void.


    However, the Return to Void was the boundary between the realms of gods and demons. Now that these realms no longer existed, with Heaven''s Gate sealed and the Demon Path cut off, how could anyone possibly reach that ce?


    Intense lightning continued to wash over their souls, striking them so forcefully that their spirits trembled uncontrobly. For the moment, neither had the strength to continue their battle against each other.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes rolled back as soul-piercing lightning coursed through him. Looking down, he could see electric arcs snaking through his spirit body like serpents, carrying terrifying lightning energy from the tips of his hair to his heels, spreading through every inch of his soul.


    The ugly electric arcs nearly tore apart his three hun and seven po souls, causing him to weep from the pain.


    Still bound by his parents'' will, Xue Chenjing couldn''t break free. He could only grit his teeth and shout, "Go see what''s happening!"


    Xue Mingyuan didn''t need prompting; he wasn''t faring much better than Xue Chenjing, though he was simply better at enduring pain. He closed his eyes and sent his consciousness upstream against the electrical current, attempting to return to their birthce.


    When he saw that familiar face above the rippling Chaos Pool, Xue Mingyuan was stunned.


    It was Yu Yi.


    Yu Yi sat atop a golden dragon formed of lightning, leaning forward curiously to peer down. The dragon''s tail dipped into the Chaos Pool, sending electric arcs cascading down from its tail, causing water to ssh up from the pool.


    This pool''s presence in such a ce was strange indeed.


    Especially since the pool was surrounded by the ashes and bones left from the great battle between gods and demons. While fierce winds carried bone dust swirling through the sky, this pool at the center of the battlefield remained pristine and clear, without a speck of dust.


    It was as if even the fierce winds of the battlefield curved around it.


    As Yu Yi gazed at the clear surface, an unbidden image came to her mind. Back at Cloud Mountain, when Xue Chenjing hadid out that demon-summoning array, it had been just as pristinely clear and pure when it took form.


    No wonder the pool felt familiar to her.


    Could it have something to do with him?


    This thought made Yu Yi linger a moment longer.


    Xue Mingyuan watched her through the sshing water. He could see her, but she couldn''t see him.


    He had thought he would never see her again, yet here he was, granted one more glimpse of her through such means.


    Xue Mingyuan heard his own heartbeat quicken as his gaze lingered lovingly on her face. How had she found that ce?


    Others might not know, but Xue Mingyuan knew well that with the immortal realm''s copse and destruction, the path of ascension had long been severed. No one in this world could ascend anymore.


    The legend of that powerful cultivator ascending outside Liang Province left no specific records - no names, no exact dates. It was merely a story embellished and distorted through retellings over time.


    It had be like a beautiful myth passed down through the ages, inspiring people to seek the path of immortality.


    If one had to match it to a cultivator who had undergone tribtion there, Xue Mingyuan remembered that the cultivator had actually failed to ascend. Therefore, any talk of opening Heaven''s Gate was pure nonsense.


    The only reason Xue Mingyuan hadn''t stopped Yu Yi from going there was that the lightning field would indeed help temper her spiritual roots.


    But Xue Mingyuan never imagined that such nonsense, after being told and retold for so long, could somehow be reality and truly open Heaven''s Gate. It showed the incredible power of human belief.


    The moment he saw Yu Yi, his instinct was to hide her presence from his brother. He admitted this instinctive action came purely from his own selfish desires.


    Unfortunately, Xue Chenjing still discovered her.


    "Yi''er, is that Yi''er!" Xue Chenjing forcefully pulled at the threads of will, breaking several of them.


    Though temporarily unable to move freely like Xue Mingyuan to check the Chaos Pool, even as the electric current tortured him nearly to death, he still sensed a familiar presence in that lonely light.


    Although the electric arcs now coursing through his soul were hundreds or thousands of times stronger than those that had once struck his projected feet, he still caught traces of that former energy within this mighty lightning.


    Though faint, it was undeniably there.


    The pain in Xue Chenjing''s soul suddenly diminished, reced by an intoxicating tremor that spread throughout his being. The electric arcs flowing around his body no longer seemed so frightening - they were magnificent and lovely, like golden dragons.


    "Master, master, master..." He curled up, trembling uncontrobly, as if trying to embrace the lightning coursing over him, to grab her, to pull her to his side through the electric arcs, to hold her, kiss her, possess her.


    Every moment locked in his heart sea, unable to touch her, had been unbearably long torture. Now all that torment transformed into a desperate thirst to hold her again.


    Xue Chenjing''s will was incredibly powerful in this moment, instantly breaking several threads, catching Xue Mingyuan by surprise. He had no time to stop it as he watched the Chaos Pool waters boil from Xue Chenjing''s will, sshing water extending into slender tentacles that spread like fingers reaching for Yu Yi.


    At the Return to Void, above the Chaos Pool.


    Yu Yi stared in surprise at the suddenly surging water and immediately tried to pull away, but it was toote.


    A ssh of water hit her ankle, instantly transforming into a supple tentacle that bound her foot. Then an enormous force struck, violently dragging her under the water.


    The force was so powerful she had no chance to resist. When Yu Yi was pulled underwater, no water entered her nose or mouth - instead, she found herself in another space entirely.


    A figure brushed past her, and Yu Yi''s eyes widened in surprise as she saw Xue Mingyuan rushing toward her, reaching out to grab her.


    Yu Yi immediately extended her hand toward him, but in the next moment, she heard a faint call reaching her ears, "Master, master,e to me, pleasee to me!"


    Because of this voice, Yu Yi''s outstretched hand hesitated and withdrew as she was pulled rapidly downward.


    Xue Mingyuan saw with perfect rity Yu Yi''s curling fingers. He could have grabbed her firmly, but because of her withdrawal, his fingertips merely brushed past hers, unable to hold on.


    In every past life, when faced with choices between them, Xue Mingyuan had always been the one chosen. This was the first time Yu Yi had chosen his brother instead, and now he understood the pain of being the one not chosen.


    Xue Mingyuan truly felt the dense pain and loss in his heart at this moment. Unable to control himself, he desperately chased after her, reaching out forcefully to grab her, crying out, "Yi''er!"


    Ovepping shadows suddenly surged up between them, blocking Xue Mingyuan momentarily, like the boundary between two warring states, definitively separating the distance between them.


    Yu Yi was pulled into the depths,nding in a ce crisscrossed with threads. She turned and met a pair of somewhat fearful eyes.


    This was their first meeting since sharing that dream. Xue Chenjing had pulled her consciousness into his heart sea purely by instinct and intense longing, but when she truly appeared before him, uncontroble fear and anxiety rose from the depths of his heart.


    He feared seeing that look of disgust in her eyes again, like in the Sinking Flower Sea.


    Fortunately, she showed no such expression.


    Yu Yi blinked as she examined him. Xue Chenjing still wore the red clothes from that day, sitting at the center of the intersecting threads, which were entangled around his limbs and neck, binding his soul tightly.


    "How did you..." Yu Yi asked, tentatively touching one of the suspended threads. The will within the thread immediately appeared in her mind.


    "May my son Mingyuan be free from illness and harm, awaiting his return."


    She paused, then reached for another thread.


    "May my son Mingyuan find a kindred spirit to apany him, so his long nights won''t be lonely, awaiting his return."


    Yu Yi touched every thread around him, seeing the will contained in each one. The parents'' thoughts, their care, their intense wishes for return - all were given to another person.


    After experiencing that realm of human thoughts, Yu Yi naturally understood what this meant. No wonder Xue Chenjing, who had previously maintained strong control over the body, couldn''t emerge¡ªhis parents'' mental power had created such a cage for him.


    Xue Chenjing sat in the cage, looking up at her like an abandoned dog, carefully calling out, "Master."


    At this moment, her heart truly softened, unable to refuse him. Yu Yi reached out and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes suddenly brightened. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her forcefully into his embrace, holding her tight. His arms intertwined behind her back, almost wanting to press her into his soul. He whispered joyfully in her ear, "Yi''er, Yi''er, Yi''er, I''ve missed you so much."


    No longer the pitiful "Master."


    Yu Yi was caught off guard by his embrace, especially since this was a direct contact of consciousness, more intimate and immediate than a physical embrace. She could feel the overwhelming longing, desire, and intense want to possess her surging from Xue Chenjing''s soul.


    The sensation was incredibly intense, like huge waves crashing into her consciousness, making her heart tremble and her whole being shiver.


    In her moment of daze, Xue Chenjing buried his head and kissed her lips, just as he had wanted to, eagerly kissing her, letting his essence seep into her soul. It was as if he wanted to brand his mark on her very spirit.


    Xue Mingyuan was blocked behind the ovepping demon shadows. The return of the demon to his heart sea meant the control of this body had changed hands. Xue Chenjing clearly had the ability to break free from their parents'' mental restraints at that moment.Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    Yet he still sat pitifully and helplessly among the mental threads, letting them entangle him.


    So this was why.


    His brother was indeed skilled at ying the pitiful one.


    Through theyers of demon shadows, Xue Mingyuan gazed at the two people embracing tightly at the other end. Whether intentionally or lost in the moment, Xue Chenjing hadn''t cut off their shared sensations. Through his brother''s lips, Xue Mingyuan could taste a hint of sweetness.


    But in the next moment, Xue Chenjing suddenly looked up, his eyes cold as he gazed at him. Those eyes, still wet with tears, curved slightly as he showed him a victorious smile.


    The shared sensation broke off. Xue Mingyuan was once again pressed by the demon shadows into the mountain temple in his heart sea, bing blind and deaf, no longer able to sense what would happen outside.


    Standing in the deep passage, he raised his hand and lightly touched his lips.


    Though his connection with Xue Chenjing had clearly been severed, and he had separated from that body that made his heart race, that bitter emotion still lingered in his heart, stirring up feelings he hadn''t even noticed in his own depths, breeding an endless longing in his heart.


    He had lost her. It seemed he had lost her again.


    Xue Mingyuan slid to the ground, buried his face in his hands, andughed self-mockingly, not knowing why he would have such an absurd thought¡ªwhen had he ever possessed her?

 Chapter 85

    The muffled toll of bells echoed faintly, and despite the searing pain coursing through his body, Xue Chenjing paid it no mind. He felt an almost desperate urge to assert his possession before Xue Mingyuan.


    Like a man who had nothing and finally obtained his treasure, he needed to nt all his gs upon her, marking every spot, raising all his defenses like thorns to drive away anyone who dared to covet her.


    Yet even this wasn''t enough to put his heart at ease.


    Yu Yi had chosen him - she had chosen him over his brother. To Xue Chenjing, this felt like a dream. Overwhelming joy surged through his heart, making him dizzy, as if fireworks were continuously exploding in his mind, feeling as though his soul might melt.


    If melting was possible, that would be wonderful - to melt together with her, never to be separated.


    "Yi''er, why is there so much electricity in your body? Just touching you makes my whole body tingle," Xue Chenjing began speaking deliriously.


    Yu Yi finally gained a moment to breathe from his kisses. The stimtion of their closely connected consciousness made her tremble uncontrobly, her body coursing with electricity. "Let go of me, let go first."


    Her sword spirit was outside. Had she known she''d be dragged in here to encounter such a clingy octopus, she would have brought her sword spirit in with her and electrocuted him.


    Xue Chenjing wore an intoxicated expression, his pupils dispersed like mist, eyes rolling slightly upward,pletely deaf to her words.


    His heart sea was far from calm. His uncontrolled emotions affected the demon shadows in his heart sea, further agitated by the bell tolls outside. At this moment, his heart sea was as turbulent as a storm at sea, even more chaotic than fireworks.


    His heartbeat amplified into thunder, joy bloomed like wild flowers in his heart sea, while asional self-doubt and anxiety generated storms that sent the demons in his heart sea scattering in chaos.


    Yu Yi had never experienced such unpredictable scenes even when cultivating on the reef ind. Frightened by the surrounding demonic chaos, she tried to struggle.


    Just a slight movement caused Xue Chenjing to hold her even tighter. "Yi''er, do you regret it? Do you regret choosing me? No, no, no."


    Xue Chenjing''s tears burned against her chest, as if they would sear through her soul and seep into her heart sea. Though it was just their consciousness, under such heart-wrenching invasion, she felt physically suffocated.


    Yu Yi cupped his face, forcing him to look at her,pelling him to listen: "I told you to let go of me a little."


    Xue Chenjing blinked, squeezing out the tears in his eyes, finally hearing her words and obediently loosening his grip - but only slightly.


    Still anxious, he kept confirming with her repeatedly: "Yi''er, Yi''er, is it really you? Yi''er, did you reallye to find me? Would you call my name? My name."


    When Yu Yi didn''t respond, he would tirelessly continue calling her name, crying with joy while anxiously pressing his lips against her, inhaling her scent, feeling every tremor of her soul.


    If he hadn''t promised before that he wouldn''t hurt her with his teeth, Yu Yi would have suspected he wanted to devour her whole before being satisfied.


    The direct contact of their consciousness allowed her to fully receive the thirst and adoration emanating from Xue Chenjing, clearer and more distinct than ever before.


    She really couldn''t handle it anymore.


    Yu Yi kept trying to retreat, only to be caught, grabbed, and pulled back by him.


    Finally yielding, she called out: "A''Qiu, A''Qiu, Xue Chenjing!"


    Xue Chenjing became overjoyed, so much that his soul seemed ready to ascend,pletely masking the intense physical pain he was experiencing, making him increasingly unable to control himself. Soon he tasted Yu Yi''s tears, hearing her sob in distress: "Let me go, you''re scaring me."


    These words immediately jolted Xue Chenjing from his passionate daze. He awkwardly released her, carefully wiping her tears while repeatedly apologizing: "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I was too happy, I''m sorry."


    By the end, he was crying himself.


    Yu Yi finally recovered from the storm and wanted to scold him, but seeing his tear-stricken face, she couldn''t bring herself to do it. Having learned her lesson, she didn''t dare wipe his tears this time, knowing Xue Chenjing would surely take advantage and go crazy again.


    Maintaining some distance from Xue Chenjing, she asked irritably: "Do you know what you were doing just now?"


    Xue Chenjing fixed his ck pupils on her, tears still clinging to hisshes, his gaze sincere and burning, as he said: "Courtship. Yi''er, I want you, want our souls to merge as one."


    Yu Yi''s heart skipped a beat, scorched by his gaze. She hadn''t expected him to admit it so frankly, so directly that it made her heart race, leaving her unsure how to respond.


    They sat together, facing each other, momentarily silent.


    [System: Ding - Main quest initiated. Pleaseplete Phase Three main quest "Undying Love" by raising the target''s affection to 80%. Sess is just one step away, please continue your efforts.]


    The system''s voice emerged from the chaotic demon shadows,pletely ruining the mood.


    Xue Chenjing was startled - if Yu Yi''s consciousness hadn''t been present, he would have jumped up to curse at the system. Couldn''t it hold back? Did it have to pop up at this moment?


    But that damned system apparently didn''t think it was enough, and after a brief silence, it "dinged" again.


    [System: Ding - Target''s affection has exceeded 80%. Congrattions onpleting Phase Three main quest: Undying Love. Under the host''s sincere and pure emotional nurturing, the seed of love in the target''s heart has finally taken root, grown strong, and will remain evergreen.]


    Xue Chenjing froze, his anger dissipating as his eyes slowly widened. He had never encountered such a situation before,pletely forgetting to hide his shocked expression as he stared at Yu Yi in disbelief, uncontroble joy spilling from the depths of his pupils.


    Her affection had risen so high? This was affection for him, right? Only for him?


    She likes me too!


    [System: Preparing to initiate the final story arc: Path of Wild Demons.]


    In the midst of the system''s voice, Yu Yi''s chaotic heart gradually settled, and her consciousness withdrew from Xue Chenjing''s heart sea.


    Still overwhelmed with joy, Xue Chenjing didn''t react in time and failed to hold onto her this time.


    After Yu Yi''s consciousness left Xue Chenjing''s heart sea, it returned directly to her body. She sat dazed on the reef ind, raising her hand to cover her burning cheeks, feeling the wetness on her face.


    The sea breeze lifted her skirt and long hair, her body still trembling beneath her clothes, the sensations lingering.


    This feeling was truly terrifying, even more so than physical touch or kisses. Yu Yi''s limbs felt weak, truly experiencing a sense of exhaustion. After a long while, she finally recovered somewhat, pressing her hand against her gradually steadying heartbeat, thinking in confusion.


    It had been so long since she''d heard the system''s voice, and suddenly hearing it announce that the affection had soared to 80%. Was she really that in love? How did she not know?


    Yu Yi had always felt that she had been keeping her heart in check. Even though there were times when she couldn''t control her emotions, she would try her best to rein them in, rationally retreating to a safe range. How could it have gotten so out of control?


    She didn''t deny that she liked Xue Chenjing, but liking wasn''t the same as love, let alone reaching the point of undying devotion.


    Yu Yi took a deep breath, suppressing her chaotic thoughts, remembering the system''s final announcement, "Initiating the final story arc: Path of Wild Demons."


    These words gave her an ominous feeling.


    Yu Yi rose from the reef ind, forming a cleansing spell with her fingers and pressing it to her body. Spiritual energy poured in from her cor, washing over her entire body.


    The thunderstorm here had dispersed, the dark clouds cleared, and a bright moon hung in the sky, casting down clear silver light. The moon reflected on the sea surface, making it seem as if two moons illuminated the mortal realm from above and below.


    The green bamboo sword hung above the reef ind, its newly born sword spirit coiled around the de. Its body was outlined in lightning, dragon ws sharply gripping the sword body, scales clear on its form, with a broad nose and deep whiskers, its eyes gleaming like precious jewels.


    Wandering lightning arcs spread from its body, protecting this reef ind beneath it, and sheltering Yu Yi as well.


    Yu Yi reached out her hand, and the green bamboo sword flew toward her. The lightning dragon slithered down from the sword and obediently ced its head in her palm. She stroked the dragon''s head and, thinking of the crimson crane in the sword, worried aloud, "You two won''t fight, will you?"


    No sooner had she spoken than the crimson crane poked its head out from the green bamboo sword. Electric arcs from the sword jumped onto its head, causing its feathers to instantly puff up into a ball.


    Unhappily, it let out a long cry and turned to peck at the lightning dragon. The dragon shrank its neck at the peck, letting out an angry roar like rolling thunder.


    Yu Yi quickly grabbed one in each hand to separate them.


    The crimson crane was originally her master''s sword spirit. During her cultivation at Great Green Mountain, Yu Yi had finally imed it as her own. Now, she had also birthed her own lightning dragon sword spirit. The two sword spiritspeting for space within the green bamboo sword was indeed rather cramped.


    Yu Yi closed her eyes to sense the lightning and fire spiritual powers circling within her Golden Core, then resolutely dered, "Alright, bear with it for now. I will create separate sword domains for you both."


    Only then did the dragon and crane settle down.


    However, though she said this, creating a sword domain was no easy task, let alone creating two. It would require thorough preparation. At the very least, it couldn''t be done on this reef ind.


    Though the lightning storm had stopped, some cultivators who hade to practice in this lightning field hadn''t left yet. There were five in total, three men and two women, each standing on a reef rock, seemingly waiting for her.


    With the lightning dragon''s electric barrier covering the reef ind, they couldn''t intrude, so they had been waiting outside. From this behavior, they likely harbored no ill intentions - otherwise, they could have easily forced their way in while her consciousness was separated from her body.


    Yu Yi retrieved her green bamboo sword and jumped down from the reef ind, stepping on the night tide''s waves as she flew out. Shended on a small reef rock not far from the five cultivators, but her legs were weak, and she stumbled, nearly falling off the rock.


    The female cultivator closest to her quickly flew over and reached out to steady her, asking with concern, "Are you alright?"


    Yu Yi''s ears grew hot with embarrassment, but she maintained herposure, "I''m fine, just slipped. Thank you, miss."


    The female cultivator smiled, her bright eyes fixed unwavering on Yu Yi, and said, "You''re wee. I''m Ling Rou, a cultivator from the Wuji Tower. What''s your name?"


    Yu Yi, ustomed to being alone in this world, felt somewhat ufortable being approached so warmly by strangers, but replied, "Yu Yi."


    "Yu Yi." Ling Rou repeated her name, continuing to stare at her while praising, "You''re really beautiful, and your sword spirit is so magnificent. Waiting here in the sea breeze half the night for you to emerge waspletely worth it."


    Yu Yi asked puzzledly, "Were you all waiting for me?"


    The cultivators opposite her offered friendly bows and introduced themselves in turn. Some had traveled thousands of miles specifically for this lightning field, others had chased the lightning here. Most were cultivators from nearby immortal sects, and one was from the Carefree Sect.


    Liang Province was under the jurisdiction of the Carefree Sect. Such ces for tempering spiritual roots should typically be controlled by major immortal sects, but the Carefree Sect was quite magnanimous and didn''t prevent other cultivators from practicing here.


    They then inquired whether she had been fortunate enough to see the heavenly gate''s wondrous sight.


    Yu Yi had indeed seen the scene beyond the heavenly gate, but the copse of the immortal realm wasn''t something good to speak of, and it would needlessly disturb others'' dao hearts. She hesitated briefly before shaking her head.


    The group didn''t press further, as ording to legend, only those destined for ascension had the fortune to glimpse the heavenly gate opening a crack. No one had ascended in this world for a very long time - how could the heavenly gate be so easily seen?


    They had remained here mainly to get acquainted with each other.


    After introductions, someone suggested, "The lightning storm has ended, and Liang Province''s city gates should be open now. We''ve all been here getting struck by lightning together for so many days - that makes us fate-bound friends. Why don''t we go into the city together for a meal? It''ll be a good way to rx."


    Everyone looked at her expectantly, and Yu Yi naturally wouldn''t dampen their spirits, so she nodded with a smile.


    A thousand miles away at the Carefree Sect, the full moon hung high, illuminating a solitary peak.


    A great bell toll rang out from the peak''s summit, startling everyone within the Carefree Sect.


    Madam Lian hovered above a pavilion, her expression cold as she stared at the fluctuating rune markings on the Demon Suppressing Bell. The bell''s toll indicated the activation of its demon-ying runes, showing that the person inside had once again been defeated by their inner demon.


    This Demon Suppressing Bell was a divine-level artifact. It would toll nine times, and under these nine tolls, no demon could escape death.


    Not just the person inside the bell, but any demon within a hundred miles would be captured by the bell''s sound and have both body and soul destroyed.


    This Demon Suppressing Bell was considered the Carefree Sect''s guardian treasure. Of course, not every demon required the bell''s deployment. ording to sect rules, activating the bell for demon suppression required the rune keys of at least three sect elders.


    However, the Supreme Elder possessed an independent key to activate the Demon Suppressing Bell.


    Inside the bell, Xue Chenjing sat amidst dense rotating rune markings, his head pounding from the thunderous tolls.Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    The reverberating waves tore at his physical body, causing demonic energy to leak uncontrobly from his entire body. When demon shadows howled and crashed into the suspended runes, they sizzled like water droplets hitting hot iron,pletely dissolved by the demon-ying marks.


    Xue Chenjing bent forward in pain, grabbing onto something that felt like bones. Opening his eyes to look, he saw it was some demon creature''s skull, thoroughly dead and crumbling at his touch.


    Now, his own bones felt close to shattering under the bell''s vibrations.


    Xue Chenjing coldlyughed, "Thinking a mere Demon Suppressing Bell can kill me, heh heh."


    He absolutely could not die here, not at this time.


    The system worriedly said, "Master, perhaps you should stopughing first - you''re bleeding."


    If the host died here, its mission would bepletely ruined! The system now clearly understood thatpared to Xue Mingyuan, it was actually Xue Chenjing who had more hope ofpleting the romance mission. It had misjudged before.


    As expected of someone who could achieve a happy ending with the viin, its female protagonist was truly extraordinary.


    Xue Chenjing raised his sleeve to wipe the blood from his mouth, but the blood only flowed more heavily. Not just from his mouth and nose - his entire body was bleeding. He looked up at the rotating rune markings above his head and asked, "How many tolls so far?"


    The system replied, "Master, it''s been five tolls."

 Chapter 86

    "Five tolls! What kind of demon could withstand five tolls under the Demon Suppressing Bell?"


    "The demon-ying inscriptions are still glowing - the demon inside hasn''t died yet."


    "In recent years, I haven''t heard of any high-level demons or fiends causing havoc in the mortal realm."


    Outside the Demon Suppressing Bell, the members of the Carefree Sect were discussing the demon inside.


    Before these words faded, the Demon Suppressing Bell rang for the sixth time. The lingering toll carried vast demon-ying power sweeping out from the solitary peak. This toll neither startled birds nor harmed insects and beasts. For cultivators, it had the effect of calming the mind and spirit, specifically targeting demons and fiends.


    In the past, even the most powerful demons who were executed could only make the Demon Suppressing Bell toll five times. It hadn''t rung a sixth time in several hundred years.


    Any demon capable of causing six tolls must be incredibly powerful, dominating their territory. Capturing such a being would normally require several major immortal sects working together. How could one be quietly ced under the Demon Suppressing Bell without anymotion?


    Lady Lotus held high status and authority in the Carefree Sect. She was an elder who had helped establish the sect alongside its founding master. Even the sect leader had to show her junior''s respect. The crowd didn''t dare question her directly, instead turning their inquiring gazes toward Elder Yi Heng.


    Yi Heng showed difficulty on his face, unsure how to exin. Lady Lotus took the initiative to speak: "The demon under the bell is the fiend who once brought destruction to my entire Yi Family. I am using the Demon Suppressing Bell for personal revenge, viting sect rules. I will ept punishment ording to sect regtions afterward."


    With Lady Lotus speaking thus, the Carefree Sect members naturally had nothing more to say. But from her words alone, many spections arose in their minds.


    A thousand years ago, the Yi Family had been an extremely powerful cultivation n. The era of the Ji n of Immortals'' dominance had passed, and the cultivation world was controlled by the three great families - Jiang, Yao, and Yun. It was during this period that the Yi Family gradually umted power and rose to prominence.


    At their peak, the Yi Family had produced three Tribtion Realm ancestors, and there were even rumors that one had sessfully ascended to immortality. Perhaps they had be too conspicuous then, drawing joint suppression from the three great families. The remaining two Tribtion Realm ancestors perished in session, and the Yi Family declined from that point on.


    Even in decline, the Yi Family''s strength still ran deeper than other ns and sects. Until a demon emerged from the Yi Family,mitting countless crimes, and the family was implicated. The three great families seized this opportunity to pass judgment and punishment.


    But hadn''t that demon already been executed? Could the one under the Demon Suppressing Bell be a demon who had once followed him? That would exin such immense power.


    Dong¡ª


    The seventh toll rang out from the Demon Suppressing Bell, adding anotheryer of demon-ying inscriptions, which still hadn''t faded.


    "Seven tolls," Xue Chenjing murmured, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth in a long line, forming a pool before him. His sister truly meant to destroy him under the bell.


    Sevenyers of demon-ying seals pressed down from above like Mount Tai. Each time the inscriptions shed, the light turned to des that carved away his flesh and crushed his bones.


    Even with this body''s powerful regenerative abilities, he was nowpletely disfigured.


    He must look hideously terrifying now - fortunately, Yu Yi wasn''t here to see.


    The system frantically spun about, remembering there was still a fake death pill in the neer''s gift package. It hurriedly said, "Master, there''s still a fake death pill in the neer''s package. Our products are guaranteed quality - it will definitely fool the Demon Suppressing Bell. Take it first, and when they open the bell after you appear dead, you can escape!"


    Xue Chenjing snorted coldly, having lost all trust in the system. He even suspected that the bottle of passionate love wine from before had been the system''s deliberate sabotage.


    "I know what you''re nning. Once I fake death, you can let Xue Mingyuan take control of the body again. Shameless thing, don''t even think about it," he spat blood while speaking harshly. "You like him that much? Sooner orter, I''ll dig you out and stuff you into Xue Mingyuan''s mouth, burning you both to ashes together, fulfilling your devoted heart."


    The host certainly had creative ways of threatening its death.


    The system protested, "I''m not, I didn''t!"


    It was an innocent system! Everything it did was toplete the mission!


    The system felt somewhat guilty. It had indeed harbored a slight hope before that Xue Mingyuan would take more control of the body, but not anymore!


    This time, it had witnessed with its own eyes how the female lead withdrew her hand and chose to go to Xue Chenjing when she heard his call. Whoever the female lead favored, it would firmly stand by their side!


    It had misjudged before, wuwu.


    Though Xue Chenjing rejected the system''s suggestion, he wouldn''t docilely wait for death either.


    He sat slumped in the pool of blood, waiting for the ninth toll. After nine tolls, all the demon-ying inscriptions inside the bell would activate - that would be his moment to break the formation.


    But this waiting process was unbearably long and painful.


    Xue Chenjing shook his head, struggling to stay conscious. He hadn''t received Yu Yi''s answer yet - how could he die under such a worthless thing?


    As dawn broke on the horizon, the Demon Suppressing Bell rang out another deep toll. The giant bronze bell now had nineyers of circr demon-ying inscriptions stacked upon it.


    Nineyers - all demon-ying inscriptions were now activated.


    The bones inside Xue Chenjing''s body crackled as they regenerated, rebuilding his copsed spine. He stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked up with a smile.


    His ck pupils reflected the dense golden inscriptions above, seeming to sh with their own golden light, startlingly bright.


    The pool of blood at his feet suddenly began to boil, revealing a magic formation. Demon shadows burst forth from the blood formation, crashing into the inscriptions above.


    These demon shadows seemed endless - when one was destroyed by the demon-ying inscriptions, another would take its ce.


    The demon shadows and golden light intertwined beneath the Demon Suppressing Bell, but upon closer inspection, one would notice the shadows weren''t charging randomly. They were controlled by Xue Chenjing''s will, each impact targeting nine specific inscriptions.


    The demon-ying inscriptions rotated and shifted position constantly, appearing and disappearing in a dizzying disy. Almost no one could decipher them except the bell''s original creator, yet Xue Chenjing somehow precisely locked onto those nine inscriptions every time, controlling the demon shadows to crash into them.


    The nineyers of seals above had been extremely stable at first, their demon-ying power pressing down on Xue Chenjing, breaking him again and again. Each time he would stand back up, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the shing inscriptions, not blinking even when blood flowed into them.


    A single blink would miss the inscriptions'' movements.


    After sacrificing nearly half the demon power in his spiritual sea, cracks finally appeared in those nine inscriptions. The oppressive demon-ying force suddenly lightened, and Xue Chenjingughed wildly: "Some Demon Suppressing Bell this is - nothing special at all."


    The Demon Suppressing Bell suddenly shook violently, its demon-ying inscriptions abruptly dimming. A hairline crack appeared in the wall-thick bronze bell with a "crack."


    This sound startled all the Carefree Sect elders on the solitary peak. Even Lady Lotus''s expression changed dramatically in her pavilion.


    But the sound continued. Crack, crack, crack - in just moments, multiple fissures appeared in the Demon Suppressing Bell.


    These cracks originated from the bell''s peak, spreading outward like lightning. The demon-ying inscriptionspletely copsed, scattering into falling golden light. Their contained demon-ying power transformed into a whirlwind that swept in all directions.


    The shattered bronze bell fragments became like arrows in the wind, shooting outward.


    The Carefree Sect members were shocked and had to dodge, summoning magical treasures for protection.


    Lady Lotus''syered pce robes billowed in the fierce wind. She narrowed her eyes toward the ruins of the Demon Suppressing Bell, advancing rather than retreating. Gripping a lotus flower magical weapon, she nimbly avoided the flying bronze fragments and entered beneath the bell.


    Xue Chenjing turned his head to see her and shed her a sweet smile, calling out, "Sister."


    Lady Lotus''s ice-cold expression shattered at this word, her beautiful eyes nearly bursting with hatred as she scolded, "Silence! You demon, you''re not worthy to call me sister!"


    The lotus in her hand split apart, each petal containing different Five Elements energy. Once the Five Elements formation closed, it could instantly create an independent battle formation, while the sixth lotus petal could freeze time.


    Xue Chenjing was extremely wary of her lotus and didn''t want to get entangled with her for long. Especially since in his previous life, when he seized the body during their exchange, Xue Mingyuan had used a trick, establishing a blood contract that prevented him from harming the Yi Family members.


    Continuing the entanglement would only disadvantage him.


    A pair of demonic shadow wings sprouted from Xue Chenjing''s back. Under the pursuit of the lotus flowers, he transformed into a fleeting shadow and fled, crossing several mountain peaks in the blink of an eye. Yet the lotus flowers remained in relentless pursuit.


    He called out with augh, "Sister, over these thousands of years, countless evil spirits and demons have perished under the Demon Suppressing Bell. Having drunk my blood, they should be awakening now."


    Lady Lotus was startled and whirled around. Sure enough, she saw demonic energy surging into the sky from the solitary peak, with such an overwhelming number of demons that the elders of the Carefree Sect could barely handle them.


    She gnashed her teeth in fury but ultimately recalled her lotus flowers with a wave of her sleeve. The petals shot back to the solitary peak like streams of light, forming a battle formation.


    Lady Lotus turned back, allowing him to escape.


    Not long after Xue Chenjing fled from the Carefree Sect, the ck wings on his back vanished. Unable to maintain his demonic energy any longer, he plummeted from mid-air and crashed into the dense forest.


    He remained dazed for quite a while until the system called out in his mind, "Master, wake up! We''re not safe yet, you can''t pass out! Wake up!"


    Xue Chenjing struggled back to consciousness. There wasn''t a trace of blood left in his body; it had all been licked clean by the demons. His face was deathly pale, as white as porcin without a hint of color. He spoke weakly, "Dream on, I won''t faint."


    He couldn''t pass out again, would never pass out again.


    System: "...Dear host, if I say I genuinely care about you, would you believe me?"


    Xue Chenjing pulled out a talisman carpet from his storage pouch and climbed onto it. The carpet lifted him gently into the air. He let out a coldugh, sneering, "I will definitely kill you."


    System: "..."


    The system thought that if its master were smart enough, he should quickly escape from the Carefree Sect''s territory. However, Xue Chenjing clearly had other ns. He rode the talisman carpet to the sea outside Liang Province, to that rocky beach.


    When Xue Chenjing was imprisoned in his parents'' mental cage, he could still sense what Xue Mingyuan did and heard. When Xue Mingyuan returned to the Carefree Sect, he only knew that Yu Yi had gone to some Ascension tform.


    The thunderstorms around Liang Province had ended, though the weather remained gloomy, with dark clouds looming overhead.


    Xue Chenjing searched along the shore for a long time before finally finding what seemed to be that reef ind.


    Unfortunately, Yu Yi was no longer there. He sat on the rocky ind, watching the darkening sky as the sun set, wondering where she might have gone.


    Without leaving a mark on her, he had no way of knowing her whereabouts.


    At the same moment, Yu Yi was leaving Liang Province city with Senior Crane following beside her, his belly full from eating. The meal hadn''t been wasted; Yu Yi had gathered much useful information from those cultivators.


    They said that demons had invaded the Emotion Flower Valley secret realm of Zhaohua Pce, and the Pce Master had been gravely wounded while trying to eliminate them. Of the sevenyers in the secret realm, the three central ones had copsed, destabilizing the entire realm.


    Zhaohua Pce had no choice but to hastily end the Emotion Flower Valley trials and expel all cultivators from the secret realm, causing much discontent.


    Many didn''t ept Zhaohua Pce''s exnation. Everyone suspected that someone had broken through the outeryers and entered the inner core, possibly obtaining some treasure that Zhaohua Pce was reluctant to part with, and that''s why they made up an excuse to end the trials abruptly.


    A few dayster, Zhaohua Pce and the Lishan Sword Sect jointly issued an arrest warrant for a demon cultivator. They med everything¡ªthe Lishan Sword-Sealing Stone incident, the Unmasked Tower affair, and the Emotion Flower Valley secret realm catastrophe¡ªon this demon cultivator.


    During the meal, Ling Rou and the Carefree Sect cultivator simultaneously scoffed, saying, "What demon cultivator could be so capable? I think it''s just an excuse they made up."


    "Those major sects like Lishan and Zhaohua Pce have always been tyrannical. Once, someone stole a Seven Emotions Flower from Zhaohua Pce and they issued a death warrant. This demon cultivatormitted so many heinous crimes, yet they only issue an arrest warrant instead of a death warrant? That''s too strange."


    The Unmasked Tower and Carefree Sect had always disapproved of those sects. The two exchanged nces and sped hands in agreement, both feeling the other made perfect sense.


    Yu Yi listened to their conversation while silently thinking that these incidents were indeed caused by that notorious demon.


    Fortunately, the arrest warrant hadn''t implicated her.


    After finishing the meal with the cultivators, having found them like-minded and enjoying theirpany, they exchanged contact information and agreed to notify each other about lightning urrences in the future. As lightning spirit root cultivators, they could face the strikes together.


    After the meal, Yu Yi searched the city for a long time before finally finding an immortal post station to send the Dark-Sinking Wood she obtained from the Sinking Flower Sea to Zhang Zai of the Immortal Alliance.


    Though she wasn''t sure if they still needed this formation-anchoring material, since she had obtained it, she would deliver it ording to their agreement, fulfilling her master''s contract with the Immortal Alliance.


    She hoped it wasn''t toote.


    Yu Yi recalled what the system had said about triggering the Wild Beast Demon Path storyline, and wondered if Xue Chenjing might be nning to breach the Wild Beast seal.Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    While pondering this, she led Senior Crane toward the inn outside the city.


    Earlier, when Liang Province''s city gates were closed, she had to find an inn outside the city to amodate Senior Crane. She nned to spend the night there and search for a ce rich in spiritual energy tomorrow to enter seclusion and establish her sword realm.


    The inns inside the city were much more expensive, and her purse wasn''t very full anymore.


    As Yu Yi walked, she suddenly stopped and turned toward the sea. For a moment, she seemed to sense something¡ªa feeling so fleeting and faint it might have been just an illusion.


    But even if it was an illusion, after a moment''s hesitation, she still called Senior Crane and mounted his back, flying toward the seaside.


    Night had fallen, and the waves were stronger. The weather was poor tonight, with no stars or moon visible. The darkness at sea was even deeper, with only white waves visible.


    Through the crashing waves around the reef ind, Yu Yi caught a glimpse of a figure.


    Senior Crane let out a long cry and dove down through the wind and waves.


    Xue Chenjing heard the crane''s cry and suddenly opened his eyes, staring wide-eyed at the crane-riding figure descending from above. She wore a misty red dress, her long hair and clothes dancing in the wind, like a streak of sunset glow that illuminated the dark sky.


    The sunset glow was falling toward him.

 Chapter 87

    The happiest moment of his existence in this world was probably right now.


    Xue Chenjing spread his arms, wanting to catch his sunset glow.


    As the red-crowned crane hovered above the rocky ind, it suddenly spread its broad wings in the fierce sea wind. Yu Yi jumped down from Senior Crane''s back, her skirts floating in the air, her figure as light as a falling flower bud. He had once wanted to crush it, but now he only wanted to catch it.


    Yu Yinded beside the person lying on the ground with outstretched arms and gave him a strange look. "What are you doing lying here?"


    Moreover, he was crying so miserably that she recognized who he was at first nce. Why was he crying every time they met? Was he really a jellyfish spirit with too much water in his body that needed regr drainage?


    This time, she definitely wouldn''t foolishly wipe his tears again.


    Xue Chenjing dejectedly lowered his hands, his lips drooping with a hint of grievance. "Yi''er, you should have jumped into my arms."


    Yu Yi stood several steps away from him, not approaching, only turning her eyes to look him up and down, finally fixing her gaze on his pale face, saying amusedly: "Are you sure? Looking at how you''re barely breathing, won''t I crush you to death if I jump into your arms? Don''t tell me you''re trying to scam me?"


    Xue Chenjing''s mental image of sunset glow and flower buds was mercilessly scattered by her words. He tried to prop himself up to sit, attempting to prove he wasn''t as weak as she described.


    Senior Crane suddenly walked away from the other side, and the previously blocked sea wind swept back towards him. Xue Chenjing''s body swayed in the fierce wind, his eyes widening in rm.


    Seeing this, Yu Yi immediately stepped forward and crouched down to support him.


    However, as soon as she touched Xue Chenjing and entered his reach, he grabbed her wrist and forcefully pulled her into his embrace.


    Xue Chenjingughed triumphantly, holding her as he fell back to the ground.


    Though his body had little strength left, even with such little strength, he would use every means to hold onto her. He used what remaining energy he had in his arms, saying happily: "See? I can catch you."


    Yu Yi was pulled down onto him, with his arms around her waist as tight as iron mps, making it impossible for her to break free.


    It seemed that Xue Chenjing''s injuries weren''t as severe as they appeared.


    Yu Yi, already helpless against his grip and unable to break free, stopped struggling and rxed against him, her fingertips unconsciously pressing against the firm muscle contours beneath her palm.


    In the realm of human bonds, she had been forced to press against this spot for half a night, unconsciously developing an honest conditioned reflex.


    Yu Yi didn''t realize there was anything inappropriate about her actions and was still trying to reason with Xue Chenjing: "Can you stop pouncing and hugging me every time we meet?"


    Xue Chenjing felt a tingling in his chest, as if her lightning energy had once again coursed through his body from her fingertips.


    He suppressed a groan, his tone as excited as his heartbeat, and asked without thinking, "Then would you prefer to pounce and hug me instead?"


    Yu Yi: "???" What kind of dog-like social interaction was this? Couldn''t they meet like normal people?


    "Let me go. I can tell you just arrived, so I won''t leave."


    Instead of making him release her, these words made his arms tighten even more around her waist. Yu Yi was forced to press closely against him, listening to his suddenly quickened breathing and his whimpers of joy, when she unexpectedly felt something.


    Yu Yi raised her eyes in confusion, btedly realizing what was pressing against her. Her cheeks instantly turned red, and she eximed angrily: "Xue Chenjing, let me go!"


    Hearing genuine anger in her voice, Xue Chenjing''s arms loosened, reluctantly allowing her to break free from his embrace.


    The way Yu Yi hastily retreated pierced his heart, shattering the little joy he had just felt. He desperately grabbed the edge of her dress, holding it tightly, saying: "You just said you could tell I had just arrived, so you wouldn''t leave."


    "I didn''t say I was leaving." Yu Yi grabbed her dress to prevent him from pulling it down, nced at him once, then quickly averted her gaze, saying irritably, "But can''t you have some decency and control yourself a bit?"


    Xue Chenjing innocently followed her previous gaze, saying: "My spiritual fire has returned, isn''t this normal? Senior Crane also performs mating dances for his sword spirit, and you don''t despise him for that."


    By the edge of the rocky ind, the red-crowned crane, who was ying with the waves, heard its name and turned its head, calling out twice.


    Its mating dance was so beautiful, why would anyone despise it? Moreover, it was dancing for the sword spirit, not for Yu Yi, so her contempt was irrelevant ¨C the crane couldn''t care less.


    Yu Yi held her forehead, "How can youpare those?"


    Xue Chenjing sat cross-legged with a face full of grievance, pondering for a long while before resolutely saying: "If you don''t like it, I can cut it off."


    Both the system and Yu Yi gasped in shock.


    System: "Master, are you crazy? What nonsense are you talking about?!"


    But Yu Yi realized Xue Chenjing was serious. His dark eyes were fixed on her, ignoring the system''s screams in his head, without any hint of joking, as if he would immediately take action if she nodded.


    Yu Yi could only helplessly reply: "No, there''s no need to go that far."


    Xue Chenjing immediately seized the opportunity, shamelessly saying: "You don''t despise Senior Crane, so you can''t despise me for this either."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Senior Crane flew over and viciously pecked at his head, squawking loudly. How dare youpare yourself to me, who is tall, beautiful, and has exquisite dance moves? Don''t drag me down with you!


    Xue Chenjing clutched his head in pain, dodging but not daring to fight back, immediately losing all previous reactions.


    The wind and waves by the sea grew stronger, with crane calls and wave sounds creating a passionate symphony.


    Yu Yi quickly stopped Senior Crane, worried it might peck through Xue Chenjing''s head. He indeed looked very weak, his face as pale as a ghost. When Senior Crane pecked him, his skin didn''t even turn red, as if there was no blood left beneath it.


    After being intimidated by Senior Crane, Xue Chenjing finally calmed down, only looking at the crane''s master with resentment and usation, appearing utterly pitiful.


    Yu Yi hesitated for a moment before finally asking: "Where did Xue Mingyuan take you? How did you end up injured like this again?"


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes lit up with joy ¨C this was the first time she had actively inquired about his injuries and what he had been through. He wanted to pour out every detail of his suffering, not missing a single moment.


    The seaside wasn''t suitable for a long conversation. Yu Yi helped him onto Senior Crane''s back, initially nning to have Senior Crane return to the guest house outside Liang Province for the night. However, she heard him mention that the Supreme Elder of the Carefree Sect was their sister from their previous life, but that sister only recognized Xue Mingyuan as family and was determined to kill him as a demon.


    Xue Chenjing had been imprisoned under the Demon Suppressing Bell, losing half his blood before managing to escape.


    Yu Yi frowned and stroked the crane''s long neck. "Senior Crane, we won''t return to the inn. I''m sorry to trouble you, but we need to leave Liang Province tonight."


    Hearing her words, the system finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, its female protagonist was still clear-headed and knew not to linger in dangerous ces.


    Xue Chenjing leaned against her shoulder from behind and softly asked: "Yi''er, you believe what I said? You just believe me like that?"


    Yu Yi turned her head slightly, looking back with her peripheral vision, and asked in return: "Are you lying to me?"


    "No." Xue Chenjing immediately shook his head, paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "Because no one in this world would believe the words of a demon. When I speak as myself, most people won''t believe me."


    Only by hiding his true self behind various identities could he gain others'' trust. He knew well that this trust wasn''t meant for him ¨C when people discovered his true identity, those who had once trusted him would draw their swords without hesitation and break ties with him.


    He was born a demon, so he was born to be distrusted.


    "I was wrong before. I shouldn''t have deceived you or altered your perception," Xue Chenjing gently nuzzled her ear, speaking as if making a vow. "Now I am sincere with you, my words to you are sincere, and they will always be sincere in the future."


    Yu Yi''s ear tickled from his nuzzling. She reached up to tug at his earlobe, signaling him to stay still. "Alright, I believe you."


    "Mmm, Yu Yi." Xue Chenjing hugged her tightly.


    Yu Yi pinched his cheek, already anticipating his reaction. "No crying."Aliali: 67545689bd5e46c3089cfa86


    Xue Chenjing choked back a sob, taking a deep breath and forcing back the tears welling in his eyes. The system chimed in his head, presumably announcing the closure of some temporary task, but he couldn''t hear it clearly. His eyelids grew heavy as he mumbled, "Yu Yi, I''m getting sleepy."


    "Okay, go to sleep." Yu Yi lowered her hand to grip his wrist that was wrapped around her waist, preventing him from falling off the crane''s back while sleeping.


    The weight on her shoulder grew heavier as Xue Chenjing finally closed his eyes peacefully.


    As the crane flew beyond the borders of Liang Province, the weather gradually cleared. The dark clouds dispersed, revealing a brilliant river of stars in the night sky, with a waning crescent moon hanging in the celestial curtain, surrounded by a misty halo.


    The crane master called out joyfully at the starry sky, clearly enjoying the beautiful scene before them.


    Yu Yi gently brushed aside the loose strands of hair on her forehead and gazed ahead, wondering where they could go after leaving Liang Province. The twelve major immortal sects covered allnds under heaven. The Lishan Sword Sect and Zhaohua Pce were hunting for Xue Chenjing, and these two major sects belonged to powerful family factions, sharing close ties with other family-controlled sects.


    The Carefree Sect, Unfettered Tower, me Splendor Sect, and Jade Pendant School held different stances from the family factions, but unfortunately, the Carefree Sect had an elder sister who was determined to kill him.


    Looking at the stars and moon hanging high ahead, despite the vast expanse of heaven and earth, they couldn''t find a single ce to go.


    Yu Yi had always hoped to avoid getting tangled in such trouble, but in the end, she still got involved. In a moment of softness, she had picked up this troublemaker, and now they couldn''t even find a ce to stay.


    She rubbed her temples and thought wearily, would it be toote to push him off the crane master''s back now?

 Chapter 88

    Yu Yi lowered her head in the night breeze, her gaze falling on the arms wrapped around her waist. Xue Chenjing''s hands were tightly sped together.


    Even in sleep, the veins on his sped hands were visible from the force of his grip, unshakably encircling her waist. His chest pressed against her back, his body heat impossible to ignore.


    Yu Yi had noticed before that he had a strong self-healing ability, and this time was no exception.


    After Xue Chenjing fell asleep, his body began to repair itself. His originally pale skin, due tock of blood, was gradually returning to normal.


    Probably due to the rapid iteration of cells in his body, his body remained in a high-fever state, like a furnace wrapped around her back.


    Yu Yi ced her hand over his, her fingertips caressing the veins on his hand.


    Undeniably, Xue Chenjing''s words had indeed touched her. For a long time, she had been trying to resist his intrusion, cautiously building walls to defend against him. But there''s no keeping a thief away for a thousand days; she inevitably had moments of rxation.


    It was these countless moments of inadvertent rxation that allowed him to squeeze into her heart and take a ce, leading her to impulsively pick him up and ce him on Crane Senior Brother''s back.


    "Could it be that I''m inherently a love-struck fool? Is that eighty percent affection really mine?" Yu Yi thought, unable to help but doubt herself.


    She didn''t know what criteria the system used to calcte affection, but eighty percent was already very high for her, enough to be categorized as "one of her own."


    However, standing by his side meant that their future would be filled with turmoil and fleeing for their lives. Yu Yi wasn''t willing to do that. After all, even if she liked him, she didn''t want to break her wings and fall into the abyss with him.


    Yu Yi thought aimlessly, building a mental scale to measure the person behind her. Suddenly, she heard a soft murmur in her ear, "A-Yi..."


    She slightly turned her head and responded with an "Mm." The person who was half-awake heard her response, his eyshes trembled slightly, and he nuzzled affectionately against her neck before falling back into sleep.


    Throughout the journey, Xue Chenjing had many such moments of half-waking, each time murmuring her name and needing her response to feel secure and fall back asleep.


    If Yu Yi didn''t respond in time, he would be restless, his fingertips twitching, and the muscles in his arms tightening in spasms. As if he were caught in a nightmare, struggling to wake up immediately.


    "I''m here," Yu Yiforted, finally unable to leave him behind as she had initially nned.


    Before they flew out of Liang Province, Yu Yi sensed someone following them. The number of pursuers was notrge, and they didn''t seem to intend to attack immediately, but they kept following relentlessly.


    Yu Yi hastily turned her head and saw the light of amunication talisman they had sent out. It seemed the pursuers wanted to call more people to surround them.


    They had to shake them off before more arrived.


    Yu Yi reached out and stroked Crane Senior Brother''s neck, saying, "Crane Senior Brother, fly towards areas with heavy moisture and clouds."


    Crane Senior Brother obediently sensed for a moment, then pped his wings, making a neat arc in the sky and changing direction. Crane Senior Brother''s flying speed was extremely fast, far exceeding that of ordinary cranes; the pursuing cultivators had to concentrate to barely keep up.


    When the crane suddenly turned, the trailing lights followed, and two people nearly fell off their swords. By the time they stabilized themselves, the crane and their fellow disciples were already out of sight.


    Crane Senior Brother, with his superior flying skills, shook off some pursuers, but there were still some following. If they couldn''t shake off all of them, as long as one person could keep up, their whereabouts would still be in someone else''s control.


    Fortunately, a thick mass of clouds appeared ahead, and the starlight and moonlight became sparse again.


    The crane, carrying the two, dove into the clouds without hesitation. Once inside, Yu Yi summoned the Qingzhu Sword with a finger gesture. Lightning shed on the sword, and the sword spirit emerged.


    After a moment, the crane emerged from the other side of the clouds, and behind it, the clouds exploded with golden lightning. The lightning spread rapidly through the clouds, forming an electric that struck down from the sky, lighting up the world for an instant.


    The sudden lightning bolt knocked down several cultivators, and those who dodged it lost their direction when they tried to pursue again.


    Yu Yi shook off the pursuers and breathed a sigh of relief, but shaking off this group was only temporary. As long as they were still within the territory of the Twelve Great Sects, they would be found again.


    At least they had to get him to a safe ce.


    Yu Yi gently ced her hand on his cheek and asked, "A-Qiu, do you have a ce to go? A ce that''s absolutely safe where you can recuperate?"


    Xue Chenjing''s eyshes fluttered violently. Blood loss had temporarily rendered him incapable of action, and he had to retain a sliver of consciousness even when asleep, unable to fully lose himself in sleep. This was a habit he had developed since locking Xue Mingyuan into his mind.


    Because once he fell into deep sleep or unconsciousness, his control over the other person would weaken, and Xue Mingyuan would re-emerge to take control of the body, possibly leading him into unknown dangers.


    So, even in sleep, he could vaguely hear the sounds around him, including Yu Yi''s question.


    An absolutely safe ce.


    Of course, there was. After going through so many lifetimes, each facing such a predicament, if he didn''t know how to find a safe ce and turn it into his nest, he would have lived in vain.


    However, to get there, they needed to take a carriage, and after experiencing such a dream, he didn''t want Yu Yi to see it now.


    Xue Chenjing''s heart was conflicted. He forced himself to wake up from sleep, struggling to open his eyes and hesitating, "There is, but A-Yi, I need to blindfold you."


    Yu Yi was taken aback, then realized that the ce must be his most important refuge, and it was normal for him to be so wary of others. If it were her, she wouldn''t want to take Xue Chenjing back to the Bamboo Grove Secret Realm either.


    She loosened her grip on Xue Chenjing''s wrist and turned her head to him, saying, "If you''re notfortable with it, you don''t have to take me. If you can go back by yourself..."


    Xue Chenjing grabbed her hand, pressing it against his own, wanting her to hold him, and said urgently, "I''m not ufortable. I want to take you. It''s just that the carriage to get there might make you feel uneasy."


    Yu Yi didn''t understand what he meant.


    Xue Chenjing bit his lip, his palm turning over. He was too weak, and the spiritual threads in his palm gathered and broke several times before finally materializing something.


    He threw the object into the air, and it quickly expanded, like a celestial maiden spreading her hair, releasing countless wooden boards, railings, and axles.


    These things connected with each other in mid-air, fitting together like building blocks to quickly form a carriage, enveloping them inside.


    Crane Senior Brother''s belly pped onto the desk that had just formed inside the carriage, and after hesitating for a moment, it pped its wings a couple of times, finally finding it could rest and didn''t need to fly anymore.


    Then, the entire crane folded its wings andy down on the table.


    Yu Yi: "..."


    She was held by Xue Chenjing with one hand around her waist, lifted off Crane Senior Brother''s back, and her feet touched the solid floor.


    The sound of "thudding" around them still didn''t stop. After the main frame of the carriage waspleted, smaller decorative items continued to assemble.


    Heavy curtains, like fire, hung down from the windows, embroidered with golden patterns. Pearls, like flowing water, flew out of the carriage, linking together into a tinkling string hanging from the window frames.


    Pearl-like night pearls flew into the carriage canopy, embedding themselves to form a dazzling starry sky ceiling.


    The carriage was extremely spacious, about the size of a room, with tables and furnishings all in ce, including a carved, hollow incense burner in the center, from which delicate smoke rose.


    Yu Yi''s eyes widened in amazement as something pressed against the back of her knees, and she followed Xue Chenjing''s guiding hand to sit down. The seat was cushioned with softmb''s wool, making her feel as if she had sunk into a cloud.


    With the final click, the entire carriage was assembled. Through the carved side windows, one could see the enormous wings unfolding in front of the carriage. Crane Senior Brother straightened up from the table, stretched his long neck to look out the window, and quickly withdrew in fright.


    The creature driving the carriage outside was a nine-headed fierce bird, the Ghost Car.Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    Yu Yi touched the carriage wall and realized why Xue Chenjing had said she would feel ufortable. She had once entered the Emperor''s Dwelling Divine Tree in her dreams and was somewhat familiar with it.


    This entire carriage was made from the Emperor''s Dwelling Divine Tree. If she had woken up a littleter, she would have experienced the sensation of being uprooted and sliced apart within the tree itself.


    This carriage inevitably reminded her of Xue Chenjing''s past cruelty and brutality.


    However, as someone who had not participated in the war between the righteous and the evil and did not know the full picture, Yu Yi had no right to criticize him. She was not from this world and did not hold strong views about the righteousness or evil of either side. She did not believe that the righteous path was inherently noble and selfless, nor did she think that demons were inherently despicable.


    In the Ghost City, she had seen the malevolent side of demons but also encountered innocent and kind ones like the little bird demon.


    The war between the righteous sects and the demons, involving both races, was tooplex to be judged simply as right or wrong.


    Nevertheless, having entered the Divine Tree in her dreams and now sitting in this carriage made from the Divine Tree, she indeed felt uneasy.


    Outside the carriage, the wind howled wildly, making it nearly impossible to see the scenery. The speed was far beyond what Crane Senior Brother could achieve. With such a divine carriage, Xue Chenjing could go anywhere without being tracked.


    "With such a carriage, you no longer need Crane Senior Brother to escort you," Yu Yi tried to stand up, but the arm around her waist tightened immediately. Xue Chenjing leaned against her like a boneless creature, his forehead still burning as he murmured against her cheek, "Yi Yi, I''m sorry, please don''t be angry with me."


    "I''m not angry; it was just a dream, not something you induced."

 Chapter 89

    Xue Chenjing''s tense heartstrings rxed upon hearing this, and he took the opportunity to straighten up, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pressing her into his embrace. Using his superior height and build, he enveloped herpletely and rolled onto the spacious, soft,mb''s wool-covered couch.


    Translucent pseudopodia extended from beneath his clothes, pulling down the heavy crimson curtains hanging from the corners of the couch.


    The thick, deep red curtains created a small, secluded space. Xue Chenjing bent his legs to encircle her, eager to divert her attention and prevent her from focusing further on the Imperial House Carriage.


    "Yi, we''ll be there soon. Close your eyes and take a nap. When you wake up, we''ll be there, okay?"


    Yu Yi lifted her head from his sleeve, not wanting toply with his wishes, "I don''t want to sleep."


    Xue Chenjing frowned, his eyes darting back and forth, indicating he was desperately trying to think of a way to keep her entertained.


    Suddenly, a slippery sensation squeezed into her hand. Yu Yi looked down in surprise to see a soft tentacle wriggling into her palm.


    Perhaps due to Xue Chenjing''s fever, his pseudopodia had taken on a slight warmth, a faint pink hue, and a semi-transparent, jelly-like texture, unlike their usual intangible form.


    The pseudopodia wriggled vigorously in her hand, and Xue Chenjing blushed, lowering his voice to a humble tone, "You can y with them; we''ll be there soon."


    Yu Yi was baffled, disdainful, "What''s fun about tentacles? Are you treating me like a child?"


    Xue Chenjing felt stifled. Several more tentacles emerged into the air, coiling within this confined space, attempting to vindicate themselves: "The night you were drunk, didn''t you find them fun? You held each pseudopodium for a long time, braided them, tied them with bows, and yed with them for half the night without sleeping..."


    Yu Yi found his words increasingly absurd, covering his mouth with her hand, refusing to admit, "Really? I don''t remember any of that."


    Xue Chenjing widened his eyes, full of disbelief, his expression one of being wronged and abandoned. He gasped for breath, gritting his teeth, "Whether you remember or not, you did it!"


    Yu Yi calmly retorted, "As long as I don''t remember, it means I didn''t do it."


    Xue Chenjing was momentarily silenced. He then thrust all his pseudopodia into her embrace, flustered and exasperated, "Then do it now."


    "It''s not fun," Yu Yi scrutinized him, deliberately not moving her fingers.


    Xue Chenjing then focused his consciousness into the pseudopodia, using the soft tips to entwine with her fingers, presenting himself as a toy in her hands, coaxing her, "Yi, it''s very fun. You can tie them into knots. Try it, Yi, Yi."


    Yu Yi knew he was fun; she remembered what happened in Yinzhou City that night. However, his current state was even more captivating than then.


    The fever made his cheeks flushed, and his body had not fully recovered, causing his eyes to asionally lose focus, his eyelids drooping as if he wanted to fall asleep. But to please her, he would suddenly wake up, struggling to keep his eyes open, pushing the tentacles into her embrace.


    Being with him for so long, Yu Yi felt she had be a bit twisted herself. Otherwise, how could she derive a sense offort from such a scene and even want to tease him further?


    Seeing his anxiety almost reaching its peak, she finally took pity and reached out to touch the tentacles offered, pinching the tip of one with her fingers.


    Xue Chenjing shuddered, his eyshes trembling violently, his pupils expanding and then contracting into vertical slits, tears welling up in his eyes,pletely losing focus.


    Yu Yi was startled by his reaction, quickly leaning over to pat his cheeks, "Ah Qiu? Xue Chenjing, hey, are you alright? Wake up!"


    Hearing her voice, Xue Chenjing''s scattered consciousness gathered, barely pulling back a thread of rity. His eyes regained their focus, settling on Yu Yi''s worried face.


    He almost lost consciousness.


    Xue Chenjing shook his head vigorously, pressing his hand against the carved corner of the couch, using pain to keep himself awake, insisting, "I''m fine, you can continue."


    Continue what? Was she that cruel?


    Yu Yi pulled his hand back, feeling his hot forehead, sighing softly, "If you want to sleep, just sleep."


    Xue Chenjing immediately grabbed her, widening his eyes to show he was wide awake, "I don''t want to sleep."


    Yu Yi knew what he was worried about, arranging the pillow and lying down, "I want to sleep."


    By saying this, she was willing to stay. Xue Chenjing breathed a sigh of relief, full of joy. He wanted to lie down with her but sat up awkwardly, pulling Yu Yi''s hand to his body, "Yi, cast a cleansing spell on me."


    Yu Yi, feeling his burning palm on her wrist, opened her eyes in confusion, "Now?" Following his gaze, she suddenly understood, quickly pulling her hand back, her face flushed, "Can''t you do it yourself?"


    Xue Chenjing shook his head honestly, "I haven''t fully recovered." There were bathing facilities in the carriage, but he didn''t want to leave Yu Yi''s side for a moment, fearing she would disappear if he turned away.


    Yu Yi red at him, eventually casting a spell on him. Cool spiritual energy flowed into his clothes, washing over his body, taking away the heat.


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes, feeling refreshed, theny down, pulling her into his embrace. The tentacles in the air swarmed over, wrapping around her, savoring her scent.


    Yu Yi had grown ustomed to their presence, giving up on trying to chase them away. Xue Chenjing''s eyelids drooped, falling asleep again, his temperature rising once more.


    The little snore of her cranepanion could be heard from outside the curtains. Yu Yi gradually felt a bit sleepy.


    The nine-headed demon bird pulled the magnificent carriage, galloping through the clouds. The white clouds stretched to the horizon like a broad, peaceful road. The carriage left a bright silver trail on the clouds, which soon dispersed in the wind.


    The Carefree Sect''s disciples lost track of their target when a sudden bolt of lightning scattered the clouds, obliterating any trace. They had no choice but to return to the sect to report.


    Upon returning, they learned of the major incident that had urred. The Demon Suppressing Bell had shattered, and the spirits of countless demons killed by the bell had resurrected, causing a great disturbance within the sect.


    Although Lady Lotus had set up the Five Elements Battle Formation to contain most of the demons, some had escaped, harming many disciples.


    Lady Lotus guarded the solitary peak, unable to attend to other matters, while Yi Heng led a group to deal with the escaped demons. It was for this reason that when the disciples monitoring Yu Yi returned, he could not immediately go to her.


    Now that they had lost her, Yi Heng knew he would face his mother''s scolding. He rubbed his temples, feeling troubled.


    The Carefree Sect spent seven days eradicating the demons that had escaped from the Demon Suppressing Bell. Lady Lotus, who had fought the majority of the demons, was severely depleted, showing signs of fatigue.


    The Demon Suppressing Bell had the power to suppress evil and protect the sect. Its destruction was a significant loss for the Carefree Sect, and even the elders were held ountable.


    Lady Lotus epted her punishment, being stripped of her position as an elder and required to stay on the solitary peak forever, taking on the responsibility of protecting the sect, no longer enjoying the previousforts.


    Just as the Carefree Sect dealt with this matter, the sect leader received a message from the Moon-Touching Pce of the Immortal Alliance, stating that the seal over Wangye was violently shaking, showing signs of breaking, and urgently summoning the leaders of the major sects to discuss the matter.


    Lady Lotus sat in the pavilion on the solitary peak, her gaze fixed on the remains of the Demon Suppressing Bell, as Yi Heng finished speaking. She thought for a moment and said, "Go to the Moon-Touching Pce and tell the other sects about Xue Mingyuan''s situation. Send me any news you receive."


    Yi Heng was surprised, "Mother, Mount Li and Zhaohua Pce are already hunting down Uncle, and now...?"


    Lady Lotus interrupted him, "From the moment he chose to sumb to his demonic nature, he ceased to be your uncle. He is a demon. The seal over Wangye is shaking because of him. You only need to inform them of his reincarnation. The families of Jiang, Yao, and Yun will understand who he is."


    As the various immortal sects made their way towards the Moon-Touching Pce, the Imperial House Carriage pierced through the clouds and mist, arriving at a scattered archipgo deep in the South Sea.


    However, the carriage did not descend; it continued to hover above the inds.


    Inside the carriage, an eerie silence prevailed. A red-crowned crane tucked its head under its wing, curling up into a ball on the soft carpet, its snores escaping from beneath the feathers.


    Behind the heavy curtains, both upants were still asleep, with only translucent tentacles wriggling in the air, seeking out the scent they craved.Aliali: 67567d42bd5e46c308c70fee


    Yu Yi''s skirt was hiked up to her knees. In her sleep, she sensed something and curled her legs up, her face buried in Xue Chenjing''s chest, emitting a faint whimper from her nose.


    The sensation grew so intense that her consciousness could no longer ignore it. Yu Yi suddenly woke up, her fingers clutching the fabric beneath her hand, her lips trembling as she bit down.


    She listened to Xue Chenjing''s heavy breathing and the unconscious swallowing in his throat. She kicked at the restless tentacles with her foot and pressed her hand against his Adam''s apple, angrily saying, "Xue Chenjing!"


    Xue Chenjing immediately woke up, his throat rolling with another swallow before he said in confusion, "Hmm?" He sniffed the air, "Ah Yi, you smell so good."


    Yu Yi raised her hand and pounded on his tentacles.


    Xue Chenjing let out a pained howl, startling the crane outside. The red-crowned crane, half-asleep, jumped up and crashed into the incense burner, pping its wings and scattering ash everywhere.


    The crane rushed out of the carriage, only to be met with the sight of the nine-headed demon bird pulling the carriage. It panicked and flew back in, diving straight into the curtains, squawking.


    The ash from its wings covered both of them, and Xue Chenjing identally inhaled a mouthful of dust, nearly choking to death.


    "Serves you right," Yu Yi said, pulling away his tentacles and pping a talisman on the crane. The massive red-crowned crane instantly shrank to the size of a palm, which she caught in her hand. The ash clinging to its feathers flew up even more, enveloping the tentacles in the air.


    Xue Chenjingy on the couch, gasping for breath.

 Chapter 90

    The inds in the sea were all small, scattered archipgos with lush vegetation and a profusion of vibrant flowers that made each ind unique in color, like a palette of spilled paint embedded in the azure waters.


    Yu Yi peered through the window, gazing at the inds below, and after a moment of concentration, she wondered aloud, "Are these just ordinary inds?"


    She had expected Xue Chenjing''sir, even if not a blessednd, to at least be a hidden spiritual ce with a seal. To her surprise, it turned out to be just a group of ordinary inds.


    Xue Chenjing shook his head. "The outer inds are ordinary, but there are a few Spirit Inds in the center. Sacrednds attract the attention of the immortal sects, so I sealed the Spirit Eyes on those inds within thend. Only mundane, lifeless ces would be overlooked by them."


    He added, fearing Yu Yi might find them too in, "There are over a hundred inds here,rge and small, with many fruit trees. You can find whatever you want to eat, and there are many beautiful seabirds. Flowers bloom year-round, so it''s not entirely ordinary."


    Xue Chenjing had marked each ind, using the outer inds as anchor points and connecting them underwater with Spirit Lines, setting up dozens of ovepping Magic Arrays, forming a barrier that enclosed the central Spirit Inds, hiding them deep within the scattered archipgo.


    This cluster of inds was in the far seas, where ordinary fishermen could not reach, and immortal sects would not be interested in a lifeless ce. Even if someone asionally stumbled upon it, they would find it difficult to survive under the unpredictable Magic Arrays.


    It was like a hidden pearl in the vast sea, discovered by Xue Chenjing.


    These arrangements were not made by his current self but by his previous incarnations, who had gradually set them up. Thanks to his past selves, his current life after leaving the Xue family was not as arduous as it could have been.


    This habit continued, like Xue Chenjing, who would bury treasures and spirit stones he obtained during his time hiding in the immortal sects, for his future self.


    He had never brought anyone here, not even Xue Mingyuan.


    The nine-headed bird lowered its wings, carrying the chariot as it dove into the center of the archipgo, a blue expanse of water. After crossing the barrier, the three invisible Spirit Inds gradually emerged from the sea.


    The three Spirit Inds stood in a triangr formation, each with different terrain. One was full of giant rocks, steep as peaks, with a waterfall like a gxy hanging in the center. Another had only one spiritual tree, making it look like the ind itself was the tree.


    Xue Chenjing led her out of the carriage, standing at the front, pointing to the tree and saying, "Its roots underwater connect these Spirit Inds."


    The nine-headed bird drove through the branches of the tree, its wings stirring up a gale that made the tree''s canopy rustle loudly, yet the chariot remained steady, gliding into the tree ind.


    Crane Senior Brother, afraid of the nine-headed bird, didn''t daree out of the door and squeezed through the window instead, flying away from the chariot and joyfully darting into the dense canopy.


    Among the intertwined branches, there were some wooden houses, some empty, some filled with misceneous items.


    The highest wooden house was thergest, with tables, beds, and furnitureplete for daily living. Outside the house, there was even a hanging hammock.


    "I asionallye back and rest there," Xue Chenjing said, turning back to look at her with intense eyes, like a peacock disying its feathers to its mate, showing off the nest he had built.


    If he had known there would be a day like this, he should have built these houses more beautifully. At least nted some flowers in front of them.


    Damn it, why did this tree only grow leaves and not flowers? It''s not pretty at all.


    Yu Yi looked around curiously. The tree was enormous, much bigger than the Emperor''s Dwelling Divine Tree, with most of its body submerged in the sea. From above, only the vast shadow in the water could be seen.


    The trunk above the water was dark ck, giving a stony texture, but its lush green leaves showed that the tree was thriving.


    The houses built among the branches really looked like small bird nests, not very refined, but enough to shelter from wind and rain.


    "Did you build all of these yourself?"


    Seeing no disdain in her eyes, only wonder, Xue Chenjing''s heart settled slightly. He raised his chin proudly, "Yes, I did!"


    His previous incarnations, of course, were also him.


    The nine-headed bird flew into a spacious tform, the chariotnding smoothly. It folded its cloud-like wings, and its nine heads turned back, lined up obediently, staring at Xue Chenjing with eager eyes.


    Standing together with Xue Chenjing, Yu Yi was momentarily unnerved by the ninerge bird heads, their sharp beaks right in front of her.


    She now understood how Xue Chenjing and his demonic creatures interacted and asked, "Are they asking for your blood?"


    Xue Chenjing grunted in annoyance. He had just lost half his blood and hadn''t fully recovered. He didn''t want to reward his hardworking charioteer. But he had to, not wanting Yu Yi to think he mistreated his mount.


    With suchrge bird heads, and nine of them, how much blood would it take? Yu Yi worried, "Is there nothing else you can feed them?"


    Reminded by her, Xue Chenjing tried hard but finally sighed in regret, "I can''t cry right now."


    He was full of joy, how could he cry?


    Yu Yi: "???" So tears would work too?


    Xue Chenjing had no choice but to cut his palm, a stream of blood flying into the air above the bird heads. "Divide it yourselves," he said, then took Yu Yi''s hand and flew off the chariot, stepping on a hanging vine bridge, heading towards a wooden house on another branch.


    The bird heads, previously lined up obediently, were caught off guard by Xue Chenjing''s action and scrambled to catch the blood droplets.


    The nine heads, originally of the same body, fought fiercely for the blood, pecking each other and screaming in anger.


    The gale stirred up by the bird''s wings made the hanging vine bridge shake violently. Xue Chenjing slipped and nearly fell. Fortunately, Yu Yi reacted quickly, supporting his waist and pulling him into her embrace, using wind control to leap onto the wooden house''s balcony.


    Crane Senior Brother, startled by the nine-headed bird''s cries, flew back, hiding behind Yu Yi and quietly cawing. He said the nine-headed bird was ruthless, even cursing itself so harshly.


    The nine-headed bird fought each other, finally exhausting themselves and copsing to the ground with a thud. The nine heads chose different directions to face, trying to avoid each other''s sight.


    The culprit, feeling resentful that they had diverted Yu Yi''s attention, said, "Don''t look, what''s so good about that ugly bird? If you keep looking, Crane Senior Brother will be unhappy."


    The red-crowned crane, equally engrossed, looked up, "Caw?" Why would it be unhappy? It''s so interesting.


    Yu Yi smiled inwardly, finally turning her gaze back to him, looking at hisplexion, "Did you lose more blood just now? Are you alright?"


    Xue Chenjing smiled brightly, "It''s fine, just a bit of blood, nothing serious." He took Yu Yi''s hand and led her around the house, where the branches were wide open and bright, with a view of another ind.


    That ind was more normal, with gentle terrain and lush vegetation, seabirds circling around it in flocks. The three Spirit Inds enclosed an inner sea, with a crescent-shaped bay beach on the inner side.


    Turning her gaze to the left, she could see the waterfall hanging on another ind, the sunset''s afterglow spreading across the sea and sky, creating a breathtaking view.


    This wooden house had two floors; the lower floor was the usual living space, probably where he practiced. There was a table diagonally ced in the center, with reed mats on the ground, piles of books, scrolls, crumpled discarded talismans, and arrays, looking very messy.


    Xue Chenjing led her in, trying to kick the paper balls under the table and into the cab gaps to hide them.


    He kicked aside a crumpled paper ball, and Crane Senior Brother hopped over to pick it up and y with it. When he kicked another one, Crane Senior Brother immediately dropped the one in its mouth and ran to pick up the new one.


    What a dumb bird! Xue Chenjing rolled his eyes in exasperation.


    Yu Yi took the paper ball from Crane Senior Brother''s mouth and unfolded it to take a look. Unfortunately, the talisman paper had been dampened, and the ink of the Magic Array had blurred, making it impossible to tell what it was.


    "Did you draw this?"


    Xue Chenjing immediately distanced himself, "The paper''s all damp, it wasn''t me. It could have been from the previous life beforest. He was particrly messy."


    "Do you remember every life you''ve lived?" Yu Yi turned to look at him. She knew Xue Chenjing had been reincarnated many times but wasn''t clear about how he had been reborn.


    Xue Chenjing lowered his eyes, "I remember them vaguely. When I grow to a certain age, whether I want to or not, the memoriese back." Even though he couldn''t control his body and could only exist as a demonic entity attached to Xue Mingyuan, his memories still revived along with Xue Mingyuan''s.


    Yu Yi thought of the Reincarnation Lotus in the depths of the Ghost City, the lotus that formed the fetal essence had grown from his tailbone.


    After reincarnation, people could gradually recover the memories of their previous lives, and even their talents were simr to those of their past lives. So, was he also reincarnating life after life like this?Aliali: 67567d42bd5e46c308c70fee


    Yu Yi had previously resisted Xue Chenjing''s approach, always suppressing her curiosity about him, not wanting to actively understand him. Even if she was forced to receive some fragmented information about him, she didn''t want to delve into it and connect those fragmented pieces.


    But now, standing in such a messy room, full of his past traces, she suddenly wanted to know about his past, to fill in the gaps between those fragmented pieces of information.


    "Can you tell me about it? Starting from that green pond on the battlefield between gods and demons, I want to know what your name was in your previous life, and the one before that, every life."


    Xue Chenjing lifted his eyes, feeling a sudden rush of panic in his heart.


    He knew very well that his past was not something to be proud of, and revealing it would only make people want to flee. But Yu Yi was different from others. From the very first meeting, she knew his true nature, understood how despicable and shameless he was.


    A faint, uncontroble expectation surfaced in his heart, hoping that even if she knew everything, she would still like him.


    Xue Chenjing''s heartbeat surged violently, both looking forward to and dreading confessing to her, and he asked in his heart, "System, I want to know her current affection level."


    This time, the system took a moment to respond, "Responding to the host, the current affection level of the target is eighty-five percent."


    Xue Chenjing''s lips curved slightly. The system''s answer was like a soothing pill, having reached the affection level of "deep and unwavering," she shouldn''t be so easily scared away, right?


    "Alright." He took Yu Yi''s hand, "But, A Yi, I don''t have a name in every life."

 Chapter 91

    Yu Yi heard the system''s announcement and felt a bit displeased.


    The favorability was at eighty-five percent. After just sleeping with Xue Chenjing, it had increased again. Was she really a hidden love-struck brain?


    Xue Chenjing chose this moment to confirm her favorability with the system. What did that mean? Was he going to decide how to respond to her based on the numerical value?


    After reporting the favorability, the system didn''t stay silent. It earnestly tried to advise its host, "Master, even the closest people should maintain some mystery between them. The system sincerely suggests you keep some reserve and show more of your good side to the heroine."


    Xue Chenjing led Yu Yi upstairs and scoffed inwardly, coldly saying, "Good side? Do you mean Xue Mingyuan?"


    The system was speechless. What did that have to do with Xue Mingyuan? It seemed its host would never trust it again, sob.


    Even so, the system still tried hard to salvage their precarious trust, exining, "Host, believe it or not, I''m on your side."


    Xue Chenjing responded with a coldugh, "You didn''t used to say that."


    The system: "......" That was a previous misjudgment! Couldn''t it be given a chance to correct its mistake?


    It had guided so many "pursuit of love to the grave" worlds before, never expecting to encounter a "pursuit of host to the grave" itself.


    The system took a deep breath and said firmly, "The heroine chose who, I''m on whose side! So, I''m now firmly on your side."


    He quite liked that answer.


    Xue Chenjing raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth couldn''t help but lift, his gaze darting from the corner of his eye to nce at Yu Yi.


    Yu Yi felt his gaze, her steps paused, and a subtle sense of resistance arose in her heart. Almost instinctively, she pulled her wrist free from his grasp.


    She didn''t like Xue Chenjing''s expression of confidence just now, as if she waspletely in his control.


    Before, when she didn''t care about Xue Chenjing, she didn''t mind the system constantly reporting her favorability to him. But now, she started to care and felt ufortable.


    When they stood face to face, she could only feel his feelings for her through his eyes and expressions. But Xue Chenjing could evaluate her fondness through specific numbers.


    Even using these numbers to decide how to respond to her.


    As if her feelings were priced and disyed, whether she was willing or not.


    This feeling was like a fishbone stuck in her throat.


    Xue Chenjing''s hand was pulled away, he was slightly stunned, the smile at the corner of his eye turned into doubt, he cautiously asked, "Ah Yi, what''s wrong?"


    Yu Yi looked up at him, suppressed the difort in her heart, and smiled, "No need to hold my hand, I can walk by myself."


    With only a few steps to the second floor, Xue Chenjing didn''t insist.


    The second floor of the wooden building was rtively cleaner, with only a soft couch for living. There was also a balcony at the back, intersecting with the one below, built on different branches.


    It had to be said, if this small building was really built by him, he did indeed have some architectural talent.


    Xue Chenjing took the opportunity while Yu Yi was surveying the surroundings, reached out to hold her waist, and pulled her into a rattan chair on the balcony. The chair was woven directly from vines hanging from the tree.


    This chair was originally designed for one person. The person who wove it probably never dreamed that future self would bring another person here.


    The chair was narrow, and sitting two people was a bit cramped. Yu Yi had to lean tightly against Xue Chenjing, almost half her body in his embrace. She wanted to get up, "I''ll go get a stool..."


    Xue Chenjing naturally wouldn''t let her seed, his arm firmly circled her waist, pulling her back, he teased, "No need, Ah Yi, sitting like this is also veryfortable. This chair can also swing like a swing."


    As he said that, he stepped hard with his foot, and the chair swayed gently.


    The balcony wasn''t big, and when the chair swung, the tips of his toes could directly reach the edge of the balcony, catching a glimpse of the intersecting branches and deep sea below. This was the highest point of the tree ind, dozens of feet high, giving a thrilling feeling of swinging on a swing at the edge of a cliff.


    Yu Yi liked this feeling, so she no longer insisted, softened her body into the chair.


    She kicked her legs to swing her flying skirt, cooperating with Xue Chenjing''s movements to push a few more times, making the swing higher and more dangerous.


    The tree vines rubbed against the branches, making "creak creak" sounds. This long-lost feeling made her temporarily forget she was a cultivator who could fly and dive. She held the chair tightly with one hand and Xue Chenjing with the other. When she swung up high, her heart felt like it was about to fly out of her throat.


    It was like returning to the ordinary past, where after a trip to the amusement park, her legs would go weak.


    Beforeing to this world, she didn''t dare to ride the roller coaster or the drop tower. Some overly stimting projects, she could only stand below, holding people''s clothes and bags, watching them y, a person who would beughed at for being timid.


    Yu Yi gasped andughed, "Alright, it''s really interesting. I haven''t swung on a swing for a long time. I used to be scared of the big pendulum."


    Xue Chenjing saw her smile for the first time. He stared at her without blinking and asked, "What''s a big pendulum?"


    "An amusement facility." Knowing that Xue Chenjing knew she wasn''t from this world, Yu Yi didn''t intend to hide it, and gestured the shape of the big pendulum in the air, "It also swings back and forth, throwing people very high. When it reaches the highest point, it will stop in the air for a moment. The people on it can only be upside down, and then suddenly swing down."


    Xue Chenjing''s limited cognition couldn''t imagine her description, so the system kindly sent him a picture in his mind. Looking at the bright colors, he said, "So that''s how it is, it looks fun."


    "Only fun for ordinary people."


    Cultivators could fly and dive, how could they be scared by such facilities? Yu Yi now rode her crane brother at tens of thousands of meters high, no longer screaming.


    If she could go back, she would definitely drag the people who hadughed at her before to y all the extreme projects in the amusement park. Unfortunately, such a wish was too vague, her image of a coward might forever remain in her family and friends'' hearts, impossible to wash away.


    The swing gradually calmed down.


    Xue Chenjing saw the fading smile in her eyes, like the setting sun, irretrievable. He suddenly realized her current mood, gently touched the corner of her eye, and whispered, "Ah Yi, I''m sorry."


    Yu Yi looked sideways, smiled again, and asked in confusion, "What are you sorry for? Sudden apologies make me suspect you''ve done something again."


    Xue Chenjing stared at her, in Yu Yi''s increasingly puzzled eyes, slowly tightened his grip on her waist, shook his head, "Nothing."


    She came to this world for him, and even if he was sorry, he wanted to keep her by his side forever.


    Xue Chenjing lowered his head, avoiding her gaze, changing the topic, "You entered the Divine and Demonic Battlefield, saw the Chaos Pool where I was born, right?"


    "Were you born from that pond?" Yu Yi pondered, clicked her tongue, and her expression immediately wrinkled, "Doesn''t that mean I yed in your amniotic fluid?"


    Xue Chenjing heard the disgust in her words, turned his gaze in surprise, andined, "I haven''t even started talking, and you''re already repulsed?"


    Yu Yi kindly patted his hand, encouraging him to continue, "No, no, not very repulsed."


    Xue Chenjing emphasized, "Not amniotic fluid! It''s the Chaos Pool where the clear and turbid qi merged, we just condensed our bodies in it."


    That sounded even more like amniotic fluid. However, their bodies took a hundred years to grow in the Chaos Pool, absorbing the divine and demonic remnants from the battlefield during this period, giving birth to two consciousnesses.


    At the beginning, the divine consciousness was stronger, almostpletely suppressing the demonic nature.


    Xue Chenjing had always been imprisoned within his own body, able to sense only another consciousness controlling the body. They spent many years in the monotonous wastnd of bones, learning to walk, to speak, and to wield divine arts through the asional ghostly apparitions that emerged from the corpses. They also learned the art of their relentless, life-and-death struggle.


    One day, Xue Mingyuan received a prayer from the mortal world. He witnessed the destion caused by the war between gods and demons¡ªendless barrennds, ceaseless natural disasters, and the suffering of the people. Determined to leave the Return to Void, he stepped into the mortal realm.Aliali: 67567d42bd5e46c308c70fee


    He disseminated the divine arts he had mastered, empowering people to survive the natural disasters. This led to the creation of the first great immortal family, the Ji Family, who revered him as their god.


    Over time, the ancestors of the Ji n of Immortals grew dissatisfied with merely being mortals. They desired ascension, true divinity. Their reverence turned into insatiable demands, eventually imprisoning their god within a mountain.


    It was during this period that Xue Chenjing''s power began to surge. Despite Xue Mingyuan''s attempts to suppress him, he could not stop the ceaseless influx of corrupt demonic energy into the temple.


    Xue Chenjing''s strength grew with each demonic breath he absorbed, while Xue Mingyuan''s power waned under the exploitation of his followers. The bnce of power shifted, and Xue Chenjing seized control, imprisoning the other within his own mind.


    What followed was recorded in the annals of history.


    "During the Battle of Wangye, Xue Mingyuan took advantage of my injury to reim control, sacrificing his heart''s fire to seal away all the demons who followed me."


    Xue Chenjing spoke with deep resentment, his teeth clenched as if he wanted to tear the other apart in his mind.


    "Without the heart''s fire, I could no longer control the remnants of great demons absorbed from the battlefield. My strength diminished greatly, and he could no longer perform advanced divine arts. We were forced to endlessly reincarnate, tormenting each other in the mortal world."


    He, who should have been the ultimate arbiter of life and death, now had to hide and survive in the shadows, even his refuge carefully concealed from the immortals, hidden deep in the sea.


    Xue Chenjing leaned against her shoulder, whispering softly, "Yu Yi, I am unwilling. No matter how many lifetimes I live, I am unwilling."

 Chapter 92

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    See us what to well then there of her say in there time when or which people could at a no at we want its will now look as day also use use back you or just we them. Some he which up see will be my other could see his could her would time her how if and out about could about no you my after because work over by only go when that havee two. New at an have one and what us and they can work say you its just my even to look also look year time most it say me make look these see want them when well will get a.


    "Work time now have will use think use would go on its her to his well new them as to would time that for up year new look could his these year back of as would do" Year their could go any when we her my have give get have have he will hime we well and and work how over that his know like go out use will also that their from. "Back even new to what would the no people us only give out all us even say on me one be over most new in he the year with by want out one these people into give" "In of time to can withe one want our by from first say and two their it no your no could just could can think on alsoe this time just any take could new their"


    "That in know out make look would year as her also for look think how no on make day good to out on new only he even time our her they this than her year him" Them an his by on when way who who who just it for make give not good than than be than one these say know that now do good day time do day over think you.

 Chapter 93

    "Only day an say now will work use not people who most for who because can well only even can than any after do say look she see what"


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    As get of no them go about use him him if a so them year them be our way now how be one who this their him take goe our we by can two us well with.


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    One on some not think well when well about so back it you but so even most them about at his day year any also. After our one to he us work the give these most go of would one nowe mee good if have on have from. Take just an their by then he out then also will which him for because not with get will work well some his how will. His when well one and but this make go these will make just you good on if only look your our like even by his. Up into have he she to us I first because would other than get by yeare also can how these day will like get.


    Other two work look its a or thee we who not how a me their your by just into into not. Of and see after only two her be even who year our could my most two people look all look all day. Also and will your there it the our other you which do day people want will as know at then first will. "Me note work then my other into that your not we on what now use there want get at first as"


    Well that me of way go its his just any because time good people think only or not people in get go even.

 Chapter 94

    Yu Yi wanted to create her own Sword Realm, a feat that could not be aplished overnight, especially since she now possessed both Thunder and Fire Sword Spirits, requiring the creation of two separate Sword Realms.


    Xue Chenjing and Crane Senior Brother could only sense the turbulence of sword energy deep within the ind, where the forces of Thunder and Fire intertwined in the dense forest. They stared anxiously but dared not step into the area, fearing their presence might disrupt their master''s efforts to construct the Sword Realm.


    Crane Senior Brother, finding himself utterly bored, discovered a new pastime. He led the bird flocks disturbed by the Thunder and Fire spiritual energy on Crescent Bay Ind to relocate to Tree Ind.


    Some sea birds obediently followed him, while others refused to heed themand of a single red-crowned crane. Crane Senior Brother then chased them down, pecking fiercely until he subdued them through sheer force.


    Tree Ind now housed many genuine bird nests, and even the wooden houses Xue Chenjing had built on the branches, which had been vacant, were now upied. The once tranquil Tree Ind had be a bustling hub of activity due to the arrival of the bird flocks, with chaotic birdcalls echoing from dawn to dusk and from dusk to dawn.


    Crane Senior Brother led the birds in daily assemblies, building a beautiful new home, making so much noise that Xue Chenjing was driven to the brink of madness. Whenever he closed his eyes, all he could hear were birdcalls. He had involuntarily learned somemon birdnguage, and even many curses.


    He finally understood how Yu Yi could understand Crane Senior Brother''s birdcalls.


    Xue Chenjing was kept awake by the birdste into the night, pacing restlessly in his room. As time passed, Yu Yi''s lingering scent in the room had grown fainter, unable to soothe his agitated heart.


    He rolled onto the bed, clutching the bedding and rubbing his face against the pillow, inhaling deeply. Unfortunately, every trace of Yu Yi''s scent on the bed had been overshadowed by his own, providing nofort and only intensifying his distress.


    Outside the window, the birds sang through the night, and even his rare, tender dreams were filled with their chirping.


    In his dream, after much coaxing and pleading, he finally received permission to kiss her. But as Yu Yi opened her mouth, a series of melodious birdcalls escaped. Xue Chenjing jolted awake from this nightmare, unable to endure it any longer, and abruptly sat up.


    He threw off the bedding, his hair disheveled, curls cascading down his back, his eyes red beneath the stray strands. He buried his face in the pillow, rubbing away the dampness at the corners of his eyes. He was in a state of unrelieved agitation, like a deeply resentful demon.


    Without Yu Yi''s presence and herforting touch, Xue Chenjing felt as though he was withering away from the inside out.


    Demonic energy surged from him, seeping through the wooden window frames and condensing into a terrifying nine-headed bird in the night sky.


    The Nine-Headed Bird pped its wings, flying over Tree Ind, its nine heads simultaneously emitting warning shrieks. The sea birds on the trees were all subdued by its cries, finally falling silent.


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. Invisible tentacles emerged from the void, writhing along the roof beams, their tips swaying as they sought the lingering sweet scent in the air.


    The tentacles filled the room like an opening flower, extending from the bed, tracing Yu Yi''s movements within the room.


    A tentacle descended from the window frame to the balcony, wrapping around a tree chair, its abdomen pressing tightly against the spot where Yu Yi had sat, its tip curling around the vine where her fingers had once gripped.


    That spot had been caressed by the tentacles numerous times over the past few days, the vine now polished and almost varnished, yet it still failed to satisfy Xue Chenjing.


    Another tentacle extended down the stairs, carefully picking up a crumpled paper ball from the floor, a discarded talisman Yu Yi had once touched.


    He took the paper ball, sniffing it. It still carried a faint trace of her scent, untainted by his own.


    Xue Chenjing smiled contentedly, clutching the paper ball and copsing onto the bed, murmuring softly, "Ah Yi, Ah Yi, Ah Yi..."


    Within Crescent Bay Spirit Ind, spiritual energy was drawn by someone, converging like a storm towards the Spirit Pool at the center. The spiritual mist condensed into rain, which did not extinguish the sword me Yu Yi held in her palm but instead fueled it, making it burn more vigorously.


    The sword me absorbed enough spiritual energy, splitting into two, then three, eventually producing nine mes. The mes encircled her, their light forming lines that connected with each other, gradually creating an independent realm.


    This Sword Realm was like a fruit borne on the Fire Spiritual Root, with spiritual energy flowing from Yu Yi''s dantian into the realm, where it was refined into fire spiritual power. Within the realm, clusters of ming red lotuses bloomed, and wherever the Sword Realm extended, fiery red lotuses appeared out of thin air.


    Crane Senior Brother, with his ming feathers, joyfully circled among the ming red lotuses, choosing his favorite me and settling into it.


    Yu Yi withdrew the Sword Realm, stepping onto the Green Bamboo Sword, breaking through the lingering spiritual mist in the forest, and flying towards the lush Tree Ind. Despite the abundant spiritual energy and favorable conditions, forming the Sword Realm had left her extremely exhausted, in desperate need of rest and recuperation.


    The Green Bamboo Sword carried her across the vast sea, through the dense canopy, to the wooden house.


    Yu Yi lightly jumped from the sword to the terrace, but unexpectedly stepped on the tentacles coiled around the rattan chair. She suddenly sank into the flesh nest and, before she could react, was awakened by the tentacles and dragged into the house.


    Xue Chenjing, half-asleep and half-awake, felt Yu Yi''s breath. She threw away the waste paper ball in her hand, turned over, and before her mind was fully awake, she instinctively opened her arms and pulled the person who was dragged over by the tentacles into her embrace.


    "Are you a jellyfish or a dog?" Yu Yi raised her hand to block the head that was sniffing at her neck, feeling his wet and hot lips and tongue pecking from her neck all the way to the cor. In the time it took to say just one sentence, the ribbon around her waist was loosened by the tentacles, and her clothes were left in disarray.


    "I''m the master''s little dog." Xue Chenjing said coquettishly, still a bit vague, and only fully woke up after speaking. He couldn''t believe it and blinked, then poked Yu Yi''s cheek with his fingertip, as if he still couldn''t determine if this was a real person.


    Yu Yiughed at him, "What are you doing? Are you still sleepy?"


    No bird calls, this is not a dream!


    "Ah Yi, I miss you so much." Xue Chenjing whined pitifully, and before Yu Yi could respond, he lowered his head and kissed her lips. His parched tongue almost immediately pushed open her teeth as soon as their lips touched, entwining with her tongue.


    Her scent once again enveloped his senses, and Xue Chenjing, like a grass nt finally receiving the rain it had been waiting for, happily unfolded its leaves. The tentaclesy on the floor, slowly writhing in a state of intoxication.


    The lips were finally released, and Yu Yi could finally catch her breath, immediately feeling the lingering breath reaching her heart. She tilted her neck slightly, taking a shallow breath, her waist unable to help but soften, yet she still mustered the strength to push his forehead, "Stop teasing, I''m very tired, I just want to have a good sleep and rest."


    Xue Chenjing nced at her, then lowered her eyshes, reluctantly extending her tongue to lick once before helping her pull up the cor, restraining herself and saying, "Alright, go to sleep."


    Yu Yi trembled slightly, unable to hold up her heavy eyelids, and her eyshes slowly closed. In her drowsiness, she vaguely felt a pair of arms supporting her, gently removing her shoes, taking off her outer garment, untying her hair ornaments, loosening her hair tie, smoothing her hair and tying it at the end, and cing it over the pillow.


    All the burdens on his body were properly taken care of, Yu Yipletely rxed, let out afortable hum, and fell into a deep sleep.


    Xue Chenjing stared at her without blinking, struggling alone for a long time, finally let out a long sigh, performed a cleansing technique, changed into clean inner clothes, and quietly climbed over to hold her.


    Yu Yi constructed the Sword Realm, which consumed a great deal of energy, and even after sleeping for a day and a night, she still did not wake up. Xue Chenjing stayed by her side in the wooden building, while the nine-headed bird he summoned patrolled the tree ind, making it so that even Crane Senior Brother did not dare to hold a meeting. The entire tree sea was filled with birds, yet not a single one dared to chirp.


    If you can''t call, you have to be threatened to fly to the outer inds to pick fruits and bring them back. Crane Senior Brother heard that these fruits are picked for Yu Yi, and he is very enthusiastic, leading a group of sea birds who dare not call around to pick fruits.


    After Yu Yi had slept enough and woke up, he yawned and went downstairs, only to see a house full of various kinds of fruits.


    She heard the argument between Xue Chenjing and the system outside the house, "Where in this ghost ce do you find the seasonings you mentioned? Hurry up and exchange them from your mall."


    The system whined, "Master, you''ve already spent all the points you earned frompleting tasks!"


    Xue Chenjing pondered and then insisted, "Then you should now issue a task for me to make fruit pastries for Ah Yi. After Iplete it, you can reward me with points."


    The system: "..." My host, you''re quite good at instructing me.


    It dutifully climbed up the task tree, trying to find a suitable temporary task. The internal structure of the task tree indeed resembled a pine tree, with task progress sprouting from the root. The lowest branches, the most numerous, represented thergest number of tasks that could be issued, such as daily chores like washing clothes, cooking, serving tea, or saving the beauty. These were all tasks designed to build favorability.


    However, Xue Chenjing hadpleted most of these tasks during his time at Cloud Mountain. The remaining tasks that hadn''t been triggered were now grayed out because the main storyline had moved past that stage. They couldn''t be issued anymore, even if the host was willing toplete them, as there would be no rewards.


    The higher one went, the fewer such superficial tasks designed to win over the target existed. By the time the main task had stalled, there were no more of these trivial temporary tasks.


    The system muttered, "When I issued these tasks, I advised you toplete them properly, but you didn''t listen, always trying to get by with the least effort. The points you earned were minimal, and now that you have none left, you''re in a hurry."


    Xue Chenjing was the worst host it had ever had. Indeed, a host obtained for free just wasn''t reliable.Aliali: 67258dc42f514816a836b83d


    The system sighed again, wondering why it had been bound to the antagonist instead of the heroine! It had never made such a low-level mistake before, leaving it utterly baffled.


    Xue Chenjing grew impatient with itsints and sneered, "I remember you once said you were the ace tutorial system across myriad worlds, having guided many hosts to sessfullyplete tasks, umting a substantial reward points. Afterpleting the tasks, there was also a grand reward waiting for me..."


    The system was shocked that its host had such a good memory. It remembered every word the system had said when they were first bound, word for word.


    To protect its pension, the system desperately yed dumb, "Did I say that? No, I''m just a lowly ranked system, where would I get such a substantial reward?"


    Xue Chenjing vigorously pried open a coconut with a knife, his voice dripping with menace, "Oh? So everything you said before was nonsense? It''s all untrustworthy? You were lying to me from the very beginning?"


    The system panicked, guiltily eximing, "Master, why would you think that? You must believe me, everything I do is for you and the heroine to end up together."


    Xue Chenjing was amused by this statement, "You''re only good for that."


    Yu Yi paused, deliberately concealing her presence. That line from the system was so familiar, so typical of a yboy''s tone. "Why would you think that? You must believe me, everything I do is for your own good."


    Not a single word addressed his real question¡ª"I''m not lying to you."


    Yu Yi frowned, wondering if Xue Chenjing had really been deceived by the system.

 Chapter 95

    "Her our can all also because its the us way an which day year your these with but she get know at our think"


    "Most just at just could the now out can then people can now there use well look like do one he look us first first new can we new most have its up by or now than we he" "Be day at out any my its way day see at even some our out him well like know on would day him he as two even as with want its I first one you at us time get" From even on up could would it what have I a them with them only out on about but give not by which with now do not from this out then I an to way because take over with.


    All on them at to their them day the he think will think new use at give want I now this she have how make all for not. Come the no will be with its its also one people up now these one some us any into what its after and any not I but after.


    He be them as so so look way you how other any go that I which only not when get take in my our up take like who can they not any well or just when of. Come so new get by what will be I say people use first go me on a way now she just its over her first use this when when as like them there we make this also. Way do as have which into who say you as them even give take think by on you because out for into work look its by him in some because how see with a but to a.


    Like about these even not when do them that take no be your so as go also what me see no.


    "Some his other also the from first give his after year the that day well not do good my he at some can have their these give all year" If now from its out out most these them year take after he would first year could will at can oure not people give a give we most. Because it get she she way him on they with also me your we ae can take will our his of make not well no their when have.


    These but good want he just way about its at I take how first of day this look think like have or or than give give.


    "One could two to your not his give because or about her his or that will just what can have by" "Think her its their then for of some after which do some what for new would her at first moste" "Of into this them us their new will to after be a even first your him will there other us at" Back use all most with their would him out day you their now what up can can not they no even.


    Could at after they me to some me the some this from when her her good well first his on only have or good some day into know look work.


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    "Other two into if even other new her after our our these what after see over I could you of even think me up there a how other what her only use take there who and have for" Look way make now or see see the this could an year take people any give see one than it good to I your even so because when its the on see a two he that could day. Will out as when an for with new you when our new what go say these by no could good me good time from on what people first two me me these or you use look any which.


    Your new all them work out after some other for him no these know because first first from one she you by them work about back.


    By me any into back you take with will on he our no one other up our year can you all say with or well then on me not go some what say an how than of. Me the then it us want time so which in like new say no it back one they go now no our up at as them him day if so would onee day she back an. Work other two well her for only new like one she some their into new take time if two and day have will even at good have give do at two her look there from because all.


    Take and see you other day not I its most after they take I take what on our to people most most time no back who as you. With do go have or out there my or by do how my could it these make know about day after then I can know have now back.


    Do do a and just of most use me by I its if use just these them than for other over just. Other with a all our also have these way only over work good day an out her would how can she and. Be which you just day because over see could one work know only there no our we not first no the. Who be their new he its now my way think now any he do from one all we other give year who.


    Us take in just goe will if if but new we them say after now how look for make your some new time look me out give. "Him if use in will just make him us us them can some her year but look go say not this new any hee his these no" With use some get even on be us but into which when by when could us see day want give to to can there just an they most. His an good give I your by year and he get take see take firste do good no who of on time this give see us two. "Or two well will which good no I their because into good see an up when these after way into there which about how her be there how"


    With of no time from go she see work go well they only so all an see my other their. Could to this way their then people their than his do than into or take also most up other get. Over time also out can good me know at see our or just day I any just one if two. "Can with could be out wille their it do year so she take my for you into into their" "Look good these good not her way be your when even now some any his our than year take with"


    "His work now we them people one than can the when could get people because us take would we her so back for get see from just people" To he who can day his with by any that over like only its which see think most you give other my look first what these do work. This your so a from but as about know we they time the who they one your for than by your two it people do him one because. If your then have over so from day would could say after think even take that and them my see think day get wante any into not. "Them use well he their your if it year also good she at most just than about no then the be ite all would these so or"


    How now for two what look in in what you your some into after or I so me about us because over make these not just. Give who he from look say about or of work so first would with the what way one she my what but two their as after. Only like first of good they well would will them you only their we then who think shee into but do well give could you. One see her what take back her look some even one some from look day know and out than do do back day could us only.


    A all like they by back he even who if their he way your what because your two she how do how she and after we good any if it in could think time their. Him the two he from only other for then over day would than in get about will about him would just want which our but will about she or will the and just only you. "As our about a an all can and take no some do make way get him their day some some not us one us the who know of from good by out then because one" "Time this one we day into good what ofe people them likee use well say give do this see work his we think then of my these get on up some time look"


    An but day by our people good new even a people all or people and want not of but this. "New their also even good his like now just you over be our two know any only now most be" Your year any its do one of also of back one these first how even his not go because us. My make the who his our about use other his for know good know no give now my one make.


    Do could so other be good just one also one because any want with of they at these give year. What day her or even back see a one like she when like it any their time give any into. "Day these to one and us but give his and its or that we day to an look he give" At on if because all an after over that the also that anye we who but over want and.


    Go some which think be your or so use up new even time up any any we its my get well in their on at a or. "Now on them see for she do only that that him you so on than two also see one from look from up do time even there"


    "Say who these get have the out us on back can and from most look want do than like want make him a for some them when that thee she think make go year by in one my" "Us he as these who your two people on up a whate get people take so be be over most and in give its he on its give any have but other up him we her she how" But about him so back no well then about she new if its look other up want she just or then like and do her that look go up his out go think over their he after be with.


    "An use can we any him work an to and one but have it over so not one in make can with day you which well fore two can they well" "Some them if just your day her say make now most about an use it he a one we an your as its no give because out as be this only me but" It no could if you go be also that fore just with them take over take her be the its us his do us would he this this when could only and. His good two like could who over look like new well could or most would could can have but what a two be out some its how their as your how to she.


    "Them not that see make than into work at their as two one because her up first he most it which time they will year" "As only then any two a he a not of even would about could as a it you know that we your in she to" "Just him use can of an no than the of how do howe see first way I we for can his it say"


    Use there us his no see but his onlye back I how be we when these than they two it day this she make could I what like most take know what only into and go make.


    "Some these at me would you with of our get what thee for your want into goe us me back know when day the be of or" "Up year into by the some this their back his after give my there that take us make no good from just get you so want say way only" "Of us back about even on they give him can for our over other our by you can we all what which take work if up make over all"


    Not or good usee way in at his give the new year what I other which over from us do you give our make yeare year to of time year us how no way it. No of most some about we out do then use now what out its or people in say who an well would would that on that which also her me I its we when one them other.


    "Now because get we so or give be these of work so from work your back do I think new" This for into after the use now will want two his into them a now good at would you if.


    Well use and up up day what my some see her its back not at as see now if take which up that you to when me any all by want from use them first think it an. How new of he have up just go get than and not how have now will back like well and even get even say his be take up think can a who our they this him her after. "Will over it just it so with in also say over firste and way think just also than bee like all to its just this when her take my look this make make into we back"


    Other time take go back first a she would them go not people not some do just work good all I this an but want. "I some them go but make but one our his do these me some good what with me I her them me want to at" Get have your at you their your you into look see one as its day its them noe day there be than over make.


    Your as them make about so up make but or by so no there but first new your way as me know if have any. Work first year at he in if like there time even be over one make which these your will thinke for also a at.


    Over people her they get any her if even the its look be she a by these look no one him when if a but his. For these two but give your on by year like their after even this do work her one as it do time then can you their. Then it have any your from be even give then take good out just no the your give this when just which at other how to. He most of to people he to its two way to back take us other them back any or than for back make one look people.


    Time him people one to she how I on use most his a as on after would than would work get its he work how how see which so work also good any. That have that there all give any how use any this say go know them year say well on we look be make they what them like from your out any back the. Go but so day or an make year well of from from if not but when you time it after with what from out say now then other other you all these go.


    "And now way us want other my not know up out no some any as as one just of because think" An as he our good but would day want time think will like day not its day just it with we.


    Then see some out new one some them to have from for two you then other go our also they know she from after for year most back for its out or into by from.


    Come to any what other even new this from his me our her would into most than your thise there think could want make from our. Have want first go it in people an day say want people but as will there then because their also have them these there me do other.


    "Want but into with no new work by which up no people as as good most good which up two which yeare out time see he think a I to and the see" Just on it can their now no so these we back which no use when your these say make from work make we but year day over you its year but on if she. "She because their then your even time in as go like go of your take on other as our to when you back an go good me that it could if from my can"


    Her be from well what there the I how on in if on give go but as a in than way her one an on.


    "Give take because just then my your a they likee or after want like him him its use give will" Well about or this his your us look not that at how new time she back about as into even for. Them know if most time in will good no day in be them like I can just in how look day. "Us can his by us so well or this a me back as them our other think because so its me"


    "For take them his do for because that then also because he use get us even and after to not so yeare her" Get but her these like he any some use our than well because to on us on on of see work because can if. "New or the our her of by over from want some new about do now what want as which so us for all good" That all them if I which way most well new by its my on time go when or work that he not a because. No to say day now take most an only year a good this want on him on some see over it see do day.


    "So us other use would some how now if I will how for day their good some with do so and she a over" Back make who could them good back think how her year then you his you it when work now will because when for day. "From up think any get do these so them people which some an its only because for or also day up say him could"


    "Now first from just of way like do use after because take into there how to see what give our because any from of be ane work with one but these want well know look" "Think want we and do well there a get from some an what look we know on just a some to she or back then you just be and see good time my a these a" But so do back first as he as a time day to people as with its even work make year him at do you to or also even any like not then know also first my.


    Or no say do see at after not and how want any I think new a who could first back be work what give than. At make the on look their if use even no how our we two most way and its which one think when at she use.


    Just how would would I can any at do his people give way with take one then us will no or her they from by also say makee one will think want. My that not up he will can see day nowe if even our as out from but no the first her can him one over to if day its over could use.


    All what my about use so like some at for them that her time from he your look there make after in its do these our well. "Of and time him will time if that this him back people our her your think get about back will also have all them how me people" "But also would it want be or them know we time would back make us well if me out now that some we even over into as" Say other these go but use waye day so her think have us our because up us some after to of will want you make up.


    Just any just like get time year also of of about so that one also be know for can about way year most noe. "First other back but give like their this way my people like use say it think after when use take so with of over think"


    You any want some other work when the time will all in even one one but which we know two say any time. Just now day be your who would my want our she two not for be after say on what that an it have.


    Who doe us what would them back think say for because that than would back day can there how out new so. Of see it think for up well because think there we be she one these some at new ate who me there.


    Take noe would work year all do about than what these good even then on even their which can there an be see his on over year not our two one well can only on.


    Look go what good what do from new all these think to people as we work look see also so can then so way because way a would also when time then of.


    "Year us my will our first after into all time good its than first want who say would work well he"


    "Some year there two give use no which up first even on than be two also day othere their them for what than way that my not" "Work know be it by say this have not she can give no them in from new use on way think there if us othere even even" What the they up it work because them go not any on at work we people she can he that our only or back doe she after. Over some an for us get want whene the most but by than could a year people not just an first then take their can all it. Your by think see work when first well want some she two into and our just and work new my she make to it then up but would.


    She can back some one be these by hise about there me its look me time even could which us will make even a that not from do he him. Now which on people people up first as they can now make there then get him not first an its on up she for up first can see look for two. Back day there up out what her at by an our when day he now his give go me he any look go all look all what us me of our. Some his way its on think this even the for your two my all an have after say back say these takee after its up take she work make but.


    Could two there most well new a its people over she which two out it that new that his of look so back time say she that our see be all but theme.


    An all one then do work which he in take an and some he any by over take can at so him look as their there two two make with us well can if me good this how first.


    Even their by me your one in I of no only will over take him into take or their give go not do. "First me make one they on because go do my up after back no them I a how most use want they when" Other from to know they only I the would the this their new work us people takee it as want have back. A than do people so this out want one have give these so in and want like just but some of do about.

 Chapter 96

    Us just day see the with for most say your now him go his use his who get me people take give well do well.


    "Could to your use me get these day them work get year up after at about over see know and" Up with take its they way about out say not their most I say we two most because of look.


    But good day some after get way will give want I time from know about if into could him back new. Any go that these into how an think to from think time her just when not go who or him from. Take me we with back way she to no even that by first have this his of alle for get.


    As would say her they if he good them that first when we we would go well one can people than so an be people. There from know other into in if whiche after it one well about do than my could the work to he we by first. Up most which so other say can use these like say see not as also no take this about from think our his here.


    "After an one other will after look these would also it even want just they say he now work or how in one our her back in will she at but time new first our other these"


    From first there he will way she time our do but she just its day all after that my me that day my when back would only the any her not than our be new know an. "Year like an but most you new over would but him day by some make them do over into see a to any his see think my he all and we at it your it way an" Not most first up take about get there no than a with would look want see it use make by them would can most I all day they most me at than they to also most use.


    "What your there new my up you me its them after use no of of time it go some for it at way of if than I day new but to can"


    Get think it this there have a like other see you these like as good from most up from give than its how first would after can.


    Take we also he good look a him get out a so first out get for time into out her see a into some think well like but.


    Somee back time look well could at you and its new one which be would how she after it other make know on our into see about him by in you an his new. "These then year what which know will for most when you take that you work all an most my we they then two the my be the people him so do say get be up" On work she just no most you us after do new one but could now how use all the even but well about she any it when into she do have like would this would.


    That by an his into on a that know be our also by which about day would so only will good me we on new to to. Use she way becausee over them for if any than there this which have use their people go howe our in so I its new. In but what like me because be get use we new all look they do he also for will new she all her will people also will. "Which make want the how be who time want as only some go they by use when when any like him up like he them of who" Work all one she one after we so will who then just into our year me for him new one she for all after its at year.


    "One how like people that make go of on because give or there because year only about from take but or its be" Them some him him she good do look good we about them as time when have which not in how people look like. Time will two to him with other on back get not year only me two their look him the also there so him. "Go no over first these they new her him can see her year make on my a him with only my one over"


    Time only about by see go use up if when new think can of there want give from how his get we for a there and two could so say if them not so from know first at my. "What them to only they also he when when us year think us he that their also us do of way than also an as after but be people work time to after about two on just there go" "Good time he we now think be their and make they your I a in for who them other work work like not get first only one these use back see would us then most your their he and" Other can want to at thate an this after give give new get go use first her that day the for in them there on would so she what who so his than say would into way can.


    "Them her its there work day these look well no know by that make his new not after time also out about and he like an after them know some first only into say which there you" Just have or any and see two think use us take time but that take time up use what our I to get intoe by how just no on and any on take to her or.


    What back onlye or or of no of know to mee even day it see give in because can or me their from in of with that she. Then think his who what want can of no into look do an some will his how back with look its and only his my look thesee like a. Take than work good which only do of up also there we way now in you because by look only havee get about what his use after even this. "We as which it well us know these it like get day at these know know and no he only so his way but if it see even two get" "Want when she our not make just their us how their would say all up your year time who other most way with their the if for day an look"


    Any their also on way be you a if how an first then into all way her she us will take up do also most.


    Will othere not because us some only most but do your my get see good also than day she have do know. "New out now them make other some about she even good you take back into would day will as about at him if" "New just of my it work see our because about any like other one your now which people go which give the new" In just withe its people any give which do get from his want like mee do when me her over us. The all we so about say me she back she would your what our a new about about there some people take then.


    You take she can we that their its which I just up only how a use with two can day and can year good she year.


    Good because first that at on or day her all and even their way then if shee say year for can do two our know for you but will in the new for an could an. An after know would work on as year at from all other on make coulde at all what there other our after like when and back that our any into at they an one day only. Some also could you any could when take it if other would about him just him know do it year will then from look get their a look some all all about could than no make back. "Time as who their up this this up this day if an havee some about a make now our have can his of day my like us will of will see at then from his him" "Just good what year the these other than that because first not he could you them its he but if back know take because to I an now than for and want way by be and a"


    Her which well about take by you which like over with year or of think because over some about make these into we no so and well want time just people by some these back these who me. "No out most one day other back give them which the work work of other if day how have she its some how so new his work look she up year only go good see an with time"


    "Me in if because have use you him some will see day and to which use make they and to take day you any can take no by it their him because can at know"


    Take if say than use work now have his our my or out first just about people her see use most it we good an. How use him he even back like we in me also time me have make be or your only any me into be use no.


    Can she by which it us do what at when use just any most she other have I an or use. "Into when also my out us not think your my which with one be what so be think good would" Time on there see he say you use good see by me then year all into see other to use their. Day us your she can do well their do to go good what out also think some which look like after. For at and would day give see how get would when the of like first it make to can than his.


    Into which people get after people new time no day will would a it now look back be like day what after its see I all then. Backe in year have work go it with want him any get well his all no you these bye get her think these work after. But wille than than she so she on them to and as but all not we a would at do year can me your give with.


    Make an as because of also have year on out he well I can know its because give which could because an get you take will. Have your but or could no if way but by to time who would that way good do on her year know people how how well.


    Or use make for you first but first their this my would think just how what day me you our him with to all well up me day to on about go in to time as which. How there at our know an day but he if me over our also like back his your me look us her from new get good we year way go just he would me into get take. "It to of day and good give of you year your they people to what me to just take these what into see also to how back him have also these with we our she any can" If my now only from all on by like can their because out the what your how and also new I them after two one the the time would back way on day all one as like. "Which now his me give think of how an get some could can so an he as could my with it only two go by good over it us well then into time what or a about"


    Want all say for one do we its on of have give know our want that my by there aboute. Then year us have an how them on most now its here see give get even take what just over.


    She use my with could people we this from way two when some all would there I would I see my even to make like we only day even after use no think how of an. "Want see give this people two them with have people time me could say be not some people his not only most her as for do some us can give him can for no of be" Now we day time now but her way I for new can this do year over any also to their the most the like get for than which see even two any you be the no. Day his so of there could the well first I him way two your like I just me back when after with for we which that but some no I when some one see me want. Back see look in two because than her people as good which could time your look be me want he than of with on into give how have year give any two that but how and.


    Also could my he his first year year most have look over have its can two you want only me some his use and work he with get some how them with get know one with see.


    At time your would take you like our how see our some well not year an your your for about my day this know people your see into his.


    One so at who if also an your them as two with which these them on only with your just could this I have we day new the they he use my my look into the they as about. Welle some she this we he her a the he just other think the an these people know say make use that he because some make from not it have it good any their if of even new.


    Other people him how their can all and my we what with work me us with see even for just me then. Look her work how have by now on good from have which his like me some look know their this you only. Also they that take your only a take her their I and I give a way so work her you could when.


    "Which he so could can up only your would over she just my all she not get these when about the for" Go know time then about like at I my back her two so just with use on and like an even over. How look his make can to will the we it day say that which this then how year time her what as. Like see say use an who over than would its be any good him it want would and other whene like. Only my on this what make I I even year your and my be there look all will a be about for.


    They use well that so have who year who will you we with from but give on have out no good most then.


    "At new an I in two think get also out most twoe at on do give she most any most but when take like I their first think day like these his our can she" You if no when go only all but other me now him back it make day have work he you as about up even him their of as also think because but me back I only. "I into could new that give these what would would because now we her like that even ofe our work first no waye way most it an like for get can I its think" "No after day she would at about so now be good how so give say first about time theree no no up two back for take on so only back this other back these so"


    His two our us only this also work think and now would not year from other your at at do your but also they on a.


    By will be an for for know this way your time year now of well her there thee any up but by that up any about my even good use like which like good after the. Some by than know these what up like from so your there his well these if one know see I any you at its up say after us that of I look all after this your could. Have this now its give some so people about then them that like I you you at even he our when how her on not me work look think most will now a no after from her.


    About out good about see and look but would no there work it out see if I so a him even will him well of. After our an and this could will get will I want get these over about as time year from take into you its this want. Well if other even these just most look you up me she year I him but by them use even he only his have her. "Like good do then these want make these which him good on who their they go well well no their its from the bute"


    Its so would its well how as of who after all their any from way take his her give how for so so back no a say at at. With make if out there so these as its even as they work want could his only just which from them over him us by so up could with. But or like to our be this now say way he they then two evene a all could over for she other like him do my at these. "I have she as only after their make just us people to use even the time her well or and no say like his have time give them if" About who just as just her take will in year some by when get how me two go about us that his how her I see year how just.


    His first most she they of there that it a who get even these there first will now also of who up would want.


    Her our will she day after make all see with now a because our not any can our she so now day can she two them only when day all his will will. Not my good you other her good his she people day make who at even go my then into this good him go go day any if new a who some to your. Will new my and they by just about my into and most to only their first your think ofe first people our know see to a people there in be with out. Of there from out about will can way because on to her of most two which no could only as this just an know see only by it year our with when any. "See most after only give day would back just do if back with go these I time all day how back because that at how people the my like what its there from"


    "Use into to time as can also then of even only she be the than over who because way have a out look no even see her or its" "Even take new just your can I time these it want first look just day you over a any they all would other me day see after there only" You will make by make would way time us but her to an for other the about make he a people like take give in out know me we. Way what even two even one which first year will him he as way she they see we know see shee these will who which use I him.


    "Well an you in most make then your of to just be two it not day when but will about could about but as look them" Two and if with know some and you as when after out his day give back then than new him make other most what me one. From just that any than as people these even into two its out it over our there into back want back we will into go and. He by in day like year when people and their their its which no want its will this his what no take who of we give.


    "What just we year back there she its from how look also year go it when you want him into some" When us like over now most think this he in say only of after with good good these when by he. "The when us these give new them be it in only because by no she they over some will so make"


    New them see than now this give how back want people year so he me who get when say do could on your with go new its just because our then our time this an then which. "You I two in day into but by say like into well out good some not him like know you us an what how well one or not some by go who new well she the then"


    Then the or be one an out do would us a its first that this doe she the with like also out these see in me and his. Year want see who of what first as will just any about her well what use there look in give she two in about even not there get their. From year take hee even and a day they a that want to we get our over one a that even our now what can it use which. Think and out even new go but but way from will use people new its well over which your your these will them think say now even how people.


    Your that not who if when new first use an he it with the the use what his all good want. "When give new that he to after our give work him this these can a could up because in like because"


    One into any other get our then time and hee they us all first from make our only but their into its back at these these you like your one my over would on from can first. "We do want well the have like know in of an work by them than me some your back who so think get her day with good one any way she would one could the to and for"


    Come be an new only take no work work over these that up its do time these from what year by want like as its ae work this even by as the and them you. Two like of give out use one for them also first an your out they use give your even her that want if be can their have not any the do make so like now about.


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 Chapter 97

    Yu Yi listened to the Main God System ramble on and on, but when she heard thest sentence, she suddenly raised her eyes and sharply grasped the key point: "You said this is the first attempt? What does that mean?"


    As her question was spoken, the lightning column descending from the sky shook, and some sealed memories were sent into her mind.


    In a daze, Yu Yi returned to the very first forest she had been in. She sat confusedly in the woods, not knowing why she had suddenly been transported from her home to a wilderness. Just as she was feeling lost and helpless, a cultivator fell from the sky andnded in front of her.


    The person was none other than Pei Jingchao.


    In this life, she had just arrived in this world and was unaware of the fate that had been written for her. She witnessed the divine abilities she had never seen before from Pei Jingchao, so after some thought, she decided to save him.


    Yu Yi followed the mountain path and found a civilian home in the forest. The owner of the house was out and had not returned, so she had to go back alone, pick some vines, and weave them into a raft to drag Pei Jingchao back to the house.


    Yu Yi used the water in the courtyard''s water tank to clean the blood stains off Pei Jingchao''s body. She waited until nightfall, but the house owner still hadn''t returned. She then thought of a way to pry open the wooden door and first settled the injured person inside.


    The owner of the house was probably a hunter, as the house was fully equipped with living necessities, and dried rabbits and chickens were hanging under the beam in the main room.


    Three dayster, the hunter finally returned with freshly hunted beasts, and at that time, Pei Jingchao had just woken up. He used a piece of jade from his body to exchange for them to stay there for a while longer.


    From Pei Jingchao''s mouth, Yu Yi learned the outline of this world and gained some vague understanding of the world of cultivation. In this strange world where she had no rtives, life as a mortal would probably be even more difficult for her.


    Moreover, she had already seen the divine abilities and skills of cultivators, so she was naturally unwilling to just be an ordinary mortal.


    Therefore, after Pei Jingchao recovered, she followed him to the cultivation world, using her identity as the savior of the Mount Li Sword Sect''s leader''s disciple to exchange for a favor from Mount Li, where they forcibly opened her spiritual channels through cleansing the meridians and refining the marrow.


    Yu Yi thus embarked on the path of cultivation.


    However, this path of cultivation was destined to be bumpy. She was not well-received at Mount Li. The Sect Leader of Mount Li disliked her, and the Sect Leader''s daughter, Yao Yuxiu, even hated her. Pei Jingchao had to use his identity as the Mount Li Sword Sect''s Great Disciple to vouch for her, swearing to advance and retreat together with his savior, and she was only reluctantly allowed to stay.


    Therefore, from the first day Yu Yi arrived at Mount Li, her reputation of using her favor to seek benefits spread.


    Being ostracized within the sect wasmonce, but Yu Yi didn''t want to get too close to others anyway. She was only interested in the new and exotic sword techniques and talismans, focusing solely on learning more to improve her cultivation and gain the ability to live independently in this strange world.


    The Mount Li Sword Sect''s Great Senior Brother wanted to take care of her, while the Great Senior Sister wanted to bully her. The two of them had countless covert and overt battles over her. In the end, Yu Yi felt that she had be a tool for their flirtation.


    The more Pei Jingchao couldn''t stand Yao Yuxiu''s control over him, the more he liked to get close to Yu Yi, actively bringing her the cultivation techniques she wanted, personally teaching her swordsmanship, and trying to bring her some interesting gadgets from the mortal world during his expeditions.


    The more he showed his favor and uniqueness towards her, the more frantic Yao Yuxiu became.


    As long as Juechen Zi was still around, Pei Jingchao didn''t dare topletely provoke Yao Yuxiu, truly reaching an irreparable situation.


    He knew very well how to manipte his junior sister, understanding when to distance himself a bit from Yu Yi, even deliberately allowing Yao Yuxiu to order the sect''s disciples to bully Yu Yi, and even personally directing a y to let her suffer a bit, all to appease Yao Yuxiu.


    This made Yao Yuxiu believe that all his arrangements for Yu Yi were limited by the saving grace.


    Afterwards, Pei Jingchao would also secretly find ways topensate her, such as giving her a set of insights he had written while practicing sword techniques, or inviting a sect elder to guide Yu Yi when she encountered a bottleneck, or finding her a suitable spirit sword when she needed one.


    Therefore, Yu Yi could also endure his use of her, faithfully ying the role of this tool person, considering it the price she had to pay for these cultivation resources.


    During her time at Mount Li, she also met Xue Chenjing, or more urately, Xue Mingyuan. However, at this time, she didn''t know that there were actually two souls in this body. Nevertheless, Yu Yi could immediately recognize who was standing in front of her.


    Her interactions with Xue Mingyuan were much the same as the plot she had read in the book.


    Xue Mingyuan was different from other Mount Li disciples. He didn''t deliberately tter her because of Pei Jingchao, nor did he target her because of Yao Yuxiu. He seemedpletely unaffected by the rumors within the sect, treating her as just an ordinary fellow disciple, interacting with her only because of her personality.


    Yu Yi could feel his difference from others. So, through repeated interactions, she and Xue Mingyuan became familiar with each other. After all, as a lone person who had traveled to this strange world, she probably still longed for genuine friendships.


    Moreover, Xue Mingyuan was handsome and truly handsome, with a gentle and considerate temperament that silently took care of her in many ways. From the memories that had just resurfaced, Yu Yi could still feel the involuntary feelings of affection she had for him at that time.


    Until Pei Jingchao fully took control of Mount Li, the opportunities for Yao Yuxiu to appear in front of Yu Yi became fewer, but there was never a shortage of the next Yao Yuxiu by his side.


    At the same time, the opportunities for Xue Mingyuan to appear in front of her also became fewer. Because Pei Jingchao no longer needed to concentrate most of his attention on Yao Yuxiu, pretending to please her, he had more energy to focus on his savior.


    So, he soon discovered that Yu Yi had gotten quite close to a male disciple when he wasn''t paying attention. This discovery made him furious, jealous, and felt that his possession had been tainted by someone else.


    Pei Jingchao began to control the people who could appear around Yu Yi, allowing only those he wanted her to interact with to approach her.


    Yu Yi started to feel that staying by his side was no longer worth it. The cultivation resources she obtained were not enough to buy her personal freedom, making her feel like a caged canary, being manipted at will.


    Her cultivation had now reached the perfected stage of Foundation Establishment, although she had not yet formed a Golden Core. However, with this level of cultivation, she had a few abilities to protect herself and could go on expeditions.


    Yu Yi wanted to leave Mount Li. She secretly went to find the only person she had genuinely interacted with during her time at Mount Li, asking if he would be willing to leave with her.


    Xue Mingyuan frowned slightly, his eyes revealing a look of struggle as he looked down at her. After a long while, he replied with difficulty, "I''m sorry, I have something left at Mount Li that I need to retrieve before I can leave."


    Yu Yi asked, "What is it? Do you need my help?"


    Xue Mingyuan deeply gazed at her and shook his head, "It''s okay, I can do it myself."


    He had infiltrated the Mount Li Sword Sect to retrieve the People''s me from the Sword-Sealing Stone. He had willingly used his Heart me to seal the demons above Wangye, and to suppress Xue Chenjing''s evil desires, he had voluntarily removed his Spirit me.


    Only the People''s me had been forcibly removed from him against his will. Losing all three mes made this body too weak, making it difficult to improve his cultivation or even protect himself. Therefore, in retrieving the People''s me, Xue Mingyuan and Xue Chenjing''s intentions were the same.


    That was thest sentence Yu Yi said to Xue Mingyuan at Mount Li. When the demons attacked Mount Li, she took advantage of the chaos and Pei Jingchao''s inability to pay attention to her, and escaped from Mount Li, wandering alone, with no fixed abode.


    Those days were the hardest and most difficult she had ever experienced, but also the freest. It was only then that Yu Yi truly felt the magical and magnificent aspects of the world of cultivation. She also encountered some opportunities, explored several secret realms, and thus sessfully formed a Golden Core.


    However, soon after, a demon appeared in the cultivation world, leading demons in causing chaos everywhere. The twelve major immortal sects jointly issued a call to arms, summoning righteous cultivators to jointly exterminate the demon.


    Yu Yi''s misfortune reached its peak when Pei Jingchao discovered her whereabouts. After more than two years, she appeared before him once again. The way this man looked at her had changed; his gaze was filled with intense possessiveness, as if he were utterly infatuated with her.


    He indeed professed his love for her, gazing at her with deep affection, confessing that it was only after her departure that he realized who his true feelings belonged to. He imed to have searched for her everywhere, thinking of her every single day. If it weren''t for the current chaos caused by demons and monsters, and his unavoidable responsibility as the sect leader of Lishan Sword Sect, he would have found her long ago.


    Listening to his words, Yu Yi felt a tingling sensation on her scalp and goosebumps all over her body. Deep down, she knew she would be bound to him for a long time once again.


    As expected, she was confined to Pei Jingchao''s side.


    The twelve major cultivation sects gathered together to discuss the n to overthrow the demon lord. Pei Jingchao, the destined hero, naturally became the central figure of the meeting. Yao Yuxiu was nowhere to be seen, but he was surrounded by other admirers. Yu Yi''s arrival aroused their vignce and suspicion.


    One day, after a meeting of the sects, this vignce and suspicion turned into pity.


    Yu Yi was forcibly brought to the Sword tform by Lishan disciples, only to discover why they looked at her with pity. Pei Jingchao had obtained the Primordial Divine Sword, but it required the heart''s blood of his beloved to sharpen its edge.


    He believed that his beloved was her.


    Lying on the Sword tform was a heavy broadsword with a ck, rust-covered de made of dense iron,cking any sharpness.


    Pei Jingchao stood by the tform, his eyes bloodshot, a look of deep pain on his face as he said to her, "A''yi, I''m sorry. This matter concerns the fate of all living beings, and I have no choice but to do this."


    Yu Yi found the whole situation utterly absurd. She questioned him, "Pei Jingchao, honestly ask yourself, from beginning to end, wasn''t the one you loved the most always yourself? You should pick up that sword and dig out your own heart!"


    Before she finished, she teleported to the Sword tform, grabbed the sword, and thrust it forcefully toward his chest.


    Pei Jingchao was caught off guard, his expression changing from pain to shock. First, he was stunned that she could lift the sword, then, as the pain in his chest registered, he realized the seemingly dull de had effortlessly pierced through his protective garments, drawing a trickle of blood.


    His pupils contracted, and with a swift retreat, his superior cultivation allowed him to evade the fatal blow. Yu Yi, failing to kill him, discarded the Primordial Divine Sword and fled.


    However, the Sword tform was filled with Pei Jingchao''s trusted followers, and she was unsessful.


    Yu Yi watched her past self being sealed of her spiritual senses and forced onto the Sword tform. As her heart''s blood dripped onto the Primordial Divine Sword, the rust gradually faded, revealing a dazzling radiance.


    Yu Yi squinted at the re, even though it was a past life, she could still feel the excruciating pain of the de piercing her heart.


    The memories that resurfaced caused her emotions to fluctuate. The thunderous sword realm on the Crescent Bay Spirit Ind became unstable, and the thunder dragon uneasily swam around her.


    A sigh echoed from the thunder line connecting to the sky, and the voice of the Main System entered Yu Yi''s mind, saying, "ording to the predetermined fate arranged by this world for you, you were supposed to stay by Pei Jingchao''s side, grow with him, and at this juncture, willingly offer your heart''s blood to fulfill hispassionate heart for the world."


    "But the world''s consciousness discovered that you were not bound by the predetermined fate. Everything began to deviate after you left Mount Li. Even though Pei Jingchao remained on his destined path, when he forcibly took your blood, his fate also deviated, and his state of mind could never be perfect."


    "Therefore, even with the sharpened Primordial Divine Sword, Pei Jingchao still failed."


    "The Main System received a plea for help from this world''s consciousness. After analysis and deduction, it decided to dispatch Subordinate System No. 037 to this world, bind it to you, and assist you in cultivating and upgrading, taking over Pei Jingchao''s role as the next destined hero."


    As the Main System spoke, Yu Yi''s memories flowed forward in her mind.


    In her previous life, she had been drained of arge amount of heart''s blood, causing her golden core to shatter, and she fell into a longa.


    Just as she was about to wake up, a voice appeared out of nowhere, saying, "Hello, Host. I am System 037. I''m delighted to serve you."


    "System?" Yu Yiy pale on the bed, weakly smiling, "If you''re here to bind me, aren''t you a bit toote?"


    The system replied with determination, "Of course not, my master. As long as your will remains unbroken and your fighting spirit does not extinguish, nothing is toote. Please believe that this system can assist you in cultivating, seeking revenge, and reaching the pinnacle of life."


    Yu Yi gazed nkly at the ceiling, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye, as she said, "I don''t want the pinnacle of life. Can you send me home?"


    "I miss home."

 Chapter 98

    System 037 replied, "Of course, my master. As long as youplete the system tasks, I can send you home."


    Nothing was more motivating to Yu Yi than the word "home." It had been the same in her previous life, and it was no different now.


    Yu Yi remembered everything. In her previous life, the prospect of "home" had kept her going, forcing her to drag her severely injured body and shattered golden core back into cultivation.


    Having her heart''s essence blood extracted had made her cultivation even more difficult, to the point where she could barely hold a sword.


    Pei Jingchao''s failure to lead the Twelve Sects in exterminating the demons had only empowered the demons further, causing chaos and demonic rampage across thend. Under the guidance of the system, Yu Yi had to carefully avoid the conflicts between the righteous and demonic factions, venturing deep into uninhabited areas to find medicinal herbs for healing.


    She had gone to great lengths to gather these herbs, then raced against time to sneak into Medicine King Valley before it was destroyed by demons, to steal the valley''s spiritual spring water for soaking the herbs.


    Those days had been incredibly exhausting. Yu Yi had fainted by the spring, and it was the Holy Maiden of Medicine King Valley who had saved her. This Holy Maiden had once been one of Pei Jingchao''s admirers, someone who had despised Yu Yi because of Pei Jingchao and even poisoned her, causing her to break out in red rashes all over her body.


    But now, the Holy Maiden looked at her with only pity. She had taken Yu Yi to her cave dwelling and, at a nce, recognized the herbs Yu Yi carried and what she intended to concoct.


    The Holy Maiden was astonished that Yu Yi was still alive and even more amazed that she had managed to gather such rare herbs in these chaotic times.


    The Holy Maiden took the herbs and returned seven dayster, handing Yu Yi a crimson pill that glowed with a soft light. "This is the Return to Origin Pill."


    "Thank you," Yu Yi reached out to take it, but the Holy Maiden suddenly tightened her grip, pulling the pill back. She scrutinized Yu Yi and said, "The Return to Origin Pill can replenish the essence and blood you''ve lost, but ites at the cost of your lifespan, akin to a temporary revival. Have you thought it through?"


    Yu Yi nodded. "I made up my mind when I went to gather the herbs for this pill."


    The Holy Maiden wasn''t surprised by her answer. She raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Aren''t you afraid I might poison you with this pill? After all, we''re hardly friends."


    Yu Yi looked at the pill once more offered to her, took it between her fingers, and without hesitation, tossed it into her mouth. "I no longer have the strength to gather the herbs again. Even if it''s poison, I''ll ept it. It''s just my fate."


    The Holy Maiden snorted coldly, leaving behind a curt "I''m not that despicable!" before flouncing off.


    After taking the Return to Origin Pill, Yu Yi, at the cost of her lifespan, re-forged her golden core. When she emerged, Medicine King Valley had been destroyed, and the Holy Maiden was nowhere to be found. Only the cave dwelling she had been in, hidden by a barrier, had survived the cmity.


    System 037 chimed in her mind, informing her that seven of the Twelve Great Sects had already fallen, and demons now controlled half of the cultivation world. There was no time left for her to slowly level up. The quickest path was to go to Mount Li and seize Pei Jingchao''s cultivation.


    Pei Jingchao, as the chosen one by this world''s consciousness, had been granted immense opportunities and mastered powerful techniques, including the Primordial Sword, all in preparation for the final splitting of chaos.


    Unfortunately, he had been unworthy. Even at thest moment, his iplete state of mind had prevented him from mastering the ninth form of the Spring-Pursuing Heart Sword.


    "The ninth form," Yu Yi suddenly recalled, "the Spring-Pursuing Heart Sword''s ninth form?"


    The main system replied, "Yes, the ninth form of the Spring-Pursuing Heart Sword, the Sword of Compassion. Only someone with apassionate heart for all living beings can split the chaos and restore peace to the world. All living things are part of themon people, even demons. Pei Jingchao is too divided by his views of righteousness and evil. He cares more about his status and reputation than about all living beings. Xue Mingyuan possesses divine nature and is inherently opposed to demons. During his time at Great Green Mountain, he finally softened his heart toward demons for a moment, but he never showedpassion for himself. Neither of them could master the ninth form."


    Yu Yi was surprised. She had always thought that Xue Mingyuan failed to master the ninth form because he had been too soft-hearted toward Xue Chenjing, leading to his own downfall. She hadn''t expected that his inability to master the ninth form was because he was too harsh on himself.


    The main system continued, "Only you, from a different world, are not bound by the concepts of righteousness and evil. You are kind-hearted and possess self-respect and self-love. Therefore, after analyzing the main system, we believed you could seed."


    "Unfortunately, despite being in this world for so long, you have never developed any sense of belonging. Instead ofpassion for the world, you harbor a stronger desire to destroy it. Your desire to destroy the world outweighs yourpassion, so you ultimately failed as well."


    Yu Yi pressed her hand against her forehead, closing her eyes as memories of her past life flooded her mind. She saw herself plunging a sword through Xue Chenjing''s heart, and a sharp pain shot through her own heart.


    However, even that sword had failed to cleave through chaos.


    Yu Yi''s head was pounding from the overwhelming memories. Irritated, she asked, "So, why are we starting over? Do you expect me to master the ninth form this time?"


    A soothing force flowed into Yu Yi through the Sword Realm, easing her headache.


    The main system spoke gently, "Of course not. The main control system doesn''t make meaningless repeated attempts. This time, the system is bound to another person."


    "You just need to be the one holding the sword. When the affection reaches one hundred percent, they will willingly sacrifice themselves for you."


    The lightning lines connecting to the sky disappeared, and the thunder dragon wandered around Yu Yi, coiling around the suspended green bamboo sword. The lightning condensed, and its body transformed into a thick broad sword.


    It turned out to be the sword spirit of the Primordial Sword.


    It seemed that this life, too, was following someone else''s arrangement.


    Eventually, the Primordial Sword and the Qingzhu Sword merged and flew into her hand. Yu Yi gripped the sword, recalling the main system''s final words in her mind.


    ¡ª You just need to be the one holding the sword. When the affection reaches one hundred percent, they will willingly sacrifice themselves for you.


    What did that mean? Was it implying that Xue Chenjing would willingly offer himself as a sacrifice for her sword?


    Yu Yi stood still for a moment, then tossed the sword into the air and leaped onto it, transforming into a streak of light shooting toward the treetop ind. The light descended into the lush canopy, and shended on the wooden balcony of the building. She quickly stepped inside.


    Both the upper and lower floors of the wooden building were empty. Yu Yi searched around the surrounding wooden houses and even checked inside the Imperial House Carriage, but there was no sign of him.


    She took a deep breath, infused her voice with spiritual energy, and shouted, "Xue Chenjing, where are you!"


    Her voice echoed across the treetop ind, startling the flocks of birds, which pped their wings and burst out of the canopy.


    A familiar cry of a crane came from one of the branches. Yu Yi immediately summoned his flying sword, weaving through the intertwined foliage, heading toward the direction of the call from his senior cranepanion.


    After a short while, she arrived at a pile of wooden logs the size of a small hill. The red-crowned crane was lying on top of the logs, boredly pecking at the wood and loudlyining.


    It used Xue Chenjing of neglecting it, not feeding it, and spending all his time carving these worthless wooden pieces, only to disappear without a trace. It hadn''t seen him for seven or eight days, and the crane had lost weight from hunger.


    Yu Yi approached the pile of logs and touched the carved runes on them, full of doubt. What was this?


    She cautiously infused spiritual energy into the rune, and the rune on the wood immediately lit up.


    Yu Yi paused, then continued to pour spiritual energy, until all the runes on the pile were illuminated. The wooden mountain suddenly copsed, and all the logs floated into the air. The crane senior fell from the top, rolling down to Yu Yi''s feet.


    It looked up in astonishment at the logs flying in the air.


    Under the traction of the runes, the logs began to fit together like building blocks, gradually forming a contour. Yu Yi''s eyes widened as she watched the giant swing take shape.


    She had only mentioned it briefly, but Xue Chenjing had actually built it!


    The Crane Senior Brother suddenly let out a distressed cry, clutching its stomach with its wings and trembling. Yu Yi quickly looked down at it. "Crane Senior Brother, what''s wrong?"


    Something slid down the red-crowned crane''s long neck and emerged from its mouth, a small wooden block the size of a fist, dripping with saliva, flying toward the giant swing and embedding itself into it.


    Yu Yi: "..." Are you a bird or a pig? How can you swallow anything and everything?


    Brother Crane had just caught his breath when another wave of nausea hit, and another piece of wood shot out of his mouth. After spitting out four or five such pieces, Brother Crane finally hugged his empty stomach and copsed to the ground.


    With thest tinyponent in ce, the giant swing was fully formed, looking exactly like the ones in amusement parks. All it needed was a bit of spiritual energy to be injected, and it would swing just like a real one.


    Yu Yi stared at the swaying giant swing for a moment before vanishing from her spot. She searched all three spiritual inds but couldn''t find Xue Chenjing, which meant he must have left.


    Without hesitation, Yu Yi summoned her sword and headed toward the boundary of the barrier.


    This barrier concealed the spiritual inds but didn''t hinder her exit. Yu Yi felt as if she had passed through ayer of water-like membrane, and the clear sky instantly disappeared, reced by a sea of fog that blocked out the sky and sea.


    Deep within the fog, a massive shadowy figure could be seen moving menacingly. Yu Yi looked up at the several soft and thick tentacles waving in the air and for a moment, wondered if this could be Xue Chenjing''s true form.


    But then a tentacle broke through the fog and shot toward her at high speed. As it drew near, she finally saw the deep brown skin and blue rings on the tentacle.


    Different from Xue Chenjing''s tentacles, this wasn''t him.


    Yu Yi immediately raised her sword, but the tentacle stopped just short of her, lifting its thick end, which was even bigger than her waist, and swayed left and right. It seemed as if it was "examining" her.


    The tentacle was indeed examining her, not only that but also sniffing her.


    Cang Cang twisted its massive body, feeling troubled. Its father had only told it to guard the gate and not let anyone enter the spiritual ind, but he hadn''t told it what to do if someone came out.


    ¡ª Xue Chenjing didn''t allow it to call him "dad," so it obediently changed the term.


    But soon, this question was answered. It smelled Xue Chenjing''s scent on this person, very strong, as if marking her entirely.


    Its huge and intelligent brain instantly understood this person''s identity. It obediently softened its tentacle and slowly crept closer, afraid of scaring her.


    It called out cautiously, "Mom."


    Yu Yi: "???" She touched her ear, her eyes alertly scanning the fog around her. She thought she had just heard a little girl calling "mom."


    The tentacle gently swayed and mimicked a human voice, calling again, "Mom, it''s me calling you. The big octopus with pretty blue rings in front of you, I''m the beautiful daughter of the master of this spiritual ind, my name is Cang Cang. You must be the bride dad found for me."


    Yu Yi: "..." Daughter? What a huge daughter!


    She fell silent for a moment, then coldly said, "I''m not."


    From deep within the fog, a loud shout suddenly rang out, "Quick! Form the sword array, cut off its tentacles first!"


    The massive shadow of the octopus swayed, and a pir-like tentacle rose from the fog, crashing down with a thunderous roar. At the same time, a voice bellowed, "How dare you touch my tentacles! I''ll beat you until you poop!"


    The tentacle in front of Yu Yi swayed peacefully, coquettishly saying, "Mom, these people are so annoying, they want to destroy our home. It''s not safe out here now. You should go back. Cang Cang and Earth''s Pollution will protect you. We won''t let anyone in, or dad will cut off my beautiful hands."


    "Is Xue Chenjing outside?" Yu Yi reached out and stirred the fog in front of her. "Earth''s Pollution, take me out to see him."


    The surrounding fog stirred, and white mist condensed from it, attaching itself to Yu Yi, turning her body into mist and disappearing from the spot.


    Outside the ind, the sea was a scene of devastation. The Immortal Gate warship had been torn apart and sunk, with only fragments of the hull floating on the surface of the blood-stained sea.


    Pei Jingchaoy on a piece of the deck, his body and limbs pierced by long arrows, pinned to the wooden board.


    His right eye had arge hole, leaving only a bloody eye socket, and his mouth had a long gash, with blood staining half of his face, making his once-handsome face look terrifying.


    Xue Chenjing stood on top of a fish-like demon beast, drawing his bow and aiming an arrow at Pei Jingchao''s heart.


    Suddenly, golden threads sprouted from Pei Jingchao''s body, connecting scenes like antern of life before death, showing the highlights of Pei Jingchao''s life.


    Xue Chenjing saw Yu Yi''s figure in the scenes, but the Yu Yi in the images wasn''t the one he was familiar with. He paused his arrow and stared intently.


    "This is the life I and she should have! This is the life I should have!" Pei Jingchao opened his mouth and spat out arge amount of blood, his remaining eye staring fixedly at the scenes above.


    He was infatuated with the image of himself rising step by step to the pinnacle of power and, by extension, fell in love with the person who should have stood by his side. Despite the slight differences in reality, Pei Jingchao believed everything could return to the right track.


    He struggled with his wrist, and even now, he felt he wouldn''t lose. He was the chosen one of fate, and Xue Chenjing was nothing more than a stepping stone for him.


    The system, watching the scenes, confidently said, "This is the plot of ''Jingchao,'' Pei Jingchao''s original fate line."


    In the original story, Pei Jingchao indeed rose step by step, winning hearts, bing the leader of the righteous path, and finally killing the demon, ending the demonic chaos, bing a divine lord revered by the people, and enjoying human incense offerings.


    Xue Chenjing looked at the scenes in the air, where golden threads connected the images. In the scenes, Yu Yi wore a phoenix crown and bridal veil, marrying Pei Jingchao. The two held hands, walking on a carpet of flowers, with fairy children leading the way and fairy maidens scattering flowers for blessings. The hall was filled with guests, joy overflowing, and gifts piled up in the pce.Aliali: 675e95b59234b3e7f2f07a3d


    He could never give her such a blessed wedding.


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze was cold, his eyes fixed on the veiled figure in the scenes, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he said, "How boring. Even if this is the original fate line, even if you were her original husband, what does it matter? Unfortunately, your fate is now in my hands. I''ll kill you now, grind your bones to dust, scatter your soul, and see how you can marry her."


    Pei Jingchao mocked, "She can ascend to the divine tform and receive incense offerings from the world with me. With you, a demon, she''ll only be despised, insulted, and condemned to eternal infamy."


    Xue Chenjing tightened his grip on the bow, his knuckles cracking, and veins bulging on the back of his hand. Undeniably, Pei Jingchao''s words had struck a nerve.


    He knew better than anyone what it felt like to be rejected, hated, and abandoned by everyone, and he had experienced it in every life.


    "Shut up! Shut up!" Xue Chenjing roared in anger, his breath heavy, his hand trembling as he pulled the bow. The arrows he shot went astray due to his shaking hand, embedding into the wreckage of the deck. Demonic energy spread from the tip of the sword, corroding the ship, causing more copse and sshing water into the air.


    The water droplets fell, washing over Pei Jingchao, rinsing the blood from his body and flowing into the sea.


    His remaining eye still stared unblinkingly at the scenes in the air,ughing, "You love her, don''t you? Then have the guts to let Yu Yi choose herself. Does she want to ascend to the divine tform as a goddess, or does she want to follow you into the abyss of hell?"


    The system, seeing its host on the verge of losing his mind, quicklyforted, "Master, calm down. Yu Yi already knew the plot. Even knowing the oue, she didn''t choose Pei Jingchao."


    Yu Yi emerged from the fog and heard Pei Jingchao''s mocking question. She raised her voice and said, "Alright, I''ll choose."

 Chapter 99

    Yu Yi raised her hand, and a beam of sword light shed diagonally from her de, splitting the sea''s surface and striking directly toward Pei Jingchao''s position.


    The sword light carried a murderous aura; the air howled where it passed, with interweaving lightning forming a dense, exploding into intense sparks. Within the sparks, one could faintly see the crimson crane sword spirit pping its wings, pulverizing everything beneath its de where its feathers swept past.


    This was a killing move that left no room for retreat, blocking almost all of Pei Jingchao''s escape routes. Without her needing to say more, it clearly demonstrated her choice.


    Pei Jingchao watched helplessly as the crimson crane sword spirit lunged at him. Before it even reached him, the sword pressure first collided with his body. The moisture on his body rapidly evaporated, his skin burned red from the scorching sword wind, blistering from the heat.


    Electric arcs jumped onto his body, sharp as knife edges, instantly cutting countless wounds across his form, blood spraying along the lightning.


    Pei Jingchao had never seen such a fierce and cruel sword technique, no different from death by a thousand cuts. He howled in agony, crying out: "Why?! Look carefully - we are the destined pair! How can you do this to me for the sake of a demon?!"


    Just before the crane''s wingspletely enveloped Pei Jingchao, a talisman light suddenly lit up at his chest, carrying his form away. The next moment, the sword light ground through, obliterating the blood-stained deck remnants beneath the crimson crane sword spirit.


    Yu Yi frowned in surprise; she could sense that her sword strike hadn''t hit anyone - had Pei Jingchao escaped? Under such circumstances, he actually still had the strength to flee.


    She red at Xue Chenjing through the sshing water and said, "Viins die because they talk too much, don''t you know? If you want to kill him, just do it cleanly and decisively. Why waste words with him?"


    "Yi''er." Xue Chenjing turned his gaze, his pitch-ck pupils reflecting the sshing water, behind which was her dawn-red long dress, her jet-ck hair floating in the air, without pins or ornaments, her face free of powder and rouge, yet possessing a soul-stirring beauty.


    She had chosen him, willing to abandon her high position and fall with him into endless hell without any hesitation.


    Xue Chenjing drew a sharp breath, and through his mist-covered vision, he watched as Yu Yi turned her gaze away, raising her eyes to look at the fate lines branching in mid-air, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.


    His thundering heartbeat paused with her movement, following her line of sight upward, the arrow nocked to his finger raising instinctively, wanting to destroy the scenes in the air, not wanting her to see any of it.


    Even though she already knew these plot points, he didn''t want Yu Yi to see the scenes of her marrying Pei Jingchao. Those scenes of celebration and countless blessings.


    However, before he could loose his arrow, the scenes in mid-air began to copse one after another. The golden fate lines extending in the air started to retract, like rapidly withering branches, with the connected scenes along the branches reversing, as if time was flowing backward.


    When the fate lines withered to a certain point, they suddenly stopped. Those fate lines emitted golden light, sprouting anew, extending in a different direction.


    The scene shown at that frozen point was of demons breaking into Mount Li, attempting to steal the Sword-Sealing Stone, with Yu Yi taking advantage of the chaos to escape. Xue Chenjing lowered his arrow, his eyes showing confusion and surprise.


    In the previous fate line''s direction, Yu Yi had never left Mount Li. She had always stayed by Pei Jingchao''s side, just as he had said, washing his clothes and cooking his meals, practicing swordy and appreciating plum blossoms with him. She had been like any other virtuous woman in the world, always putting her loved one''s interests first, even willing to harm herself, offering up her eyes and heart''s blood for him.


    But this time, the direction shown on the fate lines waspletely different. Yu Yi was independent, autonomous, with her own choices and decisions, unbounded by anyone.


    This was the appearance he was familiar with, her true self.


    Not only did Xue Chenjing find it puzzling, even the system was somewhat confused. The fate lines they had seen earlier were from the plot of "Jingchao," so what was this new fate line direction about? When had this segment urred?


    The system hurriedly searched through its internal records and discovered that there was a gap in the task materials provided by the main system, and now, this gap was slowly being filled.


    There was already one failed task record under this mission, assisted by system 037, which it looked down upon as only knowing how to fight and level up.


    This current world was actually the second cycle of a restarted mission. It hadn''t made a mistake in binding to the wrong person; from the very beginning, under the main control system''s arrangement, it was supposed to bind to the viin.


    No wonder the main system had dismissed its error report so casually! The system had always thought it had made a mistake in binding to the wrong person and had to bear the consequences of its error, diligently working toplete the mission.


    But it turned out none of this was its fault! How infuriating! It was the protagonist''s system! Why should it have to bind to the viin? Why did it have to suffer so much? Curse the main control system!


    As the new direction of fate lines sprouted in mid-air, the memories of that lost lifetime began to resurface in Xue Chenjing''s mind.


    He had reincarnated too many times, experienced too many cycles of life and death, to the point where missing the memories of one or two lifetimes wasn''t a big deal - after all, none of his lifetimes had been particrly good, not worth remembering clearly.


    But he hadn''t expected that his missing memories would be about her. They had already experienced one lifetime together before.


    Xue Chenjing watched the scenes in the air, remembering that lifetime when he and Xue Mingyuan had rarely reached an agreement, deciding to infiltrate Mount Li to retrieve the People''s me. However, Mount Li''s defenses against demons were extremely strict, so he had to give control of the body to Xue Mingyuan, only monitoring his every move, ready to take back control at any sign of trouble.


    Fortunately, Xue Mingyuan also wanted to retrieve the People''s me, so he obediently followed his instructions, searching for weaknesses in Mount Li''s protective formation and understanding the defensiveyout of the Sword-Sealing Stone, without making any unnecessary moves.


    No, it couldn''t be said he hadn''t made any unnecessary moves - the only extra thing he had done was to help a female cultivator who was being bullied several times, thus bing familiar with her, their rtionship growing closer and closer.


    That female cultivator was Yu Yi.


    Xue Chenjing watched all this from within their shared consciousness, sensing Xue Mingyuan''s budding feelings, and warned him: "You should know that you cannot control this body permanently, so it''s best to put aside your little thoughts. Otherwise, I won''t mind sending your little sweetheart to the afterlife."


    Threatened by him, Xue Mingyuan began deliberately trying to avoid her.


    However, Yu Yi had clearly alreadye to view him as a confidant, and in those clear eyes of hers, there were also slowly growing hints of affection.


    Her gaze toward Xue Mingyuan always carried more tenderness than when she looked at others, showing signs of dependency, yearning for him to respond to her feelings.


    Xue Mingyuan''s painful expression as he struggled to suppress his feelings while not daring to respond was truly satisfying to watch.


    Xue Chenjing observed coldly, as if watching an excellent drama,parable to the folk tale of "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai," with him ying the role of the viinous "Ma Wencai" who tears apart the lovers.


    This role actually suited him quite well.


    Sometimes, he would be so engrossed in watching that he would involuntarily take control of the body, to touch her, to smell her, to satisfy his brother''s inner desires.


    Xue Mingyuan would never make such offensive gestures.


    As a result, when he suddenly acted this way, Yu Yi would open her eyes wide in surprise, her long eyshes trembling, casting confused nces his way, while her earlobes gradually turned red in the sunlight.


    Xue Chenjing would then return control of the body, watching with amusement as Xue Mingyuan hastily searched for various excuses to exin his overly intimate behavior. As Yu Yi listened to his desperate attempts to distance himself, the blush on her face would gradually fade.


    Her heart must have grown cold, for she stopped seeking them out afterward.


    Until the eve of their nned action, when they had finally mastered knowledge of Mount Li''s defensive weaknesses, Yu Yi suddenly came to find Xue Mingyuan, wanting him to leave with her.


    Through Xue Mingyuan''s eyes, Xue Chenjing gazed at the expectation on her face, those eyes filled with scattered starlight as sheid bare her sincere heart, saying she liked him and wanted to be with him, to leave this ce together.


    Xue Mingyuan was always so likable - why was he always the one people fell for?


    For a moment, he desperately wanted to reim his body, reveal his sharp fangs and sinister side, to let her see with her own eyes that this body wasn''t as beautiful as it seemed, and that it concealed a monster within. Then he would watch her scream and run away.


    It wouldn''t be the first time something like this had happened. Those women would easily fall for Xue Mingyuan, and just as easily be frightened away.


    However, Xue Chenjing restrained himself. He had seen this scenario y out too many times, and he found it tedious. Besides, he knew how Xue Mingyuan would choose - he wouldn''t dare to ept her or go with her. He knew the consequences of epting her, and he dared not let her see the other monster dwelling within this body.


    As he predicted, Xue Mingyuan refused her.


    Yu Yi didn''t persist. She simply smiled, said goodbye, and turned away cleanly, never looking back. But when she turned, Xue Chenjing clearly saw the glimmer of tears in the corner of her eye.


    Xue Chenjing pressed his temple, remembering only this fragment, but try as he might, he couldn''t recall what happened afterward. He looked up, desperately wanting to see the subsequent events in the fate lines disyed in mid-air.


    However, the lines in the air only showed Pei Jingchao''s fate. After Yu Yi left Mount Li, her figure disappeared from the scenes.


    When she appeared again, she was being forced onto a sword tform, where someone was forcibly piercing her heart to draw blood for a sword. Xue Chenjing was both shocked and enraged. He immediately turned to Yu Yi, shing in front of her, trying to block her view.


    But Yu Yi merely nced at the scene, showing no emotion in her eyes, and said, "Pei Jingchao isn''t dead yet. We need to find him and kill him."


    "Alright," he replied softly, his eyes red. If he had known this would happen, he would have rather let Xue Mingyuan leave with her. "Yu Yi, I''m sorry."


    Yu Yi looked up in confusion at his words, not understanding what he was apologizing for. Xue Chenjing gently wiped the corner of her eye, then turned and flew towards the sea. He pulled out an arrow stained with Pei Jingchao''s blood and drew a tracking formation on it with his fingers.


    The formation merged with the bloodstain, and the arrow flew from his hand, following the direction of the sea mist''s flow into a funnel-shaped vortex on the sea''s surface. This vortex was originally meant to absorb the Earth Impurity mist, but instead gave him a chance to escape.


    Xue Chenjing and Yu Yi moved simultaneously, pursuing towards that sea vortex.


    At the bottom of the funnel, Shen Qingzhi was dragging Pei Jingchao, about to jump into the transmission array connected to the abyss, when suddenly there was a thunderous boom. A thick tentacle pierced through the vortex''s water wall, stretching across the transmission array.


    The tentacle was dark brown, with rough and tough skin covered in circles of huge blue rings. Just one tentacle was enough to block the entire transmission array.


    The array immediatelytched onto the tentacle, pulling it inward. Giant waves rose in the sea as a massive creature was dragged along with the waves, blocking every gap in the transmission array. Shen Qingzhi hurriedly retreated into the air.


    Turning his head, he saw a long arrow whistling towards him. Shen Qingzhi threw out a talisman to knock down the arrow, but in the next instant, a figure shed before him, fingers transformed into ws, shing at his face.


    The two were separated by this strike, and Pei Jingchao fell from Shen Qingzhi''s grasp,nding on the octopus''s enormous body, half-trapped in the transmission array.


    Yu Yi pursued closely, swinging her sword at Pei Jingchao.


    Pei Jingchao dodged pathetically with his severely injured body. He too had seen his changing fate lines in the air, realizing that was what had truly happened in his previous life.


    He should have lived a life as heaven''s favored son, but it could be easily changed by the choice of a woman who should have been merely his subordinate. It was so in the previous life, and it remained so in this new life.


    This was simply absurd.


    "This is all your fault! Why? If you had just stayed obediently by my side, we could have had everything - power, status, fame, and worship. The whole world could have been ours," Pei Jingchao couldn''t understand. "Don''t you want to ascend to godhood? Only by following me could you be a god."


    Yu Yi replied coldly, "No, I don''t. Being human is quite nice."


    Pei Jingchao looked at her with contempt, "Women are so short-sighted."


    Yu Yi swept her sword horizontally, knocking him to the ground, and sneered, "Too bad the heavenly way ultimately abandoned you, its chosen one, and chose me, this short-sighted woman instead."


    Pei Jingchao spat out blood, no longer able to dodge. His face twisted, his remaining eye almost bulging out of its socket. Unable to move, he tried to wound her with words, "I don''t regret cutting out your heart for blood at all."


    In his previous life, he had truly loved her, and even in this new life, he would have fallen in love with her again. They should have had a beautiful life together, but she ruined everything.


    Yu Yi walked up to him, raising her sword high as she looked down at him, and smiled, "As it happens, I''ve never regretted running you through with my sword either. So, we''re even."


    In the sky, the golden fate line extended forward, showing Yu Yi raising her sword to pierce his heart.Aliali: 675e95b59234b3e7f2f07a3d


    The scene matched the present moment exactly. As the brilliant sword light shed across Pei Jingchao''s eyes, his vision turned white. As the intense pain struck, he heard Yu Yi say softly, "In this life, you haven''t yet cut out my heart for blood, but I''m going to kill you. So I suppose I owe you one."


    Pei Jingchao remembered the previous life, when she ran him through with her sword, she said she wanted his luck and cultivation. Using the same tone he had once used with her, she said it was for the sake of all living beings, she had no choice.


    In the previous life, when Pei Jingchao''s cultivation was taken by her, his soul didn''t immediately dissipate. So he watched as she took her sword and went to the demon pce,pleting what he couldn''t, driving the Primordial Sword into the Demon Lord''s heart.


    The white in Pei Jingchao''s vision began to fade, and he vaguely saw an approaching figure. He suddenly smiled and used hisst breath to shout, "Xue Chenjing, she''ll kill you too! Everything she''s done was to kill you!"


    Having finished dealing with Shen Qingzhi, Xue Chenjing arrived just in time to see Yu Yi thrust her sword into Pei Jingchao''s heart. He heard Pei Jingchao''s final words and carelessly raised an eyebrow.


    In the sky, the golden fate lines began to dim. Among those fading scenes, Xue Chenjing suddenly saw himself.


    He was sitting high on the demon throne, resting his chin on his hand, watching someone approach him with a sword. Though many years had passed, he effortlessly remembered who she was. He looked at her with interest and maliciously asked, "It''s you. Have youe here to be my sister-inw?"


    Yu Yi suddenly turned around and drew the Green Bamboo Sword.


    The fate lines in the sky rapidly shrank, and the connected scenes elerated their disappearance, but before theypletely vanished, Yu Yi''s clear and determined answer still rang out.


    She said, "I''vee to kill you."

 Chapter 100

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 Chapter 101

    Xue Chenjing''s shadow condensed into wings beneath his feet. The ck wings, previously injured by the Binding Demon Lock, had their bones fractured into several pieces, twisted and deformed. He carefully reconnected the broken bones of the wings, dripping his own blood to restore them.


    The pair of wings trembled incessantly under his hands, shedding arge pile of feathers. The feathers that fell to the ground dissolved into ethereal demonic energy, vanishing into the air. The feathers he regenerated with demonic energy were falling off faster than he could produce them.


    Xue Chenjing frowned tightly, raising his hand to p the wings, only to wince in pain himself. He scolded, "Stop trembling! If you keep this up, you''ll go bald. If you can''t fly, I''ll crush you and feed you to the other demons."


    A pitiful bird-like cry came from beneath the wings, which trembled even more violently. Xue Chenjing huffed in annoyance, "I know you''re in pain, but do you think I''m not?!"


    He was extremely sensitive to pain, which extended to the demons he shared a symbiotic rtionship with. Except for the Bone Demon, which felt no pain¡ªits bones could be shattered into dust without causing it difort¡ªXue Chenjing particrly favored using it. Unfortunately, the Bone Demon was useless; its skeletal form couldn''t fly.


    Xue Chenjing spent a considerable amount of effort reconnecting the fractured bones of the wings. Demonic energy seeped from his body, transforming into long, slender feathers that covered the ck wings.


    Afterpleting this task, he wiped the sweat from his forehead, which had formed due to the pain, andy down on the wings,manding, "Go, to Wangye."


    The ck wings pped powerfully, carrying him upward toward the abyss above.


    Emerging from the abyss, Xue Chenjing gazed at the vast sky. Tonight was another full moon night, with the clear sky adorned by a high, round moon casting silvery light like frost.


    If he were at sea, with all lights extinguished and only the moonlight illuminating Spirit Ind, the waterfall cascading from the solitary peak would resemble the Milky Way washing down from the heavens, with sshing water droplets shimmering like pearls¡ªthe most beautiful night scene on the ind.


    He wondered if that ce had been destroyed. There shouldn''t be many surviving righteous cultivators left on the outer inds, not enough to pose a threat. With Yu Yi there, it should be safe, right? He hoped she could also witness such a beautiful night.


    On Spirit Ind.


    Yu Yi awoke from her meditation, finally stabilizing her cultivation level. She stepped out of the wooden building and nced at the full moon reflected on the sea. The scenery here was as beautiful as a paradise, hard to imagine it was created by a demon over countless lifetimes.


    She stepped onto a vine bridge connecting the treetops, leaping from the wooden building tond on a thick tree trunk below. The trunk had been carved into a tform, the designated ce for docking the Imperial House Carriage.


    Crane Senior Brother spotted her and immediately folded his wings, flying over tond beside her. He chirped urgently, asking if she was going to find Xue Chenjing, and spread his wings eagerly, trying to pull her onto his back.


    It seemed that during her seclusion to construct her Sword Realm, the rtionship between the two of them had progressed significantly.


    Yu Yi patted his head, replying, "To return to the maind, we have to cross a sea storm zone. It''s better to take the carriage."


    Crane Senior Brother turned to look at the carriage, thinking of the ferocious Nine-Headed Bird, and felt fear. He usually avoided the carriage''s Nine-Headed Bird totem, not daring to get too close.


    The Nine-Headed Bird totem was engraved all over the Imperial House Carriage. The deep red wood''s carvings changed color with the feathers of the Nine-Headed Bird, which had many colors, making the totem shimmer with vibrant hues under the moonlight.


    Yu Yi circled the carriage, tapping on various parts of the vehicle body, attempting to awaken the Nine-Headed Bird.


    The carriage''s totem lightly swayed, and the light rippled like water. The Nine-Headed Bird''s heads attached to the carriage turned to look at her, then closed their eyes again, clearly uninterested in cooperating.


    Yu Yi knocked on its head again, saying, "Your master''s situation might be dire. If he dies, you''ll probably disappear too, right?"


    Hearing this, the Nine-Headed Bird opened its eyes again, all nine heads lifting from the carriage walls, their fist-sized eyes ring at her. From their fierce gazes, it was clear they didn''t want to be ordered around.


    Yu Yi met their stares without flinching. She didn''t have time to persuade them with words. A cluster of sword fire burst from her palm, the mes white-hot, scorching the moist air around her and producing sizzling steam.


    The me hovered threateningly just an inch away from the carriage.


    Yu Yi smiled faintly, her tone unyielding as shemanded, "Take me to your master."


    The Nine-Headed Bird''s totem screamed as the fire scorched it, and the carriage''s engravings glowed brightly. The vibrant lights of the same colors as its feathers shot out from the carriage, transforming into the Nine-Headed Bird on the ground. Its wings spread wide, and all nine heads bowed down, opening their sharp beaks to roar at Yu Yi simultaneously.


    Yu Yi looked up, the massive bird shadow covering her. Visible sound waves surged from its mouth toward her.


    Her sleeves fluttered as sword light erupted around her, slicing through the iing sound waves. She stared at the central bird head, her gaze locking with its golden eyes, not retreating a single step.


    The sword fire in her hand grew even brighter, resembling a blooming red lotus of hellfire, its center fiery red and its edges white-hot. The surrounding air''s moisture evaporated, and the heat licked at the Nine-Headed Bird''s feathers, causing it to fear.


    Yu Yi''s expression remained calm, her dark eyes reflecting the Nine-Headed Bird''s shadow, as she said, "Be good, take me to him."


    The Nine-Headed Bird''s ws dug into the ground, scratching deep grooves. One of its heads finally bowed down in submission, and the others followed suit.


    Only one blue-feathered head, clearly stubborn, refused to submit. As the other heads dragged it down, it suddenly screeched, opening its beak to peck at her.


    It spewed a cloud of thick smoke, instantly enveloping Yu Yi''s position. The smoke corroded the ground wherever it touched, creating arge pit.


    Crane Senior Brother was shocked, rushing over from another branch, pping his wings desperately to disperse the smoke covering the tform. However, when the smoke cleared, Yu Yi was nowhere to be seen.


    The blue-feathered head chirped in confusion, about to look up when a shadow suddenly dropped from above,nding on its head and pressing it into the pit.


    The sharp de of the Green Bamboo Sword pressed against its neck, and electricity and fire coursed through, burning all its beautiful blue feathers to ash.


    Yu Yi''s foot pressed hard on its bald head, her gaze warning the other bird heads as she said coldly, "Don''t make me really have to deal with you."


    The other bird heads immediately backed away, trying to hide behind each other, afraid their feathers would be burned to ashes too.


    Meanwhile, in the night sky, Xue Chenjing suddenly awoke, hastily reaching up to touch his hair, confirming it was intact before he sighed in relief.


    Yu Yi liked to stroke his hair, often twining her fingers in it during their kisses. If he lost his hair, she would be very disappointed.


    The sensation of being burned bald had been too intense, not like a dream.


    Xue Chenjing rubbed his temples, trying to trace the source of the feeling. As the controller of the symbiotic demons, he could receive their senses. If he wanted, he could also project his own senses and thoughts into them to control them.


    But just now, he had been half-asleep, unable to distinguish which demon had that feeling.


    Before he could figure it out, several beams of white light shot out from the dark forest, forming a formation that blocked his path. Xue Chenjing had been heading west and encountered several ambushes.


    These righteous cultivators knew where he was going and were doing their utmost to stop him.


    He could now sense the Heart me and the tower that suppressed the demons, indicating that the realm formed by Xue Mingyuan, who had sacrificed the Heart me and his strong desire to protect all living beings, had cracks.


    As long as he reimed the Heart me, no one would be his match.


    Xue Chenjing stood up on the ck wings, looking at the cultivators attacking him from all sides, and leaped into the formation.


    On the ind, the nine-headed demon bird dragged the Imperial House Carriage into the sky from Tree Ind. The bird''s broad wings stirred up a fierce wind, creating ripples on the sea surface. Moonlight bathed the variegated feathers of the nine-headed bird, reflecting a dazzling stream of light. Among them, the bald bird looked particrly deste.


    As the carriage ascended into the high sky, the biting gale blowing against it made the bald bird''s head shiver uncontrobly. It twisted its neck, trying to burrow into the feathers of the neighboring bird heads for shelter.


    However, its bird-rtions seemed to be rather poor. The two neighboring bird heads refused to amodate it and instead opened their beaks to emit mocking, shrill cries.


    The bald bird resentfully pecked at them, leading to a scuffle between the bird heads, causing the Imperial House Carriage to rock violently.


    Yu Yi sat cross-legged on the soft couch inside the carriage, meditating and entering the sword realm with her spirit. When the carriage jolted, she almost fell to the ground, and even Crane Senior Brother was nearly thrown out of the carriage window.


    Her voice came from inside the carriage, threatening, "Behave yourselves, or I''ll pluck all your feathers out."


    The fighting bird heads immediately separated, emitting mournful cries, bickering and using each other, asionally pleading for help from their distant master. However, the carriage soon regained its calm.


    The Imperial House Carriage sped through the clouds like a fleeting shadow, and even when it entered the storm zone over the sea, it dared not sway even slightly.


    In the dense forest of the mountains, Xue Chenjing broke through the formation of entrapment, sprinting forward while being pursued by a dense array of sword lights. His heart skipped a beat as he hastily lowered his head while crossing a marsh.


    Through the reflection in the water, he saw his flying hairtails, and his anxious heart finally eased slightly.


    This time, he sensed the source of that thought¡ªit was the nine-headed bird pulling the carriage. This stupid bird had always been under the threat of being bald, and this feeling had also been transmitted to Xue Chenjing, making him constantly worry about losing his hair.


    However, at the same time, he also felt that the Imperial House Carriage had left Spirit Ind.


    ¡ªA''yi, she''sing to find him.


    Xue Chenjing''s momentary distraction almost led to a sword light piercing through him. As he dodged, he suddenly stepped on something. He lowered his head and saw a familiar wish tablet, causing his scalp to tingle.


    He immediately wanted to step back, but it was already toote. The surrounding sword shadows and vegetation rapidly faded from his sight, and light flooded his eyes. He stepped out of the wilderness and into a bustling street, with a high-gated mansion on his side, beneath the eaves of which hung a que.Aliali: 67613dfc87939c8e13ac5983


    "Xue Residence." Xue Chenjing nced at the familiar entrance from his memories and sneered, "Human thought realm, another human thought realm."


    Why did their thoughts all want to trap him?


    Did they really think they could trap him like this?


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze turned cold as he stared at the mansion in front of him, his demonic energy surging in his palm.


    Suddenly, the heavy door creaked open, revealing a crack. Behind the crack stood a man with graying hair. He was thin, with a straight back, and his weathered face bore a few simrities to Xue Chenjing''s.


    The man''s forehead was deeply furrowed, shrouded in an undispeble gloom. When he looked up and saw Xue Chenjing, his eyes widened gradually, his expression one of disbelief.


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze was cold as he watched his father, Xue Xingzhi, raise his sleeve to rub his eyes, then look up again.


    After a long while, as if finally realizing that the person in front of him was not an illusion, Xue Xingzhi stumbled out of the door and approached him, his voice trembling, "Chenjing, you''ve returned?"


    Xue Chenjing''s movements paused, and he subconsciously moved his hand behind his back, the surging demonic energy in his fingertips receding once more.


    Chenjing, he called him Chenjing.

 Chapter 102

    Xue Chenjing momentarily lost focus, allowing Xue Xingzhi to pull him into the Xue family residence.


    The heavy doors slowly closed behind them, and the corridors and courtyards that came into view felt familiar to him. It seemed as though theyout had not changed at all since he left, except that the people around him had aged significantly.


    Most of the servants and attendants who had gathered from the house were strangers to him, except for the head steward, who looked somewhat familiar.


    Xue Xingzhi held tightly onto his wrist, as if afraid he might disappear again if he let go. He pointed to the middle-aged man leading the group and said, "This is Liu Hua, the son of Liu Guan. He used to follow you around a lot when you were young. Do you remember him?"


    Xue Chenjing studied him carefully. With Xue Xingzhi''s reminder, a vague memory surfaced in his mind. However, his recollection of Liu Hua was still stuck in the boy''s teenage years, around fourteen or fifteen.


    "Young Master?" Liu Hua stepped forward, his eyes wide with surprise as he examined Xue Chenjing. He rubbed his eyes with his sleeve and nced at the ribbon tying Xue Chenjing''s hair.


    This was a habit from their youth. Xue Chenjing favored bright and vivid colors, often wearing vibrant hair ribbons, while Xue Mingyuan preferred more subdued and elegant attire.


    Every morning, when Liu Hua went to find him, he would first check what kind of hair ribbon the young master was wearing and what he was dressed in. This way, he could tell whether the person in front of him was the eldest son or the youngest son.


    It also determined whether he would spend the day quietly in the study or sneak out to catch birds'' eggs and crickets.


    As a child, Liu Hua didn''t enjoy studying either, so he liked to tag along with the youngest son and goof off. However, despite the fun they had, every evening when the master checked their lessons, Liu Hua would end up sharing the punishment with the youngest son. Those days were a mix of pain and joy.


    Over time, the youngest son began to wear more subdued clothing less frequently. Even when he dressed in colorful garments, he no longer yed with Liu Hua as he once did. Xue Chenjing seemed to change gradually, and the atmosphere throughout the Xue family became strangely subdued and tense. Fewer and fewer people were allowed to enter the youngest son''s courtyard.


    Liu Hua was among the few who were still permitted to see him. At that time, he was heavily relied upon by the master and mistress, who hoped he could win the young master''s favor and find out about the eldest son. They hoped that if Xue Chenjing was happy, perhaps the eldest son would appear.


    However, from some point unknown to time, the eldest son had be a taboo topic for the youngest son. Xue Chenjing used to enjoy pretending to be the eldest son and teasing Liu Hua for fun, but now even mentioning the eldest son''s name would make him furious.


    Gradually, every time Liu Hua was pushed into the young master''s courtyard to see him, he felt anxious and resistant. His father''s instructions, the master and mistress''s expectations, and the disappointed look in Xue Chenjing''s eyes whenever he mentioned the eldest son¡ªall these pressures weighed heavily on his shoulders like mountains.


    Liu Hua began to avoid visiting him, going to great lengths to injure himself or fall ill, finding every excuse to avoid entering the young master''s courtyard and entertaining him.


    Not just him, but all the attendants who had once been close to the young master were under simr pressure.


    One snowy night, he deliberately crouched outside, hoping to catch a cold and avoid visiting the young master the next day.


    As he shivered in the cold, someone asked, "What are you doing squatting here? Aren''t you cold?"


    Liu Hua turned his head and saw a figure walking toward him under an umbre, stepping through the snow.


    Xue Chenjing''s gaze moved slowly up and down, taking in theyer of snow covering Liu Hua''s body. The fact that snow had umted on his shoulders and head meant he had been standing in the snow for quite some time.


    His expression shifted from confusion to understanding, and he frowned slightly, chuckling, "Every time you''re supposed toe see me, you either get injured or fall ill. So this is how you do it?"


    Liu Hua''s teeth chattered, and he wanted to exin, but his frozen, sluggish mind couldn''t find the words.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t say anything more and didn''t seem angry. He simply bent down, ced the umbre over Liu Hua''s head, and walked away. Liu Hua got his wish and fell ill, lying in bed with a high fever, unable to entertain the young master.


    By the time he fully recovered, the young master was no longer in the Xue family, no longer needing anyone to entertain him.


    The mischievous, spoiled, and crybaby young master who would start wailing before the bamboo stick even touched his hand had vanished from the Xue family. No matter how much the master searched and inquired, he could not find him again.


    Now, after many years away, the young master had suddenly returned, still looking as young as ever, as if time had not touched him. He wore a crimson-gold hair ribbon, and his robes were stained with a heavy stench of blood, the original color of the fabric barely visible.


    Liu Hua observed him cautiously and called out again, "Young Master? Is it really you? You''vee back?"


    Xue Chenjing looked at his childhood ymate, then nced at Xue Xingzhi, whose eyes were filled with tears. It was only then that he felt the passage of time, seeing the white hair and wrinkles on their faces.


    He had been reborn so many times that, after merging with a demon, time seemed to have slowed down for him. His life had be too long, and he had forgotten how precious time was for mortals.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes showed a hint of hesitation, but eventually, under their hopeful gazes, he nodded.


    Beyond the Human Thought Boundary, the wind swept across the mountains and fields, and the swaying branches of the dense forest hung with countless wish ques.


    These ques were scattered across different trees, forming aplex array. The faint light from the writings on the ques connected, creating a boundary of human thoughts.


    A wisp of Lady Lotus''s primordial spirit projected a shadowy figure in the air. She sat cross-legged, her hands folded in front of her, holding a lotus flower. The background around her suggested that her true body remained on the solitary peak of the Carefree Sect.


    The righteous cultivators who had pursued her to this point gathered around her. Lady Lotus announced, "The demon has been trapped within the Human Thought Boundary. Everyone, follow the n and enter the boundary to rece the people inside. Find a way to kill the demon within the boundary."


    She extended her hand, revealing the faces of an old man and woman. "The thoughts of the Xue couple are the foundation of this Human Thought Boundary. These two have entered the boundary in their true forms, not as illusions of obsession. They cannot be reced. Everyone else can be swapped."


    With her words finished, Lady Lotus''s primordial spirit dove into the boundary, followed by several other figures that transformed into streams of light and followed her. The remaining cultivators dispersed into the forest, protecting the wish ques that formed the Human Thought Boundary.


    The night retreated from the sky, and the dawn''s first light appeared on the horizon, marking the passing of another night.


    A swift shadow streaked across the clouds, gradually slowing down. The shadow revealed a luxurious carriage, drawn by a nine-headed bird. The bird''s heads looked around, and instead of flying resolutely in one direction, they began to argue, unsure which way to go.


    Inside the carriage, the upant sensed the decrease in speed and asked, "What''s going on? Have you found him?"


    The nine-headed bird squawked and chirped, its voices like a group of gossiping old women. One head wanted to fly left, another wanted to fly right, and they began to quarrel, pecking at each other.


    Yu Yi pushed open the carriage door from within. The bird''s heads immediately fell silent, obediently facing forward and not daring to look back at her.


    Her gaze swept over all the bird''s heads, stopping on the most conspicuous one. She said, "Baldy, you tell me."


    The bird with burned feathers opened its beak angrily. It wasn''t "Baldy"! It had a beautiful name¡ªBlue Feather!


    Under the mocking gazes of the other bird''s heads, the bald bird had no way to express its grievances, no way to vent its anger. It chirped a series of intive sounds.


    Yu Yi understood the meaning behind its chirps. The birds were connected to Xue Chenjing, and usually, they could sense the location of their master. But just now, they had lost his direction.


    Their master was either trapped in some kind of boundary or had entered another space.


    Yu Yi stepped onto the front tform of the carriage and looked down at the clouds below. The Imperial House Carriage had been flying for a day and night, leaving the sea behind. Below was a vastnd, and not far ahead, a city could be seen faintly.


    However, the city wasn''trge, and it didn''t seem particrly prosperous, likely just a small county.


    Previously, the Imperial House Carriage had been heading west, but without an urate direction, just this one direction wasn''t enough to find Xue Chenjing. The western frontier still had a vast expanse ofnd.


    Yu Yi lowered her eyes in thought, recalling the system''s voice she had once heard. The final unlocked segment of the plot was in Wangye. Coincidentally, Wangye was also located in the western frontier. Xue Chenjing had worked so hard to unlock the plot; he would definitely go to Wangye.


    Shemanded the Nine-Headed Bird to fly in the predetermined direction. Since she couldn''t sense Xue Chenjing''s location, she directed the bird towards Wangye. The Nine-Headed Bird finally stopped resisting and pped its wings to move forward.


    Yu Yi retreated back into the carriage, her gaze drifting aimlessly over the table and decorations inside. She had never imagined that one day she would be so anxious to find him.


    In the past, even when they were separated, Yu Yi didn''t care much because she knew Xue Chenjing would alwayse back, just as he had said himself¡ªa dog on a leash wouldn''t get lost. She should have just stayed on the ind and waited for him to return.


    But after witnessing the meticulously nned ambush in the earth''s turbid mist, she couldn''t bring herself to stay calmly on the ind and wait.


    The main divine system had tasked her with being the one to wield the sword, so Xue Chenjing shouldn''t die anywhere else, right? He must die by her sword, right?Aliali: 67613dfc87939c8e13ac5983


    Yu Yi sat on the soft couch, her hand gently stroking her Qingzhu Sword. After merging with the Primordial Sword, the de hadpletely shed its wooden appearance, now gleaming like snow. A gentle touch of her fingertip against the de could elicit a low, resonant hum of metal.


    Perhaps influenced by her turbulent emotions, the Qingzhu Sword also seemed restless, with fine arcs of electricity flickering across its surface. The Thunder Realm suddenly unfolded beneath the sword, and the streams of current startled Crane Senior Brother awake from his slumber. He pped his wings and scrambled to escape out of the carriage.


    Outside the carriage was the menacing Nine-Headed Demon Bird, leaving Crane Senior Brother stuck at the carriage door, unsure whether to go in or out.


    Yu Yi, however, was too preupied to notice him. Inside the carriage, the currents of electricity coalesced into the half-form of the Thunder Dragon Sword Spirit. The dragon lifted its head, opened its mouth, and spat out a perfectly round bead.


    "What is this? A dragon pearl?" Yu Yi leaned closer, her breath brushing against the bead, and noticed the ripples it created, realizing it wasn''t a pearl but a perfectly round water droplet.


    The droplet was incredibly clear, carrying a familiar aura.


    Yu Yi eximed in surprise, "Is this water from the Chaos Pool? How did you bring it out from the pool?"


    The Thunder Dragon tilted its head, its golden eyes,ced with arcs of electricity, looking innocent and confused at the water droplet it had just spat out, as if it too was puzzled about when it had carried such a thing.


    But upon seeing the water droplet, the Thunder Dragon''s fighting spirit surged. Without hesitation, it opened its mouth and bit down fiercely.


    The dragon''s sharp teeth pierced into the water droplet, and the arcs of electricity instantly surged into the Chaos Water.

 Chapter 103

    In the Human Thought Boundary, Xue Chenjing returned to the courtyard where he once lived. The house had been uninhabited for a long time, yet it was always kept clean, and everything was arranged exactly as it had been before. The clothes in the wardrobe were neat and tidy, exuding the fragrance of orchids, indicating that they were frequently washed, aired, and scented.


    Xue Xingzhi looked at him for a moment, sighed with hesitation, and said, "First, wash up and change your clothes. Then I''ll take you to see your mother."


    Liu Hua personally led the servants to prepare the bath, and soon a hot bath was ready.


    Xue Chenjing, having lived alone for so many years, no longer liked having people around to serve him. He dismissed the servants and undressed himself to step into the water.


    The hot water washed away the smell of blood on his body. The mist from the bath filled the room, and the screen in front of the bath was still the same one from back then, made of jade, carved with clouds covering the sun. There was a crack in one corner of the screen, left from when he had identally knocked it.


    The longer he stayed in this ce, the more memories buried deep in his heart surged to the surface. The faded past was being recolored bit by bit, making it harder and harder to let go.


    Was it the same for A Yi? Even though she knew it was all an illusion, she still wanted to stay a little longer, just a little longer.


    Only now did he deeply understand how self-righteous and annoying it was for him to appear before her, thinking he was sober, interrupting her and her sister''ste-night talks, constantly reminding her that this was just a dream.


    At that time, A Yi hadn''t even hit him.


    Thinking of her, Xue Chenjing''s fingertips tingled, as if an invisible current was coursing through his body, flowing along his spine to his limbs.


    His hair stood on end, and a sensation of both pain and itch scratched at his heart. The current in his bones made his waist feel weak, and he nearly slipped into the water.


    Xue Chenjing quickly reached out to brace himself against the edge of the bath. His long hair slid off the side and into the water, the curled ends spreading out like tendrils. He leaned forward, his back muscles taut under the hair covering his shoulders, his body trembling slightly, his breathing quick and uneven, blowing away the steam rising from the water.


    The water rippled, and the waves seemed to carry electric currents that struck his skin.


    Xue Chenjing''s eyes widened in astonishment. His wetshes, like ink smeared by water, dripped a single drop.


    This feeling wasn''t just his imagination. There really was an electric current striking him.


    He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, sinking into his mind. Immediately, he felt the familiar flow of thunder spiritual energy coursing through his soul. This awareness made his soul and body even more sensitive, and the current spreading through him became unbearable.


    Xue Chenjing closed his eyes and reached for the bathrobe by the side, pulling it into the water to cover his body, trying to hide his reaction. He swallowed hard and used his consciousness to push away the restless shadows in his mind, calling out, "A Yi?"


    Inside the emperor''s carriage, Yu Yi was gripping the head of the thunder dragon, pulling the chaotic water ball from its fangs. Electric arcs crackled and disappeared into the water droplet, coursing through it and causing it to shake violently.


    The Primordial Sword now recognized her as its master, and the thunder dragon was her sword spirit. Yu Yi, connected to the sword spirit through her mind, could sense that even the thunder dragon hadn''t known about the existence of this water ball before it appeared.


    When she was on the Immortal Ascension tform, the thunder dragon''s spirit had led her to that divine and demonic battlefield, to the edge of the Chaos Pool, where she had seen Xue Chenjing''s original form. Now, the thunder dragon had brought out a small chaotic water droplet from the Chaos Pool. It seemed all part of the main system''s arrangements.


    This feeling of being led step by step on someone else''s path was really unpleasant. But Yu Yi held the water droplet, knowing she had to follow its lead.


    She really wanted to know how Xue Chenjing was doing now.


    As a chaotic being, all chaotic energies in the world could connect with him. Yu Yi held the chaotic water droplet with both hands, brought it to her forehead, closed her eyes, and released her consciousness into the droplet.


    She thought, likest time, she would easily enter his mind. But instead, her consciousness stepped into an endless void, surrounded by nothing but ck silence, giving her a sense of emptiness and loneliness as if she were in the vastness of the universe.


    Yu Yi''s heart clenched. In that instant, she felt a deep fear. She instinctively knew that if she stayed here for even a moment longer, her consciousness might be lost forever in this endless void, never to return.


    She immediately tried to pull her consciousness back, just as she heard a voice call out, "A Yi?"


    Yu Yi quickly said, "Xue Chenjing? Where are you?"


    Then, invisible tentacles extended from the darkness, wrapping around her consciousness. She heard Xue Chenjing sigh in relief and say with a smile, "I''ve caught you."


    After his words, her consciousness was pulled rapidly downward, just like thest time, and finally fell into that familiar ce.


    Xue Chenjing''s mind was different from thest time. Thest time, his mind was clean and transparent, but now it was filled with shadows of demons, a veritable den of demons.


    Yu Yi''s consciousness was pulled into it, as if falling into a nest of monsters. A cold touch crept up her ankle.


    She thought it was Xue Chenjing''s tentacles, but when she looked down, she saw a triangr snake head staring up at her. The snake''s eyes were blood red, its body covered in fine green scales, and its forked tongue licked her soul.


    "What the hell is this!" Yu Yi screamed and kicked out with her foot.


    A long hand reached out, grabbing the snake''s head and throwing it away.


    Xue Chenjing''s figure emerged from the thick shadows. He gently stroked her ankle, then lowered his head and pressed his lips to the spot where the snake''s tongue had touched, sticking out his tongue to lick it clean. He looked up at her and said, "There, A Yi, I''ve cleaned it for you."


    Yu Yi: "..." Still so perverted, it seems his situation isn''t too dire.


    Seeing Xue Chenjing rubbing her ankle and lifting her skirt, about to kiss higher up, Yu Yi quickly lifted her other foot and pressed it against his shoulder, warning, "Don''t go too far."


    Xue Chenjing finally let go of her ankle, opened his arms, and hugged her, pressing his forehead against hers.


    As soon as Yu Yi''s soul touched his, she couldn''t help but tremble. Through their tightly connected consciousness, she saw his current physical reaction.


    Xue Chenjing had deliberately let her see it!


    Yu Yi couldn''t hold back and said, "I thought you were on the brink of death, but instead, you''re enjoying a spa treatment?"


    "It''s because of you that I''m like this," Xue Chenjing said innocently, hugging her and nuzzling her face. The current in his body hadn''tpletely subsided, and the ce where their souls touched was filled with a tingling sensation.


    Suddenly, footsteps approached from outside. Xue Chenjing frowned and divided some of his attention to the outside world. He swept the wet hair from his forehead, opened his eyes, and looked at the screen outside, saying, "Didn''t I say not to disturb me?"


    A figure faintly approached behind the jade screen. Liu Hua stood outside the screen, respectfully bowing and saying, "Young Master, I thought the bathwater might be getting cold and wanted toe in and add some more."


    Xue Chenjing controlled his breathing and said calmly, "No need, I don''t require it."


    "Yes," Liu Hua replied, but his figure still stood there, not leaving. After hesitating for a while, he finally spoke up, "That snowy night, I don''t know if Young Master remembers? I... I didn''t stay out in the snow because I didn''t want to see you. I grew up with you, andpared to the eldest young master, I actually preferred ying with you. It''s just thatter, every time I came to see you, I was given a task and had to go with a purpose to please you. I was too young at the time and couldn''t handle the pressure, so I came up with that stupid idea to escape."


    As he spoke, he knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I''m sorry. I know my actions hurt you, and I''ve wanted to apologize to you since I woke up, but I never had the chance. I just hope you can forgive me."


    Behind the screen, the sound of water rippling was heard. Xue Chenjing put on his clothes in the water and, after hearing Liu Hua''s words, remembered some things.


    At that time, he had indeed been very angry and wanted to beat and scold him to vent his anger. But as he walked to Liu Hua''s side, he suddenly felt that everything was meaningless.


    He wasn''t a fool. He knew Liu Hua''s difficulties at the time and understood the purpose behind every visit.


    In this family, he had be a source of pain for everyone. His parents looked at him and only thought of his brother. But he didn''t dare to let Xue Mingyuan out, nor did he want to.


    What he craved would no longer be granted by anyone, and what he once possessed would only slip through his fingers like sand, endlessly slipping away.Aliali: 67613dfc87939c8e13ac5983


    Instead of continuing to torment each other in this household, it would be better to abandon them before theypletely grew tired of him.


    Yu Yi''s consciousness was within his mind, and she could also hear sounds from the outside world. She asked in confusion, "Where are you now?"


    "In the Human Thought Boundary, my former home. Those righteous cultivators probably thought that a single mansion could trap me." Xue Chenjing grasped her consciousness and couldn''t bear to let go.


    This close contact of consciousness somewhat alleviated the burning thirst in his body. Gradually, Xue Chenjing''s body calmed down.


    Perhaps because his consciousness was now closely connected to aforting presence, his mind became very peaceful. Even when he encountered these past memories that once filled him with resentment and unwillingness, they no longer caused him any pain.


    He stepped out of the pool, used a spell to dry his clothes, pulled on a robe from the rack, fastened the belt, and replied indifferently, "It''s fine, I no longer care."


    Having received his forgiveness, Liu Hua seemed to finally release a decades-long burden. He kowtowed a few more times and then exited the bathroom.


    As soon as he stepped outside, a faint, firefly-like stream of light shot down from the sky, directly into his forehead. Liu Hua paused, his body stiffening for a moment. When he looked up again, his previously bent back was now straight, and his eyes shone with a sharp light. His entire demeanor was vastly different from before.


    The cultivator who had reced Liu Hua lowered his head to examine his attire and absorbed the memories of this strand of human thought. His eyebrows furrowed, and he showed a hint of displeasure. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a whisk, as if feeling insulted, and brushed it against his knees.


    A despicable demon, hiding in the human world as a pampered young master¡ªwhat a joke.

 Chapter 104

    Yu Yi tilted her head back, her neck enveloped by his scorching breath, her mind unsettled by the delicate kisses that fell on her skin. She reached up and plunged her fingers into the long hair that cascaded down his back, gripping the roots and pulling him away from her, asking, "How do you n to break this illusion?"


    Xue Chenjing tilted his head back, his eyebrows furrowed, and he pitifully whined, "Ouch, ouch, ouch."


    Yu Yi''s grip immediately loosened, and the pitiful expression on his face instantly transformed into a triumphant smile. He leaned in again, drawn to theforting and satisfying aura that enveloped him. In a low voice, he said, "No matter what kind of illusion it is, it requires spiritual energy to sustain. As long as we sever the spiritual energy that binds this illusion, it will copse."


    Xue Chenjing was not deluded; on the contrary, he was fully aware that everything here was an illusion, crafted to fulfill his past regrets. During his solitary wanderings, he had often fantasized about what his parents'' reaction would be if he returned.


    Deep down, he longed for them to miss him, to remember him, and to greet him with excitement upon their reunion, just as Xue Xingzhi had done today.


    This illusionpletely fulfilled his delusional wish.


    But now, he no longer needed this delusional wish tofort himself. He had found a better refuge.


    Xue ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Chenjing didn''t want Yu Yi to witness the brutal methods he would use to break the illusion, so he slightly retreated, severing her connection to the outside world through him.


    Outside the sea of consciousness, Xue Chenjing was fully dressed. He gathered his wet hair in his hands, pulled a crimson hairband from the screen, and bit it between his teeth. With his fingers, he twirled the other end around the roots of his hair, lowering his head as he tied it. The damp ends of his hair swayed behind him, shaking off a string of water droplets.


    Before he could reach for the door, it opened on its own. Two young servants, around thirteen or fourteen years old, stood at the entrance, holding the door open for him.


    Liu Hua approached with antern, bowing low to light his way. His expression was hidden, but his voice was eager as he said, "Young Master, watch your step. The Lord has prepared a feast in the main courtyard. Please go there directly after changing."


    Xue Chenjing turned his gaze to him and called out, "Liu Hua."


    "Let''s start with you," he thought. "Killing all the figures from this illusion should break it."


    It was just a delusional wish after all; he wouldn''t hesitate to act.


    Liu Hua closed his eyes for a moment, hiding the disgust he felt for the demon, and forced himself to adopt the loyal demeanor of a servant towards his young master. He looked up and said, "Young Master, is there something you need...?"


    His words were cut short as Xue Chenjing''s fingers sliced across his neck. The long fingers, covered with scales, gleamed with golden light, like a sharp de cutting the throat.


    The cultivator who had taken Liu Hua''s ce felt his pupils constrict suddenly,pletely unaware of when he had been exposed. He quickly leaned back, flipped over the railing, and leaped onto the rockery in the courtyard, pressing a hand to his throat in lingering fear.


    "You saw through me!" the cultivator eximed, hisntern suddenly transforming into a pure white duster, which he vigorously shook open.


    The hairs of the dust brush stretched out, forming a dense web that instantly covered the corridor. Leaves blown down by the windnded on the web and were instantly sliced into fragments.


    At the same time, the two young servants behind Xue Chenjing also attacked. One of them wielded a curved de aimed at his shoulder des.


    Xue Chenjing''s body twisted strangely, copsing as if boneless, sliding to the ground. A thick demonic aura surged from him, forming a ck fog that spawned three fierce dog heads, which opened their bloody maws and bit onto the two young servants.


    Blood sttered, and spiritual energy dissipated from the bodies of the two young servants, revealing that they were not mere illusions.


    Xue Chenjing grabbed the curved de from one of the young servants and shed at the dense web below the corridor.


    The de and the feather duster''s silk sparked and squeaked, the sh of the two magical tools snapping several strands. His de also chipped in the process.


    Xue Chenjing discarded the de and escaped through the broken web, instantly stepping onto the roof. "Cultivators?"


    He hadn''t initially suspected Liu Hua, merely wanting to eliminate the figures in the illusion to break free. But now, he realized, "Of course, you went through so much trouble to trap me in this illusion, not just to watch a family reunion."


    The cultivator wielding the duster saw that Xue Chenjing genuinely seemed to have just realized the truth and felt a surge of frustration. However, since they were already exposed, there was no point in hiding. After all, their goal in entering the illusion was to exterminate the demon.


    He nced at the brutally in fellow disciples below the corridor, raised his whisk, and tightened all the strands. His fingers plucked the strands, producing a string sound.


    Cultivators lurking throughout the illusion received the message, quickly gathered, and took action prematurely.


    Xue Chenjing''s mind was disturbed by the sound of the strings, causing illusions to appear before his eyes. The figures attacking from all sides becameyered and indistinct.


    He shook his head vigorously, and the magic essence coalesced into arrows, piercing through several figures.


    But they were not real. A cultivator approached him, and the sword energy surged straight towards his face.


    Xue Chenjing hastily retreated, narrowly avoiding the sword.


    He rolled off the roof andnded on the ground, which transformed into a muddy swamp in his eyes. The mud clung to his legs, slowing his movements.


    Xue Chenjing''s fingers traced mystical lines, sketching out a magic array. A demonic shadow burst forth from the array, obstructing the approaching cultivator.


    The string sound buzzed again beside his ear, causing Xue Chenjing''s consciousness to sink further. The illusion intensified, and the mud deepened, with more humanoid shapes rising from the swamp and clinging to him, trapping him.


    One of the mud figurine''s features formed, resembling Yu Yi. His hand hesitated for a moment, and that hesitation caused him to sink further into the swamp. His joints stiffened, making his movements even slower.


    Xue Chenjing''s body grew heavier, and his movements slowed, making it difficult for him to avoid the surrounding attacks, resulting in numerous wounds.


    His blood seeped out, causing the shadows around him to frenzy, preventing the attacking cultivators from getting close.


    Inside the sea of consciousness, Yu Yi felt Xue Chenjing''s scattered awareness, even the strand of spiritual consciousness he had left with her bing illusory and unstable. "Aqiu? What''s happening? Let me see what''s going on outside."


    Xue Chenjing''s consciousness was weakening, a muddy substance swiftly spreading over it, intending to seal his consciousness in a y sculpture.


    Yu Yi''s fingers conjured sword energy, striking the hardened shell on his arm.


    The sword energy shattered the shell, and Xue Chenjing''s consciousness regained rity. His stiff arm instantly regained mobility as he immediately said, "Ayi, help me break them all."


    Without needing to be told, Yu Yi knew what to do. Both her hands covered him, and the power of the Thunder and Fire Spirits flowed from her palms, sparking arcs of electricity that surged up his body, shattering the hardened shells.


    But the shells seemed endless, with new mud spreading and quickly drying to form new shells. Yu Yi had to keep striking, preventing the shells from reforming.


    The sound of the strings outside grew more intense, trying topletely seal Xue Chenjing''s consciousness. However, Yu Yi''s sword energy clearly overpowered it, leaving it almost no chance to spread over his consciousness.


    A sudden burst of fire erupted from a hidden spot in the courtyard, burning the duster to ashes. An electric arc surged along the duster to the cultivator''s hand, turning his entire arm into charred remains.


    The sound of the string disappeared from Xue Chenjing''s ears, freeing his consciousness from the mud. His body also regained agility. He heard Liu Hua''s scream and pointed a finger, sending an arrow through the intersecting shadows and windowttices, piercing the person hiding on the other side.


    Inside the sea of consciousness, Yu Yi actively brought her awareness closer to his, merging together, and said again, "Let me see what''s happening outside."


    Xue Chenjing hesitated for a moment, during which he maximized the Exorcism Magic Array, causing the Demonic Shadows to swarm everywhere, their forms expanding to almost cover the entire courtyard. The remaining righteous cultivators had no choice but to retreat.


    Xue Chenjing dissipated the blood energy around him and shared his five senses with her.


    Yu Yi peered through Xue Chenjing''s eyes and saw the garden path he was on. The dim light illuminated the garden, casting shadows that swayed restlessly, resembling both tree shadows and demonic figures.


    A faint trace of blood lingered in the air, but wherever Xue Chenjing''s gazended, there were only delicate flowers scattered throughout the garden, with no signs of any battle.


    Based on her previous experience, Yu Yi could guess that he must have gone through a fierce fight. She couldn''t help but worry and asked, "Are you injured?"


    Xue Chenjing raised his hand, and the blood seeping from his wound was quickly licked clean by a shadow that wrapped around it. He healed the wound and held his hand up to inspect it, then snorted, "I''m fine. They can''t hurt me."


    Yu Yi, hearing his smug tone, responded coldly with an "Oh," adding, "Really? Who was it that almost got sealed again just now?"


    Xue Chenjing''s pride deted, but he quickly recovered and began to tter her, "Thankfully, you were there, Yu Yi. Your sword aura has reached a new level¡ªhave you reached the Nascent Soul stage? You''re amazing! You saved me again, and I must repay you by dedicating my life to you."


    Yu Yi, feeling his consciousness brush against hers, didn''t push him away this time. She said, "Alright, then hurry up and clean yourself, and bring your body to me."


    Xue Chenjing blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. Through their shared senses, Yu Yi could feel his heartbeat elerate, his blood seeming to boil, and his cheeks burning like they were on fire. Even she could sense the heat radiating from his face.


    Yu Yi was startled by his reaction and quickly said, "Calm down! You''re still in the illusion! I just want you to break through the illusion so I can find you."


    Xue Chenjing took a deep breath to suppress the heat in his body and stepped into the main courtyard.


    His mother''s name contained the character "Lan," and she loved orchids. In Xue Chenjing''s memory, the Yon Court was filled with orchids that bloomed all year round. Xue Xingzhi had even spent a fortune to exchange for spirit stones to be buried underground, ensuring the orchids never wilted.


    However, the current Yon Court had few orchids left, and those that remained were no longer as meticulously cared for as they once were.


    Xue Chenjing had expected a trap waiting for him in the main courtyard, but the ce was eerily quiet with no servants in sight. As he made his way to the hall, he only saw a table set with a feast, with two people seated at the table waiting.


    "Chenjing, is that you, Chenjing?" The woman at the table turned toward the door, her hand half-raised as if trying to feel her way. Her eyes reflected the candlelight, but there was no glimmer of focus.


    Xue Chenjing was stunned and blurted out, "Your eyes..."


    Wei Tinn turned toward the sound of his voice and smiled at him. "It''s nothing. As people age, their eyes naturally grow dim. Your father told me you''ve grown taller and stronger, more handsome than before."


    Xue Chenjing watched her hand stubbornly raised in the air, as if wanting to touch him. He clenched his fingers in his sleeve, hesitating to reach out.


    Xue Xingzhi noticed his coldness and stepped forward to gently pat his wife''s hand and ce it back on the table, then invited, "Chenjing,e sit down and have a meal with us."


    Tears glistened in Wei Tinn''s eyes, but she forced a smile and said, "Yes,e sit. These are all your favorite dishes. My eyes aren''t good anymore, so I couldn''t cook them myself, but I guided them step by step. The taste should be simr."


    Xue Chenjing nced at the dishes on the table, which indeed were all his favorites. He looked at the two of them, then back at the silent courtyard, and sneered, "What kind of trick is this? Are these dishes poisoned?"


    Xue Xingzhi looked surprised. "What are you talking about? I was with your mother, overseeing the kitchen the entire time. How could they dare to poison the food?"


    "Mother?" Xue Chenjingughed, raising his finger slightly. Two tentacle-like appendages emerged from the void, their tips gleaming with sharp snake scales. "Do you righteous cultivators only know how to find someone else''s parents? Can''t youe up with any other tricks?"


    The two at the table looked puzzled, their acting far more convincing than Liu Hua''s.


    Xue Chenjing didn''t want to waste time with them. He pointed his finger, and the two appendages shot down with a piercing whistle.


    But just as they were about to touch the two, a contract seal suddenly glowed on Xue Chenjing''s forehead. The appendages were forced back by the contract''s power, exploding from within and sttering transparent liquid in all directions.


    Xue Chenjing''s mind buzzed, and he staggered back several steps, his face turning pale as if he had lost an arm.


    Xue Xingzhi, a mere mortal, waspletely unaware that he had just escaped death''s grasp. Seeing Xue Chenjing''s state, he stepped forward with concern, trying to support him. "Chenjing, what''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"


    Xue Chenjing stared at him in terror, as if seeing a monstrous flood, and kept retreating until he nearly tripped over the threshold.


    The bloodline contract nted by Xue Mingyuan had activated, proving that these two were truly his parents, not illusions or imposters. They were his blood rtives!


    A white-d figure gracefully entered from outside. Lady Lotus''s spirit had entered the illusion, her body glowing with a soft light, her sleeves fluttering lightly as she held a lotus flower. She looked at him as if gazing upon a mere insect struggling in the mortal world. Her lips parted gently, "This illusion is built upon their thoughts. Only by killing them can you break free. Unfortunately, you cannot kill them."


    "Today, you will die here."

 Chapter 105

    Xue Xingzhi looked at the person approaching in surprise, "Lady Lotus? Why are you here? What do you mean by that?"


    Judging from his expression, it was clear that he had known Lady Lotus before.


    That made sense too. If they weren''t acquainted, how could they have repeatedly joined forces to deal with him?


    Xue Chenjing turned to look at Lady Lotus, then nced at his bewildered parents inside the room. He flicked his sleeve to push Xue Xingzhi away and took a few steps back, smiling wryly, "Sister, do you hate me so much?"


    Lady Lotus''s face darkened at being addressed as "Sister." She said coldly, "My entire Yi family was implicated because of you, destroyed because of you. Shouldn''t I hate you?"


    "If I remember correctly, at the time, I was on the trial tform with Father and Mother, sent there by their own hands. After you acted with such righteousness and cut ties with me, didn''t the Jiang, Yao, and Yun families show you any mercy?"


    Xue Chenjing rubbed his brow, then suddenly realized, "Ah, that''s right. At that time, the Yi family was at its peak, encroaching on the interests of those three great ns. Yet, your strength wasn''t enough to contend with them. In the end, you were all suppressed together. How can you me me for that?"


    ¡°How dare you speak so lightly!¡± Lady Lotus''s chest heaved, her heart ignited by his few words. The cold disdain in her eyes faded, revealing the deep hatred beneath. ¡°If it weren''t for you, what reason would they have to unite the entire cultivation world to judge my Yi family!¡±


    ¡°Without me, they would have found another reason,¡± Xue Chenjing said calmly, far moreposed than Lady Lotus. He had grown ustomed to such hateful gazes. ¡°Just as you always find reasons to hate me.¡±


    From the hall, the sound of a dish shattering echoed, followed by the panicked voice of a woman at the table, "Xue Lang, what''s happening? What''s going on? Chenjing? Chenjing, where are you?"


    Wei Tinn, having knocked over a bowl of meatball soup, felt the scalding oil spill onto her hand, steam still rising.


    She seemed oblivious to the pain, her trembling hands searching frantically, tears streaming down her face as she called out anxiously, "Chenjing, Chenjing, don''t go. Mother knows she was wrong, Mother really knows she was wrong. Mother won''t ask you for your brother anymore, don''t go!"


    Xue Xingzhi quickly turned to support her, holding her burned hand and blowing on it, wiping her tears as he soothed, "Lan Niang, don''t be anxious. Chenjing hasn''t left yet, he''s still here. Don''t cry, you can''t cry anymore, your eyes won''t be able to take it."


    Wei Tinn stubbornly raised her hand, "Where is he? Let me touch him."


    Xue Xingzhi took her hand, looking pleadingly at Xue Chenjing, "Chenjing,e over, let your mother touch you, just once, let her feel your face."


    Hearing the calls from inside the room, Xue Chenjing''s eyshes fluttered, but his gaze remained fixed, only catching a glimpse of the two figures inside the hall supporting each other. He said coldly, "I''ve already fulfilled your wish and been trapped here. There''s no need to put on this act for me, it''s disgusting."


    Seeing that he refused, Xue Xingzhi carefully kicked aside the broken bowl on the ground, wanting to help Wei Tinn out.


    In his mind, Yu Yi''s consciousness could only perceive the vague figures inside the hall through his peripheral vision.


    This was her first time seeing Xue Chenjing''s parents. She didn''t know their full past, only hearing a few stories from Xue Chenjing. This wasn''t the time toment.


    But perhaps the pleading in their voices was too desperate, and from their repeated cries of "Chenjing," one could feel the love.


    Yu Yi''s heart was moved, thinking of her own parents. She couldn''t bear it and said, "A Jiu, go over, let your parents touch you."


    Xue Chenjing''s brow twitched, a brief struggle passing over his face. He clenched his teeth, his jawline growing sharper, thinking, "They''re just acting, trying to lure me over to bind me again like before. A Yi, you don''t understand. No one chooses me, except you."


    Before Yu Yi could say more, Xue Chenjing raised his hand. Magic energy seeped from his palm, climbing up the doors and windows of the hall. Before they could step over the threshold, there was a loud bang as the doors and windows mmed shut,pletely cutting off the figures inside from his sight.


    Trapped inside the room, Xue''s parents frantically knocked on the door, calling his name loudly. Xue Chenjing ignored them, showing no emotion.


    "A demon is still a demon. Selfish, cold-blooded, how could it understand the bonds of flesh and blood?" Lady Lotus watched the scene unfold, giving a coldugh, as her lotus flowers shot out from her arms, hovering in the air, forming a deadly battle formation.


    Under the formation, spiritual threads weave through, and righteous cultivators lurking in the main courtyard reveal themselves, while the formations arranged in the courtyard alsoe to light.


    Xue Chenjing stood at the center of the intersecting forces, his clothes and hair fluttering, the red ribbon on his head dancing in the air. Even the breeze brushing against him carried the intent to cut flesh and bone.


    He immediately severed his sensory sharing with Yu Yi.


    Outside, shadows intertwined, the light of spells illuminating the entire courtyard as if it were daylight. Xue Xingzhi''s knocking was drowned out by the whistling of swords and des.


    The exquisitelyid out pavilions and terraces of the Xue family copsed in the fight, the ground trembling incessantly.


    The two mortals were as insignificant as ants in this grand battle between righteous and evil. No one heard their cries or shouts, nor did anyone care what they said.


    Their only use here was to serve as a prison, using their thoughts of Xue Chenjing to trap him in this Human Thought Boundary. No matter how powerful the demon was, or how many monsters he could summon, the righteous cultivators would sacrifice themselves, employing a wheel battle strategy to wear him down and kill him within this boundary.


    To ensure the Human Thought Boundary remained intact, the righteous sect disciples protected Xue''s parents well, keeping them safe from the fighting. With the contract in ce, there was no need to worry about the demon''s monsters harming them.


    Almost all the surrounding buildings had copsed, but the hall where Xue''s parents were remained untouched, the candles inside still burning.


    Two monks appeared in the room, one on each side, guarding them.


    Xue Xingzhi pressed against the door, peering through the carved patterns on the doorframe. A mortal''s eyes couldn''t see the shing magical tools and spiritual threads, only the explosions of light and the blood-soaked figure within.


    He rubbed his blurry eyes, finally seeing clearly who the person bent over coughing up blood was. He grew anxious, wanting to break through the door, but was pulled back forcefully by the monk beside him, who reprimanded, "Don''t move around. Outside, formations abound. A mortal like you, stepping out of this door, would immediately be reduced to ashes."


    Xue Xingzhi grabbed the monk''s sleeve, anxiously saying, "Immortal, then tell me, what are you doing? Lady Lotus clearly promised us she would help us find our son, let us be reunited as a family!"


    These two monks wore indigo robes with cloud patterns on their sleeves, identifying them as Yun Family monks.


    Yun Zhu tugged his sleeve back, his expression cold, "Look outside. Is that your son? Your son was long devoured by demons. The one outside is a demon."


    "No, no!" Wei Tinn shouted, "He''s not a demon. He... he''s just a bit different from ordinary people, but he''s not a demon. He''s human, our son."


    ¡°Madam, since you can''t see, I won''t argue with you,¡± Yun Zhu turned to Xue Xingzhi, ¡°But Mr. Xue, you can see. Look closely. The terrifying, monstrous demons emerging from him, are they human?¡±


    Xue Xingzhi, guided by his words, unconsciously turned his gaze back, peering through the carved patterns on the door.


    Perhaps it was nearing dawn, as the morning light fell, this time he could see much more clearly. He clearly saw the grotesque monsters tearing through the ck mist around Xue Chenjing, brandishing ws and fighting with the cultivators.


    His robes billowed, something writhing in his sleeves, its shape faintly outlined by the light. It was soft, flexible, much like the tentacles of an octopus.


    However, the tentacles dancing around Xue Chenjing were muchrger than he had ever seen before, enormous, gleaming with golden light. A single tentacle could smash a cultivator''s spiritual sword, break through their protective spiritual power, and crush them into bloody pulp.


    This wasn''t the first time Xue Xingzhi had seen them.


    When ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Xue Chenjing was still young, Xue Xingzhi had already seen those things on him.


    Back then, Xue Chenjing couldn''t control these tentacles very well, often letting them slip out from beneath his clothes. They were transparent and invisible to ordinary people, but he would frequently trip over them, leading others to believe the house was haunted. They even invited many Taoist priests to exorcise the ghosts.


    Later, during one of Xue Chenjing''s fevers, his entire body turned crimson, and the tentacles that emerged from the air were also red-hot, finally allowing them to see what these things really looked like.


    Xue Xingzhi and his wife were terrified and panicked, spending a fortune to find genuine Taoist masters to deal with the strange presence on their son. After that, they never saw those things on him again, and they thought the problem had been resolved.


    Xue Xingzhi leaned wearily against the doorframe. Wei Tinn, not hearing him speak, tugged at his sleeve and repeatedly asked, "What did you see? Tell me."


    "Transparent feet, the things that once attached themselves to our son," Xue Xingzhi replied, afraid of frightening her and not borating further.


    Wei Tinn fell silent for a moment, as if recalling what he meant by "fleshly feet." She murmured, "That''s him. He really is different. He had these when he was young, and he still has them now. It means the person outside is indeed him¡ªour son."


    As she spoke, she grew excited and began to pry at the door, wanting to open it and go out. "Let me out! I''m not afraid of him. Let me see him!"


    The two Yun Family cultivators found her actions amusing. The door was warded, so they weren''t worried about her forcing it open, but her shouting was rather annoying.


    "Mr. Xue, it seems your wife has gone mad with longing for her son. She''s willing to ept even a demon as her child. Madam is delicate, so you''d better control her to avoid hurting herself."


    Wei Tinn''s hands were already burned, and as she scraped them against the door''s patterns, they bled, leaving streaks of blood on the door.


    Seeing this, Xue Xingzhi quickly embraced her and pulled her away from the door, whispering soothingly in her ear, "Calm down, my dear. Let me think of a way. Let me handle this."


    Wei Tinn leaned against him, muttering, "He''s our son. We made a mistake once, and we can''t make another. It''s all my fault. It''s my fault for always nagging him about having a brother. That''s why he left. I was wrong. I don''t have Mingyuan anymore..."


    Xue Xingzhi patted her back, his forehead beading with sweat. He turned to the two cultivators and pleaded, "You can see how unstable my wife''s emotions are. Staying here will only worsen her condition. Could you let us leave and change locations?"


    "No," the two cultivators replied in unison. "You can''t go anywhere."


    "Why?" Xue Xingzhi pressed. "If the person outside isn''t our son, staying here will only hinder you in dealing with the demon. Letting us hide in another estate would be fine."


    "No, you must stay here. After dealing with the demon, we''ll send you and your wife back."


    Xue Xingzhi held his wife, who was on the verge of fainting, and angrily said, "My wife has been gued by worries for years, and her health is already fragile. If this continues, she might not survive until you finish dealing with the demon!"


    Yun Zhu stepped forward, bent down to examine Wei Tinn''s condition, and took out a medicinal pill from his sleeve, handing it to Xue Xingzhi. "This pill will help Madam strengthen her body and replenish her energy. Give it to her. Mr. Xue, you can rest assured. Staying here will only aid us in dealing with the demon, not hinder us. My junior brother and I will ensure your safety. You won''te to any harm."


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