Category: Devilish Disciple [Transmigration]

Chapter 48: Go With the Flow, Overthinking Is Useless

Li Yu felt that this world wasn’t very friendly towards her.

She knew so little about it, yet constantly encountered situations where “she” was supposed to know things, like being slapped in the face with facts.

And after being slapped, she couldn’t even react.

After a brief silence, Li Yu took a deep breath and tried to recover. “Actually, I’ve suspected this for a while, but I didn’t think it was possible…”

Xiang Hanyu suddenly realized, “So you were asking those questions to confirm your suspicions?”

“Indeed,” Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Having a high status was convenient; any random statement would be interpreted favorably.

Xiang Hanyu: “Unfortunately, I don’t know much about him either…”

Li Yu: “Don’t blame yourself, he’s very secretive.”

Xiang Hanyu: “Do you really suspect that the black-robed figure is that fallen ancient god?”

Li Yu didn’t answer, just frowned and fell into deep thought.

The black robes, the stellar power, the fallen god, the battle four thousand years ago.

Xiang Hanyu’s words contained a lot of information; she needed to process it.

In her memory, the battle four thousand years ago was just a brief backstory.

Simply put, the Heavenly Demon was revived four thousand years ago.

At that time, the last ancient god protected the world, leading the other immortals and gods to defeat the Heavenly Demon and seal its soul fragment within the Upper Spirit Lamp.

After this battle, the ancient god’s power was completely depleted, his soul nearing its end.

Knowing he could no longer protect the world, he entrusted the Upper Spirit Lamp and a world-protecting artifact to “Li Yu.”

Since then, “Li Yu” had kept the Lamp sealed within Suiqiong Cave on Mount Chao Yao.

None of this mentioned that the Heavenly Demon in that battle was also an ancient god.

But speaking of fallen gods, she remembered the shadow puppet show Qin Yuan had organized.

In that story, an ancient god, driven by resentment, fell into darkness and was ultimately slain by other gods and immortals, his name forever tarnished.

The story didn’t mention the Heavenly Demon, nor when it happened. She had dismissed it as a fictional tale, never imagining it was based on a true story.

In the world of Demon Bone, ancient gods were true gods who survived the brutal primordial war between gods and demons, each one incredibly powerful, always ready to sacrifice themselves for the world.

Now, it seemed Qin Yuan was right; when one’s power reached a certain level, the line between god and demon was indeed thin.

But if the only one who could control stellar energy was the ancient god who became the Heavenly Demon four thousand years ago, then who was the black-robed figure manipulating the resentment in the human realm?

Could it be that the ancient god hadn’t truly died, that he had a contingency plan, waiting for the right moment to return?

That seemed unlikely.

In this novel’s setting, even immortals and gods weren’t immortal.

The reason the ancient gods fell was because of their long lifespans, reaching their limits.

When their lifespan ended, but they were still alive, it was called “burning the candle.”

During this period, their power would gradually fade, and when it was extinguished, their souls would dissipate.

The ancient god in the story, resorting to the Heavenly Demon’s power to avoid this fate, must have been in this “burning the candle” phase.

Now, four thousand years later, even if he hadn’t truly died and had a contingency plan, it seemed impossible for him to survive with his injuries, avoid detection, endure the “burning candle” phase, and still have the energy to cause trouble.

If that were true, this ancient god would be so powerful that even the other fallen gods would be astonished.

However, nothing was impossible.

Logically, the black-robed figure couldn’t be that ancient god.

But this was a novel; if the author wanted it to be true, they could simply make it so.

So, he both couldn’t be and could be that ancient god.

This was too much!

She couldn’t think about it anymore; it was giving her a headache!

Li Yu closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Go with the flow, overthinking is useless.

What was destined to happen would happen; what she tried to avoid might be unavoidable.

There was a saying, “A road will appear when the cart reaches the mountain, a boat will find its way when it reaches the bridge.”

It was just an NPC, why obsess over his identity?

As the main storyline progressed, she would eventually find out, wouldn’t she?

Thinking this, she pushed all those puzzling thoughts aside.

As she opened her eyes, she met Mu Tao’s worried gaze.

Li Yu couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

Mu Tao: “Master seems troubled, yet I can’t do anything to help.”

Li Yu was momentarily speechless, unsure how to comfort her.

She had thought Mu Tao was afraid, afraid of the black-robed figure, afraid of not being able to retrieve the Upper Spirit Lamp, afraid of the Heavenly Demon’s revival and Mount Chao Yao being held accountable.

If that were the case, she could offer reassurance, but now, she didn’t know what to say.

After a long silence, Li Yu gently took Mu Tao’s cold hands in hers. “You are helping me.”

Mu Tao: “…Huh?”

Li Yu: “Just being by my side, facing these things with me, is helping me.”

Mu Tao’s eyes widened. “Really?”

Li Yu smiled and nodded.

She wasn’t just saying this to appease her; she meant it.

Mu Tao always felt inadequate, unable to contribute, especially now that she wasn’t needed for finding the Upper Spirit Lamp. She was probably starting to feel useless again.

But Li Yu never saw her as a burden.

Initially, forced into this role, her mind had been consumed by character compatibility.

Only after the City of the Undying incident did she start appreciating this world.

This world wasn’t so bad, the mountains, the water, the people around her, they were all good.

But the best part was undoubtedly Mu Tao.

Mu Tao was the source of her security in this world.

As long as Mu Tao was by her side, she felt protected by the protagonist’s halo, fearless.

Without Mu Tao, she wouldn’t want to continue this main storyline.

If, initially, she had only been trying to appease Mu Tao for survival,

Now, she genuinely liked Mu Tao more and more.

She enjoyed the little girl’s constant companionship, her cooking, her sweet greetings, and the feeling of being needed.

In this chaotic world, she had once been completely powerless, yet this little girl trusted her, cared for her, valued her, and always prioritized her well-being.

Wasn’t it natural to like such an adorable, devoted girl?

As Li Yu was lost in these thoughts, Mu Tao snuggled into her arms.

Li Yu smiled and gently stroked Mu Tao’s hair.

Perhaps not having slept well the previous night, Mu Tao quickly closed her eyes in her arms.

Xiang Hanyu watched them, lost in thought.

Time passed, the little girl in her arms dozing and waking, shifting positions.

Just as Li Yu was starting to feel sleepy, Xiang Hanyu suddenly stood up. Li Yu stifled a yawn, her slightly teary eyes staring at her.

“Someone is coming,” Xiang Hanyu said, transforming into a grayish-brown bird and flying away.

Mu Tao, hearing the movement, woke up groggily, rubbing her eyes.

Seeing her messy hair, Li Yu instinctively smoothed it out.

Soon, Xiang Hanyu returned.

The little bird flapped its wings excitedly. “Human cultivators! Exalted God, can we leave now?”

Li Yu nodded and helped the sleepy Mu Tao stand up.

She glanced at the resentment in the sky, seeing that it was no longer as intense, and summoned the crane.

The crane seemed more stable than before; it seemed they wouldn’t have to walk back. Li Yu was relieved.

Although Xiang Hanyu was eager to leave, Li Yu waited.

After months of absence, the imperial cultivators returned to the City of the Undying.

They saw the shattered altar and the remnants of the formation.

They brushed away the deep snow, seemingly searching for the remains of their fallen comrade, but found nothing.

“The resentment here is too strong, it devours everything.” The grayish-brown bird said in a low voice, its eyes unfocused. “Without spiritual energy protection, nothing remains after ten days.”

Li Yu frowned and sighed softly.

So that’s why they hadn’t found any bodies when they arrived.

It didn’t matter.

At least this time, the souls of the deceased weren’t trapped here anymore.

“Let’s go,” Li Yu said softly, no longer lingering.

Weisheng Xuanzhu had said that the human realm had its own tribulations.

Si Qinglan had also said that even with the power of an ancient god, one couldn’t save everyone.

She told herself that the City of the Undying incident, though influenced by the black-robed figure, ultimately stemmed from human resentment.

Now, after three hundred years, the Huai cultivators had finally returned. They should handle the rest themselves.

She had more important matters to attend to.

Now, it was time to go to Lingzhou.

The little bird was already waiting impatiently.

Chapter 47: “How Much Longer Can She Hold On?”

Xiang Hanyu didn’t want to leave Lingzhou anymore; she wanted to stay by Yan Buqiu’s side.

Yan Buqiu promised to endure the Heavenly Tribulation with her every hundred years.

She seemed happy but couldn’t help but shake her head.

Tears welled up in her eyes. She didn’t respond to the promise, just silently vowed to become stronger.

She didn’t want Yan Buqiu to be injured for her sake every time.

“Then what happened?” Mu Tao hugged her knees tighter, resting her chin on them, her large eyes filled with curiosity and concern. “Why is she sick?”

“…” Xiang Hanyu remained silent, her gaze fixed on the distant resentment.

After a long moment, she lowered her gaze and spoke again, a bitter smile on her face.

She said that she had always strived to become stronger.

In the past, it was to prove she was stronger than Yan Buqiu; later, it was to lessen Yan Buqiu’s burden during the Heavenly Tribulation.

She cultivated defensive techniques, hoping that during the next tribulation, she could stand firm like Yan Buqiu had that night, unyielding even against the heavens’ might.

Mu Tao: “Did you succeed?”

“Almost,” Xiang Hanyu smiled faintly, but there was no joy in her eyes.

She said she was almost there.

During the second Heavenly Tribulation after her return to Lingzhou, Yan Buqiu endured nine bolts of lightning for her.

And during the third, only three.

She thought that during the next one, Yan Buqiu wouldn’t have to be injured for her anymore.

Even if she couldn’t achieve immortality, as long as she could endure the tribulation herself, she could stay by Yan Buqiu’s side forever.

Xiang Hanyu’s hopes were high, but during those three hundred years, the resentment in the human realm deepened, and Lingzhou, not entirely isolated from the world, was inevitably affected.

“It’s this city, this resentment…” Xiang Hanyu said softly. “It changed everything.”

When resentment intensified, demonic calamities became rampant, and humans weakened.

This was supposed to be a good thing for demons, so what was there to fear?

If a demon didn’t want to harm humans, they could simply retreat to the mountains and live in seclusion.

But Yan Buqiu wouldn’t run.

She had been protecting Lingzhou even before achieving immortality, and now, after becoming an immortal, worshipped by generations of Lingzhou’s people for nearly a thousand years,

She couldn’t abandon them.

As the resentment in the human realm deepened, a strange bird with a rat-like tail, called a Jie Gou, arrived in Lingzhou.

That year, a plague swept through Lingzhou.

The plague was brought by the Jie Gou, which spread its poisonous spiritual energy, devouring the life force of the infected and the blood of the dead to strengthen its cultivation.

“Such a monstrous creature exists!” Mu Tao gasped.

“The Jie Gou is incredibly cunning. Buqiu and I searched for it countless times, but it always escaped.” Xiang Hanyu’s expression turned serious. “With the plague spreading, Lingzhou was filled with its hiding places; we couldn’t track it with its spiritual aura.”

Within months, the desolate mountains outside the city were filled with the bodies of plague victims.

The infected were gradually gathered in one place.

Abandoned by their families, or unwilling to infect them, they went to the south of the city, awaiting death in pain and hunger.

The people of Lingzhou prayed for the Silver Bamboo Immortal to save them.

Yan Buqiu finally made a decision.

“She said she couldn’t wait any longer.” Xiang Hanyu traced a bamboo stalk in the red snow with her finger. “She was always like this, wanting to help everyone…”

Yan Buqiu wanted to protect Lingzhou, as she had for millennia, shielding it from demons.

So, she risked Heavenly Tribulation, expending a significant amount of her spiritual energy and cultivation, using the Soul Searching Technique to cover the entire Lingzhou, finally finding the Jie Gou.

As the sky changed color, rain and lightning descended.

Bolts of lightning struck her, but her eyes were fixed on the escaping Jie Gou.

Yan Buqiu, who had always used her power for protection, now used it to kill for the first time in millennia.

Amidst the storm, she destroyed the Jie Gou’s demon core.

The plague’s poison dissipated with the Jie Gou’s death.

But before dying, the Jie Gou used its last bit of strength to attack her.

Weakened by the Heavenly Tribulation and the Jie Gou’s counterattack, she couldn’t defend herself.

The moment the poison entered her body, her immortal energy vanished.

The immortal who once protected Lingzhou was now seen as a plague-bearing demon.

That day, Xiang Hanyu carried Yan Buqiu, enduring the Heavenly Tribulation, escaping the terrified gazes of the people.

This was the first time she endured Heavenly Tribulation for Yan Buqiu.

The tribulation for violating the heavens’ laws was far more painful than the tribulation demons faced to extend their lives.

She flew for a long time, until the rain stopped and the sky cleared, before finally collapsing, exhausted, in the cold wilderness with the unconscious Yan Buqiu in her arms.

But soon after, a group of cultivators from an unknown sect appeared.

They tracked the poisonous aura and, without understanding the situation, attacked them as demons spreading the plague.

Xiang Hanyu couldn’t remember how they escaped back to the mountains.

She only remembered that she couldn’t fly anymore, that she carried Yan Buqiu, running, both of them injured again and again by the pursuing cultivators.

Finally, they reached the familiar mountain forest, and the spirits there, alerted to their plight, intercepted the cultivators.

She finally brought her back to the peaceful sanctuary.

But the peace was shattered.

Yan Buqiu was sick. The Heavenly Tribulation had crippled her cultivation, and the Jie Gou’s poison had stripped her of her immortal power.

The cultivators’ relentless pursuit had cost her the best chance to detoxify.

The poison had seeped into her soul, damaging her spiritual root, her condition worsening day by day.

Initially, the mountain spirits tried to sustain her by transferring their demonic energy.

But gradually, even that became ineffective.

Her senses began to fade, and the poison within her spiraled out of control.

The mountain forest they grew up in became a toxic wasteland, filled with miasma, forcing more and more spirits to flee. Even the people of Lingzhou feared the place.

Xiang Hanyu chuckled coldly. “She saved Lingzhou, but now, there’s not even a temple for her.”

“Sometimes, I really resent her, why did she have to protect those ungrateful humans?”

“When she protected them, they worshipped her as an immortal. When she could no longer protect them, they saw her as a demon. She suffered so much for them, yet when I asked if she resented them, she said there was nothing to resent…”

Yan Buqiu had nothing to resent; she said it was the path she chose, and she had already anticipated the worst possible outcome.

If she hadn’t been able to accept that, she wouldn’t have chosen this path.

As for the people of Lingzhou, their fear was understandable.

She was now the source of the plague, and even the weaker spirits in the mountains had to flee, let alone ordinary humans, vulnerable to the poison.

“But…”

“There’s no rule that says just because you protect someone, they have to be eternally grateful, even if you end up harming them.” Yan Buqiu smiled nonchalantly. “If it were me, I wouldn’t just accept it either. No one is that foolish; they would naturally avoid danger…”

“…I wouldn’t.”

“That’s because you’re foolish.”

Yan Buqiu’s voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, as if a gentle breeze could carry it away.

Her eyes were unfocused; her fading senses blurred her vision; perhaps she could only see shadows now.

Yet, she still managed to smile.

And not just smile, but also call someone else foolish.

Xiang Hanyu didn’t know whether to be angry or not.

She was silent for a long time, not knowing what to say.

That winter was incredibly cold; snow blanketed the entire mountain forest.

Yan Buqiu, having lost her immortal power, usually couldn’t withstand such harsh winters, but this year, although her face was flushed from the cold, she didn’t even shiver.

Yan Buqiu also noticed this.

Her body was weakening, but she could no longer feel it.

Her remaining spiritual energy was fading, like an unhealing wound, continuously bleeding, slowly, gradually, unstoppable, irreplaceable, even external replenishment was ineffective.

When the wound finally drained her dry, her life would end.

She looked out at the snow-covered forest, unsure if she could still see the birds flying among the trees.

She must be thinking about how long she had endured, Xiang Hanyu thought.

After a moment of reflection, Yan Buqiu asked softly, “The next Heavenly Tribulation is in forty-something years, right?”

Xiang Hanyu: “Why are you asking? I don’t need your help anymore.”

Yan Buqiu: “Mm.”

She replied softly, a thoughtful look on her face.

Xiang Hanyu closed the window and crouched down, taking Yan Buqiu’s icy cold hands in hers.

She transferred her demonic energy, hoping to offer some warmth.

The silence was so profound that she almost thought Yan Buqiu had fallen asleep.

But she hadn’t. After a long moment, she whispered,

Yan Buqiu: “Hanyu, I can’t stay with you much longer.”

Xiang Hanyu: “…”

She knew, she had always known.

But why did Yan Buqiu have to say it out loud?

She had been trying so hard to deceive herself, pretending that this could continue, pretending that this year was no different from last year.

Yan Buqiu was just a little weaker than before; there was nothing wrong with that.

A little weaker, and she wouldn’t overexert herself.

A little weaker, and it would be Xiang Hanyu’s turn to protect her.

The mountain forest was quiet now, the spirits who couldn’t adapt to the poison had left, only those who accepted them remained.

This was good, she wished it could last forever.

She wished…

…she would never lose her.

But they both knew this peace wouldn’t last.

Xiang Hanyu fell silent, her empty gaze fixed on the pale red snow.

Mu Tao hesitated several times, unable to find any words of comfort.

Li Yu sighed softly, just as she had months ago, witnessing the tragedy of the southern kingdom.

She knew she was just an observer, unable to change the past.

If she could help, as long as it didn’t interfere with retrieving the Upper Spirit Lamp, she would do so without hesitation.

But before breaking the formation, she had said she needed to assess the cost, that she might have to deal with her own matters first.

Xiang Hanyu clearly didn’t accept this condition, which was why she had revealed so much, hoping to sway Li Yu, to make her prioritize saving Yan Buqiu.

Li Yu understood.

After all, the black-robed figure’s power was unfathomable. If she were Xiang Hanyu, she would also be worried that her only hope might be unable to help after dealing with him.

Xiang Hanyu’s desperation implied that saving Yan Buqiu would require a significant amount of spiritual energy.

If she helped Xiang Hanyu first, she might not have enough strength left to confront the black-robed figure.

Li Yu hesitated.

Xiang Hanyu spoke again, her voice soft.

“I know…the reason this place is like this is because of what the black-robed figure did three hundred years ago.”

“Buqiu would sacrifice herself to protect others.” Her voice was filled with bitterness. “I have no excuse for stealing the Upper Spirit Lamp for someone who wants to revive the Heavenly Demon and bring chaos to the Three Realms.”

A deep sense of helplessness washed over Xiang Hanyu, threatening to crush her spirit.

“But…it has been over twenty years; she can’t hold on much longer, and I can’t do anything to help.” Her eyes reddened, her voice barely a whisper. “Then, at that moment, the black-robed figure told me that Buqiu could still be saved, as long as I obeyed him…”

Li Yu: “…”

“I know, he was the one who caused all of this. I also know that he didn’t approach me out of kindness or guilt, but just to use me…” Xiang Hanyu forced a smile. “But I still wanted to try.”

She just wanted to try, even if there was only a sliver of hope.

So she brought all her fellow Winged Clan members who were willing to follow her and came here with the black-robed figure, helping him create this formation, regardless of the consequences.

As the resentment in the human realm intensified, the black-robed figure gathered demons who reveled in chaos.

It was these demons who helped her steal the Upper Spirit Lamp.

Before going to Mount Chao Yao, the black-robed figure taught her a formation and gave her the power to activate it.

He promised that if she brought him the Upper Spirit Lamp, he would give her the power to heal Yan Buqiu.

But he lied…

She brought him the Lamp, but she received nothing.

It made sense; someone who wanted to revive the Heavenly Demon wouldn’t waste his power on empty promises.

“To make me work for him, that black-robed figure once transferred his spiritual energy to Buqiu. His spiritual energy is different from that of other demons; it can flow into her damaged spiritual root!” A flicker of hope appeared in Xiang Hanyu’s eyes.

“He avoids the heavens’ notice, so he must be an immortal or a god!” She looked at Li Yu pleadingly. “Demonic energy can’t replenish Buqiu’s spiritual root, but immortal or divine energy can! And if it can replenish it, it should also be able to repair it…”

Li Yu: “…”

Xiang Hanyu: “Exalted Immortal Li Yu, please, I beg you, save her!”

Li Yu: “…”

Xiang Hanyu: “I know, you’re a born god, the only Exalted God in the human realm now. If you’re willing, you can definitely save her!”

Li Yu: “…”

Xiang Hanyu suddenly stood up, took two steps forward, and knelt before Li Yu, kowtowing in the cold snow.

Li Yu: “You…”

Xiang Hanyu: “As long as you’re willing to help, I’m willing to serve you for the rest of my life!”

Mu Tao hesitantly stood up and tried to help Xiang Hanyu up.

But Xiang Hanyu shook her head resolutely and kowtowed again.

Li Yu frowned and said in a low voice, “Xiang Hanyu, I promise you, I will do my best to help, but the matter of the Upper Spirit Lamp concerns the safety of the human realm, and I must prioritize it.”

Xiang Hanyu: “But…”

Li Yu: “How much longer can she hold on?”

Xiang Hanyu: “She won’t survive this winter.”

Li Yu: “…”

“Exalted God, even if you can’t save her now, can you just come with me to Lingzhou? Just a little bit of your spiritual energy, to help her hold on a little longer, please?” Xiang Hanyu’s eyes were red as she kowtowed again.

She said she was willing to compromise, just a little spiritual energy was enough.

She knew where the Upper Spirit Lamp was. As long as Yan Buqiu could survive this winter, she would take them to it and help them retrieve it.

“She’s dying, she really can’t hold on much longer…”

She muttered, her voice trembling.

Her hands, pressed against the red snow, clenched tightly, as if desperately trying to hold onto something.

Li Yu couldn’t bear it and helped her up.

Perhaps she should go to Lingzhou first. If they flew, it wouldn’t take long.

If everything Xiang Hanyu said was true, and Yan Buqiu was truly a kind and virtuous person, she shouldn’t die like this.

If it only required a small amount of spiritual energy, it wasn’t a big loss, just a small act of kindness, and they would gain an ally. It was a win-win situation.

Seeing that the system didn’t object, Li Yu felt slightly reassured.

“I’ll go with you,” Li Yu said, looking into Xiang Hanyu’s tear-filled eyes, her tone solemn. “I’ll give her some spiritual energy to prolong her life, and after the Upper Spirit Lamp is returned to Mount Chao Yao, I will come back and heal her spiritual root, I promise!”

Xiang Hanyu’s eyes reddened, and she was about to kneel again when Mu Tao quickly stopped her.

“Don’t kneel, my Master doesn’t like that,” she said, glancing at Li Yu.

Li Yu nodded, sighing softly.

Her little disciple understood her; she really didn’t like people kneeling, it felt…inauspicious.

Although as an immortal, such things shouldn’t matter to her, she was still a modern person who felt uncomfortable with such grand gestures.

It was difficult to tell day from night in the City of the Undying. To prevent the black-robed figure from tampering with the formation again, they had to wait for the human cultivators to arrive before leaving.

Mu Tao helped Xiang Hanyu sit down. Xiang Hanyu wiped away her tears, seeming calmer now.

They sat in silence on the red snow.

The boundless resentment above, like a calm sea suddenly whipped into a frenzy, churned and roiled.

But this silence couldn’t last.

Li Yu, unable to stand it, finally broke the silence.

Li Yu: “Did the black-robed figure approach you himself?”

Her question was abrupt but appropriate in this situation.

“Yes,” Xiang Hanyu replied quickly.

Li Yu asked again, “Did you see his face clearly, or hear his voice?”

Xiang Hanyu shook her head. “He seemed to have no face; I could only see a starry sky. His voice was strange, not human, but I could understand what he was saying.”

Just like what she had seen in the memory fragment.

Xiang Hanyu must have interacted with the black-robed figure quite a bit; surely she noticed something else.

Li Yu: “Was there anything…unusual about him?”

Xiang Hanyu frowned, thought for a moment, and shook her head again. “No, just the black robes, no accessories.”

“This guy, besides the black robes and the stellar energy, has no face and no voice…” Mu Tao muttered, tilting her head. “Who is he? Why is he so secretive?”

“Indeed, he rarely acts directly, but I can tell that his power far surpasses mine and Buqiu’s. He’s no ordinary immortal.” A puzzled look appeared in Xiang Hanyu’s eyes. “But I’ve traveled the human realm for a long time, heard many stories about immortals and gods, and the only one I know who can control the power of the stars is…”

Mu Tao: “Then wouldn’t that narrow it down?”

Xiang Hanyu: “No.”

Mu Tao: “Why not? Isn’t there only one?”

Xiang Hanyu: “But that person…no longer exists in the Three Realms.”

Mu Tao blinked, stunned into silence.

Li Yu couldn’t help but ask, “Who?”

Xiang Hanyu looked surprised. “The ancient god who absorbed the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed four thousand years ago and fell into darkness.”

She then asked, “Didn’t you also participate in that battle, Exalted Immortal Li Yu?”

Li Yu: “…”

Chapter 46: Was This a Yuri Situation? 

The woman’s voice softened, her tone conveying both gentleness and firmness, a sincerity that couldn’t be mistaken.

“Save someone…” The wariness in Mu Tao’s eyes lessened. She looked at Li Yu, then stepped forward, stood before Li Yu, and looked at the woman, frowning slightly. “If you can break this formation, you must be very powerful! What kind of danger is this person you want to save in? If even you can’t save them, wouldn’t asking my master be even more dangerous than breaking this formation?”

Indeed, if this woman could break the formation, her request couldn’t be simple.

Help with the formation was welcome, but if it led to more trouble and delayed them further, retrieving the Upper Spirit Lamp would be more difficult.

“You misunderstand, little sister. The person I want to save isn’t in grave danger. Your master doesn’t need to risk anything, just expend some spiritual energy.” The woman said softly, a hint of helplessness in her dark brown eyes. “The person I want to save…she’s sick, very sick, and no one in the mortal realm can cure her.”

Mu Tao blinked and looked at Li Yu, saying nothing.

Li Yu lowered her gaze, not answering immediately.

Healing wasn’t her forte.

Should she recommend the ever-so-capable Si Qinglan?

No, that wouldn’t be good…

Si Qinglan was already weak; she shouldn’t burden her further. She needed to rest.

This woman claimed that it wouldn’t be dangerous, just a bit of spiritual energy expenditure. It sounded simple, perhaps like powering the formation earlier, just acting as a charger.

If that were the case, it was a good deal.

But she didn’t know how much spiritual energy it would require, and whether she would have enough left to search for the Upper Spirit Lamp.

Retrieving the Lamp was her priority; she had to conserve her strength before confronting the black-robed figure.

Although she needed this woman’s help, the woman was the one asking for a favor.

So, this deal didn’t have to be fair.

Li Yu said tentatively, “If it only requires spiritual energy, I can help, but you must first break this formation for me.”

“Certainly,” the demon woman readily agreed.

“But I have other urgent matters to attend to and cannot expend too much spiritual energy before resolving them.” Li Yu said calmly. “After you break the formation, tell me who this person is, why no one in the mortal realm can save them, and what I need to do. I will then assess the cost.”

Li Yu observed the demon woman’s expression, and seeing no change, continued, “If the cost is too high, I’ll have to fulfill my own obligations before fulfilling our agreement.”

The demon woman smiled faintly. “Are you referring to the theft of the Upper Spirit Lamp, Exalted Immortal Li Yu?”

Li Yu’s expression changed instantly.

She now understood why this woman had suddenly appeared.

She should have realized earlier, a demon appearing in this place, knowing her identity, couldn’t be unrelated to the main storyline.

And if it was related to the main storyline, she had to take it seriously.

“It seems you know quite a bit.” Li Yu chuckled coldly. “I’m curious, does the matter of the Upper Spirit Lamp have anything to do with you?”

“Yes,” the demon woman replied without hesitation, her smile unwavering.

Her straightforward admission left Li Yu momentarily speechless.

The woman walked lightly towards the edge of the formation, her feet barely disturbing the red snow, and crouched down, gently touching one of the stones.

After a moment of silence, she looked up at Li Yu and said with a smile, “I was the one who stole the Upper Spirit Lamp, and I was also present when this formation was created.”

“…”

“I know how to break it, and I know where the Upper Spirit Lamp is. If you want to know who is behind all this, I can tell you.” She smiled playfully and winked at Li Yu. “As long as you’re willing to help me, I’ll do anything, and I’ll tell you everything.”

“That sounds like a trap!” Mu Tao couldn’t help but interject.

“I’m just a demon, unable to achieve immortality. How would I dare deceive an Exalted Immortal?” The demon woman frowned slightly and said softly, “I just want to save someone. If I can restore her to her former state, I’m willing to serve you for the rest of my life, without complaint.”

She remained crouched on the ground, looking up at them submissively.

Li Yu was silent, staring at the woman, trying to discern her true motives.

The demon woman sighed, stood up, and brushed the snow off her clothes.

“It’s understandable that you don’t trust me.” She smiled faintly. “In that case, allow me to show you my sincerity.”

She took a few steps back, her expression suddenly turning serious.

Li Yu pulled Mu Tao back with her.

The demon woman raised her hands, her slender fingers swiftly forming a complex hand seal.

Black, mist-like demonic energy emanated from her fingertips. A gust of wind swept through the area, and the surrounding resentment churned chaotically.

Li Yu frowned and conjured a protective barrier around herself and Mu Tao.

The ground trembled slightly as the black mist enveloped the formation.

After a few seconds of charging, a loud boom echoed, and the altar at the center of the formation shattered into dust.

The stones forming the formation exploded outwards, and the stellar energy within transformed into flickering sparks, swallowed by the surging resentment.

The black mist dissipated. The demon woman lowered her hands, beads of sweat on her forehead, her lips slightly pale.

“The formation is broken. Although the resentment is still strong, it won’t harm cultivators above Sixth-rank.” Her voice was weak.

She looked up at Li Yu, a smile on her face. “Do you believe me now, Exalted Immortal Li Yu?”

“You were present when the formation was created. You know how to break it, which means you also know how to create it.” Li Yu dispelled her protective barrier and said in a low voice, “How do I know this isn’t a trap you and the black-robed figure planned together?”

“You’re right, creating this formation isn’t difficult, but such a large formation still takes time.” The demon woman sighed softly. “You can send a message butterfly now and ask those human cultivators to come and guard this place. Then who would dare tamper with it?”

Mu Tao retorted, “That’s not necessarily true. That black-robed figure is very powerful. He might just kill everyone!”

The demon woman chuckled. “He won’t.”

Mu Tao: “You sound so certain, as if you have an agreement with him.”

Demon Woman: “I have no agreement with him, but I know that as long as someone is guarding this place, he won’t act again.”

Mu Tao frowned, confused, and looked at Li Yu.

Demon Woman: “Don’t you understand, little sister?”

Mu Tao: “…”

The demon woman smiled. “That person is incredibly powerful. Just a sliver of his power left here was enough to kill an Eighth-rank imperial cultivator. Why do you think he always hides in the shadows, manipulating others?”

Li Yu frowned.

The demon woman’s words made her realize something.

The black-robed figure was so powerful, yet he always hid, using others, not even leaving behind much of his power for such an important formation.

It didn’t make sense, unless…he was also an immortal or a god.

If he was, then his indirect approach was to avoid the heavens’ punishment.

Bound by the laws of heaven, he couldn’t directly harm humans. As long as human cultivators were present, he couldn’t act so openly.

Resentment was important to him.

Although the human realm was vast, there wouldn’t be another place like the City of the Undying with such concentrated resentment anytime soon.

This demon woman, not only daring to break the formation, but also suggesting that human cultivators guard the city, clearly wasn’t afraid of offending the black-robed figure.

But did that make her trustworthy?

Li Yu pondered for a moment, then asked, “That black-robed figure is quite capable, even breaking into Suiqiong Cave on Mount Chao Yao. You’ve done so much for him, also to save that person, right?”

Demon Woman: “Yes.”

Li Yu: “He couldn’t give you what you wanted?”

Demon Woman: “Yes.”

Li Yu: “Aren’t you afraid of his retaliation?”

The demon woman lowered her gaze.

After a brief silence, she smiled and said, “I am, but there are things…more important than my own safety.”

Her voice was soft, the slight curve of her lips conveying both determination and a deep-seated tenderness.

Li Yu now believed her.

“I’ll trust you, just this once,” she said softly, summoning a spiritual butterfly.

The demon woman looked at the butterfly thoughtfully.

The butterfly flew away, the last of its blue light disappearing from view.

“It will take at least half a day for those outside to arrive.”

Li Yu looked around, then led Mu Tao to a set of steps and sat down.

She glanced at the sea of resentment, sighed, and said to the demon woman, “It’s a long wait; sit down and wait with us.”

The demon woman relaxed and sat down opposite them, hugging her knees.

Li Yu: “What’s your name?”

The demon woman smiled and replied softly, “Xiang Hanyu.”

“Your name sounds…cold,” Mu Tao muttered.

“It’s not cold,” Xiang Hanyu shook her head, not offended, and explained patiently, “Hanyu means ‘winter jade,’ and jade often refers to bamboo. Doesn’t that sound warmer?”

Mu Tao tilted her head and hugged her knees. “Are you a bamboo spirit?”

Xiang Hanyu: “I’m from the Winged Clan.”

Mu Tao: “You’re a bird too!”

Xiang Hanyu looked confused. “Why ‘too’?”

“I know a little black bird, it also worked for that black-robed figure, right here in this city. We recently took it back to Mount Chao Yao.” Mu Tao asked curiously, “Do you know it?”

“I don’t,” Xiang Hanyu said. “I only came here a few months ago.”

Li Yu asked, “Why did you come here?”

Xiang Hanyu: “The black-robed figure brought me here. He said that if I worked for him, he would help me save someone…”

Mu Tao: “But he tricked you?”

Xiang Hanyu: “Sort of.”

“What do you mean, ‘sort of’?” Mu Tao frowned, confused.

Xiang Hanyu nodded and smiled faintly. “He did tell me how to save her, but he couldn’t do it, so I had to find someone else.”

Mu Tao blinked, not quite understanding, and looked at Li Yu.

Li Yu: “Are you sure I can do it?”

Xiang Hanyu bit her lip, sighed softly, and smiled. “I’m not sure, but I have to try.”

There was a hint of bitterness in her smile.

Mu Tao opened her mouth as if to offer comfort but didn’t know what to say.

After a long silence, Li Yu said gently, “We have plenty of time, you can tell me your story slowly.”

Xiang Hanyu bit her lip.

She hugged her knees tighter, her dark brown eyes gazing at the seemingly endless sea of resentment, her thoughts unreadable.

No one urged her. After a long silence, she looked down and said softly,

“Humans have a saying, ‘Good people are rewarded’…It’s a lie.”

Mu Tao opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to agree, but then glanced at Li Yu and closed it.

Li Yu: “…”

Xiang Hanyu looked at the pale red snow, tracing patterns in it with her toes.

She said that it was incredibly difficult for demons to cultivate immortality.

Even if they became powerful demons, even if they reached the age of Heavenly Tribulation, without immortal destiny, they couldn’t ascend to the Heavenly Gate or achieve immortality.

So many demons yearned for immortality, but very few succeeded.

And she happened to know one who had achieved immortality before reaching the age of Heavenly Tribulation.

Xiang Hanyu said that this demon’s name was Yan Buqiu, a bamboo demon who grew up with her in Lingzhou.

Bamboo, neither flexible nor strong, easily felled by a human blade.

The Winged Clan was different; they could fly freely in the sky, going wherever they pleased, unreachable by humans.

Xiang Hanyu had always believed that she would become much stronger than Yan Buqiu.

And she was right.

For a long time, they cultivated together.

She always kept an eye on Yan Buqiu, making sure her own cultivation was always higher.

It wasn’t that she looked down on bamboo, she just couldn’t help but compare.

She wanted to be stronger than Yan Buqiu, always.

A flicker of defiance appeared in Xiang Hanyu’s eyes.

“She was just a bit older than me, awakened her spiritual awareness a few decades earlier, yet she always acted like an elder sister, constantly lecturing me…”

“Even though I was stronger than her, the other demons always sided with her, going to her for help whenever they had problems…”

“She was always meddling, helping both demons and humans, no wonder her cultivation never surpassed mine…”

She traced a bamboo branch in the red snow with her finger.

She said she had thought long and hard but never understood why she wasn’t as good as Yan Buqiu.

Even when Yan Buqiu achieved immortality over a thousand years ago, becoming the only immortal in Lingzhou, she still didn’t understand.

She was both angry and envious.

All the demons in the mountain surrounded Yan Buqiu, their distance widening, so far that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t catch up.

She didn’t know how to face that once weaker bamboo anymore.

Now, she was no longer better than her in any way…

So, she escaped to the human realm, telling herself to stop comparing.

She traveled the human realm for a long time, perhaps five or six hundred years.

She went to many places, performing good deeds like Yan Buqiu, patiently helping those in need.

But she didn’t achieve immortality.

So, eventually, she returned to Lingzhou.

She had reached the age of Heavenly Tribulation, uncertain if she could survive it.

And with the possibility of death looming, she had only one thought.

—Return to Lingzhou and see Yan Buqiu, perhaps it would be her last chance.

When she returned, she saw that the people of Lingzhou had built a temple for the bamboo.

They called her the Silver Bamboo Immortal.

They worshipped her with sincere devotion.

She heard them say that Lingzhou used to be plagued by demons, but ever since the Silver Bamboo Immortal appeared, there hadn’t been any incidents of demons harming humans for centuries.

Even if there were occasional incidents, they were quickly resolved.

As expected, Yan Buqiu was still meddling, just like before.

Xiang Hanyu had thought she would be unhappy, resentful, seeing so many people worshipping that bamboo.

But she actually felt…happy.

Strange, how could she be happy that so many people adored that bamboo?

It wouldn’t have been like this before.

She hadn’t seen her for so long. As she left the human city and flew towards the mountains, she couldn’t help but wonder.

Was Yan Buqiu, now an immortal, still as approachable as before?

Having traveled for so long and still failing to achieve immortality, would Yan Buqiu laugh at her?

Had Yan Buqiu ever thought of her during these past few centuries…?

“Did she ever think of you?” Mu Tao couldn’t help but ask.

“I don’t know,” Xiang Hanyu replied, a smile in her eyes. “I didn’t dare ask, afraid she would laugh at me.”

She didn’t dare ask Yan Buqiu if she had ever thought of her.

And she didn’t dare tell her that no matter where she went all these years, she couldn’t stop thinking about her.

It was too ridiculous…

Even more ridiculous was that before leaving the mountain, she had thought it was unnecessary for demons to have human names. Yan Buqiu always said names were important, but she dismissed it as the bamboo being influenced by humans.

But after leaving, she gave herself a name.

Compared to asking if Yan Buqiu had thought of her, compared to telling her she had always been on her mind, she couldn’t bring herself to tell Yan Buqiu her name.

Mu Tao listened attentively, but Xiang Hanyu was lost in her memories.

After waiting for a while, Mu Tao couldn’t help but ask, “Then what happened?”

“Later…”

Later, Xiang Hanyu faced her first Heavenly Tribulation at three thousand years old.

The pain was excruciating, unlike anything she had ever experienced.

Torrential rain and lightning, like needles, relentlessly struck her wounds.

The wind howled, as if trying to tear her apart.

She was just a small demon bird, not a powerful being. No matter how competitive she was, she would eventually die during the tribulation.

It was so painful; maybe she should just give up…

Mu Tao: “But you survived.”

Xiang Hanyu: “Yes.”

She survived.

Just as she was about to give up, Yan Buqiu appeared before her.

In Xiang Hanyu’s memory, Yan Buqiu was always frail and gentle, never assertive.

She disliked that image; it wasn’t how a bird should be.

But that day, Yan Buqiu stood before her, forming a hand seal in midair, a snow-white light illuminating the stormy night.

Bolts of lightning struck her palm, one after another, as if trying to tear through her protective spiritual energy, but she stood firm, unyielding.

Xiang Hanyu didn’t know how many bolts of lightning Yan Buqiu endured for her, just as her blurry vision couldn’t clearly see her figure in the rain that night.

As the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped, Yan Buqiu turned around, a weary smile on her face, and extended a hand covered in wounds.

Xiang Hanyu stared at that hand for a long moment, then couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”

She had never been kind to her, always competing with her, always trying to prove she was stronger.

Even after returning, she hadn’t shown her any warmth…

Yan Buqiu thought for a moment, then said softly, “You finally came back; I don’t want you to leave again.”

After that, Xiang Hanyu thought for a long time.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, when Yan Buqiu came to tend to her injuries, she grabbed her sleeve.

“Buqiu, I gave myself a name.”

“What is it?”

“Xiang Hanyu!”

“It’s beautiful. Is there any meaning behind it?”

Xiang Hanyu took a deep breath and said softly, “I heard humans say that Buqiu means ‘autumn’s end,’ which refers to bamboo…and Hanyu also refers to bamboo!”

Her tone was earnest.

Her heart had already been swayed, but she hadn’t dared to admit it.

She could never see her own heart clearly.

All those years of competition were just to prove her worth to Yan Buqiu.

She didn’t need to be stronger.

She could simply be…important to her.

But she hadn’t dared to believe that before.

Chapter 45: “Master Having Me Is Enough!” p2

After their meal, Li Yu and Mu Tao found a deserted corner, concealed themselves with a spell, summoned the crane, and flew towards the City of the Undying.

Before they even reached the city, the scenery changed dramatically.

A boundless sea of resentment, as red as blood, hung in the sky, blocking out the sunlight. Although it was still midday, the darkness resembled dusk.

Yet, snow still fell.

Tainted by the resentment, the snow was a pale red, silently blanketing the desolate land.

As the resentment intensified, they finally saw the ruined city.

As expected, an invisible force within the city was drawing in the resentment.

—It wasn’t just spreading outwards; it was also swirling inwards.

The city was no longer just a place of concentrated resentment.

It had become a blood-red vortex, expelling some resentment while drawing in more from the surroundings.

The vortex hovered above the city, like a giant, watchful eye.

Li Yu felt the spiritual crane being affected by the resentment; they were too close to the vortex.

For safety, she and Mu Tao landed and continued on foot, using the speed-enhancing technique.

The snow on the ground was red. Li Yu had been reluctant to step on it, imagining blood staining her feet.

Fortunately, it was just the color that had changed; the texture was the same as ordinary snow. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Mu Tao clutched Li Yu’s wrist tightly, her head lowered, carefully watching her steps.

Perhaps because of the previous incident where she lost her master despite holding onto her sleeve, Mu Tao now called out “Master” softly every few steps, making sure she wasn’t alone.

Li Yu patiently responded each time.

Actually, it wasn’t just patience; she was also afraid of being separated again. These constant confirmations reassured her.

Mu Tao had a good memory; although she had only been here once, she still remembered the location of the altar.

She guided Li Yu, and soon they reached the dilapidated gray stone altar.

Li Yu froze.

She saw the “night” and the “stars” again.

As the cultivator had said, they weren’t in the sky but on the altar.

The altar seemed hollowed out, only a thin outer layer of stone remaining, filled with darkness and stars.

Like a still pool, they rested silently within the altar.

The surrounding resentment, though kept at a distance, still swirled around them.

The stone formation they had created earlier to amplify spiritual energy was now beneath the altar, its position changed.

The pool of darkness and stars was its core.

And it was amplifying the red vortex above the altar, expanding it to cover the entire city.

“How could this be?!” Mu Tao gripped Li Yu’s wrist tightly, shock in her eyes. “Master, we destroyed this formation before we left!”

“…”

“Senior Brother said that if this formation remained and was used by evil forces, it would cause trouble!” Mu Tao’s voice was anxious, as if afraid of being blamed. “I remember clearly, we destroyed it before leaving. Even the little black bird knows!”

“This isn’t a complex formation, just a modified version of a common amplification formation. If someone saw it and memorized the general layout, they could easily reconstruct it with a few tries.” Li Yu gently stroked Mu Tao’s hair. “You did what you could; there’s no need to blame yourselves if someone is using it for evil.”

Mu Tao looked up at the sky worriedly and bit her lip, falling silent.

“Although this formation isn’t difficult to construct, activating it requires considerable effort,” Li Yu said, falling into thought.

Even with her spiritual energy, the formation had only lasted for a short time a few months ago.

Now, with no one guarding it and no continuous infusion of spiritual energy, this small pool of unknown power was enough to keep it running; it must have been modified.

If the black-robed figure possessed such abilities, why hide in the shadows, manipulating others?

Wouldn’t it be faster to act himself?

Like with this formation, if he had been willing to expend more energy, she shuddered to imagine the extent of the resentment’s spread.

Was there a reason for his indirect approach? Did reviving the Heavenly Demon require specific steps?

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.

She decided to stop overthinking it and focus on action.

“Let’s break the formation first,” Li Yu said, walking to the edge of the formation and cautiously conjuring a faint light at her fingertip.

The soft blue light floated towards a nearby stone.

The moment it touched the formation, it vanished without a trace, like a drop of water in a river.

So, it absorbed external spiritual energy.

Mu Tao, also understanding the result of the test, looked at her worriedly. “Master, will breaking this formation harm you?”

Li Yu: “…”

Good question, but she didn’t know the answer.

Since she didn’t, she could only summon the system.

【The system is here.】

Then analyze this formation.

How could she break it, and what would be the price?

【This formation is a modified version of a modified version of a common spiritual energy amplification formation! Although the stellar energy on the altar is its core, it’s not its power source—it has been running on the resentment of the city, drawn in by that stellar energy!】

【After two modifications, this formation can now absorb external power. To break it, the host needs to use a surge of powerful spiritual energy that it cannot instantly absorb, directly targeting the core in a single strike!】

【Friendly reminder: A spell of this magnitude will definitely trigger Heavenly Tribulation. The host must first erect the barrier the system recommended yesterday!】

That didn’t sound easy…

She had thought this was just some residual power left behind by the black-robed figure, easily dealt with, but it turned out to be a rather complex formation.

To break it, she needed to erect a barrier, which would consume a lot of her energy, and then use a powerful spell.

After all that, would she still have the strength to retrieve the Upper Spirit Lamp?

As Li Yu hesitated, a strange voice came from behind her.

“Activating this formation isn’t easy, and neither is destroying it.”

Li Yu frowned and turned around, looking towards the source of the voice.

A woman in thin clothes sat on the crumbling wall.

She held a handful of pale red snow, a faint smile on her face, her bare feet swaying gently along with her skirt.

Her long, black hair was tied back with a simple bamboo twig.

“Who are you?!” Mu Tao asked, her voice filled with suspicion.

Li Yu hadn’t learned how to sense auras, but anyone who could appear here, in this place, and look so calm, couldn’t be ordinary.

Could she be the black-robed figure?

“Don’t look at me like that; I’m not a bad person. I’m here to help you.”

The woman jumped down from the wall.

Her movements were as light as a bird, her feet barely leaving a mark on the snow.

“Exalted Immortal Li Yu, with the laws of heaven in place, using divine power in the human realm will surely harm you, won’t it?” She smiled. “I’m a demon, not bound by the laws of heaven. If you don’t mind, I’m happy to help you break this formation.”

“You?” Li Yu frowned.

What was going on?

A random demon appearing, not only knowing her identity but also offering to help break the formation…

This formation could absorb external power. Did this woman truly have the ability to break it?

“If you doubt my abilities, why not let me try?” The woman took two steps closer, a playful smile on her face. “I’m right here before you; even if I have ulterior motives, what harm can I truly cause?”

Li Yu asked in a low voice, “We are strangers, why are you so kind?”

“Because I have…a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

The woman hesitated, then lowered her gaze. “I want you to…save someone for me.”

Chapter 45: “Master Having Me Is Enough!” p1

As the man stared at her in surprise, Li Yu felt a wave of confusion and a twinge of awkwardness at not recognizing him.

Clearly, Mu Tao remembered him, and he recognized them.

But she couldn’t place his face.

As Li Yu struggled to recall, the man approached their table and bowed respectfully.

“Immortal!” he said, his face full of disbelief. “Didn’t you return to the immortal mountain? Why are you here?”

The confusion in his eyes turned into delight. “Have you returned because you sensed something amiss in the City of the Undying and have come to help us?”

Li Yu suddenly understood.

The man looked to be in his thirties, wearing the light green robes of an imperial cultivator, indicating a rank of Sixth-rank or higher.

The cultivators Zhao Xianchen brought with him were of this level.

Although she couldn’t remember his face, it wasn’t difficult to guess that he was one of Zhao Xianchen’s subordinates.

Feeling slightly guilty, Li Yu gave a noncommittal “mm.”

Sensing something amiss in the human realm was true, but coming to save them…not necessarily.

After all, the Upper Spirit Lamp, containing the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed, had been stolen. No matter what happened in the City of the Undying, preventing the Heavenly Demon’s revival took priority.

She was just here to check on the situation; whether she had the time and energy to help remained to be seen.

Seeing her confirmation, the cultivator was overjoyed. “Thank goodness you’re here! We didn’t know what to do! The City of the Undying is…”

Li Yu: “Sit down and tell me everything.”

The cultivator quickly sat down at the nearest table.

Mu Tao, seeing him sit down, asked curiously, “So what happened in the City of the Undying? Everything was fine when we left.”

“Yes, everything was fine when you left, but soon after, things went wrong!” The cultivator’s eyes were filled with confusion. “Just a few days after Lord Zhao returned to Yanyang, the City of the Undying suddenly…”

He said that no one knew what had happened, only that the seal outside the city suddenly broke, and the accumulated resentment surged outwards.

It tainted plants, corrupted spirits, and almost overnight, consumed over a dozen surrounding towns and villages.

Upon hearing the news, Zhao Xianchen immediately sent someone to Lan City to inform the immortals, but it was too late.

More accurately, it wasn’t just “too late”; it was far too late.

The news traveled slowly, and the journey from Yanyang to Lan City was long.

Despite the messenger’s best efforts, by the time he arrived, the immortals had already been at sea for six days, impossible to catch.

Mu Tao: “Where’s Lord Zhao now?”

This casual question made the cultivator’s expression darken.

He lowered his gaze, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

Li Yu had a bad feeling.

He sighed and continued.

After the incident, Zhao Xianchen brought everyone to the City of the Undying, rescuing as many survivors as possible and trying to contain the spread of resentment.

Later, to investigate the cause of the seal’s breaking, he entered the city with a few others.

The cultivator gripped his sword tightly. “But three days later, only two escaped, severely injured…”

He said that with the formation within the City of the Undying destroyed, even with the heavy resentment, as long as they were prepared, Zhao Xianchen, with his cultivation, shouldn’t have been in any real danger.

But according to the survivors, Zhao Xianchen was killed by a strange power.

A power they had never seen before, emanating from the altar where the summoning formation had been. Zhao Xianchen didn’t even have time to react, instantly consumed.

After that, the imperial court sent another official to take charge.

For months, they had been stationed here, unable to return home, fighting against the resentment-corrupted beings and desperately trying to contain the spread of resentment.

But no matter their efforts, no matter how many sacrificed themselves, they couldn’t stop it.

There wasn’t much sadness in the cultivator’s voice, only exhaustion.

Regardless of who had died, it had been months, and they were still struggling with this unresolved crisis, their own lives uncertain. There was no time for grief.

Li Yu frowned, a mix of emotions swirling within her.

She wasn’t close to Zhao Xianchen, but they had traveled together.

Although she had thought she might never see him again, she never imagined hearing about his death in the City of the Undying.

She wondered if she should tell Qin Yuan.

Even though Qin Yuan had seemingly abandoned her mortal life upon joining Mount Chao Yao, hearing about the death of someone she knew, especially such an unnatural death, would still be difficult.

No, this wasn’t the time for that; she had to understand what had happened in the City of the Undying.

Li Yu asked, “What kind of power was it?”

“The survivors said…they saw a starry sky…” The cultivator’s voice was uncertain. “Not in the heavens, but on the altar.”

“That black-robed figure again!” Mu Tao frowned.

“Black-robed figure?”

“Three hundred years ago, that black-robed figure appeared in the City of the Undying. I can’t believe he’s still there!” Mu Tao looked at Li Yu. “Master, that power wasn’t there when we left. He must have done something after we left!”

“…Mm.”

Indeed, if that power had been there all along, they would have noticed.

The black-robed figure wasn’t just a part of the past; he must have been hiding, waiting for them to leave before unleashing his power on the altar.

It was this power that broke the seal.

She had been curious about his motives.

With the incredibly rare Heavenly Soul Yang Spirit right before him, he had simply instructed a wicked cultivator to use it for a formation.

And when the core component disappeared, he didn’t seem to care, just used a different method, manipulating another desperate soul to become the new core.

Even when they arrived and broke the formation, freeing the trapped souls, he didn’t interfere, only acting after they left.

It seemed all he wanted was resentment.

He wanted a lot of it, enough to fill the human realm.

And when it did, he used the demons to steal the Upper Spirit Lamp from Mount Chao Yao.

This guy must be trying to revive the Heavenly Demon.

Was this in the original story?

She had read the latter half; the Heavenly Demon never appeared.

According to the setting, the Heavenly Demon was the most powerful demon in the world of Demon Bone. If it was revived, how could the little protagonist possibly unite the Three Realms with her demonic army?

Had she stumbled upon a hidden storyline?

Or did this character simply die in the part of the story she had completely forgotten?

If it was the latter, then it wasn’t a problem.

But if it was the former, the subsequent plot would deviate drastically from what she knew.

Regardless of the black-robed figure’s situation, one thing was certain.

To revive the Heavenly Demon, he needed a lot of resentment.

The power he left behind in the City of the Undying might be even more potent than the original formation.

If left unchecked, the resentment in the human realm would continue to grow, and even if she retrieved the Upper Spirit Lamp, with Mount Chao Yao’s weakened state, they might not be able to contain the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed.

Li Yu frowned and took a bite of food, lost in thought.

She had initially planned to just assess the situation and deal with it after retrieving the Lamp.

But now, seeing the growing impact on the human realm, delaying action might come at a greater cost.

Ultimately, the resentment of the City of the Undying and the theft of the Upper Spirit Lamp both pointed to the revival of the Heavenly Demon.

If she couldn’t even handle the power the black-robed figure left behind, how could she possibly retrieve the Lamp from him?

She had to enter the City of the Undying.

The cultivator was still speaking, his words filled with hope for the immortals’ help.

Li Yu listened absently, then sighed and replied, “I will enter the city and investigate.”

“Do you need any assistance, Immortal?” The cultivator was overjoyed. “I can report this to my superior immediately!”

He took out a signal flare, about to light it.

“No need!” Li Yu quickly stopped him. “This…isn’t necessary, don’t alert anyone…”

“Don’t alert anyone!” Mu Tao repeated seriously, like a parrot.

The cultivator froze, then sat back down and asked softly, “You don’t need any help, Immortal?”

Who would refuse help if they could offer it?

But this was clearly beyond the capabilities of human cultivators.

Not to mention the restriction on using divine power in front of mortals, even if these human cultivators weren’t considered mortals by the heavens, their cultivation wasn’t enough to handle the power the black-robed figure left behind.

Zhao Xianchen, a powerful cultivator in the human realm, hadn’t stood a chance.

In that eerie place, she couldn’t guarantee the safety of anyone besides Mu Tao.

The reason she was confident in protecting Mu Tao was because she was the protagonist, with the Demon Bone protecting her. The worst-case scenario was the seal on her Demon Bone breaking, but it wouldn’t be life-threatening.

Li Yu: “I’ll go alone.”

Seeing Mu Tao’s eyes widen in surprise, she quickly added, “My disciple…will be with me. That’s enough.”

Mu Tao sat up straight and nodded at the cultivator. “Master having me is enough!”

The cultivator opened his mouth but couldn’t say anything.

Seeing him awkwardly sitting there, Li Yu told him to find another table and eat his meal.

The man obediently moved, ate silently, and didn’t attempt to call for reinforcements, showing his absolute trust in the “immortal.”

Li Yu sighed inwardly.

She, as this “immortal,” was probably unreliable, but she would try her best.