Category: Mistaken Era

Chapter 70

Qin Lingxiao hadn’t come to fight Xiao Xiao.

He had been forced to betray her last time due to the urgency of the situation.

After returning to the Soaring Cloud Pavilion, he had confronted his father, demanding to know the truth about his involvement with Prince Can.

Backed into a corner, Qin He finally confessed that he had once been on the brink of death and had relied on Prince Can’s blood to survive.

Once he had accepted that blood, there was no turning back. He claimed he had become Prince Can’s pawn out of necessity.

Of course, Qin He’s words were a mix of truth and lies. But the part about relying on Prince Can’s blood was real.

Now, with Prince Can’s sudden “death,” Qin He was even more anxious than his son. He hadn’t received any news and didn’t know whether the prince’s death was real or a ruse.

However, his Eldest Senior Brother’s gruesome death was undoubtedly real. The severed hand from the mansion was undeniable proof. This filled Qin He with unease, fearing that he, like his senior brother, had become expendable to Prince Can.

He had no choice but to confess his predicament to his son. If he couldn’t obtain Prince Can’s blood in time, what would become of him?

Qin Lingxiao hated his father’s collusion with that villain, but he couldn’t bear to watch him die.

With Prince Can nowhere to be found, there was only one option left – using the demonic bead to prolong his life.

Although being possessed by the demonic bead could lead to being controlled by it, his father’s cultivation might be able to hold it off for a while.

That would buy him time to find a way to save his father completely.

He had been reborn. What was the point of it all if he had to watch his father die again?

He knew there were two demonic beads. One was with Xiao Xiao, inaccessible for now. The other’s whereabouts were unknown, attached to someone out there.

Qin Lingxiao hadn’t had the time to search for it before, but now, he had no choice. His father’s life depended on it.

In his past life, he had used the Yellow Emperor’s South-Pointing Chariot to locate the demonic bead.

This time, after much effort, he had managed to obtain this ancient artifact once again. With the Yellow Emperor’s bronze compass, finding the demonic bead would be much easier.

Following the compass’s guidance, Qin Lingxiao had arrived at this familiar mountain, the place where he had once studied cultivation.

Gazing at Guishi Cliff, he was filled with complex emotions. The compass’s signal fluctuated, leading him on a winding path through the mountains. It was then that he witnessed Xiao Xiao’s battle with the five phoenixes in the back mountain.

Desperate to investigate, he had tried to enter the back mountain, but an invisible barrier seemed to block his path.

Two days later, the barrier finally dissipated, and he was able to enter. But Xiao Xiao and her disciples had already left for the front mountain.

Standing before his former master’s abode, now occupied by Xiao Xiao, Qin Lingxiao felt a chill run down his spine.

Every time he saw Xiao Xiao taking Wei Jie’s place, shouldering the burdens that should have been his, a sense of foreboding washed over him. What would become of her in the end?

So, he had come to see her again, not only to apologize for his past transgressions but also to warn her against associating with Wei Jie.

Although he now knew that Wei Jie wasn’t responsible for the atrocities of their past life, it didn’t absolve that demon completely.

Wei Jie’s inner darkness was far more terrifying than any of his past deeds. To be with him was akin to dancing with a tiger.

Of course, he mentioned searching for the demonic bead, omitting the part about using it to save his father.

Xiao Xiao cut through his rambling apologies, her voice impatient. “You said you came here to find another demonic bead. What proof do you have?”

Qin Lingxiao took out the ancient compass.

Xiao Xiao recognized it immediately. She recalled seeing it when she and Qin Lingxiao had faced the silkworm demon in Feixian. The disciples of the Sword Sect had used this compass-like object to pinpoint the demonic bead’s location.

She glanced at it coldly. “If you have business to attend to, then go. You’re not welcome on Lingshan Mountain.”

Qin Lingxiao hadn’t expected his sincere apology to be met with such hostility.

His pride resurfaced, his voice hardening. “You claim your master taught you to vanquish evil, yet you cling to personal grudges? Are you going to stand by and let another tragedy like Madam Bai’s unfold?”

Xiao Xiao raised an eyebrow, amused by his self-righteousness. “Qin Lingxiao, your cultivation hasn’t improved, but your insults are getting sharper. Does the Soaring Cloud Pavilion train its disciples to fight with words?”

Her smile, bright as sunshine, was captivating. For a moment, Qin Lingxiao was lost in it, forgetting her mocking words.

As she chuckled, extending her hand towards him, he stared at her, bewildered. Tentatively, he reached out, his large hand engulfing hers…

Xiao Xiao, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, swatted his hand away. “I said, show me the compass!”

Despite his long-winded speech, only one sentence resonated with her – “Are you going to stand by and let another tragedy like Madam Bai’s unfold?”

Madam Bai… the woman who had transformed into the silkworm demon. Xiao Xiao still felt a pang of pity for her.

So, even though Qin Lingxiao was a jerk, if he truly had a way to find the demonic bead, it was for the best.

After all, those two beads were the key to her returning to her own time.

His pride stung by her rejection, Qin Lingxiao reluctantly took out the compass and handed it to her.

Xiao Xiao examined it carefully. It was square-shaped, smaller than an inkstone, covered in intricate bronze inscriptions. A small bronze spoon rested on top.

Qin Lingxiao, seeing her scrutiny, knew she suspected him of treachery.

He raised his hand, his voice cold. “If I have tampered with this object to harm you, may I be struck down by heaven, forever barred from achieving immortality!”

Ignoring his oath, Xiao Xiao continued her examination. The back of the compass bore inscriptions she couldn’t fully decipher, but they seemed to relate to the Yellow Emperor’s battle against Chi You. The compass’s ancient aura confirmed its authenticity.

However, it seemed to lack sensitivity, its signal intermittent. No wonder Qin Lingxiao had been struggling to find the demonic bead.

Her eyes fell upon the inscription on the compass face.

Unlike the inscriptions on the back, these resembled the talismans of the Lingshan Talisman Sect. Xiao Xiao could understand them.

It turned out this compass wasn’t just for navigation. It was also a tool used by the Yellow Emperor to vanquish evil. Its sensitivity could be enhanced by placing a drop of demonic blood in the spoon. The handle would then point towards someone with the same demonic energy, making it easier to track down demonic beings.

Xiao Xiao studied the compass for a long moment before asking, “Where did you get this?”

Qin Lingxiao could understand the inscriptions on the back but not the talismanic ones. He was surprised that Xiao Xiao could read them.

“It was entrusted to my father by Wan Lianshi,” he answered honestly. “It needs to absorb righteous energy. The Soaring Cloud Pavilion is located in the east, where the purest yang energy rises. It was supposed to be returned to Wan Lianshi after three years… but in the previous timeline, it remained with us. He never came to retrieve it…”

Xiao Xiao guessed that Wan Lianshi must have died at Wei Jie’s hands in the original timeline. He had lost to Wei Jie in the Illusionary Realm and been killed. Of course, he wouldn’t have gone to his junior brother to retrieve his belongings.

In this life, many events had been accelerated. They had already experienced the Illusionary City outside Luoyi City.

But no matter how things changed, Wan Lianshi’s fate remained the same.

And this compass, used prematurely, hadn’t absorbed enough yang energy. It seemed demonic blood was the only way to enhance its power…

As Xiao Xiao searched for any hidden traps or spells left by Wan Lianshi, Qin Lingxiao took a step closer. His eyes fell upon a red mark on her neck…

It was a mark left by Wei Jie during their passionate encounter the night she had the nightmare.

Despite living for over two hundred years, Qin Lingxiao had never been romantically involved with a woman. He didn’t recognize it at first. “What happened to your neck? Did an insect bite you?”

Xiao Xiao guessed he had seen Wei Jie’s mark. She quickly covered it with her hand, her cheeks flushing red. “It’s none of your business!”

Even if he hadn’t recognized it before, her flustered reaction gave it away.

The only person who could have left a mark like that on her neck… it had to be Wei Jie, that scoundrel!

A wave of jealousy washed over Qin Lingxiao.

Unable to contain his anger, he spat, “Do you think Wei Jie is capable of love? He only uses people! He might not be on a killing spree right now, but do you think he’s any kinder than he was in our past life? I served him for years. I know him better than anyone! He only cares about power, about making those who looked down on him kneel before him. Anyone who falls for him is just another pawn in his game! Look what happened to Yu Ling’er in our past life! She devoted herself to him, and when she died, did he shed a single tear? Cui Xiao Xiao, why are you so stubborn? Why walk this path of self-destruction?!”

Had he said these words earlier, Xiao Xiao might have been swayed.

But now, even if they were true, they only brought a hint of sweetness to her heart.

Because… Wei Jie had cried for her. He had shed tears of blood…

Seeing her silence, the knowing smile playing on her lips, Qin Lingxiao struggled to suppress his bitterness. “Forget it. You’re blinded by infatuation. Nothing I say will get through to you. But know this, you don’t belong in this time. If you stay, if you become entangled with Wei Jie, you will disrupt the natural order. A cultivator who can’t even control their emotions… how can they achieve enlightenment?”

Xiao Xiao sighed, exasperated by his righteous indignation. She wanted nothing to do with him.

He was stubborn and self-righteous. Dealing with someone like him was exhausting.

Not to mention the humiliation he had put her through in front of everyone.

But now, with the possibility of finding the other demonic bead, she could put aside their personal grievances for the greater good.

If the bead ended up in the wrong hands, the consequences could be disastrous. She didn’t want another tragedy like Madam Bai’s.

She glared at him. “Shut up! Or get off this mountain!”

She then took out her dagger, sliced her palm, and let a drop of blood fall onto the spoon.

The moment the blood landed, the compass began to spin.

It had been in Qin Lingxiao’s possession for nearly two hundred years, yet he had never known about this function.

Of course. The two demonic beads shared the same origin, both stemming from Wei Jie. And Xiao Xiao was currently harboring one. Her blood was essentially demonic blood.

The spoon spun rapidly before pointing directly at… Cui Xiao Xiao!

Xiao Xiao rolled her eyes. No need to point out the obvious.

It might be useful, but could it really find the other bead?

Just as she was about to speak, the compass twitched and began spinning again.

This time, after two rapid rotations, it pointed southeast.

Xiao Xiao and Qin Lingxiao exchanged glances.

“It only trembles like that when the demonic bead is close,” Qin Lingxiao said urgently. “Could the other bead really be near Guishi Cliff?”

Without another word, Xiao Xiao grabbed the compass and dashed towards the southeast.

Her speed surprised Qin Lingxiao once again.

He knew she excelled at talismans but had no talent for lightness techniques.

Although she could occasionally use the Heaven-Punishing Sword for short bursts of speed, she was far from mastering true sword flight.

To think that in just a few days, she had become even faster than him!

He couldn’t dwell on it now. He gathered his energy and followed her.

The southeast direction led towards the main path up Guishi Cliff.

At that moment, Wei Jie, accompanied by Tang Youshu and two fox men, was returning from a supply run to the nearby village.

Having shed tears of blood in the phoenix sanctuary, Wei Jie couldn’t use his energy for the next few days.

The nearest village was far from the mountain, so they had ridden foxes to and from the village.

As they reached the foot of the mountain, they were met by a large crowd.

Wei Jie frowned, suspecting that Xiao Xiao and Yu Ling’er had gotten into trouble. Were these people here for revenge?

Tang Youshu recognized them. “Oh no, those disciples who wanted to become her students have followed us here! We need to warn Master Ancestor!”

Wei Jie realized that the Lingshan Talisman Sect had become quite popular, attracting so many talented individuals eager to become students.

But he didn’t want his master to accept them.

In his mind, having him as her sole disciple was enough. More disciples would only hold them back and interfere with their future travels…

So, he ignored the crowd and continued towards the mountain gate, bags of supplies in hand.

Just as he stepped onto the stone steps, Ling Zhishan and her group began their ascent.

That night, Cui Xiao Xiao and her disciples had vanished without a trace. When everyone woke up, they were nowhere to be found.

Some were disheartened and decided to give up.

But Ling Zhishan’s determination only grew stronger. She had learned from Yu Ling’er that they were heading to Guishi Cliff. Even if Cui Xiao Xiao tried to slip away, she would find her.

Inspired by her resolve, the other disciples decided that becoming a student of a renowned master required perseverance. Led by Ling Zhishan, they followed like shadows, eventually reaching their destination!

Ling Zhishan had spotted the newly erected stone tablet at the foot of the mountain. Guishi Cliff was now called Lingshan Mountain.

It seemed Cui Xiao Xiao was right. This was indeed the Lingshan Talisman Sect’s ancestral ground.

She had actually spotted Wei Jie returning from the village earlier.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of his tall figure, and she rushed over to greet him.

But Wei Jie remained as indifferent as ever, ignoring her completely as he walked past.

She hurried after him.

The newly constructed path was uneven. Ling Zhishan, half by accident, half intentionally, tripped and fell into Wei Jie’s arms.

Sensing her approaching, Wei Jie tried to dodge, but without his energy, his movements were sluggish. As he turned, she landed squarely against his chest.

Ling Zhishan, unaware of his injury, thought he had deliberately let her fall into his arms. A wave of joy surged through her as she looked up at him, her cheeks flushed.

He was so close, so handsome…

Wei Jie hated being touched. He frowned, ready to push her away, when a familiar, annoying voice rang out from above. “Xiao Xiao, see? I told you. He’s nothing but a womanizer…”

Wei Jie looked up and saw his master, Cui Xiao Xiao, standing tall at the top of the stairs. Her long robes billowed in the wind, her hand clutching a compass-like object. She stared at them, her gaze cold, an aura of menace surrounding her.

And beside her stood the ever-present Qin Lingxiao. That slanderous remark… it had to be him!

Seeing Xiao Xiao’s intense gaze, Wei Jie instinctively felt she was angry. He shoved Ling Zhishan away and turned to face his master.

Caught off guard, Ling Zhishan stumbled back, falling onto the stone steps. Her elbow hit the ground, drawing blood.

Her fellow disciples rushed to her aid, glaring at Wei Jie. “My Junior Sister tripped and bumped into you. Was it necessary to shove her so hard? Have you no manners?”

Before Wei Jie could respond, Cui Xiao Xiao descended the stairs. She brushed past him and stood before Ling Zhishan, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Ling Zhishan, you’re a cultivator, not a delicate lady from a wealthy household. Why are you so prone to tripping? These steps are newly built. There isn’t even a speck of moss. With your clumsiness… perhaps cultivation isn’t for you. I apologize on behalf of my disciple. Look at that wound. The skin is broken, and you’ve lost a few drops of blood… Tsk, tsk. Do you need silver for medicine? Or can you handle it yourself?”

Ling Zhishan, whose fall had been largely intentional, was mortified.

She clutched her injured arm, forcing a smile. “Perhaps I’m exhausted from traveling. I haven’t had time to meditate and recover. I felt a little dizzy. Sect Master Cui, we’ve followed you all this way. Please, accept us as your students.”

Unfortunately, Cui Xiao Xiao wasn’t here to catch her disciple flirting or accept new students. She glanced down at the compass in her hand. It was vibrating even more intensely now that they were closer to the crowd of aspiring disciples.

She moved through the crowd, the compass needle twitching erratically.

Both individuals harboring the demonic beads were too close. The needle swung back and forth between Xiao Xiao and the crowd.

Suddenly, with a sharp crack, the spoon-shaped needle snapped, breaking into pieces.

Xiao Xiao, surprised by the fragility of the Soaring Cloud Pavilion’s treasured artifact, turned to Qin Lingxiao.

He was just as shocked. This ancient artifact, in his possession for over two hundred years, had shattered after just a few days in this life!

He looked at Xiao Xiao, his voice low. “How… how did you use it?”

“As instructed,” she whispered back. “But let me warn you, the Lingshan Talisman Sect is poor. If you want compensation, the most I can offer is… five taels of silver.”

Their whispered exchange, observed by Wei Jie, seemed incredibly intimate.

His purple eyes darkened, his expression hardening.

Qin Lingxiao couldn’t believe it. This treasure, passed down for two hundred years, had broken so easily.

It seemed the compass, deprived of three years of yang energy, was truly unreliable!

But one thing was certain – the person harboring the demonic bead was among those aspiring disciples. He had infiltrated their ranks, hoping to gain access to Guishi Cliff. But for what purpose?

Chapter 69

As if urging its “mother” to return, the hatchling let out a string of soft “caws.”

The man took a few more steps before glancing back.

Perched on the branches, the five phoenixes were eyeing the little black fluffball struggling in the grass with ill intent. They spread their wings, ready to tear apart this unwelcome offspring the moment the man left.

The man’s gaze swept over them coldly, and he continued walking. The phoenixes immediately swooped down, their sharp talons reaching for the hatchling.

The poor creature let out a pitiful “caw” as they plucked out a few of its black down feathers and lifted it into the air.

Just as Xiao Xiao felt a surge of anger and pity for the helpless creature, the man, who had already walked away, suddenly reappeared. With lightning speed, he drew his sword, driving the five phoenixes back.

Having learned their lesson from Wei Jie, the phoenixes retreated, dropping the hatchling onto the grass.

The scaled man bent down and picked up the wounded bird.

It nuzzled its head against his palm pitifully.

He paused for a moment, then spoke, as if trying to convince himself, not caring whether the bird understood his words. “The world out there is far crueler than this place. I am no favorite of fate. If you follow me, you might face a fate worse than a swift death here…”

The hatchling, clearly oblivious to his cryptic words, feared being abandoned again. Using both beak and claws, it climbed onto his head, making itself comfortable amongst his messy hair.

Once settled, it tucked its head under its wing and let out a soft cry. It was still hurting from the phoenixes’ attack.

The man raised an eyebrow, his hand reaching up to stroke the bird gently. He glanced at its ungainly appearance with disdain before letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. “Very well. You and I, we are both unwanted by fate. Since staying here means certain death, I shall take you out into the world. Face the hardships and tribulations that await us.”

He walked towards a smooth boulder by the trees. The hatchling in his hand, oblivious to its impending fate, had closed its eyes and was now dozing peacefully, rubbing its head against his fingers.

The man looked down and noticed the wine gourd that had fallen to the ground when he landed. He picked it up, drained it in one gulp, and tossed it aside. Drawing his sword, he carved four characters onto the boulder’s smooth surface – defy fate.

He stared at the inscription for a long moment, then let out a cold laugh. Tucking the injured black bird into his robes, he soared into the air, leaving the valley behind…

As he ascended, the five phoenixes followed closely, their cries echoing through the air, as if accusing him of taking away their own.

Xiao Xiao tried to follow, but something seemed to be pulling her back, preventing her from taking flight…

As she finally forced her eyes open, she saw the purple-eyed man calling her name, his voice laced with urgency.

Relief washed over Wei Jie as her eyes fluttered open.

Xiao Xiao had been sleeping so soundly, her breathing shallow, the phoenix mark on her neck burning hot. Wei Jie had been worried sick.

As she finally regained consciousness, her gaze fell upon his face, so similar to the cold man in her dream. Unsure whether she was still trapped in a dream, she reached out, tugging at his robes, searching for the little black phoenix.

Wei Jie looked down. His robe had fallen open, revealing his toned chest…

He raised an eyebrow, his voice low. “There are others present… Be good. We’ll do that later.”

Xiao Xiao wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and finally noticed Yu Ling’er and Tang Youshu staring at them, their mouths agape.

Even Yu Ling’er, a free-spirited fox demon, wouldn’t dare to tear open a man’s clothes without a word upon waking up.

Cui Xiao Xiao, determined to establish her Harmony Sect… she was on another level!

No wonder even the aloof and unapproachable Wei Jie was captivated by her charms…

Admiration aside, Yu Ling’er realized they were intruding. She quickly pulled Tang Youshu away, saying, “It’s still early. Perfect for cultivation! You two carry on!”

After they disappeared into the trees, Xiao Xiao finally snapped out of it and quickly straightened Wei Jie’s robe.

He looked down at her, his long fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “What did you dream about? You were drenched in sweat.”

Daylight had broken, and birdsong filled the air. The spot where they had slept was secluded and quiet, shielded by trees, perfect for a private conversation.

Xiao Xiao was still shaken by her dream. She suspected that her encounter with the phoenixes had been too much for her mind to handle, leading her to dream of Demon Lord Wei Jie’s experience in the sanctuary.

But based on the demonic bead’s words, he had indeed taken a black phoenix. What had become of that creature, unblessed by heaven?

Xiao Xiao suddenly recalled the day Wei Jie was killed. The Phoenix Pool on Qilao Mountain had erupted in flames, a mournful cry echoing through the air, incinerating everything within a hundred miles.

That fire had extinguished all life on Qilao Mountain. Even after two hundred years, it remained a barren wasteland.

It seemed Wei Jie’s death was more than just Qin Lingxiao’s doing.

And now, she was walking his path, shouldering his burdens. What other trials awaited them?

Looking at Wei Jie, so close to her, Xiao Xiao decided to tell him about her dream.

It was the perfect excuse to reveal a glimpse of his past life.

Perhaps she could use this dream as a way to tell him more about his destined path.

That way, if she were to disappear one day, leaving him to face everything alone, he would at least be prepared. He wouldn’t have to face those trials alone, like the cold, lonely man covered in scales in her dream.

However, upon hearing about the scales, the hatched phoenix, and his decision to raise it, Wei Jie couldn’t help but laugh.

What a ridiculous dream.

Still, it was clear that Xiao Xiao had suffered greatly in the phoenix sanctuary. Why else would she dream of that place, the place that nearly took her life?

He gently brushed her hair, his voice soothing. “Do I look like someone who enjoys tending flowers and raising birds?”

But in his heart, a different thought took root. Raising a feisty little girl who loved to stare and lecture him… now that was something he could get behind…

Xiao Xiao had to admit, her dream was quite absurd.

But the heartache she felt, seeing the man in her dream consumed by hatred, his heart turning cold and cruel… that was real.

She had yearned to be free from Wei Jie, to return to her own time.

But now, the thought of him facing everything alone, gradually transforming into that cold, ruthless demon… it was unbearable.

Looking at his handsome face, she couldn’t help but reach out, her fingers tracing the lines of his jaw. It would be a shame if such a face were to be marred by scales…

She had already shouldered half his burden. What was a little more suffering?

Perhaps because they faced it together, the tribulations didn’t seem as daunting.

She would bear the pain he endured alone in his past life. Let him keep this hard-won carefree spirit.

After all, she was from the future, privy to knowledge he didn’t possess. Even without the manual, she remembered most of its contents.

It was better than him fighting against fate, blind and alone. She was his master. It was her duty to protect him.

Xiao Xiao’s heart swelled with the boundless compassion of a Bodhisattva.

However, just as dawn broke, she had shamelessly torn open his robe. And now, in this secluded spot, she was caressing his face with such tenderness…

How could a young man in his prime resist such blatant seduction?

Wei Jie felt that saying anything would ruin the mood. And to not do anything… wouldn’t that be a disservice to his master’s affections?

So, just as Xiao Xiao resolved to shield him from his demonic fate, ready to embrace a future of sacrifice…

He pushed her down onto the bed of grass.

Wei Jie might possess a roguish charm, his features tinged with aloofness. But when his purple eyes softened, the Mei blood within him surged forth. He didn’t need to sing. One look from him was enough to leave one spellbound.

He lowered his head, his lips capturing hers.

Xiao Xiao was caught off guard, lost in the intoxicating sensation of his kiss.

He kissed her deeply, his passion evident even through her bewilderment…

And this time, Wei Jie was clearly not playing by the rules. Not only was he kissing her, but his hands were also… wait a minute, where were his hands going?

Finally, Sect Master Cui snapped out of it. She shoved him away and scrambled back, her cheeks flushed red.

Clutching her robes protectively, she poked his chest accusingly. “How dare you! Where were you touching?!”

Wei Jie blinked innocently. “I got a little carried away. I can’t quite recall. How about we try that again, and I’ll tell you?”

He leaned in again, but Xiao Xiao grabbed his ear, stopping him in his tracks.

Carried away my foot! Xiao Xiao didn’t believe for a second that he didn’t know what he was doing. This sly fox!

So that dream… it really was just a dream!

She couldn’t imagine this mischievous man, grinning at her with a glint in his eye, turning into that cold, ruthless demon!

Chuckling, Wei Jie took her hand in his. “What’s this? Has the Lingshan Talisman Sect’s code of conduct been updated again? Is kissing allowed, but touching forbidden?”

Ever since he joined the sect, he had grown accustomed to their ever-changing rules. Adding another one wouldn’t be surprising in the least.

Xiao Xiao, despite her experiences as a street hustler, had never been in love.

And fate had thrown her together with this unpredictable Demon Lord ancestor. She was practically a novice compared to him!

But he was right. They had already kissed. Wasn’t refusing to be touched a little hypocritical?

… Wait a minute. Wasn’t that a slippery slope? What’s next? “We’ve already kissed. Are you saying no to sleeping together?”

Seeing her puffed-up cheeks, Wei Jie’s smile widened. He pinched her cheek playfully and pulled his robe open again, revealing his chest. “Alright, alright, you win. You can touch me.”

He might have a well-defined physique, clearly well-developed, but… who in their right mind would want to touch him?

Finally, remembering her position as his master, she pinched his nose instead. “Nice try! Now go gather firewood and make breakfast! And stop being so clingy! What if Yu Ling’er sees us? She’ll never let me live it down!”

She might think she sounded like a stern master reprimanding her disciple, but to Wei Jie, she was an adorable mess, her hair tousled from sleep, her cheeks puffed out in mock anger.

He let her indulge in her role for a bit longer, then pulled her close, his voice soothing, like one would a grumpy cat. “I’m not fond of them either. We’ve dealt with the fragmented page for now, and there’s nothing else pressing. After we pay our respects to your master, let’s ditch them and enjoy ourselves, just the two of us, what do you say?”

Xiao Xiao didn’t think Yu Ling’er was in the way at all. Wait a minute, pay respects?

A wave of realization washed over her. She had completely forgotten about today’s original purpose!

After finally sending Wei Jie away, she scrambled to her feet and rushed towards the stream, using washing up as an excuse. She paced back and forth, trying to come up with a plan.

Just then, she spotted Tang Youshu washing some freshly picked mountain fruits in a wooden bowl.

Seeing her, he held up a fruit. “Master Ancestor, would these fruits suffice as an offering for Great Master Ancestor?”

Xiao Xiao stared at the bright red fruits, a wave of emotions washing over her. “As long as you like them…”

Tang Youshu chuckled awkwardly. “Well… it’s more important that Great Master Ancestor likes them. Speaking of which, you haven’t told me where he’s buried. Should I go pull out the weeds and tidy up his grave beforehand?”

Xiao Xiao paced in a circle, deep in thought, before declaring, “This entire mountain is his resting place.”

Seeing Tang Youshu’s bewildered expression, she took a deep breath and explained, “My master was no ordinary man. Although he didn’t ascend to immortality, he didn’t want his mortal remains to remain in this world. So, we cremated him and scattered his ashes across Lingshan Mountain. He is one with these mountains and forests.”

She couldn’t exactly point him towards a grave that didn’t exist.

Tang Youshu’s eyes widened in awe. “As expected of my Great Master Ancestor! Such an unconventional spirit. If I fail to achieve immortality, I too wish to follow in his footsteps, my soul purified by fire!”

Xiao Xiao quickly spat three times. “Don’t talk about death at such a young age, Tang Youshu! You have the face of someone who’ll live to be two hundred!”

After their customary exchange of flattery, Tang Youshu left, his wooden bowl clutched tightly in his hands.

As he walked away, he couldn’t help but tiptoe, muttering apologies under his breath, “Please forgive my intrusion, Great Master Ancestor. Forgive my ignorance and disrespect.”

It seemed he was afraid of disturbing his ancestor’s ashes.

And so, the Lingshan Talisman Sect’s first ancestral worship ceremony involved hiking up a mountain.

Led by Cui Xiao Xiao, followed by Wei Jie, Tang Youshu, Yu Ling’er, and the other foxes, they scattered paper money and lit incense as they made their way up the mountain, paying their respects to the omnipresent Great Master Ancestor.

They eventually reached the front mountain, where they encountered Princess Yongning and her entourage making their way down.

Disappointed at not seeing the phoenix the night before, the princess’ eyes lit up when she saw them. She hopped out of her sedan chair and rushed over to Cui Xiao Xiao. “Sect Master Cui, you were at the back mountain yesterday. Did you see the five phoenixes?”

Xiao Xiao thought to herself, “Not only did I see them, but they’re currently residing in my body!”

She knew she couldn’t deny seeing them. It would be too suspicious after last night’s spectacle. So, she said, “I did. But they underwent nirvana and ascended. Perhaps they found this place too noisy and sought out a quieter dwelling.”

Princess Yongning’s face fell. Then, she recalled her father’s words that morning. “My father has always respected cultivators. Upon hearing that the Lingshan Talisman Sect was practicing here, he instructed me to gift this manor to you. The steward will hand you the keys shortly. Please make yourselves at home and cultivate in peace.”

Without waiting for Xiao Xiao to respond, she turned and climbed back into her sedan chair, leading her entourage down the mountain.

Xiao Xiao hadn’t expected the Guishi Cliff Manor to end up back in their hands.

This piqued her curiosity about Prince Changshan. Wei Jie described him as someone who spent money like water.

To gift an entire manor to a sect he had never even met…

The ceremony concluded, and the manor keys were handed over to Xiao Xiao.

Although a few rooms still needed some work, most of the buildings were ready.

Compared to the dilapidated state it would be in two hundred years later, the sect’s current residence was quite impressive.

Yu Ling’er, who had spent the previous night worrying about sleeping in a cave, was ecstatic to have such luxurious accommodations.

She chose a room near the lotus pond and immediately tried to convince Tang Youshu to stay next door, claiming they needed to look out for each other.

This embarrassed Tang Youshu greatly. This wasn’t an inn! With so many rooms available, why did he have to stay next to a young lady?

Instead of choosing the best room, Xiao Xiao opted for the one she had shared with her Second Senior Sister.

Walking through the familiar yet unfamiliar corridors and pavilions, Xiao Xiao felt as if she had traveled through time.

Things were different now. Her arrival had changed the course of history. Although she had resolved to help Wei Jie overcome his demonic tribulation, she couldn’t help but wonder what impact her decision would have on the future.

She didn’t plan to stay here for long.

Qin Lingxiao had mentioned that another demonic bead was out there, attached to someone else. She needed to find it before it caused more harm.

Suddenly, she sensed a faint fluctuation in the air. Someone was hiding behind the artificial mountain by the lotus pond.

Without hesitation, she conjured a fireball in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, it shot towards the artificial mountain, transforming into a blazing arrow.

Caught off guard, the person hiding there had no choice but to emerge.

Xiao Xiao’s eyes widened. It was none other than Qin Lingxiao, the Young Pavilion Master of the Soaring Cloud Pavilion, the one who had betrayed her.

Qin Lingxiao hadn’t seen Xiao Xiao’s face clearly while hiding. As he turned to face her, his eyes widened. He stared at her, his gaze lingering on her increasingly alluring features.

He had lived for over two hundred years and encountered countless female cultivators, but none had ever caught his eye.

Yet, this young con artist, who treated him with disdain, had somehow managed to captivate him.

He chided himself for his poor taste. If he was truly smitten, shouldn’t he set his sights on someone more worthy?

But seeing her now, her beauty enhanced by an aura of cool elegance, her gaze filled with aloofness, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of shame.

Xiao Xiao noticed his reluctance to meet her eyes. Good!

The last time they met, he had gone to great lengths to cover for his father, Qin He, practically hanging her out to dry. He had some nerve showing his face before her again.

Perhaps it was the presence of the five phoenixes, but Xiao Xiao felt lighter, her control over her spiritual energy significantly enhanced.

Even though she was alone, she wasn’t afraid to face Qin Lingxiao. This newfound confidence… it was intoxicating.

 

Chapter 68

Xiao Xiao thought about it. If the manual was truly lost in that deserted valley, it was better than falling into the wrong hands. Besides, her master’s writing was always long-winded and without focus. Even if someone found it, they’d probably think it was just the ramblings of some scholar obsessed with weaving fantastical tales of immortals and heroes.

After comforting herself with this thought, Xiao Xiao felt slightly better but still couldn’t help looking around.

Noticing her searching, Yu Ling’er asked what she was looking for. Xiao Xiao vaguely mentioned losing her package, which contained her change of clothes.

Yu Ling’er generously offered Xiao Xiao one of her own dresses. She had been quite envious when she saw the beautiful dresses Wei Jie bought for Xiao Xiao, so she had pestered Tang Youshu into buying her two.

Although not as exquisite as Xiao Xiao’s, the dress was charming and cute, its fabric light and flowing.

However, the scales on Xiao Xiao’s arms had turned gold, making it difficult to match with any color!

The two girls shared a rare moment of understanding, sighing in unison as they stared at Xiao Xiao’s gleaming arm.

Xiao Xiao then found a pool in the back mountain and decided to soak and wash off the soot and ash covering her body.

As dawn broke, the stream’s surface reflected her face, and Xiao Xiao was stunned by her own reflection. She seemed to have become even more beautiful…

It wasn’t that her features had changed, but her eyes now held a hint of aloofness and allure. Her eyelids were slightly upturned, giving her a proud, almost fierce aura.

The red mole at the corner of her eye appeared even redder, like a drop of blood. Even she found her own reflection unfamiliar, as if… as if she possessed the same chilling gaze as the five phoenixes.

Could it be that she had adopted some of the phoenixes’ mannerisms after harboring them? Buddha above, Heavenly Gods bless her! She wasn’t particularly fond of snakes. She hoped she wouldn’t be completely assimilated by these phoenixes!

Still, her current appearance did exude a certain majesty, the kind befitting a powerful sect master. Xiao Xiao felt that if she remained silent, she would appear even more imposing than Ling Zhishan from two hundred years in the future!

She examined the colorful phoenix mark on her neck. Even after scrubbing with water, it showed no signs of fading.

She could only hope they would behave themselves and not cause her as much trouble as the demonic bead.

Speaking of the demonic bead… Xiao Xiao closed her eyes, trying to sense its presence. The bead was as silent as a cicada, afraid to even slumber.

When Xiao Xiao tried talking to it, it finally spoke, its voice trembling, “You wretched girl! You did this on purpose, didn’t you? Bringing five phoenixes into your body! If you want me gone, I’ll gladly leave. But they’re attached to your very being! How am I supposed to get away from that?!”

Xiao Xiao kept her eyes closed. “Then do you know why they attached themselves to me? And how to get rid of them?”

The demonic bead’s voice still shook. “If I knew, I would have told you already! Do you think I’d wait until now? They’ve just been reborn and are currently in deep sleep, which is why I dare speak. He only managed to take one black phoenix, yet you brought out five? What are you, to possess such power?”

Xiao Xiao knew this demonic bead was formed from the demonic energy within Demon Lord Wei Jie. It had experienced all the tribulations of his original path.

Hearing it mention the black phoenix, Xiao Xiao knew her guess was correct. The crow Demon Lord Wei Jie took away back then truly was a black phoenix.

“Where is that black phoenix now?” she asked.

The demonic bead let out a cold laugh. “What fate awaits something that defies the natural order? He took it with his own selfish desires, and in the end…”

Before the demonic bead could finish, Yu Ling’er’s voice rang out, asking if Xiao Xiao was done washing up. Wei Jie had roasted rabbit meat, and it was time to eat.

Xiao Xiao didn’t respond, wanting the demonic bead to finish its story. However, it seemed to have exhausted its energy and fell silent again.

Sighing, Xiao Xiao decided to forgo admiring her reflection. She wrung the water from her hair, quickly dressed, and joined the others for their belated supper.

Wei Jie’s culinary skills were undeniable. Even in the wilderness, with just wild onions and the salt and pepper he carried, he could roast rabbit meat to perfection.

He handed a rabbit leg to Xiao Xiao, then took out a handkerchief and gently began drying her hair.

Xiao Xiao had reached a point where she no longer cared about maintaining appearances and simply let him do as he pleased. She was starving and needed to eat.

Yu Ling’er observed Wei Jie’s attentiveness with envy. This Wei Jie, usually cold and distant, was so kind to Xiao Xiao.

It seemed Cui Xiao Xiao had truly captured this disciple’s heart…

As they sat around the bonfire, everyone chatted amongst themselves. After drying Xiao Xiao’s hair, Wei Jie pulled her to a corner to eat and talk.

Halfway through her rabbit leg, Xiao Xiao finally remembered to ask about the fragmented page. It had been riddled with holes when they found it. She wondered if Wei Jie had successfully returned it to the underworld.

Wei Jie paused before answering, “I did, but Grandmother said whether it would work or not is up to fate.”

Thinking of the Wei family’s tragic fate in the original timeline, Xiao Xiao couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Could this damaged page really lessen their suffering, perhaps even prevent their annihilation?

She then told Wei Jie about meeting Princess Yongning, the new owner of the Guishi Cliff Manor.

For Prince Can to gift this place to Princess Yongning before his death… there had to be a hidden agenda.

Unfortunately, Xiao Xiao wasn’t from this time and knew little about Princess Yongning.

Wei Jie, however, had thoroughly investigated Prince Can and knew a thing or two about this favored niece.

The princess was the daughter of Prince Changshan, supposedly Prince Can’s half-brother. Rumor had it that Prince Changshan was the son of the late Emperor and a Taoist nun, raised under the name of a concubine in the palace.

Despite his questionable birth, Prince Changshan was deeply loved by the late Emperor. Although he had been granted his own territory early on, he continued to receive the Emperor’s favor and rewards every year. One of his younger sons had even been adopted by Prince Can.

Xiao Xiao suddenly realized that in the original timeline, Prince Can had supported this adopted son to ascend the throne, becoming the regent behind the scenes.

So, the little princess’s father and Prince Can were quite close, close enough to exchange sons.

But if Prince Can was Xia Yuansong, then the adopted son would be his own grandson. He had essentially placed his own bloodline on the throne.

Could it be… that Xia Yuansong had abandoned the identity of Prince Can and set his sights on Prince Changshan, which was why he gifted such an important place as Guishi Cliff to his daughter?

Wei Jie shook his head slowly after hearing Xiao Xiao’s analysis. “Prince Changshan is different from Prince Can. He enjoys indulging in feasts and banquets, spending his days in revelry. Even if Xia Yuansong could regain his youth, it would be difficult for him to completely transform himself into someone like that, let alone fool those who know Prince Changshan well…”

Xiao Xiao thought for a moment. “Prince Can has always been a cunning schemer. If he truly wanted to replace Prince Changshan, he would find a way.”

If she had the chance to meet Prince Changshan, she might be able to see through any disguise. If they knew Prince Can’s whereabouts, at least the Crown Prince could be prepared.

Otherwise, if that treacherous prince were to plot something again, it could spell disaster for the entire world…

After their late-night meal, it was time for everyone to rest.

No matter how advanced her cultivation became, Xiao Xiao still needed sleep after a long day and meditation.

Especially after her brush with death, all she wanted was a good night’s sleep.

Her most devoted disciple understood her best. While she was bathing, he had silently gathered dry grass and prepared a soft bed, even laying clothes on top.

This way, Xiao Xiao could enjoy a comfortable sleep on a dry and cool bed.

As she lay down, Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but take Wei Jie’s hand, wanting to check on his wound.

Wei Jie misunderstood, thinking she didn’t want him to leave. He gently stroked her hair. “Sleep well. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here with you.”

He then sat beside her and began meditating.

He hadn’t told Xiao Xiao the whole truth. Although the wound on his wrist was easily healed, the heartache he had cried out earlier was far more damaging.

He possessed half the blood of the Mei people, which meant he shared their weakness – they couldn’t afford to be consumed by sadness. Crying would damage their very being. But Wei Jie didn’t regret shedding those tears.

He knew those tears, born from his heart, were what pulled Xiao Xiao back from death’s embrace.

But he needed to meditate and recover his strength. He couldn’t use his energy for the next few days, lest he disrupt the balance within his dantian…

As Xiao Xiao watched his profile, a wave of sweetness washed over her.

With his eyes closed, she could freely admire him.

Even though he wouldn’t admit it, Xiao Xiao knew he must have cried those bloody tears thinking he was going to die…

Growing up, it seemed only her mother had ever cried for her. And her mother was long gone.

She had thought that besides her mother and master, no one else would ever shed tears for her.

Wei Jie—this name, once synonymous with terror, now filled her with an inexplicable sweetness.

A smile touched her lips as she drifted off to sleep.

Suddenly, Wei Jie opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on the Phoenix Viewing Platform on the front mountain.

There seemed to be a figure moving there, also looking towards the back mountain…

On that platform, Princess Yongning continued gazing into the distance, muttering, “There’s nothing there. Where’s this legendary phoenix?”

Last night, she had heard the workers and guards whispering about a phoenix and an immortal flying across the sky. She had rushed over by carriage, eager to witness it for herself. But after finally reaching the platform, all she found was silence, broken only by the occasional bird song. There wasn’t a single phoenix feather in sight!

Just then, a cold voice spoke behind her. “The appearance of a phoenix is a once-in-a-thousand-year event. It’s not something you can just stumble upon. If it’s meant to be, you will see it in due time.”

Princess Yongning turned to face her father, her voice laced with disappointment. “They say praying to the phoenix is most effective. I wanted to see it so I could pray for you, Father. Your injuries… what are we going to do?”

She gazed at the bandages covering his face with heartache.

Her father had been attacked by bandits while boating on the lake during a night banquet. Thankfully, his guards had saved him in time.

However, the bandits had thrown oil and set the boat on fire. Her father had suffered severe burns to his face. Although he was treated by a skilled physician, it would still take months for him to recover.

Princess Yongning loved her father dearly. That was why she had wanted to pray to the phoenix, hoping to bring him good fortune and speed up his healing.

Hearing his daughter’s filial words, Prince Changshan, his voice raspy from the smoke inhalation, whispered, “These injuries… do you think prayers can heal them? The physician said I just need time to recover. You, on the other hand, are about to be married. Stop running around and return to the manor tomorrow to prepare for the wedding.”

For once, the usually willful Princess Yongning obediently agreed.

Ever since the fire, her father had changed. He no longer indulged in all-night banquets and avoided seeing anyone.

It was unimaginable before, but people changed after experiencing trauma. There was nothing strange about it.

After her father mentioned wanting to enjoy the breeze on the platform for a while longer, Princess Yongning excused herself and returned to the manor to rest.

Prince Changshan stood alone on the platform, his gaze fixed on the dense forest of the back mountain.

He had been here much earlier and had witnessed Xiao Xiao’s battle with the five phoenixes.

Someone who defied fate… truly impressive. She had actually managed to fight back and incinerate five phoenixes!

It seemed that girl had shouldered Wei Jie’s trial by fire!

Her life force was truly resilient. To withstand such a tribulation without being completely consumed by demonic energy… He was curious to see whether this Cui Xiao Xiao would walk the path of a demon or an immortal!

A smile seemed to flicker across Prince Changshan’s bandaged face.

After a while, he turned and left the platform. His steps were slow and heavy, betraying his relatively young age.

But soon, he straightened his back, loosened his grip, and walked down the mountain path with the steady gait of a healthy, middle-aged man.

Meanwhile, back in the valley, everyone except Xiao Xiao was awake.

Xiao Xiao had mentioned that it was the anniversary of the Lingshan Talisman Sect’s founder. Tang Youshu had prepared incense, paper money, and other offerings in his precious bamboo basket.

They were all waiting for their Sect Master to wake up so they could pay their respects at the grave.

However, their Sect Master, exhausted from her battle with the phoenixes, showed no signs of waking. Even after Wei Jie called out to her several times, Xiao Xiao remained fast asleep.

Yu Ling’er began to worry. “Xiao Xiao… is she sick? I’ve never seen her sleep in this late!”

Wei Jie reached out to touch Xiao Xiao’s forehead and neck. He found the area where the phoenix mark lay burning hot!

Even in her sleep, Xiao Xiao seemed restless. Her eyelids twitched, as if trapped in a vivid nightmare…

And indeed, she was dreaming.

She knew she was trapped in a dream she couldn’t wake from. She was back in the phoenix valley.

But the five phoenixes perched on the branches seemed much larger than before. They preened their feathers, seemingly oblivious to her presence.

Suddenly, Xiao Xiao noticed a lone, grayish egg lying abandoned in the grass beneath the trees. Its shell was intact.

She remembered Wei Jie saying it was the egg of a black phoenix, a symbol of misfortune, cast out of the nest.

Without a mother’s warmth, it would slowly turn cold, eventually turning to stone.

Pitying the lonely egg, Xiao Xiao approached, wanting to pick it up.

Just then, the leading Vermillion Bird let out a sharp cry. The other phoenixes, startled, spread their wings and flew towards the valley entrance.

Xiao Xiao followed their gaze and saw a figure descend from the sky, landing in the valley with a gust of wind. Its arrival was met with a chorus of alarmed cries from the phoenixes.

As the figure came into focus, Xiao Xiao, despite knowing this was a dream, couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

Because that strange man… looked exactly like Wei Jie!

But unlike Wei Jie’s carefree demeanor, this man, with the same familiar eyes and brows, had half his face covered in iridescent scales. The same scales adorned his strong arms, clutching the Heaven-Defying Sword. His entire being radiated a chilling aura. His purple eyes blazed with unyielding murderous intent, a terrifying demonic energy emanating from him.

He couldn’t see her, yet Xiao Xiao felt paralyzed by his aura, unable to move.

The five phoenixes, clearly drawn to the demonic energy radiating from this scaled man, began their pre-meal dance. Then, just as they had done to Xiao Xiao, they attacked, hoping to tear him apart.

Unlike Xiao Xiao, who had dodged and weaved, this man fought back with ruthless precision. Each move targeted the phoenixes’ throats. He lunged, sharp teeth bared, drawing blood and eliciting shrieks of pain.

He even managed to tear off a few of their beautiful tail feathers, causing the birds to cry out in fury.

Xiao Xiao watched silently, a sense of enlightenment dawning upon her. So that was how you dealt with these ferocious birds! Compared to this man’s ruthlessness, she had been far too gentle!

Unfortunately, even this valiant warrior was no match for five birds. When the phoenixes unleashed their flames, the man was engulfed.

But with his last ounce of strength, he struck, his sword cleaving through the air, snapping their necks.

The five phoenixes, their bodies engulfed in flames, crashed to the ground alongside the man.

Even though she knew he wasn’t her disciple, Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but want to call out to him. But something seemed to be stuck in her throat, preventing her from making a sound.

She could only watch helplessly as he collapsed onto the grass, flames still licking at his body…

Xiao Xiao knew that burning pain all too well. It was excruciating!

But the man remained silent, gritting his teeth against the agony before letting out a tortured roar that echoed through the valley. “Heavens! How much longer must you torment me?!”

His voice was filled with the desolate despair of someone who had seen too much suffering.

Xiao Xiao’s heart clenched. Tears streamed down her face. She wanted to reach out, to embrace this wounded man, but she remained frozen in place.

His body burning, the man dragged himself towards the stream, desperate to extinguish the flames consuming him.

But he was too weak. He collapsed halfway there.

Just then, as if drawn by the heat, the grayish egg beneath the tree rolled towards him, pushed by a gust of wind.

The man’s body still blazed with fire, his skin scorching hot.

But the egg, as if sensing the warmth of its mother, nestled against him, its shell bumping against his arm. The man, his skin raw and blistered, groaned in pain.

The egg, fearing abandonment, settled in the crook of his arm, greedily absorbing his heat.

As the egg pressed against him, the man felt the burning ease.

Finally catching his breath, he reached out a charred hand and picked up the egg. He examined it for a moment before placing it against his chest.

The egg, delighted, burrowed closer, its shell turning a faint shade of red.

The five phoenixes, reborn from their ashes, were now much smaller. They stared at the man with lifeless eyes, too afraid to approach. Perching themselves on a branch, they watched the egg nestled against his chest with tilted heads.

Xiao Xiao didn’t know how long she watched. The light in the valley shifted and changed. Finally, the man sat up, and the egg in his arms began to crack.

A wet, black creature emerged from the shattered shell. The man, his body covered in soot, frowned and tossed it aside.

The hatchling, seemingly hurt by the rough treatment, let out a soft “caw,” a sound that resembled… a crow.

Driven by instinct, the hatchling, despite being flung away, flapped its tiny wings and stubbornly crawled back to the man. It nuzzled against his chest, its beak pecking at the cracked, charred skin, and let out another two “caws.”

Clearly, it thought the man, with his blackened skin, was its mother. And surely, a mother as dark as night had no right to find fault with her child’s appearance?

Unfortunately, the man’s heart was colder than his scaled exterior. He pushed the hatchling away and rose to his feet, ready to leave this place.

Chapter 67

Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie exchanged a glance. Since they couldn’t get out, they decided to go down and investigate.

The two descended back into the ravine. Wei Jie held Xiao Xiao’s hand as they followed the circling, dancing phoenixes deeper into the valley.

Xiao Xiao had intended to shake off his large hand, but upon seeing Wei Jie’s injured wrists, she could no longer bring herself to use force. With a tug from him, she obediently followed by his side.

After passing through a narrow mountain path, the scenery suddenly opened up, revealing what seemed to be a paradise secluded from the world. A mountain stream flowed through lush, emerald green grasslands, where an exceptionally lush paulownia tree grew.

A massive nest rested among the branches, and the five phoenixes had now landed on the tree, leisurely preening their feathers.

Wei Jie was naturally daring and bold, so since they had come here, he brazenly carried Xiao Xiao and leapt up into the tree.

The nest contained scattered eggshell fragments that were remarkably beautiful, shimmering as if sprinkled with mica powder. Their colors distinctly corresponded to the five phoenixes, indicating that this nest was likely their birthplace.

However, Xiao Xiao’s keen eyes noticed some finer eggshell fragments amidst the grass by the stream.

Xiao Xiao jumped down from the tree and picked up those fragments. To her surprise, their color was a drab gray, lacking the vibrant hues of the other phoenix eggshells. Yet judging by their shape, they also seemed to be from a phoenix egg.

Wei Jie also got down from the tree and examined the fragments in her hand. After pondering, he boldly speculated, “This must be an egg that was pushed out of the nest and shattered, leaving behind these shell remains.”

Xiao Xiao furrowed her brow in confusion, “Pushed out? Could a cuckoo have infiltrated the phoenix nest?”

Cuckoos are known for laying their eggs in other birds’ nests and pushing out the host’s eggs to have their chicks raised instead, which prompted Xiao Xiao’s question.

As a member of the Wei Family, Wei Jie was well-versed in the lore of many exotic beasts.

He gazed at the dull gray eggshells thoughtfully and said, “This should be the rare egg of a black phoenix. It is said that the appearance of a black phoenix is an ill omen, unacceptable by the heavens. So phoenixes will actively push out any black eggs from their nests…”

The black phoenix was considered an inauspicious existence. According to legend, it would gather demonic forces and spawn chaos, an anomaly only emerging during turbulent eras.

So it was unsurprising that this drab, gray egg had been expelled from the nest.

Xiao Xiao fell silent and searched through the grass where she had found the eggshells, eventually discovering a small tuft of black down feathers.

Unable to contain her excitement, she called out, “Wei Jie, look! These are a chick’s down feathers. Could this egg have actually hatched? Let’s search around and see if we can find that little black phoenix.”

Seeing her eagerness, Wei Jie couldn’t resist teasing, “Why? Do you think being surrounded by five phoenixes wasn’t exciting enough, so you want to seek out a black phoenix too?”

Xiao Xiao knew her curiosity was somewhat silly. But when she heard that the black phoenix was only expelled from the nest as an ill omen while still an egg, she felt a twinge of discomfort. Having been born under the ominous “Ten Grievances” destiny herself, she was all too familiar with being shunned by loved ones as an inauspicious existence from a young age.

So after hearing Wei Jie’s words, she wanted to see if that little black phoenix was still around.

However, after searching the area, Xiao Xiao found no traces of any black phoenix. Perhaps the little one had hatched but perished soon after.

After all, it was only natural for an unblessed, unwanted creature to disappear.

But why had the five phoenixes led them to this place? Was it merely to showcase their birthplace amid the divine paulownia branches?

It was then that Wei Jie, who had moved to the side of the tree, suddenly became solemn as he looked towards a smooth, large boulder.

Etched on the boulder in magnificent calligraphy were the words: “Defying the Heavens.”

Such blasphemous words appeared jarring amidst this sacred celestial bird sanctuary.

However, what caused Wei Jie’s grave expression was that the flowing calligraphy was unmistakably his own handwriting!

Xiao Xiao also recognized his handwriting and hesitantly asked, “How is that possible? Have you been here before?”

Wei Jie furrowed his brow and shook his head. This was his first time visiting Demon Rock Cliff, and he had no recollection of inscribing words here.

Yet that calligraphy… was undoubtedly Wei Jie’s brushwork, including that blasphemous line, which matched his usual defiant tone – what was the meaning of all this?

At that moment, Wei Jie’s expression grew even graver, for he had discovered a wine gourd amidst the grass beside the boulder. And this wine gourd was an exact match to the one he carried with him…

Xiao Xiao picked up the mysterious wine gourd in astonishment and gave it a sniff. The wine aroma inside was indeed the fine vintage Wei Jie often drank in Luoyi City…

When Wei Jie took out the gourd hanging from his waist and compared it to the one found here, there seemed to be no discernible difference between the two.

But this wine gourd had been crafted by Wei Jie himself, and even the inscriptions should have been unique, shouldn’t they?

Staring at the bizarre, unexplained wine gourd, a flash of insight suddenly struck Xiao Xiao.

She surveyed her surroundings, realizing that the formation aura enveloping this area felt somewhat familiar. This warm, undulating aura seemed to cultivate a harmonious state of mind…

With her extraordinary perception, Xiao Xiao studied the surrounding formation and suddenly recalled the retroactive tracing technique her late master had once used to reveal the truth of her childhood. The aura here felt similar to when that formation had activated.

At that time, although she had traveled back in time, her mother could not see her, for she had been enveloped within a comparable formation.

Her master had mentioned that there were even more profound ancient arts than retroactive tracing, capable of traversing past and present at will. However, the fundamental principle involved establishing a formation to render time constant.

In other words, this was an illusory realm, a true paradise secluded from the world – a domain that could manifest in any time or place.

It did not exist within any particular space-time, yet it could traverse all space-times.

Could this Phoenix Ravine be such a time-constant existence? Anyone from any era might stumble into it, leading to the convergence of different destinies.

So while Wei Jie was certain he had never inscribed words here, it was both true and untrue.

For although the disciple Wei Jie had not written them, it was highly possible that the calligraphy had been left behind by the Demon Lord Wei Jie of that era.

As Master Tang Youshu had recorded in the secret manuals, after leading his followers to Demon Rock Cliff, Wei Jie had once disappeared in the rear mountains, with his demonic disciples scouring the area but unable to find any trace of him.

When Wei Jie reappeared, he seemed to have been scorched by raging flames. The snake scales on his body had been tempered into an impenetrable obsidian sheen. Moreover, a crow had appeared by his side at that time…

Wei Jie seemed quite fond of that unsightly bird and kept it as a pet for a long time…

Deep in thought, Xiao Xiao asked Wei Jie, “If you were to keep a pet, would you keep a crow?”

Wei Jie raised his eyebrows in surprise, “Why? Are there any crows with pleasant songs? What would I keep that thing for?”

Confirming that Wei Jie had no special penchant for keeping such pets, Xiao Xiao could boldly deduce that this ravine nurturing the divine paulownia tree was akin to a secluded chamber isolated from the flow of time.

In the original timeline, the Demon Lord Wei Jie must have stumbled into this place by chance, likely engaging in a fierce battle with these five birds, just as she had. After narrowly escaping with his life, he had inscribed his life’s philosophy – “Defying the Heavens” – before leaving behind his personal wine gourd and taking a black crow… no, a black phoenix chick with him when he departed.

So this time when they trespassed into this realm, although the five phoenixes were present along with the wine gourd and inscriptions left behind by the Demon Lord Wei Jie, the black phoenix was conspicuously absent.

Because Wei Jie had taken that black phoenix chick out of the Phoenix Ravine, it was naturally no longer here.

After piecing everything together, Xiao Xiao once again felt dejected, realizing that she seemed to have followed Wei Jie’s path towards demonic cultivation by enduring the same fiery trial he had undergone.

Only, after being scorched by the phoenix’s vermilion flames of true fire, Wei Jie’s snake scales had become impenetrable obsidian armor. But what about her snake scales?

Thinking this, Xiao Xiao opened her robe and examined her arm. Unsurprisingly, her snake scales seemed to have spread further, now covering her entire arm.

However, the charred outer shell from the recent burning had yet to fully shed, and the partially exposed coloration beneath seemed oddly dazzling. So Xiao Xiao reached out and brushed away the blackened shell…

The charred outer layer fell away, revealing a radiant golden sheen…

Xiao Xiao doubted her eyes and vigorously brushed again, with even Wei Jie extending his large palm to help remove the remnants.

Finally, the black shell on her entire arm sloughed off, unveiling a brilliant, golden arm…

Xiao Xiao stared in disbelief. Why had Wei Jie’s previous life produced obsidian black scales, while hers were such an opulent, resplendent golden hue?

Imagining her entire body covered in golden scales, Cui Xiao Xiao felt utterly dismayed!

Wei Jie’s expression also grew solemn initially as he silently pondered the reason behind Xiao Xiao’s golden arm. But seeing her furrowed brow and apparent distress, he gently asked, “Is something uncomfortable with your body?”

Xiao Xiao puffed out her cheeks, her delicate brows creased as she said in a low voice, “What am I going to do about this golden arm? It’ll be so difficult to match clothing colors in the future!”

A golden color would be even more striking than black, completely unsuitable for wearing fresh, vibrant shades of green and the like!

Wei Jie fell silent for a moment, forced to admit that his master was truly one of a kind, capable of imagining concerns no one else would even consider!

After all this drama, she was actually agonizing over such a trivial matter?

At the very moment Xiao Xiao revealed her radiant golden arm, the five phoenixes perched on the branches seemed unable to tolerate such a dazzling sight. They let out raucous cries and took flight once more.

Circling above the two, the five phoenixes then transformed into five colored beams of light that shot directly towards Xiao Xiao.

Wei Jie instinctively shielded Xiao Xiao, but it was already too late.

Beneath Xiao Xiao’s smooth neck, five multicolored phoenix emblems had been imprinted, encircling her neck like a necklace.

Xiao Xiao rushed to the stream’s edge and stared wide-eyed at her reflection before looking up at Wei Jie in bewilderment, “They… they didn’t attach themselves to my body like the demon bead, did they?”

Wei Jie also frowned, for he had never heard of phoenixes possessing human bodies in such a manner.

After confirming with Xiao Xiao that she felt no discomfort, Wei Jie decided to take her to consult his grandmother and see if the old lady knew what was happening.

The two had lingered within this illusion for far too long. However, after the five phoenixes imprinted their emblems around Xiao Xiao’s neck, the surrounding formation aura seemed to noticeably weaken.

Xiao Xiao sighed deeply. Since she had already progressed so far down the path of demonic cultivation, she might as well go all the way.

So she picked up the Heaven’s Defiance sword, approached the boulder, and beneath Wei Jie’s calligraphic “Defying the Heavens,” she boldly inscribed four large characters: “Welcoming Wealth and Treasures”!

However, compared to the forceful strokes above, Xiao Xiao’s calligraphy exuded a rather childish quality.

Wei Jie attempted to appreciate his master’s calligraphic artistry and offer some praise, but found it rather difficult. He could only raise his eyebrows and ask, “What profound meaning lies within your inscription?”

Xiao Xiao stated matter-of-factly, “Our Talisman Sect has recently encountered a few too many misfortunes. Naturally, we need some auspicious blessings! As the Sect Leader supporting all of you, don’t I need to welcome wealth? With my body becoming an inn for all sorts of demonic attachments, I must also strive to accumulate more treasures to control and restrain these ever-increasing demonic forces! As for the idiot who inscribed ‘Defying the Heavens’ above, we can simply listen to such words. But if one truly puts them into practice, they’re inviting a heavenly thunderbolt strike!”

Hearing her articulate such a lengthy explanation, Wei Jie finally felt completely reassured. If she had the state of mind to engage in such carefree antics as leaving an “I was here” inscription, it seemed the recent fiery ordeal had not severely drained her vitality.

Assured that Xiao Xiao was unharmed, Wei Jie carried her on his back and retraced their path, leaping upwards.

With his agile movements, Wei Jie nimbly scaled the cliff face while carrying Xiao Xiao, propelling them both higher by bouncing off the rocky surfaces. Upon reaching the narrow crevice above the ravine, he mustered his strength and finally burst through the now greatly weakened barrier, emerging from the other side.

However, in that instant when Wei Jie breached the barrier, the two wine gourds hanging from his waist failed to make it through and fell back into the depths of the ravine…

Yu Ling’er and the others had been guarding this crevice, unable to penetrate the barrier or descend into the ravine, worrying endlessly about Xiao Xiao’s safety.

It was only when Wei Jie emerged carrying Xiao Xiao that Yu Ling’er let out a joyous fox-like cry.

She hurried over, immediately embracing Xiao Xiao and examining her for any burns.

The sight of the five phoenixes spewing flames earlier had been truly terrifying, roasting Xiao Xiao as if she were a slab of meat.

Yu Ling’er had expected Xiao Xiao to be completely charred, but to her surprise, although some blackened carbon shell still clung to her, it appeared removable. Xiao Xiao’s complexion remained untarnished, without any major injuries.

However, the clothing Xiao Xiao wore… seemed to be Wei Jie’s robe, and underneath, she appeared to be… improperly dressed?

Did this mean that when Wei Jie went to rescue her earlier, Xiao Xiao had been unclothed? Had he perhaps… seen everything?

With her initial worries relieved, Yu Ling’er’s inquisitive soul immediately flared up as she leaned in and whispered to Xiao Xiao, “When he went to save you, were you not wearing any clothes? Did he…”

Before she could finish, Xiao Xiao promptly clamped her hand over Yu Ling’er’s mouth, pinching it into a duck-like shape as she narrowed her eyes, “If you mention that again, try me?”

Yu Ling’er realized that after being scorched, Xiao Xiao’s appearance had changed. Although she had become even more alluringly beautiful, her sharp gaze when angered had also grown more piercing! She truly exuded the commanding aura of a great sect leader now!

But… Yu Ling’er was not afraid! After spending so much time with Xiao Xiao, she understood her temperament. When glaring, it was mostly just an attempt to intimidate.

So after Xiao Xiao released her, Yu Ling’er pitifully covered her own mouth while rapidly retreating to hide behind Tang Youshu. Then she suddenly craned her neck and shouted, “Xiao Xiao, did Wei Jie see you without any clothes on?”

Enraged, Xiao Xiao pounced forward to pluck the cheeky fox’s fur, while Yu Ling’er used Tang Youshu as a shield, dodging left and right.

Tang Youshu could only helplessly play the role of a mother hen, shielding Yu Ling’er while gently advising Xiao Xiao, “Master Ancestor… don’t stoop to her level. We all know you and the master are righteous and proper. You would never look upon or listen to anything unbecoming!”

However, Yu Ling’er retorted, “Come on! They’ve already kissed multiple times. Back in the village, I saw them hiding inside a house kissing with my own eyes…”

The fox tribe valued passion and raw desire. For those mutually in love, it was only natural to be open and unrestrained in their affections.

Yu Ling’er simply could not understand why Xiao Xiao obviously practiced the intimate skills of the Path of Intimacy with her disciple, yet stubbornly refused to admit it!

However, by revealing this, she also intended to warn the naive Tang Youshu to avoid falling under this seductress Cui Xiao Xiao’s spell. She had already ensnared Wei Jie in cultivating the Path of Intimacy. Youshu’s weaker constitution might not withstand such indulgences.

It was only now that Xiao Xiao realized Yu Ling’er had witnessed those instances in the village when she and Wei Jie had “transferred internal pellets.”

Perhaps she had pinched the fox’s mouth too hard earlier, causing her to retaliate by divulging such private matters.

Seeing the fox tribe’s knowing expressions, Xiao Xiao felt a sense of despair as she looked towards Wei Jie, hoping he would step in to clarify the situation.

Master, your departed soul must be lamenting that your disciple has momentarily wavered, seduced by Wei Jie’s charms to commit acts unbecoming of our sect’s righteous path!

But the righteous banner of the Lingshan Talisman Sect’s orthodox cultivation cannot be allowed to fall!

How could she convince everyone that theirs was a pure master-disciple relationship? That the initial internal pellet transfer, as well as the subsequent second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth kisses afterwards, had simply been momentary lapses brought on by surging emotions?

She truly had no intentions of cultivating the Path of Intimacy or any such spiritual couples nonsense with Wei Jie…

However, that rascal clearly lacked any sense of upholding the sect’s reputation. He did not seem the least bit bothered by the odd stares, even nodding and smiling in acknowledgment, his handsome brows and starry eyes exuding an understated, chaste pride – as if kissing his master was an honor to be celebrated.

His demeanor… was truly well-suited for a disciple of the Path of Intimacy!

Xiao Xiao regretted not perishing in those vermilion flames of true fire, sparing herself this current mortification before everyone’s incredulous gazes.

However, the first thing she needed to do now was tear out that blabbermouth fox’s tongue.

Did the sly fox think she could hide behind Tang Youshu and everything would be fine?

In a flash, Xiao Xiao shot forward and seized Yu Ling’er’s fox ear, yanking her shoulder to pull the fox out from behind her shield.

This time, both Xiao Xiao and Yu Ling’er were stunned.

In the past, they would often playfully tussle like this, but Xiao Xiao could rarely catch Yu Ling’er.

After all, the slippery fox was far nimbler than humans, utterly outclassing Xiao Xiao in speed and agility contests.

Yet just now, Yu Ling’er seemed completely unable to defend herself as Xiao Xiao effortlessly seized her in the blink of an eye.

Disbelieving, Yu Ling’er struggled free and attempted to flee again, only for her tail to be firmly grasped by Xiao Xiao’s next movement.

Yu Ling’er blinked her large eyes, her mouth half-open as she exclaimed, “Xiao Xiao, did you practice some lightning talisman technique? How are your movements so fast now?”

Xiao Xiao had practiced no such lightning talisman. She hadn’t even circulated her spiritual energy – her increased speed seemed to come naturally. Moreover, Yu Ling’er’s previously dizzying, elusive movements now appeared sluggish to Xiao Xiao’s eyes, making her easy to catch…

Could this be… due to those five phoenix emblems now attached to her body? Thinking this, Xiao Xiao lightly tapped her toes and felt her body become extraordinarily agile. In the next instant, she had leapt up into the trees!

Not only Xiao Xiao, but everyone was astonished to see her leap into the branches. As for Yu Ling’er, she hurriedly backed away from under the tree, glancing up at Xiao Xiao with a meaningful look as she called out, “Hey, come down quickly! You forgot… you only have that one robe on! Your sash is about to loosen!”

In the next moment, Wei Jie had already jumped up, pulling Xiao Xiao down before tying her sash into a secure knot with a grim expression. He then asked, “Where are your clothes?”

At the mention of clothes, Xiao Xiao suddenly gasped in realization – her bundle containing her clothes had been flung away when she fell into the ravine!

That bundle also held her thick tome of the sect’s secret manuals!

Recalling this, she lost all interest in clarifying the sect’s scandal or investigating her newfound agility. She urgently searched the area based on her memory of where the bundle had fallen.

Strangely, although she clearly remembered it being flung near the edge of this cliff, she could not find it no matter how hard she looked!

After circling the area fruitlessly, Xiao Xiao worried that her bundle, like Wei Jie’s wine gourds, had accidentally fallen into the Phoenix Ravine below.

But when she considered descending to search, she realized the narrow crevice she had fallen through had completely vanished, leaving a flat surface where there had previously been a precipitous drop.

Xiao Xiao lowered her gaze to the five colored phoenix emblems encircling her neck like a necklace, thinking: Could it be that since the phoenixes emerged with me, the Phoenix Ravine has disappeared?

What did these five phoenixes sticking to her body actually want? Did they simply grow weary of the hidden realm and wish to venture out into the world with her?

From this perspective, she was even more audacious than Wei Jie, who had only brought out a single crow… no, a black phoenix chick.

She, on the other hand, had taken the whole set of five phoenixes with her. However, the manifestation of these five phoenixes in the world – would it bring fortune or calamity? She had no idea.

These phoenixes were the bane of the demon bead. Now that Xiao Xiao had five phoenix emblems attached, she could clearly sense the demon bead’s aura being suppressed to the point where it dared not even breathe.

According to Wei Jie, when Xiao Xiao was on the verge of perishing earlier, the demon bead had intended to abandon her, only to be forced back by his sword’s threat. Given its current predicament under the phoenixes’ talons, Xiao Xiao could well imagine the demon bead incessantly cursing Wei Jie with vulgar insults.

Xiao Xiao’s main concern now was the whereabouts of her missing bundle. Had it truly been left behind in the deserted Phoenix Ravine realm? If so, how could she retrieve it?

Chapter 66

If it were another time, Xiao Xiao might have admired the ceremonious nature of the celestial birds – they even performed such an elaborate dance before partaking in their grand feast.

But right now, she only wanted to preserve her life. So when the five phoenixes attacked, Xiao Xiao wielded the Heaven’s Defiance sword to block their assault.

In actuality, the phoenixes’ bodies were even smaller than mountain grouses, making them exceptionally agile when taking flight or evading. Suddenly, the violet and yellow phoenixes opened their beaks and spewed blazing flames towards Xiao Xiao.

It seemed that since they could not approach her directly, they did not mind roasting her with their fire before eating her.

Xiao Xiao had already become skilled in water techniques, so as the flames rushed towards her, she had already summoned water from the nearby stream to erect a water shield.

The summoned water was mixed with those luminous little fish, causing the entire water shield to sparkle like crystal.

However, the tongues of fire surged forth, instantly boiling the water and releasing the aroma of roasted fish in an instant.

At this life-or-death moment, the slightly hungry Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but swallow some saliva upon smelling the fish. The phoenixes, unable to resist, also began pecking at the fragrant roasted fish.

Seizing the opportunity while the phoenixes were preoccupied with eating, Xiao Xiao held her sword horizontally in front of her chest and attempted to negotiate with the celestial birds, “If you love roasted fish so much, I can buy you some carp and sea bass to roast and eat. They are deliciously fresh, much better than me!”

Unfortunately, these phoenixes had likely been dwelling in this ravine for a long time, subsisting solely on the fish, so they must have grown weary of it. They showed no interest in Xiao Xiao’s proposal whatsoever.

After eating a few roasted fish, the unsatisfied phoenixes resumed their graceful dance steps, forming a semicircle with piercing gazes as they closed in on Xiao Xiao.

Although water subdues fire, the flames spewed by the phoenixes were not ordinary flames, but the vermilion flames of true fire.

Xiao Xiao’s water shield was utterly ineffective against the surging tongues of flame. Even if erected, it would only serve to entertain the phoenixes before their grand feast.

When she saw the violet and yellow phoenixes stretching their necks, ready to breathe fire again, Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth and took out two fire-controlling talismans…

However, she had no confidence in them at all!

Perhaps due to her yin constitution, she could easily control water, wind, and other such elements without obstruction. But she had always struggled to manipulate fire. And the vermilion flames of true fire breathed by these phoenixes were simply an unrealistic goal to control.

But now, with her life hanging by a thread, Xiao Xiao could not be bothered with trivialities. Just as the two phoenixes stretched their necks to spew flames at her again, she gritted her teeth and flung out the two silver fire-controlling talismans.

Xiao Xiao focused her spiritual energy and silently recited the incantation. But as usual, although propelled by her spiritual power, the two talismans merely fluttered in the air like leaves caught in the wind, offering no resistance before swiftly melting into pools of molten silver under the intense flames…

Xiao Xiao had never expected them to be effective. She had only used them to divert the phoenixes’ attention.

After throwing out the fire talismans, she leapt onto the Heaven’s Defiance sword, maneuvering the divine blade to swiftly ascend out of the narrow ravine.

As the demon bead had said, the only way to deal with these celestial birds was to flee quickly. She could only rely on the sword’s speed to escape the phoenixes’ lair.

Propelled by her spiritual power, the Heaven’s Defiance shot forth like an arrow loosed from its bow, bursting out of the ravine.

But when it came to flight, who could outpace the king of birds?

Soon, the five multicolored celestial birds unfurled their wings and long flowing tails in pursuit of the sword-riding Xiao Xiao!

The lingering demonic aura from the snake’s possession on her body was too enticing, arousing an insatiable craving in the five phoenixes.

When Xiao Xiao looked back, she saw that although the phoenixes were originally no larger than grouses, their bodies rapidly expanded as they gave chase with outspread wings.

In a moment, the enlarged phoenixes were as enormous as giant eagles, extending their sharp, elongated talons to viciously swoop down on Xiao Xiao.

Fortunately, the Heaven’s Defiance sword under Xiao Xiao’s control was too nimble, evading the phoenixes’ deadly talons several times.

Unable to capture their prey, the phoenixes were toyed with and spun around by Xiao Xiao, seeming to grow infuriated. They circled in the air once more, letting out an earth-shaking cry, then the five phoenixes glared with blazing crimson eyes and simultaneously breathed forth five-colored flames towards Xiao Xiao.

The overwhelming torrent of flames left Xiao Xiao with nowhere to evade. The Heaven’s Defiance sword, its primary duty to protect its master, shielded Xiao Xiao from the bulk of the blazing flames. However, Xiao Xiao’s body was still scorched, instantly enveloped in the raging inferno.

The agony of the vermilion flames of true fire searing her flesh felt like being doused in boiling oil, with searing heat penetrating into every pore. The excruciating pain caused Xiao Xiao to cry out in anguish as she plummeted from the air.

As she fell, the surrounding winds further fanned the flames, completely engulfing Xiao Xiao in a fireball.

Was this the moment when she would truly burn to death? If she died, would anyone grieve and miss this orphan girl?

In that instant, the image that flashed through Xiao Xiao’s mind was Wei Jie. He… would certainly be heartbroken and saddened if he learned of his unruly master’s such a wretched demise, right?

Amidst the searing agony, Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth once more and silently recited the fire-controlling incantation…

This time, perhaps due to the dire life-or-death circumstances, the previously ineffective fire-controlling incantation seemed to resonate with the surrounding heat as each syllable passed through Xiao Xiao’s lips, causing a faint trembling…

Just as Xiao Xiao was about to lose consciousness from the pain, she suddenly felt the raging flames leave her body.

She forced her eyes open and realized that the vermilion flames of true fire that had been scorching her were now scattered like dispersed fireworks around her. Gradually, the falling sparks were steadily controlled by the incantation, forming five floating fireballs resembling blooming fire lotuses surrounding Xiao Xiao.

The phoenixes also seemed shocked that their true flames had been brought under control by a human. They flapped their wings again, letting out piercing cries, intending to swoop down and tear her apart with their talons.

Seeing the five phoenixes charging once more, Xiao Xiao mustered her strength and waved her arms, guiding the five fireballs floating around her body to shoot directly towards the phoenixes.

In an instant, their feathers ignited upon contact with the flames, causing the phoenixes to burst into a raging inferno as they let out shrill cries.

By now, Xiao Xiao had been scorched into charred cinders by the flames, losing consciousness from the agony. She plummeted from the air, no longer able to control her injured body.

The shrill cries of the five phoenixes circling in the sky had already awoken Tang Youshu, Yu Ling’er, and the others sleeping near the cave on the rear mountains.

Raising their heads, they saw the previously dim sky illuminated by the multicolored flames breathed by the phoenixes, allowing them to witness Xiao Xiao being besieged by the five celestial birds.

Yu Ling’er urgently called out to Xiao Xiao in a loud voice, hoping to pull her out of the phoenixes’ encirclement, but alas, she could not fly that high. All she could do was watch helplessly as Xiao Xiao was engulfed in flames, only to retaliate successfully by setting the five phoenixes ablaze before they all fell from the sky together.

Without needing Yu Ling’er’s command, several physically robust male foxes immediately transformed and darted like lightning towards where Xiao Xiao had fallen.

However, Xiao Xiao and the five burning phoenixes fell once again into the depths of the narrow ravine.

When the foxes arrived, seeing Xiao Xiao plummet over the sheer cliff face, they prepared to leap down after her.

But in the next moment, they were repelled by an invisible barrier!

At that moment, a dark blur flashed past, effortlessly breaking through the unseen restraints to plunge into the ravine alongside the falling Xiao Xiao…

Propelling himself with spiritual power, the dark blur swiftly caught up to the plummeting Xiao Xiao, scooping the charred girl into his embrace. He then erected a qi shield to strike the ground, greatly reducing the impact of their descent.

This dark blur was none other than Wei Jie, who had rushed back after completing his delivery of the lost page.

From down the mountain, he had witnessed the intense aerial battle and immediately hurried upwards.

However, he had still arrived a step too late, only managing to dive into the ravine and catch the falling Xiao Xiao.

As the two landed, Wei Jie’s handsome face was taut with tension. Not daring to jostle the charred girl, he could only call out urgently, “Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao, wake up!”

But Xiao Xiao remained unconscious, appearing lifeless!

At that moment, something luminous seemed to be pushing its way out of Xiao Xiao’s mouth.

With his fox demoness bloodline, Wei Jie’s sensitivity to demonic auras was keener than ordinary people’s.

As he sensed the overwhelming demonic aura washing over him, he realized it was the demon bead that had long been parasitically possessing Xiao Xiao’s body.

Previously, it had stubbornly refused to leave. But now that its host was hanging by a thread, unable to persist much longer, it was preparing to abandon her.

While the demon bead’s departure was a good thing, it could not happen at this moment!

Without the demon bead’s demonic nature, Xiao Xiao’s severely damaged body would be unable to hold on.

Thinking this, Wei Jie grabbed the Heaven’s Defiance sword beside Xiao Xiao and pointed its tip at her luminous mouth, threatening menacingly, “If you dare come out, I swear I’ll cleave you in two with this sword!”

As he spoke, his spiritual energy pressed against the sword’s tip, causing the demon bead to let out a pained wail. In the next moment, the light in Xiao Xiao’s mouth vanished back down her throat.

Wei Jie knew that the demon bead had been forced back into Xiao Xiao’s body. However, if her consciousness did not awaken, she would only become the demon bead’s puppet, preserving this charred shell of a body…

Thinking this, he unsheathed a dagger and sliced open his own wrist, dripping his rapidly healing blood into Xiao Xiao’s mouth and splashing it over her body.

Then he sat cross-legged again, circulating his internal energy in preparation to transfer his internal pellet to Xiao Xiao.

However, with Xiao Xiao’s severe injuries, if he gave her his internal pellet, she might immediately absorb and deplete it, leaving none for him to take back.

For a cultivator, the complete loss of one’s internal pellet was a devastating blow. Even through further cultivation, the resulting void would cause irreparable damage, making it extremely difficult to reach the pinnacle again.

Wei Jie could not be bothered with such concerns. He lowered his head, preparing to pry open Xiao Xiao’s jaw to transfer his internal pellet to her.

But when he attempted to channel his internal pellet into her mouth, it would not enter – like the demon bead, an internal pellet required a living host. If the person had already perished, it was impossible to transfer it to them.

Wei Jie stared wide-eyed, his hand trembling as he reached for Xiao Xiao’s nostrils, but could not detect even a faint breath…

Wei Jie refused to believe it, lowering his head again to press his lips tightly against her charred mouth, desperately trying to transfer his internal pellet to her, but to no avail.

The once lively and scolding little master now lay motionless like a lump of charcoal.

Wei Jie clung to her lips, waiting in vain for her to open her eyes and loudly berate him as a licentious rascal for taking liberties with her.

His eyes darkened as he sliced open his other wrist, letting the hot blood gush freely into her mouth, only for it to trickle back out from the corners of her lips. It seemed no amount of fresh blood could revive this slumbering girl.

Wei Jie dared not jostle her forcefully, for she appeared so fragile and shattered, as if she might crumble into pieces at the slightest touch.

In this moment, Wei Jie felt an overwhelming hatred towards himself. Why had he escorted the lost page away initially? If he had been present, he would never have allowed Xiao Xiao to face such peril alone…

But no amount of regret could change anything now. This girl, lying with closed eyes and no breath, would never seriously console him again, telling him not to belittle himself, that even as a half-demonic child, he had the potential to become a cultivator in her eyes. She would never secretly gaze at him again, her face flushing red as she stubbornly refused to admit her feelings…

This abrupt, unexpected parting of life and death was simply too difficult to accept.

Wei Jie even wondered if she was deliberately punishing him? Punishing him for that previous parting when she had closed her eyes expectantly, yet he had hardened his heart and turned to leave without kissing her?

If only she would open her eyes, he would surely tell her that the reason he did not kiss her then was not to tease her. Rather, he feared that if their lips met, he would be unable to leave her side ever again…

Thinking this, the gloomy man who had seemed as unyielding as dark storm clouds let out a soft laugh, “Xiao Xiao, are you trying to scare me? You’re putting on quite an act. I, someone who has never known fear, am now utterly terrified… Come now, open your eyes, won’t you? I’ll do anything you ask, just don’t remain so still… Cui Xiao Xiao! Open your eyes for me!”

By the end, Wei Jie could no longer maintain his composure, letting out an anguished roar. His purple eyes had darkened to an inky hue, and a trail of blood-tinged tears slowly slid from his eyes, dripping onto Xiao Xiao’s lips…

The blood tears of a fox demoness are droplets of her very life essence, possessing the ability to turn decay into miracles. However, fox demonesses are heartless, rarely shedding such blood tears.

Yet at this moment, Wei Jie’s tears were also infused with droplets of his own hot blood…

Just as he hung his head in helpless sobs, he heard a cracking sound. Slowly raising his gaze, he saw that Xiao Xiao’s charred exterior was developing fine cracks, gradually spreading across her body…

Seeing her undergo such changes, Wei Jie dared not touch her, for she resembled a fragile, blackened doll that might shatter into pieces at any moment.

“Xiao Xiao!” In that instant, Wei Jie felt as if his heart had been scorched by raging flames. He could not help but call out her name once more, his voice thunderous.

As if awakened by his voice, Xiao Xiao finally let out a faint, low moan and coughed painfully. This single cough was impactful – the fine cracks instantly shattered, the charred shell crumbling and falling away like broken porcelain shards…

Wei Jie’s eyes widened as he stared fixatedly at the places where the charred shell fell away, revealing tender, fair skin beneath.

As the blackened exterior shed away, Wei Jie realized that Xiao Xiao did not appear to be burned at all. In fact, her features now seemed even more exquisitely beautiful than before.

If the previous Xiao Xiao could be described as a pure, lovely beauty, then the Xiao Xiao who now fluttered her eyes open exuded an indescribable, bewitching allure with each glance…

However, Xiao Xiao seemed somewhat dazed as she blinked at the suddenly appeared Wei Jie, wondering: Am I…dreaming? Why am I dreaming of this bastard Wei Jie again…

Seeing that she was unharmed, the weight on Wei Jie’s heart finally lifted, but he was still too shaken from the extreme grief to react. He only stared at her with his purple eyes, anxiously confirming that she had indeed awoken.

Seeing his silence, Xiao Xiao thought she must be dreaming. Otherwise, why would that habitually arrogant man have tear stains of blood on his face?

Wei Jie, cry? Of course not! So this had to be a dream!

However, even if it was a dream, was the surnamed Wei not being too audacious? Xiao Xiao gazed at him in a daze, unable to resist asking, “Why…are you so close to me?”

Wei Jie lowered his purple eyes obediently and replied, “I was preparing to transfer my internal pellet to you…”

As witnessed by the heavens, he had no intentions of being coy. Every word was a sincere desire to save her life.

However, the man was too devilishly handsome. Every gaze and innocent expression seemed like an attempt at seduction.

Still dazed from the scorching of the vermilion flames of true fire, Xiao Xiao seemed to have misunderstood. She widened her eyes and made an unfounded accusation, “You always tease but never follow through, what kind of man are you!”

What Xiao Xiao said was true, but it only referred to scenarios in her dreams where he would provocatively tease her yet never continue further. Recalling those instances where he would tantalize her in her dreams only to leave her hanging felt like being scorched by flames, then tossed into a cold pool – it was truly vexing!

Wei Jie narrowed his eyes slightly, naturally recalling the regret of not kissing her during their previous parting. He seemed quite sincere as he tried to explain, “Last time, I thought that… um…”

In the next moment, his dreamily licentious little master actually grew impatient. She hooked her slender arm around his neck, pulled him down, and brazenly captured his lips with her own…

Since this was a dream, how dare this wretched man babble on so nonsensically? She would turn the tables on him!

How strange, why did she taste a sweet yet bloody flavor in her mouth? This sensation of entangled lips… could this dream be too realistic?

If Wei Jie did not know what to do next, he should stop calling himself a man!

Soon, he took control, forcefully embracing Xiao Xiao as he fervently savored the cherry lips he had longed to kiss for so long.

Xiao Xiao was enveloped in his warm embrace, her soft, cat-like form pressed against his muscular chest as she let out muffled moans, entangled in fervent kisses…

However, in her muddled state, while enjoying this dreamlike beauty, Xiao Xiao also felt a nagging sense that something was amiss.

In a daze, she seemed to hear the distant calls of phoenixes echoing from the heavens. The cries pierced through her hazy mind like a crack in a dam, causing the memories of her fierce battle with the phoenixes before being scorched unconscious to come rushing back!

Recalling this, Xiao Xiao abruptly pushed the man away and stared at her surroundings in bewilderment. Upon confirming this was not a dream, she urgently asked him, “You… how are you here?”

Wei Jie’s breathing was still uneven as his gaze trailed down Xiao Xiao’s bewitchingly flushed face. He replied absentmindedly, “I came back to find you after delivering the lost page…”

Xiao Xiao felt his purple eyes darken even further, so she followed his downward gaze to examine herself…

Previously, her battle with the five phoenixes had been so intense that she was scorched by the vermilion flames of true fire they breathed, causing her to lose consciousness from the searing agony.

Now that she had awakened, she could see the lingering scorch marks on her body, though some of the charred shell had already cracked and fallen away, revealing her newly reborn skin beneath…

But that was not the main issue! The vermilion flames of true fire scorched everything in their path, leaving no trace. She had been utterly charred, so how could even a shred of clothing remain?

In the next moment, Xiao Xiao let out a shriek louder than the phoenixes’ cries!

She frantically flailed to cover herself, but then realized her actions were still improper.

Finally, she came to her senses and used her hands to block Wei Jie’s unblinking, roaming eyes as she ferociously demanded, “What…what are you looking at?!”

With his eyes obstructed, Wei Jie’s mouth curved into a smile, revealing a gleaming fang as he said with lingering relish, “Nothing much, just a snowy landscape with a glimpse of jade peeking through… Mmph…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Xiao’s flustered hand had already clamped over his audacious mouth!

If possible, Xiao Xiao wished she had truly perished in those raging flames, rather than losing all feminine dignity only to be mocked by this rascal!

However… she also noticed the reddened tear stains on Wei Jie’s cheeks and couldn’t help lowering her hand slightly, wrapping her arms around herself as she asked in astonished hesitation, “Wei Jie, were you…crying just now?”

Wei Jie showed no intention of admitting it. He only embraced his regained little master once more, silently and forcefully rubbing his tear-stained cheek against her neck.

Xiao Xiao was exceptionally intelligent. She realized that earlier, while being surrounded by the five phoenixes, she had already been scorched into charred cinders, the pain so excruciating that she lost consciousness.

How could she have simply opened her eyes, reborn with a snow-white, tender complexion?

Someone must have done something to revive her!

Thinking this, she pushed Wei Jie away again and examined him closely, naturally noticing his two slashed wrists!

Just looking at those gaping, bloody wounds on his wrists made Xiao Xiao’s heart skip a beat in alarm!

“You madman! Don’t you know you could die from excessive blood loss?” Saying this, she fussed about, trying to find something to bind his wrists.

However, Wei Jie only smiled and kissed her forehead, saying softly, “It’s fine, they’ll heal soon. Just don’t scare me like that again…”

Xiao Xiao was stunned because after the five burning phoenixes had circled in the sky, consuming themselves in their own flames until nothing remained, they had inexplicably been reborn from the raging inferno. The five petite, exquisite phoenixes now landed opposite Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie.

Wei Jie removed his long outer robe and helped Xiao Xiao put it on, then pulled her to her feet as he warily watched the phoenixes.

However, these birds now seemed gripped by fear and frenzy. They urgently shuffled in tight circles, flapping their wings while even pressing their necks and a wing to the ground, as if kowtowing in respect!

Xiao Xiao was perplexed. Just moments ago they had danced around her like she was to be their feast, but now that Wei Jie appeared, they were all prostrating docilely. What was going on?

At that moment, the lead crimson phoenix let out a long call, and the others echoed in response. They then took flight again, circling above and crying out repeatedly, as if beckoning Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie to follow them deeper into the ravine…

However, Xiao Xiao currently felt pained just looking at the birds and had no desire to follow their lead.

Wei Jie scooped her up and leapt towards the cliff top, but some kind of barrier seemed to prevent them from breaking through, no matter how forcefully they tried.

Chapter 65 

The old male fox looked at Xiao Xiao with some confusion, “You’ve lived here for a long time, why are you still asking me?”

Xiao Xiao let out another “hearty” laugh and then flattered him with blinking eyes, “I’m too young and haven’t cultivated on Lingshan for very long, so how could I possibly know as much as a well-traveled elder like yourself?”

The old male fox was flattered and felt rather proud of himself. As he often roamed far and wide, he did know the legends about the phoenixes on Demon Rock Cliff, so he said, “It’s just a legend that phoenixes once refined themselves here, nesting on the rear mountains of Demon Rock Cliff, laying phoenix eggs protected by thorns, but no one knows when they might hatch… However, these are just ancient folktales passed down. I’ve never actually seen any phoenixes flying out from Demon Rock Cliff.”

Hearing that it was a folktale, Xiao Xiao understood how she should respond. When she approached the young princess again, she adopted the aloof and gracious demeanor befitting a sect leader, neither humble nor arrogant, “As cultivators, we should not be tainted by mundane matters. Since the princess has taken a liking to this mountain and constructed a residence here, we shall take our leave and seek another place to cultivate…”

However, this Princess Yongning was warm-hearted and generous. Upon hearing that they had long been cultivating on the rear mountains, how could she drive away such celestial beings? So she also candidly said, “I will be getting married soon. I’ve only come here to pass a few days before my wedding. I won’t be staying long, so how could I displace you cultivators from the rear mountains? I’ve heard from the servants that there are no paths connecting the front and rear mountains. You can continue cultivating undisturbed on the rear mountains. I’ll instruct the workers and guards not to disturb you!”

After saying this, she excitedly asked Xiao Xiao to lead the way, hoping to catch a glimpse of the phoenixes on the rear mountains as well.

Before Xiao Xiao could politely decline, the princess’s guards hurriedly intervened, “Princess, you absolutely must not go! The rear mountains are desolate and filled with ferocious beasts. If the king learns that we allowed you to venture into such danger, we would be punished for nine generations!”

The guards and maidservants then knelt down in a flurry.

The young princess seemed accustomed to such kneeling and pleas. She silently sighed, then instructed her servants to present boxes of pastries and preserved fruits that she regularly enjoyed, gifting them to Xiao Xiao and the Talisman Sect disciples. She repeatedly asked Xiao Xiao to inform her if any phoenixes appeared on the rear mountains so she could observe them from the Phoenix Viewing Pavilion on the front mountain.

After the young princess finally departed by carriage, Xiao Xiao turned to see Yu Ling’er eyeing the pastry boxes hungrily and immediately slapped her fox paw away, “How dare you eat the Prince Can’s niece’s gifts! What if they were poisoned with a puppet venom?”

Reminded of this, Yu Ling’er shuddered violently and hurriedly tossed the pastry boxes onto the ground.

Knowing Yu Ling’er must be hungry, Tang Youshu said to Xiao Xiao, “Master Ancestor, please lead us to the residence on the rear mountains so we can settle in. It must be covered in dust after being uninhabited for so long. I’ll do some basic cleaning first, then prepare a meal for you all.”

It seemed he had taken Xiao Xiao’s words to the young princess at face value and truly believed the Talisman Sect’s premises were located on the rear mountains.

Xiao Xiao had previously vowed to Master Tang Youshu on his deathbed that she would never lie again. But now, she had lied again, deceiving her own beloved master.

How could she face Master Tang Youshu and bear to see the disappointment on his face?

The lies kept piling up like patched rags, and she could only stubbornly continue this falsehood she had woven.

As a result, Cui Xiao Xiao led Tang Youshu and the fox tribe, step by difficult step, through the dense thickets and brambles, until they finally arrived at the mountain cave where her master had previously guided her cultivation on the rear mountains.

At this time, the rear mountains were still considered forbidden grounds with no stone paths, pavilions, or stone tables like two hundred years later. The journey was extremely arduous.

Most dreadfully, when they reached the stone cave on the rear mountains, Yu Ling’er’s fox eyes widened, and everyone fell into an eerie silence.

Yu Ling’er stared at the vine and cobweb-covered, pitch-black mountain cave for a while in disbelief before finally picking up a small stone and tossing it inside to test the depths.

The next moment, countless bats came fluttering out, startling the timid fox who let out a yelp and clung to Tang Youshu’s neck, refusing to let go.

After regaining her composure, Yu Ling’er asked Xiao Xiao with tearful eyes, “You… inherited the Talisman Sect’s lineage from your master here in this place?”

Adhering to her skills of shameless fortitude, Xiao Xiao dragged out her response, “Well… it has been abandoned for too long, so this cave has become rather desolate. But with a bit of cleaning, it will still be quite cozy and livable.”

Yu Ling’er immediately shook her head. Even as a fox, she was a refined demoness with certain standards! She would never live in such a cold and damp mountain cave, no matter what.

She finally understood why, despite Xiao Xiao’s capabilities, the Talisman Sect had remained unheralded and unable to attract disciples.

Without a paulownia tree, how could a golden phoenix be lured!

With the Talisman Sect’s shabby state, poorer than even a beggar’s den, where could they recruit disciples?

Thinking this, Yu Ling’er couldn’t help but sigh, “We really placed too much hope earlier. Why did we bother using invisibility talismans to sneak away? You should have just led those people who insisted on becoming disciples into this mountain cave and let them live here for a couple of nights. Any who remained determined would truly be fated disciples sincerely seeking to join you. You absolutely must accept such predestined disciples!”

Xiao Xiao actually felt that Yu Ling’er made a lot of sense.

If she had known she would end up weaving lies that would lead them to spending the night in this mountain cave, Xiao Xiao would have definitely brought that group along.

At the very least, she wouldn’t be lacking readily available labor when clearing vines and gathering firewood now!

But there was no use crying over spilled milk. Xiao Xiao thought about it and decided she was too lazy to even bother gathering grass. She told Tang Youshu and the others, “Let’s go, this place is uninhabitable. We’ll head back down the mountain.”

However, Tang Youshu hesitated and reminded her, “But… didn’t you say tomorrow is the proper day for making offerings to the Talisman Sect’s ancestors? If we go down the mountain to find lodgings, we’ll have to travel at least a couple hundred li there and back. With all that back and forth, wouldn’t we miss the auspicious timing for the offerings?”

Xiao Xiao was stumped again. She couldn’t tell Young Master Tang the truth that the ancestor she intended to make offerings to was actually him, who would pass away two hundred years in the future tomorrow.

Moreover, there were no graves on Demon Rock Cliff two hundred years ago where she could make offerings.

It was already too late to hastily construct a grave overnight. If they really waited until tomorrow, who would she be making offerings to?

Master, your teachings are truly profound. This lying has indeed depleted my virtue, disciple has patched up this tattered lie to the point where her mouth has gone soft, utterly unable to mend it further.

That night, they still remained on the rear mountains, building a campfire to rough it through the night before making offerings to the esteemed Talisman Sect’s ancestors the next day at dawn!

Since Wei Jie was not around, dinner was prepared by Tang Youshu. After one taste of the fish soup, Xiao Xiao nearly vomited from the nausea.

It turned out that when Tang Youshu cleaned the fish, he had accidentally ruptured the gall bladder, causing the entire pot of fish soup to be tinged with a bitter, unpalatable flavor.

This indescribable, wondrous taste momentarily reminded Xiao Xiao of how her late master would occasionally cook for them with similar results back in his later years.

Should she mention it? Her master’s culinary skills seemed to have remained stagnant over the past two centuries!

For a while, everyone missed Wei Jie. Although the young master appeared carefree and lazy, he had prepared nearly every meal, whether roasting, braising, or making soup, all with exquisite flavors.

It was unknown if he had reached the Wei Family ancestral home and when he would return to find them…

Thus, on the first night of the Talisman Sect disciples’ return to make ancestral offerings, they spent it in the cold, dreary rain without food or proper shelter.

The ground was too damp, and their bedding had all been left behind in the carriage when they had slipped away using invisibility talismans.

So Xiao Xiao did not sleep at all. She only moved some of the campfire embers closer and silently read through the Talisman Sect’s secret manuals by herself.

Meanwhile, Yu Ling’er and Tang Youshu studied books and characters together, chattering merrily as if quite enjoying themselves.

Xiao Xiao was now making up for the section detailing when her master had first arrived at Demon Rock Cliff alongside Wei Jie.

At that time, after losing his mother, Wei Jie had become resentful of the world and deeply demonic. However, he seemed aware of his tendency to not recognize even close relatives while in his demonic rages, so he would always seek out unpopulated areas whenever an episode struck.

When Wei Jie initially came to Demon Rock Cliff, he had once secluded himself in closed-door meditation on the remote rear mountains but mysteriously disappeared. Tang Youshu searched everywhere but could not find Wei Jie. When he finally saw his master again, Wei Jie was covered in charred burns all over his body.

Fortunately, he possessed fox demoness bloodline which allowed him to slowly recover from the full-body burns over time…

When Tang Youshu recorded this section, he seemed to vaguely imply that the ordeal had also affected his master’s mind, as he wrote that after surviving this tribulation, his master’s temperament became gentle and amiable, developing a penchant for appreciating flora and fauna. He even kept a pet bird…

Reading this, Xiao Xiao broke into a grin, curious to see what kind of bird Wei Jie had kept… Huh? A crow?

Why would he keep a crow? Could it be that he intended to fatten it up as a drinking snack?

However, after the brief smile, Xiao Xiao couldn’t help but shudder – by taking over Wei Jie’s destiny, she was truly stepping into one pitfall after another. If Wei Jie had truly faced some ordeal on the rear mountains, did that mean she would have to endure it in his place? If it was some other tribulation, perhaps it would be fine. But this fiery, full-body burning trial… she definitely couldn’t withstand that!

Thinking this, Xiao Xiao became even more determined – time to make tracks! These rear mountains two hundred years ago were certainly no nurturing environment!

With that thought, she casually stuffed the secret manuals into the bundle she carried and pretended to meditate while surreptitiously observing what the others were doing.

As always, Yu Ling’er loved to sleep in. Tang Youshu had retrieved two small cushions from his backpack, giving one to his Master Ancestor Xiao Xiao, and placing the other on a large boulder.

Ling’er had now reverted to her original fox form, curled up into a fluffy white ball as she slept comfortably on the small cushion.

Tang Youshu was also leaning against the large boulder, seated as he slept. The little fox had unwittingly snuggled her fluffy body against the side of Young Master Tang’s head, who contentedly nuzzled against her soft fur, the two sleeping as innocently as children!

After the other fox tribe members found spots to settle in for sleep, the previously meditating Xiao Xiao suddenly opened her eyes.

She had long made up her mind to seize an opportunity to slip away.

Now that her towering lie could no longer be maintained, when else would she have a chance to escape if not now?

As for her excuse, she had already thought it through. She would leave a message for Tang Youshu, saying that she missed her master terribly, unable to bear the anguish of longing, fearing excessive grief during the memorial offerings. So she had no choice but to leave early.

As for whether Tang Youshu and the others would remain here waiting for Wei Jie or seek another place, that would be up to them.

Although Xiao Xiao felt a million reluctances towards leaving her master, she also knew she had to depart!

Now, under the cover of the dark, moonless night, was the perfect opportunity to escape.

So she left another farewell message on her meditation cushion and then silently applied an invisibility talisman before slipping away from the campsite.

She had previously frequented these rear mountains with her master and fellow disciples. According to her master, all of Lingshan’s spiritual energy converged on these rear mountains, making it an ideal place for cultivation, though he had never explicitly explained why.

However, in this era, the rear mountains were densely forested with no sign of the small paths or wooden signposts from her previous life. So while invisible, Xiao Xiao wandered like a lost spirit… becoming hopelessly lost amidst the layered mountain thickets!

The night was too dark, and even the stars in the sky were not very bright, making it impossible to discern the cardinal directions. Xiao Xiao circled around for a long while but still could not find her way out of this maze-like tangle of thorns.

She hadn’t eaten much for dinner and was now starving. Finally feeling dejected, she sat down where she was to wait for the sun to rise before trying to find an exit.

At that moment, a faint rustling came from the branches overhead. Xiao Xiao looked up to see a long-tailed mountain grouse perched above her.

The grouse seemed slightly smaller than the ones she normally saw, but its tail was exceptionally long. In the dim moonlight, she could not make out its feather colors, only its two eyes gleaming with an eerie light against the darkness, appearing rather unsettling…

As long as it wasn’t a man-eating monster, Xiao Xiao couldn’t be bothered to care. But in the dead of night, shouldn’t grouses be asleep? Could it be that she had disturbed this one?

As Xiao Xiao pondered this, a few more grouses landed on the same tree branch, one after another.

Xiao Xiao hadn’t even seen how they flew up, as if they had simply materialized, each dragging their excessively long tails behind them as they perched in a staggered line on the branch, tilting their necks to silently observe Xiao Xiao.

Their eyes flickered with an eerie glow, unmoving in the pitch-black night, enough to frighten the faint-hearted and startle their souls.

Xiao Xiao warily watched these birds for a while. Seeing they had no intention of closing their eyes to sleep, she couldn’t help but feel apprehensive.

Although grouses were not formidable birds of prey, shouldn’t they fear humans? For them to actively land above a person’s head and gaze at her with such an ominous aura was quite irregular.

However, as the native residents of this mountain, Xiao Xiao decided to cede them the territory and maintain some distance.

But as she stood and walked a short distance into the brambles to rest, she suddenly felt a stiffness in her neck and slowly looked up.

Not far away, up in the tall trees, around ten pairs of those same flickering, eerie eyes were glowing…

Those five grouses had somehow relocated and perched directly above her head once more.

Xiao Xiao was now convinced there was something amiss about these five birds. Grouses were not nocturnal birds of prey and had poor night vision, so they should not be able to see clearly at night to fly around so deftly.

Unless someone had disturbed and threatened them, they would never take flight so nimbly.

Yet these five grouses made not a sound, nor did their wings flap as they relocated, which defied reason!

Xiao Xiao could not help but ponder – just what were these five creatures perching above her head?

Feeling wary, Xiao Xiao silently palmed five demon-subjugating silver talismans, ready to strike first if these birds attacked.

However, the birds perched on the branch showed no signs of movement, only tilting their necks to stare unblinkingly at Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao suddenly understood Yu Ling’er’s fear of the dark and her reluctance to hunt alone in the woods.

In this dead of night, surrounded by towering mountains and dense forests, it was truly terrifying! If she had known she would encounter these five unnerving, watchful birds, Xiao Xiao might have reconsidered slipping away from her obedient grandson-disciple and the others until later.

As she thought this, Xiao Xiao suddenly turned and ran swiftly back towards the campsite – no matter what, she had to return first before attempting to slip away again at daybreak.

Just as she ran, the moon emerged from behind the obscuring clouds, bathing the land in its glow.

Xiao Xiao saw her own shadow cast on the ground, along with a cluster of large, bird-like shadows shifting and flapping wings. In the moonlight, those shadows appeared monstrously oversized, many times larger than her own.

The oppressive sensation of being pursued and hunted was truly unbearable. Unable to withstand it any longer, Xiao Xiao turned to unleash the talismans in her hand.

But before she could turn, her foot stepped onto a soft pile of fallen leaves and then suddenly gave way beneath her as the ground opened up. In her panicked state, her bundle also slipped from her grasp and flew out.

There was actually a deep ravine here! Concealed by fallen branches and leaves, it had become a natural pitfall trap, causing Xiao Xiao to plummet downwards.

In this crisis, Xiao Xiao’s consciousness instinctively called out to the Heaven’s Defiance sword, which swiftly unsheathed and halted her fall just in the nick of time, preventing her from crashing into the ground below.

When Xiao Xiao landed and looked up, she realized the spot where she had fallen through was over a hundred zhang away from her current position!

With the darkness around, she gripped Heaven’s Defiance tightly and ignited a fire talisman to examine her surroundings by the flickering light.

This ravine seemed to be shaped like an hourglass, narrow at the top but spacious below, with an expansive floor covered in overgrown weeds and unidentifiable trees. A stream also flowed through the ravine bottom in a meandering course.

As Xiao Xiao used the fire talisman to look around, the faint light seemed to awaken something in the stream, causing the water to gradually glow and illuminate the entire ravine like crystal jade.

The tiny flame in her hand became redundant, so Xiao Xiao extinguished it. As she approached the stream, she realized the glow came from countless transparent, noodle-like fish swimming within, their slender bodies emitting a brilliant radiance that lit up the entire stream.

It was then that the five grouses who had been following Xiao Xiao descended and landed beside the glowing stream.

They seemed hungry, pecking at the luminous little fish in the water. After eating one or two, their bodies appeared to undergo a transformation, with each feather beginning to glow brilliantly. The crests on their heads also gradually unfurled.

Xiao Xiao had been warily observing these birds, but her eyes widened as she suddenly realized – these didn’t resemble ordinary grouses at all. Moreover, their plumage colors differed greatly, distinctly crimson, azure, yellow, violet, and white.

Regardless of color, their forms and haughty, aloof demeanors were completely unlike any common grouse!

At that moment, the young Princess Yongning’s words about the legendary phoenixes dwelling on the rear mountains of Demon Rock Cliff flashed through Xiao Xiao’s mind…

And these “grouses” seemed to correspond perfectly with the described colors of the fabled five phoenixes. Her late master had read her excerpts from the Lunheng, which stated: “Among those resembling the phoenix, there are five colors – the crimson is the feng, the azure is the luan, the yellow is the huangque, the violet is the yinggui, and the white is the honghu.”

Currently, these five multicolored, luminous birds appeared before her, aligning precisely with the mountain’s folktales!

The question was, why had these five phoenixes been following her?

However, since these were indeed celestial phoenixes, Xiao Xiao dared not rashly attempt to subdue them with talismans. As divine birds, they naturally possessed immense pride. If she revealed hostility despite them not harming her, it would undoubtedly offend their noble dispositions.

So Xiao Xiao cleared her throat and attempted to communicate respectfully, “Esteemed celestial birds, I mean no offense. I merely lost my way, unintentionally trespassing into your domain. Once I find the exit, I will immediately depart and no longer disturb your cultivation…”

After she finished speaking, the celestial birds seemed to understand, yet they nonchalantly continued preening their feathers. They then flew down beside Xiao Xiao, their talons shifting as their long tails swayed, and they actually began performing an ethereal, mesmerizing phoenix dance!

Truly befitting of phoenixes, although smaller in stature than the legends described, their graceful, flowing movements were not the slightest bit diminished.

Xiao Xiao was momentarily entranced, lost in the shimmering iridescence of their swirling feathers and wings as they transformed their poses in an unceasing dance…

However, it was at this moment that the long-dormant demon bead suddenly spoke up, “Wake up, you dimwitted girl! If you’re going to die, don’t drag me down to be buried with you!”

Although it had not spoken for a long time, the demon bead’s tone remained acerbic and scathing, like an old, festering grudge.

Xiao Xiao snapped back to alertness and gripped Heaven’s Defiance tightly as she silently asked, “What do you mean?”

The demon bead seemed to have witnessed something horrifying as it lowered its voice, “You’ve recognized that they’re phoenixes, haven’t you? So why are you still standing there like a wooden dummy? Be careful, or they’ll make a snack out of you!”

Xiao Xiao was perplexed, “But I’ve never heard of phoenixes eating humans. As long as we don’t provoke them, aren’t they auspicious birds?”

The demon bead seemed unable to reason with Xiao Xiao and sounded somewhat agitated, “Sure, celestial birds don’t eat humans… but are you human? Have you forgotten that you’re already a half-demonic body? What’s more, you became a demon by snake possession. With my demonic aura lingering on you, that’s the favorite delicacy of these yang celestial birds! Can’t you see them getting so excited they’ve started dancing? Soon they’ll tear you apart and devour you as a midnight snack! Aimlessly dragging me out in the dead of night to get yourself killed, you foolish girl! I’ve truly suffered ill fate by ending up in your body…”

Then followed a stream of vulgar curses from the demon bead. However, it seemed to fear the phoenixes, its aura suppressed and its voice growing increasingly faint until it was nearly inaudible.

The legends did say that phoenixes favored devouring dragons and serpents!

For instance, the Buddhist sutras mention the garuda, which was said to be the previous incarnation of the phoenix, one of the eight deities of the eight celestial divisions. It was said that whenever the garuda was reborn after its five-hundred-year rebirth cycle, it would consume hundreds of giant serpents and venomous snakes daily…

Xiao Xiao’s heart skipped a beat – that’s right, she had forgotten that one side of her body had already become demonic. Now her entire arm was covered in snake scales, so in terms of taste, she probably wasn’t too different from those fish…

As if confirming the demon bead’s words, the phoenixes’ dance grew increasingly vigorous, their flapping wings filled with force, while their eyes remained fixated on Xiao Xiao.

Suddenly, the lead crimson phoenix let out a shrill, piercing call. As if obeying a command, the other four phoenixes joined in with their cries, then streaked towards Xiao Xiao like bolts of multicolored lightning!

Chapter 64 

Xiao Xiao saw Wei Jie staring at her, so she could only brazenly mumble, “Yeah, if nothing happens, I’ll naturally return. As I told you, your great-grandmaster’s memorial day is coming up, so I should go back to make offerings… Uh, Wei Jie, we’ll wait for you at Demon Rock Cliff…no, I mean at Lingshan!”

What she said was half-truth, half-falsehood. Her master Tang Youshu’s memorial day was indeed approaching, and although separated by two hundred years, she wanted to set out offering fruits and pour a jar of wine on that day to commemorate her benevolent master’s soul in heaven.

Of course, the premise was that Master Tang Youshu was not actually beside her. Otherwise, accompanying the master to make offerings to himself might just invite a heavenly thunderbolt strike.

But for now, she wanted to quickly persuade Wei Jie to leave, to put his mind at ease about going to Aged Lord Peak.

As long as Wei Jie was gone, she would have shaken off her most clingy leech, and the remaining matters would be easier to handle.

Wei Jie looked at Xiao Xiao with a lingering gaze, thinking for a moment before saying, “Alright, but when I’m not around, be extra careful with those two blockheads Tang Youshu and Yu Ling’er.”

Seeing that he did not grow suspicious, Xiao Xiao let out a silent sigh of relief and smiled in response, “I’m not completely helpless, and I don’t like stirring up conflicts either. I probably won’t cause any trouble along the way. Rest assured, we’ll head straight back to that… Lingshan and wait for you there!”

Wei Jie did not say anything further. Only when Tang Youshu turned to give Yu Ling’er some mountain apricots did he lower his gaze, fixing those alluring purple eyes that could drown the world on Xiao Xiao, and asked in a low voice, “…Are you very eager for me to leave?”

Enveloped by his piercing gaze, Xiao Xiao felt a twinge of guilt, her eyes darting between his brow and tall nose, unable to settle.

Finally, she could only blink her bright eyes, swallow silently, and force a laugh, “Why would you think that? When you leave, I’ll miss you just like your disciple…”

Hearing this, Wei Jie suddenly revealed a gleaming fang in a somewhat ominous smile, “Tang Youshu doesn’t always stare at me, so for you to miss me, it’ll have to be different from how he misses me!”

Xiao Xiao’s lips parted slightly, but she ultimately lacked the courage to ask how exactly she should miss him.

A dog’s mouth can never spit out ivory. At this moment, Xiao Xiao’s face was so close to Wei Jie’s that she had been backed against a nearby tree trunk.

She feared that if she asked, it might provide a foothold for her unruly disciple to commit the transgression of defying his master…

However, after provoking her, Wei Jie only smiled, straightened Xiao Xiao’s slightly disheveled hair by her temples, and then turned to leave…

Xiao Xiao who had been backed against the tree trunk had even unconsciously closed her eyes when Wei Jie fixed her hair.

But to her utter surprise, when she opened her eyes, that person had already strode off.

Watching his tall retreating figure, the Sect Leader Cui was momentarily dazed, her heart a mix of vexation and profound disappointment…

For a moment, she was so annoyed that she wanted to drag that provocative bastard Wei Jie back, firmly pin him to the ground, then grab his handsome chin and forcefully…

Ah! Xiao Xiao suddenly shuddered in fright, shocked at the jumbled thoughts running through her mind!

The ancients said it well, “Close association breeds similarity.” It seemed there was truth to that, for after spending all her days with that licentious embryo, her mind was filled with nothing but lewd thoughts!

Alarmed, Xiao Xiao hurriedly sat down cross-legged and began murmuring a mind-calming mantra.

After regaining her composure, she heard Tang Youshu poke his head into the carriage curtain, somewhat hesitantly saying, “Master, some of those disciples following us have not had any food. When mealtimes come around, they keep asking us for food. These past few times, Ling’er hasn’t been able to eat her fill and has to go catch sparrows in the woods with her tribesmen.”

Xiao Xiao had originally planned to use an invisibility talisman, intending to secretly slip away under the cover of night.

But upon seeing her benevolent master’s youthful and slender face, Xiao Xiao felt she could not simply abandon him to suffer alone.

Otherwise, leaving behind the kind-hearted Tang Youshu, who was inept at refusing others, would he not end up being devoured by that string of freeloading disciples trailing behind their carriage?

So when night fell, Xiao Xiao distributed invisibility talismans to Tang Youshu, Yu Ling’er, and the others.

Under the dark, moonless night, the Talisman Sect members and fox tribe acted like thieves, applying the talismans to conceal themselves. They even abandoned the expensive carriage and slipped away from that group of crazed would-be disciples, unnoticed.

Riding on the fox mounts, they rushed off at full speed, covering a great distance in one go.

Finally, exhausted to the point where they could no longer maintain the invisibility talismans, their forms gradually became visible again under the first light of dawn.

Delighted at no longer having to share their meager rations, Yu Ling’er excitedly hugged Xiao Xiao’s arm, half whining and half complaining, “Xiao Xiao, you should have thought of this sooner. Then we wouldn’t have been plagued by those people for so long. You know, these past few days I’ve only had sparrows to fill my belly. Just hearing birds chirping made me want to vomit…”

Xiao Xiao thought to herself: This method of mine was originally intended to escape you all. I just don’t know if using the same old trick again will still work?

However, Tang Youshu caught sight of a boundary marker down the mountain and exclaimed joyfully, “Master Ancestor, we’ve arrived at Demon Rock Cliff… no, I mean Lingshan!”

Xiao Xiao went over to take a look at the moss-covered stone tablet, which indeed had the three words “Demon Rock Cliff” carved into it.

The old male fox guide proudly declared from the side, “I often roam far and wide, I won’t get lost even without a map. How’s that? Have we arrived?”

At this, Xiao Xiao felt rather awkward. She had occasionally mentioned some past details about Lingshan to Tang Youshu and Yu Ling’er before.

Such as how there was a pool of white lotuses outside the window of their residence, breathtakingly beautiful. Or how the Buddha’s palm-shaped pavilion atop the mountain peak was perfect for stargazing and attaining an extraordinary sense of serenity when lying within it amidst the mundane daily routines.

Originally, Xiao Xiao thought it didn’t matter since she would never actually come to Lingshan.

But never did she expect that by some twist of fate, she had actually led the Talisman Sect members to this place she had randomly claimed to be “Lingshan”. If they climbed the mountain only to find a desolate wilderness, would Tang Youshu not discover and be disappointed that his Master Ancestor was a bald-faced liar?

At that moment, Xiao Xiao was also urged forward by Yu Ling’er and found herself stepping onto the dilapidated stone steps leading up Demon Rock Cliff.

As she trod upon the crumbling steps, Xiao Xiao raised her head towards the gurgling stream beside the mountain path.

The flowing waters here accompanied their journey, rather similar to Lingshan!

Xiao Xiao took a few more steps forward and noticed a huge boulder by the side of the path, its round shape resembling a Buddha statue.

Yu Ling’er had also grown tired from the rush and plopped down on the round boulder to rest. Tang Youshu handed her a water flask while saying, “This boulder looks like a Buddha statue. Who knows if it has gained spiritual nature, so you probably shouldn’t sit on it.”

Hearing this, Yu Ling’er hopped off and examined the boulder, finding it did indeed resemble a Buddha the more she looked at it. A mischievous idea struck her, and she used her sword to carve an exaggerated curved line resembling a mouth on the smooth surface.

“Haha, Young Master Tang, look, doesn’t it look like I drew a mouth on it?”

Tang Youshu had only intended to advise her about the spiritual nature of the mountain’s rocks and trees, never expecting her to actually carve a mouth on the boulder statue. He could only shake his head helplessly.

Not satisfied, Yu Ling’er called Xiao Xiao over to look. But just as she called out, she saw Xiao Xiao staring at the boulder with the carved mouth, as if she had seen a ghost…

Xiao Xiao clearly remembered that atop Lingshan two hundred years in the future, there was also such a round boulder statue with an exaggerated curved line drawn on its smooth surface to resemble a mouth.

When she had first ascended the mountain back then, she had asked her master about it. But her benevolent master had only replied with a wistful expression, “It was done by an old friend.”

After saying that, her usually kind master had fallen silent and refused to elaborate further.

But now, here at Demon Rock Cliff two hundred years in the past, Xiao Xiao was seeing the exact same smiling boulder statue as the one from Lingshan.

At this moment, cold sweat trickled down Xiao Xiao’s spine – could this Demon Rock Cliff really be Lingshan?

After Wei Jie’s demonic sect was destroyed in her previous life, Demon Rock Cliff had been abandoned, its ominous name deterring anyone from going to such an ill-fated place.

However, given Master Tang Youshu’s reverence for his own master, he would not have avoided Demon Rock Cliff out of superstition.

So did this mean that after Master Wei Jie’s death decades later, Master Tang Youshu returned to Demon Rock Cliff, renamed it Lingshan, and established the Talisman Sect here?

Why didn’t the master’s secret manuals mention this?

Thinking this, Xiao Xiao no longer hesitated and hurried to the front of the group, rushing towards the mountain peak.

This mountain was somewhat different from her memories of Lingshan, as the trees and paths held an air of unfamiliarity after two hundred years of transformation.

Yet Xiao Xiao felt an increasing sense of familiarity the further she went, especially upon seeing the residences in the distance, her steps faltered.

Up ahead, workers were in the process of constructing houses and mansions that clearly resembled the Talisman Sect’s residences on Lingshan.

Although the buildings at that time were far more dilapidated compared to her memories, the architectural style was identical.

Seeing some workers transporting wood and stones, Tang Youshu curiously asked, “What are you doing here? Did you know the master of Lingshan is returning, so you’re repairing the houses?”

The worker sized them up and nodded, “Yeah, that’s why we’re rushing to complete the work. If you’ve got no business here, don’t block the way. It’ll be hard for us to move things around.”

Yu Ling’er excitedly told Xiao Xiao, “Hey, the Talisman Sect disciples must have known you, their Sect Leader, are returning and brought us along, so they’re hurrying to renovate the houses. Those residences look so beautiful, can I go choose a room later?”

Xiao Xiao quickly covered Yu Ling’er’s chattering mouth.

She was hardly the master of Lingshan… no, she meant Demon Rock Cliff right now. The Lingshan Talisman Sect shouldn’t even exist yet at this point in time.

Regarding Demon Rock Cliff, Master Tang Youshu’s records were sparse. They only mentioned that when Wei Jie led his followers here, it coincided with the Prince Can constructing a summer palace residence in the mountain valley.

At that time, Wei Jie and the Prince Can still had a decent relationship, as the Prince Can had befriended Wei Jie in Luoyi City and secretly helped him against the four major sects.

Hearing that Wei Jie and his followers had nowhere to settle, the Prince Can generously gifted this newly constructed summer residence on Demon Rock Cliff to Wei Jie.

From then on, Wei Jie established his foundation here at Demon Rock Cliff, becoming the demonic leader with an increasingly formidable force under his command.

It seemed that in the original timeline, the Prince Can had effortlessly instigated the rift between Wei Jie and the four major sects by exploiting the death of the fox demoness Si Ling. At the same time, he had used this to curry favor with Wei Jie.

In any case, in the predetermined past life, the Prince Can, with the protection of the lost page from the Book of Life and Death to rectify any flaws in his destiny, was able to perfectly manipulate all the connections at his disposal, truly optimizing his fortunes.

However, due to Xiao Xiao’s appearance, the perfect destiny the Prince Can had designed for himself had now deviated greatly.

Now, in name at least, he had been slain by the cultivators of the four major sects. So why was his summer residence still under construction here, with word of the master’s imminent return?

Could it be that the “ill news” of the Prince Can had not reached here yet, and the workers were unaware? Or was the Prince Can, lurking in the shadows, ordering the continued renovation of this summer residence?

Before Xiao Xiao could figure it out, several silk-robed guards came to shoo them away.

“Who are you people? How dare you trespass on this private land?”

Yu Ling’er was baffled as she retorted, “You two, you don’t even recognize your own Sect Leader? The Sect Leader of the Lingshan Talisman Sect has returned. Shouldn’t you hurry and sweep the place clean to welcome her?”

The guards’ eyes widened. This young lady’s tender baby face and coquettish blinking eyes didn’t make her seem like a fool.

One of the guards couldn’t help but speak up, “This mountain originally belonged to the Prince Can of Luoyi City, but he gifted this residence to his niece, Princess Yongning, as a birthday present long ago… What Lingshan Talisman Sect? We’ve never even heard of it! Go, go, if your minds aren’t clear, hurry down the mountain and take some medicine. Don’t loiter around here causing trouble!”

Upon hearing this, Yu Ling’er was indignant!

This place clearly belonged to Cui Xiao Xiao, so how could that damn Prince Can have given it away to someone else while she was gone for a short while?

Before she could protest, Xiao Xiao swiftly covered her mouth, apologized to the guards with a sheepish smile, and then led Yu Ling’er, Tang Youshu, and the others back down the mountain.

Yu Ling’er complained in frustration, “Xiao Xiao, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so meek and submissive? Didn’t you teach Wei Jie that the thing below your nose is called a mouth? When you’re wronged, you have to speak up. Didn’t you say the Talisman Sect disciples will eat anything except being bullied?”

Xiao Xiao plopped down on the round boulder and kneaded her temples.

She did say those words, but the key point was that Lingshan would only become the Talisman Sect’s base of heritage two hundred years in the future. Right now, this place still belonged to the Xia imperial clan!

If she caused a ruckus here with her disciples and fox tribe, they would probably end up on the list for the “Purge of Cultivation” very smoothly.

Seeing the fuming Yu Ling’er, Xiao Xiao could only solemnly say, “Different times call for different circumstances. Since we can’t stay here after it’s been occupied by others, it’s only natural. We can’t just squat and not move! Since distinguished guests are renovating this place, we of the Talisman Sect will find another location to cultivate. As long as we have the Dao in our hearts

“As long as we have the Dao in our hearts, everywhere can be Lingshan…”

“What a fine sentiment, ‘everywhere can be Lingshan’!”

Just as Xiao Xiao finished speaking, a clear girlish voice suddenly came from the mountain path beside them.

Xiao Xiao followed the sound and saw an aristocratic young lady dressed in hunting attire, surrounded by a group of maidservants and guards, walking up the mountain path.

This noble young lady stopped beside the stone tablet inscribed with “Demon Rock Cliff” and swung the riding crop in her hand as she said, “The summer residence my imperial uncle gifted me is nice, but the name of this mountain is too unrefined! Demon Rock Cliff, how dreadful! Everywhere can be Lingshan… You there, go fetch the workers from the mountain and have them change the inscription on this tablet. I, the Princess, bestow this mountain with the new name ‘Lingshan’!”

Yu Ling’er muttered under her breath, “For her to bestow a name? But this has always been Lingshan!”

Xiao Xiao gave her a silencing look, then studied the young lady, thinking: Based on her noble bearing, she must be the new owner of Demon Rock Cliff – the Prince Can’s niece, Princess Yongning.

By this time, the young princess had already approached Xiao Xiao and tilted her head, sizing her up and down before saying, “Just now I overheard your words. Are you the Sect Leader of the Lingshan Talisman Sect who previously cultivated on this mountain? I’ve never heard of such a cultivating sect on this mountain.”

Xiao Xiao was also quite curious about this young princess’s relationship with the Prince Can. That Prince Can was an impersonator, so under the pretense of ill health, he had always avoided contact with other imperial clansmen.

Moreover, why had he gifted this Demon Rock Cliff, which held deep connections to Wei Jie, to his own niece? The more she pondered it, the more potential pitfalls she uncovered!

However, since the young princess had asked a question, Xiao Xiao had to respond.

Even as the former chief con-artist on the streets, she found it difficult to continue weaving this tattered lie.

She could hardly tell the truth and say that this mountain would only become the Talisman Sect’s domain two hundred years in the future!

But if she denied that this was the Talisman Sect’s Lingshan, the young master Tang Youshu would surely think she had been lying to him all along.

With her master’s memorial day approaching, she did not want to sadden the youthful Master Tang.

So she found herself backed into a corner and could only force a few laughs before thinking quickly, “Well… we of the Talisman Sect are actually reclusive cultivators who have been practicing in seclusion amidst the dense forests of the rear mountain ranges!”

The rear mountain ranges of Lingshan were filled with layered peaks, uninhabited by mortals, and would surely be even more desolate two hundred years in the past, so this excuse should work flawlessly.

Upon hearing this, the young princess’s eyes lit up with barely contained curiosity as she asked, “It is said that a phoenix dwells on the rear mountains of Demon Rock Cliff, forbidden to the living, so my imperial uncle constructed an Observing Phoenix Pavilion here. But you have actually been residing on those rear mountains, does that not mean you live in close proximity to the legendary phoenix?”

Xiao Xiao let out a hearty laugh and said with feigned nonchalance, “Not at all, not at all, we simply cultivate separately, like well water not mixing with the river… Hahaha…”

After a few more laughs, Xiao Xiao swiftly moved to the side of the old male fox guide who had led them here and asked in a low voice, “Is what she said true? Are there really phoenixes dwelling on the rear mountains of Demon Rock Cliff?”

Chapter 63 

The blood of a demonic sect grandmaster who had been immersed in the dark arts of blood talismans for many years, every drop flowing through his veins tainted with yin evil, was the perfect sacrifice for objects of utmost yin!

The moment the gauze stained with Wan Lianshi’s blood entered the jar, the previously still water surface suddenly began to churn like oil in a raging fire, gradually overflowing and spreading across the floor in rivulets.

Wan Lianshi no longer cared about the Prince Can, swiftly turning to flee towards the exit of the secret chamber.

Unfortunately, his severed arm was still bleeding, and the blood jar, having detected his blood scent, locked onto its prey like a ferocious beast. It suddenly gushed forth like a spring, the massive flow of blood gathering on the ground and rising like a giant hand to seize Wan Liansi’s body. Then, with a thousand furious roars, it dragged him into the jar.

Enveloped by the blood flow, Wan Lianshi instantly felt as if countless tentacles from the beast blood were probing into his pores, greedily absorbing his blood.

He struggled fiercely but to no avail. In the end, amid the unfathomable bloody mess, he managed to grab onto the rim of the jar with one arm and expose half his face, his eyes filled with terror as he wailed towards the approaching Prince Can, “Master…I have loyally sacrificed myself for you all these years. Even if I have no merits, I have suffered! Please spare me! I can still be of service. I…I will capture that Cui Xiao Xiao for you!”

The human skin talisman he had flung earlier was now stuck to the left side of the Prince Can’s face.

This talisman could instantly control a person, yet the Prince Can seemed unaffected as he calmly approached the blood jar.

Only the skin where the talisman was stuck had rapidly withered like a dry riverbed, becoming shriveled and mottled, even taking on a bluish-white hue like that of a corpse.

The Prince Can, with his half-human, half-demonic visage, sneered as he watched Wan Lianshi struggling in the jar and nonchalantly peeled off the human skin talisman, tossing it aside.

After removing the talisman, his skin quickly smoothed out, regaining the vitality of a thirty-year-old.

He looked down at Wanshi Lian clinging to the jar’s rim with his one remaining hand and coldly smiled, “Did you think I was unaware of your intentions? Logically, with people besieging the mansion, there is no safer place than inside. Yet you urged me to leave, what did you intend? Did you think you could take advantage of the chaos to control me for your own use?”

Wan Lianshi continued to wail and struggle, desperately proclaiming his innocence and loyalty.

But the Prince Can remained unmoved. He only drew a fine steel dagger from his waist, his smile fading as he said coldly, “If even the celestial immortals do not uphold benevolence, righteousness and trustworthiness, how can I expect such loyalty from a jackal like you? It seems I had overly high expectations…”

Before he could finish speaking, his blade had already swung down. There was a miserable scream as Wan Lianshi’s only remaining hand was severed, falling outside the jar.

Having lost his only support, Wan Lianshi was instantly dragged down into the bottomless depths of the bloody jar.

After a few bubbles rose to the surface, it fell still once more. Wan Lianshi’s body had instantly dissolved into the bloody water, sacrificed to whatever dwelled within the jar.

The Prince Can stared intently at the surface until seeing no further movement, his disappointment evident.

If someone as profoundly demonic as Wan Lianshi was useless, then what kind of sacrifice would be needed to awaken the lost page?

But just as he was about to turn and leave, the lost page that had long disappeared finally emerged slowly from the water’s surface.

The Prince Can could not help but feel excited as he stood by the jar, reaching out with his finger hovering above it, yet hesitating to make contact.

When Wei Di had originally presented this lost page, it was told to him that by writing a person’s name and birth date on it, one could know their fate, past and future.

However, this lost page did not belong to the mortal realm. Even when nourished with the finest beast blood sacrifices, each use would cause it to deteriorate. Eventually, when its divine powers were exhausted, it would become nothing more but a useless scrap of paper.

Since falling into the Prince Can’s hands, he had frequently consulted it to extend his longevity and alter the destiny charts of mortals related to him.

The last time, this lost page had become completely blank, appearing to have burnt out.

So this time, it was crucial whose name he should write…

The Prince Can pondered deeply, then finally made up his mind and swiftly wrote a name on the lost page.

But this time, instead of his own name, he wrote the three characters: “Cui Xiao Xiao”.

As for her birth date, that was easy. Qin He had already obtained it from his son Qin Lingxiao – she possessed the rare birth chart of utmost yin.

Once her birth date was noted, this lost page would reveal Cui Xiao Xiao’s entire destiny, allowing the Prince Can to uncover all her secrets.

He narrowed his eyes and stared at the blank page, and soon words began to appear on its surface…

The Prince Can read a few lines, his pupils contracting sharply: So…it was like this!

No wonder the lost page had previously described her as being born into the wrong world. She had actually traveled here from two hundred years in the future!

It was no wonder she could alter Wei Jie’s destiny and completely upend all of his careful plans.

The lost page only recorded Cui Xiao Xiao’s origins and past experiences. As for her future destiny, it remained blank, with only a few words of explanation: “One not bound by fate, destiny unknown, life and death uncertain…”

The strangest part was that when others had their names written, their experiences from the past three reincarnations would be displayed.

But for Cui Xiao Xiao, it was as if she had sprung from a rock, with a complete blank before this life and no records of her previous incarnations!

Staring at the blanks before and after, with only a few brief lines in between, it was impossible to discern what was so special about Cui Xiao Xiao that would result in such an extraordinary destiny chart!

The Prince Can stared intently at the lost page until his eyelids twitched, finally letting out a cold laugh: What an “uncertain life and death”!

He had thought that by mastering the secrets of destiny, he could control fate itself. But who could have predicted the emergence of this interloper from two hundred years in the future, with such an enigmatic destiny?

With Cui Xiao Xiao’s existence, this lost page had become completely useless.

Was this the will of the heavens, trying to obstruct him from reclaiming justice for the Xia clan?

Thinking this, he glanced at the lost page floating in the bloody water, reached out and wiped away Cui Xiao Xiao’s name. After pondering further, he suddenly recalled that Young Master Qin of Soaring Cloud Pavilion seemed to know Cui Xiao Xiao very well, so he wrote another name – “Qin Lingxiao”.

When the lost page displayed the experiences and destiny of this future leader of the prime sword sect, Qin Lingxiao of Soaring Cloud Pavilion, the Prince Can finally revealed a satisfied sinister smile.

To deal with one born into the wrong world, he would need someone from the wrong era.

Qin Lingxiao, this pride of Soaring Cloud Pavilion, was originally destined to slay the one known as Wei Jie. He would be the key to controlling the variable that was Cui Xiao Xiao!

As for what to do next, he would naturally need to carefully plan and scheme.

However, it seemed the Prince Can had overused the lost page, as its surface now displayed large and small burn holes before sinking back into the depths of the jar.

The Prince Can knew that after being in the mortal realm for too long, this page had burnt itself out and become useless.

But he had already committed to memory what needed to be recorded, so it mattered not if this lost page was ruined.

Now, he needed to go meet those insignificant pests besieging his mansion gates.

As he exited the secret chamber, the Prince Can addressed a few of his close attendants who came over, “Well? Have my instructions all been carried out?”

The attendants quickly paid their respects and said, “As ordered by Your Majesty, officials from the surrounding counties and prefectures have been summoned and will be arriving shortly.”

The Prince Can nodded slightly and said indifferently, “Temporarily move the divine Beast Statues away from the pavilions. With them present, the various sects may be unable to fully unleash their powers.”

Saying this, the Prince Can smiled faintly. Since they wished to invade his mansion and tear it apart, how could he disappoint the venerable cultivators?

Thinking this, he smoothed out his robes, hands behind his back, and strode slowly with a hint of aged weariness towards the front hall…

That day, a shocking tragedy occurred at the Prince Can’s Mansion in Luoyi City that shook the realm.

Originally, the various sects had merely angrily berated and cursed outside the mansion gates.

But then, it was unknown who struck the first blow by kicking down the gates, causing people to surge inwards.

For some unknown reason, the divine Beast Statues that had been guarding the mansion failed to activate, allowing those filled with hostility towards the Prince Can to barge in unimpeded.

Of course, the four major sects were not mere bandits out to plunder and pillage. Even after entering, they only intended to force the Prince Can to hand over the demonic sect master.

However, in the end, their actions proved even more appalling than common thieves and robbers. According to those who entered the mansion that day, they were still of sound mind initially.

But then, a strange mist seemed to waft in from somewhere, and after inadvertently inhaling it, they felt an overwhelming rage and fury. Through the haze, they vaguely saw the Prince Can and the white-haired butler come out to speak with them.

It was unknown how, but it seemed the Prince Can uttered some intolerable insults, causing others to take the lead in wanting to punish the treacherous king.

Amid the chaos and miasma, the crowd surged forward, swinging their sword qi and defensive shields to furiously strike at the Prince Can and his butler.

By the time the mist cleared and they regained their senses, they realized to their horror that the two had already been hacked into…bloody pulp!

Aside from the white-haired butler’s single hand covered in red webs, not even half an arm could be pieced back together.

It so happened that the Prince Can had summoned officials from the surrounding counties and prefectures to the mansion to discuss preparations for the Queen Dowager’s birthday celebrations. Those officials witnessed the entire gruesome tragedy with their own eyes, terrified to the point of losing control of their bodily functions.

At that time, those cultivators seemed to have gone into an insane frenzy, even intending to attack the officials who had just entered the mansion.

Fortunately, Cui Xiao Xiao of the Talisman Sect arrived with her disciples from outside the mansion. They had already sensed some strange mist dispersing from within.

So Xiao Xiao unleashed a wind-summoning talisman to dispel the miasma inside the mansion, while Wei Jie erected a qi shield to protect the paralyzed officials.

Xiao Xiao discovered that the air within the mansion was permeated with a mind-addling fragrance, so she summoned another gust of wind. After the cultivators from the orthodox path were freed from its effects and saw the two bloody masses, they were struck dumb with shock.

In this way, the four major sects had indeed committed an unforgivable atrocity!

Although the Demon Master Wan Lianshi deserved his punishment and his death was no great loss, the Prince Can, regardless of anything else, was still a prince of the imperial Xia clan and the current Emperor’s brother!

Were they, mere cultivators still bound to the mortal realm, qualified to pass such a death sentence on him?

Immediately, the disciples from the various sects who had barged into the mansion fled in a panic.

The beloved younger brother of the reigning Emperor had been so brutally slain, shocking the entire realm. Many high-ranking senior officials submitted memorials with tears, demanding that the Emperor uphold justice for the deceased Prince Can and investigate the unrestrained four major sects.

Some officials even advised that since these cultivators did not engage in production and only deluded the people with talk of immortality, if allowed to continue unchecked, it would unravel the nation. Any families found to be affiliated with the four major sects should be exiled, with their properties confiscated, in order to deter others and completely extinguish the posterity of these demonic sects.

Although the reigning Emperor had always respected cultivators, this time their siege of the Prince Can’s Mansion, carried out in front of so many officials’ eyes as they butchered the imperial prince into a bloody pulp, was truly unrestrained and unforgivable.

If he did not take action, not only would the entirety of civil and military officials object, even the Empress Dowager, his own tearful mother, would not accept any excuses.

Thus, an imperial decree was issued to “purge the heretical and eliminate the demonic sects” under the pretext of restoring proper cultivation paths.

These four major sects had presided over their hundred-year-old palaces and pavilions, forming their own separate realms.

Although their disciples possessed formidable abilities and did not fear the encirclement of mortal troops, not all of their disciples were orphans!

Many of them still had living parents, siblings, and relatives engaged in mundane livelihoods.

With the “purge of cultivation” underway, any families found to have disciples affiliated with the four major sects would have their lands and properties confiscated, with all members, regardless of age or gender, exiled to the borders. Suddenly, countless farmer households and wealthy clans found themselves implicated.

Upon hearing the news, some disciples of the four major sects, unwilling to see their relatives implicated, could only secretly bid farewell to their sects and return to their hometowns.

The Emperor was magnanimous, declaring early on that any who submitted a written confession, had not participated in the siege of the  Prince Can’s Mansion, and were willing to sever ties with their heretical sects, vowing never again to join such demonic paths, would be pardoned of their crimes.

As a result, more than half of the disciples from the four major sects, including many elite members, fled their sects.

For a time, the various cultivating sects suffered devastating blows, leaving them crippled and struggling to recover.

This “purge of cultivation” persisted for over a month and showed signs of further escalation.

Suddenly, everyone began speaking of cultivation with disdain, regarding the four major sects as no different from demonic paths.

However, the Lingshan Talisman Sect, an originally declining minor sect of little renown, did not suffer any major impacts.

Although some officials had vehemently advocated including the Talisman Sect in the purge list, because the eyewitness officials confirmed that the Talisman Sect disciples had protected them and did not participate in the assassination of the Prince Can, the Emperor overruled the opposition and spared the sect from being listed in the “purge of cultivation”.

That day, not only did Wei Jie and Cui Xiao Xiao barge into the Prince Can’s Mansion to rescue the officials, but they also found their way through the secret passages to the innermost chamber with the blood jar.

Inside, the lost page was in tattered ruins, blank and aimlessly floating amidst the bloody water like a scrap of paper. Yet the chilling yin energy it emanated was unmistakable.

As a member of the Wei Family, Wei Jie immediately recognized it as an object from the underworld. With this, the task entrusted to them by Wei Jie’s ancestral grandmother finally had a lead.

However, Xiao Xiao felt that everything was progressing…too smoothly?

If the Prince Can truly was the former Emperor Xia Yuansong, how could such an old and cunning fox have died so easily in a flurry of reckless blades?

Moreover, the mist that caused the cultivators to lose their senses must have had some mind-addling effect, driving them into a frenzied rage to commit such a bloody slaughter right before the eyes of those officials.

Everything seemed as if it had been intentionally orchestrated to frame the orthodox cultivating sects.

Regardless, the four major sects had indeed committed the crime of slaying an imperial prince, and were now condemned and besieged by the imperial court. It was said that even the mountain paths leading up had been completely blocked, not a single grain of rice allowed through.

Those cultivating experts would have to sustain themselves by drinking spiritual dews and eating flower petals daily.

Moreover, after such a severe deterrent against the populace, the four major sects’ lineages would be completely severed, and no one would dare join their mountain gates ever again.

Cui Xiao Xiao had never imagined that although the four major sects avoided the slaughter at Wei Jie’s hands in this lifetime, they would still meet a slow and inglorious demise through other means.

It seemed that everything was destined, and even the appearance of an anomaly like herself could not change that.

When Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie revisited the Prince Can’s Mansion after the incident, they found all the items had been cleared out. The Prince Can’s personal belongings, including the divine Beast Statue, had all been packaged and sent to the capital.

However, it was said that the convoy transporting the items ran into trouble halfway, and the statue along with many boxes were plundered by highway bandits.

There were too many mysteries here. After discussing it, Wei Jie decided to visit the Crown Prince along with Xiao Xiao before returning to the Wei Family’s ancestral home, in order to gain some insight into the hidden circumstances.

The Crown Prince had always taken a moderate and restrained stance, although he still indulged in pleasure and leisure when appropriate.

So this time, their meeting place was the Willow Bank Pavilion outside the capital, which offered an ideal view for moon appreciation.

Layers of gossamer silk curtains hung from the pavilion. The Crown Prince stationed his attendant guards below to ensure privacy.

Then, amidst the melodious sounds of zithers and flutes, he received his two old friends.

The Crown Prince seemed to recognize Wei Jie as someone of a carefree, immortal-in-wine nature, so he specially brought a fifty-year-old vintage for them to appreciate together.

When Xiao Xiao voiced her doubts about the Prince Can’s death, the Crown Prince let out a long sigh, “Miss Cui, your suspicions are exactly the same as my own. If the Prince Can truly was the person I mentioned before, how could he have died so easily? If he really possessed some divine powers, he could have easily changed identities to continue living, instantly becoming the Prince of Nan, the Prince of Bei, or any other branch of the imperial clan we have governing over a hundred territories. How could we investigate if he took on a different identity?”

Xiao Xiao pondered and said, “Since the Crown Prince harbors such doubts, why did you severely punish the four major sects? They were merely scapegoats used by the Prince Can.”

The Crown Prince shook his head and said in a low voice, “This purge was not my father the Emperor’s intention, nor mine. It was the indignant rage of the court officials, a tsunami that swept us along in its current. With the arrow already on the bowstring, we had no choice but to loose it!”

Xiao Xiao took a deep breath. Like Wei Jie, she did not believe the Prince Can could have died so easily. After such meticulous scheming, he would never simply give up without achieving his goals.

However, those who had tasted power found it difficult to relinquish. No matter what new identity the Prince Can assumed, he would certainly have ways to continue manipulating the court.

By following this hidden thread, they would eventually be able to root him out. Hearing Xiao Xiao’s words, the Crown Prince also nodded in contemplation.

Originally, in Luoyi City, he was already shocked enough to see his supposedly deceased grandfather looking around his own age, going by the name of his imperial uncle and still alive.

But he never expected that this person, who should have died, would die again.

Moreover, his death caused such turmoil across the realm, shaking the entire court from top to bottom, as if an invisible hand was controlling everything while an invisible sword hung over his and his father’s heads. No matter where he looked in the palace or countryside, a sense of dread permeated his sleepless nights.

Now, there were certain matters that even the Crown Prince could not speak of to his father the Emperor. Fortunately, he had befriended these two young friends, Cui Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie, for he feared he would need to rely on their assistance for many future matters.

After meeting the Crown Prince, Wei Jie was to escort the lost page back to Aged Lord Peak.

This lost page had been overused previously, and the entire paper was now as tattered as if gnawed by worms, in utter ruin. If it was not returned soon, it might completely dissolve into the bloody water.

After bidding farewell to the Crown Prince and rejoining Tang Youshu and the others, Wei Jie asked Xiao Xiao if she wanted to accompany him to Aged Lord Peak.

However, Xiao Xiao shook her head, saying that since she had been away from Lingshan for too long and her master’s memorial day was approaching, she needed to return to Lingshan to perform the rites.

Seeing the solemn light in Wei Jie’s eyes, he did not insist. He only asked where exactly the Lingshan of the Talisman Sect was located, saying he would go find her after escorting the lost page.

Xiao Xiao stared wide-eyed at the sheepskin map Wei Jie took out, filled with unfamiliar place names. How would she know what Lingshan was currently called!

So she randomly pointed towards a range of mountains in the north, waving her hand in vague circles and saying, “There, it’s over there!”

Tang Youshu had just washed a basket of mountain apricots, planning to bring them for his master and master ancestor to eat. Glancing over at the area Xiao Xiao indicated, he studied it carefully before pointing at one mountain and asking, “Master Ancestor, is it this place? But it seems to be called Demon Rock Cliff. I’ve never heard it called Lingshan before!”

Tang Youshu’s casual remark caused Xiao Xiao’s mind to explode – Demon Rock Cliff?

Wasn’t that…the very place where Wei Jie from her previous life founded his demonic sect?

Xiao Xiao stared wide-eyed at the three characters on the map, once again marveling at the strangeness of destiny. Was she being compelled to go to Demon Rock Cliff first and recreate Wei Jie’s path by establishing a demonic sect?

Tang Youshu’s casual pointing had inadvertently struck a nerve, leaving Xiao Xiao speechless and staring blankly.

Seeing this, Tang Youshu hurriedly retracted his finger, full of apologies, “Master Ancestor, did I misspeak?”

Xiao Xiao regained her senses and smiled at Tang Youshu.

How ridiculous, the master is always right!

So Xiao Xiao also pointed at Demon Rock Cliff and said, “Yes, that is the Lingshan of our Talisman Sect! Initially, I felt the name Demon Rock Cliff lacked yang vigor, so I renamed it ‘Lingshan’. What do you think of this name?”

Tang Youshu had always adored praising their Master Ancestor, so upon hearing this, he immediately gave a thumbs up, “It’s a great name, it does sound more righteous than Demon Rock Cliff! Master Ancestor, so our next destination is Demon Rock Cliff…no, I mean Lingshan, right?”

Chapter 62 

Thinking of this, Xiao Xiao immediately felt a bit uneasy and reached up to remove the hairpin, but her slender wrist was firmly grasped by Wei Jie.

He said indifferently, “It didn’t cost much, just consider it your disciple’s tuition fees.”

Wei Jie’s palm felt rather warm. Xiao Xiao hurriedly shook off his hand.

For a disciple, the money paid to learn skills from their master is called tuition fees, which is reasonable. Even the four major sects widely accepted disciples, not all of whom could become immortals. However, they took in so many junior disciples precisely for the steady income.

The impoverished Talisman Sect relied solely on the wealth of Tang Youshu and Wei Jie. If Wei Jie showed some filial piety by gifting his master, there was nothing to criticize.

However, Xiao Xiao still felt something was amiss. She pulled her wrist free from Wei Jie’s large hand and then removed the hairpin, saying, “I’ll accept the clothes, but the hairpin is unnecessary. If you want to pay tuition fees, just convert it to silver…”

Wei Jie raised an eyebrow and immediately took out some silver notes from his pocket and handed them to Xiao Xiao, “Why bother with the hassle? Take as much as you need.”

…She had forgotten that Wei Jie was the young master of the Wei Family, wealthy enough to rival a nation. The Wei Family controlled silver mines – they could lack anything but silver.

Xiao Xiao was rendered speechless by the bundle of silver notes, and the exquisite hairpin was once again pinned into her hair by Wei Jie.

Not only did he pin the hairpin, but he also helped Xiao Xiao tidy her slightly disheveled hair bun, “Since you’re wearing a dress, how can you have such messy hair…Don’t move, or your hair will get messed up again!”

Xiao Xiao was held firmly by him as he fixed her hair. Hearing his instructive tone, she felt a bit stifled and could only glare at him with big eyes, looking like a young lady having her hair fussed over by her father.

Not far from the Talisman Sect, Ling Zhishan was resting and watched from afar as Wei Jie doted on Xiao Xiao by helping her comb her hair.

One of her indiscreet martial nephews even whispered, “Wei Jie seems unrestrained and unruly, but I didn’t expect him to be so filial towards his master…”

Another older martial uncle, however, saw through the situation and commented meaningfully, “This master and disciple are of similar ages, so it’s hard to call it filial piety. It’s more like a meeting of lovers…”

Upon hearing this, the other male disciples all laughed. No wonder it’s said that the Talisman Sect cultivates the Path of Intimacy – with such a beautiful young female master, how could her vigorous male disciples resist her charms?

Thinking of this, they felt tempted to join the Talisman Sect too!

However, Ling Zhishan could not stand such vulgar jokes among men. Enraged, she grabbed a handful of grass and threw it at her martial uncles and brothers.

“Since we intend to take Cui Xiao Xiao as our master, how can you make such lewd comments about our future master? No wonder she refused to accept us – she must have seen your impure thoughts!”

As Ling Zhishan was scolding her fellow disciples, one of her junior martial brothers tugged at her sleeve and gestured ahead with his chin.

Ling Zhishan turned to look and saw Cui Xiao Xiao, her hair now neatly combed, walking over with some braised meat.

After handing the food to Ling Zhishan, Xiao Xiao said solemnly, “Miss Ling, you’ve followed me for half a day now. Eat these braised meats, then you and your fellow disciples should leave. There’s no point in continuing to tag along.”

Ling Zhishan bit her lip and said in a low voice, “May I ask why Sect Leader Cui refuses to accept me? Is it because my talents are inferior to your disciples, or have I offended you somehow?”

After handing the food to Ling Zhishan’s fellow disciples, Xiao Xiao smiled bitterly, “Our Talisman Sect is no great cultivating sect. I’m puzzled why you, from such an esteemed clan, would insist on joining my humble sect.”

Ling Zhishan did not speak, but her gaze could not help but turn towards the handsome man sitting beside the carriage, chewing on a grass stem as he lazily gazed up at the clouds.

Xiao Xiao followed her gaze, pondered for a bit, and her expression froze.

Ling Zhishan’s admiring gaze was a bit too obvious, suggesting deep romantic feelings.

What…was going on here? In the original timeline, Ling Zhishan had joined forces with her martial uncle to betray her master. But now, she seemed infatuated with Wei Jie instead.

Wasn’t she supposed to be in love with Qin Lingxiao?

Ling Zhishan also came to her senses and saw Xiao Xiao following her gaze towards Wei Jie, then turning back to look at her in shock.

The young lady’s cheeks flushed red as she hurriedly said, “No…it’s not what you think!”

However, Xiao Xiao continued to stare at her wide-eyed. Ling Zhishan could never have imagined what Xiao Xiao was actually thinking.

But it was understandable why Ling Zhishan was so captivated.

That man was merely leaning against the carriage lost in thought, but his casual and idle posture was utterly alluring.

He sat with his arms crossed, one leg propped up on the carriage frame. His handsome face with smooth lines was dappled by the sunlight filtering down, and his long curved eyelashes trembled slightly with the grass stem in his mouth. Occasionally, when he lifted his gaze, his languid purple eyes, framed by sharp brows and a tall nose, could intoxicate a person…

Seeing Ling Zhishan’s ardent admiration for Wei Jie, Xiao Xiao felt a slight unease in her heart.

However, she was too lazy to dwell on the reasons behind her unease. Her smile faded slightly as she handed over the food and turned to leave.

As she passed by the carriage, she deliberately shook her water pouch, splashing Wei Jie’s clothes with water.

The man straightened up and silently raised an eyebrow, questioning Xiao Xiao’s intentions.

Xiao Xiao put on an austere master’s demeanor and said coldly, “What an unsightly posture! Is that how a righteous disciple of the Talisman Sect should sit?”

Wei Jie stood up and leaned close to Xiao Xiao’s face, asking, “Then…how should a righteous Talisman Sect disciple sit?”

Xiao Xiao puffed out her cheeks and pushed him away, thinking for a moment before replying, “At the very least, you shouldn’t bend your body into such curvaceous shapes that exude sensuality.”

Wei Jie couldn’t help but smile, revealing a small fang, and leaned in again, “Then who was I being sensual for?”

Of course, Xiao Xiao could not mention Ling Zhishan, or the poor girl would be terribly embarrassed.

Moreover, she regretted her words, feeling that she had overstepped.

Wei Jie originally had demonic fox bloodline – for him not to bewitch others, he would have to sprout snake scales. As for his and Ling Zhishan’s twisting relationship, whatever it might become had little to do with Xiao Xiao, who was from two hundred years in the future.

Thinking this, Xiao Xiao simply stopped speaking and turned to gaze towards Luoyi City from the hillside.

Their journey was to once again visit Luoyi City and inquire about the various sects’ plans to besiege the Prince Can’s Mansion.

As Xiao Xiao stood on the hillside gazing towards Luoyi City, Wei Jie also came over and stood behind her.

He looked at Xiao Xiao’s graceful back and her swaying long hair.

Xiao Xiao seemed angry, but he did not know what she was angry about, so he could only change the subject, “When I went to buy clothes, I noticed that the wanted posters in all the counties and prefectures have been taken down.”

Xiao Xiao was somewhat surprised and turned to say, “The Prince Can is being so benevolent? Why did he order the wanted notices to be rescinded?”

Wei Jie smiled, “I guess the benevolent one is probably the Crown Prince, not that treacherous king.”

However, with the Crown Prince intervening to have the authorities lift the wanted orders, Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie would no longer need to hide their faces in public.

Xiao Xiao knew that in the original timeline, the Crown Prince and his imperial father had been doomed by the Prince Can’s schemes. Realizing that the Crown Prince was now helping them, she knew he would inevitably come into direct conflict with the Prince Can again.

The question was, in this secret struggle between the Crown Prince and the Prince Can, who would emerge as the final victor…

Thinking of this, Xiao Xiao softly asked, “The lost page must be in the Prince Can’s Mansion, but how can we retrieve it?”

Wei Jie’s grandmother had said that there was not much time left. If the lost page did not return to its place, a great calamity would befall the Wei Family.

Xiao Xiao was well aware of the Wei Family’s tragic fate in the original timeline.

Since she had already demonically possessed to some degree, she could not be bothered to think about the consequences anymore. She only wanted to help Wei Jie retrieve the lost page, and then they could consider other matters.

Wei Jie saw that the blood formation in the sky above Luoyi City seemed to be weakening under the assault of the various experts, so he said, “If you were the Prince Can, how would you deal with this predicament?”

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao turned to look at the reddish sky above Luoyi City – although the four major sects followed the orthodox path of cultivation, they ultimately existed in the mortal realm. If the situation turned against the Prince Can, it might not end well.

Based on her understanding of the four major sects, they would probably only loudly denounce and pressure the Prince Can at his mansion’s gates to hand over Demon Master Wan Lianshi, and that would be it.

The elders of the four major sects were all shrewd individuals who would not do anything to harm their own sects.

So Xiao Xiao said, “What he can do is naturally shift the blame onto Demon Master Wan Lianshi and pretend to be completely unaware. With his status as a member of the imperial Xia clan, he has nothing to fear.”

Just as Xiao Xiao had surmised, the fact that Demon Master Wan Lianshi was still alive and hiding in the Prince Can’s Mansion had triggered a chain reaction that was spiraling out of control.

However, Wei Jie shook his head, “But if he is not the Prince Can, being so closely watched by the prestigious orthodox sects will make it difficult for him to scheme in the future…”

Xiao Xiao felt that Wei Jie made a fair point. Prince Can not only had a mysterious background but was also highly skilled. She was rather curious as to how he would deal with the four major sects’ offensive…

However, at that moment, Wei Jie suddenly and casually asked, “When Qin Lingxiao asked if you wanted to go back, where did he mean for you to go back to?”

Xiao Xiao was pondering the situation in the city, and Wei Jie’s question nearly made her blurt out that she wanted to return to two hundred years in the future.

But she caught herself at the last moment and forced herself to change track, saying, “Naturally…to return to Lingshan!”

Wei Jie looked down at her, not knowing whether to believe her or not. He only said, “Alright, my Talisman Sect’s founding land must be a place of outstanding talents and spiritual energy. I’ll accompany you back then.”

Xiao Xiao did not respond, turning her gaze back towards Luoyi City.

Because she knew that she and Wei Jie did not belong to the same era. After their brief miraculous convergence, they would ultimately have to return to their respective destinies…

After the elders of the various cultivating sects spread the news that Demon Master Wan Lianshi might still be alive, Luoyi City was swarmed by cultivators from the outside world every day.

Soon, they discovered the remnants of the blood formation net in the sky above Luoyi City that had yet to be completely dismantled.

The four major sects had many reclusive elders who normally never accompanied their disciples in making a scene. However, upon hearing the name of the demonic sect, even these truly powerful figures emerged to take action. Those with sufficient experience immediately recognized that these blood symbols were indeed the long-lost human skin talismans of the demonic sect.

Cui Xiao Xiao’s words were proven correct once again, as more and more experts flew in, clearly intending to completely wipe out the Prince Can’s Mansion.

If not for the divine Beast Statues guarding the entrance, the enraged cultivators of the orthodox path would have long since kicked down the gates of the Prince Can’s Mansion.

However, while they could not enter, the people inside the Prince Can’s Mansion could not leave either.

Prince Can was trapped within his mansion, listening to his subordinates report on how Cui Xiao Xiao had skillfully used a severed arm to deflect the foul situation back onto the Prince Can’s Mansion.

And now, the experts outside were besieging them, demanding that the King hand over his white-haired butler to verify whether he was indeed Demon Master Wan Lianshi.

If it was true as Cui Xiao Xiao claimed, then the Prince Can should also come out and explain why his mansion had been harboring so much heresy and evil arts.

If the previous case of the Wei sisters could be excused as the Prince Can being unaware and deceived by his subordinates, there was no way he could feign ignorance about sheltering a figure as calamitous as a demonic sect master.

Demon Master Wan Lianshi’s severed arm had finally stopped bleeding. He was kneeling in the study, awaiting his master’s instructions.

Even from within the study, the shouting and cursing from outside the mansion could be clearly heard.

As a treacherous villain versed in devious schemes himself, Wan Lianshi was all too aware of the truth that a trapped rabbit would eventually be cooked into a stew.

Now that his tracks had been exposed, drawing the wrath of the cultivating world, he knew that based on his master’s character, the Prince Can would likely discard him to preserve himself.

Thinking this, Wan Lianshi felt compelled to remind the Prince Can to keep him around for his usefulness.

So after careful consideration, he cautiously spoke, “It is my fault that Wei Jie and Cui Xiao Xiao managed to slip out of the mansion, exposing my identity. Now the major sects have come knocking at our door. By rights, I should take responsibility and go out to explain that I deliberately concealed my identity and took refuge here without the King’s knowledge.”

The Prince Can, who had been writing a letter, paused his brush for a moment and glanced at Wan Lianshi with a slight smile, “You are certainly more sensible than the Wei sisters… But would that not be too great a sacrifice?”

Wan Lianshi was well aware of this man’s formidable cunning, so every word he spoke was carefully measured, “My life was given by my master. For your sake, I should willingly return it. However… with the major sects descending so forcefully now, even if I go out and confess, they are unlikely to simply let the matter rest. They would continue to hound you. And if they learn about the lost page from the Book of Life and Death in the Wei Family’s possession, there would be even more variables!”

He knew that in the Prince Can’s eyes, his life was not valuable enough. He could only grasp at crucial bargaining chips to make the Prince Can hesitate about handing him over. He was aware of many of the Prince Can’s secrets, so the Prince Can would have to carefully weigh the decision to give him up.

Prince Can’s smile deepened as he said slowly, “You make a fair point. Then in your opinion, how should I resolve this current predicament?”

Wan Lianshi glanced at his expression before continuing, “Although I have lost one arm, it does not impede my ability to create demonic talismans. I can still serve you by putting my life on the line. Since the mansion has secret passages, I can take my subordinates and escort you and the lost page out of Luoyi City first…”

Upon hearing Wan Lianshi suggest leaving, the Prince Can’s smile widened further.

He said leisurely, “When you initially designed the layout of this mansion, you told me that the feng shui formations would gather auspicious energy from all directions for my use and even extend my longevity. Over these years residing here, I have indeed prospered, thanks in no small part to your efforts. It is such a pity to have to leave now!”

Hearing the Prince Can say this, Wan Lianshi couldn’t help but feel a tinge of secret delight. It seemed the Prince Can was indeed considering leaving the mansion!

Over these years, he had been under the Prince Can’s control. But even a wolf that has played the dog for a long time will not forget that it was once a wolf.

On the surface, he swore absolute loyalty to the Prince Can. But in private, like his fellow disciple Qin He, he left no stone unturned in his attempts to find a way to break free from this treacherous king’s grasp.

However, this treacherous king had long been practicing methods to absorb the vitality and longevity of others, and his own cultivation was now formidable.

Moreover, this mansion could gather spiritual energy from all directions for his use. Coupled with the divine Beast Statues’ protection, the Prince Can was like an old spider sitting at the center of its web, able to operate across all domains while ensuring his own safety.

But once he left the mansion and its array of formational defenses and spiritual treasures, Wan Lianshi would have a million ways to restrain him.

Although Wan Lianshi now relied on the King to extend his life, if he could turn the tables and imprison the Prince Can like a blood cattle, no longer serving as his dog, that would be even better…

Thinking this, Wan Lianshi continued persuading, “Since that is the case, I implore you to depart immediately. The secret passages in this mansion can lead directly outside the city. I will do my utmost to protect your safety.”

However, the Prince Can raised an eyebrow and said, “Safety? Even if I opened the mansion gates, who would dare to violate the heavenly decree and harm a prince of the Xia imperial clan? My destiny in the Xia clan has not been exhausted, and the fortunes of the imperial descendants have been secured with generous tributes. What status do those riffraff outside have to interrogate me? If they come as mortals, I am a prince and they are commoners – they are not qualified! If they come as immortal cultivators, how many of them have truly reached the pinnacle? My imperial Xia ancestors made meritorious deeds in serving the Celestial Emperors, forging covenants with the immortals. It is not their place to judge me!”

Wan Lianshi listened with his head bowed, unable to discern the Prince Can’s intentions. If the Prince Can did not view the besieging experts as a threat, why did he agree with Wan Lianshi’s suggestion to evacuate?

At that moment, the Prince Can approached Wan Lianshi and examined his bleeding stump where his arm used to be. The faint stench of blood permeated the room.

The Prince Can said calmly, “Compared to those unruly riffraff, it is that Cui Xiao Xiao who truly keeps me from resting easy. Ever since her appearance, everything has deviated from the destined path… Just what is her background? Why does one so young possess such formidable abilities?”

This…Wan Lianshi could not answer. The Prince Can enunciated each word carefully, “I originally thought that since she had inherited Wei Jie’s fate, all I needed was to let her continue down the demonic path. But now it seems she is ultimately not Wei Jie. Look at the way she swayed people’s hearts in the village, and her unruffled poise. Urging such a person towards demonic cultivation would be as futile as persuading the monk Tang Sanzang to consume human flesh!”

It is said that demonic cultivation arises from the human heart and mind. In other words, one’s innate character and mental state play a significant role in promoting demonic tendencies.

A person with an open and optimistic nature, unless subjected to severe trauma, would find it very difficult to stray onto the demonic path even if unable to cultivate immortality.

That Cui Xiao Xiao, faced with slander, accusations, and insults from the crowd, remained cheerful and deftly turned the situation around with clever words.

Her poise and strategizing did not seem befitting a young maiden in her teens.

The Prince Can felt that although she was possessed by a demon, she could still suppress it and would not rapidly descend into full demonic possession.

But he could not wait any longer. These past few days, he had been unable to sleep soundly, increasingly feeling the cumbersome limitations of a mortal body.

The so-called borrowed life, was ultimately not his own. He needed to swiftly achieve immortality, which meant walking the path originally intended for Wei Jie…

However, he had to figure out why Cui Xiao Xiao had altered Wei Jie’s destiny and taken his place.

At this point, the Prince Can said, “Let’s go. Escort me to retrieve the lost page first, then we’ll leave the city.”

Upon hearing the Prince Can’s intention to depart, Wan Lianshi felt relieved, it seemed he would not be sacrificed to the four major sects after all.

The Prince Can also did not seem to want to wait for other attendants, only bringing Wan Lianshi with him into the secret chamber.

Once inside, the Prince Can took the lead while Wan Lianshi cautiously followed behind.

Under the dim glow of the night pearls, the Prince Can led Wan Lianshi through one secret passage after another.

Although Wan Lianshi knew the mansion’s underground was a complex labyrinth, the secret chamber the Prince Can was taking him to was one he had never visited in all his years here.

When Wan Lianshi asked if they were heading back to the capital after leaving the city, the Prince Can did not turn back as he replied, “As you said, the lost page is crucial. You will take it out first and ensure it suffers no damage whatsoever. Otherwise, if it falls into the wrong hands, they may have a chance to alter destiny.”

Of course Wan Lianshi understood the power of that lost page from the Book of Life and Death. He and his fellow disciple Qin He had both been dying before the King added their names to that paper fragment, allowing them to escape their demise.

If he could seize this opportunity to take possession of the lost page…

The thought of such greed arose in Wan Lianshi’s mind as he hurriedly followed behind the Prince Can until they finally reached the secret chamber where the blood jar containing the lost page was kept.

As the Prince Can approached the large jar in the center, Wan Lianshi also casually walked over and glanced inside. However, the bottom of the jar only contained thick, fresh blood with no sign of any lost page.

Wan Lianshi narrowed his eyes and probed, “Your Majesty, could it be that Cui Xiao Xiao and her group already stole the lost page last time? Why is there nothing in this jar?”

The Prince Can gazed at the jar and said solemnly, “Over the years, to nourish this paper fragment, I have had countless rare and exotic beasts slaughtered just to sustain it with their blood. But ever since Cui Xiao Xiao appeared, this lost page has become a blank sheet, no longer displaying anything. I had thought this meant the lost page could no longer be used. But then I realized, perhaps it is no longer satisfied with the blood of those fiendish beasts and requires better nourishment.”

Wan Lianshi took a cautious step back and asked warily, “Your Majesty has always had people hunt those ferocious beasts from the demonic realm. Their blood is supremely yin and truly rare. But if even that blood can no longer satisfy the needs of the lost page from the Book of Life and Death, then what else can be used to nourish it?”

The Prince Can smiled faintly and took out a bloodstained strip of gauze from his sleeve, tossing it into the blood jar.

Wan Lianshi’s eyelids twitched slightly as he recognized that the gauze was what the Prince Can had used to bandage his severed arm wound earlier.

Why would the Prince Can throw the bloodstained gauze into the jar…?

Wan Lianshi had experienced numerous life-and-death crises and reacted with shocking swiftness. Sensing something amiss, he immediately lunged forward to intercept the gauze strip. At the same time, he flung out a human skin blood talisman straight at the Prince Can.

Wan Lianshi’s movements were indeed very quick, but he had forgotten that he only had one arm left! No matter how swiftly he moved, it was impossible for him to do two things simultaneously.

Just as he threw the blood talisman at the Prince Can, the gauze strip had already fallen into the jar…

Chapter 61

At this time, the morning light gradually brightened. Accompanied by the fresh morning air, the aroma of cured meat and rice porridge, as well as sesame seed cakes and the like, was quite tempting for one’s stomach.

Some disciples from sects of shallow attainments couldn’t help but let out some gurgling sounds from their stomachs upon hearing this talk, which was quite apropos.

The elder from Ebony Peak angrily shook his beard and gestured at Xiao Xiao, who was standing on the table, saying, “What’s all this nonsense! Are you deliberately trying to stall for time by beating around the bush?”

Xiao Xiao couldn’t wait for them at all. Her filial grand-disciple Tang Youshu, upon hearing that his master ancestor was hungry, hurriedly went back to fetch a bamboo basket first and handed a peanut sesame seed cake to his master ancestor.

Xiao Xiao shamelessly took a big bite. The sugar filling oozed out, it was truly delicious!

After eating two bites to satisfy her hunger, she finally regained her composure and talked solemnly to the elder from Ebony Peak, “You all came here to arrest the murderer who slaughtered the village. I have proven that I am not the culprit. The young lady Lingzi from Wonderful Immortal Mountain and her fellow disciples can also testify to our innocence. The reappearance of these evil formations in the rivers and lakes is a calamity for the world. The root cause is the Demon Master Wan Lianshi from the Prince Can’s Manor, who is also the demon that harmed your sects’ predecessors. He has been severely injured, and his arm is here. If you intend to eliminate this scourge, you might as well go to the Prince Can’s Mansion to investigate after having your breakfast, while Demon Master Wan Lianshi’s power is waning. That way, you can avenge your deceased fellow daoists.”

Ling Zhishan had been standing quietly by the side until now. Upon hearing Xiao Xiao mention her, she finally spoke, “When the village was surrounded and attacked, Cui Xiao Xiao and her disciple Wei Jie were with us, so they definitely didn’t do it.”

Although the former Sect Leader of Wonderful Immortal Mountain was no longer around, his daughter’s words evidently carried weight.

However, the current Sect Leader of Wonderful Immortal Mountain gave a disdainful cold laugh, and several of his close followers immediately understood the implication and mocked Ling Zhishan for not staying in the sect but instead running down the mountain to keep company with this Cui Xiao Xiao. Was she perhaps bewitched by this demoness and speaking on her behalf?

Ling Zhishan gave a sideways glance at her uncle, the current Sect Leader, her voice slightly cold as she said, “When my father was afflicted before, it was the young master Wei Jie of the Wei Family who came to our aid. Although my father suffered from a severe demonic poison and passed away, I am a person who repays kindness. I will always remember Wei Jie’s kindness, and I would never frame an old friend with trumped-up charges! Otherwise, my father’s soul in heaven would be disquieted and lament that Wonderful Immortal Mountain would only produce shameless ingrates who forget kindness in the future!”

Hearing her veiled rebuke, several disciples from Wonderful Immortal Mountain became so enraged that they could no longer hold back. However, the current Sect Leader remained unmoved and stopped them.

Since Ling Zhishan could no longer stay on the mountain, it suited him just fine. Why bother bullying this orphan girl in front of so many people and give others a chance to spread rumors?

That Ling Zhishan was defending Cui Xiao Xiao was even better. Even if these murderous cases were not committed by Cui Xiao Xiao, the fact that she had been demonically possessed was undeniable.

He wanted to see what would become of Ling Zhishan after she had ingratiated herself with these demonic cultivators!

However, after hearing Lingzi Shan’s words, many people present felt rather awkward and turned their heads away.

This was because many of them had previously accepted Wei Jie’s aid. Now, they had come to besiege their master and disciple, which did seem rather ungrateful.

Cui Xiao Xiao took advantage of the conflict between the uncle and niece from Wonderful Immortal Mountain to heap on more flattery, “Esteemed martial uncles, you were truly upholding the righteous path by traveling from afar due to your concerns about me being demonically possessed and harming others! However, please rest assured that although I am temporarily possessed by a demonic bead and unable to expel it, I will not go berserk and harm anyone. If the esteemed martial uncles cannot tolerate even the slightest taint of evil, you can simply wait until I truly go insane and start slaughtering before coming to subdue me according to the orthodox laws. At that time, not only will my Talisman Sect’s disciples not obstruct you, but we will also contribute money for you to erect commemorative steles inscribed with your meritorious deeds of vanquishing demons, which will be set up all over the mountains and forests…”

After the smooth talk, Xiao Xiao’s smile faded, and her eyes suddenly reddened. While chewing on the sugar cake, she choked up and said, “Even if my arm has grown something strange, Young Master Qin of Soaring Cloud Pavilion should not have been so rude as to pull my sleeve in public! Is this how the esteemed Soaring Cloud Pavilion treats ladies? I admit I injured the Pavilion Master of Soaring Cloud Pavilion, but I saw with my own eyes him meeting privately with that demon Wan Lianshi and calling him ‘senior master’ and ‘junior master’… Oh, I see… Even if I misheard, is that not allowed? You father and son from Soaring Cloud Pavilion can do as you please, but please don’t always try to kill me to silence me. If you want to silence me, I ask that you do it yourself. Don’t always trouble the elders and disciples of other sects to go back and forth like this. Don’t they need to refine pills and meditate to improve their cultivation?”

By this point, Wei Jie had quietly turned around. In such a confrontational situation, the sect leader Cui’s disciple’s laughter would only diminish the atmosphere.

However, Xiao Xiao’s tearful and pitiful appearance had also amused him greatly, and he could only quietly laugh towards the corner of the room.

If one were to discuss the skill of spouting nonsense, if Cui was not ranked first, who else would dare claim that position?

However, his turning around was seen by others as being saddened on behalf of his humiliated master. A man may not shed tears lightly, but for a cold and demonic-looking man like Wei Jie to appear so distressed that his shoulders were shuddering was quite something.

Coupled with the scrawny scholar Tang Youshu’s mournful expression as he grieved for his master ancestor, as well as the fox girl Yu Ling’er, who was truly sobbing after being touched by Xiao Xiao’s words, the Talisman Sect truly seemed to be experiencing a gale of sorrow and hardship.

Those besieging the Talisman Sect couldn’t help but feel like they were the villains and accomplices.

Xiao Xiao had said enough, so she sniffled and concluded, “…Or perhaps the esteemed martial uncles could consider your own priorities. Will you continue to stay here and aid Young Master Qin in bullying this young lady, or will you go to the Prince Can’s Mansion and capture that bloodstained demonic sect’s evil demon while he is still weakened, avenging your deceased predecessors?”

As she said this, she truly had the pitiful and innocent appearance of a neighborhood maiden.

Moreover, the young lady’s words flowed like a mountain stream, bright and clear. Where was the sense in treating someone who had not killed anyone as a murderer to be apprehended?

In fact, the elders from the other sects had already come to their senses. The Lingshan Talisman Sect and Soaring Cloud Pavilion had deep personal grievances. Furthermore, it seemed that Soaring Cloud Pavilion had used the other sects as pawns to deal with the disciples of the Talisman Sect.

Although the four major sects traditionally supported each other, in recent years, Soaring Cloud Pavilion’s attitude had become too arrogant, frequently mobilizing the four major sects to suppress others.

However, after several such incidents, it was always the other three sects leading the charge, while Soaring Cloud Pavilion hid in the back to reap the rewards. After this happened many times, the elders of the other sects had long felt disgruntled.

The young lady was right – did they from the other three major sects really have so much free time that they didn’t need to refine pills and meditate to improve their cultivation?

However, what truly made them reconsider and turn back was not merely Cui Xiao Xiao’s words, but rather the formidable internal cultivation realm displayed by Wei Jie when he faced off against Qin Lingxiao earlier.

This unheralded Lingshan Talisman Sect truly seemed to be a sect of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

If even the disciples had already formed their internal pellets, then how terrifying would Cui Xiao Xiao, who already showed signs of demonic possession, become if her demonic nature fully manifested?

It was well known that Qin He’s cultivation was already at a very high level, yet he had still been severely injured by her, his spiritual roots damaged. Moreover, Cui Xiao Xiao was surrounded by so many people, yet she had the leisure to eat sugar cakes, was this not a display of being at ease and full of confidence?

Therefore, earlier when they had the advantage of numbers, everyone felt free to verbally abuse and taunt her, but no one dared to take the first step forward.

There were even sly old foxes like the elder from Ebony Peak, who inwardly cursed Soaring Cloud Pavilion for being so underhanded as to provoke such a tough opponent for them to deal with.

Earlier, when Cui Xiao Xiao wanted to inspect Qin He’s palm, that old fox from Soaring Cloud Pavilion suddenly claimed to feel unwell and hurriedly left.

Who knew if he really did have some dealings with that Demon Master Wan Lian!

The elders from the other sects were not foolish either, and their minds were busy calculating their chances.

Now, Cui Xiao Xiao’s gentle and amiable soft words had truly provided a long stair-step for those who had found themselves in a difficult situation to back down gracefully.

Compared to dealing with a demoness who had not yet caused any innocent deaths, going to suppress the remaining demonic sect remnants who had taken refuge in the treacherous Prince Can’s Mansion and lost an arm seemed more righteous!

Thus, the three major sects, as well as the righteous cultivators from other sects, sternly warned the demoness to guard her words and actions, to promptly turn back from the cliff’s edge. They must never again blindly cultivate demonic arts. After that, they respectfully withdrew from the village and headed towards Luoyi City in pursuit of the Prince Can’s Mansion.

Qin Lingxiao had never expected that this Cui Xiao Xiao could actually turn the situation around and persuade the crowd that had come to subdue her to leave, all while eating sugar cakes.

Moreover, the other three major sects had actually abandoned Soaring Cloud Pavilion’s people and left without a word, one by one with sullen expressions.

Qin Lingxiao could sense that the people from the other three major sects seemed to harbor much dissatisfaction towards Soaring Cloud Pavilion, no longer holding the same reverence for it as before…

Seeing that the others had left but Qin Lingxiao still remained, Cui Xiao Xiao clapped off the sesame seed crumbs on her hands and coldly mocked him, “Why doesn’t Young Master Qin leave as well? Do you want to pull my sleeve again?”

Qin Lingxiao pursed his lips, realizing that Xiao Xiao must be angry at him. If he stayed, it would only lead to unpleasantness.

Looking at Xiao Xiao’s cool expression, he felt a mix of emotions. If only there had been another way earlier, he would not have wanted to become enemies with Xiao Xiao, as they had still been able to converse calmly just last time…

He could only say in a low voice, “What I told you about the demonic bead is true… There is a demonic bead within your body, and you should be able to sense the other one better than I can. If it possesses someone with ulterior motives, the consequences would be unimaginable… You have invested too much effort into the people here, and I fear you may become entangled. Don’t you… want to go back?”

After saying this, Qin Lingxiao swiftly led his people away.

Qin Lingxiao truly had too many questions to ask his father, so he needed to catch up to him and inquire about his dealings with the Prince Can.

However, Wei Jie had overheard the few words that Qin Lingxiao had said in a low voice to Xiao Xiao at the end.

He couldn’t help but slightly narrow his eyes: Go back? Where did that surnamed Qin want Xiao Xiao to go back to?

After the group of people dispersed, the villagers also did not dare provoke these demonic cultivators who were wanted by the imperial court, and continued to keep their distance.

The Talisman Sect members could finally light a fire and cook porridge, allowing their master ancestor to eat a warm bowl of glutinous rice porridge.

Xiao Xiao felt that she should fulfill her duties as a master and take this opportunity to educate her sect members.

“Did you see that? That’s what it means to ‘subdue the enemy without fighting.’ If possible, avoid fighting. Especially you! Wei Jie, yes, I’m talking to you! Don’t raise your eyebrows and glare like that! Remember, the thing below your nose is called a mouth! When others have wronged you, don’t just sneer and stay silent, you need to open your mouth and explain! Remember, we in the Talisman Sect will eat anything, except getting mistreated!”

Hearing this speech, Tang Youshu nodded repeatedly and, forgetting to eat, immediately took out a notebook and his writing brush flew as he recorded his master ancestor’s words of wisdom.

Wei Jie, however, continued to sneer and coldly smile, then lowered his gaze, lost in thought, appearing rather stubborn and unruly.

Yu Ling’er, on the other hand, was still immersed in the disillusionment and loss she felt towards her benefactor Qin Lingxiao, her tears flowing as she choked on the sugar cake, still unable to believe that Qin Lingxiao could be so ungentlemanly as to pull a maiden’s sleeve and betray Xiao Xiao.

It was Tang Youshu who could not bear to watch any longer and gently comforted Yu Ling’er, saying that Young Master Qin must have had his own difficulties. People in different circumstances would think differently, and one could not demand complete conformity.

Moreover, Young Master Qin’s actions had nothing to do with her, Yu Ling’er. If Young Master Qin ever faced difficulties in the future and she helped him, then she would have repaid his kindness. It was too much to expect moral perfection from someone who had saved one’s life.

Hearing Tang Youshu’s kind and thoughtful words, Yu Ling’er felt much better in her heart. However, recalling that she had initially admired Young Master Qin and intended to pledge herself to him, she now felt a sense of having placed her trust in the wrong person.

Would she have to become an exception among the fox tribe, unable to remain constant from beginning to end?

Wei Jie could no longer bear to listen, coldly snorting to suggest that they should have let some toothless, leaky old man go save Yu Ling’er back then. He wanted to see if the fox tribe were so lustful as to pledge themselves to anyone.

Imagining herself confessing her eternal devotion to a shriveled old man, Yu Ling’er immediately let out a cry as if her tail had been stepped on, and howled at Wei Jie again.

Seated at another table were Ling Zhishan and her fellow disciples from Wonderful Immortal Mountain.

Since she had helped Cui Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao did not want the young lady to leave on an empty stomach, so she invited her and her martial uncles and brothers to stay and have a bowl of porridge before leaving.

Ling Zhishan had been silently observing the commotion at the other table – this Talisman Sect was truly different from other cultivating sects. The people in the sect seemed to have no rules or taboos, all of them chattering in front of the Sect Leader without any of the detached serenity that cultivators should have by removing love, hate, and desire.

And Cui Xiao Xiao did not seem to discipline her disciples at all. Seeing the lack of decorum at the dining table, she actually laughed and went along with them…

This atmosphere filled with mundane feelings once again left Ling Zhishan, who came from an orthodox sect, dazed, and she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of envy.

Wonderful Immortal Mountain had always admired the strong and was extremely harsh. To cultivate the Qi Shield technique, one had to undergo constant elimination. Only those who could endure having waterfall pour down on them for three years would barely qualify.

It was precisely because of this atmosphere that martial uncles and brothers saw each other as competitors.

Aside from being somewhat accommodating towards her as the daughter of their late master, the other martial uncles and brothers schemed openly and secretly against one another fiercely. How could there be such a scene of playful banter as in the Talisman Sect?

She truly wished she could sit at the same table as that clear-eyed, handsome man. At that time, would he treat her with the same gentle attentiveness as when he served porridge and dishes to Xiao Xiao?

As they were almost done with breakfast, Cui Xiao Xiao did politely hint that it was time for Lingzi Shan to leave.

However, Lingzi Shan and her fellow Wonderful Immortal Mountain disciples did not leave, and remained lingering in the courtyard.

When Xiao Xiao asked about it, Ling Zhishan seemed to have already made up her mind. Biting her lip, she knelt down in front of Xiao Xiao, saying, “We admire the profound skills of Sect Leader Cui. We wish to join the Lingshan Talisman Sect as your disciples. Please, Sect Leader, open your heart and accept us!”

Ah? A sugar cake got stuck in Xiao Xiao’s throat, leaving her in an awkward situation.

Fortunately, Wei Jie promptly struck her back, saving this Demon Lord reincarnate from choking to death on a cake.

Xiao Xiao never expected that Ling Zhishan would end up wanting to join her sect after all these twists and turns.

As someone from two hundred years in the future, Xiao Xiao knew very well that this Ling Zhishan and Qin Lingxiao were both rebellious spirits who would commit the grave sin of killing their master and ancestors.

She had already drawn the unfortunate lot of inheriting Wei Jie’s demonic fate. If she accepted another such “beloved disciple”, she would truly be inviting death!

So after coughing for a while, Xiao Xiao politely declined, “Well…Miss Ling, you are the daughter of the late Sect Leader of Wonderful Immortal Mountain, with boundless future prospects. Our Talisman Sect is unheard of, and we are currently wanted by the imperial court, with an infamous reputation on the outside. If I accept you, it would only be to your detriment. You should seek another famous master instead.”

However, Ling Zhishan thought Xiao Xiao was just being modest, so she hurriedly said, “It was my blindness before that caused me to underestimate the Talisman Sect. Now, I have seen your virtuous conduct in saving the commoners, as well as the outstanding skills of you and your disciples, which have truly won my admiration. My mind is made up – I must become your disciple. If you refuse to accept me, I will kneel here unmoving.”

Saying so, she indeed remained motionless in her kneeling position, appearing determined to not get up unless accepted into the Talisman Sect.

Seeing a delicate beauty kneeling made one’s heart ache with pity.

Xiao Xiao sighed and decided it was better to just…not look.

With a wave of her arm, she ordered the Talisman Sect members to pack up and leave, leaving this dogmatic disciple from Wonderful Immortal Mountain kneeling in the courtyard.

After all, since Ling Zhishan insisted on kneeling unmoving, it was still better than Xiao Xiao herself lying unmoving.

Xiao Xiao felt that on the path to recklessness, she had already slipped far enough. With the Talisman Sect’s current motley crew of disciples, there was no need to add more people.

Ling Zhishan thought that since Xiao Xiao seemed more approachable than Wei Jie, if she begged to become her disciple as the heir of such an esteemed clan, Xiao Xiao would surely be delighted to accept her without hesitation.

But never did she expect that after lowering herself to kneel before a maiden around her own age to beg for discipleship, she would be so brusquely rejected.

She had pleaded so earnestly, yet Xiao Xiao brought the Talisman Sect disciples and left without a word, completely disregarding her.

Lingzi Shan’s dignity was utterly shattered as she knelt in the rural courtyard, her tears of humiliation and indignation spilling out as she could only glare hatefully at the departing backs of the Talisman Sect.

A fellow disciple from Wonderful Immortal Mountain came over to help the junior martial sister up, then said to her, “That Cui Xiao Xiao was right – the Talisman Sect is not a prestigious large sect. They were just besieged by the orthodox path. Why should we join such a obscure chicken sect?”

Ling Zhishan slowly stood up, took a deep breath to hold back her tears, and slowly said, “Didn’t you see? That Wei Jie could wield our Wonderful Immortal Mountain’s Qi Shield technique with mastery, and the skills he used were actually even more profound than our own sect’s. It’s clear that Cui Xiao Xiao must have stolen our sect’s skills and improved upon them. I swore before my father’s grave that I must reclaim Wonderful Immortal Mountain, so I need to enhance my cultivation. Since Cui Xiao Xiao could teach Wei Jie to such a level, she is naturally my best choice to take as a master!”

More importantly, by becoming Cui Xiao Xiao’s disciple, she could become fellow martial siblings with that demonic-looking yet alluring man, and have the chance for close daily interaction as they cultivated together…

Hearing this, the others realized she had a point. Wei Jie had indeed used Wonderful Immortal Mountain’s Qi Shield when facing off against Qin Lingxiao earlier. However, in his application of the Qi Shield, he had better compensated for the clumsiness and lack of agility that was a flaw of Wonderful Immortal Mountain’s version.

If Ling Zhishan could reach Wei Jie’s level, it would be easy for her to return and overthrow the current Sect Leader. That was why the junior martial sister had the idea to beg for discipleship.

But that Cui Xiao Xiao stubbornly refused to accept them, so there was nothing that could be done!

However, Ling Zhishan took a deep breath and resolutely said, “Earlier, the four major sects treated the Talisman Sect poorly, so it’s understandable that Cui Xiao Xiao is wary of the four major sects and refused us. My one attempt at requesting discipleship was not enough to show my sincerity. If I kneel three or four times, once she sees our sincere intentions, she should no longer refuse.”

Having made up her mind, Ling Zhishan led her fellow disciples to follow at a distance behind the Lingshan Talisman Sect, determined to persistently pester them until being accepted as Cui Xiao Xiao’s disciples.

As for the Talisman Sect members, after leaving the village, they soon discovered Ling Zhishan’s group ghosting along behind them from afar.

Yu Ling’er had heard of Ling Zhishan’s predicament and felt she was similar to a fox without a home, so she said to Xiao Xiao, “Since those few don’t make a difference either way, you might as well just accept them.”

Xiao Xiao, who was meditating in the carriage, coldly snorted after hearing Yu Ling’er’s words, “Our Talisman Sect has enough idle mouths to feed already. Why don’t you leave to make room for them? I’ll feed anyone, it makes no difference to me.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Ling’er didn’t dare say anything further and could only silently pull faces at Cui Xiao Xiao, no longer suggesting that she accept more disciples.

At this moment, Wei Jie, who had gone off somewhere, returned. It turned out he had noticed Xiao Xiao’s clothes were torn by Qin Lingxiao, so he went to a nearby village to buy her some new clothes.

Wei Jie had good taste – the clothes he bought were elegantly plain-colored, made of fine fabric that gave off an ethereal, elegant air. When Xiao Xiao put them on and the long skirt fluttered in the wind, she exuded an aura of a banished immortal, causing Yu Ling’er to sigh enviously at how beautiful she looked.

Previously, Xiao Xiao had only worn coarse cloth robes. The most refined outfit she had worn in this life was when she disguised herself as a dancing girl to infiltrate the city.

She never expected that this time, Wei Jie would actually buy her the kind of fine dresses worn by noble ladies. Xiao Xiao was delighted as she stroked the fabric, her bright eyes asking Wei Jie, “Won’t I look too overdressed in this?”

Wei Jie leaned back against the carriage compartment, watching his little master twirling and dancing like a joyful butterfly, the long skirt fluttering. He couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth into an adorable smile, revealing a small fang.

After smiling for a while, he beckoned her over.

Xiao Xiao, still in her joyous mood, obediently lifted her skirt and came before Wei Jie. Wei Jie then reached into his pocket and took out a long jade hairpin, pinning it into Xiao Xiao’s partially upswept hair bun.

The precious hairpin complemented this ethereal outfit perfectly, accentuating Xiao Xiao’s delicate, fair features.

Xiao Xiao looked at Wei Jie’s face so close to hers, and the smile on her own face gradually faded as she sensed something amiss.

It was proper for a disciple to treat their master with reverence. But for the disciple to not only buy his master a beautiful dress, but also adorn her with a precious hairpin…this seemed less like the conduct of a disciple and more like that of a lover.