Chapter 103
Dongyuan knew his mother was far more astute than his father.
His divine power core had been severely damaged in the mortal realm, nearly preventing his return to the heavens. If his mother hadn’t sensed his plight, disguising her guiding light as a ray of sunlight, he would still be trapped there.
This… this was a disaster. He needed her help.
He knelt before her, his voice low. “Mother, the demons… they’re returning. There’s an island in the mortal realm, a haven for demon survivors. They’re stealing lifespans, nurturing embryos. And… their Saint’s light… it has reappeared. The heavens… they’re in danger…”
Rong Yao, forgetting her son’s romantic woes, her expression grave, asked, “How is this possible? The celestial army destroyed the Demon City. The Ebony Divine Tree… it was burned to ashes.”
Dongyuan recalled that day. Wei Feng had been against the massacre, wanting to plead with the Heavenly Emperor on the demons’ behalf. He had stopped her, refusing to let her go. And when the slaughter began, she, realizing it was too late, had volunteered to handle the aftermath.
He had assumed she had finally come to her senses, understanding his intentions. He had let her go.
The temple… she had been the one to set it ablaze, the Ebony Divine Tree burning under her command.
But had she truly destroyed it?
He realized, with a jolt, that she had deceived him, preserving the demons’ lifeline!
Wei Feng! How dare you!
The mother and son, their faces etched with worry, exchanged a look, while on the floating island below, chaos reigned.
The sight of those demonic embryos, bursting from the earth… it sent a chill down everyone’s spine.
Yu Ling’er, terrified, whimpered, her cries incessant. Tang Youshu, translating for her, said, “She says there are too many demons. Xiao Xiao… is she being controlled? What if she turns on us, like Master did? We’re no match for them!”
His tone, his mannerisms… they were so similar to Yu Ling’er’s. Wei Jie couldn’t help but ask, “She only whimpered twice. How did you manage to translate that into a speech?”
Tang Youshu, his expression sincere, said, “She didn’t say all that. But I know her well. I can… sense her thoughts.”
Wei Jie scoffed, giving him a sidelong glance. It seemed Tang Youshu was the one possessed now, the little fox’s spirit inhabiting his body.
But he had no time for his disciple’s antics. They had to get Xiao Xiao down from there!
Her demonic bloodline was awakening, her actions dictated by her role as the demons’ Saint.
He had to reach her, to break through the fog clouding her mind.
Closing his eyes, he surrendered to the demonic bead within him. Black scales covered his body, his demonic energy surging. He leaped into the air, towards Xiao Xiao.
He had experienced this transformation several times now, but unlike his past self, he hadn’t lost control. His mind remained clear.
He reached for her, wanting to pull her close, but she deflected his touch, a blast of energy sending him crashing back to the ground.
He landed in a crater, the impact shaking the hard earth.
Tang Youshu, without the demonic bead, was helpless. He peered into the crater. “Master, are you alright?”
Wei Jie, his hand shooting out, pulled himself up.
Human demons and true demons were different. He understood that now.
And Xiao Xiao… she was their Saint. Her power, fully awakened, was formidable.
Even the five phoenix guardians kept their distance. They could devour lesser demons, but against a true demon, their bloodline pure… they were intimidated.
After all, true demons, like ancient deities, shared a common origin. They couldn’t be consumed by divine beasts.
He couldn’t reach her. But if he allowed her to continue down this path, controlled by her demonic bloodline… she would become nothing more than a queen, her sole purpose reproduction.
But how could he awaken her?
He stared at her, at the golden light emanating from her wings, and then… an idea sparked.
He turned to Tang Youshu. “Do you have any Buddhist scriptures?”
Tang Youshu, the walking encyclopedia, pointed at his bamboo basket, half-submerged in the receding water. “I did… but they might have been washed away.”
Then, his eyes brightening, he said, “Master, if you need them, I can recite them!”
“Reciting them won’t work,” Wei Jie said, his voice urgent. “Write them down! On the ground!”
He handed him the Heaven-Punishing Sword.
The earth here was hard. Ordinary swords wouldn’t leave a mark.
Who said scholars were useless? They were walking libraries!
Tang Youshu, clutching the sword, began to etch the Diamond Sutra onto the ground, his movements swift and precise.
Wei Jie, taking a deep breath, mimicking the ancient Flame Emperor from the vision, focused his energy, levitating, his gaze fixed on the scriptures.
He channeled his energy, his voice resonating with power, reciting the scriptures.
His voice, amplified by his spiritual energy, echoed through the air, like the toll of an ancient temple bell, its rhythm soothing, calming.
The sound reached Xiao Xiao, surrounding her.
He didn’t know if it would work. But the black lotus, while still in the River of Forgetfulness, had been exposed to the ancient Flame Emperor’s daily recitations.
The Wei Feng Divine Lady had said that Buddhist scriptures could suppress a demon’s inherent violence, instilling compassion.
That was why she had sacrificed herself.
He couldn’t afford to make a mistake. He focused, his voice growing stronger, matching Tang Youshu’s swift movements, the sound reverberating, reaching even the depths of the sea.
Xiao Xiao, her wings spread wide, her mind lost in a haze, controlled by her awakened bloodline…
A faint sound pierced through the fog, a familiar voice, resonating with her very being, calming the turbulent energy within her, as if she had always been surrounded by this sound…
She twitched, her wings fluttering, seeking the source of the voice, drawn to it, wanting to be closer, closer…
She found solace in a familiar embrace, a comforting warmth.
Something soft, like feathers, brushed against her eyelids, her cheeks, her lips.
It tickled, arousing a wave of laughter… She opened her eyes, her vision blurry, and saw him, his face half-covered in black scales, his arms around her.
No… it was her wings, their golden expanse enveloping them both, creating a cocoon of light.
They hovered in the air, their bodies pressed together, the wings shielding them from the storm, their world reduced to this embrace.
“Wei Jie,” she murmured, her voice drowsy, “I heard… beautiful scriptures… like wine… intoxicating…”
He kissed her, her words a sweet melody. He had felt his heart clench when she soared into the sky, her golden wings a beacon against the dark clouds.
He had been afraid, afraid she would vanish, like that little black phoenix.
He tightened his grip, his voice a low murmur. “If you like it… I’ll recite them for you every night…”
She looked at him, his scaled face somehow even more handsome, his eyes filled with a dark, captivating intensity.
To have such a man in her bed, his voice a soothing balm… it was a tempting thought.
His recitations had quelled her awakened bloodline, but the intimacy of their embrace, the warmth of their shared breath, shattered the moment her wings receded, revealing the horde of demons below.
“Why are there so many of them?” she asked, her voice filled with surprise.
Wei Jie’s expression was impassive. “You awakened them. They’re waiting to pledge their allegiance to their Saint.”
Xiao Xiao stared at the sea of demons, Madam Fu at their forefront, their gazes fixed on her, their reverence undeniable, and she wanted to scream.
Even with her demonic bloodline awakened, she had no desire to be their Saint. She had witnessed Madam Fu’s cruelty, her disregard for human life. She couldn’t lead them.
They had the statue now. The Dongyuan Emperor couldn’t use it.
They had to escape this island.
Madam Fu, her face ravaged by the poison, crawled towards her, her voice choked with sobs, begging for forgiveness.
Xiao Xiao took a deep breath. “You should be begging those you tricked for forgiveness. They might have been greedy, but they didn’t deserve to die. You stole their lives for your own selfish ambitions. And now… you’re suffering the consequences. I’m not your Saint. I’m Cui Xiao Xiao, a disciple of the Lingshan Talisman Sect.”
Tang Youshu’s head snapped up, his eyes widening in surprise.
Since their separation, she had rejected her connection to the sect, determined to create her own path.
And now… she had acknowledged her identity. He was as thrilled as he had been when Wei Jie accepted him as his disciple.
A master seeking validation from their disciple… it was a rare sight.
But Madam Fu, her voice filled with a fervent desperation, said, “You are our Saint! You are destined to lead us, to avenge our people! It’s your fate! You can’t escape it!”
Wei Jie, tired of her pleas, silenced her with a blast of energy, sending her flying.
As she crashed to the ground, the demons, their fangs bared, their ears pointed, surged forward, ready to tear him apart.
But as Xiao Xiao shielded him, they retreated, their growls a warning.
“Look!” one of the foxes shouted. “The island is descending! The barrier is gone!”
The island was slowly sinking back into the sea.
It seemed that with Xiao Xiao awakened, it had lost its buoyancy.
If they hadn’t stopped her, it would have continued rising, reaching the heavens, and then, as Madam Fu had envisioned, she would have led this army of demons against the unsuspecting deities…
Xiao Xiao was free, the island’s barrier gone. They had to escape now!
Wei Jie, slashing a path through the crowd with the Heaven-Punishing Sword, pulled Xiao Xiao along, leading them towards the docks.
A few ships, spared by the storm, remained.
Once they were aboard, Xiao Xiao could summon a wind spell, filling the sails, carrying them away from this cursed island.
But Madam Fu and the demons had reached the docks. They couldn’t leave the island, but they clung to the edge, their arms outstretched, as if trying to pull their Saint back.
“Saint!” Madam Fu cried, her voice a desperate plea. “Don’t abandon us! How can we avenge our people without you?!”
The sight, their cries echoing through the air, was chilling. Wei Jie, seeing Xiao Xiao watching them, turned her head, pulling her close, shielding her from the spectacle.
When her demonic bloodline had awakened, he had felt a distance between them, as if she was slipping away.
This island… it brought misfortune upon those who set foot on it. He didn’t want her connected to it in any way.
He knew that in their past lives, he had been the ancient Flame Emperor, the ruler of the underworld, the vanquisher of demons, and she… she had been their Saint.
They were bound by fate, their destinies intertwined, yet opposed.
He would leave that behind.
The ancient Flame Emperor and the demon Saint… they had nothing to do with him and Cui Xiao Xiao.
He had always been a free spirit, unburdened by expectations. He could easily abandon even the weight of destiny.
As for the war between gods and demons… let them destroy each other. If the deities were all like the Dongyuan Emperor, then they deserved to be challenged. They had grown complacent, their lives too easy, their actions often cruel.
The wind, summoned by Xiao Xiao, filled the sails, carrying them away from the island.
As the island, shrouded in dark clouds, disappeared from view, Wei Jie looked down at her, tears streaming down her face.
He cupped her face in his hands.
“I… I don’t know why I’m crying,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “I feel… connected to that island… Damn it! Is this Saint’s bloodline so strong? I feel like… the mother of a thousand Water Yasha!”
Tang Youshu, who had been drinking water, spat it out, spraying the little white fox, who was staring at him, her head tilted, causing her to yelp in protest.
Xiao Xiao wiped her tears, trying to ignore the lingering effects of her awakened bloodline.
She had more pressing concerns. Yu Ling’er, having sacrificed her core to save Tang Youshu, could no longer return to her human form. Even if she cultivated again, she wouldn’t be as powerful as before.
And a fox’s lifespan was limited. Tang Youshu would likely outlive her, another tragic love story.
She looked down at her abdomen, where the demonic bead resided. “I still have your demonic bead,” she said to Wei Jie. “What would happen if we gave it to Yu Ling’er?”
Wei Jie didn’t hesitate. “It’s too powerful. Not everyone can handle it. You saw Qin He. He gained a few years, but he became a puppet, controlled by the bead, leading to his death. Yu Ling’er… her cultivation is weak, and she’s not exactly… bright. If you give her the bead, she’ll become a monster, and your precious Tang Youshu will be her first victim.”
Xiao Xiao knew he was right. There was no easy solution. But she had to find a suitable place for the foxes to recover, for Tang Youshu to remove the spirit stone, allowing them to cultivate in peace. Perhaps then, in a place with the right energy, Yu Ling’er could heal, restore her lost power.
They disembarked at noon.
The storm that had raged around the island, a cataclysmic event, had been a mere rainstorm to those on the mainland. Although some fishermen claimed to have seen a golden light piercing the sky, no one believed them, dismissing it as a dragon ascending to the heavens, urging them to offer prayers at the Dragon King Temple.
Usually, after an adventure, they would celebrate with a feast, indulging in delicious food and drinks.
But without Yu Ling’er’s cheerful chatter, even the most exquisite dishes tasted bland.
Tang Youshu ordered chicken breast and drumsticks for the little white fox.
But without her core, her appetite was gone. She sniffed the food, then, escaping from Tang Youshu’s arms, rushed to a corner, vomiting.
A group of merchants, entering the inn, startled by the fox, kicked at it.
Tang Youshu reacted instantly, pushing them back. “What are you doing?!”
The merchants, glaring at the fox, then at him, said, “Is that your beast? It scared us! You’re paying for our medicine!” They shoved him.
Wei Jie, stepping forward, his tall frame towering over them, his eyes narrowed, his voice cold, asked, “How much? I’ll pay.”
His presence, his demonic aura, intimidated them. They stumbled back, muttering curses, then hurried away.
Tang Youshu picked up the little white fox, who, seemingly offended by their insults, curled into a ball, burying her face in her tail, her body trembling with silent sobs.
Yu Ling’er, usually oblivious, finally understood her predicament.
She was a fox now, a beast in their eyes. She would never be a beautiful woman again. She and Tang Youshu… they had no future…
Xiao Xiao, taking the fox from Tang Youshu, stroked her dull, lifeless fur, her heart sinking.
Her fur… it resembled the old Fox King’s in his final days. If this continued, Yu Ling’er’s lifespan might be even shorter than they had anticipated.
But there was no easy solution. Could they reverse time, go back to the moment Tang Youshu was injured?
Even Tang Youshu, skilled in manipulating time, wasn’t confident he could achieve such precision.
Their previous time travel had been a crude manipulation, a leap across decades. If they tried to pinpoint a specific moment, the consequences could be unpredictable.
Wei Jie, however, had a temporary solution. They would return to Guishi Cliff, to the Valley of Eternity.
Time there was constant. They could place the little white fox inside, freezing her, preventing her death. And then, once they found a permanent solution, they could retrieve her.
They agreed and prepared to leave.
But as they were leaving the market, a raspy voice called out to them. “Travelers! I see darkness in your futures! Great misfortune awaits! Would you like a fortune reading?”
Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie turned and saw an old monk, his head bald and scarred, wearing a tattered robe, sitting behind a small table, a Bagua diagram spread out before him.
“You’re a monk,” Xiao Xiao said, her voice laced with amusement. “Yet you’re using a Taoist symbol. How peculiar.”
Times were tough, but even scammers had standards! This blatant disregard for religious boundaries… it was appalling.
The old monk chuckled, stroking his sparse beard. “You have a keen eye, young lady. You’ve recognized my… versatility. People have so many beliefs. I cater to them all. I have Buddhist deities, Taoist deities, even minor gods and spirits… Ah, you have a fox! I even have a fox deity! You’re missing out if you don’t get a reading!”
He gestured towards a shelf behind him, filled with an assortment of statues.
Xiao Xiao, if it weren’t for her worry about Yu Ling’er, would have laughed.
But she wasn’t in the mood for a fortune reading. Her fate… it was beyond even the most powerful deities.
However, their group did have one gullible member. The little white fox, perking up, struggled out of Tang Youshu’s arms and wobbled towards the table, settling down before the old monk.
The monk, unfazed by the talking fox, smiled, extending his hand. “Let me see your palm.”
The little white fox, obliging, offered her paw, its fur soft and pink.
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