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Chapter 92

In Wei Jie’s past life, the Dongyuan Emperor had remained in the celestial realm, observing events from afar.

But the unexpected had happened. Someone had traveled back in time, altering the fate of countless individuals.

Prince Can, who had successfully stolen Wei Jie’s divine power core in their past life, was now a fugitive, his plans in ruins.

And Wei Jie, having left behind a safeguard, had regained his sealed divine power core.

Ironically, Prince Can, in his attempt to restore Wei Jie’s original fate, had unwittingly returned Guishi Cliff to the Lingshan Talisman Sect through Princess Yongning.

Sensing Wei Jie’s growing power, Prince Can had constructed an altar, crafting a statue of the Dongyuan Emperor from ancient wood, offering sacrifices of Xia blood, finally breaking the deity’s seal, summoning his soul to the mortal realm.

This aligned perfectly with the Dongyuan Emperor’s own desires. In their past life, he had focused on opening the gates of the underworld.

But just as he was about to succeed, Wei Jie, with the help of the Wei family, had used their remaining divine power to summon the five phoenixes, unleashing a firestorm that sealed the gates.

His hopes dashed, he had thought his chance was gone. But Wei Jie, who should have been obliterated, had somehow reversed time, bringing back the red moon.

The Dongyuan Emperor saw it as a sign from heaven, a second chance to enter the underworld and find what he sought.

But this time, he wouldn’t rely solely on brute force. As a deity, he abhorred using forbidden techniques.

But this opportunity was too precious to waste. He resorted to soul marrying, an ancient, forbidden art, and found Princess Yongning, a suitable vessel.

However, he preferred to remain behind the scenes, entrusting Prince Can and the disciples of Wan Lianshi with the execution of his plan.

He would orchestrate everything, ensuring his success, his determination to find the one he sought unwavering.

Even Wei Jie, now a mortal, had found a way to defy fate. He, a deity, wouldn’t be bound by destiny.

He wouldn’t accept defeat!

But despite his meticulous planning, Cui Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie had repeatedly escaped his traps.

Prince Can, impatient, had initiated the soul-marrying ritual before he was ready.

He had been forced to intervene, only to be outmaneuvered by Xiao Xiao, his plan falling apart.

Prince Can, although unaware of the details, could tell from the blood staining Ye Yi’s forehead that he had suffered a defeat.

He had known those two were troublesome, but for a deity to be bested by them… it was unexpected. Were they truly that formidable?

But a god was a god. They recovered quickly. Ye Yi, or rather, the Dongyuan Emperor, casually touched his wounded forehead.

When possessing a mortal body, a deity couldn’t afford to lose their temper. But he had been caught off guard, tricked by that cunning Cui Xiao Xiao.

His divine power core, although not completely shattered, was damaged. He was trapped in this dissolute young man’s body, unable to escape.

Even after healing, he would be stranded in the mortal realm for too long, missing his chance to return to the celestial palace. He would have to wait for another mortal’s ascension, hitching a ride back to the heavens.

He had finally descended to the mortal realm, only to lose his chance to retrieve what he desired from the underworld.

He gritted his teeth, remembering that slender girl with the captivating mole, her infuriating cleverness.

“My lord, is it… is it over? You promised me… the two hundred years stolen from the Xia family… you would compensate me with immortality…”

The Dongyuan Emperor, wiping the blood from his forehead, reassured Prince Can. “Don’t worry. I will keep my promise. Wei Jie has embraced his demonic nature. He will eventually form his Nascent Soul and face his final tribulation. In the original timeline, his celestial position was yours. This time… there might be some delays, but the outcome will be the same… After all, I owe the Xia family a debt.”

Prince Can, his eyes narrowed, studied the man before him, his smile gentle and reassuring.

He was a god, his words imbued with a soothing power.

Anyone else would have groveled at his feet, basking in his divine aura.

But Prince Can didn’t trust him! He was a descendant of the Xia family, and the imperial fortune of the Xia dynasty… it had been stolen by this man for two hundred years!

The Dongyuan Emperor, his battle with the ruler of the underworld nearly causing the collapse of the underworld, both of them severely wounded, had broken celestial laws. He should have endured a mortal tribulation, but instead, he had stolen the fortune of a mortal emperor, replenishing his own power.

His actions… they were more wicked than any demon’s!

But Prince Can couldn’t show his anger. This deity was the son of the Heavenly Emperor, born a god, a true child of privilege.

Even the Xia Emperor was insignificant compared to him, a mere ant. They had been deceived, but they had no choice but to accept it.

Prince Can recalled his youthful rage upon discovering the truth about the Xia family’s stolen fortune.

He had been the Emperor then, and he had ordered the destruction of all statues of the Dongyuan Emperor, using the excuse of purging evil spirits.

But his rash actions had angered the heavens. The Great Qi had been plagued by floods, the people suffering, blaming him, their Emperor.

He had been forced to rebuild the statues, offering apologies and prayers, begging for forgiveness.

It was during his self-imposed seclusion that he had sensed the Dongyuan Emperor, establishing a connection with him.

The deity, appearing benevolent and compassionate, had offered him a chance to escape mortality, to achieve immortality, as compensation for the Xia family’s loss.

Immortality… the ultimate temptation for a mortal emperor. To rule forever, to enjoy power and privilege eternally…

Under the deity’s guidance, he had learned to use the lifespans of Xia descendants to fuel his forbidden techniques. He had even orchestrated the rescue of Wei Di, the traitor of the Wei family, obtaining a page from the Book of Life and Death, allowing him to steal Wei Jie’s fate.

But he knew this deity wasn’t acting out of guilt or compassion. He was using him to open the gates of the underworld, to retrieve something he desired.

Whether he had succeeded in their past life… Prince Can didn’t know. He had no memories of his past life, only the knowledge gleaned from the stolen page, secrets mortals weren’t meant to know.

But he knew that in their past life, the Dongyuan Emperor hadn’t risked possessing a mortal body.

This time, everything was different.

Even a powerful deity like him was now trapped in the mortal realm, his future uncertain.

“That Cui Xiao Xiao,” the Dongyuan Emperor said, his voice low. “Her time reversal… it might have only affected the mortal realm, but it will eventually reach the heavens. I might retain my memories, but trapped in this mortal shell, I’m bound by the flow of time… But perhaps it’s not a bad thing. At least I have another chance to find what I seek…”

In their past life, he had defeated Wei Jie, obliterating the former ruler of the underworld. He had even managed to eradicate the Wei family with Prince Can’s help, opening the gates of the underworld.

But Wei Jie, in his final moments, had somehow summoned the five phoenixes, unleashing a firestorm that destroyed Qilao Mountain, sealing the gates. His efforts had been in vain.

This time, although time had been reversed, giving Wei Jie a second chance, it was also an opportunity for him.

He wouldn’t be a distant observer. He would personally intervene, shaping events from within.

He would use this reset to his advantage, to finally obtain what he desired…

“I’m currently trapped in this useless body,” he said. “This mortal shell… it’s inadequate.”

“I’ve already considered that,” Prince Can said quickly. “The Young Pavilion Master of the Soaring Cloud Pavilion, Qin Lingxiao, he’s quite talented. He’s already formed his Golden Core. He will be ready soon. But for now, please, bear with this current vessel.”

The Dongyuan Emperor smiled, but didn’t respond, turning to leave.

Prince Can watched him go, his smile fading.

He might be a descendant of the Xia family, a former Emperor, but before this son of a god, he was nothing but a pawn.

He took a deep breath. He was a master of manipulating people, but not gods.

He knew he was being used.

But whether mortal or divine, they were all bound to this realm now, breathing the same air, walking the same earth.

Who was using whom? It was a game of strategy, and only one could emerge victorious.

As Prince Can and the Dongyuan Emperor plotted their next moves, the Lingshan Talisman Sect group, having tended to the injured guards, escorted Prince Changshan back to the city.

The prince, shaken by his near-death experience, clung to his daughter, his sobs echoing through the night.

Father and daughter, reunited after a harrowing ordeal, shared a moment of unspoken understanding.

The Lingshan Talisman Sect members were treated as honored guests, showered with food and wine.

But Prince Can and Ye Yi had vanished. Prince Changshan, enraged upon learning about the imposter, the ridiculous marriage arrangement, ordered the annulment of the engagement, accusing the Ye family of colluding with villains, attempting to harm a member of the imperial family.

Although they knew Ye Yi was just a vessel, Princess Yongning, fueled by her anger towards the Ye family, their role in raising such a despicable son, embellished her account, painting them as villains who deserved to be punished.

A few days later, with the Crown Prince’s support, Prince Changshan’s report reached the Emperor.

The Emperor, furious upon hearing about the imposter, ordered a thorough investigation. The Ye family was stripped of their titles and possessions, and Ye Yi became a wanted fugitive.

Tang Youshu mentioned that with his divine mark damaged, Ye Yi wouldn’t recover anytime soon. The deity possessing him was trapped. He had descended to the mortal realm, only to become a fugitive. He hoped he enjoyed his new life as a hunted criminal.

Meanwhile, Wei Jie’s new disciples, upon hearing about their master’s heroic rescue of Prince Changshan and his daughter, flocked to the former Prince Can’s mansion, eager to see him.

Xiao Xiao, standing on a balcony, observed the crowd gathered outside.

Wei Jie refused to see them. Tang Youshu, accompanied by Yu Ling’er, armed with a bag of silver, prepared to dismiss them.

Wei Jie, consumed by jealousy when Xiao Xiao had announced her intention to establish the Joy Sect, had impulsively accepted these opportunistic individuals as his disciples.

Unfortunately, he had inadvertently accepted a female disciple, a decision he now regretted, a constant source of teasing from Xiao Xiao.

He had instructed Tang Youshu to take the blame, claiming he wouldn’t have accepted them if it weren’t for that divine power core.

So, Tang Youshu was left to clean up the mess.

But as the founder of the Lingshan Talisman Sect, he couldn’t tarnish their reputation. Accepting disciples, then abandoning them… it wouldn’t reflect well on them.

He sighed, dividing the silver into smaller pouches, offering them to the dismissed disciples. He had done his duty as their senior brother. It was time to part ways.

But the disciples protested, demanding to see Wei Jie, wanting to know why they had been expelled.

Yu Ling’er, seeing Tang Youshu struggling, stepped forward, her voice ringing out. “Wei Jie has succumbed to demonic energy! He’s dangerous! He dismissed you for your own safety! Do you truly want to join a demonic sect, become disciples of a demon?”

The rumors of Cui Xiao Xiao’s demonic nature were widespread.

But the young Sect Master was usually cheerful and approachable, showing no signs of being a demon. She was charming and beautiful. Even if she had turned into a demon, her tragic fate evoked sympathy.

She refused to acknowledge her demonic nature, and the others were happy to ignore it. Whether she was a demon or an immortal… all they cared about was learning from her!

And of course, having a master like Wei Jie, who hadn’t succumbed to demonic energy, who possessed divine power… that was even better!

Although his bloodline was impure, he was still a descendant of the demon-hunting Wei family. Having him as their master would bring them prestige.

But now, with Yu Ling’er’s revelation, their self-deception shattered.

They exchanged uneasy glances, their previous claims of loyalty, their willingness to follow even a demonic master, now sounding hollow.

Most of them accepted the silver, muttering about their opposition to demonic ways, and left.

But Ling Zhishan refused to leave. “Once a master, always a master,” she declared. “Even if he’s become a demon, I won’t abandon him!”

Xiao Xiao, listening from the balcony, couldn’t help but be moved by her words. “If she hadn’t conspired with Qin Lingxiao to kill you in our past life,” she said, “her loyalty would be admirable.”

Wei Jie, his expression cold and distant, his words few these days, placed a slice of melon in her mouth. “Cui Xiao Xiao, don’t provoke me.”

Xiao Xiao, chewing on the melon, pointed at the grapes in the bowl, then said, “She clearly admires you. What are you going to do if she refuses to leave?”

Wei Jie, avoiding the topic, popped a grape into her mouth, then said, “I received a reply from the Crown Prince. He’s granted us access to the imperial library.”

To uncover Ye Yi’s true nature, they needed to investigate the Xia family’s history, their connection to that deity.

The Crown Prince had been researching in the library, but as a non-cultivator, he struggled to decipher the ancient texts.

He believed it was best to let Wei Jie and Cui Xiao Xiao handle it.

They bid farewell to Princess Yongning and left the mansion.

Wei Jie, walking ahead of them, his black robes billowing, his broad shoulders and narrow waist accentuated by his attire, drew many stares.

Although his divine power core was shattered, his divine soul had awakened. Like Ye Yi, he exuded an aura of power.

But unlike Ye Yi’s gentle elegance, Wei Jie’s presence was cold and menacing, a dangerous aura that commanded attention.

Xiao Xiao recognized it – the aura of a demon.

Compared to her, he was more susceptible to demonic energy. He was the former ruler of the underworld, a deity who walked a path that blurred the lines between good and evil. His aura was different from that of other celestial beings.

The underworld… it was a place shunned by deities, a celestial prison.

Besides the perpetual darkness, its very nature could taint a divine soul.

The ancient Flame Emperor’s cold, ruthless personality… it was a consequence of his prolonged exposure to the underworld. Even a righteous deity could be corrupted.

Now, with his divine power core shattered, Wei Jie’s demonic nature was flourishing, his menacing aura growing stronger.

Ling Zhishan, who had been following them, wanting to speak with Wei Jie, flinched under his gaze, stumbling back.

He was still the same man, but somehow… he seemed different, a chilling presence that made her avert her eyes…

Wei Jie, grabbing Xiao Xiao’s hand, walked away.

This cold, intimidating man, his usual playful smile gone… his gaze softened only when he looked at her, his expression filled with a possessive tenderness.

It seemed they had reconciled. He held her hand openly, unconcerned about their master-disciple relationship…

They were more than master and disciple. They were a couple.

Ling Zhishan, watching them, his hand firmly clasped around hers, felt a pang of despair. He had never seen her, his eyes fixed on someone else…

She chuckled bitterly, giving up, ignoring her fellow disciples who tried to engage her in conversation, and walked away, disappearing into the bustling crowd.

Wei Jie and Xiao Xiao, traveling swiftly, soon arrived at the imperial palace in the capital.

The capital was even more dazzling than Luoyi City.

But their culinary adventures would have to wait.

Upon arriving at the palace, they were escorted by a senior eunuch, acting on the Crown Prince’s orders, deep into the palace grounds. It seemed the Crown Prince was even more eager than they were to uncover the Xia family’s secrets.

After all, a hidden, immortal former Emperor, manipulating events from the shadows… it was a threat to both the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

And the Great Qi, its five-hundred-year fortune stolen for two hundred years… it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Although the dynasty had only been established for a little over a hundred years, how could they accept its demise two hundred years later?

The Crown Prince focused on governing the empire. Matters of the supernatural were best left to experts.

As it was a restricted area, only Wei Jie and Xiao Xiao were allowed to enter. Guided by the eunuch, they passed through numerous gates, heading towards the library.

Passing by the imperial temple, Wei Jie paused, his gaze drawn to one of the many statues housed within.

The statue, depicting a deity wielding a sword, was both imposing and handsome, its expression serene. The divine mark on its forehead, a lightning-shaped symbol, was identical to the one Ye Yi possessed.

“Who is that?” Wei Jie asked the eunuch.

“That is the Dongyuan Emperor,” the eunuch replied respectfully. “He was brought here by the former Emperor. At the time, the former Emperor spared no expense, searching for ancient wood to craft this statue. And it seems the deity answered our prayers. Ever since the statue arrived, the floods that plagued our land receded, and peace was restored…”

Wei Jie and Xiao Xiao exchanged glances.

The former Emperor’s efforts to obtain that ancient wood… it wasn’t just for simple prayers, was it?

The Dongyuan Emperor’s divine mark, identical to Ye Yi’s… there had to be a connection!

This unexpected discovery narrowed down their search.

Chapter 91

Yu Ling’er, utterly bewildered, clutched Tang Youshu’s hand tightly. Her fox brain, less complex than a human’s, couldn’t comprehend the unfolding tragedy.

Tang Youshu, frowning, observed the scene in silence.

He had lived two lives, but he had never witnessed a soul-marrying ceremony, nor had Ye Yi ever appeared before his master.

Cui Xiao Xiao’s arrival had set in motion a chain of unpredictable events.

Princess Yongning, kneeling beside her father’s body, her sobs wracking her body, her hair concealing her face, lashed out at Xiao Xiao, her grief turning into a desperate rage.

Xiao Xiao, shaken by the tragedy, tears welling in her eyes, stammered, “I… I only said he might be an imposter. I’m sorry, I didn’t know… But you… you should have been able to tell. How could you believe someone so easily?”

Princess Yongning, as if struck by her words, collapsed, her sobs intensifying.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky, the wind howling across the wilderness, rustling the trees and grass.

Ye Yi, who had been paralyzed by fear, now stood, his usual calm replaced by a chilling intensity. He had witnessed the patricide in silence, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Now, his robes billowing in the wind, his hair whipping around his face, he raised his head.

He was still the same man, but his aura had shifted once again.

The elegant, jade-like gentleman from the magnolia forest had returned, a divine presence descending upon them.

The mysterious soul had re-entered Ye Yi’s body.

Wei Jie pointed his sword at him. “What did you do to her?”

Ye Yi, his smile cold and detached, said, “She was fully conscious when she killed her father. The soul-stealing incense in the carriage merely amplified her murderous intent. She was the one who doubted him, she was the one who struck the blow. No one else is to blame for this patricide.”

His words were calm, as if this tragedy had nothing to do with him.

But Xiao Xiao understood. “You orchestrated this!” she exclaimed. “If the previous Prince Changshan was real, why would she have mistaken him for an imposter? The bandages were a distraction! Someone else was pretending to be him, planting seeds of doubt in her mind. You and Prince Can knew her birth date met your requirements. Prince Can faked his death, took control of Prince Changshan, then used the fire and the disfigurement as an excuse to conceal his face. And when she started to suspect, you switched them back, using words and incense to fuel her rage, driving her to kill her own father! All to make her a suitable vessel for a soul exchange!”

Master Tang Youshu had been clear – a soul with lingering attachments to the mortal realm couldn’t be fully retrieved from the underworld.

Ye Yi might be a liar, but his claim of not knowing about Princess Yongning’s “marriage” could be true.

He had planned this all along, using her wedding day as the catalyst, the day she would kill her own father.

Consumed by guilt and remorse, she would become the perfect vessel!

Ye Yi, still smiling, his gaze fixed on Xiao Xiao, said, “You’re… very perceptive. Who are you? Even the Book of Life and Death can’t reveal your past lives.”

Wei Jie, irritated by his cryptic words, his attempt to analyze Xiao Xiao, scoffed. “Your plan has succeeded. What now?”

Ye Yi didn’t even bother looking at him. His former rival, once his equal, was now a mere mortal, his divine power core shattered, no longer the ruler of the underworld, the deity feared by all.

This failure, his fate stolen, wasn’t worth his attention.

Everything was unfolding according to his plan. He held their fates in his hands, manipulating them with ease. It was a satisfying feeling.

He glanced at the sky, dark clouds swirling, lightning flashing, then calculated the time, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Princess Yongning, consumed by guilt, her spirit broken, having committed such a heinous act… she no longer deserves to live. She can redeem herself, offer her soul to retrieve someone from the underworld…”

He waved his hand, and the silk covering Prince Changshan’s carriage turned a vibrant red, adorned with sinister symbols written in blood. The attendants surrounding the carriage, their souls ensnared, their faces blank, drew their swords and slashed their wrists, their blood staining their white uniforms red.

The soul-marrying procession, the gateway to the underworld, was complete. All they needed was a willing bride.

As Wei Jie and Cui Xiao Xiao moved to stop Princess Yongning, Ye Yi raised his hand, creating a bell-shaped barrier that trapped them, preventing their interference.

He gestured again, and Princess Yongning, who had been sobbing uncontrollably, rose to her feet and walked towards her father’s body. She bent down, pulled the sword from his chest, and plunged it into her own abdomen.

The placement was precise, avoiding vital organs, yet inflicting a near-fatal wound.

This would bring her soul closer to the River of Forgetfulness, allowing them to summon the soul they sought, drawing it into her body…

Ye Yi, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, watched as she struck, unhesitatingly.

He had waited so long for this moment…

He wasted no time, guiding her towards the blood-red carriage. He stood before her, placing a red veil over her head.

Just as his plan was about to reach fruition, a gust of wind swept through the procession. Princess Yongning, who had been lifeless moments ago, suddenly lashed out, attacking Ye Yi.

Caught off guard, his concentration broken, he felt a small paper figure, carried by the wind, land on his forehead, a talisman attached to it.

The talisman, made of silver foil, covered in intricate blood-red symbols, caused his head to snap back. A golden light, attempting to escape from his crown, was trapped by the talisman’s power.

Ye Yi’s body went still. The soul possessing him, whether god or demon, was trapped.

His mortal body had become a prison.

The barrier imprisoning Xiao Xiao and the others shattered.

Xiao Xiao, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, rushed forward, high-fiving Princess Yongning, their plan a success.

Imitating Ye Yi’s calm demeanor, she tilted her head, asking, “How did you like our little performance?”

A faint blue glow emanated from the talisman on Ye Yi’s forehead.

Xiao Xiao had seen a similar glow on Wei Jie’s forehead, although the pattern was different.

Tang Youshu had said it was a divine mark, a symbol of a god!

This liar, this cruel manipulator… he was a god?

Ye Yi, trapped, his eyes wide with disbelief, couldn’t comprehend it. His meticulously crafted plan, foiled by these insignificant mortals!

How was this possible? Princess Yongning, having committed patricide, should have been consumed by guilt, her spirit broken. Why had she suddenly turned on him?

And what was that talisman? How could it bind him?

Princess Yongning pulled the sword from her abdomen, pressing the spring-loaded mechanism, retracting the blade, a triumphant smile on her lips. “What do you think? It only cost me a jade bracelet.”

The sword she had used to “kill” her father… it was the sword-swallowing prop she had obtained from their host.

Following Yu Ling’er’s suggestion, she had modified it, adding a bladder filled with chicken blood to the hilt, creating a convincing blood-splattering effect.

She had practiced the trick relentlessly at the farmhouse.

Xiao Xiao, watching her, instructed Wei Jie to release Prince Changshan’s acupoints.

The “dead” prince gasped, his eyes flying open, his gaze darting around in panic. Seeing his daughter, he pulled her close, his sobs echoing through the night, claiming he had been possessed by an ancestral spirit, nearly dragged into the underworld.

Ye Yi, ignoring their reunion, stared at Xiao Xiao, his voice low and steady. “When did you realize?”

Xiao Xiao, circling him, her gaze sharp, said, “We’ve been staying at a farmhouse, eating the same simple meals – dried meat, mountain vegetables, and that stinky fish our host made… We even had it for dinner tonight!”

Ye Yi frowned, confused.

“You were too preoccupied with your schemes,” Xiao Xiao said, her voice cold. “You didn’t realize that the real Prince Changshan hates stinky fish. He can’t even stand the smell!”

Her suspicions had been aroused when Prince Changshan, held close by Princess Yongning, had suddenly vomited, as if repulsed by her breath.

He had been unusually quiet all day, his servants speaking for him, like a puppet.

And then she remembered Princess Yongning complaining about the stinky fish, about how it lingered in her mouth.

Her mind, always sharp, raced, connecting the dots. And then it hit her – what if the bandaged Prince Changshan… was the real one?

She had been fooled by that elegant man once, nearly trapped in the underworld.

Turnabout was fair play! Years of honing her skills as a con artist… in that moment, she devised a counter-plan.

The fake sword, its blade retracted into the hilt, had fallen to the ground during the chase. She had picked it up, and now it would serve a purpose.

She had handed it to Princess Yongning, who, consumed by rage, hadn’t noticed the deception. She had gripped the hilt, triggering the spring mechanism, “plunging” the blade into her father’s chest.

Xiao Xiao had seized the opportunity, sealing Prince Changshan’s acupoints, creating a convincing illusion of death.

This performance was far more impressive than their street act in Luoyi City!

She even considered adding it to their repertoire. It would surely draw a bigger crowd than Yu Ling’er’s fox transformation.

As Ye Yi, believing his plan had succeeded, waited for Princess Yongning to regain her senses, Xiao Xiao had used the fallen paper figure, whispering in her ear, reminding her about the fake sword, instructing her to maintain her frantic act, lulling Ye Yi into a false sense of security.

And the talisman binding Ye Yi… it was the culmination of two hundred years of Lingshan Talisman Sect knowledge.

The silver used to craft it was from the underworld, imbued with yin energy. The blood was hers, a vessel of powerful artifacts and demonic energy. And the symbols… they were inscribed by Tang Youshu, her former master, two hundred years of experience channeled into them.

They had created it during their idle time at the farmhouse, brainstorming a way to counter Ye Yi.

Despite their differences, their combined knowledge was formidable.

This unique talisman, unlike any other, had successfully trapped the entity within Ye Yi, whether god or demon.

Xiao Xiao, observing the divine mark on his forehead, asked, her voice laced with a chilling calm, “Who are you? If you’re a god, why resort to such cruelty? Do the laws of heaven not apply to you?”

Ye Yi remained silent, his usual gentle smile gone, his face contorted in a grimace.

He couldn’t believe it. He had been tricked by a cheap street performer’s trick!

And the one who had orchestrated it, outmaneuvering him so easily… a young girl, a mere Golden Core cultivator.

Even a deity, their carefully laid plans shattered, would be enraged.

His expression darkened as Xiao Xiao questioned his identity. The storm he had summoned with the blood talisman dissipated. He had risked much to descend to the mortal realm, confident in his plan, his ability to retrieve the one he sought.

And now… this opportunity, squandered by these insignificant mortals!

As dawn approached, the sound of roosters crowing echoing from the nearby village, despair washed over him.

Just as Wei Jie, raising the Heaven-Punishing Sword, prepared to strike him down, Ye Yi roared, the ground trembling beneath them. The talisman on his forehead shattered.

But as the silver fragments flew, one of them sliced his forehead, drawing blood from his lightning-shaped divine mark – a sign of a damaged divine power core.

Ye Yi, his sleeves billowing, vanished in a cloud of smoke and mist.

Xiao Xiao, frustrated, stamped her foot. He had escaped again. But Tang Youshu, wiping the sweat from his brow, said, “Thankfully, the silver fragment damaged his divine mark. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have stood a chance against him!”

A god was a god. Even possessing a mortal body, their power was beyond mortal comprehension.

Xiao Xiao’s plan had enraged him, fueling his outburst, allowing him to break free.

But she was lucky. That silver fragment, striking the most vulnerable point… it had saved them all.

Tang Youshu stared at his grand-disciple with newfound awe. This Cui Xiao Xiao… she was even more terrifying than his former master.

She had now damaged the divine power cores of two deities.

This ability to bring down gods… she was a force to be reckoned with.

A worthy grand-master indeed!

Xiao Xiao, seeing Tang Youshu kneeling before her, startled, jumped back, grabbing his arm. “What… what are you doing?”

She hadn’t forgiven him, but he was still her former master. She couldn’t accept such a gesture.

Hearing his explanation, his admiration, she couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re the one who lured me to this time, convinced that my disastrous fate would benefit you. And now you’re praising me? Has my luck suddenly changed? I’ve damaged the divine power cores of two gods! That only proves I’m a walking disaster! Anyone who gets close to me suffers…”

Seeing her dejection, Tang Youshu averted his gaze, consumed by guilt.

Wei Jie stepped forward, placing his arm around her shoulders. “Didn’t I tell you? Don’t provoke her. She’s still angry with you.”

Xiao Xiao shoved him. “Make that both of you. I’m angry with both of you.”

Wei Jie refused to acknowledge his role in deceiving her. He had distanced himself from his past self.

If he admitted it, she would surely turn on him.

But Xiao Xiao wasn’t in the mood for settling old scores. She looked at the guards, their wrists slashed, their bodies weakened, victims of Ye Yi’s soul-stealing technique.

They were still alive. They had to help them.

Deities could commit atrocities and walk away. But they, mere mortals, couldn’t ignore the suffering of others.

Tang Youshu’s bamboo basket, filled with medicines and bandages, came in handy.

Even Princess Yongning, a pampered royal, rolled up her sleeves, assisting them.

Meanwhile, in a rural temple, a familiar figure knelt before a statue, offering incense and bowing his head.

The people of the Great Qi were superstitious, their world filled with gods and deities. This temple housed a statue of a popular deity – the Dongyuan Emperor.

The man offering prayers was none other than the missing Prince Can.

Having impersonated Prince Changshan for so long, he could finally breathe freely, his face no longer concealed by bandages. He finished his prayers, then looked up at the deity before him.

The Dongyuan Emperor had a unique origin. He wasn’t a mortal who ascended to godhood. He was the son of the Jiu Hua Heavenly Emperor and the Heavenly Lake Saint, born a deity.

During the ancient wars that shaped the three realms, he had been a fearsome warrior, vanquishing demons and slaying monsters, his achievements legendary.

He was supposed to rule the underworld. But his mother, heartbroken by the bloodshed he had caused, pleaded with the Heavenly Emperor, claiming that if he continued down this path, he would become a demon god, his potential for good squandered.

The Heavenly Emperor, convinced, appointed another deity, the ancient Flame Emperor, to rule the underworld.

The Dongyuan Emperor, also a powerful warrior, retreated to the celestial palace, renouncing violence, cleansing his soul with the waters of the Heavenly River, overseeing celestial rituals, cultivating his spirit, preparing to ascend to the highest realm.

Deities could accept offerings from mortals. And for some reason, the legends of his past exploits were widespread.

Temples across the land housed his statue, receiving a constant stream of incense and offerings. It seemed his mother had been right.

If he had ruled the underworld, would he have enjoyed such popularity, his divine power core nourished by such devotion?

Prince Can, his face, showing signs of age, twisted into a sneer.

Those foolish mortals, offering their prayers… did they even know whether they were worshiping a benevolent deity or a bloodthirsty monster?

Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed through the silent temple.

Prince Can looked up and saw a fissure forming on the forehead of the pristine statue, blood oozing from it…

He clutched the incense stick tightly, his eyes widening in alarm.

Those Lingshan Talisman Sect people… they were truly troublesome! What did this ominous sign mean?

As he rose to his feet, the doors swung open, and a man, his forehead bearing a fresh wound, entered. It was Ye Yi, the one who had gone to retrieve Princess Yongning.

The wound on his forehead mirrored the crack on the statue’s forehead!

Prince Can, his eyes narrowed, rushed over. “My lord, what happened?”

Ye Yi, standing before the statue, chuckled. “Have you heard the saying, ‘The falconer blinded by his own falcon’? I never imagined I would be tricked by such a crude scheme…”

His arrogance, his pride… they had blinded him. And the realization that he had been outmaneuvered by such a simple trick… it had damaged his divine power core.

He was a god. He couldn’t descend to the mortal realm without a divine decree or a summoning. This unauthorized trip… it was proving to be quite troublesome.

Chapter 90

Xiao Xiao flung a Soul-Stabilizing Talisman, but it failed to stop Princess Yongning.

Seeing the talisman’s ineffectiveness, she grabbed a sheet of yellow paper, folded it several times, and swiftly cut out the shape of a paper person. She dipped her finger in blood and flicked it, sending countless paper figures swirling towards the fleeing princess, like a swarm of butterflies, clinging to her back.

With a surge of energy, Xiao Xiao manipulated the figures, lifting the princess into the air.

But Princess Yongning was too strong. The paper figures only managed to delay her, their grip weakening.

Wei Jie, leaping forward, grabbed her wrist.

As he prepared to strike her sleep acupoint, she countered, attacking his throat.

Her movements were swift and precise, her long nails drawing blood.

As they clashed, Wei Jie, facing her relentless assault, struggled to defend himself.

Xiao Xiao had never seen him struggle like this in a fight. He had formed his Golden Core, and despite his shattered divine power core, he was still a formidable force!

Yu Ling’er, stunned, mumbled, “She’s so strong! Was she hiding her true abilities all this time?”

Xiao Xiao, observing Princess Yongning’s graceful, almost masculine movements, realized that her entire aura had changed. She seemed… powerful, her strikes bold and unrestrained, lacking feminine softness, her energy almost masculine.

Wei Jie, weakened by his blood loss, was restricted. He couldn’t use his full strength without risking further damage.

Xiao Xiao, leaping forward, joined the fight, standing beside him, facing the crazed princess.

Her newly formed Golden Core made her movements lighter, swifter. Her arm, covered in golden scales, flashed as she struck, like a golden wing, momentarily distracting their opponent.

Princess Yongning, unfazed, simply smiled at Xiao Xiao, her gaze filled with amusement.

But even together, they were struggling.

Only now, exchanging blows, did Xiao Xiao realize the depth of their opponent’s power. They were only seeing a glimpse of their true abilities. Their movements became sharper, more fluid, as if toying with two inexperienced children.

And then… Princess Yongning’s appearance seemed to shift… not her features, but her aura. She exuded a jade-like elegance, her movements increasingly masculine.

“I don’t wish to stay,” she said, her voice still Princess Yongning’s, but with a soothing quality that calmed the heart. “I want to see my father. Why do you insist on keeping me here?”

That unique tone… she had heard it before…

A realization dawned upon her. She stopped attacking, her voice clear and steady. “There are no flowers here, yet I see a familiar face. Are you well, Gongzi?”

Princess Yongning raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on Xiao Xiao with renewed appreciation. She stopped attacking, her hands clasped behind her back, a smile playing on her lips. “You have sharp eyes, Cui Xiao Xiao. You recognized me instantly. You’re quite capable. Even the underworld couldn’t hold you. I underestimated you.”

Princess Yongning’s body was indeed possessed.

And the one controlling her was Ye Yi, the man from the magnolia forest.

He was truly formidable, capable of possessing another person and controlling their actions.

Wei Jie, the Heaven-Punishing Sword held before him, his gaze sharp, asked, “What is your purpose?”

Princess Yongning, or rather, Ye Yi, speaking through her, said calmly, “Princess Yongning and I are engaged. But she was abducted on our wedding day. I’m merely trying to bring her home.”

During engagement ceremonies, a lock of the bride’s hair was placed inside the marriage contract, symbolizing their union.

Ye Yi had used that lock of hair to bind her soul, allowing him to possess her.

“Bring her home?” Xiao Xiao’s voice rose. “Or send her to the underworld?”

Two hours remained before the River of Forgetfulness returned to its normal level.

Princess Yongning had overheard Ye Yi’s conversation with the fake Prince Changshan. He needed her soul to retrieve someone from the underworld!

Ye Yi chuckled. “Cui Xiao Xiao, I’m not the villain you think I am. This hasty action… it wasn’t my intention. Would you believe me if I said I was unaware of this plan?”

Tang Youshu nodded in agreement. “This soul-marrying technique requires not only a person with a specific birth date, but also someone who has lost their will to live, consumed by regret. Only a soul that has severed its ties to the mortal realm can be fully retrieved. But such a person… they’re hard to find. That’s why most soul retrievals are incomplete, resulting in a fragmented soul. It’s better not to attempt it at all.”

Ye Yi glanced at Tang Youshu, surprised by the young scholar’s knowledge of this ancient technique.

“He’s right,” he said, his voice calm. “A fragmented soul… it’s better not to retrieve it. I’m taking the princess home now. No need to see us off.”

His voice, with its magnetic quality, had a calming effect. Xiao Xiao, feeling a strange sense of compliance, nodded. “You can go…”

But before she could finish, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against a broad chest.

She turned and found Wei Jie staring at her, his eyes darkening.

His gaze, sharp as a blade, snapped her out of it.

She realized, with a jolt, that she had been under Ye Yi’s influence, her mind lulled into a hypnotic state, agreeing with everything he said.

It was like their encounter in the magnolia forest.

There was no scent of the other shore flower this time, yet she had still fallen prey to his manipulation. It wasn’t the fragrance, but his voice, his words, that held a hypnotic power.

Who was he, to possess such an ability?

But this technique, although powerful, was ineffective against the Mei people, masters of seduction through song.

Wei Jie bit his lip, transferring a drop of his Mei blood onto her lips. He wiped her mouth, then glared at Ye Yi. “Is manipulating women all you’re good at?”

Ye Yi chuckled again. “I can control hearts, regardless of gender. But you, with your mixed Mei blood, your heart so cold and unyielding… I can’t seem to influence you.”

Wei Jie snorted. He had noticed that everyone except him had been entranced by Ye Yi’s words. It was true. He possessed a powerful ability.

Ye Yi looked at him, his voice laced with meaning. “I didn’t expect to see you again. And under such circumstances… I underestimated you. I didn’t expect you to possess the power to reverse time, to undo everything.”

He knew about Tang Youshu, about their plan to reset time.

Wei Jie narrowed his eyes. “You seem to be more than an ordinary mortal. Why would you assist a villain, help him steal another’s fate?”

Ye Yi, his smile unwavering, his voice gentle, said, “Because you… you don’t deserve to exist. Yet you cling to life like a cockroach, impossible to kill!”

Tang Youshu and Yu Ling’er, still under his spell, nodded in agreement.

Xiao Xiao, held tightly against Wei Jie, the Mei blood coursing through her veins, was now fully alert.

His words, laced with venom, shattered the illusion.

Looking at Tang Youshu and Yu Ling’er, she realized she must have been just as entranced moments ago. No wonder Wei Jie had glared at her.

This Ye Yi… not only did he know about the time reversal, the two-hundred-year reset, but he also harbored a deep hatred for Wei Jie.

What was the source of this animosity?

“Princess Yongning doesn’t want to go back,” Xiao Xiao said, her voice cold. “Release her.”

Ye Yi glanced at the sky, as if calculating the time. “Of course,” he said with a smile. “She wasn’t a suitable candidate anyway. Someone with such a strong attachment to the mortal realm… they wouldn’t make a good vessel for a soul exchange… Look, her father has arrived. I can step aside now…”

A group of soldiers and carriages approached, the lead carriage adorned with the insignia of Prince Changshan.

Beside the carriage, a young man, dressed in fine robes, sat astride a horse. His features were unremarkable.

Xiao Xiao and Yu Ling’er recognized him – it was Ye Yi, the man who had invited them for tea in the magnolia forest!

But this man, slumped in the saddle, his face pale and bloated, lacked the elegance and refinement of the man they had met.

As the entourage drew closer, Princess Yongning’s body went limp, and she collapsed. When she sat up, her face was filled with fear and confusion. “Xiao Xiao… someone was inside me!”

Although she hadn’t been able to control her body, she had clearly felt another presence, another voice.

Free from his control, she called out to Xiao Xiao, fearing another possession.

The entourage arrived, and Ye Yi, looking down at Princess Yongning, her hair disheveled, her red wedding dress wrinkled, asked the guard beside him, “Is she… Princess Yongning?”

“Yes, Gongzi,” the guard replied. “Your fiancée.”

Ye Yi, his gaze lingering on her messy appearance, then on the two men beside her, Wei Jie and Tang Youshu, spoke, his voice laced with disdain, addressing the carriage behind him. “A bride, abducted on her wedding day, spending the night with bandits… what’s left of her purity? And you, Prince Changshan, you insist on me taking her back? Is this how the mighty Prince Changshan treats the Ye family, forcing me to accept damaged goods?”

His arrogant words stunned Xiao Xiao and Yu Ling’er.

This man, despite his unchanged features, was nothing like the refined gentleman from the magnolia forest. He was like a precious jade that had lost its luster, reduced to a common stone.

Xiao Xiao understood. Like Princess Yongning, he had been used as a vessel for a soul exchange.

The man they had met in the magnolia forest wasn’t him.

“Ye Gongzi,” she said, testing the waters. “We meet again…”

Ye Yi, his gaze drawn by her voice, finally saw her.

What a beauty!

Her skin was fair, her eyes and nose delicate, and that red mole beneath her eye… mesmerizing!

Ye Yi, a known womanizer, couldn’t tear his gaze away. “Have we met?” he asked, his voice husky. “I don’t recall. Perhaps in a dream?”

Xiao Xiao, her eyes narrowed, her voice soft, said, “You don’t remember? We shared tea together three days ago.”

Ye Yi blinked. “Three days ago? I was… engaged in a different kind of activity… and then I blacked out… I only woke up yesterday! Oh, are you one of the girls from that establishment? I don’t recall requesting your company. Perhaps we… while I was drunk?”

His words, crude and vulgar, were offensive.

His attendant, chuckling, reminded him, “My lord, you forget. You left that establishment. And you were quite… energetic… taking us on a little… adventure… remember? You met this young lady.”

Ye Yi, his eyes unfocused, seemed to be struggling to recall the past few days.

Xiao Xiao, understanding, scoffed. This Ye Yi was an easy target, his mind clouded by alcohol, oblivious to the theft of his time.

It seemed that mysterious individual had taken advantage of his drunken state, possessing his body, and then lured her and Yu Ling’er into the underworld.

Who were they? Why hide behind borrowed faces?

Princess Yongning, unable to contain herself, pointed at the man on the horse. “You… you’re Ye Yi?”

He nodded arrogantly.

The princess exploded. She turned to Yu Ling’er, her voice filled with indignation. “Refined and elegant? This… this is what you consider a gem?”

She hadn’t had high hopes for her fiancé.

But hearing Xiao Xiao and Yu Ling’er describe his exceptional qualities, she had allowed herself a flicker of hope.

Perhaps he truly was as extraordinary as they claimed. Perhaps his deception was for a good reason.

But seeing this vulgar, dissolute man… her hopes shattered, leaving her even more despairing.

No wonder she had cried out in disbelief.

Her words enraged Ye Yi.

Princess Yongning might be attractive, but compared to the girl beside her, she paled in comparison.

And her previous rejection, her insistence on returning the betrothal gifts, had humiliated his family. He loathed this spoiled princess. She was already acting like a demanding wife!

And Prince Changshan’s insistence on him retrieving her, on marrying this… tarnished woman… to protect the family’s reputation… it infuriated him. Who knew what had happened to her during her abduction?

He saw an opportunity to exploit their vulnerability, his voice laced with contempt. “You were abducted by bandits, spending the night in their den! You’ve brought shame upon both our families! You’re damaged goods! And you dare look down on me? You should hang yourself!”

He turned to the carriage, addressing Prince Changshan. “Prince, considering her disdain for me, perhaps we should annul the engagement!”

Princess Yongning, raised in luxury, had never been subjected to such insults.

That imposter, pretending to be her father, had arranged this marriage, condemning her to a life with this… this… worthless creature!

She stormed towards the carriage, ripping open the curtain.

A wave of fragrance hit her, and she saw the bandaged figure sitting inside, his demeanor calm and composed.

Rage surged through her as she glared at this imposter, this man who had stolen her father’s place.

With Xiao Xiao and the others behind her, and Wei Jie having informed the Crown Prince, she was no longer afraid. “I know you’re an imposter!” she shouted. “I’m going to expose you, stop you from pretending to be my father, from ruining my life!”

She reached out, grabbing the bandages covering his face, ready to tear them off.

The guards moved to stop her, but Wei Jie and Cui Xiao Xiao intervened, sending them scattering.

As Princess Yongning pulled the imposter from the carriage, Ye Yi shrieked in alarm. “You crazy woman! Attacking your own father! No wonder the prince told me that if you refused to obey, if you refused to marry me, he would disown you, silence you, and sell you to a brothel!”

His words ignited a firestorm within her. The cloying fragrance, still lingering in the air, fueled her rage. This imposter, this vile fiancé… they should all die!

She grabbed the imposter, her fingers reaching for the bandages.

She had to see his face before she killed him! If he didn’t tell her where her real father was, she would torture him!

The imposter, who had been strangely passive, suddenly convulsed as she pulled him close, vomiting violently.

Princess Yongning, disgusted, released him, her fury mounting. She wanted to tear him apart.

Xiao Xiao, watching the scene unfold, saw her grab a sword from a guard, raising it above the imposter’s head. She reacted instinctively, summoning a stream of water that wrapped around Princess Yongning’s wrist, disarming her.

“Princess, you’re royalty! You mustn’t stain your hands with blood!”

Princess Yongning, her hair wild, her eyes bloodshot, screamed, “He’s an imposter! He dared to insult me, threaten to sell me to a brothel! If I don’t kill him, I’m no longer human!”

She snatched Xiao Xiao’s sword.

This pampered princess, possessed by a vengeful spirit, plunged the sword into the imposter’s chest.

Blood spurted, and Xiao Xiao, horrified, rushed forward, catching the imposter as he collapsed. She checked his pulse.

He had been stabbed through the heart. His breath shallow, his body twitching, he lay still.

Princess Yongning, her rage spent, sank to her knees, her body trembling, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

Xiao Xiao hesitated, then reached for the bandages covering his face.

As she unwrapped them, layer by layer, revealing his true face, she saw smooth, unblemished skin, the face of a well-preserved middle-aged man, no burns, no scars.

She had expected to see Prince Can’s face. Instead, she saw a stranger, his eyes wide open, his expression frozen in a silent scream.

Princess Yongning stared at the dead man, her eyes widening, her lips trembling. “Father!”

She lunged for the body.

Xiao Xiao pulled her back, holding her close. “What… what happened?”

The princess’s body shook, her voice choked with sobs. “He… he was my father! I… I killed him! How could this be? It’s all your fault! You said he was an imposter!”

She pushed Xiao Xiao away, her tears flowing freely, and knelt beside the body, her trembling hands tracing his face, his neck.

It was him. Her father. The mole she had known since childhood… there was no mistaking it.

Chapter 89

Seeing Wei Jie’s relentless flirting, Xiao Xiao pushed him away. “Have you forgotten your current condition? And you still want to fool around?!”

Having lost his heart’s blood, Wei Jie couldn’t afford to lose any more vital essence until he recovered. Teasing the tempting young woman before him was asking for trouble.

Their encounter in the valley was a prime example. He had intended to tease and seduce her, but he ended up consumed by a burning desire he couldn’t satisfy!

The torment of having her so close, yet unattainable… it was unbearable. He wouldn’t put himself through that again until he was fully healed.

So, after a lingering, passionate kiss, they settled down to read, their faces close, their bodies touching.

These ancient texts were collected by the Wei family over generations.

Bound to Qilao Mountain, their fate sealed, they had searched for a way to break free, collecting ancient texts, hoping to find a solution.

Xiao Xiao flipped through the pages, but found no mention of the deity who had opposed the ancient Flame Emperor.

However, on a yellowed page, she spotted a familiar image – a phoenix circling a parasol tree.

Despite the faded ink and aged paper, she recognized it instantly – a black phoenix.

Beneath the illustration, a line of small characters described it: “Fallen Blood Phoenix, not born of heaven and earth, its nature undefined, its alignment unclear, capable of devouring immortal souls, a variable of fate, forbidden from existence!”

The description, like a legend passed down through generations, condemned the black phoenix as a demonic entity, a creature to be eradicated.

Xiao Xiao recalled the mural in the back mountains of Guishi Cliff. During the ancient battle between the two deities, the black phoenix had been used to attack the Flame Emperor, but it had been subdued, its soul sealed in the Valley of Eternity.

If that was true, then this supposedly wicked Fallen Blood Phoenix was just a bird swayed by beauty, its natural instincts forgotten under the spell of a handsome man.

And the little black phoenix she had seen in the Phoenix Sanctuary… it had been innocent, bullied by its own kind. It had been heartbreaking.

They read, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

But unlike Xiao Xiao, who was engrossed in the text, Wei Jie was distracted, his gaze often drifting towards her.

He would occasionally try to untie her collar, wanting to compare the phoenix mark on her neck to the one in the book.

Xiao Xiao, now accustomed to his shamelessness, knew exactly what he was thinking. She chuckled, pinching his nose, then reaching for his collar in retaliation.

The disciple was more generous than the master. His broad chest, well-defined and strong, was nothing to be ashamed of.

He even helped her out, discarding his robe, leaning back against the pillows, one hand propping up his head.

His long, dark hair cascaded over the bedding, his shoulders broad, his chest and abs sculpted, his narrow waist accentuated by his loose robe. His sword-like brows, his mesmerizing purple eyes, his straight nose, his playful smile revealing a hint of his sharp canines… he was a vision of temptation.

The room was dimly lit, the golden sunlight filtering through the window, casting shadows that danced across his body, enhancing his allure.

Xiao Xiao felt her cheeks burning, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away. If the ancient Flame Emperor possessed such charm, it was no wonder the Blood Phoenix had fallen for him, abandoning its true nature…

But she didn’t realize that her own flushed cheeks, her hesitant gaze, her bitten lip… it was even more alluring to Wei Jie than nakedness.

He couldn’t resist any longer. He pulled her close, their lips meeting in a heated kiss.

But as their passion escalated, Wei Jie found himself trapped. Just as his desire peaked, the symptoms of his blood loss surfaced, draining his strength. He collapsed onto the bed.

It was like their encounter in the valley. Whenever his desire flared, his weakness followed.

Xiao Xiao, her breath ragged from his kiss, felt a pang of disappointment.

But seeing his frustrated expression, she couldn’t help but chuckle, offering him a playful reassurance. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. Even when Ling’er kept asking, I never said you were incapable…”

Her well-intentioned words struck a blow to his pride.

He waited until his fingers regained some strength, then pulled her close, his hand gripping her neck, his voice a low growl. “Just wait until I’m healed. Then we’ll see who’s incapable!”

Having made his vow, he watched her flee, laughing, clutching her robes, as Tang Youshu entered with his medicine.

Tang Youshu had actually tried to warn Xiao Xiao earlier, explaining that his master shouldn’t be intimate with women right now, lest he deplete his already weakened essence.

Xiao Xiao, mortified, her cheeks burning, had stopped him mid-sentence, promising to keep her distance from Wei Jie.

Tang Youshu had been embarrassed to bring it up, but he had worked so hard to give his master a second chance. If he died from exhaustion, from excessive indulgence with Xiao Xiao… would he have to start over, rewrite his entire manual?

How would he even record it? “A mighty Demon Lord, felled by… well, you know…” It wasn’t exactly a glorious ending.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Princess Yongning and Yu Ling’er were entertaining themselves.

It turned out their host had once been a street performer, his two wooden chests filled with props and tricks.

Princess Yongning, fascinated by such arts, begged him to teach her the secret of sword swallowing.

The homeowner, delighted by the jade bracelets she offered him, took out a spring-loaded sword, demonstrating the trick.

Princess Yongning gasped. “So that’s how they do it! I gave that performer a gold ingot! It’s so simple!”

Yu Ling’er, watching from the sidelines, chuckled. “Not only did you lose a gold ingot, but now you’ve lost your bracelets! It’s all a trick. Want to see a real transformation? Give me your other bracelet, and I’ll teach you how to make a fox appear from this box!”

Princess Yongning, unaware of Yu Ling’er’s true nature, didn’t believe her. She offered a gold lock as collateral, convinced she could see through the trick.

Yu Ling’er, with great ceremony, dragged over an empty chest, performed a fox dance, then jumped inside. She closed the lid, then opened it, then closed it again, repeating the process several times.

And just like that, the gold lock belonged to the little con artist.

Xiao Xiao, amused by their antics, retreated to her room. She read for a while, then settled down to meditate.

She had intended to return the Fox Tribe’s spirit stone to Yu Ling’er, but Tang Youshu had advised against it. Her recent encounter with the demonic bead and the awakening of the phoenix spirit had created an imbalance within her.

The spirit stone helped to stabilize her demonic energy and the phoenix’s power. Until they found a way to remove the bead and the five phoenixes, it was best for her to keep it.

Yu Ling’er agreed. Xiao Xiao was their benefactor. If the stone could protect her, they were happy to lend it to her.

The three distinct energies within Xiao Xiao achieved a delicate balance. As she meditated, she could feel them interacting, clashing, then merging within her core.

Her nascent Golden Core, nourished by these energies, was solidifying, transitioning towards the Nascent Soul stage…

She might not possess Wei Jie’s natural talent, but she had been blessed with extraordinary opportunities.

Achievements that took other cultivators centuries to achieve… she had stumbled upon them, her path paved with serendipity.

As her Golden Core solidified, she felt a surge of energy, a lightness she had never experienced before. It was a taste of the divine, a glimpse of the celestial realm, fueling her desire to ascend.

No wonder so many cultivators, pursuing the path of immortality, abandoned their families, their loved ones, everything they held dear. This transcendence… it was addictive.

How had Wei Jie resisted such temptation, shattering his own divine power core?

Having experienced a taste of ascension, she couldn’t help but admire him. He had turned his back on the divine, both in his past life, as a demon, and now.

She was soon lost in meditation, her mind drifting.

The flow of energy within her sounded like a babbling brook, a rhythmic pulse that resonated with her very being.

A faint red mark appeared on her forehead, resembling two yin-yang fish, their tails nearly touching.

She felt weightless, her spirit ascending, following the stone steps of Guishi Cliff, reaching the main hall.

A man stood beneath a pillar, his body scarred by burns. The scales covering him, blackened by fire, made him appear even more menacing. But the color matched the small, black bird, resembling a crow, perched on his hand.

Xiao Xiao realized she had fallen asleep during her meditation, her dream transporting her to Wei Jie’s past life.

This cold, imposing man, covered in black scales… wasn’t he the Demon Lord, emerging from the Phoenix Sanctuary with the little black phoenix?

He seemed to be writing a letter, but dissatisfied with each attempt, he crumpled the pages and tossed them aside.

The fluffy bird, oblivious to his frustration, kept distracting him, pecking at the inkstone, rubbing against his brush.

Exasperated, he summoned a metal cage, intending to lock the little crow – no, the little black phoenix – inside.

But even a disfigured phoenix was still a proud creature. It refused to enter the cage.

The little bird squawked in protest, then, with a burst of speed, burrowed into the man’s hair, seeking refuge.

The man, his face, half-covered in scales, contorted in anger, snarled, “Get in there, or I’ll break your neck!”

But the little bird had moved to the back of his neck, nuzzling against him, its beak gently pecking at his scales, its soft body rubbing against his cheek, completely unafraid of this fearsome man.

At this point in his past life, Demon Lord Wei Jie was already notorious. Even his own disciples avoided his gaze.

But this foolish bird treated him like its mother, showering him with affection, seemingly oblivious to the danger.

The man’s purple eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. He pulled the bird out from behind his neck and said, his voice flat, “You don’t want the cage? You want to sleep in my bed? Do you think you’re one of us? Remember, you’re just a bird, a creature…”

The little black phoenix, not understanding his words, simply closed its eyes, nestled in his scaled palm.

It was drawn to the potent demonic energy radiating from him, a feast for a phoenix. It was like a cat surrounded by fish, a dog lying on a bed of bones.

The man, looking down at the sleeping bird, decided against the cage. He summoned a handful of cotton, creating a makeshift nest, and placed it beside him. As the bird’s soft snores filled the air, he resumed writing.

Xiao Xiao, her spirit hovering above, saw the letter clearly. It was a reply to Grandmother Wei. Another letter, from the Wei family, lay on the table.

It seemed to be a reprimand for Wei Jie’s decision to embrace his demonic nature, his defiance of fate.

He finished writing, read the letter, then tore it to shreds, scattering the pieces.

Xiao Xiao’s heart ached for him. He must have been so lonely…

She reached out, wanting to embrace him, but her arms passed through his body.

He stared into the distance, lost in thought.

Suddenly, the bird on the table, having awakened, hopped off the nest and began to gather the torn pieces of the letter, trying to put them back together.

The man, observing the bird’s actions, chuckled, confiding in the creature. “You think I should reply? It’s pointless. I’m a demon now, a disgrace to the Wei family. Grandmother’s letter… it’s just her duty as an elder. Why should I reply and make things difficult for her?”

The little bird, clearly disagreeing, continued its efforts, chirping insistently, as if trying to comfort him.

The man snorted. “You think my grandmother doesn’t hate me?”

The bird nodded, then hopped excitedly, picking up a peanut from a dish on the table and offering it to him.

It was a gesture of affection, a way of saying, “You’re the best person I know. Everyone should like you.”

The man’s lips twitched, amused by the bird’s intelligence. But due to the scales covering his face, even a smile appeared menacing. It vanished as quickly as it appeared.

“You don’t understand,” he said, his voice cold. “Being human is far more complicated than being a bird. It’s not as simple as good and bad.”

The bird tilted its head, disagreeing.

From its perspective, being human seemed simple and enjoyable. No cages, colorful clothes… unlike its own black feathers.

It pecked at the cotton in its nest, adorning itself with white fluff, trying to lighten its appearance.

The man chuckled again, his finger stroking the bird’s soft head. “I was born human, and I don’t find it particularly enjoyable. But you, a mere bird, possess such human-like intelligence… Fate has been unfair, giving you the wrong form. You should have been born human. But since you want to be human, I shall give you a name. With your small eyes and beak… I shall call you Xiao Xiao…”

He picked up a peanut and held it out to the bird. “Xiao Xiao, be good. Open your mouth…”

Xiao Xiao, hearing this, was outraged!

Giving the bird a name was fine, but out of all the possible names, why hers?!

She wanted to protest, but a sharp pain shot through her arm, as if someone was pulling her.

And a voice, louder than a crow’s caw, kept calling her name. “Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao…”

She opened her eyes and found the man from her dream, his face now smooth and incredibly handsome, kneeling before her, shaking her arm.

Wei Jie had seen her meditating and hadn’t wanted to disturb her. But then he heard her snoring. She had fallen asleep again.

Falling asleep mid-cultivation… it was one of Sect Master Cui’s unique skills.

He was used to it. “You’ve been meditating for a long time,” he said. “Are you hungry?”

Xiao Xiao, still groggy, mumbled, “Hungry for what?”

He offered her a bowl of roasted peanuts. “Dinner will be ready soon. If you’re hungry, have some peanuts.”

She stared at the peanuts, then shouted, “No!”

Wei Jie blinked, surprised. She usually loved peanuts. He had even asked the homeowner’s wife to roast them for her.

Xiao Xiao, realizing she was still caught in the remnants of her dream, stretched and grabbed a handful of peanuts, recounting her dream.

Wei Jie raised an eyebrow. He had heard her mention the black phoenix he had taken from the Valley of Eternity in their past life.

But he couldn’t imagine himself, consumed by demonic energy, keeping a creature that fed on demons as a pet.

The black phoenix was an anomaly, shunned by deities, its origins a mystery, unlike the other five phoenixes. No one knew how it came into being.

And in this life, the phoenix nest was empty. The black phoenix was nowhere to be found. Except for that tuft of black feathers in the Phoenix Sanctuary, there was no trace of its existence.

But according to Tang Youshu, the little black phoenix had intervened, preventing Wei Jie from killing his grandmother, but had been fatally wounded. Its fate remained unknown.

Xiao Xiao, remembering the bird’s cuteness, the affection the black-scaled man had shown it, sighed.

If he ever discovered he had accidentally killed his beloved pet… he must have been devastated.

She felt a pang of sympathy for the Wei Jie of their past life. Abandoned by his parents, ostracized by his family, finding solace in raising a silly bird, only to lose it…

She hugged him, her voice soft. “When we have time, I’ll buy you a parrot, okay?”

Wei Jie chuckled, confused by her sudden change of topic. He had a master to take care of now, her needs and desires his priority. He didn’t have time for birds.

If she wanted to raise something, she could always give him a child.

They joined the others for dinner.

They were waiting out the three-day period after the red moon. A few more hours, and they would be in the clear.

Then they could escort Princess Yongning back to the city, expose the fake Prince Changshan with the help of the Crown Prince’s spies, and free her from that dreadful marriage.

As they waited, Princess Yongning pestered Yu Ling’er, wanting to learn the secret of her transformation trick.

Yu Ling’er, of course, refused, teasing the princess. Suddenly, she shrieked, “Princess, your hair’s on fire!”

Everyone looked up – and it was true! A lock of Princess Yongning’s hair was burning with a strange, purplish flame.

But the princess, who had been laughing just moments ago, sat there, motionless, as the flames licked at her hair.

Tang Youshu recognized the signs. Someone was using a strand of her hair to control her remotely!

The moment the flames died out, she shot up, lunging towards the window behind her.

Xiao Xiao leaped forward, blocking her path. “Princess, where are you going?”

“Don’t stop her!” Tang Youshu warned. “She’s under someone’s control! It’s a trap!”

As if to confirm his words, Princess Yongning lashed out, her palm striking towards Xiao Xiao’s head.

She was skilled in martial arts, having studied various techniques, her movements swift and precise.

Xiao Xiao dodged, and the princess, leaping through the window, fled.

She was incredibly fast. The four of them, vaulting over the wall, gave chase.

But even under the influence of the puppet technique, she was too fast for them.

Chapter 88

Xiao Xiao, her heart heavy, took Si Ling’s hand, her voice sincere. “Don’t worry, Madam. As long as I’m here, I won’t let him repeat your mistakes…”

Si Ling nodded, her hair now completely white. She couldn’t stay in the mortal realm much longer.

She had found true love, but their time together had been cut short, their paths diverging in life and death.

And blinded by hatred, she had failed her son.

This mortal journey, besides leaving her with white hair and a heart filled with regrets, had given her nothing but pain.

She wouldn’t look back. She only hoped her son would have a better fate, that he and that kind girl with the warm smile could carve out a happiness that defied even destiny…

After bidding farewell to Si Ling, Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie decided to leave Qilao Mountain.

Besides the fake Prince Changshan, another powerful figure had emerged from the shadows. Someone who could guide souls into the underworld… they were no ordinary being.

Who was this Ye Yi, this fiancé of Princess Yongning, who possessed such power? Or was he merely a pawn, manipulated by someone else?

They descended from Qilao Mountain, heading towards Luoyi City.

Xiao Xiao recalled receiving Princess Yongning’s plea for help, her intention to return to the city.

But their entrapment in the underworld had delayed them. Who knew what had transpired in their absence?

As fate would have it, upon entering the city, they heard rumors of Prince Changshan’s wedding being moved forward, taking place that very night.

Weddings among wealthy families were usually held during the day, a grand spectacle with a procession stretching for miles.

But Prince Changshan had chosen to hold his daughter’s wedding at night. He had even contacted the authorities, clearing the streets, forbidding citizens from venturing out after dark, and opening the city gates at night to allow the wedding procession to leave.

Night weddings, although customary in some regions, weren’t common in Luoyi City.

Especially among the Xia imperial family. But Prince Changshan had insisted, claiming Princess Yongning, with her eccentric personality, disliked daytime crowds and prying eyes. She preferred the quiet anonymity of night.

Ever since the Four Great Sects’ attack on Prince Can’s mansion, resulting in his “death,” Luoyi City had been under curfew. Combined with the authorities’ efforts to clear the streets, the city was deserted by the second watch.

As the drums sounded, the mansion gates opened, revealing a procession of red wedding carriages, stretching down the empty street. The carriages, usually a vibrant red, appeared almost blood-colored under the pale moonlight and flickering lanterns, a chilling sight.

The four members of the Lingshan Talisman Sect, concealed by invisibility talismans, observed from a distance.

The groom’s horse, adorned with red silk, walked at a leisurely pace – but its back was empty, only a ceremonial groom’s hat resting on the saddle.

Xiao Xiao was surprised. The Ye family, although holding the title of marquis, was far below the Xia imperial family in status.

Their previous transgression, using stones to impersonate silver in the betrothal gifts, had already been disrespectful. How dare they insult a princess further by sending a hat instead of the groom himself?

And the procession was eerily silent. There was no music, no celebratory chants from the bridal attendants.

The attendants, dressed in red, walked with their heads bowed, their faces hidden in the shadows, their silence adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

This wedding procession, supposed to be a joyous occasion, felt cold and ominous, devoid of life, a ghostly spectacle under the dark night sky.

The matchmaker, her face painted a bright red, called out every few steps, her voice shrill and piercing, echoing through the night. “Marry the soul! Marry the soul!”

Yu Ling’er, her fur standing on end, whispered, “This is creepy! Why is this wedding procession so eerie?”

Tang Youshu, however, recognized the ritual. “This… this isn’t a wedding. It’s a soul-marrying ceremony!”

Soul marrying was an ancient, forbidden technique.

It involved finding a living person whose birth date matched that of a deceased individual, allowing for a soul exchange. The living soul would be sent to the underworld, while the deceased soul would take over the living body – a process known as “seizing the shell.”

But this technique was rarely used. Finding a perfect match was difficult, and the retrieved soul was often incomplete.

In many cases, the revived individual would be left mentally impaired.

So, even though it offered a chance to bring someone back from the dead, who would want a loved one to return as a mindless shell?

That was why this technique had fallen out of practice.

Tang Youshu recognized the talismans adorning the red carriages – talismans used by Wan Lianshi of the Demonic Ghost Sect.

Those carriages, despite their vibrant red color, were actually soul-summoning banners, disguised as wedding carriages.

And the matchmaker’s chant… she was calling for souls!

This moving procession was a formation, gathering yin energy, with the bridal carriage as its focal point. After traveling a certain distance, it would open a passage to the underworld.

It was currently the three-day period after the red moon, when the River of Forgetfulness receded, as Grandmother Wei had mentioned. Any souls lingering in the underworld could be retrieved through this ritual.

Of course, such a ceremony had to be conducted at night. It indiscriminately gathered souls. If the streets were crowded, many innocent souls would be drawn into the carriage.

Even the four members of the Lingshan Talisman Sect, concealed by their invisibility talismans, felt a strange heaviness, a pull towards the carriage, as they followed.

Wei Jie, less affected than the others, stopped them. “We can’t get any closer,” he said, his voice low. “Look at those pallbearers. They’re already soulless, mere puppets…”

Xiao Xiao looked closely and realized they were walking on their toes, their heels not touching the ground, their movements jerky and unnatural. Each of them had a puppet talisman attached to their back, allowing them to be controlled even after their souls had been extracted.

Stray cats and dogs that wandered too close to the procession collapsed, their bodies stiffening, their souls absorbed by the formation.

Xiao Xiao frowned. Who was the sacrificial bride in that carriage? Could it be Princess Yongning?

They wanted to investigate, but they couldn’t get close to the carriage. But then Xiao Xiao had an idea.

She took out the paper figure Princess Yongning had used to contact her. She inscribed a Heavenly Eye Talisman and a Communication Talisman on it, then chanted a spell. The figure, caught in a gust of wind, floated towards the bridal carriage, then, guided by another gust, slipped inside.

The procession had left the city, entering the wilderness.

Xiao Xiao, her vision linked to the paper figure through the Heavenly Eye Talisman, saw everything clearly.

The bride wasn’t wearing a veil. Her hair was loose, her face pale, her red wedding dress the only indication of the occasion.

Xiao Xiao immediately recognized her – Princess Yongning.

But the usually lively and spirited princess was now lifeless, her eyes vacant.

The paper figure hopped onto her shoulder, then her arm, quickly discovering five silver needles, strategically placed on her neck and behind her ears, sealing her senses.

Removing the needles would be tricky.

But Xiao Xiao was no longer a novice. Since the five phoenixes had entered her body, her control over talismans had improved drastically.

Techniques from Tang Youshu’s manual, once beyond her grasp, now seemed intuitive.

She focused, her hands moving, as if manipulating puppet strings.

The paper figure inside the carriage wrapped itself around a needle, then, with a burst of energy, pulled it out.

It repeated the process, swiftly removing all five needles.

The moment the last needle was removed, Princess Yongning gasped, her senses returning.

But before she could speak, the paper figure slapped itself over her mouth, silencing her.

She recognized the figure. She nodded, indicating she wouldn’t speak, and the figure released her, whispering in her ear, relaying Xiao Xiao’s instructions.

Although she didn’t remember how she ended up in the carriage, she clearly recalled the fake Prince Changshan and those Demonic Ghost Sect disciples subduing her with needles.

She trusted the sincere Sect Master Cui of the Joy Sect more than that imposter.

She immediately followed the paper figure’s instructions.

Xiao Xiao had told her to remove the talismans from the carriage, both inside and out, to disrupt the formation’s focal point.

Otherwise, once it absorbed enough yin energy, it would open a passage to the underworld.

Princess Yongning quickly tore off the talismans lining the interior of the carriage, tossing them out the window.

Then she leaned out, reaching for the talismans on the exterior.

But the one controlling the formation sensed her actions. The pallbearers, as if on cue, lowered the carriage and lunged at her.

Princess Yongning, terrified, dropped the talismans and retreated into the carriage. “What do I do?” she asked the paper figure.

But the figure, even more cowardly, had burrowed into her hair, seeking refuge.

The puppet-like figures ripped open the carriage curtains, their blackened fingers reaching for her. Suddenly, a figure leaped onto the roof, his sword flashing, sending the attackers flying.

With the talismans removed, the soul-sucking aura dissipated, allowing Wei Jie to intervene.

The Heaven-Punishing Sword, a bane to demons and evil spirits, sent the puppet-like figures scattering.

But his actions strained his weakened energy reserves. He clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain.

Princess Yongning, scrambling out of the carriage, looked up and saw Wei Jie, his sword gleaming under the moonlight. She froze, mesmerized.

She had never seen him before. He was breathtaking.

Xiao Xiao rushed over, pulling her away from the carriage. Princess Yongning, snapping out of her trance, sighed in relief. “Sect Master Cui, you’re here!”

The thunder in the sky, disrupted by the broken formation, ceased. The wind died down.

The pallbearers and attendants, regaining consciousness, looked around, confused, wondering how they had ended up in the wilderness.

Princess Yongning and the Lingshan Talisman Sect group were long gone.

The princess, who had never experienced hardship, was now facing a harsh reality.

After escaping, she was too exhausted to even recount her ordeal. All she could think about was food.

Comparing dates with Xiao Xiao, she realized she had been abducted and lost her memories shortly after sending the paper figure.

She hadn’t eaten anything for three days.

When they found lodging in a nearby village, the moment the courtyard gates opened, she spotted dried meat hanging from the eaves. As if possessed, she lunged for it, sinking her teeth into it, her hair wild and disheveled. The homeowner, terrified, stumbled back, convinced a flesh-eating demon had entered his home.

Tang Youshu quickly offered the homeowner silver to calm him down, then requested a quick meal.

The princess devoured two bowls of rice with scrambled eggs and spring onions, followed by stinky fish in chili oil, before finally regaining her composure.

But looking at the leftover fish, she remembered using stinky mandarin fish to test her father’s identity, and a wave of sadness washed over her. “My father… he’s been replaced. I don’t even know if he’s alive… Sect Master Cui, please, help me capture that imposter! Help me find my father!”

Xiao Xiao frowned. “I thought the fake prince wanted to get rid of you, marrying you off to that good-for-nothing. But using you as the focal point of that formation… that doesn’t make sense. What is he trying to achieve?”

“After realizing my father had been replaced, I started observing that imposter,” Princess Yongning said. “Before they knocked me unconscious, my fiancé, Ye Yi, visited the mansion. I was curious. I had never met him before. I thought perhaps I could talk to him, convince him to break off the engagement. I overheard their conversation in the study. The imposter was saying something about the red moon not appearing again, about this being their only chance. He mentioned a method of replacing someone, of finding a girl with a matching birth date. He wanted to use the receding River of Forgetfulness, the ten-year window, to bring someone back from the underworld.”

Xiao Xiao, her chopsticks frozen in midair, stared at her. “And then?”

Princess Yongning blinked, trying to remember. “Ye Yi didn’t say much. I tried to peek into the study, but before I could, I felt a prick on my neck, and then everything went black. The next thing I knew, I was in the bridal carriage.”

Xiao Xiao, disappointed, pondered her words.

It seemed Ye Yi was involved in the imposter’s plot. And they were trying to retrieve someone from the underworld.

Remembering Ye Yi’s claim of honoring his deceased wife with those flowers… was it true?

Knowing he was involved in something sinister… it was a shame. Such a refined gentleman, a flawless jade, tainted by darkness. Why, Ye Gongzi, why?

Wei Jie, who had been out earlier, returned and spoke. “I’ve contacted the Crown Prince’s spies. They’re investigating the fake Prince Changshan.” This involved a member of the Xia imperial family, a lineage protected by the heavens. Even if Wei Jie wanted to avenge his mother, he had to inform the Crown Prince about the imposter.

But Ye Yi’s true nature was a mystery. Wei Jie, although having never met him, was certain he was a formidable opponent.

And their cryptic words about the red moon not appearing again… what did it mean? But one thing was clear – they were desperate, willing to risk even an incomplete soul retrieval.

Thankfully, Xiao Xiao and Wei Jie had disrupted their ritual. But their plans foiled, what would they do next?

Princess Yongning, her stomach full, finally had the chance to observe Wei Jie. He had been absent during their encounter on Lingshan Mountain.

Looking at this handsome, otherworldly man, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of attraction.

But Yu Ling’er quickly doused her hopes. “He might be good-looking, but he’s got a terrible temper and a venomous tongue. Stay away from him.”

Princess Yongning, surprised by such a negative assessment, looked at Wei Jie, who was talking to Xiao Xiao, his voice gentle and soft. She couldn’t believe it.

Yu Ling’er, fond of the princess, had offered a sincere warning. But Wei Jie’s true nature… one had to experience it firsthand.

His kindness and understanding were reserved for Cui Xiao Xiao alone.

Princess Yongning, not a fool, quickly realized that Wei Jie’s affection for Cui Xiao Xiao went beyond a typical master-disciple relationship.

And his temper… Yu Ling’er was right. Even his own disciple, Tang Youshu, seemed to avoid him.

But his cold demeanor melted away whenever he looked at Xiao Xiao. He wiped her face with a damp cloth as if she were a precious child.

Princess Yongning suddenly understood why Cui Xiao Xiao wanted to establish the Joy Sect! With such a handsome and powerful disciple, it would be a waste not to… cultivate with him.

Unfortunately, as a princess, she was bound by decorum. She couldn’t experience such freedom. If she were the Sect Master of the Joy Sect, she wouldn’t limit herself to just Wei Jie, no matter how handsome he was. She would gather a harem of beauties, embracing all worldly pleasures.

Anything was better than being forced to marry that good-for-nothing.

Yu Ling’er, however, said, “Your fiancé might be cunning, but he’s truly stunning. I’m worried that if you see him again, you’ll be captivated by his beauty, tricked into marrying him, and end up with your soul replaced.”

Princess Yongning shuddered, remembering her humiliation. That imposter, pretending to be her father, had used her as a sacrificial offering!

She was desperate to capture him, to find out what had happened to her real father.

But Wei Jie advised patience, suggesting they wait for the Crown Prince’s findings.

After the Four Great Sects’ disastrous attack on Prince Can’s mansion, they had become targets of the imperial court. Terrified, their disciples had abandoned them, their power and influence waning.

And now, this enigmatic Ye Yi had emerged. They had to be cautious, avoid falling into another trap.

Moreover, Princess Yongning’s birth date was unique, a crucial element in their ritual. The three-day window after the red moon was almost over.

If Ye Yi truly wanted to retrieve someone from the underworld, he needed her. He was likely more anxious than they were.

So, it was best to wait and see what he would do next.

Wei Jie couldn’t exert himself too much. He had used his energy to rescue the princess, fearing the carriage might be booby-trapped, refusing to let Xiao Xiao get close.

He seemed fine during their meal, but as he wiped Xiao Xiao’s face afterwards, he clutched his chest, his blood deficiency acting up, and collapsed against her.

Xiao Xiao helped him into their room, settling him on the bed.

But as she supported him, he pulled her down with him.

She blushed, remembering their encounter in the valley.

This man… no matter his age, when he was in a playful mood, he was like a clingy child…

She clutched her robes protectively. “These walls are thin. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of Tang Youshu!”

Wei Jie blinked innocently, then reached into her sleeve and pulled out the ancient text she had brought from the Wei residence.

“I just thought it would be nice to read together,” he said, his voice soft. “Tell me, what are you planning to do that’s so loud it would disturb Tang Youshu?”

That rascal! Always teasing her, then playing innocent!

He watched her, her cheeks puffing out in anger, her expression adorable. He couldn’t resist pulling her close and kissing her.

Chapter 87

Since being brought back to Qilao Mountain by Grandmother Wei, Si Ling had been confined to the Buddhist hall, instructed to cultivate her spirit and quell her resentment.

Having indirectly caused the death of Wei Jingling, the former Clan Leader, she was shunned by everyone except Grandmother Wei. She rarely left the hall, her meals delivered to her.

Yesterday, a few young maids had arrived, explaining that Qilao Mountain was entering a period of lockdown due to the risk of demonic beasts emerging from the underworld. Grandmother Wei had ordered them to place protective bronze mirrors in the hall.

Si Ling, engrossed in copying Buddhist scriptures, had ignored them, allowing them to do as they pleased.

No one had disturbed her since. But the mirrors, reflecting the flickering candlelight, had induced a strange drowsiness. She had closed her eyes, drifting between sleep and wakefulness.

And then she had been transported back to her first encounter with Wei Jingling. The sweet memories of their love story had been followed by the agonizing recollection of his suicide at the foot of the mountain.

She had tried to stop him, over and over again, but each time, she had been forced to watch him die.

The helplessness of knowing the outcome, of being unable to change it… it was excruciating.

Even though she knew it was a dream, she had been unable to break free, her grief so intense that she had shed tears of blood.

Tang Youshu and Yu Ling’er, who had been waiting outside, rushed in upon hearing Xiao Xiao’s cry.

Yu Ling’er, enraged, exclaimed, “Someone set up a disorienting formation in here! Could it be that Grandmother Wei couldn’t tolerate Si Ling and allowed her servants to harm her? Let’s go confront her!”

Xiao Xiao, lost in thought, had initially shared Yu Ling’er’s suspicion.

But hearing her words, she looked at Wei Jie.

Since succumbing to demonic energy, his emotions had been volatile. His eyes, darkening, reflected his anger at seeing his mother nearly killed.

Xiao Xiao grabbed his hand, her voice soft. “Wei Jie, I don’t think it’s that simple. Calm down…”

He turned to her, her eyes filled with concern, his reflection shimmering in their depths.

Her voice, clear and steady, soothed the rage brewing within him.

His mother’s abandonment, her departure from Qilao Mountain when he was just a child, had left him with a deep-seated loneliness.

As a child, he had often lain awake at night, worrying about her. He would think, “She doesn’t care about me. What if something happened to her? What if she’s gone? Then I’ll be all alone in this world.”

The fear of losing her had haunted him, shaping his solitary nature, setting him apart from the other Wei children.

Even when he left the family, venturing out into the world, he had been alone.

That loneliness… it was similar to the feeling of being disconnected from the world when his divine power was awakened.

But since meeting Cui Xiao Xiao, he had forgotten what loneliness felt like.

She was like a radiant sun, drawing people towards her.

Their adventures, although fraught with danger, had been filled with companionship, with bittersweet moments.

Now, her warm hand held his, her eyes reflecting his image, and he felt a sense of belonging, a connection beyond his mother.

The fear of losing her, the fear that fueled his demonic nature, subsided under Xiao Xiao’s touch.

She watched him, her breath catching in her throat, until the darkness in his eyes receded, replaced by the familiar purple.

If he had succumbed to his demonic nature… A chilling realization dawned upon her.

She suddenly understood – their entrapment in the underworld, Wei Jie’s descent into darkness, Si Ling’s near-death experience… these seemingly unrelated events were all connected. Someone was deliberately accelerating Wei Jie’s transformation into a demon!

She shuddered, imagining what would have happened if she had left him last night, consumed by anger.

Based on his current state, without her, he would have lashed out, his demonic nature taking over. But weakened by his tears of blood, he wouldn’t have been able to do much.

He wouldn’t have listened to Tang Youshu, wouldn’t have taken the Underworld God Pill.

The Wei family would still have sent for him this morning.

His outburst yesterday, nearly breaching the underworld barrier… knowing Wei Jingfeng’s temper, he would have berated Wei Jie. And Wei Jie, his mind clouded by demonic energy, without her calming influence… would he have been able to control himself?

And if they clashed, it wouldn’t have been a minor disagreement.

If he had confronted the Wei family, then visited his mother… he would have found her collapsed in the Buddhist hall, her face covered in blood.

Perhaps, arriving too late, he would have found her dead, her lifeblood drained.

Seeing that scene, the bowl filled with her tears of blood… would he, like Yu Ling’er, have assumed the Wei family had mistreated her, or even deliberately harmed her to obtain her lifeblood?

The consequences… they would have pushed him over the edge.

And once his demonic nature fully consumed him, he would have become unstoppable, a force of destruction!

Xiao Xiao, who had regretted staying that morning, now felt a surge of relief. She had prevented something terrible from happening.

If her guess was correct, the mastermind behind this was far more dangerous than Prince Can.

Their plan, if successful, would have completely reversed her efforts, pushing Wei Jie back onto his original, tragic path.

But they hadn’t anticipated Wei Jie’s persistence. He had clung to her, refusing to let her go.

And they couldn’t have predicted Cui Xiao Xiao, this variable from another time. As long as she remained by his side, his fate would remain fluid, unpredictable, beyond their control.

Tang Youshu administered the Underworld God Pill to Si Ling, stabilizing her energy flow. But unlike Wei Jie, her constitution was different.

For a pure-blooded Mei woman, the loss of lifeblood was devastating, both physically and mentally.

Her hair turned white, her voice hoarse and raspy, her beautiful singing voice gone.

Looking at Si Ling, then at Wei Jie, who seemed pale and weakened… they had both shed tears of blood, yet Si Ling showed signs of aging, while Wei Jie merely seemed exhausted. He would recover with some rest, regaining enough energy to tease and flirt with her.

His strength… it ran deeper than anyone realized…

But this wasn’t the time to dwell on that. Whoever had targeted Si Ling, their true goal was Wei Jie.

Grandmother Wei, rushing over upon hearing the news, discovered that someone had impersonated her, setting up a disorienting formation in Si Ling’s room.

They investigated the maids who had been there, but they had vanished. Their bodies were later found floating in a pool in the back mountain valley. Upon examining them, they found talismans used by the Demonic Ghost Sect…

It seemed they had been planted by Wan Lianshi, sleeper agents activated after his death.

And this plot… it was clearly connected to the “deceased” Prince Can.

Si Ling, realizing she had nearly been used as bait to trigger her son’s demonic nature, shuddered.

Hearing about their encounter in the underworld, she feared for him.

For a mother, knowing her son was a deity reincarnated, facing a mortal tribulation… it wasn’t a joyous revelation.

She had been trapped by love, leaving the underworld for the mortal realm, fueled by hatred, seeking revenge for her lover.

But her quest for vengeance had blinded her, leading her to abandon her young son, only to reunite with him years later.

He was her flesh and blood, yet they were strangers.

During her ordeal, trapped in that mirror, reliving her regrets, it wasn’t just her separation from Wei Jingling that haunted her. It was the memory of her young son, calling out for her, his voice choked with tears, as she left him behind.

The Buddhist scriptures… they had truly calmed her heart. If she could go back, would she make different choices? Would she have abandoned her son, leaving him alone for so long?

If he ascended to immortality, wouldn’t he be even further away from her, a mother bound to the underworld?

She reached out, wanting to caress his face, as she had done when he was a child.

But Wei Jie instinctively flinched, her hand hovering in midair.

It wasn’t that he was angry with her. He just disliked physical contact. Even when she had embraced him, tears streaming down her face, he had stiffened, enduring it.

He wasn’t a helpless child anymore, needing his mother’s comfort.

He regretted flinching, but he couldn’t bring himself to initiate contact.

Xiao Xiao, seeing his hesitation, smacked him on the back of his head. “Why are you so far away? Can’t you see she can’t reach you?”

He stumbled forward, his face brushing against his mother’s palm.

Xiao Xiao pushed him closer, then reassured Si Ling. “Don’t worry, Madam. He’s strong. He’ll be fine. His disciple is skilled in medicine. The Underworld God Pill he gave you is quite effective. You’ll recover in time.”

Si Ling, seeing her usually aloof son submitting to his master’s scolding, chuckled.

Her son, despite his divine nature, seemed more approachable, more human, when he was with Cui Xiao Xiao… This young lady truly cared for him…

But speaking of the red moon, Si Ling, who hailed from the underworld, knew some of its history.

“A full red moon is an ominous sign,” she said. “I once heard elders from my clan speak of a deity who tried to enter the underworld to retrieve something important. Unable to gain access, he challenged the ruler of the underworld to a fierce battle. They fought on the night of a full moon, their powers evenly matched. Both were severely wounded, their blood staining the moon red. They lost their divine power cores and were forced to endure mortal tribulations… Ever since then, every ten years, the moon turns red. For three days after the red moon, the River of Forgetfulness recedes, making passage impossible. The gates of the underworld are vulnerable to attacks, requiring the demon hunters to be on high alert.”

The pieces fell into place for Xiao Xiao.

A deity had tried to force his way into the underworld and been stopped by the ancient Flame Emperor. Their battle had shattered their divine power cores, forcing them to descend to the mortal realm.

The Flame Emperor, a straightforward soul, had endured reincarnation, his only deception being the sealing of his divine power core.

But the other deity, far more cunning, had stolen the fate of a Xia Emperor, replenishing his power, avoiding a true tribulation.

And he had been using the red moon, the time of the underworld’s vulnerability, to try to enter.

Had he succeeded in the original timeline? Had that led to the destruction of Qilao Mountain, the opening of the gates of the underworld?

But now, their fates were entangled, a tangled web.

Wei Jie, having learned from his past mistakes, had set up a safeguard – his loyal disciple, Tang Youshu, and the Zhulong statue, capable of manipulating time, resetting everything.

This time, with Tang Youshu’s help, he had regained his divine power early on, his ascension imminent.

The hidden mastermind, unable to tolerate this deviation, had been forced to act, to set things right.

And their actions had been swift and effective, nearly pushing Wei Jie back onto his tragic path.

He had been so close to succumbing to his demonic nature, losing his mother, killing his own kin…

But besides tormenting Wei Jie, their goal was clearly to obtain something from the underworld.

But what were they after?

Xiao Xiao asked Si Ling and Grandmother Wei, but they both shook their heads, claiming ignorance.

It seemed this deity had concealed their true nature, hiding behind a stolen identity, enjoying their celestial existence.

Compared to him, Wei Jie, the former ruler of the underworld, seemed rather clueless.

Hearing her thoughts slip out, Wei Jie raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying I’m stupid?”

Xiao Xiao, digging for herbs in a crevice, shrugged. “Well, compared to that deity, you’ve been losing, haven’t you?”

They were gathering herbs in a valley on the back slopes of Qilao Mountain.

Tang Youshu was back at the Wei residence, preparing medicine for Si Ling. She wasn’t as resilient as Wei Jie, who could recover with rest.

Having lost so much lifeblood, she needed to return to her clan in the underworld to recuperate. The yang energy of the mortal realm was harmful to her now.

Before her departure, Tang Youshu wanted to prepare enough medicine for her. So, Wei Jie and Xiao Xiao had offered to help gather herbs, leading them to the cliff they had fallen from.

Hearing Xiao Xiao praise an unknown man, Wei Jie pulled her close. “Even if I truly am the Flame Emperor, descending to the mortal realm wasn’t a loss. Otherwise, how would we have met and fallen in love?”

Xiao Xiao tried to push him away. “Who’s in love with you? Is your mortal tribulation about perfecting the art of shamelessness?”

He raised an eyebrow. “They say, ‘Better to die under a peony flower than live as a lonely ghost.’ But you want me to return before I’ve even smelled the flowers. Even if I ascend, I will have regrets… Master, when are we going to practice dual cultivation and spread the glory of your Joy Sect?”

Xiao Xiao, knowing his “dual cultivation” wasn’t the righteous path of a cultivator, blushed. “Who wants to cultivate with you… Do you even know how? Who have you practiced with?”

Free from the Wei family’s constraints, Wei Jie was like a wild horse, embracing his freedom.

Remembering his camaraderie with the singers and servants in Luoyi City… he was far from an innocent young man!

Had he really… with someone else?

He watched her, her cheeks puffing out in anger, her expression adorable.

He couldn’t resist leaning down and kissing her. “You’re from two hundred years in the future, aren’t you? That tattered book of Tang Youshu’s painted me as a paragon of virtue, a man who abstains from worldly pleasures. Don’t I deserve a reward for my chastity?”

Xiao Xiao stared at him, bewildered. This handsome man, spouting words that contradicted his cold, enigmatic demeanor…

“You… you have some nerve,” she sputtered. “A reward… I’ll give you a…”

Before she could finish, he silenced her with a kiss.

He had been captivated by her from the moment he saw her in this valley, her head tilted back, her eyes shining as she declared her intention to take him as her disciple. Her lips, red and inviting…

But back then, he hadn’t realized how deeply their fates would intertwine.

The ruler of the underworld, destined for a life devoid of love… but once he tasted it, he craved more.

He deepened the kiss, pushing her down onto the grass by the pool, his hands fumbling with her sash…

Later that day, back at their lodgings, Yu Ling’er, helping Xiao Xiao sort through the herbs they had gathered, noticed something amiss. Xiao Xiao’s sash was tied incorrectly. And it was black… Wei Jie’s sash.

Xiao Xiao, caught off guard, blushed.

Yu Ling’er, looking closer, found grass stains on Xiao Xiao’s hair and back.

Foxes were experts in outdoor activities. Seeing Xiao Xiao’s flushed cheeks, she exclaimed, “Did you two… in the valley?”

Xiao Xiao pounded the herbs with her pestle, feigning composure. “Don’t be ridiculous! Of course not!”

Yu Ling’er, unconvinced, chuckled. “Really? Is Wei Jie… incapable?”

Xiao Xiao’s voice rose in alarm. “How would I know?! We just… we were a little… closer than usual…”

Yu Ling’er didn’t believe her for a second!

Wei Jie was a man of action, unlike the gentlemanly Tang Youshu. They had been alone in that valley for hours. Surely, he hadn’t let the opportunity slip away?

Why else would Xiao Xiao’s sash be broken, replaced by his?

Xiao Xiao, realizing she was only making it worse, changed the subject.

But Wei Jie hadn’t been as innocent as she claimed. He might have abstained from women in his past life, and in this life, he hadn’t shown interest in anyone but her.

Yet, this supposedly inexperienced man had been surprisingly… skilled. Men truly were born philanderers!

Thankfully, she had used Si Ling’s need for medicine as an excuse to escape. Otherwise, who knew what he would have done!

Yu Ling’er, observing Xiao Xiao’s flushed cheeks and dreamy expression, sighed.

Her Tang Youshu, although a much better person than Wei Jie, was too much of a gentleman. When would he finally loosen up?

Foxes were passionate creatures. Hillsides, fields, even trees… anything was possible!

But he treated her like a younger sister, caring and attentive, but nothing more.

She sighed again, feeling utterly unattractive. She was a disgrace to the Fox Tribe!

Tang Youshu, oblivious to her disappointment, focused on preparing the medicine. Soon, it was ready, and Si Ling could finally return home.

Grandmother Wei, feeling responsible for Si Ling’s ordeal, personally arranged for her safe passage back to the underworld.

Although the red moon had faded, the River of Forgetfulness would remain receded for the next three days, requiring the Wei family to maintain a tight watch over the underworld barrier.

And after the attempt on Si Ling’s life, they were even more vigilant, their eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep.

As they prepared to part ways, Si Ling turned to Xiao Xiao, her voice filled with emotion. “You know, when I first met you, I thought you resembled Wei Jie’s father.”

Xiao Xiao, confused, stared at her.

Si Ling smiled, her gaze distant. “We Mei women are naturally cold and aloof. We don’t fall in love easily. But we can sense those with warm hearts. Wei Jie’s father… he was like that. Even though he rarely smiled, I was drawn to him. You’re like that too, young lady Cui. A-Jie… he’s captivated by you. It’s a tribulation we Mei women can’t escape. But A-Jie’s constitution is unique. And he’s succumbed to demonic energy. Once I return to the underworld, you’re the only one who can protect him! Thank you.”

Xiao Xiao wanted to speak, to tell her that she might not be able to stay with Wei Jie forever, but the words caught in her throat.

If that day came, their separation, spanning two hundred years, would be beyond their control.

Wei Jie and his mother… they had both fallen prey to love, shedding tears of blood. Would he, like his mother, face a shortened lifespan when they were finally parted?

Chapter 86

Grandmother Wei’s sharp eyes swept over the young man and woman who had entered, her voice low and steady. “A-Jie, what exactly happened last night? How could you… how could you succumb to demonic energy with your master?!”

Beside her, Wei Jingfeng, unable to contain his frustration, spat, “He’s a demon spawn, born of a Mei woman! What’s so surprising about him turning into a demon?! The worst part is, he dragged that witch into the underworld! Mother, why waste your breath on them? Seize them and deal with them swiftly!”

The word “demon spawn” struck a nerve with Wei Jie. His eyes, darkening, fixed on his uncle.

But before he could speak, Xiao Xiao cut in, her voice cold. “Clan Leader Wei, I thought A-Jie respected you deeply. He always told me you were the backbone of the Wei family. He’s facing a difficult situation, harmed by treacherous individuals, his heart filled with turmoil. And you, his elder, his family, instead of offering him support, you resort to insults, condemning him without understanding the situation. What good does that do, besides damaging family bonds?”

She might have severed her ties with Wei Jie, but hearing him being insulted, right before her eyes… Sect Master Cui couldn’t stand for it.

Protecting her own, even if they were former disciples, was ingrained in her. She wouldn’t allow anyone to call him “demon spawn”!

Wei Jie, his demonic energy, stirred by his uncle’s words, suddenly subsided as Xiao Xiao defended him.

His little master was beautiful when she smiled, but her fiery anger, her glare… it was captivating in a different way!

Wei Jingfeng, despite his harsh words, was actually a kind man at heart.

Haunted by his brother’s death, he had always been at odds with his nephew. But as Wei Jie matured, displaying his father’s strength and composure, Wei Jingfeng had softened towards him.

But now, seeing him succumb to demonic energy, influenced by Cui Xiao Xiao, his frustration boiled over.

He hadn’t expected this outburst from the usually amiable Cui Xiao Xiao.

Her words were sharp and precise, a calculated attack.

She had started by mentioning Wei Jie’s respect for him, placing him on a pedestal he couldn’t escape, then subtly criticized his coldness, his lack of empathy for his nephew.

Wei Jingfeng, speechless, sputtered, “You… you witch…”

Xiao Xiao scoffed, her gaze sweeping over the approaching silver-armored guards. “If Clan Leader Wei wishes to spar, I’m happy to oblige. But you seem to be injured. Perhaps you should rest for a few days. We’re here to enjoy a cup of tea, not engage in violence. Don’t you agree, Madam Wei?”

Grandmother Wei, having witnessed Xiao Xiao’s sharp tongue before, realized she had been hiding her true nature.

Her words were a clear warning. They had all been defeated by Wei Jie after he succumbed to his demonic nature.

Especially Wei Jingfeng, who was still recovering from his injuries. He would be wise to back down.

Understanding the underlying message, Grandmother Wei remained calm. “Sect Master Cui is right. A-Jie has finally returned. A peaceful cup of tea is what we need. But Sect Master Cui, do you realize the gravity of your actions last night? Even the finest tea will turn bitter after what you’ve done!”

Xiao Xiao clasped her hands, offering a sincere apology. “Wei Jie has explained the Wei family’s tradition of sealing the gates on the night of the red moon. But may I ask, is there a reason for this tradition? Could someone have exploited it, lured us into the underworld knowing about the Wei family’s customs?”

Grandmother Wei’s brow furrowed. “What? You weren’t the ones who entered the underworld? Someone tricked you?”

Xiao Xiao explained how she and Yu Ling’er had been led astray by Ye Yi’s magnolia blossoms.

And the proof was undeniable. When they escaped from the underworld, Yu Ling’er’s skirt had snagged a dried petal from her sachet, a petal from the other shore flower.

Those flowers bloomed on the far side of the River of Forgetfulness, a place inaccessible to the living.

If Xiao Xiao was telling the truth, who possessed such power, the ability to manipulate the boundary between the realms?

The petal, still emanating its intoxicating fragrance, caused Grandmother Wei’s expression to shift.

After a moment of contemplation, she dismissed everyone except Wei Jingfeng.

She picked up the petal, her voice heavy. “Someone who can pluck other shore flowers from the underworld… they can’t be human!”

Xiao Xiao nodded in agreement. Ye Yi, with his refined appearance and enigmatic aura, was unlike anyone she had ever met.

He reminded her of Wei Jie when his divine power was awakened… Could he also be…

“Years ago, a traitor named Wei Di stole a page from the Book of Life and Death,” Grandmother Wei said. “But now, looking back… did he truly have the power to do it alone? And now, this demonic flower from the underworld has appeared in the mortal realm… I fear something terrible is brewing.”

She looked at her grandson, at his forehead.

He had succumbed to demonic energy yesterday, yet the blue mark on his forehead had clearly been a divine symbol.

As the guardians of the underworld, she had recognized it immediately. It was the mark of the former ruler of the underworld, the ancient Flame Emperor!

Unsure whether she had seen correctly, she had consulted ancient texts after stabilizing the underworld barrier.

Although the blue mark was gone now, it had left behind a faint red outline, identical to the Flame Emperor’s mark.

She had been stunned.

Wei Jie, dismissive of the idea of being the Flame Emperor reincarnated, simply explained that he had been possessed by a spirit stone, his mind clouded.

But his words struck Grandmother Wei like a bolt of lightning. A spirit stone that sealed divine power… it wasn’t like the demonic bead, which could attach itself to anyone.

Only the vessel of a fallen deity could awaken and bind with such a stone.

If Wei Jie could merge with a divine spirit stone, it meant he was the Flame Emperor, experiencing a mortal tribulation!

This ostracized, mixed-blood child… he was the long-lost Flame Emperor, the true ruler of the underworld!

Wei Jingfeng, realizing the truth, stared at his nephew, the “demon spawn” he had just condemned, speechless.

Grandmother Wei, having prepared herself after recognizing the mark, was the first to react. She grabbed her cane and knelt before her grandson. “The Wei family has been blind, failing to recognize the divine being in our midst. Please, forgive our transgression!”

Wei Jie’s brow furrowed, and he rushed to help her up. But she insisted, ordering her son to kneel as well.

Although the underworld had been in chaos, its throne empty for far too long, they had never forgotten their true master.

The ancient Flame Emperor, the ruler of the underworld, the arbiter of life and death, the one who held the fate of all souls in his hands.

The Wei family, merely caretakers, guarding the gates for their true master.

Cui Xiao Xiao, although aware of Wei Jie’s unusual origins, had never imagined this.

But she understood the Wei family’s excitement. The Flame Emperor’s return meant freedom for them, bound to Qilao Mountain for generations.

They would no longer bear the burden of guarding the entrance to the underworld!

Tears streamed down Grandmother Wei’s face, while Wei Jingfeng, overwhelmed, struggled to find words.

Xiao Xiao offered a sincere apology. She recalled striking Wei Jie during their chaotic battle yesterday, failing to even offer him medicine.

She felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t treated him with the reverence he deserved.

Would she be punished for disrespecting a deity? Would burning incense before him while he slept appease the heavens?

Wei Jie, unable to lift his grandmother, who was overcome with emotion, knelt beside her, telling her not to worry. He had accidentally shattered the Flame Emperor’s divine power core. It was beyond repair. He couldn’t become a god anymore.

Both mother and son stared at him, their eyes wide. “What? The divine power core is shattered?”

Possessing a divine power core halved the difficulty of ascension.

It was a secret technique, passed down among deities who descended to the mortal realm.

They would hide their sealed divine power core, waiting for the right moment to awaken it, allowing them to swiftly regain their celestial status.

It seemed the Flame Emperor had done the same, separating and sealing his power core.

But… how could such a precious artifact be shattered?

Wei Jingfeng, initially speechless upon learning his nephew’s true identity, was now enraged. He wanted to berate him, but the words caught in his throat. He was the Flame Emperor! His face flushed red, his anger threatening to consume him.

Grandmother Wei, recovering first, allowed Wei Jie to help her up. She gripped his wrist, examining him closely. There was no trace of divine energy, only a faint demonic aura, swirling and gathering.

“How is this possible? Even with a shattered divine power core, you shouldn’t be succumbing to demonic energy!”

Wei Jie shrugged, his expression indifferent. He had always been destined to become a demon. “Since I’m here to experience a mortal tribulation, I must endure all hardships. How can I rule over the demons of the underworld if I haven’t experienced their nature myself?”

His words, although illogical, seemed profound coming from the Flame Emperor reincarnated.

Grandmother Wei nodded, convinced.

Xiao Xiao, feeling a pang of guilt, pretended to be engrossed in an ancient text Grandmother Wei had offered her, using it to hide her face.

Wei Jie was a master of deception!

But if he told his grandmother the truth, that he had succumbed to lust, his heart consumed by desire for Xiao Xiao… she wouldn’t be able to face them.

This fabricated tale of sacrificing himself for the greater good sounded much better.

Glancing at the ancient text, she realized it contained a wealth of information about celestial beings, even more gossip-worthy than Master Tang Youshu’s manual…

Grandmother Wei, although accepting Wei Jie’s explanation, couldn’t help but sigh.

“Your constitution does make you more susceptible to demonic energy. But once you succumb, regaining your celestial status becomes a hundred times harder… Last night, on Qilao Mountain, the demonic entities of the underworld sensed their master’s aura. They’re restless. Those creatures don’t care about hierarchy. They only respect strength. If you still possessed your divine power core, it wouldn’t be a problem. But now… they sense your weakness. No wonder the ground has been trembling. The demons of the underworld are rebelling!”

Xiao Xiao, confused, put down the book. “The Flame Emperor’s mortal tribulation… it’s not a recent event. Why didn’t those demons react before?”

“A deity’s tribulation is like an emperor’s tour,” Grandmother Wei explained. “They might be away for a while, but they will eventually return, their authority intact. But if their divine power core is shattered, their ascension impossible… it’s like an emperor dying on the road. Of course, the demons will seize the opportunity to rebel.”

Xiao Xiao understood. The demons of the underworld knew that Wei Jie, his divine power core shattered, had fallen from grace.

His authority as their ruler was gone, and chaos was brewing!

No wonder the ground had trembled when Wei Jie showed signs of succumbing to demonic energy again.

Grandmother Wei looked at her grandson. “A-Jie, you are not only a descendant of the Wei family, but you also bear a responsibility far greater than any of us…”

She paused, pointing at the ancient text. “Young lady Cui, you seem to enjoy reading. Why don’t you take this book with you? The Wei family cannot leave Qilao Mountain. You will have to face the storm brewing beyond these mountains.”

Xiao Xiao, seeing her hesitation, realized that whoever was behind their entrapment was someone powerful, someone the Wei family didn’t dare to cross.

They were choosing to stay out of it, offering her this book as a clue, leaving her to uncover the truth.

This time, Grandmother Wei didn’t even invite them to stay for a meal. She simply told Wei Jie to visit his mother. Mother and son, reunited after so long, deserved some time together.

Since returning to the Wei family, Si Ling had been living a secluded life in the Buddhist hall, avoiding contact with everyone.

Grandmother Wei knew it wasn’t a sustainable solution. If Wei Jie could convince his mother to let go of her hatred, to return to the underworld and renounce the mortal realm, it would be for the best.

As they left the main hall, Xiao Xiao, looking at Wei Jie’s tall, lonely figure, couldn’t help but tug at his sleeve. “Your grandmother… she does care about you. It’s just that she has a whole family to worry about. Her love… it’s spread thin.”

Grandmother Wei’s primary concern hadn’t been Wei Jie’s well-being, but the implications of his shattered divine power core, the imbalance it caused in the underworld.

Xiao Xiao knew she would be devastated if her own family prioritized duty over her safety.

Wei Jie, seeing her efforts to reassure him, chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Silly girl, I’m not a child anymore. Even if my grandmother doesn’t like me, I’m not going to cry about it!”

Xiao Xiao looked at him, but didn’t speak.

She knew him too well. He cared about family more than he let on.

And now, with his true identity revealed, the fragile bond he had forged with the Wei family had been overshadowed by a greater responsibility.

If Grandmother Wei knew he had succumbed to demonic energy because of her… would she sacrifice her to appease the spirits of the underworld, to ensure the Flame Emperor’s ascension?

“Do you… do you regret losing your divine power core?” she asked softly. “With it, you could have ascended, returned to your rightful place. The Flame Emperor… he sounds powerful.”

Wei Jie looked at her, his gaze intense. “Yes, my ascension would set you free. After all, there’s a long line of young men waiting to share a drink with you on the rooftop…”

The Flame Emperor, his fate altered in this life, had developed a jealous streak.

Xiao Xiao, exasperated, retorted, “Why would I want a young man when I have a two-hundred-year-old con artist to drink with? You should have told your disciple Tang Youshu to find you some girls with strong yin energy. You could choose the least annoying one, the one who catches your eye!”

Seeing her bringing up the past, he covered her mouth, silencing her. “Who else could possibly catch my eye? Remember, you were the one who approached me, begging to take me as your disciple! We were destined to be together!”

You smelly turtle! Who’s destined to be with you?!

Xiao Xiao had a hundred sarcastic remarks ready, but his hand muffled them, leaving her to sputter in protest.

Grandmother Wei and Wei Jingfeng stood at the entrance of the main hall, watching them walk away, their laughter echoing through the courtyard.

Wei Jingfeng frowned, observing Wei Jie’s playful gesture. “A deity descending to the mortal realm… how dignified. Look at that brat. How can he possibly be the Flame Emperor reincarnated?”

Grandmother Wei, although also frowning, said, “Who has truly seen a deity? It’s just our mortal perception. Besides, A-Jie has always been extraordinary. When he was born, his father consulted a fortune teller, who said he was destined for a life filled with tribulations, but also great achievements. Jingling asked if there was a way to avert those tribulations. The fortune teller said, ‘The tribulation is something he desires but cannot have.’ Looking back, it seems his greatest tribulation is ‘love.’ I hope he doesn’t follow his father’s path. I hope he can overcome this ‘love.’”

Wei Jingfeng’s brow furrowed. “Perhaps you should speak with him, Mother. Your words might have an effect.”

Grandmother Wei sighed. “A-Jie is stubborn, just like his father. I couldn’t stop his father, and I can’t stop him. Perhaps his mother can persuade him.”

Wei Jie and Xiao Xiao arrived at the Buddhist hall. They pushed open the door and saw Si Ling kneeling on a cushion, her back to them.

“Mother,” Wei Jie called out. “Xiao Xiao and I are here. How are you?”

He called out several times, but Si Ling didn’t respond, her body still.

Was she angry that he hadn’t visited her sooner?

He took a few steps forward, but then he stumbled, his vision blurring, his eyes turning black.

Xiao Xiao, noticing his distress, grabbed his hand.

With his divine power core shattered, his demonic nature was surfacing even faster than hers, despite her harboring the demonic bead.

The ancient Flame Emperor, the ruler of the underworld, walked a path that blurred the lines between good and evil, unlike other deities.

Wei Jie, in the early stages of succumbing to his demonic nature, was unstable. Thankfully, Xiao Xiao, his cure, was by his side, preventing him from falling into darkness as he had in their past life.

But as his vision cleared, he realized something was wrong with this room…

Xiao Xiao felt it too. Thanks to Tang Youshu’s influence, she had gained some knowledge of feng shui and mystical arts.

The room was dimly lit. Several bronze mirrors, unusual for a Buddhist hall, were strategically placed, reflecting the flickering candlelight.

It was like the Demonic Ghost Sect’s Illusionary Realm, a place designed to disorient and confuse!

She looked closely at Si Ling and noticed dark veins appearing on her neck. “Oh no!” she exclaimed, quickly taking out a Clarity Talisman and placing it on Si Ling’s back.

Si Ling’s body jerked forward, collapsing against the altar.

Xiao Xiao rushed to help her up, her heart pounding.

Si Ling’s face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen. And before her… a bowl filled with her tears of blood!

The Mei people couldn’t cry. Their tears were their lifeblood. But those tears also possessed a magical power, a coveted ingredient for cultivators and alchemists.

This setup… was someone trying to harm Si Ling?

If they hadn’t arrived in time, she would have died in this secluded hall!

The Clarity Talisman brought Si Ling back to her senses. Her tear-filled eyes focused on Wei Jie, mistaking him for her deceased lover.

“Jingling,” she cried, clutching him tightly. “Don’t leave me!”

Wei Jie patted her back, gently massaging her temples, suppressing his anger. “Mother, it’s me. Please, don’t cry.”

He called out to her several times before she finally recognized him. Her eyes, filled with pain and disappointment, met his. “A-Jie… it’s you… I had such a long dream…”

Xiao Xiao, staring at the room’s unusual arrangement, asked, “Madam, has this hall always been like this?”