Chapter 77: Disciple and Wife
A Mahayana cultivator could travel thousands of miles in an instant. One moment, she was at the Hanshan Sect’s gate, the next, she stood on Wangshu Peak.
The peak, bathed in perpetual spring, its lush vegetation even more vibrant than she remembered, welcomed her back. The startled birds and beasts, momentarily forgetting their former resident, scattered, then cautiously reemerged, their curious eyes peering from behind trees and bushes.
Ignoring them, she walked towards the two small houses, her robes swirling around her.
Tao Ning circled the houses, disabling the protective formations she had set up, then stepped inside.
The interior was unchanged, clean and dust-free, the landscape screen emitting a soft, warm glow.
Sensing her return, the ever-burning lamp in the corner flickered to life, illuminating the room.
Tao Ning sat down, retrieving a small, ice-like shard from her sleeve, barely an inch long, resembling a miniature jade slip.
She had taken it from Xiao Haoran’s spatial pouch. It was the source of the faint demonic aura clinging to him.
With his soul destroyed, the spiritual imprint was weak, easily erased.
She turned the shard over in her fingers. It seemed ordinary, unresponsive to her spiritual energy, neither growing nor shrinking, offering no clues.
520 scanned it, but found nothing. 【What is this? I can’t identify it.】
Tao Ning: “You don’t know either?”
520: 【Is there something special about it?】
Tao Ning placed the shard on the table, her voice carrying across the empty room. “I’m back. Aren’t you coming out?”
A shadowy figure materialized behind the table, settling onto a chair. “My master was the founder of Qianqi Peak. You’re in the wrong place.”
Tao Ning: “Just wait. I’ll bury you on Qianqi Peak later.”
The figure was silent for a moment, then, glancing at the empty table, seemed to let out a soft tsk. “I found a patch of rare tea plants on the back slopes of Qianqi Peak. The last time I left, they weren’t ready for harvest. I only took a small amount. I wonder who’s enjoying them now.”
The sudden appearance of the figure almost made 520 scream. It did, in fact, emit a high-pitched shriek, but Tao Ning, anticipating its reaction, had muted it, sparing her eardrums.
Calming down, it reminded itself this was a cultivation world. Ghosts were normal.
The figure, however, looked familiar. Its features were slightly blurred, indistinct, but it wore dark robes and a golden crown, suggesting a position of power in its previous life.
And it bore a striking resemblance to Tao Ning, like a reflection in a mirror.
The only differences were in their demeanor and their aura.
A soul could influence its host’s appearance, but subtle differences always remained.
The figure exuded an untamed, almost regal aura, while Tao Ning was more reserved, her power concealed beneath a gentle exterior.
520 finally understood. This was Qingji’s lingering spirit, somehow evading the Heavenly Dao, hiding within the protagonist’s jade slip.
That’s why it couldn’t scan anything. It had registered as a blank shard.
“Tea? That’s easy.” Tao Ning’s hand swept across the table, and a tea set materialized.
With graceful, practiced movements, she brewed a pot of tea, its fragrant steam filling the room. A hand reached out, pouring the tea into two jade cups.
Placing one cup before the figure, she said, “Here.” She took a sip from her own cup.
Qingji, a mere wisp of a soul, nearing dissipation, could only observe, unable to partake in such earthly pleasures.
Enjoying the aroma, she asked, “How did you know it was me? Why didn’t you mistake that demonic aura for another cultivator?”
Tao Ning took another sip of tea, shaking her head. “I’m not risking another lightning strike.”
The Heavenly Dao in cultivation worlds was sensitive, far more active than in other worlds, always ready to punish transgressions.
Qingji, understanding, realized there was no need to pry. Everyone had their secrets. “I see. You’ve… experienced that.”
Tao Ning, placing down her cup, said, “You kept leaking demonic energy. It was hard to miss.”
Qingji: “Many missed it. Are all Radiant Realm cultivators so… oblivious?”
The once-proud Demon Lord, in her usual condescending manner, dismissed all cultivators, forgetting her own origins.
Talent often bred arrogance. Qingji, having achieved fame at a young age, ruling the Demonic Realm for centuries, wasn’t known for her humility.
Tao Ning felt the need to explain. “You managed to evade the Heavenly Dao’s detection. It’s not surprising they couldn’t sense your faint demonic aura.”
Qingji: “That’s different. They couldn’t even sense the demonic energy from the abyss. They’re just… incompetent.”
Tao Ning sipped her tea, listening as the former Demon Lord continued her rant, sparing no one.
Finally, Tao Ning spoke. “I wouldn’t be satisfied unless I saw him die myself.”
She gestured towards the jade shard. “So you created this?”
Qingji: “I sent him to the Hanshan Sect to die. I didn’t expect him to be so useless. He couldn’t even join the sect. I overestimated him.”
She had anticipated Xiao Haoran’s attachment to the “Heavenly Book,” his reliance on it making him a target, assuming any cultivator encountering him would eliminate him.
At the very least, upon reaching the Hanshan Sect’s spirit testing stone, his unusual spiritual roots and blocked meridians would be discovered.
But few had noticed, only the Demonic Realm spy and Tao Ning.
Tao Ning: “You went too far.”
Qingji conceded. “Indeed. That’s why he escaped several times, meeting Chi Xiaxia prematurely, clinging to that sliver of hope.”
A thousand years ago, at the height of her power, on the verge of ascension, Qingji had glimpsed a sliver of destiny, foreseeing her own future.
She wouldn’t be anyone’s stepping stone. She had made preparations, even crafting artifacts to withstand the tribulation lightning, but time had run out. Her tribulation arrived early, forcing her hand. Delaying it further would have resulted in her death, either by tribulation lightning or by her own uncontrolled power.
She had gambled, and lost.
“Heaven wouldn’t allow it. It wanted to destroy my soul. But I found a loophole. I waited for you.”
Tao Ning’s voice was soft, almost a whisper. “So the final lightning strike… it hit me. You transferred it.”
Qingji hadn’t completed her tribulation.
While she was a spiritual cultivator, her years in the Demonic Realm, her creation of the Wanhun Cauldron, had tainted her, creating karmic debts.
She couldn’t survive the full force of the Nine Heavens Tribulation. Her soul would have been destroyed, her essence scattered, preventing reincarnation.
But now, not only was her soul intact, but it had also entered the cycle of reincarnation, seeking a suitable vessel. In a hundred years, another “Qingji” would be born.
Qingji smiled faintly, not denying it.
She hadn’t expected this otherworldly soul to survive. When that annoying little thing had asked about her final wish, she had planted a seed, not expecting it to bear fruit.
520 was speechless.
It hadn’t been a system error that had brought its host into the world prematurely. It had been a deliberate act.
With or without a host, Qingji would have abandoned her dying body, preserving her soul. The host had simply provided a more secure hiding place.
That explained her ready agreement to Tao Ning’s request. She had been eager to escape!
Qingji, her voice filled with a newfound respect, said, “You and I… we’re the same.”
Tao Ning quickly raised her hand, palm outwards. “No, I’m not like you. I’m not alone. I have a Dao companion.”
Qingji: “…”
The figure vanished, 520 suspecting she had been offended.
Even her disappearance was accompanied by a disgruntled huff.
Cen Dianshuang arrived at the small house halfway up the mountain, finding Tao Ning crouched in the courtyard, drawing in the dirt with a stick.
She watched for a moment, then approached, her steps lighter than usual. “What are you doing, Grand Ancestor?”
Tao Ning jumped, clutching her chest, falling dramatically to the ground. “You scared me!”
Cen Dianshuang, not believing her, simply stared.
Tao Ning, clutching her chest like a delicate flower, looked up at her, her voice weak and slightly breathless. “I think… I think I’m injured. That mirror… There seem to be… lingering effects.”
Having lived for centuries, surviving a tribulation and arriving at the Hanshan Sect bearing countless scars, she was a master of playing the victim.
Cen Dianshuang’s eyes flickered, then hardened.
Tao Ning, her beauty enhanced by her fox-like eyes, beckoned weakly. “Perhaps you should… examine me?”
520, always eager to encourage mischief, added, 【Why don’t you loosen your collar a bit? Expose a little shoulder?】
Cen Dianshuang, after a moment of contemplation, turned and walked away, her expression unreadable.
She needed time to process everything. She couldn’t even manage a proper reprimand.
A hand grasped her skirt, tugging gently. Tao Ning, her grip light and hesitant, simply held on, swaying slightly.
Like a child seeking attention.
Cen Dianshuang sighed, turning back to help Tao Ning up, her hand instinctively reaching for her wrist, then pausing, her own spiritual sense momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer power of Tao Ning’s meridians.
She looked at Tao Ning, her gaze complex, then turned and walked towards the steps leading up to her cave.
Tao Ning followed, her voice soft, almost pleading. “I didn’t mean to deceive you. I just… I didn’t know how the Hanshan Sect felt about… those from the Demonic Realm… But my feelings for you are real. I truly… I truly care for you. I swear to the heavens.”
Cen Dianshuang stumbled on the steps.
She quickened her pace, refusing to turn around.
Tao Ning, her robes swirling around her as she hurried after her master, continued, “I, Tao Ning, swear to the heavens, if I have been deceitful in any way, then…”
A Mahayana cultivator’s oath carried weight. Dark clouds gathered overhead. Any falsehood would be punished by tribulation lightning.
Cen Dianshuang, seeing her seriousness, stopped, turning sharply. “Why did you shield me from the Cycle Mirror?”
Unlike the others, she possessed her mother’s inherited memories. She knew the Cycle Mirror was a Demonic Beast Realm treasure, its activation requiring the sacrifice of a thousand-year-old demon core, a precious and rare artifact.
The two schemers, their greed blinding them, had inadvertently empowered Tao Ning.
Tao Ning hesitated, her mouth opening and closing slightly. “Because… there were so many people… and he said it could… reveal one’s true form… I couldn’t let you be exposed.”
Her instinctive reaction had been genuine. Cen Dianshuang hadn’t anticipated such a drastic measure. She had been terrified, fearing her true nature would be revealed. Tao Ning had shielded her, pushing her behind her, covering her eyes with her hand, whispering, “Don’t worry. It’ll be alright.”
And she had been protected. If her true form had been revealed, not only would she have been in danger, but the Hanshan Sect would have faced severe repercussions.
Cen Dianshuang’s voice was barely a whisper. “You knew… I was a… demon?”
Tao Ning: “Yes.”
Cen Dianshuang: “Did you know…?” …that I’m a hybrid?
Tao Ning’s voice was firm. “Yes. I don’t care. I only care about you.”
Cen Dianshuang, no longer able to deny her own feelings, asked, “When did you know?” She hadn’t sensed any mockery or judgment from Tao Ning.
Transforming into her true form might shrink her size, but not her intelligence.
She was simply… confused.
Tao Ning’s voice was soft, almost hesitant. “I’ve known for a while. The screen with the Shangxi bird… This peak’s name, Wangshu… The ‘Frost’ token… And you never appeared with the Shangxi bird at the same time.”
520 was bewildered. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go! Where’s the denial? The accusations? The dramatic pronouncements of betrayal?
Why are they talking about demons?
It had been confused by the mention of Shangxi birds, then realized – The bird! The grumpy little bird Tao Ning kept teasing! It was Cen Dianshuang all along!
How?! How did she figure it out?! They’re so different! There’s no resemblance!
Were there really that many clues? Why didn’t I notice?
Who would connect such minor details to a Hanshan Sect elder? Wouldn’t that be crazy?
520, as usual, struggled to keep up with its host’s thought processes.
Cen Dianshuang, listening to Tao Ning’s explanation, felt exposed, her carefully constructed facade crumbling, then she recovered.
Tao Ning was observant, perceptive, and Cen Dianshuang, having lowered her guard, had practically handed her the answers.
Remembering the ruthless efficiency of Tao Ning’s earlier actions, she asked, “You knew… from the first time we met?”
Tao Ning, unaware of her reputation shook her head quickly. “No, not then. I didn’t know.”
Cen Dianshuang was relieved. She didn’t want to relive the constant frustration of those early encounters. She had assumed Tao Ning’s change in demeanor had been a sign of maturity.
Now, she realized it had been suspicion.
“The spirit boat in Shadow City… You did that deliberately, didn’t you?”
Tao Ning nodded. “Yes.”
Cen Dianshuang: “Why?” If not for today’s events, she would have found a way to ask.
Tao Ning: “Because I didn’t want to keep it from you forever, but I didn’t know how the Hanshan Sect would react.”
It was a complicated situation, a secret she had never shared before.
Crippling her cultivation had been a precautionary measure. If the Hanshan Sect, like other sects, rejected former demonic cultivators, it would have created unnecessary complications.
And with no one suspecting her true identity, she hadn’t seen the need to reveal it, to disrupt their peaceful existence.
She hadn’t anticipated regaining her full power, or today’s events.
Cen Dianshuang understood.
She too had struggled with her Shangxi heritage.
Tao Ning, taking her hand, her gaze fixed on Cen Dianshuang’s face, said, “No matter who I am, my feelings for you won’t change. If you want to stay at the Hanshan Sect, I’ll stay with you. If you want to leave, I’ll travel the world with you. We’ll be free.”
Cen Dianshuang: “I… I need some time.” She turned and practically ran back to her cave, activating the protective formation.
Tao Ning, her first time at the summit, stopped before the cave entrance, not daring to intrude.
A sweet fragrance reached her, and she noticed a lotus pond beside the cave, its blossoms large and vibrant, their scent intoxicating.
She remembered the lotus flowers depicted on the screen in her room, the one Cen Dianshuang had used for only a single night.
That explained Wangshu Peak’s isolation, Cen Dianshuang’s reluctance to allow visitors. There were always clues, if one looked closely enough.
A rumble overhead, and a sudden downpour drenched Tao Ning, who hadn’t brought an umbrella.
Tao Ning: …Did I anger the bird?
520 silently activated its camera function.
Outside Wangshu Peak, passing disciples, noticing the sudden storm, looked up in surprise. “What’s with the heavy rain?”
Another disciple, also looking towards the peak, exclaimed, “I haven’t seen rain like this in a hundred years!”
Cen Dianshuang, after a long period of emotional turmoil stopped the rain, emerging from her cave.
Tao Ning was still there, standing by the lotus pond, a large lotus leaf held above her head like an umbrella, its surface dotted with raindrops.
She had changed her clothes, but the style remained the same: long, flowing robes, layered and intricate.
The pale green fabric, elegant and refined, suited her perfectly, like a lotus spirit given human form.
The purple robe had also suited her, its color vibrant and striking.
In truth, everything looked good on Tao Ning. In Cen Dianshuang’s eyes, she was perfect.
Tao Ning, holding the lotus leaf, her feet submerged in the shallow water, muttered, “What am I supposed to do now…?”
520: 【It’s simple. Wait for her to calm down, then tell her, ‘Let’s keep our titles. You call me Grand Ancestor, I call you Master. We can even get married secretly. It’ll be exciting.’】
Tao Ning: “…”
Sensing Cen Dianshuang’s approach, she turned, holding a bowl filled with lotus seeds. “I peeled some lotus seeds. Would you like some?”
Cen Dianshuang sat beside her, her voice calm. “Yes.”
Lotus seeds peeled by my Grand Ancestor, who is also potentially my “wife” – I’ve faced demon lords and survived. I can handle this.
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