Xiang Haikui’s eyelid twitched. “Why? Could it be that he also has a connection with you?”

Perhaps they needed Blood Demon Lord’s Dream Sword now, fulfilling this destined connection?

“Not exactly.” Yin Changli gestured for her to leave the mountain first, talking as they walked.

He was nearly frozen stiff and unable to activate the small black sphere, so they had to leave the valley first. “Blood Demon Lord was born into an evil sect. His grandfather, the sect leader, was an evil cultivator. His father was also an evil cultivator. He was their successor.”

Xiang Haikui nodded. “Just like how you corrected Dao Chen’s path, you gave him a sword, hoping to guide him from evil to righteousness.”

The great merchant Yin might be wealthy but unrighteous, often doing inhuman things, but stripping away his outer facade to observe his essence, his starting point was usually good.

“No.” Yin Changli denied her guess, speaking with remarkable frankness. “His grandfather offended me. I couldn’t lure away his son, so I waited for his grandson.”

So as soon as Blood Demon Lord was born, Yin Changli had his eyes on him.

“At ten years old, just as he expanded his sea of consciousness, I tricked him into bonding with the Dream Sword. He could never practice evil cultivation again.”

Their family had always passed down their lineage through a single heir. The evil techniques they practiced were also left by their ancestors, never shared with outsiders.

The grandson lived, but in a certain sense, their family’s legacy was already broken.

Hearing this unexpected answer, Xiang Haikui remained surprisingly calm.

She wrapped her cold-resistant robe tighter and walked toward the mountain exit against the biting wind.

This man, Yin Changli.

He was both divine and demonic.

When compassionate, he seemed like a bodhisattva; when cruel, he made people want to smash his dog’s head in an instant.

But his cruelty always had limits.

At the very least, Blood Demon Lord was now one of the Three Sword Lords of the righteous path, just one step away from merging with the Dao.

As for these troublesome swords, risks always coexisted with opportunities.

Xiang Haikui tucked her wind-blown hair into the bun on her head while asking, “From what I hear, those divine swords brought by the great lord next door have all fallen into your hands?”

Yin Changli replied, “I collected them with great effort to study the mysteries of these swords.”

Xiang Haikui had an unsettling thought: “You’re not planning to forge a few yourself for fun after figuring them out, are you?”

“I can’t forge them,” Yin Changli’s tone was quite regretful. “This type of sword requires the forger to possess the Heavenly Craftsman bloodline.”

“Heavenly Craftsman?” Xiang Haikui looked up at the sky. “Craftsmen of the Heavenly Race?”

No, that wasn’t right. The divine swords were passed down from the neighboring Three Thousand Realms, not from the same heaven. “Craftsmen of the neighboring Heavenly Race?”

“The neighboring realm has no Heavenly Race, only the Four Races of Heaven and Humanity.”

After leaving the mountain, the small black snake’s stiffened body gradually recovered.

He emerged from Xiang Haikui’s sleeve, transforming into a black light that landed in front of the group. He opened his palm, and the small black sphere slowly appeared, bouncing from his palm and gradually expanding.

The group entered the traveling palace, leaving Bai Xingxian outside to pull the carriage. “Uncle, where are we going?” he asked.

Yin Changli: “Jin Ling Kingdom’s capital.”

“Wait,” Xiang Haikui questioned, “Didn’t you say we would first meet my father?”

Yin Changli nodded. “Correct.”

Xiang Haikui was puzzled. “My father is in the capital?”

“Xiao Bai, let’s go.” Yin Changli sat down behind the table, lifted the teapot from the stove, poured several cups of hot tea, and gestured for her and Lu Xiqiao to come drink to warm their dantian. “With Jin Ling causing chaos with the small Jianmu tree, and your disappearance, how could your father remain calm in Yin Sha City?”

Xiang Haikui was stunned. “Before I went into seclusion to recover, didn’t I tell you to send a message to my father?”

Yin Changli lowered his eyelashes. “Think carefully. I changed the subject at the time and never actually agreed.”

Lu Xiqiao had originally planned to step forward for tea, but suddenly felt a surge of anger approaching like an avalanche. He shuddered and took a step backward instead.

Xiang Haikui rushed forward in one stride, placing both hands on the table and glaring down at him. “What do you mean? Do you know how worried my father must be that I’ve been missing for months?”

Yin Changli handed her the tea. “During the previous ten years, when you collected demon cores to heal my wounds, you would often disappear for seven or eight months at a time. Your father never seemed to worry then. Now it’s only been four months.”

“How can that be the same?” Xiang Haikui held back for a long time, barely resisting the urge to knock over the teacup he offered. “Before, I was out working. This time I disappeared during the chaos in Jin Ling’s capital…”

“There’s no difference. He has tremendous faith in your abilities, or perhaps excessive trust in me, so he wouldn’t worry too much.” Yin Changli raised his dark, lustrous eyes. “I know you won’t tell him about recent events, so letting him worry a little for you, adding some fatherly responsibility—that’s not so bad, is it?”

Moreover, though he hadn’t immediately sent a message, he had dispatched a bird to observe Xiang Heng’s reaction.

Seeing that he wasn’t particularly anxious initially, Yin decided not to send the message.

When Xiang Heng gradually became worried, the message was finally delivered.

Xiang Haikui had been so angry her chest hurt, but now, as she met his gaze, she understood the meaning in his eyes.

He was indignant on her behalf.

He wanted to say that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

He also wanted to tell her that time could dilute all feelings, including family bonds—otherwise, there wouldn’t be the saying “distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors.”

But feelings could also develop through interaction.

Her father didn’t love her; it had just been too long, so long that he’d forgotten how to love her.

He needed a reminder, rather than avoidance.

Xiang Haikui avoided his gaze, as if a balloon hidden deep in her heart had been pierced, bursting with a “pop” that left her feeling upset and unsettled. “Senior Yin, the relationship between us isn’t as close as you think. Aren’t you overstepping your boundaries?”

His lips tightened slightly as Yin Changli’s eyes revealed a hint of coldness. “You know I never act without benefit. If we’re not that close, why should I deliver a message just because you asked?”

He was angry.

Her lips quivered. She picked up the tea in front of her, drank it in one gulp, and walked away to meditate without responding.

He poured tea and drank it, keeping a cold face and remaining silent.

Lu Xiqiao sat on the steps at the entrance of the traveling palace, not daring to approach.

Coming inside was a mistake; he should have stayed outside with Xiao Bai, pulling the carriage.

But the anticipated Cold War didn’t last long.

Xiang Haikui wasn’t the type to be fussy. Knowing she was in the wrong, she naturally wanted to apologize.

But she also knew Yin Changli’s temperament. If she bowed her head to apologize, he would take advantage, seizing the opportunity to make a bunch of unreasonable demands as compensation.

After some thought, she justified herself: “You ask why? Those who are favored become fearless. Through thousands of difficulties, isn’t it because you’re willing, because you like it?”

Yin Changli: …

He pinched the bridge of his nose, not knowing how to respond for a long while. His tight lips relaxed, and he gave her a “you win” smile.

In the Heavenly Realm.

After nearly four months, Jing Ran’s injuries had healed about thirty percent.

He had underestimated the power of the Tian Kuang Sword. The two holes in his chest and abdomen, though not life-threatening, continued to fester, making recovery extremely difficult.

Additionally, he found it hard to calm his mind during meditation.

He hadn’t noticed it at first, but as time passed, his mind kept replaying two completely different expressions.

The look in Xiang Haikui’s eyes when she threw herself at him to protect him from danger.

The look in her eyes when she stabbed him with the sword, as the street lamps extinguished one by one.

These two expressions alternated continuously and, rather than fading with time, became increasingly clear.

This forced him to reconsider: Were his actions toward her so severe?

Severe enough to make her despair of him?

He thought he had been quite considerate of her feelings.

Irritated and unsettled, Jing Ran stopped his breathing exercises and left his room.

“Di Jun.” The servant girls knelt on the ground.

Just as he was about to walk out of the hall, he was stopped by a secret guard. “Di Jun, here is the list of all foreign races who infiltrated Bi’an City…”

Jing Ran ordered, “Assassinate their leaders.”

The guard asked, “Only the leaders?”

Jing Ran impatiently replied, “Yes, leave it to Han Qi to handle.”

The guard was slightly stunned. “You still trust him?”

Jing Ran coldly laughed. “I never trusted him in the first place.”

Then he continued walking.

The guard followed behind him, noticing that his destination seemed to be the Celestial Divine Palace. His heart filled with shock.

Was Di Jun planning to activate the Mystic Heavenly Mirror again?

The Mystic Heavenly Mirror was the Heavenly Race’s greatest treasure, existing as long as the Heavenly Race had.

Each ruler would activate the Mystic Heavenly Mirror before undertaking major events to inquire about fortune and misfortune.

For instance, the previous Di Jun had activated it before deciding to battle the Mountain-Sea Race, and naturally received an affirmative result before taking action.

When the former Underworld Lord Shu Luoye created an artifact to exterminate the Heavenly Race, the Mystic Heavenly Mirror issued a warning on its own, allowing Di Jun to learn of this.

As for Di Jun’s reincarnation to face his trial, he had also consulted the Mystic Heavenly Mirror.

The mirror was generally believed to transmit the will of the Heavenly Dao. Only those with royal bloodlines could activate it, but the activator would consume a large amount of life force, requiring extreme caution.

Two days later.

Bai Xingxian brought the small black sphere to the outskirts of Jin Ling City, after which the group switched to a unicorn carriage.

As Bai Xingxian prepared to board the carriage, Yin Changli lifted the curtain and handed him a jade slip. “You won’t enter the city with us. You’ll be acting alone from now on.”

Bai Xingxian felt anxious and hesitated for a while before taking the jade slip. “What is this?”

Yin Changli didn’t answer him, turning instead to Xiang Haikui. “You asked me a question earlier. Do you still remember?”

Xiang Haikui smiled awkwardly. “I’ve asked too many questions.”

“At least you’re aware of that,” Yin Changli chuckled. “It was about why I don’t persuade other small races to unite against the Heavenly Race.”

Xiang Haikui nodded. Back in Bi’an City, watching those colorful “people” come to assassinate Jing Ran one after another like a futile rescue mission, this question had formed in her mind.

“Because the time isn’t right. The smaller the race, the stronger their racial prejudice. In their eyes, all of us larger races are cut from the same cloth.”

Yin Changli pointed at the jade slip in Bai Xingxian’s hand. “Given Di Jun’s style, he’s about to start his revenge.”

An eye for an eye—you assassinate the leaders of the Heavenly Race, and the Heavenly Race will assassinate your leaders.

“The jade slip contains a map. Each circle marks the hiding place of a leader from a race we could ally with. Go save them, and tell them your father was the former Crown Prince Shu Luoye and that you’re planning to avenge him and seize power. They’ll believe you. Promise them benefits, such as designating survival territories for each race after you become Di Jun…”

“I’m going… alone?” Bai Xingxian pointed at his nose. This was no small matter.

He had just briefly glanced at it—there were at least six hundred circles!

“Of course. You must demonstrate your abilities and wisdom to them, proving you’re not a puppet of the Mountain-Sea Race’s Grand Patriarch. Otherwise, who would follow you?”

Bai Xingxian’s hand holding the jade slip trembled slightly.

He knew his uncle had investigated and analyzed these foreign race leaders without recruiting them, all to pave the way for him, so they would become his forces rather than the Mountain-Sea Race’s forces.

It showed such painstaking care.

It was also a test from his uncle.

A test that couldn’t afford failure.

As long as Di Jun didn’t personally act, saving these leaders from the Heavenly Race by using spiritual pressure wouldn’t be difficult. The only fear was…

“What if Han Qi is the one carrying out the deployment…”

“Don’t even think about it. It will be him.” Yin Changli was certain. “I’ve written strategies in the jade slip. Figure them out yourself.”

Bai Xingxian started sweating. “Uncle, I can’t…”

His mind was more agile than before, but he couldn’t possibly outsmart Han Qi.

Yin Changli directly commanded the unicorn carriage to change course and enter the city. “I’ve done everything I can. I won’t send anyone to protect you. From now on, you’re on your own.”

Cold sweat beaded on Bai Xingxian’s forehead.

Xiang Haikui was deeply concerned—wasn’t this starting with a royal flush? Wasn’t this too much pressure on Xiao Bai?

But it was a father teaching his son, and outsiders shouldn’t interfere.

At the same time, she gave Lu Xiqiao a look, telling him not to interfere either.

When the beast carriage had traveled several dozen yards, they heard Bai Xingxian shouting from behind: “Uncle, I can do it! I won’t disappoint you!”

Yin Changli sat steadily with his eyes closed.

“You’re not planning to send no one to protect him, are you?”

“Correct.”

“Not even secret protection?”

“No.” Yin Changli’s attitude left no room for negotiation. “Growth under intense pressure is usually both stable and swift.”

“Well, think about it yourself. I just feel it’s a bit excessive.” Xiang Haikui noticed him clenching his fist until the knuckles turned white, then whiter still. She knew he couldn’t possibly be as cold-hearted as his words suggested.

It was just a matter of saving face.

After all, having stated his position so firmly, sending someone to protect Xiao Bai would be like slapping his face.

…

When they had left Jin Ling before, the protruding Jianmu tree roots had destroyed half the city, but now no trace of the damage remained.

After all, this was an Immortal City, which didn’t need to be rebuilt brick by brick.

Come to think of it, this small Jianmu tree was given to Xiang Tianqing by the Meng family from the upper realm to accumulate merit. After being obstructed by Jing Ran, she didn’t know how it was ultimately resolved.

At any rate, the Lu family, who had planted the tree, was finished.

Despite being as rich as a nation, they had still courted death.

When passing by the Lu family residence, Lu Xiqiao lifted the carriage curtain.

As the second son of the Lu family, even though he was the victim, he had become a wanted criminal.

It was indeed difficult to explain, so he didn’t bother. He simply wore a cloak that completely covered his face since entering the city.

Xiang Haikui patted his shoulder. “Lu…”

“No, Sister Kui, I’m not saddened by the memories.” Lu Xiqiao shook his head, pounding his chest in frustration. “I mainly regret my family’s wealth, accumulated over eighteen generations of ancestors. Yes, some was ill-gotten, but much was earned honestly! Now my father has been executed, my elder brother was eaten by me, and as the only remaining heir of the Lu family, everything that should have been mine has been confiscated!”

Xiang Haikui: …

Thinking of mountains of treasure, she felt some sympathy, too.

She couldn’t bring herself to say something like “wealth is external to the self.”

Yin Changli offered unusual consolation: “No need to be upset. Think about Xiao Bai—he should have been the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Race, but ended up as a servant. You’re much better off than he.”

Lu Xiqiao realized this was true.

Before he could comfort himself, Yin Changli continued: “But now, he’s taking back everything he lost. You can do the same.”

Xiang Haikui frowned. What did he mean?

Was he encouraging Lu Xiqiao to rebel and kill the Jin Ling King?

Before Lu Xiqiao could speak, Yin Changli added, “I’ve bought all your family’s houses, shops, and properties.”

Xiang Haikui:?

Lu Xiqiao:?

Xiang Haikui: “Really?”

Yin Changli took out a treasure box from his bracelet, containing various secret keys.

Judging from Lu Xiqiao’s expression, it was true.

Yin Changli gave Xiang Haikui a look: “Aren’t you going to ask why I bought the Lu family’s property?”

Originally, Xiang Haikui had wanted to ask, but seeing his eager attitude, she already knew the answer.

The now-withered small Jianmu tree at the Lu family estate was where they had dual-cultivated, holding special meaning.

Xiang Haikui glanced at him.

Yin Changli avoided her gaze and looked at Lu Xiqiao: “You can earn back all your family’s properties through your abilities. For example, by accompanying Xiao Bai through trials of fire and sword for over ten years…”

Lu Xiqiao felt insulted: “Senior, what are you saying? Xiao Bai is my friend. Even without any benefits, I would still go…”

“Then go. It’s your own choice, nothing to do with me.” Yin Changli promptly interrupted him, putting the treasure box away. “The brotherhood between you, young people, truly moves me.”

The beast carriage stopped, and Lu Xiqiao was driven out.

Holding a jade slip with a route map, he still seemed somewhat bewildered.