The astonished gaze was far too obvious. Pei Zichen swept his eyes over once and immediately understood what this person was thinking.

However, after glancing at the three men lying sprawled around him, he was too lazy to look again. He simply strode to the bow of the ship and raised his hand with a wave.

As the mist dispersed, he saw densely packed demonic beasts with blood-red eyes lurking around the ship’s hull in the surrounding seawater. Pei Zichen’s gaze swept across them, and with a lift of his finger, millions of light swords hovered over the sea surface, completely sealing off the entire maritime area.

His Pressure Aura pressed down wantonly upon the entire sea surface. Pei Zichen’s tone was indifferent: “Approach and die.”

Upon hearing this, the demonic beasts all crouched in the sea, motionless and trembling.

Seeing the demonic beasts settle down, Pei Zichen turned back to glance at Jiang Zhaoxue. He saw the woman’s body swaying like a willow leaf, leaning crookedly on the boat.

Looking carefully, she seemed even more slender than in his memories. When asleep, her brows were tightly furrowed, evoking pity in one’s heart.

As the sea breeze swept over, she unconsciously trembled slightly. Pei Zichen pressed his lips tight, but ultimately raised his hand and let fall a raven-feather cloak, covering her body.

Her entire form was wrapped in his cloak, leaving only a delicate, beautiful small face exposed under the moonlight, tempting him.

Her palm-sized face had skin as white as jade, yet her lip color was exceptionally lustrous.

Pei Zichen thought of the lychee she had just eaten—plump lips half-parted, the crystal-clear translucent flesh bitten open, bursting with abundant juice. The juice moistened her peach-blossom lips, making them appear even more gorgeous and extraordinary.

Certain romantic thoughts that had just been suppressed arose again. But thinking of the lychee’s source, his gaze fell upon that attendant called Dielan beside her. His eyes turned cold as they slid past, then he turned to face the sea, no longer looking at her.

Actually, he originally had no intention of meeting her again.

The reason he agreed to come to the Jiuyou Realm was only because that day he detected the Book of Fate spying on her from her side.

Although he didn’t have Li Xiuji’s memories, his body instinctively rejected the Book of Fate intensely. Only the Jiuyou Realm could block the Book of Fate’s surveillance, which was why he agreed to let her come, intending to send her away only after dealing with the Book of Fate.

Fearing something might happen along the way, he specifically went to pick her up, originally planning to take only her alone across by boat. He didn’t expect that as soon as he pulled her close, she would start saying all that nonsense.

Something about a destined connection sealed by a divination slip.

Though his memories were confused, he still remembered this matter. He clearly recalled the feeling of standing behind her, watching from a distance as she gave that divination slip to Li Xiuji.

At that moment, he clearly realized he was never special.

Her saving him, being good to him—none of it was ever particularly meaningful.

So even if Pei Zichen died, she could immediately find new love, bringing other men to enjoy herself, finding another seventeen-year-old youth, giving him a similar name to his, and considering that sufficient commemoration.

In that instant, he couldn’t restrain himself from wanting to interrogate her, to see what other words she could say that would infuriate him. Yet as he approached her, seeing her standing before him with eyes covered, innocent and unknowing, merely holding his hand and looking up waiting for his response—all those interrogations transformed entirely into a hidden desire.

He wanted to kiss her.

The seawater rose and fell with the tide. On the solitary boat, only she remained.

Looking at the person gazing up at him, he actually discovered that all his anger, resentment, pain, and bitterness had transformed into uncontrollable desire.

He wanted her.

He resented his own lack of self-control and feared he couldn’t endure, which was why he transformed into a crow, allowing others to board, wanting to distance himself from her.

With distance, he wouldn’t lose composure.

The result was like trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice—transforming into a crow actually made it easier for her to get close, letting her hold him in her embrace and pet him the entire journey, perfectly positioned to observe her playing and frolicking with others.

This one playing the qin, that one massaging shoulders, and another treated as a darling new disciple—the whole journey lively and carefree, utterly joyful.

Thus throughout this journey he experienced ice and fire, barely enduring between life and death, while she could remain composed and content, treating life as a game.

Comparing the two, he felt even more resentful. He thought if he could just endure it would be over, yet she dared to provoke him actively. He was determined to teach her a lesson, but in the end was still tempted by her and gave her his cloak.

The sinful fire was difficult to extinguish, charging left and right in his heart, yet he didn’t know what to do about it.

He could only strive to calm his state of mind. When the boat struck a hidden reef with a “clang” and reached shore, Pei Zichen knew they had arrived at the Jiuyou Realm. He told himself not to struggle over such small matters, then turned to recall his cloak and strode forward.

But after walking only briefly, the images of those three men enjoying themselves with Jiang Zhaoxue kept appearing vividly before his eyes. He finally couldn’t help but stop.

After thinking for a long while, he let out a cold laugh, feeling there was no such good fortune in this world.

He strode back to Jiang Zhaoxue’s side and crouched halfway down.

“Since you’ve come to my territory, you should follow the host’s customs.” He raised his hand and touched Jiang Zhaoxue’s forehead. Demonic essence drilled into Jiang Zhaoxue’s body and spread throughout. Watching his demonic essence surround her entire being, the cold look in Pei Zichen’s eyes finally eased, and his tone unconsciously carried gentleness: “Just behave yourself.”

Having said this, he stood up, holding the raven-feather cloak, and raised his hand to open a transmission light gate on the beach.

He strode into the light gate. Upon emerging, he had already arrived at the Cangdu Demon Palace. Before the palace, the Four Demons—Zhou Shan, Zhou Shi, Zhou Min, and Zhou Lian—had already brought several thousand disciples who stood ready. Seeing Pei Zichen walk out alone, everyone hastily knelt and paid respects: “May the Demon Lord be blessed with peace.”

Pei Zichen responded faintly and swept his gaze around. Seeing Xin Luoyi wasn’t present, he deliberately felt relieved.

Xin Luoyi had gone to the True Immortal Realm using Mu Jinyue’s identity. If Jiang Zhaoxue saw Xin Luoyi, it would be hard to guarantee she wouldn’t start speculating about his identity.

Not wanting to cause trouble, he specifically had Xin Luoyi avoid the situation, ordering Zhou Shan and Zhou Lian, the most tactful among the Four Demons, to preside over reception arrangements.

The Four Demons all knew Pei Zichen had gone to pick up Jiang Zhaoxue. Seeing him return alone, though curious in their hearts, they dared not speak.

Zhou Shan was first to rise, following Pei Zichen over and asking respectfully: “Master, were there any incidents along the way?”

“None. The Immortal Lord is temporarily asleep. Send someone to receive her shortly. Don’t mention that I picked her up at the Cangming Sea. Arrange everything else as usual.”

Pei Zichen knew what Zhou Shan wanted to ask and gave all the answers in advance.

Zhou Shan felt relieved and asked one more question: “Then should the Immortal Lord’s party all reside together in Jingxin Garden as usual?”

At these words, Pei Zichen’s steps halted. He raised his eyes toward Zhou Shan, his gaze actually cold: “You’re having them stay together?”

Zhou Shan sensed his displeasure and bowed his head in panic, hastily explaining: “This subordinate thought the Immortal Lord is accustomed to being well-served. If the demons of the Jiuyou Realm should happen to serve inadequately…”

“Separate them.”

Pei Zichen decisively spoke, turning around with firm resolve in his orders: “The others stay in Jingxin Garden.”

“Then the Immortal Lord…”

Zhou Shan hesitated, completely not daring to make the decision himself.

Pei Zichen remained silent for a long while before making his decision: “Send her to my palace.”

Hearing these words, Zhou Shan was greatly shocked, yet Pei Zichen’s aura had eased considerably as he turned and left.

Zhou Shan stood in place unmoving. The other three demons came forward. Zhou Lian looked at him curiously: “Why are you standing there in a daze?”

Zhou Shan swallowed with difficulty: “That… Master said to separate the people from the True Immortal Realm shortly.”

“So what?” Zhou Shi didn’t understand—what was so surprising about this?

“The others go to Jingxin Garden, but the Immortal Lord…” Zhou Shan finally recovered somewhat, murmuring: “Directly to his palace.”

Everyone was somewhat stunned upon hearing this. Zhou Lian was first to react, blinking her eyes and saying happily: “I didn’t expect Master also likes women! If I’d known this earlier, I would have…”

“Rein in your lewd mind.” Zhou Min spoke in a hoarse voice: “What Master values isn’t a woman—it’s Jiang Zhaoxue. Quickly inform the Left Envoy about this. Jiang Zhaoxue’s influence on Master is too deep, the variable too great. If necessary, perhaps…”

Zhou Min thought for a moment, raising his eyes toward the direction Pei Zichen had departed: “We should find a way to have Shen Yuqing come to the Jiuyou Realm.”

Jiang Zhaoxue slept through this entire episode in a daze. Upon waking, she discovered the boat had already docked, stopped on the beach.

She groggily opened her eyes and saw that Ye Tianjiao, Qingye, and the others beside her had also just awakened.

Dawn was just breaking. The sound of waves rhythmically lapped against the shore. Jiang Zhaoxue paused for a moment, then suddenly came fully awake and sat up abruptly.

With her movement, even the boat shook. Ye Tianjiao hastily steadied himself against the boat’s hull and asked urgently: “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked around alertly and instinctively spoke: “Where’s the crow?”

Everyone looked at each other in confusion. A’Nan spoke blankly: “Crow? Me? I’m here!”

“Not you.”

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at A’Nan beside her, only then remembering that when she fought with that crow-man last night, everyone was still unconscious. Naturally they wouldn’t know what had happened. Asking them now, they would probably know nothing.

Jiang Zhaoxue first quickly checked her own condition. After confirming nothing was amiss, she determined that person had only attacked her consciousness sea but hadn’t done anything else to her.

This made Jiang Zhaoxue somewhat puzzled. Meanwhile, Ye Tianjiao, Qingye, Dielan, and Dieqing had already stood up. After straightening their clothing, they came before Jiang Zhaoxue. Dielan was first to extend his hand respectfully: “My Lady, please rise.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue extended her hand. Just as she was about to touch Dielan, Dielan suddenly withdrew his hand. Jiang Zhaoxue looked up in confusion, only to see Dielan staring at her in shock: “My Lady?”

“Dielan?”

“You…” Dielan looked at his own hand in bewilderment: “Wasn’t that you just hitting me?”

These words left Jiang Zhaoxue somewhat confused: “When did I hit you?”

Dielan steadied his mind and quickly said: “Perhaps… perhaps it was my imagination.”

Saying this, he extended his hand again respectfully: “My Lady, please rise…”

Before the word “now” could emerge, just as Jiang Zhaoxue was about to touch him, a sharp pain came again. Dielan instantly withdrew his hand, clutching it, the pain bringing moisture to his eyes as he suppressed his voice: “My Lady, perhaps let younger brother come instead?”

Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat bewildered as she watched Dielan seemingly aggrieved, jumping off the small boat first.

Dieqing came forward in confusion but still extended his hand to help Jiang Zhaoxue, saying respectfully: “My Lady, please.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue extended her hand. Before she could even touch Dieqing, his expression changed dramatically and he immediately withdrew his hand. Seeming to understand something, he quickly said: “My Lady, please let Qingye do it?”

Having said this, Dieqing immediately followed Dielan forward. The two brothers stood to the side, discussing something in low voices.

Jiang Zhaoxue frowned. Just as she was about to say she actually didn’t need help, Ye Tianjiao beside her leaned over happily: “What fresh matter is this? Let me try helping.”

Saying this, Ye Tianjiao actively extended his hand. Just as Jiang Zhaoxue was about to take his support, Ye Tianjiao immediately withdrew his hand, looking at Jiang Zhaoxue in shock. Seeming to understand something, he quickly urged Qingye: “Qingye, you try.”

As soon as Ye Tianjiao finished speaking, he ran and jumped off the small boat, running over to join Dielan and Dielan’s queue, whispering with them about something.

Qingye came forward bewildered, extending her hand to Jiang Zhaoxue. This time Jiang Zhaoxue was quick with her hands and eyes, not giving Qingye a chance to dodge, grabbing hold of her at once.

The moment Qingye was grabbed by her, her expression changed dramatically. She couldn’t help but forcefully fling Jiang Zhaoxue toward the beach, shouting out: “That really hurts!!”

Jiang Zhaoxue went with Qingye’s momentum and flew to shore. She looked at her own palms in confusion, raising her eyes toward the surrounding people: “You can’t touch me?”

The three men beside her had obviously already confirmed this and nodded one after another. Dieqing said seriously: “My Lady, the moment we touch you, we feel as if struck by lightning, in unbearable pain. You…”

Everyone examined Jiang Zhaoxue, asking in confusion: “What exactly happened?”

What exactly happened?

She only fought with that crow-man, that’s all.

“I understand now.”

Jiang Zhaoxue reacted. That person truly hadn’t harbored malicious intent toward her, but he hadn’t harbored good intent either.

He simply couldn’t bear to see her living well and specifically set this petty curse on her!

Understanding this, Jiang Zhaoxue let out a cold laugh and immediately said: “Heaven’s Will summons…”

Having said this, the words to break the curse that should have followed couldn’t be spoken no matter what.

A Ninth Realm Fate Master’s words were supposedly followed by law, but essentially it just simplified the gambling process. Now that she couldn’t open her mouth, it meant the other party’s strength far exceeded hers—no matter what, she couldn’t win the bet.

Understanding this point, Jiang Zhaoxue felt even more stifled. She flicked her sleeves in frustration and accepted her fate: “Fine, let’s go to the Jiuyou Realm first.”

Saying this, Jiang Zhaoxue turned back to look at Ye Tianjiao: “Chen’er, lead the way.”

The Jiuyou Realm hadn’t sent envoys to receive them yet—perhaps they’d been led to the wrong path by that crow-man.

Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao quickly came forward, leading everyone: “Look, there’s a transmission gate there. The Jiuyou Realm’s maritime main gate connects to the outskirts of Cangdu. They should dispatch some people to receive us there, and after organizing ourselves in the outskirts we’ll enter the city. But this gate clearly isn’t the main entrance—who knows which deep mountain transmission gate we’ve ended up at. Anyway, let’s get to the Jiuyou Realm first. We’ll tidy ourselves up, then send them a message and have them dispatch people to receive us and go to Cangdu.”

Listening to this, Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat reassured. She casually straightened her clothing and hair ornaments, asking curiously: “If they dispatch people, will Li Xiuji come?”

“How would I know?” Ye Tianjiao pondered uncertainly, only thinking: “But Zhou Shan and Zhou Lian will definitely come. They’re the two most skilled at dealing with people among the Four Demons. Zhou Shan is greedy for wealth, Zhou Lian favors beauty, Zhou Shi likes martial combat, and Zhou Min is bloodthirsty. So generally those who do good deeds are Zhou Shan and Zhou Lian, while those who take action and commit evil are Zhou Shi and Zhou Min. Anyway, once you enter the Demon Palace, don’t mind anyone else. As long as you do what you promised me, what I promised you can definitely be achieved.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes to look at him. Seeing the seriousness in Ye Tianjiao’s eyes, she nodded: “I know.”

“Oh, but don’t be too nervous either.”

Ye Tianjiao comforted: “The Jiuyou Realm is just that sort of place. Trust me, as long as you succeed, we’ll definitely be able to retreat with our whole bodies intact!”

“It’s me.”

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at him indifferently: “Not ‘we.'”

“Oh my, dear sister of mine,” Ye Tianjiao leaned over, instinctively wanting to pull her close to establish rapport, but remembering the feeling of being struck by lightning just now, he quickly withdrew his hand. Walking backward while running his mouth, he said: “I know, you definitely won’t leave me stranded in the Jiuyou Realm. And don’t worry, I’m not useless. As long as you can keep Li Xiuji and Xin Luoyi stable—”

Saying this, Ye Tianjiao stepped into the transmission gate with one foot, his voice coming from outside: “With trash like the Four Demons of the Jiuyou Realm, I alone could beat ten of them!”

“If you alone could beat ten of the Four Demons,” Jiang Zhaoxue listened and laughed, following by raising her foot into the light gate, saying casually: “Then I could beat ten Li Xiujis!”

“Is that so?”

As soon as the words fell, a man’s voice came. Jiang Zhaoxue froze and raised her eyes to look.

She saw a majestic palace towering above. Before the palace, a red carpet was laid all the way to her feet. Demon banners with snake-coiled crows and demonic aura stood one zhang apart, flapping fiercely in the wind. On both sides of the red carpet, several thousand demon cultivators held weapons, their eyes cold as they watched them.

Before these soldiers stood four youths.

One appeared to be a man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, dressed in white, with copper coins hanging from his waist and a folding fan in his hand that read “Fortune and Prosperity.”

One was a woman in red with a voluptuous figure and revealing clothing.

One had a burly physique, wielding twin hammers.

One was thin and small, concealing himself entirely within a black robe.

Jiang Zhaoxue recognized at a glance that these were Zhou Shan, Zhou Lian, Zhou Shi, and Zhou Min among the Four Demons.

Zhou Shan and Zhou Lian smiled warmly. Zhou Shi directly placed his hammer on the ground, smashing out a large pit. Zhou Min’s expression couldn’t be seen, but Jiang Zhaoxue could guess with her toes that it wouldn’t be anything kind.

Realizing what she had just said to this group of people, Jiang Zhaoxue instinctively swallowed.

Ye Tianjiao silently retreated behind Jiang Zhaoxue.

Qingye also led Dielan and Dieqing out. Seeing this grand scene that resembled a wedding procession, they were all so shocked they couldn’t speak. Thinking again of the bold declaration their Lady had just made…

They all quietly followed Ye Tianjiao in hiding behind Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue alone faced the cold wind of the Jiuyou Realm, hearing Zhou Shan smile and say: “I am Zhou Shan, first among the Four Demons of the Jiuyou Realm. I have long admired the Immortal Lord’s great name. Seeing you today, you truly possess overwhelming heroic spirit. My master is a demigod. Back then, ten Tribulation Transcendence cultivators from the True Immortal Realm sacrificed their lives to seal my master for two hundred years. The Immortal Lord has only just entered Tribulation Transcendence, and this attendant beside you appears to be only Golden Core level. For you two to be able to beat ten each—truly youthful talent.”

“Ha…”

Listening to this, Jiang Zhaoxue forced out a smile: “Fellow Daoist Zhou jests. I’m still young—how could I have such ability?”

Saying this, Jiang Zhaoxue said seriously: “You misheard.”

As soon as the words fell, all the demons of the Jiuyou Realm uniformly struck their weapons with a “clang.” Jiang Zhaoxue immediately held her neck even straighter.

Zhou Shan smiled slightly. Without exposing the awkwardness, he moved to the side along with the other three, saying respectfully: “The Demon Lord has already prepared a banquet to welcome and wash away the dust for the Immortal Lord. Immortal Lord, please.”

Since the other party hadn’t actively exposed the embarrassment, Jiang Zhaoxue wouldn’t invite suffering either. She quickly pretended nothing had happened and followed the other party’s guidance forward.

The group was flanked by the Four Demons in the center, under the watch of the crowd’s attention, holding their necks straight as they walked toward the Demon Palace.

Though Jiang Zhaoxue had seen such grand displays before, with just these five people standing so alone and weak—with one of them being a demon cultivator no less—being surrounded and escorted inward by an entire realm’s elite forces, this truly was a first.

She felt somewhat panicked in her heart, but thinking that she was at least a Ninth Realm Fate Master, it was no big deal. At worst…

If she couldn’t win, she’d run.

She could always run.

Thinking of this worst-case outcome, Jiang Zhaoxue settled down. Under Zhou Shan and the others’ guidance, she entered the Demon Palace’s great hall.

The hall already had the banquet prepared. Jiang Zhaoxue was arranged at the highest position behind gauze curtains. The other four were arranged far below her in the lower seats.

Seeing the seating arrangement, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately inquired of Zhou Shan: “Fellow Daoist Zhou, I’m not skilled at drinking. May I have this disciple of mine accompany me above to drink in my stead?”

Hearing this, Zhou Shan looked at Ye Tianjiao beside her who was keeping his head down playing dead. He smiled: “Immortal Lord Jiang, if drinking lacks sincerity, it’s better not to drink at all. The Demon Lord dislikes outsiders. That he’s willing to meet Immortal Lord Jiang is already an exception. This disciple of yours…”

Zhou Shan looked sideways, the three words “Is he worthy” practically written naked on his face.

Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat embarrassed for a moment. Zhou Shan smiled and said: “The Demon Lord is waiting for you. You should take your seat.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue knew she couldn’t force Ye Tianjiao to come up and identify people. She could only nod with a smile. Anyway, they would probably be arranged to stay somewhere afterward—there would be plenty of time to confirm the target.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t insist further. Following the palace maid forward, she raised her foot and walked to the high platform. From far away she could see behind the golden gauze curtain, a figure sitting upright.

The gauze curtain was set with a spell—she couldn’t make out the person’s appearance inside. But judging merely by the sitting posture, she knew this must be someone of extraordinarily handsome appearance.

Although she had already met Li Xiuji before coming, now that they were to sit at the same table, Jiang Zhaoxue was still somewhat nervous. She truly couldn’t fathom what temperament Li Xiuji possessed after a thousand years. She wasn’t even clear what he looked like.

When they parted back then, he was only seventeen—in her memory an extremely thin youth, his face entirely ruined, vaguely bearing some similar bearing to Pei Zichen at seventeen.

Now a thousand years had passed. Cultivators generally fixed their appearance at their youth. She wondered what his youth…

As Jiang Zhaoxue was thinking, the palace maid ahead had already raised the gauze curtain for her. She instinctively raised her eyes to look, only to see at the main seat to the side, a young man sitting quietly behind a case table.

He wore a purple-black wide-sleeved magnificent robe, layer upon layer, with a hair crown of the same pattern holding his hair high, inlaid with jade and hanging with pearls, extraordinarily luxurious.

He wore a silver-white mask covering half his face, revealing beautiful thin and long lips and his chin, as well as those eyes black as jeweled stars.

Different from the imagined arrogant and unrestrained Demon Lord, the person before her had an extremely restrained temperament—tranquil as still waters, like a deep pool, like an abyss.

Carrying a kind of gentleman’s composure that cultivators of the Central Continent aspired to, causing Jiang Zhaoxue to feel dazed for an instant.

Her heart leaped, feeling a sense of familiarity.

However, she instantly realized that Li Xiuji back then had indeed been quite similar to Pei Zichen. Though their temperaments differed somewhat, if Li Xiuji’s life could be said to have had a teacher, Pei Zichen could be considered his first master. That a thousand years later he bore Pei Zichen’s shadow didn’t seem strange at all.

Perhaps her gaze had lingered too long—the other party finally noticed, meeting her eyes with a cold and distant expression. After thinking for a moment, he nodded: “Immortal Lord Jiang, please sit.”

Not particularly polite, but given Li Xiuji’s seniority, this could be considered preferential treatment.

This courteous greeting also made Jiang Zhaoxue instantly react—if this were Pei Zichen, his reaction absolutely couldn’t be like this.

Her heart immediately settled. Only then did she react, nodding and taking her seat.

The outer robe on her body was cumbersome and heavy. The attendants beside her actively came forward wanting to remove it for her. Jiang Zhaoxue, fearing she’d startle these young ladies, quickly held them back, explaining: “I have a curse on my body. I cannot be touched.”

The attendants froze, instinctively looking toward Pei Zichen at the main seat. Jiang Zhaoxue also looked over, only to see the young man nod slightly. His aura was clearly much gentler than when they first met, as he said softly: “You may withdraw.”

The attendants were relieved and withdrew from the gauze curtain.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t use attendants, and “Li Xiuji” beside her also kept no one. In an instant within the gauze curtain, only Jiang Zhaoxue and “Li Xiuji” remained. That person’s presence became exceptionally strong.

She couldn’t help but glance sideways at this person who had always existed only in legend.

Her memory of him was either that child from his youth, or the demon lord from everyone’s legends. These two were always difficult to reconcile.

Now seeing him, she couldn’t help but be curious. With just one glance, that exceptionally eye-catching silver-white mask stood out.

She gazed at the mask for rather a long time.

The other party sensed her gaze and directly turned to meet it, calmly inquiring: “What is the Immortal Lord looking at?”

“Oh,” Jiang Zhaoxue hadn’t expected he would ask so directly. She smiled somewhat awkwardly: “I’m just somewhat curious why the Emperor doesn’t show his true face?”

“The Immortal Lord doesn’t know?”

The other party asked in return. Jiang Zhaoxue froze, then felt somewhat surprised.

When Li Xiuji was mortal, his appearance had indeed been completely ruined. But now that he possessed a demigod body, those scars from his mortal flesh should have all vanished.

If he wanted to deliberately keep them, he shouldn’t mind showing them—there would be no need for a mask.

If he didn’t want to keep them, that would also be effortless.

Unless…

He wasn’t Li Xiuji.

For a moment Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t confirm the identity of the person before her. She couldn’t help but glance at Ye Tianjiao below.

These gauze curtains showed nothing when looking from outside in, but when looking from inside out, they were as if nothing existed.

With one glance Jiang Zhaoxue spotted Ye Tianjiao. She saw he was arranged beside Zhou Lian. Zhou Lian was eagerly pouring wine while he kept his head buried, trembling and not daring to raise his head for even a glance.

Jiang Zhaoxue silently cursed his cowardice. Just as she was about to send a voice transmission, she heard “Li Xiuji” beside her speak: “The Immortal Lord has traveled far. First drink a cup—consider it this seat’s welcoming gift.”

“Li Xiuji” offered a toast. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly returned to her senses, picked up her wine cup, and exchanged courtesies with him across the distance.

The two drained their cups in one gulp. This wine tasted like fruit wine when drunk—sweet and sour. Jiang Zhaoxue was quite wary of such delicious wines. Unable to estimate the wine’s potency and fearing drinking might cause mishaps, she quickly took the initiative to start a topic. Her eyes looked at “Li Xiuji” with smiling intent, asking curiously: “Emperor, what kind of wine is this? It tastes like fruit juice—it shouldn’t make one drunk easily, should it?”

“It’s brewed from rice and intoxicating fruit.” The other party’s tone was indifferent. He drank a cup himself, glancing sideways at Jiang Zhaoxue’s refilled wine cup, saying flatly: “Whether one gets drunk easily depends on the person. Those who want to get drunk will become drunk; those who don’t will remain clear-headed.”

Hearing this explanation, Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat reassured, thinking the Jiuyou Realm’s arrangements were quite proper. She turned to pick up her cup wanting to offer a toast, only to hear the other party add: “If there’s someone one wants to see, then it becomes easiest of all.”

These words made Jiang Zhaoxue stiffen. She saw him looking at the song and dance below through the gauze curtain, seemingly speaking casually: “That one beside Zhou Lian—I heard he’s a disciple you newly accepted?”

“Oh,” Jiang Zhaoxue reacted, secretly putting down her wine cup and picking up the conversation: “Yes, he’s my newly accepted disciple Ye Chen.”

“What did you see in him?”

The other party inquired casually, yet Jiang Zhaoxue felt something was strange. Previously this person’s words had been courteous and distant, but in this sentence, she clearly heard several degrees of aggression.

The other party also seemed to realize his words were inappropriate. He raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze carrying some apology: “Apologies. This seat was presumptuous.”

Not expecting Li Xiuji would actively apologize, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly said: “No harm done. But,” Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes carried a probing look, “Why would you suddenly ask about these things?”

“Because this seat once met Pei Zichen.” The other party turned his head away, taking a sip of wine, his tone neither salty nor bland. “This seat feels that accepting disciples is a matter of great importance. Back then you didn’t accept Pei Zichen as a disciple, yet today you accepted this Ye Chen. Surely this child’s talents are extraordinary—he should be a hundred times better at pleasing the Immortal Lord than Pei Zichen.”

Saying this, the young man looked at her sideways, his face carrying a smile: “Is this seat correct?”