Hearing this form of address, Xin Luoyi’s expression turned cold. She only said: “I don’t understand what Immortal Jiang is saying, but since we meet in the demon palace, I honor Immortal Jiang as an Immortal Master. Immortal Jiang may address me as New Left Emissary.”
“Oh.”
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded. Xin Luoyi glanced behind Jiang Zhaoxue and asked doubtfully: “How did Immortal Jiang come to be here?”
“I’m looking for my disciple.” Jiang Zhaoxue lied without hesitation. “I got lost.”
“I see.”
Xin Luoyi nodded, raised her hand to point in another direction and said: “Jingxin Courtyard is to the right. Walk past five courtyards, and when you reach the fork in the road, turn left three times and you’ll arrive.”
“Thank you.”
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and said no more, turning to leave.
She walked in the direction Xin Luoyi indicated. A’Nan immediately grew indignant: “Giving such detailed directions—she just wants you to go find Ye Tianjiao to frame you!! Master, where are you going?!”
“To find Ye Tianjiao.”
At these words, A’Nan fell silent instantly.
After a moment, she reacted, somewhat shocked: “Are you crazy? Why would you go find Ye Tianjiao for no good reason?”
“Didn’t you notice there’s something wrong between her and Pei Zichen? If I don’t find Ye Tianjiao, how can I get clear answers?”
A’Nan froze, then nodded: “That’s true too.”
Then she remembered and quickly urged Jiang Zhaoxue: “But you need to tell Pei Zichen.”
“I know.”
Jiang Zhaoxue immediately took out her transmission jade token and left Pei Zichen a message: “I won’t be joining you for lunch. I have something to attend to at Jingxin Courtyard.”
After finishing, she strode toward Jingxin Courtyard.
Pei Zichen received the message, holding the money pouch she’d given him.
After staring at it for a long time, he turned back to continue reviewing his memorials.
Jiang Zhaoxue rushed all the way to Jingxin Courtyard. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Qingye, Die Wu, and Die Lan practicing martial arts. Seeing her, the group surged forward. Jiang Zhaoxue exchanged simple pleasantries with them, and after confirming there were no issues, she turned to ask Qingye: “Where’s Ye Tianjiao?”
“Him? Still sleeping.”
She jerked her chin toward Ye Tianjiao’s room. Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately instructed them to mind their own business, then turned and entered Ye Tianjiao’s room.
Ye Tianjiao was sleeping soundly when Jiang Zhaoxue kicked the door open, startling him awake. He cried out in alarm: “Who?!”
“Me.”
“Sister?!”
Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao became even more alarmed and quickly tried to stop Jiang Zhaoxue: “Y-y-you can’t come in yet, wait until I’m dressed!”
“Hurry up.”
Jiang Zhaoxue urged, then closed the door again.
After waiting a while, Ye Tianjiao opened the door and poked his head out from his room, looking like he was guarding his virtue as he said: “What is it?”
“Let’s talk inside.”
“No, no, no.” Ye Tianjiao quickly shook his head, saying seriously: “I’m an innocent young man. For the sake of my reputation and chastity, you cannot enter my room.”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him speechlessly and couldn’t help saying: “Besides your room, where else can we talk?”
Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao realized Jiang Zhaoxue must have come to discuss something. He said no more, struggling before opening his door and saying in a small voice: “Then… then come in.”
Ye Tianjiao was on guard against Xin Luoyi and her people. His room had layer upon layer of runes, making it one of the safest environments in the entire Jiuyou Realm.
But after Jiang Zhaoxue entered, she still added another layer of barrier and opened the Mountain River Bell.
Seeing her like this, Ye Tianjiao couldn’t help saying: “What happened? Why are you so guarded?”
“I have a question.” Seeing everything prepared, Jiang Zhaoxue got straight to the point. “Does Xin Luoyi have any influence on Pei Zichen?”
This question stumped Ye Tianjiao. Jiang Zhaoxue said directly: “I’ve noticed that whenever I make even a little progress with Pei Zichen, he suddenly becomes lucid, as if disturbed by something.”
“That’s not normal…”
“Today I discovered that when he has this reaction, a force simultaneously enters his body. I followed that force and found it came from Xin Luoyi.”
Jiang Zhaoxue stated the facts. Ye Tianjiao froze, then reacted. Looking uncertain, Jiang Zhaoxue continued analyzing: “Xin Luoyi and many others in the Jiuyou Realm obtained their bodies by consuming Li Xiuji’s power. According to what you said, the stronger Li Xiuji becomes, the stronger they become—meaning they share power. They can share Li Xiuji’s power, so can’t Li Xiuji share their power too?”
“Of course…”
Ye Tianjiao speculated: “Of course that’s also possible…”
“If Xin Luoyi feeds resentful energy back into Li Xiuji’s body, wouldn’t it continue to erode Pei Zichen?”
Jiang Zhaoxue continued asking. Ye Tianjiao nodded: “Naturally. Xin Luoyi is the strongest resentful spirit under heaven. Her power would definitely erode what little remains of Pei Zichen’s soul. But…”
Ye Tianjiao couldn’t understand: “Why would Xin Luoyi give her power to Pei Zichen? What’s in it for her?”
“She wants Pei Zichen to become an evil god.”
Jiang Zhaoxue reminded Ye Tianjiao.
If Pei Zichen became an evil god and she shared his power, only then could she become an even stronger existence.
What eroded Pei Zichen was resentful energy.
She had also noticed that these past days, after Pei Zichen entered Li Xiuji’s body, he had stopped absorbing resentful energy and instead converted to some other, slower forms of power, which was why Pei Zichen could remain relatively lucid.
But if Xin Luoyi forcibly used the sharing method to transmit resentful energy to Pei Zichen, stopping Pei Zichen at every critical moment, he might never be able to form his divine core. Instead, he would gradually weaken in the process.
Since she arrived at the Jiuyou Realm, apart from appearing once at Shen Yuqing’s place, Xin Luoyi had hardly shown herself.
She had been so quiet not only because Pei Zichen protected her too well, but more importantly, Xin Luoyi had other methods to influence Pei Zichen and temporarily stabilize the situation.
As for her—as an immortal body, the longer she stayed in the Jiuyou Realm, the more disadvantageous it became for her.
“If her goal is to make Pei Zichen become an evil god, she definitely wants to kill you now too!”
Ye Tianjiao also realized: “She’s just waiting and looking for an opportunity.”
“In other words,” Jiang Zhaoxue ignored Ye Tianjiao’s words and continued, “if we kill Xin Luoyi, the resentful energy Pei Zichen can share will also decrease?”
“Yes.” Ye Tianjiao nodded affirmatively, but then reminded her: “However, at the same time, Pei Zichen will also face two choices. Either absorb their power directly, with resentful energy entering his body directly—which would affect his consciousness far more than it does now. Or completely give up these powers, which would greatly weaken Pei Zichen’s current cultivation.”
As he spoke, Ye Tianjiao gestured to explain: “Xin Luoyi and the Four Demons—these people are essentially power storage vessels for Pei Zichen. They balance his power. Breaking this balance now would not be advantageous for Pei Zichen. But from a long-term perspective, if he maintains this relationship while Xin Luoyi actively provides him with resentful energy, his being devoured is only a matter of time.”
“But he would rather be devoured.”
“Perhaps he doesn’t care either.” Ye Tianjiao reminded: “Right now he’s already being eroded by resentful energy. He’s not as resistant to this power as we are. He might even think he’s particularly lucid.”
“So he’s unwilling to kill them?”
“He also can’t kill them.” Ye Tianjiao smiled bitterly. “There are plenty of people who want to kill him. If he becomes weaker, forget about the Book of Fate possibly watching—would the people of the True Immortal Realm let him go?”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue understood. Pei Zichen had considered this carefully too.
If the Jiuyou Xuanming Emperor showed any sign of weakness, the True Immortal Realm would certainly emerge in full force.
Even she couldn’t stop that.
Her expression grew somber.
Ye Tianjiao scratched his head, somewhat troubled: “And if you really killed Xin Luoyi, what about the Jiuyou Realm?”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him strangely.
Ye Tianjiao sighed, explaining somewhat helplessly: “You have to understand, among our group, only Xin Luoyi actually does work. There are so many people in the Jiuyou Realm to manage. Although Xin Luoyi is a resentful spirit, she does her job well.”
Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She kept thinking.
Ye Tianjiao grew a bit frightened by her contemplation and asked carefully: “Sister, what are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking,” Jiang Zhaoxue pondered, “what if I supplement the power he loses?”
Ye Tianjiao was stunned by her question. Jiang Zhaoxue considered: “Actually, Xin Luoyi and the others didn’t give all their power to Pei Zichen—they only share a portion of their power with him. Pei Zichen’s body doesn’t care what kind of power is being shared. If I unilaterally share all my power with him, as a Nine Realm Fate Master, wouldn’t I be stronger than them?”
“Uh…” Ye Tianjiao couldn’t quite figure it out. “But how would you share it?”
“He and I are already dao companions.” Jiang Zhaoxue reminded calmly. “There are quite a few methods for dao companions to share power.”
Ye Tianjiao understood Jiang Zhaoxue’s meaning and nodded: “I understand. Then there’s just one problem left…”
Ye Tianjiao looked troubled: “Who would manage the Jiuyou Realm?”
“Aren’t you the Right Emissary?”
Jiang Zhaoxue reminded Ye Tianjiao. Ye Tianjiao was confused and instinctively said: “Yes, so what?”
Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue looked him up and down, as if confirming something, then turned her head: “Tell me, if I honestly tell Pei Zichen, will he help me?”
“That can’t be determined. He might help you, but he might also think you’re trying to use your relationship to eliminate his right and left hand. After all… honestly speaking, aside from being wholeheartedly focused on making him take the evil path to become stronger, Xin Luoyi is utterly loyal to her master. Given Pei Zichen’s current state, if you go to him, you’d be gambling on your relationship.”
Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing.
Ye Tianjiao continued: “Besides, don’t you find one thing suspicious?”
“What?”
“According to what you said, Xin Luoyi can precisely interrupt Pei Zichen’s favorable feelings toward you every time. Why can she be so precise?”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s expression grew stern.
Ye Tianjiao blinked: “If you go to Pei Zichen, what if Xin Luoyi finds out the moment your message arrives?”
Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing, tapping lightly on the table.
After a moment, she asked: “Can you handle the Four Demons?”
“I can.” Ye Tianjiao nodded.
“Good.” Jiang Zhaoxue made her decision. “Then the day after tomorrow, you’ll go out with me. Qingye and the others will set up an ambush in secret. I’ll give Xin Luoyi an opportunity. If she makes a move to kill me—”
With that, Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at Ye Tianjiao, her expression serious: “I’ll kill her.”
“Does it have to be this urgent?”
Hearing her arrangement, Ye Tianjiao was somewhat dazed. Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at him and said seriously: “We’ll have one day to prepare the grand formation. Isn’t that enough?”
“I think we could wait a bit longer…”
“No.” Jiang Zhaoxue was decisive. “Just thinking about her having a relationship with Pei Zichen—letting her live even one more day is already my great mercy and virtue.”
Her tone revealed no emotion, but Ye Tianjiao immediately realized this wasn’t something he should meddle in.
Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her eyes and called Qingye and the others in to begin deployment.
These past days, she and Pei Zichen had visited quite a few places in Cangdu. She pointed to a street she was familiar with and planned: “Tomorrow I’ll set up a grand formation specifically targeting resentful spirits, placing it in my temple on the city outskirts.”
“My lady, you have a temple here?”
Qingye was shocked. Ye Tianjiao wasn’t surprised and explained: “Li Xiuji built them. There used to be quite a few, but over these two hundred years, Xin Luoyi destroyed most of them. That temple is probably very small and survived by luck.”
“It’s not exactly luck.” Jiang Zhaoxue told the truth. “I could tell this was built by Pei Zichen. It’s quite new.”
These words made everyone fall silent. After a long while, Qingye murmured softly, somewhat bewildered: “If this doesn’t count as love…”
“Resentful spirits and immortal arts counter each other,” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t want to discuss this further with them and reminded: “Thunder especially restrains them completely. Tianjiao, prepare talismans specifically for slaying resentful spirits to coordinate with my grand formation. Then you three will be responsible for stabilizing the formation and waiting in my temple. Tianjiao, write a transmission talisman. I’ll go out alone with you. If we encounter danger, the best plan is for the transmission talisman to transport the formation and the three of them to us simultaneously. That way, even if the Four Demons and other evil beings appear at the same time, we’ll be completely safe.”
“What about the bad plan?”
Ye Tianjiao probed. Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at him: “You handle the Four Demons, I handle everyone else. Let’s see who wins.”
This made Ye Tianjiao somewhat anxious. He probed: “Why don’t we just act together…”
“My grand formation must have someone constantly maintaining it from within the formation. From drawing the formation to activating it is extremely difficult. With this formation, I can guarantee complete safety by gambling with Heaven.”
Jiang Zhaoxue explained: “Besides, if so many people travel together with me—you following me is because you’re currently just a small disciple not even at Golden Core stage and pose no threat. If those three follow me, who would dare attempt assassination?”
This reasoning was sound, and Ye Tianjiao couldn’t refute it. He could only sigh: “Very well.”
“Then I’ll go draw the formation first.”
As she spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to take out a piece of paper, left a trace of her aura on it, then pasted it on a doll.
“Later, take this doll out to the courtyard to sunbathe. Pei Zichen will think I’ve been staying here. The fewer people who know about this, the better.”
“Understood.”
Ye Tianjiao nodded.
After giving instructions, Jiang Zhaoxue left soundlessly.
These past days she had figured out clearly that Pei Zichen hadn’t completely merged with Li Xiuji’s body. His main area of control was in his sleeping quarters, radiating outward from his chambers with gradually weakening influence.
At the range of Jingxin Courtyard, she could leave completely undetected.
In the entire Jiuyou Realm, except for Pei Zichen, no one else could sense her whereabouts. Especially when she went to her temple—for deities, their own temples were natural transmission arrays. She slipped soundlessly into the temple and began drawing the formation.
The grand formation to slay Xin Luoyi was no ordinary formation. Jiang Zhaoxue cut open her finger and drew with blood. After spending a full day, by evening she felt somewhat weak and couldn’t sustain herself. After hastily treating her wounds, she returned to her sleeping quarters.
As soon as she arrived at the chambers, she saw them brightly lit, with paper servants standing in two rows before the entrance.
The moment Jiang Zhaoxue reached the outside of the hall, all the paper servants looked over in unison. This display startled Jiang Zhaoxue. Somewhat puzzled, she raised her eyes to see Pei Zichen sitting in the center of the sleeping quarters.
He held a leisure book in his hands, looking up with cold eyes.
Meeting his gaze, Jiang Zhaoxue was startled and quickly adjusted her smile, walking toward him with surprise: “Why are you here?!”
He didn’t speak, only looked her up and down, his gaze sweeping over her belt and clothing knots. His tone revealed no emotion: “Went to see your little disciple?”
Hearing this, how could Jiang Zhaoxue not understand why he was sitting here?
She suppressed the corners of her mouth that desperately wanted to rise, coughed lightly, and walked into the room. Pouring herself tea, she said: “Mm, I haven’t seen them in a long time, so I went to Jingxin Courtyard to gather with everyone.”
“Very good.”
Hearing this, Pei Zichen seemed unconcerned. He stood up: “Since you’ve returned safely, I’ll take my leave.”
Finishing his words, Pei Zichen stepped outside. Jiang Zhaoxue’s gaze swept over the belt at his waist with its jade pendant, and she asked curiously: “Why aren’t you wearing the sachet I gave you?”
Pei Zichen’s steps halted. He turned to look at her.
Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue’s open and frank gaze, he stared at her coldly, as if he had many questions but ultimately spoke none of them.
Jiang Zhaoxue blinked: “Why aren’t you speaking?”
“Come earlier tomorrow.”
He only left this one sentence, then turned to leave. Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly said: “Tomorrow won’t work!”
Pei Zichen’s steps halted. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly explained: “Yesterday I promised them that the day after tomorrow I’d take them out to have fun. Tomorrow I want to leave the palace to arrange the itinerary, then take them out the day after. Is that alright?”
Pei Zichen had his back to her and didn’t speak.
In that instant, his heart was drowned in overwhelming mockery.
In that moment he almost wanted to turn back and ask her what she meant.
She had said she would express her feelings, said she would accompany him.
Coming to see him every day, giving him a betrothal sachet.
This morning when she gave it to him, although seeing the sachet made him feel pain, after enduring for a long time and forcibly suppressing it with spiritual power, he still wore the sachet.
Others secretly glanced at him—after all, the sachet was remarkably ugly—but he still wore it.
And then he waited for her wearing it.
At first she said she was going to the kitchen to see about eating braised fish. He waited for her for lunch.
Then she said not to wait for lunch, so he waited to leave the palace together.
He waited all afternoon. She didn’t return—she was at Jingxin Courtyard.
He waited all evening. She still didn’t return—still at Jingxin Courtyard.
When he returned from the main hall and looked at the empty moon gate, hearing the person sent to Jingxin Courtyard report that she wanted to stay a bit longer, he removed the sachet.
Removed it, told himself not to care, not to think, not to hope.
But he still couldn’t help coming to the sleeping quarters, shamelessly waiting for her. When she returned, he knew he had no real standing, so he took the initiative to ask her to come earlier tomorrow, only to receive this answer.
If this was the answer, why provoke him?
If this was the answer, why give him the sachet, give him pills, wait for him every day, accompany him every day?
What did she take him for?
Anger rose in his heart as he remained silent.
After a long while, Jiang Zhaoxue probed: “Pei Zichen?”
“Fine.”
Pei Zichen lowered his eyes. His tone revealed no emotion, no different from usual, only saying: “Come back early.”
With that, he turned and left.
Watching his departing figure, A’Nan asked curiously: “Do you think he’s angry or not?”
Jiang Zhaoxue gazed at his retreating back and blinked: “Probably angry.”
“Then why aren’t you coaxing him?!” A’Nan was shocked.
Jiang Zhaoxue considered: “Right now I’m not certain how Xin Luoyi is spying on information. If I try to coax him, she might notice. The urgent matter is to eliminate her first.”
Jiang Zhaoxue focused wholeheartedly on Xin Luoyi. That night she meditated to restore her spiritual power, and the next day immediately returned to the temple to draw the formation.
By the third evening, Jiang Zhaoxue led Ye Tianjiao and the other four out of the palace.
Before leaving the palace, Jiang Zhaoxue handed over the method to control the formation to Qingye. After confirming the process with everyone, she walked out through the palace gates.
Once they reached the main street, Jiang Zhaoxue instructed Qingye: “I’ll take Chen’er out to have some fun alone. You all do your own thing.”
Qingye nodded and left with Die Wu and Die Lan.
Jiang Zhaoxue and Ye Tianjiao walked along the street. Ye Tianjiao looked back at Qingye uneasily and transmitted his voice: “You don’t think Xin Luoyi will target Qingye and the others, do you?”
“No. Their target is me—they’ll definitely focus all their attention on me. Besides, I have Qingye’s summoning talisman.”
Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at Qingye’s departing figure and said casually: “If they encounter any danger, I can immediately summon her to my side. Don’t worry.”
Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao felt reassured and followed Jiang Zhaoxue: “So what do we do now?”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked around, thought for a moment, then smiled: “Just have fun.”
She glanced at Ye Tianjiao curiously: “You’ve been in the Jiuyou Realm for so many years. Don’t you have anything you like?”
“Oh, plenty.”
Ye Tianjiao immediately said: “I know a restaurant with particularly delicious food! Let’s go have dinner first.”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue nodded: “Excellent.”
With Ye Tianjiao there, the two had a wonderful time.
Ye Tianjiao first took Jiang Zhaoxue for a hearty meal, then led her to a cockfighting venue.
After excitedly watching cockfights for a while, as the night market became truly lively, Jiang Zhaoxue walked along the road with Ye Tianjiao, almost forgetting her purpose for coming.
They were both fun-loving people who could stand at any random stall discussing things for ages.
After walking for a long time, Ye Tianjiao suddenly said: “Sister, something’s not right.”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue scanned the surroundings and transmitted her voice to ask: “Has Xin Luoyi arrived?”
“No.”
Ye Tianjiao glanced behind them, lowering his voice: “I think Pei Zichen is here.”
This surprised Jiang Zhaoxue somewhat.
It would be normal for Xin Luoyi to come, but why would Pei Zichen be here?
And if Pei Zichen was here, why did Ye Tianjiao notice first?
She looked back at Ye Tianjiao suspiciously—are you lying to me?
“I’m serious!” Ye Tianjiao immediately said, “That feeling of Pei Zichen glaring at me—I could recognize it even a hundred years from now!”
Hearing his earnest tone, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately moved closer to him, carefully surveying their surroundings: “Then who do you think it is?”
She leaned too close, startling Ye Tianjiao, who quickly dodged aside, urgently saying: “Don’t get so close to me, I’ll die!”
Seeing his genuine reaction, Jiang Zhaoxue tried sensing through their dao companion bond. The bond was completely blocked. Though Pei Zichen had sealed their dao companion bond these past days, in a sense, that was also a sign of guilty conscience.
But regardless, if Pei Zichen was here, Xin Luoyi definitely wouldn’t dare appear tonight.
“Looks like there’s no action tonight,” Jiang Zhaoxue murmured softly, then smiled: “Since he’s already here, let’s give him an opportunity.”
With that, Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at the clothing shop beside them and strode forward. She casually grabbed two masks from a stall, hanging one on her own face and placing a puppy mask on Ye Tianjiao’s face before calling out loudly: “Come on, Master will take you to buy new clothes!”
Ye Tianjiao didn’t quite understand Jiang Zhaoxue’s intention at first, but when they entered the clothing shop and she pushed him into the changing room—toward Pei Zichen’s dagger—he instantly understood.
Good grief, she’d been waiting for this moment.
Pei Zichen had obviously prepared from the moment Jiang Zhaoxue said she was taking him to the clothing shop. He’d been waiting in the changing room for a long time. As soon as Ye Tianjiao entered, he immobilized him, pressing a dagger to his throat and warning coldly: “Don’t speak.”
With that, Pei Zichen removed the mask from his face and put it on his own, saying in a low voice: “Leave on your own after half an hour. If you dare say a word about tonight, I’ll kill you.”
After finishing, Pei Zichen put away the dagger, took the clothes Jiang Zhaoxue had chosen for Ye Tianjiao and changed into them. He arranged Ye Tianjiao like a scarecrow in the corner of the changing room, covering him with things, then walked out from behind the curtain.
Ye Tianjiao glared resentfully at those clothes that fit Pei Zichen perfectly, nearly cursing aloud.
Pei Zichen, those clothes aren’t even my size—are you blind?!
However, unable to speak, he could only be hidden among a pile of rags.
Jiang Zhaoxue waited for a long time before seeing “Ye Tianjiao” emerge. He wore the clothes she’d selected, which fit perfectly—not much different from how Ye Tianjiao looked. But that such clothes could fit so properly meant Jiang Zhaoxue was already halfway certain of his identity.
She smiled and stood up, looking him over: “Chen’er looks so good in this.”
With that, she placed magic crystals in the shopkeeper’s hand and said gently: “I won’t take the one inside. Let’s just go like this.”
The shopkeeper repeatedly acknowledged. Jiang Zhaoxue turned back to look at him, her tone exceptionally gentle: “Where else does Chen’er want to go?”
“Wherever Master goes,” the person spoke, and it was actually Ye Tianjiao’s voice. Jiang Zhaoxue suppressed her smile, listening as he used that familiar tone: “This disciple will go there.”
“Good. Earlier we went cockfighting,” Jiang Zhaoxue said quite seriously, “How about Master takes you gambling and drinking now?”
Pei Zichen paused, about to say something, but Jiang Zhaoxue gave him no chance to resist. She grabbed his hand, linking his arm with hers, and said happily: “Oh, don’t be shy. You’re not young anymore—Master will show you the world.”
Pei Zichen’s entire body stiffened. His spirit form was extraordinarily sensitive. Being held by Jiang Zhaoxue like this, the muscles throughout his body tensed up.
Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at him meaningfully, walking along the road with his arm linked in hers, continuing: “The last disciple I taught—who could barely count as your senior brother, Pei Zichen—he learned to drink at seventeen, and I was the one who taught him.”
Listening, Pei Zichen slowly calmed down. Several fragments vaguely flashed through his mind, but he made no sound.
Jiang Zhaoxue continued: “That night he began cultivating the Jiuyou Realm’s techniques. He was in a bad mood, so I took him to ride immortal cranes, went up the mountain to watch the stars, and drank together. Today I’ll take you to a couple more places to broaden your horizons.”
Pei Zichen couldn’t speak. Being held by her like this, his mind was in chaos, the whole person feeling light and floating, almost forgetting what he came to do.
Initially, he came to see what she was doing—
The previous night she’d been acting strangely. He hadn’t realized it at first, but later when he thought carefully, seeing her spiritual power clearly depleted when they met, he knew she was hiding something from him.
After arriving, watching her laugh and play with that young disciple, he understood the reason for his restlessness in the demon palace, searching for any excuse to leave.
He’d been behind them the whole time, first watching them eat dinner together, then watching them stroll the streets.
Jiang Zhaoxue smiled the entire way, but those smiles were different from how she smiled with him.
The Jiang Zhaoxue in his memories always seemed to have a layer between them whenever she saw him. The current Jiang Zhaoxue, even when smiling at him, always carried some caution, probing, and desperately maintained composure.
But when she was with this Ye Chen, she smiled with her eyes curved, her gaze pure as melting spring snow.
This Ye Chen was different from him—could even be said to be different from Shen Yuqing, from the entire Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.
Without any propriety, they even bought candied hawthorns of different flavors and tasted each other’s skewers.
Watching from behind, he felt hidden anger like a venomous snake coiled in his chest, secretly gnawing at him, eating away at his composure. When he finally heard her say she’d take him to buy new clothes, he suddenly thought:
Why?
In all these years, she seemed to have only given him that orchid jade pendant. This disciple—what made him so special?
Thus an absurd yet extremely clear idea appeared in his mind, and in the end, he executed it.
Now, being held by her, his heart mingled ice and fire.
He knew clearly that this was her usual manner of getting along with this disciple. She was holding Ye Chen, not him, not Pei Zichen.
He suddenly lost all will to resist, allowing her to hold him as he followed her along the road.
Jiang Zhaoxue acted the same as before, smiling as she walked with him through the streets and alleys. Pei Zichen silently watched her smile at him, watched her act coquettish.
Part of him thought the smile was truly beautiful, while another part found it genuinely painful to watch.
Yet he still couldn’t help but look more, going with her first into a gambling house. Jiang Zhaoxue gambled with him for quite a while.
Though Pei Zichen’s temperament was cold, he won every bet, which stirred up Jiang Zhaoxue’s enthusiasm for gambling.
Each time they won, she would hug him and clap loudly. After several times, Pei Zichen’s expression softened.
When she won happily, Pei Zichen also seemed to feel somewhat happy.
Winning all the time wasn’t interesting, so Jiang Zhaoxue took him to a tavern for some drinks. Pei Zichen was also stuffy when drinking. After Jiang Zhaoxue drank for a while and the alcohol went to her head, she pulled at Pei Zichen: “Master knows a place that’s very interesting!”
Pei Zichen raised his eyes to see Jiang Zhaoxue smile mysteriously, then she linked arms with him and walked briskly into a slightly more secluded alley.
This alley was one Jiang Zhaoxue had asked Ye Tianjiao about earlier. Ye Tianjiao said there was a pleasure house here—the most famous place in Cangdu.
Pei Zichen was somewhat puzzled. He’d never been here—how did Jiang Zhaoxue know about it?
Confused, he followed Jiang Zhaoxue forward. Walking all the way deeper, they saw Jiang Zhaoxue arrive at a vermilion door.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked around, confirming that the surrounding places had plaques while this one didn’t. She stepped forward and knocked on the door—three light knocks, three heavy knocks. Then the door opened, and a handsome young man looked at Jiang Zhaoxue, his gaze gentle, saying softly: “Miss, whom are you looking for?”
“Looking for immortals.”
Jiang Zhaoxue gave the password. The person smiled and led Jiang Zhaoxue inside.
This was a three-courtyard compound built along the water. Only after entering through the first moon gate could one see a plaque with “Shuyu Pavilion” inscribed in slender characters like bamboo, looking very elegant.
Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen walked all the way in and were led upstairs. The two entered a private room together. Jiang Zhaoxue gestured for Pei Zichen to sit down, but Pei Zichen remained puzzled throughout.
“Master,” Pei Zichen frowned, “what exactly is this place…”
“Shh.”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to point at her own lips, smiling: “Just wait.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the door opened and young men and women filed in. Pei Zichen watched this group of beauties flood into the room, his eyes widening instantly.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him with a smile: “Chen’er, take a look. Is there anyone you like?”
Listening, Pei Zichen looked at her coldly.
But Jiang Zhaoxue wasn’t afraid. Meeting his gaze, she said: “If Chen’er won’t choose, then Master will choose?”
Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He calmly looked at Jiang Zhaoxue as cold air diffused outward. Everyone around sensed something wrong, but only Jiang Zhaoxue’s expression remained unchanged. She turned to look at the center and pointed: “Mm, this one is good, this one’s not bad either, and that one…”
She casually pointed to several young men and smiled: “Come up here.”
None of the young men dared move, instinctively glancing at Pei Zichen seated in the higher position.
Though they couldn’t quite figure out the relationship between these two, everyone could clearly see that the young man seated above was no ordinary person and absolutely had no intention of letting them serve this noble personage.
Seeing them unmoving, Jiang Zhaoxue simply scattered magic crystals generously and called out: “Get up here. Who’s willing to come up?”
Money makes the world go round. Seeing so many magic crystals, several young men froze, exchanging glances. Finally, one of them gathered his courage, stood up, and said carefully: “This servant is willing to attend to the noble one.”
At that very instant, Pei Zichen laughed lightly.
An extremely cold pressure carrying intense resentful energy swept through like a silent tide, instantly flooding the entire room. Jiang Zhaoxue had prepared for this. She raised her hand, her spiritual power pressing down in the room as she smiled: “Why is Chen’er angry?”
Pei Zichen remained silent. Everyone was shocked by the two forces of pressure.
Pei Zichen stood up, walked through the crowd to Jiang Zhaoxue, extended his hand to her, and said coldly: “Leave.”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes but said lazily: “Master is drunk. Can’t walk.”
Without another word, Pei Zichen bent down and scooped her up horizontally.
Jiang Zhaoxue was startled and quickly said: “What are you doing!”
“Master is drunk.”
Pei Zichen glanced at her coldly and carried her outside.
He knew Jiang Zhaoxue had probably already figured it out long ago and no longer concealed himself. With a step, he brought her to an inn they’d passed earlier. He tossed magic crystals, opened a room, carried Jiang Zhaoxue inside, and directly threw her onto the bed.
Jiang Zhaoxue rolled with the momentum and looked up at him.
She saw Pei Zichen suppressing his emotions, wetting a cloth and turning back to wipe her face.
He was obviously extremely angry, but his movements were still gentle. After wiping clean the makeup on her face, he began wiping her hands.
Jiang Zhaoxue watched him carefully and thoroughly wipe her fingers, supporting her forehead with one hand as she smiled while watching the person before her.
After Pei Zichen finished tending to her, he stood up. Jiang Zhaoxue called out to him: “Where is Chen’er going?”
“You sleep, I sleep.”
Pei Zichen had his back to her, speaking coldly. Jiang Zhaoxue laughed: “That won’t do.”
Pei Zichen looked back coldly to see Jiang Zhaoxue leaning against the bed, one hand resting on her leg: “Chen’er drove away the people who were supposed to attend to Master. What should Master do?”
Pei Zichen didn’t speak. Jiang Zhaoxue sighed and sat up straight, her tone carrying grievance: “Master is injured. Chen’er, won’t you feel sorry for Master?”
“Where are you injured?”
Though Pei Zichen knew she was putting on airs, he still asked.
Jiang Zhaoxue placed her hand on her inner thigh and said pitifully: “Here.”
Pei Zichen’s gaze fell on where her hand rested, and he said in a low voice: “You weren’t injured tonight.”
“If you don’t look, how would you know?”
As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she blinked: “Come look. Really, I’m not lying to you.”
Pei Zichen stood in place. He knew she was lying, yet his heart still held a bit of hesitation. He hesitantly stepped forward and sat at the edge of the bed. Jiang Zhaoxue grasped his hand, guiding it to her leg. She leaned forward, supporting herself by his ear, and lowered her voice: “Tear it open and look.”
This voice drilled into his ears, soft and seductive to the bone. Pei Zichen instantly reacted—how could he not understand her meaning?
He immediately stood to leave.
Seeing his reaction, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to embrace him, flipping him onto the bed!
The mask fell to the side. Jiang Zhaoxue cupped his face, her wine-scented soft tongue skillfully entering. Pei Zichen’s breathing changed abruptly.
She was obviously very familiar with him, her technique skilled as she rolled and licked past each of his sensitive spots, direct to the point of being almost barbarically rude.
While kissing, she hummed and whimpered. Pei Zichen wanted to push her away but couldn’t, struggling for a long time before finally placing his hand behind her head, indulging and letting her feast.
But after kissing for just a moment, he felt it wasn’t enough.
She was too soft, too gentle, like a swimming fish, everywhere just a light touch—how could this be enough?
He flipped over to press her down, giving her no space to escape at all. Jiang Zhaoxue was forced to meet him and after not long, felt her head growing dizzy, unable to help whimpering and trying to dodge.
Pei Zichen pressed his hand firmly on her squirming waist, scolding in a low voice: “Don’t move.”
With that, Jiang Zhaoxue caught her breath and behaved for a while longer.
He kissed deeply and long. After a long time, it was obviously no longer just kissing but letting himself calm down.
Only after thoroughly plundering did he slowly withdraw. Jiang Zhaoxue looked up breathlessly, her eyes bright and shining as she looked at him. She raised her hand to circle his neck, smiling: “Still angry?”
Pei Zichen remained silent. Jiang Zhaoxue took the initiative to kiss him twice more, kissing his Adam’s apple and saying in a low voice: “Jealous, aren’t you?”
“When did you know it was me?”
Pei Zichen slowly calmed down, letting her kiss him. Jiang Zhaoxue flipped over to press him beneath her, actively kissing him: “I knew you were following from the start. Why do you think I bought clothes for my little disciple?”
With that, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes and reminded him: “Those are your size.”
Pei Zichen said nothing. He wasn’t familiar with Ye Chen and didn’t know this disciple’s measurements.
So initially he hadn’t thought much about it—after all, they looked about the same size.
At this moment, watching Jiang Zhaoxue entangle herself with him, his entire heart sank again. He said calmly: “You knew from the beginning, but you kept teasing me, didn’t you?”
Jiang Zhaoxue paused, instinctively sensing Pei Zichen’s emotions were wrong. She silently thought this was bad.
Just as she was about to explain, she heard Pei Zichen continue: “You dared to tease me like this because you knew I cared. You wanted to see me make a fool of myself, see me angry for you, sad for you, and then you thought with just a few kisses and hugs, doing some intimate things, I wouldn’t hold anything against you. Is that it?”
“I…” Jiang Zhaoxue lay on top of him, half sobered from the alcohol.
She didn’t know why she had been so brazen, only that it seemed these past days she had received some kind of tacit permission. It seemed she suddenly realized he still liked her as before. She seemed eager to verify this, or perhaps… or perhaps it was truly as Pei Zichen said.
She didn’t know how to explain. Pei Zichen closed his eyes.
He paused for a moment, then said calmly: “Let go.”
Jiang Zhaoxue lay on top of him, not daring to move, only instinctively feeling she absolutely must not let go at this moment.
However, Pei Zichen raised his hand to pull her away. Jiang Zhaoxue immediately stretched out her arms to hold him, shouting loudly: “I won’t let go!”
Pei Zichen’s chest heaved with anger as he pressed his lips together: “Let go.”
“I won’t!”
Jiang Zhaoxue inexplicably felt somewhat aggrieved and bit out: “I was wrong, I admit it, I won’t do this again in the future, but right now I can’t let go.”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes and said seriously: “I know you’re angry now, but if I let go, you’ll think I don’t care, and you’ll be even angrier.”
“Jiang Zhaoxue.” Hearing this, Pei Zichen gritted his teeth: “Do you know what I detest most about you?”
Jiang Zhaoxue froze. She never thought she’d hear the word “detest” from Pei Zichen’s mouth in this lifetime.
She stiffened in place as she saw Pei Zichen look up at her and say seriously: “I’ve never been able to tell if you’re sincere or not. You’ve been like this your whole life—when you seem serious, you appear to be joking. Even when you’re supposedly being serious now, you’re still joking. Do you think I’m still a child, or are you the child? Do you think if you throw a tantrum and act unreasonably, I’ll indulge you?”
Jiang Zhaoxue stared blankly without speaking. Pei Zichen couldn’t help but ask: “You say you care about me, but what have you done in the past? Were you ever sad after I left? Now you keep saying you love me, but all you do is show up in front of me every day, occasionally give me some pills as if it’s some great favor, give a little sweetness and then start getting presumptuous—what do you take me for?”
“Then what,” Jiang Zhaoxue tried to calm herself down, not to overthink, forcing herself to say, “what can I do?”
With that, she raised her eyes and looked seriously at Pei Zichen: “What do you want?”
This question made Pei Zichen’s heart clench. He wanted nothing more than to strangle the person before him and die together.
What did he want?
What did he want?
He wanted her words, wanted her to say she cared, wanted her love.
But if loving someone was instinct, was unconsciously caring, was inadvertently concerning oneself, was thinking of the other person constantly and fearing they’d suffer even the slightest grievance—then why would one need to open their eyes and ask “what do you want?”
His heart trembled as he closed his eyes in embarrassment.
He only felt his entire being curl up in pain, yet still forced himself to appear calm: “I don’t want anything.”
He raised his hand to brush her aside, stood up, stepped forward, supporting himself as he gritted out: “Jiang Zhaoxue, I don’t want to get anything from you. You don’t need to love me, and you don’t need to care about me. I won’t become an evil god, and if I do become an evil god, I’ll go die myself. Just live your life well. If you like living with Ye Chen, go find him. If you like Shen Yuqing, I can release her too. I only ask one thing of you.”
He turned to look at Jiang Zhaoxue. Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at him, only to see Pei Zichen’s lips part slightly. However, after a long while, he still couldn’t say it out loud and turned away: “Go back on your own.”
Having said that, he pushed the door open and left.
Jiang Zhaoxue sat in the room, watching his departing figure. For that instant, she felt as if she had returned to many years ago, when Shen Yuqing fled from the room.
She sat quietly for a long time, then gave a mocking laugh.
A’Nan quickly said: “Master, his mind isn’t right. Don’t take it to heart.”
“I know.”
Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath, pulled up her clothes, closed her eyes to sober up, and said softly: “I was also too hasty.”
How could she think he was the Pei Zichen of before the moment he followed her?
How could she think that as long as it was Pei Zichen, he would indulge her in that moment?
But if Pei Zichen didn’t indulge her in that moment, was he still Pei Zichen?
Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t think deeply about it, only closed her eyes for a long while.
After calming down, she took a deep breath. Tonight, past midnight, had been a complete mess.
She sorted out her emotions and simply went downstairs, preparing to return to the demon palace on her own. After returning, tonight would be mostly over, and she could have Qingye and the others come back to prepare for the next plan.
First, she had to kill Xin Luoyi.
Suppressing all emotions in her heart, she thought seriously—only after killing Xin Luoyi would Pei Zichen stop being repeatedly disturbed, and everything could be considered in the long term.
She pondered seriously as she walked along the road.
Past midnight, even the streets of Cangdu had become deserted.
The moonlight was diluted by thick fog into a pale gray-white. The bluestone pavement glimmered with a ghostly cold light beneath her feet. The surroundings were so quiet only the sounds of wind and cicadas remained, particularly desolate.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s footsteps became unusually clear. She walked leisurely, gripping her transmission jade token, sending a voice message to Ye Tianjiao: “I was driven away by Pei Zichen…”
Before she could finish, thick gray fog surged forth without warning from all directions, instantly devouring the entire street!
The fog wasn’t natural water vapor—it carried bone-chilling cold and a nauseating sweet bloody scent. Viscous like a living thing, it instantly wrapped around Jiang Zhaoxue’s skin, frantically trying to drill into her pores.
Spiritual power around Jiang Zhaoxue’s body burst out reflexively in a layer of pale golden light, briefly forcing the fog back by an inch.
Then she saw the surroundings turn pitch black, her vision completely disappearing. Her divine sense was also firmly suppressed by this strange fog, only able to extend less than one zhang.
“Resentful energy!” A’Nan cried out in alarm. “It’s Xin Luoyi! It must be her!”
Jiang Zhaoxue clearly knew this too, while simultaneously sensing the spiritual power fluctuations around her. She carefully identified them for a moment and confirmed.
“A transmission array.”
“They set a trap here!” A’Nan realized. “There’s a transmission array here—now no one else can find you!”
Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing, allowing the transmission array to transport her while searching for how the power operated here.
At this moment, she was isolated from the surroundings by this resentful energy, unable to find any way to transmit messages. But the transmission talisman Ye Tianjiao gave her was quite special—as long as there was even a slight opening, it could quickly transmit.
She searched for these openings, calmly saying: “Xin Luoyi? We’re such old acquaintances—no need to hide, right?”
The other party didn’t speak. Almost simultaneously, teeth-grinding “ka-ka” sounds echoed from deep within the fog, as if bones were grinding.
Jiang Zhaoxue frowned, then heard A’Nan cry out: “Master!”
At the instant the sound fell, several twisted black shadows suddenly lunged from the fog wall! They had no specific form, like shadows torn and stretched, yet at the front of each shadow were sharp claws. The claws carried intense death energy, striking claw by claw directly at Jiang Zhaoxue’s vital points!
Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes turned fierce. Her fingertips slid as she shouted: “Mountain River Bell!”
The Mountain River Bell inverted to cover her surroundings. The claws scratched against it with “chi-chi” sounds. The bell rang loudly, and the foremost black shadows were shattered by the bell sound, instantly shrieking and dissolving into black smoke!
Then she saw more black shadows surge forward one after another, endlessly breeding from the thick fog like maggots clinging to bone.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s expression was cold as she said icily: “By Heaven’s mandate, ten directions vanquish evil!”
After Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, a “bang” resounded. A red umbrella bone crashed down onto the Mountain River Bell with a “boom,” and the barrier outside the Mountain River Bell instantly cracked.
“Immortal Jiang, even as a Nine Realm Fate Master who can speak law into being, fundamentally you’re still gambling with Heaven.” Xin Luoyi’s voice carried a trace of lazy amusement, drifting ethereally from all directions, making it impossible to discern the specific location. “This ‘Ten Resentments Array’ is specifically designed to trap and kill Fate Masters. You can’t break the formation, so you can’t win at gambling—avoiding backlash would already be good, so how can you gamble with Heaven?”
“Oh?”
Jiang Zhaoxue laughed lightly and said coldly: “Then let’s try again. By Heaven’s mandate, Spirit Void Sword Formation, open!”
Having said that, the Spirit Void Fan leaped from her body. The fan opened, and hundreds of sword shadows shot forth, slashing into the fog!
The fog suddenly churned even more violently. Those slashed black shadows didn’t disappear—the dispersed black smoke actually reformed and compressed in the air, in the blink of an eye condensing into dozens of pitch-black needles!
The needle points aimed at Jiang Zhaoxue, carrying a bone-chilling killing intent that locked onto her soul, shooting violently toward her!
Jiang Zhaoxue’s pupils contracted sharply as she raised her hand to summon: “Defensive array, open!”
“Ding ding ding ding—!”
The black needles struck the defensive array, producing crisp sounds like rapid rain on windows.
The defensive array shattered in response, rushing to attack the Mountain River Bell!
Jiang Zhaoxue quickly opened another array while sensing the flow of power from all directions. Faster, faster—
“Everything you’re using now is your own spiritual power.”
Xin Luoyi’s voice carried laughter, slow and leisurely: “You’re already restricted in the Jiuyou Realm. Now trapped in a formation, even as a Nine Realm Fate Master, you’ll ultimately just be drained dry by me. After all, you only have yourself, while I—have the resentful power of ten thousand living beings under heaven.”
“So powerful?” Jiang Zhaoxue sneered coldly. “If you’re so powerful, why are you scheming against Pei Zichen? Why don’t you become a god yourself?”
“I and Master naturally cannot compare.”
Xin Luoyi said calmly: “So I must eliminate all obstacles unfavorable to Master one by one. Besides, honestly speaking,” Xin Luoyi’s voice carried several degrees of disgust, “Jiang Zhaoxue, I really detest you. Have for a long time.”
“Well, thank you for that.”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked around and likewise said: “I’ve also detested you for a long time.”
As her words fell, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand. Xin Luoyi seemed to sense something—seventy-four umbrella bones transformed into swords, bringing thick fog as they rushed toward her simultaneously!
“By Heaven’s mandate, array come!”
Jiang Zhaoxue shouted loudly. The umbrella swords heavily struck the Mountain River Bell, erupting with a huge boom!
At the same moment, the ground suddenly blazed bright with formations. Qingye, Die Wu, and Die Lan appeared at the three outer corners of the formation’s triangle. Red light shot up to the sky, and talismans in the formation simultaneously wrapped around the sword bones flying toward Jiang Zhaoxue. Jiang Zhaoxue stood in the center of the formation, calmly looking back. Without any defense, she raised her hand to her lips and only said: “By Heaven’s mandate, execute Xin Luoyi!”
Hearing this, Xin Luoyi’s eyes widened. The resentful energy around her body instantly exploded as she shrieked: “Go die!”
The umbrella bones shot forth urgently. Just as they were about to touch Jiang Zhaoxue, purple-black long swords leaped out, fiercely circling around Jiang Zhaoxue’s surroundings, clanging as they knocked away Xin Luoyi’s umbrella bones.
The instant she saw those purple-black flying swords, Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes grew slightly moist. Then she saw thunder transform into iron shackles locking Xin Luoyi, and purple lightning thunder dragons roared down!
Xin Luoyi’s eyes widened in terror. The umbrella bones spun back rapidly, blocking above. She looked up and shrieked, exploding with sound: “Spirits come!”
The instant the sound fell, all the fog in the entire formation suddenly surged toward Xin Luoyi’s body. The Four Demons turned back in terror but had no time to speak more—they were instantly absorbed into Xin Luoyi’s body with shrieks.
Black energy around Xin Luoyi’s body surged violently, resisting before the thunder. One lightning bolt after another shattered the resentful energy around her body. The thunder chains pulled at her relentlessly. Xin Luoyi struggled desperately, screaming: “Jiang Zhaoxue!!”
“Calling me won’t help.” Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at her. Resentful spirits weren’t easy to kill—she could only use lightning to whittle away at her body bit by bit until she completely vanished into smoke. She looked at her coldly: “The skilled prevail—accept your defeat. Tonight you could have escaped. But unfortunately…”
“Unfortunately what?”
Hearing this, Xin Luoyi couldn’t help but laugh. She looked up at Jiang Zhaoxue: “I die, but you may not get what you want either.”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements paused as she stared at her coldly.
Xin Luoyi gasped, staring fixedly at her eyes: “Do you think Pei Zichen is still alive?”
Hearing these words, Jiang Zhaoxue’s pupils contracted sharply. Xin Luoyi smiled, staring at her as she asked: “Is the current person Pei Zichen? Is Li Xiuji Pei Zichen? If he’s not, then all your affection now should belong to Pei Zichen!”
“Shut up.”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart wavered. At that very instant, the formation suddenly dispersed. Qingye urgently shouted: “My lady!”
“Oh my,” seeing her appearance, Xin Luoyi laughed. “Looks like you understand in your heart too, you just don’t dare think deeply about it. You’re afraid to face the outcome that he’s already dead. Do you think Pei Zichen would treat you like this?”
“Do you know what I detest most about you?”
Pei Zichen’s voice rang out again.
“I’ve never been able to tell if you’re sincere or not. You’ve been like this your whole life—when you seem serious, you appear to be joking. Even when you’re supposedly being serious now, you’re still joking. Do you think I’m still a child, or are you the child? Do you think if you throw a tantrum and act unreasonably, I’ll indulge you?”
“You say you care about me, but what have you done in the past? Were you ever sad after I left? Now you keep saying you love me, but all you do is show up in front of me every day, occasionally give me some pills as if it’s some great favor, give a little sweetness and then start getting presumptuous—what do you take me for?”
“If it were Pei Zichen,” Xin Luoyi’s words were like a curse, “he wouldn’t treat you like this now. He is Li Xiuji.”
“Shut up!”
Thunder crashed down.
However, Xin Luoyi had found her ultimate weakness and shrieked loudly. Resentful energy instantly surged, counterattacking her: “Pei Zichen is dead!”
That voice carrying resentful energy suddenly burrowed into her mind. Almost at the last instant, Jiang Zhaoxue urgently shouted: “By fate’s mandate, continue the array with my life!”
At the same moment, on the other side, Pei Zichen walked rapidly on the road back to the palace.
The night wind was bitterly cold. He strode forward, his mind full of wanting to turn back to pick up Jiang Zhaoxue. This seemed like an irresistible instinct. Yet when he thought of how she always had everything under control, playing him in the palm of her hand, resentment rose in him again.
Why?
Why would she always be the winner in their relationship, calling him over and dismissing him at will, like teasing a cat or dog, casually saying she liked him as if that meant caring?
But having already come this far, he couldn’t even say the words “don’t say you like me anymore.”
He would actually rather she deceive him.
Having come to this point in their relationship, he felt embarrassed too. He walked rapidly forward when his heart suddenly palpitated.
His steps halted instantly. Panic spread through him. The night wind brushed against his face. He instinctively felt something flowing away from his heart.
Then he felt intense pain in the marriage string between his fingers.
Jiang Zhaoxue!
Pei Zichen turned back in shock, clearly sensing Jiang Zhaoxue’s life force draining away like a bursting dam.
What happened to her? What was happening?
What happened to her?!
He couldn’t think at all. The instant he sensed something wrong with Jiang Zhaoxue, he frantically rushed toward the direction of her aura like a madman.
But it wasn’t enough.
He clearly knew that at the current rate Jiang Zhaoxue’s life force was draining, it was far from enough!
At his current speed, he couldn’t save her. It was impossible to save her.
He could only watch helplessly as she died, as she fell into danger, just like when he watched her fall into the space-time rift at seventeen. He couldn’t do it, couldn’t do anything!
This couldn’t happen.
Death pressed down from above. His heart trembled violently. All his power pushed to the extreme, frantically tearing open space.
But as long as space existed, it was impossible to reach her side in such a short time.
There was only one method.
The Jiuyou Realm was created by Li Xiuji. The Jiuyou Realm was connected to Li Xiuji’s body. Only if he completely controlled the Jiuyou Realm, only if he could connect to every inch of the Jiuyou Realm’s land, making the Jiuyou Realm belong to him, subject to his control—only then could he completely transcend space in the Jiuyou Realm and come and go at will.
That was power only a deity could possess. How could he achieve it?
But he had to achieve it.
In this critical moment, in this instant, his mind was filled with only one person.
Jiang Zhaoxue.
Jiang Zhaoxue.
She couldn’t die.
She had to live. She must live well.
She was a Nine Realm Fate Master, the Lady of Penglai, Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance. She was the bright moon he had held up from the mud his entire life, everything he looked up to in his lifetime.
She couldn’t die. She absolutely couldn’t die.
Whether she loved him or not didn’t matter. How she treated him didn’t matter.
What mattered was that she lived. She must live!
In that instant, all power suddenly poured down, connecting him with this heaven and earth, these mountains and rivers, every inch of the Jiuyou Realm’s land.
Connecting with his seventeen-year-old self who desperately grabbed her in the space-time rift, his twenty-one-year-old self who accepted the Jiuyou Realm’s cultivation method at the gluttonous feast and fought his way up the tower for her, his twenty-five-year-old self who rushed toward her and shot the arrow that broke the illusion in the Spirit Void phantom realm, and all the countless times after when he forever rushed toward her and stood before her.
His heart given to her had been the same from beginning to end, eternally unchanged.
Using mountains and rivers as blood vessels, he felt power drain away entirely. His meridians burst open in tearing pain. He thrust his hand into the void, bit by bit tearing open heaven and earth’s shackles!
Then he saw a massive formation appear ahead. Within the formation, resentful energy coiled and thunder roared.
Qingye, Die Wu, and Die Lan all stood around the formation’s perimeter, maintaining it. Xin Luoyi was bound by spiritual power, pressed to the ground forcibly enduring the thunder.
In a burst of brilliant light, Jiang Zhaoxue in white robes floated in midair.
She seemed to have long since fallen asleep. The Heart-Life Swords Pei Zichen had left with her circled at her side to resist the resentful energy. Blood lines wrapped around her entire body, frantically extracting her life force.
Just as the thunder gathered power and the blood lines burst with brightness, preparing to extract the last of her life force, Pei Zichen suddenly lunged forward, grabbed the blood lines, and roared out—
“Jiang Zhaoxue!!”