When Pei Zichen finished repairing the barrier and returned, the fine rain had not ceased, yet all the True Immortal Realm disciples were in high spirits, appearing extremely happy.
With the Cangming Sea barrier repaired, Jiuyou Realm’s demons and monsters completely destroyed, all demonic cultivators withdrawn to Jiuyou Realm, and the True Immortal Realm not having suffered any vital damage—this result couldn’t be better.
Everyone knew this was Pei Zichen’s achievement. All along Pei Zichen’s way back to camp, people greeted him with thanks, congratulating him on his unlimited future prospects.
With such illustrious military achievements, everyone knew clearly that when Pei Zichen returned to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, he would most likely be appointed as the next successor to become Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s Pavilion Master.
Shen Yuqing had been like this back then, and now he was the same.
Hearing everyone’s congratulations, Pei Zichen paid them no mind, only smiling and nodding at these people, yet not a single one entered his eyes.
He rushed all the way to his room, only wanting to pack his things and leave quickly.
He had already received word from Jiang Zhaoxue. She had arrived early at Jiangning Town, and his heart yearned to return.
He avoided the crowd and returned to his tent, beginning to pack his belongings. He had just finished packing when he heard disciples’ laughter outside. They pushed aside the curtain playfully, and upon entering the tent, they ran into Pei Zichen who was just about to leave. The leading disciple was somewhat surprised and couldn’t help saying, “Senior Martial Brother? Where are you going?”
“The sect still has matters,” Pei Zichen casually fabricated a lie. “I’ll go back first.”
“Ah?” The disciples were somewhat disappointed. “You’re not attending the celebration banquet? Many people are still waiting for you.”
“No.” Pei Zichen looked at these youths whose emotions showed plainly on their faces and smiled lightly. “This kind of occasion—you all should go. I never liked them anyway.”
“I don’t believe that.” Another disciple spoke up. Pei Zichen glanced over and saw it was a disciple from the Third Peak.
In the past, disciples under Shen Yuqing often went on missions together with the Third Peak. The Third Peak was extremely familiar with Pei Zichen. That disciple joked, “Before, you always said you didn’t like them, but you always ended up being very happy. Come on, come on.”
The Third Peak disciples surged forward, trying to put down Pei Zichen’s things, persuading him, “Let’s go. Whatever mission it is—does it have to be you? I’ll talk with Master later…”
“Junior Martial Brother.”
Pei Zichen pressed down on the hand pulling him, saying solemnly, “I really must leave.”
He spoke very seriously. Everyone exchanged glances, knowing Pei Zichen wasn’t joking.
After struggling for a moment, everyone could only regretfully release him, stepping aside. “Alright then, today we’ll help you drink your share.”
“Good.”
Pei Zichen nodded, saying sincerely, “If I have the opportunity in the future, I’ll return to drink with you all.”
“Don’t worry.” Everyone joked. “When we get back to the Immortal Pavilion, we’ll drink you to death!”
Pei Zichen smiled without speaking, his gaze sweeping over each youth before him.
He had been gone for eight years, but for these youths it had only been one month. They were still as carefree as in his memories.
These were all people who had grown up with him in the past. Although most of them he only saw once on missions, they were all people who had faced life and death together.
He imprinted these people in his eyes and raised his hand in salute.
This salute was performed with great formality. Everyone was startled, momentarily somewhat embarrassed. “Senior Martial Brother, why so serious…”
“See you again someday.”
Pei Zichen’s eyes were warm, yet he didn’t hesitate further. He turned and walked out.
Everyone looked at each other, couldn’t help saying, “What’s gotten into Senior Martial Brother?”
“Hey, never mind,” a carefree disciple said. “People have their emotional ups and downs. When he’s happy, we can go back and find him then.”
With that, everyone took their things and headed noisily to the celebration banquet.
Meanwhile, Pei Zichen flew away alone on his sword with his back to them, rushing toward Jiang Zhaoxue’s direction.
But he had only flown for a moment when he heard a thunderous “boom” behind him. Magical light shot into the sky. Pei Zichen urgently stopped and turned back to see that in the direction of the original camp, a massive formation array lit up within the camp. Yuan Luogong cried out in alarm, “The Immortal-Executing Formation!”
For this northern line cleanup, with Pei Zichen in command, the Immortal Alliance hadn’t sent any elders—all were young disciples charging at the front. With such a massive formation, without elders as leaders, how could ordinary disciples resist it?
But why would such a formation be here? Even for him, if he didn’t expose his Jiuyou Realm techniques, he probably couldn’t break through this kind of formation.
If he went forward, he might be exposing himself to destruction.
But if he left…
Pei Zichen looked at those disciples who had once fought alongside him. His mind suddenly recalled Jiang Zhaoxue’s instruction.
“Be a good person.”
When this sentence appeared in his mind, Pei Zichen’s body had already moved like an arrow released from a bow, charging toward the formation.
Lingxu urgently shouted, “Master!”
But it was too late. Pei Zichen returned to the formation and saw all the disciples bound by the formation’s magical light, struggling like prey stuck on a spider’s web. Just as the deadly magical light was about to rain down upon them, Pei Zichen fell like a meteor, slamming into the formation’s eye with a “boom.” The moment he pressed his palm into the eye, Zhanshen Sword flew out from his spine, spinning upward. The magical light binding everyone scattered. The swords in their hands followed Pei Zichen’s Zhanshen Sword to form a formation above. Everyone excitedly rushed forward. “Senior Martial Brother!”
“Senior Martial Brother!”
“Brother Pei!”
Immortal Alliance disciples came forward joyfully. Pei Zichen bore the entire formation alone and immediately said, “This is the Immortal-Executing Formation. All disciples, form an array.”
Everyone didn’t say much more and immediately followed behind Pei Zichen, hand seals flying as they formed an array with their swords.
However, this formation was still being pressed down inch by inch. Pei Zichen stared fixedly at the formation, his thoughts racing.
Why would there be an Immortal-Executing Formation here?
When could Jiuyou Realm have silently laid such a massive formation in the camp?
If they had such ability, what had they been doing all these days?
Pei Zichen knew something was wrong. Lingxu also spoke to remind him, “Master, this is likely a trap. You should leave.”
However, seeing the formation pressing down, watching the dense magical light above clashing with sword light, Pei Zichen’s nerves were taut.
If he left, the magical light overhead would instantly fall. The thousands of disciples here wouldn’t survive.
But if he stayed—
Staying, he clearly sensed this formation’s power was absolutely not something his Divine Transformation stage spiritual power could resist. He would have to circulate Jiuyou Realm techniques to have any possibility of breaking the formation.
“Master, either leave or fight,” Yuan Luogong watched the magical light pressing the sword formation downward, saying urgently. “Going on like this, you’ll also die here!”
Just as the words fell, a ray of magical light broke through a corner of the sword formation and fell straight down, charging directly at a disciple.
Just as the disciple was about to be pierced by the magical light, Pei Zichen deployed the Nine Revolutions Immortal Life Bell. Zhanshen Sword suddenly brightened. With one sword he blasted toward the magical light in the sky, shouting at everyone, “Run!”
With that, the sword light in his hand transformed into thousands upon thousands of light swords, colliding with the magical light overhead.
Splitting into so many light swords consumed enormous power. The Nine Revolutions Immortal Life Bell spun rapidly above his head. The disciples had long been accustomed to following his orders these past days. They rapidly flew out through the crack in the formation he had opened. Just as the last disciple escaped and Pei Zichen was about to withdraw and flee, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended. One sword intent rushed toward the Nine Revolutions Immortal Life Bell, while another sword intent stabbed directly at Pei Zichen’s back!
This sword came too fast. Pei Zichen leaped up, slashing down at the sword intent behind him. On the other side, the Nine Revolutions Immortal Life Bell was struck heavily by another sword intent. With a “ding,” it shattered.
Demonic energy exploded outward in an instant. The Immortal-Executing Formation blazed brilliantly. Thousands of rays of magical light came like meteoric thunder. Pei Zichen raised his hand to recall his flying Zhanshen Sword. With all his might, he spun and slashed. The Immortal-Executing Formation shattered inch by inch. Pei Zichen transformed into swift light and fled far away. Then he heard a furious shout, “Where do you think you’re going!”
With that, surrounding formations fell like nets. Sword light chased urgently from behind. Soul-disturbing melodies leaped down from above, transforming into sharp blades emerging together with sword light.
Layer upon layer of encirclement came. Pei Zichen’s body was light as a feather, his movements like a swimming dragon. His hands formed seals, sword intent following his body.
His movements were decisive and clean, carrying an elegant breath.
From above, Zhou Bugang couldn’t help but applaud in praise. “Beautiful!”
Xu Zichen beside him glared at him, raising his hand to sweep. A sword rushed rapidly toward Pei Zichen.
This sword combined with Shui Chenyuan’s formation, Feng Minghuan’s dharma music, and Gujun’s sword formation all together. Pei Zichen finally had nowhere to dodge. He turned to slash down Gujun’s flying sword, sweeping across the net formation. The crown on his head was cut in half by a flying sword. Just as he dodged and turned back, Xu Zichen’s flying sword was already pointed at his neck.
Pei Zichen’s movements instantly froze. Then he heard Gujun’s cold shout from above, “Traitorous disciple Pei Zichen, you colluded with Jiuyou Realm, bringing chaos to Central Continent. Today the Immortal Alliance’s hundred families are present here. Why don’t you quickly submit to execution?!”
Hearing this, only then did Pei Zichen have the capacity to raise his eyes. He swept his gaze over those above one by one, discovering he was already surrounded by people from the Immortal Alliance’s six sects.
Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s Gujun;
Tianjian Sect’s Xu Zichen;
Tiandi Dao Gate’s Zhou Bugang;
Baiyin Pavilion’s Feng Minghuan;
Xingyun Gate’s Shui Chenyuan;
And also…
Pei Zichen looked toward Jiang Zhaoyue beside Gujun. Jiang Zhaoyue silently watched him, holding talismans, his expression cold.
All around were Immortal Alliance disciples. Aside from the disciples just brought by Gujun and others, more were those he had just saved.
They all looked in panic at Pei Zichen standing in the center of the crowd, demonic energy uncontrollably overflowing from him.
His hair was loose, the blood-colored demonic mark on his forehead flickering bright and dim.
Though his temperament was clear and bright as the moon, his features were extraordinarily cold and alluring. Black energy coiled up from the bottom of his feet, setting off his entire person with three parts seductive ghostliness.
“What does Old Ancestor mean by this?” Pei Zichen surveyed his surroundings. Knowing in his heart Gujun’s intention, he secretly drew formations while inquiring coldly, “The power of divine artifacts is connected to Jiuyou Realm cultivation techniques. This disciple accidentally practiced Jiuyou Realm demonic techniques for this reason. I reported this to Old Ancestor as soon as I returned. Old Ancestor promised this disciple that the heart’s path is the true path, telling this disciple to serve the sect with peace of mind. Why today would you suddenly use this as a reason to have this disciple submit to execution and admit guilt?”
“You colluded with Jiuyou Realm, falsely claiming achievements. This matter is already known to the Immortal Alliance. Do you still want to deny it?!”
Hearing this, Shui Chenyuan shouted sternly, only saying, “Since you’ve practiced demonic techniques, you should kill yourself. Why need elders to act?!”
“Though this disciple has practiced demonic techniques, I have no intention of doing evil.”
“Jiuyou Realm techniques doing evil is only a matter of time,” Shui Chenyuan immediately refuted. “Do you want the True Immortal Realm to nurture a tiger to invite calamity?!”
“Leave.”
Pei Zichen saw Jiang Zhaoyue’s lip movements. His heart shuddered.
He immediately knew the Immortal Alliance had probably already made their decision. There was no point in him staying longer.
Looking around at his surroundings, all the disciples watched him with both alarm and fear. Pei Zichen didn’t hesitate further. He scattered Yin Paper Immortals from his hand and slashed a sword toward Shui Chenyuan!
Shui Chenyuan was a formation cultivator, not skilled in close combat. Pei Zichen came fast and fierce. Shui Chenyuan only had time to shout one sentence, “Brat!”
Before being forced back by Pei Zichen’s sword.
With his escape, everyone else didn’t hesitate either. Zhou Bugang’s expression became grave. He exchanged a glance with Xu Zichen and also gave chase.
Mountains shifted, waves rolled. Heaven and earth had no gates. From above came Gujun’s great shout, “Pei Zichen practices Jiuyou Realm techniques, colluding with demonic cultivators—his crimes are unforgivable! All disciples, hear my command. Today, follow this seat to execute evil demons and kill heretical paths! Whoever executes Pei Zichen can obtain the divine artifacts!”
With that, magical light rained down from heaven and earth. Pei Zichen sealed his own aura and hid in the mountain forest.
He dodged the densely falling magical light, running in the rain.
In that moment, he suddenly felt he was no different from when he was seventeen.
And at seventeen, Jiang Zhaoxue had been waiting for him.
Jiang Zhaoxue…
He clutched the talisman Jiang Zhaoxue had given him in his sleeve, thinking of that person in Jiangning Town.
He knew at this moment he couldn’t establish even the slightest connection with Penglai. He couldn’t go find Jiang Zhaoxue, nor could he use Jiang Zhaoyue’s talisman.
Now his only way out was to escape.
Escape and find Jiang Zhaoxue.
He desperately fled outward. Jiang Zhaoyue stood at the heights watching him escape.
Li You followed Jiang Zhaoyue, saying in a low voice, “Young Master, we should notify the lady.”
While Pei Zichen was being pursued along the way, Jiang Zhaoxue sat in the small room of the courtyard she had rented in Jiangning Town, looking at her transmission jade token, propping up her chin as she tapped the table, waiting for Pei Zichen.
According to the Immortal Alliance’s custom, after winning a battle, there would inevitably be a celebration banquet. She had attended quite a few in the past. That was young people’s favorite occasion. Based on Pei Zichen’s appearance and temperament, he should drink quite a bit of wine.
The last time Pei Zichen drank… was still several years ago, riding the immortal crane with her in the middle of the night.
Thinking back now, that evening when he took the initiative to let his spiritual power merge with hers should be considered losing control. If he drank tonight…
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyebrows, suddenly feeling somewhat expectant.
But she didn’t know when he would return. Jiang Zhaoxue inevitably felt somewhat anxious, lightly tapping the table, feeling time was extraordinarily long.
Seeing her restless, A’Nan couldn’t help saying, “Why don’t you just directly ask him to give you a time so you can sleep? Won’t you see him after sleeping?”
“How can that work?”
Jiang Zhaoxue immediately said, “I just spent an hour on my makeup. What if it gets ruined from sleeping? And if I transmit a message to him, what if he doesn’t attend the celebration banquet and comes directly back?”
“Wouldn’t that be good?” A’Nan asked strangely. “Don’t you want to see him too?”
“I want to, but he’s still young after all,” Jiang Zhaoxue said, her eyes becoming gentle. “He should want to see the excitement and have a few friends.”
She could tell that when Pei Zichen spoke of those fellow disciples from Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, it wasn’t that he truly had no feelings.
It was just that to him, those things perhaps were no longer important enough.
But she still hoped Pei Zichen could be like when he was young, with more friends, his life not consisting of only her alone.
She thought of him constantly. Hearing the rain outside growing heavier, as a thunderclap sounded, Jiang Zhaoyue’s voice also rang out from the transmission jade pendant.
“Yaoyao, the Book of Fate has confirmed you and Shen Yuqing are a Heaven-ordained marriage. Tonight the Immortal Alliance hunts Pei Zichen. What path to take—you choose yourself.”
The moment the sound fell, the thunder also stopped.
Jiang Zhaoxue sat dumbly in the room, her entire person as if struck by lightning, stunned in place.
What did her brother say?
The Immortal Alliance is hunting Pei Zichen?
Why would the Immortal Alliance hunt Pei Zichen? Pei Zichen had divine artifacts in hand. The True Immortal Realm’s fortune reversal still needed him. If they hunted Pei Zichen tonight, weren’t they afraid the True Immortal Realm’s fortune would deplete from then on?
Was it because she and Shen Yuqing were a Heaven-ordained marriage?
They thought they had found a second method?
But even if they found a second method, right now at the Jiuyou Realm border, if they hunted Pei Zichen, weren’t they afraid he would defect and directly join Jiuyou Realm?
Or was it that they had already confirmed Pei Zichen had joined Jiuyou Realm?
Countless thoughts rushed into Jiang Zhaoxue’s mind, but she had no time to think more. She clearly knew that since the Immortal Alliance had acted, they must be intent on complete annihilation. She didn’t have much time. She had to rush to support him immediately.
Based on Pei Zichen’s temperament, even if he held the transmission talisman she had given him, as long as he was before the Immortal Alliance, he would rather die than use it, to avoid implicating Penglai.
She had to find a way to save him.
She immediately stood up, calling Qingye’s name as she strode out. The moment she opened the door, Jiang Zhaoxue felt cold fragrance assaulting her. Her steps suddenly stopped. She saw a young man standing with his back to her ahead.
Rain poured down torrentially. At some point, the courtyard had filled with people. Penglai disciples all had their voices sealed. They were held hostage with blades by Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples led by Zilu.
Qingye stood at the very front. Her blade hadn’t even had time to leave its sheath. Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue emerge, her eyes were full of urgency. She shook her head frantically, urgently trying to say something but unable to open her mouth.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart suddenly tightened. She drew her gaze back to the person before her and saw the young man slowly turn around.
Not having seen him for a few days, he seemed to have grown thinner again. Wearing a golden crown, dressed in wide-sleeved golden silk robes, a long sword on his back, holding a horsetail whisk, his temperament cold as snow, his gaze neither sad nor happy as he looked at Jiang Zhaoxue, asking softly, “The rain is so heavy. Does Madam still want to go out?”
Shen Yuqing had come.
If he came, it proved Lingjian Immortal Pavilion had come prepared. Pei Zichen’s situation was probably dire.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart understood clearly. A talisman slipped into her hand. She stared at Shen Yuqing warily. “Why are you here?”
“Three days ago, the Immortal Alliance captured a Jiuyou Realm disciple who accused Pei Zichen of colluding with Jiuyou Realm, acting as an inside agent, falsely borrowing battle achievements to deceive the True Immortal Realm to achieve great ambitions.”
“Nonsense!” Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue shouted furiously. “Just say directly what Gujun wants?!”
“Pei Zichen practices Jiuyou Realm techniques.”
“The power within the divine artifacts is Jiuyou Realm techniques,” Jiang Zhaoxue immediately said. “Those who inherit the divine artifacts’ power must practice Jiuyou Realm techniques. This matter was already told to him upon returning. Doesn’t he know this?”
“He does, but the divine artifacts haven’t recognized a master. With his connection to Jiuyou Realm, it’s better to wrongly kill than wrongly release.”
The divine artifacts haven’t recognized a master…
Jiang Zhaoxue understood in an instant. All this about practicing Jiuyou Realm techniques was fake.
The core issue was that the divine artifacts hadn’t recognized a master. If they killed Pei Zichen, they could take them.
“Then what about the True Immortal Realm?” Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help saying. “If you kill him, what happens to the True Immortal Realm’s fortune? While he’s alive, even if he hasn’t recognized them as master temporarily, it’s still a thread of hope…”
“Three days ago, when you and I separated, the Book of Fate confirmed that you and I are a Heaven-ordained marriage.”
Shen Yuqing spoke. Jiang Zhaoxue’s pupils contracted sharply. She watched as Shen Yuqing raised his eyes, looking at her calmly. “If you and I marry, the True Immortal Realm’s fortune can be reversed.”
“I don’t believe it.” Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue laughed coldly. “I don’t believe your lies. Let me through!”
“After I let you through, what will you do? Flee together with him?”
Shen Yuqing seemed to see through her thoughts, continuing to press. “Then what about the True Immortal Realm? What about the True Immortal Realm’s fortune?”
Hearing this and thinking of her father’s grave illness, Jiang Zhaoxue gritted her teeth. “I’ll become a Ninth Realm Fate Master…”
“Then Pei Zichen will die.”
Shen Yuqing spoke decisively. Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned.
Seeing her expression, Shen Yuqing understood. “You didn’t know the Spirit-Locking Formation would kill him either, did you?”
“The Spirit-Locking Formation,” Jiang Zhaoxue’s mind was somewhat chaotic. “The Spirit-Locking Formation only absorbs all his spiritual power…”
“Provided what it locks isn’t divine artifacts.”
The moment Shen Yuqing spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue froze.
Shen Yuqing looked at her rigid expression, saying slowly, “Everything has a price. How could divine artifacts be the same as ordinary magical artifacts? When the Spirit-Locking Formation activates, the price transferred to you is his life.”
“Impossible.”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart began racing. She felt Shen Yuqing’s face before her becoming twisted and distorted, like an evil ghost with its bloody maw open wide. She couldn’t help wanting to retreat, yet knew she absolutely couldn’t show weakness at this time.
She told herself Shen Yuqing was disturbing her mind. Yet in the depths of her consciousness, she seemed to know these words were correct.
Actually, she had thought about it long ago.
Whether divine artifacts and ordinary magical artifacts had any difference—but she didn’t dare think deeply, only dragging out the time to open the Spirit-Locking Formation day after day.
She never thought about whether Pei Zichen was sufficient to feed the Tianji Lingyu.
She only thought—wait until he gathered all the divine artifacts before opening the Spirit-Locking Formation;
Wait until he returned to the True Immortal Realm before opening the Spirit-Locking Formation;
Wait until he returned to Penglai before opening the Spirit-Locking Formation…
She found one excuse after another, until Shen Yuqing saw her hesitation and told her, “If you don’t believe it, we’ll go try it.”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s pupils contracted sharply. She watched the young man before her calmly extend his hand toward her, saying seriously, “Right now I’ll take you there. You take the divine artifacts. After it’s over, I’ll take you home.”
These words forced her into a dead end. Jiang Zhaoxue’s teeth chattered. She couldn’t help saying, “Shen Yuqing, do you know that if you do this, I’ll hate you?”
These words made Shen Yuqing’s eyes tremble. He spoke hoarsely. “But what can I do?”
“You can let me go.”
“And then watch helplessly as you and he rush together to a dead end?”
Shen Yuqing couldn’t restrain his raised voice. “Watch as this traitorous disciple practices demonic techniques, disrupts moral order, then takes my wife to die together? A Xue, you must know—today, regardless of whether you and I are a Heaven-ordained marriage or not, from the moment he rashly practiced Jiuyou Realm techniques, this day was destined!”
“It wasn’t him being rash!”
“Then what was it?” Shen Yuqing immediately reminded her. “He could have not used the divine artifacts’ power. He chose this path himself. If not for being rash, why would he practice Jiuyou Realm techniques?”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t speak.
But all she could think of was that twenty-one-year-old youth who, no matter how she tempted him, refused to practice Jiuyou Realm techniques.
When did he decide to practice Jiuyou Realm techniques?
Jiang Zhaoxue recalled, as if returning again to that year in Taotie Tower.
She had deliberately entered danger, wanting to force him to cultivate Yuan Luogong’s techniques.
That night, ice and snow mixed with demonic energy descended. She turned back in surprise amidst the corpses strewn across the ground and heard Pei Zichen kneel before her, speaking hoarsely with that one sentence: “Master’s wife, I’ve come to take you home.”
It was her.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s breathing became difficult. She felt her chest about to explode.
It wasn’t that Pei Zichen had chosen this path—she had chosen this path for Pei Zichen.
She had planted the Spirit-Locking Formation in him, enticed him to practice Jiuyou Realm techniques, because at that time she had never thought about his future.
In her vision, whether he practiced the righteous path or the demonic path, in the end he was only her nourishment. She had never cared about his future.
By the time she cared, they already had no way out.
When the Spirit-Locking Formation opened, he would certainly die.
Either he died, or he would be hunted by the Immortal Alliance. He couldn’t possibly exist in the True Immortal Realm as a demonic cultivator.
“He chose this path himself.”
Shen Yuqing watched as Jiang Zhaoxue remained silent for a long time. His heart couldn’t bear it, yet he still told her, “From the moment you planted the Spirit-Locking Formation in him, from the moment he chose to practice Jiuyou Realm techniques, he was already in a certain death situation. Now everyone covets the divine artifacts on him. If you want them, depart now. I’ll take you to get them.”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue looked on in disbelief as Shen Yuqing promised solemnly, “I’ll hold them off. You open the Spirit-Locking Formation. After obtaining the divine artifacts, you can step into the Ninth Realm Fate Master and choose your own path.”
“What if I want to save him?” Jiang Zhaoxue abruptly spoke, even she herself hadn’t anticipated this.
However, after speaking, she discovered she didn’t regret it.
Shen Yuqing seemed to have expected this too. His eyes trembled as he said softly, “Then you only have one path left—to marry me.”
If she wanted to save Pei Zichen, she couldn’t possibly become a Ninth Realm Fate Master. The True Immortal Realm’s fortune couldn’t be reversed. Everything she had schemed for would fall apart.
An Eighth Realm Fate Master without the protection of a command attendant—not to mention for her father’s sake, even without her father’s grave illness, the True Immortal Realm would force her to marry Shen Yuqing.
To save Pei Zichen meant she needed to abandon everything she had once planned, sever her wings that could have soared to the heavens, and send herself back onto that path of being at others’ mercy.
If she became a Ninth Realm Fate Master, she could unlock the Concentric Contract, could reverse the True Immortal Realm’s fate, could become the only Ninth Realm Fate Master in a thousand years, peek at Heaven’s mandate, and be half a step away from ascension.
As long as she could follow the plan, open the Spirit-Locking Formation, and extract that Tianji Lingyu that had been hidden in Pei Zichen’s heart for years.
As long as Pei Zichen died.
But what had he done wrong?
He had done good deeds his entire life, forgiven his entire life.
In the book, the one who killed wasn’t him, the one who did evil wasn’t him, the one who harmed her wasn’t him, the one who hated her wasn’t him.
The Pei Zichen she knew had been upright his entire life. Those who harmed him, he didn’t hate. Those who despised him, he didn’t resent. Even practicing Jiuyou Realm techniques—among everyone present, even including herself, who wasn’t more evil than him? Who wasn’t a hypocrite?
Why should he have to pave the way to her Ninth Realm Fate Master status with his own life?
Why should he die for her life?
He shouldn’t have to die.
Moreover, she had said…
“Pei Zichen, every time you die, I’ll save you once. If you die thousands upon thousands of times, I’ll save you thousands upon thousands of times.”
She had said she would save him, so she should save him.
The path to Ninth Realm Fate Master should be a path she sought and walked herself, not one where she stole cultivation from others and forcibly broke through realms.
She wanted to save him.
As this thought surfaced, the floating dust in Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart settled. She slowly raised her eyes. Shen Yuqing gripped his horsetail whisk tightly, understanding her decision from her gaze.
“He must go to Jiuyou Realm.”
Shen Yuqing spoke. Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t hesitate. “Fine.”
“You have the Spirit-Locking Formation in your hands. In the future, if he dares harm the True Immortal Realm, you must kill him.”
“Fine.”
Shen Yuqing didn’t speak. He looked at the person before him whose eyes carried moisture. After thinking for a long time, he said softly, “A Xue, I’m here.”
When he’s gone, I’m still here.
However, this time Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t say “fine.” She closed her eyes. After composing herself for a moment, she directly stepped forward, raising her hand to draw a formation, saying calmly, “Settle the disciples. Depart immediately.”
With that, she didn’t delay any time and directly raised her hand to open the formation.
She had always used the command attendant contract to sense Pei Zichen’s location and condition. In an instant, she opened a transmission formation. After Shen Yuqing settled the disciples, he immediately stepped forward. One in front and one behind, they leaped down through the transmission formation.
In less than a moment, Jiang Zhaoxue heard voices around her. Knowing they were about to reach their destination, she held talismans between her fingers. Shen Yuqing seemed to have sensed something. The instant they landed, he pulled her back and raised his sword to blast away the scattered magical light above.
Jiang Zhaoxue had just steadied herself when she discovered this was Wuyue Forest. At this moment, magical light scattered chaotically, illuminating the sky bright as day. There were human voices everywhere, accompanied by someone urgently shouting, “Don’t let him escape!”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes to look. A white-robed young man was weaving through the encirclement.
“Take him away.”
The moment Shen Yuqing’s words fell, his fingers formed a sword seal. Like an arrow released from a bow, he attacked toward Pei Zichen’s direction.
Golden light flashed. The sword formation launched together with a “boom,” blocking the magical light attacking Pei Zichen.
Pei Zichen looked in surprise at Shen Yuqing’s sudden arrival in white robes. Then he heard Jiang Zhaoxue call out, “Pei Zichen.”
A tremendous force summoned from afar. Pei Zichen’s heart was filled with great joy. Following the command attendant contract, he flipped and was directly summoned to Jiang Zhaoxue’s side. Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand and swept. His entire body leaped through the air above her head.
“My lady…”
“Run!”
Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t hesitate at all.
Pei Zichen only had time to glance at her once. He only saw the white-robed, gold-hairpinned woman with her fingers forming seals standing in the rain, like a towering mountain, blocking before him.
He didn’t dare look longer and rushed forward urgently. Then he heard Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice ring out behind him: “Heaven’s Way is inconstant. Gamble fortune with Heaven. Supreme great fortune. Gods and Buddhas cannot cross.”
The moment the sound fell, soil from the ground burst forth, rising like a mountain.
Pei Zichen heard the sound of earth shaking and mountains trembling. Gasping as he turned back in the rain, he saw behind him had already been severed by mountain peaks as high as the sky. Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing followed behind him, riding cranes and flying swords in pursuit.
He knew they were following him over, knew he still wasn’t safe, didn’t dare stay, and only used Yuan Luogong to rapidly split open space and flee.
Behind him, immortal auras from all sides pursued relentlessly. Shen Yuqing and Jiang Zhaoxue blocked the rear for him along the way. Jiang Zhaoxue pointed out directions for him until the final moment when they arrived before a mountain cliff. Pei Zichen urgently stopped.
The moment he arrived at the cliff, he suddenly realized the path Jiang Zhaoxue had pointed out for him was actually in the direction of Jiuyou Realm!
Below the cliff, one could cross Cangming Sea. This was the shortest route to Jiuyou Realm.
He hastily stopped and saw Shen Yuqing and Jiang Zhaoxue land together not far away.
Pei Zichen vaguely sensed something. Uneasily looking at Jiang Zhaoxue, covering his wound, he spoke hoarsely, “My lady.”
“Go to Jiuyou Realm.” Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to throw over a package of immortal pills, suppressing her emotions as she looked at the blood-covered young man before her, instructing through gritted teeth, “The True Immortal Realm has no place for you to stand. Leave first. I’ll come find you later.”
“Find me?”
Pei Zichen glanced at Shen Yuqing beside her, finally moving his gaze back to Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes, saying seriously, “If I leave today, can you truly still come find me?”
“What would you stay here to do?” Shen Yuqing spoke coldly. “You practice Jiuyou Realm techniques. You can’t possibly stay here for a lifetime.”
“And then let you force her?!”
Pei Zichen instantly turned back, staring at Shen Yuqing, understanding clearly. “What conditions did Master offer to save me? Since the Immortal Alliance intercepts and kills me like this, presumably they already have a way to deal with fortune depletion. What way?”
With this question, Jiang Zhaoxue knew she couldn’t hide it.
Pei Zichen was too intelligent.
He was habitually reserved. What he showed was only two or three parts out of ten. Now that he was truly investigating, he had probably guessed the clues when Shen Yuqing first appeared.
If the Immortal Alliance gave up on him, they must have found another method to reverse the True Immortal Realm—either she became a Ninth Realm Fate Master or a Heaven-ordained marriage appeared. Now with Shen Yuqing coming together with her, and her telling him to leave, what so-called Heaven-ordained marriage could it be other than them?
He couldn’t possibly leave Jiang Zhaoxue alone here to face a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair. Knowing Jiang Zhaoxue understood his meaning, he immediately consoled her, “My lady, I won’t leave. I’ll just hide in secret. Unless I die, no one can force you.”
“But what if I say I’m not being forced?”
Jiang Zhaoxue spoke with difficulty. Pei Zichen’s eyelashes trembled. He heard her say against her will, “What if I say I’m willing to be with your master?”
“I don’t believe it.”
Pei Zichen immediately said, “You’re just trying to trick me into going to Jiuyou Realm now. I won’t believe a single word you say. Don’t be afraid. My restraint is because I want to leave room, not because I’m incompetent. If they truly want to harm you…”
“Without you, they won’t harm me.”
Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted Pei Zichen. Pei Zichen froze in place.
Jiang Zhaoxue curled her fingers, her face calmly looking at him as if looking at a stranger. “If you leave the True Immortal Realm today, you become a traitor to the True Immortal Realm. From then on, we have no connection. Your master and I are a Heaven-ordained marriage. We will marry again. For the True Immortal Realm’s fortune, and considering Penglai and Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s reputations, no one will do anything to me. But if you’re here—”
Jiang Zhaoxue clenched her fists, looking at Pei Zichen’s stunned eyes, saying each word with extreme difficulty, “You are my stain.”
A person practicing Jiuyou Realm techniques being her command attendant was her stain.
A disciple practicing Jiuyou Realm techniques staying by her side was her stain.
Even more—his love for her was her greatest stain.
“They’re forcing you?”
Water vapor floated up in Pei Zichen’s eyes. Still not believing, he continued, “They found a way to create a Heaven-ordained marriage to force you. You’re doing this for my sake…”
“I’m not doing this for you.”
Jiang Zhaoxue knew that without telling the truth, she couldn’t deceive him. She simply said, “I never gave up on your master. From the beginning when I was with you, I was lying to you.”
Hearing this, Pei Zichen was stunned. Shen Yuqing turned his eyes to look.
Jiang Zhaoxue secretly pinched her palm tightly, continuing, “I knew long ago the True Immortal Realm’s fortune was depleting. To salvage the fortune, I had to become a Ninth Realm Fate Master. And to become a Ninth Realm Fate Master, I definitely needed the Tianji Lingyu. Back then when I fought for the Tianji Lingyu in Wuyue Forest, the Tianji Lingyu entered your body and was used by you, so I planted a Spirit-Locking Formation in your body.”
“What is this?”
Pei Zichen didn’t understand.
“The Spirit-Locking Formation,” Jiang Zhaoxue said word by word with extreme difficulty, “is to turn you into a spirit artifact that safeguards divine artifacts for me. When the Spirit-Locking Formation activates, it will extract all your power to nourish the divine artifacts, then transfer them to me.”
With these words, Pei Zichen’s pupils contracted sharply, his face deathly pale.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked at his bloodless face, half-truthfully and numbly reciting the script she had fabricated in her mind, forcing herself to say, “I’ve loved your master for two hundred years. How could I suddenly change my heart? I never gave up on your master, and I never liked you. I stayed by your side only because of the Spirit-Locking Formation. I agreed to everything for you also only because of the Spirit-Locking Formation. And now, your master and I are a Heaven-ordained marriage. I don’t need you anymore. Now your master and I have come together to seek a way out for you. Go to Jiuyou Realm. Cultivate well in the future. We’ll have nothing to do with each other. If you dare come, I’ll take your life.”
“I,” hearing this, Pei Zichen’s eyes carried moisture. He felt he could see the other’s face somewhat unclearly, yet still said, “I don’t believe it.”
With that, thinking of those little moments, he couldn’t help but raise his voice. “I don’t believe you don’t love me. You saved me from the cliff. You used your life to save me. Even entering the illusion, your heart’s wish was for me to be well. From beginning to end, you couldn’t bear to harm me. Now clearly the divine artifacts are within easy reach yet you still want me to leave. You dare say this isn’t loving me?!”
“It isn’t.”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her voice to interrupt him, suppressing her tears as she looked at him, forcing out words through gritted teeth. “This is pity.”
Pei Zichen was stunned. Jiang Zhaoxue felt sourness washing toward her eyes in waves, yet she had to forcibly push it down. She looked at the incredulous gaze of the young man before her, destroying the foundation of all his love sentence by sentence. “That year when I went down the cliff with you, it was for the Tianji Lingyu.”
“I wished you well because I would take your life.”
“No matter how good I am to you, it’s only because of pity. Because I know you must die for the True Immortal Realm. I pity that you’re a good person, so I feel guilty. I just wanted to compensate you.”
“But this isn’t love.”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the dazed young man before her. She felt every sentence was carving into her own heart. Speaking hoarsely, “Pei Zichen, I never loved you. I’m sorry. Now please let me go and let me be with your master.”
I’m sorry.
From beginning to end, all she had for him was this one sentence—I’m sorry.
And he couldn’t refute it.
He was naturally perceptive. How could he not know her emotions?
She had come with other intentions from the very beginning. He had only always felt that within this false pretense, there were at least a few traces of genuine feeling.
When she carried him on her back trekking through snowy mountains, when she rescued him from the space-time broken by Yuan Luogong, when she took him riding immortal cranes to see the sky full of stars at night, when she married him in the illusion, when she gave him that copper coin on New Year’s…
She had softened her heart countless times, turned back countless times, instinctively stood behind him countless times. He had thought all these details were her genuine feelings.
Yet it turned out all this kindness was just “I’m sorry”?
“I don’t believe it.”
Pei Zichen insisted on shaking his head. However, tears had already fallen. He stared fixedly at the couple in matching white robes with golden patterns before him, retreating as he shook his head. “I don’t believe it. You’re lying to me. You just want me to leave…”
“If you don’t leave, what am I supposed to do?!” Jiang Zhaoxue shouted sternly. Sensing the increasingly tight auras around them, her heart grew anxious. “If you don’t leave, I become a traitor colluding with Jiuyou Realm. Pei Zichen, I’m telling you—I pity you but I also have a bottom line.”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to summon. Yuan Luogong instantly leaped out and fell into Jiang Zhaoxue’s hands.
She raised her hand to draw the longbow. Spiritual power formed an arrow pointing at Pei Zichen’s forehead. She stared at him coldly, saying through gritted teeth, “If the other immortal sects arrive and you still haven’t left, for Penglai’s reputation, I’ll personally execute you.”
Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He watched her draw the bow.
Fate Masters weren’t skilled with weapons. Jiang Zhaoxue was naturally lazy by disposition. Her bow drawing and sword practice were all taught by him personally in Lingxu’s illusory realm.
At this moment, using a bow-drawing posture extremely similar to his, using Yuan Luogong to point at him, Pei Zichen suddenly felt a few traces of unwillingness.
He stared fixedly at Jiang Zhaoxue, looking at the arrow blade’s sharpness, unmoving.
His rebellious nature arose. He was determined to gamble here, not believing she could truly shoot this arrow, nor believing she could kill him.
Jiang Zhaoxue saw through his thoughts. Knowing he wouldn’t leave unless forced to the extreme, she pressed her lips together and pulled the string. The bowstring in her hand was stretched to its limit. She spoke coldly, “Three.”
Pei Zichen remained silently still. The killing intent on Jiang Zhaoxue’s arrow was too intense. His muscles couldn’t help tensing.
Lingxu and A’Nan both sensed this killing intent. Lingxu urgently urged, “Master, where there’s life, there’s hope. Leave first!”
A’Nan also fluttered beside Jiang Zhaoxue. “Master, don’t! Little Pei will be so heartbroken!”
Only Yuan Luogong, frightened and trembling, didn’t dare say a word.
“Two.”
Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare look at his eyes, staring at his chest.
She sensed that copper coin eagerly stirring in his sleeve—
That was the New Year’s money she had given him.
He thought it was an ordinary copper coin and treasured it with peace of mind.
But that was her other set of fortune-gambling magical artifacts—Heaven and Earth Copper Coins that would block any fatal strike for him at any time.
“Go!”
The moment the sound fell, she shot the arrow without hesitation.
This arrow went straight toward Pei Zichen’s chest without the slightest hesitation. The instant Pei Zichen saw the arrow, his body was faster than his brain. Instinctively rolling to the side, Jiang Zhaoxue had already drawn her bow to shoot again!
Arrow after arrow without hesitation, each arrow full of vigorous spiritual power, pointing directly at vital points, all lethal arrows intending to put him to death, forcing Pei Zichen without a moment’s respite.
Until the final roll, just as he turned back, he saw the arrow stabbing toward his chest!
A copper coin escaped from his sleeve, colliding with that arrow with a “ding.” Enormous spiritual power rolled up giant waves, sweeping his entire person flying toward the cliff bottom.
Unable to control his fall down the cliff, he heard Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice coming from above, cold and proud, like thin ice that would shatter at a touch, calling out, “Go to Jiuyou Realm. I’ll wait for you to come back and kill me!”
Jiuyou Realm…
Hearing these words, Pei Zichen saw that solitary boat on the distant Cangming Sea.
On the solitary boat, a woman in red robes stood holding an umbrella, surrounded densely by Jiuyou Realm cultivators.
They seemed to have been prepared long ago, just waiting here for them.
The moment he saw these people, Pei Zichen didn’t hesitate. He crushed the transmission talisman Jiang Zhaoxue had given him, instantly disappearing before Xinluoyi and others’ eyes.
When he appeared again, he had reached Penglai’s borders.
He vomited blood and could no longer restrain himself, collapsing before a tree.
Lingxu immediately became anxious, unable to help saying, “That Xinluoyi clearly had no ill intent toward you. Why did you force yourself to use the transmission talisman? Thousand-mile transmission has enormous physical consumption on the body. You…”
“My lady…”
The moment Pei Zichen opened his mouth, Lingxu was stunned.
He was clearly beginning to lose consciousness, lying in the mud.
Yet even though that person had just verbally abused him, shot malicious arrows at him, even though his consciousness was almost entirely gone, buried in the mud, he still murmured lowly, “Yaoyao… my lady…”