Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart jumped. Then she extended her hand with a cold expression: “It’s not what you think. Give it back.”

“Alright, alright.” Qian Sisi returned the marriage ribbon to Jiang Zhaoxue. “My mistake. Next time I won’t randomly take your things. Don’t be angry.”

Jiang Zhaoxue ignored her and took the marriage ribbon to tie around her wrist.

A’Nan glanced at it and went “Wow”: “It really is your name.”

“Obviously.” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke calmly. “Right now besides me, who else could he write?”

Everyone who had ever treated him well or cared about him had been left behind on that day at the cliff.

The only driftwood in his life was her.

But writing these three characters—what was he asking for? For her good health and longevity, or prosperous cultivation?

He was quite grateful, at least.

The corners of Jiang Zhaoxue’s mouth lifted slightly. Without thinking further, she began questioning Qian Sisi: “What’s the arrangement for tonight?”

“Oh,” hearing the main business, Qian Sisi immediately became serious. Looking at Jiang Zhaoxue, she said, “Speaking of which, you’re blind. Can you move without someone helping you?”

“I can.”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to point at A’Nan on her shoulder: “It will give me directions, and I can sense spiritual energy and identify positions by sound. Don’t worry, as long as you can protect me for a quarter hour, there’s no big problem.”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi nodded and relaxed. Then she said, “Don’t worry, I just found out tonight that the master presiding is a Nascent Soul stage great power.”

“Nascent Soul stage.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, understanding. Qian Sisi lowered her voice: “But this master won’t appear casually. He only protects tonight’s most important guest.”

“Song Wuya?”

“No,” Qian Sisi shook her head. “The host of the Taotie Feast. This person is very mysterious—nobody knows exactly who it is. But it has nothing to do with us. Anyway, our plan tonight is for you to be beautiful.”

With that, Qian Sisi gestured: “Stunningly beautiful, movingly beautiful, devastatingly beautiful—enchant that lecher Song Wuya to death! He values faces most. He’ll definitely try hard to bid for you. Generally, whoever wins the bid gets sent to a private room immediately. The Taotie Feast lasts all night, so you and I will have a chance to meet Song Wuya alone. Once we’re in an enclosed space, leave everything to me. You just wait to collect the corpse and take the goods.”

“The way you put it, I’m getting the better deal.” Jiang Zhaoxue smiled. “Just showing my face and I get seventy percent.”

“I’m responsible for killing,” Qian Sisi reminded her. “After I kill him, I don’t care anymore. How you take the stuff out, how you run—that’s none of my business.”

Jiang Zhaoxue understood and nodded: “As long as you give me a quarter hour, everything will be fine.”

If she could set up a formation, where couldn’t she go?

“Oh, one more thing.” Qian Sisi remembered and reminded her: “You’re someone I kidnapped, so don’t be too cooperative later. Can you be a bit more fierce and unyielding?”

“Simple.”

The two discussed their plans. Jiang Zhaoxue felt the carriage going more and more off track, winding left and right. By dusk, Jiang Zhaoxue heard the surroundings becoming quieter and quieter. She asked A’Nan, “Where are we?”

“A graveyard.” A’Nan said in a low voice. “Pretty creepy too.”

With that, the carriage stopped. Qian Sisi lowered her voice: “We’re here. I’ll get off first. You pretend to faint.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately closed her eyes and collapsed in the carriage.

Then she heard Qian Sisi jump down from the carriage and call out loudly: “Second Master Zhao, I’ve brought the person. If you want to inspect the goods, go ahead.”

“Coming.”

An old man’s voice rang out. Then Jiang Zhaoxue heard someone pull open the carriage curtain. Qian Sisi jumped into the carriage, grabbed her chin, and displayed her face: “Second Master, how is it?”

“Excellent goods.”

At first sight of Jiang Zhaoxue, Second Master Zhao clapped in amazement, saying happily, “Where did you get her?”

“She was kept by a Tianji Academy disciple. She’s also blind. I saw her and knew she could fetch a good price, so I targeted her.”

Qian Sisi spoke so smoothly that Jiang Zhaoxue even suspected whether she did this kind of thing regularly.

But this smoothness also put Second Master Zhao somewhat at ease. Still, after thinking, he said, “A blind woman won’t be easy to sell.”

“Second Master, that’s not fair—if you want to lower the price, just say so. If she’s ugly, then yes, hard to sell. But looking like this,” Qian Sisi patted Jiang Zhaoxue’s face. Jiang Zhaoxue secretly clenched her fists, mentally noting this debt, as she heard Qian Sisi say meaningfully, “Being blind—that’s called having ‘flavor.'”

Qian Sisi spoke too directly. Second Master Zhao, having his thoughts exposed, coughed lightly and nodded: “Fine, I won’t beat around the bush with you. For such premium goods, if I set a price, you definitely won’t be satisfied. Tonight, let her go on the auction block. However much she fetches is what you get—Taotie Tower takes forty percent.”

“Thank you, Second Master!” Hearing this, Qian Sisi’s eyes brightened. She was about to kneel in gratitude.

Second Master Zhao supported her with his fan: “I’m giving you this rate because I think you have potential. In the future, if you have such goods, come to the City God Temple first. Second Master will be waiting.”

“Don’t worry!” Qian Sisi said hurriedly. “From now on, I won’t be an assassin anymore. I’m changing careers—I’ll find good merchandise for Second Master every day!”

“Smart.”

Second Master Zhao was quite satisfied with Qian Sisi. After the two discussed things, Second Master Zhao said, “You follow her. I’ll arrange people to wash and dress her. Tonight, she must have the most beautiful entrance!”

As the two discussed, Second Master Zhao turned and ordered: “Open the doors.”

As he spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue felt the spiritual energy around her shift. Then she heard a rumbling sound. The carriage began moving. Qian Sisi jumped onto the carriage and bid farewell to Second Master Zhao.

After a short while, many voices suddenly flooded around Jiang Zhaoxue. String and woodwind music, the sound of rushing water, the flirtatious voices of men and women swirled around her ears. Qian Sisi lowered her voice: “We’ve arrived. The Taotie Feast—Taotie Tower.”

As soon as Jiang Zhaoxue left, Pei Zichen immediately sent a message to Ye Tianjiao.

Before long, the two met at the city gate. The moment Ye Tianjiao’s carriage stopped, Pei Zichen jumped in and instructed Ye Tianjiao: “First prepare over a hundred spirit-seeking formations. After I determine the approximate location, I’ll come find you.”

“Wait,” hearing this, Ye Tianjiao was somewhat shocked. “Didn’t you receive Tianji Academy’s message?”

Since entering the path, Ye Tianjiao had become a nominal disciple of Tianji Academy. He shook his token: “Tianji Academy is urgently summoning disciples back now. If you’re sure Fairy Sister went to the Taotie Feast, can’t you just follow Tianji Academy?”

“They must have arranged informants to get in tonight,” Pei Zichen said decisively. “The Taotie Feast doesn’t let messages out—they can only wait passively. How long would I have to wait?”

“Then what will you do?”

Ye Tianjiao couldn’t understand: “If Tianji Academy can’t find it, how can you?”

“The Taotie Feast definitely needs many helping hands. Ordinary people don’t dare go to such an underworld market, so only minor demons would dare. If the Taotie Feast is being held tonight, they should have already set out. Right now, I’ll go find all the minor demons not at home today and deduce the Taotie Feast’s location from where they last went. In that area, you set up spirit-seeking formations. I placed a sword technique on Master’s Wife. With the formations there, I know what my sword technique looks like. As long as I find the sword technique, I can find Master’s Wife.”

He spoke extremely calmly, yet his hands trembled slightly.

Ye Tianjiao sensed something was wrong with his emotions and didn’t dare contradict him. He only swallowed and reminded him: “Then… all the minor demons in the capital… can you check them all?”

“Eight hundred thirty-four.” Pei Zichen spoke, raising his sword and turning around, saying calmly, “I’m leaving.”

With that, he raised his sword and cleaved, stepping into a spatial rift.

Moments later, in a mountain cottage, a female frog spirit was drying flies in her courtyard when she heard knocking at the door.

The female frog spirit hopped over. The moment she opened the door, a sword edge came straight at her, pressing her violently against the doorframe.

The young man raised his black-purple eyes. With a flick of his hand, a register unfurled. He spoke politely yet coldly: “Pardon the intrusion, Madam. May I ask—your family of five, where were they all today?”

While Pei Zichen was strictly investigating all demon dens throughout the capital, Jiang Zhaoxue was carried into Taotie Tower by Qian Sisi.

After entering Taotie Tower, they were first settled in a room. Then a group of people entered to dress and adorn Jiang Zhaoxue.

Too lazy to play the role of a chaste and virtuous woman, Jiang Zhaoxue began acting as a beautiful female corpse, remaining completely motionless as they dressed her up.

After the preparations were complete, Qian Sisi had everyone leave. Holding a flatbread, she sat beside Jiang Zhaoxue and pushed her: “Hey, want to eat something?”

Jiang Zhaoxue opened her mouth, clearly expressing her opinion.

Qian Sisi stuffed a flatbread into her mouth. Jiang Zhaoxue took a bite, propped herself up, and said vaguely, “Water.”

“Where’s your beauty now?” Qian Sisi handed her water. “Don’t spray mung bean cake all over the prince later.”

“I’m not a professional. I’m a thief.”

Jiang Zhaoxue reminded her of her identity, drinking water and saying, “Move quickly later when you act. If you’re slow and I don’t know what to do, if Song Wuya is good-looking, I might only be able to sacrifice myself to survive.”

“What if he’s not good-looking?”

Qian Sisi was curious. Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t hesitate: “If he touches me, he must die!”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue remembered: “Is Song Wuya good-looking?”

“Pretty good.” Qian Sisi recalled. “Better-looking than that little follower beside you.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue had a sense of it.

Pei Zichen was disguised, but even disguised, he couldn’t be too different. Better-looking than the disguised Pei Zichen meant quite handsome.

Jiang Zhaoxue relaxed, feeling even more anticipation for tonight’s assassination.

Outside was lively and noisy. After a while, the outside quieted for a moment. Then a host said happily, “Welcome everyone to the Taotie Feast. We have awaited you for long and tonight will certainly offer delicacies.”

“It’s starting, it’s starting!”

Hearing this voice, Qian Sisi quickly ran to the window. After glancing out, she helped Jiang Zhaoxue up and began checking the items on her.

“Where are your self-defense items?”

“You don’t need to worry about that.” Jiang Zhaoxue was confident. “You’re the one doing the fighting anyway.”

“Fine.”

As Qian Sisi spoke, she glanced out the window again, then instructed: “Song Wuya is sitting in the private box directly opposite the stage in the center. Remember to throw flirtatious glances in that direction later.”

“I’m blind.”

Jiang Zhaoxue calmly reminded her.

Qian Sisi choked and could only say, “Then just face that direction!”

“Fine.”

Jiang Zhaoxue responded. Then she heard a scream from below. Jiang Zhaoxue frowned as cheers erupted from below, accompanied by the host’s laughter: “Today’s first item—a merman whose tears become pearls. Starting price: three thousand spirit stones.”

“Let me go!”

This was clearly a young boy. Jiang Zhaoxue heard iron shackles clanging wildly as he screamed, “Let me go!”

Someone questioned: “Will he work? Make him cry first to verify the goods.”

“Come.”

The host called softly. Then Jiang Zhaoxue heard an extremely agonized scream. She frowned deeply. Beside her, Qian Sisi hurriedly said, “I’m telling you, don’t meddle in other people’s business. Remember our mission.”

“I know.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice was cold. She couldn’t help asking, “Whose territory is this anyway?”

“Hm?” Qian Sisi was somewhat confused.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t want to bother, but amidst the young boy’s screams, she still pressed: “Under the Emperor’s feet, protected by dragon energy, with Tianji Academy presiding—how can such a filthy place exist?”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi laughed lightly but didn’t answer.

Jiang Zhaoxue was puzzled: “Qian Sisi?”

“One look and you’re from a wealthy family, asking such questions. Under the Emperor’s feet, if such things exist, then naturally…”

Qian Sisi took a sip of wine and glanced outside the window, only saying, “Hmph, anyway, you just need to know that anyone who can enter here tonight, you could kill any of them without injustice.”

“I’m asking who manages this place.”

Jiang Zhaoxue pressed coldly. Qian Sisi thought about it, leaned close to her, and whispered, “I’ll tell you, just take it as gossip. This place might belong to the Crown Prince.”

Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned. Qian Sisi said carefully in a low voice, “Don’t go out and spread this around. This matter is highly confidential.”

“Then how do you know?”

Jiang Zhaoxue was curious.

“I just saw.” Qian Sisi was somewhat nervous. “That Nascent Soul cultivator escorted someone to the main box. That person,” Qian Sisi lowered her voice, “is the Crown Prince.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing. After thinking it through, she immediately realized that if the Crown Prince was the Taotie Feast’s host, then Song Wuya’s appearance here was absolutely no coincidence.

But this had nothing to do with her. However, if the Crown Prince was this kind of person…

Jiang Zhaoxue listened as the “merchandise” below had already changed. The finest aphrodisiac incense—whoever won the bid immediately scattered it below.

Outside was nothing but debauched, seething sounds. Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath, quite troubled.

As a White Tiger divine beast, such an excessively filthy environment was somewhat torturous for her.

She took a deep breath. Outside came a knocking sound. A servant said urgently, “Miss Qian, your merchandise should go on stage now.”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi quickly responded. Then with a “smack,” she slapped a talisman paper onto Jiang Zhaoxue and explained, “This is the obedience talisman they gave me to put on you. Try and see if it affects you?”

“It’s fine.”

The spiritual power on this talisman was useless to Jiang Zhaoxue.

Hearing this, Qian Sisi was satisfied and helped Jiang Zhaoxue stand: “Let’s go.”

As the name implied, the obedience talisman made people obedient. Since Jiang Zhaoxue was blind anyway and couldn’t show much expression, she was helped down by Qian Sisi.

As soon as she went out, there were gasps of amazement all around. Everyone made way for her yet couldn’t help but steal glances.

When Qian Sisi brought Jiang Zhaoxue to the stage, seeing her, Second Master Zhao’s eyes lit up. He said hurriedly, “Come, Sisi, have her sit here.”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi looked up and saw a giant crescent moon ahead. Qian Sisi was somewhat bewildered: “This… sitting on this… you want to hang her up?”

“Don’t worry, it’s just to give her a stunning entrance!”

Second Master Zhao quickly explained: “There won’t be any danger. We still want to make money!”

“Oh.” Qian Sisi relaxed. She looked back at Jiang Zhaoxue once, then nervously helped her forward. “Then… then sit.”

“We spent big money promoting her!” Second Master Zhao introduced happily. “Earlier we deliberately let the aphrodisiac incense sell cheap and scattered it throughout the venue. Now when she appears, she’ll definitely fetch the highest price.”

“You…” Qian Sisi smiled stiffly. “You really have business acumen.”

Hearing the two speak, Jiang Zhaoxue coldly swept a glance at Second Master Zhao.

Second Master Zhao was completely unaware, only feeling: “Why does my neck feel cold? Whatever. Old Three,” he called to the host on stage, “the finale is here!”

Hearing this, the host sneaked a glance at Jiang Zhaoxue, then gasped in excitement: “Everyone, tonight, our final main course has arrived. Let us hold our breath and count down!”

“Three.”

The audience outside was already too excited to care about the host. In the chaotic scene, only Song Wuya sat in his private box, lightly tapping the table and listening to the host count.

“Two.”

“One!”

The instant the word fell, a woman descended from the sky on a crescent moon. She wore a white and gold Dunhuang Flying Apsara long dress, a floral crown on her head, silk ribbons dancing in the wind. Sitting barefoot at an angle, she was like a mountain goddess, riding the wind.

The moment she appeared, the entire venue fell silent for an instant, then suddenly erupted. As the crescent moon swing passed over everyone’s heads, people excitedly threw themselves forward, trying frantically to grab at her ribbons.

Fortunately, Second Master Zhao had prepared in advance. The instant the audience rushed forward, countless dark shadows fell around them, pressing people firmly to the ground.

Jiang Zhaoxue heard the commotion around her and swung on the swing expressionlessly. After swinging for a bit, she suddenly remembered Qian Sisi’s instructions and looked up toward the private box directly ahead of her.

The beauty calmly raised her eyes to look over. Although her pupils had no focus, Song Wuya still felt as if she was looking at him.

His heartbeat suddenly quickened by a beat. Song Wuya hurriedly steadied himself, then immediately realized he had seen this woman before.

He raised his hand to touch the blue crystal ring on his finger and whispered to the servant beside him, “Hurry out and send a message to Immortal Master Shen, saying I found his wife at the Taotie Feast.”

Hearing this, the servant immediately responded and left.

Song Wuya raised his eyes and saw Jiang Zhaoxue sitting on the stage, casually swinging on the swing.

Everything around her seemed to have little to do with her. She sat coldly and calmly on the moon, listening to the people below bidding frantically.

“Three thousand!”

“Five thousand!”

“Seven thousand!”

Each bid higher than the last. Jiang Zhaoxue only looked up toward the private boxes and asked A’Nan, “Which room is Song Wuya in?”

“Directly in front of you, there’s a good-looking one who’s also dressed very flashily. I’m guessing that’s him.”

Hearing A’Nan’s words, Jiang Zhaoxue smiled at him.

In that very instant, Jiang Zhaoxue heard a familiar voice from the gambling house: “Ten thousand!”

At this number, the entire venue fell silent.

Jiang Zhaoxue tilted her head and extended her hand forward with a smile.

But before her hand fully extended, someone from a high room behind her suddenly spoke: “One hundred thousand.”

Hearing this voice, Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned.

Song Wuya obviously hadn’t expected anyone to offer such a price. After frowning slightly, he said through gritted teeth, “One hundred ten thousand.”

“One hundred twenty thousand.”

The other party followed without hesitation.

Qian Sisi was also somewhat panicked and hurriedly said to Second Master Zhao, “One hundred ten thousand is fine. I like this number! I’ll sell to the one who bid one hundred ten thousand!”

“Are you sick?” Second Master Zhao glared at her. “We’re here to make money. If someone’s willing to buy, we sell. Why be picky?”

“One hundred thirty thousand.” Song Wuya was clearly gritting his teeth.

But the bidder felt no pressure: “One hundred forty thousand.”

Hearing “one hundred forty thousand,” Song Wuya finally couldn’t sit still. He rose abruptly and called loudly, “Brother! This woman is extremely important to me. Could you perhaps concede?”

“No!” The other party’s servant was extremely arrogant. “If the young master has money, bid higher. If not, step aside.”

Song Wuya couldn’t speak. Even if he wanted to do Shen Yuqing a favor, one hundred fifty thousand was indeed somewhat too high for him.

He bit his teeth without speaking. Second Master Zhao quickly went out, apologized to everyone, then said, “If no one bids higher, then this young lady belongs to the guest in Private Box Number One.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue was lowered. She was uncertain in her heart—who tonight would bid even higher than Song Wuya?

But this wasn’t important right now. What was important was: having been chosen by someone else, how would she get to Song Wuya?

As she pondered this, the moment she touched the ground, Qian Sisi rushed over and protected her, saying, “Forget it, we’re not selling anymore. Second Master, I promised her I must pick a good-looking master for her!”

“What fucking bullshit!”

Hearing this, Second Master Zhao flew into a rage, kicking at her and roaring, “Pull her away!”

“Who dares!”

Qian Sisi’s blade flashed out, blocking Jiang Zhaoxue’s front as she cursed loudly, “I said I’m not selling, so I’m not selling!”

“Take advantage of the chaos to find Song Wuya,” Jiang Zhaoxue stood behind Qian Sisi, saying in a lowered voice, “Tell him I admire him and have him come save me.”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi paused, then reacted. Looking left and right, seeing Song Wuya had already risen from his box, she gritted her teeth and threw herself at Second Master Zhao: “I’ll fight you!”

Second Master Zhao kicked Qian Sisi away with one foot, raised his hand and shouted sternly, “Someone come, capture and kill her!”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi rolled outward and threw herself in Song Wuya’s direction.

Jiang Zhaoxue heard fighting break out around her. Then a man walked before her, smiled, raised one hand toward Jiang Zhaoxue, and said respectfully, “Miss, let’s go.”

His voice was like a eunuch’s, rather shrill. Jiang Zhaoxue pretended to be controlled by the obedience talisman, letting him pull her hand onto his and lead her forward.

The two walked all the way to the highest level. Coming to the top floor, Jiang Zhaoxue passed through a long corridor and was finally led into a spacious room.

“Miss, please sit first.” The other party led Jiang Zhaoxue to sit on a chair, saying with a smile, “The young master will come to favor you very soon. You’re blessed tonight.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue remained expressionless.

The eunuch turned and instructed those around: “Watch her carefully, don’t let anything go wrong. His Highness said after he’s done with her, she’s yours as tonight’s reward. Keep your mouths tight, understand?”

“Yes!”

Hearing this, everyone became excited.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s face remained motionless, but she sneered coldly in her heart. Counting the breathing of those around her, she began drawing a formation with her hands.

While chaos reigned in Taotie Tower, Pei Zichen had already brought Ye Tianjiao to his calculated point.

“Tonight, three hundred twenty-one workers went out. The destinations of one hundred ninety-three people connect to form this circle.”

Pei Zichen discussed with Ye Tianjiao, coming to the circle he had drawn. Ye Tianjiao quickly set up spirit-seeking formations.

He didn’t have the ability to lay too many spirit-seeking formations—this was why Pei Zichen had to narrow the scope.

He quickly set up the formations. Pei Zichen stood in the spirit-seeking array, and ice and snow spread rapidly outward with him as the origin point.

Using his sword to connect all the formations, he closed his eyes. The world transformed into countless jumping points of light. With a raised hand, his sword transformed into light swords circling around. With closed eyes, among these myriad jumping lights, he sensed for the most familiar one.

As he sensed, Tianji Academy disciples ambushed nearby received intelligence from Song Wuya. They were immediately stunned, then quickly notified Shen Yuqing: “Immortal Master Shen, your wife has been found—at the Taotie Feast. As for the location…” The disciple was somewhat troubled.

At that very moment, a blue formation suddenly lit up not far away. The disciple looked up and saw within the formation, a young man in blue Daoist robes standing on a glacier, sword gripped in his turned hand, chanting words.

After a long while, his sword fiercely stabbed into the ground. Brilliant light shot skyward, and ghostly energy screamed and exploded in an instant! Dozens of light swords simultaneously fell, completely breaking open the barrier. The young man leaped in, charging straight down!

The Tianji Academy disciple stood frozen in place, then shouted urgently, “Found it! Thirty li east of the city, Orphan Maiden’s Graveyard, found it!”

Hearing the Tianji Academy disciple’s sharp voice, Shen Yuqing immediately drew his sword.

The sky rumbled and cracked open with fissures. In no time, Shen Yuqing transformed into a brilliant light that fell to earth. Over a dozen light swords directly smashed into the ground, shattering the barrier with a boom, as he led Tianji Academy disciples down like meteors.

The moment Pei Zichen fell into the barrier, ghostly energy rushed at his face. Sword raised, he dashed forward, cutting and slashing all the way toward Taotie Tower. In no time, he felt sword light smash down behind him.

“Shen Yuqing is here!”

The Yuan Luogong shouted urgently.

Pei Zichen flipped his body. The Yuan Luogong appeared in his hand simultaneously. He bent the bow and shot rapidly. The arrow broke through evil spirits and monsters. His body followed the arrow, rushing swift as wind.

Taotie Tower was alarmed by Tianji Academy in the sky above. All attacks rushed toward the sky. The entire Taotie Tower rang with urgent bells. Pei Zichen ran madly on the ground, leaped and rushed into Taotie Tower, only to see chaos inside.

The scent of aphrodisiac incense permeated the air. There were still men and women intertwined together who hadn’t fully awakened, looking up in confusion.

Qian Sisi was pressed to the ground by several large blades. Seeing Pei Zichen, she cried out in delighted surprise and hurriedly said, “Top floor! Make the lights go dark for me—she went to the top floor!”

Almost the instant Qian Sisi said “top floor,” Pei Zichen immediately dashed upward. The sword wind simultaneously extinguished the lights, transforming the entire Taotie Tower into darkness.

Ghosts and spirits ran rampant, demons shrieked. Pei Zichen flipped and leaped onto the corridor. Countless soldiers rushed forward with raised blades.

Pei Zichen formed seals with one hand, held his sword with the other, stepping on the Nine Heavenly Stems formation. His sword danced like light, blood spraying beside him. He shouted sternly, “Move aside!”

Yet the soldiers were like lifeless puppets, one after another throwing themselves forward frantically.

Pei Zichen fought while advancing, hearing women’s screams from the rooms. His heart was in chaos.

The Yuan Luogong grew excited, shouting madly, “Use me! Pei Zichen, use me—I’ll kill them all in one strike!”

“Shut up!”

“Shen Yuqing is coming!” The Yuan Luogong said excitedly. “He’s about to catch up. Kill them all then!”

“Nonsense.”

Pei Zichen fiercely severed a young man’s head and flipped onto the final level.

The instant he leaped into the corridor, overwhelming spiritual power exploded violently, striking Pei Zichen square in the chest and sending him flying backward.

He crashed heavily into the corridor, then felt countless blades and swords rain down. An androgynous voice said coldly, “So young yet seeking death. Did you think you could covet His Highness’s possession?”

“Return my Master’s Wife!”

Pei Zichen pressed down a blade with his sword and looked up to see a middle-aged man. His expression instantly turned cold as he shouted sternly, “She doesn’t belong here—hand her over!”

“Oh my,” the middle-aged man raised an orchid finger, “A thing about to die still dares threaten this one?”

“Get lost!”

With that, the man waved his sleeve. A violent wind struck, fiercely sending Pei Zichen flying away.

All around were the screams of women and youths. Pei Zichen vomited blood and sprawled on the ground. Yuanluo urgently cried out, “Quickly accept my power!”

Pei Zichen didn’t move, only propped himself up once more and slashed forward again.

As he slashed, his mind was filled with memories of his youth at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, looking up at the clouds and reading classics.

“Those who cultivate Jiuyou Realm demonic arts are beguiled by human desires and ultimately fall into madness. They harm the innocent and slaughter living beings.”

“Demonic cultivators are abandoned by the righteous path. The True Immortal Realm kills them on sight.”

“You are a refined gentleman, the sect’s jade—I cannot bear to see you become a demon, so I save you.”

“Don’t look at how cold he is now. In the past, he was just like you—a very good person. Everything he could do, you can do too. In the future, you can become an even better person than him. He wasn’t a good master, so I’ll make up for it in his stead. So rest assured, I will look after you well, guide you, and accompany you to divinity.”

“Master’s Wife…”

Pei Zichen gripped his sword tightly, desperately telling himself:

He still had to return to the True Immortal Realm.

He still had to stay by Jiang Zhaoxue’s side.

He had to be better than Master, had to be a refined gentleman, the sect’s jade.

He couldn’t let all of Jiang Zhaoxue’s efforts come to nothing. He couldn’t become a demon. He had to become a god.

“Stop being stupid!” Sensing his state, the Yuan Luogong roared angrily, “Jiang Zhaoxue can’t hold on! Screw the gentleman’s path—only keeping one’s original heart makes one a god! What kind of god are you if you’re running away!”

But Pei Zichen didn’t listen. His sword grew faster and faster, yet his opponent remained perfectly at ease, looking at the black energy around him with confusion: “Eh, what is this around you?”

“Your father!” The Yuan Luogong cursed loudly, circling around him and constantly trying to convince Pei Zichen. “Will your gentleman’s path be maintained with someone else’s life? She’s in there—if something happens to her, what difference is there between you becoming a god or a demon?! Four years ago, she went blind for you and fell into the time rift. Now you want to harm her again for your bullshit beliefs?!”

“Accept me!”

The Yuan Luogong shouted intensely: “Accept me!”

“Pei Zichen.”

The moment she left four years ago, the moment she dissipated like flowing sand, circled in his mind.

It was as if he heard her calling him.

Sensing his emotions, the Yuan Luogong immediately used the talisman Jiang Zhaoxue had given him, shouting in a voice only Jiang Zhaoxue could hear: “Call his name!”

Jiang Zhaoxue was drawing a formation when the Yuan Luogong’s voice suddenly appeared in her mind, urgently saying, “Quick, call Pei Zichen!”

Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat bewildered and spoke strangely, “Pei Zichen?”

The instant the sound fell, Pei Zichen’s pupils contracted sharply. Countless streams of black energy instantly flooded into Pei Zichen’s body. Pei Zichen’s sword wind became as swift as thunder and lightning. The opponent didn’t even have time to resist before being frozen by ice and snow, then having his head fiercely severed!

Then ice and snow rapidly covered the corridor, moving forward. Black energy roared ahead. Pei Zichen seemed to carry thousands of troops. Wherever he passed, flesh and blood across the ground split and shattered like breaking ice.

Jiang Zhaoxue felt spiritual power churning madly outside. Her heart pounded like a drum. The instant she turned back, she heard the door slam open with a “bang.”

Ice and snow rushed in, black demonic swords fell like rain. Everyone in the room didn’t even have time to make a sound before being instantly pierced through.

The surroundings fell silent in an instant. Jiang Zhaoxue sensed a pressure almost like heavenly might. She probed cautiously, “Zichen?”

No one responded.

The blood of those around her silently flowed across the floor. Jiang Zhaoxue smelled the scent of blood permeating the entire room. She suppressed her heartbeat, gripping the talisman in her hand vigilantly.

Pei Zichen stood at the door looking at her. Black energy swirled around his entire body, his blood sword dripping.

Not far away, the woman wore white clothes and a floral crown, like an untainted elf. Silently, blood spread at the hem of her garment.

The instant Pei Zichen saw blood staining her, his lips trembled.

He held his sword, stepping on the blood covering the ground, trembling as he walked in.

With each step, he suppressed the demonic energy on his body by one degree.

By the time he reached Jiang Zhaoxue, he had recovered his usual appearance—sword in hand, his long hair scattered loose behind him after being disheveled in battle, looking down quietly at the woman before him who knew nothing of everything and vigilantly sensed her surroundings.

The wind blew, and hair carrying the scent of bamboo leaves and pine gently brushed her cheek. Jiang Zhaoxue paused slightly and looked up at him.

Pei Zichen suddenly felt his eyes sting. He slashed once to cut away the blood-stained corner of Jiang Zhaoxue’s clothing, then knelt trembling on one knee, looking up at Jiang Zhaoxue sitting in the chair.

“Master’s Wife,” he spoke hoarsely, “I’ve come to take you home.”