The Jianmu Tree had been struck by lightning at that time.

Su Zhuyi wasn’t certain whether that tree had died. She had fainted directly then, dimly remembering before losing consciousness that vast sheets of fire soared into the sky like a red mushroom cloud. But the Jianmu Tree was a divine tree that appeared when heaven and earth first opened, a bridge connecting the upper and lower realms—it shouldn’t perish so easily.

The worst outcome would be damaged spiritual intelligence, becoming a tree without consciousness but still able to function as a connection between heaven and earth. If that were the case, its branches should also be effective against Breath Soil.

Before going to find the Jianmu Tree, Su Zhuyi and the others first returned to Gujian Sect, planning to stay there for a while. Little Skull had grown flesh now and didn’t need to hide anymore—he needed to meet people. He wanted to interact with others, but despite his large size, he was still shy and timid. Though he wanted to make friends, he clung to Su Zhuyi like a baby. Therefore, Qin Jianglan and Su Zhuyi wanted to stay at Gujian Sect for a few days to let Little Skull learn to get along with others.

After all, there was no urgent rush, and that place belonged to a chaotic space where time and space intersected. If they were to go, they needed to make thorough preparations, such as high-grade Straw Man substitutes, which Su Zhuyi planned to prepare some of.

When they first returned, the big yellow dog on Luoxue Peak couldn’t recognize Little Skull.

It curiously circled Little Skull. When Little Skull spoke with his familiar voice and tone, it excitedly whimpered. After barking a few times, it turned its head to carefully look at Su Zhuyi. Seeing that Su Zhuyi didn’t seem angry or stern-faced, it then happily wagged its tail and barked several more times, ingratiatingly.

Qin Jianglan saw all of this.

He watched Su Zhuyi leaning against the doorway, watching Little Skull play with the dog.

In the ice and snow of Luoxue Peak, she wore a red cloak with her hands tucked in her sleeves, leaning casually. Her brows were like distant mountains, her skin like snow, with a faint smile on her face. Like a small red plum blooming in snow, adorning snowy mountain branches, beautifying the years and seasons.

She wasn’t unhappy.

The one who was once “The Dog’s Woe,” killing dogs on sight, could now quietly watch one person and one dog play, and even had a slight smile at the corners of her mouth.

When he sacrificed himself to the mirror, when he asked her, he thought that after rebirth, she would truly be as she said—still a demon who killed countless people.

But the reality was, she had changed.

This showed how painful and terrible things she had experienced in her previous life, how many cruel and ruthless people she had encountered.

Indeed, initially, she was also that child willing to give others the chance to live.

So even when she later committed many evils, he still wouldn’t kill her. Even when pursued by the whole world, he risked universal condemnation to save and hide her.

Su Zhuyi watched Little Skull and the big yellow dog, as well as the little white snake that was half-thawed on the ground, planted upside down in the snow with its tail wildly wagging, while Qin Jianglan quietly watched her. Perhaps his gaze was too intense—Su Zhuyi sensed it, turned her head, and habitually reached up to tuck her hair, asking, “What are you looking at? Never seen a beauty before?”

Qin Jianglan nodded slightly and calmly answered without changing expression, “I have, but I can never see enough.” He didn’t know when his eyes could only see Su Zhuyi.

Yesterday, Su Zhuyi had asked him about Su Qingxun.

Su Qingxun was his disciple.

He had also carefully taught her for several hundred years.

He subconsciously felt he had master-disciple affection for Su Qingxun. Even after rebirth, when they were no longer master and disciple, he couldn’t treat Su Qingxun as a stranger. But, when hearing Su Zhuyi mention Su Qingxun, he had no emotional fluctuation at all—he even felt she was just an unimportant stranger.

Because sacrificing to the Liuguang Mirror in exchange for rebirth was for Su Zhuyi’s sake, so only she remained in his life, only she was visible in his eyes?

Though Qin Jianglan was happy with this change, he occasionally had a trace of doubt in his heart. But thinking that what he sought now was exactly what he’d always yearned for, was his obsession, and was the tribulation he couldn’t comprehend or overcome in his previous life, he felt relieved.

Just watching her like this, only watching her, was quite good.

Even watching her every day, he couldn’t see enough.

Su Zhuyi: “…”

This guy’s face was getting thicker and thicker—she could hardly tease him anymore.

“Disciples will come later,” Qin Jianglan’s mouth curved up as he changed the topic.

“Mm, let Master Sword Venerable properly teach them swordsmanship. Maybe before long, our Gujian Sect can replace Yunxiao Sect and become the world’s number one sword dao sect.” Su Zhuyi’s eyebrows rose as she spoke, her eyes playful.

Qin Jianglan smiled without speaking, his gaze toward Su Zhuyi becoming gentler.

Seeing Qin Jianglan unmoved, Su Zhuyi also shrugged her shoulders, summoned the Sword Ancestor, and began practicing swordsmanship. Qin Jianglan called Wu’er to walk forward together to the edge of Gujian Sect’s Luoxue Peak, which was at the tip of the ancient sword.

This trip to the ancient secret realm had been quite fruitful for Gujian Sect, obtaining many treasures and spiritual herbs. They planned to put some in the Treasure Pavilion on Tool Peak for disciples to exchange with sect contributions.

Previously, the Gujian Sect had suffered considerable setbacks. To encourage disciples and boost morale, they also planned to hold a sect sword dao competition, offering three high-grade spiritual treasures obtained in the secret realm as rewards. For a time, everyone in the Gujian Sect was seriously cultivating and preparing for battle. After Qin Jianglan, this mysterious Sword Venerable, worshipped by Gujian Sect disciples, coincidentally guided a disciple named Song Shangzhi, who extremely admired him and carried his portrait and incense, disciples came to seek instruction every few days. Eventually, on the mornings of the first and fifteenth of each month, Qin Jianglan would preach on Luoxue Peak, becoming Gujian Sect’s veritable sword dao master.

During this period, Little Skull also participated. He learned a transformation technique that could shrink his body somewhat, making him look about the same size as Gujian Sect’s youngest two disciples. He also learned swordsmanship with everyone, now getting along well with other disciples and occasionally sparring with them, though he always suppressed his cultivation level.

Otherwise, without even drawing his sword, his pressure aura alone could directly crush the other disciples.

When Qin Jianglan preached, Su Zhuyi practiced swordsmanship by herself. These past days she had also found time to refine some high-grade Straw Man substitutes for emergencies—they might be useful when going to Quicksand River to find the Jianmu Tree.

She had also asked Dan Ruyun for some pills. Dan Ruyun said she wanted to properly prepare a big gift for her, so Su Zhuyi kept waiting. She estimated that Danhe Sect’s gift would arrive in the next few days.

Sure enough, while she was practicing swordsmanship, a crane flew to Luoxue Peak.

The crane landed in the snow not far in front of Su Zhuyi, stood on one foot, then elegantly stretched its wings. Next, it turned its neck, lowered its head, and pecked into the snow.

Su Zhuyi: “…”

That wasn’t a worm—that was the little white snake’s tail…

“Woof!” The big yellow dog had already considered the little white snake a friend. Seeing its little companion being grabbed, it immediately pounced toward the crane, startling the crane into dropping several feathers. For a moment, there was chaos with flying and jumping. Su Zhuyi called the dog back, waved at the crane, and took out the jade token Dan Ruyun had given her, waving it. “Crane Lord, over here.”

The crane then flapped its wings huffily and flew to Su Zhuyi, speaking in human language: “Miss sent me to deliver a gift.” It opened its wings, revealing a differently colored feather underneath. Su Zhuyi picked out that feather and inserted the quill into a small hole in the jade token.

Only then was the storage space array within the feather unlocked. Su Zhuyi swept it with her divine consciousness and saw several pill bottles inside—neat rows of emerald green medicine bottles, over a hundred in total.

It seemed her decision at that time was absolutely correct.

She could also refine pills herself, but befriending a skilled alchemist saved much trouble. With so many high-grade pills to supplement, her adventures outside would be much safer.

Now the pills were also prepared, Little Skull was getting along well with the disciples, and she and Qin Jianglan could set out for Quicksand River to find the Jianmu Tree at any time.