At this moment, Dong Yuan couldn’t care about the immortal rolling on the ground begging for help. He stared in disbelief at the fragments of the divine mirror scattered across the floor.

In those fragments, he could vaguely see that when the army of demons rolling underground retreated, Xiaoxiao wore a bright smile as she embraced the black-scaled man’s neck, seemingly joyfully praising him for something.

Dong Yuan’s hands trembled with anger, clenching tighter and tighter.

Are gods inferior to humans? Wouldn’t this upset the natural order of heaven? How could it be tolerated by heavenly law?

Wei Jie, what exactly are you trying to do? Have you completely given up on ascending to immortality, preparing to resist heavenly law as a lowly human demon?

While Dong Yuan was still trapped in disbelief, Immortal Luhua was tremblingly groping to grab his ankle.

Although she was severely injured, it didn’t matter much. As long as she had an upper god’s assistance, she could exchange for another lower immortal’s eyes.

After all, below human immortals in the heavenly court were demon immortals – there would always be those willing to curry favor with upper gods and voluntarily contribute their eyes…

But before she could speak her request, something cold suddenly pierced through her chest.

Immortal Luhua touched the immortal sword that had penetrated her body in disbelief – how could this be? Even if she had made mistakes, how dare Dong Yuan kill her without a heavenly court trial?

Had he forgotten that she was also a lower immortal who couldn’t be easily killed by swords?

Dong Yuan slowly withdrew his sword, examining the ancient and mysterious carvings on the blade, saying, “This sword is the ancient blade used by the primordial great god Zhu Yin to slay traitorous gods and demons. Even upper gods and immortals would have their souls instantly destroyed if killed by this sword. You should consider dying under this sword worthwhile.”

His ordering Luhua to privately release Underworld demons was naturally unseemly, and there was a reason he had specifically chosen Mount Kunlun, the immortal mountain closest to the mortal realm.

This place was full of his subordinates, and there weren’t many people. No one knew about Luhua coming here with him.

A minor lower god – even if she disappeared, no one would investigate.

Dong Yuan wasn’t worried about this matter being exposed. He only regretted letting Wei Jie and the others escape again.

Just then, a divine attendant who had been silently standing behind Dong Yuan said quietly, “Heavenly Mother Saint instructed you to remain calm. Now that such a commotion has been caused, I fear she will punish you again, Immortal Lord…”

Dong Yuan smiled dismissively. If one were always cautious about everything, his mother wouldn’t be the current Heavenly Mother. His audacity was inherited from his mother – he never had too many concerns when acting.

His mother had said that his unsavory activities in the mortal realm weren’t particularly important. But his secretly usurping mortal imperial fortune was something that needed to be well concealed.

As for how to proceed, his mother had given him detailed instructions. Following the plan step by step, there shouldn’t be any problems.

However, the improvement in Wei Jie and Xiaoxiao’s strength far exceeded his expectations. This time, he had an ominous feeling that things wouldn’t end well…

This failure temporarily suppressed Dong Yuan temporarily suppress his desire for immediate revenge. He had to handle the major matter first before dealing with personal grudges.

Thinking of this, he no longer lingered and turned to leave the cold Mount Kunlun.

As for Wei Jie and Cui Xiaoxiao in the mortal realm, they chose to act here because the Wei family guards had all caught up.

Although they could use invisibility talismans to hide their traces, these demons were about to attack nearby villages. So they made a decisive move, using the Corpse-eating Beast brought by the Wei family to fight beasts with beasts.

The aftermath would be handled by the Wei family guards. Before they departed, Grandmother had instructed that everything should follow Wei Jie’s arrangements.

The villagers from several nearby villages all witnessed the scene of several immortals descending from heaven to fight the monsters emerging from underground.

They watched as the beast that had eaten until it was mountain-sized disappeared after being patted on the head by a beautiful woman who looked like a celestial being.

Among the villagers, some brave ones walked forward and tentatively called out loudly, “Are you all human or immortal?”

Xiaoxiao turned to cup her hands toward someone on the hillside, “We were just passing through and happened to know some demon-subduing techniques. We made fools of ourselves just now. Everything should be fine now. You can return home safely and let the nearby villagers rest well!”

Hearing her say this and seeing those silver-armored, well-trained Wei family soldiers, the villagers’ hearts gradually settled.

However, one sharp-eyed person noticed the totemic scar left on Wei Jie’s forehead after his divine essence shattered.

He found it familiar but couldn’t remember where he’d seen it until, on his way back with the villagers, he passed the white temple in the village prepared for funeral rites and saw the statue of Emperor Gu Yan enshrined in the temple hall.

Wasn’t the divine seal on that statue’s forehead the same as the one on that handsome young man’s forehead?

He was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realized and immediately prostrated himself in the temple, declaring that the lord of the Underworld had manifested his spirit to subdue so many demons!

The other villagers looked and indeed saw it was the same as that handsome young man. They, too, had some understanding.

Even those who had slandered Emperor Gu Yan for neglecting his duties began slapping their faces.

For a time, rumors of the lord of the Underworld manifesting his spirit spread everywhere.

Wei Jie, Xiaoxiao, and the others successfully returned to Ghost Stone Cliff.

When Tang Youshu saw the smiley face Yu Ling’er had carved on the round stone at the foot of the mountain last time, he felt somewhat that things had changed while people remained the same.

Last time, Ling’er had been smiling sweetly, but now she could only curl up drowsily in the bamboo basket behind him all day.

Since Xiaoxiao’s demon clan saintess bloodline awakened, the five phoenixes no longer dared to return to her body.

Now that they had returned to their old home, they circled and flew around the mountaintop, soon opening the Eternal Realm behind the mountain.

Here, it was still the scene of green grass and babbling streams. However, when the five phoenixes perched on the phoenix tree branches, they were noticeably larger than when they had just left.

Yu Ling’er would need to live here until they found a way to save her.

Tang Youshu worried that the little fox would be bullied by the five phoenixes, so he decided to come in and accompany Yu Ling’er.

However, before entering, Yu Ling’er fox-cried for a long while, making a big shopping list for Tang Youshu to take her to the market, lest they lack things when living in the secret realm.

So they went to the market, while Wei Jie and Xiaoxiao entered the secret realm first to prepare for them.

Wei Jie cut branches from the shrubs and tied them together to build a simple wooden hut for Tang Youshu and the little fox to rest in later.

However, he said to let Tang Youshu and Ling’er wait before entering the secret realm – he wanted to live here alone for a while first.

When Xiaoxiao asked Wei Jie what he wanted to do, Wei Jie turned and said, “Now that your demon clan bloodline has awakened, I want to retrieve the other demon pearl from your body. I’m afraid that after absorbing this second demon pearl, I won’t be able to control my demonic nature for a while. If this happened outside, it would be difficult to control. So I plan to live here for a while after absorbing the demon pearl. You should leave the secret realm first and wait for me… Ling’er and Tang Youshu shouldn’t come in temporarily either. They can enter after I’m stable.”

His demon pearl was mixed with too much evil and wasn’t compatible with Xiaoxiao’s spiritual energy. This was something he had deeply experienced since absorbing the first demon pearl.

Heaven knew whether Xiaoxiao had heard too many scriptures in her past life – the girl’s heart was clear and pure, actually able to resist such evil things, and her nature was completely unaffected.

Now that her demon clan bloodline had awakened and the phoenix guardian spirits no longer dared to inhabit her body, without natural enemies to restrain it, the demon pearl would probably run rampant.

If that demon pearl lay dormant in her body, absorbing too much of her spiritual power to grow stronger, it would cause even greater harm to Xiaoxiao.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the demon pearl lurking in Xiaoxiao’s body began chattering, “Why should I? I’ve endured for so long, finally outlasted those birds, haven’t even had a few good days, and he wants to take me back!”

Xiaoxiao found it both annoying and amusing, silently communicating with the demon pearl: “Sorry to you. I didn’t even let you have good days. But you really must return to your old master. Haven’t you always complained that I’m stupid and keep taking you into dangerous situations? Wouldn’t it be better to follow him?”

The money-loving demon pearl didn’t want to! It huffed angrily, “I don’t want to go with him. He’s not even as good as you!”

The demon pearl still remembered its days in Wei Jie’s body, as if constantly soaked in painful poison water, with nothing but darkness in its heart.

Although for a demon pearl, such a state of mind made it easier to grow demonic nature, after entering Xiaoxiao’s body, it suddenly discovered there was another way of living in this world.

Xiaoxiao had also been lonely and bitter since childhood, but she was like a tenacious flower growing in the cracks, always maintaining almost blind optimism and infecting those around her.

However, Xiaoxiao wasn’t always happy. During those days when she was hurt by Wei Jie, possessed by divine essence, the demon pearl felt that long-lost pain and suffering.

During that period, it should have taken advantage of Xiaoxiao’s vulnerability to cause trouble. But whether intimidated by the phoenix spirits or out of its reluctance, it had behaved obediently.

Now it had grown accustomed to Xiaoxiao’s companionship. Seeing that Wei Jie’s fellow wanted to transfer it back, it refused! It wanted to cling to Xiaoxiao’s body!

Xiaoxiao was somewhat helpless and amused by this troublemaker in her body.

However, since Wei Jie, the original owner, had spoken, no matter how reluctant she was to leave Xiaoxiao, she couldn’t cling on.

If it had been the previous Wei Jie speaking, Xiaoxiao wouldn’t have felt comfortable transferring the demon pearl to him, fearing he couldn’t control his demonic nature.

But now that Wei Jie had absorbed one demon pearl and seemed able to maintain his rationality without the uncontrollable situation from his past life, Xiaoxiao was willing to try when he suggested it this time.

After Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie sat cross-legged facing each other, accompanied by the demon pearl’s cursing and crying sounds, Wei Jie embraced Xiaoxiao and, using the same method as transferring inner cores before, forcibly absorbed the demon pearl from Xiaoxiao’s mouth.

However, the demon pearl was somewhat stubbornly refusing to leave. Wei Jie absorbed for a long time and was almost distracted by Xiaoxiao’s fragrant, soft lips and tongue.

Red light flickered between their entangled lips and tongues. When that stubborn troublemaker was finally absorbed back into his body, the power of the dual pearls merging immediately manifested.

Wei Jie’s eyes had become as black as ink, with no trace of purple visible. His body also instantly enlarged considerably, his clothes immediately tearing apart, revealing his muscular, well-built chest.

However, this time he didn’t grow those terrifying black scales. When his handsome face, radiating an extreme evil aura, slowly lifted, it was like a hungry, bloodthirsty beast staring fiercely at the girl before him.

Before this, Wei Jie had already instructed Xiaoxiao to leave the secret realm immediately after the demon pearl transfer.

But now, after Xiaoxiao had only run a few steps, she found herself completely unable to move. Her body seemed to be controlled by Wei Jie, flying backward and crashing forcefully into the man’s embrace.

The man’s prominent nose greedily inhaled the fragrant scent from Xiaoxiao’s slender white neck. His arms uncontrollably tightened around her waist…

However, a thread of rationality prevailed. Wei Jie struggled to suppress the surging impulses in his heart, finally gritting his teeth and letting go, roaring with a fierce expression, “Go quickly!”

But Xiaoxiao turned to look at Wei Jie. When he had held her just now, his whole body was burning hot. This situation seemed familiar, just like when they had been affected by the aphrodisiac in Lord Can’s mansion’s secret passage.

When he had held her so tightly just now, she was too aware of his body’s changes.

She hadn’t expected that after the demon pearl transferred over, Wei Jie wouldn’t develop murderous thoughts but instead seemed like he’d been given aphrodisiac powder…

If she left, would he have to soak in the cold stream water again without coming out?

Wei Jie was now struggling with closed eyes to resist the rampaging, clamoring impulses.

He cursed that damn demon pearl – what inappropriate thoughts had it developed while spending day and night with Xiaoxiao? Why did it stir up endless lustful thoughts in him when it returned to his body, making him want to devour Xiaoxiao completely?

Fortunately, he could barely control himself. As long as Xiaoxiao left quickly, he could control himself and not harm her…

But just as he closed his eyes to suppress the surging waves within, that fragrant, soft body suddenly threw itself back into his arms.

Wei Jie slowly opened his ink-black eyes, his arms involuntarily embracing her tightly, saying hoarsely, “You… why did you come back? Don’t you know I’m about to lose control?”

Xiaoxiao’s cheeks flushed with a light rosy hue as she gently kissed his cheek, “I’m not leaving. I’ll stay with you…”

Wei Jie could hardly believe his ears. She couldn’t possibly think that with her accompanying him, he could still maintain restraint like before, stopping at the last step like a gentleman, could she?

If so, it would truly be more torturous than becoming a demon.

That demon pearl was truly an insatiably demanding bad seed. Now, just holding the girl in his arms, his mind was already filled with a hundred shameless ways to devour her.

If she knew what he was thinking right now, she would probably be frightened and flee!

But Xiaoxiao was stubborn, clinging to his solid waist, even rubbing her face against his strong chest, “Didn’t you say there would be a reward? How come those teasing words from before don’t count anymore? Or are you all talk and no action, just a show… Ouch!”

Before she could finish, Xiaoxiao felt the world spinning. She was suddenly hoisted onto Wei Jie’s shoulder, carried head-down into the newly built grass hut.

From inside the hut came Xiaoxiao’s somewhat overwhelmed voice: “Oh my, Wei Jie, be gentler. This is my best dress – how did you tear it in half so quickly? Oh my, be more gentle…”

Unfortunately, the time for the girl to speak coherently was limited. What followed was a torrential assault that completely washed away all of Xiaoxiao’s language and reason…

She finally understood why Wei Jie had tried to send her away. She even wondered if being eaten inch by inch by that Underworld Corpse-eating Beast would feel the same way.

The simple grass hut they had just built under the tree was too flimsy. After being knocked around by the people inside just a few times, the walls collapsed, and they scattered back into a pile of grass.

Fortunately, Wei Jie protected her, so Xiaoxiao wasn’t scratched by the grass.

But even with the hut collapsed, the man didn’t know how to stop.

Xiaoxiao wanted to call for a halt, but her voice was hoarse. In her daze, the croaking little crow from her past life seemed to possess her again.

There was no concept of time in the Eternal Secret Realm, so Xiaoxiao didn’t know how long they had been fooling around.

The advantage of being cultivators showed fully in passionate moments – no matter how exhausted they became, they couldn’t faint.

When the sweating man finally contentedly carried her into the stream, Xiaoxiao could finally catch her breath, then bit the man’s shoulder hard.

Wei Jie’s shoulder hurt from her bite, but his face still wore a satisfied smile.

After the girl vented her annoyance, he kissed her cheek again, “No wonder you wanted to cultivate the Hehuan Sect. If it’s like this, it’s truly happiness that even immortal cultivation can’t match… I’m an unfilial disciple for not letting my master enjoy such pleasure earlier!”

Xiaoxiao wanted to twist Zhu Jiuyin’s divine statue to make time flow backward – if she had known that two demon pearls together were comparable to Master Tang Youshu’s aphrodisiac talisman, she absolutely wouldn’t have stayed to be so thoroughly consumed!

However, she didn’t regret taking this final step with Wei Jie.

That intimate fusion of heartbeats was something she could never experience with anyone else.

In the stream, resting in his arms, she inexplicably thought of the mangy monk’s words.

She really couldn’t imagine that she and Wei Jie would one day separate for some damn immortal fate.

After Wei Jie helped Xiaoxiao wash her hair, he also remained silent for a long time. He just held Xiaoxiao, quietly listening to the babbling stream, then carried her to shore, dressed her, and half-jokingly said, “This place is peaceful, with no immortal or demonic disturbances. I’d like to settle down here with you in this secret realm. How about we build two grass huts – one on the west side of the river, one on the east. We’ll live in one, Tang Youshu and the others in the other.”

Xiaoxiao turned to look at Wei Jie. Although he spoke in a joking tone, she heard the seriousness in it.

Earlier, demons had escaped from the Underworld – anyone could guess this was Dong Yuan’s doing.

He was the son of the Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Mother Saint. His favor and glory couldn’t be compared to human or demon immortals. If he was determined to trouble Wei Jie and her, he could exhaust all the power of heaven and earth, using any means necessary.

Right now, she and Wei Jie were more vulnerable than mortals. Whether an immortal descending to experience mortal tribulation for redemption or a demon clan saintess who shouldn’t exist in the world, both were targets for the Heavenly Court’s righteous condemnation.

So the peaceful years in this Eternal Realm were rare treasures that even gold and silver couldn’t buy in the mortal world.

Hearing his words, Xiaoxiao felt somewhat tempted.

If they could have such a realm, not facing the evil storms outside, wouldn’t it be a mortal paradise?

While Xiaoxiao rested, Wei Jie picked fruit from the trees by the stream.

Actually, one wouldn’t feel hungry in the Eternal Realm, but Wei Jie knew Xiaoxiao was greedy, so he still picked some red fruits for her.

While picking fruit, he also found two wine gourds. These two wine gourds were completely identical – they were the same one.

One was dropped when he found the little black phoenix in his past life, and the other was dropped when he and Xiaoxiao brought out the five phoenix guardian spirits.

Two versions of the same wine gourd from different times had now paired up in this time-isolated Eternal Realm.

Just like him and Xiaoxiao – two people who should have completely missed each other in different times and spaces, but through strange circumstances had finally come together.

While Xiaoxiao ate fruit, Wei Jie used a small knife to carve different features on the two wine gourds.

One became a thick-browed, big-eyed male gourd, the other became a delicate-lipped female gourd.

Wei Jie even carefully used a strand of his hair to give the female gourd a perky ponytail, making it somewhat resemble Xiaoxiao’s hairstyle.

Xiaoxiao also used a dagger to cut her hair and gave the male gourd flowing long hair, making it look somewhat like Wei Jie when he casually left his hair unbound.

When the two gourds were placed together, she carefully tied their hair together and made a knot, then looked up at Wei Jie with a smile, “Binding hair until white-haired old age, never to be separated!”

This hair-binding ceremony was an essential ritual for secular men and women when marrying.

But both he and she were orphans without parents. In this Phoenix Secret Realm, they would be considered unmarried cohabitation by worldly standards.

Now these two wine gourd dolls represented them, completing the missing properties.

Xiaoxiao looked contentedly at this pair of wine gourd dolls, still not quite satisfied, “If only we had brought some cloth in, I’d like to make them a set of red clothes.”

Wei Jie watched the girl playing house like a child and nodded approvingly, “Best to get some flowered cloth to make a flowered bellyband too!”

At first, Xiaoxiao didn’t understand why he suddenly mentioned a flowered bellyband, but after thinking briefly, she immediately remembered the dream scene of the little black phoenix wearing a flowered bellyband and shaking its tail.

“Oh my, you bad man! Why bring that up? If you like raising birds, go catch one from the trees to keep you company!”

Wei Jie laughingly grabbed her punching fist, “I never said I wanted to raise any birds. Having you isn’t noisy enough – why would I get another one to hurt my ears?”

Just as the two were playfully wrestling, the cloth bag hanging on a nearby tree branch suddenly fell.

The mirror given by the mangy monk also rolled out of the bag with a clatter.

The bronze mirror rolled to the side of the playful pair, stopping with a ringing sound.

Both looked toward the mirror simultaneously. When Xiaoxiao hesitantly picked up the mirror, it flickered slightly, clearly reflecting two figures.

Wei Jie didn’t recognize the people in the mirror.

But after one glance, Xiaoxiao gasped and couldn’t help saying, “Elder Brother, Second Sister!”