In the bronze mirror, they could see the faces of Ji Wuqi, the eldest senior brother from two hundred years in the future, and Jiang Nanmu, the second senior sister.

At this moment, they were curiously huddled together, peering into the mirror to observe the situation inside.

When they saw Xiaoxiao’s face, both of them were greatly startled, especially Ji Wuqi, who was holding the mirror—he nearly threw it away.

The second senior sister quickly grabbed the mirror firmly and shouted with surprise and joy: “Xiaoxiao! You… where on earth did you go? How did you end up inside this mirror?”

Ever since that time when Xiaoxiao had a conflict with Qin Lingxiao from the Jiuxuan Sword Sect, a flash of white light occurred, and the sect leader’s youngest junior sister vanished without a trace. The remaining three headless chickens from the Lingshan Talismonger Sect were beaten severely by the sword sect disciples at the time, and it was said that the sword sect’s leader also seemed greatly affected, losing consciousness entirely.

Hearing that they had been beaten, Xiaoxiao quickly asked: “Did Ling Zhishan give you any trouble?”

Ling Zhishan had been present at the time, and given her persistent nature, if she had wanted to make things difficult for them, it would have been quite troublesome indeed.

But when the youngest junior sister asked this, the eldest senior brother and the others looked bewildered: “What Ling Zhishan? There’s no such person in the sword sect at all!”

What? Xiaoxiao stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. Ling Zhishan was supposed to be a prominent figure in the talismonger sect that Qin Lingxiao would establish two hundred years later. Originally, Ling Zhishan’s deeds had been vividly described to her by the second senior sister. How could they suddenly not recognize her now?

“Second senior sister, Ling Zhishan, is the sword sect leader’s junior sister! She’s the palace master of the Liangyi Palace! Wasn’t it her sudden attack on me that caused me to disappear?”

Jiang Nanmu said anxiously, “Junior sister, what nonsense are you spouting? The sword sect is entirely composed of male disciples—no women have ever appeared there! What Liangyi Palace? I’ve never even heard of it!”

Just then, through the mirror, Xiaoxiao saw the background behind her two fellow disciples. They seemed to have returned to Lingshan and were currently in Lingshan’s great hall.

This meant that what they held in their hands was the feng shui mirror that would hang high in the great hall two hundred years later.

This was the same principle as the two wine gourds in the Phoenix Secret Realm. They were currently holding the same mirror, but in different time-spaces.

Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together, uncertain for the moment whether the fellow disciples in the mirror were real or fake.

But they said they didn’t recognize Ling Zhishan and knew nothing about the Liangyi Palace that Ling Zhishan had established. This meant that if what was in the mirror was real, she was conversing with the eldest senior brother and second senior sister from two hundred years later. Assuming they were telling the truth, this possibility… existed!

As the saying goes, one cause plants one fruit. Perhaps the two hundred years later shown in the mirror was no longer the same two hundred years from when she had transmigrated.

Now, Ling Zhishan had not joined under Wei Jie’s tutelage as in her previous life, nor had she learned skills from Wei Jie. Because Xiaoxiao had come two hundred years ago, what the mirror now presented was a drastically changed two hundred years later.

So Qin Lingxiao had no junior sister named Ling Zhishan, and naturally, the eldest senior brother and youngest junior sister from two hundred years later wouldn’t recognize the now-obscure Ling Zhishan…

Thinking of this, Cui Xiaoxiao’s heart suddenly filled with unease. Because of her appearance, two hundred years ago, it has now become completely unrecognizable.

As they say, pulling one hair moves the whole body—what kind of consequences would her appearance ultimately cause two hundred years later?

Xiaoxiao didn’t dare think further and could only hold her breath to ask them: “Our Lingshan Talismonger Sect is still the Lingshan Talismonger Sect, right? Who is our founding master?”

The eldest senior brother still seemed to have that bad temper. Perhaps thinking the youngest junior sister was asking pointless questions, he said impatiently: “What nonsense are you spouting! Come back quickly! Have you lost your memory? Our founding master is naturally the Demon Lord Wei Jie! His evil reputation is notorious, helping his master, the Demon Saint, assist in tyranny, intolerable to the Heavenly Way. Why are you bringing him up for no reason?”

Ah? Hearing the title “Demon Saint,” Xiaoxiao was stunned again. Was the Demon Saint the eldest senior brother mentioned, referring to her?

Just then, anguished wails suddenly echoed through the great hall.

Through the mirror, Xiaoxiao saw senior brother A’Yi leading a group of injured refugees into the talismonger sect’s great hall. Those refugees appeared seriously wounded, and A’Yi was calling for the eldest senior brother and second senior sister to help treat them.

Seeing this situation, Xiaoxiao urgently asked: “What’s happening? Why are there so many refugees?”

The eldest senior brother was truly fed up with talking and stared wide-eyed: “Is this Cui Xiaoxiao in the mirror? How does she know nothing? Back then, the demon Wei Jie helped the Demon Saint awaken three thousand demon soldiers, then went into hiding with the demon woman. But the awakened three thousand demon soldiers have been building their strength and finally broke through the demon island’s restraints on these demons three months ago. Now they’re burning, killing, and plundering everywhere, bringing disaster to all sides, even helping the northern wolf clan capture Da Qi territory. The world is now in chaos, and you’re asking why there are refugees. Isn’t that all nonsense! Are you also going to learn from your worthless founding master and abandon the talismonger sect’s mess?”

Just then, through the mirror, he saw Wei Jie beside Xiaoxiao. Both he and the second senior sister were stunned, staring at the strangely handsome unknown man, unable to recover.

The second senior sister was the first to regain her composure, saying hesitantly, “Xiaoxiao, the person beside you is… why do I find him familiar? He is… he is… heavens, how does he look so much like the Demon Lord Wei Jie from the scroll paintings master collected…”

At that moment, as if the feng shui mirror’s supporting spiritual power had been exhausted, the mirror flashed once, and the scene inside completely disappeared. The mirror now reflected only Xiaoxiao’s dazed face.

Wei Jie frowned and asked: “Who was that loudmouth bastard in the mirror?”

Xiaoxiao knew he was referring to the eldest senior brother Ji Wuqi.

She honestly told him that he was his adorable great-disciple Ji Wuqi from two hundred years later, while the woman was his female great-disciple Jiang Nanmu.

This mirror somehow connected to two hundred years later, presenting a glimpse of the world events that had been altered beyond recognition by her…

Wei Jie’s brow remained unfurrowed as he put his arm around Xiaoxiao’s shoulder: “This mirror emanates ominousness, perhaps it’s some technique used by that ghost monk. Why would you take the illusions of this demon mirror seriously?”

After speaking, he extended his arm and threw the mirror straight into the stream.

Xiaoxiao stared at the rippling water surface, still lost in thought. After a long while, she slowly said: “But if it’s just as we thought before—hiding in this isolated secret realm and not going out—even if what the mirror just showed was fake, it would eventually become real, wouldn’t it?”

If she and Wei Jie just hid here, living their sweet little life without going out again, then all the changes in worldly affairs would eventually become like the tip of the iceberg shown in the mirror.

At this moment, she finally understood what the old monk meant when he gave her the mirror, pointed toward the demon island, and said there were unfinished matters there.

So the two hundred years of fortune stolen from Da Qi would end in such a tragic manner.

Two hundred years later, somehow, the demon clan had received help to break the demon island’s restraints and rush out of the demon island.

These demons, whose hearts overflowed with blood hatred toward the god clan, seemed to vent all their fury on innocent humans, actually stirring up warfare and disrupting Da Qi’s court structure.

If what the eldest senior brother said in the mirror was all true, then Da Qi’s fate would truly end. But the sin of a dynasty’s destruction wouldn’t be counted against Dong Yuan, who had deceived Da Qi’s fortune.

Instead, it would be counted against Wei Jie and her, who had summoned the demon clan. It would even be counted against the Phoenix Goddess, who had secretly left behind the demon clan’s divine wood bloodline.

The more Xiaoxiao thought, the more rational she became, and the colder her heart grew. Someone in heaven had truly calculated everything perfectly, placing all the calamity and sin on her and Wei Jie’s heads.

The suffering of the refugees, common people, women, children, and the elderly in that mirror would continue to deepen because of her standing by and doing nothing.

And Wei Jie, who should have crossed seven tribulations and ascended back to the heavenly court as a righteous god, still bore the infamy of being a demon lord, continuing into two hundred years later…

Thinking of this, she turned to look at the two wine gourd dolls nestled together—the carefree life of growing old together, while ignoring worldly affairs, was ultimately not destined for her.

With this thought, she suddenly stood up, jumped into the stream to retrieve that mirror, then turned to Wei Jie and said: “Actually, you also know that if we seclude ourselves here, everything in the mirror will become real, don’t you?”

Wei Jie leaned against the large stone, pressing his lips together without speaking. Clever as he was, he naturally knew Xiaoxiao spoke reasonably.

Xiaoxiao smiled bitterly and crouched before Wei Jie, reaching out to touch his beautiful face: “I was born human and originally wanted to suffer hardships for you, but I never expected that carelessly, I would cause all the world’s people to suffer hardships… The old monk said our fates are strong; perhaps we can struggle against heaven. Since neither you nor I is are evil demon, if we only seek personal happiness while harming all the world’s people, how would we differ from that despicable fellow Dong Yuan?”

Wei Jie still frowned at her, then suddenly embraced her in his arms, pressing against her neck to take a deep breath: “I’m not some god like Gu Yan with so much compassion for heaven and pity for people. In this lifetime, I only persist in one thing—protecting you completely. Since you’re unwilling to stay here, I’ll accompany you out. Whether it’s the heavenly court or underworld, I’ll walk through it all with you…”

This man seemed never to say “no” to any of her unreasonable requests. Everything she said, he supported silently with actual actions.

Having decided thus, they left the Phoenix Secret Realm together.

Just then, Tang Youshu also returned from shopping. He carried Yu Ling’er on his back and entered the secret realm under Wei Jie’s guidance.

The secluded valley and mountain waters here were truly captivating and eye-pleasing. Even the sickly little fox excitedly poked out her head, then struggled to jump to the ground.

Though the little fox was satisfied with everything, seeing the scattered wreckage of the grass house all over the ground, she whimpered with great dissatisfaction.

Tang Youshu tactlessly helped translate: “Ling’er asks how the house got like this—how can people live in it?”

This question made Cui Xiaoxiao’s cheeks burn red, involuntarily recalling those few powerful impacts from earlier.

Wei Jie felt his disciple was too tactless, actually asking with eager eyes.

Especially that little fox, who even lifted her nose to sniff at the firewood—truly quite annoying.

So he picked up a red fruit and tossed it at the little fox to prevent her from making more tactless fox calls, then said seriously: “Since you’re the one living here, naturally you should be the one to repair it. Look, the firewood is all prepared for you—you two can slowly work on it…”

Only then did Tang Youshu belatedly realize that beloved disciple Xiaoxiao was wearing Wei Jie’s clothes, and moreover appeared somewhat disheveled, with her cheeks still flushed and not yet returned to normal.

Tang Youshu, who had been a bachelor for over two hundred years, finally came to his senses. He vaguely guessed that his master and beloved disciple seemed to have practiced techniques from the Hehuan Sect…

Now Tang Youshu’s eyes didn’t know where to look, feeling quite awkward.

Speaking of this, Wei Jie glanced at his disciple again: “When accepting disciples in the future, don’t accept loud-mouthed, wide-eyed types. High or low ability doesn’t matter—at minimum, they must learn to treat people with humility!”

He had just watched that Ji Wuqi shouting at Xiaoxiao—where was even half a trace of respect for Xiaoxiao as sect leader?

Thinking that Xiaoxiao had to spend day and night with such disciples who didn’t distinguish between respect and hierarchy two hundred years later, Wei Jie felt angry.

He couldn’t help but instruct his disciple that when accepting disciples in the future, his standards should be higher—don’t accept just any random cats and dogs into the sect.

Though he listened without understanding the full context, Tang Youshu still devoutly recorded his master’s teachings in his notebook.

After finishing the recording, Wei Jie took Xiaoxiao’s hand, preparing to leave the Phoenix Secret Realm.

The five phoenixes all flew up from the parasol trees, circling and calling above Xiaoxiao’s head as if reluctant to let her go.

Looking up at the five phoenixes, Xiaoxiao seemed to understand their initial hostility toward her when they first interacted.

After all, to them, she wasn’t a true phoenix—just an alien demon occupying their master’s primordial spirit.

But the aura of the Phoenix’s original soul remaining on her was mysteriously attracting them. Their attachment to her was probably a reluctance to part with their former master.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t the Phoenix—that goddess who was selfless and willing to sacrifice herself to give the demon clan a chance at life had already disappeared forever.

Thinking of this, Xiaoxiao felt she owed the Phoenix some things that could never be repaid. This was another important reason she insisted on going out to persuade the demon clan.

She didn’t want the Phoenix’s original beautiful vision to become the source of disaster for the world. The Phoenix Goddess’s painstaking efforts to help the demon clan revive were not meant to indulge the demon clan’s murderous nature.

She would never let good people like the Phoenix and Wei Jie be splashed with dirty water by that despicable hypocrite Dong Yuan, leaving behind infamy for ten thousand years.

But aside from this, Xiaoxiao didn’t have any particularly earth-shaking sense of destiny. She just wanted to find a more comprehensive method to properly settle the island of the demon clan people. At minimum, she couldn’t let Fu Niang’s full heart of hatred continue, and even more, couldn’t let them harm worldly people as shown in the feng shui mirror.

As for other matters of family, country, world, and the ups and downs of fate—those were beyond her control.

Because she also had someone she wanted to protect with everything she had, she couldn’t achieve the Phoenix’s kind of great love. The remaining path could only be taken one step at a time!

When they emerged from the Phoenix Secret Realm, the sun was setting in the west. Though they had spent a long time in the secret realm, to the outside world, it had been less than an hour.

The saying “one day in heaven, one year on earth” was roughly like this.

The back mountain was quite far from the front mountain houses. Wei Jie crouched down, indicating for Xiaoxiao to climb on his back.

Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow: “Why? It’s not like I can’t walk?”

Wei Jie turned his head very seriously: “You were just crying that it hurt, saying it was almost worn raw. If you walk yourself, won’t it get painfully worn again? Better let me carry you!”

Xiaoxiao blinked, suddenly understanding the meaning of his words, and once again, blood rushed to her head, her cheeks flushing red.

“Oh my! Do you have to say it out loud like that? Is it that Demon Pearl is acting up? How do I see you speaking more and more improperly!”

Wei Jie’s thick brows immediately knitted: “What? Did that Demon Pearl always say such improper things when it was attached to you?”

Both Demon Pearls were derived from the demonic nature within his body. Though they had each become spirits when originally refined out, after returning to the main body, they merely fused with the original again. While this would make certain personalities of the former Demon Lord more prominent and intensified, they wouldn’t constantly joke around and stir up trouble like when in Xiaoxiao’s body.

But hearing that the Demon Pearl might have once flirted with Xiaoxiao, Wei Jie immediately felt jealous, wishing he could refine the Demon Pearl out again and stomp it to pieces.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but curse in a low voice: “Damn thing, a ball-shaped object daring to flirt with young girls—if I’d known, I would have crushed it!”

But this slightly frantic voice, when it reached Xiaoxiao’s ears, seemed to carry seven parts familiar…

Wasn’t this exactly the tone the Demon Pearl always used to bicker with her? She used to think the Demon Pearl had a terrible personality, but now, seeing the same traits in Wei Jie, she found the mischief carried seven parts cuteness…

But that Demon Pearl was, in the end, originally the darkest aspect of Wei Jie’s personality. Him being jealous of himself was truly the champion among jealous troublemakers.

What could Xiaoxiao say?

However, having spent too long with the Demon Pearl, Xiaoxiao was quite good at soothing furious scoundrels.

Before Wei Jie could use his power to force out the Demon Pearl again, she quickly jumped onto the big demon’s back, tightly hugging his neck: “Alright now, with you here in the future, no one will dare bully me again. Let’s hurry back. My bed is big and soft—do you want to sit cross-legged on the bed with me tonight to absorb the essence of sun and moon?”

Such a suggestion was indeed very attractive, especially for someone like Wei Jie who had just practiced Hehuan Sect techniques with his master.

Immediately carrying Xiaoxiao, he strode swiftly, flying toward her room in a flash.

Tonight’s moonlight was beautiful—practicing cultivation would surely allow him to fully appreciate the charming softness of the maiden’s long hair scattered across the pillow under the moonlight.

Thinking of this, Wei Jie’s lower abdomen grew warm, wishing he could immediately close the door to practice cultivation—practice until the clouds and rain of Wushan were exhausted, until all ammunition was spent…

Xiaoxiao was bounced along the way, laughing heartily and loudly asking him to run slower.

But how could Wei Jie go slow? Like a flash of light, he reached the front mountain, and after entering the room and forcefully closing the door, inside the room was a scene that would make even the moon shy away.

But after fooling around, there were always serious matters to attend to.

For instance, they needed to first settle the fox clan people, then they had to return to the demon island.

Tang Youshu’s damaged meridians had long been properly repaired by the fox clan’s spirit stones.

In this lifetime, the fox clan’s spirit stones hadn’t perished together with Yu Ling’er’s soul.

Xiaoxiao felt that the back mountain of Ghost Stone Cliff, now renamed Lingshan, was the perfect place for the fox clan to settle and live in peace.

After Tang Youshu had settled Yu Ling’er and spent some time with her, confirming she could get along well with those five phoenixes, he also came out of the Phoenix Secret Realm.

He agreed with Xiaoxiao’s view.

If they didn’t settle the spirit stones soon, the damage to the fox clan would be too great. This demon clan inherently preferred lives of non-contention with the world.

Originally, to repay gratitude to Xiaoxiao, they had followed all this way. Now, seeing that they were about to have a confrontation with heavenly court people led by Dong Yuan, they couldn’t let the fox clan continue sacrificing.

When Xiaoxiao extracted the fox clan’s spirit stones from Tang Youshu’s body and embedded them in the mountain spring at the back mountain, the gurgling water immediately mixed with the spirit stones’ spiritual energy.

Several newly born little foxes wagged their tails and ran over happily, drinking the spiritual spring water at the cave entrance.

The fur on their bodies quickly became even more lustrous. Perhaps shortly, the fox clan would gain several more naive and lively young ladies like Yu Ling’er.

However, Tang Youshu showed no relief. Yu Ling’er was different from other fox clan members—she had already lost her inner core. No matter how much spiritual spring water she drank, it couldn’t be restored.

Though the Phoenix Secret Realm was good, it was too quiet. Yu Ling’er was a girl who liked liveliness. If no one accompanied her, even if she could survive in the secret realm, how could she feel happy?

But for now, he had to accompany his master and Xiaoxiao to resolve the lingering troubles of the demon island.

When he heard Xiaoxiao mention that Dong Yuan might very likely use that island of demons, Tang Youshu also gasped in shock.

This trip to the demon island wasn’t as hasty as the last time. Grandmother Wei once again provided Wei Jie with sufficient gold and silver, and also sent Wei family descendants to follow them.

Though the Wei family people couldn’t stray too far from Qilao Mountain, knowing her grandson was going to confront the god Dong Yuan, Grandmother Wei still sent people without hesitation.

They just needed to resolve matters within the designated time and return to Qilao Mountain.

Otherwise, these warriors would also become like Grandmother Wei—their meridians would atrophy, and they’d become short dwarves.

Just as they had purchased a large ship and were preparing to weigh anchor and set sail, Xiaoxiao went to town to buy supplies but discovered that a newly built temple at the town’s edge was filled with incense smoke a newly sculpted divine statue had been invited into the temple.

Sharp-eyed Xiaoxiao immediately noticed that the flower pattern on the forehead of the mustachioed divine statue… how was it identical to Wei Jie’s?

She squeezed into the crowd for a look—sure enough!

What these common people had invited into their temple hall was precisely the divine statue of Underworld Emperor Gu Yan. According to vivid descriptions by the person in charge, this emperor had manifested elsewhere, subduing fierce beasts that had escaped from the underworld.

With this divine and brave emperor, they no longer feared demons lurking at sea!

Recently, several coastal villages and towns seemed to have been troubled, with ghostly incidents constantly occurring. So the people, grasping at straws, invited this true god who reportedly could subdue demons and monsters.

For a time, the temple was filled with bustling incense, and everyone devoutly kowtowed in worship.

Hearing Xiaoxiao’s account, Wei Jie also came to see his golden divine statue being worshipped with reverence.

Such flourishing incense was fundamental for many gods to stabilize their divine status, something deities could be very proud of.

Wei Jie showed no special reaction. He was initially expressionless, but after listening to those devout men and women’s prayers for a while, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

When he heard a middle-aged woman kneeling and praying about how her husband wasn’t very useful at night and they couldn’t have a son, asking Emperor Gu Yan to possess her husband at night so he could regain his vigor and help continue the family line, Wei Jie could no longer endure it.

So this so-called deity could be ordered around at will by people for just a few coins of incense money?

Even Tang Youshu’s vitality-strengthening pills were worth more than him!

Thinking of this, Wei Jie flicked his finger, and the divine statue surrounded by swirling incense immediately cracked and collapsed, becoming a pile of clay fragments.