If it were another time, Xiaoxiao might have admired the ritual sense of these divine birds, actually performing such elaborate dances before enjoying their feast.

But right now, she only wanted to preserve her own life, so when the five phoenixes attacked, Xiaoxiao swung out the Heaven’s Punishment Sword, blocking their assault.

These phoenixes were smaller than pheasants in size, making them exceptionally agile when flying and dodging. Among them, the purple and yellow ones suddenly opened their mouths, spraying blazing flames toward Xiaoxiao.

It seemed that when they couldn’t get close, they didn’t mind breathing fire to roast their prey before eating.

Xiaoxiao was now skilled at using water techniques. Just as the flames sprayed toward her, she had already drawn water from the nearby stream to create a water shield.

The water she drew contained those crystal-bright fish, making the entire water shield sparkle like crystal.

But when the fire tongues surged forth, they immediately boiled the water, and those small fish instantly released the fragrant aroma of grilled fish.

At this life-and-death moment, Xiaoxiao, who hadn’t eaten her fill at dinner, smelled the fish fragrance and couldn’t help but swallow, while those phoenixes also couldn’t resist pecking at those deliciously roasted fish.

Taking advantage of the phoenixes’ feasting, Xiaoxiao held her sword horizontally before her chest, trying to negotiate with these sacred birds: “If you love eating grilled fish, I’ll buy you some mandarin fish and bass to roast—they’re all incredibly fresh and delicious, much more tasty than me!”

Unfortunately, these phoenixes had been in this valley for who knows how long, constantly eating fish, and were probably tired of it, showing no interest whatsoever in Xiaoxiao’s proposal.

After eating several grilled fish, the phoenixes, still unsatisfied, once again performed their elegant dance steps, forming a semicircle with fierce light gleaming in their eyes as they pressed closer to Xiaoxiao.

Although water conquers fire, the flames these phoenixes sprayed were not mortal fire, but True Crimson Flame.

Xiaoxiao’s water shield was completely useless against those surging fire tongues. Even when raised, it could only serve as entertainment for the phoenixes before their feast.

When she saw the purple and yellow phoenixes extending their necks again, Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth and pulled out two fire-controlling talismans…

But her heart had no confidence at all!

Perhaps due to her extreme yin constitution, controlling water and wind was as easy as lifting a finger for her, without any obstruction, but she had never been able to control fire. And now these phoenixes were spraying True Crimson Flame—trying to control them was simply wishful thinking!

But now her life hung by a thread, and Xiaoxiao couldn’t care about much else. Just as those two phoenixes extended their necks to spray fire at her again, she gritted her teeth and threw out two silver fire-controlling talismans.

Xiaoxiao concentrated her energy, silently reciting the incantation, but as usual, although those two talismans rose into the air driven by spiritual power, they were like two leaves swept by wind, powerless to resist, and were quickly melted into a puddle of silver water by the flames…

Xiaoxiao hadn’t expected them to work anyway; she was just using them to attract the attention of those phoenixes.

After throwing the fire-controlling talismans, she leaped onto Yu Tiandou, controlling the divine sword to race swiftly toward the top of the narrow gorge.

The Demon Pearl had said that when encountering these divine birds, the only way out was to run fast. She could only place her hopes on the speed of the Heaven’s Punishment Sword to carry her quickly out of these phoenixes’ nest.

Under the stimulation of spiritual power, Yu Tiandou’s speed was like an arrow released from a bow, rushing out of the gorge.

But when it came to flying, who could be faster than these kings of birds?

Soon, those five-colored divine birds, trailing their long tails and spreading their wings, chased after Cui Xiaoxiao as she flew on her sword!

The snake’s demonic energy spreading from her body was truly too enticing, exciting the five phoenixes beyond restraint.

When Xiaoxiao looked back, she saw that those five phoenixes, originally no larger than pheasants, were rapidly growing in size as they spread their wings in pursuit.

In a moment, the enlarged phoenixes became like giant eagles, extending their sharp, elongated talons as they pounced fiercely at Cui Xiaoxiao.

However, Xiaoxiao’s control of the Heaven’s Punishment Sword was too sensitive, and she dodged the phoenixes’ sharp talons several times.

Those phoenixes, unable to capture their prey and being toyed with by Xiaoxiao, seemed to be enraged. They circled in the air again, letting out earth-shaking cries, then all five phoenixes glared with crimson eyes and together sprayed five-colored flames toward Xiaoxiao.

The overwhelming flames attacked, and this time, Xiaoxiao had nowhere to escape. Yu Tiandou, protective of its master, blocked in front of Xiaoxiao, resisting the bulk of the flames, but Xiaoxiao’s body was still burned by the fire. In an instant, she was engulfed in flames.

The feeling of being burned by True Crimson Flame was like having hot oil poured over her body, with countless streams of heat drilling into every pore, causing Xiaoxiao to cry out in pain as she plummeted straight down from the sky.

As she fell, the surrounding wind further fueled the burning flames, and Xiaoxiao was completely wrapped in a fireball.

Was she going to burn to death this time? If she died, would anyone feel heartbroken and miss this orphaned girl?

In that instant, the figure that flashed through Xiaoxiao’s mind was Wei Jie. He… if he knew that his unreliable master had died so pathetically, he would probably be sad and grieved for a little while, right?

In the agony of the fire, Xiaoxiao once again gritted her teeth and silently recited the fire-controlling incantation…

This time, perhaps because she had fallen into a life-threatening situation, the fire-controlling incantation that had always been useless now trembled with each syllable she uttered, resonating with the surrounding heat…

Just as Xiaoxiao was about to lose consciousness from the pain, she suddenly felt those wildly dancing flames seem to leave her body.

She struggled to open her eyes and discovered that the True Crimson Flame that had been madly burning her was now scattered around her like dispersed fireworks. Gradually, those scattered sparks were steadily controlled by the fire-controlling incantation into five fireballs, floating around Xiaoxiao like blooming fire lotuses.

Those phoenixes also seemed shocked that their true fire had been controlled by someone. They spread their wings again with shrieks, wanting to fly over and tear her apart with their sharp claws.

Seeing the five phoenixes attacking again, Xiaoxiao exerted all her strength to swing her arms, directing the five fire lotus clusters floating around her body straight toward those five phoenixes.

In just an instant, feathers caught fire and blazed furiously, and several phoenixes let out sharp cries.

At this moment, Xiaoxiao had been burned black all over by the fire and could no longer control her pain-wracked body, falling straight down from mid-air.

The shrieking sounds of the five phoenixes circling in the sky had long since awakened Tang Youshu, Yu Ling’er, and the others who were sleeping near the cave in the back mountain.

They looked up at the sky, where the originally dim heavens had been illuminated by the five-colored flames sprayed by the phoenixes. They also saw Xiaoxiao being besieged by the five-colored phoenixes.

Yu Ling’er urgently called out to Xiaoxiao, wanting to pull her out from the phoenixes’ encirclement, but unfortunately she couldn’t fly that high and could only watch helplessly as Xiaoxiao was wrapped in flames, then successfully counterattacked by burning the five phoenixes, and finally both Xiaoxiao and those five burning phoenix birds fell from the sky together.

Without Yu Ling’er’s instruction, several strong fox clan males immediately transformed into foxes and ran like lightning toward the direction where Cui Xiaoxiao was falling.

But Xiaoxiao, along with those five burning phoenixes, fell back into that narrow valley bottom.

When several foxes arrived and saw Xiaoxiao fall into the bottomless cliff wall, they also prepared to jump down.

But the next moment, these foxes were bounced back by an invisible air wall!

Just then, a black shadow flashed by, breaking through the invisible shackles without resistance and plunging into the narrow valley along with Xiaoxiao like lightning…

The black shadow activated spiritual power and quickly caught up with the straight-falling Xiaoxiao, embracing the charred girl in his arms, then raising an energy shield to strike the ground, greatly reducing the impact force of their downward momentum.

This black shadow was Wei Jie, who had traveled day and night, returning early from Qilao Mountain.

When he was at the foot of the mountain, he saw the fierce battle in mid-air, and immediately rushed up the mountain urgently.

But he was still a step too late—he only managed to jump into the valley bottom and catch the falling Xiaoxiao.

When they landed, Wei Jie’s handsome face was tense, and not daring to shake this girl who had been burned to charcoal, he could only call out urgently: “Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao, wake up!”

But Xiaoxiao kept her eyes tightly closed, seemingly without any breath at all!

Just then, something bright seemed to be pushing outward from Xiaoxiao’s mouth.

Wei Jie had the blood of a succubus and was more sensitive to demonic auras than ordinary people.

When he sensed the demonic energy rushing toward him, he knew this was the Demon Pearl that had been parasitic in Xiaoxiao’s body.

Previously, it had stubbornly refused to leave, but now that its host’s life hung by a thread and couldn’t last much longer, it was about to abandon its old master.

Although the Demon Pearl leaving would be a good thing, it couldn’t be now!

Without the Demon Pearl’s demonic nature, Xiaoxiao’s current broken body simply couldn’t hold on!

Thinking of this, Wei Jie grabbed Yu Tiandou beside Xiaoxiao, pointing the sword tip at Xiaoxiao’s glowing mouth, threatening sternly: “If you dare come out, believe it or not, I’ll split you in half with one sword strike!”

As he spoke, his spiritual energy had already reached the tip of the Heaven’s Punishment Sword, burning the Demon Pearl until it let out a painful wail. The next moment, the light in Xiaoxiao’s mouth disappeared down her throat.

Wei Jie knew that the Demon Pearl had been forced back into Xiaoxiao’s body, but if her consciousness wasn’t clear, she would only become the Demon Pearl’s puppet, preserving this charred body…

Thinking of this, he drew out a dagger, cut open his wrist, and dripped his rapidly healing blood into Xiaoxiao’s mouth, then splashed it on her body.

Then he sat cross-legged again, circulating his energy and holding his breath, wanting to transfer his inner core to Xiaoxiao.

However, this time Xiaoxiao was severely injured. If he gave out his inner core, it would probably be immediately consumed by her and couldn’t be returned to him.

Completely losing one’s inner core was a fatal blow for cultivators. Even if they cultivated again, they couldn’t compensate for the damage to their emptied spiritual platform, making it very difficult to achieve enlightenment again.

Wei Jie couldn’t care about much else and lowered his head, preparing to pry open her jaw and transfer his inner core to Xiaoxiao.

But when he tried to transfer the inner core, he couldn’t get it into Xiaoxiao’s mouth, no matter what—inner cores, like Demon Pearls, needed to attach to the living. If a person had already died, naturally, it couldn’t be absorbed, no matter what.

Wei Jie stared wide-eyed, his hands trembling slightly as he reached toward Xiaoxiao’s nose, but couldn’t sense even the slightest breath…

Wei Jie stared in disbelief, then lowered his head again, pressing tightly against her charred lips, struggling to transfer his inner core to her, but it was still in vain.

The one who used to always be lively and active, glaring and scolding him, now lay there motionless like charcoal.

Wei Jie pressed tightly against her lips, always waiting for her to open her eyes and scold him energetically for being a lecher and taking advantage of her.

His eyes darkened as he cut open his other wrist, and hot blood poured into her mouth like it cost nothing, but it slowly flowed out from the corners of her mouth. It seemed that no amount of fresh blood could awaken this sleeping girl.

Wei Jie didn’t even dare to shake her forcefully—she was already so broken and fragmented, presenting a fragility that seemed like she would shatter at a touch.

At this moment, Wei Jie hated himself immensely. Why had he escorted the remnant pages away in the first place? If he had been there, he would never have let Xiaoxiao venture into danger alone…

But no amount of regret was useful. This girl with tightly closed eyes and no breath would never again earnestly console him, not to belittle himself, that even if he was a half-demon’s son, in her eyes he was still promising material; she would never again secretly look at him, then blush and stubbornly refuse to admit it…

This unexpected parting of life and death was the most unacceptable.

Wei Jie was even thinking that she was deliberately punishing him, wasn’t she? Punishing him for when they parted last time—he had seen her close her eyes expectantly, yet he hadn’t kissed her and had hardened his heart to turn and leave?

If she would open her eyes, he would tell her that the reason he hadn’t kissed her then wasn’t to tease her, but because he was afraid that after their lips and tongues intertwined, it would be even harder for him to leave her…

Thinking of this, the man whose expression was as gloomy as thick, undissolvable clouds chuckled softly: “Xiaoxiao, are you trying to scare me? You’re acting so realistically that even I, who never knew what fear was, am terrified… Be good, open your eyes, okay? I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t lie there so motionless… Cui Xiaoxiao! Open your eyes for me!”

By the end, Wei Jie couldn’t hold it in anymore and couldn’t help but roar out. Those purple eyes had become so intense they were almost black, and a tear stained with blood slowly slid from his eyes, dripping onto Xiaoxiao’s lips…

A succubus’s bloody tears were drops of heart’s blood, with the power to turn decay into a miracle. But succubi were heartless and rarely shed bloody tears.

Yet at this moment, Wei Jie’s tears were mixed with drops of hot blood from his heart…

Just as he lowered his head and wept powerlessly, he heard a cracking sound. He slowly opened his eyes and looked carefully, discovering that Xiaoxiao’s charred exterior was cracking, developing fine fissures…

Seeing her change like this, Wei Jie didn’t dare touch her—she was clearly like a fragile black doll, afraid that she would shatter beyond repair the next moment.

“Xiaoxiao!” At this moment, Wei Jie felt as if his heart was being burned by fierce fire, and couldn’t help but call out to her sternly again.

As if awakened by his voice, Xiaoxiao finally let out a soft, low moan and coughed painfully once. This one cough was significant—those fine cracks also split open in response, falling away like pieces of broken porcelain…

Wei Jie stared wide-eyed, watching intently where the charred black fragments fell away, discovering that under the charred skin was tender, fair flesh.

After most of the charred skin had fallen off, Wei Jie found that Xiaoxiao didn’t seem to have been burned at all, and her appearance was even more enchanting than before.

If the former Xiaoxiao had been a pure beauty, then Xiaoxiao now, as she slightly opened her eyes, seemed to have gained an indescribable demonic charm when her eyes flowed…

However, Xiaoxiao seemed somewhat unclear, blinking as she looked at the suddenly appearing Wei Jie, thinking for a moment: Am I… dreaming? How am I dreaming of this bastard Wei Jie again…

Seeing that she was fine, Wei Jie’s highly suspended heart finally relaxed considerably, but unable to immediately recover from the extreme grief, he didn’t speak, just stared with purple eyes, nervously confirming that she had awakened.

Seeing him not speaking, Xiaoxiao felt she was really in a dream—otherwise, why would this habitually arrogant man be crying with bloody streaks all over his face?

Would Wei Jie cry? Of course not! So this must be a dream!

But even if it was a dream, wasn’t this Wei fellow too arrogant? Xiaoxiao looked at his face so close to hers in a daze and couldn’t help asking: “You… why are you so close to me?”

Wei Jie lowered his purple eyes and honestly replied: “Preparing to transfer my inner core to you…”

Heaven have mercy, he had no intention of being seductive—every word was sincere truth about saving someone.

It was just that the man was too handsome, and every glance and innocent expression seemed like seduction.

Xiaoxiao, burned and confused by the True Crimson Flame, seemed to have misunderstood something. She widened her eyes and complained resentfully without rhyme or reason: “Every time you only tease but don’t follow through—what kind of man are you!”

Xiaoxiao spoke the truth, though these were all situations from her dreams. Every time she thought of him teasing people in dreams but then having no follow-up, it made one feel as if burned by fire once, then thrown into a cold pool—it was truly infuriating!

Wei Jie narrowed his eyes slightly, naturally thinking of the regret from their last parting when he hadn’t kissed her. He was quite serious about wanting to explain: “Last time, I was thinking… mmm…”

The next moment, his usually stern master in dreams, who was desperate and sultry, actually impatiently hooked up her slender white arm, bent down his neck, and quite rudely captured his lips…

Since this was a dream, and this damn man dared to be so chatty and verbose, he was asking for it!

Eh, strange, why was there a bloody yet sweet taste in her mouth? This feeling of lips and tongues intertwining… this dream was a bit too realistic, wasn’t it?

If he still didn’t know what to do at this point, Wei Jie should just cut himself and stop being a man!

Soon, he took the initiative, forcefully embracing Xiaoxiao and unceremoniously enjoying those cherry lips he hadn’t kissed in so long.

Xiaoxiao was drawn into his warm embrace, pressed against his strong chest, soft as a kitten, naturally humming as she continued their passionate kiss…

However, in her confusion, while enjoying the dream’s beauty, Xiaoxiao vaguely felt something was wrong.

In her haze, she seemed to hear phoenix cries from the sky, and the chaotic thoughts in her mind were suddenly split open by the phoenix calls.

The memories of the battle before she was burned and fell unconscious also came flooding back!

Thinking of this, Xiaoxiao suddenly pushed away the man who was passionately kissing her, then stared around to examine her surroundings. After confirming this wasn’t a dream, she asked urgently: “You… how are you here?”

Wei Jie’s breathing hadn’t yet stabilized. He just gazed down Xiaoxiao’s enchanting, moving face, absent-mindedly saying: “After delivering the remnant pages, I came back to find you…”

Xiaoxiao felt the purple in his eyes was becoming deeper and followed his gaze downward to look at herself…

Earlier, her battle with those five-colored phoenixes had been too intense, so much so that she was burned by the True Crimson Divine Fire sprayed by the phoenixes.

At the time, she felt burning pain all over her body and lost consciousness.

Now awakened, she looked down to examine herself and could see there were still charred traces from the burning on her body, though some of the charred shells had already cracked and fallen off, revealing skin that seemed newly born…

But this wasn’t the point! True Crimson Fire left no grass where it passed—she had been completely charred, so how could there be even half an inch of clothing left?

The next moment, Xiaoxiao let out a scream more piercing than the phoenixes!

She frantically tried to cover herself, but found this still wasn’t right!

Then she finally came to her senses and covered Wei Jie’s unblinking, handsome eyes with one hand, asking fiercely: “You… what are you looking at!”

Wei Jie’s eyes were blocked by her, but his mouth curved in a smile, showing gleaming white canine teeth, saying with some lingering satisfaction: “Nothing much, just snow-piled peaks and jade-like skin about to be revealed… mmm…”

Before he could finish, Xiaoxiao’s busy hand firmly blocked his infuriated mouth!

If possible, Xiaoxiao wished she had died in that ball of fire rather than lose all her maiden’s dignity now and still be teased by this fellow!

However… she also clearly saw the bloody tear stains on Wei Jie’s cheeks and couldn’t help but slightly loosen her hand, crossing her arms and asking in surprise and hesitation: “Wei Jie, were you crying just now?”

Wei Jie had no intention of admitting it, only embracing his master whom he had lost and found again, silently and forcefully rubbing against her neck to wipe away the tear stains on his cheeks.

How clever was Xiaoxiao? Earlier, she had been besieged by the five-colored phoenixes and burned to charcoal, in such pain that she lost consciousness.

How could she have opened her eyes to find skin like snow and jade as if newly born?

Someone must have done something to save her!

Thinking this, she pushed Wei Jie away again, examining him from head to toe, naturally seeing his wrists that had been cut open!

Just how much blood had he let for her? Just looking at those bloody, mangled wrists was shocking to Xiaoxiao!

“Are you crazy! Don’t you know that losing too much blood can kill you?” After saying this, she frantically looked for something to bandage his wrists.

Wei Jie just smiled and kissed her forehead again, saying softly: “It’s fine, it will heal in a while. Don’t scare me like that again in the future…”

Xiaoxiao was stunned because those five burning phoenixes, after circling and burning completely in the air, actually underwent nirvana and rebirth in the blazing fire, returning to the small and delicate appearance Xiaoxiao had first seen, all landing opposite her and Wei Jie.

Wei Jie untied his belt, took off his long robe for Xiaoxiao to wear, then pulled her to stand up, warily watching these phoenixes.

But these birds seemed to be caught in panicked frenzy, actually urgently stepping in place, flapping their wings in circles, and even when Wei Jie pulled Xiaoxiao forward one step, they pressed their necks tightly to the ground while their wings also lay flat on the ground, as if bowing to people!

Xiaoxiao was somewhat surprised. Earlier, they had wanted to feast on her, dancing around her in celebration, so why now that Wei Jie had appeared were they all prostrate on the ground, looking extremely obedient?

Just then, the leading red one suddenly let out a long cry, then the other phoenixes responded, flying up again and continuously circling and calling above their heads, as if leading them deeper into the valley bottom.

However, Cui Xiaoxiao’s skin hurt just looking at them now, and she didn’t want to see these birds at all.

Wei Jie embraced her and leaped toward the cliff top, but there seemed to be a barrier above that they couldn’t break through, no matter what.