Perhaps urgently calling for the “mother” who suddenly left, tender “gah gah” sounds came from behind the man.

The man walked a few steps, then inevitably glanced back.

The five phoenixes on the parasol tree branches were maliciously staring at that little black furry ball, pitifully flapping its wings in the grass, slowly spreading their wings, seemingly waiting for him to leave so they could tear apart this same-species chick that represented bad luck.

That man coldly glanced once, then walked forward several more steps. Those five phoenixes immediately swooped down, extending sharp claws to ruthlessly tear at the young bird.

Poor little thing—it was torn off several black down feathers, clamped by sharp claws, hanging in mid-air, crying “gah gah” in pain.

Just as Xiaoxiao felt sorry for the little chick and watched angrily, that man who had already left somehow returned, drawing his sword like lightning to slash and drive away those five attacking phoenixes.

Those five phoenixes, having suffered at Wei Jie’s hands, were quite sensible and immediately dropped the bird onto the grass.

The scaled, stern man bent down to pick up that wounded young bird.

The little thing immediately pitifully rubbed its head against his palm.

He was silent for a while, not caring whether this bird understood human speech, seeming to persuade himself: “The outside world is more cruel than here. I’m also not favored by heaven. If you follow me out, you’d be better off dying silently here…”

It seemed that little chick couldn’t understand his cryptic words at all, just fearing he would abandon it again. Using both its small beak and claws, it laboriously climbed to Wei Jie’s head, making a nest in his somewhat disheveled long hair.

After settling itself, the little thing weakly hid its small beak under its meat wings, then called out softly—after all, it had been scratched painfully just now.

The man seemed speechless, raising his long eyebrows, reaching to his head to grasp it in his palm. Still looking disdainfully at its ugly appearance, he smiled self-mockingly: “So be it. You’re like me—both not blessed nor expected by heaven. Since staying means certain death for you, I’ll take you into the mortal world for a journey. You can experience the suffering and tribulations yourself.”

Speaking, he came to a smooth large stone beside the tree, looking at the young bird in his palm sleeping peacefully with closed eyes, rubbing against his fingers to rest, seemingly completely unaware that its fate was about to change dramatically.

The man lowered his eyes and saw the wine gourd that had fallen to the ground when he crashed into the valley earlier. He picked up the wine gourd and drained it, then threw it aside. Raising his hand to draw his sword, he wrote the four large characters “Heaven’s Mandate Can Be Defied” on that smooth stone in flowing script.

After writing, he contemplated for a long time, let out several cold laughs, then tucked that wounded little black bird into his bosom and again flew away from the narrow valley on his sword…

As he soared away, those five phoenixes also followed closely behind, seemingly resentful that he took away that little black phoenix, letting out unwilling, long cries…

Xiaoxiao wanted to follow too, but her body felt light, as if pulled by someone, unable to fly no matter what…

When Xiaoxiao finally struggled to open her eyes, she saw the purple-eyed man calling her in a slightly tense voice.

Seeing her finally open her eyes, Wei Jie secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Earlier, Xiaoxiao had slept so deeply, and the five-phoenix colored patterns on her neck became increasingly hot. Wei Jie didn’t know what her condition was.

When Xiaoxiao finally slowly opened her eyes, looking at the face similar to the serious man in her dream, she couldn’t quite emerge from the dream realm, not knowing if what was before her was a dream or an illusion. She reached out to search through the man’s inner robe, checking if there was a little black phoenix inside.

Wei Jie looked down at his collar being pulled open by Xiaoxiao. Because his collar was wide open, his solid chest muscles were already exposed…

He raised his thick eyebrows, saying softly to Xiaoxiao: “There are still people nearby… be good, pull more later…”

Xiaoxiao wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, only then belatedly looking toward Yu Ling’er and Tang Youshu nearby with their mouths agape.

As a forthright and unrestrained fox clan member, Yu Ling’er admitted she couldn’t do something so bold as opening her eyes and wordlessly pulling at a man’s clothes.

Cui Xiaoxiao truly deserved to be a succubus, determined to establish the Hehuan Sect—such initiative!

No wonder even the seemingly aloof and unapproachable Wei Jie couldn’t resist and was seduced by her…

After admiring her, Yu Ling’er also belatedly realized she shouldn’t disturb others’ romance here, so she quickly pulled Tang Youshu away, not forgetting to say: “It’s still early, perfect for cultivation! You two continue!”

After they disappeared into the trees, Xiaoxiao finally came to her senses and hurriedly fastened Wei Jie’s collar!

Wei Jie looked down at her, using his long fingers to smooth her temple hair and asking: “What did you dream about just now? Why are you covered in sweat?”

At this moment, dawn was bright, with bird calls coming from far away. Where Xiaoxiao had rested last night was quite peaceful, screened by trees on one side, suitable for their quiet conversation.

Xiaoxiao’s mind was still immersed in the earlier dream. She suspected that yesterday’s stimulation from entering the phoenix secret realm was too great, actually making her fantasize in dreams about the previous life’s Demon Lord Wei Jie’s encounter in the secret realm.

However, according to the Demon Pearl’s words, that he brought out a black phoenix should be true. She just didn’t know what happened to that black phoenix not blessed by heaven in the end.

Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered that when Wei Jie was executed, there were phoenix cries at Qilao Mountain’s Phoenix Pool, simultaneously releasing heavenly fire that burned a hundred li around Qilao Mountain.

This heavenly fire extinguished Qilao Mountain’s vitality, so that even two hundred years later, Qilao Mountain was still bare.

It seemed Wei Jie’s death back then wasn’t as simple as just Qin Lingxiao’s execution.

Having shouldered Wei Jie’s tribulations all this way, stumbling to the present, she didn’t know what calamities still awaited her ahead…

Thinking this, Xiaoxiao looked up at Wei Jie so close by and slowly told him about her recent dream.

Only by using the pretense of dreaming could Xiaoxiao dare reveal something about his previous life’s fate to Wei Jie.

However, this was a good method. Xiaoxiao was thinking whether she should use the excuse of dreaming to tell Wei Jie more about his previous life’s destiny.

This way, if one day she wasn’t there and no one replaced him in tribulations, Wei Jie could calmly face his destined calamities without having to be like that man in the dream covered in scales and radiating endless desolation and loneliness, facing life-and-death tests alone.

Unfortunately, when Wei Jie heard Xiaoxiao say she dreamed of him covered in snake scales, personally hatching an ugly phoenix, and taking it away to raise, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Such absurd and chaotic things could only happen in dreams.

However, the phoenix valley encounter had caused Xiaoxiao much suffering; otherwise, why would she have such nightmares, dreaming back to the place that nearly killed her?

Thinking this, he couldn’t help but comfort her by smoothing her temple hair, teasing: “Do you think I look like someone who tends flowers and grass, plays with birds and raises insects?”

Speaking this, Wei Jie absent-mindedly thought: If it was raising a little girl who loves to glare and lecture people while acting grown-up, that could be considered…

Hearing Wei Jie’s words, Xiaoxiao also felt it made sense—her dream was absurd.

But the heartache she felt in the dream, seeing that man wrapped in hatred, becoming cold and evil, was real.

She used to hate not being able to get rid of Wei Jie early and return to two hundred years later.

But now, when Xiaoxiao thought of herself leaving and Wei Jie having to bear all this alone, gradually becoming that serious, cold-as-demon man in the dream, her heart was full of reluctance.

Thinking this, she looked at Wei Jie’s handsome face and couldn’t help reaching out slender fingers to caress his cheek. Such a beautiful face now—if it grew snake scales, it would be too much of a pity…

Since she had already shouldered most of his fate, she might as well be more unlucky and walk the latter half for him.

All this way, although Xiaoxiao had borne most of Wei Jie’s destined tribulations, perhaps because they traveled together, it wasn’t as painful as bearing it alone.

If so, let her bear the suffering Wei Jie endured alone in his previous life, and let him keep this hard-won carefree nature of this lifetime.

After all, she was a future person with advanced knowledge. Even if she lost the secret manual, she remembered most of its contents.

Better than him knowing nothing and fighting against heaven. She was his master, so it was proper for the master to suffer for her disciple.

Xiaoxiao’s heart was now full of the bodhisattva’s measure of saving the world and people, just short of manifesting Buddha light to illuminate people’s eyes.

But just at dawn, she had first thoughtlessly pulled at his collar, and now, while they were alone, she was lovingly touching the man’s angular face.

How could a young man in his prime withstand such repeated teasing?

Wei Jie felt that if he said more now, he’d be unromantic. If he didn’t do something, wouldn’t he be failing his master’s favor?

So just as Xiaoxiao resolved to bear the latter half of Wei Jie’s path to demonhood, full of sacrificial tragedy,

The next moment, the little bodhisattva was unceremoniously pressed back onto the grass mattress by Wei Jie.

Wei Jie’s appearance was of the evil and somewhat aloof type, but when such a seemingly unrestrained man had an intoxicating expression in his purple eyes, his natural succubus bloodline was utilized to the fullest. Without even needing enchanting songs, just gazing steadily like this made people sink into it…

He slowly lowered his head, thin lips finally kissing his confused little master.

Xiaoxiao was momentarily bewildered, just habitually sinking into this lip-and-tongue entanglement.

The man kissed very forcefully. Even Xiaoxiao, kissed to distraction, could feel his impatience…

This time Wei Jie was less proper, not only kissing her but also being rather dishonest. Wait… where were his hands?

This time, Sect Master Cui finally awakened, forcefully pushing away the man on top of her, then sitting up with puffed, blushing cheeks.

She protected her front with one hand, pointing at the man’s nose with the other: “You… how dare you touch randomly? Where did you touch me just now?”

But Wei Jie looked completely innocent, blinking purple eyes: “I was distracted just now and forgot. Shall we practice again so I can tell you?”

After speaking, he leaned forward again, but was immediately grabbed by the ear by Xiaoxiao.

Practice your big head ghost! Xiaoxiao didn’t believe he didn’t know what mischief he’d done. This boy was quite slippery!

This proved the earlier fantasy was indeed just a dream!

She really couldn’t imagine to death that Wei Jie in front of her, showing his canine teeth in a smile and acting roguish, would become that serious man radiating a cold aura in the dream!

Wei Jie finally smiled and grasped her ear-pinching hand, leaning close to ask softly: “What? Are the Talismonger Sect rules changing again? Adding a clause that only kissing is allowed, no touching?”

Since joining the sect, he’d become accustomed to rules changing constantly. Adding another today wouldn’t be surprising.

Although Xiaoxiao was a street swindler who’d experienced all kinds of situations, this was her first time in romance.

Especially encountering such an unconventional Demon Lord ancestor, her experience in this area might be less than Yu Ling’er’s!

But he was right—having kissed already, not allowing touching seemed too prudish?

…Wait, this logic seemed wrong somehow? Following this, wouldn’t it become “having kissed already, not allowing sleep?”

Seeing Xiaoxiao puff her cheeks again, Wei Jie’s smile deepened. He intimately pinched her face, then pulled open his collar, slightly exposing his solid chest: “Alright, alright, I was wrong. Only letting you touch me is fine!”

Although his muscles were solid and looked well-developed,… who the hell wanted to touch him?

She finally retrieved her dignity as master, changing to pinch Wei Jie’s high nose: “You’ve rebelled! Go burn firewood and cook for me! Don’t be all clingy with me! If Yu Ling’er sees, she’ll laugh at me again!”

Though she thought she was putting on master airs to scold her disciple, to Wei Jie, this just-awakened little person with messy hair puffing her cheeks and acting grown-up looked adorable and lovable no matter how he looked.

So Wei Jie let her show off as master for a while, then, like coaxing an angry kitten, hugged her shoulders and coaxed: “I also find them bothersome. Since the remnant pages matter is temporarily settled with nothing else to do, after paying respects to Master Ancestor, let’s ditch them and go sightseeing together, alright?”

She had no intention of finding Yu Ling’er bothersome! Wait, ancestor worship?

A flash of clarity crossed Xiaoxiao’s mind—how could she forget today was originally for “ancestor worship”!

After finally coaxing Wei Jie away, she quickly got up, using the excuse of washing up to go to the stream and pace in circles, thinking of countermeasures.

Just then, Tang Youshu was holding a wooden bowl, preparing to wash newly picked mountain fruits.

Seeing Xiaoxiao there too, he held up the mountain fruits, asking: “Master Ancestor, for honoring Great Master Ancestor later, can we use these mountain fruits instead of fresh fruits?”

Xiaoxiao looked at those red fruits with mixed feelings: “As long as you like eating them…”

Tang Youshu awkwardly grinned: “This… Great Master Ancestor should like them. Oh, right, you haven’t told me where Great Master Ancestor is buried. Do I need to go pull weeds and add soil to the grave beforehand?”

Cui Xiaoxiao mysteriously turned in place, then said: “…The whole mountain wilderness is him.”

Seeing Tang Youshu’s wide eyes, Xiaoxiao took another deep breath: “My master wasn’t an ordinary person. Though he couldn’t cultivate immortality, he didn’t want to leave rotting bones in the world, so when buried, he was cremated. Then scattered in Lingshan’s back mountain, living and breathing with flowers, grass, and trees!”

In this era, two hundred years ago, where could she find Master’s grave? Having a sudden inspiration, she thought up cremation as an excuse.

Tang Youshu listened with sudden understanding, respectfully saying: “Worthy of being my Great Master Ancestor, so otherworldly! If I can’t become immortal in the future, I’ll be like Great Master Ancestor—phoenix nirvana, purifying the soul in fire!”

Xiaoxiao seriously spat twice: “Young Master Tang, how can you speak lightly of life and death at such a young age? You have the fate of living two hundred years!”

After the customary mutual praise between master ancestor and disciple grandson, Tang Youshu happily walked away with his wooden bowl.

Just while walking back, Young Master Tang couldn’t help walking on tiptoes, extremely carefully, muttering things like “Great Master Ancestor, excuse the disturbance, forgive this descendant’s ignorance and rudeness.”

He feared stepping on Great Master Ancestor’s ashes and disturbing his peace.

Thus, the Talismonger Sect’s first ancestor worship since its founding was conducted by walking the mountain.

Led by Cui Xiaoxiao, with Wei Jie and Tang Youshu, and other disciples and granddisciples following, plus Yu Ling’er and other fox clan members voluntarily joining the worship, they scattered paper ingots, carrying incense and candles, walking while honoring the Great Master Ancestor throughout the mountain wilderness.

Walking like this, they unknowingly reached the front mountain, just meeting head-on with Princess Yongning’s group preparing to descend.

Princess Yongning had been disappointed all night, not seeing phoenixes. Seeing the Talismonger Sect group cultivating in the back mountain, she happily ordered the sedan set down, lifting her skirts to run to Cui Xiaoxiao, asking: “Sect Master Cui, you were in the back mountain yesterday—did you see five phoenixes flying together?”

Cui Xiaoxiao thought: Not only did I see them, but those five are still clinging to my body!

She knew last night’s commotion was too big to deny seeing anything convincingly, so after thinking, she said: “I did see them, but later the five phoenixes underwent nirvana, ascending somewhere unknown—probably finding it too noisy here, so they flew elsewhere to roost.”

Princess Yongning felt somewhat disappointed, then remembering what Father told her before leaving this morning, said: “My father has always respected immortal cultivators. Hearing that the Talismonger Sect is cultivating here, he ordered me to gift this manor to the Talismonger Sect. A steward will give you the keys shortly. Please feel free to cultivate peacefully here.”

After speaking, not allowing Xiaoxiao to refuse, Princess Yongning had already turned to board her sedan, ordering the large group to descend the mountain.

Xiaoxiao hadn’t expected this Lingshan manor to circle back to the Talismonger Sect’s hands after all these twists.

This also made her curious about the Prince of Changshan. Although Wei Jie said that a prince was someone who scattered wealth only to regain it,

Could Prince of Changshan be so generous as to have his daughter gift a manor to a sect he’d never even met?

The ancestor worship ceremony was concluded, and the manor keys were handed to Xiaoxiao by the prince’s steward.

Though some buildings still needed lime whitewashing, most were already renovated.

Being newly built, compared to the mottled, aged appearance two hundred years later, the Talismonger Sect’s halls and pavilions looked extremely grand.

Yu Ling’er, an unworldly little fox, after nearly sleeping in caves last night, was suddenly able to move into such an elegant manor, and was naturally overjoyed.

Finally, she found a room near the lotus pool, even demanding that Tang Youshu live in the adjacent room for companionship.

Her demand made Tang Youshu very uncomfortable. After all, this wasn’t an inn—with so many rooms available, why must he stay next to a young lady?

Xiaoxiao didn’t choose an upper room, instead selecting the one she used to share with Second Senior Sister.

Walking through these clearly familiar yet strangely unfamiliar corridors and pavilions, Xiaoxiao truly felt like traveling through two hundred years.

Now, with changing circumstances, because of her arrival, many things seemed different. Though Xiaoxiao was determined to complete Wei Jie’s demonic tribulations for him, she didn’t know how much her willfulness would affect the future.

However, she didn’t want to stay long at Lingshan.

Qin Lingxiao had told her that another Demon Pearl seemed attached to someone else, so she needed to descend the mountain quickly to find it, preventing it from harming the world again.

Suddenly, Xiaoxiao sensed subtle air fluctuations—someone was hiding behind the lotus pool’s artificial mountain.

Xiaoxiao casually formed a fireball at her fingertips, transforming it into a fire arrow that shot straight toward the artificial mountain.

The person hiding behind seemed unprepared for Xiaoxiao to detect him so quickly. Caught off guard, he could only flash out.

Xiaoxiao looked closely and discovered the visitor was none other than Lingyun Pavilion’s Young Pavilion Master Qin Lingxiao, who had betrayed her last time.

While Qin Lingxiao had been hidden behind the mountain, unable to see Xiaoxiao’s face, after coming out to face her, his gaze couldn’t help but freeze on Xiaoxiao’s increasingly enchanting face, unable to look away.

Having lived over two hundred years and seen countless immortal cultivator women, none had ever caught his eye.

Yet this street swindler, so much younger than him, who never spoke kindly to him, somehow attracted him unknowingly, making it hard to look away.

He despised his taste—if he truly had worldly desires, he should like a better woman.

But seeing Xiaoxiao again today, though her appearance hadn’t changed, she had somehow gained an indescribable cold beauty. Her cold, dismissive glances gave people an inexplicable sense of shame.

Xiaoxiao also noticed Qin Lingxiao seemed afraid to meet her eyes directly, but deservedly so!

Last time, to cover for his father Qin He, this old boy used every means possible, just short of impaling her on a flagpole for public display. She didn’t know where he got the face to appear brazenly before her again.

Perhaps due to the five-colored phoenixes attached to her body, Xiaoxiao discovered not only had her movement become more agile, but her ability to sense and control spiritual power had greatly enhanced.

Though she was currently alone, if she fought Qin Lingxiao, she wasn’t afraid—this was probably the mysterious confidence that spiritual power improvement brought.