Grandmother’s sharp eyes swept left and right over the pair of young men and women entering the door, slowly saying: “A’Jie, what exactly happened last night? How did you end up following your master into… the demonic path!”

Wei Jingfeng, beside her, spoke with the frustration of iron that refuses to become steel: “After all, he’s a cursed spawn born of a succubus—what’s strange about entering the demonic path! Most hateful is that he brought demons into the household, seducing this demoness through the gates of the Underworld! Mother! Why waste words with these two—immediately capture them and deal with them accordingly!”

That one word, “cursed spawn,” struck Wei Jie’s very core. His cold gaze turned toward his uncle, his eyes gradually darkening.

But before Wei Jie could speak, Xiaoxiao could no longer bear listening and spoke coldly: “Master Wei, Wei Jie holds you in the highest regard, always telling me you’re the pillar of the Wei family. Now that Wei Jie faces sudden misfortune and has been harmed by treacherous people, his heart is already in turmoil. As his close elder relative, if you can’t care for him or help him, that’s one thing. But to stab at his heart and scold him indiscriminately without understanding the situation first, besides hurting familial bonds, what use is it?”

Though she had severed the master-disciple bond with Wei Jie, when Cui Sect Leader heard someone curse Wei Jie before her face, she still felt uncomfortable.

This protective instinct was part of the Talismonger Sect’s master-disciple inheritance—even if he was her abandoned disciple, she wouldn’t tolerate others pointing at his nose and calling him a “cursed spawn”!

Wei Jie’s demonic nature, originally stirred by his uncle’s scolding, suddenly calmed when Xiaoxiao spoke up to defend him.

His little master was already beautiful when smiling sweetly normally, but when glaring with those big eyes while scolding someone, she displayed an entirely different kind of stunning beauty!

This Wei Jingfeng was a straightforward man with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Because of his elder brother’s death, he had never gotten along well with his nephew. Later, seeing him mature and steady with some traces of his brother’s bearing, his attitude toward Wei Jie had somewhat softened.

But now, watching him learn bad habits from Cui Xiaoxiao and enter the demonic path, Wei Jingfeng again felt that frustration of iron refusing to become steel, causing him to lose control of his emotions and curse aloud.

But Wei Jingfeng hadn’t expected that the Cui girl who had been smiling sweetly at his mother moments ago would suddenly raise her phoenix eyes and come straight at him.

This young lady was truly formidable with words, employing military strategy and formation, courtesy before force.

She first mentioned how Wei Jie respected his uncle, placing him on a high platform he couldn’t descend from, then, in a few words, belittled him as cold-hearted and inconsiderate toward younger generations, completely heartless.

This angered Wei Jingfeng so much he couldn’t speak for a moment, only pointing at Xiaoxiao with trembling fingers: “You… you demoness…”

Xiaoxiao snorted coldly, then glanced at the silver-armored soldiers suddenly surrounding them, continuing in a clear, cold tone: “If Master Wei feels last night wasn’t exciting enough and wishes to exchange martial skills, I shall naturally oblige. However, Master, you seem to have been injured last night. In my opinion, you should rest quietly for a few days before speaking of it. Today, everyone rarely sits together for tea—why must we resort to fighting and killing? Elder Wei, don’t you think this reasoning is sound?”

Elder Wei knew this young lady was quite sharp-tongued, and seeing her today, she had hidden much of her edge before.

Her words just now were a warning to the Wei family—they had all been defeated by Wei Jie after he became demonic.

Especially Wei Jingfeng, this uncle—the injuries Wei Jie inflicted on him last night hadn’t healed yet. He’d best be sensible and not invite humiliation!

Understanding the young lady’s warning, Elder Wei remained unmoved, steadily saying: “Sect Leader Cui’s words are reasonable. It’s rare for A’Jie to return home and be able to drink a bowl of peaceful tea—naturally, that’s best. But Sect Leader Cui, do you know that you caused great trouble last night? Even the finest tea, once drunk, will turn bitter!”

Xiaoxiao cupped her fists and apologized first: “Wei Jie has already told me about the Wei family’s ten-year tradition of sealing the gates on the night of the red moon, but I dare to ask—is there some particular reason for this? Could someone who knows the Wei family’s habits have set a trap, luring Ling’er and me into the Underworld?”

Wei family’s grandmother raised her eyebrows: “What? You didn’t break in yourselves, but someone tricked you into entering the Underworld?”

So Xiaoxiao told the complete story of how she and Yu Ling’er were lured by that Young Master Ye using floral fragrance.

This matter had ironclad evidence, because when Yu Ling’er escaped from the Underworld, the hem of her skirt still carried a dried petal from the spider lilies in the sachet.

These flowers grew on the far shore of the River of Forgetfulness—a place even living people who entered the Underworld couldn’t reach.

If what Xiaoxiao said was true, what kind of person would have such a supernatural ability to communicate directly with ghosts and gods?

That spider lily petal still emanated an alluring fragrance, but Elder Wei’s expression changed several times.

Next, the old lady pondered for a moment, then waved her hand to dismiss everyone except Wei Jingfeng.

She picked up that petal again, saying heavily: “Someone who can pluck spider lilies from the Underworld… absolutely cannot be human!”

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement. Based on that Young Master Ye’s appearance and bearing, he was truly rarely seen in the mortal world, always carrying an indescribable quality.

Looking at it now, he seemed somewhat similar to Wei Jie when possessed by divine essence… Could he also be from heaven…

Elder Wei said, “Originally, the Wei family produced the traitor Wei Di, who stole a page from the Book of Life and Death. But thinking carefully, did he have the ability to steal that fragment page alone? Now, these Underworld demon flowers mysteriously appear in the human realm… I always feel there may be a great disaster behind this.”

Saying this, she looked up at her grandson Wei Jie’s forehead.

Yesterday, he had entered the demonic path, yet the blue mark on his forehead was distinctly that of a deity.

As guardians of the Underworld, Elder Wei even recognized at a glance that the blue flame was the divine seal of the Underworld’s former master, Lord Gu Yan!

The old lady feared she had seen wrong, so after stabilizing the Underworld seal yesterday, she searched through ancient texts for verification.

Though the blue mark on Wei Jie’s forehead had now disappeared, it left behind blood-red traces identical to Lord Gu Yan’s divine seal.

This couldn’t help but secretly shock the old lady greatly.

Wei Jie completely disbelieved the claim that he was Lord Gu Yan’s reincarnated tribulation, so he only briefly mentioned being possessed by a spirit stone and losing his sanity.

But when Elder Wei heard this, it was like thunder striking her head: If it was a divine stone sealing divine essence, it wasn’t like a demon pearl that could attach to anyone without principles.

Only the incarnation of a fallen deity could awaken divine essence to attach to them.

Since Wei Jie could have divine essence possess him, it proved he was Lord Gu Yan’s incarnation undergoing tribulation in the human world!

This mixed-blood child whom the Wei family looked down upon… was the long-missing Lord Gu Yan—the true master of the Underworld!

Wei Jingfeng had also figured this out, his eyes widening like saucers as he stared dumbly at the “cursed spawn” he had just berated, unable to recover.

The Wei family’s old lady, having recognized the divine seal earlier, was somewhat mentally prepared. Now she was the first to lean on her cane and kneel before her grandson: “The Wei family, high and low, failed to recognize the exalted one. We have neglected the divine lord undergoing tribulation in the human world—please forgive us!”

Wei Jie’s brow furrowed slightly as he hurried to help his grandmother up, but Elder Wei insisted that her son also kneel.

Though the Underworld lacked its deity and had been chaotic without management for a long time, no one dared forget who the true divine ruler of the Underworld was.

Lord Gu Yan was master of the underworld, controlling slaughter and death, with all three realms’ departed souls in his hands.

The Wei family’s stewardship of the Underworld was merely acting as servants watching the gate for the underworld’s true master!

Though Cui Xiaoxiao had long known Wei Jie’s origins were extraordinary, she hadn’t expected that this down-and-out immortal should receive such grand ceremonial treatment.

But it was no wonder the Wei family was so excited. If Lord Gu Yan returned to his position, for the Wei family bound to Qilao Mountain, it would be like rebirth and liberation!

From then on, Wei family descendants would no longer need to bear the responsibility of guarding the Underworld’s entrance!

Thinking of this, Elder Wei couldn’t help but shed two lines of tears from excitement, while Wei Jingfeng was even more overwhelmed with mixed emotions, his mouth opening and closing, not knowing what to say.

Xiaoxiao also sincerely reflected on herself. She thought of how, during yesterday’s melee, she had slapped Wei Jie several times and hadn’t even given him medicine.

Cui Xiaoxiao immediately felt somewhat guilty, feeling she hadn’t been as devout toward the deity as the Wei family.

She wondered if neglecting the divine lord’s handsome face would bring any divine punishment? When Wei Jie slept later, would burning a few incense sticks for him help atone for her sins somewhat?

Wei Jie had wanted to help his grandmother up, but she was too excited to rise.

With his vital energy still unrecovered, he could only helplessly kneel as well, telling his grandmother she needn’t be so excited, because last night he had accidentally shattered Lord Gu Yan’s divine essence and probably couldn’t piece it back together, so he couldn’t become an immortal.

This time, the Wei family mother and son again widened their eyes like saucers, saying in unison: “What? The divine essence shattered?”

Once granted divine essence, the difficulty of ascension was half that of ordinary people.

This kind of cheating method was secretly passed down among many immortals undergoing tribulation.

They would often secretly hide sealed divine essence before tribulation, and when the opportunity came, they could advance rapidly and return to immortal ranks with ease.

It seemed Lord Gu Yan was the same, having separated and sealed his divine essence early.

But… how had Wei Jie managed to shatter such an ascension treasure?

Wei Jingfeng, originally confused upon learning this brat was Lord Gu Yan himself, now hearing he had broken the divine essence, was so angry he slapped his thigh again. He wanted to curse the brat for being unable to handle important matters, but remembering he was Lord Gu Yan, he couldn’t bring himself to curse him as “dog shit,” leaving the Wei family master’s face flushed red from suppressed frustration, nearly fainting from anger.

Elder Wei was the first to recover, finally allowing Wei Jie to help her up. She grasped his wrist, examining carefully. Indeed, there was no trace of immortal meridians or divine essence, but instead, demonic energy circulated in waves, seemingly accumulating and flowing.

“What happened? Even if your divine essence shattered, you shouldn’t have entered the demonic path!”

But Wei Jie raised his eyebrows and smiled carelessly, thinking of his original destiny to become demonic, saying indifferently: “Since I came to the human world to undergo tribulation, naturally I must taste all kinds of suffering. If I cannot become demonic myself, how can I control the underworld’s demons?”

This reasoning was complete nonsense, but since Wei Jie was Lord Gu Yan’s reincarnation, it immediately carried the profundity of one who had seen through three thousand mortal attachments.

Even old grandmother couldn’t help but nod, finding it reasonable.

Xiaoxiao somewhat guiltily held the ancient text Elder Wei had brought, pretending to read while hiding her face.

Wei Jie could spin tales!

But if he told grandmother the truth—that he entered the demonic path because he couldn’t embrace Xiaoxiao and was overwhelmed by lustful thoughts—Xiaoxiao felt her face as the chief culprit would be somewhat unsalvageable.

Thus speaking, the reason for voluntarily entering demonhood to save all beings under heaven sounded more dignified and proper.

Taking advantage of pretending to read, Xiaoxiao glanced at this ancient book, which recorded many immortal secrets, even more gossipy than her master Tang Youshu’s secret manual…

As for the grandmother, hearing Wei Jie’s explanation, she could only nod helplessly, then shake her head.

“Your constitution does make entering the demonic path easier. But once demonic, returning to immortal status is a hundred times harder than for ordinary mortals… Yesterday, when you were at Qilao Mountain, those evil beings in the Underworld had already sensed their master’s presence, each stirring restlessly. Those evil beings don’t respect rank or status—only the law of the jungle. If your immortal status remained, all would be well. But with your immortal essence shattered, they must have sensed it too. No wonder the ground has churned several times today—the Underworld’s demonic creatures are about to rebel!”

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao didn’t understand and couldn’t help putting down the book: “Lord Gu Yan’s descent for tribulation wasn’t recent. Why didn’t those Underworld demons react before?”

Elder Wei said: “The emperor’s tribulation is like the emperor traveling on inspection—though he must go out for a while, there’s always a day of return that can still deter the demons. But if the emperor’s divine essence shatters with no hope of ascension, that’s like the Yellow Emperor dying halfway through his journey. Naturally, demons stir restlessly, each wanting to rebel and show themselves.”

Xiaoxiao understood. The shattering of Wei Jie’s divine essence and his fall from divine status were already known to the gods and demons suppressed in the Underworld.

So this underworld master’s authority was lost, possibly triggering great chaos in the Underworld!

No wonder when Wei Jie showed signs of entering demonhood again today, there were earth-shaking omens.

Wei family’s matriarch continued, looking at Wei Jie: “A’Jie, you’re not only a Wei family descendant—your shoulders bear responsibilities even heavier than Wei family descendants…”

Saying this, Elder Wei paused, only pointing at the ancient text: “Miss Cui, you seem to love reading. Why not take this book back to read? Our Wei family cannot leave Qilao Mountain. The storms beyond this mountain… can only be borne by you.”

Xiaoxiao saw the old lady’s reluctant manner of speaking and immediately understood—the mastermind who tricked them into the Underworld must be some unspeakable figure.

The Wei family sought to protect themselves wisely, unwilling to participate in any disputes, so they could only give her a book as a clue for them to investigate.

This time, Elder Wei didn’t even keep them for a shared meal, only telling Wei Jie he could go see his mother. After all, this mother and son hadn’t met for long—they should have a reunion.

After returning to the Wei family with Elder Wei, Siling had been cultivating body and mind in the Buddhist hall, having no contact with the Wei family.

Elder Wei also felt this wasn’t a long-term solution. If Wei Jie could persuade his mother to let go of hatred and return to the Underworld, no longer involving herself in mortal affairs, that would be best.

Walking from the main hall toward the back chambers, Xiaoxiao looked at the tall yet somewhat lonely figure of the man walking ahead, and couldn’t help reaching out to tug his sleeve: “…Actually, your grandmother doesn’t lack affection for you. It’s just that her shoulders carry responsibility for a whole extended family. When her love is divided like this, each person only gets a little bit left…”

Earlier, Wei family’s Elder Wei’s greatest concern was not Wei Jie’s safety after entering demonhood, but rather that, as Lord Gu Yan’s reincarnation, his loss of divine essence had caused an imbalance in the underworld.

Xiaoxiao felt that if she were Wei’s grandmother’s grandson and saw her relatives being so calculating, she would surely feel sad and hurt.

Wei Jie watched Xiaoxiao trying so hard to explain that grandmother loved him very much, suddenly reached out to ruffle the top of Xiaoxiao’s head: “Fool, I’m not a yellow-mouthed child in open-crotch pants. Even if grandmother doesn’t favor me, I won’t hide and cry!”

Xiaoxiao looked at him without speaking.

She now understood this man too well and guessed that, regarding family affection, he wasn’t as indifferent as he appeared on the surface.

After learning he was Lord Gu Yan, the little bit of family feeling he had painstakingly maintained with the Wei family was again diluted by greater righteousness.

If Wei family’s grandmother knew Wei Jie entered demonhood because of her, she’d probably sacrifice her to appease the Underworld’s departed spirits, lest she delay Lord Gu Yan’s ascension plans!

Thinking of this, she asked quietly: “Actually… do you regret that your divine essence shattered? After all, with it, you could undergo tribulation faster and return to your position. That Lord Gu Yan sounds very impressive.”

Wei Jie suddenly looked down deeply at Xiaoxiao, drawing out his words: “Yes, once I undergo tribulation and ascend, you’ll be free and happy. After all, young gentlemen to drink wine with you on rooftops are lined up in queues…”

In this lifetime, Lord Gu Yan had accidentally had his fate altered and showed signs of becoming a jealous person, liable to wildly drink vinegar at the slightest provocation.

Xiaoxiao had nothing to say to such a jealous jar, only following his words: “If I don’t seek young gentlemen, should I seek old fraudsters over two hundred years old to drink heartily with? You should have originally instructed your disciple Tang to find several more girls with extremely yin fates, so you could leisurely choose and see which one wasn’t dissolute and caught your eye!”

Seeing her start bringing up old grievances again, Wei Jie simply covered Xiaoxiao’s mouth that was about to mock: “Besides you, who else has entered my sight? You must know, after you transmigrated here, you were the first to actively speak to me, even desperately insisting on taking me as your disciple! This is called a perfect match—like a turtle meeting a green bean!”

Stinking turtle! Who’s the green bean with you?

Xiaoxiao had a hundred sharp, bitter words, but they were all blocked by Wei Jie’s large palm, so she could only make muffled sounds.

Wei family’s Elder Wei and Wei Jingfeng stood at the front hall entrance, watching the two figures playfully quarreling as they walked away.

Wei Jingfeng watched Wei Jie covering his master’s mouth, frowning: “Immortals descending to the mortal world—what dignity and majesty. Look at this brat’s behavior—how could he possibly be an emperor’s reincarnation?”

Wei family’s Elder Wei frowned, watching too, but she said: “Who has personally seen how divine beings behave? It’s just we mortals’ fanciful attachments. Besides, A’Jie has shown extraordinary qualities since childhood. When he was born, his father sought divination for him, saying this child’s fate held many tribulations but also great achievements. At that time, Jingling asked the master if there was any way to resolve it. That master said tribulation means wanting to leave but being unable to—now it seems his greatest tribulation appears to be ’emotion.’ I only hope he won’t follow his father’s old path and can soon see through the word ’emotion.'”

Wei Jingfeng furrowed his brow: “Perhaps mother could speak well with him—it might be useful?”

Elder Wei sighed: “A’Jie’s personality is stubborn, taking after his father. I couldn’t stop his father back then, so naturally I can’t stop him now. We’ll see if A’Jie’s mother has any way to persuade him.”

Wei Jie and Xiaoxiao went to the Buddhist hall. Pushing open the door, they saw the succubus Siling with her back to the entrance, kneeling on a prayer cushion.

Wei Jie called out, “Mother, Xiaoxiao and I have come to see you. Have you been well these days?”

After calling several times, the succubus Siling turned her back to them, motionless as if unaware.

Could Siling be angry with Wei Jie for not visiting earlier and be giving her son the cold shoulder?

Wei Jie walked forward a few steps, about to approach Siling to speak, when he suddenly twisted his head uncomfortably, his eyes briefly turning dark.

Xiaoxiao saw this and promptly grasped his hand.

When Wei Jie developed heart demons while possessed by divine essence, his demonic transformation was even faster than Xiaoxiao’s with her demon pearl possession.

This was because Lord Gu Yan originally controlled the Underworld and walked a path somewhat between immortal and demonic, greatly different from other divine beings.

Now, in early demonic transformation, his temperament was unstable. Fortunately, Xiaoxiao served as medicine for his heart demons, preventing him from rapidly falling into demonhood as in his previous life.

But after that momentary distraction, Wei Jie immediately sensed something wrong with this room…

Xiaoxiao also detected it. Influenced by Tang Youshu, Xiaoxiao had some knowledge of feng shui and mystical arts.

The light in this room was dim, and there were bronze mirrors rarely seen in Buddhist halls. The arrangement of incense tables and candles made a light shuttle between several bronze mirrors.

Being within it was like being in a Ghost Sect illusion, easily causing a gradual loss of mental clarity!

Looking carefully, Xiaoxiao discovered threads of black blood vessels showing on the succubus Siling’s exposed neck. She cried in alarm, “Not good!” and immediately applied a Heart-Clearing Talisman.

When the Heart-Clearing Talisman touched Siling’s back, she suddenly lurched forward, collapsing onto the incense table.

When Xiaoxiao helped her up, she was immediately frightened.

Siling’s face was covered with bloody streaks—she had been crying for who knows how long. Most terrifying was that there was a medicine bowl before her, and her bloody tears had dripped into the bowl, accumulating nearly a full bowl!

Succubi cannot shed tears, because each teardrop is the heart’s blood. But these bloody tears also had miraculous properties—they were treasures many cultivation and alchemy practitioners schemed desperately to obtain.

Such an arrangement… could someone be trying to harm Siling?

If the two of them hadn’t discovered it in time, Siling would have died in this remote Buddhist hall!

Awakened by Xiaoxiao’s Heart-Clearing Talisman, Siling saw her son Wei Jie through tearful, blurred eyes and mistook him for her deceased lover.

She choked with sobs as she embraced Wei Jie: “Jingling, don’t leave me alone!”

Wei Jie gently patted his mother, massaging her distracted acupoints while forcibly suppressing his anger, saying softly: “Mother, it’s me. Please don’t cry anymore.”

After calling several times, Siling finally came to her senses, blinking her painfully tear-swollen eyes as she looked at Wei Jie with endless disappointment, slowly saying: “A’Jie, so it’s you… I just had such a long dream…”

Xiaoxiao stood aside, eyes wide as she stared at the Buddhist hall’s arrangement, asking first: “Madam, has this Buddhist hall always been arranged like this?”