There was a stone statue of an ancestral master in the Mingxin Shrine, carved with lifelike detail. It was a place for Tianji’s disciples to reflect and repent. Since Second Sect Master Qing Ying entered the shrine, no one else had come here.

Tian Rong had been captured and brought back to Tianji. After judgment by the Discipline Hall, Mu Hengtian allowed her to see her master one last time before her execution.

Now she knelt outside the Mingxin Shrine in the moonlight, faintly glimpsing through the doors and windows the candlelight inside and the slender silhouette also kneeling.

Tian Rong hadn’t seen her master for more than ten years.

Ever since Senior Brother Qing Shun was confined in the Saha Realm, all her cultivation guidance came from her master through the doors of the Mingxin Shrine. By the time she was able to enter the mortal world, the Second Sect Master never responded to any of her words again.

Now she had walked the same path as her senior brother, disappointing her master.

Tian Rong was young then and didn’t understand why her master and Senior Brother Qing Shun had turned against each other, but now she finally understood.

For someone you care about, it’s difficult to give up and let go. Even if it means opposing the cultivation world, you must protect that person’s safety.

Back then, her Senior Brother Qing Shun was a famous sword cultivator in the cultivation world, the champion of the Golden Luan Pool Banquet, the personal disciple of Tianji’s Second Sect Master, and he possessed an even more famous divine weapon:

Shattered Soul from the Upper Bottomless Valley.

At that time, Qing Shun was heaven’s favored child, though his personality was arrogant and he loved to be unconventional. He was also someone who liked to ignore rules, giving the elders headaches.

Usually, with his master keeping him in check at Tianji, Qing Shun would restrain himself somewhat. But after he entered the mortal world, he began to lose control of his temperament, ignoring the rules agreed upon by both realms and as a cultivator, interfering in mortal affairs.

Qing Shun became friends with the son of the South Peace King. When the South Peace King was accused of rebellion and sentenced to death with the extermination of nine clans, Qing Shun broke into the prison to rescue his friend and his sister, causing conflict between the mortal world and the cultivation realm and was pursued by the Three Departments Teaching.

During his capture by the Three Departments Teaching, conflicts arose, and he killed members of the Three Departments Teaching, causing tensions to escalate.

During the days of being hunted by both realms, everyone said Qing Shun was wrong and urged him to turn back and repent. But Qing Shun believed he wasn’t wrong. He was a cultivator, but he was also a friend of the South Peace Prince. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with protecting his friend.

Besides, the rebellion didn’t exist at all—it was just that his achievements threatened the emperor, offending court factions, resulting in him being framed and abandoned.

He didn’t know that some people were jealous of the South Peace Prince being too close to a powerful cultivator and deliberately refused to help when they saw him in danger.

The reasons could be many, and human hearts were complex and difficult to discern.

Thus, Qing Shun hid with the two homeless unfortunates, eventually being found by masters from the Three Departments Teaching. During the battle, Qing Shun was injured, and the South Peace Prince died to save him, his dying words expressing guilt for involving him and entrusting Qing Shun to take care of his only sister.

The South Peace Princess, unable to bear being a burden to him any longer, said to Qing Shun: “You are my brother’s friend. Now that my brother is gone, you don’t need to protect me anymore. Qing Shun, you’ve done enough. I’ll walk the road ahead by myself. Go back to Tianji. You still have your master. She will protect you, and the imperial court can’t do anything to you…”

Before she could finish, Qing Shun picked her up with a dark face and flew away on his sword.

After sunset, Qing Shun was found by his master.

He was no match for his master and unwilling to fight her to the death. After fighting until his body was covered in wounds and his last bit of spiritual energy was exhausted, he knelt before his master, begging her to spare the young woman behind him.

The Second Sect Master said: “I promise you, I’ll keep her safe. Follow me back to Tianji to accept punishment, and don’t interfere in this matter again.”

Only then did Qing Shun smile, struggling to reach out and touch the face of the young woman who was crying her heart out, telling her: “Don’t worry, my master is a good person.”

He returned to Tianji and was punished with water torture. With the Second Sect Master’s protection, the grudge against the Three Departments Teaching was resolved, and he was confined for three years, forbidden to leave the mountain.

Qing Shun was already covered in wounds. After enduring the water torture, it took half a year for him to recover somewhat.

He tried several times to see the South Peace Princess but was refused. Finally, he found the Second Sect Master and knelt humbly: “I just want to see her once, to see if she is well.”

But the Second Sect Master turned her back to him and said softly: “Wait until your confinement is over.”

The more it was like this, the harder it was for Qing Shun to believe and convince himself. So he sneaked down the mountain and entered the mortal world, only to learn that the South Peace Princess had long been captured by the imperial court, sentenced, and sent to the border as a military prostitute, dying in less than a month.

Qing Shun could hardly believe it. He went to the border, killing his way into the military camp to learn the full story, only to discover that the person he had desperately tried to protect was long gone without even a body to bury.

Unable to suppress his killing intent, he went on a rampage in the military camp and then attempted to kill his way into the imperial palace. After being blocked from multiple directions, he went from being an admired heaven’s favored child to a wicked cultivator wanted by both realms. For revenge, he was willing to cooperate with demons.

By then, Qing Shun had already stepped halfway into the realm of demonic cultivation but still hadn’t allowed himself to fully become a demon. He killed many people, including his fellow disciples and elders who came to stop him. Finally, the three Sect Masters of Tianji mobilized to bring him back.

The Second Sect Master knelt to beg for her disciple’s life, which spared him from the death penalty, but he was confined to the Saha Realm to suffer, though this was a fate worse than death.

Now he had been released and had become a demon in one step, coming to settle the unresolved grudges of the past.

Tian Rong was still recalling the past when she suddenly heard the warning sound resonating throughout Tianji. Just as she was surprised, a demon with black flames descended from the sky and landed in the courtyard of the Mingxin Shrine.

Her Senior Brother Qing Shun held a long sword full of cracks in his hand. With dark red eyes, he stared at the figure inside the door and said: “Disciple Qing Shun, specially requests master’s guidance.”

The woman inside slightly lowered her head, and a tear slid down her cheek.

Tianji’s Second Sect Master emerged from seclusion to battle her demonized disciple. Spiritual power and demonic energy swept through this night, attracting everyone’s attention.

While the Sect Masters and elders all rushed to the Mingxin Shrine, Ling Luo made her way to the Green Stone Quarter without hindrance.

The stars were bright, and the red torii gates were stacked layer upon layer. She walked up step by step, just like when Yun Shouxi had once led her through the torii gates to the Mirage Tower.

Every scene and object here left a deep impression on her. Ling Luo once thought that everything recorded here represented warm, unforgettable memories, but in the end, the deepest impression was the image of being imprisoned under the water of the Mirage Tower.

The water of the Mirage Tower connected to the sea at the bottom of the mountain. Eastern Island’s Tianji was called the Immortal Mountain. The mountain was vast and high, and she had been confined in the deep sea beneath the Immortal Mountain, gazing at the unreachable exit.

Ling Luo walked onto the suspension bridge, heading toward the center of the Mirage Tower. Every painting hanging on the doors and windows was personally created by Yun Shouxi.

Her master was skilled in painting, and his works were extremely beautiful and lifelike.

In a dark room at the bottom of the Mirage Tower, there was a painting done by Yun Shouxi’s hand. That was the beginning of everything.

Just as Ling Luo stepped off the suspension bridge, she heard someone calling from behind: “Where are you going?”

She turned around to see her Senior Brother Chu Yi standing on the suspension bridge, looking down at her. Chu Yi had one hand on the sword at his waist. Seeing Ling Luo turn around, he felt anger rising and said through gritted teeth: “You dare to come back? Weren’t you quite decisive when you left? Just waving your hand and entering the Death Mist Gate, thinking you’re so powerful, right?”

Ling Luo: “Even without the Death Mist Gate, I’m still powerful.”

Chu Yi walked down the suspension bridge, glaring at her coldly: “Am I complimenting you? Couldn’t you discuss such important matters before making decisions? Couldn’t you give some warning before becoming a demon? It’s just the Nanshan Snow River Sect Master. If sword intent couldn’t kill him, couldn’t you use a curse or poison? Did you have to become a demon to cross swords with him? Is something wrong with your brain?”

“You’re so stupid, and people still say you’re my junior sister. Do you know how embarrassing that is?!”

After being scolded, Ling Luo couldn’t bear it any longer and retorted: “I left through the Death Mist Gate because I was afraid I couldn’t control my demonic nature and would cut you all down with one sword! Hand on your heart, could you have defeated me?!”

Chu Yi laughed coldly: “If I couldn’t defeat you, couldn’t I run? Try to kill me and see!”

Ling Luo: “…”

Chu Yi exposed her with extreme disdain: “I think you ran so fast because of that unfortunate Sacred Sword Sect disciple who fell in love with you!”

“Senior Brother.” Ling Luo’s eye twitched fiercely. “I’ve become a demon. If you keep provoking me and I can’t control my demonic nature, don’t blame me for turning on you.”

Regarding Ling Luo becoming a demon, Chu Yi was initially quite angry. This junior sister was becoming increasingly bold and disrespectful. She killed the Nanshan Snow River Sect Master in front of so many people!

How could this be resolved? Even if their master was the Sect Master of Tianji, he couldn’t protect her!

Later, after learning the cause and effect, the entanglement between Ling Luo and the Feng family, Chu Yi felt that his junior sister’s choice to become a demon to kill Feng Yunhong was not worth it. Couldn’t she have found another way to kill him instead of facing him in a sword duel?

His feelings changed from initial anger to disappointment in her poor judgment.

Chu Yi laughed coldly: “Do you think I’d be afraid?”

Ling Luo didn’t waste words with him, angrily walking toward the Mirage Tower. Chu Yi followed and asked: “Where are you going?!”

“Going underground,” Ling Luo said, suddenly narrowing her eyes. “Senior Brother, are you sure you want to follow me?”

“Is there anywhere in the Mirage Tower I can’t go?” Chu Yi found her words strange.

Ling Luo snorted with laughter, her expression mysterious, leading Chu Yi down to the bottom of the Mirage Tower.

Watching her skillfully find the mechanism to open the secret passage, Chu Yi’s eye twitched as he asked: “Who did this?”

“The Mirage Tower belongs to the master, so naturally this secret room is also the master’s.” Ling Luo walked into the passage, which was spacious and bright, with hanging lamps on both sides of the wall.

Chu Yi had never been here before, so he looked suspiciously at Ling Luo walking ahead: “How do you know?”

Ling Luo: “I came here in my previous life.”

Chu Yi: “…”

Feeling the cold gaze from behind, Ling Luo shrugged and changed her words: “I came here in a dream.”

Chu Yi couldn’t bear it any longer: “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll draw my sword. You’re a demon now. Killing you would be perfectly justified.”

Ling Luo snorted. The passage wasn’t long. She reached the end and pushed open a colorful sliding door. Inside was bright and well-lit, with a pool of water in the center where red lotuses were planted, blooming brilliantly.

Chu Yi examined the surroundings with furrowed brows. Jade stone pillars, spiritual pearl decorations, red lotuses in the pool, and colorful paintings on the doors and windows—indeed, it was his master’s style and handiwork.

But he didn’t see anything special about it. This seemingly magnificent yet oppressive dark room might be a place his master built for focused painting, as many painting tubes were placed by the pool, and the tabletop and floor were covered with paper displaying brilliant colors.

Ling Luo stood in front of the curtain of the easel without going in. She said: “Senior Brother, there’s a painting inside. Could you bring it to me?”

Chu Yi glanced at her. When his junior sister said these words, there was a smile on her face—the kind of smile with a trace of coldness.

“What painting?” He walked forward nonchalantly, lifting the curtain as he heard Ling Luo say, “The painting that caught your eye at first glance.”

Chu Yi was about to ask her to clarify when a painting behind the easel captivated his attention.

The main color of the painting reflected in his bright black pupils was a beautiful azure—the sea that Chu Yi knew all too well, a view of the mortal world visible from the top of the Mirage Tower.

In the painting, under the moonlight and beneath the sea, there was a pitch-black reef. A woman in a blue long dress sat on the reef, looking at the viewer, her beautiful eyes glancing sideways, with a delicate, charming smile.

Her smooth black hair was styled in a way he couldn’t name but was incredibly familiar.

Even the strand of black hair falling at the temple and the small red string tied at the end of her hair were identical. One year, he had given Ling Luo this red string as a birthday gift, as he often saw her wearing it.

When Ling Luo smiled, she looked very similar to the woman in the painting.

Chu Yi was accustomed to Ling Luo’s arrogant and willful demeanor, and also familiar with her obedient and docile appearance in front of their master, but the woman in the painting was closer to docility.

Not just docility—this smile, affecting the eyebrows and eyes, also had a touch of gentleness and affection.

Like someone turning back to gaze at their lover under the moonlight.

“Senior Brother,” Ling Luo said with a light laugh from outside, “that’s a painting done by master’s hand. You should recognize it, right?”

Chu Yi stood in front of the easel, his gaze shifting from initial shock to obscurity.

He had noticed how special his master’s treatment of Ling Luo was, but because it was Yun Shouxi, he was unwilling to doubt or speculate anything. Ling Luo was his junior sister; being more favored wasn’t unusual.

But as time passed, sometimes an inadvertent glance would reveal that in places where Ling Luo couldn’t see, their master’s gaze on her became increasingly complex, causing him more concern.

This year, Chu Yi had planned to talk to Ling Luo about this matter, but before he could speak, the unexpected happened.

“There are many madmen in the world who devote their entire lives and time to pursuing what they desire, such as those cultivators seeking the Upper Bottomless Valley,” Ling Luo said softly, standing in front of the curtain. “In the mortal world, there are storytellers who trek through mountains and waters, personally exploring dangers to witness fairies, ghosts, and monsters, sacrificing their lives for it.”

“Senior Brother, let me tell you a secret. Decades ago, a child from a wealthy family went to a coastal village to play. The large ship went to sea and unfortunately encountered an attack by sea demons. The cultivators on board were no match, causing the ship to capsize.”

“The waves rolled, yet only returned that young master with shallow cultivation to the mortal world. He was sent back to the beach by the waves. People rescued him, and when he awoke, he told his parents that a woman with a human body and fish tail had saved him.”

“People said it was a sea demon, but sea demons do not have this form. Though they have fishtails, they do not take human form. This young master firmly believed it wasn’t a sea demon and became obsessed, searching in various ways.”

“He had great talent and was sent by his parents to a cultivation sect, where he saw a broader world. Yet he never forgot that scene beneath the sea. Later, he consulted an elder and learned that in the deep sea, there was a creature called a merfolk—a human body with a fishtail, their race known for beauty and musical talent, very mysterious.”

“So this young master entered the deep sea to search for merfolk.”

By then, he was already a Sect Master, with profound cultivation. Entering the deep sea on a full moon night, when mist arose on the sea, he heard ethereal, beautiful singing. Following that song into the sea, he saw that creature with a human body and fish tail.

Smooth, slightly curled black hair floated and sank in the seawater. The woman’s beauty was heart-stopping. Like glowing deep blue eyes gently gazing at him, transparent light blue fin-like ears hidden under her hair, with small areas of skin covered in scales.

The woman had a beautiful tail, with scales that slightly reflected light in the seawater.

He had found the creature living in the deep sea—the merfolk with human body and fish tail.

The merfolk sang a sorrowful, captivating song, luring him to fall into the deep sea.

Ling Luo said: “The young master spent many years and went through countless hardships to find the merfolk, but then he killed it.”

Chu Yi looked at the woman in the painting, slowly moving his gaze down from that beautiful face. Beneath the sea, hidden by her clothes, the woman in the painting had a long tail, but not like a fishtail. Those scales were smooth and beautiful, reflecting golden light.

Not a fish, more like a dragon.

“The young master returned to land. The elder asked him if he had found what he sought in his heart. The young master said no. In his heart’s desire, the woman’s face didn’t have fish fins or scales, not deep blue eyes, not a fish’s tail.”

“The young master said that ugly, lowly merfolk was a thousand, ten thousand miles different from what he desired in his heart, incomparable.”

“So this young master diligently practiced painting skills, recording what he desired in his heart stroke by stroke. When he showed the painting to the elder, the elder sighed and asked him to let go of his obsession, saying that in this world, there was nothing he pursued.”

“The young master didn’t believe it and persistently searched the world. Finally, one day, he found a face similar to the person in the painting. He was ecstatic, believing he had found it.”

So he patiently nurtured, taught, and schemed.

As long as there was this face, everything could be achieved.

Yun Shouxi collected all the tails of sea demons, and after searching through all curse rituals and medical classics, he successfully exchanged her spiritual veins with those of a sea demon, transforming her legs into a beautiful long tail covered with golden scales. He trapped her in the deep sea, gazing all day at her eyes filled with despair.

He once obsessively looked at Ling Luo’s face and murmured: “You exist because of my desire. We are destined to be together.”

“Senior Brother,” Ling Luo laughed softly, “doesn’t that woman in the painting look extremely similar to me?”

Chu Yi stared at the painting, his Adam’s apple moving slightly, saying hoarsely: “Not at all.”

Ling Luo raised her hand, spiritual power surging, a fierce wind lifting the curtain and bringing the painting into her hands.

She glanced at the entrance where footsteps were coming from, thinking it was Yun Shouxi. She created a barrier, hiding Chu Yi behind the curtain, and smiled: “I wonder what master would think, whether it looks like me or not.”

Ling Luo looked toward the entrance, but after the person pushed open the sliding door, she saw a different face.

The Sacred Sword Sect disciple carrying a sword on his back looked at her with cold eyes.

Ling Luo was stunned. From behind the curtain, Chu Yi said: “I forgot to tell you, he’s the one who told me you had returned to Tianji.”

“You should have told me something like this when you first saw me!” Ling Luo looked back at him resentfully.

Seeing her annoyed appearance, the light in Yue Liangze’s eyes dimmed a bit more. He walked toward Ling Luo: “Are you so unwilling to see me?”

“No!” Ling Luo immediately refuted this. “You’re the person I most want to see, but I didn’t want to meet you here.”

Because she didn’t want Yue Liangze to know that she had once been imprisoned like a plaything.

Upon hearing this, Yue Liangze directly flash-stepped to Ling Luo’s front, reaching out to embrace her, but a sharp sword energy came slicing through the void behind him—a deadly attack.

The timing, speed, accuracy, and quickness were impeccable. Even if Yue Liangze is injured by this sword intent, he still wants to grab Ling Luo. To prevent him from being hurt, Ling Luo actively pulled him toward her, and they both fell toward the water pool.

Chu Yi, trapped by Ling Luo behind the curtain and unable to get out, heard the splash and raised his hand to pinch his brow.

The sword intent of Crossing Divinity—master had arrived.

Yue Liangze held Ling Luo’s waist tightly in his embrace, avoiding the sword intent and leaping out of the water.

He saw the painting scattered on the ground, the image of the person in the painting entering his eyes. Yue Liangze’s arms holding Ling Luo tightened, and he slowly, with cold eyes, looked toward the person standing at the sliding door.