With such tremendous force and such intense immortal energy, if it were any other demon receiving this blow, their soul would be scattered instantly. Though Liu Ruyi’s soul wasn’t scattered, she was also gravely injured and unable to rise. Covering her chest, she turned her head and coughed up a large pool of blood, splashing up several drops of red-black dust.

Shen Qiyuan’s anger was still not quelled. He followed by leaping through the window, a pure white long sword materializing in the air with its tip aimed directly at her heart. Killing intent pierced the air with overwhelming momentum. From any angle, he showed not the slightest mercy, his deep brows and eyes filled with determination.

Liu Ruyi knew she couldn’t escape and simply closed her eyes.

Demon blood splashed high, and a bird’s mournful cry echoed from the distant sky.

Lin’an City, which had been clear and cloudless, suddenly became overcast. Light pierced through the clouds like overflowing, dripping cream, falling slowly and gently onto the Meeting Immortals Inn.

Then came a downpour hammering against the roof tiles. Heaven and earth were dark, so dark one couldn’t see their own hand, with only Shen Qiyuan bathed in gentle radiance like a beacon on the sea.

The Demon King suddenly turned back from the darkness a hundred li away.

Listening to his subordinates’ reports, he felt they were talking nonsense. How could Shen Qiyuan possibly kill Liu Ruyi? Not only would he be reluctant, but even if he truly acted, Ruyi was not some helpless being to be slaughtered at will.

But divine merit light was falling from heaven—such dazzling bright light required great merit, and unless one killed a great demon like Liu Ruyi, how could it be achieved?

He rose and rushed outside the Meeting Immortals Inn.

Rain poured down torrentially. The entire inn was enveloped in a pure white barrier that didn’t allow demons to approach. The Demon King circled the inn and tried several times, but Shen Qiyuan had gained merit, and his divine power had greatly increased—even the Demon King could find no way to break through.

After hesitating for a long while, he departed.

“Ziyan.” Puhua’s voice came through the rain curtain.

Shen Qiyuan turned his head to see his master standing outside the barrier, looking at him with satisfaction: “You’ve finally come to your senses.”

Opening a door in the barrier, he respectfully bowed: “This disciple has previously failed Master’s deep affection. I am ashamed.”

Puhua quickly entered to see Liu Ruyi’s corpse lying among the coarse hemp grain bags. Forget breathing—there wasn’t even a trace of her soul remaining.

His expression changed slightly: “You truly killed her?”

“She deliberately incited war between two nations and repeatedly deceived me.” Shen Qiyuan wearily lowered his eyes. “Even a thousand years of affection cannot withstand such repeated grinding away.”

“But, but you stayed in the mortal realm for her sake!”

“The mortal realm is tedious.” He pressed his lips together. “Master, I’ve thought it through. It’s still not too late to return to the Nine Heavens to cultivate now.”

Puhua smiled kindly: “Indeed, it’s not too late. With your talent, once you ascend to the Nine Heavens, you can quickly be promoted to Divine Lord. But Ziyan, Master hopes you think clearly—the Nine Heavens have strict rules. Once you go there, you can never again be as unrestrained as in the mortal realm…”

“This disciple was never one to be free and unrestrained.” Shen Qiyuan sighed lightly, glanced at Liu Ruyi’s distant corpse, then withdrew his gaze with slightly trembling eyelashes. “In the future, I will never be free and unrestrained again.”

He had cultivated for several thousand years without any errors or omissions. His only weakness was Liu Ruyi. Now that he had personally killed this weakness, there would be no more obstacles going forward.

Puhua nodded: “If that’s the case, then Master will guide you to the Nine Heavens.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“First, go settle all these mortal affairs,” Puhua said. “Opening the Heavenly Gate also requires some time.”

“Very well.” Shen Qiyuan stepped forward, wanting to collect Ruyi’s corpse.

“Leave this to Master.” Puhua waved his hand. “The mortal emperor will summon you again shortly. Go change your clothes.”

There were still large traces of demon blood on his body. Shen Qiyuan looked down and smiled while bowing: “Thank you, Master.”

The white light of merit gradually dispersed, and the surroundings returned to darkness. Puhua confirmed he had gone far before crouching beside Liu Ruyi and reaching out to probe her crown chakra.

All three souls and six spirits were destroyed, with only one remaining spirit, and even that wasn’t very complete.

With a grim expression, he lifted the corpse and strode outside.

A demon with only one spirit couldn’t live, but if one forcibly preserved it, one could maintain a breath and make it a living dead thing. Though Shen Qiyuan had dealt such a deadly blow, he was, after all, someone who had been his disciple for three thousand years. Puhua bet he would regret it. When he truly began to regret, this living dead thing with only one spirit would become the final straw that drove him to demonhood.

Though he thought this way, he was still somewhat angry.

Everything was proceeding as he had predicted. He hadn’t done anything wrong, so how did such an uncontrollable accident suddenly occur?

Rising on clouds and mist, he held Liu Ruyi’s corpse and flew straight in one direction.

Donning a brand new Azure Cloud Moon-Treading Robe, Shen Qiyuan brushed at the golden thread embroidery on his shoulders.

A magpie landed, pecking at its wings with its sharp beak: “I told you your master wasn’t right.”

Shen Qiyuan poked her little head with his finger and said in a low voice: “He was your master for a thousand years after all. Seeing you die and having your soul scattered, feeling compassion and wanting to save you is understandable.”

“Nonsense.” Ruyi flapped her wings indignantly. “From the day I fell to demonhood, he severed all ties with me. Every time we met afterward, he showed no mercy. If he hadn’t severely injured me, with my talent, I wouldn’t have needed to endure so many years in the Ten Thousand Demon Cave before emerging.”

Even her current master had sighed that if not for the successive severe injuries, the position of Demon King would have fallen to her much sooner.

“It’s impossible to save someone back with only one spirit, and he knows this. But looking at this situation, he still wants to keep me breathing.” Ruyi shook her head repeatedly. “No matter how you look at it, he has ulterior motives.”

Frowning slightly, Shen Qiyuan asked: “Where did he take your corpse?”

Ruyi used her remaining spirit to sense for a while, then opened her eyes in some shock: “It seems to be… in the direction of the old mansion.”

That old mansion was now the Demon King’s lair. What was Puhua, an immortal, doing going there?

“He went in alone, through the back door.”

“The moment his foot crossed the threshold, his Taoist robe turned into black mist. Whoa, he became so tall and imposing.”

Ruyi squinted as she sensed, laughing with curiosity: “He looks quite similar to my master in this form.”

As her words fell, a small demon hurried forward to greet him respectfully: “Demon King.”

Ruyi’s smile froze on her face.

The Demon King took her corpse to the underground area of the back courtyard, found several magpies to try one by one, wanting to preserve her soul first. His movements were practiced, and his demonic energy gradually thickened, not like someone else’s disguise.

She came back to her senses and stiffly turned to look at Shen Qiyuan beside her: “Is there any possibility that the Puhua Divine Lord from earlier was being impersonated by a demon?”

“If it were a demon impersonating him, do you think I wouldn’t be able to tell?” Shen Qiyuan raised an eyebrow.

“But what if it were a very powerful demon? Like the Demon King?”