Ming Li wanted to laugh but held it back, pretending to look at him with complete seriousness, as if she were neither surprised nor moved. Zhou Zixi stared at her carefully for a moment, then shook the sleeve Ming Li was holding and said, “Senior Sister, if you don’t agree, I’ll leave.”

The hand gripping his sleeve slowly released.

Zhou Zixi was somewhat surprised. Ming Li had made a decision he hadn’t expected. Even though he wouldn’t think “Senior Sister likes me so she’ll indulge all my demands,” he had still concluded from memories that “Senior Sister won’t refuse me.”

But now, Senior Sister had refused him.

As Zhou Zixi was sinking into thought, Ming Li leaned forward and kissed him back. When her junior brother looked up at her, she smiled and said, “I’m asking you too, please braid my hair.”

All this asking back and forth, with no result.

Zhou Zixi heard Qian Li and Dou Lanmin calling Ming Li from outside and vanished on the spot.

Ming Li had no choice but to fiddle with her braids herself before going out.

*

Ming Li and the others always went to the Zhu Que Platform at the South Gate for meditation on an empty stomach. Today, Qian Li had specially brought food for his friends in advance. After they all arrived noisily at the Zhu Que Platform, they froze at the sight of three bloody corpses hanging in front of the Zhu Que stone statue.

Cheng Jingbai covered his mouth and ran to the side to vomit. While retching, he pointed at Qian Li with disbelief: “So that’s why you were so kind to treat us to breakfast today—to make me sick here!”

Qiu Hong couldn’t help but touch his nose, greatly admiring Cheng Jingbai’s acting skills, especially since the three people hanging above were his comrades.

Qian Li scratched his head and said, “I told you yesterday that the corpses would be hung up as a warning, didn’t I?”

Dou Lanmin stood with Cheng Jingbai, both seriously criticizing Qian Li: “Yes, yes! Your intentions are malicious!”

Qian Li: “?”

It’s not that serious!

Today, the person supervising the meditation was still Zhen Xiu Academy’s senior disciple Lin Xiao. Looking at the noisy group, he shook his head with a smile and gently reminded them that it was time for meditation.

Ming Li still focused primarily on cultivating her Yin Meridian. Since using spiritual techniques consumed twice the amount of star power, the only aspect of Nan Que’s cultivation curriculum she cared about was the daily purification of star power.

Since she had refused Zhou Zixi’s request to kill Qian Li, her junior brother had disappeared. He didn’t appear in her dreams at night, nor did he show up when she called him during the day.

This further strengthened Ming Li’s determination to quickly cultivate her Yin Meridian to the Boundary Mastery level.

The three corpses hanging on the Zhu Que Platform gradually rotted and stank, but Nan Que showed no intention of taking them down. They also strictly investigated the whereabouts of disciples from all seven academies. Despite this, Ming Li still visited Boundary Peak every few days to check on Qing Ying.

Cui Yuanxi went to Boundary Peak every day and stayed there every night, ignoring even Cui Yaocen’s scolding. He couldn’t bear to be away from Qing Ying for long periods. Once he left for too long, he would become anxious and agitated, fearing that someone from Bei Dou might come and take Qing Ying away, or that Cui Yaocen might kill Qing Ying behind his back.

Jiang Ying could no longer wait for Cui Yuanxi to return to Ba Li Peak.

She tried to convince herself to stay calm, telling herself it didn’t matter if Cui Yuanxi had a change of heart—the position of Nan Que Young Mistress would always be hers.

Cui Yaocen had been busy investigating Earth Ghosts who had infiltrated Nan Que and had no time to deal with Jiang Ying and Cui Yuanxi’s situation.

Today, she finally caught an Earth Ghost hiding within the seven academies.

This was a disciple who had infiltrated Yi Xiu. He had lived in Nan Que for two years and had decent aptitude, becoming a senior disciple of Yi Xiu this year. When discovered, he tried to escape but was struck down by a circulating qi incantation casually cast by Cui Yaocen that pierced his chest.

Looking at the Yi Xiu disciple lying in a pool of blood with unfocused eyes, Qian Li, standing beside Cui Yaocen, felt his heart tremble. The spreading blood overlapped with his nightmares. Just as he was momentarily distracted, he saw the Earth Ghost in the blood pool suddenly regain clarity in his eyes and quickly get up to run.

“Watch carefully,” Cui Yaocen pierced the person’s heart again, killing him. “This is an Earth Ghost.”

Qian Li was shocked by this turn of events, his eyes wide open. The previous situation should have been fatal for this person, yet he was able to restore his life in a brief moment, even repairing his wounds.

Is this what an Earth Ghost is?

Cui Yaocen, watching the Earth Ghost trying to run down from the Moon Gazing Hall of the Three Saint Peak, said to Qian Li: “You go.”

Qian Li was stunned.

The Earth Ghost, now seriously wounded by Cui Yaocen but not killed, staggered down the stone steps in front of the Moon Gazing Hall. Cui Yaocen said, “If this Earth Ghost escapes, you’ll leave Nan Que with him.”

Qian Li was bewildered: “Master… but I can’t kill an Earth Ghost.”

In this world, only Pilgrims and Earth Ghosts themselves could completely exterminate Earth Ghosts.

But Cui Yaocen said, “You just can’t exterminate him, not that you can’t kill him.”

Suddenly, the Yi Xiu Earth Ghost accelerated, using his remaining strength to employ a Body Technique Meridian spiritual technique to escape. Qian Li flew forward to intercept him, grabbing his throat and cleanly breaking his neck with star power.

The weakened body slipped from his hands and fell to the ground. Qian Li stepped back, his previous composure completely gone. Looking up at Cui Yaocen, he hurriedly said, “Master, you must act quickly!”

Cui Yaocen narrowed her eyes slightly, quite satisfied with Qian Li’s performance in this action.

A young man who had experienced the extermination of his clan from childhood, bearing deep blood vengeance, who had fallen from the clouds into the mud, could not possibly be a person with pure thoughts and full of compassion.

Cui Yaocen raised her hand again and shattered the Earth Ghost as he was getting up. Blood splattered far away, and the young body seemed to be dismembered into thousands of pieces, with blood and flesh everywhere.

Qian Li watched silently amidst the blood spray, watching as the blood chunks gathered and quickly grew into a brand new body.

Cui Yaocen didn’t give it another glance, turning to walk into the Moon Gazing Hall: “Take him to the Zhu Que Platform for the newly admitted disciples to practice.”

*

Nan Que had captured a living Earth Ghost, whose identity was a Yi Xiu Academy disciple hiding in Nan Que.

This gave Li Yansi a headache and frightened her. She remembered this disciple; there weren’t many male disciples in Yi Xiu Academy, and she had an impression of almost all of them. In her memory, he was a shy child, but she never thought he would be an Earth Ghost who could kill without blinking.

She warned the other disciples in the academy not to mention this Earth Ghost again and admonished some disciples who were crying and hesitating: “He is an Earth Ghost, not the senior brother or junior brother you knew.”

Compared to the disciples of Yi Xiu Academy who had contact with this Earth Ghost and said nothing, the most confused were probably this year’s newly admitted disciples.

The Zhu Que Platform at the South Gate, where they meditated, was already eerie enough with three corpses hanging there. Today, they had an Earth Ghost who was bound and had his star meridian power sealed. Their always gentle Senior Brother Lin Xiao announced that they would have to cut off this Earth Ghost’s head every day until he was willing to reveal his other accomplices.

Many disciples turned pale on the spot.

Some disciples remained calm throughout.

Every day, two academy principals were on guard to prevent the Earth Ghost from causing trouble and to supervise whether the new disciples were following through.

“You must understand that it is an Earth Ghost, not a human, a monster that only knows how to do evil, has no empathy, and is a beast that brings disaster and suffering to humans,” the Star Academy Principal’s indifferent voice hammered into the disciples’ hearts. The disciple in the front row reached for the long knife and, under the gaze of all, hardened his heart and beheaded the Earth Ghost.

The Earth Ghost was covered in blood, and the head that fell to the ground turned into pus and blood, while the body kneeling on the ground grew a new head.

Everyone watched in horror, with some covering their mouths with both hands to prevent themselves from screaming. So it wasn’t a legend or a lie—Earth Ghosts could truly regenerate and were immortal!

Lin Xiao’s white clothes were stained with droplets of blood that had splattered. He didn’t mind, looking reassuringly at the disciples behind: “Once a day, until the meditation period ends, or until he speaks and reveals his accomplices.”

As the Earth Ghost was beheaded and regenerated, people gradually accepted the existence of Earth Ghosts, and their consciousness of this former Yi Xiu Academy disciple as a “person” was gradually fading.

This Earth Ghost never spoke.

Qiu Hong took the knife passed from the previous person and beheaded the Earth Ghost without blinking, then passed it to the next person.

Fang Hui did the same.

The one who received the long knife from Fang Hui was Zhou Xiang. She was somewhat frightened, her hand holding the knife trembling, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at the Earth Ghost and said, “You—you don’t move, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to.”

The Star Academy Principal, standing nearby, said, “Zhou Xiang, what did I say earlier?”

Zhou Xiang’s voice trembled, “But Principal… I’ve never killed anyone.”

The Star Academy Principal looked at her with authority: “It is an Earth Ghost, a monster, not a person.”

“Earth Ghosts have immortal bodies, but the more than ten Jing Xiu Academy disciples he killed in his rampage didn’t have immortal bodies.”

Zhou Xiang gripped the knife and struck the Earth Ghost in front of her, but her strength was insufficient, and the head was half-cut, not completely severed. The half-severed head caused an expression of pain on the Earth Ghost’s face, his features gradually contorting. Cheng Jingbai grabbed Zhou Xiang’s hand and forcefully cut down with one stroke.

“Wuu wuu…” Zhou Xiang covered her face and began to cry.

Cheng Jingbai pulled her to the back.

The Star Academy Principal frowned, but Lin Xiao said, “They’re all children who have just entered the academy and are facing Earth Ghosts for the first time. Principal, please give them more time.”

Dou Lanmin hadn’t expected Nan Que to be so ruthless. He hadn’t dealt with Earth Ghosts before, so he couldn’t comment, but no matter where one was, they would be taught that Earth Ghosts were bad things. This deeply ingrained thinking from childhood education meant he didn’t think much about it and just acted.

The blood-covered knife finally fell into Ming Li’s hands.

She had killed many Earth Ghosts, but never with a knife.

Ming Li casually slashed with one hand, not once looking into the Earth Ghost’s eyes.

*

This Earth Ghost held out for a long time at the Zhu Que Platform at the South Gate.

Confined there day and night, the barrier guarding it wasn’t difficult; anyone determined enough from the outside could break it open. Cui Yaocen was waiting for someone to come rescue the Earth Ghost.

But what Earth Ghosts excelled at was indifference.

They didn’t care if one of their “kind” was having his throat cut and head severed every day. Rather than rescuing an Earth Ghost who couldn’t die but would expose their existence, they had more important things to do.

So until the end of the month-long meditation period for the newly admitted disciples, no one came to break the barrier to rescue the Earth Ghost.

Yumei said to Cui Yaocen, “Perhaps they don’t know each other’s identities. Given the nature of Earth Ghosts, if being captured meant they could save themselves by betraying their companions, they would reveal their accomplices without hesitation.”

Cui Yaocen was not satisfied: “Capturing just one isn’t enough.”

“Such intimidation will make those hiding in the dark lie low for a while,” Yumei coughed lightly, tightening the coat draped over her shoulders. “In a few more days, it will be the Four Directions Examination. People from various sects and martial academies will come. But what about the Young Master’s matter… has it been resolved?”

At the mention of her brother, Cui Yaocen’s expression immediately turned grim.

This fool went to Boundary Peak every day, his heart and eyes full of only that puppet.

Seeing her expression, Yumei knew it hadn’t been resolved and sighed softly: “To control the entire south, we still need to bring the Jiang family into Nan Que. But it’s about incorporating the Jiang family into Nan Que, not letting the Jiang Clan think that Nan Que and they have an equal partnership.”

Cui Yaocen said, “I’ll talk to him tonight.”

*

Before Cui Yaocen could find Cui Yuanxi, Jiang Ying came to her first.

Before she could open her mouth to mock, Jiang Ying tilted her face up slightly with a smile and said, “Saint Cui, I’m pregnant.”

Cui Yaocen: “…”

Her first reaction was actually “What does this have to do with me?” Then she realized, calmly replying, “You should tell this to Yuanxi.”

“I would also like to tell him this happy news, but Yuanxi has been staying with his mistress at Boundary Peak lately and doesn’t return to Ba Li Peak.” Jiang Ying’s words sounded innocent, but her eyes were sharp. “I wonder if Saint Cui could help me convey this? If too much time passes and the child is born before we’re married, not only I but all of Nan Que will become the laughingstock of the entire continent.”

Cui Yaocen let out a cold laugh, “You have the cunning and courage to threaten me, but can’t keep your heart?”

Jiang Ying was stung by these words and felt somewhat angry, but because it was Cui Yaocen, she could only suppress it.

Cui Yaocen flicked her sleeve and left, appearing at the peak of Boundary Peak in the blink of an eye.

Cui Yuanxi, sensing the disturbance, walked out of the door wearily and looked at his sister standing outside the courtyard.

Cui Yaocen didn’t give him a pleasant expression: “Jiang Ying is pregnant, did you know?”

Cui Yuanxi was stunned. His first reaction was to turn back and look at Qing Ying sitting by the window. With a grim face, he walked over, gently patting Qing Ying’s head as if to comfort her, and said softly as he lowered his head, “Be good, go inside first.”

The puppet obediently got up and left the window.

Cui Yuanxi closed the window, then closed the door, making sure Qing Ying couldn’t hear their conversation before walking to the courtyard.

Cui Yaocen watched his madness with an expressionless face the entire time. When Cui Yuanxi came out, she slapped him, her gaze cold: “Useless.”

But Cui Yuanxi didn’t care, saying in a low voice, “As long as you promise not to kill Qing Ying, I’ll do as you say.”

“Do as I say? Wasn’t it you who wanted to marry Jiang Ying in the first place?” Cui Yaocen looked at him with contempt. “You went to such lengths to find the medicinal catalyst to cure her, and now you’re just throwing her away, while treasuring this puppet. Cui Yuanxi, how did I end up with such a useless brother?”

She grew increasingly angry as she spoke.

But Cui Yuanxi knelt and begged, his voice trembling: “Sister, if you want to kill her, I won’t live alone either.”