After the battle of Dharma Bodies, although Xie Xuezhen had managed to stop Fa Jian Zunzhe’s self-destruction, Embracing Snow City still suffered considerable damage. It took the Immortal Alliance members three days to recover from their injuries. On the fourth day, they convened a general assembly to decide on the fate of Chi Mo, Yi Nian Zunzhe, and Mu Xuanling.

There was no disagreement about Chi Mo’s treatment. After discovering that no valuable information could be extracted, everyone unanimously agreed that Chi Mo should be permanently imprisoned in Embracing Snow City. Even if they were to obliterate it, its demonic energy would return to the Void Sea and reconstitute into another demon god after a hundred years.

As for Yi Nian Zunzhe, news came during the assembly that he had taken his own life in his cell, leaving behind a golden core imbued with his lifelong cultivation. A Dharma Body’s golden core was an extremely powerful weapon, and he used this method to express his apology and remorse.

Thus, the focus of the debate centered solely on Mu Xuanling’s fate.

When Fu Lansheng arrived outside the Hall of Righteous Qi, he saw Nan Xuyue standing quietly under a snow cedar. Nan Xuyue’s tall figure appeared somewhat thin, his features refined yet with a hint of loneliness. His clear, bright eyes gazed absently into the distance, his thoughts drifting to unknown places, unaware of the accumulated snow falling from the treetops onto his shoulders.

Fu Lansheng sighed inwardly and stepped forward to brush the snow off Nan Xuyue’s shoulders, bringing him back to his senses.

“Nan Xuyue, are you worried about Miss Ling?” Fu Lansheng’s feelings were complex. “I had noticed something unusual about her identity earlier, but I never imagined she was the Holy Maiden of the demon race, Sang Qi’s disciple. Did you… did you know before?”

Fu Lansheng didn’t know if Nan Xuyue had also been deceived or if he had intentionally concealed it for her.

Nan Xuyue smiled faintly and said, “Of course I knew.”

“Then why did you…?” Fu Lansheng frowned slightly.

“I trust her.” Nan Xuyue’s simple three words silenced Fu Lansheng’s many questions.

Fu Lansheng suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Nan Xuyue took out a mustard seed bag from his sleeve and handed it to Fu Lansheng, saying, “This is what Ling’er asked me to pass on to you.”

“What is this?” Fu Lansheng had just asked when he saw a small opening appear in the mustard seed bag, from which a round head with two half-moon golden ears emerged. He exclaimed in surprise, “A Bao?”

A Bao crawled out of the mustard seed bag onto Fu Lansheng’s palm, its large black eyes brimming with tears, whimpering, “Brother, will Sister be alright?”

Nan Xuyue explained from the side, “When Ling’er was captured that day, she secretly threw the mustard seed bag to me. When I visited her in the dungeon, she asked me to entrust A Bao to you, so that you could take it to find your father at Bixiao Palace someday.”

Fu Lansheng’s expression became somewhat strange: “Why didn’t she ask you for help?”

Nan Xuyue glanced at him and said, “She probably trusts you.”

Hearing this, Fu Lansheng felt that Mu Xuanling had quite a good eye for people.

Mu Xuanling thought that Fu Lansheng possessed many treasures, which would benefit A Bao’s cultivation. Moreover, the whereabouts of Fu Cangli were most likely to be found at Bixiao Palace, so asking Fu Lansheng for help was the most appropriate choice. Naturally, Fu Lansheng’s character was also trustworthy, after all, he was someone Nan Xuyue approved of.

Fu Lansheng gently pinched A Bao’s ear tip and said, “Your sister might be in trouble this time.” Seeing Nan Xuyue look at him, Fu Lansheng sighed and continued, “A couple of days ago, I saw Su Ningzhen visiting my parents about Mu Xuanling’s fate. I don’t know what they discussed, but Su Ningzhen left looking satisfied, so she probably got my parents’ promise to deal with Mu Xuanling together.”

Nan Xuyue frowned, showing concern. Now, only four families remained in the Immortal Alliance who could vote. Mirror Flower Valley and Bixiao Palace had allied, and Spirit Owl Island was more likely to remain neutral. This meant Xie Xuezhen would have to face the pressure from others alone.

At that moment, a barrier was set up around the Hall of Righteous Qi, and no one knew what was happening inside. However, this assembly lasted nearly two hours before ending, indicating that the process was not amicable.

Nan Xuyue had been standing outside the door for two hours. When the doors of the Hall of Righteous Qi opened, he moved his feet and only then realized how sore they were.

Although Su Ningzhen’s face showed a hint of dissatisfaction, her emotions were very stable, suggesting that while the result might not have been exactly what she demanded, it wasn’t far off.

Gao Qiumin ran towards Su Ningzhen, anxiously inquiring about Mu Xuanling’s fate.

Su Ningzhen said, “The Sect Leader has ordered to dispel the demoness’s demonic arts and imprison her in Embracing Snow City for three hundred years.”

Nan Xuyue’s heart sank, and he turned his gaze towards Xie Xuezhen. Xie Xuezhen’s eyes were as cold as snow, and he gave a slight nod.

Nan Xuyue had witnessed the pain of demonic energy dispersion, and forcibly dispersing one’s cultivation was a hundred times more painful. It was like having one’s bones sawed through with a blunt knife, being skinned alive while conscious, and having ten thousand arrows pierce one’s heart.

And for a half-demon, imprisonment for three hundred years meant imprisonment until death.

Su Ningzhen said with dissatisfaction, “Actually, given her status as the Holy Maiden of the demon race, executing her at the forefront of our troops would best boost the morale of the human race.”

He Xianwo frowned and said, “How would such an act be any different from the demon race?”

He Xianwo also felt that practicing demonic arts couldn’t be condoned, but killing someone in front of troops was inhumane. Moreover, Mu Xuanling had done Sect Leader Xie a favor; emotionally and rationally, they couldn’t act so cruelly. The two were about to argue again in the Hall of Righteous Qi, but Xie Xuezhen only released his pressure, calming them both down.

Xie Xuezhen finally agreed to dispel her cultivation but refused to execute Mu Xuanling, changing it to imprisonment for three hundred years. Only then did Mirror Flower Valley and Bixiao Palace reluctantly nod in agreement.

“Sect Leader Xie, since the order has been given, why don’t we carry out the sentence today?” Su Ningzhen looked at the sky; it was a fine day with the sun high and the snow having stopped.

Nan Xuyue stepped forward and said in a deep voice, “Sect Leader Xie, her injuries haven’t healed yet…”

Xie Xuezhen clenched his fist and said calmly, “Bring her here.”

When Mu Xuanling walked out of the dungeon, the dazzling sunlight made her eyes water. She lowered her head, and tears rolled down her delicate chin, falling into the gauze around her neck.

Mu Xuanling kept her eyes closed as the guards pulled her shackles, escorting her from the dungeon to the Hall of Righteous Qi. She counted with her eyes closed: a total of one thousand three hundred steps, each step excruciatingly painful. The scorching sun above felt like hot oil pouring over her head. She dug her nails into her palms, enduring the burning and pain, her knuckles turning white while blood seeped from her palms.

Mu Xuanling could feel many eyes on her – suspicious, venomous, worried, pained…

Suddenly, someone forcefully pressed down on her shoulder, making her kneel involuntarily.

She kept her head down, and a snow-white hem appeared in her vision. A familiar cool aura enveloped her.

“The Holy Maiden of the demon race, Mu Xuanling, has practiced demonic arts and brought calamity to the human world. After deliberation by the Immortal Alliance, it has been decided to dispel Mu Xuanling’s demonic arts and imprison her in Embracing Snow City for three hundred years.”

She heard Xie Xuezhen’s voice from above, his calm and cold tone tinged with barely perceptible hoarseness.

She raised her face, opening her eyes slightly, but Xie Xuezhen’s face appeared blurry.

Su Ningzhen’s sharp question came from the side: “Demoness, do you have anything to say?”

Mu Xuanling frowned slightly, her pale lips parting.

“Yes.”

Everyone held their breath, looking at her.

Mu Xuanling tried hard to see Xie Xuezhen’s face clearly, but the midday sun made her eyes red and sore.

“Xie Xuezhen…” she asked softly, “Have your wounds healed?”

Xie Xuechen’s fists were clenched so tightly beneath his wide sleeves that his knuckles turned white. He suppressed his trembling voice and said, “It’s already fine.”

Mu Xuanling smiled faintly, “Then I can rest assured.”

The crowd was surprised by her question, exchanging bewildered glances. What should have been a cruel and cold execution scene inexplicably held a trace of tender affection. Su Ningzhen and Gao Qiumin watched the scene before them with grim expressions.

Xie Xuechen suddenly knelt, bringing himself to eye level with Mu Xuanling.

“Ling’er, I’ll personally dispel your cultivation for you,” Xie Xuechen said. “It might be very painful.”

Mu Xuanling finally saw his handsome face. In those deep phoenix eyes, she saw the reflection of her haggard self. Looking at him, she laughed softly, “I’m not afraid of pain.”

Xie Xuechen’s cool fingertips touched her cheek but he cruelly withdrew them. He stood up from the ground, stepped back three paces, and opened his right hand’s five fingers. An unusual spiritual power fluctuation spread from his palm as if a storm was gathering there. The surrounding heavenly and earthly spiritual power surged towards his palm. His snow-white sleeves fluttered and billowed as snow and wind suddenly arose. Those with lower cultivation involuntarily retreated several steps to avoid its sharp edge, only Nan Xuyue remained unmoved, staring intently at Mu Xuanling kneeling on the ground.

Xie Xuechen’s right hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds as he slowly raised his arm. The vast spiritual power was drawn along with it. When his palm faced Mu Xuanling, the spiritual power carrying fine snow immediately enveloped her tightly. Her thin, petite body was lifted by the wind and snow, her light purple dress billowing wildly in the gale, like a purple butterfly drifting in a storm.

Mu Xuanling’s face suddenly turned deathly pale, and beads of cold sweat trickled down her temples. Xie Xuechen’s spiritual power was like countless blunt knives cutting into her body, and the fine snow felt like salt being sprinkled on her wounds. Invisible threads of spiritual power entered her flesh and bones through her pores, removing the demonic energy she had absorbed over the years one by one.

“Aah—”

Mu Xuanling bit through her lip, finally unable to hold back her heart-wrenching cries of pain. A mouthful of hot blood sprayed out, staining the snow beneath her red. Under the scorching sun, visible threads of demonic energy seeped out of her body. She was battered by the storm-like powerful spiritual power throughout her body, feeling as if she was being dismembered by a thousand cuts. The pain made her convulse involuntarily. Cold sweat soaked through her heavy clothes. She tilted back her slender neck, and the white gauze on her neck flew off in the wind, causing the wound to burst open. Fine threads of blood flowed down her neck. She looked like a fragile and beautiful crane with a broken neck, too pitiful to look at, yet impossible to turn away from.

Xie Xuechen’s sword-wielding hand, always steady and decisive, now trembled slightly.

Just a little more…

Through his spiritual power, he sensed the fluctuations of demonic energy in her body. Those invisible threads of spiritual power were extensions of his senses. It was as if he could see every inch of her skin, touch every bone beneath. Only when all the black demonic energy had been extracted from her body did he tremblingly withdraw the power from his palm?

The purple figure fell gently from the air, landing in an embrace that carried the crisp fragrance of snow.

Mu Xuanling had already lost consciousness. Her face was devoid of color, her breathing so faint it was barely noticeable. Only when holding her could one feel her weak heartbeat.

“Sect Leader Xie,” Su Ningzhen suddenly stepped forward and said coldly, “Now that her demonic cultivation has been dispersed, it’s when the demon girl’s mind is at its weakest. I think we should question her heart!”

Heart questioning was a human interrogation technique. When the criminal was unclear and weak-willed, they would invade their mind for questioning. The subject would inevitably tell the truth, but this method was extremely vicious and could cause irreversible mental damage to the tortured, resulting in lifelong coma in severe cases or reducing them to an idiot in milder ones.

Xie Xuechen cast a cold glance at Su Ningzhen.

“Valley Master Su, Mu Xuanling has dispersed her cultivation and is imprisoned. She is now just an ordinary half-demon, no longer the Demon Realm’s Holy Maiden. There’s no need for her to undergo your heart questioning.”

The chilling murderous intent emanating from Xie Xuechen made Su Ningzhen’s back go cold. She stubbornly persisted, “She must know many of Sang Qi’s secrets. It would greatly help us win this war!”

Before Su Ningzhen finished speaking, a golden light sword suddenly appeared before her eyes, its sharp point fully extended, aimed right between her brows.

It was Jun Tian!

Su Ningzhen looked at the Jun Tian sword before her in disbelief. The dignified leader of the Immortal Alliance was threatening her with a sword for the sake of a half-demon girl!

Xie Xuechen held Mu Xuanling tightly, his phoenix eyes sweeping across everyone present. His tall, elegant figure gradually retreated.

“From today onwards, Mu Xuanling is a person of Yong Xue City.”

As the white-robed figure disappeared, the pressure suddenly lifted, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But their expressions quickly became solemn again.

Su Ningzhen violently swung her Fu Shi Zhi Chen, breaking a stone pillar in half with a thunderous crash.

“So this is Sect Leader Xie’s intention,” Su Ningzhen said, her face ashen. “Claiming imprisonment, but protection. Heh… Can a prisoner of Yong Xue City be considered a person of Yong Xue City?”

If Fu Yuanting had any doubts before, he now understood everything clearly. Xie Xuechen would never allow anyone to kill Mu Xuanling, whether out of genuine feelings or a sense of duty. Although he didn’t know what grievances Su Ningzhen had with Sang Qi, it was clear that Su Ningzhen harbored a hatred towards Mu Xuanling that could only be satisfied by death. With Mu Xuanling’s cultivation dispersed, she had no way to defend herself against Su Ningzhen. Xie Xuechen could only protect her in this manner.

“Who would have thought, Sect Leader Xie is also a man with a heart,” Fu Lansheng sighed softly. Suddenly noticing a space beside him, he turned to see only Nan Xuyue’s lonely and thin figure slowly disappearing into the wind and snow.

Xie Xuechen gently laid Mu Xuanling on the bed. She was already drenched in cold sweat, with strands of hair clinging to her pale cheeks, her breathing barely audible. Xie Xuechen sat on the edge of the bed, his right palm resting on Mu Xuanling’s lower abdomen, slowly channeling a warm stream of spiritual power into her meridians.

Originally, she had cultivated demonic techniques, and the demonic energy would have repelled his spiritual power. But now that her demonic cultivation was gone, his spiritual power could enter her body to nourish her damaged meridians.

However, the dispersion of cultivation had caused too much damage to her body. He could only carefully divide his spiritual power into thousands of threads, silently repairing her injuries. This was no easy task for anyone, requiring one to split their consciousness into myriad parts to capture the changes of each thread. After half an hour, Xie Xuechen felt his spiritual power encountering resistance and had to temporarily withdraw it.

Mu Xuanling’s face remained pale, though her heartbeat seemed slightly stronger. Her breathing was still weak, and she hadn’t completely passed the danger zone.

Seeing her soaked through, Xie Xuechen used a cleansing spell to remove the sweat and blood from her body. His gaze fell on the wound on her neck.

There was also a sword wound on her arm where her clothes were torn, but it seemed to have been treated with spiritual medicine. It had healed and scabbed over, leaving only a faint pink scar. The wound on her neck wasn’t deep originally, but without the application of flesh-regenerating powder, it had burst open today.

Xie Xuechen lifted her long hair from her neck and took out a jar of ointment, carefully applying it to the wound. The skin beneath his fingertips was pale and delicate, making the wound appear even more ghastly and terrifying.

He knew who had wounded her, and who had bandaged her. In her heart… was there not a shred of resentment?

Xie Xuechen’s gaze fell on her sleeping face.

“You didn’t have to follow me into the city,” Xie Xuechen said unconsciously. “That day, you didn’t have to deal with Chi Mo either.”

He naturally understood why Mu Xuanling did what she did. Born with ten orifices, she heard and saw more than ordinary people. So he gradually understood that behind her seemingly playful confessions, all were true feelings.

Yet he still didn’t understand where these true feelings originated from.

His cool fingertips gently traced her delicate brows and eyes. Xie Xuechen lowered his gaze and said softly, “Forgive me for being unable to respond to your sincere heart.”

He had long decided to live alone. Even a slight stirring of his heart towards her would be nipped in the bud.

“But… I will protect you to the best of my ability.” This was an oath sworn by a Fa Xiang Venerable to his dao heart.