The Immortal Alliance originally had seven major sects. Besides the five existing sects, there were also the destroyed Mingyue Manor and Yunxiu Manor.

The previous master of Yunxiu Manor was the renowned War God, Nan Wujiu. Nan Wujiu established his path through killing, and slaying countless demons and monsters throughout his life, earning the respect of all under heaven. However, Yunxiu Manor’s pride wasn’t just War God Nan Wujiu, but also Nan Xuyue, known as the divine child.

Humans are born with seven orifices, cultivate their bodies at three years old, and open the Yin and Yang orifices at seven. The Yang orifice is located at the Baihui acupoint on the top of the head, while the Yin orifice is at the navel. After opening the Yin and Yang orifices, they train their bodies until ten years old, then can participate in the selection of various sects to attempt opening the divine orifice. In the world, those who can open nine orifices are one in a hundred thousand. Those who can open the divine orifice are one in a million. The strongest innate talent in this world is being born with ten orifices, hailed as the reincarnation of a god.

In hundreds of years, only two people have achieved this. One was Xie Xuechen, and the other was Nan Xuyue.

Nan Xuyue was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, with a photographic memory, able to learn anything in just one attempt. At that time, Yunxiu Manor was at the bottom among the seven major sects, but everyone believed that Nan Xuyue was the hope for Yunxiu Manor’s rise.

Unfortunately, when Nan Xuyue was ten years old, Nan Wujiu, having made too many enemies, was revenged upon by demons and monsters who kidnapped Nan Xuyue. The ten-year-old Nan Xuyue endured endless torment before finally being rescued by Nan Wujiu. Sadly, though his life was saved, he became completely crippled. The demons used extremely vicious methods to destroy Nan Xuyue’s Yin and Yang orifices and divine orifice and used demonic chains to bind his right foot, making it impossible for his three orifices to recover, and even his right foot was difficult to regenerate due to the corrosion of demonic energy.

With three orifices destroyed, the once-envied heaven’s chosen one became an object of pity overnight. Nan Wujiu went mad with grief, his hair turning white, but it was all in vain. Years later, Nan Wujiu died of illness, leaving the young and inexperienced Nan Xuyue to support Yunxiu Manor alone. It was said that he remained that incredibly intelligent youth, mastering medicine, arrays, mechanisms, and even business, music, and mathematics. Yunxiu Manor did not decline because of this but instead grew stronger than before. However, a sect led by a master who couldn’t cultivate could not stand within the Immortal Alliance. Therefore, although today’s Yunxiu Manor is quite powerful, it’s only the largest secular sect, not counted among the five sects of the Immortal Alliance.

Mu Xuanling had naturally heard about Nan Wujiu and Nan Xuyue, and Yunxiu Manor wasn’t far from here. However, she never thought that Nan Xuyue, who had been harmed by demons and monsters, would be willing to help them.

“Young Master Nan, I’ve long admired your reputation,” Mu Xuanling stepped back again, pulling her black robe tighter around herself. She didn’t know why she was wary of a mortal. Although Nan Xuyue’s reputation was great, he was ultimately an ordinary person who couldn’t cultivate and couldn’t possibly pose any threat to her.

Nan Xuyue naturally noticed that Mu Xuanling’s caution towards him had only increased. He smiled indifferently and looked at A Bao on Mu Xuanling’s shoulder.

“A Bao, come here.”

He reached out his hand, and A Bao jumped into his palm in a flash. Xiu Xiu hurriedly approached, anxiously asking, “Young Master Nan, is A Bao alright?”

“Just a bit startled,” Nan Xuyue handed A Bao back to Xiu Xiu, then looked at Mu Xuanling, “May I ask how to address the lady?”

Mu Xuanling’s eyes flickered as she said, “My surname is Mu.”

Nan Xuyue asked, “As in ‘clear and bright as water and trees’?”

Mu Xuanling paused before replying, “As in ‘most longing at dawn and dusk’.”

“‘The moon is new at the end of the sky, most longing at dawn and dusk,'” Nan Xuyue’s voice was gentle and slow. This poem, recited by him, was most pleasing to the ear, yet it added a touch of melancholy.

“It’s rare to hear of someone with this surname. I suppose you chose it yourself,” Nan Xuyue said.

She didn’t know her parents; even her name was given by her master. People might not know, but the person before her certainly did, that Xuanling was a type of tree in the demon realm. This tree was entirely black, as hard as iron, yet it would bloom the whitest and most delicate flowers. The Xuanling flower petals were pure white, appearing soft but with the quality of jade, shaped like bells hanging on the branches. When a gentle breeze passed, they would make a clear, crisp ringing sound. The sound of Xuanling had the magical effect of enchanting souls and was often used to forge magical artifacts. The bone bell artifact on Mu Xuanling’s ankle was forged from Xuanling flowers.

“Miss Mu, the sun is getting stronger. Do you need to find a place to hide?” Nan Xuyue asked.

“No need, I must be on my way,” Mu Xuanling shook her head. Wearing the black robe and hiding in the tree’s shade had already eased her burning pain considerably. She looked at A Bao and tossed over the storage ring she had snatched back from Gao Qiumin, which Xiu Xiu caught.

“A Bao, this is your treasure. Sister has to go now.”

A Bao, perched on Xiu Xiu’s shoulder, looked at Mu Xuanling with somewhat reluctant black, round eyes.

“Sister, are you going to find brother?”

Mu Xuanling was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Xiu Xiu clutched the storage ring, suddenly mustering up the courage, and said, “Miss Mu, can A Bao go with you?”

Mu Xuanling looked at Xiu Xiu in surprise, “Go with me? Why?”

Xiu Xiu said, “Do you know that all things in the world have a treasure aura? Ordinary people can only see Yuan Power, but we Sniffing Treasure Mice can see treasure aura. The more powerful the treasure, the stronger the aura it emits. This is why magic arrays can block Yuan Power fluctuations but can’t block our perception of treasure aura.” Xiu Xiu said this, blushing a bit embarrassedly, “I see a very strong treasure aura on Miss Mu… You must have many valuable treasures.”

Mu Xuanling chuckled in surprise.

Xiu Xiu continued, “To improve our cultivation, we can only absorb treasure aura. These treasures I have were left to me by A Bao’s father, but their treasure aura has long been consumed. However, this doesn’t affect you. So… so… I’ll give you all these treasures, can you let A Bao cultivate among your treasures?”

Mu Xuanling finally understood her intention and said with mixed emotions, “It’s possible, but can you bear to be separated from your daughter? Besides, A Bao is a half-demon without a demon core. No matter how much she cultivates, she can’t take human form.”

Xiu Xiu said dejectedly, “I know, but I hope A Bao can learn more skills to protect herself in the future.”

A Bao raised her head, looking at Xiu Xiu in confusion.

“Mother, are you sending me away?”

Xiu Xiu stroked A Bao’s head, saying gently, “A Bao, go with this sister. She seems much more capable than a mother and can help you cultivate. Mother has something to do…”

A Bao suddenly had a moment of clarity and asked, “Is Mother going to find Father?”

Xiu Xiu nodded, saying sadly, “He’s been gone for three years. I don’t know if something happened to him. I need to go find him.”

Hearing this, Mu Xuanling felt a stir in her heart and asked, “What’s A Bao’s father’s name?”

Xiu Xiu said, “His name is Fu Cangli.”

Mu Xuanling remembered that A Bao had previously said her father was the richest cultivator in the world. Currently, the wealthiest in the Immortal Alliance was Bixiao Palace, which owned several ore veins, and the master of Bixiao Palace had the surname Fu.

Mu Xuanling looked at Nan Xuyue. Nan Xuyue seemed to see through her suspicion and smiled, saying, “There’s no disciple by that name in Bixiao Palace now.”

“He might be using an alias. People don’t use their real names when doing bad things,” Mu Xuanling muttered.

Nan Xuyue smiled and looked at Xiu Xiu, saying gently, “Xiu Xiu, you’re a rare and exotic beast. Don’t risk going to Bixiao Palace. I’ll help you inquire about this Fu Cangli. You should wait here. What if he comes back looking for you and can’t find anyone? Wouldn’t that be a missed opportunity?”

Xiu Xiu seemed to trust Nan Xuyue very much. She was already a bit confused, and hearing Nan Xuyue’s gentle persuasion, she immediately nodded repeatedly, fully accepting his words.

“Young Master Nan makes sense. I’ll wait here then. Thank you for helping me inquire about him.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Nan Xuyue nodded with a smile.

“A-Bao, would you like to go with your sister?” Xiu Xiu asked A-Bao.

A-Bao hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

She didn’t know why she was so fond of Mu Xuanling. She always felt that Sister Mu had an aura that strongly attracted her, making her reluctant to leave. Although she was also reluctant to part with her mother, she would follow her mother’s wishes to go with her sister.

A-Bao leaped from Xiu Xiu’s arms to Mu Xuanling’s shoulder, allowing Mu Xuanling to gently scratch her soft body.

Mu Xuanling put on her hood and turned to Nan Xuyue with a smile, “Thank you, Young Master Nan, for your help. If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll certainly repay your kindness.”

Nan Xuyue nodded with a smile, “Take care, Miss Mu.”

After bidding farewell, Mu Xuanling seemed eager to disappear into the shadows.

Nan Xuyue stood still for a moment before slowly turning to leave. He walked unhurriedly, making it difficult for anyone to notice he was lame.

The wind from the forest carried his voice, sounding like a sigh as he recited:

“Meeting you for the first time,

Feels like an old friend’s return.

The bright moon anew in distant lands,

Morning and night, I miss you most…”

Mu Xuanling had already placed a mark on Xie Xuechen. After breaking through the Linglong Shackles formation, she immediately sensed Xie Xuechen’s location, which was in the direction of Yongxue City.

Her figure vanished into the shadows, speeding towards Xie Xuechen’s direction.

“Sister, is that brother bad? Are you going to get revenge?” A-Bao in her arms asked.

Mu Xuanling gritted her teeth, “I’ve been too lenient with him before. When I catch up to him, I’ll do this and that to him!”

A-Bao asked in confusion, “What do you mean by ‘this and that’?”

“Little kids shouldn’t ask so many questions,” Mu Xuanling flicked her forehead, making her squeak and shrink back.

After a while, she heard Mu Xuanling say, “Actually, Xie Xuechen isn’t that bad… After all, I’m half-demon, and we’re on opposite sides. I’m always touchy-feely with him, and he’s such a rigid and upright person, so he probably can’t accept it right away.”

A-Bao thought to herself, this feeling was so familiar, just like how mother always complained about father not returning, but then defended him, saying he might have encountered some trouble…

Mu Xuanling wasn’t entirely defending Xie Xuechen. Although she felt wronged, she understood his actions. They were naturally opposing sides, and saving him once couldn’t erase that. Moreover, she had indeed deceived Xie Xuechen about many things.

As Mu Xuanling sensed Xie Xuechen’s location, she suddenly felt something was amiss.

She knew her speed well. If Xie Xuechen was heading towards Yongxue City, it should take another day to catch up with him. However, the distance between them was shortening at an abnormal rate. There was only one possibility: Xie Xuechen was moving in this direction.

But why?

Mu Xuanling’s heart skipped a beat—could it be that Xie Xuechen’s whereabouts had been exposed and he was being pursued?

She didn’t think further and used all her strength to move forward at full speed.

After a few moments, a familiar figure appeared in her line of sight.

Xie Xuechen was galloping on horseback, his cold features showing barely perceptible anxiety. Mu Xuanling’s figure flashed, landing in front of Xie Xuechen.

Xie Xuechen was startled to see Mu Xuanling suddenly appear and reined in his galloping horse. Mu Xuanling looked behind Xie Xuechen but didn’t see the expected pursuers. They both blurted out simultaneously, “Are you alright?”

Mu Xuanling blinked, looking at Xie Xuechen in confusion.

Xie Xuechen frowned slightly, gripping the reins tightly.

Mu Xuanling looked behind Xie Xuechen again, then at his handsome face. The latter’s pale face had a faint blush due to the long ride.

Suddenly, Mu Xuanling’s lips curled into a smile, her peach blossom eyes suddenly brightening like ripples spreading across a lake, illuminating her already unparalleled beautiful face. The purple figure pounced towards Xie Xuechen, using too much force and pushing him off the horse. They both fell to the ground. Mu Xuanling straddled Xie Xuechen, smiling brightly and beautifully, “Xie Xuechen, you came back so quickly. Were you afraid I’d get sunburned?”

Xie Xuechen pulled up her hood that had slipped off her shoulders, covering her head. His cool voice revealed obvious stiffness and embarrassment, “How… did you get out of the Linglong Shackles?”

He didn’t deny it—Mu Xuanling thought gleefully.

She beamed with joy, her face radiant, holding Xie Xuechen’s hand happily, “I knew you couldn’t bear to leave me!”

Xie Xuechen took a deep breath, trying to pull away a few times but couldn’t free his hand from Mu Xuanling’s grip. He sat up from the ground, using his free hand to grab the back of Mu Xuanling’s collar, and pulled her off his chest.

Xie Xuechen sighed inwardly, feeling that Mu Xuanling had become even clingier. Recalling Mu Xuanling’s hurt eyes earlier and seeing her now smiling happily, Xie Xuechen suddenly felt confused, “Why are you so happy?”

Mu Xuanling hugged Xie Xuechen’s arm, looking up at him, “Huh? You came back to save me, of course, I’m happy.”

Xie Xuechen frowned, “I was the one who trapped you.”

“I know,” Mu Xuanling frowned slightly, then smiled again, “I was a bit upset with you, but you came back, didn’t you?”

Xie Xuechen found it hard to describe the unfamiliar emotion in his heart. This action that went against his dao heart made him irritated and uneasy. He was the sect leader of the Immortal Dao, the supreme human, and should have been dedicated to eliminating evil and protecting the Dao. He should have shown no mercy to demons and outsiders. This was the way of his Dao heart and sword heart. However, his once-stable dao heart wavered, and his once-unwavering sword heart hesitated.

Throughout the hurried journey, he found a seemingly reasonable explanation for his actions amidst his chaotic thoughts.

Yes, he came back to save her, which was also in line with the Dao and righteousness. Mu Xuanling had saved him before, earning his gratitude. During their confrontation, she repeatedly showed mercy. If not for that, how could he have easily trapped her with his formation? Although she was half-demon and practiced demonic techniques, she had never tried to kill him, always showing mercy instead. If he were to forget this kindness, wouldn’t he be worse than demons?

Xie Xuechen finally convinced himself, stabilizing his nearly collapsing dao heart.

He lowered his gaze slightly, meeting Mu Xuanling’s bright and joyful eyes. She shook his arm gently and said softly, “I’m very, very easy to please. You just need to be a little bit nicer to me…”

Xie Xuechen’s breath caught.

Unbeknownst to him, a small crack had silently appeared in his dao heart.

There was a saying in the cultivation world: spirits, demons, and women were the most troublesome things in this world.

Now, a person who embodied all these troubles had appeared—Mu Xuanling, half-spirit, demonic body, and a woman.