When Liu Shuang returned to Kung Sang Immortal Realm with Wu Chen, Chi Shui Chong had just received an invitation to the Four Seas Banquet. He was preoccupied, his expression grim.

But not because of the Demon Suppression Tower incident.

In the palace, besides Chi Shui Chong, there was also a familiar official and Mi Chu.

Liu Shuang recognized who this person was from her memories: Lou Xinzhu, Mi Chu’s father, a general of the Lou clan who had been stationed in the Southern Territory for years, guarding Kung Sang’s spirit meridian.

His appearance in Kung Sang rather than the Southern Territory meant something significant must have happened.

Indeed, Chi Shui Chong said gravely, “The spirit meridian is fluctuating abnormally and has begun to deplete.”

“What!” Kung Sang’s spirit meridian was approaching depletion earlier than other immortal realms! Each realm’s spirit meridian was its fundamental foundation. Without it, the immortal realm would disperse. Every immortal cultivated within the realm would gradually lose their spiritual essence and eventually become mortal, all dying.

Like a deeply-rooted dynasty facing collapse.

Liu Shuang had thought the destruction of the Demon Suppression Tower was already a major event, but unexpectedly, Kung Sang’s spirit meridian also had problems. No wonder Chi Shui Chong looked so troubled, his brow weary, seeming to have aged considerably.

After Wu Chen finished reporting about the Demon Suppression Tower, Chi Shui Chong said, “So you’re saying the Demon Suppression Tower was destroyed seven days ago.”

Wu Chen nodded.

Lou Xinzhu was also very surprised: “The spirit meridian began showing problems on that very same day.”

Such a coincidence inevitably caused unease.

Liu Shuang said, “Father, I learned about the whereabouts of the fifth spirit meridian from the Night Demon Lord, but I don’t know if it’s true.”

Chi Shui Chong raised his hand, and the others withdrew. Before leaving, Mi Chu glanced at Liu Shuang.

“No one’s here now. Tell me.”

Liu Shuang pursed her lips but didn’t immediately mention the spirit meridian. Instead, she asked, “Mother said you promised me not to harm Yan Chaosheng. Why did you go back on your word and try to kill him?”

Chi Shui Chong’s gaze turned cold: “I had no intention of killing him initially. But Liu Shuang, the spiritual power of the Qing Ying Jade, appeared on him. You gave the spirit jade to a demon. If others knew about this, how would they view you? The dignified young mistress of Kung Sang betraying her realm for a lowly demon by giving away a divine jade? Would they spare you?”

“Father…”

Chi Shui Chong said firmly, “If you want me to trust you, you should also trust me.” To protect his daughter’s reputation, let alone killing one demon, he would not hesitate to kill hundreds or thousands.

“But,” Liu Shuang said softly, “Kung Sang is destined to fail in killing him. The humiliation and killing intent will only contribute to his rise…”

However, even if Liu Shuang hadn’t come from seven hundred years in the future, Chi Shui Chong wouldn’t have believed this.

She felt somewhat powerless. With things turning out this way, Yan Chaosheng had left Kung Sang with hatred in his heart, and it was now impossible to establish goodwill between him and Kung Sang.

Must she choose between Kung Sang and Azure Blue?

Chi Shui Chong asked, “What about the spirit meridian?”

Thinking of the current predicament, Liu Shuang could only say, “The Night Demon Lord told me that the fifth spirit meridian is in the Weak Waters.”

She had expected Chi Shui Chong to be skeptical, but unexpectedly, after a long silence, he said, “It is destined by heaven. Nothing can exist under the Weak Waters; no one can retrieve that spirit meridian. Here, take a look at this.”

It was an invitation to the Four Seas Banquet.

Liu Shuang had previously learned about the Four Seas Banquet from Bai Zhuixu. Later, she was punished to guard the Demon Suppression Tower and thought the banquet would have nothing to do with her. Unexpectedly, the tower was destroyed before the banquet.

Chi Shui Chong said, “This Four Seas Banquet will be different from previous ones.”

After walking far away, the father and daughter from the Lou clan could no longer hold back. Mi Chu turned to look at the majestic palace shrouded in immortal mist.

Lou Xinzhu sighed and stroked her head: “Mi Chu, your father knows what you’re thinking, but the Young Mistress has returned.”

Mi Chu bit her lip: “Father, if she hadn’t returned, would I have been the one to attend the Four Seas Banquet?”

Lou Xinzhu replied, “Even if it were you, what difference would it make? This Four Seas Banquet isn’t like the previous gatherings where immortal clans exchanged skills. Everyone knows it’s to select a consort for Crown Prince Feng Fuming. The Heavenly Lord is about to abdicate, and a new Heavenly Lord will soon be born. Among all the spirit meridians of the immortal realms, only the Feng family’s remains intact, ensuring eternal existence. With the glory of the Feng clan, even the ruler of Chang Liu Immortal Mountain would send his daughter. Mi Chu, the Feng clan is proud and arrogant. Forget about the Young Mistress, could you compete with the offspring of the Ji clan from Chang Liu Immortal Mountain?”

Seeing Mi Chu about to deny it, Lou Xinzhu continued, “You are my daughter, and I know you best. Mi Chu, there’s nothing wrong with planning for your future; it’s all my fault.”

He looked at Mi Chu affectionately, feeling countless regrets.

Mi Chu had lost her mother at a young age. Lou Xinzhu had been stationed at the spirit meridian for years. When she was small, Mi Chu had lived near the spirit meridian with the troops. Each time the meridian fluctuated, it felt like the sky was falling.

The Lou clan people best understood the catastrophe brought by a depleting spirit meridian.

Marriage alliance with spiritual bonding was the best way to leave Kung Sang. Lou Xinzhu looked at his gentle daughter, understanding Mi Chu’s thoughts. She had been extremely clever since childhood and, unwilling to marry beneath her station, naturally had ambitions toward the prosperous Feng clan of the Heavenly Tribe.

But in Kung Sang, the most noble could only be the Young Mistress with the Chi Shui bloodline.

Even if Feng Fuming wanted a marriage alliance, for the sake of his offspring’s divine talents, he would choose Liu Shuang of the Chi Shui clan.

In the past, Kung Sang, with the arrogance of an ancient immortal clan, might not have allowed their young mistress to become Feng Fuming’s Heavenly Consort. But now, with the spirit meridian depleting, if they wanted the Heavenly Tribe’s aid, the only way out was to marry Liu Shuang to Feng Fuming.

No matter how reluctant Chi Shui Chong was to part with his precious daughter, he would send Liu Shuang to the Four Seas Banquet.

Mi Chu pursed her lips: “How does Father know I have no chance at all? The Ji clan of Chang Liu Immortal Mountain has a cold temperament like a man. Kun Lun has no direct bloodline females from the Ji Mo clan. If Liu Shuang hadn’t returned today, the person attending the Four Seas Banquet would have been me. Isn’t that what the Realm Master thought? Otherwise, why would he have summoned me to the palace today?”

“Father! Since childhood, you’ve told me to yield to the Young Mistress because her soul was incomplete. But in my interactions with her, seeing how clumsy she was in learning the immortal arts, how foolish and inept, yet because of her status as Young Mistress, she was pampered and indulged, with everyone being accommodating and gentle toward her. I am better than her in every way, yet because I’m not from the Chi Shui clan, I must yield to her, coax her. Every year, when the various clans present gifts, the Chi Shui clan claims to treat me like their own daughter, but Liu Shuang always gets to choose first, while I pick up what she doesn’t want. Now, finally having this opportunity, with her trapped in the Demon Suppression Tower, she again takes everything from me. I can’t accept it!”

Lou Xinzhu listened with alarm: “Mi Chu!”

He had only thought his daughter wanted a contingency plan, but from Mi Chu’s words, she harbored resentment toward the Young Mistress.

He remembered when the Young Mistress was young, a little girl with an incomplete soul, always striving hard behind the crowd, falling until her face was bruised. The Young Mistress cared for every blade of grass and tree in Kung Sang, her love for the realm no less than anyone else’s.

“Mi Chu, the Lou clan has been loyal for generations. How can you think this way? Those things rightfully belong to the Young Mistress. If not for the Realm Master and his wife’s generosity, you wouldn’t have been able to grow up in Kung Sang’s immortal palace, let alone receive special care.” Lou Xinzhu said sternly, “Have you forgotten how, when you were injured during your tribulation, when I wasn’t by your side, it was the Mistress who cared for you day and night?”

Seeing that the conversation had opened up, Mi Chu couldn’t help but say, “That’s because they needed Father’s loyalty. The Southern Territory, where the spirit meridian is located, is bitterly cold. Whenever there’s a fluctuation, many people die. They were afraid you wouldn’t want to guard the spirit meridian, so they tried to please me.”

“Absurd!” Lou Xinzhu felt a chill in his heart. “How could you think this way? We are people of Kung Sang; guarding the spirit meridian is our responsibility, having received its blessing. Besides, without me, there would be other immortal clan generals.”

Mi Chu saw her father’s disappointed shake of the head. Her eyes reddened: “Father, it was my mistake. Please don’t blame me. I just felt too upset and spoke without thinking.”

Seeing a tear fall, and that she seemed truly contrite, Lou Xinzhu sighed: “Alright, Father doesn’t blame you.”

He wiped away Mi Chu’s tears: “Father won’t abandon you. If one day the spirit meridian truly depletes, I will make arrangements for you. Trust your father. The Realm Master sending the Young Mistress isn’t unfair to you. Rather, Feng Fuming isn’t a good match. He’s flirtatious by nature. Even before marrying a Heavenly Consort, he’s already surrounded by a group of beauties. The Heavenly Tribe is cold-hearted; he won’t be sincere to you. The Realm Master would rather sacrifice his daughter than push you into such a fire pit.”

Mi Chu paused, then nodded.

Lou Xinzhu thought she had understood and felt very gratified: “I heard that the second son of the Bai family has always treated you well. I’ve met him. Although his character is unrestrained, he treats you with utmost sincerity and depth of feeling. He would never betray you. If you also have feelings for him…”

“Father!” Mi Chu interrupted him, “I don’t like him.”

Lou Xinzhu sighed: “Very well.”

As the father and daughter were about to part, Lou Xinzhu suddenly asked, “In the last major competition, I heard the winner wasn’t the second son of the Bai family, but a disciple of the demon lineage with extraordinary talent. Mi Chu, if you don’t want to marry Bai Yuxiao, I could take him as my disciple, bringing him into the Lou clan. He would be a good choice for your future.”

Mi Chu was surprised but also felt humiliated: “You want me to marry a demon?”

In her father’s eyes, was Liu Shuang worthy of marrying Feng Fuming, while she could only cling to a lowly demon for survival?

After a long silence, Lou Xinzhu said, “Spiritual bonding with demons is one way to free oneself from the constraints the immortal realm places on immortal clan people. If Kung Sang collapses, Bai Yuxiao won’t survive, but he would. He could bear half the backlash from the realm’s destruction for you.”

Mi Chu’s gaze gradually turned cold: “I’d rather die!”

Lou Xinzhu stared at her steadily: “Do you know what I saw before this spirit meridian depletion?”

Mi Chu looked at him.

Lou Xinzhu smiled bitterly: “The day the Demon Suppression Tower collapsed, I saw demonic energy spreading within the nearly depleted spirit meridian. Mi Chu, in the primal forces of heaven and earth, as one wanes, another waxes. The immortal clans have dominated for too long, pressing other beings to the point where they can barely breathe. Even the mortal realm, which is under our protection, is filled with complaints. The Way of Heaven sees all this and will eventually grant balance.”

Mi Chu’s eyes widened.

So, Lou Xinzhu was suggesting that one day, demons might also live righteously in the sunlight, with status equal to immortals? No, she didn’t believe it. How could there ever be such a day!

Even if there were, it wouldn’t be a reason for her to choose a lowly demon.

Liu Shuang hadn’t expected that with Yan Chaosheng’s issue still unresolved, she would face such a choice: either find the fifth spirit meridian or marry Feng Fuming to gain his favor and save the depleting spirit meridian.

A wolf in front, a tiger behind.

The wolf situation was getting worse, and the tiger had already impatiently opened its mouth.

Even before Yan Chaosheng could act, Kung Sang was nearly finished. They needed to infuse a new spirit meridian!

If what the Night Demon Lord said was true, and the fifth spirit meridian was beneath the Weak Waters, it would be impossible to retrieve. As the Realm Master, Chi Shui Chong would rather painfully let Liu Shuang marry Feng Fuming.

“Father, Chi Shui Chong is unreliable. The clan’s honor shouldn’t depend on him. I am willing to try the Weak Waters and retrieve the spirit meridian.”

Chi Shui Chong rarely became angry: “Nonsense! Rather than letting you die, I would prefer you marry him!”

Liu Shuang still tried to persuade him, but Chi Shui Chong said decisively, “I will send you on the immortal carriage. Guards, take the Young Mistress away!”

Liu Shuang was confined by Chi Shui Chong. A few days later, the immortal carriage waited outside.

Fu Liu helped Liu Shuang with her appearance, chattering: “I heard a fairy from Chang Liu Immortal Mountain will also attend. Our Young Mistress can’t lose to her. This immortal robe won’t do; it’s not eye-catching enough. This one… this one is better…”

Liu Shuang glanced over: “That one. I think that one will do.”

She pointed lightly and, with a spin, changed into a simple pale vermilion protective immortal robe.

Fu Liu quickly waved her hands: “This one isn’t pretty enough. Young Mistress, change into the one in my hands.”

Liu Shuang winked at her: “But this one is most suitable. Fu Liu, trust me.”

Seeing that her young mistress truly liked it, Fu Liu could only nod, thinking that the young mistress looked good in anything anyway.

Liu Shuang stepped onto the immortal carriage. Unlike her trip to Kun Lun, as Young Mistress of Kung Sang, she was accompanied by eight immortal maidens carrying Pu Yao lanterns and a grand procession of immortal soldiers.

As the silk curtain was lowered, Liu Shuang felt this scene was familiar.

The last time she sat in such a beautiful, immortal carriage, she had crushed her own heart with her own hands.

This time, it was again because of Feng Fuming – truly a cursed fate.

Her view differed from Chi Shui Chong’s. Chi Shui Chong didn’t understand Crown Prince Feng Fuming. He thought that as long as Liu Shuang formed a spiritual bond with Feng Fuming, he would help save Kung Sang’s spirit meridian.

But Liu Shuang had seen Feng Fuming after he became the Heavenly Lord. In her previous life, before the Karmic Fire came, Liu Shuang had pleaded with the then-Heavenly Lord Feng Fuming for Azure Blue.

He had smiled, his gaze cold: “The Karmic Fire is the destined fate of all grass and wood spirits in the Eight Wildernesses. This Lord cannot intervene.”

Unlike his weak father, this man was ruthlessly decisive.

He wouldn’t help Kung Sang. Moreover, after experiencing her previous life, Liu Shuang understood that men were unreliable.

If all honor and disgrace were placed on them, one would only receive endless ridiculous sorrow. The Demon Lord Yan Chaosheng had been like this in her previous life, and Heavenly Lord Feng Fuming was no exception.

Even if Feng Fuming agreed now, if one day his mood changed and he withdrew the shared spirit meridian, how would Kung Sang manage?

They couldn’t rely on others forever.

The only one they could depend on was themselves. She had misunderstood Yan Chaosheng’s affection for Mi Chu, and the situation was already difficult to remedy. For Kung Sang to protect itself, two things were necessary: first, the spirit meridian must not deplete; second, they needed to be strong enough to face Yan Chaosheng.

Neither of these points could be resolved by marrying Feng Fuming. The only solution was to find the fifth spirit meridian.

Chi Shui Chong didn’t know the future and wouldn’t believe that Yan Chaosheng, a mere “demon,” could have such power. But Liu Shuang had to do what was right. She needed to get the spirit meridian and had to try at all costs!

So when the immortal carriage was halfway to its destination, an immortal maiden lifted the silk curtain to find only a letter inside.

It read: I go to seek the spirit meridian, giving my all for Kung Sang. Daughter knows Father’s love and protection, but this is the only way to ensure Kung Sang’s continuation. Please don’t worry, Father.

The immortal maiden was shocked: “The Young Mistress is gone!”

Amid the panic, a female immortal flew over. Someone exclaimed, “Fairy Mi Chu!”

Mi Chu, who had been secretly following, looked at the empty carriage and clutched the letter Liu Shuang had left. Her hand tightened continuously as she said, “No need to panic. The Realm Master said if anything happened along the way, I should handle it. Now, let’s… continue to the Heavenly Realm.”

While the immortal procession continued toward the Heavenly Palace, Liu Shuang was already at a small teahouse at the foot of the Demon Mountain.

There was a barrier before the mountain. Beyond this mountain barrier, on the other side, was the barren demon realm from seven hundred years ago.

The Weak Waters were different from other places; numbers and power didn’t matter. She wanted to see the situation.

Liu Shuang touched the slightly painful spot on her forehead where the Night Demon Lord had released something into her consciousness before his death.

He had said, “I wish you good fortune beneath the Weak Waters.”

The Night Demon Lord had perhaps already guessed that she would eventually go to the demon realm’s Weak Waters to try her luck.

Seven hundred years later, no one dared linger outside the Demon Mountain, but now, there was a small teahouse run by mortals at the foot of the mountain.

Liu Shuang was invited to drink tea and sat down.

She concealed her appearance, her features seemingly hidden in mist, indistinct to mortals. The waiter wasn’t surprised at all but instead came forward to talk with her, curiously asking, “Miss, what kind of demon are you? Are you also going to that demon realm to seek survival?”

Liu Shuang was puzzled: “You know about demon affairs? Aren’t you afraid I’m a demon who might harm you?”

The waiter smiled: “I know a little. We do business at Demon Mountain, seeing many demons come and go. I’m afraid of getting hurt, but firstly, if demons harm people, they’ll bring immortal clan retribution upon themselves – a losing proposition. Secondly, the Demon Palace is just behind that mountain. Demons coming here often have nowhere else to go and no mood to cause trouble here, as they have more important things to do.”

He was quite open-minded, treating the most dangerous place as the safest.

Liu Shuang placed a high-grade spirit stone down, perfect for gathering information: “What do you mean by ‘seeking survival’?”

The waiter happily accepted the high-grade spirit stone and spoke without reservation, smiling, “The demon realm recently got a Mountain Lord. Many female demons are volunteering themselves. Following him is better than living in uncertainty outside. He shelters homeless demons, offering protection, as long as they have something he values.”

“Mountain Lord?”

The waiter smiled suggestively: “I heard he’s violent and picky, but seeing Miss’s extraordinary aura, it might be worth a try.”

He had mistaken Liu Shuang for a female demon offering herself.

Liu Shuang didn’t contradict him, turning the teacup in her hand. She had never heard that before the Demon Palace, there had been a Mountain Lord. Surprised and curious, she wondered about this Mountain Lord’s background. She remembered that Bi Xun had also been a Mountain Lord.

If this Mountain Lord were as powerful as Bi Xun, it would undoubtedly be a major problem.

But to reach the Weak Waters, she had to pass through here. It seemed that with this Mountain Lord, she either had to find a way to bypass him or face him head-on.