Among all the cultivators present, the ones who dealt with evil cultivators the most were Qiushuang and Huan Zong. Qiushuang was in the midst of breaking through the siege of three evil cultivators. When she detected the evil cultivator was about to self-destruct his Nascent Soul, it was already too late to stop him.

The instant the enormous evil energy exploded, the movements of Qiushuang’s hands paused. The massive impact force made it almost difficult for her to steady her form. The three evil cultivators besieging her fared even worse—caught unprepared, they were struck by the fierce airflow until their skin and flesh rolled, screaming as they covered their eyes and fell from the clouds.

Qiushuang couldn’t spare the time to look at these evil cultivators’ miserable states. She didn’t even care about her own disheveled appearance and ran toward Yunhua Sect’s disciples like a madwoman. When she saw all the disciples were fine, protected by a sword intent that already bore dragon form, she finally put away the panicked expression on her face, sat cross-legged on the clouds, and took out a small bronze mirror to look at her face.

However, in just the blink of an eye, she threw the bronze mirror away, suddenly laughing loudly as she flew before the disciples and reached out to embrace Kong Hou, who hadn’t yet recovered from the evil cultivator’s self-destruction.

“You’re all fine—that’s truly wonderful…”

Kong Hou detected that Elder Qiushuang’s hands were trembling, and her voice carried several notes of relief. She was stunned for a moment, then hugged Qiushuang back: “Elder, we’re fine. Don’t worry.”

“Every one of you makes a racket like stinky monkeys, never a moment’s peace all day long, and you’re all wearing protective talismans—what do I have to worry about you for?” Qiushuang released Kong Hou and used magic to change into a new set of dress and shirt for herself, then turned and performed a grand bow to Huan Zong: “Many thanks to Zhong Xi Zhenren for your assistance.”

“I dare not.” Huan Zong stepped aside to avoid it and returned a bow: “This junior’s sect and Yunhua Sect are of one mind and connected branches. Jointly eliminating evil cultivators is naturally the proper thing to do and doesn’t deserve a word of thanks from the Elder.” His seniority was lower than Qiushuang’s, and even his cultivation was one stage lower than Qiushuang’s—how could he bear Elder Qiushuang calling him “Zhenren”? Moreover, in that urgent situation just now, when he thought Kong Hou might be injured, he couldn’t care about anything else.

This sword intent—he had never comprehended its true essence before and couldn’t use it. He hadn’t expected that at this very moment, he would finally comprehend it.

The main sword technique he practiced had nine sword intents in total, but no matter how many evil-doing evil cultivators he killed or how many sword cultivator experts he sparred with, he couldn’t comprehend the ninth form.

Whenever he asked his master what exactly the ninth sword intent was, his master would always look at him with a calm expression and say that when he understood, he would naturally understand. If he couldn’t comprehend it, then he would never be able to figure it out in his entire life.

At that time, he didn’t understand and only thought it was his master tempering him. Only now did he understand—it turned out this sword intent could only be comprehended when one understood. Because this final sword intent was named Fearless Protection.

When the heart wanting to protect a certain person, thing, or object surpassed all fear and self, the sword and he could communicate in mind and spirit, unleashing the greatest power.

He wanted to protect Kong Hou, couldn’t bear her to feel even half a bit of distress, so he also wanted to protect the people she cared about.

Retracting the Longyin Sword, the huge golden dragon phantom disappeared. Only then did the disciples of Yunhua Sect and Yuanji Sect react—they had actually just walked through the gates of hell.

“Huan Zong.” Kong Hou ran with large steps to Huan Zong’s side. Disregarding everyone’s gazes, she grabbed his wrist and input spiritual energy to examine his body. After confirming he hadn’t suffered any internal injuries, her tightly furrowed brows finally loosened slightly. “Fortunately you’re alright. Just now… was that an evil cultivator self-destructing?”

Given evil cultivators’ nature of escaping if they could escape and begging for mercy if they couldn’t escape, how did they suddenly become so spirited, self-destructing at the slightest disagreement? With such perseverance and drive, what couldn’t they succeed at? Why did they have to become evil cultivators that even the Heavenly Dao despised?

“I suspect that evil cultivator had a technique secretly placed on him by someone. The self-destruction wasn’t his wish, but the person behind it wanted to take this opportunity to severely damage our righteous sects’ vital energy.” Huan Zong reached out and touched Kong Hou’s furrowed brow. “Don’t worry. I’ll always stay by your side.”

The slightly cool fingertips touched her forehead. Kong Hou raised her head to look at Huan Zong and grinned at him.

“So silly.” Huan Zong held her hand. Their clasped hands were concealed beneath wide sleeves, vividly demonstrating the saying “there’s no silver buried here” by their very denial.

Kong Hou pinched his finger: “Who’s silly? Who are you calling silly?”

“I’m silly.” Huan Zong immediately changed his words. “I’m the silliest.”

“Hmph.” Kong Hou snorted lightly and glanced at the fox demon that Elder Qiushuang had locked in a specially made beast cage. She said to Huan Zong: “This fox demon is the evil cultivator world’s number one beauty and also the Venerable Lord of the evil cultivator world’s fiancée. Capturing her alive is more useful than killing her.”

Huan Zong nodded: “Let this demon experience the scenery of the cultivation world. Perhaps she’ll wholeheartedly turn toward goodness and make the evil cultivator leader reform and turn to righteousness.”

With the evil cultivator leader’s fiancée in their hands, he would have some scruples in the future and wouldn’t dare to blatantly cause trouble in the cultivation world—this was the female demon’s greatest use. As for reforming and turning to righteousness, that was fundamentally impossible. Kong Hou and Huan Zong knew this in their hearts but chose the most euphemistic way of saying it.

After all, they were serious and proper righteous sects.

“But if the person controlling the evil cultivator’s self-destruction was the Venerable Lord of the evil cultivator world, does this mean… he doesn’t actually obsessively love the number one beauty as much as the evil cultivator world’s rumors say?” Kong Hou touched her chin thoughtfully. “If you truly love someone, how could you bear to place her in a dangerous situation?”

For example, her Huan Zong constantly protected her at all times. Even when she deliberately put on an act in front of the female demon, Huan Zong would seriously cooperate. How many people in the entire cultivation world would believe that the dignified genius of the cultivation world who appears once in a millennium would be willing to cooperate with her in some small tricks that might seem absurd to other elders?

The moment the evil cultivator self-destructed his Nascent Soul, Huan Zong not only used sword intent to block the powerful airflow but also shielded her with his body. Although the other senior brothers, junior sisters, and martial nephews weren’t injured, their hair was blown askew. Only she, under Huan Zong’s airtight protection, didn’t even have a single strand of hair move.

Precisely because of this, she felt that rumored Venerable Lord might have deliberately made them think he had feelings for the number one beauty.

But… did he really?

“The junior martial sister in our sect and Zhong Xi Zhenren are good friends and have always acted without much reservation.” Wu Chuan said to Shuangqing, who stood beside him with a slightly odd expression. “Sect Master Shuangqing, please don’t laugh at us.”

Shuangqing: “…”

He really wanted to make himself believe there was nothing between Zhong Xi Zhenren and Kong Hou Xianzi, but thinking of how Kong Hou kept calling him “Big Brother Zhong Xi” earlier, he felt goosebumps rising on his arms.

The way disciples of great sects interacted with each other—small sects and schools like theirs didn’t understand.

“Many thanks to Huan Zong… many thanks to Zhong Xi Zhenren for saving our lives.” Zhou Xiao led his junior martial brothers and sisters to fly beside Huan Zong and performed a grand bow to him.

“No need for excessive courtesy.” Huan Zong pinched Kong Hou’s fingers, reluctantly released her hand, and looked at Zhou Xiao with graceful bearing. “It’s only proper.”

Looking at Zhong Xi Zhenren, perfect as an exiled immortal, Zhou Xiao turned his head slightly to glance at Kong Hou, feeling slightly disappointed in his heart. When they first met in the dense forest, he had kept the young woman’s brilliant smile in his heart. But if asked whether this was romantic affection between man and woman, it hadn’t quite reached that step yet. However, if he had no thoughts whatsoever about Kong Hou Xianzi, his heart wouldn’t feel so disappointed.

Actually, he understood very clearly in his heart that his appearance could only be called decent, his personality was also dull and boring, and even his talent could only barely be called good. Standing together with Kong Hou Xianzi, they fundamentally didn’t match, much less compared to Zhong Xi Zhenren.

There were many rumors about Zhong Xi Zhenren in the cultivation world—some said his appearance was extremely ugly, others said he was handsome as an immortal. But even though his whereabouts were mysterious, he was still the undisputed number one young master of the cultivation world.

Who knew which bored people would rank some Young Master List or Fairy Maiden List every five years? Each list had fifty people. He relied on his identity as the head disciple of Yuanji Sect’s sect master to become one of those fifty, but he had no real presence. Those truly noticed by female cultivators were only those male cultivators ranked in the top ten.

The male cultivators ranked in the top ten were almost all handsome in appearance and outstanding in talent. Only Zhong Xi Zhenren, relying on ability, firmly sat in the first position. Even if people said he was unbearably ugly, his position didn’t waver in the slightest.

Moreover, the real Zhong Xi Zhenren was clearly a refined young master with a face like jade.

Born into a famous family, outstanding in talent, handsome in appearance—Miss Kong Hou and Zhong Xi Zhenren being together couldn’t be more well-matched.

Suppressing that bit of bitterness in his heart, Zhou Xiao led his junior martial brothers and sisters back to the flying vessel.

To avoid evil cultivators ambushing them again, Qiushuang invited Yuanji Sect’s disciples to all stay on the flying palace. Kong Hou had originally thought Shuangqing wouldn’t agree, but unexpectedly he awkwardly nodded in tacit agreement.

It seemed that in Shuangqing Zhenren’s heart, face still couldn’t compare to his disciples’ lives.

No wonder Yuanji Sect had developed so quickly these years. With Shuangqing’s skill at changing faces, Yuanji Sect couldn’t possibly fare too poorly in the cultivation world.

In the evil cultivator world, the First Venerable Lord half-reclined against his dark gold throne drinking wine. After hearing his subordinate’s report, he threw the wine pot in his hand to the ground: “What you mean to say is, Hong Mian led our evil cultivator world’s elite to ambush Yunhua Sect, but instead was subdued by them? Not only were the elite killed, but Hong Mian herself was also captured?”

The evil cultivator delivering the message trembled all over in fright. The Venerable Lord and Venerable Hong Mian had deep affection, and their dao companion ceremony was imminent. Who knew the bride would be captured—what kind of humiliation and rage was this?

“What about the other elite who ambushed them?” The Venerable Lord continued asking.

“For some reason, those sects all seemed to have come prepared. So our people… suffered heavy losses.”

“What about the cultivation world’s people?”

The evil cultivator knocked his head on the ground: “This subordinate and others are incompetent.”

The Venerable Lord laughed coldly: “It’s not that you’re incompetent, but that the cultivation world is even more united than this seat imagined.” He stood up. His dark red blood-patterned robe flashed with purple-black dual-colored light.

The group from Yunhua Sect and Yuanji Sect didn’t encounter any more evil cultivator ambushes until they reached outside Pei City’s gates. Outside Pei City’s gates was extremely lively, with countless cultivators waiting to enter the city, forming long queues.

Some common people took advantage of this opportunity to set up small stalls outside the city gates. Some sold tea, fruit, and snacks, some sold jewelry and cloth. There were even chickens, ducks, geese, and fish—it looked just like a street outside the city.

Liuguang Sect’s disciples didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping them. However, Kong Hou saw several sword cultivators wearing Liuguang Sect disciple robes moving back and forth through the crowd, maintaining safety and order at the scene.

“So many people.” Kong Hou leaned on the flying palace railing, looking at the long queues outside the city gates, her eyes shining. “This is the liveliest city I’ve ever seen.” Even Yong City, which often had visitors from other places, couldn’t compare to Pei City’s liveliness.

“Usually there are fewer people. Recently, because the exchange conference is about to begin, there are even more people.” Seeing Kong Hou’s eyes bright like two small lanterns, Huan Zong smiled warmly: “Tomorrow I’ll take you for a tour around the city.”

“Great, great.” Kong Hou nodded repeatedly.

Wu Chuan stood not far away, very conflicted. Junior Martial Sister Kong Hou asked him to help conceal her romance with Zhong Xi Zhenren, but these two people constantly exuded an aura of “I only have eyes for you”—how was he supposed to help conceal it?

He knew these junior martial brothers and sisters weren’t the least bit worry-free. Even the well-behaved little junior martial sister was the same.

When the flying palace landed in the designated landing area, Huan Zong said to Qiushuang: “Elder, please follow this junior into the city. We need not wait here.”

Qiushuang nodded slightly: “Much obliged.”

“Wait.” Kong Hou stopped them, pointing at a small stall selling wild beasts in the distance. “There seem to be foxes over there. Huan Zong, come with me to take a look.”

Huan Zong smiled apologetically at Elder Qiushuang, then turned to Kong Hou and said: “Alright.”

Elder Qiushuang coughed lightly, merely pretending she hadn’t seen anything.

Shuangqing looked at the Yunhua Sect crowd who seemed completely oblivious, and couldn’t help but feel doubtful. Could it be that between Kong Hou Xianzi and Zhong Xi Zhenren, they really were just intimately close good friends, and he had overthought everything?

Otherwise, with Yunhua Sect’s terrible temper, could they tolerate Zhong Xi Zhenren being with their female disciple of best aptitude?

Never mind Zhong Xi Zhenren—even if it were Zhong Xi Zhenren’s master, Sect Master Jinyue here, Yunhua Sect wouldn’t possibly compromise.

“Excuse me, how much for this fox?” Kong Hou pointed at a fox contained in a bamboo basket in the corner. This fox had eyes small as mung beans, a face square as a drill bit, and its fur color wasn’t good-looking either—extremely ugly.

The hunter selling wild beasts didn’t dare deceive her and answered honestly: “Xianzi, this fox isn’t worth much. It’s meant as a freebie.” Because aside from using it as a freebie, he couldn’t give it away either.

“This one, this one is good.” After paying spirit stones, Kong Hou picked up the cage and placed it beside the original form of Hong Mian, who was imprisoned in a magical tool beast cage.

Hong Mian looked at the ugly fox beside her that hadn’t opened its spiritual intelligence and roared angrily at Kong Hou.

What did this mean?

—

**Author’s Note:** Tibetan Fox: Today I made another friendly appearance