The epic battle between immortals and demons in Chapter 38 might have originated from the scene of "Asking the Snow While Wearing a Quilt"...

Perhaps from the very first meeting with Qin Wenxue, this sword called judgment had been hanging over her head, sometimes heard but never seen, so she acted with impunity. Only now did she realize that Qin Wenxue's shift from no questioning at the beginning to her now open questioning was a trap that had been set long ago.

Perhaps… she thought, “Perhaps under that peach tree, Qin Wenxue had already begun to test her.”

Ming Shuhan said in a cold voice, enunciating each word clearly: "Have you been possessed?"

Shi Wenzhe hurriedly explained, "I didn't!"

"Liar!" Ming Shu shouted.

She was startled, cold sweat pouring down her face, and she stubbornly said, "No, no." Her mouth seemed glued shut.

"I promise!" A sudden thought struck her. "Besides, I'm a bit of a simpleton, otherwise how could I not know anything? I just... I was struck by lightning a few days ago, and that snapped me out of it." She hurriedly looked at Qin Wenxue. "Anyway, you know I was struck by lightning!"

Qin Wenxue chuckled softly.

"Yes." "It didn't make you even dumber, but it brought you back to life."

The moment Qin Wenxue spoke, the tense and awkward atmosphere vanished. Shi Wenzhe stared blankly at Ming Shuyang's smiling face, who looked smug: "You actually took my teasing seriously?"

Shi Wenzhe's heart trembled, his stiff back instantly went limp, and even his legs lost all strength.

"A narrow escape," she thought. She really believed that Ming Shu had discovered it.

Ming Shu suddenly sighed, "I've heard of your past mistakes, but you're doing quite well the way you are now."

Shi Wenzhe didn't know how to answer. Should she thank him? But Ming Shu's expression was really meaningful. She only dared to look away to avoid the guilt in his eyes.

"This is so agonizing..." she thought. "How could this be? She had heard that Shi Zhe was afraid of nothing but death, but why couldn't she speak when she looked into their eyes?"

"Forget it, anyway, I didn't lie. She didn't possess anyone, she doesn't have that ability. It was 001 who did it."

This was the first time Shi Wenzhe felt that the road to Peach Blossom Valley was far too long, seemingly endless. Ming Shu hadn't been very talkative along the way, but he had kindly told Shi Wenzhe the story of the war between immortals and demons, giving him some insight.

He said that too many immortals and demons died in the war between immortals and demons. Most of the survivors went to the Nine Heavens. Only Xianhua Xinzun remained in the mortal world. However, Xianhua Xinzun died a hundred years ago. Before he died, he never told anyone about the course of that war.

However, seeing Ming Shu's calm and collected expression, Shi Wenzhe felt that what he said might not be complete. She secretly glanced at Qin Wenxue, who was also listening very carefully, seemingly curious about what had happened.

Shi Wenzhe had a gut feeling that he was lying.

When Ming Shu was having a good time, he would interject with a chat about Yun Jin, which he had heard about from a storyteller in a teahouse when he went to the mortal world with Yun Jin.

There should be few records within the imperial city, and they are incomplete. These were spread by chance and became topics of conversation among people, eventually turning into legends in storybooks.

I felt a pang of sadness when I heard about it. That great battle was clearly real. So many people died and so much blood was shed. The pain and suffering were real. But after thousands of years, almost no one knows about it. It has only become a light "story" in people's mouths.

Actually, the distinction between immortals, demons, and humans wasn't so clear a thousand years ago. They all lived on the Zhaoyao Continent. Apart from Peach Blossom Valley and a small number of demons living outside the valley, they were all human.

Shi Wenzhe asked curiously, "So those in the Nine Heavens aren't immortals either?"

“Yes.” Ming Shu pouted: “Those who successfully ascend become immortals, but they are actually just human beings. They just disdain being compared with mortals and consider themselves superior, so they call themselves the Immortal Clan.”

"What immortal race are they? They're all just mortals." He said, "Look, these so-called classes are all bestowed upon us by humans themselves. How ridiculous."

A thousand years ago, some naive little demons from outside the valley were bewitched by humans and became their contracted spirit beasts, helping them cultivate and attain enlightenment. However, the demons outside the valley were ultimately few and far between, while human greed grew ever stronger.

The demon race is a treasure trove, and becoming a spirit beast can accelerate their cultivation progress. But there is another way that can also do this, without requiring humans to provide support. It involves feeding them precious spiritual plants and pills. Ming Shu asked in a chilling tone, "Do you know what it is?"

"What is it?" Shi Wenzhe's heart sank, and Ming Shu's expression was really not good, as if he wished he could kill those people he was talking about.

She heard Ming Shu say angrily, "Pulling out tendons, skinning, eating flesh, and drinking blood."

Have you ever seen it? You definitely haven't. The eyes of those monsters are gouged out and become what cultivators call fish eyes. They despise them but eat them with gusto. Deer antlers become rare ornaments to flaunt at their waists. High-level demon cores are eaten, while low-level ones are inlaid into their weapons. Their feet are a priceless tonic, and their fur is a golden armor to protect them from attacks...

“Too many.” Ming Shu said softly, his tone full of hatred and pain: “They are so stupid, how could they believe in the kindness of humans.”

A trembling voice asked, "And then what happened?"

"later?"

"Later... the human race became dissatisfied with the scarcity of demons outside the valley and set their sights on Peach Blossom Valley."

Shi Wenzhe asked anxiously, "Isn't Peach Blossom Valley isolated from the world?"

"Hmm." Ming Shu didn't take it seriously: "So what? Do you think the four major sects of the cultivation world are just pushovers?"

"Besides, Peach Blossom Valley... is just a valley."

That great battle killed many people, and even demons perished... Human life was devastated, and rivers of blood flowed.

Actually, the storybook doesn't record who saved the chaotic world. Some say it was a reclusive great demon, while others say it was one of the immortals who ascended to heaven.

However, there is a consensus that the Demon Lord Xianhua Xinzun single-handedly quelled the long-standing feud between the two races, restoring peace and order to the world.

Ming Shu was somewhat puzzled and frowned, saying, "I don't know what kind of Qingming they are talking about. The grudges between the cultivation world and our demon race have not been resolved, but have become more and more serious. The malevolent energy in the netherworld and the underworld has also been rampant and has not been relieved."

He stared intently at Shi Wenzhe, his eyes serious, and said, "Shi Wenzhe, are you the second miracle bestowed by Heaven?"

Shi Wen was stunned, not understanding what he was saying. His lips moved, but he couldn't make a sound for a long time. He stood still and said in a weak voice, "I didn't." His eyes were blank and innocent.

I don't.

I'm just afraid of dying.

I'm just a coward.

"Hmph." Seeing that Shi Wenzhe was avoiding answering, Ming Shu muttered to himself, "Forget it, you're just a little white flower, you shouldn't have to bear anything."

In the second illusion, Peach Blossom Valley truly had no birds or beasts, not even the rustling of insects.

The vast expanse of yellow stretched from the road beneath our feet to the horizon, a desolate expanse stretching for miles. If grass could grow here, it would be a boundless grassland, but alas.

Shi Wenzhe thought to himself, "It really is a very, very good place."

She could picture it all: under the blue sky and sea, all living things lived in harmony, birds and beasts dancing, and fish leaping.

Is it a sin of humanity?

She missed the fireflies of Yunmengze, and also the flowers, grasses, and trees in the fields.

The ground felt softer underfoot. Shi Wenzhe stomped on it and found it was slightly damp. The soil within a five-mile radius was darker in color and sank deeper when stepped on.

Her heart pounded, and her eyes gleamed with barely suppressed excitement: "Qinwenxue, it's wet here, there's water..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ming Shu interrupted, "There's no water. This place is a bit eerie; it's a dried-up riverbed."

“Actually, you should know this place.” He raised his head and laughed. “Didn’t you notice when you were causing trouble in the Hundred Flowers Garden? This is the same place.”

He pinched the soil; it was damp, cold, and soft, and clumps of soil fell through his fingers. Qin Wenxue stood on a high ground, looking towards the end of the riverbed, as if gazing at the once shimmering river in the distance.

The wooden ring in his hand started emitting a faint red light again, and Shi Wenzhe stared at it intently.

Ming Shu said, “There might be something under this riverbed, so even though Peach Blossom Valley is dry and withered, this place still retains a little moisture… It’s a bit like that. What are you thinking about?” He pondered and whispered to Shi Wenzhe, “There’s a saying circulating in Shifang City that this place is a path to life that all the living beings in Peach Blossom Valley have created together.”

"Let's walk a little further, we might see a different view." He stood next to Qin Wenxue and looked down with her, his expression full of longing. He couldn't help but sigh, and he slumped his head on Qin Wenxue's shoulder, silently acting coquettish.

"Boss, I want to go back to Qiyun Palace."

Qin Wenxue turned her head to look at him, her gaze softening, and gently ruffled his hair.

Shi Wenzhe felt that he shouldn't be there.

As we walked along the riverbed, the closer we got to the water source, the wetter the ground became. Shi Wenzhe was a little unsteady on his feet and was about to fall when Qin Wenxue caught him.

The hand on her arm was still so cold, but it held her body very steadily. Shi Wenzhe released her arm and whispered a thank you.

"Give me your hand," Qin Wenxue said calmly.

Shi Wenzhe, without any backbone, stretched out his hand again.

A cool touch came from her wrist. Qin Wenxue felt her pulse and slowly channeled her magic power into her. Shi Wenzhe was like a withered flower bud that had been parched for a long time and was watered by a heavy rain. She felt comfortable all over. Her fatigue disappeared and even her slightly aching body felt lighter. She was now a small white flower that was swaying and full, blooming brightly under the sky.

Qin Wenxue's palms were cold, but the spiritual energy was so warm, it warmed her heart directly, soothing her body until she felt weak and unsteady, and unconsciously gave Qin Wenxue a sweet smile.

Qin Wenxue lowered her hand without saying anything, only gently rubbing her fingertips together.

Ming Shu poked his head out and said, "You should have said you weren't feeling well earlier. Are you tired?"

"No," Shi Wenzhe said. "I'm not that weak either."

"Okay, but we have indeed walked for a long time. Let's find a sheltered place to rest later."

Shi Wenzhe nodded silently, somewhat embarrassed.

An indescribable fishy smell wafted through the air. Shi Wenzhe sniffed it, and then Ming Shu pointed ahead and said, "Look."