Chapter 178 Blood Road Her blood road, she created the blood road.

At the martial arts tournament.

The two faced each other, one with a calm expression, the other with clenched teeth. The venue was semi-open-air, and the sunlight shone down, perfectly illuminating the two cold glints of light that clashed in mid-air.

The swords, manipulated by spiritual energy, clashed, producing a resounding clang.

One of them lost his composure first, sheathed his sword, turned it around, and charged forward, slashing at the young man in white.

The opponent formed a hand seal, and the flying sword instantly appeared before her. The sword, which had been aimed at her, trembled slightly and retreated a few steps before returning to its owner's hand. The probing was over, and the two officially began their duel.

After an incense stick had burned, the outcome was decided.

The defeated student sheathed his sword and said angrily, "You're not human!"

Si Liuhua raised the corners of her lips, "You're the fifth person to say that."

At first, she was worried that the other party would discover her identity, but later she realized that it was probably a compliment.

Humans always speak in interesting ways, and they have a more specific classification of cultivation. While their people still refer to the forms of spiritual energy as "condensed energy" and "transformed into liquid," they have already come up with more elegant terms.

The first step is to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and gather it in the dantian, which is called Qi Refining; the second step is to transform Qi into liquid and flow into the meridians, generating life endlessly, which is called Foundation Building.

Further up, the liquid condenses and gathers, forming a pill-like shape, from nothing to something, which is the Golden Elixir.

The spiritual energy here was abundant, and soon after she arrived, she broke through to the peak of the Golden Core Realm, which they had mentioned, and was just one step away from the Nascent Soul Realm. After breaking through, it just so happened that the human sects were holding a martial arts competition to recruit talents, and Si Liuhua was very curious about it, so she signed up to participate.

As she expected, human civilization developed rapidly. Whether they were ordinary people without spiritual power or the cultivators gathered together, they built a magnificent civilization that was unimaginable to them in the desolate ancient lands. Although their tribes retained the oldest parts, they lacked the opportunity to advance.

Now she will take this opportunity back with her, and from now on, her people will undoubtedly have a better future.

The techniques were no longer limited to weapon combat, but extended to the sea of ​​consciousness and even the skill of controlling spiritual power. Humans learned to infuse spiritual power into their weapons, using them as tools to traverse mountains and rivers, a skill known as weapon control. In battle, they could also probe with their swords without actually drawing their weapons.

Moreover, the human realm is extremely vast.

In the desolate ancient ruins, due to the dangers of the outside world, even the journey she took to leave was filled with trepidation, so there was naturally little space for her people to move around. But the footprints of the human race are everywhere, and even in the most desolate mountains, there may be people in seclusion, or villages that have taken root and offer help to travelers.

Winter is the time when they can only eat bitter and dry rations, but humans still have a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, and even deliberately melt ice with water, break it up, and pour fruit juice on it as a dish.

This place is very prosperous.

Everything was like a painting to her, breathtakingly beautiful, and it might take several years, even more than a decade, to fully understand even a small part of it.

But correspondingly, it was also these people's ancestors who banished them.

Si Liuhua was well aware of this. Although she sometimes became immersed in it, she still couldn't truly consider herself one of the masses in this realm. These people called her homeland the Chaotic Rift rather than the Ancient Wasteland, which wasn't exactly a flattering name.

They could have been living in the same prosperity.

She also witnessed humans hunting monsters, regardless of whether they were intelligent or not, they would not hesitate to attack as long as it was beneficial to them.

The martial arts competition was quite exciting and lasted for nearly half a month. No one expected that the champion would be taken away by an unknown cultivator.

According to the rules, she gets to choose where she goes.

The elders of the immortal sects then personally stepped down and introduced themselves one by one. At this time, although these sects also had cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage, there were not many people. They had not even distinguished between inner and outer sects. The major sects had only a few dozen or a hundred people, while the smaller ones occupied a mountain and had only two or three disciples.

Some people don't have many spirit stones to spend. After finally finding a mountain, half of it is taken away by others. When someone wants to become a disciple, they are afraid of going the wrong way, resulting in a sword cultivator becoming a pill cultivator instead of a sword cultivator, or a pill cultivator being tricked into practicing swordsmanship on the mountain.

However, even after the introductions were finished, and the last elder of the minor sect was so hoarse from speaking, the leader showed little reaction.

"Well, young friend, do you have a preferred school of martial arts?" one of them asked with a smile, closing his fan. Si Liuhua pondered for a moment, her gaze slowly sweeping over the others, meeting their eyes one by one before gently looking away. At the Nascent Soul stage, even a single glance could exert a kind of pressure, but she was not affected by it much.

Then, Si Liuhua cupped his hands and said:

"I am simply dull-witted and have no affinity with you venerable immortals."

After saying that, she showed a regretful expression.

Finding a master to follow is, in fact, a constraint for her. For a young girl growing up in a small tribe, a master is not someone who imparts knowledge and answers questions, but rather a family member, just as they call her both teacher and "master's wife." Si Liuhua doesn't think she's that close to the human race—they still have a long way to go, and although they hope to know and love each other, it's not now.

Even so, her refusal was still surprising. After all, this was an opportunity that many independent cultivators dreamed of.

Many people wondered if they hadn't reached her level yet, since Si Liuhua had effortlessly defeated the second-place winner, and she shouldn't have been here at all; she was even more outrageous than the reclusive masters in the stories.

Such a person is like a gust of wind, an eagle, unafraid to fly, born to soar into the sky.

In the later rounds of the competition, outstanding disciples from each sect personally oversaw the selection, eliminating a large number of cultivators. These rounds suited Si Liuhua perfectly; she benefited greatly from their techniques and felt there was nothing more to learn.

Because fighting them is enough to figure out the entire style's structure; the rest is just a matter of practicing slowly.

It's just tracing back to the source.

She's very good at it and doesn't need anyone to teach her.

A blatant refusal is obviously inappropriate and makes it difficult to extricate oneself. Several hot-tempered individuals were about to accuse him of being ungrateful when, seemingly out of nowhere, a sword appeared, sweeping away all the pressure from Si Liuhua.

"Since that's the case, then you can leave!"

It was the same person who had asked her the question earlier. A token was then tossed to her, which Si Liuhua caught. She saw that it was engraved with strange patterns, seemingly intertwined with the five elements.

"This is a pass token; you can pass through without any obstacles if you take it."

With it, other immortals would have no way to make things difficult for her.

Si Liuhua pursed her lips, thinking to herself that this person must have profound cultivation to be able to defy public opinion. Without much hesitation, she stepped onto her flying sword and gracefully flew away like a startled swan.

Only one sentence remained, gently carried by the wind to that person's ears.

Thank you.

Their next meeting was not long ago.

A month later, in a restaurant, Si Liuhua sat alone in a corner. The spot was right by the window, and the moon shone brightly in the sky, its light reflected in the bowl, shimmering and releasing a refreshing, dreamlike aroma.

In her heart, there was also a bright moon.

—Has she already been born?

If it could be a little later, it would be better if I could go back myself.

Si Liuhua sincerely believed that she was the first person the child saw, even if it might cause initial confusion. After all, she was this child's closest relative, both as an older sister and a mother...

The high priest said that out of instinct, they eat the eggshells to replenish their nutrients when they are born. It sounded very cute, and she wanted to see Changxi do the same.

A tender longing rises quietly, seeping into the coolness of the moonlight.

I want to go back to my tribe.

I want to see her.

She had considered going back many times.

Even in her dreams, she saw sunlit settlements, the leaves rustling softly in clusters, and she slept on Jiuyin's body, the snake scales cool and supple, absorbing the heat. Sometimes she would fall asleep while reading, and sometimes Jiuyin would wake her by shaking his body when he heard his aunt calling her; other times she would oversleep with Jiuyin, return hungry, and find the food on the table still warm, and someone would light a lamp for her, illuminating the whole room.

The aroma of herbs is especially strong in early spring. At this time, people drink herbal infusions, grind various medicinal herbs into fine powder, or sun-dry many things—bedding, straw mats…—among the fine grass leaves.

But she would always wake up, and upon waking, she would know where she was. The climate of the human realm was initially quite difficult to adapt to; in the coldest times, her breath would freeze into ice, and in the hottest times, she would be drenched in sweat. There were four seasons in a year, which were complex and ever-changing.

She couldn't go back yet. The high priest had also taught her that, as the protector of the tribe, she should face hardship with courage and bring light to the entire tribe.

Her people need her.

Si Liuhua didn't find this responsibility too heavy, or rather, everything in the world is relative. Whenever she felt a little tired, the familiar faces of her people would appear before her eyes, and she would feel lighter again. Occasionally, she would wonder what Changxi, who was born from the egg, would look like in the future.

Perhaps they will have similar eyes, perhaps their faces are different, but they share the same habits... or perhaps Chang Xi and she are completely different people, and that would be fine too. She should have her own life.

Over the years, Si Liuhua has collected many human items. Once she has enough spirit stones, she plans to commission someone to forge a magical artifact for her to store foods like ice cream and shaved ice.

This robe is for the clan leader, and that dragon bone is for Lord Jiuyin...

As she thought about it, the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up.

Suddenly, darkness fell in front of her as someone sat down opposite her. The moonlight flowing in the cup dimmed at first, then trembled and seemed about to shatter from the movement of the person sitting down.

A beam of light illuminated the other person's face. Si Liuhua raised her eyebrows, and the bitter smell of medicine wafted towards her.

She couldn't help but chuckle, and lowered her voice:

“It’s you.”

The man unceremoniously took the wine and poured himself a full glass.

"I'm helping you out, so it's not too much to ask you to buy me a drink, is it?"

Si Liuhua smiled faintly and lowered her eyes, only gently reminding, "The injured should not drink alcohol."

"A minor injury." After finishing a cup, the man smacked his lips. "Good wine. By the way, why didn't you choose an elder to become your disciple back then? They were all pillars of society."

Seeing that she was indeed injured, Si Liuhua's heart stirred slightly. Perhaps out of sympathy, she revealed her thoughts while concealing some of them.

Upon hearing this, the young man chuckled, which aggravated his wound. His lips stiffened, but he managed to suppress a grimacing expression.

"Isn't that just looking down on someone?"

"...Perhaps so."

“Drinking alcohol like tea, sipping it little by little, what’s the point?” The young man raised an eyebrow, observing her refined manners. “I think we’re quite destined to meet…”

"What makes you say that?" Si Liuhua stopped pouring wine, only watching the lamplight and moonlight mingle in her cup. By this time, some people had left the restaurant, and the luxurious atmosphere of the banquet had dissipated, leaving only the clinking of cups. The sound of waiters stepping on the wooden stairs could be heard constantly, followed by shouts of "more wine, more tea!"

"The Four Spirits Sect, Jiang Wangshu."

"Never heard of it."

Jiang Wangshu's originally bright eyes narrowed at those words, and she raised an eyebrow: "I am a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator!"

Si Liuhua said calmly, "No wonder you were beaten up like this. Although I appreciate you coming to my rescue, please refrain from doing anything that is beyond your capabilities in the future."

Those were a group of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators; I don't know how this person dared to stop them for her.

...First of all, it's clearly you who's overestimating yourself.

Jiang Wangshu inwardly scoffed, too lazy to argue with her, and continued, "Since you're so grateful, then how about..."

A familiar token was pushed in front of her—the very one she had given to Si Liuhua a month ago.

“You’ve hidden spiritual power on it,” Si Liuhua said, his smile still on his face, but his voice turned cold.

"To track me down, is that it?"

Despite being only at the Golden Core stage, those suddenly cold eyes made Jiang Wangshu feel inexplicably frightened.

She took a deep breath, snatched the token, stood up abruptly, and slammed her hand on the table.

Luckily, they were in a corner, so others just assumed they were drunk and acting crazy, and didn't pay much attention. Jiang Wangshu extended her hand to Si Liuhua and said earnestly, "Join my sect."

Si Liuhua was about to refuse, but before she could speak, the other party preemptively said, "Instead of being a disciple, you will serve as an elder and co-build the sect with me."

At that time, the Four Spirits Sect was indeed an obscure little sect, with only a total of—

“I have taken on two disciples. My senior sister has taken on one, and my junior sister hasn’t graduated yet. The two of us are taking care of her… Master? Master has gone on a journey. I am the sect leader now.”

...Seven people. Strictly speaking, six people.

“There are four more constellations in the sky. My sect has three elders, including my junior sister. You can be the fourth one, how about it?” Jiang Wangshu blinked.

Si Liuhua began, "I..."

“I understand, I understand,” Jiang Wangshu clapped her hands. “With the four spirits as names, the four elders naturally correspond to one another. You must favor the Taiyin Lord, right? Who wouldn’t love her? You can have her! From now on, the mountain you govern will be called Taiyin Peak!”

She hasn't said anything yet...

However, by a twist of fate, she was indeed considered a descendant of the Taiyin Lord. Of the only two tribes in the chaotic rift, one belonged to the Taiyin Lord and the other to the Lingguang Lord. They were said to be the two highest gods closest to humanity, and thus wished to bestow their blessings.

Being an elder seems more relaxed than being someone's disciple; as long as she doesn't want to, no one will force her to become their disciple.

It seems Jiang Wangshu doesn't intend for her to become the disciple of that wandering immortal. She doesn't trust humans for the time being, and this method of maintaining distance to slowly approach them is quite convenient.

"Although we lack the grandeur of those major sects, we are full of possibilities, like a sapling in a forest. It may grow into a towering tree, or it may bear abundant fruit, or it may bloom with flowers. If you have any ideals, you can take this as your foundation. We can build a new place together, different from other sects."

Jiang Wangshu was still trying her best to speak.

"But what if what I hope for is coexistence between different races and lasting peace?"

This ideal is difficult to achieve.

Upon hearing her question, Jiang Wangshu visibly hesitated for a moment.

Human warfare continues unabated, and ancient times were no exception. Throughout history, even within the human race itself, there have been numerous instances of mutual exclusion; how much more so between the three major races.

It was as if a daydreamer was inviting her into a dream together, to spend countless years in this dream, just to grasp at a sliver of hope.

Seeing her hesitation, Si Liuhua calmly added fuel to the fire: "I want you to make a heavenly oath with me." After saying that, she smiled slightly, picked up the wine cup, and raised it in the air.

"How is it, Sect Leader Jiang?"

For a moment, the only sounds around were the chatter of other people talking and the footsteps of the waiters walking back and forth.

Jiang Wangshu had actually cultivated to the Nascent Soul realm for quite some time; in terms of age, she was many times older than the person before her. Having seen too much, even if one could still laugh and joke, one would no longer be so emotionally invested.

Yet Si Liuhua so easily proposed a vision that she herself dared not even think of, and even if she was dismissive of it because of her lack of worldly experience, her courage was still commendable.

Ancient records state that the former Taiyin Jun also attempted to break down the barriers between different ethnic groups.

In an instant, Jiang Wangshu felt a long-lost uproar, even more so than the clamor of the crowd around her.

The soft clinking of glasses broke the silence between the two.

"I, Jiang Wangshu, hereby swear, with Heaven as witness, that all the wishes of my fellow Daoists will be granted."

She made this absurd vow, unaware that she would be trapped in it for the rest of her life.

Si Liuhua nodded and drank the wine in his cup.

"Let's call it Guyu Peak, because rain nourishes all grains, bringing prosperity and growth."

Taiyin Peak is too straightforward and easily becomes a laughing stock.

The custom of naming mountains after the twenty-four solar terms originated from this, and thereafter, most of the mountains within the sect were named after one of them.

Si Liuhua continued her travels as usual. She merely held a nominal position, never truly expecting to become a powerful figure, and naturally, she paid no attention to the disciples within the sect.

Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

In early winter, a letter from Jiang Wangshu finally summoned her. As expected, Si Liuhua was not surprised when she arrived at the sect. After learning where she lived, she stayed indoors without asking why Jiang Wangshu had summoned her.

Once the door was closed, it remained unopened for another month. Jiang Wangshu finally couldn't sit still any longer and took the initiative to visit her. The door opened by itself, and as soon as she stepped inside, she was astonished by the bamboo slips piled up throughout the room.

What are you doing?

Si Liuhua paused as she wrote, the ink immediately spreading. She picked up a piece of metal and scraped away the badly written part.

"Write down the exercise instructions." She casually put the pen aside. "The student will need them."

Jiang Wangshu glanced around, and the bamboo slips floated up on their own, sliding one by one through her hands. After looking at them for a while, she asked, "Did you write all of these?"

Si Liuhua nodded.

"So many, where did you copy them from? Some of them look quite familiar."

“By memorizing the basics from our previous encounters in the martial arts tournament, we can deduce the sequence of events.”

The bamboo slips all fell to the ground with a thud. Si Liuhua tapped her fingertip, and her spiritual power lifted them back to their original positions, leaving only Jiang Wangshu staring at her in horror.

Then, this person's expression changed even faster than flipping a flower. He grabbed Si Liuhua and said with tears of gratitude, "Genius, our sect is so fortunate to have you!"

Si Liuhua raised her hand and pushed her away, "Some parts need to be supplemented. I will ask about it again later."

"Why ask? You can just go and learn from them." Jiang Wangshu said seriously, "I have a few concealment talismans here, I'll give them all to you later."

Unexpectedly, Si Liuhua readily agreed: "Okay, thank you." She also knew that many human forces would not easily hand over their cultivation techniques to others, so stealing was actually easier than asking.

Jiang Wangshu looked left and right, feeling that if things continued this way, she would probably be able to write enough techniques to fill an entire pavilion. Thinking this, she couldn't help but ask Si Liuhua:

"You've been writing this for a month, don't you get bored?"

"fine."

Si Liuhua was speaking from the heart.

While in the tribe, she often accompanied the high priest in copying books. She had been practicing writing since childhood and had also diligently studied the common language of the human race for a long time before coming here, so she was already accustomed to it. Moreover, almost every high priest had a history book spanning hundreds of years to write, and the techniques she was currently using were not even half the size of the former.

Jiang Wangshu sighed, "I've decided. From now on, I won't call you Fellow Daoist, nor Elder. You single-handedly copied the entire sect's cultivation technique pavilion, so I'll bestow upon you the honorable title of 'Lord of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion.' What do you say, Lord of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion?"

"Not very good."

"But you've never really been involved in anything, so I thought you wouldn't even come..."

"You swore an oath to me, so naturally I must do something for you. Besides, only when you are strong will your voice be heard by others."

Just as Jiang Wangshu believed her and swore an oath, Si Liuhua also knew that she would not reveal that she had written these techniques.

The words faded away amidst the rustling of writing. Si Liuhua remembered that in the ensuing silence, Jiang Wangshu stayed with her until evening. Then, without a word, she pulled her outside, saying there were good things outside.

Thus, Si Liuhua witnessed the first snowfall of her life.

Unlike the raging snowstorms at the edge of the Seven Realms, and unlike the silvery-white sky she saw after emerging from seclusion, she could finally see how the snow fell. The delicate snowflakes danced and melted, so fragile, yet capable of covering the entire sky.

A thin, mottled layer of white gradually thickens, and the chill solidifies.

Jiang Wangshu was slightly surprised to see her staring intently at the snow – even a scholar who loves to appreciate flowers and write poems about the moon would not be so captivated by a light snowfall.

She asked, "Where are you from? Are there places in the world where it doesn't snow?"

Si Liuhua gazed silently ahead, the snow falling like pure white petals. After a long while, she whispered:

"A very far place."

This was also the first time Jiang Wangshu learned anything about Si Liuhua from her. At this moment, she was surprised to find that she knew nothing about Si Liuhua at all—as if an invisible membrane separated them. Because of this, she had forever lost the way to understand her.

Later, she may have heard about this "hometown" from Si Liuhua many times, but she never knew where it was or why she could not go back.

In recent years, chaos has arisen, leading the Four Spirits Sect to relocate and eventually settle in the Sixth Domain on the periphery.

The students managed to gather a dozen or so people, which made things a bit more lively.

Although Jiang Wangshu was the kind of person who would scream "Damn it!" if she were to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm in two years, she truly kept her word. The entire sect, except for the young disciples who were too young to protect themselves and remained in peaceful places, all went into the mortal realm under Jiang Wangshu's arrangement, traveling far and wide, all in an effort to end this chaotic situation.

Upon reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, cultivators can also shoulder heavy responsibilities. Therefore, Si Liuhua took the initiative to do the most dangerous thing, single-handedly holding off thousands of troops to protect the capital city.

Her name became increasingly well-known among the monks, and she was the subject of much discussion.

Busy days passed by one by one.

One day, in a desolate forest.

"Sigh... My bones are almost broken from exhaustion. This old man has really suffered a lot."

That's an exaggeration.

Frost still clung to the trees, and a desolate chill permeated the air. Two figures walked one after the other on the road, both clad in heavy feather cloaks.

The sound of breathing continued, and Si Liuhua said calmly, "It seems your cultivation has regressed; you can't even keep warm anymore. Old man, why are you torturing yourself like this?"

Jiang Wangshu said irritably, "Do you think everyone's cultivation level increases just by eating and drinking like you? I know you're about to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm, but I'm really sorry I'm still stuck in the mid-Nascent Soul stage. I'm embarrassing you, Master of the Cultivation Techniques Pavilion—"

"It would be better to cultivate more diligently."

She wasn't cold, but she was used to warming her hands this way, as if something was missing if she didn't—missing the familiar scent that melted into each falling snow without her even realizing it. When she was young and hadn't yet cultivated, she would always breathe on her hands like this when she was cold. If her mother heard the sound, she would put her hands in her pockets and hold them tightly. Later, her senior sister would do the same. Then, her junior sister joined the sect. She was very intelligent and her cultivation had improved before winter even arrived. In addition, she had a fire spiritual root, so she didn't need Jiang Wangshu to warm her hands.

Thinking of this, Jiang Wangshu suddenly asked, "Has it never snowed in your hometown?"

Si Liuhua said, "Rarely seen." Actually, she had never seen it before, but it was quite unusual, so she naturally couldn't say so.

Jiang Wangshu understood what she meant and immediately moved closer, trying to take her hand and put it into her pocket. Thinking that she had something to give her, Si Liuhua did not resist. Only after one of her hands was placed in Jiang Wangshu's pocket did she look up in confusion.

"what you do?"

Jiang Wangshu smiled and said, "Of course I'm warming your hands. After all, I'm an elder. This is our custom here. You must be from the far south, where it's hot. You probably don't have this custom there, right?"

Si Liuhua thought for a moment and finally found a word to describe her: "Sect Leader Jiang is truly still a child at heart."

They continued walking, exchanging words intermittently.

"Have you heard? A scroll has been discovered with strange writing. Some people think it's very valuable and have hired many people to decipher it."

"Was the deciphering successful?" Si Liuhua asked.

Jiang Wangshu shook his head, "It's difficult, but a Buddhist master seems to know a little about it and plans to go and translate it."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a rustling sound came from a corner of the woods. Jiang Wangshu's heart tightened; she wondered if they had really run into trouble just by going for a walk.

Then she saw Si Liuhua walk quickly forward. Before she could even remind her to "be careful," Si Liuhua bent down and pulled something out of the bushes.

Upon closer inspection, they were a litter of kittens huddled together, two of them with bright red, vertical tufts of fur on their foreheads. Si Liuhua understood immediately, and gently touched them, feeling the slightly raised texture.

It's a monster.

Monsters are either born of mothers or raised by nature. If they are lucky, they will gradually gain intelligence as they live longer, and once they are fully intelligent, they become spirit beasts. The gain of intelligence does not depend on cultivation level; like a person attaining enlightenment, it is a matter of chance, sudden enlightenment, and a matter of a moment.

A sharp pain in her fingertip brought Si Liuhua back to her senses, and she realized that a small animal had bitten her finger. They were very wary; they had left many scratches on her robes in the short time they had been lying in her arms. Perhaps emboldened, they immediately began to attack her in anger.

It was very energetic, and had a faint, other scent about it, plus its fur was messy...

The sound of a sword being drawn reached my ears.

Si Liuhua's heart tightened, and she raised her hand to block the sword that Jiang Wangshu was about to wield. "No..."

They were small, and there wasn't much to take. She had intended to say that, but Jiang Wangshu was clearly not that kind of person—she wasn't drawing her sword with the intention of plundering.

“It would be best to kill it,” Jiang Wangshu said. “You can see that the big cat is not coming back.”

They were either hunted down or imprisoned. Monsters are more intelligent than ordinary beasts and know their responsibilities. If they cannot reproduce, they will not give birth to cubs. Therefore, if they are still alive, they will definitely fight their way back.

She continued, "If we leave it here, it's more likely to be taken away by someone else before other monsters find it or before Mother returns, or it might freeze to death. You know how people treat monsters now, not everyone is like us... In the end, it's possible that they'll suffer a fate worse than death."

The Four Spirits Sect treats demons and spirits more kindly than other sects, carefully selecting their targets even when they need materials. As a result, the sect's development has not been as rapid as others.

Si Liuhua withdrew her bleeding fingertip, looked down at the small animals, and asked in a low voice, "Can't we keep them?"

The snow, which had stopped falling, began to fall again, and a chill quietly enveloped the fields. As darkness descended, the silence seemed particularly abrupt. Gazing into the other's hesitant eyes, Jiang Wangshu spoke softly after a long while:

"They may not necessarily want to live in human territory. Unlike spirit beasts, demon beasts may not be able to get them to like their surroundings no matter how hard you try, let alone help them develop intelligence. Besides, demon beasts are naturally sensitive to smells. If you keep them for a while and then release them back, they may not be able to integrate into their own kind."

"Everything should be done in accordance with nature."

She sheathed her sword, then squatted down, reached out and stroked one of the less fierce-looking ones, pinching its tail fur.

"It can't grow according to your wishes. What if it doesn't adapt to living with people? What if it has its own path to follow and actually prefers the forest? How can you fill a flowing life into a fixed pool and make it conform to your wishes from then on and never change?"

Si Liuhua fell silent.

For the first time, she cautiously and pleaded with Jiang Wangshu, asking, "Then we..."

Jiang Wangshu looked up at her and sighed, "Let's go. We'll find them a secluded place, at least to ensure they don't freeze to death. Whether they survive the winter is up to fate."

Finally, they found a cave nearby. It was warm enough to house the cubs, and they left some trails so that the mother wouldn't get lost if she returned.

On the way back, Si Liuhua suddenly spoke up: "Jiang Wangshu."

"Um?"

She looked away, her tone still indifferent, "I'm starting to dislike you."

Jiang Wangshu was taken aback, then laughed and said, "That's a misunderstanding. But, are we friends now? The Master of the Cultivation Techniques Pavilion is finally willing to let me get to know you?"

Si Liuhua ignored her and after a while said, "Let's go to the night market. There's a vendor selling really good lychee ice wine. I'll buy it."

"You actually remember that I like this."

Their relationship did indeed break through the ice and become closer. After the war subsided, Si Liuhua returned to his sect to organize his cultivation techniques. During this time, his cultivation level improved from the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm to its peak, almost breaking through to the next realm.

The partially deciphered document revealed a connection to a tribe residing deep in the snowy mountains. The fact that people still existed in that frigid place caused a sensation, and those with ambition began recruiting, forming several teams to explore the "land of blessing" described in the document. Initially, the blessing was for immortality, but it gradually spread to the belief that divine power had been scattered among the tribespeople. Successfully obtaining it would not only allow them to break through lifespan limitations but also to achieve enlightenment and ascend to immortality earlier.

During this time, Si Liuhua was in seclusion. Occasionally, she would briefly stop her cultivation to get a good night's sleep. During this time, she had a dream in which the Garan people were finally able to come to this land and return to the human race.

She saw Jiuyin leading her spirit beasts, galloping majestically across mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas; the clan leader diligently learning etiquette from others; and children entering spacious and brightly lit schools. This was her wish—she had no intention of instigating more wars. In the flames of war, cultivators could still protect themselves, but ordinary people could only pray to heaven.

The people of the tribe are also very friendly and would certainly not want to fight each other.

home......

He has now reached the Nascent Soul stage and is on the verge of breaking through; he has learned a great deal and copied many different cultivation techniques; he has also collected a large number of human artifacts, including books and tools.

She decided to return to her hometown.

During her seclusion, Jiang Wangshu left a letter saying that she also planned to visit the people blessed on the snow-capped mountains and told them about the tense situation that had been brewing lately. Some wanted to wage war, while others wanted to communicate; weariness of war and greed for plunder were locked in a stalemate within the group setting off for the snowy region.

Si Liuhua felt somewhat uneasy. After putting the letter away, she mounted her sword and sped forward. Having reached the Nascent Soul Realm, most parts of the Chaos Rift were no longer dangerous for her, so the return journey wasn't long.

As she drew closer to her hometown, her longing grew ever stronger. The swirling fog felt so welcoming, and the scenery along the way, though often mysterious and eerie, no longer inspired fear.

Her people were waiting for her.

I miss the slightly bitter yet mellow taste of the medicinal wine, the sweetness of the green rice dumplings filled with red bean paste, the cheerful voice of Azhi when she wrote prescriptions, and the laughter of the aunties while they did laundry... The clan leader must be someone who can stand on his own now, supporting the safety of the entire clan, and perhaps even more weathered than she is.

Those familiar flavors surged up once again along with the vivid faces of the people in her memories, lingering on her tongue in waves. Her blood boiled, and she felt with unmistakable longing to return home.

Has Changxi, the person she missed most, been born yet? Those translucent eggshells—did the clan leader remember her request and secretly keep a piece for her as a keepsake? Perhaps, her first set of baby teeth has already fallen out…

The unease was briefly forgotten.

The tribe's outline gradually emerged from the mist, billowing thick smoke. With the keen senses of a demon beast, she immediately detected the intense stench of blood, her face turning deathly pale as she frantically rushed forward.

The greed of humans far exceeded her imagination.

How did you end up here?

Perhaps it's just a powerful demon causing trouble...

Blood stained the soil, and only the desolation of death permeated the surroundings. A group of cultivators gathered among the ruins, their weapons dripping crimson blood.

Not a great demon...

They are human.

Two at the Nascent Soul stage, five at the Spirit Transformation stage, and several dozen at the Golden Core stage and below.

Outnumbered, even in this predicament, Si Liuhua calmly chose to first identify the weaknesses of her opponents, find a way to break the deadlock, and defeat them one by one.

The dazzling sword light made my eyes sting.

She couldn't tell if it was her own blood or the enemy's, but it splattered on her face, burning hot. Si Liuhua paused slightly, immediately overwhelmed by a wave of dizziness. The difference in strength between her and these people was too great; even at her speed, like a gust of wind, she couldn't kill them all. Heavy breathing rose and fell; she and the cultivators were utterly exhausted.

Those at the Nascent Soul stage have all died by her sword.

For some reason, many people in the group were in extremely poor condition, and others were also injured. As a result, she also managed to kill one of the two Nascent Soul cultivators by trickery.

Correspondingly, Si Liuhua was also severely injured. Excruciating pain coursed through her body; not a single part was unscathed. A surge of spiritual energy emanated from the opposite side, but the pain was so intense that she couldn't lift her hand or grip her sword properly.

At this moment, however, she felt a great sense of relief. She lost her composure, and her anger began to overflow.

No, it's not anger, it's more than just anger.

It is hatred.

The hatred was so intense that her perfectly intact heart felt as if it were being ripped open; the hatred was so intense that even with her last breath, she tried to tear open the throat of the human opposite her, like a ferocious beast. All the wounds on her body paled in comparison to the agony of hatred gripping her heart at that moment.

She felt a throbbing sensation in her forehead, and her eyes felt as if they were burning with thick flames, accompanied by a sharp pain.

Blood flowed into her eyes.

At that moment, a dark shadow flashed before their eyes and suddenly rushed towards the remaining Nascent Soul cultivator. It grabbed him and firmly imprisoned him.

The surrounding cultivators, upon recognizing it as a giant serpent, immediately showed expressions of fear. Many of its scales had burst open, revealing numerous wounds from which flowed fragrant, golden blood.

A familiar voice came from the giant snake's mouth:

"Get out of here! Go now!"

The tears that had been held back finally flowed. Si Liuhua opened her mouth, only to find that she couldn't say anything—there was no room left for her to say anything more.

Lord Jiuyin...

It will die here. Its cultivation level is the same as mine, only at the Nascent Soul stage. How can it possibly defeat that person? It's destined to die…

But Si Liuhua did not hesitate in the end and turned around resolutely, though her fingertips had already dug into the flesh of her palm.

She suddenly remembered something, and before those Golden Core cultivators could catch up, she used her own cultivation as a catalyst to ignite a torrent of essence blood and rush off in one direction.

Holy land.

...It must be there!

It has to be there.

She gasped for breath as she walked through the withered, dense forest, clearly sensing something growing from hatred.

Soft, warm, and faint.

Like a distant call, it drew her in, dispelling her dizziness and allowing her to rush towards the sacred place without stopping, traversing the jade steps and parting the dense curtain of grass—

The pure white egg lay quietly in its nest woven from grass, the soft cloth beneath it still gently enveloping it. Everything outside—the flames, the chaos—seemed irrelevant to the scene before her, as if she had returned to where she was before she left, looking down at the egg with tender affection.

She pursed her lips, took the egg out of it, and stored it in her mustard seed space.

The auras of those cultivators vanished. Realizing this, Si Liuhua hesitated for a moment, but still chose to turn back. Perhaps Jiuyin had won, or perhaps it was injured; she had to go and save it…

Returning along the road, corpses littered the fields. The cool morning light fell, illuminating familiar faces.

Her steps were heavy, and wherever she went, branches sprouted from the soil, entwining with the surrounding branches to cover the dead members of her tribe and let them slowly sink into the earth.

They should actually conserve their spiritual energy, but if she doesn't do this, how can they rest in peace?

At a certain point, Si Liuhua stopped in her tracks.

The young man's face came into view; his eyes were closed, and if it weren't for the bloodstains seeping from his chest, she would almost have thought he was just asleep. Si Liuhua knelt down, smoothed her furrowed brows, straightened her clothes, and cleaned away the bloodstains.

She said softly, "I'm late... Chieftain."

They grew up together.

There was also Azhi, whose memory was even better than hers; when she was little, she taught her to memorize the rhymes for medicine prescriptions; Aunt Qing taught her to wash and dry clothes, brew wine, and chop firewood; the elders often sternly told her to obey the high priest, but they would also leave a lamp for her and apply medicine to the sores on her hands...

She will never see them again.

Because I saw their faces disappear beneath the leaves and soil with my own eyes.

The blood had all drained away, spilling onto the ground.

Suddenly, she felt a subtle, foreign sensation coming from the other person's arms. Only then did she notice that the clan leader was tightly clutching something, tucked inside his outer garment. Si Liuhua reached out and carefully took it out.

The bronze color was stained with blood.

It's an astrological chart.

The runes on it were still shimmering and shifting. Remembering its purpose, Si Liuhua uncertainly channeled her spiritual power into it—

A familiar aura surged within the star chart, gently caressing her sea of ​​consciousness, like a large and warm hand.

The souls of the clansmen... are all inside.

It seems that once they die, they are collected into the celestial chart. They believed in Si Liuhua until their deaths, hoping that she could take their souls to the side of the Moon God.

Si Liuhua put away the star chart and slowly scanned the area of ​​the tribe's territory with her spiritual power, but she did not find another star chart. She lowered her eyes, her brows furrowed with a chilling coldness.

It was taken by human cultivators.

There wasn't much time to dwell on her grief. She went to the place where the battle had taken place and immediately spotted the corpse of the Nascent Soul cultivator.

It looked terrible. Judging from the mixed spiritual energy fluctuations, he was severely injured and eventually died due to the loss of spiritual energy.

Si Liuhua's heart sank as she realized the source of this severe injury. Her years of experience as a healer told her that it was caused by the power of another person's spontaneously combusting soul.

By sacrificing one's soul, one can temporarily gain greater power, which can be unleashed in a self-destructive manner to obtain the possibility of exchanging one's life for another.

The price was that his soul completely vanished, never to exist again.

Master Jiuyin is also dead.

When she came to her senses, she was already kneeling on the dirty mud, staring blankly at the corpse in front of her for a long time. The pervasive stench of blood around her had robbed her of her words, and she couldn't utter a single sentence.

A rustling sound came from behind him, and the young man slowly closed his eyes.

Perhaps he was a monk who had been given a second chance at life.

Reason told her she should resist, but her body instinctively resisted. She thought absurdly and desperately that maybe dying here and being buried here with her people wouldn't matter.

But what came next was something soft and cold, which wrapped around her wrist and gently climbed up to her knee.

Si Liuhua opened her eyes, and a small, jet-black snake was lying on her knees. It had only one vertical eye on its forehead, which emitted a faint golden light, and it looked at her softly and docilely.

Hope ignited in an instant, only to be extinguished in the blink of an eye.

This is not Master Jiuyin.

The soul of Jiuyin has dissipated; all that remains is a body that miraculously survived…

Perhaps they aren't zombies, but rather, having lost thousands of years of cultivation, they've regressed to their childhood form. They can still cultivate new consciousness in the future, then gain intelligence and transform into human form…

But he will no longer be the Lord Jiuyin she remembers.

Of all those people, only she remembered. And so did everything about her clan.

Even so, it still instinctively acted as a barrier separating Si Liuhua from the River Styx when she suddenly contemplated suicide.

It resembled a pure white spider silk.

She gently touched the scales with her fingertips, and the little snake affectionately burrowed into her hand, licking her palm. Si Liuhua carefully tucked it into her sleeve, and the little snake obediently coiled around her arm.

This cannot end yet; she has not fulfilled her duty...

It's time to go.

Some have already escaped, but they will likely be pursued in a few days.

But where could she go? She couldn't go back to the human realm; as for the other tribes, they were also struggling to survive, and shouldn't have shifted the blame eastward.

She will never go back, not even if the Four Spirits Sect still exists...

Only then did Si Liuhua finally remember—

I didn't see Jiang Wangshu.

But didn't she say she joined too?

However, those cultivators were all injured, perhaps due to difficulties encountered on the way. Under such circumstances, some would choose to turn back, and Jiang Wangshu was probably among them. She wasn't too worried, after all, Jiang Wangshu was already at the Nascent Soul stage, and if she wanted to escape, no one could stop her.

Thinking of this, Si Liuhua felt a slight sense of comfort. Even at this point, even though she hated humans so much that she felt cold all over and was almost coughing up blood, she was still vaguely conflicted.

Because Jiang Wangshu isn't bad, nor are her senior and junior sisters, or her disciples. Not all human cultivators are scoundrels; there are also beings like them.

She wanted to write a letter to Jiang Wangshu, telling her that she wouldn't be going back; perhaps that would be the best thing to do.

Si Liuhua didn't want revenge, because that would definitely hurt her old friends.

All she wanted was to take Changxi and escape to a place far, far away where no human could find them again, to spend the rest of her life... After finishing this volume of history, she would head to the Upper Realm.

Despite the pain from her injuries and the depletion of her spiritual power, she was determined to ensure Changxi's safety... In this way, even if she were gone, the child could still fulfill the wishes of her people.

But in the chaotic rifts, no messenger exists. Even if she wrote the letter, it was destined never to reach Jiang Wangshu.

As the morning light gradually brightened, it illuminated her exceptionally frail figure amidst the deathly silence, as if gently draping a pale veil over her and the entire tribe.

Finally, Si Liuhua simply clutched the fabric on her knees and said softly and sorrowfully:

"sorry."

She no longer knew who she was talking to.

"I'm leaving...to a very far place."

The scattered spiritual energy evaporated along with the dew, becoming clouds, rain, and a world she could no longer touch but could no longer feel.

Her voice trembled slightly, and she was frequently unable to continue due to sobs, but she still managed to speak slowly and deliberately.

"I will never return, neither to the Human Realm nor to the Ancient Ruins. This is no longer my homeland..."

"I can never go back."

"Wang Shu, take good care of yourself."

Even though the person couldn't hear her, she still whispered those words as she bid her farewell. With that, Si Liuhua stood up and walked towards a direction etched in her memory.

She's going to the Demon Realm.

-

A tribe was discovered in the remote snow-capped mountains. Their appearance was different from that of ordinary people, and even the old and young were strong and powerful.

The cultivators' group was intercepted there, and those who insisted on intruding were all beheaded. The leader, with snow-white hair and purple eyes, was tall and imposing. He snapped the necks of dozens of people, his body stained with human blood.

They clearly possessed other magical techniques, yet they all chose to kill in such a cruel way, creating an extremely bloody scene that caused many cultivators to vomit on the spot.

Others who harbored plundering intentions, even those who tried to escape halfway, were dragged back and beheaded on the spot.

The remaining people stood not far away, watching the blood soaking the snow, their hearts clenching, and they understood the intention behind their actions.

This is deterrence.

They were telling humanity that even the slightest thought of attack would lead to this fate.

This scene was recorded in history books, and when later generations mentioned this ethnic group, they not only thought of the sacred Buddhist land, the awe-inspiring songs and pure chants amidst the wind and snow, but also—

fear.

Later, the two sides established a relatively harmonious relationship, and this sacred place in the snow-capped mountains was also known as "Galan".

But the team was not willing to stop there. Beyond the snow mountain, there was another place—a bottomless chasm between the human realm and the demon realm, shrouded in mist that no one had ever reached.

The document states that the "Galans" are scattered in various places and must still exist in unknown corners, bathed in the blessing of God's longevity, building a prosperous kingdom.

So the monks changed direction and headed toward the crevice.

Much later, Si Liuhua learned the whole story.

To reach the Demon Realm, one must first cross the Demon Realm, which lies in between. The Demon Realm is isolated from the outside world and has long been cut off from all contact, partly due to its geographical location. The demons themselves find it difficult to cross the Demon Realm, and humans also find it difficult to travel there.

The Demon Realm was far more dangerous than she had imagined. After a long journey, demonic energy invaded her body, injuring her left eye. Due to the loss of spiritual power, she could not receive treatment and went blind. The unhealed wound caused her pain from the sticky residue.

She seemed to have returned to the time before she began her spiritual practice. The Kalan people rarely fell ill; they were naturally strong, but even they were not immune to accidents. On one occasion, she caught a chill, and the burning fever combined with the icy chill hidden beneath the layers of heat made her feel weak as if countless wounds were being torn open in her body, and her life was slipping away from her.

The feeling back then was somehow similar to now. But the high priest would watch over her day and night, and the clan chief would secretly bring her medicine laced with sugar...

Now, only endless black mist and blood-red, strangely colored fine sand rise from the barren land, carrying a damp and cool aura.

The moonlight replaced the sun, shining on this place all day long.

After staggering a few steps forward, the young woman swayed and knelt down, no longer able to stop the surging mist from devouring her body and tearing open her bloody wounds. She bent down and instinctively clutched the mustard seed bag containing the egg in her hand, protecting it tightly to her heart.

At that moment, a figure appeared in front of her and reached out his hand to her.

Intense emotions, a pure soul.

There is nothing more attractive to the demon race than this.

Under the pale moonlight, the demon clad in black armor, his eyes gleaming with a cold, blood-red light, proposed a deal to Si Liuhua.

She said, "Give me your soul, and I will grant you the strength to leave this place safely. From then on, you will no longer be in such a helpless state."

Soul and spirit... Can the soul and spirit be separated?

Si Liuhua raised her head.

So, what is the cost?

—All your emotions and desires will cease to exist from this point on.

It's not that your memory is being erased; you will still remember everything that happened, it's just...

The woman tilted her head, thought for a moment, and continued, "You'll understand. So, what do you say?"

A scarred hand grasped her outstretched hand. Si Liuhua's voice was devoid of emotion; after a moment, she replied softly:

"good."

As the black mist dissipated, a dim blue light meandered through their clasped hands. A sharp pain suddenly shot through them, indescribable, as if more profound than any other pain—long, cold, and irreversible.

Si Liuhua closed her eyes and stopped looking. She clearly felt something was leaving her.

This is something very important, but she is destined to lose it at this moment.

As promised, the other party granted her the power to leave the Demon Realm safely, and all demonic energy, like spiritual energy, could be controlled by her.

Si Budu vanished in that instant, and Liu Hua died in a moment of agonizing stillness. From then on, she was Si Liu Hua, and only Si Liu Hua.

Ultimately, I've never truly belonged anywhere.

Her home, her refuge, was only that corner, a crevice abandoned by the gods, and now it is completely destroyed.

The demon race accepted them, and Si Liuhua stayed there to recuperate in seclusion. The egg was placed beside her; in the past, she would have had many things to say to it, but now she couldn't remember.

The letter was kept in a mustard seed bag, and Si Liuhua was unsure whether to give it to Chang Xi later.

Perhaps she shouldn't know these things.

After an unknown amount of time, the egg began to stir, and one day it finally hatched. The tiny life curled up in the pure white shell, slowly gathering the broken pieces of the eggshell and feeding them bit by bit. Si Liuhua sat in front of her, slowly reaching out and gently touching her cheek.

...very soft.

She's too fragile. I can't let her leave me...

She herself didn't notice, but the child saw the tenderness in her eyes and was certain that the young man wouldn't harm her. She hugged the somewhat rough hand, squeezed it curiously, and finally opened her mouth—

I took a bite.

Her teeth had all grown in, a few of them quite sharp, causing a sharp, tingling pain. Si Liuhua lowered her eyes, slightly curved her lips, and said softly, "So healthy."

Shouldn't she feel joy at this moment? In the past, she would probably be weeping uncontrollably. But she felt nothing; only one sentence slowly and dullly surfaced in her mind—

It's so good that she was born safely.

As the thought clearly occurred to her, a sudden wetness washed over her, sliding down her cheeks. She tried to speak, but her words came as a hoarse sob. Her vision blurred; through the hazy colors, she could only see herself reaching out to embrace the child before her.

Tears streamed down my face; my blessings needed no words.

More than sadness, it was a warm and vibrant emotion, like newborn flesh and blood, briefly filling my chest.

She no longer knew what this feeling was called happiness; she simply held the child tightly in her arms, letting the child stroke her eyebrows and eyes with both hands, not even understanding why she was crying.

Changxi grew very slowly. Their faces were completely different, but because they spent so much time together, they developed similar expressions.

Si Liuhua taught her to spell and speak. For various reasons, she first taught Changxi not the language of Garan, but the languages ​​of humans and demons. As the child grew into a teenager, her pronunciation became clearer, and she no longer felt frustrated by not being able to write complex characters or remember radicals. Si Liuhua didn't want to restrict her, but she wouldn't allow her to leave her sight to avoid any danger—after all, she couldn't fully trust all demons.

Initially, like all oviparous creatures, Chang Xi regarded Si Liuhua, the first person she saw when she hatched, as her mother, and the first thing she said after learning to speak was to softly call her name:

"Mother."

Si Liuhua stiffened, and the tips of her ears turned red almost imperceptibly.

Finally, she whispered:

"Just call me elder sister."

After she began her cultivation, she gave the sword she had made to Chang Xi.

Si Liuhua asked, "Do you want to cultivate swordsmanship?"

The boy looked up, his eyes and heart filled with her, and answered earnestly and firmly, "Yes!"

She held the sword, overjoyed.

"I want to learn how to use a sword, my sister. I love watching her wield it... I want to become as skilled as her and protect you."

The older sister had a scar on her face that ran through her entire left eye, and it looked very painful. Although she said it didn't hurt anymore, Changxi had also been injured before, just a small scratch, but it was excruciatingly itchy and painful.

That long scar must have hurt a lot. My older sister is lying to her because she doesn't want her to be sad...

"Okay." Si Liuhua smiled slightly.

Protect her?

Perhaps one day, she will indeed reach that level. Chang Xi is exceptionally talented, having gathered spiritual energy earlier than her, and now, only a few years later, she has already reached the mid-stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

Then, she gently touched the top of the boy's head and calmly said:

"Don't become like me."

Chang Xi is a very curious child.

After she turned teens, she began to enjoy running around. Occasionally, when Si Liuhua was recuperating from her injuries, she would secretly run off to play in the forest with a few little demons. When she returned, she would cover up her tracks so that her older sister wouldn't find out where she had gone.

Later, Si Liuhua learned about this from someone else and set up a protective barrier inside the house. That was probably the first time the boy lost his temper with her.

She truly didn't understand why her older sister always forbade her from going out to play, and why she had to do everything under her sister's watchful eye. All she wanted was to go to the forest and make some friends, but now she was confined to her quarters. The wooden house, which had seemed spacious when she was a child, had become so familiar with every corner that it held little novelty and had even grown tiresome in some places.

After setting up the barrier, Si Liuhua walked out the door and sighed.

She didn't understand.

She neither understood why Changxi was angry nor knew how to deal with her anger.

Just then, a young demon came to visit, telling her that a demon king had asked her to come and make a house call in a few days. Si Liuhua nodded and accepted the request, but the young man did not leave immediately; instead, he glanced at the wooden house.

She asked with a smile, "Is Lord Liu Hua's daughter sick?"

Si Liuhua shook her head, "No... I'm not her mother either."

"That must be the older sister?" The young man put his hands behind his back. "On my way here, several children asked me to ask them why she didn't come out today."

She seemed to have a good relationship with the children. Si Liuhua paused for a moment, then spoke after some thought:

"It was me who wouldn't let her out."

The young man blinked in surprise. "Why? Did she do something wrong?" Children this age are indeed mischievous; it's not uncommon for them to break cups and dishes or make a mess of the house, but at least nothing serious has happened.

Si Liuhua said, "She won't get hurt if she stays by my side."

Her injuries hadn't fully healed, and her spiritual sense was limited; she couldn't detect Chang Xi once he ran far away. Si Liuhua wanted to protect this child and never let him get hurt again—this wasn't out of emotion, but an instinct etched into her bones. She knew that she couldn't lose Chang Xi no matter what.

The young man stared at her for a while before shaking his head with a smile.

She said, "No, that won't work."

"Why not?" Si Liuhua asked, somewhat puzzled. "As long as I keep an eye on her, she'll be fine."

The young man chuckled, “You’re still too young… I can still be inseparable from you now, but you’re still quite young.”

"But children always grow up, and they will have places they want to go."

"What will Lord Liu Hua do then?"

...What should she do then?

Memories flood back, returning to that bleak winter day, and Jiang Wangshu's voice echoes in my ears once more:

"What if she has her own path to follow?"

How do you fill the flowing life into a fixed pool so that it will conform to your wishes and never change again?

Just as a fledgling bird will eventually grow full wings, Changxi is destined to venture into a wider world. She should have understood long ago that, like herself in her youth, her curiosity to explore the world and her soft and pure kindness could not be suppressed in the end.

……yes.

She couldn't expect Changxi to remain a fledgling forever, with no one else in the world but her.

After seeing off the messenger, Si Liuhua didn't go inside until evening. She pushed open the door and found the house unharmed. Walking into the bedroom, she saw a small figure curled up between the wardrobe and the bed. The only mess was a few discarded grasshoppers.

Si Liuhua walked over, squatted down, and hugged Chang Xi tightly. Chang Xi reached out and returned her embrace.

"I'm sorry." She lowered her head and pressed her forehead against the boy's. "I shouldn't have...locked you up."

Despite wanting to keep her by his side almost imprisoned, wanting to hold her in his arms and make her a part of his very being, never to be separated again.

But she can't do that.

Changxi raised her eyes and said, "I know that you are doing this for my own good, I know... that you want to protect me."

She buried her face in Si Liuhua's arms, her voice muffled.

“I will cultivate diligently… Sister, please accompany me out for walks more often, okay? I’m already familiar with the surrounding forest, and I can take you to catch grasshoppers. Sister, you don’t go out to play much except when you’re on house calls… They say you’ll get bored.”

After saying that, she tilted her head back and kissed Si Liuhua's cheek.

“I think my sister will be happier.”

Si Liuhua smiled and said softly, "Okay."

The days in the Demon Realm lasted a long time, long enough that Changxi's sword skills improved day by day, and the scenery outside the house changed again and again.

One day, the boy began to dream of fleeting glimpses of his clansmen. Even though he could not remember anything after waking up, he still wept uncontrollably.

Hearing the sobbing, Si Liuhua quickly came over, hugged her, and silently stroked her back again and again.

Her elder sister's voice became the only thing that reassured Chang Xi. She listened to Si Liuhua say softly and repeatedly, "It's alright," and slowly relaxed, leaning against her, panting heavily, and clutching the other's sleeve tightly.

Sister.

What's wrong?

"I dreamt that...someone died."

The memories of the high priests gradually intertwine as they interact with each other, until at the time of handover, the high priest fully inherits the memories and knowledge of the previous one. She knew that Chang Xi had been dreaming for a long time, initially fragments of the ancient past, and later she would also see the clan leader and the previous high priest in her dreams, but her memories were unclear after waking up.

The next moment, Chang Xi's eyes filled with a sorrow beyond his years, and as he looked at her, he said in a trembling voice:

"That person... looks like my older sister."

Yeah?

...It was just a dream. Perhaps Changxi was too young and confused her with her other clansmen.

Si Liuhua embraced her and said softly, "Your older sister will never leave you, until you grow up..."

"I don't want to be with you when I grow up either." The boy hugged her waist tightly. "I want to be with you forever, sister."

It's strange, really. Not long ago, Si Liuhua still wanted to keep her by her side and never be separated from her. But now, she has already decided where to send Chang Xi.

It's time to let go.

Staying by her side would only bring Changxi more pain as he gradually recalled the past destruction of the tribe; he was also not a qualified elder and could not give her the best of everything she wanted.

Moreover, she had already decided that what she was going to do next was a dangerous path no matter what. Therefore, it would be better to settle Changxi in a better place.

Si Liuhua asked for nothing more than for her to live well.

Over the long years, she began to forget some things.

Patriarchs, high priests, mothers...

Despite having a photographic memory, they gradually forgot how they spoke and laughed. Their once vibrant eyes closed, and in the end, only their faces remained at the moment of death. All was gone, no longer alive.

Only a deathly silence remained in my heart. Remembering someone begins with their eyes and voice, and so does forgetting.

Death is the beginning of forgetting, and the consequence of forgetting is separation.

Fortunately, Chang Xi greatly admired the human artifacts she had collected and was also fluent in human writing. As long as she didn't use her eye technique and remained under the protection of trusted individuals, she would be safe. Si Liuhua had already taught her how to use the eye technique…

She will be alright. She will make a few friends and find a good mentor. She may not become a famous person, but she will certainly be kind, brave, and upright.

After pondering for a few days, she thanked the demon king who had taken good care of her, left the demon realm, crossed the demon realm, and returned to the land of the human race.

A thousand years have passed.

Returning to this place again feels like stepping into another world.

It was the height of summer, the sun blazing. Upon entering the town, the cries of vendors hawking their ice cream could be heard. Si Liuhua, holding her hand, tightened her grip and looked down into the boy's bright, sparkling eyes.

"That looks so pretty, is it edible?"

Si Liuhua said, "Okay, I'll take you to eat."

The two sat in the shop and ordered a serving of ice cream cheese. Halfway through their meal, a cool spoon was brought to Si Liuhua's lips. She snapped out of her reverie and saw Chang Xi's expectant expression.

Si Liuhua curved her lips into a smile, tucked her hair behind her ear, and gently held half of the spoon in her mouth.

The smooth sweetness spread, and the aroma of fermented rice lingered on her lips and teeth. She thought it was a bit too sweet, probably made with children's tastes in mind, and it was made extra sweet and soft, with a cloying aftertaste.

Chang Xi was certainly no longer the age of a human boy, but to the Galan people, she was still a child, with a very childlike face.

She wasn't strict with Changxi, and she was never really able to be ruthless towards her. Whether it was giving her candy or sending her away, she was always very hesitant.

It wasn't until the boy clutched his cheek and cried out in pain that they realized they had bought too much candy and had damaged his teeth.

Upon returning to the human realm, she was no longer the Liu Hua still harboring personal feelings. She began searching for the cultivators who had narrowly escaped and their descendants. The process was not smooth; some were just one step away from the Void Refinement Realm, making them difficult to deal with, and they even remembered her, seeking revenge.

Even with a mask on, her aura couldn't be hidden, and the other party would always find her, making her life constantly turbulent.

If she were alone, it would be fine, but Changxi couldn't always be in such a dangerous situation. Later, she learned by chance that the Four Spirits Sect had developed into a sect with a small reputation and was growing vigorously.

Within the sect, there are magical artifacts that allow one to observe the stars. If one wishes to ascertain the reason for the decline in spiritual energy, it would be best to look to the stars that bestowed blessings upon them.

On the day when the first frost and snow fell, a guest arrived in the territory of the Four Spirits Sect.

The newcomer wore a white jade mask and led a young man, requesting an audience with the sect leader. Her cultivation was unfathomable, causing her disciples to become extremely nervous and hastily relay messages. Before long, a middle-aged woman descended the steps, just as the tall, white-robed youth was brushing the thin layer of snow off the shoulders of the person beside him.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up, paused for a moment, and then smiled gently, "Excuse me."

The woman shook her head. Despite the other party's high cultivation level, she showed no fear, remaining calm and composed: "I never imagined that a celestial being like you would visit our sect."

She turned around and led the two towards the teleportation array.

"Please have a seat. The tea will be ready soon."

A roaring fire burned in the stove inside, the kettle gurgled, and cups were placed in front of the two. The woman sat opposite them, tea leaves shimmering with spiritual energy from her fingertips as they fell into the cups, where they were then steeped by the hot water that followed.

She was dressed in blue, with gentle features.

"I am Jiang Xuanying, the current sect leader of the Four Spirits Sect. May I ask what brings you two here?"

Jiang Xuanying...

Si Liuhua silently recited the name in his mind and finally confirmed that the person in front of him was Jiang Wangshu's senior sister.

She recognized Jiang Xuanying from the very beginning, but she never expected her to grow old. In her memory, Jiang Xuanying was a woman of few words and extremely hardworking, which gave her an air of aloofness.

But at this moment, she is very different from the person in her memory.

Si Liuhua took out a mustard seed bag and said, "I would be grateful if you could take this child as your apprentice. She is very talented, but she is a bit playful and needs more guidance."

She smiled politely, "Would it be possible for us to talk alone?"

Jiang Xuanying understood her meaning and summoned a student who was guarding outside. Si Liuhua got up, led Chang Xi to the door, and then released her hand.

The boy's eyes were already glistening with tears from the moment he heard her first words. Although Si Liuhua had told her this beforehand, Chang Xi was still reluctant to leave.

She didn't immediately go to the student's side, but looked at Si Liuhua, suppressing a sob, and asked softly, "Will my sister come to see me?"

She's not a child anymore; she can understand Si Liuhua's thoughts. Her older sister is doing it for her own good; she shouldn't be so willful...

Si Liuhua nodded.

Changxi then asked, "How long will it take for them to arrive?"

Si Liuhua gazed into her eyes, recalling the radiant sunlight filtering through the woods, and the lambs she had held, so bright, soft, and unbelievably warm.

She smiled, looking somewhat forlorn, and said gently, "I don't know. But if my older sister can come, she will definitely come to see you right away."

She touched the boy's hair.

"You must listen to Sect Leader Jiang, okay? Cultivate diligently and learn swordsmanship. You can't slack off anymore. Stay safe and make more friends... Live here and wait for your elder sister to come and see you."

"Sister..."

Chang Xi gripped Si Liuhua's sleeve tightly for a long while before letting go. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced a smile.

"I will remember my elder sister, and my elder sister must also remember me."

Watching the boy's figure disappear behind the door, Si Liuhua turned around and sat back down opposite Jiang Xuanying. The woman sipped her tea, and after a moment asked, "What's that child's name?"

"Si Changxi".

"...She does resemble my junior sister somewhat." Jiang Xuanying seemed to recall something, her eyebrows slightly raised, and she smiled gently.

When Si Liuhua heard her bring it up, he asked, "I am an old friend of hers. I remember she used to be the sect leader. Has she gone traveling around now?"

That's in line with Jiang Wangshu's style. She probably has no interest in cultivation, and now she might be like Jiang Xuanying in front of her, slowly unable to withstand the depletion of her lifespan.

After he finished speaking, there was a long silence.

Only after the teacup was set down and made a sound against the table did Jiang Xuanying slowly say, "She... is dead."

A considerable amount of time had passed, so the sadness in Jiang Xuanying's eyes wasn't too intense; she appeared somewhat weary. Before Si Liuhua could ask, she slowly began to recount what had happened.

The human forces suffered heavy losses in the snowy region. Some left, while others decided to venture into the Chaos Rift to search for another trace of the Kalan people. Many of the cultivators, devastated by this blow, fell into a frenzy of obsession, vowing to obtain divine power to avoid future attacks from these Kalan people.

Jiang Wangshu thought that was enough. Something encouraged her, giving her the courage to stand up and stop the cultivators from advancing. Two Nascent Soul cultivators were far beyond the capabilities of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator.

It is unknown what kind of fierce battle they went through, but it ended with Jiang Wangshu igniting her soul and severely injuring a group of cultivators.

At this point, Jiang Xuanying paused for a while before continuing.

"My junior sister is a bit stubborn... she can't quite figure things out."

"If I had known, I wouldn't have let her go."

She may not know why Jiang Wangshu died, but Si Liuhua does.

Whatever you desire, I will grant.

She wished for world peace and harmonious coexistence among different races. This hastily made vow became the end of her life.

In turn, it saved his own life.

Just like when they first met, her old friend was never afraid of people who were stronger than herself.

If it weren't for Jiang Wangshu, she probably would have died that night.

Si Liuhua made a request, and Jiang Xuanying, mindful of her past friendship with Jiang Wangshu, agreed to let her use the Sixing Terrace. In the boundless Tai Zhao Heaven, the shattered stars, having lost their color, appeared before her eyes.

The observations further solidified Si Liuhua's belief. She didn't linger, bidding farewell to Jiang Xuanying after leaving the Star Gazing Platform.

"Please take good care of her." Si Liuhua bowed. "That mustard seed bag is my reward, and also a gift for Jiang Wangshu."

As they reached the bottom of the steps, Jiang Xuanying's voice suddenly came from above.

"You are... Sibudu?"

Si Liuhua paused for a moment, but did not answer her, and continued walking forward.

After all, that won't be the case for long.

The snowflakes drifted down, bringing a gentle coolness. She looked up and reached out to catch a pure white snowflake.

It's snowing.

-----------------------

Author's note: Finally, it's finished.

The next chapter will return to the current timeline. (Gasps)

I spent several days writing this chapter. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to share them... I need...! (?)

Then you should also be able to see that later she did good deeds under the name Wang Shu, and did evil deeds under her real name.

From the very beginning of writing this story, I knew she was a complex character, so I spent a considerable amount of time developing her, which was also a challenge for me. If you can get even a little bit of a feel for her, that would be wonderful (bows). Thank you to the teacher who was willing to read these two chapters. I originally planned to write them as a side story, but the following plot is quite tragic, so I want to try to finish explaining her side before starting the next part.