Chapter 65

This farce came to an end with the arrival of Han Yuyi.

With Yuan Bushu distracted, the group finally sat down together.

Yan Ruchao frowned and reluctantly sheathed his Peerless Sword: "According to Lord Xie's meaning, Jin Xianyao is of Xie family blood? Do you have any evidence?"

Unexpectedly, Xie Qianjing shook his head: "I am no longer a cultivator, so I cannot determine this with my spiritual power."

Han Yuyi pondered for a moment: "If that's the case, then I'll have to borrow the Chu family's Yin-Yang Mirror to take a look."

Yuan Bushu remained seated to one side, his gaze sweeping over the two people squatting like quails outside the corridor not far away. He paused for a moment, as if he had remembered something.

“Back then, when my wife adopted A Yao, besides the entrustment from the people of Banbi Sect, my father did not object after consulting a divination.”

Why is it that old man Yuan Daojun again?

Sheng Ningyu frowned as she recalled the old man's rambling manner and his habit of always leaving half of his words unsaid.

A thousand complaints welled up in her mind, but before she could say anything, Yan Ruchao's cold glare silenced her.

Okay, the world is vast, but the eldest brother is the greatest.

Taking advantage of Yan Ruchao's inattention, Sheng Ningyu made a small face, then turned her head and met Xie Qianjing's calm gaze.

Like amber and pure snow, it contains no impurities and is devoid of any worldly emotions.

That same look again.

Sheng Ningyu couldn't stand Xie Qianjing's behavior, so she secretly sent him a telepathic message: "My senior brother only looks fierce, but actually..."

Actually, it's quite fierce.

Faced with Xie Qianjing's otherworldly and stunningly beautiful face, Sheng Ningyu felt too embarrassed to lie any longer. She coughed lightly, her eyes darting around for a moment: "Actually, once we get to know each other, Senior Brother won't always want to attack you."

Because he will put it into action directly.

Anyway, you weren't scared just now, were you?

Xie Qianjing gazed at her quietly. After a moment, the icy coldness in his eyes cracked slightly, revealing a hint of a smile.

He transmitted his voice: "No, your senior brother is a very nice person. I think we will become good friends."

Not far away, a friend seemed to utter a "ha," and then disappeared without a sound after Han Yuyi gave him a light, fleeting glance.

On the other side, Yuan Bushu recalled: "Because of what happened years ago, my father is bound by the Heavenly Dao. Now there are many things that cannot be said, and he cannot easily step out of Linghuanwu. Therefore, he has been in seclusion to recuperate for many years. I have just sent a message, but I don't know when I will get a reply."

Han Yuyi suddenly gripped Sheng Ningyu's hand tightly.

That heavenly constraint has harmed them far too much.

Logically speaking, Yuan Daojun is already at the half-step into the heavens in terms of cultivation. What in this world is there that he would be reluctant to leave behind, or even willing to remain stagnant and make a deal with the Heavenly Dao?

My aunt was decisive and insightful. She was willing to use elixirs and other human-made means to prolong her life, but she would never allow her uncle to defy fate and forcibly retain her soul.

Then what in this world is worth Yuan Daojun's willingness to go to such lengths?

Yuan Bushu shook his head: "I don't know."

Sheng Ningyu hadn't really intended to find the answer. She reached into her Star River Pouch and rummaged around, but couldn't find any pastries to chew on. Just as she was about to sigh, something was placed on her lips.

Xie Qianjing met her gaze and smiled, "It was bought by someone else, so it might not be sweet enough."

Sheng Ningyu took the pastry in her mouth, took a satisfied bite, and said without any politeness, "Then make me another delicious one later."

Xie Qianjing tilted his head and smiled.

His features were gentle, like a corner of moonlight melting on snow, transparent and tender.

He said, "Okay."

"ha."

A cold laugh rang out, and everyone turned to look.

Yan Ruchao, who was sitting in the corner of the room, could no longer sit still. He slammed down his teacup and gave Xie Qianjing a cold smile, "My junior sister, you don't need to trouble yourself, Demon Lord."

Even though everyone present was fully aware of Xie Qianjing's identity, Yan Ruchao's blunt revelation of it still caused a moment of silence throughout the room.

Sheng Ningyu felt that her senior brother's current state was even more frightening than when he found out about her engagement to Chu Chang'an.

But clearly, she had already explained that her "unmarried Daoist partner" with Xie Qianjing was just a temporary measure!

Sheng Ningyu sighed wearily, but just as she was about to speak, she suddenly felt a cold temperature on the back of her hand.

Xie Qianjing reached out and placed his hand on her right hand, shook his head slightly at her, then turned to Yan Ruchao and said gently, "What Pavilion Master Yan says is true. Jiuchong is naturally your junior sister."

Ha, he even dares to brazenly call Sheng Mingyue "Ninefold".

His intentions were crystal clear.

Yan Ruchao chuckled, pressed his thumb and forefinger against his cheek, and looked at Xie Qianjing provocatively: "Lord Xie probably doesn't understand what I mean."

"I mean, before Mingyue's identity is revealed to the world, she will stay in Gui Cang Lou. What, does Your Majesty perhaps consider bringing your demon clan members to Gui Cang Lou as sons-in-law?"

Sheng Ningyu, who was tilting her head back as Han Yuyi wiped the corners of her lips, asked, "?"

Wait, how did the topic suddenly turn to this?

Xie Qianjing turned his head slightly and glanced at Sheng Ningyu. Sheng Ningyu looked at him blankly, but he seemed to have received some kind of response, and smiled gently, his eyebrows arched, like shimmering spring water.

He turned to look at Yan Ruchao, a smile still lingering on his lips, as if he had received some confirmation, and asked with a hint of anticipation, "Does Lord Yan really agree?"

Yan Ruchao: "..."

The ghostly energy that had solidified on his palm eased for a moment.

Han Yuyi could no longer bear to watch. She stood up and walked between the two, stopping Yan Ruchao, who was becoming increasingly furious after regaining his senses. She said to Xie Qianjing, "According to Lord Xie's intentions, someone has already guessed what we want to do and has put forward that young Fellow Daoist Jin, using him as a 'Xie family bloodline' member among the eleven sects?"

Xie Qianjing was somewhat disappointed that the conversation hadn't continued. He suppressed his smile and nodded slightly, "Just as Sect Leader Han said."

Han Yuyi's gaze unconsciously lingered on Sheng Ningyu, then shifted slightly to her right wrist.

The wounds there had faded considerably, but for some reason, they showed no signs of fading. Just as Han Yuyi was thinking at that moment.

Hate, extreme.

The more hatred Han Yuyi felt, the more dignified her expression became. Her beautiful and refined features showed no anger, but rather extreme calmness.

"Yu Wusheng's insistence on going to 'Cloud Top' was also due to some gossip he overheard along the way."

Yuan Bushu: "Someone deliberately instigated this."

Yan Ruchao sneered: "I think the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion has ill intentions. They've been behind everything. Instead of wasting time here, I'd rather lead my men to wipe them all out."

Han Yuyi glanced at him and said softly, "The people that Fellow Daoist Jin mentioned just now are not only the elders of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, but also people from the Nine Heavens Pavilion."

Yan Ruchao paused for a moment, then turned his head away and remained silent.

Han Yuyi smiled gently.

His gaze was also unfocused.

Actually, she... didn't really care about killing some people.

No matter how many people are killed, we must find out who is behind it all.

Otherwise, if the killings are not thorough, it will only make people feel uneasy.

Sheng Ningyu listened to their conversation and slowly frowned: "But it doesn't make sense."

She looked at everyone and asked the question that had been lingering in her mind: "Who benefits from activating the Thousand Mountains Trial formation ahead of time?"

It's just a trial, at most a recollection of the past. Why are some people so eager to open it in front of the Ghost Cang Tower?

At this point, the matter seems to have reached a dead end.

As everyone fell silent, a faint voice came from a corner.

"...Could it be because of that rumor?"

Seeing everyone looking at him, Jin Xianyao shuddered and said in a trembling voice, "It's...it's...when I was very young, I heard a rumor that wherever the Thousand Mountains Trial begins, it might lead to recounting past events..."

His voice grew softer and softer, and he seemed to lack confidence in himself.

Honestly, all of this feels like a dream to Kim Hyun-yo.

Not mentioning his background seems somewhat different, but

However, at that very moment, someone spoke up directly.

Sheng Ningyu, munching on a pastry, spoke casually, as if joking, "Maybe some people just hope that certain things will never have an answer, that the waters will remain as murky as possible. But that seems to work too, since you're all protecting me, whether I have a spirit bone or not..."

Both his tone and expression were nonchalant, as if he were just talking about trivial matters that had nothing to do with her.

With a "thump," Sheng Ningyu was bathed in the baptism of the Lingzhi Ink Jade Brush.

Sheng Ningyu covered her head and subconsciously fell to the side. Someone skillfully caught her and rubbed her head before she could move.

Xie Qianjing's gentle yet helpless voice came through: "Don't talk nonsense."

Why is he siding with outsiders? Whose friend is he anyway?

Yuan Bushu and Yan Ruchao exchanged a glance, then turned their heads expressionlessly to meet Sheng Ningyu's gaze: "No."

Yan Ruchao spoke in a voice even colder than Yuan Bushu's: "Get up."

Han Yuyi smiled gently. She took a few steps forward and said softly, "Junior Sister Mingyue, you shouldn't be so presumptuous in front of outsiders."

However, before the hand could touch Sheng Ningyu's shoulder, it was stopped a step away by a demonic aura.

Xie Qianjing smiled slightly, but placed his hand in front of Sheng Ningyu to stop Han Yuyi from touching her: "I don't mind at all."

The air seemed to freeze instantly, as if something was about to explode.

Sheng Ningyu: "..."

She finally realized what was happening, scrambled off Xie Qianjing, awkwardly touched her nose, and scanned everyone before finally fixing her gaze on one person: "Senior Brother..."

Even so, she did not leave that damned demon dog's side.

Yan Ruchao gave a heavy, cold snort, without replying.

Sheng Ningyu coughed lightly, trying to steer the conversation back on track: "It seems that my piece of spiritual bone was stolen in the chaos."

Before she could finish speaking, with a "thud," an ordinary cherry wood box landed in front of her. The switch vibrated, and the lid slowly opened by itself.

Sheng Ningyu was stunned for a moment, then raised her hand and touched the white jade-like object inside.

"You were severely injured back then, and the person who removed your spiritual bones carried demonic energy." Yan Ruchao glanced at Xie Qianjing and smirked, "Does Fellow Daoist Xie know about this?"

Xie Qianjing lowered her eyelashes: "I don't know."

Yan Ruchao snorted lightly, neither believing nor disbelieving. He shifted his gaze and said calmly, "This demonic energy has been lingering for a long time, so it probably needs your own spiritual power to nourish it. You should wait until the demonic energy dissipates before placing it back into your body."

Sheng Ningyu naturally wouldn't forget this step.

"If this is my spiritual bone, then what is it that you're putting up for auction?"

Faced with Sheng Ningyu's question, Yan Ruchao paused, and surprisingly, he looked away with a hint of guilt.

Sheng Ningyu: "?"

Yuan Bushu calmly replied, "Qingyi Academy has something to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

Sheng Ningyu: "??"

Han Yuyi said calmly, "Junior Sister Mingyue, I'll take those two young fellow Daoists to settle in first."

Sheng Ningyu: "???"

Almost one sentence after another, everyone disappeared in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, only she and Xie Qianjing remained in the room.

Sheng Ningyu was full of doubt. She looked at Xie Qianjing in disbelief and said, "Now even spirit bones can be faked?"

Xie Qianjing chuckled, took her hand and held it in his palm: "Of course not."

Since they met, Sheng Ningyu had noticed that this person seemed to be in a good mood.

That's really strange.

But now, this isn't the only strange thing happening.

Sheng Ningyu: "That Sword Master's spiritual bone from just now..."

"It only says it's the spirit bone of a Sword Venerable, but it doesn't say which Sword Venerable it is."

In an instant, the room became so quiet that the sound of dust could be heard.

Sheng Ningyu was initially stunned, but then her mind slowly began to process what Xie Qianjing meant.

She suddenly opened her eyes wide.

Just now, that spirit bone...

Xie Qianjing nodded: "It was left by the Sword Master Guihai."

Sheng Ningyu's lips twitched, then she felt something was wrong: "Even if Master's spiritual bones were preserved, they should be complete?"

Xie Qianjing said casually, "It was probably sawed open by the Master of the Banquet Hall."

Let's saw it open.

[Ha, that old geezer used to mutter about "all living beings" all the time when he was alive, scheming to get you this worthless Sword Master position. Now I've made sure he's useful even in death. For the sake of all living beings, Sword Master Guihai is probably willing to do it. Junior Sister, there's no need to be sad for him.]

His self-righteousness was tinged with a familiar, venomous, and sarcastic tone.

As soon as the words were spoken, the ghostly energy rose from below, like a cluster of flames, and was suddenly extinguished in the air.

Sheng Ningyu remained silent for a moment.

That's so filial, Senior Brother.

Xie Qianjing said, "It's probably unrelated to the demonic seed. As for the Chu family, I can't guarantee it." He looked at Sheng Ningyu, his eyes gentle and smiling, the corners of his mouth turned up.

"But I know where it is now."

Sheng Ningyu asked with little interest, "Isn't it the Chu family of Donghai?"

"No."

Xie Qianjing spoke softly, his gaze appearing deep and uncertain in the flickering light of the night.

Perhaps it was the exceptionally bright and alluring night in the Ghost Cang Tower that made Sheng Ningyu feel for a moment that the person in front of her was more like a ghost than any of the ghost messengers downstairs.

"That thing was taken by the people of Qingniao Yiyehua and they went to the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City together."

Sheng Ningyu frowned: "The City That Never Sleeps?" When she thought of this place, she could only think of one person.

"Perhaps."

Xie Qianjing lowered his eyes.

There were some things about this "reincarnation of the Sword Master" that he felt were not right.

"A puppet being manipulated."

Sheng Ningyu raised her eyes, keenly catching the key phrase: "Puppet?" She frowned. Recalling, "But she looked no different from a living person."

Xie Qianjing: "I kept the Sword Venerable's spiritual bone at the time, but I didn't explore it much. However, there is one thing: the puppet silk has no effect on it at all."

The puppet barrier disappeared into its body like a drop of water into the sea, without causing any ripples.

A long silence followed.

Sheng Ningyu suddenly smiled.

"Why don't we hold this Thousand Mountains Trial in the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City?"

...

In the city that never sleeps, amidst mountains and seas.

The main hall was magnificent and resplendent.

The unparalleled Immortal Rong Que, meeting Feng Qingli's impatient gaze, stepped forward and, with a smile, snapped the neck of the "Sword Venerable Reincarnation".

Things that have no value need not exist in this world with her face on them.

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Author's Note: Second Senior Brother (….)

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