Chapter 7

Xie Qianjing remained motionless for a long time.

As Sheng Ningyu closed the door, a gust of wind arose. The window, which had been slightly open, closed completely.

The floating gold shimmered, eventually extinguishing its last glimmer of light.

The room was so quiet that only the churning dust could be heard, while the suppressed red mist lurked and surged, appearing silently.

Xie Qianjing seemed not to notice, lowering his eyes and following his fingertips to look at the table.

The gauze on the table was haphazardly wrapped up, circle after circle, as if mocking his unrequited love.

Xie Qianjing frowned slightly.

This shouldn't be the case.

He wanted to test Sheng Ningyu with his own flesh and blood, but when he heard her straightforward rejection, in addition to a heart full of malice, something inexplicable and long-lost welled up in his heart.

If we don't eat his flesh and blood, then whose can?

Chu Jiye? Rong Que? Li Qingfeng?

Is it still that annoying phoenix?

Xie Qianjing looked at the dressing mirror diagonally in front of her and curled the corners of her mouth.

He was no longer the gentle and refined man he once was. His body was surrounded by surging demonic energy, like a vengeful ghost emerging from purgatory, about to devour flesh and blood.

The inner demons that had been stirring for some time were now uncontrollably resurfacing.

I am no different from anyone else; I too crave your flesh and blood.

[Ha, you better pray I'm just putting on an act. If I really didn't want flesh and blood, it would mean I hadn't changed, which is a good thing. But you have changed.]

[Xie Qianjing, you are no longer the upright and honest immortal lord who could speak freely with everyone...]

Her tone was soft, like a feather skimming across clear water, yet it could easily stir up the most hidden desires in people's hearts, spreading from the heart to the very core of their being.

This is Xie Qianjing's inner demon.

Demonic cultivators all possess inner demons, a perplexing question that plagues them throughout their lives without an answer, and also one of the sources of their power. If they cannot suppress their inner demons, they will be possessed by them, turning into mindless, bloodthirsty zombies.

Some demonic cultivators' inner demons are phantoms, while others' inner demons are unforgettable scenes. But Xie Qianjing's inner demon is just three words.

Sheng Ningyu

Feeling resentful, yet unable to obtain what one desires.

The affection he thought he had was long since dissipated into smoke and fire in the sword intent. To Xie Qianjing, the three words "Sheng Ningyu" were less like the bright moon and more like a straw in the water.

It is something to look forward to, something to observe, something to imagine.

But when the thought of it reached its peak, it would break if you touched it even lightly when you raised your hand.

Eternal romance, like a dream.

Xie Qianjing did not become a demon from the beginning.

He did not fall into demonic possession when the Xie family was destroyed.

He did not succumb to demonic possession when betrayed by the person he saved.

Even when the Chu family trapped him in the vast array, stripped him of his spiritual bones, and ate his flesh and blood, he still did not fall into demonic possession.

Xie Qianjing thought that Sheng Ningyu was waiting for him.

The Soul-Destroying Nails started at his cervical vertebrae, eleven in total, each piercing through his blood and bone. The Spirit-Binding Whip lashed out again and again, draining him of all his spiritual power.

"As expected of the number one person in the Xie family, he is a rare tough nut to crack."

The Chu family members who were administering the punishment looked at Xie Qianjing's back, which refused to bend, and grinned: "But in this vast immortal array, the harder your bones are, the more suffering you will endure."

"You have read through countless immortal texts, so you should know this, shouldn't you, Bodhi Lord?"

The once lofty Xie family Bodhi Jun is now nothing more than a handful of dust and mud.

Despite the sarcastic remarks and malicious laughter around him, Xie Qianjing didn't think much of it at the time.

The situation here is extremely complex, with unpredictable human nature and a treacherous atmosphere. It is like a quagmire where anyone who steps in will only become deeply entangled.

Therefore, Xie Qianjing did not want Sheng Ningyu to come looking for him.

He just thought that he and she had previously made a promise to go to the mortal world together to celebrate the Lantern Festival. If he wasn't there, given her free and easy nature, she might get lost again and miss the opportunity.

And the osmanthus cake with five times the sugar that I promised to bring her, I'm afraid I won't be able to bring it now.

That pond, once adorned with floating Bodhi lotuses, is now stained with the blood of the Xie family.

...

The Bodhi lotus withers, collapsing in an instant.

All the past events, the tangled mess, the intertwining of blood and light, the myriad sounds of celebration, all ultimately condensed into just three words.

Sheng Ningyu

Xie Qianjing thought he had to go out.

There was another person waiting for him at the Sword Pavilion.

True to his name as "Bodhi Immortal Lord," Xie Qianjing managed to escape despite the intricate trap set by the Chu family.

He was even lucky enough to run into Sheng Ningyu, who happened to be visiting the Chu family.

Xie Qianjing was stunned, his throat dry and he forgot to speak, when he saw a strange Chu family member pounce on Sheng Ningyu from behind.

...The Chu family!

His body reacted much faster than his brain. Even though his body was riddled with wounds, he still stepped forward without thinking, not wanting to see her get hurt in any way.

"Senior Sister Ningyu!"

Xie Qianjing heard the man shout that.

Xie Qianjing couldn't remember how he was forced to the ground by the Chu family members who arrived in a hurry, or what the young man had said. He only heard another voice rise up.

"The Xie family?"

She sheathed her sword and said in a nonchalant tone, "He's just an outsider. You're my fiancé now. How can he be compared to you?"

Given the choice, she unhesitatingly chose to protect the other person.

The dew is heavy and the fog is thick, but a gentle breeze blows by.

A dull ache came hesitantly from between my eyebrows, more painful than any injury I had ever suffered before.

Such pain far exceeded Xie Qianjing's limit. What the fifteen Soul-Devouring Nails and hundreds of Spirit-Binding Whips had failed to restrain before completely dissipated at this moment.

"Xie Xianjun truly lives up to his name of 'the banished immortal Bodhi,' managing to escape even in this situation."

The Chu family member's voice was chilling, and the sharp weapon in the hand of his retainer beside him reflected a cold light: "The Soul-Devouring Nails alone seem insufficient. Since you can run so fast, why not just remove your kneecaps? I'm also curious, after that, where does Immortal Lord Xie intend to run to?"

The once peerless and flawless immortal lord, whose strength was like a Bodhi lotus, now had disheveled black hair, and his body and face were covered with whip marks. There were also arrays attached to his flesh, making them irreparable and incurable.

Even so, with Xie Qianjing's hands bound, standing in the middle of the formation, no one dared to make a move for a moment.

He had never raised his eyes before, but now, as he looked at everyone with indifferent eyes, it was truly chilling.

The Chu family retainers hesitated to step forward, but then someone in the formation spoke for the first time: "Why has she appeared?"

Her voice was as light as thin snow, almost melting into the air.

"Huh? Her?" The leader of the Chu family suppressed his fear, stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

Chu Yuandao flicked his sleeve and narrowed his eyes at the retainer beside him: "Tsk, what are you waiting for? Chu Qing, you wouldn't be going to hold back just because Immortal Lord Xie saved your life, would you?"

Chu Qing took a deep breath and raised the blade.

Intense pain shot through every joint of his body, as if he were being smashed and broken by hammer blows, and Xie Qianjing's back finally bent down inch by inch.

From then on, Bodhi was stained with blood, and the pure lotus was stained with ink.

...

After their reunion, Xie Qianjing did consider killing Sheng Ningyu.

On the contrary, he thought about it many times.

He has fallen into demonic possession; those who fall into demonic possession are driven by lust and bloodlust, and killing is an instinct. Moreover, if he can completely suppress his inner demons, his strength will reach an even higher level.

Reason had meticulously planned everything; Xie Qianjing could even list hundreds of plans. But all of this vanished the moment Sheng Ningyu truly appeared.

The demon that mimicked her voice still haunted his ears, but the moment he looked at her and she smiled, all the evil spirits in the world vanished.

Only her.

[Xie Qianjing, you can't bring yourself to do it. You're so soft-hearted... Fine, very well. You'll be trapped by me for the rest of your life.]

The female voice rose in pitch, almost light and cheerful, but even when imitating the voice from memory, it couldn't hide the underlying greed and surging evil.

It seems that one day I will be able to replace you!

Amidst the swirling blood mist, Xie Qianjing remained unmoved.

He carefully put away the medicine and stood up.

With each move Xie Qianjing made, a cloud of blood vapor suddenly rose, filling every corner of the room, then spreading upwards, enveloping the inn, and gradually extending outside...

*

Suburbs.

The dimly lit woods were silent, and a sense of oppression filled the air.

The numerous demonic cultivators lurking nearby sensed that supreme aura, and their bodies began to tremble involuntarily. Some of the weaker demonic cultivators couldn't even withstand the pressure and almost convulsed. The leading demonic cultivator was equally terrified and was the first to kneel down in front of the source of the aura, bowing his head extremely low.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, we have dealt with those four cultivators as instructed."

Although it is unclear why His Majesty originally drove away the demonic cultivators from this place and deliberately attracted a few cultivators, seemingly intending to use them as pawns to kill, it ultimately turned into killing these four people. However, His Majesty is never wrong.

Sensing the inexplicably intensified demonic energy above, the leading demonic cultivator lowered his head even further and said, "Also, I've received word that the head of the Chu family of the East Sea is on his way here. The one from Zhuyue City has heard some rumors and seems quite annoyed, and is also..."

Xie Qianjing lowered his eyes: "Chasing the Moon City?"

The three simple words sent a chill down the demonic cultivator's spine. He forced himself to say, "Yes. Rumors are circulating that City Lord Feng was also moved by the rumors about Ghost Canglou."

Seeing Xie Qianjing remain silent, the demonic cultivator quickly changed the subject: "Your Excellency, when we were retreating earlier, we noticed that there seemed to be a puppet barrier around the Mitian Realm. May I ask if Your Excellency needs us to clear it away?"

The barrier of puppets is different from demonic energy.

If the biggest difference between demonic cultivators and righteous cultivators is simply that their paths are different, then the barrier of puppets is something that makes it impossible to distinguish between friend and foe.

This puppet barrier likely appeared suddenly in the East China Sea several decades ago. No one knows its origin, only that it is extremely terrifying, capable of silently implanting itself into the body of every targeted cultivator, controlling their mind and body, and turning them into its "puppet".

Like a cracked clay statue, this "puppet" will gradually develop cracks, and within seven days at most, it will fall into four or five pieces.

The most terrifying thing is that even when it cracks, the "puppet" has no flesh or blood left. It is just a seemingly hard empty shell that will crack and shatter like a thin clay sculpture at the slightest touch.

Regardless of good or evil, everyone should be treated equally.

"No need." Xie Qianjing raised his right hand, glanced at his wrist, and said in a voice as clear and cold as the moon without a speck of dust, "You are unaware of this matter."

All the demons present shuddered and obediently replied, "We will obey Your Majesty's command."

...

Meanwhile, Sheng Ningyu, back in her room, was also deep in thought.

She had been sealed in a coffin for many years and was unaware of the current state of the world, but she could always recognize the sword marks.

The sword mark between Xie Qianjing's eyebrows is definitely from "Ninefold Sword".

This sword technique is extremely selective, and Guihai Sword Master did not teach it to her senior brother who was expelled from the sect, her second senior brother who was so perfect that he was called the "First Young Master", or even the junior sisters and brothers who joined the sect later.

He only taught it to Sheng Ningyu.

Later, during the turmoil in the Fourteen Continents, before the passing of the Sword Master Guihai, he had already cultivated to the point of nearing the eighth level.

As the name suggests, the Ninefold Sword has only nine layers.

Ninefold Sword Cultivation: Ninefold Scenery. The first is joy, the second is sorrow, the third is suffering, the fourth is tranquility, the fifth is hearing of the endless suffering of beings in hell, the sixth is witnessing countless joyful scenes in the human world, and the seventh is understanding the boundless wrath of gods and Buddhas.

After the eighth layer, all was silent.

Before Sheng Ningyu was sealed, she was stuck at the sixth level.

But whether it's the eighth level or the sixth level, they are already among the top in the cultivation world.

So, what kind of comparison is it when a sword's edge slices across someone's brow?

Sheng Ningyu frowned.

When she draws her sword, it's either as a playful jab with friends, where she might only shave off a strand of hair or a piece of clothing at most. Or it's when a formidable enemy is at hand, and she's truly filled with rage and murderous intent.

So what exactly does it mean when the sword is about to pierce the brow but isn't?

Sheng Ningyu couldn't understand it at all.

Her temper shouldn't be like this, right?

If you really did it, what were you thinking at the time?

Based on Xie Qianjing's face alone, Sheng Ningyu felt that she should at least have some impression of him.

If it wasn't her, could it have been her master, Guihai Sword Master?

But that makes even less sense.

And then there's Xie Qianjing and the Chu family...

Having lived through sixty years, those past events are like boats sailing on a misty river, existing in memory yet remaining unclear and indistinct.

Sheng Ningyu couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it.

We'll take it one step at a time. The worst that can happen is that before we can retrieve our spiritual bones, we'll be betrayed by this enemy we can't even remember.

As Sheng Ningyu pondered, she subconsciously touched her right wrist, but it was no longer sticky, blurry flesh and blood.

She was somewhat stunned, and hesitantly raised her right hand.

The wrist, which I didn't want to look at, was wrapped in several layers of white cloth, with a faint medicinal fragrance permeating the air, isolating the wound from years of suffering and concealing the winding, ugly scars.

Ordinary medicine, inexpensive gauze.

But this was the first time in sixty years since her spiritual bone was extracted that Sheng Ningyu did not feel any dull pain in her wrist.

I've never seen an enemy apply medicine to their opponent before taking action.

Sheng Ningyu turned her wrist and couldn't help but laugh.

Fine, if I really get stabbed by Xie Qianjing before I can take revenge, then I'll just consider it an eye for an eye.

Sheng Ningyu had a carefree and easygoing attitude, but she never expected that something would soon appear that would make her unable to let go.

Chu Chang'an.

A note from the author:

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Sheng Ningyu: You couldn't even kill someone? I don't think I was this bad before!

Sword Master's puzzled cat head.jpg

Wow! So many new players have suddenly appeared! I haven't even made the list yet!

Starfish is amazing! [starry-eyed]

In short, thank you everyone for reading my article 0v0

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