Chapter 48 Bai Yujing "Who said she would be in trouble?"
On Mount Canghua of the Kunwu Sect, the sect leader Qingwu sat leaning against a paulownia tree, with empty wine jars casually placed at his feet.
A gust of wind blew by, and the person who had been keeping their eyes closed opened them.
He looked at the person who suddenly appeared in front of him without the slightest surprise.
He asked, his voice still slurred with drunkenness, "Is everything ready?"
The man sat down on the stone bench under the tree, picked up the teacup on the table, and without pouring water, simply played with it in his hand.
"That little demon isn't particularly powerful, but it's obedient enough. To get revenge, it will behave itself."
"The one in prison hasn't been behaving himself lately. I can't stray too far, so you should personally handle the forging of this divine sword."
As he spoke, the man slowly rose to his feet, saying, "I hope to hear good news from you."
Qingwu chuckled and raised the wine bowl in her hand toward him.
"Of course I will, Lord Mu."
...
"In the age of gods, demons appeared in the world."
He is powerful and bloodthirsty, and his greatest pleasure in life is to incite conflict in various places.
Nourished by His inexhaustible demonic energy, demons appeared in the world. The demons of that time, nourished by the power of the Demon God's origin, were hundreds or thousands of times stronger than the demons of today.
The gods and demons fought for millennia, yet they could not harm Him in the slightest. The only thing that gave them hope was that after a demon died, the demonic energy around it would transform into another power.
That power is warm and gentle, and is called spiritual energy.
Nurtured by spiritual energy, countless cultivators emerged, and from then on, the human world finally gained the ability to fight against the demon race.
Later, the gods fell, and the demon gods vanished without a trace. The demonic energy that had flourished for millennia was suppressed by spiritual energy, and this catastrophe, which had lasted for over ten thousand years, finally ended with the sealing of the Demon Realm.
In Qiushui Town, Xuan Kui transformed into human form, his face still somewhat pale.
He softly recounted the period of war among the gods more than ten thousand years ago.
People originally thought that with the demonic energy suppressed here, the world would surely be filled with spring sunshine and peace.
But the truth is that those powerful beings who cultivated to the point of becoming half-gods all perished during the hundred years that the Demon Realm was sealed.
The longer the Demon Realm is sealed, the thinner the spiritual energy in the world becomes.
Eventually, even the spiritual veins began to dry up.
People desperately hoped for a new god to appear and lead them to change this situation, but every cultivator who had the potential to break through to godhood perished during their tribulation.
Shi Yubai was puzzled. "What does this have to do with them opening the seal on the Demon Realm? Could it be that even Alliance Leader Mu has developed a demonic possession and needs to open the seal on the Demon Realm to prevent the Heavenly Dao from noticing?"
Xuan Kui did not answer his question. He looked at Fu Yunyao, a struggle flashing in his eyes.
Fu Yunyao toyed with the teacup in her hand and then spoke up to add to the discussion.
“The moment Heaven punishes those who have developed inner demons, they have already become demons.”
Therefore, after the punishment from Heaven dissipates, spiritual energy will revive.
The Heavenly Dao is using this method to prevent the demon race from appearing in the world, and at the same time to stop the depletion of spiritual energy.
Wen Ci frowned slightly. "If that's really the case, did they open the seal on the Demon Realm for the sake of the cultivation world?"
"What about those who died needlessly in the demonic tide? Are we really willing to gamble with the lives of others for the sake of some so-called righteous cause?"
Fu Yunyao put down her teacup, her face hidden behind the veil, making it impossible to see her expression.
Cheng Minxi was silent for a moment after hearing her words. After a while, he said, "Someone always has to make a sacrifice."
Fu Yunyao looked up at him.
"Then why are they the ones who are sacrificed?"
"Those who sacrificed themselves in the demonic tide, powerless to resist."
Ten years ago, Zhongzhou was nearly wiped out by a sudden surge of demonic energy.
"Those who sacrificed themselves to resist the demonic tide."
A few months ago, these were people who nearly perished under the claws of demonic beasts while trying to protect the barrier.
"And then there are those who sacrificed themselves under the wrath of Heaven in the name of reviving spiritual energy."
The overwhelming sword energy of "Eight Thousand Springs" was ultimately submerged under the Heavenly Dao.
"They want to rebel, so why should thousands of lives be the gamblers?"
And what makes you think that everyone is willing to sacrifice themselves for the so-called Great Way?
A thunderous roar erupted, filled with fury.
The heavenly lightning, imbued with supreme Daoist magic, was hidden among the clouds, gathering as if ready to fall at any moment.
"Yun Yao!" Shi Yubai stopped her, looking at the Heavenly Tribulation lightning between the clouds with some worry.
Fu Yunyao raised her eyes and spoke slowly.
Are you angry? To uphold the so-called—
Is the will of Heaven truly awe-inspiring?
The lightning tribulation could no longer restrain itself and struck Fu Yunyao inside the inn.
Cheng Minxi, who was sitting by the window, was the first to feel the immense pressure emanating from it. Under this pressure, he couldn't even lift his sword.
The others in the room, like him, could only watch as the lightning tribulation approached the girl who remained seated.
"Yun Yao!"
Shi Yubai screamed her name with heart-wrenching cries, trying to struggle free from the oppressive restraints.
He watched helplessly as the lightning tribulation touched her veil.
The lightning tribulation dissipated in the next instant...
...dissolve?
Shi Yubai, who had finally managed to break free from some control and move his fingertips: ?
Wen Ci/Cheng Minxi/Su Fuying/Xuan Kui, who were also unable to move from their spots: ...
The fierce lightning tribulation, upon touching the girl's veil, transformed into a gentle spring breeze, fluttering the veil to reveal her still seventeen-year-old face beneath.
A gentle breeze fell on her face, carrying a hint of punishment, ultimately leaving only a lingering sense of helplessness.
Fu Yunyao looked out the window, and in the sky, it seemed as if a pair of golden eyes were staring back at her.
In just a moment, those eyes disappeared.
Fu Yunyao withdrew her gaze and looked at the others who were still standing there in a daze.
Especially Shi Yubai, whose eyes were even bloodshot.
She tilted her head slightly, somewhat confused, "What's wrong with you?"
"Ha, ha." Shi Yubai uttered two words, his eyes bloodshot, and said resentfully, "If I worry about you again, I'll change my name!"
Fu Yunyao: ?
Cheng Minxi and Wen Ci exchanged a glance, and their hearts, which had almost stopped beating in fright, slowly resumed beating.
Su Fuying was also somewhat helpless, "Yun Yao, what you did this time was indeed very dangerous."
Fu Yunyao didn't understand their worries. "I know what I'm doing."
Cheng Minxi scoffed lightly, "That's not necessarily true."
The veil fell, once again concealing her face.
She thought for a moment and then explained, "I discovered this last time when I was helping Xuan Kui undergo his tribulation. The Heavenly Tribulation lightning is not harmful to me. If I hadn't insisted on drawing the lightning onto myself, violating the rules of Heaven, it wouldn't have even wanted to hurt me."
Shi Yubai didn't believe it, "Then why were you so badly injured last time?"
"Because I am fighting against the tribulation that belongs to Xuan Kui. Otherwise, if I forcibly take the tribulation for Xuan Kui, it will inevitably attract an even stronger tribulation."
Fu Yunyao spoke, concealing the matter of the restriction on Chen. She explained that when she shielded Xuan Kui from the lightning tribulation, the restriction happened to activate, which led to the severe injuries she suffered later.
Her statement was so certain that even Shi Yubai began to doubt whether he had overreacted.
But in that situation, he didn't have time to think; it was a miracle he didn't have a heart attack from fright.
Wen Ci finally calmed down and asked, "What did you just say?"
She replied, "What I say is what I think."
Xuan Kui, who had calmed down, finally couldn't help but ask, "Why doesn't the Heavenly Dao attack you?"
Why?
Fu Yunyao lowered her eyes.
She thought of the mysterious leader of the Endless Sect.
He once said that he found her on the border of the Demon Realm.
Demon Realm...
The Way of Heaven...
She had a vague suspicion in her heart, but...
She let out a soft sigh, but said, "I don't know either."
Shi Yubai's thoughts wandered, and he quickly brought the topic back to the matter of the Demon Realm seal. He looked at Su Fuying and spoke.
"Although their actions did put humanity in danger, they were genuinely considering the development of the cultivation world. While they were guilty, their actions were understandable."
This time, it was Su Fuying who spoke first, "Is the future of the cultivation world more important than those who die for no reason?"
She knew that Shi Yubai couldn't bear to see her trapped in the pain of her teacher, who had raised her, bringing disaster to the world.
But.
She said, "The human world is not just the human world of monks, but also the human world of mortals."
Shi Yubai stared at her in a daze.
Her eyes were clear, her gaze both gentle and firm.
After a long while, he laughed, his eyes full of youthful spirit.
"Okay, anyway, we're here for you."
Fu Yunyao looked at Xuan Kui again, "What else do you know? I don't believe that Alliance Leader Mu and the other sect leaders, who have cultivated for many years, really disregard the human world for the sake of the so-called Great Dao."
Xuan Kui lowered his brows slightly; everyone was waiting for his answer.
He thought of the red-clad figure who had forcibly shielded him from the heavenly tribulation in the South China Sea that day.
He thought of the boy who, although he often bickered with him, actually regarded him as a friend.
He thought back to the days when he would see him with a smile.
Everything was ultimately drowned out by that resounding voice: "Don't forget what you promised me."
He seemed to see again the lively girl looking at him with her head turned to the side under the snow-white moonlight.
His little moon demon...
He closed his eyes briefly and spoke amidst their questioning gazes.
"I can't tell you. If you want to know, you can go to the Western Border, Baiyujing."
...
Baiyujing in the western border.
The legendary land where gods fell is rich in ancient ruins, but while it offers opportunities, it also presents numerous dangers.
Some people even spend their entire lives searching for the entrance to the Jade Palace.
Fu Yunyao gazed at the Jade Capital Mountain before her. The mountain range stretched out, shrouded in clouds and mist, its entirety obscured.
It sits atop a sea of clouds, its body a tapestry of dark jade and gilded rock veins, its surface covered with ancient forbidden inscriptions stretching for tens of thousands of feet, resembling ancient marks left at the dawn of creation.
"Legend has it that at dawn, bells will ring in the mountains, and runes will light up, guiding every passing traveler to their respective destination."
Cheng Minxi stood beside her and spoke up to remind her.
"Wen Ci and Fu Ying have both been summoned back by the sect. There are problems with the barriers of other cities, and Shi Yubai also had to go there and has not returned yet. It seems that only I can accompany you on this trip."
As he finished speaking, Xuan Kui, who was wrapped around his wrist, tapped his fingertips with the dragon's tail.
He raised an eyebrow slightly and added, "There's also a demonic dragon."
As dawn broke and the first light of day slowly rose, sunlight streamed down, and the mountains hidden in the sea of clouds shimmered with a triple halo of blue, red, and yellow light.
The sound of the bell begins, deep and resonant, as if containing the infinite principles of nature, until it dissipates into a faint murmur, like the whisper of an ancient monk, or the echo of distant mountains.
The white jade steps winding up from the foot of the mountain light up, each step engraved with different ancient runes.
Fu Yunyao stepped onto the jade steps, gazing at the endless stone steps hidden in the sea of clouds, and slowly turned around.
She looked at Cheng Minxi, who was a few steps behind her, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only said one sentence.
Be careful in everything you do.
Cheng Minxi nodded in agreement, "You too."
She turned back again, climbed the steps, and slowly disappeared into the sea of clouds.
The jade steps darkened again, returning to silence.
As the clouds and mist slowly dissipated, Fu Yunyao stared at the somewhat familiar scene before her, slightly taken aback.
The waves crashed against the stone walls, the sea breeze blew, and the crabapple blossoms fell.
"The Realm of Jade Terrace..."
More accurately, it was the Yaotai Realm she had seen in the Linglang Secret Realm more than three thousand years ago.
Before Fu Yunyao could even think, she was spotted by the patrolling Yaotai Realm disciples.
Who are you?
They looked alert, their hands resting on their sword hilts, as if they were about to draw their swords at any moment.
Fu Yunyao observed their expressions and began to ponder. Seeing their tense expressions, she thought the best time to choose was before the Demon Realm was sealed.
As she was thinking, she heard the ancient bell on the top of the library ring.
The people blocking Fu Yunyao's way looked terrified and drew their swords.
"A demon has invaded! Quickly, inform the elders!"
"Wait a minute, where did the person who was just here go?"
Fu Yunyao had already left while they were in a panic.
The Yaotai Realm was filled with array formations and barriers, but thanks to the Rangchen Restriction and Rangchen Sword on her body, her movements were not hindered.
When they arrived outside the forbidden area of Yaotai Realm again, the shadows of the branches swayed in the forest, and the bright spring sunshine shone down, but never fell into the forbidden area.
She lifted her foot and stepped into this place that had occupied almost half of her life.
The restrictive patterns surging on the stone wall, every single one of them remained in her memory.
In the dim candlelight, a woman knelt in the center of the altar, her frail body exuding a sickly aura. Sensing the movement, she did not turn around.
He spoke, his voice soft but cold.
"I told you, I don't want to see you."
Fu Yunyao lowered her eyes. She had seen her in the Linglang Secret Realm before, and one of the spirit tablets in that forbidden area belonged to her.
"Su Rutang, a mortal with the bones of an immortal, suffered a tragic family tragedy and was destined to die young, thus becoming the first sword master and sacrifice of the Dust Sword."
A few strokes in an ancient book summed up her life.
Not receiving a response from the person behind her for a long time, Su Rutang frowned and turned her head slightly.
She was beautiful; even her profile was stunning. Her pale face hinted at the illness that had plagued her for years, adding a touch of fragility to her beauty.
Su Rutang looked at her, her gentle eyes slightly apprehensive, and she spoke, her tone questioning.
"Who are you, and how did you get in?"
Under the control of the Dust Sword's restriction, only the sword master and the sacrifice chosen by it can enter the Yaotai Realm.
A dark red light emanated from the stone wall, falling upon the two people in an eerie and silent atmosphere.
Su Rutang received no response from her. She slowly stood up and looked at the girl in front of her who looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old. The white veil wrapped around her neck appeared somewhat dark red under the forbidden light.
She wanted to say something more, but suddenly noticed that the Dust Restriction on her wrist was faintly burning.
She reached up to cover her wrist, and an idea suddenly flashed through her mind.
Su Rutang looked up in disbelief, and Fu Yunyao met her gaze and slowly nodded.
She removed the white veil wrapped around her neck, revealing a slender neck covered in dense, swirling patterns of forbidden energy that seemed poised to snap her fragile neck at any moment.
Su Rutang covered her mouth with her hand and staggered back a few steps.
"How could this be..." she whispered, her eyes filled with astonishment and fear.
Fu Yunyao wrapped the white veil back around herself, concealing the horrifying patterns beneath. Just as she was about to say something, the woman grabbed her hand.
"It must be mistaken. I'm still alive, how could you... Could it be that I've become so weak that even with my immortal bones, I can't completely suppress its demonic energy?"
Fu Yunyao lowered her head, her gaze falling on the woman's clasped hands with hers.
She thought for a moment, then reached out her other hand and patted Su Rutang's hand. For a moment, she didn't know how to comfort her.
Unbeknownst to her, over the past three thousand years, seven other mortal sacrifices, just like her, have appeared.
She didn't know what kind of ending she would face.
Several years ago, Fu Yunyao saw her entire life in the Linlang Secret Realm.
Su Rutang, the only daughter of the Su family, was gentle and kind, and had an exceptionally beautiful appearance. Unfortunately, she was born sickly and spent many years in pain.
When she was twenty-one, the Su family suffered a tragedy, with all 347 people dying overnight, but she was the only one who disappeared without a trace.
For the next few years, she lived in the Yaotai Realm until the first Sword Master Changliu and many other powerful beings joined forces to seal the Demon Realm.
To seal the Demon Realm, Changliu's life force was damaged, and he died in just three days. Su Rutang, who was deeply in love with him, committed suicide for him.
A double suicide pact?
Thinking of this, Fu Yunyao couldn't help but chuckle. The Su Rutang she knew was not that kind of person.
She spoke, gently comforting the person in front of her whose face was full of worry.
"You don't need to worry about me. This restriction means nothing to me."
Su Rutang was somewhat skeptical, but the girl looked relaxed, even smiling, and gazed at her tenderly.
Meeting her gaze, Su Rutang also slightly raised her eyebrows.
"If you feel unwell, don't force yourself to stay awake."
Fu Yunyao shook her head. She looked at the altar. In the flickering candlelight, there was only a sword stand made of a thousand-year-old ice on the altar, which exuded a cold aura in the dim forbidden area.
Su Rutang followed her gaze and spoke, her gentle voice tinged with sadness.
"You look like you're only seventeen years old, so how come you're trapped in this dark and gloomy prison?"
"And what about you?" Fu Yunyao asked her.
She laughed, "Me? I was already a dead person, but because of my constitution, I was chosen by Chen Jian as a sacrifice and survived by chance."
Fu Yunyao reached out and touched the Rangchen Sword at her waist. "It granted you extended life, but it also deprived you of your freedom, confining you to this forbidden land. Don't you resent it?"
Su Rutang was stumped by her question, and she looked up.
Outside the forbidden area, spring is in full bloom and the trees are lovely.
She said.
"I won't be stuck here."
The dim light fell on her frail body, but it could not break her proud spirit.
Fu Yunyao walked to her side and asked softly.
"Then, would you like to come out with me?"
go out?
Su Rutang turned her head and met her gaze.
Her eyes sparkled with tiny lights, her features gentle and docile. She asked her, "I'll take you away."
Su Rutang thought she should refuse, but...
She gazed at the vibrant life outside and nodded slowly but firmly.
Fu Yunyao smiled and reached out to grab Su Rutang's wrist.
Amidst the astonished gazes of the other party, she led them out of the forbidden area openly and legitimately.
She walked very slowly, as if she were taking care of her body.
Su Rutang was puzzled, as the spring sunshine fell on her, bringing a long-lost warmth.
"Are we just going to leave like this? Aren't we going to hide somewhere?"
She thought they should at least avoid people a little.
Fu Yunyao looked at her curiously, tilting her head. "Why are you hiding? We're not criminals."
As she was speaking, a group of Yaotai Realm disciples dressed in blue suddenly appeared in front of her.
The Yaotai Realm elder, who had just finished dealing with the invading demons, looked at the people in front of him who should have been in the forbidden area and felt a headache coming on.
He wanted to forcibly bring Su Rutang back, but then he thought of the person who was still at the border of the Demon Realm, and he suppressed the irritation in his heart.
He forced a smile. "Young Master, why did you come out? It's dangerous outside."
Su Rutang lowered her head, unwilling to look at him.
When he turned to look at Fu Yunyao on the side, his face immediately darkened.
"And who are you? You trespassed into my Yaotai Realm without cause, and now you're trying to trick our young master into leaving. What are you trying to do?"
Before Fu Yunyao could speak, a gentle voice rang out.
Su Rutang stood in front of her, her wide hem fluttering in the sea breeze, brushing against the back of her hand.
She heard her say it.
"It is I who am leaving the forbidden area; it has nothing to do with the girl beside me."
The elder's eyes were practically spitting fire, but Su Rutang was not afraid at all. She stared into his eyes, which were full of anger.
"I am not a vessel; I have thoughts, I have flesh and blood. If I want to leave, why can't I?"
You covet my constitution, wanting me to be obedient, to submit, to remain forever in the forbidden land, a peaceful sacrifice.
But I refuse!
A disciple behind the elder couldn't help but speak up, "You are just a mortal, and you were fortunate enough to be favored by the ancient divine sword and enjoy a long life. Instead of being grateful, you cause the sword master and the elder to worry. Now you even want to run away. You are simply lawless!"
"Escape?" Su Rutang raised her eyes. "Is there any rule in this world that dictates I must stay in this forbidden area? If I want to leave, so what?"
The elder closed his eyes, suppressing his anger. The sword master cared deeply for her, so he couldn't move, but the girl behind her was a different story.
“Young lady, we do not wish to have a conflict with you, but if we allow you to take the young master away today, and something happens to her in the future, it would be disregarding the well-being of the people.”
As he spoke, he drew his sword, its blade still stained with the blood of the demon race.
His disciples behind him also drew their swords.
Su Rutang instinctively wanted to protect Fu Yunyao behind her.
Fu Yunyao raised her hand to stop her.
Su Rutang stared at her in a daze.
The girl, dressed in plain clothes, looked exceptionally harmless. When she spoke, her voice even carried a hint of laughter.
"You just said two things wrong. First, the fate of all living beings should not be tied to one person alone. There are millions of cultivators and mortals in the world. If they are determined, what is there to fear from the demonic tide? Second..."
She paused for a moment, then a smile spread across her eyes.
The sword, which was tied around her waist like an accessory, took shape and landed in her hand.
Under the sunlight, the ice-blue sword still emitted frost.
Fu Yunyao looked up, a gentle breeze blowing through her hair, bringing with it her soft, smiling voice.
"Who said she would get into trouble?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: Liao Liao, the hero who saved the damsel in distress (?).
Liao Liao is both gentle and powerful!
Another new dungeon~ Yu Yu Ren Ren, you'll see Liao Liao soon (with a serious expression).
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