Chapter 105
Almost at the same instant the flames went out, a flurry of snowflakes began to fall from the sky, then stopped and all of them rushed toward the two of them!
Sheng Ningyu reacted quickly.
She drew her sword, intending to break the deadlock with it, but an irresistible force came from behind her.
Relying on her status as the array master, Ning Jiao, filled with hatred, used all her strength to fiercely shove Sheng Ningyu away.
A tear of blood rolled down from the corner of his eye and into the scorched earth.
...
Outside the city lord's mansion.
Everything went exactly as Feng Xiaosheng had predicted.
Like four invisible mountains, they pressed heavily on the spot.
Seeing this display, the cultivators below dared not make the slightest move. They all held their breath, bowed their heads, and stood solemnly with their robes drawn, not daring to let their eyes wander. They were extremely quiet and well-behaved.
But unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred.
A disciple from the Weapon Refining Pavilion scrambled into the hall, his face ashen, his spiritual energy in disarray, clearly having experienced something horrific. His voice was hoarse and broken, almost incoherent: "In the city... another... entirely new demonic seed has been born!"
He was breathing heavily, his eyes were bloodshot with fear, and he was speaking incoherently.
Rong Que frowned slightly, and gently raised his hand to support his disciple's body.
"Please explain in detail, fellow Daoist."
The Weapon Forging Sect is wealthy, but it has always remained secluded in a remote corner and rarely participates in such obstacle-removing matters. If they were not trapped in the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeping City, they would never have asked their own sect's disciples for help.
Before the words were finished, a dull, eerie echo, like a giant beast chewing, seemed to come from the air not far away, accompanied by a faint, abruptly stopped scream.
How could this be?
Ruan Shu drew a divination seal with her fingers again, and a golden light flashed in her eyes.
In an instant, countless fine, golden runes, like proverbs, flowed and emerged from her sleeves and clothes, resembling a star array or an ancient seal script dragon, suddenly swirling and rising, enveloping her in a layer of mysterious light that intertwined reality and illusion.
In the blink of an eye, Yuan Bushu had already stood up: "I'll go and take a look."
Yuan Bushu and Rong Que had just temporarily forced back the newly emerged puppet barrier in the city. When they returned, their robes were covered in dust, but their auras were steady, clearly indicating that the situation was under control.
How could things change so suddenly?
This turn of events happened too quickly, as if a pair of eyes had already calculated the moment when they calmed their demonic energy and relaxed their minds, and quietly pulled another deadly thread in the shadows.
Yuan Bushu's face was cold and his knuckles slowly tightened: "I'll go check."
Rong Que disagreed, saying, "The former Palace Master has just returned from outside; perhaps we should wait a moment." He turned to Ruan Shu and asked, "Elder Ruan, have you divined anything?"
Ruan Shu opened her eyes and looked around.
Rong Que, acting head of the Sword Pavilion; Yuan Bushu, head of the Cloud Gazing Palace; Feng Pianpian, elder of the Phoenix Clan; the head of the Weapon Refining Pavilion; elders of the Nine Heavens Pavilion; and the people of the City Lord's Mansion...
Some were worried, some were restrained, some looked terrified, and some had excited eyes, as if they were fully prepared to "rise up in rebellion".
In a fleeting moment, it encompasses the joys and sorrows of all beings, and the cause and effect of the mortal world arises invisibly, binding all kinds of beings in a net.
Someone had disrupted the causal chain, and all the meticulous planning and scheming she had previously put in was easily destroyed.
But should we tell or not tell about this result?
Ruan Shu wondered, what should she do?
The fire in the city lord's mansion is still burning.
Flames soared into the sky and continued to spread, making the already sleepless city appear almost desolate.
Ruan Shu turned her head, and the firelight met her eyes.
If she were there, what would she do?
After being rescued by Sheng Ningyu, by chance, she was noticed by the passing Tianji Pavilion Master and taken in by his side.
Aside from becoming friends with Han Yuyi by chance, Ruan Shu never trusted anyone else.
Want to take a gamble?
Ruan Shu lowered her eyelashes slightly, as if sensing the threads of destiny in the void. After a moment, she spoke slowly: "Destiny flows and has no constant course. Although the appearance of the demon seed was earlier than predicted, it may not be the beginning of calamity."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it had a calming power.
Upon hearing this, almost everyone who had been waiting anxiously below breathed a long sigh of relief.
Some people felt relieved, some felt regretful, but no one questioned it.
This is an elder of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.
The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is hidden deep in the clouds and mountains, with few disciples who rarely enter the mortal world, yet no one dares to underestimate it.
This is because the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion possesses the ancient "Fragment of Heavenly Destiny," and successive pavilion masters have controlled the Yin-Yang pivot, observing the movement of stars, the rise and fall of all things in the world, and the entanglements of cause and effect. The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion never speaks lightly, but once it does, it is because it has glimpsed the undeniable ripples in the long river of fate.
"Ah Shu, you must not speak recklessly."
Ruan Shu suddenly opened her eyes wide and stood up abruptly!
The clear, transparent clouds in the sky suddenly parted like a curtain, and a graceful figure emerged silently from the clouds and landed slowly in front of the palace.
There was no dazzling sunset, no overwhelming power.
He was an old man.
His hair was as white as snow, and his demeanor was naturally elegant.
He wore a spotless, deep blue Taoist robe with silver patterns, its wide sleeves fluttering in the wind. He possessed no imposing spiritual aura, yet exuded a serene demeanor that subtly harmonized with the rhythm of heaven and earth.
It was as if he did not come riding on clouds, but rather stepped out of time and place from some era in the long history of the universe and quietly landed here.
This legendary figure, who had truly foreseen all the secrets of heaven and lived in seclusion for hundreds of years, actually descended to the mortal world at this moment.
In an instant, you could hear a pin drop in the huge building.
As the "Number One Young Master" in the eyes of the world, Rong Que's experiences and knowledge over the years as the acting head of the Sword Pavilion are beyond what ordinary people can compare to. He stood up and remained calm in the face of the situation.
"Sect Master Xin, it's been a long time."
Ruan Shu had already walked up to Xin Zhuiwang and bowed her head deeply: "Master."
As a disciple, Ruan Shu knew that Xin Zhuiwang had many different forms whenever he came out of the mountain.
When he transforms into an old man, it is because he received the prophecy from the "Fragment of Heavenly Destiny" and must descend to the mortal world to tell it.
Xin Zhuiwang's gaze lingered on Ruan Shu's face for only a moment.
He didn't blame him, he just slowly shook his head.
The voice was old and calm, yet it carried an unquestionable indifference, as if it came from the very nature of Heaven itself.
“Ah Shu, fate is like a flowing river; once its course is set, it cannot be reversed by human effort or changed by words.”
Ruan Shu's face suddenly turned pale, and her fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly.
Upon hearing this, several elders in the city lord's mansion were overjoyed!
The tide has turned, and they've finally gained the upper hand!
A triumphant moment!
Immediately, a steward from the city lord's mansion rushed forward, bowed deeply to the ground, and said in a trembling voice, "The presence of the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is truly an honor for our city! We humbly request the Pavilion Master to preside over the ceremony..."
"Fool." Someone in the crowd scoffed in a very low voice.
If it weren't for the earth-shattering event that was about to happen here, which even the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion had to face, why would the Pavilion Master, who had been living in seclusion for hundreds of years, come to the mortal world in person?
With the situation reversed, the disciples of Banbi Sect and Yunwang Palace stood silently, their expressions solemn.
Elder Feng Pianpian of the Phoenix Clan could not contain herself and stepped forward from the crowd, asking loudly, "May I ask Pavilion Master Xin, what kind of incident has alarmed you to personally come out of seclusion?"
Xin Zhuiwang's gaze swept past her, then fell upon the entire city ablaze with fire, each word striking like a hammer blow to everyone's hearts: "The City That Never Sleeps..."
He closed his eyes slightly, and the final note turned into a long sigh.
“Yin and Yang are reversed, life and death are reversed. Within three days, all life in this place will be extinguished, turning it into a desolate wasteland.” The old man’s voice was deep and slow, like the sound of an evening bell. “All living beings must leave immediately.”
I cannot forgive his furrowed brows.
"The former Palace Master must not!"
Before Xin Zhuiwang could respond, a sect leader affiliated with the city lord's mansion vehemently objected, "If the people move, the whole city will panic, and order will collapse instantly! The puppet barrier is based on the hearts of the people; wouldn't it be even easier to infiltrate then? It might cause great chaos!"
"Moreover, evacuation takes time. How can we settle hundreds of thousands of ordinary people in such a rush? If something unexpected happens along the way, it will only add to the karmic burden!"
A dispute was about to break out, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
An indescribable chill, as if emanating from the deepest depths of the netherworld, enveloped the entire area without warning.
It wasn't a drop in temperature, but rather a sense of presence that directly invaded the primordial spirit and froze spiritual energy.
The light of daylight suddenly dimmed for a moment.
leave!
Get out of here!
But they just can't move!
Xin Zhuiwang also felt this pressure. He was secretly alarmed and said in a deep voice, "Please show yourself, Your Excellency."
A soft laugh rang out, startling everyone so much that their hearts nearly stopped beating.
He was still dressed in a snow-white robe, but wisps of blood-red black energy, like living things, swirled and rolled around the robe.
The blood was a dark, deep crimson, seeping out in wisps from his cuffs, hem, and even the tips of his hair, swirling and rising, creating an almost eerie harmony with his pure white attire.
If it weren't for the fact that no one else in the world could match his aura, almost everyone would mistake him for a tragic and beautiful ghost.
The Lord of the Demon Realm, Xie Qianjing.
Rong Que stared at the newcomer.
This time, Rong Que, the First Young Master who always presented himself as gentle and refined, unusually remained silent.
Yuan Bushu stepped forward first and nodded slightly to Xie Qianjing: "Demonic Lord, have you come here with something to tell me?"
Xie Qianjing calmly said, "I just happened to be passing by and overheard a few words outside the door."
His eyes remained unmoved, his entire being as cold as ice, and his tone as indifferent as the silent snow of winter.
"What the former palace master just said is not difficult to do. Using demonic energy as a guide and the silver threads to capture souls as a contract, everyone in the city can obey my orders. If I tell them to leave, they will leave; if I tell them to be still, they will be still."
The entire venue was deathly silent.
All the cultivators, whether friend or foe, were instantly terrified.
What a callous and heartless tactic! To treat all living beings as mere puppets!
How is this any different from that captivating puppet barrier?!
The next second, some people felt an even deeper shock and fear from Xie Qianjing's nonchalant words.
What kind of powerful and refined cultivation and control would one need to dare to utter the arrogant statement of manipulating the lives of an entire city with demonic energy?
No one dared to question whether Xie Qianjing could do it.
The entire audience fell silent.
Yuan Bushu hesitated, his expression clearly showing disapproval, but someone else spoke up faster.
For the first time, a noticeable ripple appeared in Xin Zhuiwang's aged eyes.
"The fire will stop."
Xin Zhuiwang was not annoyed by being interrupted: "Does the Demon Lord have any basis for making such a judgment?"
Xie Qianjing: "The Bright Moon Sword Master is in the formation."
His tone was so calm, as if he were stating some established fact.
As long as the Bright Moon Sword Master is there, can he do anything that is impossible?
Xin Zhuiwang found it all absurd and laughable.
But then, he noticed the expressions on the faces of the people below.
Awe, longing, horror...
Even that fool who had just tried to regain power lost his composure, his face pale as he hid behind the crowd.
These people genuinely think that way.
Ignorance.
Utterly ignorant.
Xin Zhuiwang remained silent for a moment, then suddenly called out, "Thank you, Little Immortal Lord."
This ancient title, carrying a certain specific identity, gave a jolt to many of the elderly people present who knew some of the long-forgotten stories.
Rong Que replied without hesitation, "My junior sister's injuries have not yet healed, and I will not allow her to take any risks."
Xin Zhuiwang sighed: "The laws of nature and cause and effect have their own laws. Before the Great Dao, you and I are like ants, and it is beyond human power to stop us."
Hearing their conversation, Xie Qianjing suddenly twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a very faint smile.
"But she is Sheng Ningyu."
Sheng Ningyu is Sheng Ningyu.
She was unrestrained and carefree; no one could confine her to a place she didn't want to be, and no one could stop her from doing what she wanted to do.
Sheng Ningyu never needs anyone's "permission" to do things.
Seemingly understanding Xie Qianjing's unfinished words, Rong Que could no longer maintain his smile. He said meaningfully, "I hope that the Demon Lord will be careful with his words."
With Sheng Ningyu absent, Xie Qianjing naturally wouldn't say anything more.
He simply stood silently, gazing out the window.
Inside the city lord's mansion, the raging fire that seemed to be burning everything to the sky was extinguished without warning in that instant.
It didn't gradually fade, but rather seemed to be suddenly wiped away by a giant hand; light, heat, sound, and flame instantly returned to a silent darkness and lingering smoke.
Almost at the same moment, a pure white sword light shot into the sky from the center of the silent scorched earth and reached the building in the blink of an eye!
Everyone suddenly stood up!
As the smoke and dust cleared, a person stood there.
Dressed in plain white, she looked radiant.
Someone murmured to themselves, "The Bright Moon Sword Master...it's the Sword Master!"
This murmur was like the first stone thrown into a deep pool. Immediately afterwards, a second and a third voice came from different corners, filled with disbelief, trembling and astonishment: "It really is... the Bright Moon Sword Master!"
The sound waves quickly converged and rose higher, sweeping across the entire building like a tidal wave: "It's the Sword Master!"
"With the Sword Master here, we are saved!"
Countless gazes, filled with fervor, shock, ecstasy, and awe, were fixed on Sheng Ningyu.
Some people's swords at their waists hummed softly, as if in celebration, while younger disciples stared wide-eyed at the figure in pure white, as if trying to connect the person before them with the legends of the past.
The noise was deafening, and the fervent emotions swept through like a torrent.
But Sheng Ningyu didn't care.
She simply looked around, as cold as a lonely moon hanging high in the sky.
Sheng Ningyu paid no attention to the praise or comments of others.
Only when his gaze met that of the person he was looking for did the coldness in his eyes vanish, replaced by an arrogant smile.
Sheng Ningyu ignored everyone else and strode towards him, drawing out her words: "Why did you come out by yourself? Didn't you wait for me?"
The tone may sound like a complaint, but anyone could hear the intimacy in it.
The icy coldness that had frozen everything on Xie Qianjing's face suddenly melted away, like snow melting in the spring sun. He raised his eyebrows, and the crimson demonic energy around him dissipated completely, his expression gentle to the point of being unreal: "I have prepared a gift for Jiuzhong."
The surrounding cultivators were terrified, as if they had seen a ghost.
Sheng Ningyu did not need Xie Qianjing to answer.
She trusted Xie Qianjing, just as Xie Qianjing trusted her.
Having experienced Xie Qianjing's "soul scattered" in the illusion, Sheng Ningyu couldn't help but lose control when they met in person.
Before Sheng Ningyu could make a move, Xie Qianjing had already taken her hand.
With their fingers intertwined, Sheng Ningyu's smile became even more radiant.
She finally turned her gaze to the others, and said in turn, "Second Senior Brother, Senior Brother Yuan, Elder Ruan..."
After reciting all the titles in the hall, Sheng Ningyu finally turned her eyes and looked at the person standing in the very center.
"You old geezer." Sheng Ningyu looked at Xin Zhuiwang with great curiosity and asked, "How come you're still alive?"
Xin Zhuiwang: "..."
A heart attack, a familiar phenomenon from a century ago, has reappeared.
Rong Que smiled helplessly: "Junior sister, don't talk nonsense. This is Pavilion Master Xin of Tianji Pavilion, who came specifically because of the fire in Shanhai Never Sleeps City."
Sheng Ningyu said lightly, "I see. Practice makes perfect. This time, Pavilion Master Xin arrived even faster."
What does this mean?
The group exchanged glances, and before they could speculate, Sheng Ningyu made her point clear.
At that time, Sheng Ningyu attempted to go to the dungeon to get to the bottom of things.
It was Xin Zhuiwang, the head of the Tianji Pavilion, who stopped them.
Upon hearing this secret matter, all the cultivators fell silent.
Xin Zhuiwang met Sheng Ningyu's gaze and saw that she was not avoiding it at all, still as open and honest as before. A complex sigh flowed through her aged eyes.
Nothing in history remains unchanged, so how can there truly be unchanging people?
"Back then, I obtained a prophecy from the 'Fragment of Destiny' that if the demons and ghosts were not eliminated, there would surely be a great calamity in Hehuan City."
Xin Zhuiwang slowly said, "Back then, before the Sword Master Sheng had assumed the title of 'Sword Master,' there were many far-reaching secrets that were not convenient to discuss. Now that times have changed, it is time to talk about them."
The numerous cultivators below held their breath and focused their attention, only to hear Xin Zhuiwang's aged and deep voice echoing in the building, recounting this long-forgotten story.
"The former city lord of Hehuan City, due to her stagnant cultivation, was trapped at a bottleneck for hundreds of years. Her delusions grew, and she secretly set up an evil array, intending to artificially catalyze and nurture a demonic seed in order to 'slay the demon' again. She fantasized about breaking through the shackles of cultivation and transcending her realm in this extreme way. Unexpectedly, the demonic seed backfired, and the evil power went out of control. Not only did she fail, but her own foundation was also defiled, her soul was damaged, and the whole city was implicated, resulting in a tragedy."
At this point, Xin Zhuiwang paused slightly, as if hinting at something deeper, "I wonder if the Sword Master still has any contact with him?"
Sheng Ningyu's eyebrows twitched.
That old man knows a lot.
"No need for you, Pavilion Master Xin, to trouble yourself."
The crowd parted spontaneously, and a figure in crimson slowly emerged.
It was Feng Qingli.
His face was still beautiful, but his brows held a more serene air, and he looked less dejected than before.
Feng Qingli walked languidly, nodded slightly in the direction of Sheng Ningyu and the others, and said lazily, "What Pavilion Master Xin said is true. After the tragedy that year, the Hehuan Sect was severely weakened, and then changed its name to 'Bluebird One Leaf Flower' and withdrew from the city to the outskirts. This was partly to avoid disaster, and partly to secretly monitor the city and prevent any remaining demonic energy or evil thoughts from causing trouble again. It is our sect's responsibility to protect the peace of this city."
There was neither concealment nor anger.
It simply recounts those old stories that were originally hidden in a calm manner.
The crowd was shocked, and a clamor of discussion arose, but Feng Qingli seemed not to hear it and remained standing in the crowd.
The smile on Sheng Ningyu's face faded.
She knew that her background was a source of anxiety for Feng Qingli, and this caused a rift between them.
But now, he has publicly revealed his true colors.
After all, they were once companions, and even though they had now gone their separate ways, Sheng Ningyu did not want to see him embarrassed.
Just then, Xie Qianjing suddenly spoke up calmly: "When the incident happened back then, Yu Tanqiu, the Pavilion Master of Jiuxiao Pavilion, was also in the city."
The voice was soft, and the simple sentence brought all the noise to a standstill in an instant.
The faces of everyone from Nine Heavens Pavilion instantly turned extremely ugly.
Unfortunately, the one who spoke was the Demon Lord Xie Qianjing, so they dared not speak out against him.
Surprisingly, no one dared to utter a single word in defense of their own leader.
Yuan Bushu immediately replied, "Master Yu was indeed there at the time, but he left shortly after the tragedy occurred."
Sheng Ningyu nodded slightly.
She remembered that.
The master of Jiuxiao Pavilion conspired with the former lord of Hehuan City, but afterwards he claimed that the lord of Hehuan City told him that he could develop a medicine to cure the poison in his wife and daughter.
According to many rumors, Yu Tanqiu was just a pitiful man who took a dangerous risk to cure his wife and daughters of poison.
But Sheng Ningyu didn't believe it.
She didn't believe it before, and now that she has the memories, she believes it even less.
In the crowd, Elder Qin suddenly had a thought. He hesitated for a moment, then said to Sheng Ningyu, "Pavilion Master Yu also visited the city earlier, but left in a hurry."
Moreover, not long after he left, puppet barriers rose up again in the city, and the aura of demons and ghosts reappeared.
The person who spoke was neither the Sword Venerable nor the Demon Venerable. The elder of the Nine Heavens Pavilion immediately said with displeasure, "The events of that day were relayed by the Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion, and since it involved one's own flesh and blood, it's understandable that the Sect Master was flustered."
Sheng Ningyu had already learned what had happened from Yuan Bushu beside her.
Does it involve Senior Sister Han?
Therefore, Yu Tanqiu's panic is understandable.
However, at this moment, Rong Que shook his head.
He frowned slightly, his voice gentle, yet carrying a thoughtful slowness: "I have known Pavilion Master Yu for many years. Although he is upright, he is not one to join in the fun. On that day, both the Pavilion Master of Ghost Canglou and the Sect Leader of Thousand Poison Cave could not find him, and even I did not expect him to be in the Mountain and Sea Never Sleeps City."
Upon hearing this, the cultivators suddenly realized something.
Yu Tanqiu is being too deliberate.
It was as if they deliberately appeared and left, intentionally proving their presence and revealing their innocence, as if they had nothing to do with what happened afterward.
Beside her, Feng Pianpian's eyes also flashed with doubt: "In that case, the appearance and departure of Pavilion Master Yu that day did indeed seem a bit sudden."
She looked at Sheng Ningyu, bowed, and respectfully asked, "May I ask, Sword Master, why has my young master not yet come out of the manor?"
Sheng Ningyu immediately said, "Elder, there is no need to worry. Young Master Feng is stationed at the core of the mansion to prevent any residual fluctuations from the formation or any vengeful spirits from taking the opportunity to escape and wreak havoc on people."
She briefly mentioned what Lady Xiang said in the battle.
Willing to use their bodies as a cage to curb the spread of demonic energy.
Upon hearing this, a brief silence fell over the entire building.
The cultivators looked at each other, their expressions a mixture of emotions.
"She actually..." an older rogue cultivator murmured, shaking his head, his expression a mixture of sigh and reverence.
The disciples of Yunwang Palace and Banbi Sect, who had the deepest connection with Madam Xiang, were particularly emotional.
Several young disciples couldn't help but lower their heads and purse their lips tightly.
Perhaps when Madam Xiang's identity was first revealed, they were also afraid of the demonic aura surrounding her. But now, hearing those words again, they truly remembered this person from their memories.
Fragrant and unique, Lady Fragrant.
In Yunwang Palace, everyone knows that Madam Xiang has always been fair and impartial in her dealings, without the slightest bias.
One of the disciples of the sect suddenly whispered, "Madam Xiang is a very good person."
They are not demons or ghosts, but humans.
She was even better to them than many others.
People would bully her, but this very person, whom they called a wicked "demon," gave her a place to live.
The disciples of Yunwang Palace were most familiar with Sheng Ningyu. Ji Qingwu, who was mixed in with the crowd, looked up and asked with teary eyes, "Sword Master, is there really no other way?"
Sheng Ningyu was always more tolerant of girls this age. She softened the sharpness on her face and said in a gentle tone, "If handled properly, there may be a glimmer of hope."
Xin Zhuiwang sighed deeply, taking Sheng Ningyu's words as comforting a younger generation, and did not refute them.
Sheng Ningyu gave a soft hum.
She didn't say anything more about demons and ghosts, but instead talked about her plans.
As for Sister Ayan's matter, Sheng Ningyu had already sent a telepathic message to Senior Brother Feifou earlier.
Too much talk leads to mistakes. Sister Ayan's chance of survival is extremely slim, and Sheng Ningyu dares not delay or let more people know.
Rong Que, upon hearing Sheng Ningyu's words, seemed to recall something, his gaze sweeping over Xie Qianjing before he suddenly sighed softly.
Rong Que said, "Junior Sister doesn't intend to eliminate the demons and ghosts, but instead wants to convert them?"
Sheng Ningyu nodded: "Yes, they are innocent people. If they are removed, their souls will be completely scattered and they will have no next life."
Rong Que raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze lingering on the clasped hands of Sheng Ningyu and Rong Que: "If we are to do what Junior Sister says, we need the cooperation of the people in the city."
Sheng Ningyu was somewhat confused: "It is just as Senior Brother said."
Rong Que smiled gently: "Junior sister may not know this, but before you arrived, the Demon Lord said that he had already used demonic energy as a catalyst to control the people of the entire city. Such methods... are probably not what junior sister needs now."
Sheng Ningyu: "..."
She silently turned her head and looked at Xie Qianjing.
Xie Qianjing looked at him innocently.
Everyone held their breath and looked at Sheng Ningyu.
I wonder how the Sword Master of Bright Moon will react?
"This method is good, but we can't use it this time," Sheng Ningyu said regretfully.
Everyone: "...?"
good?
What's so good about it!
Is this something a Sword Master should say?!
"If the Sword Master also thinks so, perhaps this method is truly feasible?" a disciple whispered.
This is none other than the Bright Moon Sword Master!
What she said must be true!
Upon hearing this, Rong Que showed a rare hint of anger: "Mingyue!"
"Don't be angry, senior brother. I was just joking."
Sheng Ningyu glanced at Rong Que, her words seemingly obedient, but paired with her lazy smile, they came across as perfunctory.
Rong Que frowned deeply.
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.
Even Xin Zhuiwang, who had always been calm and composed, finally showed a barely perceptible pause on his face.
The demonic cultivators following Xie Qianjing in the shadows trembled in unison, almost burying their heads in their chests, not daring to even glance at their master.
Not for any other reason than the undisguised casualness and matter-of-factness in Sheng Ningyu's tone.
"good."
The Demon Lord agreed.
Without the slightest hesitation, without the slightest anger.
On the contrary, his tone rose, revealing a hint of pleasure.
She was even more gentle than when she spoke to them earlier.
The entire venue was deathly silent.
Only the wind, passing through the scorched earth and ruins, made a soft whistling sound, stirring the slowly receding and dissipating blood-black demonic energy on Xie Qianjing's white robes, and also stirring up the surging waves in the hearts of countless cultivators.
The Demon Lord... The Demon Lord not only didn't get angry, but laughed even more happily?
This...this...
Someone couldn't help but whisper, "Could the rumors be true?"
Sword Master wasn't trying to conceal his identity; he truly had become Daoist partners with the Demon Lord?!
The other person shook their head, indicating that this was not the time to talk about this.
Xie Qianjing did not refute Sheng Ningyu's words, and the other cultivators could only obey.
It wasn't that they were truly united, but rather that the Bright Moon Sword Master was present.
Bright Moon Sword Master.
These four words, like the most solid formation in the world, brought everyone together.
As long as she is there, sinful thoughts will no longer dare to arise, and those who waver will only lean in one direction.
But new difficulties have arisen.
"We will naturally heed the Sword Master's words, but what about the people in the city?"
How can we keep them in place without causing them resentment?
Xin Zhuiwang refused to listen any further.
As he believed, the secrets of Heaven cannot be changed, nor can they be altered.
The old man then stood up and said with a grave expression, "I have delivered my message. The choice is yours to make."
The others naturally bid him farewell. Among them, Elder Qingniao Yiyehua was momentarily stunned. Looking at the situation on the field, he suddenly felt that everything couldn't be simpler.
Back then, they regarded every prophecy in the "Fragment of the Heavenly Book" from the Tianji Pavilion as a priceless treasure, and dared not disobey it.
But now, with just a few simple words from the Bright Moon Sword Master, even the prophecies of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion are no longer valid.
The elder of the Azure Bird One Leaf Flower Sect turned to look at the cultivator who had asked the question: "Young friend, what brings you here?"
The cultivator was stunned, his face flushed, and he stammered, "Sword Master, Sword Master is here..."
"The same is true," said Elder Qingniao Yiyehua. "Tell the people in the city that it was the Bright Moon Sword Master who said it."
Everyone suddenly realized what was going on.
On the contrary, Sheng Ningyu was somewhat doubtful. She stroked the hilt of her sword at her waist and scratched her head somewhat awkwardly: "I've disappeared for so many years, I'm afraid not many people recognize me anymore."
Leaving aside those exaggerated rumors circulating in the streets, there are probably very few people left who actually had any contact with her.
Upon hearing this, Ruan Shu gently shook her head.
Ignoring Xin Zhuiwang's expression, she whispered, "Sword Master, you are overthinking it."
Mortals are the most fickle, yet also the most sentimental.
They are ungrateful, cunning, and fickle.
They also embody the spirit of gratitude and passing it down through generations.
Sword Master Mingyue, Sword Master Mingyue.
Before leaving, Ruan Shu whispered to Sheng Ningyu.
"The Sword Master acts as he pleases, and there is nothing he cannot do."
This was the best possible outcome of all the divine revelations she had glimpsed.
...
In the city lord's mansion.
Ning Jiao turned her head to Feng Xiaosheng, raising an innocent smile.
"Young Master is here. I've been waiting for you."
Feng Xiaosheng looked at her, her eyebrows slightly raised, but her eyes were now undisguisedly cold.
"Did Madam Qi anticipate that I would stay?"
Ning Jiao didn't care about her address and chuckled, "Senior sister can't bear to part with that demon, and since I gave her a push, she naturally has to go out and find a way to save her."
And her...
Ning Jiao laughed.
She turned her head and said to Feng Xiaosheng in a cheerful and happy voice, "Young Master, just kill me already."
Feng Xiaosheng sneered. With Sheng Ningyu gone, she was too lazy to continue her pretense with Ning Jiao.
This is the person, such a shallow and vicious person, who took advantage of Sheng Mingyue's trust and joined forces with others to seal her in a coffin for sixty years.
Sixty years.
Feng Xiaosheng suppressed his disgust and sneered, "Ning Jiao, no matter what you're scheming, listen carefully: Sheng Mingyue will never say a harsh word to me because I killed you."
Ning Jiao smiled gently and said, "But people all over the world will say that."
Your senior sister killed your brother.
And you killed me.
From now on, no one in the world can speak ill of her anymore.
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Author's Note: Haha, I already hinted that Ning Jiao doesn't think like a normal person, nor does she follow the typical villainous female supporting character's mindset. [Sunglasses]
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