Qianjinlou is located at the intersection of the realms of immortals, demons, and humans, and does business in all three realms.
However, the spiritual energy here was turbid and the evil energy was rampant, and no one in the Three Realms could control it, so it was allowed to develop into a lawless place.
Once inside this territory, no one in the Three Realms, even those with irreconcilable hatred, is allowed to quarrel or fight.
Most of those who come here are people who need something from Qianjinlou or do business with Qianjinlou, so they will not break Qianjinlou's rules.
Therefore, as soon as Jiang Fei entered this "three-no" territory, he found that whether it was cultivators, demon cultivators, or even ordinary mortals, they ignored each other and hurried through the area.
That's interesting.
At the entrance of Qianjin Tower, hundreds of people had already gathered. Among them were high-ranking Nascent Soul stage immortal cultivators, demonic cultivators with murderous intent in their eyes, and even royalty from the human realm. But no matter how noble they were, they all waited patiently.
Upon inquiry, Jiang Fei learned that these people were all seeking entry into Qianjin Tower, as it was rumored that Qianjin Tower contained countless rare treasures.
Jiang Fei had little patience. He bypassed the waiting crowd and went straight to the entrance of Qianjinlou.
The people around her all turned to look at her, their eyes clearly showing their enjoyment of the spectacle.
The immortal cultivators sneered. "He's just a mere Golden Core cultivator, yet he's so arrogant. He'll probably be kicked out of Qianjin Tower before he even gets close."
The demonic cultivators were filled with greed, waiting for Qianjinlou to drive the immortal cultivator out so they could seize his inner core.
The ordinary people didn't have much malice, but they were somewhat gloating.
Jiang Fei walked to the entrance of Qianjin Tower without changing his expression, and as expected, he was stopped by the guards standing at the door: "Anyone who forcibly enters will be killed without mercy."
Jiang Fei smiled, then used his index finger as a knife to make a cut on his palm, from which a bead of blood seeped out.
She reached out and collected the blood droplet, then presented it to the guard: "Please present this drop of blood to the master of Qianjin Tower."
The guard glanced at her suspiciously, but perhaps seeing the determination in her eyes, he finally turned and went into the building.
When she came out again, the guard's expression was noticeably more respectful: "Miss, please."
A commotion erupted behind him.
Jiang Fei smiled and followed the guard inside.
The interior of Qianjin Tower is extremely luxurious, even more magnificent than the imperial palace.
Several towering pillars were coiled with giant pythons that glowed with flames, and the walls were inlaid with several fist-sized luminous pearls, illuminating the dark interior of the building.
Then, Jiang Fei saw Rong Shu leaning lazily against the golden chair, casually playing with two luminous pearls in his hand.
Unlike the luxurious surroundings, Rong Shu wore only a blue robe, her long hair tied on top of her head, and her eyebrows and eyes still had a youthful air, like a budding rose, indescribably gorgeous.
A huge crowd waited outside to see him, but he seemed quite relaxed.
Jiang Fei smiled; she liked it.
She just didn't like the 0% favorability rating on his face.
"It really is an extremely yin and cold heavenly spiritual root," Rong Shu's eyes lit up when she saw Jiang Fei. She put down the luminous pearl, stood up from her seat, and walked barefoot to Jiang Fei, looking her up and down. "Now I finally see one alive."
Rong Shu's favorability rating: 5.
Jiang Fei's eyes flickered slightly as she met Rong Shu's gaze.
His eyes were full of admiration as he looked at her, but this admiration had nothing to do with her as a person. It was as if he were examining a fine object. That was the same look he had when he looked at the luminous pearl earlier.
"Lord Rong..."
Jiang Fei was about to speak when Rong Shu interrupted him: "Just call me Rong Shu," he said, still looking at her. His gaze then fell on her chest, and he frowned slightly. "This is unnecessary."
Jiang Fei raised her eyebrows slightly.
He was staring at his own heart.
"I've heard that the blood pact is with Lord Rong?" Jiang Fei asked slowly.
Rong Shu reluctantly withdrew her gaze and nodded casually: "It's been so long since anyone has looked for this item that I almost forgot it existed."
At this point, he looked at her with great interest: "You want it?"
Jiang Fei nodded: "Yes."
Rong Shu laughed even more heartily: "This is the first time someone has asked me for something so confidently." After laughing, she asked with a hint of curiosity, "What do you want the blood pact for?"
Jiang Fei paused, then looked up and said, "For one person."
As she spoke, her eyes shone brightly and resolutely. Rong Shu, however, frowned deeply.
The enthusiasm in her eyes was blinding; she showed no awareness whatsoever of being a "medicinal ingredient."
He didn't like his "medicinal herbs" to have too many emotions; he preferred them to be obedient and let him do as he pleased.
"Who is it?" Rong Shu asked casually, but her gaze fell on Jiang Fei's chest.
He had seen a cultivator who, in order to cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness, had his heart ripped out while still alive. He was still alive, but had no emotions left and was lifeless.
Although the immortal cultivator was ultimately struck down by the Heavenly Dao, he did not die from having his heart ripped out.
Besides... he likes a lifeless atmosphere.
“Xin Qi.” Jiang Fei pursed her lips and responded to his words indifferently.
Rong Shu blinked and looked into Jiang Fei's eyes: "Who?"
“Xin Qi,” Jiang Fei replied again.
Rong Shu suddenly laughed.
If he remembered correctly, Xin Qi was deeply in love with a cultivator named Tang Feiyan from Wunian Mountain. Now, this woman in front of him had the same physique as that little cultivator and had come to find a blood pact for Xin Qi's sake...
I fear that Xin Qi harbors ulterior motives.
Thinking of this, Rong Shu suddenly reached out and touched Jiang Fei's brow, and sure enough, there were traces of the Love-Locking Curse.
He really didn't want to do something as bloody as gouging out his heart unless he was forced to, as it was too mentally and physically exhausting.
Wouldn't it be better if the woman realized that Xin Qi was only using her and then became heartless and unloving?
Rong Shu smiled innocently: "It's just a blood pact, young lady..." He frowned as if he had just realized that he hadn't asked her name yet.
"My name is Jiang Fei," Jiang Fei said slowly and deliberately.
“It’s not important,” Rong Shu waved her hand. A medicinal herb doesn’t need to have its own name. “If you want a blood pact, I will give it to you, but…”
He shook his head with feigned difficulty: "Even I can't get close to that blood pact, you're going to suffer a lot."
"What kind of hardship?"
Rong Shu clapped her hands, and the floor tiles under her feet spun rapidly. In a short while, the surrounding scenery had completely changed.
By the time Jiang Fei regained his senses, Rong Shu had already disappeared, and the surroundings were pitch black.
"After passing through these three trials and leaving this place, the Blood Pact will be at the end." Rong Shu's voice echoed in the empty space above.
As soon as he finished speaking, a loud rumble resounded, and a stone staircase rose up before him.
On one side of the stone steps, the three characters "Testing the Heart Steps" are written in gold powder.
Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow. These stone steps did indeed resemble the testing stone of her original world.
A surge of excitement rose within her; she missed that world that belonged to her so much.
Jiang Fei slowly walked up the stone steps. In an instant, the surroundings shifted and the stone steps grew to the size of a mountain, like claws growing from a demon's lair, exuding a chilling aura.
Then, a beam of light ripped through the darkness overhead, and a bright silver lightning bolt struck the stone steps.
Jiang Fei hurriedly used magic to avoid the heavenly lightning, watching as the lightning struck the stone steps, creating a shallow pit. Pebbles scattered everywhere, each one deeply embedded in the stone wall.
[System: Host?]
Jiang Fei looked at the marks left by the lightning and laughed: "Just playing around."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Rong Shu's voice came from above: "If the heavenly lightning breaks the stone steps, the path ahead will also disappear."
Jiang Fei cursed under her breath. Rong Shu's words meant that she should not only consider her own safety but also protect the stone steps.
She leaped into the air and onto the second set of stone steps. The lightning bolts were even stronger than before, hurtling towards her with the force of thunder.
Jiang Fei hurriedly used magic to block the heavenly lightning, and then suddenly flung it to the side, watching as the lightning struck the stone wall, causing the earth to shake violently.
Fortunately, the stone steps were unobstructed.
Using the same method, Jiang Fei climbed all the way up to the eighth stone step.
But the heavenly lightning grew increasingly powerful. By the eighth level, her current magical power was no longer enough to withstand it, and it cleaved half of the stone steps in two. The ninth level…
Jiang Fei stood panting on the ninth floor, watching the dark clouds churning overhead like the wrath of the heavens. Then, a bright light flickered within the clouds, and thunderbolts struck with overwhelming force...
The main hall of Qianjin Tower.
Rong Shu held the water mirror, and the image reflected on the mirror was Jiang Fei standing on the ninth stone step.
Even those in the Integration Stage might not be able to withstand the heavenly lightning, so he wanted to see how much this woman was willing to sacrifice for the "love" she spoke of.
When the lightning struck, the barrier in Jiang Fei's hand was as thin as a piece of paper and was shattered in an instant.
Lightning is about to strike the stone steps.
However, the smile on Rong Shu's lips froze slightly the next moment. He watched as the woman in white flew forward almost without hesitation and blocked the lightning bolt with her own body the instant it struck the stone steps.
The burning passion and determination in his eyes were particularly striking.
The lightning bolts struck her frail body repeatedly, but she remained silent, biting her lip tightly, her face pale.
The stone steps were intact, and the stone door slowly opened.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Fei slowly got up from the ground, with several bloody marks on her back. She staggered into the stone gate.
Rong Shu stared at her reflection in the mirror, then narrowed her eyes slightly after a long while.
The fresher it is, the more dazzling it is.
The next level is probably the secret realm.
As Jiang Fei passed through the stone gate, a vast expanse of white mist came into view, filled with a faint fragrance that was enough to make one feel dazed.
A secret realm.
Upon seeing these two words, Jiang Fei realized that the mist here could evoke the most beautiful memories in people's hearts and make them deeply immersed in it.
Everything that happens in the secret realm is invisible even to the most powerful immortals.
Jiang Fei did not resist the hazy feeling in her mind; instead, she let it run rampant.
Her most beautiful memories...
In a daze, Jiang Fei only saw a golden light flashing faintly in the mist ahead, followed by the sound of an infant crying.
That infant was born nourished by the essence of heaven and earth, a born god.
Jiang Fei couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Indeed, her most cherished memory was her own birth.
In the next instant, the mist shifted, and the infant had grown into a goddess, lazily resting her head on a dragon's tail, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, moving without wind by divine power.
The dragon's tail had grown into a human body, dressed in white as snow, with its back to her, surrounded by a light blue ancient divine light, its back somewhat stiff.
Jiang Fei frowned.
[System: Host, that person is... your former Daoist partner?] This aura is too similar to that of the person who delivered the Heart-Protecting Qilin outside the cave back then.
"Is that so?" Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps."
As soon as the words were spoken, the mist surged, and the scene disappeared again, replaced by the goddess leaning lazily against the white-robed man's knees, while the white-robed man gently picked up a grape and fed it to the woman.
Not far away, a man radiating ancient blue divine light stood still, watching the scene before him.
[System: This is...]
Jiang Fei smiled and said, "That's my sweet and considerate little lover."
The surrounding mist suddenly felt much colder.
Jiang Fei looked closely and saw that her divine guards had also come to join the fun, wearing cold golden armor and blood-red cloaks.
[System: Why isn't the Divine Guard moving?]
Jiang Fei shrugged: "Just look at the magnificent figure of my little divine guard, that's beautiful enough."
[System: ...Host, you have so many wonderful memories.]
Jiang Fei smiled faintly and walked straight toward the illusion, without stopping at all, not even bothering to glance at it.
The moment you pass through the illusion, everything around you disappears, the mist dissipates, and it becomes bright daylight again.
The secret realm is cleared.
Rong Shu looked at Jiang Fei's figure reappearing in the water mirror with some surprise in his eyes. He didn't know what had happened in the secret realm, but he didn't expect that Jiang Fei would pass through the secret realm so quickly.
But it's getting more and more interesting.
If she had known, she could have avoided these three trials.
If she knew that the most difficult part was the blood pact itself, I wonder how she would react.
A hint of anticipation flickered in Rong Shu's heart.
On the other side, Jiang Fei had just emerged from the secret realm when he immediately spotted the blood-red golden core floating not far away.
Blood pact.
Just as Jiang Fei was about to step forward, the ground suddenly collapsed, followed by a loud bang and a wave of heat.
The Blood Pact was surrounded by lava, except for one side, where a red-hot copper pillar stood.
“Walk over there, and the blood pact will be yours,” Rong Shu’s voice rang out.
Jiang Fei frowned: "System?"
[System: It's an illusion, but your five senses can still clearly feel the burning pain. However, host, don't worry, I have blocked your pain sensation.]
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Fei almost immediately saw the original scene: the lava was just a trickle of water, and the red-hot copper pillars were just ordinary stone slabs.
Jiang Fei pursed her lips, lifted her skirt, and walked forward barefoot.
The moment you step onto the bronze pillar, white smoke almost immediately rises from beneath your feet.
Jiang Fei's legs went weak, and she bit her lip tightly as she continued forward.
Rong Shu frowned as she looked at the image in the water mirror.
The woman seemed oblivious to the pain, walking forward step by step until her feet were already bright red. Her whole body trembled slightly from the pain, yet she remained steadfast in her progress.
This intense emotion made him uncomfortable, yet he was also inexplicably... curious, curious about the extent to which she could go for Xin Qi.
Over there, Jiang Fei walked past the bronze pillar, her feet and calves already bright red. She collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale. After a while, the burns on her feet gradually faded, as if nothing had happened.
After a long while, Jiang Fei stood up and reached out to grab the blood pact.
However, a hand appeared out of nowhere and took the blood pact first.
Jiang Fei looked up abruptly. Rong Shu was casually playing with the blood pact, smiling at her.
“You…” Jiang Fei murmured.
“I can do whatever I want with my things, why can’t I touch them? As for those who are disobedient…” Rong Shu glanced at Jiang Fei, for example, “I will watch her perish and then keep her in the building.”
You've been tricked.
After he finished speaking, he stared intently at her expression.
I thought she would be furious, but to my surprise, she remained silent for a while before slowly reaching out her hand: "Lord Rong once promised me a blood pact."
Rong Shu frowned, stared at her for a while, then laughed and casually tossed the blood pact to her.
Jiang Fei reached out and caught it.
Rong Shu then asked, "Do you know why, among so many demonic cultivators in the world, no one is vying for the blood pact that can suppress the Heavenly Punishment?"
Why?
“Because divine punishment can never be suppressed,” Rong Shu looked at her and blinked. “Swallowing the Blood Pact Golden Pill means sharing half of the divine punishment with the person being punished. And every minor injury or illness you suffer from now on will be five or ten times more painful than before.”
Do you still want this blood pact?
Jiang Fei looked at him, then laughed. She tilted her head back and swallowed the blood pact. A burning sensation ran through her lungs and then subsided.
Rong Shu stared at her decisive action, slightly taken aback.
Countless people in the Three Realms have sought his help, but he knows very well that no one can do this much for him.
Therefore, people are even more likely to ruin the enthusiasm in her eyes and pour cold water on her passion.
He likes lifeless, obedient things, whether people or objects.
Such intense emotions and such a precious constitution made him eager to see what she would look like after she was lifeless.
"Your name is Jiang Fei?" Rong Shu asked slowly.
Jiang Fei nodded.
Rong Shu smiled.
He remembered it.
...
It's another full moon night.
Youfang Inn.
Two knocks were heard on the door.
Xin Qi, who was cultivating, suddenly opened his eyes.
The waiter's cautious voice rang out: "Young Master Xin, here's your food."
Seeing that there was no obstruction from inside, the waiter carefully pushed open the door, placed the spiritual herbs and bamboo tube on the table, and quickly left.
Xin Qi stared at the spiritual herbs and the sweet dew, somewhat lost in thought.
Today is the eleventh day since Jiang Fei left, and it is also the night of the full moon on the fifteenth. He has not slept for ten days.
Now, his inner core is almost fully repaired.
Jiang Fei said that if she did not return on the night of the full moon, she would light Yan'er's talisman.
Xin Qi lowered his head, looking at the talisman in his hand, but had no intention of lighting it.
Yan'er had never seen his disgusting appearance when he was being punished by heaven, nor did he intend to let anyone see it.
Jiang Fei is an exception.
She was always the exception.
Xin Qi frowned. He suddenly remembered Jiang Fei again. He quickly closed his eyes and resumed cultivating his inner core.
Just as he had calmed down, the image of Jiang Fei lightly pecking his lips and her star-filled eyes as she looked at him suddenly appeared in his mind.
She said she would wait for her.
But whether she is alive or dead is unknown at this moment.
Xin Qi opened his eyes again, but his heart was filled with irritation.
Fireworks were going off outside the window, creating a lively atmosphere.
Xin Qi remained silent for a long time before getting up and walking out.
The waiter stared in astonishment at Xin Qi, who hadn't left the house in a long time, unaware that the teapot in his hand had tipped over. Xin Qi, however, simply walked slowly to the main street, where vendors selling straw figures, noodles, and pitch-pot games were as bustling as the night market had been last time.
The surroundings were bustling with noise, yet he felt inexplicably lonely. He had clearly been quite annoyed by the people around him last time, but Jiang Fei…
Xin Qi suddenly came to his senses.
What was he thinking? The only person he cared about, the only person he was willing to get close to, was Yan'er.
Xin Qi turned and walked towards the inn, but when he reached the inn's entrance, someone called out to him.
"Brother Xin?" A familiar female voice greeted her with great surprise.
Xin Qi turned his head to look.
Tang Feiyan, dressed in an elegant white dress, stood amidst the fireworks, her eyebrows and eyes showing a touch of coquettishness, though her eyes appeared slightly tired, as she stood there gazing at him.
"Yan'er?" Xin Qi asked in return.
"I went down the mountain to buy some things," Tang Feiyan smiled. "Where's Brother Xin? I remember you don't like places like this, why are you wandering around here?"
Xin Qi was stunned.
Yes, he truly loathed the many mortals around him.
"I have nothing to do." Xin Qi nodded gently, then felt a slight pain in his chest.
Xin Qi's face turned pale, and he quickly realized it was divine punishment.
But I feel that... today's divine punishment is lighter than in the past, and I can still bear it.
"Brother Xin?" Tang Feiyan noticed his expression was off and quickly stepped forward to support him. "What's wrong?"
Xin Qi felt a little dizzy, and the pain in his chest was gradually intensifying, but it was no longer the overwhelming pain of the past. The divine punishment at this moment was like the pain he felt at midnight every day, and his magical power was dissipating much more slowly than usual.
"Brother Xin?" Tang Feiyan called out to him anxiously.
Xin Qi gazed at Tang Feiyan, and in her hazy state, she seemed to hear Jiang Fei's voice saying: Xin Qi, it's alright now.
But Jiang Fei isn't here, and besides... how could he possibly develop feelings for Jiang Fei?
As if to confirm his thoughts, Xin Qi looked at Tang Feiyan, and after a long while, reached out and hugged her.
Xin Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief when he sensed the faint killing intent arising from the Heavenly Dao in his heart towards Tang Feiyan.
Indeed... the person he loves is Yan'er, and can only be Yan'er.
Tang Feiyan was startled by the sudden embrace and froze on the spot for a long time. After a while, she suddenly caught sight of a slender figure not far away: "Miss Jiang?"
Xin Qi's arm stiffened, and he suddenly turned around.
Jiang Fei stood there, her face deathly pale, her cheeks gaunt, her eyes vacant, her arms hanging limply at her sides, looking utterly disheveled.
Xin Qi stared at her, his first feeling was surprise, followed by panic. She had seen everything.
Only then did she realize that her current state was extremely familiar.
"You..." He fell silent, wanting to ask her if it was because of the blood pact.
“Xin Qi,” Jiang Fei quickly interrupted him, glanced at Tang Feiyan, and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry to have disturbed you.”
After saying that, he turned to walk towards the inn, but then paused: "Sorry, I couldn't find what you were looking for." He didn't stop there after that.
Xin Qi was taken aback upon hearing this. He stared at her retreating figure, feeling a sense of emptiness in his heart, yet also a sense of relief. This was not only because he did not want to owe her any more, but also because... did not finding the blood pact mean that her journey was not arduous?
Thinking of this, Xin Qi's heart sank. What was he thinking? Was he worried that she was in danger?
He still harbored murderous intent when he approached Yan'er, so why would he be worried about Jiang Fei?
At most... let her leave without any pain.
"Brother Xin, why don't you go and check on Miss Jiang?" Tang Feiyan glanced worriedly at the inn. "I also need to reunite with my fellow disciples."
Xin Qi looked at Tang Feiyan and nodded. Only after she left did he turn back to the inn. But as he went up to the second floor, a dark shadow flashed before his eyes, and a man in black robes knelt on the ground: "Master, Yun Jue's incarnation is indeed in the Liu'an City area. There are two thousand households there, and I am ordering people to investigate them one by one."
"Hmm," Xin Qi responded softly, but paused when he saw the guest room out of the corner of his eye.
The man in black robes sensed something amiss: "Master?"
Xin Qi snapped out of his daze, waved his hand, and the dark figure vanished instantly.
He looked at the guest room, showing no mercy.
The Three Realms he desired, and the woman he loved, were right before his eyes, within easy reach. How could he possibly soften his heart...?
Clenching his fist, Xin Qi entered the room, but paused when he saw the figure on the soft couch in the outer room.
Jiang Fei was curled up on the bed, a small ball, her back view filled with loneliness.
Xin Qi almost immediately noticed the Love-Loving Curse on his wrist move. He looked down at the faint magic seal on his wrist, as if as long as he cast the spell, the Love-Loving Curse would rush into Jiang Fei's brow.
She had fallen completely for him.
This is what he wanted.
It has always been this way.
"Jiang Fei," he called her, his voice hoarse.
Jiang Fei did not move.
Xin Qi pursed his lips: "I know why you're angry..."
Jiang Fei's back stiffened.
Xin Qi paused for a long time before finally saying, "Let's get married."
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