Chapter 71 Fragrant City, Peach Blossom Palace (Part 1) Damn it...
"running dog?"
Shi Xianxue cried out in surprise, attracting the attention of hurried pedestrians.
"Keep your voice down, is this something to be proud of?" The older brother had just scolded him when he looked up and saw the boy under the eaves staring at him with gloomy eyes.
His gaze was like a venomous snake crawling in a swamp, or the scythe of death, sinister and carrying a chilling warning.
The man trembled at the look in her eyes and immediately fell silent.
Although the young man was handsome, his eyes and demeanor were really too frightening. Could it be that he had spread rumors about others to the person in question, or were they demons who had escaped from the Mountain of No Return?
Following her elder brother's gaze, Shi Xianxue turned around and glanced at Wu Xiutang.
The boy smiled with ease, his eyes sparkling like stars, his long eyelashes curving into an innocent arc like butterfly wings.
The people in the city lived in constant fear. The sky was overcast, and the air was filled with the gray shavings of those who had died in the fight. The entire city was in disarray, and a dark cloud hung over everyone's head.
The boy's smile stood out from the crowd, drawing glances from passersby.
Shi Xianxue sighed softly, turned around and took two more gold ingots, her voice lowered even further: "Brother, please speak freely. My younger brother suffered a brain injury when he was young, and he acts erratically. Please don't mind him."
The boy under the corridor raised his eyebrows slightly, but said nothing more. Instead, he turned to look at the spiritual energy fluctuations in the sky.
Clearly, they weren't prepared to fight the cultivators to the death; rather, they seemed to want to avoid a prolonged battle and instead focus on breaking through the barrier and scattering across the continent.
Wu Xiutang knew that those wind demons and lightning demons were subordinates of Feng Yun and were ancient demons. However, after descending the mountain, he found that there were very few ancient demons in the public eye. Those who fought against cultivators from various sects were all new demons with only a few hundred or a few thousand years of cultivation.
When Wu Xiutang arrived at the foot of the mountain, he had met them. However, from their indifferent expressions, he could tell that they had not received orders to capture him and that their intention was not to fight the cultivator. Instead, they were only thinking about getting away as soon as possible.
It seems like they're in a hurry to find someone.
Wu Xiutang recalled the terrified expressions on the faces of those whimsical demons as they faced death, and laughed silently again.
Just then, Xiao Mei and the Flamingo returned from purchasing supplies. The two were carrying a bag full of apples and complaining about why one ingot of gold could only buy ten apples when they looked up and saw Wu Xiutang's upturned lips.
He was momentarily stunned.
But then the scenes of the past flashed through his mind, and the memory of how he had once slammed him into the ground with a shovel...
Xiao Mei decisively slapped herself in the face.
Don't get any wild ideas. Only a masochist like Shi Xianxue could handle someone like him.
The elder brother pushed Shi Xianxue's hand away, having already changed his attitude swiftly, even to the point of being gentle: "It's good to be a little crazy. In this world, the more sober you are, the harder life becomes. It's not easy for a young girl like you to be out in the world. I won't accept this money."
Seeing that she hesitated to speak, her elder brother kindly said, "I don't know the specifics of what happened, but I heard that someone in the Qingyun Sect switched the artifact during the transport of the divine artifact to repair the seal, which caused the repair to fail."
"And this person is none other than Song Qingshu, the daughter of Song Zhenqing, the sect leader of Qingyun Sect."
As if struck head-on by a hammer, Shi Xianxue's head was buzzing, and she could hardly believe what she was hearing.
Would Sister Qing Shu really do something like switching the divine artifact and breaking the seal?
impossible!
At that time, despite Shi Huaiyu's threats and inducements, Sister Qing Shu refused to give in or compromise easily. She had a strong sense of righteousness and valued the common people more than her own life. How could she possibly collude with the demons?
Could it be that Shi Huaiyu switched the Demon-Subduing Sword while controlling her body, or perhaps someone threatened her with Qing Shu's mother...?
Regardless of the reason, we should first see Sister Qing Shu and find out what exactly happened before making a conclusion.
--
Shi Xianxue set a destination for Chu Yunjian, then switched the driving mode to autopilot. Considering Wu Xiutang's health, she set the flight speed to a constant speed, automatically avoiding obstacles in front of her, and then looked back at Jiuyi City that had fallen behind her.
The seal failed, and wildfires raged. As the demons turned on their heels, the flames engulfed Jiuyi City like a surging tsunami.
The platinum-gold flames resembled a surging sea of clouds; anything touched by them instantly turned to ashes. Demonic energy continuously poured out from Mount No Return, defending but not attacking, and breaking through the barriers set up by the cultivators to infiltrate human territory.
I thought their first priority after they came out would be to stir up trouble and seek revenge, but surprisingly, very few of the ancient demons showed up. Instead, the new demons were the first to be targeted.
Could it be that these demons, having been imprisoned for tens of thousands of years, have cultivated their minds and bodies and are no longer obsessed with stirring up conflict?
Was the demonic cloud that appeared above Corpse Village actually there for Wu Xiutang?
If so, what agreement did Wu Xiutang, who possesses complete memories, reach with Fengyun?
The more she thought about it, the more her head ached. Shi Xianxue felt that Wu Xiutang's headache had been transmitted to her.
Otherwise, why would he be so energetic and agile now? Although she was happy to see him recover, his recovery was strangely rapid, and Shi Xianxue was afraid it was a final burst of energy before death.
In the past, he slept a lot, which worried Shi Xianxue; now that he's always awake, Xiaomei and the others are worried.
Wu Ying transformed into a kitten, curled up into a shadow on the wall, and fell into a deep sleep.
Xiao Mei's communication was limited to Shi Xianxue and the flamingo. Sometimes, when she talked too much, the boy would glance over casually, and Xiao Mei would realize that she should shut up.
Bored out of her mind, she could only stare at the passing scenery and count the mountains.
The fire that protected the mountain did not spread northward, as if it wanted to redefine the entire continent with Jiuyi City as the boundary. Life had to go on, and apart from those who fled, the cities north of Jiuyi City were still relatively orderly.
They hadn't flown for long before they were blocked by flight restriction barriers in various places. Although the demons haven't shown any ambition to attack yet, it's never a bad thing to be prepared.
They could only afford to buy a few horses to ride.
This would lengthen the journey, and after several days of traveling and sleeping outdoors, the group arrived in the city to rest.
However, once they entered the city, they discovered that the demonic aura here was no weaker than that of Jiuyi City.
Those with higher cultivation levels moved among the people like shadows, while those with lower cultivation levels followed behind humans in a half-human, half-demon form, scaring them out of their wits whenever they turned around.
Before entering the inn, Wu Xiutang glanced at the demons on the street corner.
I felt my blood was burning.
The evil demon suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, inexplicably having the feeling that he was being watched.
But that feeling of being constantly on edge quickly disappeared.
The group of young people entered the inn.
After settling their luggage, they went to the main hall for a meal, and by sheer coincidence, they ran into a white-robed monk dressed in clothing with the sun symbol.
They were disciples of the Chunyang Sect, which always looked up to the Qingyun Sect. However, during their meal and casual conversation, they were full of contempt and ridicule, displaying a smug sense of gloating and taking advantage of others' misfortunes.
Shi Xianxue gripped her chopsticks tightly and chewed the bean sprouts in her mouth with a crunching sound.
"They even held a trial tournament. Now look what's happened, they've become the laughing stock of the entire cultivation sect. Let's see how the Qingyun Sect can still put us ahead in every way."
The white-clad woman with her hair in a cross-shaped bun sneered, "They can hardly turn the tables now, yet they still want to be above our Chunyang Sect? How laughable."
She gritted her teeth as if remembering something, and said, "That Song Qingshu is usually arrogant and self-important, just like her father. Now she has suffered a great setback. Not only has she been expelled from the sect, but she is also being hunted down by people all over the world. When we find her, we must torture her properly and record her pathetic state on the image stone so that we can take it back to the sect to enjoy."
After saying that, the group smiled knowingly.
It was the kind of extremely sarcastic and mean-spirited villain's laugh.
Shi Xianxue's chopsticks snapped in two with a snap, but under Xiao Mei's surprised gaze, she walked over calmly.
Seeing that she was well-dressed and had no demonic aura, the Chunyang Sect members did not have any suspicion of her. They just stared at her curiously, wanting to know what she wanted to do.
Shi Xianxue first gripped the edge of the table with both hands, grinned at them, and then suddenly overturned their table.
Chunyang Zong's expression changed, and he quickly stood up, but he was still splashed with soup. He was furious and drew his sword to stab Shi Xianxue.
Her knee was struck hard by something, her legs went weak, and the tip of her sword deflected slightly. When she turned around, a young man in black was blocking the way in front of that damned woman.
The young man, with his handsome and refined appearance, slowly raised his eyes.
The moment their eyes met, Bai Yiyi's heart skipped a beat.
Although Shi Xianxue had been protected by him many times, things were different now. Even if Wu Xiutang had regained some of his memories and spirit, he couldn't possibly take on three people at once. She didn't want to live the kind of life she used to live, where she had to check his breathing every time to see if he was still alive and live in fear.
But just as she was about to make a move, Bai Yiyi suddenly withdrew her tense demeanor, and stopped her companions from stepping forward one by one.
She looked Wu Xiutang up and down, her eyes revealing undisguised admiration for him.
"May I ask which sect you belong to, young hero? We are disciples of the Chunyang Sect, named Bai Yiyi, and we have been ordered to capture Song Qingshu. There must have been a misunderstanding earlier. If you don't mind, we can team up, and we'll split the spoils fifty-fifty when we complete the mission."
Bai Yiyi judged that they must be from an obscure little sect. The Chunyang Sect used to have a powerful backer and was considered one of the top sects. Anyone with a brain would not refuse her suggestion.
The boy merely glanced at her without any emotion before coldly turning away as if she were air.
Bai Yiyi was confident that her looks were a thousand times better than the woman behind him, but the young man didn't even look at her properly. Instead, he asked the woman gently if she had been burned.
This feeling of being ignored was inexplicably unpleasant, and she couldn't help but tighten her grip on the sword hilt.
But then the woman stuck her head out and yelled, "Get married my ass! You ugly freak! You big poisonous insect!"
The Chunyang Sect is skilled in using poison, often killing people invisibly. Because the sect consists entirely of female disciples, they are affectionately known as "Poison Maidens" by outsiders.
There was a moment of silence in the air, and a flash of murderous intent crossed Bai Yiyi's eyes.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Xiao Mei hurriedly came over with the gold to apologize, but was shoved hard by the people from the Chunyang Sect.
The gold fell onto the wooden floor, and the once noisy inn suddenly fell silent because of this incident.
Shi Xianxue was furious that Xiao Mei dared to bully her. This was a slap in her face. She broke free and was about to step forward to demand an explanation when Wu Xiutang grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back.
"Let go of me! Why are you blocking my way? They were the ones who spoke rudely first and then laid a hand on Xiaomei!"
Seeing Wu Xiutang's almost protective actions, Bai Yiyi's eyes softened, and she felt smug. She snorted at Shi Xianxue and led the three girls upstairs.
"Why are you stopping me!" Shi Xianxue angrily pushed him away.
"Sister. With your abilities, going up against them is like throwing an egg against a rock. I'm protecting you."
Shi Xianxue wouldn't listen to a word she said. "I don't care if I can beat them or not. They have bad intentions and are slandering Sister Qing Shu's reputation. I'll beat them to death!"
After she finished speaking, she finally realized what she had said and was both angry and anxious: "Who do you look down on? Why are they the stones and I the egg, and you the egg, or even a duck egg or a goose egg!"
“Sister.” Wu Xiutang frowned.
Shi Xianxue covered her ears: "I won't listen! You ungrateful wretch who's always siding with outsiders! Brother Li and Sister Qing Shu have been so good to you, so don't talk to me!"
She led Xiao Mei upstairs in a clattering sound.
The boy was left with a gloomy expression.
She knew Wu Xiutang was telling the truth; she really couldn't beat Bai Yiyi and the others. But did he really have to tell the truth at that moment and diminish his own prestige?
Shi Xianxue wasn't really angry with Wu Xiutang; she was just worried about Qing Shu and the others, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Wu Xiutang was implicated.
To prevent a sneak attack by a vicious woman like Bai Yiyi, Shi Xianxue and Xiao Mei slept in the same room.
Xiao Mei has been a withered ghost for thousands of years and has developed a good habit of being active at night and hiding during the day. Shi Xianxue can buy her some snacks and she can work excitedly all night long.
The moon hung high in the sky, the trees were still, and the inn was shrouded in silence.
The white figure first walked to the door of Shi Xianxue's room, but then seemed to see something that interested her even more, and leaped out from the window at the end of the corridor.
After landing lightly, the two figures hurried westward, one after the other, heading towards the gathering place of demonic energy at the city gate.
However, that figure was obviously much faster, leaving her far behind in just a few breaths. When she caught up, she saw the boy's figure weaving through endless demonic energy.
Under the cover of night, his features became even more deep and three-dimensional, exquisitely beautiful as if carved by a knife. His peach blossom eyes, like bursting flames, added a touch of burning warmth, making him seem more humane than during the day.
If it weren't for the demonic aura surrounding him.
Bai Yiyi stared at him almost in a daze, when the sound of footsteps was revealed.
The boy's gaze suddenly swept over her, his figure freezing in mid-air, his needle-like killing intent transforming into a thousand cold blades shooting towards her.
Bai Yiyi was not afraid; in fact, she felt that she had a handle on the boy.
She swaggered out of her hiding place. "So you're a demonic cultivator. I wonder if the girl you were protecting today knew you were a demonic cultivator? She probably didn't."
"After all, I saw that the girl had a very upright face and couldn't stand me saying anything bad about the Qingyun Sect. She must also be a cultivator seeking immortality, and she shouldn't be on the same path as you."
The boy's eyes hardened, as if he wanted to tear her to pieces.
"I can keep your secret, and I can also help you cultivate and improve your cultivation level." Bai Yiyi flew up and approached him step by step, letting the demonic energy engulf her body. "As long as you agree to cultivate with me."
Although demonic cultivation is a heretical path, it is a way for those with poor talent to rise to the top in a short time. However, the young man in front of her has a leaky spiritual palace. Even if he absorbs all the demonic energy in the entire city, he still can't beat her.
Therefore, Bai Yiyi was not afraid.
She continued to threaten him relentlessly, seemingly unafraid of death.
"I've observed you all. That woman's cultivation level is only at the Foundation Establishment stage. You know the Pure Yang Sect is skilled in using poison, and you wouldn't want to see her die from poisoning, would you? Cultivate with me, and I'll let you go when I'm done with you. How about it?"
The sect leader once said that all men in the world are equally bad. A strong woman should do things by any means necessary, regardless of sect rules or chivalrous code. Her own comfort is the most important thing.
"Dual cultivation?" The boy's golden eyes gleamed as he tilted his head, seemingly considering the feasibility of the suggestion.
Seeing that his expression was slightly softening, Bai Yiyi was delighted and subconsciously wanted to get closer to the boy.
Taking a step forward meant falling completely into the trap. Bai Yiyi finally realized the danger. She turned to run away, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest. She stared blankly into the distance, feeling a hole being torn open in her spiritual abode.
Several streams of demonic energy, which had just been absorbed by the boy, flew out from his spiritual palace and transformed into a huge sword in the air, rushing towards Bai Yiyi's spiritual palace.
Bai Yiyi's body was pierced by a sharp sword, and she lay on her back on the ground with her eyes wide open in death.
The fading light from the shattered spiritual abode brushed past the corner of the boy's eye.
He mimicked the girl from his memory, uttering words coldly.
"Fix your sister."
--
Shi Xianxue had a rare good night's sleep.
The next day, I woke up to a bright and sunny day, if only I hadn't run into those three poisonous women from the Pure Yang Sect as soon as I stepped outside.
Shi Xianxue instinctively reached for her sword.
They hurriedly passed her and went out of the inn, chasing after her in three different directions.
Shi Xianxue went downstairs with a puzzled look on her face.
I saw Xiaomei resting her chin on her hands, talking fluently.
The man sitting opposite her was tall and straight, like a bamboo shoot, and his proper posture made Shi Xianxue feel that he looked very familiar.
As she gradually matched the image of the figure in her mind, her expression brightened with delight. She grabbed her moon-colored skirt and ran towards him, calling out, "Brother Li!"
The man at the table turned around, and Shi Xianxue's smile froze on her lips, her pace slowing involuntarily.
"Brother Li?"
No, can anyone tell her who this unkempt, bearded man in front of her is, and where is her radiant Prince Li Fuchao of Chaoyun?
He used to be very particular about his appearance, but now he looks travel-worn, tired, and much thinner, with sunken cheeks and eyes full of stories.
But when she smiled, her voice was as gentle as ever: "Shishi."
--
Shi Xianxue sat opposite Li Fuchao, looking utterly dejected.
She had prepared for the worst, but when her guess came true, she still couldn't help but feel a tremor in her heart and find it hard to accept.
Li Fuchao said that after she left that day, they quickened their pace and took the artifacts to repair the seal. At first, everything went smoothly and the artifacts were all in their places. But suddenly, the Chaos Pearl in the middle suddenly burst open and its light deviated from its trajectory. The Demon-Subduing Sword also began to disobey the call and disappeared into the Mountain of No Return.
The seal was broken by the backlash from the divine artifact.
The group was severely injured by the backlash of the divine artifact and was unable to fight against the demons. In order to protect them and help them escape, Song Qingshu actually grew huge black wings on her back to fight them.
As the demons bowed their heads, demonic bones were revealed, exposing that Song Qingshu was the Demon Lord.
“That day in Chaoyun, Shishi must have seen it too… They all said she was the Demon Lord and wanted to execute her.” Li Fuchao lowered his eyelashes. “After escorting her back to the sect, Master didn’t even care about the slightest father-daughter relationship. He immediately ordered her to be expelled from the sect and then prepared to kill her in front of the leaders of many sects.”
"In order to save her, I had to pretend to attack her. She was injured and ran away, and her whereabouts are unknown. I have been looking for her for a long time."
Shi Xianxue fell silent.
Xiao Mei was good at reading people's expressions, so she remained silent along with her.
"So, is there any news yet?"
Li Fuchao nodded slightly: "Just a few days ago, the Xuanhe Sword sensed the aura of the Xueyin Sword."
Shi Xianxue straightened her back and subconsciously asked, "Where!"
"Southern Yue, Fangfei City".
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