Chapter 98 The Grand Finale
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Xie Qingyu is definitely not the kind of person who gets carried away by gratitude and does something touching because of it.
Rong Yuejun misjudged Xie Qingyu in the past.
Back then, Xie Qingyu descended to the mortal realm and picked a female cultivator for his amusement, which she had resented, thinking that Xie Qingyu would be furious for her sake. Unexpectedly, the next moment, Xie Qingyu used her to block the demon beast.
That's absolutely ridiculous!
At that moment, Rong Yuejun felt a surge of pride, but then she was secretly alarmed, realizing that a man like Xie Qingyu was absolutely not someone she could trust.
She shouldn't have had any hope for Xie Qingyu at all.
We can't expect Xie Qingyu to act impulsively out of excitement or emotion, or even to disregard everything else.
Rong Yuejun suddenly turned her head and stared at her sword.
She listened as Shen Zhiwei said, "So, Rong Jianxian, are you going to surrender now, or fight like a cornered beast?"
Shen Zhiwei has stopped acting, or perhaps Rong Yuejun is now completely worthless and no longer worth Shen Zhiwei's attention.
Her words served as testimony for Shen Zhiwei, revealing part of the truth about what happened back then. Now that she was of no value, after Shen Zhiwei had destroyed her spirit, she would end her own life.
With such an appearance, and the appearance of a beautiful woman, the person in front of me seems to resemble the number one evil cultivator in the Four Realms back then.
She suddenly sneered: "Xie Qingyu, you've always been the same."
Xie Qingyu felt that these words sounded familiar, as Rong Yuejun had said them to him before.
Back then, things weren't like this.
At that time, nothing had happened yet. He had a crush on Rong Yuejun and was always trying to curry favor with her. Rong Yuejun would always hold her head high and look very proud.
Rong Yuejun didn't dislike Xie Qingyu, but she felt that Xie Qingyu's serious and pretentious manner was a bit hypocritical, so she couldn't help but laugh at him like that.
Xie Qingyu always had a slight smile and spoke kindly, but this was not Xie Qingyu's true nature.
Rong Yuejun was somewhat tempted, but she also felt that Xie Qingyu was a bit fake.
When she made that comment, Xie Qingyu just smiled and didn't show any anger. People like Xie Qingyu always had perfect facial expressions.
Now that Rong Yuejun has also conjured her own magic sword, she will never commit suicide, but will fight with all her might.
Even if it means death, they would rather be killed by others than commit suicide themselves.
Given all this, Rong Yuejun should rush towards Shen Zhiwei.
They ended up in this predicament entirely because of Shen Zhiwei, so they should naturally feel resentment.
But Rong Yuejun gritted her teeth and unconsciously rushed towards Mu Wuxian, towards the number one Mu Gongzi in the four realms.
Since she was destined to die anyway, she might as well choose the strongest person, which would suit her nature. Besides, she would never let Shen Zhiwei kill her with his own hands. Shen Zhiwei naturally wanted to take revenge himself, whether because she was Tanlang or because of the grudges of the original owner of this body, she was his enemy.
She would never satisfy Shen Zhiwei.
The moment the magic sword was drawn, a chilling sword intent soared into the sky. Rong Yuejun's spiritual power surged suddenly, and as her robes fluttered, crimson spiritual light surged like a raging fire. Having chosen her enemy to fight to the death, she held nothing back and even manifested a red lotus Dharma form.
A sky full of crimson spiritual light suddenly condensed, and a huge red lotus slowly bloomed behind her, with layers upon layers of petals, and the lotus heart pulsating with light as dazzling as the sun.
Mu Wuxian stood rooted to the spot, not even twitching his brow. Facing the sweeping crimson flames and sharp sword intent, he simply raised his right hand, a faint ray of light condensing in his palm.
Rong Yuejun, carrying the Red Lotus Dharma Image, rushed forward. Red lotus petals fluttered down, each one transforming into a crimson fire blade, covering the sky and the earth. The Dharma Sword followed closely behind, whistling through the air, aiming straight for Mu Wuxian's vital heart. What she wanted was not victory, but this magnificent finale, a determination to never bow down to Shen Zhiwei.
However, the anticipated cataclysmic collision did not occur.
With a gentle push from Mu Wuxian's palm, the seemingly indestructible crimson fire blade melted away instantly, like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun, without even a ripple. Immediately afterward, white light landed on the red lotus dharma image. With a crisp crack, the red lotus, which had condensed Rong Yuejun's life's cultivation, began to shatter from its core. The crimson spiritual light dissipated like a tide, turning into specks of light that vanished into the air.
The crisp sword sound abruptly ceased, and the magic sword in Rong Yuejun's hand snapped in two, the blade separating from the hilt and falling heavily to the ground with a dull thud. Without the support of the magic sword and its avatar, her body fell backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Her spiritual energy completely dissipated, and her soul began to waver. Lying on the ground, Rong Yuejun struggled to lift her eyes to look at Xie Qingyu, her vision already blurred. She wanted to laugh, but could only manage an ugly smile before slowly closing her eyes and finally breathing her last.
Xie Qingyu's face was completely blank, devoid of any emotion.
"Sect Leader Xie, if you betray me, I will not be happy, nor will I let you be at ease. I will not let myself be sad and suffer alone."
"I have never been soft-hearted, and I can't bear to suffer myself to please others. That would be extremely unfair to myself."
"However, if you treat me well, I might spare you then."
He suddenly realized that Yuejun also had some feelings for him.
At least, she didn't expect Xie Qingyu to die with her, which is quite good considering Rong Yuejun's usual temperament.
Xie Qingyu suddenly felt unwell.
He wondered, why is that?
Perhaps it's because the fox mourns the death of the rabbit?
Both he and Rong Yuejun portray characters completely different from themselves: one is a benevolent and righteous philanthropist, and the other is a cold and powerful sword immortal who is decisive in killing and unfettered by emotions.
Perhaps it wasn't hypocrisy, but rather their shared expectation.
Xie Qingyu felt a burning, intense heat in her lower back, which was extremely uncomfortable.
At this time of year, there was a strange movement in the world. In the distance, the Heart Tree was growing rapidly, winding its way up towards the Primordial Heaven.
Xie Qingyu snapped out of her daze and thought coldly, "The Bixia Sect is advancing in cultivation again."
When Shen Zhiwei ascended to become an immortal, the Primordial Mother Tree sensed it and recognized it, thus growing wildly.
He heard Mu Wuxian coldly say, "Today's business is finished, everyone can go home."
Rong Yuejun is dead, and Mu Wuxian seems unwilling to pursue the matter of the Demon Fallen Flower. He also seems unconcerned about the reappearance of Tanlang, as if he has already allowed it to ascend to Yuanyuan Heaven.
Everyone had different thoughts, but there was one thing: no one would be foolish enough to question Mu Wuxian's decision.
The Bixia School's Heart-Clearing Tree is still growing.
After this incident, the cultivators at the third level of heaven dispersed, feeling it was safer to return home as soon as possible.
At this moment, Shen Zhiwei walked gracefully toward Xie Qingyu.
When Rong Yuejun died, Shen Zhiwei didn't seem angry or resentful at all. Instead, she looked quite cheerful, just like usual.
To Xie Qingyu, this appearance was somewhat terrifying.
Today, she has torn off all pretenses, revealed her true identity, forced Rong Yuejun to her death, and now she is standing right in front of her. Shen Zhiwei is not much different from before.
If anything is different, Shen Zhiwei has lost some of the restraint and reluctance she used to deliberately display, and this is precisely where Shen Zhiwei's acting skills are superb.
She had clearly put in a lot of time to study and understand the character.
But she was neither Shen Zhiwei, who died because of love, nor the woman who once yearned for Xie Qingyu.
Xie Qingyu suddenly sneered: "Sect Leader Shen, very well indeed. I am truly inferior to you."
Shen Zhi smiled, looking somewhat proud yet also somewhat humble, and speaking with a hint of affection: "Thank you for saying that, Sect Leader. It's too formal. The affection between you and me is quite special."
She leaned closer and whispered, "If I wanted you dead, it would be like killing a dog, but I'm not so willing to do it, aren't I?"
In fact, even if Shen Zhiwei didn't speak softly, no one else could hear her.
Some of Xie family disciples were still with Xie Qingyu and dared not leave on their own.
When Shen Zhiwei tried to speak with Xie Qingyu, Xie Qingyu even created a protective barrier to prevent others from hearing.
It is clear that even at this point, Xie Qingyu did not give up in despair.
Even Shen Zhiwei wanted to complain, Xie Qingyu, even at this point, she still can't let go.
Such a person, even with the slightest chance, even if they can only live a few more hours, will never give up and is willing to sacrifice others for it.
However, this kind of paranoia is the most pathetic and laughable thing.
Shen Zhiwei gently placed her palm on Xie Qingyu's chest and spoke softly, "If it were Sect Leader Xie who revealed the Demonic Flower today instead of Rong Yuejun, then it would have been Sect Leader Xie who died. Wouldn't that be extremely bad? Guess why I chose Rong Yuejun instead of you?"
Xie Qingyu's lips moved, but she didn't speak.
He naturally understood, because there were some things Xie Qingyu knew, but Rong Yuejun did not.
Xie Qingyu was deeply involved in this affair, while Rong Yuejun knew very little about it.
Xie Qingyu had suppressed the slight sadness that arose from Rong Yuejun's death and began to ponder whether this secret could protect her through this calamity.
Even if she killed Rong Yuejun and Xie Qingyu, this evil cultivator in front of her was clearly not enough, nor could she rest easy. She would definitely eliminate the threat from the past completely.
As Xie Qingyu pondered this, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before her, she suddenly felt a surge of annoyance!
The fact that this persona showed such an expression made Xie Qingyu feel extremely uncomfortable.
He suppressed his disgust and said, "You must also be curious about who is behind this."
Shen Zhiwei put her finger to her lips and gently shushed him, saying, "You're really wrong. I knew who he was and what was going on a long time ago."
"Xie Lang, I was supposed to swear an oath to forgive you and get a promise from Young Master Mu in exchange for you revealing some secrets. But that's not how the script goes. I don't want to get the truth out of you, but I want to know where he is."
"Now that I've returned to Yuan Yuan Tian, and Mu Wuxian is wreaking havoc again, isn't he afraid? Back when he was at the height of his power, he was still acting so furtively. Now, he'll definitely avoid his sharp edge and try to hide."
"But you're still here! Somehow, you're still alive. If you were dead, he could hide you much better."
"So, Xie Lang, we'll use your head to lure out the mastermind. It's a real pity you're dead."
Shen Zhiwei spoke eloquently, then smiled knowingly; this was a calculated move.
The momentum was in Shen Zhiwei's hands; even if Xie Qingyu wanted to make a deal, Shen Zhiwei had no intention of giving him the chance.
Xie Qingyu's face was as pale as paper, but Shen Zhiwei found it understandable. No one could bear to see their beloved Sect Leader Xie become a lamb to the slaughter.
At this moment, a ray of light fell upon Shen Zhiwei, as the Heart-Opening Tree connected to her body. Having already advanced twice, Shen Zhiwei was quite familiar with the process.
Such light, falling into Xie Qingyu's eyes, seemed extremely dazzling. The shimmering light seemed to symbolize Shen Zhiwei's unstoppable, overwhelming fortune.
Xie Qingyu could no longer hold back and left in a huff, as if she were fleeing in panic.
Shen Zhiwei looked at her own fair and moist fingers. To kill someone is to destroy their spirit. This is what makes it interesting.
She stood silently for a while, suddenly wondering what Mu Wuxian was thinking.
Mu Wuxian must still be within the sniper's range, otherwise he wouldn't have fled in such a panic, seemingly unaware of what to do.
Everything was under Shen Zhiwei's control, but for some reason, Shen Zhiwei was somewhat unhappy and uncomfortable.
I have no idea what Mu Wuxian is thinking!
At this moment, a familiar figure appeared in front of Shen Zhiwei, which startled her.
The other Bixia Sect disciples present didn't think much of it. Yin Wujiu's appearance wasn't surprising either, as everyone was still processing the turbulent life of Sect Leader Shen.
Mu Wuxian was also strange. He had left aloofly earlier, and everyone already knew what was going on, but now he had returned under the identity of Yin Wujiu.
It's as if by putting on this disguise, people will be more willing to talk to me.
Shen Zhiwei's slight depression subsided somewhat, and she was unwilling to admit that she felt a little better.
She said softly to the disciples of the Bixia Sect, "Please rest assured, everyone. I am still the head of the Bixia Sect, and everything will remain the same. You may all return to your respective places. There are still many matters to attend to after this advancement."
When Shen Zhiwei spoke like this, a familiar feeling returned to them, and the Bixia Sect disciples present obeyed and left. Although they knew that Shen Zhiwei was a fierce cultivator of the fourth realm, they were ultimately more pleased than surprised.
Everyone would be happy if the entire sect could advance to the Yuan Yuan Heaven realm.
In addition, Sect Leader Shen always seemed confident, which inadvertently gave people a sense of inexplicable confidence.
Yin Wujiu, of course, did not leave.
When the two were alone, Shen Zhiwei, who was usually at ease, felt a little awkward.
Shen Zhiwei thought to herself that she didn't know what she was being awkward about, and then said jokingly, "Young Master Mu, have I made you suffer? I didn't mean to."
Mu Wuxian took a step forward, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something.
Then, Shen Zhiwei didn't hear Mu Wuxian say anything. Instead, Mu Wuxian stepped forward, reached out and pressed Shen Zhiwei's head, pressing his forehead against hers.
With their minds interacting in this way, Mu Wuxian's secrets flowed into Shen Zhiwei's sea of consciousness, which was much more convenient than speaking.
Shen Zhiwei felt a clear, cool divine sense flow into her sea of consciousness from where their foreheads touched. Without any obstruction, Mu Wuxian's past and secrets were laid out without reservation.
When the Great Evolution Immortal Venerable stepped into the Divine Realm and gained divine power, it is unknown whether it was due to the growth of inner demons or the need for balance in the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth, but it gave birth to the Mars Calamity Demon. This calamity demon is different from ordinary evil demons; it has no fixed subjective consciousness and has always parasitized the bodies of living people, especially seeking out cultivators who have abandoned human desires and whose minds are desolate. Like a plague, it parasitizes, causing old demons to die and new demons to be born. Each generation of the Mars Calamity Demon brings forth a bloodbath, causing devastation to all living beings in the four realms.
Before his ascension to immortality, the Great Evolution Immortal Venerable entrusted the task of slaying demons to the descendants of the Mu family who inherited his immortal power. Therefore, successive generations of the Mu family heirs have all taken it upon themselves to eradicate the Mars Calamity Demon. However, unlike the enigmatic nature of the Mars Calamity Demon, the price of absorbing the Great Evolution Immortal Venerable's immortal power goes far beyond the perils of slaying the demon—
Each generation of successors also inherits the vast and complex memories of their predecessors. These memories intertwine and swirl, washing over the successor's soul like a tidal wave. Most people cannot withstand this erosion and die of madness after a short time.
Mu Wuxian, however, was an exception. His will was as firm as iron. When the torrent of memories not belonging to him surged forth, he remained steadfast, his self-awareness extremely strong, treating those memories as someone else's past, never allowing them to consume his mind. Xie Qingyu, who had longed for this for many years, had yet to achieve her wish.
As his divine sense reached this place, Shen Zhiwei suddenly caught a faint trace of doubt mixed with certainty. After Mu Wuxian inherited the memories, he followed the clues left by his predecessors to investigate the whereabouts of the Yinghuo Calamity Demon. Combining the anomalies in the four realms over the years with the past actions of Tanlang, he was certain that this Yinghuo Calamity Demon was Tanlang.
After all, her early experiences and state of mind seemed to fit the parasitic conditions that the Fire Star Demon preferred.
Of course, besides that, Mu Wuxian's thoughts were also mixed with a bit of bitterness and jealousy, purely out of selfishness.
The touch of their foreheads together was warm, but Mu Wuxian's divine sense did not overstep its bounds in the slightest. After transmitting these secrets, it quietly remained in Shen Zhiwei's sea of consciousness, as if waiting for her reaction.
Shen Zhiwei's pupils contracted slightly, and she suddenly bit the inside of her cheek. Thinking about how Mu Wuxian had been secretly raising spies and sending those clones to roam the four realms all these years, it turned out he was actually trying to save the world. How amazing!
Shen Zhiwei couldn't help but complain harshly.
Their faces were close enough to hear each other's breath, and their eyes met.
Mu Wuxian asked, "Is it you?"
He initially thought that Tanlang was a demon, but later he realized that he had failed to eliminate the demon and had fallen into its trap, now at its mercy.
At that time, he thought they should die together.
The world's energy is balanced. In the past, this world gave birth to the immortal Great Evolution Venerable, who then transformed into the Firefly Calamity Demon. The stronger Mu Wuxian becomes, the stronger the Firefly Calamity Demon becomes.
Fate brought about this, and so it was.
Shen Zhiwei also overcame numerous obstacles and rose through the ranks.
But now, Mu Wuxian seems to have glimpsed another hope.
Shen Zhiwei answered quickly: "Of course not!"
Then she smiled sweetly: "Why doesn't Young Master Mu try to guess who my master is, Jiang Ling?"
She didn't lie to Xie Qingyu.
After all these years, Shen Zhiwei has not been idle.
Cangwu Kingdom.
More than a hundred years have passed since Immortal Jiang ascended to heaven, yet the stories of that time still circulate here.
The former King of Cangwu, Jiang Li, was extremely violent. He was a ruthless character who had seized the throne by murdering his father. As he grew older, his suspicions deepened, and he cruelly killed the older and virtuous crown prince, instead making Jiang Ling the new heir apparent.
At the time, Jiang Li claimed that it was because her youngest son was intelligent and virtuous, while her eldest son was mediocre, incompetent, and had rebellious intentions. However, this was merely a public statement. Everyone inside and outside the palace knew that the real reason was simply because Jiang Ling was young.
The youngest son is not old enough to form factions, nor does he eagerly await his father's early death to inherit the throne. This would always put the suspicious father at ease.
Jiang Li had more than twenty children, all of whom he treated as pawns. He watched them fight and struggle for the throne with a cold eye, never giving any of them any trust.
This tyrannical rule eventually came to an end. After Jiang Li's death, Jiang Ling ascended the throne. It was widely rumored that Cangwu Kingdom had finally welcomed a kind-hearted new king, and that peaceful times were on the horizon.
This is how it is recorded in the historical records of Cangwu.
Now, two figures have arrived in the mortal realm, personally visiting the Cangwu Kingdom. The mortal realm is located outside the four realms, where spiritual energy is scarce, making it a desolate place for cultivators.
However, it was in this desolate place that Jiang Xianzun emerged.
Shen Zhiwei then recounted this old story.
Mu Wuxian looked around: "The rumors are not credible?"
Shen Zhiwei: "When I came to this mortal land back then, I read through the Cangwu history books, which was really interesting. The history books recorded the old Cangwu king in detail, confirming his reputation as a tyrant. On the contrary, the record of the virtuous new ruler Jiang Ling was only briefly mentioned."
Perhaps out of respect for the revered figure, or perhaps out of a fear of offending this Immortal Jiang with words, the historical records of Cangwu depict Jiang Ling as pale and thin.
That year, Jiang Ling ascended to heaven, bringing some members of the Jiang clan with him from the Cangwu Kingdom. From then on, he ignored and neglected the Cangwu Kingdom. Not only Jiang Ling, but those members of the Jiang clan also never visited their former homeland again, and the entire Cangwu Kingdom did not benefit from Jiang Ling's ascension.
Shen Zhiwei said softly, "But looking at this old King Cangwu, for some reason, I feel very familiar with him."
She certainly felt a sense of familiarity; Jiang Ling's actions were very similar to those of his father, Jiang Li.
Jiang Li was merely a king raised in the mortal realm, and terror permeated his surroundings. In the Cangwu Imperial Palace, he betrayed his father and sowed discord among the children. Given this environment, could Jiang Ling truly be a pure white lotus rising from the mud, untainted by its filth?
In public, Immortal Jiang is gentle and refined, but in reality, the entire Jiang family is filled with jealousy, ruthlessness, and suspicion.
Before Tanlang appeared, Jiang Ling almost took a young man from the Jiang family as her disciple.
To win Jiang Ling's favor, the young man surnamed Jiang, Jiang Yu, was kind-faced but ruthless, and quite cunning. He almost managed to get close to Immortal Jiang, but then a greedy wolf appeared and took over the spot.
Mu Wuxian suddenly asked, "How did Jiang Yu die?"
When Jiang Yu died, everyone said that Tanlang killed him, describing it vividly, saying that the young man surnamed Jiang's body still had bite marks.
Shen Zhiwei muttered to herself, "How did Mu Wuxian know that I would know?"
However, she was a clever little devil since childhood and knew all about these intricacies and tricks: "Back then, in the Jiang family, Jiang Yu once stole Jiang Jue's merits. Jiang Jue held a grudge and secretly killed him. He then deliberately tore up his corpse and spread rumors that it was me who did it."
"In this way, they wanted to kill two birds with one stone and take the opportunity to smear me and rise to power. However, my master didn't care, and I was still his favored disciple. It's ridiculous. Before I could even make a move, Jiang Jue was so frightened that he committed suicide."
Mu Wuxian paused for a moment, then said, "But Jiang Lingyi did not clarify things for you."
So he let Tanlang become infamous and let Tanlang eliminate his rivals, while Jiang Ling remained kind and untainted.
As for Tanlang, he has never even shown his face to anyone.
He couldn't help but recall their first meeting: flowers in full bloom, the girl lifting her veil to reveal her ethereal, snow-white face. Though she had been there, she still retained a touch of her true nature.
Mu Wuxian suddenly felt a slight pain in her heart.
Shen Zhiwei, unaware of his pain, was instead somewhat puzzled: "Why clarify? I'd love to give him a good publicity stunt, so that from now on, no one will dare to mess with me."
"If I go to the trouble of explaining, people will think I care too much about my reputation and have to explain everything. Wouldn't that be exhausting?"
She was overjoyed: "From now on, if I have any orders, the entire Jiang family will obey. I should thank this man for not dying."
Mu Wuxian was at a loss for words, and the woman in front of him was not as pitiful as he had imagined.
Shen Zhiwei was chattering away beside him when he suddenly turned his head away, suppressing the flush on his cheeks.
At that time, Shen Zhiwei was very happy in the Jiang family. The Jiang family was not a good family, but she was extremely cunning and her cultivation was unmatched by anyone else.
As for reputation, it's a ruin with nothing left to crumble, and it no longer has any power to harm you.
Originally, life was wonderful, but then many troubles arose.
Mu Wuxian asked, "Later, you went to work as an inside man for the demon Bai Xie?"
Shen Zhiwei's joy faded slightly, and her expression darkened. She turned her head to look at Mu Wuxian, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately she didn't.
Some of the things she said made Mu feel incredibly proud, and for some reason, Shen Zhiwei had a competitive spirit.
She said heavily, "Yes! At that time, Bai Xie was tempting people to become demons in the Four Realms, which was somewhat disrespectful to Immortal Jiang. Naturally, he was unhappy and ordered me around like that. I still listened to him and went along with his wishes. In fact, I was risking my life for my master. He was not grateful to me at all, and I'm afraid he even resented me."
As they were saying this, the two had already arrived at Wudu, the capital of the Cangwu Kingdom.
Shen Zhiwei: "I only learned later that Master has always been like this. After this kind new king ascended the throne, the first thing he did was to have all his surviving brothers and sisters die in accidents. Without any apparent crime, without any room for struggle, his compatriots and flesh and blood were all wiped out overnight."
Wudu once produced a Jiang Immortal Venerable, but this royal city is in a state of great decline.
She paused, her steps halting at a corner where an old woman was coughing incessantly, her body hunched over like a withered tree bent by a strong wind. She looked no more than thirty years old, yet she was already very old.
"What's even stranger is that, apart from the Jiang clan members who were taken to Yuan Yuan Tian by Jiang Ling back then, all the people who remained in Cangwu Kingdom were controlled by an evil curse."
"The people of this land are born with a curse; no one has ever lived past forty. Even if they are healthy and free from illness, they will suddenly die at the age of forty."
Unfortunately, no one paid any attention.
Mu Wuxian landed lightly on the bluestone pavement of Wudu. The moment his feet touched the ground, his brows furrowed slightly. A faint yet chilling aura lingered around his nose, the same source of the curse he had sensed when investigating the old woman, but far more refined and malevolent. Before he could examine it further, a subtle tremor ran beneath his feet. Dark golden patterns rapidly spread from the cracks in the bluestone pavement, instantly weaving into a massive magic array that enveloped the entire capital city.
The moment the magic array was activated, the spiritual power around Mu Wuxian involuntarily began to stir. He was born with the power of the Great Evolution Immortal Venerable and was mutually reinforcing and restraining with the Yinghuo Calamity Demon. This strange energy and the pull of the magic array suddenly brought back some scenes from that day.
Yellow sand swirls, the sky and earth turn a dim yellow, and the bleak wind howls as it sweeps across the desert, stirring up dust and sand that devours all the warmth between heaven and earth.
A young girl in a red dress stood alone in the wind, her eyes filled with an inescapable obsession and infatuation. She gripped the sleeve of the boy in front of her tightly, her fingertips turning white from the force. Her voice was broken and trembling with sobs: "Let's elope, okay? I don't want anything, I don't care about anything."
The boy was none other than Jiang Ling in his youth. His face was still as gentle and refined as jade. He gently brushed the girl's hand away and said softly, "Wu'er, you and I are half-siblings, connected by blood. How can you have such immoral thoughts? Don't you agree? From now on, don't have such thoughts again."
The girl named Jiang Wu took a step back abruptly, tears streaming down her face.
"Brother and sister? Of course you say that now! You were the one who deliberately seduced me first! In order to seize the throne, you knew that my maternal grandfather, Marquis Qingwu, held great military power, so you deliberately approached me and flattered me, disregarding the boundaries of human relations to seduce my heart, making me devoted to you so that I would ask my grandfather to help you! Now that you have achieved your wish and have been made crown prince, I am to be used as a pawn to be sent to a marriage alliance, and you didn't even say a word of objection!"
"Fine, so you only see me as a burden, a tattered garment, and now you want to discard me."
Jiang Ling's expression remained calm and aloof, as if Jiang Wu's desperate accusations were nothing more than an insignificant breeze that would blow away without even causing a ripple in his heart.
The girl's voice softened as well.
"Brother, I love you too. If you don't agree to take me away, I will immediately return to the Qingwu Marquis's residence and expose all your schemes of deliberately seducing and using me! I want to see if you can still hold onto your position as Crown Prince without the support of the Qingwu Marquis's residence!"
“I also want to tell Father that you are not gentle at all; your heart is full of ruthless and vicious schemes! You know Father; he loves me because I am stupid. Tell me, if he knew that his good son was so clever, capable, and cunning, wouldn't he be overjoyed?”
"Do I like you a lot?"
Then the world suddenly fell silent.
A wisp of pale blue spiritual energy, as fast as lightning, pierced straight into Jiang Wu's heart, causing her to stop speaking abruptly.
The gentle smile on Jiang Ling's face slowly faded, leaving behind an indifferent expression without the slightest hesitation.
His gaze was so calm it seemed nonchalant.
He raised his finger to his lips and gently shushed.
The smile on the girl in red froze completely. The anger and despair in her eyes were instantly replaced by emptiness. Then she fell backward helplessly, crashing heavily into the yellow sand, raising a cloud of dust, and then fell silent. Those eyes that were once filled with infatuation and love lost their luster forever.
Jiang Ling frowned again, not out of sadness or anger, but out of a deep-seated caution.
He took out the blade, slashed it out, and pierced Jiang Wu's heart.
A blood-red flower slowly bloomed on the chest of the dead girl.
Jiang Ling lowered her eyes and glanced indifferently at her body lying in the yellow sand. Her face was expressionless, showing no remorse, pity, or anger, as if the person who died at her feet was not her blood-related younger sister, but merely an insignificant ant.
The red sun in the sky was as red as blood, yet within it seemed to be a black eye, coldly observing the world. That red light shone on the Cangwu Kingdom and also fell upon Jiang Ling's calm face.
If it was a ritual, the mutual slaughter within the Cangwu royal family had been going on for a century, with one bloody massacre after another taking place in the Cangwu palace.
It wasn't until Jiang Ling deceived and murdered her younger sister that the continuous offerings seemed to have been sufficient.
Jiang Ling became the current Demon of the Moon.
After that, Immortal Jiang left Cangwu. Everyone said that the bloodshed in Cangwu had stopped under the benevolence of the new ruler, but in reality, it was just that the demons were not satisfied and wanted to find other things to fill their stomachs.
The Cangwu Kingdom became a cursed land, and its people did not live past forty.
No one believed that there was a demon in the Four Realms. Even though the Jiang Clan was known for its domineering ways, others never seemed to suspect Jiang Xianzun. If the resentment ran too deep, even if the Jiang Clan were destroyed, Jiang Xianzun would remain unharmed.
This new Demon King of Yinghuo is far too powerful, maintaining a balance between good and evil. Therefore, Mu Wuxian inherited the power of the Great Evolution Immortal Venerable, and his strength far surpasses that of his predecessors.
He listened as Shen Zhiwei analyzed from the side, saying, "He wanted to abandon his identity as Jiang Ling and prepare another body, namely Lin Xuan of the Lin family. But you conquered the Lin family and killed them. So why did he suddenly not want to be Immortal Venerable Jiang anymore?"
In a flash, Shen Zhiwei analyzed the situation logically and thoughtfully: "That's it, he must be too wary of me. I am a celestial being, I have made such great contributions, I am not very obedient, and I want to not wear the Greedy Wolf Mask. It must be that I am too dazzling, so he feels ashamed and therefore plots against me like this."
Shen Zhiwei's words did make some sense, but Mu Wuxian found it strange that she said them that way.
Shen Zhiwei: "It's a pity. He didn't expect that you would receive the power of the Great Evolution Immortal Venerable at this time. Therefore, he was caught off guard and you reaped the rewards. As a result, Young Master Mu Wuxian happened to become the number one person in the four realms."
Otherwise, it would have been exactly as Jiang Ling wished.
Since Xie Qingyu and Rong Yuejun ascended to immortality after consuming Jiang Ling's flesh, Jiang Ling naturally had ways to control the two of them.
Shen Zhiwei murmured, "Why is he so focused on dealing with me? Could it be that I really angered him that much?"
At this point, Shen Zhiwei didn't cry. Instead, she smiled and said, "Back then, I was actually very grateful to him."
Shen Zhiwei's voice was very flat, and she didn't seem to have any emotion in it.
However, Mu Wuxian turned his head to look at her gently and suddenly felt that Shen Zhiwei might be feeling a little uncomfortable.
He recalled that year when he imprisoned Tian Shu beside him, and Tian Shu grasped his arm, asking urgently, "Do you believe that there might be another reason? Senior brother didn't kill Master. Who knows how Master died? There must be another reason behind it."
However, no one in the world believed it, and Mu Wuxian did not believe it either.
Mu Wuxian suddenly felt a little sad, and then she remembered that when she was injured, she was attacked by Xie Qingyu and Rong Yuejun, and had no choice but to stay by her side as Tian Shu.
After breaking free from the restrictions, how did she suffer injuries that led her to fall to the lower realm and become Shen Zhiwei?
As Mu Wuxian felt a pang of bitterness rise in her heart, Shen Zhiwei, though troubled, also had a quick thought. She said, "Besides, things have happened so suddenly, and with so many things going on, I don't even know how to tell Xiao Chan."
Her gaze lingered on Mu Wuxian. Mu Wuxian paused for a moment, his mind wandering, before blurting out, "Wasn't this all premeditated? It should have been expected."
Shen Zhiwei couldn't help but glare at him. What are you saying?
Mu Wuxian couldn't help but look away.
After merging with Yin Wujiu, even though he had regained his identity, he seemed to inexplicably lose his voice in front of Shen Zhiwei.
However, now is not the time to dwell on these feelings.
The true colors have been revealed; the battle has reached this point, and the final showdown is just one step away.
After Xie Qingyu returned, she also went into seclusion.
In reality, although Rong Yuejun was unfortunate, Xie Qingyu's reputation did not collapse.
Over the years, Xie Qingyu's reputation in the four realms has been quite good. Even though Rong Yuejun has passed away, he has gained some sympathy from others.
But these were not enough for Xie Qingyu to go against the tide and find a glimmer of hope.
In the small room, candles were lit, casting a cold, flickering light on Xie Qingyu's pale, snow-white face.
He pondered Shen Zhiwei's words; the woman wasn't wrong. If he were Jiang Ling, he would have killed him too, and that person certainly had the ability to do so.
Over the years, Xie Qingyu gradually came to understand Jiang Ling's intentions back then.
Having faked his death to escape, Jiang Bin not only sought a new identity but also needed help to deal with his disciple who had already entered the realm of immortals.
In a one-on-one fight, Tanlang was a tough nut to crack. Even if Jiang Ling won, she might suffer heavy losses or be taken advantage of. So he gave up Jiang Ling's identity and body, and used Jiang Ling's flesh to nourish himself and Rong Yuejun, placing restrictions on them, turning them into two usable swords.
The calculations were extremely precise.
Xie Qingyu suddenly ran her fingers through her hair, messing up her usually meticulously combed hair, and her calm eyes also became somewhat disordered.
He's being driven crazy!
How could all of this have come to this?
Is this the life he wants to live, the person he wants to become?
Is this everything he wanted when he was a boy?
In his childhood, he went on missions to ordinary places and exorcised evil spirits in ordinary people's villages.
The villagers revered him as a god, and because Xie Qingyu spoke with a smile and was gentle and refined, they naturally felt a sense of closeness to this celestial young man.
He still remembers a six-year-old girl coming over with a smile, her big eyes filled with admiration, offering him a flower: "Little fairy, you are so beautiful, thank you so much."
Xie Qingyu smiled, bent down, and lowered his head, letting the girl put the flower in his hair.
A warm current suddenly flowed through his heart; the comfortable feeling of being liked and appreciated flowed through his entire body.
Over the years, he cultivated a good reputation throughout the region, which brought him great satisfaction.
In a daze, Xie Qingyu seemed to glimpse that little girl from back then again.
He felt as if he were in a dream. The little girl in front of him was still the same as she had been years ago, with her eyebrows and eyes curved, holding a wildflower covered with morning dew, looking at him innocently: "Little Immortal Master, you are so beautiful."
He instinctively smiled, imagining leaning down like he did back then, letting her place the flower in his hair. But the next second, the girl's clear eyes still held the same adoration, and her right hand quietly pulled a small dagger from behind her back. With a flash of cold light, it plunged straight at his neck!
Xie Qingyu was shocked. His spiritual power surged through his body instantly. With his cultivation level, dodging this attack would have been a piece of cake, and he could even have defeated the girl with a counterattack. However, he felt as if he was bound by invisible shackles. Cold sweat slid down his forehead, soaking his temples, and his arms felt so heavy that he could hardly lift them.
An inexplicable force prevented him from acting; he was drenched in cold sweat, as if he were powerless to move. It was as if any action he took would destroy something, as if he had deliberately created everything before destroying others.
These things had always bound him, suffocating him, yet he seemed to derive some pleasure from them as well.
The dagger's chill was already close to his skin, a sharp pain shooting through him. Xie Qingyu closed his eyes, feeling his very soul tremble. Just at this critical moment, he suddenly regained his senses, his entire body ice-cold.
He suddenly opened his eyes. He was still in the small, secluded room. The candle flames flickered, revealing that half of his clothes were soaked in blood. A deep, bone-revealing wound on his neck was gushing blood, and warm liquid slid down his neck, staining half of his body red.
Someone is using supernatural powers to kill him!
The reason he was able to break free was not because he could do it himself, but because the spellcaster's incantation was forcibly interrupted by an external force.
Xie Qingyu clutched her wound and looked up. The protective barrier of the small room had been breached, and traces of Shen Zhiwei's clash with another chilling aura lingered in the air. Clearly, Shen Zhiwei had sensed the disturbance and, seizing the moment when the caster was distracted, had chased after her, no longer paying attention to Xie Qingyu.
Just as Shen Zhiwei said, he was bait.
Xie Qingyu gritted his teeth, gathering spiritual energy at his fingertips to seal the wound. He suddenly felt an intense hatred.
All of this makes it seem as if he is nothing at all.
It was as if he were a complete plaything.
Shen Zhiwei followed the chilling aura, constantly locking onto it with her divine sense. It wasn't entirely unexpected; this relentless tracking led her to the Ling family's residence. The Ling family cultivators remained unaware of Shen Zhiwei's intrusion, allowing her to enter unimpeded.
A slender figure sat in a wheelchair in the room, slowly raising her head.
It was Ling Lianyue. She still had that timid look, her eyebrows and eyes as gentle as a little white flower swaying in the wind, but the few specks of blood on her cheeks were particularly glaring, ruining that sense of fragility.
That must be Xie Qingyu's blood.
In an instant, Shen Zhiwei's mind was in turmoil, feeling quite annoyed and filled with all sorts of random thoughts.
The Ling siblings, one with a heart condition and the other with mobility issues, had a history of suspicion with Shen Zhiwei, though at the time she thought they would have some integrity and choose a man.
Now it seems that the other party was quite good at hiding their true intentions.
They've really lost all sense of shame.
Ling Lianyue raised her head, timid and shy, like a flower, with a few bloodstains on her cheeks that were quite conspicuous.
The look of fear and gentleness on her face vanished, leaving her appearance like a dark lotus, its depths unfathomable.
The female cultivator said, "Good disciple, you are still as clever and charming as ever."
Although it was a soft female voice, it was very low and hoarse, and when she spoke, it sounded like a man.
The room was quiet for a while.
It was Shen Zhiwei who spoke first.
Shen Zhiwei clicked her tongue: "Now you are called Ling Lianyue, good master, but I still prefer the name Jiang Ling, it feels familiar and approachable to me."
“We used to be together like father and daughter, and we had a very close relationship. But what about you? How did you treat me? This betrayal has broken my heart.”
She put on a dramatic act: "If Master wants me to die, just give the order, and I will obey. Just like when I went undercover, I was willing to risk my life even if it meant dying nine times out of ten. Why resort to these tricks? Master, do you know how very, very important you are to me? How much I respect you! You really make me sad."
At this point, Shen Zhiwei stretched out her sleeve and wiped the corners of her eyes, which did not produce any tears.
She said, "No matter what, you transformed me and gave me such wealth and honor. Now, seeing you neither male nor female, hiding your identity and enduring so much humiliation, I feel sorry for you."
"You were originally the Crown Prince of Cangwu, and you've been a man for many years, yet you've taken over the body of a woman. Jiang Ling, Jiang Ling, why don't you choose someone else?"
Shen Zhiwei sneered, her eyes and brows full of mockery.
She cried and laughed intermittently; although it was all acting, she was always emotionally charged.
On the contrary, Jiang Ling remained very calm. Even after her identity was revealed, she showed no panic or hysteria.
Jiang Ling looked up, listening to Shen Zhiwei's sarcastic curses: "That's right, you originally chose a puppet, Lin Xuan from the Lin family. It's a pity that he was useless. Mu Wuxian personally led an expedition against the Lin family and killed him. Master's soul had nowhere to rest. Originally, you could have chosen either Xie Qingyu or Rong Yuejun. But given Master's low-key and cautious nature, he naturally felt that these two were too conspicuous."
"You've tried to take your eyes on all the minor cultivators in Yuan Yuan Tian, including your nominal sister Ling Xiaoshuang and Rong Xiao, the son of Rong Yuejun. It's a pity they're all useless, and now you're in this state. Master, I feel so sorry for you, clinging to life like this, pretending to be a cripple who can't walk."
Jiang Ling's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of annoyance flowed deep in her eyes.
Jiang Ling was not one to swallow her anger. She had always loved pleasure and was incredibly arrogant, never liking to be subservient to anyone. Now, Shen Zhiwei was speaking harshly, going to great lengths to insult her. Coupled with the years of endurance and subservience to this crippled body, Jiang Ling's heart was filled with surging anger and resentment!
This shouldn't have happened.
Originally, he was merely changing his identity and mood to fool the world and become the ruler of the four realms in a different guise.
Unexpectedly, Mu Wuxian suddenly received the power of the Great Evolution Immortal Venerable, and was reborn. Taking advantage of the moment when she abandoned her identity as Jiang Ling, she took advantage of the situation and entered her body!
Jiang Ling's cheeks flushed, and she suddenly said sarcastically, "I shouldn't have taken you as my disciple!"
Shen Zhiwei's fierce expression vanished, and her face quickly changed, revealing a hint of impending tears: "I just don't understand why Master treats me this way?"
"Why did you go to such lengths to frame me, hate me, slander me like this, and wish me dead?"
"I have always been loyal to you. I fought for you to build an empire and killed all those who disobeyed you. I never went against your wishes."
"I have never intended to betray you."
"Why would you abandon your identity as Jiang Ling and frame me?"
"Is there anything I haven't done well, my disciple?"
She looked very aggrieved, her expression half-serious and half-feigned, but she did want to know the reason why Jiang Ling did what she did.
Jiang Ling's expression was somewhat strange, and she suddenly said, "Guess?"
Shen Zhiwei said seriously, "I guess Master misunderstood back then, thinking that I liked Mu Wuxian and refused to obey. Aren't all female cultivators in the novels like that? Once they have a lover, they leave their hardworking Master aside and ignore him."
Jiang Ling chuckled as she listened to Shen Zhiwei spouting nonsense with such a straight face.
That's just how my beloved student is; he speaks casually and always loves to make jokes.
Jiang Ling used to find this innocent yet ruthless and lively personality very interesting, and sometimes she would even laugh at it.
Shen Zhiwei smiled and then seriously analyzed: "There can be no two suns in the sky, and no two masters in the world. Originally, there was only one Immortal Realm among the four realms, so Immortal Venerable Jiang was high above and his word was law. Unexpectedly, later there was another me."
She shamelessly boasted, "Master must be extremely jealous of me. He must be secretly annoyed and unhappy, thinking, 'Why is my disciple so outstanding, so talented, and so skilled? Unlike you, who sacrificed your relatives and abandoned your conscience when you ascended to the realm of immortals, and what kind of wicked opportunity did you obtain?'"
"Everyone thinks that you are exceptionally talented and born with God's favor, but you are not. I am."
"Besides, I wasn't that obedient either. You destroyed the Mu family because of the power of the Great Evolution Immortal Venerable's inheritance, but I turned around and saved Mu Wuxian. You thought that even if I didn't kill Mu Wuxian, I would destroy his character, but I didn't agree. If others are so disobedient, I'll just kill them, and the next one will be even more obedient."
"But there's just nothing you can do about it."
"You can only treat me kindly and patiently, putting on a friendly and approachable front. But in reality, you've long been impatient with me and are thinking of ways to ruin me."
These thoughts had been lingering in Shen Zhiwei's mind for a long time.
Over the years, she had been constantly thinking about these things and keeping them in mind.
She was unwilling to accept it and was being tormented to the point of madness.
So they meticulously reviewed everything, recalling every detail of their time together, hoping to uncover the truth.
Yes, Master has hated me for a long time.
It's not a very strange thing; in this world, murderous intent and hatred all stem from the infringement of interests and dignity.
Jiang Ling said gently, "My good disciple, you're still so clever, you guessed six or seven parts right, but not all of it—"
"The most important reason is because I love you!"
I love you so much.
At first, it was just a passing fancy.
Jiang Ling said, "We first met in the Land of Fallen Gods. You should really see how dirty, wretched, and repulsive you were back then. Coincidentally, at that time, I really hated the stupidity of the Jiang family and wanted to have some fun."
"Yes, you looked quite disheveled then, but I really liked your eyes."
"You have very captivating eyes."
Someone tried to take food from the child, which was just half a spoiled steamed bun. The tomboyish child ignored them and grabbed the bun, acting very fiercely.
Amidst the filth, a pair of eyes stood out like beautiful jade, lustrous and bright, captivating all who beheld them.
It was as if the stars in the sky had been reflected in those eyes.
He removed the child's clothes, washed her body, changed her into new clothes, and combed her hair. On a whim, he carefully dressed her up, and the dirty boy became a pretty little girl.
The girl was oblivious to shyness, and Jiang Ling didn't have any other thoughts at the time.
The child was only a few years old and was very thin due to insufficient nourishment, not to mention that Jiang Ling had long since given up human desires.
He had no other thoughts.
How could he have known then that this little girl would become his downfall?
Because of his aloofness, Jiang Ling initially had little interest in such a weak person. After a moment of interest, Jiang Ling didn't pay much attention to him.
He didn't even give the child a name.
At the age of ten, the little girl tested the sword with her blood and obtained the weapon, the Greedy Wolf. Overjoyed, she named the sword after herself.
He gradually started paying more attention to the other person.
Although he was an immortal, the experiences of his childhood as a mortal were still etched in his memory. Growing up with over twenty siblings, they engaged in a life of constant fighting and intrigue, filled with all sorts of hypocritical schemes and deceit. Even after he rose to power, he treated his subordinates the same way.
By bestowing such favors, they then sow discord, causing mutual resentment and hatred.
Thus, they became deeply entangled in it, as if caught between fire and water, unable to escape.
Ironically, the Greedy Wolf star did not find it bitter; rather, it seemed to be quite at ease, like a fish in water.
Children who lack material nourishment in their childhood often grow up to be somewhat eccentric, either excessively greedy or gloomy and sensitive with a hedgehog-like sense of pride and unworthiness.
However, there were no such marks on Tanlang's body.
She grew up, becoming graceful and beautiful, and gradually began to exude the vitality of a young woman.
As Jiang Ling recounted her past, her eyes shone with light as she said, "You've grown up day by day, becoming more and more immature, and wanting more and more. You're unwilling to wear an ugly mask; you want to be free, wear beautiful clothes, and be a happy female cultivator."
"You don't want to hide in the shadows, conceal your identity, and live in fear and scorn. You want to stand in the sunlight and be yourself again. What can I do? I can only advise you to create two identities so you have a way out."
This was something Shen Zhiwei never expected. She thought that Jiang Ling's advice back then was just to encourage her to imitate his feelings.
It turns out that Jiang Ling was trying to stop her from changing.
But who can stop such changes? Seeds buried in the ground, even if they are initially content to stay in the cold soil, will grow happily once they are nourished by sunlight and rain.
She simply followed the nature of a girl and lived such a wonderful life.
A chill settled in Shen Zhiwei's heart, and she said coldly, "I didn't expect Master to be unhappy."
Unexpectedly, Jiang Ling said, "How could I not be happy? I like it to death."
He said affectionately, "My dear disciple, I love you, but you have never treated me like a man."
No matter what he said, Shen Zhiwei would not have been surprised, but now her eyes widened in surprise.
Jiang Ling once possessed a beautiful appearance, but no one would have imagined that. Because Jiang Ling had renounced human desires, her heart and mind were filled only with power and ascension, and she had nothing else in mind.
Shen Zhiwei thought so, and Jiang Ling had indeed thought so before.
He became emperor at the age of sixteen, but never established an empress or took concubines. Later, when he set foot in Yuan Yuan Tian, he became even more aloof and had no worldly desires.
Until, Greedy Wolf stepped into the realm of immortals!
Without the aid of evil spirits or the sacrifice of living beings, she may be the first person to rightfully step into the realm of immortals on her own.
Jiang Ling was filled with jealousy.
Jealousy is also an emotion. In addition to jealousy, resentment, and panic, jealousy can also give rise to a degree of love and desire.
In that damp, filthy state of mind, a dark, instinctive love between men and women was born.
The young girl stood gracefully, beautiful and charming, her pale face as white and radiant as snow, with an ethereal beauty and a touch of playfulness.
She was completely unguarded around Jiang Ling and did not regard him as a man. She would snuggle up to Jiang Ling's knees while laughing and talking, and look up at her master.
Usually at that time, Jiang Ling would run her fingers through her disciple's hair and speak softly to teach him.
This disciple was perhaps the person closest to Jiang Ling in the world. Others saw only a glimpse of Jiang Ling through a tube, but Tanlang had glimpsed some of his true nature. However, this disciple was not a morally upright person and seemed not to care.
Even in his daily life, he felt a certain amount of gratitude towards the female disciple he had raised.
She is still young and still has some very pure emotions.
Now, Jiang Ling said to Shen Zhiwei that her master back then did not treat her as a pure disciple.
For the first time, Shen Zhiwei was speechless.
Jiang Ling looked at her and said, "I'm old."
He said he was old, but cultivators have long lifespans, so maintaining their appearance is not difficult, not to mention that Jiang Ling has already ascended to the realm of immortals.
No matter how beautiful one's appearance, one's spirit is already weary and lifeless.
Young people who have never experienced love are always awkward, clumsy, and even say one thing but mean another. They may get inexplicably angry when they are attracted to someone, and they may say they don't like someone even if they do.
This applies to Tanlang, and even to Mu Wuxian, who appears quite mature and intelligent.
They might find themselves unable to understand each other, yet still be deeply moved by every smile and gesture.
But what about him? Looking at himself in the mirror, he saw a handsome face, but his spirit was aged and dejected. For the first time, Jiang Ling examined what she had lost—those shallow, dew-like loves.
He never experienced the innocent and bittersweet feelings of his youth.
Everything is so infuriating.
After a moment of silence, Shen Zhiwei said calmly, without any hesitation, "Master has never said these things to me before."
Jiang Linghe said, "How could I possibly say it if it would be so shameful?"
He was arrogant, possessing four realms, and regarded the creatures of these realms as nothing.
Does he have to admit that he was being manipulated by a teenage girl and was at a loss for what to do?
At that time, he concealed his shame, panic, and resentment, not wanting anyone to know.
Jiang Ling couldn't help but sigh, "I've always felt extremely sorry for you and couldn't bear to fight you. That's why I never wanted you to know that I wanted to kill you. We were master and disciple, why must we hate each other like this? It's a pity that you still won't die and are still so relentless."
A cold glint suddenly appeared deep in Shen Zhiwei's eyes. She remembered that time, when she had just given birth to Xiao Chan, and lay there so weakly, feeling as if life had lost all hope.
So she drew her magic sword and aimed it at her own throat, ready to plunge it in.
But after much deliberation, she still couldn't bear to part with it.
Such pain and sorrow, once gone, were nothing more than a touch of "compassion" in Jiang Ling's eyes.
A hint of annoyance flashed across Shen Zhiwei's dark eyes, but she did not show any anger that would please Jiang Ling.
Shen Zhiwei said politely, "But now that Master has said these things, he certainly won't beg for my mercy. You're saying these things now because you've made up your mind to disregard everything—"
"You're going to kill me with your own hands, aren't you?"
Jiang Ling raised his head. He occupied Ling Lian Yue's body, and his appearance was still that of a frail and beautiful woman. But just as he said, as long as you look at his eyes, you can see an old and decaying soul.
Jiang Ling replied infatuatedly, "Yes!"
He sat in his wheelchair and slowly raised his hand: "You're always the best."
Greedy Wolf is always the best; those lesser cultivators, whether Rong Xiao or Ling Xiaoshuang, have always been disappointing in terms of talent.
Although Rong Yuejun and Xie Qingyu had reached the realm of immortals, they still could not satisfy Jiang Ling.
From beginning to end, only one person could satisfy him.
He murmured, "No one but you is worthy of me."
Shen Zhiwei should have been angry, but she also found it a little funny: "How do I compare to Mu Wuxian?"
She was still making witty remarks at this moment, secretly thinking that it was nothing more than Jiang Ling being unable to do anything to Mu Wuxian, so she was torturing herself.
A strange expression appeared on Jiang Ling's face again. The other person's teasing and lighthearted manner both annoyed and pleased him.
Jiang Ling replied very seriously, "How can Mu Wuxian compare to you?"
As she said this, Jiang Ling clenched her outstretched hand into a fist.
The magic array on the ground is activated.
A sudden surge of dark blue light erupted, the magic array patterns writhing like living things, and countless profound runes broke free from the ground's restraints, binding Shen Zhiwei's limbs and bones like chains. Shen Zhiwei felt an immense force pressing down on her from all directions; the spiritual energy within her dantian was frozen solid, completely unusable, and her limbs felt as if they were filled with molten lead, too heavy to move. She instinctively wanted to raise her eyes to glare at Jiang Ling, but her eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and she could only watch helplessly as Jiang Ling sat in her wheelchair, her eyes brimming with a determined, obsessive gaze.
"My good disciple, don't struggle."
Jiang Ling's voice came from Ling Lianyue's body, carrying an eerie gentleness: "This body is truly wonderful! You were born with boundless luck, everything you do goes smoothly, you can escape unscathed from a near-death undercover mission, you can even reach the realm of immortals in dire straits, and even Mu Wuxian is devoted to you. Such good fortune and such a uniquely blessed body are worthy of me."
He slowly rose to his feet, and Ling Lian Yue's frail body exuded an air of majesty that seemed incongruous with her appearance: "I have searched for so long and tried so many people, but only you, only you, Shen Zhi Wei, are the chosen vessel. How could those mortal bodies and ordinary immortal forms bear the weight of me, the Crown Prince of Cangwu, the former Immortal Venerable Jiang?"
A suppressed groan escaped Shen Zhiwei's throat. She could clearly feel a chilling spiritual power seeping into her consciousness little by little along the runes of the magic array. The scene before her began to distort; Jiang Ling's face gradually blurred in her vision, replaced by a chaotic darkness. Her eyes grew strange; the initial shock, anger, and mockery faded, leaving them empty and blank, then tinged with Jiang Ling's arrogance and sinister intent.
Then, Shen Zhiwei uttered a sound: "It's done—"
Jiang Ling chuckled softly, her voice filled with ecstatic joy.
The moment Shen Zhiwei's gaze completely changed, the body he had occupied, Ling Lianyue's, began to slowly melt, like ice and snow being baked by the scorching sun, turning into wisps of pale blue mist that gradually dissipated into the air.
Jiang Ling raised Shen Zhiwei's hand, his fingertips gently stroking his cheek. The touch was delicate and cool, and spiritual energy surged through his meridians. He narrowed his eyes slightly, enjoying the pleasure of being reborn, as if he had once again taken control of the four realms.
Given Mu Wuxian's infatuation with his disciple, it wouldn't be difficult for him to get close to him and make the flawless Mu Wuxian fall into his hands. He could also put on a good act; for the past few years, no one had noticed that he was playing Ling Lianyue.
But the next moment, the ecstasy on his face froze, replaced by a deep, bone-chilling pain.
Jiang Ling abruptly looked down and saw that beneath Shen Zhiwei's snow-white skin, a faint golden light was flowing. Immediately afterward, countless golden runes appeared like a tide, spreading from his limbs to his heart, forming a dense net of incantations. The runes shimmered with a scorching light, like a red-hot iron, fiercely burning his soul.
Is this a Soul-Locking Curse? And there are runes from a Soul-Devouring Array?
Jiang Ling was filled with shock and anger. He tried to mobilize his spiritual power to break free from the binding of the incantation, but found that the incantation was like a bone-deep infection. The more he struggled, the tighter it contracted. The intense pain from his soul made him tremble uncontrollably.
Just then, another figure in dark robes slowly approached, and a much more familiar voice rang out: "Master, are you surprised?"
The Wolf Puppet, which had been retrieved from Jiang Bin, walked slowly towards him, its previously empty eyes now showing a hint of life.
Shen Zhiwei's soul did not disappear; instead, it returned to its former body.
Shen Zhiwei said with a hint of mockery, "You thought you had set a trap for me? Little did you know, from the moment you revealed your identity and started spouting those sentimental and ridiculous nonsense, you had already walked into my trap."
Her eyes turned cold: "You think I've only been busy recounting the past and acting with you all these years? I knew long ago that you were still up to no good and would eventually try to take my body. The incantation on this body is something I spent ten years crafting, specially tailored for you."
"Don't you want my fortune, you want my body?"
Shen Zhiwei took a step forward, approaching the figure hunched over in agony: "Now that you have entered this body, this incantation will firmly lock your soul, slowly devouring your spiritual power and soul strength. Before long, you will be completely annihilated, without even a chance to reincarnate."
Jiang Ling trembled all over, staring incredulously at Shen Zhiwei before her: "You... you knew all along—"
"certainly!"
Shen Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, her eyes full of mockery: "You are so proud and arrogant, and so extremely stubborn. You've decided that I'm the best vessel. How could you possibly suspect that I've already laid a trap? After all, in your eyes, I'll always be that disciple you've been playing with, won't I?"
She sighed: "Besides, what other good ideas do you have besides me? Rong Xiao and Ling Xiaoshuang don't suit your taste. You saw Xie Qingyu and Rong Yuejun being manipulated by me, so you naturally know they're useless. But by taking over my body, you can also use it to deal with Mu Wuxian, killing two birds with one stone. If I were you, I would also think that possessing me is the best choice."
Shen Zhiwei continued to tease and joke: "Look, you still say that I am more likable to you than Mu Wuxian. Why do you say such nice things to coax me? In the end, it's nothing more than taking over my body is your best choice."
"Good master, do you think you can still manipulate me like you did ten years ago?"
Don't even think about it!
The golden light of the incantation grew even more intense, and Jiang Ling's soul began to twist under the burning of the incantation. He let out a shrill scream, his face filled with resentment and hatred.
Shen Zhiwei suddenly drew her Greedy Wolf Sword and stabbed it at the body before her.
Using this physical form as a magical weapon and his heart as the core of the formation, Shen Zhiwei pierced his heart with a single sword.
In a daze, she remembered many years ago when Jiang Ling came to this wicked place and took the hand of a little beggar. At that time, Jiang Ling's clothes were as white as snow and spotless. She was still young and thought she had seen a fairy.
Now, Shen Zhiwei's eyes were slightly red, but she didn't shed a single tear. She simply thrust the sword in her hand a little deeper.
She killed the fairy from her childhood.
.
Shen Zhiwei withdrew the Greedy Wolf Sword. The bloodstains on the blade flowed slowly along the patterns, only to be swallowed by the sword's eerie light in an instant. She lowered her eyes to look at the lingering warmth of the golden incantation in her palm, her eyes slightly red but without a trace of tears.
The next moment, however, a sudden change occurred.
The crimson sun rises; the last time was in Cangwu Kingdom, but now it rises in Yuanyuan Heaven.
The Demon of Yinghuo has no fixed host. With Jiang Ling's death, the laws are out of balance, and it must immediately choose a new host in order to maintain its existence.
At this moment, in the small room of the Xie family, Xie Qingyu was covering the wound on his neck. The wound was strange and seemed unable to heal. His eyes were also becoming increasingly strange.
Countless fragmented images flashed before his eyes: the little girl in the ordinary village back then, and then Shen Zhiwei.
After she removed the mask of the Greedy Wolf, she seemed to transform back into that familiar person. Her delicate features reminded him of the smiling woman who had nestled beside him, of the tender moments they had shared.
He recalled how he had descended to the mortal realm for amusement and become intimate with her, but when the demonic beasts attacked, he did not hesitate to push her out to shield her from the disaster.
For some reason, Xie Qingyu shed tears, perhaps not for others, but perhaps for himself. For the past, he had probably truly considered staying by that woman's side for life.
The morning sunlight gently slid across his face, and his wife leaned in to kiss his brow. He opened his eyes and saw that familiar face, both charming and tender, smiling at him.
A shy smile appeared on her face, as beautiful as a hibiscus flower, and she said bashfully, "My husband, I am pregnant."
She leaned close and whispered in Xie Qingyu's ear.
She was already pregnant with a child.
Then Xie Qingyu laughed, hugged her tightly, and gently pressed his ear to the woman's lower abdomen to listen.
But how can you tell anything when you've just gotten pregnant?
At that time, he was incredibly happy!
It turns out he had also considered not becoming a demon.
He also strives to become the person he aspires to be.
The whispers of the Demon of Fire echoed deep within his consciousness, indistinct and seductive, guiding him to sacrifice something to solidify their symbiotic relationship. Xie Qingyu trembled all over, his fingertips unconsciously curling, and a small figure suddenly appeared in his mind.
Shen Xiaochun!
Sacrifice? What should he sacrifice? Xie Qingyu inexplicably knew what he should offer. He suddenly understood what that wonderful offering was: Shen Xiaochan.
Yes, that's why he recalled those past events, and the feeling of being incredibly happy in the whole world.
He suddenly reached out and killed someone with his finger in the air—the little girl who had once presented him with flowers.
The person wasn't actually here, but Xie Qingyu had already killed that little girl in her heart.
He not only wanted to kill the ethereal little girl in his heart, but also to kill Shen Xiaochun, who existed in reality.
After Jiang Ling's death, Xie Qingyu became the most suitable person in the Four Realms.
The demon of Yinghuo is impatient to conceive and be reborn.
The sun blazed overhead, its light as red as if stained with blood. The Xie family cultivators were astonished and whispered amongst themselves.
Just then, Xie Qingyu also appeared, but she was not her usual elegant and courteous self.
His usually meticulously combed hair was now disheveled and draped over his shoulders. His expression was strange, and the wound on his neck had reopened and was bleeding, like a bright flower, staining half of his body crimson.
As if corresponding to the blood-red sun in the sky, Xie Qingyu felt something was amiss.
As an elder of the Xie family, Bai Yiyun was very close to Xie Qingyu and couldn't help but step forward with concern: "Sect Leader, what's wrong—"
Before she could finish speaking, Xie Qingyu's fingertip, imbued with a concentrated breath, pierced Bai Yiyun's heart without warning, catching him completely off guard. Before he could even scream, his body shattered, turning into a cloud of blood mist.
Upon seeing this, the Xie family disciples were all terrified and retreated hastily.
No one had ever seen Xie Qingyu like this before.
Is the Xie family doomed?
In the past, Xie Qingyu and the entire Xie family all hoped that Mu Wuxian would go mad and lose his mind after inheriting the memories of the Great Yan Immortal Venerable.
But now it's Xie Qingyu who's gone mad!
A beam of clear light suddenly descended from the sky, and Mu Wuxian's figure stepped through the air, surrounded by immense power, his brows expressionless.
He and Shen Zhiwei worked together perfectly; Jiang Ling had just died when he arrived at the Xie family.
Mu Wuxian stretched out his finger and pressed it precisely between Xie Qingyu's eyebrows.
Divine energy was poured in, followed by a cloud of crimson blood mist.
As the demonic energy dissipated, the crimson sun in the Yuan Yuan Heaven slowly faded, gradually returning to its original form. The black eye at the center of the sun slowly closed, the tremors between heaven and earth completely subsided, and the laws returned to balance. Xie Qingyu collapsed to the ground, her body gradually growing cold, until finally, she breathed her last.
The Demon of Mars, severely wounded, has gone into hiding and will likely not reappear for a long time. The blood-red sun has also vanished, and the eyes within it have closed.
Mu Wuxian withdrew the immortal energy from his fingertips, and the inhuman chill emanating from the memories of the Great Evolution Immortal Venerable gradually dissipated. Those complex memories of his ancestors still remained, but they could no longer erode his true nature. He was no longer merely a vessel bearing the mission of slaying demons; it was as if he had rediscovered his own warmth and emotions. A powerful surge of emotion spread through his heart, unrelated to mission or laws, only a desire to immediately approach the woman who had just sheathed the Greedy Wolf Sword.
He wanted to see her.
Following its scent, he also sensed the location of Shen Zhiwei from afar.
After the demon disappeared, he gradually shed that indescribable inhuman feeling and seemed to gradually return to the living appearance of the Mu family's uncle.
So much time has passed, yet some feelings seem to remain unchanged.
A figure came into view from afar. Just like when the jacaranda blossomed in the valley, amidst a sky full of flowers, the Fairy of the Heavenly Pivot gently lifted her veil, revealing her pure and beautiful face.
At that time, he only said ordinary things, but he didn't mean it.
If I had to say, I was already secretly smitten at first sight.
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Author's Note: This novel, "Headmaster Shen," is now complete! Thank you to everyone who followed along. It's a mystery-solving story, gradually peeling back layers of truth. I hope you enjoyed it. I also tried a new character design, writing a female lead with a chaotic, neutral style for the first time. Of course, she leans towards a chaotic yet kind ending (though I imagine she could be a little "bad," feel free to comment). Romance will be covered in the epilogue, which will be updated this Saturday. My new novel will be "The Hypocritical, Sickly Male Ghost Next Door's Lady Lin," another mystery-solving story featuring a female lead. However, the male lead will be a little more eccentric (he really is quite ill, so it might not suit everyone's taste), and it's not a purely career-oriented story. Feel free to add it to your favorites; it will be released around the end of this month.
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