“Boom!”
The moment Lu Qiancha’s thoughts settled, a deafening thunderclap suddenly tore through the clear sky stretching thousands of miles.
The once gentle and docile spiritual energy of heaven and earth around them exploded like ants scalded by boiling oil.
“Hm?”
Xuanya instantly sensed the anomaly and sharply looked up into the depths of the sky, her usually calm brows knitting tightly.
Something was wrong.
In that instant, she had even caught a trace of a humanlike anger within the volatile spiritual energy.
As if this very Heavenly Law Manifestation… had just been angered?
Who in the sect could have done such a grievous and heartless deed to rile the heavens themselves?!
Xuanya’s mind was instantly clouded with doubts as her gaze vigilantly swept the surroundings.
At this moment, Lu Qiancha was breaking out in cold sweat.
Because right at the moment the thunderclap erupted, she had heard the Heavenly Law Manifestation here transmit a message to her: “It wasn’t me, don’t blame me.”
The voice carried an indescribable sense of authority, yet the tone was thick with grievance and dissatisfaction at being wrongly accused.
Lu Qiancha: “???”
She was utterly dumbfounded—Heavenly Law Manifestation was actually speaking to her? And with such a wronged tone?!
In the past, when cultivation was going poorly or when she had suffered harsh tribulations, she had cursed the heavens openly many times, but never once did it respond.
So why today… just for thinking that inwardly, the reaction was so huge?! It even directly transmitted a voice to her.
This was absurd!
HERE…….
Lu Qiancha suddenly jolted awake.
It was an issue of status!
She suddenly recalled that she now had an official position.
She was the Mountain God of Taoyuan Village.
Though the Mountain God ranked only as a Ghost Immortal among the Five Immortals of God, Heaven, Earth, Man, and Ghost, at least it was a proper divine position with an official work order—the Mountain God’s Command.
What she had just done was like a newly appointed small district supervisor in a small company secretly complaining about the ruthless big boss of the group in the break room… only for that boss to come out of the adjacent lounge carrying coffee!
Not only had the boss heard everything clearly!
In the end, she had been @-mentioned via the company’s internal channel!!!
It was over, over, over!
Lu Qiancha’s heart pounded wildly, nearly jumping out of her throat!
Without any hesitation.
With a swoosh, Lu Qiancha instantly switched into the most proper Taoist kowtow posture, bending her waist almost to ninety degrees.
At the same time, she frantically shouted inwardly with mental force, sincerity off the charts: “Heavenly Lord, please calm your anger.”
“I was reckless with my words just now and spoke nonsense. I absolutely did not mean to insult you. It was my impure Dao Heart that caused me to presumptuously guess—my fault entirely. I beg your forgiveness this time.”
As if sensing her heartfelt sincere apology (and desperate will to survive), the violently surging spiritual energy around them instantly calmed as if stroked by an invisible giant hand.
The heaven and earth spiritual energy, which a moment ago was still frenziedly roaring, returned to its usual peaceful and harmonious state.
The wind was gentle and the sun bright, birds sang… though there was no floral fragrance yet, it was indeed very tranquil.
Xuanya, who had been on high alert, keenly felt that heart-stirring upheaval of heaven and earth instantly quell, and quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to withdraw her sharp gaze from the surroundings, she caught sight of her little disciple still holding that exaggerated kowtow pose, as if performing a grand ritual to heaven.
She looked at Lu Qiancha in puzzlement: “Hm? Qiancha, what are you doing?”
“Respectfully to Master, I felt a strong pressure in heaven and earth just now—perhaps the divine will of a hidden great power swept past. I recalled Master’s teachings that one must show respect to the venerable, so I dared not be negligent and performed this kowtow to show reverence.”
Lu Qiancha said the lie without blinking, her voice clear and steady, expression unchanged, but the tail hidden behind her flicked uncontrollably, betraying her unease.
“Your perception is indeed sharp.”
Xuanya had no suspicion. She nodded slightly, her tone softening with a hint of reassurance:
“That was the Heavenly Law Manifestation. Such an existence is unfathomable and mysterious. It’s always right to treat it with a degree of reverence and respect.”
“I will keep Master’s teachings in mind.”
After that small episode passed, Lu Qiancha gently nodded and then returned to the main topic: “Master, how should I resolve the Grand Tribulation of the Demonic Heart?”
“What do you think this Heart Demon really is at its root?”
Xuanya did not answer directly but cast the question back with a distant gaze.
“Based on your previous teachings, Master, the Heart Demon is the accumulation and condensation of rebellious thoughts formed from the vast memories of cultivators that contradict the Dao Heart.”
Lu Qiancha pondered for a moment before answering.
“Only half correct.”
Xuanya shook her head slightly, lightly tapping her jade dust whisk.
She continued: “The Heart Demon is indeed derived from memory… but it is neither a purely external demon nor simply rebellious karmic thoughts.”
She looked directly into Lu Qiancha’s eyes with deep meaning: “At its core, the Heart Demon is the mirrored shadow of your own soul. In other words, it is your ‘opposite aspect’!”
“Opposite aspect? I am foolish and cannot understand the true meaning. I humbly ask Master to explain…”
Lu Qiancha furrowed her brow, then respectfully asked.
“In short…”
Xuanya’s voice was gentle and clear, like a clear spring washing jade, “This demon is born from the heart and is an inseparable part of your Dao body and soul.”
“To forcibly reject it is to sever yourself and only create more obstacles. The more you try to suppress its existence, the more like pouring oil on fire it becomes—growing more intense.”
“I understand. Rather than oppose it, I should accept and integrate it?”
Lu Qiancha’s eyes suddenly brightened, as if clouds parted and the sun shone through, instantly enlightened.
“Good.”
Xuanya smiled and nodded approvingly.
“If there are no other distractions, you should return sooner.”
She glanced toward the small courtyard of Tianquan Peak, a trace of helpless yet doting smile in her eyes.
“Your precious junior sister has been nagging in my ear for days. She misses you dearly.”
“Yes, Master. Please take care.”
Lu Qiancha respectfully stepped aside to clear the mountain path, watching her Master’s blue robes float as she vanished deep into the forest.
Only then did she quicken her pace, heading straight toward the small courtyard.
***
The moment she pushed open the door, she saw Gantang glued to the stone table in the center of the courtyard, utterly losing all composure.
Her face was haggard, muttering, “It’s over, it’s over, this time I’m really done for.”
What was going on?
Lu Qiancha was puzzled and slowly approached. She heard Gantang murmuring:
“Senior Brother… where are you really…”
“There’s no fluffy, soft, warm tail fur to tug, to rub, to hug…”
“I’m really going to die!”
Lu Qiancha stopped dead in her tracks.
Sure enough, she shouldn’t have entertained any hopes of “worrying about Senior Brother’s safety” from her silly junior sister.
Just as Lu Qiancha was about to step forward to wake Gantang, a tempting thought suddenly flashed through her mind—
What if she appeared in her true form right now?
Then, at the moment the silly junior sister’s eyes lit up with joy and she pounced…
She could swiftly switch back to the calm and steady Senior Brother Qiancha…
Tsk.
Imagine Gantang’s expression freezing in surprise and then falling into great disappointment…
Lu Qiancha instantly felt she was utterly wicked.
Hmph, who told this fool of a junior sister to think about her tail all day long?
Lu Qiancha glanced around—confirmed safety, Xuanya Master had already gone far away, and the small courtyard’s barrier was intact.
Everything was perfect!
She formed hand seals with her fingers, her body slightly trembling—
The radiance of Wanshang Shen Ying Jue shimmered.
The illusion of a young boy that had cloaked her body dissolved like blue smoke, revealing her soft, fluffy blue-furred little girl form shimmering under the sunlight.
Even the delicate peach-pink lace choker around her neck was fully exposed without concealment.
Lu Qiancha quietly stepped to the stone table.
She looked up at her junior sister still lost in her own world…
Clearing her throat.
“Ahem.”