Chapter 15: Li Muqun vs Zuo Qiuli, do you know?

“Hey, Daoist Li, don’t rush to kick me out just yet—listen to me first.”

“I really am not some Demoness’s avatar, nor a murderous maniac!”

“The Dragon Clan is born noble.”

“The Phoenix Clan is reborn through fire.”

“As for our Fox Clan, we specialize in the soul.”

“White Foxes are cunning, delighting in misleading the world.

Blue Foxes are noble, capable of discerning the hearts of men.”

“Because of this, the Qingqiu Fox’s bloodline power conflicted with my blood-tainted self, splitting my soul in two, giving rise to this new version of me.”

“But the newly born soul was too fragile to exist alone, so I chose you, fusing and coexisting with your soul.”

“Our souls are now merged, bringing you nothing but benefits—strengthening your intangible, elusive talents.

Moreover, you can tap into the memories and cultivation method manuals accumulated over the years by that old demoness, Zuo Qiu Li.

At least before reaching the Purple Mansion, you won’t have to worry about cultivation methods.”

“In short, what benefits me benefits you; what harms me harms you. I would never betray you!”

The girl-shaped Zuo Qiuli spoke earnestly, her large, watery eyes gleaming with sincerity.

Seeming to emphasize her honesty, she deliberately lowered the neckline of her spirit-formed dress a bit.

With a slight bow, her radiant Dao Fruit reflected a dazzlingly white and tender light.

No man could resist such a request!

Zuo Qiuli was quite confident in her charm.

But the person before her was no ordinary man—no, not just any man!

He was a man among men, a cultivator among cultivators.

The heavy Dao Fruit disturbed his thoughts, yet it would only become a grinding stone refining his Dao heart.

The dazzling white jade leg distracted his composure, but it would only sharpen his resolve.

Cultivation—only cultivation!

In Limuqun’s eyes, there was only cultivation!

He didn’t trust anyone’s promises, nor their empty words.

Worldly righteousness, justice, and morality—

As a Righteous Cultivator of the Three Sects and Nine Schools, he would never allow a Demon Beast to parasitize his Sea of Consciousness!

“Get lost! Get out of here!”

“Humans and demons cannot coexist. What you did today is an insult to my status as an Orthodox Disciple!

Even if I starve to death or fall from here and die as a mortal, I, Limuqun, will never accept even a trace of your Divine Sense parasitizing me, Zuo Qiuli!”

His words were resolute, as if ready to sacrifice his life at any moment.

But to Zuo Qiuli, this display revealed a different meaning.

What talk of human and demon being irreconcilable, what noble righteousness—

It was just that she hadn’t gained anything tangible, so he refused to let go.

It was a dispute over interests, yet he spoke as if entirely justified.

This man was truly… truly…

Shameless beyond measure!

Fine! Fine!

Since you want to compete with me, then I’ll teach you a lesson for your bad attitude.

She cleared her throat and put on a look of shameful apology:

“I didn’t expect Daoist Friend to be such a principled righteous man.

This Purple Mansion Fragment cut from Zuo Qiu Li, after being refined by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, can immediately elevate them to late Foundation Establishment, and even increase the chance of breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Stage by one or two points.”

“I had originally planned to hand it over to you, but now it seems this fragment, taken from a Demon Beast, would only sully your Hao Ran Righteous Qi!”

“Daoist Friend need not say more. Qiuli will leave now. Today’s lesson has enlightened me. Even if my life ends, I shall no longer insult the dignity of Righteous Cultivators!”

With that, she stood up, preparing to transform into white light and leave.

But at that moment, a strong, firm hand suddenly grasped her slender jade arm.

“Left Daoist Friend, ah no, Left Immortal,” Limuqun said with a sincere and heartbroken expression:

“That’s wrong!”

“As the saying goes: Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life.”

“If we simply watch a young life, eager for rebirth, be buried in the name of some Rivers and Lakes reputation or for fear of criticism, what difference is there between us upright cultivators and the Demon Cultivators who kill with sweet words?”

“No need for more words. Left Immortal, just reside in my Sea of Consciousness as long as you want!”

Zuo Qiuli looked at his sudden shift from arrogant to humble, thinking it laughable, and forced herself to suppress a burst of laughter, feigning extreme hesitation as she timidly said, “Li, Daoist Friend, isn’t this improper? You just said humans and demons cannot coexist, and even if you die, you wouldn’t let a Demon Beast parasitize you—it would sully your purity.”

Unexpectedly, Limuqun remained unflustered, speaking righteously:

“You’re too narrow-minded, too narrow-minded.”

“What do you mean ‘too narrow-minded’?”

The sudden phrase left Zuo Qiuli a bit dumbfounded.

Limuqun cleared his throat and began his performance:

“Narrow-minded in vision, narrow-minded in scope, narrow-minded in heart… in short, Left Immortal, your understanding is limited!”

“All living beings were created by Heaven and Earth, formed from Vital Energy. We share the same roots and ancestors. How can there be distinctions between humans and Demon Beasts?”

“I see some human cultivators pride themselves on belonging to the righteous path, yet look down on other species, even viewing brothers and sisters of other races as mere fodder for ascension.”

“I was momentarily confused just now, but now I understand! All things are equal. There cannot be some species more equal than others! This mindset must be resolutely opposed and criticized.”

“So, Left Immortal, come in boldly. No need to worry about me!”

With a wave of his hand, he pulled Zuo Qiuli’s soul-body directly into his Sea of Consciousness.

“Left Immortal, if you have any other requests, just say them. Am I someone who would be stingy or petty?”

“Heh heh.”

Zuo Qiuli planted herself firmly inside the Sea of Consciousness, utterly speechless.

He could still play the fool and do so with such righteous zeal—it left her unable to argue.

After all, she had been influenced by her mother since childhood, genuinely hoping that one day humans and Demon Beasts would meet sincerely, with no distinctions.

This first battle, I admit defeat.

But I still have a trump card!

Yes, the real ace lies in that Purple Mansion Fragment!

Zuo Qiuli composed herself and again feigned timidity:

“Then, Daoist Friend, what about this Purple Mansion Fragment from the Demon Beast?”

“Too narrow-minded. Even more narrow-minded.”

Huh?

How is it ‘more narrow-minded’? What is he talking about now?

She was momentarily stunned when Limuqun said:

“What do you mean a Demon Beast’s Purple Mansion Fragment? Left Immortal, you’re still making the mistake of distinguishing between humans and beasts?

Looks like you didn’t hear a word I just said!”

“You’ll be staying in my Sea of Consciousness for some time, so you better study well—broaden your horizons, expand your vision, and raise your understanding to become a good cultivator of the New Era!”

…

Utterly speechless, Zuo Qiuli turned her back and rolled her eyes, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

How could a person be this shameless? To twist black into white, and then try to paint white as black again—

Simply unprecedented!

Still, she didn’t intend to argue with this sharp-tongued fellow.

She controlled her expression and took out a glowing fragment emitting a strong, exotic fragrance from her bosom.

“Daoist Friend’s words are correct. This is the Purple Mansion Fragment.”

Before she could finish speaking, a surge of strong Vital Energy rushed forth, attempting to snatch the fragment from her hand.

But Zuo Qiuli was prepared.

With a wave of her slender hand, the fragment vanished into the void, nowhere to be found.

“This fragment was meant as a gift for Daoist Friend. No need to be so anxious.”

“Heh heh, heh heh.” Seeing his attempt fail, Limuqun reluctantly withdrew his Vital Energy and explained with an unchanged expression:

“Just playing a bit earlier.”

“Left Immortal, if you hesitate to hand over the fragment, what worries do you have?”

“I was merely teasing you, Daoist Friend.” Having just learned a bit of shamelessness, Zuo Qiuli put it to use immediately.

“But this fragment is hidden in the void. Though connected to me, it cannot be directly given to you. Only through soul fusion and cohabitation, when you connect with it, can you learn its location.”

“Daoist Friend, I truly have no choice!”

A cunning fox!

Limuqun cursed inwardly, conflicted beyond measure.

Soul fusion and cohabitation sounded risky.

But the Purple Mansion Fragment’s allure was overwhelming.

Impossible to refuse, impossible to refuse.

How could he say no?

He wanted to seize and refine it immediately.

What to do, what to do?

Soul matters were too risky—

If only he could secretly fuse his soul with someone else’s instead of hers.

Wait, hold on.

Seems like that wasn’t impossible!

Exactly. Maybe even Great Ascension Stage cultivators can’t do this, but for Limuqun, who had transmigrated, this was no problem!

His current soul was already a fusion of the past and present lives’ souls. Though fully merged now, he could separate them temporarily when needed.

He could fuse only the portion of his past life’s soul with Zuo Qiuli, which wouldn’t affect his current soul.

Even if she had schemes, fusing with just the fragment of his past mortal soul would likely have minimal impact.

Genius, Limuqun, you’re truly a genius!

Having thought of this freeloading trick, he hurriedly said to Zuo Qiuli in the Sea of Consciousness, “Of course, let’s start soul fusion and coexistence right away!”

With that, he actively revealed a pale yellow aura inside his Sea of Consciousness.

Why so proactive? Is there a trick?

Limuqun’s sudden cooperation made Zuo Qiuli a little uneasy.

But after some checking, she confirmed that faint yellow aura was indeed Limuqun’s true soul.

Zuo Qiuli pondered but could think of no other trap, so she nodded:

“Daoist Friend, please wait a moment. I will begin the fusion.”

She then let out a blue aura from her soul-body, blending it with the pale yellow aura.

Limuqun suddenly felt as if an ice-cold thing had pierced into his consciousness, first a sharp pain, then waves of indescribable itching.

The sensation was strange—not exactly uncomfortable, not exactly pleasant, but tingling and addictive.

“Hmm, hmm, this soul fusion, why does it still…”

Even his tough Dao heart couldn’t help but hum softly.

On the other side, Zuo Qiuli was experiencing this for the first time.

It was like a warm hand enveloping her soul.

So comfortable, so comfortable.

Though hard to admit, it truly felt wonderful.

That soul-deep sensation made her feel as if dreaming; the soul-formed aura rhythmically moved in and out of Limuqun’s soul, in and out.

Finally, with her high-pitched moan, the two were struck by an overwhelming wave of sensation and collapsed to the ground together.

Inside the Sea of Consciousness, Zuo Qiuli, sweating profusely, looked satisfied as she embraced the now interwoven blue and yellow aura, gently stroking it.

Outside the Sea of Consciousness, Limuqun lay on the ground, curling up and shivering, his face full of despair.

How was this soul fusion?

Why did it feel like he’d been screwed over?

Why, why was it him—the man—who ended up the passive one?

Oh well, sacrifices always bring rewards.

He lightly waved his hand, and a fragment glowing with a strange fragrance appeared in his palm.

Heh heh.

Once I refine this Purple Mansion Fragment, Zuo Qiuli, your days will be tough.

I’m going to make you help me cultivate!

Every day, you’ll assist me in compiling cultivation methods, refining pills, and repairing magic treasures.

A sinister smile curled at the corner of Limuqun’s mouth.

Qingqiu Fox? Who do you take me for, a millennia-old fox!

This Left Immortal vs. Limuqun battle—

I clearly won!

He was basking in his triumph when sudden shouts erupted inside his Sea of Consciousness:

“Daoist Li, what does ‘Junior Disciple Wa’ mean?”

“What does it mean that she’s someone who could become my mother?”

“He He Cai He, San He You He, Tao He Mu Xiang He—whose names are these?”

“So many unfamiliar memories! Why is there a kid pulling down his pants in front of a glowing screen? What’s he doing?”

“Oh no, he’s starting to…”

Limuqun was stunned at first, then dashed toward his Sea of Consciousness.

What the heck!

Wasn’t this supposed to be soul fusion? Why is she reading my memories now?

No, don’t use ‘box weapons’ on me!