Yingran instinctively stepped back, then halted.
Since she knew she couldn’t escape, why flee in such a sorry state?
She pushed Guan Yi aside and stepped forward herself.
Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the mountains, startling birds into flight.
A dark shadow crashed down like a boulder in front of her, kicking up dust as it shielded her from the frost needles.
Yingran stared in shock at the massive beast before her.
Its body was pitch black, its form enlarged, tusks like a savage elephant, its appearance wild and ferocious—but the hint of yellow at the tip of its tail gave away its identity.
“Xiao… Xiao Huang…?”
Yingran was stunned.
The cold-faced female cultivator frowned.
“An immortal beast from the Great Desolation Era? Why would it appear here…?”
Guan Yi, dumbfounded and terrified, scrambled up and tried to pull Yingran away.
But the female cultivator wouldn’t let them escape.
With a wave of her hand, a blizzard swirled around them, trapping them.
The frost needles hadn’t pierced Xiao Huang’s body, but they froze its fur.
It snarled furiously at the female cultivator, twisting its body like a wall to shield Yingran.
The female cultivator sneered.
“A relic from ancient times—this is no longer your era!”
She formed a seal with her hands, summoning her lifebound sword, and lunged at Xiao Huang.
Xiao Huang pounced, engaging her in battle.
Seizing the chance, Big Flower darted out from an inconspicuous corner, tugging at Yingran’s skirt, urging her to follow.
Yingran immediately grabbed Guan Yi and fled with Big Flower.
They raced up the back mountain, weaving through the forest.
Yingran: “Where are you taking us?”
Big Flower: “The dumb dog told me there’s a place to hide—one that woman can’t enter. Hurry! The dumb dog isn’t as strong as it looks. It’s low on spiritual energy and won’t last long.”
Yingran worried: “What about Xiao Huang?”
Big Flower: “The dumb dog said it’s the guardian of that place. It’ll find its way there.”
Yingran had no time to ask how Xiao Huang had communicated so much with Big Flower—or whether it had sensed Big Flower wasn’t ordinary either. She half-dragged Guan Yi as they ran.
The frost on Guan Yi’s shoulder was spreading. His body grew colder, his eyelids heavier.
Yingran kept calling to him, begging him to hold on. Frantic, she asked Big Flower: “Is there any way to save him?”
Big Flower: “My authority only ensures the host’s safety.”
Yingran pleaded: “What if I bind with you?”
Big Flower: “That still won’t save him. I don’t have the energy to heal others. Last time, when I said binding could save the dumb dog, it was only by sending you into danger. Your energy only activates in life-or-death situations to protect you.”A
Big Flower’s voice softened as it glanced at Guan Yi. “Once we get there, build a fire to warm him. He’s a cultivator—he should pull through. Thankfully, that woman underestimated you and didn’t go all out…”
Slightly reassured, Yingran dragged Guan Yi deeper into the forest.
The sounds of battle faded behind them.
But the scenery ahead grew eerily familiar—
Pine forests, orchids, towering trees, vines, boulders…
This was Qingheng Mountain, where she had once met Xu Liling… and where she used to feed Xiao Huang before her marriage.
Big Flower finally stopped, leaping onto a boulder and circling in frustration, as if searching for something.
Then, in a panic, it slammed its paw on the rock, a yellow glow bursting from its body.
Yingran’s feet suddenly sank, and she plummeted into weightlessness.
Just before hitting the ground, a flash of light cushioned their fall, setting them down gently.
The ground was damp, puddles everywhere. Yingran scrambled up, helping Guan Yi onto a moss-covered stone step.
As she sat, her gaze caught words carved into the vines behind him: Immortal’s Tomb.
Then—hurried footsteps echoed from above.
Dark clouds gathered, and a light rain began to fall.
Drops landed on bloodstained grass, rolling off like strings of red beads.
“Just… who are you? A demon like you couldn’t possibly be unknown!”
Hongya Gong panted, scanning the surroundings.
Three hundred Xuanheng Sect disciples had thrown themselves into battle—now, over half lay dead or wounded, their blood staining the courtyard’s flowers, trees, white walls, and blue tiles.
Of the four sect masters, three were on the verge of spiritual exhaustion, their immortal demeanors gone, barely standing.
Yet the scholar in green at the center of the formation, though not unscathed, still fought with ease.
He hadn’t even revealed his demonic form.
Xu Liling didn’t answer, his brow slightly furrowed.
Pushing a mortal body this far was nearing its limit.
His bloodied sleeve dripped crimson as he raised a hand—reaching into empty space beside him.
Yet Hongya Gong saw the air distort in his grasp.
Then, the void split open, and a string of Dao beads fell into his palm.
Dao beads capable of tearing space…
Hongya Gong’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing to one name.
But—impossible!
Even if that man were here, he’d never take a wife!
Hongya Gong braced himself, gathering spiritual energy while racking his brain for any other demon who wielded Dao beads.
The disciples watched in horror as Hongya Gong prepared his ultimate technique.
The sect masters reinforced the formation.
The disciples reactivated the demon-slaying array.
Then—the jade beads around Xu Liling’s wrist shimmered.
With a flick of his hand, they elongated into a long blade.
He raised the sword—and slashed.
Hongya Gong’s mind blanked. “Immortal-bone Dao beads… You—!”
No. Impossible!
Hongya Gong refused to believe it, yet death loomed. He unleashed every spirit beast in his possession, summoning a storm of heavenly lightning to strike Xu Liling down.
Xiao Huang.
Yingran stared upward, shielding the barely conscious Guan Yi.
Then—a dark figure tumbled down, panting before looking up at her with damp, slightly awkward eyes.
Yingran exhaled in relief. “Xiao Huang.”
She rushed to check on it. “Are you alright?”
Xiao Huang froze.
It didn’t know how to explain to its mistress that it wasn’t actually a dog. Its eyes darted around.
Then it realized—she wasn’t even surprised?
It stared at Yingran.
Her eyes held only worry and care. Seeing its wounds and bloodied fur, she gently patted its head. “Thank you.”
As a beast, it couldn’t explain complicated things.
And after the fight, it was exhausted, injured, and running low on energy.
Xiao Huang wagged its tail, scratched its head, and decided—let Xu Liling deal with this.
It staggered toward the stone stele engraved with Immortal’s Tomb and pressed a paw against it.
Light flashed beneath Yingran’s feet—
In an instant, she stood in a grand hall, illuminated by countless eternal lamps.
Embroidered screens lined the walls, bookshelves and display cases filled with ancient texts and paintings.
An Immortal’s Tomb—yet it felt more like a mortal’s tomb, devoid of magic, covered in dust.
Yingran settled Guan Yi against a wall, lighting a fire to warm his wounds. Xiao Huang curled up beside him, resting.
Big Flower, having forced its way in using system energy, also collapsed near the flames.
Looking at the three of them, Yingran’s heart softened. She searched the hall for anything to cover them with.
At a display case, she paused before a veiled painting. “Forgive my intrusion, Immortal.”
She carefully pulled over a low table, stepped onto it, and lifted the silk covering the painting.
As the cloth fell away, the image revealed—
A young man with a golden crown, osmanthus blossoms in his hair, riding a horse through the streets.
Yingran froze at the sight of him.
His posture was carefree, clad in red on a white steed with a gilded saddle, his smile bright with youthful arrogance.
Beside the painting, an inscription read:
“Year Tengyu of the Yi Dynasty—the Immortal, wandering the mortal world, disguised himself as a scholar in the capital. Within three months, he mastered the Confucian classics and entered the imperial examinations.”
Guan Yi exclaimed, “Do you not know what a demon is? Demons are those who have strayed onto evil paths—the moment they cultivate demonic arts, they are already on the road to self-destruction!”
“Every demon first loses their five senses, then their sanity, and finally degenerates into a deranged monstrosity, utterly numb to the outside world, controlled only by cruel demonic nature—destroying themselves!”
Ying Ran: “I know.”
Guan Yi:
The sword clattered onto the courtyard ground as Guan Yi finished listening to Ying Ran’s explanation.
Still stunned but retaining his reason, he said, “Go pack your things. I’ll take you to Sujing. I… need a moment alone here.”
Ying Ran shook her head. “Thank you for bringing me home, but I won’t leave. You should go to Sujing.”
“You won’t go?” Guan Yi grew agitated. “Are you waiting here for Xu Liling? Don’t be foolish! Do you know how those Yunzhou cultivators got here this time?”
“The border between Yunzhou and Yiwangzhou is at war with the demonic path—they chased the demons here! Do you realize what that means about their strength? They have thousands stationed within Yunzhou’s barriers alone! This time, they brought over three hundred into Yiwangzhou!”
“The leader—Magistrate Dou said his cultivation rivals Yiwangzhou’s Four Pillars! The five cultivators with him are all peak lords or elders of Xuanheng Sect!”
“You think just because Xu Liling killed those Yunzhou cultivators last time, he can kill these? Impossible! Those from last time were like junior disciples compared to these!”
Ying Ran’s heart grew heavier, yet she remained calm. “If they traced this back to Huai Zhen, they’ll also know those cultivators targeted me first. Do you think fleeing to Sujing will spare me? No. Going there would only endanger you and my parents.”
“If they’re willing to believe I’m innocent, then staying here changes nothing.”
Guan Yi: “But—”
“The girl is right.”
A cold, feminine voice rang from above.
Guan Yi froze mid-sentence as he and Ying Ran looked up.
It was the aloof female cultivator who had accompanied the lion-elephant. Her beauty was ethereal, icy as snow, as she gazed down at them imperiously.
“Officer Guan, Yunzhou holds no hostility toward Yiwangzhou. As a servant of the Yi Dynasty, do not interfere in our personal grievances with Xu Liling and Qin Yingran.”
Guan Yi stepped in front of Ying Ran, his voice trembling under the crushing pressure. “Yingran is just a mortal—she’s innocent! Your people attacked her first!”
The cultivator descended gracefully, her wrist flicking as frost materialized in the air.
“Those tainted by demons are never innocent!”
With a wave of her hand, the frost condensed into countless icy needles, raining toward Ying Ran like arrows.
Guan Yi raised his sword to block—but the first needle shattered his blade, piercing his right shoulder. Ice spread from the wound, freezing his left arm.
The remaining needles surged toward Ying Ran, leaving no escape.
Xu Liling knocked on the gate of Spring Toad Academy.
A pale-faced servant boy opened it, trembling violently.
Xu Liling stepped inside and said mildly, “Go help your mistress carry her things from the backstreet.”
The boy sobbed in relief and fled.
Xu Liling strolled down the stone path flanked by lush flora, heading deeper into the academy.
Qin Huan was a man of refined tastes—the academy’s scenery was exquisite.
Rock gardens, rare flowers. Not necessarily expensive, but elegant.
In the past, the sound of students reciting lessons would fill the air.
Today, it was silent. Empty.
Xu Liling walked leisurely, as if admiring the view.
A crisp snap echoed—a dry twig breaking under his foot.
Suddenly, arrays flared to life, trapping him in a cage of intersecting light.
He touched one of the luminous bars, and his fingertips burned instantly.
After a pause, Xu Liling said softly, “Still not coming out?”
“HAHAHAHAHA—!”
A booming laugh shook the air, its oppressive force ringing in the ears.
Xu Liling turned.
A broad-faced man with fiery red hair stood atop the eastern roof. The lion-elephant trampled through the northern wall as disciples and peak lords emerged from the south and west wings, encircling him.
Hongya Gong ceased laughing, locking eyes with the scholar trapped in the demon-slaying array. “To kill twenty-five cultivators with linked soul-lamps, ensuring no death visions were recorded… Young man, you’re no ordinary foe.”
Xu Liling smiled. “You, over five hundred years old, at the eighth tier of the Mystic Dao, capable of taming ten thousand beasts—even subduing a lion-elephant with celestial blood. Truly, a pillar of this era.”
Hongya Gong’s expression darkened, muscles tensing.
This demon had seen through him at a glance.
Yet he couldn’t discern the demon’s roots.
“Given your demeanor, you must be a renowned demon general. May I ask your title?”
Xu Liling chuckled. “You’ll know… when you die.”
The atmosphere turned lethal. The cultivators readied their stances.
“Then, demon—descend into hell!”
Hongya Gong swung his massive hand.
The array activated—PURGE THE DEMON!
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