In an instant, the overwhelming aura of Gu Shenzhi at the peak of the Juling Stage erupted, the sharp, fierce sword light and heart-shaking pressure so terrifying that Yuexi couldn’t utter a single word; her delicate body even trembled slightly.
“You… your cultivation isn’t just at mid-Jiedan?”
After a long silence, Yuexi forced herself to act calm and asked, but at this point, she could barely speak clearly.
“Just lucky, I suppose. Right now, I’m roughly at the peak of Juling. There’s only a thin line between me and Yuan Ying. If I weren’t aiming for a perfect Saint-Grade Nascent Soul, I could have broken through to Yuan Ying right now.”
Gu Shenzhi replied absentmindedly, his heavy-lidded eyes hidden beneath the silk scarf already beginning to swiftly search for the location of the Blood Blade Saint Son.
“Peak of Juling…” Yuexi muttered to herself, shock filling her Dan Feng Eyes. The little junior brother she’d always looked down on—found annoying, even—had suddenly transformed, now a whole major realm above her, on par with the Honglian Saintess, a true Juling cultivator. The impact was overwhelming.
She silently lowered her graceful head, her slender jade-like fingers locked tightly behind her back, nearly digging into her own skin.
A few years ago, as senior sister, Yuexi had watched with her own eyes as her little junior sister and best friend—Su Linghuang—broke through realms at a terrifying speed. In just ten years, she’d walked a path that would take others a century, becoming the undisputed new Saintess of Zhan Yun Peak.
From that point on, in the eyes of outsiders, the Yueying Sect had only two kinds of disciples: the Honglian Saintess, and everyone else.
As the Honglian Saintess’s best friend, Yuexi was naturally happy for Linghuang, but even more so, she was consumed by jealousy and inferiority. She envied Su Linghuang’s extraordinary talent, so great that no matter how hard Yuexi worked, she could never hope to catch up.
Yet, Yuexi’s inferiority was extreme. Under the radiant light of the Honglian Saintess and Hao Yue, her own little glow of Yinghuo seemed utterly insignificant.
Now, the scene from those years seemed to replay before Yuexi’s eyes. The “ordinary” junior brother she’d had a bit of fondness for suddenly soared into the heavens, becoming a genius among geniuses, while she could only look up in awe—just like before.
Struck by the double blow of friendship and budding love, Yuexi was already on the verge of collapse.
Pain.
It hurt—so much.
Deep in thought, Gu Shenzhi failed to notice the change in Yuexi’s expression. Otherwise, he might have glimpsed some of her inner turmoil. Though he had no ability to rescue Yuexi from her despair and inferiority, he did possess the ability to coax a smile from a girl.
Unfortunately, the Hei Yi Shaonian did not notice, but the one who least ought to notice, did.
High above in the White Jade Capital, among the twelve towers and five cities, there was someone—in fact, an [Immortal]—who, using the soul fragment left in Gu Shenzhi’s sea of consciousness as an eye, sharply sensed Yuexi’s intense longing for power. This Immortal was preparing to bestow her a stroke of immortal fate, and conveniently, to take revenge on a certain ignorant brat.
“Senior Sister Yuexi, let me confirm one last time. If I take the Blood Blade Saint Son’s head in front of everyone, the sect won’t blame me, will it?”
Gu Shenzhi asked gently, managing to speak the most terrifying words in the calmest tone.
As a former righteous cultivator, Gu Shenzhi had always avoided killing if possible, but lately, nothing had gone his way. First, his yandere master forced him into dual cultivation; then, he fell into a cold war with Linghuang because of it; and now, he was about to hurt Taoyao’s feelings. He truly felt miserable inside.
And this Blood Blade Saint Son, who had come to seek revenge for no reason, became the perfect target for Gu Shenzhi to vent his frustrations.
Moreover, by beheading this Saint Son, he could help Linghuang solve a troublesome problem; further prove his worth to the Yueying Sect, and thus ask for the rare treasures needed to form a Saint-Grade Nascent Soul; and finally, the Blood Blade Sect was notorious for refining their blade art with human blood, wreaking havoc in Muyun Continent—killing a Saint Son today could be considered ridding the people of a scourge.
After careful thought, Gu Shenzhi was amazed to find that this pitiable Blood Blade Saint Son was like a pig raised for the new year, sent here to solve his troubles and deliver him benefits.
With such a thoughtful guest, how could Gu Shenzhi neglect hospitality? Since he’d come, might as well stay forever.
As the familiar, gentle voice rang in her ears, Yuexi finally snapped out of her pain and replied perfunctorily, “Yes, I actually think so too.”
“Were you even listening to me just now?”
Exposed, Yuexi’s face turned crimson with embarrassment. She dared not meet Gu Shenzhi’s gaze, even if she thought the Hei Yi Shaonian had forever lost his eyes—those sharpest weapons for the heart.
She parted her red lips and said, “Duels provoked among the demonic sects are always life and death. At least on the surface, the sect cannot avenge a disciple. If you really can kill the Blood Blade Saint Son, Mo Renxie, the Yueying Sect not only won’t blame you, but should reward you handsomely.”
Her respectful attitude and gentle tone almost made Gu Shenzhi feel as if Taoyao was speaking to him, as if a sorrowful barrier now stood between them.
“Senior Sister Yuexi, are you alright?” Gu Shenzhi quickly stepped forward and lightly patted her shoulder.
“I… I’m fine.”
Yuexi replied softly, reaching out her delicate hand to move the young man’s right hand from her shoulder. But as soon as she touched him, the pat instantly became a teasing caress.
She wanted to give herself one last chance—at least as a woman, she didn’t want to lose to Su Linghuang again. Spiritual power in her dantian began to circulate secretly, her charm arts already invading Gu Shenzhi’s mind on all fronts.
Yuexi’s gaze was as bewitching as smoke, her red lips alluring, her delicate figure full of feminine curves. Her slender waist was light and graceful, the black qipao split high to reveal shapely, long legs, her full bosom especially eye-catching, exuding the allure of a mature woman.
Gu Shenzhi was dazed for a moment, but soon, under the insight of his heavy-lidded eyes, returned to normal. He instinctively wanted to step back, inwardly blaming himself for his many sins.
But just then, a crisp voice called out, “You two are standing too close! The Honglian Saintess will be very angry.”
Still stunned, Taoyao suddenly snapped back to her senses. She rushed between the two without hesitation, mercilessly pushing them apart and scrutinizing them with the eyes of a judge.
As a new disciple of Qingying Peak, Taoyao naturally recognized what technique Yuexi had just used, and knew what she intended to do to her young master. For a split second, she even saw her own shadow in Yuexi’s eyes.
Of course, Taoyao wasn’t acting out of kindness for Su Linghuang’s sake—she simply wanted to swap places with Senior Sister Yuexi.
Sure enough, when a stray cat appears nearby, a whole group will soon follow.
Taoyao thought to herself, realizing that from now on, her list of love rivals would probably have to add yet another name.