After Li Jingyu left, Ji Yutang still couldn’t shake off the embarrassment and awkwardness.
She hadn’t known that she would turn into a little White Dragon during cultivation, and even unconsciously snuggle up to Li Jingyu.
Even though she carried the title of “fiancée,” she knew the other party wasn’t willing, and she couldn’t let it go either.
With a soft sigh, Ji Yutang thought to herself, Li Jingyu might seem unconcerned, but the two of them being together really isn’t appropriate.
Once the North Sea matter is settled, they can go their separate ways, and maybe then everything will get back on track? As for the revenge plan she’d made before, Ji Yutang hesitated for a moment, her face showing a bit of uncertainty.
If the “Ran Guzhu” from before was like this, would she still feel resentment? Ji Yutang was a little lost; she couldn’t find the answer.
She took a deep breath, pushed down all her drifting thoughts, and refocused on her cultivation.
The second step for a qi cultivator is Foundation Establishment, and the corresponding step in her dragon cultivation is “Armor Building.” After this, she could transform into a dragon, but it would have form without spirit; only after reaching the “Pearl Forming” stage and condensing a dragon core would she truly become a real dragon.
She could now transform into a dragon, though less than a foot long—by rights, this was equivalent to Foundation Establishment—but she still felt like she was missing something.
The True Dragon Transformation Scripture had annotations from a celestial dragon, but the predecessor had cultivated as a demon, which was somewhat different from her own situation.
Ji Yutang was lost in thought, and only after a long while did she remember what Li Jingyu had said before leaving—she’d mentioned the Daode Heavenly Book.
Qi cultivators visualize their Life-Bound Artifact, storing it in their Mind Palace.
But when she shed her mortal body, that divine dragon had occupied her Life-Bound Artifact, coiling high in that space, letting her visualize it—if it was just the divine dragon, that would be fine, but later, when she touched that lofty place, the Daode Heavenly Book manifested in her Mind Palace.
Could this be a kind of Life-Bound Artifact? Like the scriptures cultivated by the Haoran righteous path? Maybe it was because of this that she couldn’t truly step into the Foundation Establishment Stage? Once Ji Yutang started thinking about it, she couldn’t stop.
She didn’t slack off on her daily external medicine baths, and she also put cultivation of the Daode Heavenly Book on her schedule.
She didn’t plan to cultivate by burning through her divine will and reciting the scripture, but instead chose the steadier method of “copying it out by hand.” After all, every time she wrote the Daoist text, it brought her a step closer to the Dao, and invisibly deepened her understanding.
For the next two months, Ji Yutang stayed in the palace cultivating, and only after she’d finished copying out a complete Daode Heavenly Book did she leave the main hall.
These two palaces were especially secluded, spiritual energy swirling thickly, and usually no one disturbed them—a perfect place for quiet cultivation.
She looked up and saw the “full moon” hanging from the eaves, conjured by great magic.
She’d been trying to comprehend the lunar mysteries, but wasn’t this the Big Dipper? Ji Yutang was a bit puzzled, but it wasn’t something she could just ask about.
Straightening her clothes, she stepped onto the crystal bridge and quickly walked to the hall under the solitary moon, reaching out to knock on the door.
“Daoist Li.” Ji Yutang’s voice rang out.
“Come in.” As soon as the cool, clear voice sounded, the hall door slowly opened, revealing a world lit by luminous pearls.
Li Jingyu sat on a meditation cushion, long black hair draped smoothly over her shoulders, her expression calm and distant, like a landscape painting.
Ji Yutang was momentarily stunned when she met those clear eyes, then quickly looked away and entered the hall.
She took out the Daode Heavenly Book from her sleeve and said, “I’ve copied out a new version in Daoist script.”
Li Jingyu felt a wave of emotion at those words.
Ji Yutang had started copying it before, but soon put it aside; she hadn’t expected her to continue in the Dragon Palace, and apparently without any obstacles.
But what did it mean to put the Daode Heavenly Book in front of her now? Was this a test? Li Jingyu’s thoughts churned, and after a while she reached out to take the Daode Heavenly Book, saying calmly, “This was my mother’s keepsake.”
Ji Yutang was surprised; she hadn’t expected Li Jingyu to say that.
The Daode Heavenly Book had been in her family’s library, together with other Daoist texts, and she’d thought it was her father Ji Mingcheng’s collection.
So it had come from the Ran Family? That made sense—Ran Guzhu’s mother had been a disciple of Taishi Palace.
She lowered her eyes and said quietly, “Then I suppose it’s back with its rightful owner now.” She didn’t want to go through with the marriage, so the matters between the Ji and Ran families should be separated.
Maybe the scripture had been given to the Ji Family because of the engagement, so it should be returned.
Had Li Jingyu stayed with her all this time just for the Daode Heavenly Book? Li Jingyu noticed the change in Ji Yutang’s expression, put away the Daode Heavenly Book, and blinked, asking, “Did you memorize all the Daoist text inside?”
Ji Yutang frowned and said stiffly, “Don’t worry, I won’t copy the Daode Heavenly Book again.
If you don’t like it, I can stop practicing this technique.”
Li Jingyu could tell from Ji Yutang’s tone that she’d misunderstood, and quickly said, “Tai Shang spreads the Dao to those with fate; it’s not exclusive to the Three Supreme Palaces.
Since you can understand the Daoist text, it means the Daode Heavenly Book matches your Dao.
No one will stop you from cultivating it.”
Ji Yutang didn’t respond.
She pressed her lips together, hesitated for a long time, then asked, “When are we leaving the Dragon Palace?”
Li Jingyu thought for a moment and replied, “When Guxin Island’s big ship arrives in the North Sea.” Their cultivation had improved during the North Sea trip, but that alone wasn’t enough to safely cross the Xuanming Yin Region.
Actually, all the changes in the North Sea were caused by the Demon God Stake, and with people from Taishi Palace and the Haoran righteous path coming, they’d definitely deal with the problem.
North Sea Icefield.
Zhang Huaiyu had tried several times to visit the Dragon Palace, but was refused by the Dragon Lord, so he finally gave up on digging into the past.
The Dragon Palace’s forces were dealing with traitors, and the Eight Great Immortal Sects couldn’t interfere directly, so after handling the Demon God Stake and the Xuanming Yin Region, they prepared to leave.
At Zhang Huaiyu and Zhou Keyin’s level, whether or not they had a wave-cutting ship didn’t matter anymore.
“You all should return to Jiuzhou with me,” Zhang Huaiyu said gently to the Immortal Sect disciples.
After all the recent turmoil, the others were frightened and naturally didn’t want to stay in the North Sea, so they quickly nodded.
But Qin Ruoshui hesitated for a moment and said, “Thank you, Uncle Zhang, but I need to stay here and wait for Junior Sister Ran and the others to return.”
Lin Heng had planned to leave with Zhou Keyin, but when he heard Qin Ruoshui say that, he changed his mind and quickly cupped his hands, saying, “Master, I want to stay too.”
Zhang Huaiyu and Zhou Keyin didn’t try to persuade them.
Disciples could improve their Dao and gain experience by training outside.
Half a month after the two Nascent Soul cultivators left with their disciples, the calm sea suddenly stirred.
The previously sealed sea area suddenly opened a passage, and Ji Yutang and Li Jingyu finally finished their Dragon Palace journey and returned to the icefield.
Li Jingyu saw Qin Ruoshui, raised an eyebrow, and sounded a bit surprised: “Senior Brother Qin?” She hadn’t planned to meet the Taishi Palace disciples, so she’d only decided to return to the icefield after hearing from the Dragon Lord that they’d left.
She’d thought Qin Ruoshui and the others had already gone, but he was still here.
“Junior Sister Ran, Daoist Friend Ji.” Qin Ruoshui’s gaze swept over the two of them, and seeing they were unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m glad you’re both safe.”
“The Dragon Lord isn’t as terrifying as the rumors say.” Li Jingyu smiled, then added, “She appreciated our help in quelling the Dragon Palace rebellion, so she let us stay a few days.”
“We actually helped too,” Lin Heng muttered, a bit curious about the true dragon in the crystal palace.
But he quickly put that aside, looked at Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang, and grinned, “What are you two planning? Staying in the North Sea to train, or heading back?”
“We’re planning to go back,” Li Jingyu replied.
She’d gotten the Xuanming Water, and Ji Yutang had collected enough external medicine to reach Foundation Establishment, so there was no point staying in the North Sea.
“That’s good.” Lin Heng clapped his hands and laughed.
“Let’s go back together, then.
What do you think, Senior Brother Qin?”
Qin Ruoshui nodded right away.
He’d only stayed to wait for his companions, not for “training.”
After the Xuanming Yin Region disaster was resolved, Guxin Island’s Zhou Family wave-cutting ship finally arrived.
A group of itinerant cultivators disembarked, and those who wanted to leave bought a “ticket” for the journey.
There were quite a few cultivators in Xuanming City who wanted to leave—over fifty, in fact, so there was competition for spots.
But the steward came to Ji Yutang’s group first, apologizing repeatedly, clearly aware of what had happened in the Xuanming Yin Region.
After all, the Zhou Family had to take responsibility.
“So the North Sea Star event is finally over.
What are your plans?” Lin Heng propped his chin on his hand, his gaze shifting to Ji Yutang, and couldn’t help asking, “Daoist Friend Ji, are you really not planning to join a sect?”
Ji Yutang smiled and said, “I’m used to being free.”
Qin Ruoshui looked thoughtfully at Ji Yutang and said, “The Tianhai Demon Sect set twelve Demon God Stakes, and we’ve only found two.
There are still ten left.
They want to draw out the earth’s energy, make the turbid qi rise, and change the balance of heaven and earth.
We can’t let them succeed.” He paused, then added, “Next, I’m going to look for the other Demon God Stakes.”
“Count me in!” Lin Heng blurted out.
“Those demon cultivators are just evil! If we don’t get rid of them, Jiuzhou will never be at peace! Daoist Friend Ji, want to come with us?”
The topic suddenly shifted to Ji Yutang.
She lifted her eyelids.
Slaying demons and evil was a cultivator’s duty.
But Li Jingyu—she glanced over, trying to read the real thoughts hidden behind that smiling face.
“But even the elders haven’t found a way to accurately locate the Demon God Stakes,” Li Jingyu broke the silence.
“That’s true,” Lin Heng muttered, then looked up.
“Wherever a Demon God Stake falls, strange things happen.
We can investigate places with odd occurrences, and head there.
If it’s a Demon God Stake, great; if not, we can still solve a problem and bring peace to the people.”
Talking about slaying demons, Lin Heng got especially excited, going on and on.
On the way back from the North Sea to Guxin Island, he talked about all sorts of demon cultivator matters.
Qin Ruoshui and Li Jingyu stayed calm, while Ji Yutang listened with great interest, learning a lot.
She was a Scattered Spirit Body, and in others’ eyes, almost cut off from the Dao, so at home, the news she got was only what her parents wanted her to hear; the harsher truths were deliberately hidden.
After a while, the wave-cutting ship docked safely at the Zhou Family’s territory on Guxin Island.
“This place is near Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace.
We can go to the academy to ask for news,” Lin Heng said as he stepped off the ship, hands behind his back, turning to Ji Yutang and the others.
Before, because of Li Jingyu, Ji Yutang hadn’t wanted to travel with them, but after hearing so much about the demon cultivators’ crimes, her own personal matters faded into the background.
She nodded to Lin Heng and said, “We can go to Bailu Academy to look for Senior Sister Yan and the others.”
Just as everyone decided to head to Bailu Academy for news, Li Jingyu suddenly spoke up: “You all go ahead.
I won’t be traveling with you from here.”
Ji Yutang turned sharply to look at Li Jingyu, her face full of shock and confusion.
Qin Ruoshui frowned and asked, “Junior Sister Ran, where are you going?”
Li Jingyu smiled and said, “I have some personal matters to take care of.”
“Personal matters?” Qin Ruoshui looked at Li Jingyu suspiciously, frowning.
“Is that more important than training? Junior Sister Ran, you—”
“No need to say more, Senior Brother.” Li Jingyu had no intention of wasting words with Qin Ruoshui, and immediately cut him off, cupping her hands.
“Farewell.” With that, she turned and transformed into a streak of blue light, disappearing from sight.
Qin Ruoshui’s eyelid twitched, his heart pounding.
Back in the North Sea, he’d already thought Junior Sister Ran was acting strange.
He glanced at the bewildered Lin Heng, then at the frowning, thoughtful Ji Yutang, and said, “Daoist Friend Ji, don’t you think Junior Sister Ran…”
He hesitated, then continued, “is acting a bit strange?”
Ji Yutang let out a soft snort.
He had the nerve to ask her that.
She glanced at Qin Ruoshui coolly and said indifferently, “Hasn’t she always been weird and unpredictable?”
Qin Ruoshui heard the coldness in Ji Yutang’s voice and felt stifled.
He looked at her seriously, and suddenly saw a hint of resentment in her eyes.
She hadn’t shown that emotion when Junior Sister Ran was around.
Was he imagining things? Qin Ruoshui thought for a moment, then looked at Ji Yutang again.
“Senior Brother Qin, why are you staring at Daoist Friend Ji?” Lin Heng waved a hand in front of Qin Ruoshui’s face, asking curiously.
When Qin Ruoshui snapped out of it, he added, “Since Junior Sister Ran has things to do, let’s just go, the three of us.”
Elsewhere.
Li Jingyu used her magic to travel quickly, only stopping when she reached an inn with a banner reading “Fortune Comes.” She straightened her clothes and walked in unhurriedly, approaching the innkeeper and producing a token.
The innkeeper’s expression changed instantly; his previously lazy posture straightened at once, and he strode out from behind the counter to lead the way for Li Jingyu.
The illusion array in the courtyard dissolved layer by layer, and the scene before her changed abruptly.
“Greetings, Ji Yue.” In this hidden space, the innkeeper changed his appearance and bowed to Li Jingyu.
Li Jingyu waved her hand and smiled.
“No need for formalities.” She paused, then asked, “How’s the person I asked you to watch? Did you get any writing with her divine sense on it? Why did you send word that you’re about to lose control?”
“We didn’t get it.” The innkeeper looked embarrassed.
He lowered his head in fear and replied, “That female cultivator is still imprisoned, but her cultivation keeps growing.
Our power is limited—if we don’t restrain her soon, she might send out a message.”
Li Jingyu made a sound of acknowledgment and waved the innkeeper away.
The Taiyuan Beidou Scripture had its own wonders, with the Big Dipper visualized in the Mind Palace.
Even if Ran Guzhu was locked away in a place without sunlight, as long as the Big Dipper rose as usual, she could visualize and cultivate.
To block out the stars and moon would take immense power, which Li Jingyu didn’t have at her current level.
Ran Guzhu’s cultivation was growing faster than expected—she’d underestimated her “good little sister.”
Li Jingyu put on a mask to cover her face and slowly walked toward the “prison.” The small space held only a bed and a stone table, with dark talismans pasted on all four walls—her subordinates must have put them there to prevent Ran Guzhu from escaping.
“Who are you? Why have you imprisoned me here?” Ran Guzhu heard footsteps, looked up at the figure outside, and suddenly felt a strange sense of unease.
Li Jingyu let out a soft laugh, speaking carelessly, “Who do you think would make a move?”
Ran Guzhu’s face darkened.
How could she resist the demonic cultivator’s talisman? She stared at Li Jingyu and said, “Are you planning to go against the Taiyuan Dao Palace?”
Li Jingyu sneered, “Aren’t us Demon Sect cultivators always the enemies of the Eight Great Immortal Sects?”
Ran Guzhu kept a stern face.
“What do you want? I’m trapped here, but Taiyuan Dao Palace and the Ran Family will find out sooner or later.
With your abilities, do you really think you can escape when that happens?” She glanced at the person outside, easily sensing the aura of someone at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Li Jingyu spoke lazily, “Looks like they care about you a lot.”
Ran Guzhu frowned, unable to figure out what the masked person outside was thinking.
She hadn’t seen her many times, but it was clear she held a leading position among the demonic cultivators.
She’d thought the other would kill her, but instead, she was just locked up here, cut off from the outside world.
“What do you want?” Ran Guzhu asked calmly.
Li Jingyu replied, “Would you give me anything I want?” Seeing Ran Guzhu frown, she flashed a strange, sinister smile and said coldly, “What if I want your status and identity?”
Ran Guzhu’s heart skipped a beat.
She couldn’t say where the fear came from.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she said, “My father and mother won’t let you get away with this!”
“Mother?” Li Jingyu’s eyes sharpened, her tone turning light and unreal.
Ran Guzhu looked into her deep eyes, feeling a bit dazed.
She nodded, “My father is a core disciple of the Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace, and my mother is from Taiyuan Dao Palace—”
“Shut up!” Li Jingyu’s eyes burned with anger.
After her mother died, Ran Jingri married Wang Shenyu from Taiyuan Dao Palace.
The once-famous swordsman now hid away, living a happy, carefree life in his own little paradise?
“Your mother—how could it be Wang Shenyu?”
Ran Guzhu’s face went pale.
Her birth mother wasn’t Wang Shenyu, but someone who had become a “taboo” in the Ran Family.
No one mentioned her name, but their looks always carried a hint of pity or even resentment.
How could her mother have become a demonic cultivator?
“You, you are—” A sudden thought flashed through her mind.
Ran Guzhu abruptly stood up and walked to the edge of the cell, reaching out far enough to touch the clothes of the person outside.
“Ran, Ran Gutong?!”
The Demon Sect always killed Immortal Sect disciples, or used them as cauldrons.
Locking her up in a corner and wanting to take her place—there was only one person who would do that! Her sister, who had followed their mother’s path!
Li Jingyu chuckled, took off her mask, and revealed a face identical to Ran Guzhu’s.
Staring at Ran Guzhu in the cell, she said, “You’re not stupid after all.”
Ran Guzhu’s mind was a mess.
That sister was just like her mother—never to be mentioned.
Almost everyone had forgotten she existed! Some even thought she was dead! But in reality, she was alive and well in the Demon Palace.
Ran Guzhu let out a cry and stumbled back several steps, clutching her head.
After a long while, she finally spoke in panic, “What do you want?”
Li Jingyu’s eyes darkened as she said in a low voice, “Naturally, to avenge my mother.”
Ran Guzhu looked up and stared hard at Li Jingyu.
“Mother, mother fell to the demonic path.
She’s a demonic cultivator—everyone wants her dead!”
Li Jingyu sneered, “But I’m a demon too, aren’t I?”
Ran Guzhu froze.
That’s right, Ran Gutong was also a demonic cultivator.
Shouldn’t she be on the same side as their mother? No, she had to get this news out, had to let Father know that Ran Gutong had returned!
Li Jingyu smiled at Ran Guzhu and said, “You want to send a message to Ran Jingri, don’t you?” Seeing the other girl’s face turn deathly pale, she said maliciously, “Go ahead, let him know you’re here.
Let him and Wang Shenyu come save you—”
The person across from her was like her own reflection in a mirror, full of chilling malice.
Ran Guzhu turned as white as paper, trembling all over.
If she dared say that, there must be a trap set here.
If the Demon Sect ambushed her father, the Ran Family might be wiped out.
“You, you want to kill your own father!”
“Heh.” Li Jingyu sneered, “I only have a mother.”
“You, you—”
“Just stay here.
I won’t stop you from cultivating.
Wait until you can get out and send a message back to the Ran Family.”
Ran Guzhu sat dazed on the stone bed.
Only after Li Jingyu’s figure completely disappeared did she react.
She rushed to the iron bars, but the talisman above bounced her back, leaving a burning wound on her hand.
She couldn’t contact the Ran Family directly, but what if she used the Taiyuan Dao Palace? With demonic cultivators here, they’d definitely take action, right? The thought suddenly struck Ran Guzhu.
Li Jingyu left the cell and stood under the eaves for a long time before suppressing the surge of murderous intent.
She took a deep breath, her expression returning to indifference.
After finding the innkeeper, she instructed, “Keep a close eye on her from now on.
She might try to send a message out.
If she does, intercept it and extract the spiritual intent.”
She had obtained the Xuanming Water, but the Three Light Divine Water was still missing.
She only vaguely knew it was in the hands of Taiyuan Dao Palace.
She’d asked Qin Ruoshui before, but he didn’t know—only higher-level cultivators might.
She needed to use “Ran Guzhu’s” handwriting and spiritual intent to get information from Wang Shenyu.
