Aside from the Eight Great Immortal Sects and the Demon Sect, none of the other factions had a Heaven-and-Man stage cultivator holding down the fort.
So in Tianshui City, a Nascent Soul stage master was already the peak of power.
Take the Ran Family for example—even though Ran Jingri had gone to Wolong Mountain and hadn’t returned, the clan still had two elders and Wang Shenyu, all at the Nascent Soul stage.
Plus, with Ning Huaizhen retreating this way while fighting, they had four in total.
The Yan Family alone wasn’t enough to take them on.
But now was the best time to seize the Heart of the Great Dao.
The elders of the Ji Family had chosen to sit on the fence, and if they sensed things going south, they’d definitely turn on them and leave Ji Shisanlang to take all the blame! They had to subdue the Ran Family as quickly as possible! As Ji Yutang retreated into the Ran Family ranks, the Yan Family cultivators all stopped fighting.
They didn’t leave, though—they just hovered in the air, coldly watching the Ran Family.
“Heart of the Great Dao.
Some people really are favored by the heavens.
Even I’m tempted,” Shi Qingchen chuckled softly, her eyes flickering with a strange light.
When she noticed Li Jingyu looking over, she added, “Aren’t you worried she’ll get hurt in the chaos?” Li Jingyu frowned, and after a moment, replied coolly, “That’s her own fate.”
Shi Qingchen snorted and stopped trying to guess what her junior was thinking.
She activated a talisman from her sleeve, which turned into a streak of light and shot off toward the horizon.
The Ran Family had four Nascent Soul cultivators, while the Yan Family only had two—if they fought, the Yan Family would be at a disadvantage.
Luckily, the Yan Family had already made a deal with the Demon Sect, so they had help coming.
After Ji Yutang flew back to the Ran Family, she didn’t listen to Wang Shenyu’s suggestion to rest.
She stood among the others, looking ahead with worry, and only relaxed when a familiar figure appeared.
“Mother—” Ji Yutang called out to Ning Huaizhen, then immediately tensed up again, watching the Yan Family pursuers behind them.
“Those elders—” Ning Huaizhen sneered, a cold glint in her eyes.
They were from the same clan, but when enemies attacked, those elders did nothing.
That alone was a crime! Still, this would have to wait until everything was settled.
She reached up to smooth her hair, which had gotten messy in the fight, and bowed gracefully to Wang Shenyu and the others.
“Thank you all for your help.”
Wang Shenyu smiled.
“No need to be so polite.
Our two families are one.” She paused, then asked, “Why did the Yan Family suddenly attack you? And what about those Ji Family elders?” “Who knows,” Ning Huaizhen replied, frowning and hiding the disgust in her eyes.
“Are you all planning to fight us, or are you going to leave?” Wang Shenyu asked the Yan Family cultivators with a bright smile.
With Ran Jingri missing, she didn’t want any more trouble and preferred to let things go.
The Yan Family cultivators said nothing, their hawk-like eyes locked on Ji Yutang.
Just then, a demonic blade wreathed in black energy and killing intent suddenly fell from the sky, slamming into the Ran Family’s barrier and setting off a thunderous roar.
The blade’s black light slithered like a snake along the barrier, while a blue glow appeared on the shield, manifesting a book in midair that suppressed the entire formation.
Wang Shenyu and the Ran Family elders’ expressions changed instantly.
They hadn’t expected someone to attack the formation right in front of them, and the blade was full of demonic energy—it was clearly a Demon Sect disciple! As they exchanged tense glances, a hearty laugh rang out.
A cultivator rode the clouds toward them, tall and striking, with a handsome gaze—a familiar face! “Master Song—Song Wanzhao?!” Wang Shenyu stared in shock at the impressive Daoist, blurting out his name.
The Eight Great Immortal Sects avoided mentioning the fallen “Wangqing Sect,” but no matter how they tried to hide it, the fallen were still fallen.
Song Wanzhao was one of them! He’d once been the second disciple of his generation, a prodigy who could rival the senior brother.
But during an ambush on Huoxin Palace disciples, he’d been seduced by a demon and fallen into the demonic path.
He later personally killed the Huoxin Palace female cultivator, not to complete a Dao Palace mission, but to sever all ties and kill his friends and family to cut off karma! That battle after his fall was even more tragic—anyone close to him who let their guard down died by his blade.
The Three Supreme Palaces hated Song Wanzhao to the bone, and sent disciples to hunt him down, but never found him.
Now it seemed he’d been hiding in a cave, cultivating until he reached the Nascent Soul stage before showing himself.
“It’s Junior Sister Wang.” Song Wanzhao looked at Wang Shenyu, pretending to be surprised.
He raised an eyebrow, put away his demonic blade, and tossed a memory stone to Wang Shenyu, laughing.
“Take a look, Junior Sister—see who this is?” Wang Shenyu didn’t catch the memory stone.
She formed a hand seal and shot a beam of light to fix the stone in midair, then infused it with spiritual power.
The image of a white-robed figure with furrowed brows and a sorrowful look appeared.
Wang Shenyu’s breath caught, and she turned to glare at Song Wanzhao.
“Is that Ran Guzhu?” Ji Yutang raised an eyebrow and spoke quietly.
In the memory stone, Ran Guzhu was a prisoner, looking much more haggard than before.
Despite the sorrow and resentment on her face, the cold arrogance she’d had since childhood was still there.
In this, she was completely different from Li Jingyu—Ran Guzhu had only one face, while Li Jingyu was ever-changing, bewitching everyone! Come to think of it, Li Jingyu had helped her earlier, so where was she now? Was she nearby, watching the Ran Family’s troubles? What was she planning? Ji Yutang’s mind was a mess, her gaze darting around.
The Ran Family focused on the image of Ran Guzhu, but Ning Huaizhen kept her eyes on Ji Yutang.
Seeing her expression, she raised an eyebrow and asked, “What are you looking for?” Ji Yutang’s eyelid twitched, and she quickly looked away, stammering, “N-nothing.”
Ning Huaizhen felt her daughter was hiding something, but now wasn’t the time to press.
She sighed softly, her fingers brushing the markings on the “Zhouliu Tianzheng Ruler.” The Yan Family had chosen this moment to attack, and now Demon Sect cultivators had shown up—were they working together? Had they also predicted what would happen at Wolong Mountain? Thinking of this, a chill radiated from Ning Huaizhen.
Meanwhile, Wang Shenyu was questioning Song Wanzhao, trying to find out where Ran Guzhu was, but Song Wanzhao refused to answer.
Furious, Wang Shenyu attacked! Song Wanzhao laughed and didn’t back down, spinning his demonic blade and sending a wave of bloody energy forward! The blade split into hundreds of streaks, each carrying a demonic wail like the cries of the dead! Wang Shenyu’s face was cold as frost.
She steadied her mind, ignoring the demonic sounds, and her sword light rose layer by layer, turning into a dazzling ribbon that shattered the oncoming blade energy like a storm!
With the matriarch taking action, the two Ran Family elders naturally joined in.
Ning Huaizhen gathered her spiritual power, adjusted her own energy, swept Ji Yutang behind her, whispered a few instructions, and then turned into a streak of light, charging forward again! Ning Huaizhen’s target was the Yan Family cultivators—she wanted nothing more than to kill them all! With the Ran Family elders helping, she felt much more at ease.
But Wang Shenyu was no match for Song Wanzhao.
Song Wanzhao was from the Tai Shang lineage and knew all the Taiyuan Dao Palace techniques inside out.
After falling to the demonic path, he’d cultivated a demonic blade specifically to counter Taiyuan techniques! Seeing things go badly, a Ran Family elder broke away to help Wang Shenyu.
Although they had the numbers, the fight was still evenly matched!
A battle between Nascent Soul cultivators couldn’t be decided in a day or two.
They fought all the way to Extreme Heaven, wild energy roaring like a raging river, blades and swords flashing, blood flying everywhere.
Just as everyone was fighting fiercely, a thunderous explosion came from the direction of Wolong Mountain.
The ground shook violently, and the whole city trembled.
The buildings in the city couldn’t withstand such force and collapsed in an instant.
Ji Yutang had been watching the battle, and when she heard the sound, she knew something was wrong.
But with her strength, she couldn’t change anything! As anxiety showed on her face, a gentle light suddenly appeared, like an upside-down jade bowl, covering all of Tianshui City.
The mighty force rushing from Wolong Mountain was weakened layer by layer as it hit the edge of the jade bowl, and by the time it passed through the barrier, only a slight tremor remained.
Something had happened at Wolong Mountain! After the explosion, all the cultivators couldn’t help but look in that direction.
Especially Wang Shenyu, who was worried about Ran Jingri’s safety.
She was distracted for a moment and got slashed by the demonic blade, leaving a long bloody cut on her cheek.
One of the Ran Family elders beside her was even worse—swallowed by the blade’s energy, he was cut in half and fell to the ground.
The demonic blade, having absorbed blood, grew even more powerful.
Song Wanzhao laughed wildly, his spiritual power surging.
He moved with his blade like a hurricane, sending out waves of violent energy that turned into a fierce black flood dragon.
Even Shi Qingchen, watching from the shadows, had to avoid its edge.
“He might become the first Heaven-and-Man stage cultivator in Wangqing Sect,” Shi Qingchen said.
The current Wangqing Sect leader was already at that stage before falling to the demonic path, but Song Wanzhao was only at the Golden Core stage when he joined Wangqing Sect.
“Is heartless detachment really the way to sever karma?” Li Jingyu looked at Song Wanzhao and spoke in a low voice.
Cultivators all had karma, and Wangqing Sect’s “ending” wasn’t about one cause and one effect, but about killing all “causes.” Once all causes were cut off, there would be no effect, but the demonic energy still lingered in the world.
Heaven and earth were impartial—whether you cultivated the demonic or the orthodox path, it was all part of the Dao, and the Dao wouldn’t interfere or block the Demon Sect’s path to enlightenment.
But heaven and earth were also merciful, bestowing merit and favoring the righteous, reducing their burdens so they wouldn’t perish in the great tribulation.
In today’s Jiuzhou, the orthodox is righteous and the demonic is evil, but was it always this way? The Demon Ancestor was also the son of Yuanshi Heavenly King and Taiyuan Holy Mother, the opposite of heaven and earth, but still part of the cycle—could he really be “evil”? “Song Wanzhao’s demonic energy is too strong.
When the great tribulation comes and fortune falls, he might not survive,” Li Jingyu added.
Shi Qingchen nodded.
The “great tribulation” was a matter of life and death, and both Immortal and Demon Sects took it very seriously.
She was happy to see the Demon God Stake stirring up the earth’s energy, but didn’t want to rely on the Tianhai Demon Sect—she wanted to walk her own path.
In the past, the Taishi successor Li Qingxun had shown them the “path of merit.” The spirit of heaven and earth was humanity, and the Dao favored the weak, especially mortals.
For example, by covering Tianshui City with a jade bowl and protecting its people, she could gain merit and reduce her own burdens.
Fortune was mysterious and hard to grasp, but it played a crucial role in life and death.
“Wang Shenyu can’t beat Song Wanzhao, but Ning Huaizhen—” Shi Qingchen hesitated, glancing at Li Jingyu.
Li Jingyu blinked and said, “It doesn’t matter how it happens.
As long as someone from the Ran Family is killed or injured, that’s enough.” Never mind whether those elders were innocent—when it came to “demon purging,” they were the loudest, forgetting all the kindness her mother had shown them.
She didn’t care about their “right or wrong”—avenging her mother was only natural.
Blood ran down Wang Shenyu’s cheek.
She touched the wound and looked at Song Wanzhao, saying quietly, “You’re still as formidable as ever.”
Song Wanzhao raised an eyebrow.
“But it seems you’ve gotten lazy, Junior Sister.
Did you forget your Dao after becoming the Ran Family’s matriarch and finding satisfaction?”
“And you’re lecturing me about the Dao?” Wang Shenyu looked at Song Wanzhao, finding it ridiculous.
Song Wanzhao smiled at her.
“Why not? There are three thousand paths, all leading to the Dao.
Looks like your heart isn’t as open as Junior Sister Qingxun’s.”
Wang Shenyu’s face changed at the mention of “Li Qingxun.” She took a deep breath and frowned.
“You all betrayed your true selves.”
“Wrong.
I just followed my heart.
Cultivators do as they please,” Song Wanzhao shook his head.
“If you don’t use your real skills, Junior Sister, then leave your nascent soul for me to feed my blade!” With that, his blade flashed forward, sending out a wave of scorching heat! The blade energy was laced with fire—Wang Shenyu’s expression changed.
This was the Taiyuan Dao Palace’s “Taiyuan Fire True Heavenly Book Art.”
“I thought Senior Brother wouldn’t use Taiyuan Dao techniques anymore,” Wang Shenyu said as she dodged.
Song Wanzhao chuckled.
His issue with Taiyuan Palace was just a difference in Dao, not the techniques themselves.
Why wouldn’t he use what he’d worked so hard to master? Wang Shenyu and the Ran Family elders retreated through the firestorm, while on the other side, the Yan Family elders were already losing to Ning Huaizhen.
At this critical moment, Ning Huaizhen probably couldn’t spare any attention for this side unless she was willing to give up her revenge.
Wang Shenyu’s mind raced, her body glowing with clear light.
She pointed, and a book wreathed in purple energy flew out, exploding with the sound of hundreds of thunderclaps! The book’s spiritual light didn’t fade, and a hurricane swept away the blade and fire.
Song Wanzhao’s calm expression finally cracked as he gripped his blade.
He stared at the spinning, purple-tinged Dao book in the air and said in a low voice, “Heartless Book.” After a moment, he looked deeply at Wang Shenyu and added, “After you killed her, you actually stripped her Life-Bound Artifact and refined it?” Wang Shenyu didn’t answer, but her hand tightened in her sleeve.
They’d been in the wrong on this.
Not far away, Li Jingyu couldn’t suppress her demonic energy and anger when the Heartless Book appeared.
Her mother’s Dao was “Supreme Forgetfulness,” and she’d entrusted all her cultivation to her Life-Bound Artifact, the Heartless Book.
Li Jingyu knew her mother’s artifact had ended up with Ran Jingri, and thought it would at least be sealed away, not taken out and refined as Wang Shenyu’s protective treasure.
Her eyes grew deep and dark.
She took a deep breath and said, “Good, now that it’s out in the open, I came here for the Heartless Book anyway.”
Shi Qingchen nodded.
Before coming, her senior sister had told her that no matter what, they had to get the Heartless Book back.
“If Junior Sister Qingxun were using this artifact, I might be wary, but now—” Song Wanzhao snapped out of it and laughed.
His spiritual power surged, his blade spun, and a wall of fire sprang up in an instant.
But just then, a crisp golden bell rang out.
Two white ribbons shot into the flames, reaching for the Heartless Book floating in midair.
Song Wanzhao’s smile froze.
He turned sharply and frowned.
“You?” Shi Qingchen smiled, lips pressed together.
“Senior Brother Song, do me a favor and don’t damage it.” Her voice was clear as a bell, much gentler than before.
The women of Huoxin Palace were skilled in soul-bewitching arts, and Shi Qingchen used them now.
Song Wanzhao snorted and withdrew his blade.
“You—you’re the Huoxin Palace witch, Shi Qingchen!” Wang Shenyu recognized her, and her face darkened.
If Shi Qingchen was here, where was Huai Wanxiu? Would she show up? Who had A Zhu? Seeing Shi Qingchen’s artifact, the Golden Bell Wrap, reaching for the Heartless Book, Wang Shenyu frowned, unable to think about anything else.
She immediately activated her sword light and attacked Shi Qingchen.
Besides the sword light, she also used a hand seal to control the Heartless Book.
After all, it was Li Qingxun’s artifact, extremely powerful and full of Tai Shang Dao techniques.
But just as Wang Shenyu was focusing on Shi Qingchen, a gentle voice called out, “Aunt Wang.”
Wang Shenyu was distracted by the voice and turned sharply.
“A Zhu?” She was stunned at first, but the newcomer wore red robes and a black cloak, her eyes cold and fierce—nothing like Ran Guzhu.
Her real name was about to be revealed! “Ran Gutong?” Wang Shenyu said in a daze, “Is that you, Atong?” Li Jingyu’s gaze lingered on Ji Yutang, whose face had also changed, before returning to Wang Shenyu.
“Looks like Aunt Wang still remembers me,” Li Jingyu said with a bright smile.
Wang Shenyu frowned, looking at Li Jingyu’s face, and suddenly felt a sense of losing control.
After Li Jingyu appeared, the Heartless Book seemed to gain its own will, and her connection to it weakened with Shi Qingchen’s actions.
Wang Shenyu forced down her emotions and prepared to focus on Shi Qingchen.
But how could Li Jingyu let her? “Aunt Wang, don’t you want to know what happened to Ran Guzhu? The Demon Sect is very good at dealing with Immortal Sect cultivators,” Li Jingyu said.
“You—” Wang Shenyu was furious and turned to Li Jingyu.
“She’s your own sister!” “So what? She took a traitor for a father—she’s not worthy to be my sister.”
Wang Shenyu shouted, “What nonsense are you spouting? That’s your father!” Li Jingyu feigned realization, drawing out her words.
“Father, huh! My father is a wife-killer.”
Wang Shenyu’s face turned cold as she looked at Li Jingyu, full of disappointment.
She scolded, “You really are just like her.
Demonic scum deserve to die!” Her eyes flashed with killing intent, and her sword light exploded, flying in all directions! Most of it went for Shi Qingchen, but a small part shot toward Li Jingyu.
This was a Nascent Soul cultivator’s sword strike—how could it be easily blocked? Ever since Li Jingyu appeared, Ji Yutang had been watching her.
Now, seeing her engulfed in sword light, Ji Yutang’s eyelid twitched and she shouted, “Watch out!” Her voice was loud, and several people looked at her.
Ji Yutang forced a smile and added, “Mother, be careful!”
Li Jingyu, surrounded by sword light, smiled calmly.
The wind pulled her sleeve taut, almost a straight line of black and red.
In a flash, the Golden Bell Wrap spun around her, shielding her completely.
Shi Qingchen looked at Wang Shenyu and said, “You’re distracted at a time like this? Don’t look down on me.” She moved gracefully, reached out, and grabbed the Heartless Book.
The purple energy sizzled, burning her palm and sending up white smoke.
Shi Qingchen’s expression didn’t change.
A talisman shot from her sleeve, instantly locking the Heartless Book in place.
When Shi Qingchen touched the Heartless Book, Wang Shenyu was still sneering, but when she saw the talisman fly out, she couldn’t hide her shock.
She stared at the talisman and squeezed out, “Taishi Lineage!” Shi Qingchen had no obligation to explain where the talisman came from.
The Golden Bell Wrap pulled Li Jingyu to her side in an instant.
“We’re done here.
Let’s go,” Shi Qingchen said calmly.
Li Jingyu nodded, her eyes shining with a strange light.
As they left, she glanced at Ji Yutang.
Ji Yutang’s heart skipped a beat.
She had a feeling this wasn’t over yet.
After Shi Qingchen left, Song Wanzhao slung his blade over his shoulder and flew away as well.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but the Yan Family’s two Nascent Soul cultivators had been smashed to pieces by the Zhouliu Tianzheng Ruler—there was no hope left.
He didn’t care about any contracts—that was the Tianhai Demon Sect’s business, nothing to do with him.
Ning Huaizhen held the bloodstained Tianzheng Ruler, her killing intent still not faded.
“Mother—” Ji Yutang approached Ning Huaizhen and whispered, “Are you alright?” Ning Huaizhen shook her head.
She was just exhausted, but as for the Ran Family—her eyes filled with guilt as she walked over to Wang Shenyu and said softly, “I’m sorry.
My daughter and I dragged you all into this.”
“No.”
Wang Shenyu forced down her surging anger, but her shoulders still wouldn’t stop trembling.
She glanced at Ning Huaizhen and continued, “They’re here for my Ran Family.
They’re… they’re here to avenge Senior Sister Li.”
Demon Sect cultivators are usually devious and untrustworthy, but now someone actually remembered what happened in the past and insisted on tearing open that old wound.
Wang Shenyu rubbed her forehead, and after a while, she said worriedly, “There was a loud noise from Wolong Mountain.
I don’t know how Senior Brother is doing.”
