Li Jingyu stood firm as a mountain, not moving an inch. She smiled with her eyes slightly curved and spoke slowly, “It’s alright. But knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory. If you knew my fundamental Dao techniques, wouldn’t you be better equipped to counter them?”
Ji Yutang, cornered against the table, had nowhere to retreat. She wanted to transform into her dragon form, but the memory of the pond made her hesitate. Her eyes flickered, and she simply turned her head away, closing her eyes to avoid looking at Li Jingyu’s face.
Li Jingyu watched Ji Yutang’s evasive posture, her smile growing even more pronounced. She straightened up, took a step back, and created some distance between them, though her fingers still caught a strand of hair, bringing a waft of fragrance. “Alright, let’s talk business.”
Ji Yutang’s ears twitched, not quite trusting Li Jingyu’s words. Once she felt the oppressive aura disappear, she quickly darted behind the stone table, her guard up. She blamed herself; if she had been wary of Li Jingyu from the start, would she be in this predicament now?
“This is already the territory of the Southern Border Huoxin Palace. If you don’t want to be captured for dual cultivation, staying in my cave is the safest option,” Li Jingyu said lightly.
Ji Yutang shot Li Jingyu a disapproving glance, “If you hadn’t brought me here, would I be in such a predicament?”
Li Jingyu laughed, “Then where do you plan to stay? In Tianshui City? Waiting to have your heart cut out by ill-intentioned people? Or hoping for my dear sister to return and marry you?” Her voice lowered with a hint of malice as she spoke the last few words.
Ji Yutang frowned, “Don’t mention Ran Guzhu, I have nothing to do with her!”
Li Jingyu spread her hands, feigning innocence, “See? I mentioned two things, and you only acknowledged Ran Guzhu. It seems she holds quite a place in your heart.” She took a step forward, leaning on the stone table as if she might float over to Ji Yutang at any moment. Ji Yutang was startled by her movement and took another step back. The only place she could go seemed to be the pond.
“Compared to Ran Guzhu, it’s you, this ‘sister,’ who leaves a deeper impression. If my Dao heart is damaged one day, it will be because of you!” Anger flashed in Ji Yutang’s eyes. She originally intended to ignore it, but seeing Li Jingyu’s expression, she couldn’t help but retort. Calming herself, Ji Yutang asked, “What’s happening in Tianshui City?” The Yan Family and Ji Family both wanted her Heart of the Great Dao, and staying with her parents would indeed be a burden.
Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow, “I left with you, how would I know?”
Ji Yutang sneered, “Your Demon Sect played quite a role in it, how could you not know? If the Demon Sect disciples knew you acted against the Demon God, what would they do?”
Li Jingyu gazed deeply at Ji Yutang, chuckling softly, “Is that a threat? It seems I really should lock you in the cave, so no one can find you.”
Ji Yutang believed Li Jingyu could indeed do such a thing, and her expression immediately turned serious, her aura rising sharply. However, after saying this, Li Jingyu ignored her.
A jade bottle with a talisman flew out from her sleeve, and with a gentle flick, a dragon shadow flew out, planted into the Dragon Pool. This was the Dragon Vein she retrieved.
Previously, at Wolong Mountain, with Ji Yutang’s cultivation, it was impossible to fully absorb the entire Dragon Vein, only taking the first step. To complete it thoroughly would take at least a year or two.
Li Jingyu glanced at Ji Yutang and said, “Go cultivate.” Seeing Ji Yutang remain motionless, she found it amusing, “Didn’t you go at Wolong Mountain? If I wanted your life, there were plenty of opportunities to kill you.”
Ji Yutang agreed with this, but her current concern wasn’t about life and death, but the fear of being used for dual cultivation. In her dragon form, her dragon nature might surface, possibly losing control and doing things even she couldn’t manage.
“What kind of look is that?” Li Jingyu squinted, her tone slightly rising. Ji Yutang’s gaze displeased her. Looking Ji Yutang up and down, she continued, “Which of my palace sisters isn’t as good-looking as you? Why would I choose a stubborn stone like you?” In Huoxin Palace, or even the entire Demon Sect, there were plenty of people wanting to become her Dao companion.
Of course, their motives were not easily explained in a few words.
Ji Yutang muttered something and transformed into her dragon form, diving into the Dragon Pool.
Seeing this, Li Jingyu nodded in satisfaction. She walked to the icy stone bed in the corner, first summoning the Jewel of the Rising Tides, then taking out the candle dragon’s inner core, and began cultivating. Transforming her Taiyin True Essence into a Golden Core wasn’t difficult; with enough accumulation, it would happen naturally.
However, upgrading her Life-Bound Artifact to a natal treasure required effort. She had previously used up a lot of precious materials as fuel, but it was always just a step short.
The candle dragon came at the perfect time. Its dragon core, nurtured with turbid evil energy and Dragon Vein Essence, was a great supplement for her Life-Bound Artifact. If she could successfully refine it, it would definitely upgrade, and she could smoothly achieve the human immortal Dao fruit.
Tianshui City.
With Ji Yutang not around, Ning Huaizhen acted with fewer concerns. The Yan Family’s collusion with demonic cultivators was well-known, and with many Nascent Soul stage cultivators perishing in the battle, Ning Huaizhen’s slight instigation led many families to swarm in. After the Yan Family’s collapse, they also wanted to gain benefits.
However, when dealing with the Ji Family elders, Ning Huaizhen couldn’t find other cultivators to help.
“Do you really want to go this far?” The elder leaned on his cane, looking at Ning Huaizhen and Ji Mingcheng with a sigh, “Little Thirteen has already been crippled, isn’t that enough?”
“Yes, we didn’t take action, at most we stood by. Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution for doing this?”
Ning Huaizhen coldly looked at the Ji family members in front of her. Even if it meant divine retribution, she had to clear the obstacles for Ji Yutang.
“Fourth Brother, how are you handling things? Why don’t you persuade your wife?” The elder, unable to sway Ning Huaizhen, suddenly turned his gaze to Ji Mingcheng, who remained silent.
Ji Mingcheng’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t respond. Although his branch lived in the Ji Family’s cave, they had long been estranged from the clan. When the Yan Family attacked, there was a barrier, so it wasn’t that dangerous. But someone opened the restriction from inside, allowing outsiders in. Just for this, they lost the right to stand here.
“We are one family. Without the entire Ji Family, do you think you would have such glory? Are you going to rely on the Ran Family?” The elder’s expression turned fearful when Ji Mingcheng didn’t answer.
Ning Huaizhen glanced at Ji Mingcheng.
Ji Mingcheng sighed softly, and a vast amount of green wood energy suddenly surged from all directions, forming a prison of clear light, trapping these people inside.
Among the Ji Family elders, two were at the Nascent Soul stage, but they hadn’t reached this stage through their own efforts; they used external forces, with no hope of further breakthroughs.
Before their lifespan was exhausted, their energy scattered, leaving them with white hair. This reputation could intimidate outsiders, but for Ji Mingcheng and Ning Huaizhen, dealing with them was a breeze.
The Zhouliu Tianzheng Ruler hovered above, casting a shadow. An indescribable fear spread among the clan’s old and young. Ning Huaizhen sneered, and with a spin of the Tianzheng Ruler, she struck down, stripping a layer of magic from those people. If Ning Huaizhen exterminated them, her burden would increase, and she might even fall into the demonic path.
However, Ning Huaizhen knew her limits and showed restraint, merely crippling their cultivation, turning them into ordinary mortals.
“This fall will make the already broken fortune of Tianshui City even thinner.” A soft sigh sounded. Ran Jingri and Wang Shenyu had already arrived at the Ji Family, but they didn’t intervene. Anyone coveting the Heart of the Great Dao deserved to die.
Ji Mingcheng turned to Ran Jingri with a bitter smile, “Brother Ran, forgive me. In just a few hundred years, the Ji Family’s conduct has fallen so low.”
Ran Jingri said, “The way of heaven is ever-changing.” After a pause, he added, “Is there any news of my niece?”
Ji Mingcheng shook his head heavily.
Ran Jingri frowned, “This is difficult. She might have been taken to the Demon Sect’s territory. It’s not good for us to make a big fuss and go to the Demon Sect.” After pondering for a while, he suggested, “How about letting A Zhu and her Taiyuan Dao Palace companions search for her?”
Ning Huaizhen asked in surprise, “A Zhu is back?”
Before Ran Jingri could answer, Wang Shenyu replied with a smile, “It’s the child’s good fortune. Joining the Taiyuan Dao Palace is a good thing. It was her fellow disciples who rescued her from the hands of those demonesses in Huoxin Palace.”
Ning Huaizhen couldn’t stand the words “good fortune.” It was the same reason Ran Guzhu used to reject Xiao Tang. It was good for the Ran Family, but it was a huge blow to Xiao Tang.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have run away from home. Ning Huaizhen’s expression gradually cooled, but Wang Shenyu seemed oblivious, still praising the Taiyuan Dao Palace.
“Wasn’t she supposed to be in seclusion at the Dao Palace? How does she have time to search for someone?” Ji Mingcheng feigned surprise.
Ran Jingri smiled slightly, “Sitting in seclusion at the Dao Palace doesn’t hone the mind. One must go out and experience the world.” He actually knew Ran Guzhu’s resistance to the marriage, but no matter what, he had to push it through. It was his greatest wish in life. “A Zhu has matured a lot this time. She herself suggested going to find niece Yutang.”
“Really?” Ji Mingcheng didn’t think much of it.
Ning Huaizhen felt something was off, and having Ran Guzhu go with the Taiyuan Dao Palace disciples seemed like a slap in Xiao Tang’s face. But before she could refuse, Ran Jingri spoke again, “The Heartless Book was taken by that scoundrel. A Zhu wants to retrieve it, so she has to go there anyway.”
At this point, Ning Huaizhen couldn’t say anything more. She responded with a low “hmm,” her mood not high.
Huoxin Palace, Ji Yue’s cave.
Li Jingyu awoke from her meditation, reaching out to catch a paper crane hovering in front of her, gently tapping it.
In the Dragon Pool, Ji Yutang heard the commotion and poked her head out. Now that the Dragon Vein Essence no longer resisted her presence, there was no need to immerse herself completely.
“The Tianhai Demon Sect has sent someone,” Li Jingyu explained, glancing at Ji Yutang.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yutang immediately transformed into her human form, frowning, “Is it the one who caused trouble in Tianshui City before?”
Li Jingyu didn’t hide it, “Yes, it’s him.”
Ji Yutang thought for a moment and made a request, “I want to go out.”
Li Jingyu shook her head without hesitation, “No.” Zheng Yang from the Tianhai Demon Sect came to Huoxin Palace, likely for the Dragon Vein. It would involve Ji Yutang, and being discovered by him would be troublesome.
“I won’t run around, I’ll stay with you, I swear.” Ji Yutang looked earnestly at Li Jingyu, eager to know what happened in Tianshui City, or she wouldn’t be able to rest easy.
Seeing a hint of movement in Li Jingyu’s expression, Ji Yutang realized there might be a chance to go out and added, “I can transform into my dragon form and hide in your sleeve, so no one will notice.”
Li Jingyu didn’t respond.
Ji Yutang grew anxious, looking at Li Jingyu with dissatisfaction, “You won’t go find out for me, and you won’t let me go find out. What do you want?”
Li Jingyu retorted, “What do you think?” Seeing Ji Yutang stunned, she laughed, “I’m a Demon Sect cultivator, not Ran Guzhu. Why should I cater to your every whim? Oh, I almost forgot, Ran Guzhu doesn’t seem that satisfied with you either.”
“You—” Ji Yutang was furious. She bit her lip, thinking she was foolish to treat Li Jingyu like an ordinary fellow cultivator. Had the peace of recent days made her lose her vigilance?
“Of course, if you’re willing to offer something, I might change my mind,” Li Jingyu said with a smile.
Ji Yutang looked up, unsure of what Li Jingyu wanted—no, she knew. Her face showed embarrassment and shyness as she activated her dragon power, revealing her dragon horns. Resigned, she said, “Go ahead.”
Li Jingyu didn’t move, only smiled, “Aren’t you tired of standing?” With that, she glanced at the stone bed.
Seeing this, Ji Yutang’s anger flared even more. Her chest heaved as she gritted her teeth, “Don’t push your luck.”
“Look at you, am I forcing you?” Li Jingyu’s smile deepened. She extended her left hand towards Ji Yutang, nodded, and said, “Let’s go.”
Ji Yutang was stunned, taking a moment to react. She transformed into a small dragon, coiling around Li Jingyu’s snow-white wrist like a delicate, exquisite silver bracelet.
In the grand hall, Zheng Yang was growing impatient. The Demon Sect always prioritized strength, but Huoxin Palace was different, appointing a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator as the Ji Yue Saintess to manage all the affairs. It was fortunate that this Ji Yue Saintess had a Celestial stage master backing her, otherwise, she would have been devoured without a trace.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty hall. Zheng Yang glanced at the statue of the celestial maiden, his ears buzzing and his heart restless. He didn’t want to be here; the celestial maiden’s allure could easily capture one’s true essence. Taking a deep breath, he practiced a visualization technique until he sensed a faint presence approaching, and then he abruptly opened his eyes.
A cold and cunning glint flashed in his eyes. He couldn’t openly confront the Ji Yue Saintess, but he could compete with her in secret. The pressure of his Golden Core stage aura rose and fell like waves, intending to give the Ji Yue Saintess a show of force.
Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow, hiding the sharpness in her eyes. She seemed unbothered, crossing the hall, ascending three steps, and sitting on the throne beneath the celestial maiden statue. She propped her chin with one hand, looking down at Zheng Yang, unaffected by his imposing aura.
Zheng Yang laughed instead of getting angry, mocking, “Ji Yue Saintess, what a grand display.”
“Display?” Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow at his words, nonchalantly saying, “I’m the only one here, what display is there?” Zheng Yang, blocked by her words, grew even more agitated.
He looked at Li Jingyu and said, “Let’s cut the crap, where’s the Dragon Vein?” After failing with the Candle Dragon, he was punished upon returning to the sect. As soon as he had the chance, he rushed to Huoxin Palace, fearing other sect members would hear from Wei Jue and beat him to it.
“What Dragon Vein?” Li Jingyu looked at Zheng Yang in confusion, seemingly unaware.
Zheng Yang’s temple throbbed as he stared at Li Jingyu, thinking she might be planning to keep it for herself. “The Dragon Vein Essence from Wolong Mountain,” Zheng Yang said impatiently.
“Oh, that—” Li Jingyu drew out her words, smiling, “Zheng Zhenren, you might have misunderstood. I never said the Dragon Vein was with me. When I found the Dragon Vein’s location, I only saw that Immortal Sect female cultivator. Perhaps it was taken by the Ji Family or Ran Family.”
“Impossible!” Zheng Yang raised his voice. They had fought with the Immortal Sect and then hid in Tianshui City to investigate, with no sign of the Dragon Vein.
Seeing Zheng Yang’s disbelief, Li Jingyu raised her hand and made a vow, “I haven’t refined the Dragon Vein, it has nothing to do with me.”
Zheng Yang looked at her attitude, and his firm belief began to waver. If it wasn’t in Huoxin Palace, where could it be? A hint of red flashed in his eyes as he stared at Li Jingyu, “What about the Immortal Sect female cultivator?” Li Jingyu casually replied, “Killed.”
Seeing Zheng Yang glaring at her, she added with a smile, “Should we have kept an Immortal Sect disciple alive?” Zheng Yang felt something was off but couldn’t refute it. For Demon Sect cultivators, killing a person or two was routine. There was no need to release captives.
Seeing Zheng Yang silent, Li Jingyu casually mentioned Tianshui City, “After the Dragon Vein shattered, the fortune there declined. Has our Demon Sect taken over Tianshui City now?” Zheng Yang replied woodenly, “No.”
Would the Three Supreme Palaces and the righteous path just sit by? If they really took Tianshui City, wouldn’t an Immortal Sect Nascent Soul cultivator arrive the next day?
“I see.” Li Jingyu seemed a bit disappointed, a hint of disillusionment with the Demon Sect in her eyes.
Being looked down upon by a Foundation Establishment junior was something Zheng Yang couldn’t tolerate. Holding back his anger, he said, “But Tianshui City is in chaos, the Yan Family was exterminated, and the Ji Family, well, they’re killing each other. All the elders were wiped out by Ji Mingcheng and his wife.”
Zheng Yang showed a mocking smile, what difference was there between Immortal Sect cultivators and their demon cultivators in the end? “The Ji Family couple is that formidable?” Li Jingyu asked in surprise.
Zheng Yang sneered, “Isn’t there still the Ran Family? They’re eager to push this matter!” Mentioning the “Ran Family,” a strange light flashed in his eyes as he looked at Li Jingyu, “If I remember correctly, Ji Yue is also from the Ran Family, right?” Li Jingyu squinted her eyes and asked, “Does Zheng Zhenren consider himself a Zheng Family member?” Once one enters the demonic path, the past is gone, and there’s no kinship left.
Zheng Yang snorted, flicked his sleeve, and left. But as he walked out of the hall, he suddenly realized he hadn’t learned much about the Dragon Vein!
How did he end up responding to Ji Yue’s words so readily? It must have been the celestial maiden’s illusion technique! This Huoxin Palace was full of oddities.
He looked back at the hall, hesitating whether to return, when a graceful female cultivator with eyes like autumn waves approached, bringing a fragrant breeze.
“Get lost!” Zheng Yang shouted angrily, shaking his sleeve.
The female cultivator dodged Zheng Yang in time, puzzled, “Zheng Zhenren, when did I offend you? If you’re angry, you should take it out in your Tianhai Demon Sect, not throw a tantrum in my Huoxin Palace.”
Zheng Yang trembled with rage. How dare a Foundation Establishment female cultivator speak to him like this? He channeled his magic power and struck at the female cultivator! The female cultivator, pressured by the Golden Core stage aura, turned pale. But just then, with two thuds, Zheng Yang was sent flying, landing in a deep pit.
Zheng Yang spat, leaping up. His demonic nature flared, wanting to slaughter all the female cultivators here. However, the Golden Core female cultivator hovering in mid-air looked at him indifferently. In just a few moments of exchange, Zheng Yang was covered in blood, his bones broken.
“Martial Uncle,” the Foundation Establishment female cultivator stood respectfully to the side.
The Golden Core female cultivator smiled sweetly at her, but when her gaze turned to Zheng Yang, it became icy. She instructed, “Hang him on the Demon Sacrifice Platform and spread the word about his rampage in my Huoxin Palace.”
The Foundation Establishment female cultivator responded excitedly, running towards Zheng Yang.
In the grand hall, only Li Jingyu remained.
Ji Yutang moved, trying to peek out from the sleeve, but was ruthlessly pressed back by Li Jingyu. She bit Li Jingyu’s hand in dissatisfaction, about to speak, when she suddenly heard a clear voice, her breath catching.
“You have a dragon?” Ji Yutang’s heart pounded in shock.
Li Jingyu remained composed, smoothing her hair with a smile, “Yes.” After a pause, she added, “Thank you, Martial Uncle, why are you here?”
“It’s because of that Zheng Yang,” Xie Juanyun said irritably. She looked at Li Jingyu and asked, “Did you cast a spell on him?” Li Jingyu snorted, “I didn’t want him alive.”
“Is this how you solve things? Aren’t you afraid of alerting the Tianhai Demon Sect?”
“What could it alert?” Li Jingyu replied indifferently, “Qingtian Sect and Wangqing Sect cultivators won’t get involved in Tianhai Demon Sect’s conflicts. And with Zheng Yang’s nature, he wouldn’t tell his sect about the Dragon Vein, he’s too afraid of others taking credit before him.”
“True.” Xie Juanyun smiled elegantly, calmly saying, “He was going to die sooner or later, better to send him off a few days early, to avoid overcrowding on the road to the underworld.”
Li Jingyu nodded, deeply agreeing.
Xie Juanyun continued, “By the way, there’s something else to tell you. Taiyuan Dao Palace has sent cultivators to our Southern Border for training. Among them is your dear sister. She’s probably after the Heartless Book in your possession.”
“Let her come.” Li Jingyu smiled, her eyes darkening, she said softly, “I didn’t originally want to kill her. I hope she doesn’t disappoint me.”
