Li Jingyu didn’t ask about Zheng Yang. Based on past experiences, people from the Tianhai Demon Sect wouldn’t inquire. Although Zheng Yang is a Golden Core cultivator, he isn’t a gifted disciple destined for greatness, and he recently failed in bringing back the Demon God, making him a sinner. The Demon Sect always follows the principle of “take advantage of his illness to take his life,” so even if Huoxin Palace doesn’t act, Zheng Yang won’t have a chance to rise.
Ji Yue Cave Heaven.
After returning to the cave, Li Jingyu reached into her sleeve and pulled out Ji Yutang. She rolled up her sleeve, revealing red marks on her arm. “You’ve heard about Tianshui City. Can you focus on cultivating now?” Li Jingyu asked, looking at Ji Yutang.
Ji Yutang seemed uninterested and listless. She transformed into her human form and looked at Li Jingyu for a long time before asking, “Why do you push me to cultivate?” The actions of the Demon Sect cultivators were completely different from what she imagined. If someone else had said to kill Ran Guzhu, Ji Yutang wouldn’t have reacted. But if Li Jingyu were to do it herself, wouldn’t that be sisters turning against each other? After thinking for a while, Ji Yutang didn’t ask about it and instead shifted the topic to herself.
Li Jingyu crossed her arms and said leisurely, “To raise a dragon and take its core.”
Ji Yutang was startled. From Dragon Mansion to Demon God Zhu Jiuyin, Li Jingyu was indeed taking cores. Her Jewel of the Rising Tides was driven by dragon cores. Could she really be coveting her own Golden Core? But wouldn’t it be easier to catch a true dragon from the North Sea than to deal with her? Li Jingyu continued, “Why do you ask so many questions? Just do as you’re told.”
Ji Yutang frowned and said, “Can’t I even ask about my own matters?” Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow and smiled, retorting, “Are you free to do as you please?” Ji Yutang pursed her lips: “…” She had unwittingly become a prisoner, but her treatment was better than other prisoners. “I will leave one day.”
“Really?” A cold glint flashed in Li Jingyu’s eyes as she looked at Ji Yutang and smiled, “It might not be long. Didn’t you hear? Ran Guzhu and Qin Ruoshui are coming to Southern Border, maybe to save you.”
“Impossible,” Ji Yutang said firmly. What kind of person is Ran Guzhu? How could she care about a “useless person” like her?
Li Jingyu’s smile didn’t fade. She sat in front of Ji Yutang, resting her chin on her hand, and said nonchalantly, “Would you be disappointed if she didn’t come?”
“Disappointed about what?” Ji Yutang looked at Li Jingyu strangely.
“Naturally, disappointed because you’ve been abandoned,” Li Jingyu’s eyes flickered with a strange light as she looked up at Ji Yutang and continued, “After all, she is your fiancée.”
Ji Yutang frowned and denied, “She is not.” Even if a vow was made before the Supreme Dao Ancestor, she wouldn’t let anyone force her! Li Jingyu clicked her tongue and said, “That’s what Ran Jingri wanted.”
Ji Yutang was impatient with the topic. She looked at Li Jingyu, and their eyes met, causing a strange feeling to stir within her, as if she was stumbling into a cold abyss. After a moment, she regained her composure and asked, “Are you very concerned about this matter?” Li Jingyu smiled ambiguously, “After all, it’s my sister’s matter.”
Ji Yutang sneered at the mention of “sister.” In her eyes, Ran Guzhu was just a corpse. She didn’t plan to waste words with Li Jingyu. Currently, besides continuing to cultivate and refine the Dragon Vein, there was nothing else worth doing. Seeing Ji Yutang’s thoughts turn to the Dragon Pool, Li Jingyu’s smile deepened.
She suddenly stood in front of Ji Yutang and asked, “Do you want to marry her?” Ji Yutang: “…” Would this never end? “I don’t want to.” She emphasized, preparing to bypass the person in front of her.
Li Jingyu said, “I hope your heart matches your words.”
Ji Yutang stopped.
She squinted her eyes and suddenly said, “The marriage agreement was made before either of us was born. You and Ran Guzhu are twins. How do you know the engagement wasn’t meant for you instead of her?” After returning to the Ji Family, she had asked about many things. If what her father said was true, the engagement was due to Li Jingyu’s fall into demonic ways, which then fell on Ran Guzhu. The reason for the marriage was the vow before the Supreme Dao Ancestor, but Ji Yutang felt there was something fishy, not as simple as it seemed.
Seeing Li Jingyu’s smile fade, the displeasure from being questioned dissipated, and she continued with the topic: “How much do you know about the engagement?”
“I don’t know,” Li Jingyu shook her head, raising an eyebrow with a smile under Ji Yutang’s suspicious gaze, “But even if I know nothing about it, I won’t let the Ran Family’s plan succeed. In short, whether you want it or not, nothing will happen between you and Ran Guzhu. If you insist on being a puppet, then I can only—”
“Only what?” Ji Yutang asked calmly. Seeing Li Jingyu remain silent for a long time, she laughed softly and said, “Kill me?” Li Jingyu stood up, raised her hand towards Ji Yutang, and when her fingertips were about to touch her jade-like cheek, she suddenly retracted them, brushing past a strand of black hair. She gazed at Ji Yutang and said, “I would be reluctant to kill you. The only way is to use a spell to trap you in my cave, so you only have eyes for me.”
Ji Yutang said, “Evil ways.”
Li Jingyu wasn’t angered by her mockery and even cheerfully replied, “Otherwise, how could it be called demonic?”
Li Jingyu observed Ji Yutang’s reaction and decided not to tease her any further. Instead, she said, “I can take you out.”
Ji Yutang asked warily, “What’s the condition?” Li Jingyu extended her left wrist towards Ji Yutang, “Here.”
Ji Yutang refused, “I don’t want it!” She had always transformed into a dragon and coiled around Li Jingyu’s wrist, resembling her spirit pet. But now, her intention to go out was for travel.
“Aren’t you afraid of being recognized by the Immortal Sect cultivators?” Li Jingyu chuckled and added, “Traveling with the witch from Huoxin Palace, others might think you’ve fallen into demonic ways too.”
Ji Yutang replied, “Can’t we just go our separate ways?” Li Jingyu was amused by her. Going separate ways would mean letting Ji Yutang go free, and where in the world would you find such an easy deal?
“Xiao Tang,” Li Jingyu’s tone was gentle, like a lover’s whisper, but the meaning was cold and ruthless. “Perhaps you don’t want to admit it, but the fact is, after I’ve saved you so many times, your life no longer belongs to you; it belongs to me. You’re my prisoner, not a guest.”
The rising tone was like a feather brushing across the heart.
Ji Yutang snapped back to reality, feeling a chill all over, as if she were in an ice cave.
After reminding herself that she was facing a demonic cultivator, she had blurred the lines herself. But now, that soft whisper brought her back to her senses. “I’m not your prisoner,” Ji Yutang said, her tone calm and steady.
There was no fluctuation of magical power around her, but the aura of the Dao was rising layer by layer. She reached out and grabbed, and the Falling Moon Bow was already in her hand. “It’s my own fault for not understanding my position. I, Ji Yutang, have only life or death.”
“Ha,” Li Jingyu let out a short laugh, a thin layer of anger appearing in her eyes. Jewel of the Rising Tides sensed its master’s emotions, transformed into a stream of light, and flew out, the cold moon silently illuminating the cave, the energy of the moon clashing with the aura around Ji Yutang.
The battle was about to erupt, but in the end, Jewel of the Rising Tides circled around and returned, Li Jingyu took a step back and said indifferently, “Once the matter in the Southern Border is settled, you can come and go as you please.”
Ji Yutang’s tense nerves relaxed, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She followed up on Li Jingyu’s words, “Southern Border? What’s happening in the Southern Border?” Li Jingyu sneered, “Naturally, it’s those bald monks from Pure Lotus Zen.”
After a pause, Li Jingyu continued, “Help me obtain the Bodhi Pure Water, and I’ll set you free.”
Ji Yutang’s probing gaze fell on Li Jingyu’s face, and after a moment of contemplation, she agreed, “Alright.”
Li Jingyu asked, “Are you sure? The Bodhi Pure Water can help those bald monks from Pure Lotus Zen cultivate their Buddhist hearts, and they will be competitors.”
Ji Yutang nodded, “I know.”
Hearing this, Li Jingyu smiled broadly, the lingering gloom in her heart dissipating significantly. She squinted at Ji Yutang and said, “The Bodhi Pure Water will help me cultivate the Primordial Abyssal Divine Water. When I use this method to wreak havoc, the consequences will fall on you.”
Ji Yutang retorted, “Then if you obtain the Dragon Vein Essence to help me cultivate dragon skills, if I do good deeds, will the merit offset the consequences on you?” Before Li Jingyu could laugh heartily, she coldly added, “If that day truly comes, I will personally put you down.”
“Is that so?” Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow, “Then I’ll be waiting.”
Although Ji Yutang had such “bold words,” she didn’t have much confidence in dealing with Li Jingyu, at least not as her opponent now. Her progress in cultivation was thanks to the Heart of the Great Dao, but what about Li Jingyu?
Her advancement was not slower than hers, even ahead, was it due to her Dao body? Or her talent in cultivation? From past experiences, she could actually decipher Dao texts and even grasp parts of the Daode Heavenly Book.
“You’ll need an identity to travel with me,” Li Jingyu said, examining Ji Yutang, “Your current appearance is inappropriate.”
“I’ll travel in dragon form,” Ji Yutang thought for a moment, and her blue and white clothes gradually transformed into a gradient of gold and silver, with nine black carp embroidered on the hem. “A dragon is a creature of endless change, named for its spirit; I cultivate the Daode Heavenly Book, the Dao is nameless, mysterious upon mysterious, I can take the ‘mystery’ from it.”
“Lingxuan, is it?” Li Jingyu looked at Ji Yutang and smiled, “Alright.” Naming is like defining the Dao, and from now on, the name “Lingxuan” in the world would belong to Ji Yutang. The level this Dao name could reach in the future—Li Jingyu’s eyes suddenly became deep.
Just as Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang were about to leave the cave, a flying crane delivered a message. Li Jingyu unfolded it and her gaze instantly turned icy cold.
“What happened?” After confirming the cooperation with Li Jingyu, Ji Yutang’s tone became light and cheerful. Seeing Li Jingyu frown, she immediately asked.
“It seems this trip to Pure Lotus Zen is unavoidable.” A flame ignited on the flying crane, instantly consuming it. Li Jingyu brushed her sleeve and said, “I have a junior sister named Feng Yuan, who was captured by disciples of Pure Lotus Zen. Several sisters from the palace went to Pure Lotus Zen to bring her back, but once they went, there was no trace of them.”
“Pure Lotus Zen?” Ji Yutang said in surprise. She thought for a moment and asked, “Pure Lotus Zen is dedicated to enlightening all beings and never kills.” The two paths of Xumi Sea’s teachings are completely different.
“It used to be like that,” Li Jingyu said. Although Pure Lotus Zen doesn’t kill, demonic cultivators who fall into their hands don’t have a good end either; they are either enlightened or commit suicide. Thinking of her fellow disciples’ situation, Li Jingyu’s eyes shot with coldness.
“And now?” Ji Yutang asked again.
“Won’t we know once we go?” Li Jingyu said. She had met the old monks of Pure Lotus Zen before, and when they learned her mother was Li Qingxun, they tried every means to turn her back.
But in that “endless sea of suffering,” would turning back not be “suffering”? It would be better to fight to the end and overturn the entire sea of suffering! At that time, her master said that this group of old monks had fallen into “attachment,” and now it might be even more serious, right?
