Nine spinning Jewel of the Rising Tides soared through the air, with electric light flickering and water tides dancing.
The turbid evil energy in the Ancestral Source Demon Sea was stirred by the water light that almost covered the entire demon sea, constantly undergoing high-level changes.
Initially, the Primordial Abyssal Divine Water emitted a very obvious Tai Shang power, but as Li Jingyu absorbed the Demon God, that Tai Shang power gradually faded, like a dark moon sketched in mid-air, spreading a “Taiyin Qi.”
Li Jingyu used “Daoyin Wuming” to balance the “clear and turbid Qi” within her body, allowing it to change without breaking the constraints.
After the Primordial Abyssal Divine Water was cultivated, it represented the “clear” side, immediately reflecting the “turbid” side.
In this heavily turbid Ancestral Source Demon Sea, it was naturally a good time to practice this path.
As the water tides spread throughout the Ancestral Source Demon Sea, Wei Fuming and his group dared not stand in the water, all floating in the air with the help of their magic power.
They stared intently at Li Jingyu, watching as the clear shadow, originally similar in size to her, grew larger and larger as it absorbed the demonic energy, becoming towering and immense, with the manifested “human body and snake tail” almost occupying half of the demon sea.
If the clear shadow’s appearance was initially vague, it gradually aligned with Li Jingyu’s as her roots were established.
Among the twelve transformations of the Demon Ancestor, the “Earth Mother” is the closest to the origin of demons.
Even if her combat power is not strong, as the “Earth Mother,” she naturally has the power to absorb other Demon Gods, being a great mother goddess of the demon path.
It’s not that they didn’t want to stop Li Jingyu, but they simply couldn’t.
No one expected Li Jingyu to take such a step.
At this moment, Li Jingyu didn’t care about Wei Fuming and his group.
She was absorbing the Demon God and the source power of the Ancestral Source Demon Sea, while the demon sea would spontaneously respond, seeking supplements.
Wei Fuming and the other demon cultivators were no different, and it wouldn’t take long for their flesh and blood to dissipate, with all their essence falling into the demon sea.
“Ji Yue, do you really not care about old friendships at all?”
“Do you think after absorbing the Demon God, you’ll still be yourself? Everyone who comes to the Ancestral Source Demon Sea is a vessel for the Demon Ancestor, all just to welcome the return of the Demon Ancestor.”
“Ha, as expected of the descendants of two Immortal Sect talents, different from us in the Demon Sect.”
“If you let us go, we can teach you how to restrain the demonic thoughts.”
Faced with the threat of death, fear arose in Wei Fuming and his group’s hearts, their faces twisted with terror.
Li Jingyu merely glanced at Wei Fuming indifferently, too lazy to pay attention to their nonsense.
The Ancestral Source Demon Sea contained a bit of the Demon Ancestor’s demonic thoughts, but it was not the Demon Ancestor, just a bit of “obsession.” She gazed ahead, and after the last Demon God disappeared, a page of a book suddenly flew out from her sleeve.
Initially, she planned to use the “Daoyin Wuming” artifact within her to suppress the demonic nature, but after obtaining the Heartless Book, she changed her plan.
The Heartless Book is her mother’s Life-Bound Artifact, containing the essence of “Supreme Forgetfulness.” When demonic nature enters it, it will be worn away.
In the Heartless Book, there is only the order of “neutrality,” with no emotions present.
With Li Jingyu’s actions, a change also occurred outside the Demon God Hall.
A massive figure appeared like an ink painting, with only a few strokes, but the vast, sky-reaching turbid evil energy still attracted everyone’s attention.
In the battle with Hong Ming, Yang Xizhou was evenly matched with him.
However, upon seeing the ink demon shadow, his expression changed suddenly.
Ignoring the fact that his avatar would be scattered by Hong Ming, he gazed at the faint moon hanging above and unleashed a sword.
The sword light flickered, leaping to the front of the Demon God Hall in the blink of an eye, and only then did a sword mark open, stirring up layers of airwaves.
If the sword light struck the Demon God Hall, it would surely cause the building, which had stood in the Demon Sect for millions of years, to collapse.
Unfortunately, a white jade flute appeared out of thin air, touching the sword light.
The flute body vibrated with cracks, then quickly returned to its original state, but the sword light dissipated completely.
Yang Xizhou’s avatar was hit by the sneering Hong Ming, and before the avatar dissipated, he only had time to glance at the Demon God Hall, seeing that familiar graceful figure, and a sigh escaped his lips.
Scenes from the past floated before his eyes, but unfortunately, they could not be relived.
“I thought you wouldn’t act when you saw an old acquaintance.” Hong Ming sneered at Huai Wanxiu.
“Hong Ming senior brother, what are you saying?” Huai Wanxiu smiled warmly, “They killed Qing Xun, this enmity can never be resolved.”
Hong Ming stared at Huai Wanxiu for a long time before suddenly flicking his sleeve, voluntarily dispersing his avatar.
Among the Immortal Sect cultivators who came to the Demon Sect, Yang Xizhou was the most prominent and had the highest cultivation.
After his avatar was scattered, the remaining people naturally wouldn’t linger here.
“Let’s go back.” The one receiving Qin Ruoshui and his group was Zhang Huaiyu, the successor of the Taishi Lineage.
He looked calmly at the scene ahead, his face showing no joy or sorrow.
Ran Guzhu looked at Zhang Huaiyu, nervously asking, “Uncle Zhang, how did things go?” Zhang Huaiyu shook his head, not answering.
Ji Yutang frowned slightly.
Not long ago, the dragon in her Mind Palace reflected a phantom, and she seemed to sense Li Jingyu’s presence.
But when she tried to investigate further, the connection between her and Li Jingyu broke.
Was it because Li Jingyu had completely fallen into the demon path, tainted by demonic nature? A wave of panic suddenly surged in Ji Yutang’s heart.
However, when Zhang Huaiyu’s gaze fell on her, she suppressed her fluctuating emotions completely.
Zhang Huaiyu looked not only at Ji Yutang but also at Ran Guzhu, his thoughts fluctuating, finally turning into a silent sigh.
He said gently, “Let’s go.” With that, he didn’t care about Qin Ruoshui and the others’ reactions, sweeping them into a Qiankun pouch with a flick of his sleeve.
White Bone Mountain.
Under the attack of the Immortal Sect cultivators, the mountain collapsed by more than half.
Fortunately, the disciples of each sect were not seriously injured, and under the protection of the elders, there were even fewer casualties than those who died trying to enter the Demon God Hall.
Feng Yuan was a bit worried, “Uncle Qing Chen, when will Senior Sister come out?” Shi Qingchen looked at the moon shadow, thinking that Li Jingyu might have succeeded, and the rest was to refine that vast power.
She turned to Feng Yuan, glancing at the silent Buddhist cultivator beside her, and smiled, “It might take some time, but don’t worry, the hardest part is over.”
Feng Yuan seemed to understand but couldn’t help but ask, “Did those Immortal Sect cultivators come on purpose at this time?” Shi Qingchen’s lips curled into a smile, nodding, “Who says not? This Demonic Dao Assembly competition is related to our Demon Sect’s Twelve Earth Stakes plan.
They came here just to hinder the Demon Ancestor’s return.
As for whether Ling Mountain is important or not, Immortal Sect cultivators have fallen into the demon path quite a bit, they might be used to it.”
Ciming’s face turned pale, her eyes holding a strange red light, her pale fingers playing with the prayer beads, making a clicking sound, which suddenly stopped.
She pressed her fingers on the beads until they turned white.
As Shi Qingchen said, those people didn’t come for Ling Mountain.
When she heard the bell of the Path of Killing, she looked up and met the gaze of a certain uncle.
There was no compassion in his eyes, only cold killing intent.
Once she fell into the demon path, in everyone’s eyes, she was a demon.
“Little Master, Ciming, are you okay?” Feng Yuan noticed Ciming’s abnormality and asked softly.
Ciming’s fingers loosened, and the prayer beads fell to the ground, quickly shattering into several pieces.
“Ciming is gone, my name is Wang, Feng Wang.” After saying this, the demonic energy on her body became more intense until the golden lotus mark on her forehead was completely covered in blood.
Feng Yuan glanced at Ciming, a strange emotion flashing in her eyes, and she didn’t respond further.
The scene of the struggle between the Immortal and Demon on White Bone Mountain did not affect the overall situation in Jiuzhou.
The news spread very slowly, and it wasn’t until a month later that some rumors began to circulate in various parts of Jiuzhou.
In Tianshui City.
Ji Yutang finally gathered some information.
After the Demonic Dao Assembly ended, Ji Yue from Huoxin Palace became the “Saintess” of the Demon Sect’s four sects, ranking above the heirs of the major lineages.
Although the matter of the Ancestral Source Demon Sea was not mentioned, Ji Yutang knew that Li Jingyu had become the leader and successfully emerged from it, though she didn’t know what Li Jingyu had become now.
“Why are you so absent-minded?” Ning Huaizhen glanced at Ji Yutang, who was occasionally lost in thought, and couldn’t help but ask.
Ji Yutang sighed, “Thinking about the Demon Sect’s matters.”
Ning Huaizhen’s eyes flickered slightly, and she continued, “That Ji Yue from the Demon Sect? She is now jointly worshipped by the Demon Sect and considered a demon seed, someone our Immortal Sect cultivators must kill.” Thinking of this, she sighed inwardly, not expecting Senior Sister Li’s daughter to follow the same path.
Ji Yutang’s eyelid twitched, “Demon seed?” Ning Huaizhen nodded, “The Demon Sect’s Twelve Demon God Stakes plan has been completely exposed.
They used the Demon Ancestor’s flesh and blood to refine the Demon God Stake, trying to merge the twelve Demon Gods to summon the Demon Ancestor.
But now, half of the Demon Gods have been destroyed by our Immortal Sect cultivators.
Even if the Demon Ancestor descends, it would only be half.”
Ji Yutang was silent for a moment, then asked, “Even if it’s half, it can’t be allowed to remain, right?” Ning Huaizhen sighed, “Yes, so the Palace of Supreme Mystery issued a kill order.” Among the Three Supreme Palaces, the Palace of Supreme Mystery governs the laws of the Immortal Dao, overseeing the punishments of the Tai Shang lineage.
Usually, the cultivators of the Palace of Supreme Mystery are not seen much, but once a kill order is issued, their presence becomes apparent, even more so than the Taiyuan Dao Palace.
Do the Three Supreme Palaces have to be like this? Can she still appear in Jiuzhou? Would it be safe in the Southern Border? Ji Yutang’s mind wandered for a while, then she looked at Ning Huaizhen and asked, “Mother, what did you feel when Senior Li fell into the demon path?” Ning Huaizhen looked at Ji Yutang, trying to discern her true emotions from her calm face, and after a while, she replied, “A loose cultivator is always less constrained than a disciple of the Eight Great Immortal Sects.
I can’t extinguish true nature, only lament ‘how did it come to this.'”
Ji Yutang: “Was it Uncle-Master Ran who led the matter?” Ning Huaizhen didn’t want to bring up old matters, but under Ji Yutang’s persistent gaze, she finally relented.
She nodded, sighing, “Yes.” However, at that time, Li Qingxun was still the successor of the Taishi lineage, and to act against her, it had to be approved by the Taishi Palace.
It wasn’t just Ran Jingri; the Three Supreme Palaces and even the righteous path could be considered “masterminds.”
Ji Yutang frowned, puzzled, “I heard that Uncle-Master Ran’s fundamental scripture is the ‘Analects.’ In this scripture, it is said: ‘A father conceals for his son, and a son conceals for his father, therein lies righteousness.’ This is the ultimate in heavenly principles and human emotions, Uncle-Master Ran’s foundation.
Why would he want to kill Ran Family… sister?” Ning Huaizhen was stunned, not expecting Ji Yutang to ask such a question.
She pondered for a moment and said, “In nearly twenty thousand words, Ran’s actions must find their basis in nature.”
Ji Yutang disagreed, shaking her head, “Twenty thousand words should return to ‘one,’ no matter the method, ultimately returning to ‘benevolence.’ Uncle-Master Ran cannot cultivate it to the ‘one’ number, probably having no chance to enter the realm of heaven and man.”
Ning Huaizhen: “…” After a long time, she said, “Don’t say this outside.”
“I know.” Ji Yutang nodded obediently, then said, “But I still don’t understand.”
Ning Huaizhen stood up, her expression serious.
Knowing her daughter best, she hesitated for a while before asking, “Are you asking this for the one in the Demon Sect?” Ji Yutang’s eyes flickered, and she looked up to meet Ning Huaizhen’s gaze, finally answering frankly, “Yes.” After leaving the Southern Border, all she thought about was Li Jingyu.
If it were her usual way of doing things, she didn’t know what crime Li Jingyu had committed.
If she was now “beyond redemption,” she had to see it for herself.
Ji Yutang asked in confusion, “When did the struggle between the Immortal and Demon paths evolve into a pure battle of good and evil?” Ning Huaizhen didn’t answer.
When she traveled in her youth, she had the same confusion, and to this day, she hasn’t found an answer.
Li Qingxun once mentioned the word “obsession.” Although she was a successor of the Taishi Palace, she didn’t quite agree with the current Three Palaces’ path, but at the same time, she deeply disliked the Demon Sect.
If she hadn’t fallen into the demon path, if she were still alive, would the Three Supreme Palaces have been united by her? What changes would have occurred?
“Mother, I heard that the great path has entered obsession.”
Ji Yutang’s voice brought Ning Huaizhen back to her senses.
Ning Huaizhen looked at her with a complex expression, sighing, “This is not something you should be thinking about.
By the way, A Zhu has returned to the Ran Family, and your Uncle-Master Ran is preparing to discuss the marriage between the two families again.”
“What?” Ji Yutang stood up abruptly, full of shock.
Thinking of Ran Guzhu, she felt extremely disgusted.
“Didn’t she despise me as a waste before? Why is she clinging now? I said I don’t want to marry her.”
Ning Huaizhen frowned.
She wasn’t too keen on the idea of the two families becoming in-laws.
After being toyed with like that, anyone would be upset.
How could the Ran Family bring it up so nonchalantly?
“The Haoran Sect and fellow cultivators from the Taiyuan Palace also came to persuade us.
Your father couldn’t outright refuse,” she said.
“Why couldn’t he refuse?” Ji Yutang sneered, looking at Ning Huaizhen.
“What right do the Haoran Sect and the Tai Shang lineage have to interfere? Isn’t it even stranger that they came to persuade us? By the way, why did you make a vow in front of the Supreme Dao Ancestor back then? Mother, could it be that you were deceived by the Ran Family?” Ji Yutang’s heart leaned towards Li Jingyu and Li Qingxun, and she couldn’t muster much goodwill towards Ran Jingri.
“There’s no need to speculate about Daoist Ran like that,” Ning Huaizhen sighed helplessly.
“The main issue is the vow, which cannot be broken.”
Ji Yutang’s eyes flickered, and she blurted out, “The Supreme Dao Ancestor has already fallen.
Will the vow really be enforced?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Ning Huaizhen glared at Ji Yutang and continued, “The so-called Supreme Dao Ancestor is the manifestation of the Great Dao.
Even though the Supreme Dao Ancestor has vanished, the Great Dao remains eternal.”
“So, it’s the highest path, right?” Ji Yutang gradually calmed down.
“What if I have a way to erase that vow?” The Daode Heavenly Book communicates with Gao Miao’s Path, directly pointing to the root of the Great Dao.
That lofty place is on the same level as the Great Dao, and perhaps by borrowing the power of the Great Dao’s root, the vow can be worn away.
“If you don’t want to, your father and I won’t force you,” Ning Huaizhen said after a moment of contemplation.
Although it’s a vow of the Great Dao, there are loopholes to exploit; otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many oath-breakers.
“But can you promise me to sever ties with Ran Gutong of the Demon Sect?”
Ji Yutang was silent for a while before reluctantly saying, “What ties could I have with her? She forcibly took me to the Demon Sect against my will and imprisoned me.
Even though she helped me a lot in refining the Dragon Vein Essence, she—”
“Enough,” Ning Huaizhen interrupted Ji Yutang.
No matter how she listened, it sounded like Ji Yutang was recounting the benefits of the other party.
That was Dragon Vein Essence, and after extracting it, it was given to only one person for refining.
Ordinary people wouldn’t do such a thing.
After forming the Dragon Pill and fully entering the Dragon Path, Ji Mingcheng and Ning Huaizhen completely stopped interfering in Ji Yutang’s cultivation matters.
They even sought out various methods of cultivation to find a solution to the burden of heaven and earth.
In Ji Yutang’s courtyard, a small world was created.
The Primordial Qi there was no longer refined into clear energy but was instead absorbed and exhaled by Ji Yutang herself, tempering her Dao body.
After half a year of cultivation, a guest arrived outside Ji Yutang’s courtyard.
Ji Yutang was initially reluctant to see Ran Guzhu, but on second thought, if she was willing to give up, perhaps the matter could be resolved.
“Why are you unwilling?” Ran Guzhu’s voice was clear and crisp.
She stood outside Ji Yutang’s courtyard with her hands behind her back, not stepping inside.
Ji Yutang didn’t want to see Ran Guzhu’s face, partly because of Ran Guzhu’s actions and partly because that face always reminded her of someone else.
Hearing the voice from outside, Ji Yutang found it extremely amusing.
“Why should I be willing?”
Ran Guzhu continued, “Didn’t you not refuse in the past?”
Ji Yutang sneered, “Didn’t you refuse back then?”
Ran Guzhu said, “So it’s because of that.” She blinked and said matter-of-factly, “I cultivate the Taiyuan Beidou Scripture, contemplating the Big Dipper.
My path is to strive for the top, to be an imperial aide.
In the past, you hadn’t entered the Dao.
Even if you had a natural Dao heart, you were just a waste.
But now it’s different.
You’ve entered the Dao, so naturally, you can be with me.”
Ji Yutang: “…” Although she knew Ran Guzhu’s fundamental path, she still found Ran Guzhu extremely shameless.
She snorted and said, “What you do has nothing to do with me.
You strive for the top, can’t I strive for the top too? Your cultivation is just so-so.
You can’t even compare to Li Jingyu, let alone me.
Do you deserve it?”
Ran Guzhu outside the courtyard wasn’t angry.
She simply said, “Is it because of her? She’s a demon cultivator, walking a crooked path.”
Ji Yutang clicked her tongue and retorted, “Do you think she appeared in front of everyone without fear of being exposed because of what? Her cultivation method has very obvious traces of the Tai Shi.”
“That’s only because she has her mother’s leftover magical tools,” Ran Guzhu frowned.
“Mother has always favored her, giving her all the good things.”
“Did you come here to complain to me about Li Jingyu? I’m sorry, I won’t entertain that,” Ji Yutang said, hearing Ran Guzhu’s tone and knowing she had changed her mind.
She was very firm about not wanting to marry back then, and now she’s just as firm about wanting to marry.
What do they take her, Ji Yutang, for? With a strange emotion in her eyes, she sneered, “I won’t marry you.
If there’s really no way out, I’ll kill you to sever all ties.”
“Has your heart been tainted with demonic roots?” Ran Guzhu’s tone suddenly rose.
Ji Yutang didn’t respond.
Hearing this, she was surprised herself.
She vaguely understood the actions of the Wangqing Sect cultivators.
Her mind tightened, and the Daode Heavenly Book in her Mind Palace immediately brushed down a clear light, dispelling that murderous intent and demonic nature.
After Ran Guzhu left, Ji Yutang sat back on her meditation mat to cultivate, but no matter what, she couldn’t calm her mind.
Just as Ji Yutang’s thoughts were wandering, a faint voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
“I thought you didn’t even want to look at me and were rushing home to get married.
But now it seems that’s not the case, is it?”
“Li Jingyu!” Ji Yutang gritted her teeth and stood up abruptly.
The power around her surged like waves, spreading in all directions, but she couldn’t see any suspicious figures.
Li Jingyu chuckled and said, “I’m just a bit of divine thought left in your body.”
Ji Yutang froze upon hearing this.
Her nerves were tense as she looked inside her Mind Palace.
Sure enough, she saw a familiar figure on the Divine Dragon Dharma Form.
However, this figure was dressed in white like snow, with a clear and righteous aura, showing no sign of impurity.
“How did you get in here?” Ji Yutang’s mind was on high alert.
Li Jingyu had successfully left a divine presence in her Mind Palace without her noticing.
When did this happen? How did she not know at all?
Li Jingyu propped her hands on the dragon’s body, her legs swinging back and forth playfully.
She threw the question back, smiling, “What do you think?”
The fusion of the visualized forms in the Mind Palace could only happen when one’s consciousness couldn’t dominate their true self! Was it during the dual cultivation in Ji Yue’s cave? Ji Yutang’s face turned red and white alternately.
She took a deep breath and said angrily, “Get out!” She hadn’t left a mark in the moon phase, so why did Li Jingyu manage to enter her Mind Palace?
“Are you sure you didn’t leave a mark?” Li Jingyu easily read Ji Yutang’s thoughts.
She smiled, and behind her appeared a crescent moon, with a White Dragon coiled on it.
Ji Yutang: “…” After a while, she said, “I’ll summon back the dragon form, and you should leave too, or else I’ll—”
Before she could finish her sentence, that faint fragrance had already approached with Li Jingyu, almost cheek to cheek.
“Don’t you care about what happened to me after I entered the Ancestral Source Demon Sea?” Li Jingyu asked.
Ji Yutang turned her head, pretending to be indifferent.
“I don’t care.
If you leave the Southern Border and rampage like the Tianhai Demon Sect cultivators, I’ll be like everyone else, following the Palace of Supreme Mystery’s decree to kill, kill… kill you!”
“Heartless,” Li Jingyu laughed, reaching out to stroke Ji Yutang’s cheek, whispering ambiguously, “You can make me die once right now.”
