The sea moon was like a wheel, its clear light shining on the water.
Amidst the rising and falling tides, a White Dragon emerged from the rocky sea cliffs, its massive dragon head and golden pupils gleaming with a radiant light.
This scene was a manifestation of the Mind Palace, and the layers of dragon shadows surrounding the moon were a trace of pure yang energy within the Taiyin.
Initially, Ji Yutang thought Li Jingyu had truly damaged her foundation, but when their souls intertwined, she realized it was all a deception by Feng Yuan.
Even without her, Li Jingyu could recover on her own.
After all, how could Li Jingyu neglect herself?
Leaning against the couch, Li Jingyu’s face was flushed, and she was covered in fragrant sweat.
Her eyes held a hint of vulnerability and fragility that was not there before.
Staring directly at Ji Yutang, she raised an eyebrow and smiled slowly, “This is the Ling Mountain’s law hall.”
Ji Yutang glanced at her, frowning in confusion, “And then?”
Li Jingyu’s smile deepened, and she reached out to hook Ji Yutang, who was sitting opposite her, whispering as she leaned closer, “Buddha is above.”
“You—” Ji Yutang’s thoughts turned, and she instantly understood Li Jingyu’s meaning, her expression turning stern as she made to push Li Jingyu away.
Li Jingyu blinked, quickly wrapping her arms around Ji Yutang, kneeling in front of her and pressing a finger to her lips, “Shh, the Buddhist Sect’s pure land…” Ji Yutang, hearing her nonsense, was even more annoyed, forcefully breaking free from Li Jingyu, only to see her lying on the couch laughing, her eyes flowing like autumn water, hiding a peculiar charm and allure.
“What do you plan to do after returning? Continue slaying chaotic monsters in the Chaos Shadow Realm for nine years?” Li Jingyu’s fingers tapped on her leg absentmindedly, her tone carrying a hint of indifference.
Ji Yutang frowned, glancing at Li Jingyu without speaking.
She tidied her disheveled clothes, belatedly realizing that Li Jingyu probably didn’t truly intend anything, merely finding amusement in stirring her emotions.
She was always unscrupulous in achieving her goals, even at her own expense.
“What about your plans?” Ji Yutang countered.
Here, the only remaining demonic cultivators were under Li Jingyu’s Huoxin Palace.
The conflict with the Three Supreme Palaces was likely irreconcilable, and the stance of the righteous path was unclear.
Based on Ran Jingri’s words and actions, Ji Yutang knew she had to prepare for the worst.
In such circumstances, the remaining nine years would likely have to be spent aligning with Huoxin Palace.
Li Jingyu leisurely asked, “Do you know why the various sects preach here?” What kind of question was that? Did she take her for a fool? How could she not know? Whether it was the Chaos Shadow Realm or other small realms she hadn’t visited, preaching was undoubtedly to gain an advantage.
A world that practiced its own sect’s doctrines was always better than one where foreign doctrines prevailed.
Li Jingyu continued, “The world was chaotic and unclear, the sun and moon not born.
Although the sects have preached for a long time, no local people have truly transcended the mundane to establish a Dao foundation.”
Ji Yutang stared at Li Jingyu, asking, “What do you want to do?”
Li Jingyu smiled, “Naturally, to cleave open this chaotic world!” Her eyes were deep, and that hint of crimson seemed like a blazing fire, burning in the sky, consuming the perpetual darkness and disorderly rules.
In that instant, Ji Yutang sensed not the cold brought by the Taiyin Fiend from Li Jingyu, but a scorching passion.
Ji Yutang pressed her lips together, “What if I refuse?”
Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow, “Then I’ll do it myself.
The Demon God Zhu Jiuyin’s power ‘regards day as night, and night as day,’ isn’t that the sun and moon’s course?” She gazed deeply at Ji Yutang, “You entered the Dao to prove to others that you, with the Heart of the Great Dao, are not useless, and later to save your life.
Most of your progress was driven by others.
Don’t you want to do something for yourself?”
“Don’t you have love and hate?”
Li Jingyu’s words were like a great bell ringing in Ji Yutang’s ears, making her mind buzz.
She suddenly looked up, her once calm gaze now fierce and cold.
“How could I not have love and hate?” She squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with deep darkness and shadow.
Li Jingyu made no effort to hide her skepticism towards Ji Yutang, crossing her arms and responding dismissively, “Oh,” then laughed boldly, “Then let your love and hate become the sword in your hand, overturn the world you despise!”
Ji Yutang leaned back, her gaze deepening.
Li Jingyu gazed deeply at Ji Yutang, instantly seeing through her thoughts.
With a flick of her sleeve, she drew the Chaos Pearl from the ground and said nonchalantly, “Let’s keep moving.”
Chaos creatures roamed at night, and disciples from various sects would go hunting at such times, at least clearing the chaos creatures near their base to prevent them from advancing further.
The rumbling thunder not only startled Shen Zao nearby but also several disciples from the Confucian Sect.
During the day, they received a flying letter from the Three Supreme Palaces, which made them wary, fearing that Demon Sect cultivators might attack recklessly.
They immediately dispatched several Golden Core disciples to investigate.
“This place is a mess; they must have left not long ago,” muttered a young disciple in Confucian robes.
Moments later, he sensed a faint fluctuation of magical power and immediately turned around, shouting, “Who’s there?” His vigilance prompted the others to react, their bodies exuding a righteous aura, with characters swirling around them.
“What brings you here, junior brother?” Shen Zao emerged from the shadows, her fingers resting on a wine gourd, her gaze deep and mysterious.
“Oh, it’s Sister Shen,” the speaking disciple sighed in relief, cupping his hands towards Shen Zao.
After a pause, he asked, “Did you see anyone fighting here?” Shen Zao feigned surprise, raising an eyebrow as she tossed a bag of Chaos Pearls to the disciple and asked, “Are you talking about the chaos creatures here?” The disciple caught the Chaos Pearls and realized, “Was it Sister Shen hunting here? The palace master thought Demon Sect disciples were attacking.”
Shen Zao replied in surprise, “Wasn’t the Demon Sect suppressed by the Three Supreme Palaces?” The young junior brother said solemnly, “But there are still female cultivators from Huoxin Palace, and the Beihai Demon Cultivators have joined them.
We must be cautious.
The Tai Shang base just sent a message; didn’t you know, Sister Shen?” Shen Zao shook her head and sighed, “I’ve been on Chiyuan recently.”
“I see.
Since there are no demon cultivators here, we’ll leave first.
There are quite a few chaos creatures at the border, and they’ve grown scales, making them hard to break through.”
Shen Zao nodded, and after the Confucian Sect disciples left, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was indeed Li Jingyu who used spells here, and Junior Sister Ji was with her.
Immortal Sect disciples might wonder why demon cultivators would join forces with Beihai Demon Cultivators, but she understood it was inevitable.
Not to mention the friendship between Li Jingyu and Junior Sister Ji, just being targeted by Taiyuan Dao Palace was enough to make them travel together.
But what were they planning, leaving their sect’s disciples and heading to the righteous path’s base? If the Three Supreme Palaces found out, the journey might not be peaceful.
After pondering for a moment, Shen Zao didn’t bother with the protective array she set up and instead turned into a rainbow light, chasing in the direction Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang had left.
The night was dark and silent.
The sound of gurgling was clearly audible.
Ji Yutang tilted her head slightly, frowning, “The moon hides its shadow.”
Li Jingyu responded and added, “Someone’s following us.” Her senses were incredibly sharp, instantly detecting the fluctuation of spiritual energy.
The Jewel of the Rising Tides circled around her, with a faint moon shadow behind her.
Ji Yutang was full of vigilance, flipping her wrist to grab the Falling Moon Bow.
When the rainbow light in the air turned into a familiar figure, she raised an eyebrow in surprise, “Is it Sister Shen?” Shen Zao was a disciple of the Spring and Autumn Heaven Palace, so it wasn’t surprising she followed, but why was she alone?
“Daoist Li.” Shen Zao’s indifferent gaze swept over the smiling Li Jingyu, quickly passing by and landing on Ji Yutang.
She blinked and said, her tone much gentler, “Junior Sister Ji.”
Although they were old acquaintances, who knew what changes might occur in such a situation? Ji Yutang didn’t put away her magical weapon but met Shen Zao’s gaze and asked, “What brings Sister Shen here?” Shen Zao chuckled softly, meaningfully saying, “I should be asking you that.”
Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow.
Deep down, Ji Yutang didn’t want to fight Shen Zao, so she answered before Li Jingyu could speak, “We have no intention of troubling the righteous path, just passing through.”
Shen Zao frowned, “Are you still heading east?” After a moment of thought, she advised, “Just the two of you? The Tai Shang base has already tracked your movements; this journey might be extremely dangerous.
Why not return and stay with your sect’s disciples?”
“Even if the Three Supreme Palaces seek revenge, not everyone will act.
If it’s just three or four people, it’s not worth our concern,” Li Jingyu replied nonchalantly.
“No room for negotiation?” Shen Zao asked, looking directly at Ji Yutang, waiting for her answer.
Ji Yutang ignored Li Jingyu’s sudden gaze and seriously replied to Shen Zao, “It’s not me who should turn back.” Her path wasn’t meant to be a stepping stone for others.
Shen Zao was momentarily stunned, then sighed, “You’re right.
They must be crazy.”
Ji Yutang’s eyes shone brightly, “Does Sister Shen think so too?” Shen Zao pursed her lips without answering, waved to Ji Yutang, and turned into a light, heading in the opposite direction, her figure more carefree than usual.
“Sister Shen—” Li Jingyu glanced at Ji Yutang, speaking slowly, “She no longer agrees with the Immortal Sect’s beliefs and might leave the Immortal Sect.”
Ji Yutang frowned, “Like Yun Chixin?”
“Not necessarily,” Li Jingyu smiled, adding, “Not all Immortal Sect disciples who leave their original sect join our demon path.” Whether entering the demon path for any reason, isn’t it an unresolved obsession? Although the Wangqing Sect disciples still maintain an Immortal Sect demeanor, when it comes to their path, their ruthlessness is no less than the Tianhai Demon Sect.
Their destination wasn’t the Confucian Sect base, so to avoid trouble, they stayed nearby for a very short time.
Heading east, they killed any chaos creatures they encountered, day or night.
After about a month, their cultivation hadn’t improved much, but they had accumulated so many Chaos Pearls that they almost filled their storage bags.
“These chaos creatures are formed from a mass of Primordial Qi, and the Chaos Pearls they produce are rare treasures,” Li Jingyu said while refining them.
Using her magic as fuel, she fused the mountain of Chaos Pearls into nine clear, radiant pearls.
Ji Yutang glanced at them, “Are you using them to refine your Jewel of the Rising Tides?” Li Jingyu shook her head, “These are just from Golden Core level chaos creatures, probably not high enough quality.” She was now at the Golden Core stage, and with the Dragon Pill, she had elevated the Jewel of the Rising Tides to a treasure level.
To advance it to a true artifact, she needed even higher-grade materials or some mysterious power.
She had a plan in mind, determined to accomplish it during these nine years in the Chaos Shadow Realm.
If she couldn’t achieve the Primordial Spirit, she might struggle to face the impending crisis upon returning to Jiuzhou.
Ji Yutang simply responded with an “Oh” and didn’t inquire further.
Approaching Donghai, there was no hint of coolness from the vast waters, only an even more intense burning sensation, as if ten great fireballs were blazing in the sky.
Ji Yutang stared ahead, sighing, “The sea is boiling, hard to traverse.”
Li Jingyu beckoned Ji Yutang with a smile, “Come here.”
Ji Yutang frowned, puzzled, “What for?” Li Jingyu extended her left hand, lifting her wide sleeve to reveal a snow-white wrist.
Both at the Golden Core stage, Ji Yutang practiced dragon techniques, naturally full of yang energy, and couldn’t withstand the heat, her forehead covered in sweat.
But not Li Jingyu, who cultivated the Taiyin Physique, her body extremely cool.
After a moment of hesitation, Ji Yutang, considering the bigger picture, transformed into a small White Dragon and wrapped around Li Jingyu’s wrist.
The cool touch dispelled the heat on her scales, and Ji Yutang instinctively tightened her body, locking firmly onto the cool wrist.
Li Jingyu raised her hand, meeting the pure golden eyes.
She smiled brightly, her gaze sparkling, “Comfortable?”
